Cassandra Pendragon

Her full lips trembled in an effort to suppress her sobs, but when she spoke, her voice was barely more than a fearful whisper: “has my uncle sent you? Is it… is it finally my time?”

I ignored her for the moment, since I couldn’t imagine that the terrified child was my most pressing problem, at least for now. Instead, I focused on the room once more and sent a quick thought through my tattoo. “I’m still breathing and in one piece. Don’t know where I am, though, I’ll get back to you in a second.” I shut out Ahri’s incoherent reply, that came as a stream of images and emotions, reassuring as it would have been to keep the link open. I stood up and glanced around the cell briefly, only to realise that I hadn’t missed anything noteworthy, except for a flickering candle on the table and a sturdy trapdoor in the ceiling, reinforced with bands of iron, the only visible exit. It would have been foolish to close my eyes to focus on my other senses, who knew what the little vampire might get up to if given the chance, but I didn’t need to. The potent surge of energy I had unleashed had apparently cleared away most of my problems, except for the lingering aches in my muscles. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to pay too dearly, once I retracted my wings.

The first thing I noticed, I couldn’t hear the girl’s heartbeat nor her breath, she definitely was an undead, which also explained why I couldn’t detect the smell of stale sweat or any of the other putrid results that usually came with prolonged captivity. There was the metallic scent of dried blood and the fresh, salty fragrance of her tears, but nothing else. It was also eerily quiet, the low murmur of her dress, brushing over the cold stone floor when she readjusted her posture and the silky whisper of her hair against her skin the only sounds I could identify. There were no scurrying rats or the creaking of seasoned wood, no footsteps behind the walls, not even the soft rumbling of stone, when it expanded in the rising heat of a new day. We were truly shut off from the outside.

Sighing, I quickly tried to piece together the few clues I had and said, with only a tiny bit of hesitation: “no, no he didn’t, I’m not completely sure, but I think your… mother was the one to send me. Not that I had much of a choice in the matter, mind you.” I even managed a kind smile. It was fascinating to watch her expression change with every word I uttered. Fear, surprise and hope flashed across her face, her eyes opening wide and before I had finished, she shot across the room and buried her head against my chest. Strangled cries filled the silence and I felt her hot tears drench the cloth of my shirt, while her shoulders shook violently. For a moment, I froze, unsure of what to do, but I regained my composure quickly enough. Screw this, whoever she was, right now, it didn’t matter. What had happened to her that a smile could make her cry?

Carefully I wrapped my arms around her and dropped back on my knees, holding her tight while she cried and cried, the misery only a child could feel finally breaking forth. From time to time, I heard her stammer, but the words simply wouldn’t come, drowned beneath a cathartic flood while she weeped. I remained silent, offering her as much comfort as she could take from me, but there were no words to make it better. I didn’t know what she had been through, or why she was here, I didn’t even know who she was for certain, but I remembered the sensation well enough, when torments of the past finally clawed their way to the surface. She needed to know that she wasn’t alone and that much, I could do for her.

Seconds turned into minutes and still she wept, a seemingly unending well of desperation and fear had been tapped and now, it needed somewhere to go. After a while, I pulled her closer and whispered the usual platitudes in her ear. I assured her that she wasn’t alone, that it’d be alright, that I was there with her, but essentially, I just wanted her to hear my voice, to have something to cling onto while the pale ghosts of her capture and everything she had been forced to endure slowly left her. It took longer than I expected, but after what felt like hours, she finally calmed down a little, the tension in her body subsided gradually and the strangled sobs turned into snivelling.

Still I didn’t move, only when I felt her push against me gently, did I let her go. “Better,” I asked.

She nodded, rubbing her dirty palms against her eyes as she blinked at me through long, tear hung lashes. “I… I think so. I’m sorry, I don’t even know who you are, but…”

“It’s all right, little one. I understand. And I’m Cassandra, if you want to, you can call me Cassy. I’m…” I hesitated and when her eyes sparkled with a hint of curiosity, I had to smile. “By the Great Fox, I have no clue how I should introduce myself. I’d say I’m an acquaintance of you mother’s but that would be stretching the truth a tad too far. You’re Alassara’s daughter, aren’t you?”

She nodded vigorously, her long, flowing hair reflecting the quivering light of the candle in a dizzying display of golden sparks. “I am. How is she? Have you spoken to her?” I was taken aback by the genuine concern in her voice, there weren’t many people who could care for someone else in a position like hers. I wasn’t even entirely convinced most adults would have managed as much, if they had been locked up, all alone, for the gods knew how long.

“I have, in a way. She’s fine. I think she sent me here to get you out. At least, that’s the most convincing idea I could come up with.”

“Can you,” she whispered, her voice again trembling with the urge to cry, as the spark of hope that had ignited at my appearance flared into bright, powerful flames.

“May… definitely. But I’m going to need your help. I’ve no clue where we are or how to get back, but we’ll find a way. Trust me. Can you tell me how you got here? What is this place?”

“I…I don’t know. The last thing I remember clearly before I woke up in this room, is going to bed when the sun rose. Then… I think there was a fight but I’m not sure. It’s all blurry. Something hit me and… Please, I want to go back home. I can’t stay here! Please, just get me out!” The last part she screamed at the top of her lungs, loud enough to make me wince. While she threw herself forward and clung to me once more like a puppy to its mother, I focused on the trapdoor, half expecting heavy footsteps and the sound of sliding bolts to greet me.

When nothing happened after a few seconds, I relaxed and patted her head. “Don’t fret, we’ll get you back to your family in no time. It’s going to be fine, believe me…” it took quite a while for her to calm down enough to let go of me. When she finally wriggled in my embrace, I pushed her to arms length and brushed the tears from her cheek: “what’s your name? I can hardly keep on calling you ‘little one’, now, can I?” A smile tugged on the corners of her mouth.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“I wouldn’t mind… but my name is Layla.” Despite her dirty dress and our grim surroundings, she curtsied elegantly which made me laugh.

“That’s hardly necessary, after you’ve wiped your nose on my shirt, is it,” I chuckled. “But it’s nice to meet you, Layla. Now, do you feel like you’re up to telling me what happened here? I assume the blood in the bowl was your last meal? How long have you been here? Did anyone ever come to check on you?” She blushed faintly at my words. After a second, she haltingly replied:

“I can’t say for sure, but that’s my 106th candle. I’ve kept count. When it burns down, the hatch opens. Someone sends a basket with a little blood and another candle through. I’ve never seen them, though. Only… only once did… my uncle, he…” she trembled again. Did I really want to know? Probably not, but it could be important. Gods, my anger, which had been seething just below the surface ever since I had arrived in this cozy suite of hers was almost spilling over. If my conjuncture was correct, Alassara had turned me into an ally without ever lifting a finger. If Layla’s uncle was Captain Dawn and he had hurt the girl to get to his sister, he had made a mistake, a pretty significant one. Cold, detached Lightbringer my ass. I was a sucker.

I pulled her closer and whispered: “shh, it’s okay. He can’t hurt you anymore… is he… did he take your blood?” I had guessed, but her frail body tensed in my arms, as she nodded, once.

“It’s okay, you’re safe. He won’t get to you again. But if we want to leave, there are a couple of things I have to know. Do you think you’re up to it? I know you’re scared, but if you can be brave just one more time, I’ll have us out of here before you know it.”

She looked at me, barely holding back her tears and mumbled: “promise?” Shit. I couldn’t even take the time to think about it, if I hesitated, she’d feel denied instantly. Kids could be disturbingly acute, whenever it was the most inconvenient.

“Promise,” I sighed. At the very least I didn’t have to bite back a scream, the burning sensation I had been forced to endure the last time I had made a promise didn’t assault me again. On the other hand, I was now truly and utterly stuck with Layla. Hopefully I wasn’t going to regret it.

The magic that bound me to my words flowed between us and despite my worries, I thought it had been worth it, when the first honest smile appeared on her face. Somehow she knew that I hadn’t lied to her, that I’d stick to my promise, no matter the cost.

“I… what just happened,” she asked incredulously while the last sparks disappeared.

“That’s a long story, one I’ll gladly tell, once we’re out of here. For now, you just have to know that I won’t break my word, ever. It’s a part of who I am. So, until you’re back home, you’re probably going to be stuck with me. Makes this place look more appealing, all of a sudden, doesn’t it?”

“No, I think, I’d rather be with you,” she giggled. “At least you’re some sort of company.”

“Thanks, that’s exactly what every girl wants to hear. Alright, first things first. Have you tried reaching the hatch?”

“More than once, but this place… I can’t use my magic and the walls are much more sturdy than they should be. I can’t get my claws through the stone to climb up and somehow I can’t even jump as I high as I’m used to… it’s like… it feels like something is suppressing all my powers, my strength, my spells… can’t you feel it?”

“No, I do feel exhausted but it’s definitely not worse in here. Are you sure it’s the place itself?”

“What do you mean?” I shrugged.

“You’ve been given food for a while now. It might have been poisoned.” She shook her head vigorously.

“No, I would have tasted anything unusual. That was just normal pig’s blood. While I have weakened from the diet, it’s not more than I expected.”

“Does that mean you need blood from a sentient species to keep your strength?”

“Over longer periods of time, yes. I can get by on all sorts of mammals but after a while, my power dwindles.” While she spoke her eyes roamed across my neck and fixated on my jugular with a creepy intensity. Now, that was something I had to take care of quickly.

“Layla, trust me on this, you don’t want to drink my blood. I’ve no clue what exactly might happen, but chances are you wouldn’t survive. If I thought otherwise, I’d even offer to feed you.”

“Are you sure? Because you smell amazing, almost like… pure magic. As if a single sip could sustain me for ages.”

“It even might, or you could turn into a walking torch. Is that a risk you’re willing to take? Because I’m not. Your mum might take it personal if I accidentally incinerated her daughter. But I’ve got to ask, is your hunger a problem? Can you control yourself?” She seemed affronted at the notion.

“Who do you think I am? I’m not four anymore. I’ll have you know that I’m not more likely to attack you than you are to attack a merchant because you want his sweets. I’m not an animal.”

“I never said you were, but I also don’t know much about vampires. I didn’t mean to insult you, I just wanted to make sure.” I massaged my temples, buying myself a few seconds to think.

“Fine, give me a minute, there’s someone I need to talk to. Afterwards, we’re leaving.” Disbelief was written clearly across her doll like features.

“Just like that?”

“Just like that,” I said through a smile. “There aren’t many things that can stop me and walls definitely aren’t among them. Now shush, I need to concentrate.” I offered her my hand, which she immediately clung to like a drowning man to a raft, and sent my thoughts inwards.

“Ahri? Sorry for cutting you off. I wanted…” I didn’t get any further since her fear and worry flooded through our link like a tidal wave, mixed with a bombardment of questions I couldn’t answer, and pure relief that I obviously was still alive and unharmed. Sweet as it was, I didn’t intend to let her go on. The gods only knew how long I’d be standing there otherwise.

“Listen,” I forcefully projected through the connection. “I’m fine, I truly am. The portal, I think it was a one way street to reach Alassara’s daughter. The poor girl is stuck in an enchanted cell, courtesy of Captain Dawn, if I’m not mistaken, and I’m going to take her with me, just like her mum intended. Unfortunately I’m not sure how far away we are, Mephisto said the vampires are in control of several portals, didn’t he? We could be on the other side of the world, for all I know. Once I figure out how to get back, I’ll be in touch. Until then, could you do me a favour and try to contact that scheming bitch of a vampire queen? Tell her, her plan worked fabulously and if she doesn’t come up with a way to repay us, I’ll stake her in the middle of the town square, once I’m back.” I could feel her desire to pester me for more details but she held her tongue, one of the things I loved about her. She had her priorities straight and could keep it together.

“Will do. Anything else? Mephisto already tried a scrying spell on Shassa’s gem, but it failed. You still have it with you, don’t you?”

“I do, but I think this place is heavily warded. Maybe it’ll work once we’re outside. Be careful, Alassara is quite clever and she has to know an insane amount about who and what we are.”

“I’ll wear velvet gloves when dealing with her. Don’t worry. And please, stay safe. Don’t risk your neck for a stranger.”

“What makes you think I would?” I could practically see her rolling her eyes

“Because I know you, Cassy. Take care of the girl, but you’re more important to me. Please, come back in one piece. Everything else, we can figure out. I love you.”

“Love you, too. And thanks. You’re the best.”

“I know. Hurry up and don’t forget to contact me. I’ll be waiting.” She severed the connection. I must have worn a rather telling expression because Layla squeezed my hand a second later and asked:

“Was that your husband?” Naturally, I had to chuckle. Some things just never got old.

“Not quite, but maybe one day. We’re engaged. If you want to, I’ll introduce you to her, when we have the chance.” I could tell that she was bursting with unasked questions, but now wasn’t the time.

“Tell you what, once we’re out of here, you can ask me anything you want and I’ll try to answer. But for now, I think we should best get moving. That candle isn’t going to last for much longer and I’d rather not be here, when your jailers walk in again.”