Squad 6: Royal Blood

Chapter 5- Cassandra

Cassandra

The business of the street had nearly caught Cassandra off-guard. She had been somewhat used to the never-ending silence of the Phi grounds in the past weeks that she forgotten that the rest of the world didn't scheme revenge plots in the dark. The people passed her, oblivious to her real thoughts and intentions, just as they always were. When she had been in New York City the last time, she had come wishing to escape it as soon as the opportunity arose. This time around, her attitude remained just the same.

She crossed the street somewhere on Manhattan Island, pausing at a store window and getting lost in the reflection. She could see the cars behind her in the street, businessmen walking back to the office after their lunch break, a few teenagers goofing off as they took photos of each other as souvenirs. Cassandra wondered what their lives were like, how they spent their days. Did they ever feel they didn't belong?

She had grown used to being an outcast. Even among the deadliest assassin trainees she had ever known, she was the best of them all. She would have done anything for approval not so long ago, to be in the good graces of a powerful man and be respected for her skill. Snakehead had made a weapon out of her. And it's coming back to bite him.

Slowly, she had driven him out of his own base, left him with no other escape but to hide. He had once been feared by people. His assassins would slither into anyone's home at night, kill anyone on order, and they would do it for nothing but to hear praise come from his lips, or a promotion in the ranks. Team leader. Mentor. He had built his empire by feasting on vulnerability of children.

In the store window, she spotted a brunette stopping on a corner, and pulling out her phone. Cassandra checked the time, her screen lighting up with a name. Naomi.

She looked herself in the mirror, flashing a smile to a store assistant through the glass. She had been giving Cassandra odd looks for the better part of the five minutes she had spent daydreaming in front of the plastic mannequins sporting the latest millennial fashion.

As the crossed the street to the girl, Cassandra felt her heartbeat quicken. Danger rarely made her nervous in this manner, but meeting her best friend's former girlfriend was a whole different beast— a language Cassandra was not versed in.

"Naomi, right?" she said, stopping beside the girl.

Naomi looked at her, eyes widening slightly at the sight of her. From her leather jacket to white rope braids and piercing eyes, Cassandra looked out of place just enough to bring some discomfort to those who didn't know her— like a ten year-old with a gun.

"Yes," the girl said, adjusting her cross-body bag over her shoulder. "Nice to meet you."

Her voice was unsure as she spoke, timid. It reminded Cassandra of a girl she had worked with, a redhead with a big heart and a light touch.

"Do you want to sit somewhere?" Cassandra offered, heading for the first cafe she saw, and pushing all thoughts but one from her head. She was here for Bill.

The two girls took a seat in the corner of the room in the back, away from the windows and the lively chats. Naomi sat across from her in a chair, while Cassandra sat with her back to the wall out of habit.

"What is this about?" Naomi asked, as their drinks arrived.

Cassandra looked at her coffee, pushing it away a bit. She couldn't stomach anything right now. "It's about Bill."

The girl slung her ponytail over her shoulder, leaning her elbows on the table. "Did he tell you to meet me and apologize for him? I don't appreciate being ghosted."