2 hours later, Bellen
~Selene’s Perspective~
Someone’s watching me. I can feel it. But I don’t see anyone around. But I can’t shake the feeling that I’m being watched.
I walk through the pathways of the town of Bellen. I’m walking through the market when someone taps my shoulder.
I whirl around and see Cassius standing close to me, his brown eyes looking down on me.
“You came,” he says.
“Just for a bit,” I spit. “Where the fuck do you want to talk?”
He looks around for a bit before turning back to me.
“Follow me,” he finally says. He begins walking away. I follow behind him.
We walk to an alley. He stops and turns to me.
“No one will listen to us here,” he tells me.
“Alright,” I retort. “What do you want with me?”
“Simple. Kellan no longer has anything to control you with. Which means he’s going to do everything in his power to find another way to control you.”
I look at him incredulously.
“And what makes you think I will believe you?”
“Because I know him more than you think. I was in the military, Selene, and so was he. My parents were enemies of the Bellona and you know it.”
“Your foster parents were. Shut up Cassius. I’ll take care of it myself.”
“And risk the lives of your family? I don’t think so. Kellan’s a greedy, power-hungry bastard. He won’t let you get away from him until he gets what he wants. That’s how the Bellona operate. And when he’s done, he’ll just use his great-grandmother’s influence to cover up any crimes he committed. Trust me Selene, you won’t survive him without my help.”
“Shut up Cassius. I told you I’ll take care of it myself. I don’t need your help.”
Cassius sighs and shakes his head.
“Then what about your mom? Pandora? Kellan will go after them if you don’t let him use you. Please Sele-”
“SHUT UP CASSIUS!! I told you I’ll take care of it myself!”
He looks on as I storm off.
I walk down to the dock to prepare to leave when a voice stops me.
“Going somewhere?” Kellan Bellona’s arrogant voice asks me.
I turn around and look at him. 2 soldiers flank him.
“What do you want?” I spit at him. He smiles slightly.
“I believe you’ve heard the news. Well, I have a new offer. Do you want to hear it?”
“Absolutely not. And the deal’s off. My home is no longer in your hands.”
He smiles. A cold, cruel smile that sends a chill down my spine.
“But what about your family? I can have them killed with an order and no one will know a thing. Maybe I’ll kidnap your sister and-”
“Don’t you dare even touch them,” I growl. “The deal is off. What else do you have to offer to me? My home is free, and I’m not working for the money.”
“Oh but it is so easy to get what I want. If you don’t cooperate, I’m afraid that-”
“Dont’t. You. Dare. Even. Hurt. Them.”
He laughs cruelly.
“And who’s going to stop me?”
I lunge at him only to be stopped by three AG soldiers. Bystanders watch, too scared to help.
“Pathetic,” he says as I struggle. “You commoner scum think you can reach our level, but you have no right to power. This power is my birthright as a Bellona and I will not be insulted by a mere-”
BAM!
One of the soldiers on Kellan’s side falls over, dead. The other one is killed by a woman on sky skates before she flies away. Someone sends a wind blast at me, pushing me to the ground but sending the three soldiers flying off of me. Another masked person kills all three soldiers in the air. It all happens so fast.
I scoot backwards as the person who killed those three soldiers lands next to me. Their face is covered by a bandana and goggles, but their black hair sticks out.
“What is the meaning of this?” the Bellona yells indignantly. “I am an-”
“Arcane Government official,” the person says mockingly. I feel another chill as I realize who my savior is. “We know. And you’ve been strutting around when I know that your sorry ass is angry that my sister ruined your damn deal.”
Cassius pulls out a cutlass and points it at him, imbuing it with his indigo spirit energy. He pulls down his mask and takes his goggles off.
Kellan’s eyes widen.
“Cassius,” he murmurs. He pulls out his sword. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.”
Before Cassius can say anything, Kellan lunges at him. Cassius jumps back, pulling me with him. He whips out a flintlock and points it at Kellan. Kellan freezes before sneering.
“No honor,” he sneers.
Cassius shrugs.
“No time,” he retorts.
BAM!
Kellan falls over with a hole in his head. Cassius grimaces before looking at me. I glare at him, daring him to say it.
“Don’t you dare-” I begin.
“I told you so,” he sighs.
Gods. Fucking. Damnit.
–
10 years ago, Arcane Government Military Academy
“Hey Cass,” Julian began.
Cassius looked up from his book.
“Yeah Julian?” he asked.
“You plan on staying here over the summer, right?”
“Yeah. It’s not like I want to go home or anything. This place is home enough for me.”
“Won’t it be lonely though?”
“I guess. But anything beats going back home to my mom.”
“Good point.”
Cassius put down the book, confused.
“We talked about this before. Why are you asking me now?”
“Well, if you’re not going to go home, why don’t you come with me to Valeria?”
Cassius froze.
“What about your-?”
“My parents are ok with it. I already sent them a letter. I even told them about your situation.”
“Motherfucker. I told you not to say anything.”
“Yeah, well I remember the last time you didn’t say anything. You ended up in the medical ward with a self-inflicted wound. C’mon, it’ll be fun. You’ll love my mom. Besides, we’ll get to celebrate our birthdays together. We have the same birthdays. C’mon, it’ll be fun.”
Cassius thought for a few moments.
“Alright, if you insist,” Cassius conceded. Cassius grabbed his glass of water and splashed its contents on Julian, soaking him.
“What the fuck was that for?”
Cassius shrugged. “Don’t tell anyone about your friend’s personal information.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
End of Chapter XL