Chapter 30
Rose

Cassandra got a nice sleep, other than the fact that she could hear Varian's alchemy.
The clattering and clankity-ing of flasks and beakers, the pouring and sizzling of liquids...
Varian didn't get...any sleep. He kept playing with his alchemy until morning.
But not to worry, because Varian had a habit of staying awake for hours.

Cassandra yawned and stretched, waking from her sleep. "Good morning, Varian... I would ask if you got a nice sleep, but you didn't go to bed so I'm going to assume you didn't."

"Ha ha, nope." Varian poured another glowing liquid into a flask, goggles stuck to his face like a nerd. (in the words of Cassandra.) "Good morning, Cassie." He then said because he had forgot to.

Cassandra got out of bed and began brushing through her hair with her fingers and grabbed her bag. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going out, because I need to fix that boat if we want to head to the Dark Kingdom." She said to him. "Oh, okay... Um, I'll be here, doing my alchemy thingies." Varian said awkwardly. Cassandra let out a laugh that consisted of a nose exhale.

"Your alchemy thingies. Gotcha. See you later, Varian. Stay safe." Cassandra waved and walked downstairs to head outside and fix the boat. Varian continued his alchemy like he said he was.

Owl fluttered down and followed Cassandra.

Cassandra walked down the streets, Owl perched on her shoulder... She hated this place and wanted to get out of here; that's why she wanted to fix that boat today. But little did she know...

That wasn't happening.

Cassandra turned around, went to reach for her sword and then realized she didn't have it.
"It must have fell in the water during the whirlpool!" She thought, her eyes widened.

It was Clementine, and she suddenly threw a powder at Cassandra.

Cassandra rubbed the powder out of her face and scrambled backwards. Her vision went blurry and was suddenly tired... "Eh he he he he." Clementine laughed as Cassandra fell asleep, landing on the ground. Owl tried to attack Clementine, but she grabbed the owl by the wing and threw him at the hotel door. It took a moment for Owl to regain his strength and when he did...

Clementine and Cassandra were already gone.

Owl went to fly into the window to alert Varian.

"Whoa, hey! Careful, this is explosive! If I mix the wrong chemical with- Owl, what is it?!" Varian was panicking a bit because Owl was pecking his vest and shirt, trying to get his attention...

Cassandra batted her eyes open, she didn't know what had happened until she realized she was tied up in a chair. She struggled and wrestled the ropes... But couldn't get out of them.

"Cassandra, haven't seen you in a while. Did you miss me?" The man in the corner said.

Cassandra's eyes widened and she glared, "Andrew."
"Didn't answer me, but hello again." The man came out of the corner, it was indeed, Andrew.

"I heard from little Clementine here that you were visiting here." Andrew tapped his fingers on the back of Cassandra's chair. "And that you had an alchemist traveling with you." Andrew leaned in and whispered in Cassandra's ear.

Since she was immobile, Cassandra decided to spit in his face.

Andrew stumbled back and wiped the spit from his face, growling. Cassandra snapped, "Untie me right now, Andrew!" She even made the chair move a little bit. "No." He said quietly. "You see, I need that alchemist of yours, Varian? Was his name?" Andrew circled the chair slowly, yet again.

"You can't have him, whatever you want him for." Cassandra coldly replied.

"I don't think you get what's going on her, Cass. If you don't let me have the alchemist to help with the fall of the Kingdom of Corona! ...Then you'll stay here for the rest of your life, got it?"

Andrew walked off and sat on a stool, then glanced at Cassandra. "Choice is yours."

Cassandra bit her lip.
She knew she hated this place... and now she knew exactly why.

Varian followed the powder all the way to a building far into the city. "Are...you sure this is where they took Cassandra?" Varian looked at Owl, slightly afraid of what he'd fine. Owl was positive, that was the powder that had been thrown at her. Varian sighed...

He eased open the door and looked around... "Cassie?" He whispered. "Varian, no, leave now, please, it's for your own good!" She whisper-shouted at him. But it was too late, Andrew and the rest was alerted that Varian was here. Candles alight around the room, revealing them and Cassandra tied up into the chair. Varian stepped back surprised.

"Hello Varian." Andrew smiled.
"Do I know you?" Varian glared and kept stepping back and away from Andrew.

"Well, no. But surely you know Clementine, hm?" Andrew nodded to Clementine. Varian gasped and realized that Clementine tricked him and Cassandra both. "I made a little deal with your girlfriend here." Andrew leaned on Cassandra's chair again. (Albeit, at a bit of a distance so Cassandra wouldn't spit at him like a camel again.)

Varian turned a bright red, "She's... not... She's not my... She's-" He stumbled over his words.
Cassandra gave Varian a look to just let it go.

"Anyway, whatever. The point is... If she lets me have you, she leaves, and if she refuses, she stays with me, forever." Andrew looked at Varian with villainous eyes. Varian's eyes widened, "No..."

"Yes." Andrew softly took his weight off of the chair and walked towards Varian.

Varian backed away until he was backed into the door, which apparently had been closed by one of the other Saporians. This reminded Varian of something...

"Hand over the vase and the money like a nice little boy and I'll let you go without a fight." Caine beckoned Varian with a dubious look. "You tried to get those thugs to attack me over that vase, I'm keeping the vase and the money, for the trouble you brought me!" Varian shouted at her, then he quickly ran in the opposite direction only to almost bump into Otter.

He had no way to go, he was stuck at this point. Ruddiger chattered, terrified. Varian stepped away from Otter and then stopped in the middle of the alley because if he had stepped back anymore, he would have had to back away from Lady Caine next.

They both walked to him slowly with smirks on their face, "Please, let's just talk about this, I'm young, homeless, I needed the money and the vase could be resold for more money! I'll even share some of it, just let me go sell it and-" Varian tried to convince them to back down, but they both jumped him and began taking his backpack and bag off forcefully.

Tears rolled down Varian's eyes, afraid of Andrew.

"Leave him alone, you jerk." Cassandra bitterly spoke.
"Be quiet!" Andrew shouted at her.

"Don't shout at Cassie!" Varian raised his voice.
Andrew slammed his palm right above Varian's shoulder, pinning him to the door; "You too!"

Varian let out a noise that sounded like a mix between a squeak and a sob.

"What will it be? Cassandra has to make a choice, if she doesn't, then I make my own choice." Andrew leaned in close, trying to scare Varian. "Let him go, I'll stay with you! Just stop trying to scare him, Andrew!" Cassandra yelled at him. "Cassie, no-" Varian whimpered, but was interrupted; "Varian, yes, I have to! This guy isn't a nice guy and I can't allow you to have to stay with him." Cassandra explained... Andrew rolled his eyes.

Varian cried, that's the only response he could think of to any of this.

Cassandra flinched...
There was a long silence, other than the sounds of Varian crying.

"Fine, take him."

Andrew raised a brow and Varian looked at Cassandra.
Cassandra stared and mouthed; "I'm coming back for you."

Varian looked at Andrew.
"...Deal." Andrew unpinned Varian from the door and walked over to Cassandra.

He untied Cassandra, except for her hands. "I'll untie your hands once you've gotten out of here. Don't want you fighting back, do we?" Andrew said. Varian got out of the way to let Andrew open the door and push Cassandra out. Andrew pulled a rose out of vest pocket and put it in Cassandra's hair, then cut the ropes and closed the door, locking it from the inside.

She quickly tried to open the door, but it was locked.

Cassandra could kick herself for this.
But no matter... She was going to get Varian out of there.