IV. Red Streaks

Cassey has been staring into the dark for a long time. Her neck’s been stiff, and the soles of her feet are numbed. She took off her heels and ran down the stairs all the way to the garden. The garden has everything:  a bench, a table with two chairs, a statue of a mythic eromance goddess, a dancing fountain, and a wide sky full of stars to gaze.

“Everything in this garden is made for lust,” she uttered as she examined the statue in front of her. Germela was described as the romantic goddess who fell for a man. But the man she loves had someone else in his heart, and they are soon be blessed with an offspring. Germela offered all the wealth and power she had if the man chooses her. But at the end of the story, the man chose to marry the woman she loves and rejected the goddess forever. The goddess, who was touched by their love, dedicated a whole garden for them as a wedding gift and left.

“Do you believe in Germela?” the low voice startled her. He was wearing a cloak and his mouth was covered entirely. She ignored him but the heavenly presence beside her is too strong to neglect. At once, she replied, “I do. Germela truly exists.”  The man in cloak started walking away as soon as she replied. Unconciously, Cassey’s feet started moving too, closely following the man’s steps. Then  in the middle of walking she stopped. 

“Who are you?” The man never looked back, but he ceased moving silently.

‘Why am I following you?’ Cassey thought. For a moment, she felt as if she was leashed by the guy, who doesn’t even meet her eyes.

“Are you an assassin?” Cassey’s assumptions may sound rude and insolent, but she doesn’t mind. To her, it seems like the man is a suspicious character, whose role is to drag her on chained leash like a prisoner.

“If I am, I should’ve let you die earlier,” the man uttered and slowly faced her. His eyes were scarlet, but Cassey feel no fright at all. Instead, she was dazed.

“Is there something with my face?”

Cassey snapped back to reality at the man’s question. ‘You’re quite bold’ is what she wanted to tell him, but would that do any good? She felt heavy at the thought of losing sight of him before she could ask him. 

“What have you seen earlier? For you to tell me those things, it’s not just a wild guess. Am I right?” 

The man leaned closer to her and whispered to her ears, “Behind you, there was an arrow ready to launch.”

Cassey flinched at what he said. She moved slowly to see the hired killer, but the man held her arms tight. “You should never look back, no matter what.” Then he carried her like a bride and ran to the woods as if they’re lovers playing games in the dark.

The man has finally put her down. They’ve been running for a long time to escape from the assassin behind her. Cassey tied her disheveled hair and turned to his savior.

“I express my heartfelt gratitude. I wish you a safe travel, Sir.”

“Leaving?” The man in cloak sat on the grasses, leaning his head on the tree’s trunk.

‘Does he wished to be accompanied?’ Cassey reluctant to stay, but seeing the man panting and catching his breath is increasing her guilt. Hence, she rested her back on the hard surface of the same tree, hoping the compensation would ease him.

The man had noticed. “What do you think about marriage?” 

Confused by the sudden attack, Cassey turned her head on the man hoping he would see his eyes. But his eyes were closed.

“Marriage is a union between two people, who vowed to stay with each other through thick or thin.” Cassey smiled as she uttered those words. To her, that was the safest way to define marriage- to exclude the concept of love.

“Would you marry if one tells you to?” This time, the man turned his head to Cassey.

Cassey remembered the conversations she had with her mother. Everything she had talked with her mother until now was marriage, to the point it’s almost like brainwashing her.

“No. Why would I marry because I was told to? I can accept a loveless one, but not one out of someone else’s demand.”

The man, astonished by her bold replies, chuckled and caught the attention of Cassey. 

‘His laugh sounds hot.’

Cassey smacked herself. She can’t believe what she just thought. It was strange.

“I should go now, Sir. I wish you a safe journey.” Cassey bid goodbye, staring at the figure of the man taking a nap under the tree. He had fair skin suggesting his noble origins and a strand of hair that made Cassey smirk. With a sly thought, she left.

-

The afterparty dinner at the Timmerhaus residence is quiet and chilly. Ashanti was talking joyfully about the tea party and the praises she had at the ball.

“It’s a pity that my sister never danced with Taurus.” She uttered, half mocking with a sly grin on her full- bodied lips. Taurus is one of the guys who showed interest to me before, but ended up proposing to the esteemed Ashanti. 

“I wonder how you would feel if I dance to someone who pledged his life for you.” I replied, heartfully grinning with all the sarcasm I could grasp. Her complexion has changed and she gulped the chicken sauce out of embarrassment.

‘Mirisi, Ashanti.’ I mentally chanted a Maharlikan curse underneath my breath. Mother put her goblet of water on the table and smiled at me.

“Taurus isn’t part of the count. She met the stars of the Febrez.” Ashanti gripped harder on her fork. Annoyed, huh?

I grinned, caressing the knife, and stared at Ashanti who was trembling on her seat. “I met them today. They were gentle men. I heard one of them had a fiancée already. Corosas was it?” 

“It was Colosas, why are you saying his name like he’s your lover?” Mother showed disgust on my fake cutesy. Ashanti’s face was tomato red and I can’t help but bite my lower lip. No matter what, I can’t laugh. I’ll have to endure until this act ends.

“That leaves me wondering, Cassey. Who among the Febrez is the best choice?”

I tried to recall the faces of the men I met earlier. Ashanti smiled at me, and I guess she’s recovered from the tension she felt earlier.

‘But I never wanted you to recover, Ashanti.’

“The best choice… was the man with red streaks.”

Ashanti choked at my words. Mother maliciously laughed and wiped the sauce on her lips. “You seem to enjoy your soul searching. You may not need my help anymore.” I agreed with a joyful nod and watched as she walked away.

“Sister…” Here comes the trouble. 

“Spill it, esteemed Ashanti.” Ashanti’s eyes were dark and cold.

“Were you mocking me earlier?”

I stared in disbelief and shook my head.

“Don’t take me for a fool, Cassey. I can feel it even though Mother may not see it.”

“I was teasing you, milady. I heard you had a good relationship with Connie, so I teased you with Taurus. You know the trend, a precious lady with the knight who loves her deeply. To be honest, I like you better with Taurus. He sticks to one.” 

Ashanti laughs. “Taurus is a good friend. Corosas… he was once my lover, so I could call him intimately but you… Oh, don’t tell me you love him too? But he has a fiancée right now…” I frowned at her clownery.

“But Ashanti, didn’t you say he was just a friend who helps you a lot in your studies? Never knew you were once lovers. I thought Corosas was actually his name because you keep calling him like that.”

Ashanti was pale once again. I wonder how it feels being hit by your own bullet.

“What you’re uttering right now is different from what you said before. Between them…” I leaned closer to her face. “… which is real, Ashanti?”

“You’ve changed, Cassey.”

“You’ve changed, Ashanti.”

Ashanti, it’s either Ashanti has changed or…

“Please excuse me, Lady Cassey.”

… she’s like this right from the start.

-

Thump!

Cassey shuddered after she received a smack from her mother.

“What you did earlier was rather shameless. Are you envious of your sister?”

“Ashanti isn’t my sister.”

The countess lifted her hand, but Cassey caught it.

She shoved her face to her mother’s, and tried to read her eyes. Then she smiled and said, “Ashanti wishes me death.”

The black eyes of Cassey deterred her mother. It’s as if the only thing she can see on her daughter's eyes were her black pupils. Tears streamed down her cheeks and her grip on her mother's hand kept tightening.

Casey, at the sight of her mother’s terrified face, got back to her senses and let go. She hurried to the mirror behind her mother and wiped her tears with the rose petals fallen from the vase. Then she left and sneaked out of the house.

The moon was shining brightly upon her frail figure. Cassey was silently lamenting on her despicable behavior. She walked faster, ran passed the burglars on the streets and started to parkour from balcony to balcony. She’s doing everything to calm her raging hormones. At last, she arrived at her destination- a lousy pub who sells cupcakes at night. She sat on the swivel chair next to the water dispenser. She pinned fast thrice and the wooden floor cracked open. She pulled the wooden slab and secured an opening. Then she tossed herself to the pit. 

“You missed me already?”

A man spoke in front of her.

“Not really… Markus.”