The Prince and His Pauper

Chapter 9: The Prince Defends

Thomas is going to regret threatening Cassiel like that! How dare he even think he can hide his threat from me? Does he think I'm like him? That by seeing him torture Cassiel only to believe he won't harm him because I commanded him? He is greatly mistaken.

"Antonio? Um..... I-I don't want to get you anymore mad b-but why are you glaring at me like that?" Cassiel's nervous voice lures me out of my daze. I shake my head to clear my thoughts and turn to face him. Cassiel stares at me with worry in his eyes but his entire composure is too tensed, as if I would lash out on him. He has no reason to fear me but then again, he did say I was glaring at him even though I wasn't.

"I'm sorry about that, Cassiel, but I can assure you that I wasn't glaring at you." I apologize and his body immediately relaxes while a small smile of relief appears.

After Cassiel explained everything that happened with Thomas before my arrival, I had Sebastian drive us back to school. I didn't want to return and I was going to send a message to Leo to meet me out in the front of the school so that we could return home earlier with Cassiel accompanying us, but he was determined to stay in school. With little choice, I return to attend the remaining classes.

Two class periods and another half hour later, I left my clique and went to join Cassiel. He was surprised by my sudden appearance but eventually got over his shock and here we are. Cassiel interrupting my thoughts while we wait for the crowd to die down. At least I am, I'm not sure about Cassiel.

"Your ride sure is taking awhile to retrieve you, Cassiel. Any idea why?" I ponder.

"I do..... My mom is being held up by some meeting or something...." Cassiel answers sadly, looking down at the ground. He must have been through this before......

"What about your father?" I pry.

"Early dinner rush. Some critic is heading to his restaurant right now..... He won't be back until closing hours." Cassiel responds, his eyes clouding to sorrow.

"Cassiel, if you want, you could stay with me and my brother. We were planning on going out today and I'm sure he and Sebastian won't mind." I suggest. Why did I ask him that? We hardly know each other! He won't accept my invitation.

"You'll let me join you and your brother? A stranger?" Cassiel's meek voice questions. His eyes look up at me with that blue color I could drown myself in and a child like wonder that visibly shows his innocence.

"Come now, Cassiel, I thought we were friends by now after all that we've been through. Or, at least, good acquaintances." I tease with a smirk. What is going on with me? Since when did I ever spoke to anyone this way before?

"I-I suppose so...... Y-you've been really nice to me a-and I like talking to you....." Cassiel stammers while his hands fiddle with the ends of his buttoned shirt. He really is adorable.....

"Then it's settled, you'll be accompanying me and my younger brother. All that's left is for you to call your mother and inform her of your whereabouts while I go look for my younger brother. Alright?" I announce.

"What's settled, Bruder?" My brother's voice asks from behind me. Speak of the devil. I turn to face him and see he has his arms crossed with his eyebrow raised in suspicion.

"Cassiel will be accompanying us, brother. You don't mind, right?" I ask him.

"Cassiel? The boy you talked about yesterday? That's him?" Leo points to me. Wait, me?

"Why are you pointing at me? Cassiel's standing right..... Where did he go?" I accuse until I turn to my right to find a little boy with blue eyes missing. "Cassiel?!"