Beauty and the Beast
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Cassandra stumbled through the blinding snowstorm that had enveloped her and Archimedes the instant they had passed the castle gates. The only light source came from the steady emerald glow of Soul Calibur's eye, it's eyeball set in the center swiveling this way or that to signify which direction she should take.
She didn't know how long she stumbled through the endless whiteness, but at long last, she caught sight of a still formed, lying crumpled by a tree.
Hope and fear rose in her heart, and quickening her pace, she hurried to the limp figure.
"Sophie!" For it was her sister, lying on the snow, pale and unmoving.
Moving quickly, she grabbed Sophistic, barely managing to bundle her onto Archimedes.
Sophitia's eyes half-opened and she stared dazedly ahead. "Cass…" She mumbled.
"Huh?" Looking over, Cassandra saw Sophitia slump forward, her head almost touching Archimedes' mane. "Did you say something, sis?" Sophitia was conscious, which was a good thing, but just barely.
"Cass… must save… help…" Sophitia mumbled, barely audible over the raging winds.
She's delirious. Cassandra realized. I have to move fast.
Mounting Archimedes, she sat behind the slumped form of her sister, arms angled to hold Sophitia safely.
"Come on, Archimedes." She said urgently. "Run, fast as you can. We're heading home."
It was a long journey, made moreso by Cassandra having to make sure Sophitia wasn't slipping into a critical stage, but fortunately enough, Soul Calibur acted as an excellent guide, it's emerald light revealing pathways otherwise hidden by the blinding snow.
After a while, though, the snowstorm died down, and Cassandra saw a gap in the trees. Urging Archimedes ever forward, she finally found herself on the edge of the woods, not five meters away from the cottage.
There was no time for memories or nostalgia, not now. Not with Sophitia in the state she was. Quickly as she could, Cassandra laid her sister on the couch, and turned to the fireplace, long since gone cold and dead.
In a few minutes, she'd started the fire, and had gone to the kitchen. Moving with a practiced hand, she quickly used what ingredients she could find for a hot broth. Her sister definitely needed it now.
As an afterthought, she descended into the cellar, coming out with several thick, woolen sheets. After all, the most important thing right now was to get her sister as warm and comfortable as possible.
Bundling the shivering Sophitia in the blankets, she returned to the kitchen. How often had Sophie taken care of her when she was ill? And now here the roles were reversed. Shaking her head slightly at the strange familiarity of it all, she continued her work.
Two days later…
"Cass…?" Sophitia mumbled. Her weak eyesight was refusing to aid her in confirming whom the person standing in front of her was. Through her blurry vision, she made out the vague shape of someone- whoever it was- kneeling in front of her. A second later, a cold cloth was pressed against her forehead, alleviating some of the burning heat she felt throughout her body. "Ahhh…" She breathed.
"Sis?" Came the voice. "You're awake!"
And Sophitia's heart leaped. "Cass…" She croaked. "You…"
"Don't talk for now, Sophie. Just rest." Cassandra's voice was coming through loud and clear now, and Sophitia's vision cleared enough so that she could make out the features of her beloved sister. Her aquamarine eyes shone with a clear light, her mouth formed into a comforting smile.
Sophitia shook her head slightly. "W- where…?" She stammered. "What… happened?"
"I found you in the woods." Cassandra spoke softly. "You had a raging fever from the instant I brought you home." She shook her head slightly. "What were you thinking, sis? That you'd go to the castle and demand that I go free or something? You could have ended up in an even worse position than you were in when I found you!"
Something wasn't clicking in Sophitia's mind. "Wait… where… am I? Where are we?"
She looked around, catching sight of the fireplace, the doorway to the kitchen, the simple yet elegant furniture that marked her home. "I'm…"
"Welcome home, sis." Cassandra smiled, and Sophitia thought she saw a tiny sparkling tear in one eye. An instant later she found herself in a tight hug, her younger sister embracing her passionately.
Returning the hug, Sophitia shut her eyes, crying tears of joy herself. For now… just for now… they could pretend there was no sorrow and misery in the world. Just two sisters… reunited at long last.
Raphael gave a long hard look at the man before him. "You're sure about this? Sophitia and Cassandra have returned?"
"No doubt about it, Master Raphael." The man replied. "I saw them riding into their house a couple days ago, and they've barely ventured out since then."
"Well, Master?" One of his lackeys ventured. "Should we initiate the plan now?"
"Hmm…" Raphael pursed his lips. "Tempting… but no. Let them spend a few more days together. When we finally tear them apart, the shock will be that much greater."
He smiled thinly. "Meanwhile, send a message to Master Vercci. Sophitia will need a cosy room during her stay there, will she not?"
"So?" Yunsung questioned urgently.
Talim merely shook her head. "Nothing. He doesn't sleep. He barely eats. He just sits and stares out the window." She leaned against the wall, sighing. "I knew he and Cassandra had gotten close, but…"
Talim squeezed her eyes shut, feeling the first sting of hot tears. "It's not that I mind so much for myself, and the rest of us, about this curse thing. We've gotten used to it. But… we… I've been with Master Siegfried since he was a little boy. To see him like this, and us unable to do anything about it…"
She knew how to deal with his rage that had always flared up from time to time. She knew how to calm him down and to think rationally, hard as it might have appeared to be.
But this was different. His silent, somber resignation was something she had had to deal with. Frankly, it scared her.
Yunsung shook his head, and laid a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. Right now, the curse and its effects were the last things on their minds. Now matter how Siegfried behaved towards them, they were the closest thing to family he ever had. Now, when so much appeared to be lost, they only wanted him to smile again, like he had when Cassandra was with them.
The winter was cold and harsh, but such is the nature of the world that even the darkest night must give way to dawn, and the coldest winter, to spring.
Gradually, Sophitia began to recover her old strength and vigour. She wasn't strong enough to return to the bakery, but she could walk about the house, and help with less strenuous chores.
Then, one night…
Cassandra glanced up at the night sky. Thick clouds were forming overhead, and she thought she could hear the soft growl of thunder in the distance. There was going to be a storm tonight.
Shutting the door to the cottage, she turned to her sister, sitting on the couch. "C'mon, Sophie. There's a storm coming. Let's get to bed."
Her sister nodded, and began to stand, when a knocking resounded on the door.
"Hm?" Turning, Cassandra walked back to the entrance of the house. Cracking open the door, she peered through at the wizened face of an old man. "Um… can I help you?" She asked uncertainly.
"I've come for your sister, girl." The man said softly.
"My sister? But-"
"She is… well, mentally deficient, to put it nicely. We have to keep her under lock and key to ensure she does not endanger the populace. I wish to take her to the asylum."
Cassandra's eyes blazed and she grit her teeth. "No. You won't." She fairly growled.
The old man pursed his lips. "Young lady, that was not a request. If you're not going to cooperate-"
"Cass? Who's that at the door?" Sophitia appeared behind Cassandra, curious.
"Ah, perfect timing. Seize her!" The old man snapped. An instant later, the door swung open, and Cassandra was knocked to the ground, her forehead dashed against the rough wooden boards.
Scrambling to her feet, she hurriedly wiped away a smear of blood from her forehead, and turned towards the old man- to find that he was not alone.
Two burly men had a firm grip on each of Sophitia's shoulders- not that she'd be well enough to run for it anyway- and were hauling her roughly towards a nondescript wagon on the dirt road.
A crowd of curious villagers had already gathered, even in the late night, to watch the spectacle. And despite Sophitia's frantic cries, not one person stepped to her aid.
Angrily, Cassandra rushed for the nearest of the meatheads hauling her sister away, and tugged roughly at his arm. "Let- her- go!" She snarled.
Another arm snared her shoulder and yanked her away. "Such a pity that your sister is insane, Cassandra." Raphael said, the slightest hint of a smirk on his face.
"Raphael!" Cassandra gasped. Then her eyes widened as realization hit her. "You did this!"
"Hm? Oh, yes. That. Yes, indeed. I did my part as a fine, upstanding citizen, informing Master Vercci of a potential danger to the populace. I would have preferred Sophitia not end up being locked away, but… I suppose one must place duty above self."
"My sister is not crazy, and you know it!"
"Hmm…" Raphael stroked his chin. "Yes… perhaps. Perhaps this is all a big misunderstanding. I'm certain I'd be able to sort it all out." His smile grew predatory. "If, of course, you take back the words you said during our last meeting. How about it, Cassandra? Just say the word."
Then at last, too late, all of his schemes were made known to her. A wild fury boiled up within Cassandra, and in one motion she shoved him away. "Never!" She spat.
He frowned. "Fine." He said. "Then your sister stays locked up until you agree. You should know she really is crazy, after all. Ranting and raving about some nightmare monster is a rather good proof of that."
Nightmare… monster? Cassandra stood stock still, her mind working overtime. Of course! So that was why…
"Wait!" She called. "My sister's not crazy, and I can prove it!"
Running back into the house, she rummaged frantically through her pack, finally pulling out the one item she knew could prove her sister's sanity.
Bursting back outside, she saw with a quick glance that Sophitia was already halfway bundled into the wagon, and she lifted Soul Calibur high into the night sky. "Soul Calibur," She called. "Show them Siegfried!"
A flash of emerald light, and before the stunned crowd, an image of Siegfried formed, his face cold and hard as he sat gazing listlessly at the window.
"See!" Cassandra said triumphantly. "My sister wasn't lying!"
She could hear shocked murmuring emanating from the crowd, and the two burly men glanced at each other, now unsure what to do. Then, a lone voice spoke up from the crowd.
"Is that… is he… dangerous?" The woman spoke hesitantly.
Cassandra's eyes widened in surprise at this. Dangerous? "No, of course not!" She protested vehemently. "He's really kind, and gentle-"
"Kind? Gentle?" Raphael's mocking tones came from beside her. "Why, Cassandra, if I didn't know better I'd say you had feelings for this… monster."
Cassandra grit her teeth, eyes blazing. "He is no monster, Raphael. The closest thing I see to a monster here is the worm I am talking to."
Raphael's face morphed into a mask of anger. "You're as crazy as your sister!" He cried. Roughly, he shoved her away, grasping hold of Soul Calibur in the same movement, and though no one but Cassandra noticed, the sword sprouted curved barbs, gaining the semblance of being cruel, wicked.
Raphael was seething. So his ploy had failed, all because he had never counted on Cassandra being able to prove her sister wasn't insane. Very well. If he could not have Cassandra now, he'd first sate his fury by slaying this… creature before him.
"Look at this!" He cried. "A hideous, malformed beast! Have any of you ever seen such a monstrosity before? And she claims it to be gentle! She says it is no monster! Who ever heard of something so monstrous being harmless? Well, I say that it is even worse than a monster! I say, kill the beast! Who's with me?"
Raphael's words had a profound effect on the crowd. First, there was a slight murmuring, which grew until it became a tumultuous roar of approval. "Kill the beast!" They chanted as one. Prove that no monster would ever get the best of them, they said. They would become heroes, at almost no risk to themselves. After all, there were plenty others who could really deal with the monster.
"Kill the beast!" The chant swelled with the ranks, breaking into a loud, heady roar as all able villagers ran to gather what weapons they could find.
"No! NO!" Cassandra cried out in horror. "Please! Stop! Listen to me!" But reason had no effect, not in this nightmare. Frantically, she rushed to Raphael, arms outstretched to seize Siegfried's gift to her.
"You won't touch him! I won't let you!"
Raphael easily snagged onto her outstretched arm. "Lock her up! The both of them! We can't have her running of to warn the creature!"
The others were more than willing to oblige. Quickly, they latched onto Cassandra none too gently and tossed her into the cellar. An instant later, Sophitia followed, tumbling onto the cold stone floor.
The last thing Cassandra saw was the faint sliver of light from the night sky narrow and vanish as they slammed shut the cellar door. Then all was darkness around the two sisters.
"… You never really did explain how you were able to leave the castle."
"Yeah, I didn't. Our perceptions of him were wrong sis. Totally wrong. He… he risked his life to save mine. And… he's done so many things for me, sis." Cassandra sat there in the absolute darkness, feeling the knot in her stomach grow tighter and tighter. "I can't just sit here. I have to get out. I have to go help him." Scrambling to her feet, she headed for what she believed was the general direction for the door.
"Okay, I think I'm getting close." She called to her sister.
Whuk!
"Hm? Did you hear that?"
Whuk!
"What's that noise?"
Whuk!
"It's getting louder…"
Whu-KRUNCH!
There was a splintering sound, and a shaft of light fell directly onto Cassandra. Glancing upwards, she thought she could see the shattered remnants of a lock about the edges of the hole.
A second later, the doors to the cellar were thrown back, and a very worried looking Rothion was staring down at the two of them, a giant hammer grasped in one arm.
"Rothion!" Sophitia gasped with relief. "Remind me never again to question your choice in profession."
"Sophie? Cassandra? Are you alright? What happened? I was on my way home when I saw this huge mob-"
"Where are they?" Cassandra demanded urgently.
"They've left already. I think they were headed for the forest-"
Cassandra wasted no time. Darting past Rothion, she called out to the clear night. "Archimedes! Come!"
A moment later her trusty steed was at her side. "Rothion!" She called hurriedly. "Please take care of my sister!"
"Huh? Where're you going?" He asked, confused.
It would take too long to explain. Shaking her head, she turned, and headed back into the darkness of the forest.
Talim glanced at the huge mob below her, currently taking a battering ram to the iron gate. Some of villagers had grabbed saws with them for weapons, and upon finding their way barred, they were seemingly more than happy to fell a tree and use it to smash the gates down.
Talim shook her head. "This is bad, isn't it?"
Yunsung sighed in agreement. "Very."
"Master!"
Siegfried glanced backwards. "Talim? What is it?"
"Master, there are people attacking us! How could they find us here?"
"… I don't know."
"Master… what should we do?"
He sighed, his eyes weary. "I- I'm sorry, Talim. I can't care. Not anymore. Just…" He closed his eyes and turned away. "Do… do what you deem best, Talim."
She was silent for a long moment, then, with a bow, she turned and vanished back into the hallway.
Siegfried opened his eyes slowly, gazing at the heavens. Far above the tallest spire, thunder doomed, and a torrential rainstorm began to pour.
"…Cassandra…"
For some reason, I'm not really satisfied with this chapter. Well, please review and tell me what you think of it.
I'm in the thick of exams season right now, so, uh, the next update won't be very fast. Sorry in advance.