Chapter 136: Two truths, several lies
"Now. Where were we?" Cass said, more to himself than to Sir Forsythe, who was probably going to be witness to even more awkward, strange situations until Cass could leave this damn mansion."Shall I open the door now, my Lord?" Cass nodded at his gentle question, and finally, the door was opened and Vespertine rose to his feet.
Looking at him, you could tell he was tired. It wasn’t obvious at first, but there were tells. His blue eyes were glowing a little more than usual. The blinds were closed on the windows, and he wasn’t wearing his hat. That wasn’t something that Vespertine usually did. He was usually someone who kept up appearances, even in the face of someone who knew who he was.
Who knew what he was.
His hat sat on the couch next to him, the coffee table clear of any snacks or glasses. A small surprise, since Cass thought he would at least keep up that appearance, but that wasn’t the case.
His skin was tight, pale, and he looked...hungry. Cass didn’t think he would attack him, but he was regretting sending Draken away, but only a little. Vespertine’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he scanned Cass from head to foot, taking in everything about him.
"I heard you were having a lesson. I didn’t realise that Lucy was the one teaching it." Vespertine said, trying to be polite, conversational. Cass didn’t want to spit in his face too much. The man had just had his world rocked.
"Well, he’s been harassing me about it. You know, magic and seeing how I do it. Right now is the perfect time since I don’t have use of my hands." Cass joked, raising the bandaged limbs and Vespertine’s smile faltered.
"Are you really okay? Should you be out of your rooms? I’m sorry that I was so caught up in my own issues that I didn’t inquire about yours. I feel like such an ass but I..." Vespertine trailed off, his expression twisting to one of pain. "I’ve had my hands full." He muttered quietly. Cass bet he did.
An adoptive sister going off the deep end with enough of a personality to start a cult, his own personal beliefs, his relationship with his wife crumbling. Man was going through it. Not to mention, whatever the fuck he’d done to Cass.
Cass could give him a little bit of wiggle room. Just enough that he’d be able to hang himself with the rope he’d wrapped around his neck. Could vampires die again from hanging? Cass had no idea.
Cass felt a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. Almost sounded like someone chanting ’book’. He was sure it was nothing.
"I have had my hands full too, as you can imagine. Because I’ve been out, I sent for Byron to get me some snacks. I hope you don’t mind." Cass said as he sat down on the couch across from him. Vespertine shook his head.
"No, not at all. Shall we wait for them to arrive before we begin our discussion?" Vespertine asked and Cass nodded.
"I sent them as soon as I got onto the gravel, so I doubt that they will be much longer." Cass told him and Vespertine nodded. Vespertine’s gaze slid to Sir Forsythe, who remained in the room, the door slightly open. It was a sign that a meeting hadn’t begun yet, and where Sam was to go.
Cass could tell that Vespertine was anxious to begin the discussion, and that alone made Cass very curious. What did he want to discuss? What had him so anxious? Cass really wanted to know.
The soft sound of porcelain clinking, and the sound of breathing could be heard in the distance, and Cass relaxed back into his seat, waiting. Sam rounded the corner, a little out of breath, the tray in perfect condition despite his activities, and the bottle of wine tucked into his jacket. Sir Forsythe nodded, allowing the door to close behind them as Sam prepared their drinks. He set down two sets of cups. One was a proper teacup, while the other was a goblet.
What Vespertine normally drank out of.
Vespertine seemed a little shocked that Sam had picked up on that small detail, but Sam said nothing if he noticed the way that he was staring at him. Instead, he set about making sure that Cass had a few snacks, his tea was poured, and even poured a glass each for Cass and Vespertine from the wine bottle. He didn’t seem pleased by that, but he said nothing.
"Is there anything else you need, my Lord?" He asked carefully and Cass shook his head.
"If I do need something, Sir Forsythe will let you know." Sam nodded, bowing to both men, before Sir Forsythe and Sam took their leave of the room.
Cass turned, looking at the cups before him and frowned. Well shit. He hadn’t considered this.
Vespertine, who was about to reach for his goblet, froze.
"Should I call him back? He shouldn’t be far." Vespertine was already on his feet but Cass frowned.
"No. I have teeth. I can manage." Cass muttered stubbornly, not wanting to make Sam feel like shit for forgetting that Cass couldn’t use his hands. Cass forgot too. Vespertine froze, clearly unsure what to do, and remained standing as Cass sighed, staring down at his hands before he turned to his teeth, yanking and pulling at the wrappings on his hands before Vespertine couldn’t watch anymore.
"No son of a Duke should be doing that. Please, let me help you." Vespertine said, coming to stand before him, his expression turned down in a frown as he took the hand Cass had been tearing at into his own and easily, and quickly, unwrapped his hands.
It was a surprising thing to find out. Cass was pretty sure even though his family was heavily involved with the temple, Vespertine would never know how to unwrap a bandage. His face must have said so, since his lips turned up slightly.
"What? Did you think my childhood was all sunshine and rainbows? I can assure you, training in a priest household comes with its own trials and tribulations, Cassian." He had a smile on his face, but Cass wondered. He did have to give it a thought, especially since Lord Blackburn had brought it up himself. What were the differences? Cass assumed he had grown up happier than Lord Blackburn, which wasn’t hard, but he had assumed that the gap was much larger.
Maybe he was wrong.
"Well, I didn’t think it was sunshine and rainbows. Not for you, at least." Cass said and Vespertine snorted.
"I wasn’t always like this." He told him quietly, and Cass jerked.
"What?" Cass replied, tense, and Vespertine’s lips turned up in a bitter smile.
"It is genetic, but it manifests when you’re older. Five, to be exact. I had five years of living in the sunshine, carefree, before it was stripped from me." That was horrifying to consider. Cass didn’t know enough about vampires in this world to know if or how that was possible, so he remained silent. He wanted to ask if Vespertine had siblings, but he was sure that was something that Lord Blackburn would know.
Vespertine unwrapped his one hand, and went for the other quietly. It was only a few, short moments later that both of his hands were unwrapped and Vespertine went back to his seat.
Now that his hands were unwrapped, it was time to see if he could actually use them.
"Thank you. That was kind of you." Cass told him, and Vespertine snorted.
"I’m not a complete asshole, especially to those who are injured. Uninjured?" Vespertine waved a hand, snorting. "I wouldn’t even cast you a second glance." He joked, his lips turning up in a smile that was as deadly as it didn’t meet his gaze. He was lying. He probably would have looked at Cass again, but Cass didn’t mind that he lied.
He didn’t like the truth.
Cass struggled for a few moments, attempting to pick up the teacup, but after a while, he just gave up. The tea wasn’t meant to be, and Vespertine was doing his best not to laugh at him.
"I see there was a reason those hands of yours were wrapped." He teased and Cass raised an eyebrow at him. Vespertine held his own goblet in his hand, leaning back against the couch, every inch of a Duke’s son in a meeting. Snobby, conceited, defensive. "How did you injure your hands like that, anyways?" He asked, raising the goblet to his lips.
"From jerking off." Cass said calmly, and Vespertine sputtered. He spewed the wine all over himself and the couch and Cass couldn’t help but laugh at his shocked expression.
"What?" Vespertine replied, shocked, and Cass was drinking it up.
"You believed me? Why would I ever admit the truth to you, especially if it was something so embarrassing? I overworked. My arms are numb, and the nerves aren’t responding to my commands. I am taking medication like a good boy, and apparently all I need is time and rest. Two things I am very good at." Cass replied tartly, bitterly, and Vespertine scanned his face.
Vespertine, clearly, was suspicious, but Cass was right. It would be suspicious if someone like Lord Blackburn admitted the truth to Vespertine, especially if it was something so embarrassing. That alone meant it was even sweeter when Vespertine relaxed, trusting that Cass was pulling his leg.
If Vespertine ever found out the truth, which he never would, this moment would be even sweeter.
Smiling to himself, Cass managed to get his hands around the goblet and raise it to his lips. He was hunched over, not wanting to spill it just in case, but he had more control then he thought. His fingers on his right hand, his non-dominant hand, were more responsive. His left? Was still pissed at him.
So, with careful movements, he picked up the goblet with his right hand, threading it between his ring and middle finger and curling his hand around the base of the goblet. He was able to hold it. A smile, pure and joyous, crossed his face as he was able to sit back on the couch, like Vespertine.
Vespertine was watching him, a mixture of emotions on his face. Cass was sure he had a lot of questions, but he was curious about what he would try to get an answer to first. Was it going to be Lady Fiona? Lady Ava? Why has Draken been so involved in his life recently?
He was very curious to know what Vespertine was so curious about.