A/N - This story is based off an anonymous prompt: "Cassie taking on the riddles of a Sphinx with Jake as her back up/focus."
I know nothing about the riddles of a Sphinx and researched the hell out of this before writing it. Parts of it (like the statue) are totally made up. I'm not sure how accurate my research ended up being, but hopefully it's at least a good story. =)
He should have gone alone, Jake knew that. It was an easy case, something that only required the skill of an art historian, something Jake could have done simply and quickly if he had only gone by himself.
But dammit if Cassandra wasn't sitting across from him when the clippings appeared in his book. They were alone, sitting quietly in the annex, both focused on their own tasks. Cassandra was scribbling in her little notebook, her eyes squinting while she worked her way through what Jake assumed was a difficult equation. Then her face relaxed and she smiled to herself when she finally solved it. Jake took one look at where he was supposed to be heading and then-
"Cassandra, do you want to come to Greece with me?" the words came out before he could stop them. The thought of the two of them walking around Greece (or any foreign country, really) together made his heart skip a beat.
Cassandra's head shot up from her notebook as she looked at Jake questionably. "What?"
"Thebes, to be exact," he held up his clippings book. "I just got a case. Should be a quick one." Cassandra smiled and nodded, enjoying all the same thoughts that Jake had been thinking.
Jake was supposed to retrieve a small Sphinx statue that was said to have once belonged to Oedipus himself. From the clues in his clippings book he had a pretty good idea as to where to find it. Thebes was a thriving market town these days and from the sounds of it, there was a small shop that specialized in rare antiquities with presumed magical powers.
The portal door left Jake and Cassandra right in the middle of the action and they set out to find the shop in question. They took their time, taking in the sights and enjoying each other's company. When Jake noticed a nearby shop displaying various old paintings he couldn't help but reach for Cassandra's hand to drag her over, explaining each one in detail and then ranting about how one of them wasn't being displayed properly. The redhead tried to see what Jake could see in the artwork, but she found it hard to drag her attention from Jake's face. She loved watching him talk about art, seeing his eyes light up and his smile take over his face. Even when he would go off on a tangent like he had the tendency to, his face still held more passion than it usually did. Cassandra loved that.
It was Cassandra who spotted the little shop first. Jake had been enjoying himself so much that he almost forgot why they were there in the first place. He was brought back to reality when Cassandra gently grabbed his arm and dragged him over to the stall at the end of the street they were on. No one was around, which was unusual, but certainly made their job that much easier. Jake spotted the statue sitting at the end of a long table full of various artifacts. He was just about to reach for it, but Cassie was closer and when she realized which one it was she started to grab it.
"Cassandra, wait!" Jake suddenly realized something. If the magical properties of the statue were real, then whomever touched it would…
It was too late. The statue started to glow as soon as Cassie's fingers brushed it. It shook in her hands, her eyes wide as she watched in horror. "Jake? What's happening?"
"You know about the myth of the Sphinx, how she guarded the city of Thebes and would ask anyone who tried to cross her path a riddle?" Jake stepped closer so that he was standing directly next to Cassandra.
"Yeah…"
"Well, if the stories of this statue are true, and I'm starting to think that they are, it's going to wake up any second and…"
Suddenly the eyes on the small Sphinx opened into a bright light. Cassandra let out a startled gasp, and Jake placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Cassandra Cillian," it spoke just barely above a whisper, but both Librarians could clearly hear it. "You have awoken me"
"I...I'm sorry?" Cassie whispered back.
"If you wish to go on I ask that you must answer this one question," the statue continued. "Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?"
Jake knew the answer. He had studied the story of Oedipus and the Sphinx years ago and knew it all by heart. Confidently he tried to cut in, but the statue stopped him.
"Only she who wakes me shall answer"
Jake glanced at Cassie, hoping that she would be able to figure the riddle out. It was worded strangely, but she was smart. He had faith in her.
"Cassie, you can do this. Just take your time, think it through." he spoke steadily, his hand still resting on her shoulder.
Cassandra's eyes glossed over as she went into her head. Jake noticed her staring off into space as she saw things he couldn't. "One... one voice. Feet. Four, two, three."
"Come on, Cass. Focus. Break it up." Jake said softly. "I know you can do this."
"Four...four...four is red." Cassandra repeated.
"Good, good Cassie. Now just connect it with something. Find a memory." Jake helped.
"Daddy's car...car...car. Red like my dad's sportscar." Cassandra frowned. "Mom was so angry when he bought that."
Jake slid his hand down Cassandra's arm, reaching for her hand. "Keep going, Cassie. You're doing great."
"I was ten. They kept shouting. So much shouting," Cassandra flinched.
"No, Cassandra. Don't focus on that." Jake shook his head, eyes locked on her.
"Smells like new car."
"Cassandra, listen to me. Focus." Jake squeezed her hand and smiled as Cassandra turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. "What's the next part?"
"Two," she smiled. "Two is orange. Summer."
"Good, good. Remember, find a strong memory. Something positive."
"My friends and I are playing in the sprinkler, sprinkler, sprinkler. Water, cool and wet. The ice cream truck comes by and we all run to it. Popsicles. Orange was my favourite." She was still looking at Jake, who tightened his grip on her hand as he anchored her to reality.
"That's good, Cassandra. Keep going. Three."
"Three is blue...blue...I like blue."
"What's blue, Cass? Relate it to something."
Cassandra blinked for what Jake thought was the first time in minutes. She was staring deep into his eyes, as focused as she had been since she started her trance, and she was smiling. "Blue. Like your eyes."
Jake didn't know what to say. He took his other hand and placed it on her cheek and let her continue.
"I'm lost and stumbling. I don't know where I am… but blue. I see blue and I know I'm safe. Eyes, windows to the soul. I see blue and I know how to get home. Blue is Jake and Jake is…"
Suddenly something in Cassandra snapped. "Oh!" She looked down at the statue she held. "Man!"
The statue began to shake again as it registered Cassandra's answer. The bright lights that shone in its eyes disappeared and the glowing aura that surrounded the Sphinx ever since Cassandra had touched it vanished. Suddenly it was just a normal statue.
"Is it over?" Cassandra asked, too afraid to move. Jake hesitantly reached out and took the little statue from her. After a few seconds had passed and nothing happened, he nodded.
"You did it, Cassie! You solved the riddle."
The redhead blushed, no longer as willing to meet his gaze. "Thanks to you, Jake."
It was then Jake realized that he was still holding her hand. He thought about letting go, but something inside wouldn't let him. "Cassandra, what you said at the end there…"
"I'm sorry, Jake," Cassandra's eyes had been glued to the ground since she had solved the riddle, but now she slowly listed her head until she found him. "I know I shouldn't...you don't...but when I get lost and…"
"Cass," Jake slowly brought the hand that he was holding up to his face, placing a chaste kiss on her knuckles. "It's okay. We're okay."
Cassandra smiled just slightly, but didn't say anything.
"I'll always be there for you, Cassandra. This thing between us…" Jake hesitated, trying to find the right words. "Whatever this is, it's not just...you're not the only one who feels it."
This time is was her turn to squeeze his hand reassuringly. "Where does that leave us, then?" she asked.
"In Greece." Jake smiled. "And I can't think of a more romantic country for us to get dinner in."
"What about the statue?" Cassandra asked. "Shouldn't we get it back to the annex?"
Jake shrugged. "It can wait a couple hours, doncha think?"
"At least that," Cassandra nodded, as the two walked hand in hand down the streets of Thebes.
Yes, Jake could have finished the case quickly and easily had he come alone. But he certainly didn't regret bringing Cassie along with him.
