Disclaimer: I do not own Treasure Planet

Visiting Day

For WolfiesLittleMoon

A month later...

Cassandra couldn't decide whether this was going to be the most depressing day of her life or the most eventful one. She wanted to opt for both but she knew that she had to go one way or the other since life was never like that. She was now in the midst of parents, relatives or guardians having cups of tea with their daughters on their visit day. There were smiles and the sounds of laughter being played amongst the rooms like an orchestra boomed across an opera house. She was not infected by this happiness but more it brought the sadness which she buried deep within her and hid with a kind, sweet smile. She knew that Fredrick was as likely to appear as there was to find a shooting star soaring across the sky two nights in a row. She may have been expecting George to come but he sent a letter telling her that he wouldn't be able to attend the visit day until the next one in January due to clashing with his timetable. At least he had a good excuse. Fredrick didn't even send a letter to say whether he could come or not. So because of this she had to make a compromise with speaking and spending time with Sophia, Selina and Diana's family in order of how long their relatives should stay. Understandably it was Selina's mother she spent time with in the morning due to the fact that her timetable went by her current lovers. Selina's mother, Katherina, or as she insisted to be called, Kathy. 'It makes me feel so old when people call me by my full name.'

Cassandra glanced at all the other mothers or visitors who she guessed was the same age as Selina's mother. Kathy Gondola didn't look in the slightest bit old. She for a fact that her appearance hid her actual age. In fact she looked too young to be Selina's mother. Selina had told Cassandra that her mother was forty-one however when she met the beautiful, dark haired woman Cassandra thought her closer to thirty-one. It wasn't exactly a fantastic feat since there were many other women in the room who achieved this through the excessive use of cosmetics. Then again there were others who did the exact same thing but instead it made them look ten years older opposed to trying to look ten years younger. She had clear, smooth pale skin which reminded Cassandra of the statues from the ancient times. Her figure wasn't at all slim, Cassandra saw her as more curvaceous than anything else but this made her figure and beauty all the more godly. When she walked through the halls all eyes turned to her, when Cassandra saw her she knew that her reputation was not the only reason why she induced such a reaction from others. Her eyes were the most beautiful and alluring of features. They were an amber colour with specks of green which could lure the most cold-hearted of men to her bed.

Kathy took Cassandra by the chin at some point and observed her face. "I can see that you will attract a few men some time soon, Miss Richardson."

Cassandra chuckled nervously and shook her head. Kathy's grip on her chin was so firm that this action didn't prize her from her grip.

"I doubt I would even be in places where I would seek such a thing, Mis- I mean Kathy. I wouldn't wish to pursue a life of marriage."

Kathy released her grip and threw back her head and laughed. "Selina! I approve of this new friend you have made. Your other friends are well enough but I love a woman with unconventional views."

She clapped her hands. "You will have to visit us some time, Cassandra. During the holidays."

"Believe me, Kathy. I will prefer to be under your roof than my own." Cassandra replied graciously.

Kathy chuckled and nodded with some understanding. Cassandra imagined due to her personality and her habits didn't go down well with her family. What Cassandra didn't know was that Selina's mother had been turned out the house when she was discovered with one of the guests in a compromising position. They tried to lock her in asylum but she was able to find a way of escaping, skipped to the next planet and she's never returned to them since. She turned to Selina who gave her a knowing look. There weren't many things that she had told her, such as the details of her both parents death but she knew that they were dead and of the conditions she had to live under now that her brother was head of the family. Selina knew all to well about her situation with her family. She had never met them but she knew she didn't care to meet her brother and she was sure that he would not approve his younger sisters new school friend. He would probably prefer her to be friends with the likes of Aurelia Felnela. She would never give her up for the sake of her brothers approval either. She had come to love Selina, Sophia and Diana but Selina would doubtlessly be the only one who she could talk of these matters. She had even told her of her intentions once she had obtained her money at eighteen because she knew she was the only one who would understand. Selina even offered that they live together during her studies.

"Well I am glad to hear that." Kathy replied brightly as she fixed on her hat. She turned to Selina and gave her daughter an affectionate peck on the cheek and got to her feet. "I'm sorry I couldn't stay longer, my dears but there are things to do. Places to see."

"Of course." Selina purred.

Kathy gave her a look and walked away into the crowds. Cassandra noticed that Selina was being uncharacteristically quiet and turned to her friend.

"Selina? What is the matter?"

Selina smiled and shook her head. "It's nothing."

"What is it?"

"I just...worry about her. She gets so enthralled by every affair, hoping it will come to something real but in the end it is just...money. Sex. Nothing else. She wants something more but she has gone much to far to obtain that now."

"She made her choice. Not meaning to be harsh, but let her suffer from those consequences and don't insult her by giving her pity. I think she knows of them all too well."

Selina shot her a look of surprise and smiled. "You are too wise to be in this place, Cassie. I'm glad you will find a way out of it."

"We both will. I cannot say so much for Diana though." Selina nodded in agreement.

She had been told of her unfortunate situation a few days after Cassandra had been told that dark, sad night. Selina turned towards her through the crowd, where Cassandra soon followed and saw the sad, withdrawn expression painted on her face. When she looked at her Cassandra felt like she had swallowed a stone which refused to go beyond halfway down her throat. She felt like she had been shot in the chest. Diana had a small smile on her face as she looked towards her family, which killed Cassandra as she watched the charade and turned away with a painful look on her face. She wished she could warn them of what her daughter had been threatened with but she knew that if she did so she would be breaking her promise. Cassandra herself was pursuing such an endeavour but she still found it unbearable to watch someone as frail as Diana to follow such an end. However as much as she had congratulated her friend on her endeavour she still felt that her judgement was somewhat misguided. Of course, Selina agreed with this view. Cassandra had kept her word on not telling Diana's family and the rest of their friends the nature of Diana's situation and her obstacle of her freedom of choice. Her family, if they knew the truth of her decision, would probably intervene. She could imagine as she watched them that they would have no objections to her refusal. But Diana was too stubborn, as well as too selfless. A dangerous combination.

"Selina! Cassandra!" They both turned round to Sophia running towards them. "Come meet my family before they leave!"

Cassandra and Selina looked at each other with an amused look on their faces. Sophia was always the one who wanted to play happy family's and was at least a step away from being as naïve about these things as Diana was. Although just recently, as Cassandra knew, she had been made aware of the seriousness of the situations which you had to deal with as an adult when you weren't even eighteen yet. Cassandra nodded and allowed herself to be led by Sophia towards her family sitting in the corner. She giggled with her arm wrapped around Selina's when they were thrown into their seat and nestled their heads against one anothers. Many people would have seen them and thought they were sharing a secret. Something no one else would ever know, not matter how close they had gotten to another person. She looked up to specifically find Lord Michael Caliber, Sophia's father. As he had known her father and worked along side him she was eager to talk with him most of all this day. She spotted him, he still looked young for a man in his late fifties with grey hair but still a strong body. He spotted her and got to his feet.

"Ah this must be the famous, Miss Richardson." He greeted. He took her hand and kissed it politely, making Cassandra blush. Sophia quickly turned to Selina.

"And you remember Miss Gondola, father."

Lord Caliber tilted his head and gave Selina a mischievous smile. "Ah, who could forget the outrageous, Miss Gondola."

Taking both her hands and kissing her on both cheeks. His wife blinked slightly and turned away, supposing that she was his mistress however knew this wasn't true.

"Lord Caliber. It's wonderful to see you again but I am sure you have been more eager to meet, Miss Richardson."

"When I heard that Miss Richardson was to attend the Academy I have to admit I was in shock. When I heard that she had become close friends with my daughter I was thrilled. I am a great admirer of your late fathers achievements and I'm sure you know that we were good friends."

Cassandra nodded her head. "Yes, sir. My father told me much about you and your courage. I was much more eager to meet with you today as you were to meet me, believe me."

Lord Caliber chuckled and clapped his hands. "You are as polite as a charmer as your father once was."

"And as beautiful as your mother." His wife added with a kind smile. The mention of her mother sent shivers down her spine and regained her smile quickly.

"Thank you, but my mother was much too beautiful for any daughter to even be as far as to be compared to." She replied politely.

"This girl has a silvertongue. A gift from her father, doubtlessly enough." He said the others around them.

"You really do have a silvertongue." Selina whispered, restoring the bright smile on Cassandra's face. "You could have a thousand men if you wanted."

Cassandra's smile faltered. "Like I said I don't want marriage."

"I wasn't talking about marriage." Selina replied.

She wasn't talking about marriage...Of course she wasn't. She knew more than anyone that such intimacies not only happened between two people in a marriage. Sometimes people cheated on others and then there were people who loved each other enough to not want to wait for the weeding night. Others just didn't want to commit themselves to another person for the rest of their lives and decided to have many of those moments of intimacy with many others for the rest of their lives. There were so many possibilities. The word wasn't black and white that was for sure. Cassandra looked at her for a moment then burst out laughing. As much as Selina and Kathy's philosophy somewhat collided with Cassandra's she always found it amusing. She also agreed that she would much rather remain to have constant affairs rather than be imprisoned in a marriage for a hundred years. Marriages filled with love were rare, the Calibers and her parents own marriage going under that category. But they were two marriages out of a thousand.

"I have to admit I would rather go through my life and bed a hundred men rather than enter into a loveless marriage."

Selina nodded. "I agree with you completely."

They both asked Selina and Cassandra upon what they would do after they graduated from the Academy. They looked at each other with a little secret smile on their faces. They knew that what they were going to tell them would probably shock them to their cores due to differences between generations. Selina told them she planned to live in the city as an independent woman where Cassandra immediately jumped in and mentioned that she would live with Selina hoping to find a job. Lady Caliber blinked at them and turned away, a little shaken by their answer, opposed to what was going to happen to their daughter. She loved her husband, her daughter and their friends but she had a feeling that there was a line where she would not cross. However Lord Caliber looked at her for a moment and in his eyes, Cassandra could see begin to sparkle with admiration. She thought for a moment that he was looking at her as if she was someone else...She supposed he began to see her father in her more than ever now. She felt that her father was growing inside her. She felt his strength reaching out and pouring inside her from the grave, as if his spirit was being inserted into her body. She needed it now more than ever.

Lord Caliber nodded to her and led his wife out of the school. Cassandra sighed and got to her feet. "I suppose it is time I introduced myself to the Firestones."

Selina narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her. "You seem very eager to meet the Firestones... Is there something you're not telling us?"

Cassandra licked her lips and resisted from releasing her tongue from the hold of her oath. She was shaking all over and she was sure Selina took note of this. She was sure that there was something that she had been holding back. She wanted to tell Sophia and Selina the truth. That Diana was being blackmailed into marrying a man she didn't know and probably wouldn't come to love if it was one of convenience. It was only one in a million chance that they would come to love one another of their meeting or even coming to love one another with time. However she knew that if she broke her promise she would cause more damage than holding her tongue. She would cause her more pain upon Diana if she tried to intervene. She made her way through the crowds which had now died down to only a few people on their feet and more sitting down. She caught the eye of Diana who gave her a grateful smile.

"Mother. Father. This is Cassandra Richardson. The new student at the Academy I told you about."

Lord Hugo was a middle aged man who had allowed this stage in his life to take its toll on his appearance but still had the kind face of the man Cassandra had been told he was. Lady Penelope, his wife was a skinny woman who had lost her beauty but not the sparkle in her eyes.

"Miss Richardson, it is a pleasure to meet you." Lady Penelope greeted her. Cassandra bowed her head respectfully.

"Not as much as it is for me to meet you both. Never have I heard of such virtuous people as my friend has told me as you are."

Lord Firestone waved his hand. "Our daughter is too kind. It is to make up for the misgivings of our sons. They are mischievous but have good hearts."

"I cannot imagine anything less."

"Is that so?" Said a voice from behind her.

Cassandra spun round to find a tall, dark haired man peering down at her with a cunning grin on his face.

"Adrian. Be polite to Miss Richardson. She is a dear friend to your sister and therefore to this family. Additionally she is a respectable woman." His mother chided.

Adrian Firestone raised his eyebrows and took a seat beside his sister. "Really? I've never heard of such a thing."

"Adrian!" His father snapped which almost startled Cassandra.

"Sir, it is quite alright. I have two older brothers of my own I am quite used to this behaviour." She replied, attempting to keep the peace.

"We would also like to congratulate you all on your daughters engagement to the Duke of Orion."

Selina piped. Cassandra gave her a look which her friend ignored.

All family members went solemn for a moment but thanked them for it anyway. This assured Cassandra even more that it would be better to intervene however still bound by her promise, found that she couldn't cry out that truth that haunted her.

"It is a shame...That your Grandmother isn't here." Cassandra mentioned with a hint of suspicion and venom in her voice. "Perhaps she is on other business?"

Adrian raised his eyebrows. "As a matter of fact she is. On other business. I suppose Diana has told you of her virtues also?"

"I'm not sure virtue would be the sufficient term to use to describe her character and actions." She replied evenly. Adrian looked back at her knowing that she was communicating something else.

I know of what she has done. I know the truth. I know that there is a monster beneath such a frail body. You have seen it and I know its extents.

~ (***) ~

Marianne couldn't remember the last time she had worn a dress. They were all so constricting and the corsets...She didn't want to get into how painful they were. She glanced over her shoulder at all the other aristocrats who were heading into the building and she was hoping that she wasn't sticking out like a sore thumb. She looked over her shoulder and saw that there was no one else staring at her. No one else recognised her...Thank goodness. Unless...She saw a woman walk out the building, some she recognised and pulled the hat over her eyes so that she wouldn't recognise her. The woman walked past her, she seemed to be in a hurry but then again she would be...

I wonder what Kathy's doing here...Wait...No...She has a daughter here? Well I'll be damned...

She walked towards the door with her head held high and breathed in deeply. She had done this before. She knew she would have to give her name and who she was here to visit but she had to make sure that she came in here undetected. She had done it with plenty of merchant ships so this was going to be a piece of cake. She glanced up and saw a young Space Captain with a young girl on his arm and looked in a different direction. She knew that she was probably going to be somewhere near the top of the most wanted so it would be best to not get caught by anyone...

"Hello, sir. Are you here to visit one of your sisters?"

He chuckled nervously. "Not exactly. I'm a family friend and I've just docked earlier this week and just heard about the visiting day. I'm an old family friend of Xavier Richardson..."

"The famous war hero?" The old woman asked.

Marianne looked up with a raised eyebrow. Well that's one way of putting it...

"Well, of course, sir. Don't worry I will just have to ask you to go to the waiting area..."

He nodded to her respectfully. "Thank you."

"And I'll just tell her that you've arrived. I'm sure she'll be very happy as I am thought she would be having no visitors today."

"What about her brothers?"

"Unfortunately, they are on leave at the moment." She replied regretfully.

He nodded. "I see."