From Dusk Until Dawn

Chapter 22: Cassandra

Rue stepped into the art gallery, holding a cup of tea while wondering if she'd catch Cassandra in the art gallery. She had gotten to know each of the areas the Dimitrescu daughters would frequent. For Bela, it was the Opera Hall so she could play the piano and it's how she learned to play from Alcina. Daniela spent a lot of her time in the library but recently, she had started going down to the kitchen to speak to Dina whenever she was available. Cassandra was much more of a mystery to her and other maids. She was sometimes in the art gallery working on a project but most of the time, she was nowhere to be found. Sofia just told her that, most likely, she was in the dungeon but she wasn't about to go down there to find out. Something about the dungeon just rubbed her the wrong way.

She stepped into the art gallery, finding no one there. It was unfortunate for her since she wanted to ask her about her artwork since she had been curious about it. With mild disappointment, she turned to the door before she saw a painting out of the corner of her eye. Curiously, she set down the cup of tea on a side table before moving closer to the painting.

It was easy to miss since it had been hidden behind a blank canvass. Carefully, she moved the canvass aside and just stared at the painting the had Cassandra's signature. It was a painting of her. She was standing outside in a beautiful forest with snow falling from the sky with rows and rows of barren trees. She was wearing a beautiful, dark purple dress with a black cloak covering her back. Half her black hair was tied up while the rest was down.

But there was someone else with her. Most of her hidden behind a tree but she knew who it was. It was Alcina. She was gently cupping her face while wearing a content smile that matched Rue's. What made it interesting was that she was kneeling down in the snow.

It was beautiful. Beautiful to the point it made her want to cry. She could help but reach out and gently brushed her thumb against Alcina's painted figure while her heart longed for her. Oh how she wanted to feel her strong arms around her, holding her close.

What broke her from her nearly overwhelming sense of longing, was the second painting hidden behind it. She slide the painting of her and Alcina to the side and her sense of longing was gone; replaced with one of shock. Hidden behind one lovely painting, was one of Cassandra.

She was wearing her signature black cloak. Around her pale neck was a necklace with a beautiful yellow gem being the centre piece. But what made her freeze instantly was when she saw that her face was incomplete. Well, less incomplete in more scratched out with black paint and obvious angry slash marks. Near where her eyes were suppose to be, she could have sworn she could see the paint forming tears. At the bottom of the corner was Cassandra's half finished signature.

Rue carefully picked up the painting, hiding it behind a few more blank cavasses before getting up and picking up the tea she had been carrying for Cassandra. Leaving the art gallery, she heard the sound of flies buzzing. Looking to the side, she saw Cassandra forming next to her from her flies.

The maid smiled warmly at the girl. ''Lady Cassandra, I was just looking for you.''

The brunette crossed her arms, looking the woman up and down suspiciously. ''Why?''

''Well, I thought you might like some tea and I wanted to ask about your artwork.'' she smiled. ''The tea might be a bit cold...''

The Dimitrescu looked at the teacup before looking up at the woman before leaning to the side slightly. ''You're hiding something.''

Rue looked at her curiously. Cassandra rolled her eyes slightly before approaching her. Slowly, she began to circle the woman like a Lycan would if they came across a lone villager wondering the forest. ''Your elevated heart rate gives it away.''