Cassandra, was sitting on a wooden chair in the castle's intimidation room, her cheeks were damp with tears, her stomach was tangled in complicated knots and her body was shaking all over. She didn't know what was going to happen to her.
She could be imprisoned...no, banished...or even, executed. It frightened her, but she knew that she deserved everything she had coming to her. She had done terrible, terrible things and needed a punishment.
"I can't describe how truly sorry I am, your Majesty. I was despicable, my actions were awful and you don't have to forgive me, I don't think I'd be able to forgive me, either."
"That won't cut it!" Fredric yelled, "you put as all in danger! You could've got us killed! You teamed up with a demon! Don't you understand how serious this is, you stupid girl?!"
Cassandra didn't know what to say. She couldn't meet the King's eyes, absolutely ashamed. Everything was all her fault.
Yes, she had been manipulated by an evil demon, who she let get into her head and mess around with it. True, she didn't know that she was a demon for a long time, she just assumed that she was some kind of spirit, who was trying to help her, but she had still listened to her and hurt so many in the process, including her own family and friends.
"Until we think of a harsh enough punishment for you, " the King boomed, catching her attention, "you are to stay in solitary confinement, in one of the trial rooms, near the dungeons. You are to not speak to anyone, is that understood?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Cassandra practically whispered, her head low.
"Come on, then." Stan instructed, gesturing for her to stand. He took her right arm, Pete took her left and lead out of the room.
Pete opened a wooden door, that lead to a dark cupboard-like room, with a small bed and a chamber pot inside it.
"In here," Stan said, sternly.
Cassandra walked in, clutching herself to protect her skin from the chilly drafts.
The door closed and then she heard the sound of the key turning in the lock, leaving her alone. There wasn't even a window. It was totally dark, save for the few pinpricks from underneath the door.
She perched herself on the edge of the bed, tucking her knees into her chest. She felt like crying again, despite her banging headache and sore eyes. She had no idea what was in store for her. She would just have to wait and see.
The night had been long and difficult. She kept getting awoken by nightmares. Some about what she'd done, some about Zhan-Tiri and some about what was going to happen to her.
She had screamed, cried and even hyperventilated at one point, but the guards outside her door, either hadn't noticed or didn't care. She assumed the latter.
Her ears pricked up, when a key jingled in the lock.
The door swung open and a guard walked in with a tray of food and a cup of water.
"We heard you last night," he said, resting the victuals on the bed, beside her, "don't try screaming for help. No one cares, no one will let you out."
"I wasn't..."
"You're not allowed to speak. Do so again and I'll assure that your situation will get much worse."
He left, slamming the door before he locked it.
Cassandra looked over at the meal next to her.
Gruel and water.
Her stomach was churning too much for her to even want to look at it, let alone eat it.
She lay the tray on the floor and curled up on the bed, attempting to catch up on her missed sleep.
It was very hard.
"Please, dad, let me see her," Rapunzel begged, "please!"
Eugene hugged her close, a frown on his face.
"Rapunzel, she is dangerous!"
"She isn't! She's not under the control of Zhan-Tiri or the moonstone anymore. Please, just let me talk to her!"
Arianna gave Fredric a fowl glare.
"I know that Cassandra's actions were awful and I am not at all excusing them, but you have to remember that she is and probably always has been, a scared, broken girl, underneath her exterior. Isolating and not allowing her to get the help she needs, is only going to make things worse. Remember what happened to Varian?"
Fredric was stunned into silence, his eyes wide.
"I...I'll take your suggestions under advisement, Arianna."
Before Arianna could open her mouth to say something, Fredric walked out of the room.
"Don't worry, Rapunzel, we're not going to give up on her, we will get her help, what happened with Varian will not be repeated." Eugene said, softly.
"I'll make sure of it," Arianna said, her voice sterner than Rapunzel had ever heard it.
The Queen enveloped her daughter into a hug, giving her a small kiss on the forehead.
"Of course you can see Cassandra, I think she really needs you, right now."
"You're to let me in, to see Cassandra, Queen's orders."
"Fine," the guard outside Cassandra's prison replied, "but she isn't permitted to speak, by order of the King."
"We'll see about that," Eugene muttered, as the door was unlocked.
The room was so dark, that they could just about see Cassandra's teary, hazel eyes, gazing at them.
"Cassandra!" Rapunzel yelled, as Eugene lit an oil lamp.
Cassandra didn't reply, but gave the Princess a tiny smile, as she was clasped in a bone-crushing hug.
"I'll give you some privacy," the guard said, closing the door. Or at least, they thought he did. They didn't know that he had left it, slightly ajar.
The first thing Rapunzel noticed, was the tray of abandoned food. She bent down and picked it up.
"You need to eat, Cass," she said, softly.
Cassandra shook her head.
"I can't." She whispered.
"You have to, you need to keep your strength up." Rapunzel said, spooning up the gruel and waving it in front of her friend's face.
Cassandra gingerly took the spoon and reluctantly placed it between her lips. The taste and texture was making her feel sicker than she already felt.
"Come on, just a bit more." Rapunzel said, stroking her friend's arm.
"Please Raps, I can't. I can't eat anymore."
"Just promise me, that you'll drink the water, ok?" Rapunzel asked.
Cassandra nodded again, taking the cup and sipping gently.
"That's it," Rapunzel encouraged.
"You'll be ok, Cass, I promise, you won't be in here long."
If only Eugene's promise could be kept.
Once Eugene and Rapunzel had left, Cass felt slightly better, only slightly though. She had only been able to whisper to them, in a few broken sentences, so there hadn't been much conversation.
"I heard you talk to them." The guard, who had allowed her guests in, growled, "you're not allowed to talk, to anyone."
He sauntered over to her and stroked her cheek. When she was younger and when she had the moonstone, she would've probably bitten his hand off, but now after everything that had happened and because of everything that was happening, she just shivered, remaining silent.
"Imagine what the King would do to you if he found out that you'd disobeyed him? Maybe he'll arrange someone to cut out that tongue of yours, that ought to keep you quiet."
His hand withdrew from her shaking skin and he turned his back to her, strolling towards the door.
"I would follow the rules , if I were you. I wouldn't want any damage on your pretty little face."
The door locked and Cassandra's felt even more nauseous than ever before.