One in a million (Prequel to 'Bad Blood')

Chapter 30: Change is needed

Cassandra's POV

"How old are they?" I asked as I was rocking the little girl.

"Lorena is only 6 weeks old," Piers said while motioning to the little girl I was holding. "Vincent here is a little over a year."

I sighed as I looked at the little girl, a girl who didn't have a mother anymore. "They're beautiful."

"I know," Piers went to sit down next to me, on his bed. "I'm so upset that Sibilla won't see them grow up."

I looked at him.

"They won't even know their mother," He sniffled. "How is this fair?"

"Hey," I put my hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "She may not be here now but she can still see them from above."

He looked at me. "Do you really think so?"

I showed him a reassuring smile. "I do."

He smiled a bit.

"I'm sure you'll be an amazing father," I looked at Vincent in his arms. "I see they love you very much."

Piers smiled a bit more. "I've made sure to be present as much as possible," He caressed Vincent's tiny cheek. "I didn't want to miss anything."

I nodded.

"And Sibilla appreciated that."

"How did you two meet?"

He looked at me. "Remember that one time there was an incident at the border?"

I looked away then, trying to remember that specific incident.

"4 of our people were attacked, robbed and raped by Northerners," He said, making me look at him. "Remember?"

I nodded then, it was the one thing that created friction between Louisa, Alden and I. And those perpetrators were still not caught... 

"I went by the town of Goldcrest to check out the damage those Northerners had left behind," He looked away then. "One woman, that got attacked and raped, was Sibilla's best friend," He sighed. "Sibilla and I talked a lot and we clicked."

I smiled as it reminded me of James and I. God, I couldn't bare to think about losing James... I'd die without him. I looked at Piers and suddenly felt responsible for his loss. I should have put a border, or at least some guards... "I'm sorry."

Piers looked at me.

"You're right," I gulped, trying to swallow the tears that were forming. "I should have put a border, I should have put guards, I should have done something," I looked at Lorena in my arms. "It's my fault these two don't have a mother anymore."

"I just want those Northerners to pay for what they did, Cas," He said. "They have crossed the line too much, they need to be punished."

I looked at him. "I understand."

He smiled a bit. "Thank you."

_______________________________

I returned back to the Northern Kingdom, later that day, with mixed feelings. I loved being here as James was home here and Louisa and Alden were here but, because of recent events, it changed.

No longer did I see the North as a place of good things, because attacks on the South occurred too often. And every time with a brutal ending. It had to stop.

I walked to the living room as I knew I'd see Louisa and Alden there. And I was right.

"Cassandra," Louisa smiled instantly when she saw me. "How was your trip?"