Kotlc Oneshots

Cassius Reaction (to Keefes Death)

Cassius had been sitting in the annoyingly bright room of Havenfield, scheming ways to punish his son and his friends for staying at the battle for so long. Edaline had offered him some strawberry pastry, but he had denied it. He didn't feel like eating. Though sugar-covered puffs of fruity sweetness were a pretty nice upgrade to the surprisingly sour mush he had attempted to cook for breakfast. Cook of the year he most certainly was not. 

 He sat on a white armchair, arms crossed, and eyes trailing over the house. The dents in the couch, the disheveled rug, even the picture of Miss Foster with Grady and Edaline. His stomach burned with jealousy when he realized who the art was by. Of course his son would rather give drawings to his "friend" than to his own father. And she couldn't even recongize his  feelings and return them. Teenage drama really was pointless. 

Its not like they could pose like a normal family anyway. The Scencens were supposed to be better.  But now they were broken up into painful shards, the three of them on their own. And sure, it was more quiet without his son around.... but he missed him. Cassius didn't even know where they would take the potrait; the house where his wife had lied to him for over a decade, or his other residence, where his son always managed to be miserable. Not that Candleshade was any different. And sure, his sons reluctance for any warm feelings to him was primary his fault. But sometimes Keefe could just be so careless. 

But it definitely, 100% had nothing to do with the fact that his own son would rather be Alden Vackers. Nope. He refused to even think about Alden right now. So he sat on the much-too comfortable furniture, and internally told himself to get a grip. But the moment his brain began picturing Keefe and his friends rushing into the room, streaks of red, and- his nasuea picked back up again, and he forced the image out of his head. 

His son hated him. 

And there was nothing to take that back. 

All he could do was sit there and wait. And wait some more. 

"Their going to be fine." Edaline said, offering a bottle of lushberry juice. "I know how you feel. Its the way I feel every time Sophie and her friends risk their lives. But... Ive come to peace with the fact that If that's what they want to do, there's no stopping them. All we can do is help them be as safe as possible." 

"Maybe that's how it is for you."  Cassius muttered, deciding arrogance was the best way to get through the conversation. "But my son is far less important to the cause. Hes expendable." 

Edaline sighed. "I guess some things will never change." Then she handed him the bottle, and walked back to the kitchen. No body else bothered Lord Cassius for the rest of the day, and-

BANG!! 

Sophie stumbled in through the door, filled by Fitz, Dex, Biana, Wylie, and Tam. Edalien hurried into the room, tackling Sophie with her hug. Cassius was already on his feet. "Where is my son?" He asked. He doubled checked the group. "And... no Gisela?" That had been the point of the encounter. Even out the playing field. Capture his wife. 

Sophie shook her head, tears streaming down her cheecks, and her mangled emotions felt stronger than normal. There was such a brutal mix of hurt, grief, and such a strong gut punch of rage that Cassius took a step back. The emotions seemed to intensify as she looked at Keefe, followed by a strong sense of nostalgia and heartache. 

"Whats wrong?" Edaline asked, stroking the wet hair off of Sophies forehead. Sophie shook her head again, and buried her head in her mothers shoulder, sobs shaking her whole body. Cassius turned to the rest of the group. Fitz looked like he was holding back tears, and Bianas tear-stained cheeks quivered as she studied him. Wylie was the one to finally step forward. "Lady Gisela stabbed Keefe at the battle." 

The lushberry juice bottle slipped from his hands, splintering against the marble floor. "Did you get Elwin? Where is he?" 

"There wasn't time." Tam murmured from the corner. All the shadows in the room seemed to be bending toward him. "The dagger stabbed his stomach. We only had a few minutes." 

Cassius sunk to the couch. The world swam behind his eyes. But the iron fury in his gut clawed up, making his vision clear. "Where is my wife?" He growled. 

"She leaped away after she got what she wanted.  Pretty sure Sophie would've inflicted if she stayed any longer." Fitz piped in. Lord Cassius shook his head, placing his head in his hands. His head was spinning, spinning, spinning, and the only words he could mumble out were, "He died thinking I thought he was a dissapointment."

That was when the sickening emotions in the room snapped, tightening into heat and tearing through him. "You don't deserve his gratitude!" Sophie snapped. "He took your abuse his whole life, and now you don't get to act like you've always been this perfect father! You-" 

"I know." Cassius whispered.  His heart latched to the words, and his mind dimmed with each second. The guilt was overpowering, but he gritted his teeth and shoved it to the back of his mind. "Where is he?" He repeated, rapidly losing patience. He needed to... He didnt know what he needed to do. He just needed to see Keefes face one more time. 

Sophie held up a shimmering green hairpin with shaking fingers. Cassius sucked in a huge breath, and held his hand out. "I need to see." He said quietly. Sophie nodded, still crying and grabbed her hand. Fitz took her other, and Edaline stepped forward, whispering that she would be there for emotional support. And then they stepped into the feathery rush, but it didn't stop the gnawing feeling from filling his chest with regret. So he sent a silent plea into the universe as they raced through the sparkles and warmth. 

Please forgive me, Keefe.  

Then he stepped into the cold air, the sour smell of the Ravagog air burning his face. 

Im sorry I couldn't be a better father.