Note: This is my first fanfiction. I noticed there is a severe lack of Cassandra and Sophitia fanfiction, so I thought why not create one that focuses on both - but especially Cass. Please enjoy and review if you like what you see! Any comments welcome.

Disclaimer: Cassandra and Sophitia are not mine (although I wish they were!), they belong to Namco.

Rating: Rated M for adult themes which include an intense sister relationship.

"Get up you lazy excuse for a daughter!"
The warmth of the bed had suddenly turned freezing cold - as the duvet was quickly intercepted and thrown to the floor.
"Ugh… just… five more… minutes!" Cassandra retaliated and protected herself from the oncoming wrath of this nightmare - which in her opinion - was far worse than the real thing itself! Bleary eyed she sighed, and rolled over, trying to focus in on her surroundings. It was pitch black in the room, but the monstrous shadow loomed even closer. She stood up wearily and folded her arms, preparing for the daily onslaught.
"…and Sophitia would NEVER leave the bakery unattended to just so that you could go to the toilet!" her mother continued to nag, almost spitting with rage.
"What am I supposed to do?" Cassandra fought back, feeling her temper rise to boiling point, "Wet myself!?"
She was immediately answered by a resounding slap. It stung into her reddened cheek as she staggered backwards - the shock and sheer force of the aggressive attack nearly bowled Cassandra over. She looked up angrily - touching her face with the palm of her hand - the heat was pulsating from her inflicted bruise. Pain was bearable, but her mother was already treading the very thin line to completely unbearable. An uncomfortable silence crept in; she watched her mother sigh, then proceeding to dump her dusty, worn bakery outfit on the floor.

"I'm never good enough, am I?" Cassandra muttered, slowly picking up the rejected outfit that lay in front of her. It was damp from the previous rainy day; the thin cotton itched in her calloused hands. Her mother avoided all direct eye contact, choosing to bow her head and silently plod out of the bedroom door – leaving Cassandra to pick up the pieces.

The hustle and bustle of the early morning quickly shifted into a lighter paced afternoon. People going to and fro on the dusty streets buzzed past Alexandra Bakery. Cassandra dabbed her forehead with the end of her dirty apron, and sat back down on the wooden stool completely exhausted. Trying to sell yesterday's bread today was tough going – no one wanted bread that was even harder than the stones on the ground. She sighed, it was not enough to appease mother, not nearly enough. Cursing under her breath, she rose up and kicked the stool over in frustration.

"Dammit! Why the hell won't this bread sell!?"

Her left arm lashed out, knocking the remaining bread all over the stall. Seizing a circular loaf neatly into her hand from behind her tired frame - using the last ounce of strength willed in her body - she raised her arm backward and launched the leftover as hard as she could. It slipped away easily from her grasp and shot through the air, narrowly missing a crowd of children that were happily playing nearby. The bread dive bombed nearby into a nest of hungry crows – they squawked angrily before cautiously tipping the hardened loaf with their dim yellowing beaks. Cassandra breathed in deeply and relaxed, releasing some of the pent up rage dwelling inside her. She glanced in amusement as the scattered remains of the bread were quickly torn apart by the little winged beasts of death - squawking and fighting for the tiniest breadcrumbs.

"Poor mothers' bread…,"she mused, tidying up the remainder from the maddening crows and tossing it aside from the dust-ridden stall, "…Only fit for the birds to eat."

"Cassandra…!"

A familiar - yet gentle - voice called out to her. She didn't need to turn around to know who it was. A young woman waved broadly in the distance and started to limp in the direction towards the stall.

"So-Sophitia!"

Cassandra immediately dropped everything in her hands and ran to her peaceful older sister - diving under the stall, bounding off the rickety fence and straight into her warm embrace.

"Sophitia…," Cassandra whispered, burying her face into the warmness. Her sister gave a beaming smile as if in reply and hugged her softly, wrapping her delicate arms around her neck.
"I missed you so much…" Cassandra continued, almost tearing up with her sister's long absence. "I…I'm so-"

"Hush…," Sophitia soothed, pressing a delicate finger on her younger sister's trembling lips, guiding her closer to her beating heart. "I know…"

It seemed like they were the last two on earth at that moment, everything else was but an ethereal memory wistfully floating on the horizon. Cassandra was content - but more than that – she was blessed, blessed to have such a wonderful and beautiful sister. To hear her breathe was like the pulse of life itself - Her smile was the sweetest in all of Athens - it calmed her nerves and built up her courage. She hugged onto her elder sister and rested happily in her loving embrace. Sophitia's finger ran slightly against Cassandra's bruised cheek as she brushed away some stray rebellious hair away. She gasped as the last remnant wisp of hair revealed the mark of disobedience.

"Did mother do this…?" she paused and lightly traced her fingertips across the brazen unsightly bruise. Cassandra could not help but feel ashamed; her heart began to race as she could feel herself starting to burn up with embarrassment.
"It…It's nothing…"
Cassandra gently pulled away from her concerned sister and folded her arms defensively, lowering her head. She could not bear to be a disappointment again. Not a moment later and slender arms wrapped around her waist once again, that familiar soft touch and sweet smell enveloped her.
"I'll protect you," she whispered, "No matter what."
Powerless.
Cassandra was absolutely powerless at that moment, as Sophitia's fingers entwined with hers. A mere touch rendered Cassandra immobile to her sister's charm. Breathlessly, all she could do was fixate into a daze while Sophitia continued to close in.
It was as if time had stood still, this was all she ever wanted and needed. Cassandra held her breath, trembling with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.

"Sophie!"

Cassandra sharply awoke from her tranquil dream, as Sophitia's hands suddenly slipped away from her waist. A muscular, tanned, man in his early thirties stumbled into the bakery stall. He puffed up to them exhausted, carrying an assortment of weapons in his torn, aged leather satchel. Cassandra's heart sank; it was Sophitia's husband Rothion.

"Uh… did I just interrupt something ladies?" he flustered, putting down the array of weapons on to the sandy ground and wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with his other hand.
"No, no dear" Sophitia laughed, quickly turning around to face her husband. "I was just saying hello to Cass." She proceeded to give him a peck on his rugged cheek and wrapped her arm casually around his.
Cassandra sighed then nodded in response, glaring at her brother-in-law with contempt. How long was he watching them? She thought to herself, fuming that her special moment was interrupted by that big oaf.
"Well…I'm glad to see you are both well." Cassandra eventually conceded, acknowledging the fact he was there. Her eyes wandered to Sophitia and she looked away with possible guilt, tugging onto her husband's arm. Cassandra decided to continue the subject "How did your journey go to the lands of the far East?"
Sophitia glanced at her husband apprehensively, as if she wasn't sure on how to respond. Rothion's expression darkened, his usual jolly demeanour decayed into that of a more serious nature.
"It went good for most of the trip; the kids really enjoyed themselves and we made more than enough selling the weapons I created…" His voice wavered for a moment but he composed himself and continued. " But we were attacked."
"Attacked!?" Cassandra looked on horrified, repeating those awful words. Her thoughts quickly went out to her niece and nephew. "Where are Patroklos and Pyrrha? Are they safe?"
"Don't worry, Cassandra." Sophitia reassured, "The children are with Rothion's mother and father at the moment."
"Thank goodness!" Cassandra gripped onto back of the stall sighing with relief. She knew well enough by the expression of Sophitia however, that the tale was not going to end up with a happy ending.
"There were two of them. A man with a sinister sounding voice and a little girl whom he kept calling his 'beloved'. Sophie held the man off, but the little girl ravished her with a sword." Rothion continued, choking up. "But… her leg; they had a shard from that bastard sword, Soul Edge." He slammed his fist down in frustration onto the weapons lying on the ground. "Damn it..! I-I… couldn't do anything, I was frozen on the spot."

"Sophitia…"

Cassandra turned to her sister, she was pained by the fact that Sophitia had to battle those demons again. Anger fired up inside, as her sister was now forced to deal with her leg injury again. Why did this happen? Why did Sophitia have to suffer so much? So many questions spun around in her mind with no forthcoming answers. All she could feel was resentment to her brother-in-law and he needed to know that.

"They hurt Sophitia because she was vunerable!" Cassandra exclaimed, bursting her anger at Rothion. "Why the hell didn't you do anything about it?"
"Cassandra!" Sophitia rose up, defending her husband. "He isn't used to fighting like us; he doesn't have the God's protection-"
"-He's a bloody coward! You know full well that I don't have the God's blessing either!" she raged, furious that her sister could love such a man who was so damn useless.
Sophitia just sighed, shaking her head.
Cassandra could see that this would get her nowhere and immediately changed her tone, lowering her accusing hand. There was so much she wanted to say - but in light of the current situation, she could only muster a few pathetic words as some sort of apology.

"But…He's lucky to have you Sophitia…I-I guess I would have done the same thing…"

She nodded in reply and took her younger sister's hand. It was warm and yet so soft for working in the bakery most of the time. "I know how you feel Cass, it is unfortunate that this happened – but I'll be fine. Don't worry."

"That's right!" Rothion suddenly came back to life, giving a hearty, bellowed chuckle. "Sophie is still with us! That's the main thing, isn't it dear sister-in-law?" He gave his upset wife a smooch on the lips and winked to Cassandra.
Cassandra ignored the oaf's ill gesture and looked carefully to Sophitia, who hobbled to the remaining bread clusters and tidied them all up neatly in her satchel. She noted with even more special attention as Sophitia touched the side of her neck repeatedly, looking flustered.

"Sis, you sure you're okay?"
Cassandra was genuinely concerned that Sophitia was acting slightly off. Even Rothion had suddenly gone quiet.

"Sophitia?"

"I'm F-fine…" Sophitia eventually replied, forcing a weak smile. She avoided direct eye contact with her sister and toyed with the shoulder strap of her pale sapphic dress, as if in deep thought.

"I'm going to stay over at yours for a few days Cass…"