The castle doors swung open as Cassandra and Leta pushed themselves through; the former hobbling over to the first chair that she could find. All the walking had caused additional blood the seep from her leg, though it remained somewhat controlled.
"Here!" Leta grabbed a fresh, sterile cloth out of a nearby basket and hurried over to her. "Put this on."
Taking the long segment of fabric, Cassandra began to apply it over her previous bandages. "Thanks," she said with gratitude in her voice.
The pain was still strong. She could not ignore how distracting it had become. She was trying to keep it all together, especially in front of Leta. But, the searing of her opened nerves almost brought her to tears. It was embarrassing to think about.
The powerful Cassandra – crying over some moderate cuts.
"You don't have anything to dull the pain, do you?" She was eager to ask.
Leta quickly bobbed her head around but could not spot anything useful around the area. "I'm sure Milo does. I'll go find him. I'll be right back!" She ran off to locate the man, leaving Cassandra by herself for the time being.
Alone in the large main room, she laid back in the chair and kept her leg elevated. With Leta finally out of sight, she grunted as she moved one final time, settling in the most comfortable position possible.
This really hurts. I've never felt pain like this before. Have I ever felt true pain at all?
She hoped that Milo could do something to reverse this. She did not want to spend the rest of however much time she had left here contending with these wounds. Part of her even feared that there was irreversible damage. The dhin had clamped its long teeth deep into her leg. Her muscles had to have been pierced in multiple places.
I'm so stupid. Why did I have to go into those woods? Why must I be so stubborn? I should have just listened to Leta and gone back to the castle when we were walking. I made her cry and yelled at her – all because I didn't get my way. You're such a child, Cass. Almost got yourself and her killed because of it.
Cassandra sighed as she closed her eyes.
I don't deserve friends.
The wave of regret and loathing that had risen over her was not unusual. She could think of many times back in her castle when her choices led to disastrous outcomes. Whether it affected the safety of her or her sisters, the temperament of their mother, or the integrity of the castle itself; she always felt a blow to her self-esteem.
Whenever things went awry, she'd make the effort to retreat to the armory as soon as she was able to slip away. Sometimes the effort of putting on an uncaring face was just as draining as the emotional toll that she took out on herself. When finally in isolation, she'd sit against the wall and replay the events over and over, beating herself up about why they had to go that way.
She couldn't afford to be seen by anyone during those sessions. It would compromise the image that she had spent creating in the minds of staff and family alike. It wasn't a total lie. She was as violent and mischievous as she acted, but the human side of her was a symbol of weakness in her eyes.
Weakness did not command respect.
Flakes of dried blood cracked along her skin as her muscles tensed, sending fresh streams of crimson out from the severed tissue. Her teeth clenched against the inside of her cheek, trying to redirect her attention. Her nerves were firing yet again. The torment was unending.
I put others through so much worse and here I am…unable to bear even a fraction of it. You're so weak, Cassandra. It's pathetic.
Her toes curled – a test of motion.
This could have been much worse. At least I'll still be able to walk…I hope.
Her eyes peered down at her chest, fixating on her sealed wound of unknown origin.
More scars along the way, it seems…
She graced the line along the edge of her left breast with the tip of her bloodied fingers. A faint smear of blood collected across her pale skin, painting a small reminder that she had suffered a grievous wound before. For a second, she pondered whether death would be a release from this world as it was from hers.
Her world's logic fell to pieces in Locwitary. Things weren't as they seemed. A castle stairway could go on forever. A deer could be a ravenous carnivore.
Was death simply the means to another doorway?
She did not know, nor did she wish to risk it. There were high stakes at play here. Mortality favored her no more than it favored an ant. If she wanted to find out what came after death, it wouldn't be hard.
I just want to go home. Home is safer – or at least it was. Why me? Why did I have to be sent here?
"Cassandra?" Milo's call interrupted her train of thought as he came rushing through the doorway. She leaned back, angling her head over so that she could see him. "Leta just told me what happened. How badly are you hurt?"
As he approached her from around the chair, his focus immediately picked up on the blood-stained wrappings. Acting on instinct, he opened up a medicine kit that had been brought with him and began to comb through its contents without another word.
She had not seen him this concerned since Lia had suffered her bout of weakness.
Cassandra watched as he searched through the dark brown, leather-like handbag. Like an ashamed child responding to their parent, her voice was low and her eyebrows curled downwards. "At least several deep tooth marks. No broken bones as far as I can tell."
"You're lucky you made it out of there alive – both of you are," Milo carried some authority in his voice. Of course, he would have been displeased to hear that they had put themselves in such reckless danger. "Leta, I specifically told you to only go to Acomb and back. You were not to go anywhere else," It only stung more that the girl had to be roped into it.
The young fawn lowered her head and curled her lip. "I'm sorry, Mr. Armas."
Cassandra gently lifted her hand in front of Milo to grab his attention. "Wait," she interjected. "It was my fault. I'm the reason all of this happened. If you're going to blame anyone – blame me."
Milo retrieved two small vials, alongside a clean, white cloth and new bandages. As he reared his head up to look at her, she could see a mixture of thoughts expressed on his face. There was a pause to his glare. He had to have been surprised in some capacity to see her admitting responsibility. Up until now, she had acted as if she could do nothing wrong.
He was likely also just as frustrated at her for endangering Leta's life as well.
"I'm going to remove these dirtied fabrics and inspect your wounds." He pulled on the wrappings, gently undoing the knots she had tied and allowing them to fall onto the ground.
Additional trails of blood snaked out from between the rows of torn flesh. Cassandra's eyes squinted while the skin around the bridge of her nose curled. The pain was peaking yet again and she did not want to let it out with everyone else here around her.
"Your blood is…dark," Milo commented. Why did he care?
"I can see that," Cassandra replied with some degree of urgency, as she could barely wait any longer for whatever treatment he was ready to render.
With a small hum of curiosity out of the way, Milo opened out one of the vials that contained a clear liquid of some sort. Was it some magical concoction that would somehow heal the –
"Argh!" She screamed as he doused the slashes with a powerful sterilizer. The mixture likely did well to eliminate the possibility of infection – at the cost of tremendous agony.
Leta stepped in, worried as ever. "Are you okay?"
A strained smile stretched along Cassandra's cheeks. Her words trickled out of her teeth. "Never better…"
Milo cleaned the remaining blood and debris off of her many wounds, cleansing her leg as best as he could. As the waves flowed down under her calf, each jagged opening received soft dabs, careful not to tear any more skin. Still wincing at the stinging, Cassandra couldn't help but take a peek and see how bad her injuries were.
The outside of her leg was mostly intact. Save for multiple puncture wounds, the dhin had not shredded her limb to pieces. There was still no telling how serious the damage to the inside was, but the bleeding was still going on. Thankfully, the blood pooled out slowly and in shrinking amounts.
It did not appear that any arteries were severed during the attack; a lucky outcome on her part. Unless dhins were known for their venomous bite or poisoned antlers, then there shouldn't be anything to worry about, she thought.
"These don't look so bad," Milo said as he poured additional sterilizer on her leg, bringing Cassandra on the verge of yet another scream. "I've seen dhins inflict some extensive damage on our people before. A bite like this can be fixed with what I have ready for you. As I said, you are lucky."
"They don't have poisoned antlers, do they?" Cassandra asked with a small laugh.
"What?" He raised an eyebrow with an amused grin to go along with it. "No. They certainly don't."
That smile of his helped simmer her anxiety, seeing that he was not as mad as she initially believed. As much as he was a stranger, taking care of her was akin to something Alcina would have done if any of her daughters found themselves afflicted by the cold. It helped to know that he still held some form of compassion toward her in the face of all her shortcomings.
"I just figured I'd ask," Cassandra settled down.
Leta chimed in with a little information of her own. "If it was a jolkk we ran into, then yes. Their antlers are very poisonous."
Cassandra's head slowly rose, her left eyebrow raised in disbelief. "You're kidding, right?"
"No," Milo stated. "Jolkk are deadly. Thankfully, they're herbivores and have no interest in meat, unlike dhins."
This world has poisonous deer. I was right. I was right…
"Ugh," her head slumped back in defeat. She couldn't catch a break.
Once the area was cleared, Milo removed the top of the second vial and hovered it above Cassandra's leg. Just like with Lia, he emptied its contents from above, allowing the teal-colored liquid to form into a cloud and fall down into the cavities. At first, Cassandra was mildly apprehensive after seeing the transformation take place.
"What is that?" Her eyes stared at the mist.
"It's going to seep into your wounds and begin regenerating your cells and tissues. It won't hurt, I promise," Milo affirmed the safety of the treatment. Leta chimed in yet again.
"It's a very common medicine and works very well," she said.
With the girl's words giving her the boost of confidence that she needed, Cassandra's posture relaxed. She'd have to trust their judgment. She still felt a little uneasy as the cloud leaped into her cuts like it was sentient, but there was no pain in the process and a soft, cool glow took over, dulling some of her torment.
With a sigh, she wiped her forehead of any sweat remaining and took another breath before turning her attention back to Milo. "Thank you."
"Of course. Just rest, you'll be better in no time," he stated. Milo applied the bandages and dressed her leg, sealing the wounds from any outside elements. "I'll have Leta leave some new clothing in your room. You can wash up and do whatever else you need. These bandages are quite waterproof"
Cassandra nodded, giving a short glance toward the girl. As Milo stood up, she felt the need to ask the age-old question to him once more. "How is the whole get Cassandra home process going? I know this isn't the best time to ask, but…"
Milo stayed transparent, offering her the utmost honesty in his response. "Between watching over Lia, I've done some more studying on how these barriers between realms work. I have some theories that I'll need to test out, but, it is tricky. Things aren't quite adding up," he shrugged. "Obviously, that leaves it up to me to search for the answers. Science is an elusive creature. Just when you think you found it, it runs away, leaving only a few clues in its wake."
Cassandra huffed a small chuckle. "If my sister, Bela, was here instead of me, you and her would have gotten along perfectly."
"Then pay attention and when you return home, you can share my notes with her," he smiled before moving to exit the room.
There was a lull in her response as she was reminded of the possibility there may not have been much to come home to. Another question came to mind. "Is it possible to return at a selected time? Like, even a year or more before I died?"
Milo stopped, seemingly perplexed that she had asked that question in particular. He gave it some thought. "It may be. That is a theory, but maybe not to an exact date or moment. Be warned, if so…there might be two Cassandras running around."
She feigned a small laugh. "My mother already has her hands full with one of me."
"The best chance is to send you back to the time you died. If we can keep a window there, then we can work on getting through it."
Going back in time…what am thinking? This isn't one of Daniela's books.
She didn't want to think much more about the likelihood that she would return to a castle in ruins. If she could return to that fight with Ethan, then she could seize the moment and kill him before he got the upper hand. Perhaps, that would be enough to undo everything that followed afterward. She could warn her family of what was to come and they could prepare for it.
All she had to do was get home. Worrying about life could happen after, she decided.
"Rest now," Milo stated as he gathered his bag and headed off back to his studies. The man was a mysterious fellow, though very kind and forgiving. Cassandra assumed that he may have been swayed by her passiveness. Cooperation was the key, as he said.
Leta moved around to where Milo had just been standing. She was calm, having witnessed the treatment go down and seeing Cassandra in better condition. There didn't seem to be much cause for worry concerning her health. She trusted Milo and his actions.
The fawn pointed towards the stairs nearby. "I'll prepare everything you need. Do you need help getting back up to your room?"
"Yeah," Cassandra said. "If you don't mind."
"Of course," Leta began to turn away to fetch what she would need, but a call from Cassandra halted her advancement.
"Hey. For what it was worth, I had fun today." Cassandra's cheeks rose with the corners of her mouth.
Leta displayed genuine happiness when she heard that. It was the kind of smile a kid showed when they felt accepted for everything that they had strived for. She was able to peel back Cassandra's hard shell and exposed the softer side to the woman that most – if anyone – had ever gotten to see before.
Most of all – she was happy to think of her as her friend.
"It was fun," Leta agreed. "Maybe, when there are no dhins around, we can do it again."
"I'd like that."
With her head rested against the edge of the bathtub, Cassandra shut her eyes and enjoyed the calming waters that she was in. While it was nowhere near as decorative as the ornate porcelain tub that she had lived with prior, the smooth wood was a suitable vessel. Surrounded by the warm water, Cassandra was as comfortable as she could be – all things considered.
Leta had provided additional outfits for her to wear when she was finished. More of Lia's clothing – likely stuff that she did not wear anymore, hopefully. Her original robes were still not ready to be worn, though she had come to terms that they did need a serious washing.
At any rate, a decent bath and privacy were well needed. To clean herself up after everything that had transpired in the last couple of days was freeing, to say the least.
The steam from the heat rose up, gracing her neck and cheeks. She would have given anything to have a glass of wine right about now. Such an addition would have completed the moment for her.
Throwing her loose hair into the tub, Cassandra pulled her feet forward and submerged her head underneath. She could sense every strand as they hovered around her. Running her fingers through her locks to rid them of dirt, her fingers met with the large scar on her head. The long pattern of bulging lines and cuts surrounded the crater on her temple like a parasite's tendrils. She hated her face whenever it came into view.
So ugly. I wish this would disappear.
Bubbles blew out from her nostrils as she prepared to rise up. Part of her wished that she could stay under forever. It was quiet and peaceful. But moments like those never lasted.
She could only live in the abyss for so long before it was time to return to reality.
Cassandra sat up, streams of water trailing down her pale body. Squeezing the liquid out from her hair, she lowered her backside against the bathtub edge once again. Her locks of hair dangled over the side of the tub as she pushed them over. Droplets of aqua fell from her strands, saturating the stone floor below. She washed her shoulders, supporting her body with the pads of her feet as they pressed against the opposite side of the tub.
Her arrangements could have been so much worse. After all the stress she put Milo and Lia through upon her arrival here, she was surprised that she had not ended up locked in a cell. Any sane-minded person would have made such a decision – rightfully so.
I owe everyone here an apology. I've been so wicked.
She was beginning to trust these people more than she had to. Milo was still going above and beyond to make sure that she was well-situated. While her presence in this realm was of great concern to him, he could have kicked her out at any time and allowed her to die at the hands of whatever else lived out there.
She did suspect that he had some other motive for helping her out – though it wasn't nefarious.
He had mentioned that in the past, people had desperately tried to retrieve that strange dagger from her world, only to fail time and time again. He was a scientist at heart and it was clear that she could lead to some greater understanding of the relationship between realms. Perhaps there were others out there waiting to find out what would come when all of this was over.
If that was sufficient enough to thank him for everything he had done – then so be it.
When she first arrived in this world, she wanted nothing to do with it. Every conversation and interaction had done nothing but agitate her. Now, she was starting to feel the slightest bit of attachment to this place. It wasn't permanent by any means, but the thought of going on another walk with Leta was enticing.
She wouldn't even mind another trip to Acomb, either, even though the people in the town drove her crazy.
Locwitary appeared to be a simple place. For a woman with complex tastes, it was a much-needed change of scenery. From what Milo had implied, returning home wasn't going to happen as soon as she had initially hoped. Lia had to be in good health and prepare her powers and Milo had so much more research to do to get it right.
Might as well get comfortable here, she figured.
Standing in front of the mirror, dried and clean, Cassandra examined how the new clothing looked on her body. The short-sleeve, dull black shirt was more comfortable than any dress or gown she had worn. The arms came up in a similar bushy fashion just like Lia and Leta's other attire, which she did not mind.
The white skirt that she had chosen to wear was freeing, allowing her wrappings space to breathe. The soft, thin cotton was soothing to the touch as well. She'd take this outfit over her tight robes any day of the week.
There was still the need for a hood, as her previous one was currently being washed.
Seeing as though her head still had no way to shield her scar from the outside world, Cassandra sought to construct a head wrapping out a cloth that had been provided to her. She did not want anyone to see the left side of her head. Her hair shaven down the dark stubble, cut in uneven, jagged paths. Her dark, veiny scar looked more akin to a large gunshot wound than anything else.
To her, it was hideous. Her mother had ingrained into their minds over all their years together that it would not be proper to display such a blemish. She never explained the imperfection to any of them – nor did they seek to ask.
Cassandra grabbed the white fabric and began to wrap it around her head, securing the covering across her throat by tying it together. The small knot provided a good hold while the flap on the left side covered her scar completely. It wasn't ideal, but it was passable. The makeshift hood reminded her of the ones that some of the female villagers would wear as they went about their day.
For a second or two; she felt like she was one of them.
The footwear she had been given earlier had been caked in blood and was no longer usable. She still had her heels ready for whenever she'd need to leave the room. Admiring her outfit in the mirror, Cassandra studied her form in the new garments.
I can go along with this for now. This look isn't so bad. Wish I had a proper hood. Ugh, I'll just have to wait for the cleaning to be done.
Returning to the window, she gazed at the outside world once more. The Specter Moons were beginning to shift, evidenced by the sky leaning into a deeper, orange glow. The clouds above adopted a purple hue on their undersides. It was a beautiful sight.
Skies like this were almost unheard of where she came from. It was always gloomy grey sadness in the heavens. Whenever the sun did come out, it wouldn't last too long. She could recall some days out of the year when the sunsets were something to see. She and her sisters would gather by the window together and watch as the night fell, while their mother would be below, shouting for them to come down for dinner.
Days like that were long over. She couldn't remember her and her sisters doing anything like that during the last few years.
We really were growing apart. I wonder if either of us knew it.
She wished that Bela and Daniela could be here with her right now – in this world. There were so many new things to see and places to explore. Daniela would have had a field day in Milo's library, assuming fiction was a thing here. Leta would have been up to her neck in games that she could learn and participate in with the redhead.
Bela would be sticking her nose in every handwritten book he had about whatever magic could be replicated. The castle would have gotten a total overhaul while she was at it. There'd be new furniture and décor spread throughout the entire dwelling. If they thought that Cassandra was a handful, they hadn't seen the other two yet.
Bela, you wouldn't shut up about this place. You'd be running around, trying to fix it up. Lia would have to freeze your mouth. Ha! I'd like to see that.
Her eyes glanced at the larger moon above, watching it slowly shift on its way toward the edge of the landscape.
I miss your constant complaining. It's been so quiet here. You're my older sister and I need you. Dani and I both do. We always did.
She sighed, delving deeper into her thoughts.
Daniela, I miss you too. Your childish nature. You'd be excited about everything here. I'm so sorry about what I did to you back home. If you're still out there, somewhere, just know that I am thinking about you. I would do anything to hug you again.
Cassandra's hand rose up, rubbing her brow as she sought to keep her composure.
Please be okay, Daniela…please.
A knock awoke Cassandra from the short nap that she had taken later that day. She opened her eyes, seeing that the orange sky outside was now a dimmed purple mixed with red. The cool breeze from the incoming nighttime air had entered the room by now, soothing her as it blew past.
It was comforting – almost enjoyable. She didn't feel threatened by it one bit. Just another addition to the immense tranquility that surrounded her.
"One moment," she rose from the bed and went to reapply the cloth around her head. As soon as she had tied the covering, she went toward the door and opened it up. Greeting her was Leta, yet again. Unlike last time, Cassandra wore a small, welcoming smile on her face.
"Hello, Cassandra," she said with a smile of her own. "Will you be joining us for dinner tonight?"
"When would I ever turn down food?" She replied with a chuckle.
Leta was excited to hear her response, nearly beaming her teeth as she grinned and nodded. "I'll let Milo know right away!"
"Uh eh," Cassandra reached out and pulled her back with a small pinch of the shoulder of her gown. "Before I have to get lost in this maze of a castle trying to find you, would you mind returning to my room when you're done talking to him? I have something I want to show you."
Mystery gripped Leta's young mind. She needed to know what it could be. "I'll be right back!" She turned and sprinted down the stairs faster than she was when they were running away from the dhin.
"Careful not to trip," Cassandra called out though she was sure the girl was long gone by the time her words left her mouth. With an amused hum, she retreated back to her window and glanced at the nighttime sky.
The largest moon – its everlasting amber glow – flickered as it fell behind the various trees that lined the furthest edges of the vast landscape. Its small companion gave the sky its remaining colors before the darkness was going to settle in. Everything was like a painting come to life and while she did not care for art that much in itself, she wished that there was someone here who had the skills to capture such a view on a canvas.
It was absolutely breathtaking. She wondered how such things had been hidden from her throughout her entire life.
I wish I could take this with me when I go home.
"So," Leta asked as she re-entered the room. "What is it that you wish to show me?"
"Take a seat," Cassandra gestured to the edge of the bed. Leta did as she was asked and sat down, still very curious as to what she was going to see. Cassandra held her signature necklace in her hand as she moved to sit down beside her. Leta marveled at the five-piece ornamental jewelry. It was no secret that she was intrigued by the thing – all she ever did was stare at it whenever it was nearby.
Sure enough, the fawn's eyes lit up as she saw the adornments in Cassandra's pale palm. The woman smiled as she held it between them. "I saw you looking at this earlier. I figured you'd be interested in seeing something from my world."
"I really would be!" She leaned in to get a closer look. "I've never seen something like this before. It looks so beautiful!"
"Thank you," Cassandra turned to her as they sat shoulder to shoulder. "This was something that my mother gave to my sisters and me the day we were born. Each of us got one. It's a symbol of who we are as Dimitrescu's. We always wear it on most occasions. I guess you can say it is a part of us."
Cassandra had the beaded chain folded neatly in her hand, while the five ornaments sat squarely in the center. Leta's index finger hovered around them, though out of respect, she would not touch it without asking first. "May I?"
"Of course," Cassandra allowed the chain to fall as Leta picked it up.
The girl was amazed by the assortment of metal and jewelry mixed together with the various shapes and objects placed within. "We don't have necklaces like this here, at least, as far as I've ever seen."
"What are the ones here like?"
"They're made of twine, strings. Some poils would hook small things onto them but they're very simple. Fawns use leaves and vines; according to Lia. This…is so intricate. How did your mother make this?"
Cassandra shrugged. "I wish I knew. She never told us where it came from. All we knew was that it was supposed to be worn by us. She didn't need to say it. It was like we were born knowing that already." She let out a light laugh as she saw Leta's eyes studying each sword
"She must have really loved you all to have given you such things," the girl remarked.
"Yeah." Cassandra swallowed a silent gulp as she stared at the necklace. "I think you're right."
"What are the swords and crystals for? Do they stand for something significant?"
Cassandra reached over and pointed her finger at the middle sword. "Funny you should ask that. I never got an answer. I liked to think the swords were symbols of my siblings and me; myself being the one in the center."
"Why so?"
"I am the middle child in the family; flanked by my older and younger sister. Bela is so formal and well-versed in her ways. She's the sword with the handguard."
Leta inspected the one she was referring to. "It does look fancy," she stated.
"Fancy is Bela," Cassandra laughed to herself. "The other one; the spiral dagger – that's Daniela."
"What makes her deserve that one?"
"She's a wild one sometimes; always going in one direction or the other. She's different but still as sharp as the rest of us. She…" Cassandra stopped as she heard the next words she was about to say. "She has the biggest heart. I don't think it ever got appreciated as much as it should have. You would have liked her."
I wish my sisters and I had this conversation. I always passed up the opportunity for other things. Things that didn't matter.
Amidst the gloom of Cassandra dwelling on the past, Leta shined some optimism into the conversation. "Maybe I can meet her one day. Maybe when we figure out how to bridge our realm to yours, my sister and I can visit you in your castle."
Cassandra knew such an outcome was as unrealistic as could be, but it was an entertaining thought to consider. She'd love to see Bela and Lia butt heads, as the two certainly would. Leta's jaw would have dropped at the sight of her marvelous home. If she thought the necklace was a work of art, the ornate halls and decorations that lined every inch of that castle would have hit her like a bomb.
Realistically, anyone who went to Castle Dimitrescu had an appointment with death waiting for them one way or the other. Perhaps, it would be best for any of them to avoid that place. She didn't want to think of what she would say if the day ever came when she had to explain the truth of what her family did.
Milo and the fawns were good people. Innocent and kind-hearted. Such folk like that usually wound up on the dinner table or in a glass. She shuddered to think of what her sisters would have done to them – most of all, herself, had she had no connection to the trio.
She doesn't deserve the darkness.
"I think that would be a fun idea," Cassandra said. "I think we'll have to ask Milo if he's interested."
"If that man could cross realms, he'd jump at the chance. It's all he ever studies about."
"This must be something very important to him too."
Leta continued to sort through the charms on the necklace as she talked. "I guess so. He's not very open about things, but he's talked about you a lot."
"What does he say?" Cassandra's interest had peaked. She could only imagine what the man would have had to say about her by now.
"He thinks there's a lot more to you than we have yet to see. He said that you should not be underestimated and to watch out in regards to making you angry."
"Well," Cassandra rested her elbow on her leg and plopped her head against her hand. "Sounds like Mr. Milo knows me well enough." She looked off to the side and mumbled. "A little untrusting, at the same."
Eh, I guess he's right. I did try to kill Lia a few times….
"He trusts you." Leta returned the necklace to Cassandra. "He told me that as I was getting you some new outfits. Milo isn't the type of person to spill his heart out to people. If he trusts you, you must have done something right."
"I can't imagine what I did to earn his trust," Cassandra got up to place the necklace back on the nightstand. "I haven't done much since I arrived here besides yell at him and well, kick his chair."
"You probably don't see things the way he does. Neither does he see them the way you do." Leta brought up a good point. Milo was as mysterious as her Uncle Karl was, although much less crass and dangerous. He wasn't very open about himself compared to Leta, and she'd have to take his actions at face value as there wasn't much else to base them on.
Leta knew him better than she would, anyway.
"I wanted to ask, if you didn't mind…" Leta's eye's shifted to Cassandra's forehead. "Is your marking related to your family too?"
Cassandra pressed her two forefingers along the symbol inscribed upon her. "Mother always told me it connected us together. I was born with it. We all were."
"What does it mean?"
"The rose is a symbol of our family," Cassandra explained. "The head is our mother, and we are the stem. The sword at the bottom symbols the strength of House Dimitrescu and the circle around the head of the rose is a representation of our status as noble kin." She pulled her hand away and allowed Leta to get a closer look. "Do you want to know the funny thing about it?"
"What would that be?" Leta asked.
"Daniela thought the rose was a sunflower for five straight years. You should have seen my mother's face when it came up in conversation," Cassandra laughed.
"What is a sunflower?"
She ceased her giggling, the disbelief of what this world had and what it didn't have continuing to perplex her. "It's…a flower, but very big, and rounded, with many seeds in the center. It looks nothing like a rose."
"Oh, do you mean a golop?"
"What does that look like?"
"Kind of like what you described, but if you get too close, its roots come up from the ground and attack your legs. Milo says they aren't common in this region, but if you see one, do avoid it."
…What?
"Uhm…" Cassandra cleared her throat. "Yeah…not that either. Are you sure there isn't a woman named Donna running around here somewhere?"
"I've never met one with that name."
"She's not the talkative type…I'll leave it at that." Cassandra rolled her eyebrow.
The two spent the rest of the hour going back and forth about their respective livelihoods. Leta was highly curious about what Cassandra's world was like. Unfortunately, all the woman knew was the village and their castle. As she reminisced about the past, it brought to focus how contained she truly was.
The Duke would occasionally bring over newspapers from the outside over to the castle years ago before their mother put a stop to it. Cassandra recalled reading about a war in Vietnam that was always on the front page. The violence was always eye-capturing and it seemed whoever wrote those things always sought to include it. The newspapers stopped coming before she got to find out the winner.
Bela sometimes turned an eye toward them whenever there was talk of elections or royalty. She never cared for the individuals themselves, but she was curious about how they ruled their "kingdoms."
Daniela read the comics.
It got Cassandra thinking about how much was going on outside of their small area. Mother Miranda had explicitly forbidden the influence of any outsiders – especially their artifacts or media. It was around those years that the idea that she was too isolated had begun to grow.
Slowly but steadily, she sought to get out more whenever possible, though she'd always be bound to that castle one way or another. Any outside soul who entered their home was always picked apart by the trio of sisters. Admittingly, she had a great time listening to the screams in various dialects. Everyone tasted the same at the end of the day, but a little variety was nice.
They did so love entertaining foreigners, as their mother often remarked.
As the number of visitors that came to the area quickly decreased, Cassandra had put thought into whether she should have taken the time to ask them about what they had seen. Unfortunately, her hunger and boredom always got the better of her.
It was easy to move on in that village. Every day was practically the same. They'd go about their lives in the castle, watching the sun rise and fall over an unchanging settlement. It was crazy to think that the world around them kept progressing while they stayed locked in their ways.
Leta got up from the bed. "I believe dinner should be almost ready. We can sit down again when it's finished if you want?"
Cassandra nodded as she too stood up and set her necklace back onto the nightstand. "That would be nice," she replied. Just as Leta was about to open the door, she called her back, having one more thing to tell her before they would leave.
"What happened earlier, in those woods…I'm sorry."
"What do you mean?" The girl was puzzled. From what she remembered, Cassandra had already apologized for her outburst.
"What you had to see me do…killing the dhin like that…I never wanted you to have to witness such things." Cassandra stared at her with sincerity in her eyes.
Leta gulped as she recalled the sheer ferocity in which her friend had demolished the beast's head with the branch. She had never seen something get killed in such a way and the image had stuck with her; though she did not want to bring it up to Cassandra.
The girl's eyes flickered around before meeting back with the amber ones across the room. "It was…gruesome. Was there any other thing you could have done? Did it have to die?"
Cassandra sighed, ashamed that part of her had enjoyed the display of gore. She gravitated toward the inevitable act of violence whenever it became an option. The mere concept that Leta was unnerved by her true nature drove a stake into her heart. She did not want the girl to be afraid of her anymore.
Still, there was one redeeming factor that Cassandra could rely on. "Maybe I could have done something else, but I was not going to risk you getting killed. It was still a threat in my eyes. If any of those creatures had gotten you, I –" A small breath rattled out from her lungs before she cleared her throat. "I don't know how I would've been able to live with that. I can't afford to fail another –" Cassandra immediately shook her head and steadied her mind. "It had to be done, sadly."
The fawn could see how much the encounter had troubled Cassandra as well. The woman was more experienced in life than she was, and it stood to reason that her point was based on prior events.
Cassandra then offered one last excuse. "Leaving it to die with a broken leg would have been cruel, anyway. At least I spared it that." She rested the side of her head against her hand. "I don't know…"
There was a lot that Leta could say. So many different responses, each directed at their own individual point of view. Nevertheless, she held no animosity toward Cassandra for what happened earlier. "It's okay," she smiled. "We're here together and that's what counts."
"Yeah." Cassandra nodded to herself with a soft smile. "That's what counts."
Milo stood at the dinner table, above all the food that he had prepared. Cassandra and Leta emerged from down the stairs, the former's eyes once again widening at the sight of so many things available to eat. That familiar aroma of her new favorite meal was in the air.
Milo couldn't help but comment on her expression. "Yes, Cassandra. Ginyol again, just for you."
"Oh!" She grew excited, shaking her hands at her side. "Perfect!"
Leta assisted the woman as she hobbled across the room, holding her wrist in case she was to stumble. Milo couldn't take his eyes off the pair as soon as he noticed it.
"I see you two are getting along," he remarked.
Cassandra immediately recognized his observation and shrugged it off. "She wouldn't stop pestering me. I can walk on my own."
"Oh, really?" Leta laughed, loosening her grip.
The woman didn't waste a second before she leaned over to whisper into the girl's ear. "I swear if you let go of me…"
With a giggle, Leta continued to guide Cassandra toward the dining table without another word uttered. The duo sat down, this time beside each other. Milo smiled as he prepared his knife to cut the meat, happy to see less hostility in the air for once.
"There is so much food tonight!" Leta said.
"Why yes," Milo replied, "we will not be alone tonight."
"Who else is joining us?" Cassandra was confused. Were they expecting a visitor? She looked around only to see Leta's head suddenly turn to the right and glance at the opposing doorway.
"Lia!" The girl shouted to her sister.
Oh…great.
Sure enough, there Lia was, standing at the doorway, fixated on Cassandra. The older fawn remained stone-faced, though her eyes bore a glimmer of contempt. She began to approach the table slowly. Her steps were practically methodical as she got closer to the pair.
"Leta," she addressed her sibling with a warm smile, "good to see you again."
Her eyes then bored down upon the woman responsible for her previously comatose state; who had murdered countless other people and devoured their flesh. There was a deep sign of animosity in the way she stared at her, her green irises resembling angry orbs of fire.
"Cassandra…"
NOTES:
Welcome back! Well, we're back at the castle. Cassandra is still injured, but she should be making a full recovery. Her close call with death is still in the back of her mind, that's for sure. Leta and her are beginning to develop a better friendship, which I wanted to explore after the intensity of the previous chapter.
Cassandra is feeling a mix of emotions. She desperately wants to return home, but a part of her is beginning to like this place. Is it the freedom? The comfort? Who knows? She's not going back to her realm tomorrow; I can promise that.
Speaking of going back – Lia is well and about. She doesn't appear excited about Cassandra's presence, however. They never really got along in the beginning, either, but I'm sure knowing the truth of Cass's history does not sit well with the older sibling.
Lia is a force of good – and a powerful one.
We'll see them interact some more in the next chapter. Also, we will be going on another trip to Castle Dimitrescu in a lengthy flashback, so be prepared for that. You won't want to miss this one.
Be sure to check this story out on Archive of Our Own if you want to see the latest drawing I've included. You'll find one in every chapter!
In keeping with the new entry, expect the next artwork to be…quite dark.
That chapter will be out on the 11th. I apologize for the extra few days. This will give me the time to have everything perfect for you all when it's time to release them. The wait will surely be worth it!
You all have been so awesome since the beginning. The outpouring of support from everyone is great and I am happy to give you something to enjoy! It means a lot to read what you think and know that all the work is worth it. This story still has a long way to go and I'm looking forward to every moment. You guys are the best!
Leave a comment if you'd like, and drop a kudos if you want to as well. Thank you for everything! I hope you all have a great week and wish you the best of health. Stay safe and see you around!