Siblings of Corona B1:Life In the Tower

Chapter 13

"Varian!"  Cassandra gasped for air, but the water puller her under again.  She fought her way to the surface.  "Varian!"  she was tossed around in the water until she hit a ledge.  Gasping, she pulled herself up to solid ground, coughing.

She gave herself a moment before she stood up.  She was standing near the edge of the ledge and the water was starting to calm.  "Varian!"  Cass had her hands cupped around her mouth.  "Varian!"  she screamed hopelessly.  She had at least seen Rapunzel get to safety, but her brother…

Cassandra refused to believe that he didn't make it.  He had to!  She would never forgive herself for letting them leave the tower if something did.  Rapunzel wasn't there to heal them and she shouldn't have been relying upon her either.  "Varian!"

"Hey!"

Cassandra whirled around.  It was Lance.  "Have you seen Varian?  Where's my brother?"  She grabbed his shirt in hope.

He shook his head.  Cassandra turned back to the water.  "Varian!"

Lance heard her voice crack.  She was crying?  Cassandra had struck him as a cold, straightforward person, who could easily bite off someone's head.  He guessed maybe she wasn't all bite.  Either way, she genuinely cared about Varian and she had meant a lot to him.

"We'll find him,"  Lance said quietly.

"We better," Cassandra muttered sharply.

Out of all three of the siblings, Lance felt like he now understood Cassandra the most.  She was the oldest, thus she felt like they were under her protection.  That gruff act was to protect them and maybe even her.  She was the one that never trusted that things could be so easy, but she let her brother and sister keep that young hope and trust.  Something Lance had forgotten he ever had.  Trust and hope for a better life had slowly died as years went on, he couldn't even trust that Rider would come to his aid if he were ever caught.

"There he is!"  Cassandra suddenly gasped.

Lance noticed where she pointed.  The fourteen year old had gotten a hold of a board, but it looked as if he was passed out.  Without a second thought, Lance dove into the water and brought the unconscious boy onto land.  Once there, they could see why he was passed out.  The boy had hit his head on something through all the chaos and a long gash went over his forehead.

"He's definitely alive,"  Cassandra sighed with relief when she lifted her head from his chest.  She had listened to both his breathing and heartbeat.  "We need to take him to Raps."

"Should we move him?"  Lance asked.

"Trust me, I know what I'm doing."  She picked up her brother, cradling him in her arms.  She wasn't going to let anyone else do the job.  "We need to find my sister."

~~~~~~~~~~

Rapunzel had been banging all around, but it was no use.  Both she and the thief slumped against the rockwall.  "Mother was right.  We never should have left the tower…  I'm so sorry, Flynn,"  she sniffed.

"Eugene."

"What?"  she looked at him.

"My real name is Eugene Fritzherbert.  Someone should know."

Rapunzel tugged at her hair.  "I have magic hair that glows when I sing…"

"What?"  Eugene had his turn of confusion.

"I have magic hair that glows when I sing!"  She exclaimed with realization.  "Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine…"  they drew in deep breaths as the water reached the top of the cave.  Her long hair began to glow, letting them see the loose rocks that would allow them exit.