"Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure."
― Famous Author
My curiosity had brought me to a strange number of places.
Surprisingly well-lit taverns and symmetrical castles, drinks made of sugar and spice. Delicacies light as air, bottomless barrels, and freshly spilled fruit. I walked the fine line between fear and courage, teetering back and forth. The taut leash of uncertainty, wrapped carelessly around my neck. Through the fog, I followed on the heels of an unknown entity, a wonderful sort of mystery, wrapped in a bright smile and stormy eyes...And then, I woke up.
The flutter of wings startled me from my impromptu nap, and my neck ached in protest at the sudden movement. Once I had wiped the evidence of sleep away - including a piece of parchment that clung to my cheek - I took in my surroundings.
The desk before me was covered in books and scattered papers. Afternoon light filtered through the stained glass window, warming the very air. That's right, I had the day to myself.
My fingers brushed over Julian's scribbles and various, explicit drawings of human anatomy...Interesting way to cure a disease. A slim tome caught my attention, and I gingerly plucked it from the pile. For the Countess...for Nadia's headaches. The reason I was left to my own devices.
The intensity of Portia's unspoken concern that morning had inspired a brief search. Not that it was very helpful. While I had recommended lemon balm or vanilla to Portia, the remedies would only serve to reduce the tension from Nadia's migraines, not erase them completely. I silently suspected her nightly dreams, or premonitions as she sometimes referred to them, were the cause. Julian's work was useless for curing headaches, as it was focused primarily on the plague. I dropped the book onto the desk, watching the dust swirl in elegant loops.
Another glance at the papers revealed the progress I had made….which was to say, nothing.
No trace of Julian's energy, no information about what really happened that night.
"Oh, come on!" Jerking in surprise, my hand accidentally swept a number of scrolls onto the floor. "I really need to get in there!"
Portia's voice was unmistakable.
I moved closer to the window, my task temporarily abandoned. Was she having an argument? A flock of birds disappeared into the maze below, with no sign of the trademark ginger curls. Sighing, I returned the fallen scrolls to the desk.
Another squawk of indignation came from the window. Was...was she okay?
Decision made, I quickly slipped out of the library, the jeweled door shuttering to a close.
"Please?" Portia was begging, "You're really trying my patience here." A third squawk echoed from somewhere in front of me. By this point, I had a decent understanding of the maze, though my knowledge was limited to the area by the fountain...Why did it feel like I was forgetting something?
"How dare you?" Someone shrieked, "Don't you know who I am?" By the stars, who was that? And so far into the gardens, as well. Using the noise as my guide, I twisted past various sections of the garden, including a small clearing filled with marble statues. To my left, the white wall rose well above my head. Despite the afternoon heat, the stone was cool beneath my palm. Spotting the familiar stained-glass, I ducked through a thin door of vines.
Getting warmer.
"Yes, yes, I know." I heard Portia sigh, "I swear to everything above that if you don't move, I'll have roast cockatoo for dinner!"
Carefully weaving past gnarled branches, I stepped into a small clearing. "That's it, Pepi, get 'em!" Portia's voice was clearer than ever.
Instead of exotic plants or statues, the clearing was filled with fruits and vegetables. The air was perfumed by assorted flowers, bright shocks of color across the never-ending greenery. In the middle of it all stood a cozy cottage, vines crawling up the sandy stone and tiled roof.
My eyes immediately found the source of the commotion; Portia stood beside a small shed, a pale cat stretching from her shoulder to bat at something. A large, white bird.
One well-aimed swipe from the cat, and the cockatoo rose into the air with an indignant squawk. It's wing clipped Portia's head as it flew towards the palace, clicking and muttering, "They'll never survive without me!"
Huh, odd. Who was it mimicking? Certainly not Nadia.
"Oh, Pepi, that awful bird, he makes me so mad!" Portia huffed in frustration, stroking the cat's head.
Awkwardly, I coughed into my hand.
"Oh, Cassandra!" Finally noticing my presence, Portia's eyes widened, and she quickly lowered the cat to the ground. "Um, fancy seeing you here…" Smoothing out her apron, she nimbly stepped over a row of squashes, "I'm surprised you managed to find this place, it's a little off the beaten path."
"A little bit." I agreed, returning the warm smile. Regardless of the circumstance, Portia always made me feel...welcome. Comfortable. I was grateful for the woman's consistency. Eyes falling onto the small hut behind her, I asked, "So, where are we?"
Portia chuckled, "How rude of me." One arm swept to the side dramatically, a familiar grin plastering her lips. "Welcome," She loudly announced, "to Casa de Portia! My own little oasis on the palace grounds."
...I could see the family resemblance.
"You have an impressive garden," I commented, carefully maneuvering around a patch of marigolds. Everywhere I stepped, there was some sort of plant blooming. "Why thank you!" The ginger woman chirped, pleased, "It's my pride and joy. Aside from Pepi, that is." As if on command, the Siamese cat curled around her exposed ankles. She bent down to pet the creature, cooing, "Isn't that right, Pepi?"
When she glanced up again, her cheeks were pink. "Anyways, watch out for the graspgourds." I followed her gaze to my feet, where curious vines slithered closer, "They're feisty, today. Why don't you take a seat over there? It must've been a walk to get here." She nodded in the direction of a bench, carved from a massive log.
"Are you sure it's okay if I stay?" I hesitated, biting my lip. The last thing I wanted to do was intrude on her free time. She instantly waved off my concern, smiling, "Of course, take a seat!"
"If you insist." I replied, amused by her enthusiasm.
I hadn't noticed it before, but a small trail of stones had been made to cut through the overflowing garden. The rocks were warm, even through the soles of my sandals, heated by the sun overhead. "You don't mind me working while we talk, do you?" She scooped up a rake, "Got a lot of work in the garden today."
Oh, I had interrupted her working. Or trying to.
A flash of guilt went through me. "Can I help?" As I moved closer, I glanced down at my feet to ensure I wouldn't crush her hard work.
"Oh no, I couldn't possibly ask that of you." Portia's brows furrowed, shaking her head, "I'll be fine, Cassandra. Go ahead and sit."
Mirroring the gesture, it was easy to match the woman in stubbornness. "Well, it's a good thing you're not asking. What can I do?" Hands planted on my hips, I tried not to squint under the bright rays.
The woman studied me for a moment before grinning slowly. "Fine," Even whilst sighing, Portia's grin remained fixed on her face, "You can help me remove the quackgrass...but it won't be easy." She handed me the rake, "The roots are notoriously hard to get out."
For some time, we worked quietly.
The scrape of our tools was the only interruption from the peace that had seemingly dropped over the clearing. Birds chirped happily in the distance, the faint sound of running water coming from somewhere nearby. The rather adorable cat, Pepi, was resting in the crook of the wooden bench. Even with the sweltering heat, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the manual labor. It required little thought or debate, no moral questions about innocence or guilt, no musings about a forbidden past or mysterious strangers.
Here, it was just us and nature. Just dirt and weeds and the sweet perfume of lavender and sweat.
Bending over to tug an especially obstinate root, I glanced over at Portia. Wiping her forehead, the color in her cheeks was likely from the heat and labor. Freckles were barely visible underneath the reddened skin. Julian didn't have freckles, did he?
Our eyes locked, and I quickly turned my focus back to the grass. "Thank you for helping." Her voice was calm, infected by the same sense of tranquility, "You really didn't need to."
"I don't mind," I answered honestly, smiling victorious as the train of roots came free. Ah-ha! Shaking the plant in the air, I commented, "It's strangely cathartic. Ripping weeds from the ground and the like."
"It is, isn't it?" She hummed in agreement.
Something smooth wrapped around my ankle, and I automatically pulled away. The graspgourds had been trying to 'explore' all afternoon. Never thought of plants having much of a personality, but they were definitely curious. The quackgrass, on the other hand...Sighing, I stared at the recognizable weed dotting the garden.
"Are you alright?" Porta leaned back on her heels, staring up at me in concern. "Huh?" I answered intelligently, then added, "Oh, I'm fine."
My eyes fell onto a small plant beside her with familiar serrated leaves. Lemon balm. "Portia," I kneeled in a cleared area to grab the next weed.
"Yes?" Without looking up, the russet-haired woman tugged at her own leafy trespasser. "How is the Countess doing?"
Portia stilled, releasing the stem to give me a long, searching look. I shifted uncomfortably until she finally nodded, "I think she'll be alright." The corner of her lips rose, "Honestly, Cassandra, things were getting a little rough before you showed up."
Me? I doubted the herbal recommendation was that influential. "I'm glad millady chose to visit your shop." Oh.
Bright blue eyes met green, "I think you could be just what we need."
"You might be giving me too much credit." I laughed nervously, resisting the urge to duck behind the nearby delphiniums.
I was charged to have her brother killed. Hung from the gallows.
Hoping to change the focus of the conversation, I leaned closer to the freckled woman.
"So, Julian's your brother, huh?" I fought to keep my amusement hidden when she froze, almost comically so. "I admit," I shrugged, a smirk worming its way onto my lips, "I feel like I should've pieced it together before now."
Even without Julian's confession, her reaction confirmed it. Portia and Julian were siblings.
"About the scene at the shop," It was funny seeing the normally confident woman act so flustered, "I was just...surprised to see him there." I thought back to their reunion, the naked hurt and shock on their faces. Julian implied that he hadn't seen her in years. "I was, too." We chuckled, falling quiet once more. Near the cottage, Pepi stretched leisurely across the bench.
"He's got a real flair for the dramatic, Ilya." Portia shook her head, smiling, "I'm glad to see that hasn't changed." Remembering my own interactions with the exuberant doctor - from the initial break-in to the...impromptu pat-down - I couldn't help but agree.
Dramatic was one word for it.
Her face fell, no doubt thinking of the years spent away from her family.
Did I have siblings, too, somewhere? Parents? If so, why wouldn't Asra have told me by now?
Shaking off the maudlin thought, I tried to lighten the mood. "It must run in the family." I copied Portia's wink, though the motion felt awkward and forced.
Regardless, Portia reared backwards, placing a hand on her chest. "Me? Dramatic?" She cried, lips twitching, "Why, Cassandra, how dare you?" After a brief pause, we burst into fresh laughter. "I learned from the best." Portia wiped her forehead, smearing flecks of dirt across the pale skin.
In a soft voice - one I surely wasn't meant to hear - she murmured, "Ilya taught me everything I know."
Before I could so much as frown in her direction, the curly-haired woman waved a hand in the air, as if to ward off the nostalgia. "Are you thirsty? I'll get some water for us."
Without waiting for a response, Portia pushed herself to her feet, "It's important to hydrate!" The water was deliciously cool against my dry lips. I hadn't realized how parched I was until she returned with two, tall glasses.
"Soo," With a determined smile, I felt her gaze linger, "I didn't realize you two knew each other." Trying to turn the tables, huh? I shrugged, taking another sip.
She shot me a mischievous wink, "Did that happen before or after millady hired you?"
Oh.
Coughing, I lowered the glass.
"Don't go dying on me, now." Portia laughed at my reaction, a surprisingly strong hand patting my back. After I recovered, I wiped the remaining droplets from my lips.
"I met Julian the same night Nadia visited the shop." Blue eyes studied me curiously, "He arrived shortly after she left. Wanted to see Asra about something." I recalled the glassy eyes of the mask, the piercing and intimidating stare from the unexpected intruder.
Not so intimidating now. The relaxed man in the tavern had been a stark contrast to the towering doctor I initially met.
Portia hummed thoughtfully, draining her glass.
Leaving the cup on the ground beside her, she said, "That sure sounds like my brother. But why didn't you tell millady?"
That was the million-ruble question, wasn't it?
Coming from anyone else, the question might've been an accusation. Portia's expression, however, was not unkind. Quite the opposite.
Rubbing at a spot of dirt on my forearm, I sighed, "I..I don't know. It's not that I distrust the Countess."
I didn't completely trust her yet either, though I wanted to.
"I guess...I didn't want to condemn him with incomplete information." Julian's laughter rang in my ears.
"If it's my word that knots the hangman's noose...How can I send a man to death before I've investigated his innocence?"
Suddenly, the ground was much more interesting. My heart pounded a slow rhythm in my ears, the faintest of twisting in my gut.
I had a job to do. I wasn't here because the Countess enjoyed my company or because Portia needed help gardening.
"I'm happy to hear you say that, Cassandra."
The relief in Portia's voice helped to ease the nausea. She looked tired when I risked a glance up, shoulders slumped. "I don't know what mess Ilya's got himself into, but if he has you in his corner," Our eyes met again, "I get the feeling that everything will work out in the end."
By the stars..."Portia." I swallowed, gripping the glass in both hands.
She had so much faith in me. Her brother's life was at risk, and she...she was trusting me, with it.
With him.
Throat tight with emotion, I found it difficult to speak. Even so, I managed two words, "Thank you."
"No, thank you." She smiled softly, glowing in the warm light. "That's what I'm here for, anyways. Pep talks and expert gardening skills." Portia shrugged, holding her hand out. Wordlessly, I dropped the empty cup into her expectant palm.
Rising to her feet, glasses in hand, she peered upwards, "Oh my, it's getting pretty late, huh?"
The polite implication was clear. She needed to return to work. It was well past noon, now. Late light dappled the clearing between gentle shadows, dancing across her features. I stood silently.
"I'd better get back to work," Portia smiled again, "but I'm glad you came to talk to me. I knew we'd be friends eventually." The cat, Pepi, suddenly appeared by her ankle. Her smile brightened as she laughed, "And Pepi, too, of course."
With the sun at my back, I weaved through the garden.
Even with Portia's expectations weighing on my shoulders, I felt more at ease. The trials ahead felt less insurmountable, mysteries less dark and imposing.
I took my time, moving through the underbrush. I had the rest of the day to myself. The maze disappeared behind me, blocking my view of the palace walls. I move thoughtlessly over rocks and shrubbery, mind wandering to somewhere much further.
How could I confirm Julian's innocence? It'd been years since the murder took place, and visiting the scene of the crime was an experience that I was not willing to repeat. I shuddered, rubbing goosebumps from my exposed arms.
Why was it suddenly so cool outside?
A quick glance up revealed that the sky had indeed darkened. That was...strange. It was too soon to be evening.
My feet continued through the shadows, as if possessed. Dread settled into the pit of my stomach.
Soon, thick foliage opened to a rolling field of gold. I forced myself to pause, but the weird feeling was already gone. What had that been?
The area was open and quiet, the only sounds coming from the serpentine stream towards the edge of the field. In the distance, the golden grass turned into another forest, towering with ancient trees and - With a muted gasp, my head jerked back to the stream.
Red.
The color finally registered as the dread shifted uneasily. There was no mistaking it. The water...was red.
Crimson stains leaked across the grass around the brook like spilled blood.
At first, my body tensed, eyes wide. Ready to run away.
Slowly, however, I forced myself to remain, lingering at the edge of the field.
Once the panic eased, my curiosity returned. Where was it coming from? It couldn't actually be blood, right? With trepidation, I walked closer to examine the water. The wrong viscosity for blood. Maybe Julian's books hadn't been completely useless, after all. It was still water, just...stained a horrifying shade of red. The brook should've been fairly shallow, but it was nigh impossible to make out anything past the grim color.
Was someone poisoning the water? How had this not been noticed yet? Unless...I highly doubted the Countess knew, but it was coming from the palace, albeit a seemingly forgotten corner.
The palace grounds were massive, it was unlikely that she knew about everything going on here.
My stomach turned again. The area probably wasn't patrolled often, for it to have been polluted like this.
Where the stream met the palace was best described as, well, dead. Rotting trees hunched over the water, the once-golden grass black and decaying.
It was a pocket of darkness in a colorful garden.
With a careful breath, I resolved to follow the stream to its end.
What exactly had I just stumbled upon?
The dirt beneath my sandals eventually transitioned into lemonstone, rising from the ground into one of the city's familiar features. The aqueducts...the source of water for the city's inhabitants.
The sky above me gradually changed, this time with the natural fading of sunlight. In a few hours time, night would fall. Balanced on the structure, Versuvia was laid out before me, chaotic and vibrant.
Clustered buildings leaned on one another, lamplight filtering through small windows. Smoke from active chimneys rose into the air, dancing and intertwining like lovers.
I stepped carefully over a damp stone, glancing at the - I stumbled, catching myself in time to glare at the raven that swooped over my head, cawing loudly. What was it with ravens? I tensed when the bird landed on my shoulder, sharp talons digging into the thin fabric.
"Um, hello." It felt incredibly silly to talk to an animal, but I didn't particularly care.
Its beak opened as if to scream but instead nibbled on the collar of my shirt, gleaming black eyes watching me warily. In fact, it appeared to be on high alert, even whilst resting on my shoulder. Dark feathers remained ruffled, each movement quick and uneasy.
I raised my hands around my face when something startled the raven. Quietly, I followed the soaring bird towards the city, wondering if it was the same one from the tavern.
By the time I reached the outskirts of Versuvia, I knew two things; one, the crimson poison was feeding directly into the city's water supply, and two...my feet ached something terrible.
Wincing, I paused to massage the sore appendages, already regretting the choice to wear the light shoes. I hadn't exactly planned on hiking today…
"Cassandra?" Whipping around abruptly, I felt gloved hands wrap around my forearms to keep me from slipping.
Face half-cast in shadows, standing on the aqueduct with me was none other than Doctor Julian Devorak.
Portia's older brother. The man I kept bumping into, in every sense of the word. The man whose innocence...or guilt...I had to prove.
"Julian," I exclaimed in surprise, watching the man retreat into partial shadow.
There was something odd about his demeanor. "Cassandra." My eyes dropped to the mask in his hands, rotating slowly as if he was unsure of what to do with it. "Out for a night walk?" The doctor sighed, staring down into the aqueduct.
This close to the reservoir, the red of his cloak intermingled with the red from the water, casting an ominous light against his sharp features.
"Something like that," I grimaced, following his gaze.
I still couldn't believe it was poisoned. Who knew how many people were already suffering? Or...or had died?
"What're you doing here, Julian?"
"Me?" He responded quietly, "Just thinking." Pausing, Julian added, "Funny, fickle thing, life...isn't it?"
Something was definitely off.
It was unnerving, seeing the dramatic and flirtatious doctor reduced to the contemplative, mournful man before me. In lieu of responding - I knew he wasn't looking for an actual answer - I stepped closer.
The city towered over us like a behemoth, dark buildings stacked against one another. With the sun gone, the only sources of light came from the open windows and the occasional lamp.
"Should you be standing so close to the reservoir?" I asked instead, forced to look up in order to meet his gaze.
He was so much taller…"What, this reservoir?" A half-smile lifted his lips, "It's harmless, Cassandra, harmless as it can be."
"It is?" I frowned.
"Won't do anything." He shrugged, "Sure, a few people might get sick if they go for a swim, but…" That's a relief. Not poison, then...
The smile fell, replaced by a look of concentration, "Isn't it a miracle?" He wasn't referring to the water, right? "They went and figured it out, or outlasted it." His tone was borderline reverent, whispering, "How did they do it?"
The cure for the plague. Of course.
Julian frowned, "It doesn't matter, I suppose. Life finds a way. The plague is over." His visible eye studied the mask in his hands. I resisted the temptation to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, something akin to pity swelling in my chest.
"So is my career," The doctor laughed quietly, unamused, "just like that. Who needs a plague doctor without a plague?"
"Julian, are you -" The towering man grinned suddenly, cutting me off, "It's like a Count with no city! Or barkeep with no drinks...So here I am!"
I ducked under the flourish of arms, stepping away to keep from being knocked into the water. It was slippery near the aqueducts.
"Time to throw away the last piece of the past I can't reclaim." A stray curl fell into his face, obscuring his good eye. "Pity, isn't it? Oh, well."
With that, Julian tossed the mask into the reservoir.
Pale shapes slithered around the fallen, beak-like mask, reminding me of my first visit to the palace. Above our heads, the familiar caw of the raven returned, uncomfortably loud. Ah, there he was. "Julian -" I tried, but was interrupted a second time. "Look lively, Cassandra," He suddenly whipped around to face me, grabbing one of my hands. His visible eye was filled with a frenzied sort of light. "Guards afoot."
Guards? Here?
The raven gave another ragged screech, piercing the air like a siren.
Footsteps echoed behind us, setting off the thundering in my chest. Slicking his hair back with his free hand, the plague-doctor-without-a-plague shot one last grin down at me before taking off in a sprint...while still holding onto me.
"Ju-Julian, wait! Slow down!"
His hand was loose around my wrist, and I was barely able to keep up with his long strides.
At this rate...
Wings fluttered around my head, nearly brushing my face as we ran towards the street. "No time to wait, Cassandra!" Just as his head twisted in my direction, a twinge of pain ran up my ankle.
Not the right shoes for an escape.
My ankle rolled beneath me, the world spinning; the last thing I saw was Julian's horrified expression before I fell into the murky water below.