Cassandra's eyes shot open, locked with those of the girl in front of her. With a shout, she jolted across the bed that she was laying on. The girl did just the same, falling to her rear and scurrying a couple of feet backward.
Getting her bearings, Cassandra quickly sat up, rotating her head in all directions to determine where she was. She wasn't in the library anymore and this girl wasn't Lia. She was younger – at least half her age. "You," Cassandra's scornful voice rose, "What are you doing?!"
She came to her feet, shaky as hell. "I – I'm sorry. I was intrigued by the markings on your head. I wanted to get a closer look at them. I didn't expect you to wake up."
"How dare you just –" She realized that her hood was down and that her full head was on display. Cassandra brought her hand up to her left side, covering the large scar near her temple before growling as she threw her hood back on. Her eyes returned to the girl, piercing her with their glare. "Who are you?"
"My name is Leta," she said, cautious as to what would happen to her.
"Why are you here?" Cassandra's irritation did not waver.
"Milo told me to check on you. He said he wanted to know how you were doing," she answered.
Cassandra massaged her forehead, checking for any remnants of the unbearable headache. "What did he do to me? What happened?"
"We don't know. You suddenly collapsed." The pitch of her voice rose as she spoke faster. "He's busy watching my sister right now but he needed to know. I'm sorry that I woke you up. I didn't mean to upset you!"
Cassandra sat up against the wall, pulling the woven blanket that had covered her body off of her. Her eyes shut as she drew a long and deep sigh out of her mouth. "Lia has a little sister who is in this room with me." She scrunched her lips. "Great. I would have hated to be alone right now."
How could she not have seen the resemblance from the get-go? They looked similar enough; light-brown hair with a soft face. Lia's eyes were a light green while the younger ones were sky blue mixed with a brown aura on the outer perimeter. The only real differences were Lia's freckles and the way Leta wore her hair down as opposed to her sister's ponytail.
The kid likely held some sort of abilities as well. Fawns, as Milo put them, were known for their magic. With that knowledge, the fact that the girl was prodding at her head was sufficient to warrant such a reaction. She did not trust her one bit.
"I'll go return to Milo and tell him that you're awake now." Leta began to twist her torso toward the wooden door nearby. She may not have been as naïve as Cassandra imagined as she was quick to pick up on her attitude.
"Wait." Something inside her sparked. "Where am I?"
"This room or this whole castle?"
Yep…I knew I was in a castle. One point for Cassandra…
"This room, I guess."
"You're in the guest's chambers. Milo has a few of these rooms on the rear tower," Leta informed her.
"How long was I out for?"
"A day or so?"
How?
She was dumbfounded as to how she could have lost consciousness for so long. She hardly slept on a normal day, let alone be capable of going under for that amount of time. She preemptively inspected the visible parts of her body, checking to see if Milo or anyone else had experimented on her while she was blacked out. Nothing. No visible marks at least.
Her heels lay on the ground beside the wooden legs of the small bed. She kicked her feet out from under the blanket and dragged them over, picking them up as soon as they were close enough. "Tell Milo that I'm fine and that I am also hungry. What is there to eat?"
"He and I were going to eat together just after checking on you and my sister. I'll tell him that you'll be joining us." Leta gestured toward the exit. Milo had to have been somewhere nearby.
"That sounds wonderful." Cassandra's eyes grew wide at the genuine excitement of her next meal. "Tell him that I'll have high hopes for whatever it is that we'll be eating, shall you?"
"I'll let him know. I'm glad to see you are well," she said.
That last remark caught her off guard. Why would she care?
Cassandra did not expend much brainpower thinking about it as she slipped her dark heels back on before throwing the blanket to the side and stretching out her body. Seeing Leta exit, she glanced over at the window that secretly had been capturing her attention ever since she realized it was there. A view to the outside, not just some doorless room accessible only by a fawn's weird teleporting powers.
Powers that required not only some of their health but a considerable amount of Cassandra's patience.
Walking over to the square opening, she noticed how much they resembled the ones in her castle back at home. Various strips of metal inter-lacing into diamonds across the slabs. This one seemed to have a bolt-lock that joined the two panels together.
It should be okay to open this, right? I was outside not long ago. The air coming through the cracks doesn't feel cold…
Caution was thrown to the wind. She could take a burst of cold air for a few seconds if needed. She couldn't morph into a swarm any way here for whatever reason, so what would there be to lose? She undid the bolt and gently pushed the panels apart. The entire landscape immediately captured her attention. It was unlike anything she had ever seen before.
Tall, jagged mountains and lush greenery. Vast rows of trees, coated in orange and yellow leaves showered the view as it crested miles away. The dreary grey clouds had given way to a sky that was a mixture of blue and green, tinting the already saturated environment down below in an autumn glow. The Specter Moons, as Milo described, hung far above; a dark orange ball and a second, larger star, amber as her own eyes.
A breeze of warm air filtered through the opening, gracing both of her cheeks and traveling down her neck. With a breath, she took in the scent of nature. That beautiful smell of moss and rain. The kind of taste that she only got to enjoy for a short period at home when she could leave the castle.
When she could be free.
Wow, is this Locwitary? This is…incredible.
Cassandra removed the gloves from her hands and tossed them onto the bed. Alone, she was confident to drop her hood and absorb the aura of the outside. She hung her arms out, dipping her head and letting the warm rays of the two stars breathe through her hair.
The temperature is perfect.
The corners of her lips twitched. Her cheeks balled. A slim smile broke through her face, accompanied by a small laugh of relief. She wanted this so badly. It was like a dream. But, was it? She was supposed to be dead, but she felt alive.
So very alive.
Time vanished as she stood there enjoying the ambiance. Seconds, minutes – they didn't matter. This was something that her village could not offer. As much as she yearned to return, her thoughts drifted away from such endeavors for the moment. It was the break that she needed. For the first time in a long while, Cassandra's nerves and anger subsided.
Thank you.
Lost in the bliss, she did not know Leta was knocking on her door until the banging became louder. "Dinner is ready, Cassandra. You may join us!"
As if she was caught doing something that she wasn't supposed to do, Cassandra jumped away from the window and threw her hood back onto her head. It was instinct. Action without thought. She stared at the door for a bit until her brain processed what was said.
"I heard you the first time." She tried to play it off.
She grabbed her gloves, encasing both hands and fiddling with her necklaces, ensuring they were presentable. Leta was still outside the door, evidenced by her voice cutting through the silence once more.
"Shall I wait for you, Miss Cassandra?"
Her voice returned to its usual, unamused, and dull tone. "Will I be able to find it on my own?"
It was more for appearances than anything else, as she was still enthused by what she had experienced at the window. Given the maze of the staircase that she and Lia walked on prior, it was also likely that the castle would be next to impossible to traverse without one of them alongside her.
"No," Leta replied, possibly feeling stupid. "I suppose you won't. I'll wait right here then!"
Ever such the eager errand girl, aren't you? Obedient – but annoying.
Cassandra gripped the bar that acted as a handle, pulling it open and being greeted by that girl's smiling face. She was so close to the door that it made Cassandra uncomfortable, prompting her to nudge her back with a finger. "Lead the way," she directed her.
"Yes, Miss Cassandra. Follow me!"
Are all fawns her age like this? Glad they're a dying breed…
Cassandra had been led down to the dining room located at the bottom of the presumably large castle. It had to have been on par with – if not bigger – than Castle Dimitrescu. The stairwell down had led to multiple floors as it rounded about the tower. If Daniela had been there with her, she would not have shut up about how the tower was like that of the Rapunzel character she used to read about. Her sister loved fairy tales, for some reason. Cassandra could never wrap her head around the imaginary. To her, the greatest focus was the here and now.
When life and death are balanced in one's hands, she believed, they wrote the story. To read, was to be a subject to the writer. Her book was written in blood.
When she was seated at the table, she was bewildered at how it would only be her, Leta, and Milo eating there. It was fit for a party, given its size. Dozens of guests could be had here but the castle seemed to house just a few souls. It was weird and warranted an explanation someday. At least Castle Dimitrescu housed the servants that tended to it daily. She could not help but wonder who was responsible for cleaning the place?
The room was dark, save for the light offered by a fiery chandelier and numerous tall, metallic torches set up surrounding the walls. Leta had offered to sit beside her but wanting her own space, Cassandra refused. Instead, she sat across from the woman, who now had to contend with being forced to have to look at her.
"Are you thirsty, Miss Cassandra?" Leta pointed to a vase-like bottle that was placed toward the end. She wasn't certain of what it was made of. Clay or ceramic, perhaps? It could hold a ton of fluids, there was no questioning that.
"Yes, very." Cassandra glanced at a smaller container that was made of the same material. It wasn't a fancy wine glass, but it would do.
"I will pour it for you." Leta got up and took hold of the hefty vessel. She trotted over next to her guest, angling it over the small cup. A red, velvety liquid escaped from the opening and flowed down into the belly of her drinkware.
Cassandra remained there, quiet. Leta was acting like one of her servants from back at home. Unlike home, the servants would never come close to taking a seat at the table, lest they wished to condemn themselves to a horrific game in the dungeon down below. They were always scared – rightfully so.
Leta was different. She was eager to service her, almost happy in some way, though she was still cautious around the mysterious stranger who had come from a different realm.
It gave Cassandra a chance to reflect on how she viewed herself when surrounded by her maids. She felt above them all. A superior being who, at a whim, could end their lives without consequence or resistance. They were nothing to her.
In Locwitary, she wasn't fond of the people who were trying to help her. It could have been due to her natural lack of trust or the extraordinary circumstances that permitted such a situation to begin with. She wasn't an apex predator here – at least not yet. She had to find her place on the chopping block and understand what these people were made of. Their reluctance to kill her gave her hope that they meant the truth, but until she had complete independence, she was more of a captive than a guest in her own eyes.
"Is this wine?" Cassandra studied the drink.
"What is wine?"
"Ugh." Cassandra sunk her head. "I can't explain it. I'll just assume that it isn't."
She took a sip after the girl had finished pouring it, swooshing the drink back and forth between her teeth. Leta watched anxiously, awaiting her judgment. Cassandra's grimaced and she hurriedly spat it out into the cup. Impulse kicked in. She clenched her fist around the top, and the sides of her nose rolled in agitation. Whenever the maids did something out of place or had a part in anything that soured the daughter's mood, there would be hell to pay. Lashing out was a guaranteed reaction – and the results weren't pleasant.
"Oh, my," Leta said, "I am sorry you didn't like it, Miss Cassandra. Are you okay?"
Ready to throw the cup at her, Cassandra hesitated long enough to snap out of her mindset. It would likely force Milo to either kick her out or confine her in some way. She didn't want any of that.
Sitting in thought, Cassandra analyzed the repercussions of what would happen were she to lash out at her. As irritated as she was, she knew that she couldn't act with impunity within these walls. She'd have to contain her violent responses – simply because it served her best interests.
Let it go, Cass. She already knows you hate it.
"Yes," she mumbled. "You may sit."
Leta nodded before returning to her seat. As she sat down, Cassandra bared down at the cup still in her grasp. She steadily circled the container, creating a tiny whirlpool in the middle of the liquid inside.
"What is that drink called?" Cassandra wanted to know what the bitter concoction was.
"It's Mioclak," Leta stated. "It's an old family recipe that we used to make. Mioclak is a type of Cioclak but with berries and tree roots ground up. Mix it with the natural plant water and it is very good."
I don't know what any of that is.
"Sounds…" Cassandra drew out her sentence as she tried to find the most appropriate word, "…like an acquired taste."
"Do you have any family drinks that you make?"
Cassandra's left brow raised, followed by a tiny smirk. She sat up a little bit, engaged by what Leta had asked. "Yes, actually. We do. Sanguis Virginis."
"Ooh." She was so intrigued by the name. "What is that?"
"It's wine – which you obviously don't have in this world. My mother would make it. It's a very special wine mixed with a certain ingredient that just made the taste absolutely perfect." Cassandra smiled as she recalled the sweet crimson those beautiful bottles held. "We'd always enjoy sitting around together; talking, laughing while having a glass or two. You could not get it anywhere else but from our castle, I promise."
"You lived in a castle too? They have castles where you're from?"
Cassandra ran her finger around the rim of the cup next to her. "Yes. Your world and my world seem to share a lot of the same things, mostly. We did have a castle. It was a fortress in its own right. Overlooked the small little village that it towered over. The architecture may be close, but I'd have to see what yours looks like exactly from the outside."
"This castle isn't far from the nearest community. If you were at the front tower, you'd be able to see it quite well," Leta mentioned. A community? They weren't far from others? Cassandra sat forward, wanting to know more. Quick to pick up on her interest, Leta elaborated further. "Acomb is the name. It's home to more poils who grew up here generations ago."
"Poils?" Cassandra asked.
"They're what Milo is. Those like him aren't capable of seeing into other worlds, like fawns. They can conduct the energy we have – redirect it, even, but nothing else. I think they're pretty smart."
"Hmm." The girl's words added to the complication that festered in this realm. Cassandra did not want to wrap her head around the history or biological make-up of the people – or whatever they were – that inhabited this world. If they can kill her or help her were the only necessary bits of information she needed to know.
Still, to know that there was a settlement nearby was all the more alluring.
"Speaking of Milo," Cassandra lightly tapped her cup, "I'm starving. Who is in charge of making the food?"
"He is."
Please don't tell me that one man is making food for all of us. I am so hungry. So very, very hungry. I feel like I haven't eaten in days.
"Where are the maids? The servants?" Cassandra couldn't understand why Milo would be reduced to cooking when he had more important things to do.
"Servitude is against what poils believe. Fawns as well. Lia explained it to me perfectly one day," Leta closed her eyes and cleared her throat, trying to imitate her older sister's stern voice as perfectly as she could. "The leaf that is born higher than the other is not higher after all, but destined to endure a longer fall as its time ends. Every leaf on the ground is the same. All leaves are born on the same tree. To expect others to live under you is to expect your time on the tree to be everlasting. To take care of others is to understand we are the same."
Cassandra lowered her gaze to the cup of Mioclak that had never left her hand. Her faint reflection in the red liquid stared back at her. Distorted by the ripples inside, she understood Leta's words very well.
She and her family were the exact opposite of what Leta's people strove to be.
Cassandra respected the hierarchy of the Dimitrescu family bloodline. Alcina held her role as the matriarch of the house with good reason; she was a Lord. A noblewoman fit for a throne and given the privilege to serve under Mother Miranda for so many years. It was a role that not just anyone could have been bestowed. Mother Miranda – in all her incredible powers – saw this and acted upon instinct when she granted her such a life.
From the top down, the word of those in charge was law, whether their subordinates liked it or not. Cassandra understood that first hand. As much as she loved barking orders and chastising the servants, her own mother's demands had to be met. There were no exceptions. She had been scolded and punished in the past. There was no reversing the totem pole.
None of the people in the village possessed power of any degree. They were lambs to the wolves as far as she was concerned. Nature didn't take its time to reflect and theorize on the balance of all its creatures. The strongest are the ones who control the land. The ones who survive for another day.
Lambs and wolves were not meant to be friends.
Leta and her sister were an interesting breed. The power that she had witnessed from them was enough to stop her attacks, even freeze her for a moment, but a prolonged touch was enough to weaken Lia exponentially. Hell, Cassandra likely could have killed her had Milo not intervened. They weren't immortal – she was only thrust into a place that she had never been before, but she was adapting.
For now, the plan was simply to get home. If cooperating helped speed up the process, so be it. She needed to go back and find her family before the outsiders destroyed everything. Lia had to regain herself so she could fill her in on what was occurring back at home. Milo said it himself; Lia was a critical factor toward its accomplishment.
If it was a lie…
"Sorry to keep you ladies waiting." Out of one of the doors came the devil himself, Milo. A large silver platter balanced in both of his hands, he approached the table and set it down carefully in the middle. Cassandra leaned over, trying to get a good look at what it was that he had prepared. The smell was what hit her first – meat. She was practically salivating at the scent.
Her nails dug into her gloves as she pressed her fingers against the table's edge. There was something about this food that captivated her. It looked so delectable, but she had never seen anything like it. The flesh was a mixture of red and black, burnt to some shades of brown along the way. Judging by the size, it had to have come from some sort of large animal – certainly one not native to her eastern European homeland.
Surrounding the large pound of food were bowls of a dark green soup-like mixture, laced with bits of vegetation and a similar helping of meat bits. Leta started to sort out everyone's plates and utensils. Cassandra was handed a three-prong fork and a deep-bellied spoon, along with a short knife to cut her food. Upon closer inspection, the dishes were found to be made of a remarkably sturdy type of wood, glossed and clean as can be. She tapped the surface of the plate, finding it to be very solid.
It was a relief to have been given something so familiar, given that she could no longer expect this world to do things the same way hers did. It was nice to know that civilization was not lost here. Milo brandished a large butcher knife that was strapped to his side, using it to sever the middle of the slab and divide it into smaller segments for the two women.
"For you." He placed a few medium-sized squares onto Cassandra's dish and reached for one of the bowls to give to her.
"Thank you." She took hold of it, setting it down to the side. After a short whiff of the soup, she found the smell to be just as enticing as that of the main course. It was such a delight to not just finally eat but to have something that she could thoroughly enjoy. As memory served, dinners at Castle Dimitrescu were often fun but lately had grown boring. They weren't able to source the same meals that the daughters typically enjoyed such as brown bears and red foxes. They were an increasingly rare sight in the wilderness since Moreau's dam increased operations, according to their mother.
The village livestock was something fit for the servants, whereas she and her sisters found lamb and chicken as bland as can be. Foxes were sweet in their composition and the bears were…so bloody. Those were the best dinners – except for their favorite prey finding its way onto the table when the population allowed it.
Like an animal herself, Cassandra brought her head down towards the meal, inhaling the scent like a ravenous predator. Her chest expanded with the steam offered from the freshly heated dinner, expelling with a long-winded breath of pleasure. Forgetting her fork, she moved to pick up the first square with her hand.
"Oh, Miss Cassandra." Leta's voice disrupted her endeavor. A small grunt rolled before she looked over at her and Leta pointed toward Milo, who was now sitting down at the head of the table. "It is custom poil tradition to convene as a group before sharing a meal.
She sat there, alternating between looking at them and the food on her plate. With a small huff, Cassandra sat back in her seat. "Begin the toast, then."
"The toast?" Milo tilted his head. He glanced at Leta but she was just as clueless as he was.
How are we speaking the same language but also not?
"It's a saying from my world, apparently." Cassandra tried to hurry the awkward moment along and deliver the delay to her feast to its conclusion. "How do you do this, convening?"
"We each state how we spent our day and what we plan to accomplish tomorrow. That way, we connect with those seated with us and eat as one unit. If there is a grievance or issue between members of the group, they may attempt to settle it together so that the strength of the group remains strong," he explained the tradition. It sounded more like a group therapy session with food mixed in. She wasn't a fan of it. Enough talking had been done ever since she landed here and all that she wanted to do now was stuff her face with as much food as possible.
It smelled so good. This had to have been a form of torture.
"As the head of the table, I would normally start first to set the precedent. This is my dwelling; hence I am tasked with being the host. If we were to eat at another's dwelling, no matter how big or small, they are the head of the group. It's a cycle of leadership among people. However, tradition also states that leadership is born from opportunity. Guests to the group are offered the chance to lead the talk – which is you." He pointed his arm toward her, palm up to the ceiling. "Do you wish to lead?"
"Uhm, I'm honored." She played her words carefully, caught off guard. "But, please, do set the precedent."
"Very well." Milo stood up from his seat, straightening out his garments as he looked at both women. "Today, I focused on tending to the health of both Lia and Miss Cassandra. It was unfortunate to see these two experience the problems that they had, though I am confident that the future will be safe for them both. Lia is recovering and Miss Cassandra is seated here with us today. I also took the opportunity to study Miss Cassandra's realm and learn more about certain things, though Lia will prove to be a vital part of the study as she returns to help us. Tomorrow, I wish to further assess her health and ensure she is improving. I will work towards helping Miss Cassandra feel at peace here and return her to her realm as soon as we can. To share this food with you both is a reminder that life has granted all of us the chance to continue building. Not every day is certain, but our intentions are." He then sat back down, motioning to Leta who began to rise.
The man's speech seemed honest from the way he said it. It strained her soul to think that the process of getting home was going to be delayed due to Lia's health. Cassandra could only think of finding herself at fault for the current state of affairs. Had she not been so desperate to get all the information she wanted – filled with apathy – Lia would not have fallen under. Waiting longer was a price that must be paid.
"Today," Leta looked around, her gaze visibly lacking some confidence, "I cleaned up some of the common areas of the castle. I assisted you, Milo, in aiding my sister's health. Thank you for what you are doing for her and us, we greatly appreciate it. I also studied some of the channelings that Lia taught me, helping me understand the flow of these particles inside me. I anticipate a long period of practice but I will succeed. I also checked on Cassandra and –" She paused, biting her lip and shaking her head. "I am sorry, Miss Cassandra."
"It's fine." Cassandra hung her head back, tapping her fingers against the table.
Leta continued, taking in the response of her new guest. "I found her to be awake. We introduced ourselves and I gave her insight into the castle. Now, we are here together. Tomorrow, I plan to study more if possible as well as help Cassandra with what she needs. To share this food with you both is a reminder that life is always changing. Cassandra's circumstances have opened my mind to what else lies out there and what the potential in our existence is. I believe she is as big of a help to us as we are to her."
Do these people just go on and on?
A displeased sigh broke from Cassandra's lips as Leta sat back in her seat. She turned over to Milo and bobbed her head. "So, I'm assuming my turn is next?"
"Yes," Milo agreed.
"Wonderful." She hoisted herself up by pushing her hands against the chair's arms. Standing before the two, she smiled with that trademark raise of her brow. "Today I woke up and then walked down to this table. I am looking forward to eating. Tomorrow, I plan to go home. Sitting here is a reminder that I am still alive." She quickly sat back down, reaching over for her fork without a moment's hesitation. The prongs neared the soft chunk of meat but Leta's voice made the first cut.
"Miss Cassandra…"
She clenched the instrument in her fist, frustrated that there was always something else that had to be done. Dinners at her castle were ready to start when seated. Sure, sometimes Alcina would say a thing or two, but the talking could be done while that ate. The food had to have been starting to get cold by now. If it wasn't as delectable as it smelled, then maybe the urgency would not have been as profound.
Cassandra intentionally tapped her fork repeatedly against the food, her voice audibly annoyed. "Yes, Leta?"
"There is a grievance that I wish to settle with you before I eat if that is alright?"
She was ready to leap over the table and jab the fork into the girl's arm. Food was on the table and it had to be eaten. The hunger inside her had sparked and multiplied exponentially over the hour. It wasn't blood – but it would suffice, and Cassandra needed it. Her stay in this world had been fraught with constant delays at every turn for everything.
She could barely take it at this point. It was the principle of the matter. How dare they think that she was down to their level? If this was Castle Dimitrescu; Leta, Milo, and especially Lia – they would have bowed to her presence. She was a woman attached to the highest nobility in the land and not one to be trifled with. She could chalk it up to the unexplained absence of her true strengths and the ignorance of those around her, who did not understand the truth.
Cassandra Dimitrescu did not wait to eat.
She glared at Leta while the room was locked in dead silence. Seconds must have felt like hours to the girl as she grew increasingly nervous over the woman's unwavering gaze. Somehow, someway, she managed to break words.
"I…I want to know if there is anything that I have done to upset you today?"
Too many things to count, child…
Cassandra's posture had not moved. She still held her fork in the ball of her fist, the tips gracing the skin of the food. Her dismay was still in control and she did not feel like hiding it.
"Waking me up by touching my forehead is a way to upset me," she said bluntly, absent of emotion. A direct, in-your-face remark. In hindsight, she wished that she had simply lied and told her that everything was well and she was just moody. It would have saved her from hearing anything else from this inquisitive child.
"Yes," she admitted, "that was rude and disrespectful of me. If you could please forgive my actions, I would enjoy this meal alongside your company. I can only imagine how much you want to go back to your world. Upsetting you further is not what you need. My dearest apologies."
"Then do not ever do it again." Cassandra's eyes returned to the food. Leta sighed and hung her head down, evidently upset by the response she was given. Milo peeked over at the girl, whose sad stare met his own for a brief second.
"Cassandra," Milo injected himself into the conversation, "Leta would be very happy if you forgave her."
The woman still wouldn't look at either of them. She hurled a deep breath while her fingers grew agitated. "Whatever it takes to get this done with. Fine, I forgive her. Is that enough?"
Milo curled his lips, disappointed in Cassandra's continued hostilities. Nevertheless, he maintained his composure as he turned over toward Leta, who looked like she was holding back a few tears.
"Leta, it is important to remember that some people respond to things in their own way." He tried to comfort her. "That means we should be patient and allow them the time that they need to feel better. Do not let that spoil the enjoyment of your food for you."
"Can we eat now?" Cassandra interrupted obnoxiously, further hurting the girl's feelings and testing Milo's values.
"Go ahead, Cassandra." He closed his eyes, discontent that she continued to allow such negativity to pilot her actions. It wasn't worth arguing with the woman either, he thought, as it would do nothing to help her. She'd have to make the effort herself.
A small tear fell down the side of Leta's cheek, which she quickly wiped off before picking up her fork. Despite Milo's encouragement, she felt like it was her fault that Cassandra had been in such a bad mood. She regretted her first impressions toward the stranger from another realm and worried that this resentment would only carry on throughout her time here.
Cassandra dug into the long-awaited dish, cutting only a fraction of the first piece off before she threw it between her teeth. The savory flavor of the cuisine electrified her tastebuds. A satisfied moan hummed, expelling through her nostrils as she swallowed it down and retrieved more. Leta and Milo, meanwhile, took their time and by all accounts and purposes – seemed like normal people.
She, on the other hand, devoured the meal like an animal.
"I see you're enjoying the Ginyol," Milo stated as he prepared another forkful for himself. Cassandra angled her head in his direction, brow raised and cheek stuffed – a strand clinging from the edge of her lips.
"Hmm?" She inquired, still chewing down.
"Ginyol are a common species around here. Poils and fawns have eaten them since we first settled in this region. If you like it, then you're in the right place."
She pushed the food down her throat, taking a swig of the horrible drink just to clear her windpipe. "Ginyol, huh? What does such an animal look like?"
"As fast as they are." Leta chimed in, hoping to repair the damage between them. "Their legs are the strongest parts of their bodies. Very slender below the knee and around the torso. If you're ever around the forests, you'll spot them up in the trees. They can climb as quickly as they can run."
The section of meat had to have come from only one of those creatures. They were not small by any means, judging by the size, their dinner would have constituted a thigh according to Leta's description. It perked her interest as it touched on the topic of Cassandra's favorite pastime – hunting.
"Are they dangerous?" She asked with eagerness.
Milo shrugged his shoulder as he took another helping of Ginyol from the main plate. "Only if they run into you. I know of one person who was gravely injured by a stray Ginyol speeding through the trees. They have small heads, but the horn on their skulls at that velocity is enough to cause considerable damage."
"How do you kill them?" Cassandra was all in for the challenge.
"Fawns would often paralyze them. It allowed the other to deliver a fatal thrust. Poils don't have such an ability, so unless there is a fawn involved, we have to be crafty – set up traps and anticipate their path. Thankfully," Milo paused, finishing his cup, "they don't seem to know where they're going either and are easy to catch if you're patient enough."
"Oh." Cassandra laid back, still intrigued but not as excited. She wanted a beast that would test her abilities – something that she could be proud of. She had not previously considered what wildlife may exist here. Her home had wolves and bears – formidable on their own, but even the measly humans could best them. Perhaps Locwitary housed creatures of even greater potential. "What is the most dangerous thing that lives in those forests?"
Milo chuckled a bit to himself while Leta tapped the table to get the answer out first. "Dhins. They're large and hide in the foliage. I've witnessed a few from a very far distance but if you are even a hair within their hearing range, they look at you and you become their next target."
This was great. Cassandra was loving the idea of facing such an opponent. She was as filled with excitement as Daniela would be whenever she pulled a new book off of her shelf. She rested her elbows on the table, cupping her face as she waited for more information about these beasts.
"They have sharp horns and sharper teeth," Leta continued. "Lia told me that they basically are smiling at you whenever they open their mouths. The scariest part is that they will stare at you for a long time with that look on their face before they charge."
"How do I kill such a powerful thing?" Cassandra grinned.
Milo wiped his mouth. "Lots of people and twice as many weapons. Dhins are nothing to be messed with. They have killed plenty of us over time – enough for our community to know where not to go. You'll know a dhin when you see one, but it would have likely seen you first. Believe me, Cassandra, you do not want to meet one of them."
She gave a slight huff at his remark. He talked them up to be so deadly. To her, a predator capable of demolishing a group of people would make for the most glorious of hunts. She may have lacked her speed and resistance to damage due to her swarm being inactive in this world, but that didn't stop the urge to hunt. Despite the new risks, Cassandra never relied solely on those traits.
It was her cunning mentality. The drive to always stay one step ahead of the prey. If they could attack her – they never got a chance. She was prepared. They couldn't hide; not because she could smell them, but because she was perfect at tracking their steps.
Blood on the leaves, hair on the branches, disturbed soil – all of it a map.
Maybe there was fun to be had here after all. Locwitary was an entirely new world to see. If her time here was to be extended, then maybe she ought to live it up.
She could already feel the call of the outdoors beckoning her to be free from this castle.
NOTES:
Hey everyone! Hope you all enjoyed this third entry! So, we now meet Leta, Lia's younger sibling. She's going to be a prominent figure in the next few chapters as Cassandra's interactions with her are far from over. The next chapter will see Cassandra finally step out of this castle and into the outside world. So, we will get a breath of fresh air, so to speak.
We will also return to Castle Dimitrescu in the next installment as the plot between Cassandra and her family takes greater shape. I'm sure all of you are looking forward to that.
I will be taking a week-long vacation this month, so the next entry will be released on the 1st. I am so happy to see this story starting to gain ground. I wanted to try something different and I feel confident that it is working.
Leave a comment and a fav/follow and let your voice be heard. I'm always happy to answer questions and hear what you think! Stay well and until then, see you around!