Ashes of Vile

40

CHAPTER FOURTY

Bloody Envious Sinister

They didn't spare her the details. Cassidy Idgen just woke up to a chaotic household and all she could get out of anyone was Lucas' vivid comment, "It's better if you don't ask." They had somehow managed to lure Cassidy's old curiosity. It was like every other ordinary day. Chase, Lace, and Zakeen were sprawled on the living room while Lilac and Inez yapped in the kitchen, Devin teaching Wyld, Sung Mi smoking out by the garden, and Abourne enhancing her combat skills.

However she noticed the unoccupied room had its lights turned on for the very first time. Cassidy curiously stepped in to find a scenario she had least expected. Valencia, Sadie, Lucas, Jude, and August in the same room. Though they merely watched the assassin throw a heavy punch towards the cheek of the man who sat with his hands tied behind the chair. It reminded her of the time she had been in the same position. Valencia Madden was the first to notice Cassidy's presence in the room and she immediately knew she was seeking for an explanation.

"He claims to be the Valkyrie's messenger," she informed Cassidy. "I am her messenger." The man gritted through his bloody mouth, his eyes flaming with anger as he looked at August. "And?" Cassidy asked, unsatisfied with the details given. "And he will only share the message directly to you." Jude clarified. "Okay" Cassidy nodded, blinking rapidly. Then she said, "Get out."

They all stared at her, not believing what they had heard. "All of you." She affirmed. They obeyed and left the room slowly as though she might change her mind. As usual, August Idgen stayed in the room, defying Cassidy's orders. She looked at her in disbelief of Cassidy's new reigning authority.

"Speak." Cassidy ordered.

"I said just you." He watched August like a hawk. Cassidy looked at August one more time and she just stood there unwavering with blood eyes of a predator. "She stays" Cassidy said, the most sure thing she could ever say about August Vile. She looked back at the captive and spoke no more despite his inappropriate lingering eyes on her. A moment of silence passed until Cassidy could not handle the man's impressive repression and looked at August with a look that the assassin immediately got. They walked out of the room and Cassidy met Valencia's cautious eyes in the corner of the room then looked away, indulging herself in Lucas and Jude's conversation.

"Stop insisting, August. We get it, you've asserted your dominance. We get it." Cassidy frustratingly said. August narrowed her eyes, looking at Cassidy with momentary confusion. "You're seriously kicking me out?" She said, dumbfounded. "There's no reason for you to stay in the room."

"I don't trust him." She answered.

"You don't trust anyone." Cassidy reminded her. August fidgeted with the dagger in her palm, looking at the closed door of the room for a good ten seconds then looked back at her. "Yeah well, I really don't trust him." She emphasized. "And? What's that got to do with you staying?"

She licked her lips and looked down at the panelled floors, avoiding Cassidy Idgen's eye contact for the first time. "I don't trust him with you." She said. And for a second, whatever grew inside Cassidy's deliberate emotional systems whirring up whatever feelings floated, it expanded and exploded into a fluttery scape that couldn't stop. But she desperately tried to contain it. Because she knew that the face that looked down at the ground had not a single warmth in it.

"I'm perfectly capable of defending myself now." Cassidy clarified. August then looked up with her usual nonchalance. "I know you can. But if I can protect you, why should I wait for you to get hurt?"