Cassandra's existence changed. Her devotions stopped, as did her trips to Troy to visit the priests and priestesses. Much like Helen, she shuffled around the palace, though in a confused daze instead of a hostile outrage.
Events and days jumbled together. One moment she'd be listening to Hecuba babbling about Ascanius and the next she'd be sitting in the gardens, the time of day and her clothing different. Her attention would either linger for too long on someone or an object or not register anything at all.
Her visions didn't lessen. They plagued her worse than ever before, and most nights she didn't sleep. When they happened during the day, Cassandra found she could dull their impact with a bit of wine. She never got drunk, but some days she was far from sober.
As an afterthought, she noticed most people's attitudes about her shifted. Instead of overlooking her, they talked to her. Cassandra didn't know if she responded, and if she did, what she said. But she didn't mind their company.
Only the King, Polyxena, and Helen treated her the same. Priam and Polyxena acted disgusted whenever they happened upon her, and Helen did her best to avoid Cassandra.
When she couldn't, she glared at Cassandra or chuckled about the princess' condition. Once, she teased Cassandra so loudly she drew Deiphobus' attention.
He screeched at his wife, apologized to Cassandra, and shoved Helen from the room.
Helen howled like a wolf as she left.
Helenus took to ensuring Cassandra looked after her daily needs. He brought her food when she'd spent the day meandering and couldn't remember where she'd gone. He always had a blanket on him in case he came across her outside, for she had the habit of staying in the cold for half the day in nothing more than a thin peplos better suited for mid-summer.
For the twins' twenty-sixth birthday, Hecuba wanted to throw a gigantic party like the one she'd orchestrated nine years prior. She claimed it'd be the very thing to pull Cassandra from her doldrums.
Helenus fought the idea, didn't think Cassandra could handle it. The pair debated until the King denied the plan.
In retaliation, the Queen refused to speak to anyone for a month.
On the battlefield, Helenus and Deiphobus were a fearsome force. They moved in perfect unison and led many successful sieges against the Greeks. Their bravery and skill brought more kindness from the gods, and the Trojans morale improved as the scales tipped in their favor.
At home, the brothers barely tolerated each other. They didn't snub each other, but they didn't talk much nor made eye contact. And they didn't occupy the same room if Helen was present.
But their shaky relationship changed when Deiphobus' and Helen's contempt for each other grew tenfold. It started with them trading harsh insults that made those that overheard wince and shuffle away in uncomfortable silence.
Then the pair's words turned to unintelligible screams that echoed throughout the palace.
After several complaints, the King hauled the two before him and demanded they settle their feud. Neither complied.
As a solution, Priam sent Deiphobus on missions that kept him away for months. When Hecuba protested, the King told her time apart would make the young couple appreciate each other, and she couldn't argue with her husband's logic.
In Deiphobus' absence, Helenus trailed Helen as he had before she'd married his brother, and he catered to her like he did Cassandra. In response, Helen spoke to Helenus no better than she did her husband. Yet she never demanded he leave her alone. More than once, she even appeared gladdened by his company.
Despite his efforts to keep anything unpleasant from Cassandra, Helenus took to airing his grievances about Deiphobus to his twin. She let him babble without interruption, though she didn't listen. Cassandra wanted to, wanted to stop the hatred for Deiphobus she saw brewing inside Helenus, but the desire to save her brother could never overcome her mind-fog.
Helen sat outside in the patio with Cassandra and Helenus. Since Deiphobus' departure and Helenus' increased company, the former queen had ceased her insistent teasing of Cassandra. She still glared at the younger woman when Helenus turned his back, but otherwise, she treated Cassandra better than she had in years.
Cassandra didn't trust Helen, but she had neither the energy nor focus to scrutinize the former queen's actions.
Deiphobus burst onto the patio and beamed when his eyes settled on his wife, who sat next to Helenus on a large couch. He ran to Helen with open arms. He scooped her into his embrace and rained kisses on her face.
Helen accepted his affection but didn't reciprocate.
Helenus watched the display, and his top lip curled.
Cassandra combed her brain for the right words to ease her twin's rising frustration. He needn't get involved where he didn't belong and cause more problems. But Cassandra couldn't find the thoughts she required and remained silent.
"Have you missed me?" Deiphobus asked his wife.
Helen stepped out of his hold. She frowned. "I prayed every day for your demise."
Her blunt cruelty stunned everyone present. Even Helenus' odious expression faltered.
Deiphobus' face reddened. He barked a laugh, and a nearby servant jumped. "Some fine thanks. But what can be expected from an ungrateful tramp?"
In a flash, Helenus sprang from his couch. He slammed a fist into Deiphobus' chin, and Deiphobus stumbled back.
Deiphobus recovered fast and tackled his younger brother. The two fell to the ground as they punched, bit, and pinched each other.
The sudden violence snapped Cassandra back to her senses. She darted for her brothers without a plan but knew she had to act. She hadn't gotten far when Helen wrapped a hand around her wrist and stopped her.
"No, let them kill each other."
Cassandra slapped at Helen's fingers. "You're a demon!"
Helen smiled and tightened her hold. "All of you deserve death."
Cassandra abandoned her efforts for freedom and pointed at the servant Deiphobus had startled. "Get help. Now!"
As the man shouted for the guardsmen, he darted into the palace. The brothers continued their fight; both looked ready to tear the other's throat out.
In the brief time it took the servant to retrieve help, blood coated much of the princes' faces. Cuts and scrapes littered their exposed skin.
Helen egged them on.
Two guardsmen returned with the servant. They tore the princes apart and dragged each to one side of the patio.
The brothers struggled against the guardsmen's hold but couldn't shake them. They settled on hurling verbal abuses at each other.
Shortly after the guardsmen's arrival, the King appeared.
He marched onto the scene, his head held high and fury blazing in his eyes.
"Enough," he said once he stood between his sons.
The princes ceased quarreling.
Priam pegged each with a searing glare. "What is the meaning of this nonsense?"
Deiphobus dropped his head, but Helenus' chest puffed out. He pointed at his brother. "He insulted his wife."
The King sighed and glanced at Helen, who'd yet to release Cassandra. "When will you not be the center of trouble?" he asked but didn't wait for an answer. He looked at Helenus. "How your brother speaks to his wife is none of your concern."
Helenus scowled. "He doesn't love her like I do."
Priam massaged his temples. "But that isn't valid—"
"Let me be her husband."
Helenus' offer made Cassandra grasp. "No," she cried just as Helen did.
The King ignored both women. "Your brother won her fairly."
"Let us compete again."
Deiphobus sneered. "You'll lose a second time."
"There won't be another pitiful contest," the King said. His powerful voice reverberated throughout the patio. "This feud ends now."
He pointed at his sons. "I won't hesitate to banish you both if you engage in this childish behavior again." Priam's attention bored into Deiphobus. "Learn to handle your wife. You wanted her so badly you'll have her until one of you dies."
Helen shrieked a curse at the King and pushed Cassandra away. She hopped from her seat and hurried for the palace.
Only Cassandra and the servant watched her leave.
After a moment, Priam asked his sons, "Do I make myself clear?"
The princes grumbled their responses.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, my King," both said.
The King nodded at the guardsmen. "Escort my sons to their bedchambers. They need a night to cool off."
The guardsmen hauled the princes from the patio.
The King rubbed his eyes and muttered under his breath. He stopped when he caught sight of Cassandra.
"Make yourself useful elsewhere."
Cassandra wouldn't abandon her need to save Helenus from his misguided feelings and remained rooted in place. "Why not banish Helen? She's the root cause of all the bad that's happened."
Priam's eyes widened, then he glowered. "You're not to question my wisdom."
"Your decision holds no wisdom."
"Says the woman without the sense to differentiate between days."
Her father's jabs stung, but Cassandra didn't back down. "If she stays, Helenus and Deiphobus will continue to fight. And Helen wants it. She'd love it if the—"
"Silence!"
Cassandra closed her mouth.
"This matter is closed. Say one more word, and I'll have the flesh flayed from your back."
Sickening anger overtook Cassandra, and she left the patio without dismissal.
Cassandra didn't sleep that night. She sat in a chair in front of the fireplace as she thought about earlier events.
Her confusion hadn't returned, and Cassandra had yet to decide if its absence gladdened her or not. Existence had been more straightforward when she'd forgone in-depth analysis.
On a superficial level, Cassandra had achieved peace.
But it hadn't been real. The misery and uncertainty she now felt, that was genuine emotion. Cassandra despised them, yet to know she could still experience them brought bittersweet comfort. The gods had tried to break her again, but she'd endured. If Cassandra couldn't have Othryoneus, at least she was resilient, for all it was worth.
Toward the middle of the night, a soft knock on her door pulled Cassandra's gaze from the fireplace. She hesitated, worried
Helen visited. But the one time the former queen had, she'd pounded on the door like a demon bent on consuming Cassandra's soul, so Cassandra assumed it wasn't her.
"Come in," she called.
The door opened, and Helenus slipped into the room. He wore traveling clothes and had a full pack slung over his right shoulder. "Did I wake you?"
Cassandra shifted her chair until she faced her brother. "No."
She eyed him. "Where are you going?"
"If Father won't grant me Helen's hand, I'll proposition the gods."
"There are plenty of temples in the city."
"I want to capture Zeus' attention, and he won't ignore me if I seek him on Mount Ida."
Cassandra chuckled. "The gods won't listen to you no matter where you go."
"I have to try."
Cassandra stood and went to her brother. She cupped his coarse cheek, swollen from his fight with Deiphobus. "Why can't you forget Helen? She doesn't love you and doesn't want to be here."
Helenus removed her fingers. "Only because she's unhappy but I know she cares for me, deep down. If I could marry her, I'd take her somewhere far from this terrible war, and she'd improve."
Cassandra shook her head. She wanted to argue but knew, regardless of Apollo's curse, nothing she said would convince Helenus otherwise. Helen had woven an impenetrable spell of lust around Helenus. Cassandra didn't even think death would destroy it.
"I wish you wouldn't leave," she said.
"You could always come with me. You need—The palace isn't a good place for you, either."
The offer enticed.
What sort of life could Cassandra have if she remained in Troy?
Yes, much of her family now spent time with her, but how long would it last?
They only did it out of pity. When the next tragedy happened, they'd forget all about her.
But she knew nothing outside of the palace. Cassandra had no skills besides pruning flowers and praying to uncaring gods. She'd die in a matter of weeks, even with Helenus beside her.
Plus, she couldn't abandon those she loved before they were ripped away from her.
"I can't."
Helenus grimaced, yet didn't press the issue. He hugged her tight. "I love you."
Cassandra cried. "I love you, too."
Her twin blanched. "Oh, don't. I'll come back, I—"
Cassandra clamped her hand over his mouth. "No, don't make any promises."
Helenus nodded, and she dropped her hand. He frowned. "Should I—I want to say—It doesn't seem—"
Cassandra kissed his cheek. "Just go."
Her brother hugged her again, then left.