Dance of Ciprahn

Chapter Twenty-One

The man rambles on but Cass doesn't hear him. He drones on but the woman cuts him off with a motion. She assumes this is Talitha. She is beautiful and fearsome to behold. Talitha is arrayed in an elaborate dress, jet black hair and the iconic green Ciprahnic eyes that flash with passion and intelligence. Talitha regards her coolly then speaks. "So you must be Cassandrah the American. I've heard much about you." She glances at T angrily. "The crown prince seems very fond of you. My apologies for taking you so abruptly and with so much inconvenience. Things are complicated. I'm not one for kidnapping but I will do what I must for my kingdom." 

"What? Do you think I took you merely because I saw you as a love rival? As if you could ever rival me but there is much more happening beyond that. Tell me how much do you know about Ciprahn? Things have not been going great as of late. Our chief two industries tourism and fishing have been on the decline. Many people are taking to crime to make ends meet, further hurting the tourism industry. The Great Houses, rather than working together are at each other's throats. Civil unrest is at the doorstep." 

She speaks in even tones with cool detached logic. No emotion in her face. "The people need hope. They need order and justice. We need to show the people of Ciprahn strength. With our marriage we will show the Great Houses to cooperate and come together. With this marriage House Axlcui can consolidate power and can save this great island country." T is silent in this ordeal and only stares at his feet. His face is impossible to read. "I don't care what relationship you and the crown prince have had that is over now. He is mine. The needs of the country are above your little dalliance and you mean nothing to him do you understand? 

You are nothing. We are to be wed in three days time and I never want to see your face again. Your things will be given back and your return trip will be arranged at once. Compensation will be made for all of the inconvenience. Your friends and family have already been informed of the situation." People begin to turn to go but the Duchess holds up a hand. "But before that..." her lips curl into a vulpine smile. "The crown prince has something to tell you." Cass looks up in surprise and surveys T. T's face goes white and he looks at Talitha. "Go on, tell her... like we discussed" she coos. T looks at Cass then looks away still silent. 

He is grinding his teeth. The Duchess' cool demeanor shatters and she shouts "TELL HER! You know what will happen!" T looks around helplessly and gives a Cass a sorrowful look. He clears his throat and says mechanically "There is nothing between us. Whatever may have happened between us please forget. Pretend it never happened." Talitha puffs out a soft derisive laugh. "Oh COME ON, you can do better than that! I'm not convinced. She's not leaving 'til she's crying. You wouldn't want any unforeseen travel difficulties to occur from here to the U.S. would you?" T swears under his breath and looks at her pleadingly. Talitha is merciless and urges him onward. "You are nothing to me, you never meant anything to me. You were my plaything... someone to use and discard. I am a prince." 

T says softly not looking her in the eye. Cass feels her lip tremble and feels her eyes begin to water. She feels a fiery hook tear at her heart. The Duchess laughs. "Good! Good! You're so terrible! Maybe we are a perfect match! Saying such cruel things to her sad little heart. I bet she really loved you too. Not good enough yet. I said I want to see her cry! Now! Break her heart! Break her heart or I'll have her head! And look her in the eyes! Look her in the eyes or she's dead!" A look of pain flashes on T. Then with trained effort his face goes blank. He breathes deeply and looks her the eyes. She sees the real him for a brief moment before his eyes go cold and empty. 

He pauses and says metallically "Cass I have never loved you. It was all fake. You are nothing to me. You are less than nothing. You disgust me. You repulse me. I never want to see you again. I — what did you think would happen? I am the crown prince of Ciprahn, The Light of the Island. I don't love you..." T's voice drones on but Cass can't hear anything anymore. She falls to the ground, her hands on her heart, tears streaming down her face. She is blind with tears and her mouth open with lamenting sobs. Everything is blurry and she feels all her strength leave her. She feels her heart being pulled apart by a thousand tiny fish hooks. Anger, sadness and heartbreak assault her on all fronts. Her throat is a parched desert and she feels like crawling into a hole and dying. 

She doesn't feel like living anymore and all she wants to do is lash out at anyone or anything in her path. She slumps over bawling tears, heartbroken. "And there it is!" says the Duchess laughing. "Well done! Your heart really is full of ice. Like a proper Prince of Ciprahn. You broke her poor little heart! She'll probably never get over this." "Now take her away. This bores me" she says with a lazy flick of the wrist. They take her away and Cass can't bear to look at T as they whisk her away. How could he?... He had broken her heart. And she felt like some Aztecan priest had reached into her chest and ripped out her heart in one fell swoop. They lead her through the doors and they close with a clamorous clang. She silently says goodbye to the only man she has ever loved and this brief period of life when she was truly happy. 

The halls look endless and empty as they lead her away. She hangs her head knowing sorrow beyond what she has ever felt before. Tears are her only comfort and friend. She is led in a daze by the guards. Cass doesn't care about anything anymore. She feels as if all goodness and happiness has been ripped out of her. Blinding sardonic sunlight hits them like an eruption as they step outside. Even with the betrayal the palace grounds are as beautiful as ever. The green grass blazes brightly in the direct sunlight. Puffy clouds meander by like pink playing kittens. Dozens of some sort of native insect sing to the skies. 

She pauses to take in the scenery in wonder then they lead her on. They move to a new building full of more rooms and they shove her inside. In a brief second she surveys the room to find that they have not brought her things. Weren't they sending me home soon? She spins around in confusion and is met only by the evil grin of the guard. He slams the door in her face and locks the door. In a grizzled accent he says "Oho! No going home for you! Only execution! No one insults The Duchess and gets away with it!" Muffled laughter then silence. Cass is silent for a moment. Then screams. The recent events have finally caught up with her like a typhoon. Tumultuous rage and anger boil within her. She picks up a chair and hurls it at the door. She flips over a table. She slams her fist into the wall over and over  — until it's bloody and raw.