Hell 's Winter
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1
Best Laid Plans
It was a nice day. It was a very nice day. Gabrielle had concluded that fact as she took a break from her garden to stretch. She loved her garden; she loved the outdoors and all having to do with nature. Today was the perfect day to work on it. She had been intending to add some more flowers to it for the past week, but hadn't had time. Her mistress, the youngest daughter of Jeras Price, had been up to causing trouble and it was Gabrielle's job to keep her in line. Not that that was really possible. Cassandra Price had a mind of her own and detested the superficial workings of rich life, she was usually trying to run off and spend time on her own, especially in a meadow nearby.
Gabrielle was more Cassie's friend than servant. They were about the same age, Gabrielle being only three years her lady's senior, and complimented well due to their separate personalities. Gabrielle was careful and precise, demure. Meanwhile Cassandra was out-spoken, short-tempered, and quick to forget her manners (and the right thing) in her anger. Gabrielle was one of the few to calm her down, outside that of Isabella, her older sister. Isabella, however was married now and could not be bothered with Cassandra's more than occasional outbursts. She really couldn't put her own life on hold to come placate her younger sister.
So it was left to Gabrielle, was left to her when Franz, Cassandra's tutor, was away. Franz had been called to a sick relative's a couple weeks earlier. Much to the heavy hearts of the Price family and staff, Franz's uncle had died of his ailment leading to a funeral. Franz had taken his week holiday before even returning and had in total been away for three whole weeks. Cassandra was saddened by the news of death, she very much hated to see anyone in pain, even people she didn't particularly care for. That still didn't stop her from enjoying her away time from Franz. She was a free spirit while Franz was a very proper (albeit stuffy) gentlemen. He was "too serious and needs to have a little fun" according to Cassandra. Gabrielle didn't disagree, but she didn't agree outwardly, all it took was a small smile.
Franz was back though. He had returned two days before, taking those days to get "reacquainted" with his surroundings. That meant to sleep off his tiresome travels (or the quantities of liquor he consumed during so). Today Cassandra would be back at the books, which she despised more than anything. That's why Gabrielle didn't expect what happened next. The gate to the garden clanged violently, announcing the arrival of someone on a mission. Gabrielle spun to the noise and was surprised to see what greeted her eyes. Her mistress ran up the back path towards the manor, something small cradled against her. As she grew closer Gabrielle saw the desperation and worry set in Cassandra's face and realized what it was she was carrying. The small body of a boy. No older than thirteen, perhaps not even that.
"Cassandra! Aren't you supposed to be in your lessons."
"No time for that!" Cassandra cried, nearly out of breath. "Where's Giov?" Giov was the family's resident doctor. Years before the lady of the house Helena Price had fallen ill and required around the clock care. Despite their best attempts she had died, but Giov had stayed on to care for the family and staff.
"He's inside having tea," Gabrielle answered, running after her charge as she passed towards the house. "But Cassandra, why were you out?"
"I decided to take the day off." She replied, "You know, spend a nice peaceful day to myself. Well," She sighed ironically as they burst through the back door, "best laid plans, right?"
- - -
Cassandra had tricked Franz into going to check about a phantom noise. The noise of course was caused by her. She had used her magic to create a sound down the corridor. She had pretended to be scared and he had gone to investigate. She guessed he was trying to be the perfect gentleman, the 'big strong man', but he should have learned after all those years to trust nothing of what it seems, especially around Cassandra. Feeling absolutely supreme and smart she had slipped from the second story window and lowered herself to the ground using a ray-wing. From there she had made a break for her special spot.
The birds and other animals had been eerily quiet, immediately giving clue that something was wrong. Not being one to frighten easily, and being very cautious, she had begun to investigate. Not really the smart thing to do, but she had courage, a good knowledge of defense spells, and frankly she didn't want to go running back and admitting that she had slipped off... again. Gah! She could hear her father now, ranting about how she needed an education. She didn't want an 'education', she was quite smart enough. Everything Franz tried to 'teach' her was so bleeding boring. She knew it already, or it was common sense. What she wanted was to travel the world.
However, at the moment she would travel around her favorite meadow and out-lying forest area. She had to find out what could cause the beasts to be so silent. So... foreboding. There you go again, she thought to herself, you and your awful, morbid, paranoid thoughts. Yet... a strange denseness hung in the air, a denseness of evil. She had never sensed evil before, but was pretty sure that this feeling was it. She didn't know what else could make the hair stand up on her neck and cause her whole body to feel numb with a paralyzing fear although nothing was present.
Her mother had died many years before, when she was a small child, but she still spoke to her through dreams. At least Cassandra hoped she did and that it wasn't her wild subconscious. In her dreams her mother had always warned her of the dangers of the world. One was pure evil- and not the human kind. The feelings in her dreams felt an awful lot like this, except this being the real thing it was much more emptier. All that was needed was the sudden over clouding of the sky and a flash of lightning accompanying a blast of thunder. She read things like that in books.
Perhaps I should stop reading so much. She shuddered, as she reached the tree line on the adjacent side of the field. She made her way into the death-quiet forest and peered around. Something caught her eye. If she hadn't been looking she would have missed it. It was small and clad all in blue.
It was a child, and had, by appearance, been thrown unceremoniously, and roughly to the ground. She approached and realized it was a boy. Around thirteen perhaps. Long black hair was flung around a perfectly angelic face seemingly wrought with pain, even in unconsciousness. One arm was stretched out, palm up, while the other lay across his body. His head was pillowed in a patch of dense green grass. Her heart caught inside her as she knelt beside him. This apparently wasn't an accident, the wounds were too severe, too equally placed. Yet, who would want to kill such an innocent. She could picture him with a halo and wearing a robe of white.
Well, maybe not that far, but he was still very innocent looking.
Cassandra would have cast a healing spell, but she knew she wasn't powerful enough to do much good. With a shake of the head she came to the only conclusion, she had to take him home. She couldn't let him die. She gently wrapped him in her cloak to prevent further injury and scooped him up in her arms. She wasn't very strong, but he seemed light. It would work. As she hurried back home she mentally prepared herself for the preaching she was going to get.
- - -
"How could you!" Jeras Price boomed at his youngest daughter. He couldn't understand why she had to be this way, why she had to go against all authority. "You could have gotten hurt! You might have accidentally came upon the attacker and been harmed, even killed, yourself."
"I wasn't hurt, father." She murmured softly, hands folded in her lap. It was times like these, when her father was completely distraught with worry that she felt truly sorry for her actions. Yet, she wondered what would have happened if she hadn't went out and found the child.
"Of course you weren't hurt. We can all see that." Lord Price snapped, half-angrily, half-worriedly. "Tell me, is my youngest a fool?"
She raised her eyes. "No, father. I'm sorry."
"S-sorry," He stammered, nearly lost for words. "You snuck out despite clear command to stay indoors. You knew nothing of this boy, Cassandra, and perhaps I could let that go. But you know about those damned bandits running loose around here. You should think before you act. One day you might find yourself caught in a mess you can't clean up. I bet that's what happened to that boy in there, he happened upon those bandits nearby." He let out a weary sigh and turned away. "Go. Go apologize to Franz for your trickery. Then-"
"Then, father?" Cassandra inquired, standing. "Then may I go check on the boy?"
Jeras looked at her. She learned nothing. She would probably not even think about what could have happened to her. He was about to lecture her again when he noticed she was truly, visibly upset. Instead of another sermon he replied softly. "If Giov says it is okay - - and if you have apologized to Franz."
"Thank you."
Cassandra hurried from the room. She turned in the direction of the library. So she would apologize to Franz. Jeras sat down and leaned his head into his hands tiredly. Cassandra was such a handful. Yet, he couldn't help but compare her to her dear late mother. Beautiful, talented, albeit wild. A sudden violent tick in his mind caused fear to creep on his face. He just hoped that Cassandra's talent didn't extend all the way to her mother's 'gifts'. If so then she would indeed find herself in trouble more often than not.
- - -
Apologizing to Franz was the worst experience of her life. Not like she had never had to do it before, but she felt so low already! She tried not to look fake, too candy sweet or too I hate you, while she said it. She felt she had failed miserably but he looked pleased just to have her utter "I'm sorry." Not pleased due to her manners, but pleased that he had 'won.' Evil bastard. Well, perhaps not evil, but damned near close.
After that embarrassing experience she flew though the corridors to the west wing, which held all the guest bedrooms. Giov was just emerging from one and he looked up to see her. "Miss Price. Are you okay?"
"Yes, Giov." She answered with a touched smile. He was the only 'grown-up' she got along with. That annoyed her. She was fifteen, and she was always being treated as a child. "But how is the boy?"
"Sleeping. I must say he looked pretty torn up, but it appears that he will be just fine after lots of rest."
"Sleeping? So he regained consciousness?" She asked, excited. That meant she would be able to talk to him soon. She didn't know why, but she felt an urge to speak to him. She wondered about what happened and was more curious to his identity. She knew he wasn't from around the area, she knew just about everyone. However she could make mistakes so she guessed a search of the village would be made for any missing children.
"Well, no. But as I said, he will be fine. It will just take a while for him to come out of it." Giov saw Cassandra's face fall. He didn't mean to dampen her light spirits. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "However, I am sure he would welcome you when he wakes. Go in and wait."
"Thank you, Giov." Her smile returned. She quickly disappeared into the room to await the boy's consciousness.
- - -
Gaav, the infamous demon dragon king, had returned 'home' moments before, a maniacally happy grin on his hardened face. It was such a nice feeling, evilly nice mind you, but nice. He had the wonderful knowledge that Phibrizzo was dead. The Hellmaster had died by his hand, an even greater bonus. Well, Gaav did have to take him by surprise, but no one had to know that.
"You were so sure of yourself, Hellmaster," Gaav sneered, "but you should have watched your back a little more closely. Your loss is my gain, and now you'll join your lost souls . . . forever." He threw his head back, laughing madly. It was a nice day. It was a very nice day.
Wow, I know I've been posting a lot of old stuff lately but this takes the cake, not to sound cheesy (Zelgadis: why do keep talking about food). This was written back in my junior year of high school. I've been out of high school for two and 1/2 years now if that tells you how old this is. I've got a second chapter and a bit of a third. I just wanted to see if anyone was interested in it. I'm trying to revive some of my older works.
Mizuki-Sama.