Cassandra sighed to herself as she heard Jezebeth and Elsa's approaching footsteps. She knew their daily routine too well by this time. The two women came to her each day to humiliate and harass the warrior, telling her all kinds of things to break her mind, but Cassandra is strong, both physically and mentally. And yet, her willpower failed her. It took her some time, but knowing how useless it is to resist, Cass gave up the fight easily.
There's a handcuff around her wrists that chained her to the ground, never allowing her to get too close to the bars of her cell. And Cassandra hated it. The sound of chains echoing through her cell made her shiver; her mind still clearly remember those times when she was in captivity by her father's soldiers. A part of her still wanted to break free and leave the painful memories behind, but her powers are gone, her body is weakening, and her mind is drifting into the tempting force of darkness.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she heard the two women coming, wishing for everything to just come to an end already. But when she opened her orbs, she felt Jezebeth's magic, making her kneel on the ground. She groaned in slight pain as she felt the cold stone hit knees for the countless time since she's kept here. "Look at her, Elsa! Her Majesty, Queen Cassandra of Ovrilon, is kneeling for us!"
"What a majestic sight, indeed. But she is not a queen anymore." The blonde woman smiled as her gentle hands touched the cold iron bars, delicate fingers making contact with the hard and cold metal. "She's locked up in a cage like a pathetic, worthless animal. Everyone in Ovrilon thinks she died, but that's good for us. Oh, Cassandra, I wish you could have seen my coronation because it was captivating!"
The raven-haired woman whimpered as her lips trembled, her whole body shaking with both fear and wrath as Jezebeth and Elsa treated her like a monster. "I agree, my dear! But poor Cassandra has to stay here until her time is finally up."
"That's right because this is what true monsters deserve." Cassandra lowered her gaze as she wished for the two women to go away. It's not the first time they came here to insult her, but it hurts just as much as before. Sometimes she couldn't believe the things Elsa said to her, but at the end of the day, everything made sense. The blonde manipulated her since the moment they met, and Cassandra fell right into her cruel trap. "Did you hear me, Cassandra?" She felt Jezebeth's magic again, grabbing her by her chin to make her look into the blonde's evil eyes. "You are just a monster, a mindless, fooled idiot! Did you seriously think anyone would ever love you? Just look at yourself!"
"I know!" The raven-haired woman exclaimed. She couldn't hide her pain anymore, her heart constantly breaking every time she had to tolerate Elsa and Jezebeth. The older woman is her aunt, yet Elsa's offending words hurt her even more. She gave her her heart, soul, her everything. And Elsa betrayed her. It felt like a dagger repeatedly entering her heart, never stopping, not even when she was already a broken mess. "You don't have to remind me all the time." She tried to hold it back, but soon her eyes began to water. Cassandra has never been someone who cried too often, but now the salty, wet tears were already covering her flushed cheeks. "I know exactly what I am, but I never wanted to become someone like this! Everyone who hurt me, it's all because of them! I tried to be a good person, some's who's worth living, but I am just a failure to my people!" Sobbing loudly, she tugged on her chains like she was trying to fight her own will. "Why are you doing this to me, Elsa?! Did I not treat you right?!"
But the blonde just kept smiling at her, her expression only as evil as the days before. Those blue eyes didn't shine with the same sparkle anymore. They were almost demonic, the twinkle of envy and wrath laying inside them. "Stop pretending it wasn't your fault. You failed as a ruler and lover, and the blame is on you." Without any further words, Elsa left the two women alone, the sound of her steps vanishing in the thin cold air.
Jezebeth was still standing outside Cassandra's cell. She watched the whole scene from the background with a smile on her face that was similar to Elsa's, her intentions just as evil as the Arendellian's. "I must admit something to you, my darling." She wandered a little closer to her niece. "Originally, it was never meant to end like this. When your father first told me about his plans, you weren't included." The woman chuckled as she remembered the past. "You were only a little child with an undeveloped personality, so we thought you might choose our side when you grow up. But you didn't, and we both know what happens to those who turn away from your father."
"You knew about everything." The raven-haired woman whispered.
Her aunt nodded. "I did. Did you seriously think your father did everything alone? Honey, without my help, your mother would be still alive!"
Cassandra couldn't believe her ears. Her aunt was going behind her back all along, and she was foolish enough not to notice. The disappointment in the people she cared about or even loved felt worse than any kind of torture, but their betrayal hurts more than the news. "W-what?" She stuttered, clearly shocked.
"You heard it right, foolish little girl. But what else does it have to do with you, you might ask." The older woman cleared her throat, making small gestures with her hand as she spoke. "It is very simple, my dear. So during those times when you came to visit, I discovered more and more about your powers, and after a while, I realized how dangerous you might become. That made you a threat, Cassandra, and people like you must be eliminated before it's too late. Your father and I did everything in order to stop you, but somehow you always escaped or outsmarted us. But not this time."
With a snap of her fingers, Jezebeth's magic pressed Cassandra's face against the cold floor, the former Queen groaning in pain as her skin made contact with the rough surface. She tried to squirm, her body struggling to free herself as she heard her aunt laughing at her. Soon, her body gave up, and her mind slipped into complete darkness.
It was probably one of the worst days of my life. I've always been afraid of a disaster like this one, but it came too quickly, and I was unprepared like everyone else. Zander and I, we had to leave Ovrilon just a few days ago. Father said my mother is dead, but I'm not sure I know what that means.
People say it when someone dies, they either go to heaven or hell, and it all depends on what kind of person they were. It seems absurd to me, but maybe because I don't know much about these things. Still, I hope my mom went to heaven because my life is a living hell right now.
When someone saw me for the first time, they always said that I look a lot like my mother - eyes paler than the moon, pale, but not white skin and hair as black as the night. But despite the similarities, we're different. Mom has long hair, she's girl and beautiful, fitting the role of a queen perfectly. And then there's me, the black sheep. My hair ends at my shoulder, and I feel like I don't suit in the role of the princess. Not like it matters.
My life changed so quickly. One day I was sitting in the castle garden, seated on the ground, the grass tickling my palm as I gently tangled my fingers in the little green plant. It was summer, probably the warmest one in decades. But of course, I can't know that since I'm only ten years old myself.
My mother was sitting on the bench that was barely a few meters away from me, keeping a short distance so she could keep an eye on me because somehow I always manage to get in trouble. Maybe it's part of my nature, but I swear I'm not doing it on purpose.
And that's when I heard my mom crying out in pain. I began to panic because I had no idea what to do. All I knew is that my mother is in pain, and somehow I have to help her. There was no one else around, so she asked me to get someone. It pained me to see her like this, and I obliged her.
I ran as fast as my little legs allowed me, making my way towards the castle entrance. But before I could leave the garden, I slipped on something and failed to regain my balance. I fell on the ground with a small sound, and then I felt something dark in my head that made me lose my consciousness.
That was the first time my past began to haunt me, long before my life, this living nightmare even stared. It wasn't that bad at first since I didn't have much to remember. But as I grew older and my life became darker, it only seemed to turn my life into hell. Sometimes it happened randomly, and other times I needed something to trigger the shadowed side of my mind. That made it impossible to let go of the past.
After I saw my life-shattering in front of my very eyes, I heard a voice calling to me. I never recognized its owner, but I knew it wanted something from me. "Wake up!" It was so soft and gentle, yet fully capable of commanding me as it wanted. This voice is my secret siren, the deepest calling of my desires, almost like an angelic call from heaven itself. "Cass, wake up!" Maybe I never heard it before, but it sounded so beautiful, it caressed my ears in the most pleasant way. "Open your eyes, and stand up, Cassandra!"
And with a grunt, the Queen came to her senses. She opened her eyes and slowly rose from the ground, her breaths coming in quick pants as she stood. Jezebeth wasn't there anymore and then lowered her gaze to her restraints.
Cassandra took a deep breath and forcefully stepped closer to the bars of her cell, the chains holding her back. But it didn't stop her. She tugged on them with all the power that was left in her weakened body, trying to break free.
"Come back, Jezebeth! Finish what you started and kill me if you dare!" Her voice echoed through the whole place, the chains that kept her back, making loud, clicking noises."Just wait until I'm free, you traitor! I'll smear the wall with you, bitch! Aww, now where did you go? Or perhaps the cat got your tongue? Do you hear me, Jezebeth?! I'll rip your arms off, shove it up to your ass and then feed you to Hecate!"
Then it seemed as time stopped for a moment. She slowly lowered her hands to her sides, her eyes wide open and lips trembling as she looked at a certain blonde from behind the bars. She couldn't believe it. Elsa was there just a few minutes ago, but now she looked completely different.
"Did you come back to harass me again? Perhaps torture me while Jezebeth isn't looking?" Cassandra asked her former lover, her voice softening as she seemed like she was going to cry again.
Elsa didn't understand, just like Cassandra. This wasn't the woman who showered her with those hurtful words, shattering her heart into pieces. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act like you are innocent! You sold me out!"
"No! You sold me out!"
"You are ridiculous!"
"Martyr!"
"Traitor!"
"Manipulator!"
"Evil!"
"Demon!"
"Whore!"
"Stop it!" Elsa yelled, her blood boiling as her anger raged. After those two months, she's so fed up with those insults; she just wants to end it for once and for all. "Just stop it!" Their expression softened as pain overtook the anger. "Why did you do this to me, Cassandra? What have I done to you to deserve this? Why did you have to ruin my life?" Cass could hear how hurtful the blonde was, but she didn't understand her reason. What happened to the Elsa, who only came here to offend her?
"What are you talking about? I've been rotting here since I don't know when thanks to you! I had much better things to do than ruin your pathetic life!" It was still painful to talk to her like this, but deep within heart, she still had a little love left for Elsa, and she cherished their happy memories dearly.
"What?" Something isn't right, and Elsa could sense it. "But I didn't do anything!"
"Don't fool with me, Elsa, I'm too tired of this." The raven-haired woman sighed and shook her head, lowering her gaze to the ground as she spoke. "You came here every day to tell me how terrible I am, so don't act like you did nothing."
"No, it was you who came to me every single day!" The blonde exclaimed, her eyebrows knitted together as she looked at her former lover with anger.
Cassandra couldn't hold back her laughter anymore. All those lies sounded so pathetic coming from the blonde's mouth. "Do I look like someone who's free to come and go as they please?"
For a moment, Elsa stood still, then she saw the chains connecting to Cassandra's wrist, and she gasped. "You didn't betray me." She said in a faint whisper as the truth started to become clear to her. "But I didn't betray you either. I spent the last two months locked up in a cell."
"That's impossible." Cassandra paused, mentally slapping herself as she came to the realization. What she felt was hard to express. It was like living in a lie for years, believing in something that doesn't even exist. "Oh my fucking God." She stared at the blonde with her eyes wide open. "Illusion! Jezebeth used illusion on us! She used her powers to trick our minds! B-but..." She gulped audibly. "You're free. How?"
"I-I managed to escape when Jezebeth wasn't looking." Te blonde said as her body trembled, still feeling cold.
Looking at the handcuffs on her wrists once more, Cassandra thought of what to say. She gave her life up the moment she realized her powers were gone, but now she has a chance to restart everything. But the question is: is it worth it. "D-do you think you could help me?"
Elsa hesitated at first because she was in this position because of the Ovrilonian, after all. Then she swallowed hard, clenching her fingers into a fist. "You save everyone, but who saves you? It was you who caused all of this, so save yourself."
A/N: Hehe, are you less confused now? Elsa's last words are kinda surprising, I know. But hey, at least they never told each other all those nasty things that the illusions did.
I hope you enjoyed it! See you later!