Cassandra's Challenge by M. K. Eidem
“He stays away from Victoria.” Paa sees the deadly look in Lucas’ eye.
“Yes, and Cassandra.” The Admiral allows Paa to understand the closeness of his relationship with the Princess. “I would like a few minutes alone with Ensign Paa.” The Admiral looks at the three men in the room.
“Shut the door Quinn.” The Admiral stares down Paa as the door shuts. “Does Valerian have anyone else in the security force?”
“No sir, I’m sure of it.”
“Why?”
“Because the High Admiral told me I was vital in the protection of the Coalition.” The Admiral nods.
“Understand me Ensign. If you endanger my family again, I won’t care who your grandfather was. Your family will never find your body. Do you understand?”
“Yes Admiral.”
“Report to Marat.”
“Yes sir.” Paa rises quickly heading for the door, than stops and turns back to William.
“Why?”
“You’re questioning your good fortune Ensign?” The Admiral raises an eyebrow.
“Yes sir.” Paa stands at attention. “I gave you my loyalty then betrayed it. I reported locations of Royals. The Princess knows this. Why am I not being arrested?”
The Admiral leans back in his chair. It took a great deal of inner strength for Paa to stand there, after Valerian’s betrayal, and question him. It shows he’s already learned that to accept blindly is to be blind.
“You’re not being arrested because the Princess sees something in you. She understands that Valerian used you, than abandoned you. She realizes he chose you because of who your grandfather was. That you would believe what he told you because of that. He used your youth and inexperience against you.” The Admiral stands.
“She’s not that much older than I am Admiral. That was one of the High Admiral’s reasons for her using you.”
“Cassandra uses no one.” He stares at Paa. “I’ll tell you something not that many know Paa. Cassandra’s father and brother were both members of shock troops. She understands how the military works, knows that not all those in command should be there. She’s giving you a second chance, she’s not trusting you,” William gives him a hard look. “Chances are you’ll never be trusted by her again. But she’s not going to destroy you for doing what you honestly believed was right. She could, but she won’t. She believes in justice, that the innocent shouldn’t pay for the guilty. Dismissed.”
“Yes sir.”
He finds Cassandra alone in their suite.
“Tell me.” He walks up behind her, his arms going around her as she stares out the window.
“What did you decide?” She counters.
“He’ll be standing guard with no comm, no weapon. You didn’t have to give him a second chance.”
“Neither did you.” She turns in his arms. “Fuck Valerian. Paa is an innocent.”
“Yes he is, now tell me.”
Cassandra looks up at him. “After you left, I couldn’t get back to sleep. Someone is a hell of a kisser.” She gives him slight smile
“Thank you.” He smiles back at her.
“But suddenly I had this need for fudge torta. Your son is somewhat demanding.”
“You had a craving?”
“Oh, just a really big one. So I went down to the kitchen to get a slice. I overheard Paa talking to Valerian. He didn’t see me.”
“You were in the kitchen alone?”
“Just me and the fudge torta.”
“You should have called Hutu.” William’s eyes are hard.
“It was early there was no reason to bother him.”
“There became one.”
“William….”
“You could have been hurt.” He grips her arms.
“That kid wasn’t going to hurt me.” Her voice is dismissive.
“Kid! He’s a highly trained member of the Coalition.” William gives her a slight shake.
“That may be but he’s still a child, at least he was until Valerian betrayed him.”
“He’s only four cycles younger than you.”
“I haven’t been that young and naive since my mother died.” Cassandra rests her hands on his chest, letting the beat of his heart comfort her.
“Did you ever get your fudge torta?” He pulls her close knowing it still hurt her, her father sending her away.
“No.” She looks up at him, pouting slightly. “By the time everything settled Victoria was up. I didn’t think it would set a very good example to have it for breakfast, I got loblolly instead.”
William can’t help but smile at her, “I suppose I could be convinced to have Hutu send you up a piece.” Her eyes sparkle into his.
“Really?” Sliding her arms up his chest she pulls his head down. “What would it take to ‘convince’ you?”
William crushes her to him. Things could have gone very differently in the kitchen, he could have lost her. Her and their son. Breaking off the kiss he frames her face with his hands.
“You’ll rest.”
“What?” Cassandra’s mind isn’t fully engaged.
“After the fudge torta you’ll rest.”
“That’s blackmail.” She frowns at him.
“Yes it is.” He’s not the least apologetic.
“I still need to get through Kyle’s Intel.” She argues back.
“Fudge Torta….” He dangles the temptation.
“Sometimes you are just mean.” She smiles to soften her words. “Get me the torta and I’ll lay down for awhile.”
“Until 1300.”
“William!”
“That’s the deal.”
“And hard headed.” But she knows she’s lost.
Kyle’s been able to compile a great deal of information in a short period of time. She’s impressed, it’s through and well presented. Standing she walks over to the window, letting her mind filter through it, not noticing the darkening skies.
So long ago….it started so long ago….all because of a birthmark. Sabah’s birthmark that she’d passed on to her daughter and granddaughters. That the Regulians had documented when her grandmother had been abducted, over fifty years ago. That Olah discovered when he was translating the data from the captured Regulian ship, captured by William during the Battle of Fayal data that Olah passed on to Prince Audric.
Prince Audric, born on Messene, the planet were Royals went to get away. Born to commoners, both his parents working as servants. For some reason Queen Hestia, Yakira’s mother had taken a liking to him. She’d paid for him to be educated, trained. During that time he became friends with Vane, Yakira’s intended. He’d been climbing with Vane when he’d had his ‘accident’. It had been blamed on faulty equipment. The man in charge of the climb had sworn that the equipment was brand new and in perfect condition, he’d inspected it himself. Several weeks late he was found dead, an apparent suicide, the note he’d left stating he could no longer live knowing he’d been responsible for Vane’s death.
But the most interesting thing she’d learned was that Audric had a genetic condition. A very rare condition found only in those born on Messene, it affected his eyes. In certain lighting they would seem to ‘sparkle’, or ‘glitter’ to a two year old.
Turning from the window she walks back to the comm, pulling up a picture of Audric. He’s standing beside Queen Yakira, their son next to his mother, their daughter in front. A very stiff formal picture with no one touching, while there’s no doubt the children are brother and sister neither child resembled Audric. Interesting. Would Victoria recognize him? Does she put her through it?
She’s done so much better since the thread was removed. No more nightmares with the Glitter Man. She’s gotten a little slice of her childhood back. She can ran and laugh with Amina, even with the destruction of Earth, the death of her parents, she’s finding joy. Does she put her through it?
“You’re thinking awfully hard.” William walks over to see what she’s staring at on the screen. “The Royal family.”
“Hmmm.”
“What are you thinking?”
“Do I show Victoria?” She turns troubled eyes to him. “She’s been doing so much better.”
“You promised her she could help.” He reminds her.
“I know.” He hears the indecision in her voice.
“Cassandra,” William caresses her cheek. “How would you feel, if after I promised you we’d do this your way, I changed my mind and settled it without you?” Her eyes flare.
“I would be very upset.” Closing her eyes she sighs. “I know, I get it, I just want to protect her.” She looks into his eyes, knowing that’s what he wants to do to her. “It’s two totally different things.”
“Yes it is. She’s always protected, you…you like to ‘irritate’ the man you believe responsible for the destruction of your planet…you go alone into a dark kitchen for a piece of torta and discover a spy.”
“I have you.” Cassandra rests a hand over his heart. “You understand me, allow me to be me, tell me when I’m wrong, protect me, love me. I couldn’t do any of this without you.”
“And Victoria has us. She needs to be part of this, to know she has some control.”
“And if the nightmares return?”
“Then we’ll help her through them.” Cassandra looks at him and nods.
“Okay, but when? When do we show her Audric?” William just looks at her.
“Now?” He sees the fear in her eyes.
“The sooner it’s done the better you’ll feel.” Knowing he’s right she nods, he leans down pushing a button on the comm.
“Zafar.”
“Lucas, bring Victoria over to our suite.” He disconnects before Lucas can question.
Minutes later Lucas and Victoria enter the private area, Victoria chattering away. Looking at her Aunt she quiets.
“What’s wrong Aunt Cassie?” She moves closer to Lucas, seeking support.
“There’s nothing wrong Victoria.” William tells her. “We want you to look at something on the screen.” He holds out his hand.
“On the screen?” Victoria walks to take his hand, trusting him.
Lucas looks first at his father then Cassandra, Cassandra’s concerned. His stomach tightens.
Cassandra sits down in the chair. She needs to be strong. “Yeah baby, come sit in my lap.” Once she in her arms she turns her to the screen. To Audric.
Immediately Victoria stiffens. Lucas sees her pale.
“No….No….No…He’s found me….”
“No baby, no. It’s just a picture. He isn’t here.”
“It’s the Glitter Man!” Cassandra closes her eyes.
“Are you sure Victoria?” William demands. The frantic, fear filled eyes that shoot to him break his heart.
“Yes.” She whispers.
“What the fuck is going on.” Lucas rushes towards Victoria, William blocks him.
“It’s alright baby.” Cassandra coos to her as she buries her face in her neck, her little body quivering. “I’m here. You’re safe. I promise.”
“Why would you do that?!?” Lucas demands of his father, his face furious.
“Calm down.” William pulls him away from the comm.
“Don’t tell me to calm down! That wasn’t necessary! Since when do you get off on scaring little girls!”
“Enough!” There was no doubting the authority or the anger in his father’s voice.
“Stop it! Both of you!” Cassandra’s voice is commanding her eyes hard as she looks at them. They soften as she looks into her niece’s eyes, seeing the fear, the shock, and the trust. “We promised you that when the time came you could help. That you were the only one who’d every seen the Glitter Man, would ever recognize him. Is that him?”
“Yes.” She whispers.
“Okay than.” She takes a deep breath. “Now we know. Now we move on.” She looks at the Zafar men, seeing that both have calmed down. Leaning down she whispers in Victoria’s ear.
“I think Lucas could use a hug.” The eyes the meet Cassandra’s are older than her nine years.
Victoria slides out of her Aunt’s arms to walk over to Lucas. Lifting her arms she waits for him to lift her up so she can wrap her arms around his neck.
“I’m okay Lucas. I helped.”
“You did.” He holds her tightly.
“Aunt Cassie?” Victoria looks at her. “Who is he?”
“Prince Audric, husband to Queen Yakira.”
“He’s a bad man.”
“Yes he is, and now we can stop him.” She walks over to William slipping her arms around him. “Victoria, you can’t tell anyone, not yet, not even Amina.”
“Why?”
“Tori, you’ve done your part, now you have to let us do ours.” The Admiral tells her.
“How long?” She demands.
“Not very.” Victoria looks from the Admiral to her Aunt.
“Okay.” Suddenly there is a large boom from outside, causing both women to jump.
“Hey it’s just tuono.” William’s arms tighten around her.
“What?” Cassandra raises slightly shaken eyes to him.
“Thunder Aunt Cassie.”
“Thunder?” Cassandra looks to the darkened windows, it was only 1600. “A storm?”
“Stoirme.” William corrects her.
“Stoirme.” She repeats as she walks over to the window. This time she notices the dark rolling clouds, heavy with moisture. “A tuono stoirme and this is baisteach.” Cassandra’s finger follows the trail of water on the outside of the window.
“Yes.” William watches her take in the information.
“Do you have lightning too?” She looks to William, seeing his confusion, looks to Victoria.
“I don’t know? I never asked Amina.” Victoria says.
“It sounds like your learning a lot about Carina.” Cassandra smiles at her.
“Yeah, Javiera been letting us use the screen, Amina’s showing me lots of stuff.” Victoria smiles back.
“That’s good. Soon you’ll be teaching me.” Victoria laughs rolling her eyes.
“Like that would ever happen.” It’s good to hear her laugh. There was a flash of very bright light outside, two heads turn to William.
“Tintreach.” He tells them. “It can be deadly. You don’t want it to hit you.”
“Just like lightning. Same rule Tori.” She looks to make sure she understands.
“Got it. Can I go back to Amina’s until third meal?”
“If you want….” She gives her a considering look.
“I’m okay Aunt Cassie.” Victoria’s look is steady.
“Alright then I’ll see you at third meal.”
As Lucas and Victoria leave Cassandra turns to William. “What now?”
“Now.” William walks over to rub her arms. “We wait. Nothing can be done until they resume the Challenge.”
The storm continues during third meal.
“Does it usually baisteach this much?”
“It can especially during this part of the cycle.”
“It’s like this where the House of Knowledge is?”
“In Kisurri? No, it’s quite a bit drier there, hotter.”
“It’s has a lot of deserts Aunt Cassie.”
“Really? So it’s like Kayseri on Earth.”
“Yeah.”
Cassandra chews her food, thinking of Sabah. “Has it always been called Kisurri?”
“I don’t know, Kyle would, why?” William asks.
“The city where Kayden and Sabah’s palace was used to be called Kaisaria, now it is…was called Kayseri. It would make sense that arriving on Earth, they would chose a place with a climate was similar to what they knew. At least Sabah would.”
“It wouldn’t have been that different for Kayden, there are areas in the House of Protection’s realm that are similar to Kisurri.”
“Aunt Cassie….” Victoria whispers looking over Cassandra’s shoulder. Cassandra freezes, the bite she’s about to ta
“What?”
“Look….” Victoria points out the window.
Turning Cassandra looks out the window, William sees her jaw drop.
“Cassandra? What is it?” He looks out the window seeing nothing strange.
“The rain…baisteach…its different colors.”
“Yeah….” He looks from Victoria’s amazed eyes to Cassandra’s. “I take it wasn’t like this on Earth.”
“No.” There’s awe in Cassandra’s voice.
“Aunt Cassie….can we go outside?” Cassandra looks to Victoria, finding she wants to too.
“William?” He sees the desire in her eyes.
“It’s safe.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth both women are out of their chairs, heading for the stairs. “Careful!” William holds his breath as the two fly down them, his tone bringing people running. He holds up his hand to Marat.
Kyle and Lucas come running from the guest suite. “Dad?” Kyle watches the two.
“The baisteach, its different then on Earth.”
“Different how?” Kyle wants to know.
“I don’t know.” Heading down the steps, they following them into the garden.
Cassandra is looking up watching jewels fall from the sky while Victoria is trying to catch them in her hand. William smiles remembering when Lucas and Kyle used to try.
“It’s…” Cassandra looks at William, “amazing.”
“What was it like on Earth?” Kyle asks.
“Clear, always clear.”
“Really?” He’s astounded.
When Cassandra looks to William he sees the wonder in her eyes. Walking over he wraps his arms around her. “Happy?” He whispers so only she can hear.
“Yes. It’s like watching jewels falling from the sky. It has something to do with the suns, doesn’t it?”
“Stop thinking, enjoy it.” He doesn’t know if he’d ever seen this much wonder before in someone’s eyes. Little things, he needs to remember it’s the little things that matter.
“Aunt Cassie, they go clear when you catch them.”
“The story goes that the Loki drop their treasures from the sky to watch them sparkle, if you can catch them before they disappear you will be allowed to keep them, if not they return to them. It’s also believed it happens when the ancestors are welcoming someone home.”