Cassandra Pendragon

“Oh no,” I cried. “No, you don’t.” Faster than a thought I was at her side, my wings enveloping us in a translucent cocoon of silver.

“Cassy?” She mumbled. “I can’t… where am I? It hurts…” her voice was getting fainter.

“With me, you’re with me. Breathe… you’re burning through your memories to stay alive. I… I need you to let me help, I think I can share my energy with you, but you have to allow it. We’re connected, remember? Together we’ll be strong enough, trust me.” She shivered in my grasp and the flames around us raged even higher.

“How?” She asked. “I can barely feel you… there’s only heat and pain and… oh gods, I think I’m burning up… please, I don’t want to leave you…” My ears twitched and I had to swallow dryly, my throat constricted while I felt a renewed stream of tears flooding from my eyes. I glanced away from her to hide my face and brush away the moisture, my gaze roaming over the walls of our crimson prison. We weren’t in any immediate danger of being incinerated, the flames were still far away, but with every second, Ahri would lose more of herself to her own magic and I didn’t know what I could do. There must be something, damn it, I was as old as creation but what good did it do me? If she was going to burn, I wouldn’t leave either. There had to be something, anything…

The fires burned even brighter, wreathing the edge of my vision, always changing, bound together in an eternal dance, entwined but yet apart… like us. By the Great Fox! Maybe it didn’t matter if she couldn’t consciously control the flow of energy, maybe…

“Dance with me,” I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “Just… let go, it’ll be alright.” I kissed her tentatively and added: “you promised.” Surprise made her gasp but she didn’t pull back, instead a sad smile formed on her beautiful face. “I did, didn’t I? I think I’d like that… for the first time… and the last. I’m sorry, Cassy.”

“Don’t be,” I snarled. “It’s not over, yet. Close your eyes.” She complied, the eerie light that illuminated her features vanished and I caressingly took her hands. “Focus on me, don’t think, just…dance.” Frankly, I had no idea what I was doing. I just knew that I had to somehow reach her, to get her to trust me enough to allow me in without resistance. If I’d have to use force, I’d destroy huge parts of her, I had seen as much before.

Slowly I began to move, clumsy and insecure at first but that didn’t last. My own fear gradually melted away while I pulled her along, my tails snaking around her middle. There was no music but the thundering rhythm of a burning world, almost like a giant heartbeat, and with every pulse, we became faster, whirling around in mid air. Magic rushed through the sigils on our chests, much more than there had been before. My skin tingled wherever we touched, my wings became entangled with hers and with every revolution, she pressed further into me until she stopped shivering while warmth, nourishing and kind, spread between us.

Only moments later, my own worries dissipated, my panic vanished until all that remained was the breath of the girl in my arms, her scent, softly ticking my nose and the swelling stream of energy that flowed between us. I didn’t feel the heat of the flames anymore, I didn’t see the glaring fires, there was only her and the taste of our mingling energies all around us. Crimson and silver, interspersed with a touch of blue, a blanket of light that kept away the ravaging heat.

Without thinking, I leaned forward and kissed her again, deeply, hungrily, igniting a different kind of warmth. A muffled moan escaped her and her eyes flashed open, emerald, crimson and azure, a tantalising mix of colours that pulled me in. Gone were fear and desperation, replaced by a burning passion I answered all too willingly. Forgotten were angels and demons, wars and enemies, it didn’t matter anymore. When she returned the kiss, a wave of power rushed from my core and circled through us, eagerly satisfying her demands while we danced.

Thunder tore through the realm, the fires blew out and the stars appeared again, but I didn’t care, I didn’t even look, all that mattered was right in front of me. She was beautiful, her wings a blazing crimson, living sails of fire behind her back. Her hair and fur had become streaked with red and her eyes still held that fascinating, changing colour. Sparks glowed at the bottom of those infinitely deep ponds and when her gaze travelled downwards, a sly smile appeared on her stunning features.

“My knight without an armour. Oh my, at least this time I get to be saved by the naked prince…” I didn’t let her finish. It had been enough. Enough waiting, enough teasing and I sure as hell had spent enough time regretting all the things I hadn’t done when I had had the chance. I covered her lips with mine and pulled her closer, my tails brushed caressingly against her legs while my wings closed around us like a silvery curtain.

We didn’t return to camp until the early hours of the morning, when the sun finally rose in the east and banished the remaining clouds of last night’s storm. Fog laid heavy on the island, a thick wall of white cotton which gave us ample opportunity to slip into a tent unnoticed while the dwarfs slept off their hangover. As luck would have it though, we weren’t alone. As soon as I opened the flap, the slow and rhythmic breathing from within and the scent of wild flowers told me exactly whom I would find.

I was still smiling from ear to ear when I put a finger against my lips and gestured for Ahri to follow me quietly. Distracted as I was, the memories of last night still swirling through my mind, I could just as well have saved the effort. I only took a few steps before my feet became entangled in a pair of trousers on the floor and I just barely managed to keep my balance, stomping around like an elephant. Ahri’s melodious laughter was the final straw and with a sharp intake of breath the green haired fey on the camp bed jolted upright.

“What… Who,” she stammered, still half asleep. “Oh, it’s you two. We already wondered where you’d gone to… but now that seems like a silly question. How was it?”

“Uh…” I blushed profusely, but Morgan immediately rolled her eyes and focused on Ahri.

“Your transformation, silly.” She scrambled to her feet and came closer. “I can see the changes to your body but without my magic… are you alright?”

“Better than I’ve felt in ages,” she replied with a grin. “But how come you know what happened to me?”

“Well, when you didn’t return I began pestering everyone who’d listen and Mephisto finally spilled the beans. We had a long chat about angels, demons and the world. He’s quite talkative when he’s drunk.”

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“Really? I didn’t know that,” I chimed in. “Usually I’ve got to repay him for every bit of information, in one way or the other.”

“So did I,” she amended. “He wanted to know everything I could remember about Erya, stories, legends, even rumours. And he was quite persistent on making me talk about… you know, my mother. Actually, it felt liberating,” she quickly added when she saw me frown. “Somehow like confessing your woes to the stars. They’ve seen so much that your own troubles seem far less crushing, less suffocating. It gives you perspective. You weren’t the only ones who found a bit of peace tonight. But all of this can wait until tomorrow. I’ll get out of your hair, just give me a moment to collect my things.”

“You don’t have to leave, we’re the ones intruding…” she laughed softly.

“True, but I can’t imagine you want to run around like that and there aren’t any unoccupied tents left. Besides, it’s past sunrise and I’ve slept enough. If you want me to, I could try to get you some clothes and a tub of fresh water.”

“That’d be lovely,” Ahri replied. “Thanks. But we really don’t want to make you feel like you have to go because of us. It wouldn’t be the first time Cassy has pranced through camp naked and I’ll manage. We could return to the ships, there’s no one left onboard, as far as I know.”

“You’re wrong there. There aren’t enough cots on the ground for everyone so a good chunk of the dwarfs went back onboard to spend the night, or rather the morning. They’ve been drinking almost until sunrise, from what I heard. It’s really fine, don’t worry about me. I’ll see you in a few hours, maybe sooner if I manage to get my hands on everything you need. Try to get some sleep.”

She quickly slipped into her clothes and headed past us but before she left, she turned around once more and hugged us both briefly. I was stunned, I would never have expected her to show this kind of affection but the confused girl I had left behind last night had apparently disappeared. She seemed much more self assured and calm, almost like a different person.

While I watched her leave, I realised that I hadn’t given Mephisto enough credit. When it came down to it, he obviously could find the right words and ask the right questions. Maybe that was what hundreds of lifetimes worth of experience did for you. When you tried, you could just as easily heal as injure, something I still couldn’t do, even though I tried.

“Come on,” Ahri whispered in my ear and pulled me along. “Let’s not waste the time Morgan has bought us.” I followed her obediently to the small bed and dropped onto the covers at her side.

“I don’t want to sleep,” I mumbled. “I don’t want to dream. Just once, I’d like to actually be at your side and not somewhere else when I close my eyes.” She kissed me tenderly but I could feel the mirth she was trying to suppress. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing, that’s one of the nicest things you’ve ever said to me… but you won’t be able to stay awake.” She shifted her weight and slung her tails around me. “Here, maybe you can take me along now. How did you put it again? Just let go, trust me.” And I did. Her warmth, the softness of her body against mine, her rhythmic breath, within seconds I became drowsy and my thoughts drifted away, memories of what had happened between us slowly growing into dreams.

When I woke up, I felt refreshed and I couldn’t remember a single scene from my dreams. It was as if someone had decided to give me short respite, a few hours of uninterrupted peace while the world moved on without me. Sunlight was blinking through the coarse cloth of the tent and through the gaps in the tarp, its rays illuminating the dancing flocks of dust in the air. Quiet voices drifted through the air and I thought I heard the low groaning of the air ships’ mooring outside. The scent of burning coal was starting to get heavy on the wind and with a little imagination I could just about identify the scurrying footsteps of the kids outside, but I just couldn’t be bothered to focus.

I felt content and happy and when I stretched my body I immediately remembered why. Ahri was still deep asleep, her tails wrapped around me, her head resting on my chest. Her ears were tickling my chin and I had to suppress a giggle when I realised that she was snoring, ever so slightly. If I had ever had the smallest doubt, the fuzzy feeling that rose in my stomach when I held her in my arms, felt her against my skin, would have put it to rest. I was just where I wanted to be and if it was up to me, I wouldn’t ever allow anything to come between us again. That girl… that woman… that vixen would be a part of my future for as long as I lived.

I decided to remain where I was, just for a few minutes longer, and studied the streaks of red that were now liberally woven through her white fur and platinum hair. She had become taller, too. Not by much but we were again pretty similar in hight, but I liked to think that I still had a few centimetres on her, at the very least one or two. She was also unbelievably hot, not only in the metaphorical sense. Her skin radiated heat like the dying embers of a fire, as if her energy was waiting just below the surface, ready to break free. It didn’t bother me but I thought that a normal person might actually be hard pressed to spend a night at her side. Not that I was ever going to allow such a thing to happen, she was mine, now and forever. It still made me smile though, when I imagined anybody else trying to touch her when her passion burned brightly enough to set the very air ablaze. And it could, I had seen it. Maybe I had some jealousy issues, but the thought of anyone trying to steal her away going up in flames felt very reassuring.

I stroked her side caressingly, taking care to not wake her up. She deserved every kindness I could give and considering the bright smile on her face, I didn’t want to interrupt her dream. Just as well, I wouldn’t complain if I got an excuse to stay a while longer.

Morgan had kept her word, and while she hadn’t managed to get her hands on a tub, two large buckets stood in the corner and a set of trousers and shirts had been folded close by. On top of them, someone had place two objects, the sight of which sent a jolt of panic through my blissful stupor. The cherry stone and Shassa’s gem… stupid, of course I had lost them. I had been lucky enough that they had fallen off when the first sparks of Ahri’s transformation had ignited my clothes, but they could have just as easily been gone forever. A few seconds later and I imagined that even Mephisto couldn’t have caught them before they’d have tumbled into the immeasurable depth of the churning ocean.

Not that I would have cried a single tear after the treacherous spider, even though I still intended to use her knowledge, no, she could be lost to the waves twice over for all I cared, but the seed was another matter entirely. It held sentimental value, true enough, but if Auguros hadn’t lied straight to my face, it was so much more. Not only would it turn into a save haven, it also contained Greta’s magic, bits and pieces of her soul, her life, her very essence, accumulated over decades. It might turn out to be nothing more than a pipe dream, but a spark of hope still stubbornly smouldered within me that I hadn’t seen my old friend for the last time, yet. Honestly, knowing the old hag, her face would probably pop out of the growing tree sooner or later.

“What are you thinking about?” Ahri mumbled, her arm snaking around my middle. “I liked the smile you had on your face a few minutes before but now you’re frowning again.”

“Am I? If I had know you were awake, I’d have found something better to do. Good morning, sleeping beauty.” I kissed her forehead before I continued: “I dropped Boseiju’s seed last night and I just realised. It’s over there,” I quickly added when I felt her stiffen. “Someone must have found it. Well, I say someone but I think you can guess as well as I who picked it up.”

“He can’t always be a grouchy old man now, can he?” She laughed and relaxed. “Then everything’s fine, isn’t it? No reason to pout.”

“None at all, except… I don’t wanna get up. I really don’t.”

“And why would you have to?” She asked, while she teasingly ran her hand up my leg.

“It’s nearly noon. Viyara and the others should be back any minute now… my mom might very well be walking in on us and if you keep that up, I won’t even care. Your choice.”

“Hm…” she mused, but her fingers never remained still. After a moment she pushed herself up and whispered in my ear: “you know, I think I’m already well past that point.” A second later, she playfully nibbled on my lobe, a sharp jolt of pain that sent tendrils of burning heat through me.