Chapter 3

I can do this, Cassian thought as he walked into the park. I can do this…I can do this…Cassian stopped, spotting Cain and Mary Weather walking toward him. Neither saw him. I can't do this! Cassian turned to run, but stopped, seeing Ida, White Owl, and Jizabel staring at him from behind the bush. White Owl and Jizabel had put on disguises (Jizabel, for instance, hid his long hair up in a hat and stole White Owl's sunglasses and wore a regular jacket instead of his long white lab coat). But I have to…damn it!!

They were coming closer.

Cassian blanked. He needed an idea…but what? Cassian looked back at them. Ida had run off somewhere. Perfect! Just White Owl and the Doctor. He screamed shrilly and ran into Cain. "Help me!" he cried. "I'm being chased by scary men!"

"Where?"

"They're hiding in the bushes over there! They've been staring at me ever since I entered the park!"

"Mary, stay with her! I'll be right back," Cain shouted, running after White Owl and Jizabel.

"Did he have to tell Cain we were stalkers?!" Jizabel snapped as they ran.

Cassian sighed. Well, stage one has been cleared. He looked at Mary, and she at him. Now what?

Mary smiled. "Hello. What's your name?"

Oh…crap…what is my name? Oh! I know! "I'm Cassidy," Cassian said. "What's yours?"

"Mary Weather. You must have been desperate to have come to my brother for help. Those stalkers are going to have a lot of trouble on their hands."

"Really?"

"Well, Cain isn't physically strong, but he's really scary when he needs to be," Mary said. "If he catches them, he'll at least be able to poison them…maybe."

Youch, scary guy. "Do you think he really will poison them?"

Mary shook her head. "No. Most likely those stalkers aren't even worth killing to him. Why?"

"Oh!" How to explain this…"Well, I don't like stalkers, but I don't want them to die. You know…"

"I see what you mean," Mary said. "But sometimes, they deserve to die. My mother, for instance, ended up committing suicide because she was stalked."

Cassian blinked. That's harsh! Wait…her mother? I thought Augusta went mad after giving birth to the current Earl and later threw herself out the—oh! Her mother's someone else like the Doctor's.

"Sorry, that must be a little too much information, isn't it?"

"No," Cassian said, "it's a good example. I'm sorry about your mother."

Mary shrugged. "I can't say I'm not sad, but now I live with my older brother Cain. In a way, life's gotten a little easier, but it's tough having to live like an aristocrat."

Amen to that, Cassian thought. "Well, it's not all bad, is it?" Oi…I hate having to live up to this…

"No, I guess not," Mary said, checking the ends of her hair. She tossed her hair back and glanced up at Cassian. "Do you have a place to stay?"

Cassian lowered his head and shook it. "No. I ran away from home," Now what? "My father...my older brothers were my protectors, you could say. But they've been sent off and so…"

Mary covered her mouth in horror.

Damn, she must know all about abusive, bastard fathers considering who her father is…

"I'll ask Cain if he'd mind letting you stay with us, Cassidy," Mary said, taking Cassian's hands.

"No! I couldn't possibly—"

"It's not a big deal. We've plenty of room," Mary added. "Please? Won't you stay?"

Cain returned.

"Well, if you brother doesn't mind…"

"If I don't mind what?"

"Cain, would you mind if Cassidy stays with us?"

Cain blinked and looked at Cassian. He shrugged, "Not at all. Sorry, Miss. Those men got away, but they won't be bothering you anymore."

"Really?! Thank you," Cassian said, smiling cutely. I really hate this! I'm gonna kill Jizabel and the others when it's all over!

Cassian followed them back to the Estate, hand in hand with Mary, who kept asking him about his hobbies. Each question, Cassian quickly thought of an answer to give her.

"Welcome home, milord," the manservant Cassian remembered who was named Riff said. Riff looked at Cassian and blinked. "Who is this?"

"A guest," Cain said. "Riff, could you give Miss Cassidy a room? I'm sure she had a trying day."

"Yes, milord," Riff said. He looked at Cassian again. "If you'd follow me, Miss Cassidy."

Riff led Cassian upstairs and opened a door for him. "I believe this room will be fitting for you, Miss."

"Thank you," Cassian said, entering the room.

"I'll come retrieve you for supper, Miss. Just so you know."

"Okay."

The door closed and Cassian sat down on the bed. Ugh…how much longer do I have to do this? Cassian stood and looked around the room. The bed was larger than the one he was used to. There was a canopy overhead. The floor was carpeted. In one corner by the window was a vanity table and chair. There was a bookshelf with a few books and a small vase of artificial flowers.

Cassian picked up a book and flipped through it. He looked at the cover. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin? Cheh. Just some chic fic. He put the book back. The other book occupying the shelf was Alice in Wonderland by Louis Carroll.

Cassian shook his head and approached the vanity. There was a brush, a music box, and a small jar of rose scented potpourri.

Cassian opened the window and looked out. Good view of the city, he thought, leaning on his hands, staring outside. Now all I have to do is figure out the best way to kill the Earl.

"Yo."

Cassian looked at the tree and stared at White Owl. "What?"

"Good thinking," he said, "I've never seen such a brilliant display of improv before. But did you have to say the Doctor and I were stalkers?"

"Sorry about that," Cassian said. "I couldn't think of anything else to say and you guys were watching me from behind a bush. Anyone would think I was being stalked by a couple of creeps. Where did Ida go?"

"To go salvage some change performing. She told us to let her know how you did when we met up again," White Owl said, kicking his legs back and forth. "I never thought that Jizabel could run so fast until then. He's Speedy Gonzola on crack I tell you!"

Cassian snickered. "You don't have to tell me that. When he needs to book it, he books it like no tomorrow. How else do you think he's evaded the law so well?"

White Owl shrugged. "So, now that you're in, what'cha gonna do?"

"I'm going to find out how to kill the playboy Earl and get out of this dress," Cassian growled. White Owl frowned.

"I wasn't talking about that. That's your mission. Once Cain was gone, I came back and saw that you were getting a little friendly with his sister."

Cassian blushed. "What?! That's also part of the mission. I need to get them to trust me, right? So what better way than to befriend his little sister?"

White Owl pouted. "You're no fun. If I was you, I'd at least have a little fun with the girl."

"What are you? A pervert?"

White Owl held up his pointer finger and thumb, leaving a little bit of space between them. Cassian glowered. "What? The girl's cute. Can you blame me for being a little bit of a pedo?"

"White Owl," Cassian growled. "I'm disguised as a girl. Not only that, unlike someone I could mention, I don't fancy brats."

White Owl blinked. "She doesn't seem like a brat…"

"When I say brat, I mean someone under the age of twenty," Cassian clarified.

"That's sad, considering you look so much like a child. Even gals that fancy younger men prefer them to be at least an adult or in your case in an adult's body."

Cassian felt as though something had been plunged into his back and left there to fester. "That's low," He growled. White Owl shrugged again.

"Well, maybe you'll change your preferences while hanging out with a ten-year-old girl. Well, we'll be by every so often to check your progress. Until then, Cassian, my boy!"

White owl jumped down and walked away, whistling a tune. Cassian's eye twitched.

I'm going to kill White Owl slowly and painfully…

Someone knocked on the door.

"Miss Cassidy, dinner is served," Riff called outside. Cassian closed the window and headed downstairs for dinner with the acclaimed siblings that had been giving Delilah so much hell.

"I hope you like it here, Miss Cassidy," Cain said as they ate the appetizer. "I'm completely fine with having you stay here for as long as you like. You could take lessons with Mary. I'm sure you and my little sister could be good friends."

"If you're certain, Lord Hargreaves," Cassian said. "I don't want to be a burden."

"Nonsense," Cain said, smirking at Cassian. "You're more than welcome to stay as long as you like."

Oh crap…is this that lady-killer thing he does? Well, two can play at that game. "You're so very kind to me," Cassian said, pulling the shy move.

"It's easy to be so in the presence of such an adorable girl."

Ha! I knew it. Cassian blushed and looked away. "You're quite forward, Lord Hargreaves."

"Cain!" Mary snapped. "Cassidy's right. Behave yourself."

Yikes! Looks like his sister's one hell of a shrew when need be.

"Alright, Mary," Cain said, holding a hand up in defense. "I'm sorry if I seemed forward to you, Miss Cassidy."

"Oh, that's—"

"Don't," Mary said. "Cain likes to lavish girls with compliments. If he attempts to apologize for his behavior, they tend to forgive him to quick."

"Mary!"

"I know you all too well, Big Brother," Mary said, glaring. "Behave yourself."

Cassian wanted to laugh. It was difficult to do, but he had somehow been able to giggle instead. Inwardly, he flinched. I am really going to kill people after this is done!