Chapter 25
Cassius stopped short after walking into the vacant home.
I ran into him, thinking he would keep walking. I fumbled as my hands touched his back. His hand grabbed one of mine and he held it strong. Trying to pull away was not in his plans when I did he just pulled me closer. Giving into him, I could feel a change in his mood. I looked around the room and could see a quaint home. Whoever had lived here had put a lot of love into decorating it and keeping it. Sadly, an inch of dust had accumulated on all of the surfaces.
I wondered why anyone would leave such a wonderful comfy retreat.
“This is the first time I have been home since my father died.” It hit me hard. This was Cassius’ home He had grown up here. My heart softened knowing what it must have taken for him to bring me to this painful reminder.
“Oh Cassius.” My brain was blank. What words could I say that would make any part of this ok? The answer was simple, none.
“So, there are many memories happy memories. I had an incredible childhood. My parents both loved me fiercely. Even though I was different from the rest of them that didn’t stop them from treating me like I was one of the family. The only reason I ever knew I was different was the simple fact that I didn’t have wings.” He laughed remembering something. “I used to pray at night I would wake up in the morning and my wings would appear. It was so silly, I know, but I honestly believed it was a possibility. I was twelve years old before I realized it wasn’t going to happen.” Cassius stepped forward toward the large wooden table in front of us.
“My mom used to make sure we were all home in time for family dinners. It was a little thing but she was always so happy when we were around the table together. What I wouldn’t give for just one more of those dinners. You would have loved my father. He was a joker. There wasn’t a day that passed where he didn’t have us all laughing. He was also strong and fierce, when he needed to be. My dad wouldn’t accept anyone taking advantage of anyone. This is why he fought against Tommit. He would have done anything to save my mom and my sisters. And he did— he died for us.” My heart was breaking and I didn’t know how to heal his pain. I doubted anything could.
“My mom.” He paused, looking toward the small kitchen just off of the dining area. “She is— was.. I don’t even know if she is alive. It makes me crazy. She is the reason Evver snuck out. Evver wanted to find her and bring her home. Evver was so sure she was going to be here, at home waiting for her to return. Everywhere I look around here there are ghosts taunting me. I couldn’t save my dad and now possibly my mom. My sister will never fly again. Do you have any idea what that feels like? I was supposed to protect her. I’m her big brother. I failed. Now you—” He turned back, to look me, straight in the eyes. The pain in his eyes nearly brought me to my knees.
“Cassius, don’t.” I pleaded.
“Aurora, don’t what? Tell the truth? Every second that passes is one closer to Tommit taking you as his bride? The thought makes me physically ill. To think he could touch you, I would rather die than ever let that happen.”
“NO” my shocked gasp escaped my trembling lips. Cassius rushed to me, standing only inches from my quivering form.
“I love you, Aurora.” I bit my lip from responding. “I have loved you from the moment you first walked into the kitchen. The thought of not living my life, with you by my side, is excruciating. I’m sorry. I know I promised to behave myself but I can’t help it. Being here, where my family was whole, remembering my parents and the love they had for each other, I know just how life can change in an instant. If I didn’t tell you how I felt and lost you, because of my silence, then I could never live with it.” I was stunned. I never thought this moment would happen, not to me.
“Cassius, I.” How could I do this?
“Trust me, Aurora. Please,” his pained plea broke through the barrier I had been holding up for as long as I could remember. “Please.” I took a deep breath, my heart shuddered. I was at a crossroad. My heart had been hiding from the simple truth. I knew my feelings for Cassius were strong. Part of me wouldn’t allow myself to truly immerse myself in them knowing what my future held. I looked into his flaming eyes while desire flowed from every muscle he held tight. No breath flowed out of his perfect lips. Now, was the time and I jumped.
“I love you, too. I do, but this can’t happen. I am still trying to figure out what is real and what is a dream. I feel like Alice in Wonderland and any minute I’m going to wake up and all of this you will only be a dream.” His eyes were blazing with passion.
“You love me?” Of course that was all that he would hear.
I took a deep breath before whispering a single word, “Yes.”
Before I could say another word, he pulled me to him and his lips found mine. This time I didn’t fight him. I gave into my feelings and let myself feel for the first time. My whole body was on fire. It was painful. at first, it was as if my body had been forever frozen in a block of ice and with this kiss, the ice was forever melted away. Our souls melded together. I knew whatever happened in the future, both of us had been forever changed. When we finally parted, my lips longed for more. “I love you Aurora. Forever.”
A new round of burning overtook me my heart was swollen with all of the emotions it was trying to process. I knew I would regret it later, but I responded. “I love you too Cassius. Always.” As I said it, I knew it would always be the one truth I could always cling to.
*
Cassius led me out to the backyard.
There were bushes and bushes of beautiful red flowers in bloom. I found that strange, seeing how the leaves were already changing. It was beautiful. Large trees encircled the back yard. The deep crimson flowers created a half circle, keeping us safe from the darkness of the looming forest. Hand hewed logs were carved into benches, which made for a cozy conversation area. In the middle was a large fire pit. A fire was dancing sparking and sizzling in the early morning air. I could feel the heat from where I stood. I wondered who had already been here this morning to set it up. A large basket sat next to one of the benches. It looked just like the one my clothes came in, for today. Cassius squeezed my hand and led me toward the awaiting bench. He brushed off the fallen leaves and motioned for me to take a seat. I did and he reached from the basket and took a thick blanket and draped it over my lap.
“Hungry?” I nodded and he chuckled. “Don’t worry, I doubt Evver would let us starve.” He reached inside the basket and pulled out a large loaf of bread. It was followed by cheeses and a bounty of fruit. We both ate until we couldn’t eat anymore. My stomach was complaining. Cassius added more wood to the fire; it caused it to grow by three feet. Then, he sat next to me. We watched the fire for several minutes, listening to the crackling of the wood. He broke the silence.
“Tell me about your life before Paradan.” It was a simple request, but one that terrified me.
“Why?”
“I want to know everything I can about you. You know everything there is to know about my life but I know nothing of yours.” He was right. I feared how he would react to my confession.
“I’m not really sure it would help anything if I told you. My guess is you will take off running and leave me sitting here.” He reached over taking my hands in his. They were warm and he used them to pull my hands to his chest.
“That would NEVER happen.” His eyes were fierce and so was his voice. It wasn’t going to be easy but I figured I would do what you do when you pull off a band-aid. The faster the better. There was less pain this way anyway. I turned back to watch the roaring fire. I was afraid to tell him while looking into his icy blue eyes.
“It’s hard to explain. I told you I was running from someone. That is the truth. Where I lived there were several people who insisted on making my life difficult. I’ll never understand why. They gave me this, the last time I had encountered them.” I lifted my cape and shirt to reveal the scar on my arm. I heard him mutter something darkly under his breath. Knowing if I turned to see his face I wouldn’t be able to continue so I looked in the distance and resumed my story.
“My world is very different from here. Here there are fairies, giants, trolls and dwarves. They are all considered to be make-believe where I come from—parts of fairy tales. This is part of why I feel like I am dreaming. Most of this world doesn’t seem real. There was a place where I loved to go. In my world, I didn’t have anyone to turn to. I had no friends. An old wishing well sat at the top of the hill in my town. I could go up there and hide from the world and no one would bother me— until the day I arrived in Paradan, anyway. There was nowhere to hide. So I hid in the only place I could think of and climbed into the big bucket inside of the well. I hid there until I couldn’t hear them any longer. When I tried to climb out I fell into the well.” I waited for disbelief on his part, but he was silent. “I blacked out on the way down, when I woke up I was in Paradan and Cronan was standing over me. You know the rest of the story from there.” I sat quietly waiting for him to run off. to find the nearest authority to haul me off to the Looney farm.
“Ecraicias’ wishing well.”
“What?” I asked more confused now.
“I know where you’re talking about. Do you remember where it was that Cronan found you?” His voice was excited and his eyes were sparkling with joy. After all I had told him he was worried about the well.
“Why do you want to send me back?” the pain in my voice broke thru his glee.
“Send you back?” I could see the reality of my words hitting him over and over. I wanted to take it back, apologize, turn back time even and never say it in the first place. He reached out taking my face in his hands. Cassius kept saying the word no over and over again. He pulled me to him and when I felt his tears on my head I realized he finally understood the gravity of my words. I’m not sure what did it. It may have been finally confiding in someone. Or, maybe it was because I had finally realized the depth of my feelings for Cassius and he felt the same. Tears started falling, first one at a time. Then, it was as if my reserve levees had been breached. When I finished crying, Cassius’ shirt was soaked. I felt foolish. While I had been having my breakdown his grip had encircled me protecting me from my storm. Now, his grip loosened just enough to bring my eyes to meet his.
“I’m so sorry, Aurora. On my honor, the thought of you going anywhere, except here with me, never entered my mind. When you said the wishing well, it answered so many questions. Tommit has been searching for it. If he finds it before we do” his voice trailed off fear entered his eyes. “All we have done to try to reclaim the kingdom will be futile. Ecraicias wishing well is the most powerful piece of magic left in Paradan. If Tommit finds it and the golden Para’s there would be little that he could not do. He would be unstoppable.”
My heart sunk.
I was already a witness to Tommit’s destruction and that was without magic. So many lives had already been destroyed, families torn apart. When would the terror end? Would Evver and Cassius be the next set of casualties in Tommit’s power play?
“We can’t let that happen” I jumped up from the bench, in the process pushed Cassius off of the bench. “We have to do something I can’t let anything happen to you. to Evver.” There were so many people I had grown to love in my short time here. Cassius stood and walked toward me.
“We are doing something. I have been working on it. There are so many others searching for others to join the fight. We even sent some of our own to Fara seeking help. To be honest one of the only ones fighting me well is you.” The crooked grin I loved, was taunted me. “Are you still going to fight me?”
I looked at him and glowered. He made me crazy “Cassius, you just don’t get it.”
“What don’t I get? Tell me. I know there is more you have been holding back from me. Unless you tell me everything, I can’t fix it. I didn’t go running off, now did I?” I couldn’t help but laugh.
“No— but,” he held up his hands to stop me.
“No buts” I turned to look at the still roaring fire.
“It’s— Drayben. He told me if I didn’t go along with the engagement and then the wedding, that he would kill Evver. Cassius he is dangerous. He knew things he shouldn’t have. Things I said to Evver when it was just the two of us. If anything ever happened to her because of me.” I couldn’t finish the thought. “Don’t you know that I would rather die a thousand times than ever have anything happen to her? Or you..” I couldn’t finish.
“I will kill him with my bare hands.” His voice was seething. Cassius gripped both of my shoulders and turned me back to him. Normally, his face was gentle and kind, but now it was filled with rage and fury.something I had never witnessed from my gentle stable boy. I wanted to say something to soothe him, but I was lost for words. I understood his anger, most days I shared it, but understanding and dealing with it, were two very separate things.
He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me so tight I worried about breathing.
His whole body shook with fury.