Soon enough, they found their respective rooms at the end of the dimly lit hallway. Room 7 was designated for Cassius and Mia, while Kaelira and Verena had been assigned Room 10.
Kaelira raised a brow the mont she read the numbers on the keys. "Why the hell am I paired with this girl?" she asked, her tone sharp as she jabbed a thumb at Verena. "And why are you sharing a room with Cassius? I an, I know you’re his sister—I’m willing to believe that now—but seriously, isn’t that a little weird?"
Mia tilted her head, genuinely confused. Her soft voice was innocent and flat. "How is that weird? He’s my brother, not a stranger. You’re the one being weird for asking such a thing."
Kaelira didn’t seem convinced, and for once, Verena decided to take her side. "Yeah, I think so too," she said, nodding with an overly dramatic sigh. "Mia, why don’t you just stay with ? Let the lovebirds take their little honeymoon suite. You shouldn’t be alone with that guy. Who knows what he might do?"
Mia’s expression darkened. "I won’t," she said coldly, glaring at Verena. "Don’t make repeat myself." She turned to Kaelira next. "And you—stay with Verena in Room 10. I’m going to find my brother. He should’ve returned by now."
With that, she spun on her heels and started heading down the corridor toward the stairs. But before she could even reach the end of the hallway, a familiar presence appeared from below.
Cassius.
His steps were slow. His face blank, void of any trace of emotion. His entire upper body was coated in a thick, gooey, black liquid that clung to him like a second skin. It reeked of blood, foul and rotten blood.
The sight of him made Mia freeze in place.
She took a step back on instinct. Her heel caught against the edge of the wall, and she nearly stumbled—until Cassius appeared before her in a flash.
With one hand, he grabbed the collar of her shirt and yanked her upright. It wasn’t gentle, but it wasn’t violent either—just a reflexive move to keep her from falling.
Still, the image of him—blank-eyed, dripping in black filth, towering over her—was enough to suck the air from her lungs.
Kaelira and Verena stared at them from down the hallway, expressions morphing from shock to imdiate suspicion.
"You bastard!" Verena yelled, pointing an accusing finger. "Why are you choking her, you monster?! Let her go!"
Cassius clicked his tongue in annoyance. He released Mia with a sigh and brushed the filth off his hoodie, though it did little to help. Then he turned his head toward the two girls, glaring coldly.
"Did you already buy rooms or not?" he asked bluntly. "I was just about to check in, but if it’s done already, then that saves the trouble."
His voice was flat, devoid of inflection. There wasn’t a single trace of fatigue or pride—just... nothing.
Verena opened her mouth to shout again, but Kaelira beat her to it. "Yeah, we did. You and I can take Room 10. Mia and Verena can share Room 7. That work?"
Cassius gave a short nod. "Fine."
Without another word, he walked toward her, his boots leaving faint black marks on the wooden floor. Mia didn’t stop him. She was still frozen, eyes locked onto his back. The black liquid on him was thick and crusted in so places, as if it had dried mid-battle.
She could tell the blood wasn’t his.
That only made it worse.
Her brother had always been strong, capable. But sothing about the way he looked right now—the emotionless eyes, the quiet steps, the detached voice—it unsettled her in a way she couldn’t describe.
It didn’t feel like Arawn... no, it was because it felt like Arawn.
Sigh.
Verena let out an exaggerated breath and rolled her eyes. "Well, at least those two are gone," she muttered. "Mia, let’s head back. Let those bastards enjoy their little couples’ retreat. We should rest up before tomorrow."
Mia didn’t respond with a glare this ti. She didn’t say anything at all.
She simply nodded and followed Verena down the hallway without a word.
...
Room 10 of the hotel wasn’t lavish by any stretch. Clean polished floors, two soft double beds, an arched window with sheer curtains, and a private bath.
The second they stepped inside, Cassius yanked off his blackened hoodie and boots, leaving a trail of gri behind him.
Kaelira gagged theatrically and jumped onto one of the beds, pulling her legs up to avoid the ss. "Okay, ew. You sll like a corpse that got dunked in tar and left in the sun."
Cassius shot her a dry look, tossing his blood-crusted gloves into the waste bin. "Thanks for the update, Captain Obvious."
"No, seriously. You’re not allowed to speak to until you’ve scrubbed off whatever abyssal sli is clinging to your soul and skin."
With a shake of his head, he made his way toward the sleek black door leading to the bathroom. "Fine, I’ll shower before your delicate sensibilities collapse."
"Take your ti. Like, really take your ti. Hours, even," she called after him with a smirk.
The mont the door shut and the water began to run, Kaelira let her posture relax. She sprawled across the plush hotel bed, fingers tapping lightly against the comforter. It was quiet now—eerily so.
Despite herself, she found her eyes wandering to the gear Cassius had tossed aside. Cassius Lancaster, ever since that guy had co into her life. A lot of things had happened, she had followed him... made him follow her just to her revenge.
She couldn’t take her revenge, but she sure as hell saw a lot of things happen. At the very least she was happy to get Alaris’s citizenship. Even before Opalcrest wasn’t destroyed, this place was much better.
But the most interesting part or person was Cassius himself... he was nearly the sa age as her. But...
He was strong.
Too strong to be a regular student.
"Just what are you really, Cassius Lancaster..." she murmured under her breath. She couldn’t understand him, especially his bloodlust. He didn’t show it normally, but Kaelira had t a lot of people in her rcenary life.
She knew the first and foremost when she saw a killer. And from her perspective Cassius was a serial killer...
Fifteen minutes later, the bathroom door opened with a soft click, and steam curled out into the cooler air of the room.
Cassius stepped out, freshly washed, a towel slung around his neck, another one rubbing his damp hair, water still dripping slightly from the ends of his hair. But the darkness was gone—the blank stare, the suffocating presence.
He looked... human again.
Cassius sat down on the bed across from hers, resting his forearms on his knees, looking strangely relaxed now. "So? Did Mia tear you apart while I was gone?"
"She tried. Verena stepped in to make it worse."
He groaned, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Why is she still following my sister around like a lost puppy?"
"She might be a lesbian."
"...Yeah, I got that vibe."
Kaelira chuckled under her breath. "You okay now, by the way? You looked like death earlier."
Cassius leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "I’m used to it. Rift monsters are tricky. You kill one, and three more show up behind you like it’s so sick joke. Fucking campers!"
"You’re used to getting sward by monsters with jagged obsidian teeth?"
"Honestly? At this point, yeah. But not jagged teeth monsters but humanoid monsters... humans..."
She studied him for a mont, brows furrowed. "You know, you should probably rest. You looked half-dead when you walked in."
"I’ll rest when the rift nds itself. It’s still open even after I killed so many of them."
"Spoken like a true hero. Do you have a hero complex by any chance?"
He rolled onto his side, eyes closing as he settled onto the bed. "No! And wake in two... days."
She raised a brow. "What, really? You’re just gonna nap here with in the room? You’re not worried about ? A very pretty girl is sleeping just beside you."
"You? Nah. I do have the right the fuck you, but I am tired currently. I will see it tomorrow."
Silence returned again, this ti softer.
Cassius cracked one eye open. "By the way."
"What?"
"...Thanks. For watching over Mia."
Kaelira blinked. She didn’t expect that.
"...Of course."
He closed his eyes again. "Let know if you ever need a favor. But not the kind that requires flowers and moonlight. I’m allergic to romantic clichés."
"Pity. I was about to propose."
He snorted. "Get in line."
She grinned, folding her arms behind her head once more. "Nah. I like the front row... by the way are you serious? Does anyone seriously like you?"
He opened his eyes, sat straight and looked her straight in the eyes. "Yes... To many to count actually."
Reviews
All reviews (0)