Soul Caliber II and all associated products are property of Namco® and hence not mine.
Everyone has a plan for their life. Unfortunately, that plan rarely holds under the weight of the reality trampling all over it.
Cassandra kicked her feet back and forth, staring out over the town from the tiled roof of her domicile. The sun shone with the warmth of an old friend, comforting but not oppressive. Cassandra gave it a smile, closing her eyes as she leaned backwards, crossing her arms behind her head. The day was so perfect, it was frightening. Cassandra cast the thought from her mind before she jinxed herself.
Too late.
"Cassandra? Cassandra, where are you?"
The Grecian opened her eyes, her mouth quirking in a slight frown. She briefly considered trying to hide from her sister, but too late did she realize that her feet were still hanging over the edge of the roof, visible from inside the room. Before this could be rectified, Sophitia was gently tugging on her ankle, letting Cassandra know she'd already been spotted. With a defeated sigh, Cassandra sat up, wriggling carefully off the marble roof of the house she shared with the rest of her family. She landed with a muted grunt on the balcony, then faced her sister, a grumpy scowl in place. "What is it?" she asked, crossing her arms.
Sophitia smiled, unperturbed at the display. "Don't forget you have to take the boys into town soon—for some reason, Pyrrha is worried that you would try to leave without them," she said, absently smoothing Cassandra's hair. The younger Alexandra batted her away. "Why'd he think that?" she asked, making a half-hearted attempt at irritation.
"I don't suppose it's the fact you've tried it several times before, now is it?" Sophitia said wryly, putting her hands on her hips. Cassandra harrumphed, lifting her nose into the air. "As their dutiful and loving aunt, I would never do something like that!" she insisted. Sophitia chuckled, putting a sisterly arm around Cassandra's shoulders, gently leading her from the room. "Of course you wouldn't," she agreed, and the two headed towards the stairs, grinning playfully.
Almost the second Cassandra had stepped off the staircase and moved into the court, her two nephews swooped in from one of the adjoining rooms, clamoring for her attention. Cassandra tried in vain to shoo them away, but the boys refused to be dissuaded. Cassandra looked desperately towards her sister, but Sophitia simply smiled and shrugged, then retreated into the kitchen. Cassandra's brow darkened as she glared after her sister. Such a perfect example of a housewife… no wonder their mother and father were worried about Cassandra ever calming down.
"Hurry! Hurry! It's almost time!" Patroklos cried, tugging at one side of her modest blue skirt.
"It'll be your fault if we miss it!" Pyrrha added, giving Cassandra an accusing glare as he clutched her hand.
"Fine! If you two weren't weighing down my legs, I would be making much better time!" Cassandra pointed out. The two boys exchanged looks, and before Cassandra was quite ready, they were dragging her into the street, almost running towards the central square. Even with her longer legs and superior speed, Cassandra had a hard time keeping pace with the two, so excited they were as they rushed down the streets. She felt vaguely like a failed kite, flapping morosely behind her nephews when she was supposed to be flying.
Much to her relief, it wasn't too long before the square came into view, already bedecked with festive trappings. Cassandra tried not to be affected, despite all her attempts the sight of the central square decorated for the Spring Festival was still something that made her pulse quicken and an almost childish grin leap to her face. Rothion had told her that the square was far more grand than any year before, but Cassandra had just assumed he was saying that because he'd been on the committee to decorate it. Now that she was here, she couldn't help but gape right alongside Pyrrha and Patroklos.
"There it is! Just like Papa said!" Patroklos suddenly shouted, pulling insistently on Cassandra's skirt. "C'mon! Let's get closer!" Pyrrha said, and once again Cassandra was being pulled along behind them, desperately trying to keep her footing. Sister, I have no idea how you do this, but I swear I'm going to get you for making ME do it! Cassandra vowed as she tripped and stumbled, hastily apologizing to the people she crashed into. Eventually, the two boys were satisfied with their positions, and pulled to a stop, staring in awe.
A large clearing had developed in the midst of the crowd, displaying a troupe of brightly-clad actors, performing amazing acrobatic feats as they recited their lines. Despite hailing from England, they all spoke Greek rather fluently, enough so that even with the speed of their delivery, everyone listening could still understand them. Pyrrha and Patroklos cheered as two characters battled one another, both wielding wooden swords. Cassandra watched in an amused fashion, crossing her arms as she watched the exchange.
"Ah, I see Sophitia caught you," came a sardonic voice behind her. Cassandra turned and rolled her eyes, a smile springing to her face despite herself as she faced her sister's husband. "Yes, well, I would have come eventually—I hear this troupe is the best England has to offer," she said, jerking her thumb at the gymnastics occurring behind her. Rothion winked, posing arrogantly. "They are the best, and it's no coincidence they happened to come to Athens while I was helping set up the festival!" he boasted. Cassandra harrumphed, giving him a playful shot to the shoulder. "Don't be so conceited! You know how the gods deal with those whose heads are too big for their own good," she warned in mock sternness.
Rothion harrumphed. "Surely even the gods would understand this small bit of hubris, if they looked down and saw the magnificence that is this festival," he said piously. Cassandra gave a scoffing laugh and opened her mouth to reply, but a flash of color caught her eye.
Her breath choked in her throat, and the smile changed to a look of shock as Cassandra quickly recognized the figure she was looking at. She was a tall woman, her bearing making her seem to tower above the crowd swirling around her. Despite all the bustle, no one dared to try and jostle her, so cold was her unsmiling countenance. The woman brushed her snow-white hair out of her face and turned, meeting Cassandra's stare.
Wait… I know her. Why is she… oh, no… no!
"Rothion… I'll be right back… watch them," Cassandra said absently, sliding into the crowd before the man could argue.
-
He collapsed, exhausted, at the foot of the mountain. His body ached with countless wounds, his muscles screaming with fatigue as he lay on the dirt path, fighting for breath. The world was silent, watching him accusingly.
Knowing what he'd done.
Knowing he was to blame.
His eyes clenched shut as he gasped for air, feebly trying to push himself to his feet. He could not rest—it would find him again. It would take him over again—
Father? Father, what—AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!
—make him kill again… Tears slid unbidden from his good eye, and an inhuman groan ripped free from his throat.
"No… I will not….. go quietly…. into death!" he panted, his remaining blue eye flashing open. He got one arm under him, heaving himself to his knees.
The mountain…. He would be safe once he was on the mountain. Once he regained the sword……
A sudden breeze whipped his blonde hair about his face, stinging his skin with light lashes.
His steps were faltering at first, his body swaying uncontrollably. Slowly but surely, his footfalls became more confident, his body suddenly beginning to flow with a renewed energy.
It new he was coming.
Coming to free it.
Coming to give it what it wanted…..
A grin split his face, his good eye flashing with a madness he did not recognize.
Freedom….
Author's Notes! Whellp, the first chapter done… I'm not sure how much longer I can keep this going. I'm horrible at expositions… but, be patient! I'll get to the good stuff soon, I promise! So Cassandra's chasing after someone everyone can recognize… and a mysterious blonde is going after a sword. Hmmm, can you guess who it is? Um, if it's not too much trouble, could you please review? I could sorely use the help… Thanks!