Chapter 10: White Chapel
Sunako didn't know how long she and Cassian ran. They didn't stop running until it was dark.
"Well, not exactly where the Doctor would have liked me to take you, but no one will find us here," Cassian said.
"Where are we?" Sunako asked, looking about the rundown buildings, people going about in strange manner—women dressed scantily, and wearing shoes that were several sizes too big and so on.
"White Chapel," Cassian said shortly. "Not a safe place, but probably the safest we can get to for now. Come on," he led her into the Ten Bells, a pub that was overcrowded and dimly lit.
Cassian ordered two bowls of soup and a bottle of ale for himself and Sunako. Sunako stayed close to Cassian, feeling odd around the people who just stared at her as though she was some sort of display in a zoo.
"'Ello, luv," a drunkard said, coming up to them, grabbing Sunako's wrist. "Whatcher doin' with that sort of face? Whatcher think ya are?"
Sunako raised her free hand to hit the man, but Cassian threw a knife at the man, grazing his cheek. "Get your hands off her," Cassian warned. The man scowled at Cassian and reached to grab Cassian's collar. But he cried out and pulled away, holding his hand.
Another knife was embedded in the drunkard's hand.
"Next time," Cassian said, handling a third knife, I'll get your head." He smirked, "Trust me, I wish I really was bluffing."
The man ran out of the pub.
"Wow, are you a…sharpshooter or something?" Sunako asked him. Cassian shrugged.
"I guess you could say that," Cassian said. Sunako sat beside him and began to eat her soup.
"Are you really older than Jezebel? I thought you were twelve."
Cassian flushed. "I'm thirty-five."
Sunako stared at him. Cassian was at least five feet tall. His face was still soft featured and he certainly looked youthful. She examined his hair. Not one strand was grey.
"Seriously?" Sunako asked.
"Seriously," Cassian answered.
"You're not joking?"
"Not one bit."
"But…how?"
Cassian filled up his glass with ale. "The pituitary gland didn't activate when I hit thirteen. I've been like this since I was a teenager. Driven from home, joined a circus—I was pretty much what you'd call a freak. I joined Delilah after some time and worked under the Doctor—who was pretty much a kid. I worked with him because he promised to fix my problem. The only way to do that would be to find the ideal body and perform a surgery."
"Eh?"
"Someone that matches me, so to speak," Cassian clarified.
"Oh," Sunako said, "how…strange…I guess…"
"Don't strain yourself, Miss," Cassian said. "I'm quite used to people getting this reaction."
Sunako nodded, eating her soup. She was getting a headache from the very thought of the man, whom she thought was a very mature boy, was actually twenty years older than her.
"We'll find a place to stay tonight," Cassian said, "then I'll take you back to the Hargreaves' mansion."
Sunako nodded. After they finished eating, Cassian paid for the food and they left. "Where do we go?"
"There," Cassian said, pointing at an inn. "It's shabby, but it'll do for just a night." They entered the inn and were shown a room. Cassian went outside to speak to the manager while Sunako dressed for bed.
Just one more night, Sunako thought as she made a bed on the couch, I'm almost home, Cain. Just one more night…
When Cassian returned, Sunako had fallen asleep on the couch. He sighed wishing she'd have taken the bed—it wasn't proper for a lady to sleep on a couch—but he dared not wake her. As he climbed into the covers, he thought he heard Sunako whimper.
He froze for a moment waiting to see if she made any more noise. She didn't, so he passed it off as his imagination.
Even so, it bothered him that after all this time, now that Sunako was so close to being back to her lover, she would finally start to cry…
Sunako woke early. Cassian was still asleep. She rubbed her sore neck and shoulders. She had slept in a corset and she doubted she'd be able to breathe properly for a while.
She took slow, deep breaths to refill her lungs, but her ribs hurt and her head felt fuzzy. Closing her eyes, Sunako leaned back on the couch, covering her eyes. She opened her eyes and looked at Cassian again.
He groaned and turned in his sleep. She wished she knew what time it was. Sunako stood and swooned. She supported herself on the couch with her hand and clutched her ribs with her other.
Cassian woke and looked at her. He blinked and his half asleep expression turned to concern. "Sunako?" Cassian asked.
"I'm fine," she said. "My ribs just…" hurt.
Sunako opened her eyes and looked at Cassian. "What happened?"
"You fainted," he told her. "Don't tell me you actually slept in that thing."
Sunako bit her lip, "Well…"
Cassian shook his head. "Are you trying to break your ribs?"
"No, but I know I couldn't possibly take it off myself and…well…" she blushed. "I would have asked if you minded, but…"
"Ah," Cassian said, flushing. "I see. I can see how that'd cause worry."
Sunako eased herself up and noticed that her corset was on the couch—and ruined. She looked at Cassian, who blushed further.
"I had to do something to get you to start breathing again."
"It's fine," Sunako said. "It's just…what do I do for clothing now?"
Cassian furrowed his brow in thought; then snapped his fingers. "Stay here. Keep the door closed and the windows closed. No one comes in for any reason unless it's me. I'll let you know it's me. But whatever you do—"
"Stay here," Sunako finished for him.
"Clever girl," Cassian said, leaving the room. Sunako locked it and checked the windows before sitting on the couch.
It was actually relieving being able to breathe properly for once, Sunako noted.
She straitened the room to pass time.
Just before she had finished, Cassian returned. "It's me," he said after knocking.
Sunako cautiously opened the door and Cassian came in, holding a box.
"Did you…"
"Yes," he said, handing the box to her. "I also asked a girl to come help you get your new corset on."
Sunako opened the box and stared at the dress. It was made of red velvet and quite simple from what Sunako was normally allowed to wear—in Delilah and in the Hargreaves' home.
The coat was the exact same as the skirt. The top was a simple white blouse.
The hat was the kind that would require Sunako's hair to be pinned up before donning. It was burgundy like the gloves and was decorated with pink decorative roses. Though Sunako hated pink, she didn't feel as though she had the right to complain.
The corset was almost exactly like her previous corset, save that it was white instead of a faint shade of pink.
There was another knock on the door. "That's her," Cassian said. "I'll go get some breakfast while you dress."
"Thank you, Cassian."
Cassian shrugged and left. The girl was about Sunako's age. Her hair was gold and her eyes were a bright blue. Her face was small and plain.
She stared at Sunako briefly, but then shrugged and helped Sunako into the corset. The brief luxury of breathing properly was soon snuffed and Sunako hissed in her breath.
"There you are, Miss," the girl said once Sunako was dressed.
"Thank you ever so much."
"No need, I'm just staying till I get my pay."
Sunako sighed. "Cassian has the money, so you'll have to wait a moment."
"That's alright. I've never seen an Asian girl this close before," the girl said. "I'm Eliza."
"Sunako."
"Sunako…such an odd name…heh…I've heard rumors that someone in the noble's class had taken an Asian girl into his home. It's been the talk of the city!"
Sunako blushed. "Oh…how strange that a respectable nobleman would take in an Asian girl."
"Yes, isn't it? It's bound to cause a scandal!"
Cassian returned with food. He gave Eliza five pennies and she left after thanking him greatly.
"Where'd you find her?"
"She's an Unfortunate. I told her I'd pay her more than she'd make in a good night if she helped me. She said a good night's usually two pennies, so I figured five pennies would be fair enough."
Sunako had no idea what an Unfortunate was, but didn't question him further. He handed her half a loaf of bread and a bottle of ale.
"I know this isn't what you're probably used to as far as a decent breakfast," Cassian said apologetically, "but it's the best we can do for now."
"It's not a big deal to me," Sunako said, eating her bread. "It's actually sort of relieving."
Once they finished eating, Cassian paid the inn-keeper and they set out for the Hargreaves' Mansion. Cassian flagged down a cabby and he and Sunako entered.
"Where to?"
"Hargreaves' Mansion," Cassian said, "and quickly."
The cabby began to move at a normal speed and Cassian shook his head. "Oh well," he mouthed to Sunako.
Cassian and Sunako were alert most of the way back, but no incident happened. They didn't see or run into Jezebel either, which worried Cassian a little bit, but he quickly passed it off.
The cabby pulled up to the mansion and he helped Sunako out while Cassian paid him his due. She walked up the stairs and knocked on the door madly.
A moment later, Claire answered the door and screamed. "Ms. Sunako! Oh thank heaven! You're safe!"
Claire stepped aside and let Sunako and Cassian enter the house. "I'll go put on some tea, for you and your friend," she said. "And I'll inform Ms. Mary Weather—"
"What of Cain?"
Claire stopped and turned to Sunako. "Why, he left two days ago around noon with Riff, Mr. Crehador, and Mr. Gabriel to save you. They figured you were taken by Delilah—were you?"
"I was, but Cassian and Dr. Disraeli helped me escape."
Claire froze. "Dr. Disraeli…helped you?" She looked at Cassian. "Then you are…"
Cassian shook his head. "About that tea…"
"Right," Claire left, still a bit startled. Sunako and Cassian went to the parlor.
"Do you think they've found Delilah by now?"
"Probably," Cassian agreed. "I can go back and tell them you're safe here, but someone would have to come back with me."
"I'll go," Sunako said.
"Not for your life," Cassian snapped. "After all the work the doctor and I did to get you out, you're staying right here. I'll ask one of the Earl's man-servants to come with me."
"But I—"
"No!" Cassian shouted. "Listen to me, Ms. Sunako, if you go back, how would it be any less different than whether or not I didn't get you out? You're staying here."
Sunako glared at him. "You must be mad!"
"I know that," Cassian said, "why would I work with the man known as the Mad Doctor otherwise? But just because I'm mad doesn't mean I'm mad enough to put you back in danger! Your lover and the Doctor would have my head!"
Sunako leaned back in her chair and Claire brought tea for both of them. "Ms. Mary's in the library if you want to meet her later, Miss."
"Thank you," Sunako said, drinking her tea. Cassian stood and went to explore.
I have to go back, Sunako decided. I have to get—but what Cassian said is true…but how can I stay here when Cain has risked his own life to go save me?
For several minutes Sunako debated with herself in this way before she decided to go and talk to Mary.
Yes...it's a tad late. Sorry everyone. But it's here now! Hope you enjoyed.