Betrayal and Trust Part II (different writer) - AU fanfic

Blackmail.

***

"Let him go!"

"Mmmyeah, I could... but I could also just keep him here. Might give me an edge against you."

"But why?! He's done nothing wrong, Cassandra!"

"Oh, come on. Don't be naive." Cass made a swift move with her hand, making a black rock shoot up from the floor and coming dangerously close to his neck. "If I threaten to kill him, will you do what I say?"

"I- I... don't..."

"See? That's exactly what I mean."

***

Earlier...

"I'm here to offer you a deal."

Varian scowled. "I'll never help you, Cass."

The woman pouted and seemingly made an effort to look distraught, but the smug grin on her face completely ruined that attempt. So instead she just laughed. "Well there's a surprise. Fortunately, I don't need your help."

Varian wasn't sure if he'd heard that correctly. "Wait... you don't want my help? Then why are you even here?"

Cass crossed her arms, clearly enjoying whatever game she was playing here. "Ah, well... you see, it would be great if you helped me, but just getting you out of the way is something I'd settle for. Because I don't want you to work against me."

Varian flinched. As furious as he could make his voice sound, he retorted "So what? You've come here just to kill me? Then why bother talking?" While he spoke, he glanced past Cass, to the camp. He should find a way to warn them that Cassandra was close.

"Kill you? Oh no, certainly not. I'm quite sure you'll help me in the end, so getting rid of you now won't be a smart move on the long run. No, I just want you to come with me."

He could shout. maybe he was within earshot. But he would probably only get one chance to alarm the others, and he didn't want to blow it. So he should probably try to keep Cass talking until he could come up with something better. "I'd rather die than come with you!"

Cass was still unimpressed, as if she already knew how this whole conversation was going to end. Her calmness was what terrified Varian the most. She plainly said "Brave. Stupid, but brave. You know, you're actually very much like Rapunzel. Compassionate, naive, and way too forgiving."

"I will take that as a compliment, thank you." He glanced her over. This was the same woman he'd once had a crush on, and Rapunzel's best friend. She had changed so much that he barely recognized her, but she was right. He had learnt to forgive, and had found hope on the way. "Cass, if you come back, I'm sure everyone will forgive you too."

This clearly only annoyed her, instead of making her doubt her plan. "Great! Everyone can go ahead and pity me as I come crawling back to them!" She said, raising her voice. "No, I'll make them hear me!" 

Varian recognized those words, he'd said the same thing once. He knew how she felt, but not how to make her see the truth. "Trust me, you don't want to do that" he said softly.

Instantly, Cassandra's demeanor shifted again. Within a second, she was just as icy and calm as before. "You know, I've had enough of this 'emotional talk'. Let's cut to the chase, shall we?"
Not waiting for a reaction, she continued: "You'd die, rather than coming with me, isn't that right?"

Still expecting her to suddenly lose her temper and attack him, Varian dreaded to answer. But he knew the truth. He had confessed it to Rapunzel. If a sacrifice had to be made, he would take the blow.