Chapter 15: A deal with a devil?
"W-What?" He stuttered and Cass sighed.
"Come on Byron. Use your head. What use would I have for a rival spy? If you want to remain near your precious Sam, you're going to have to do something for me." Cass grinned at him devilishly and Byron swallowed. He moved back until he wasn't on his hands and knees and was instead on just his knees on the floor.
"W-What kind of things?" Byron asked and Cass' grin widened.
"Well, I've been given a...task of sorts. To complete it, I am going to need far more information than I currently have, even after my memory returns. I won't require you to put yourself in danger all the time. Sometimes it could be just hanging around in cleaning rooms or places where bigwigs like myself don't realise their dirty laundry is quite literally being aired." Byron's eyes were wide, his hands shaking from where they rested on his knees.
Byron licked his lips, wetting them before he spoke. Cass could tell he was sweating. He wondered if it was because this was a hard choice for him, or if he was afraid of what would happen to him if he said no.
"So...you aren't looking for particular information?" He asked and Cass laughed.
"I never said that. I just gave you a suggestion of one of the jobs you could be doing while searching for information for me." Cass replied and Byron took a shaky breath in.
"Are you...going to ask for more from me?" He asked and Cass stared at him blankly.
"Like what, Byron? What do you have going through that head of yours?" Byron's face flushed.
"W-Well, normally people of status who find out others' sexuality uh, hold it over their heads." Cass' eyes went wide as he realised what Byron was suggesting. Cass threw his head back and laughed.
Maybe a bit too hard for Byron's ego, but Cass couldn't help it.
He may know his personal preferences, but Cass had never acted on them. He didn't plan to either. Be it this life, or the next, the only person Cass planned to play with his ass was himself.
"Byron, I know I'm a monster, but I'm not the kind of person who would make someone who was in love with another sleep with me. I haven't slept with Lady Fiona, have I?" Byron's eyes flew open.
"O-Oh! I didn't-I assumed but I never thought-" Cass waved his hand. He wasn't a competitive kind of guy in that regard. The other three could have her, as far as he was concerned.
"Exactly, so get that thought out of your head. Plus, regardless of my own preferences, I have no plan to lay these...hands on anyone else." it didn't feel right. It wasn't really his body, just a temporary situation. He was...renting this body. Just for a short while.
After he finished his 'quest' as Lady Fiona and Lady Ava had called it, hopefully he would be allowed to rest peacefully. Maybe even get a nice recap of what his sister had gotten up to while he was gone. Hmm. Maybe he should try to add that to the contract the next time he spoke to the "gods".
"So, Byron, your thoughts? If you say no, I am going to have to fire you completely and you won't be able to see Sam anymore. I won't be able to trust you." Byron's face was tense. Hard. He took a few, long moments before he hung his head and Cass knew he'd got him.
When he raised his head again, his eyes were determined.
"I'll...I'll do it. I'll work for you." Cass clapped his hands.
"Perfect. Sam! You may enter now!" Cass raised his voice and watched as the door opened and Sam at least had a slightly sheepish look on his face. "Next time I won't be as lenient, Sam." Cass warned while Byron looked like he'd seen a ghost.
"D-D-Did you-" It was a worry that he was about to hire a man as a spy who hadn't even realised the man he held attraction to was listening at the door, but Cass would make an exception for this one time.
He was barely a man, still a boy by his body size. His voice was the only thing deep about him.
Sam's ears were pink, but his expression remained...worryingly neutral. Cass felt bad for the kid.
"I didn't hear all of it. I went to speak with the guards at the front doors since we had a visitor. My Lord, Lady Ava has demanded you eat with them. I know you don't know this, or maybe you do, but you normally take breakfast in your office." Sam looked...unsure. "You...you have a very specific diet that is hard to consume around them without, uh, suspicion." Cass wondered what the hell that meant, but now wasn't the time.
"I won't eat while I'm there, but maybe I'll have tea or something. I should go see them after yesterday. I plan to make friends with the ladies, and maybe one of the other husbands. I have a feeling I've been secluding myself." Sam's eyes widened. "I'll still eat in my office, but once I come back. Sam, help me get ready." The words please almost slipped out of his mouth, but Cass caught himself.
He knew that someone like Sam would nearly faint if he was asked so politely so soon. Even if it hurt his heart a bit to just....boss around the guy, Sam didn't seem to take it to mind. "Byron." Cass called, and the man who was still on his knees on the ground jerked.
"Y-Yes my Lord?" He asked.
"I want you to bring me everything you can find in this castle on the Blackburn family. I have some questions, but my memory isn't clear yet. I'm hoping reading some history on them might jog it." Byron scrambled to his feet before he bowed deeply.
"Of course! Should I bring it to the office once I find it?" Cass nodded.
Sam can tell you where to place them." Cass told him and Byron nodded.
"I-I will head out right now! Hopefully I'll have some fruits for my labour when you come back from breakfast." The man fled from the room after being given the chance and Cass chuckled. A bit of Sam's facade dropped and he sighed.
"Why did you encourage him, my Lord?" Sam asked and Cass chuckled more.
"You don't seem to hate the boy, so why would I? Plus, as long as you lead him on, I can get some use out of him." Sam's frown reached his eyes.
"You shouldn't play with someone's feelings like that." He warned and Cass smiled at him.
"But has he confessed yet? Are you even supposed to be aware?" Sam's expression wasn't one of happiness as he looked at his lord.
"You need to drink your medicine." He told him in a sour tone and Cass grinned.
"Are you going to hold me down while you do it again?" Sam's expression was grim.
"If I have to." He replied and Cass chuckled.
"And this is why I told him to be careful with you. You really are quite perfect, Sam." Cass told him and watched as Sam's ears turned pink.
"I am your servant. I do not have any plans to get involved in a...promiscuous relationship with you, my Lord." Cass really laughed at his response. It was hilarious to him how both Byron and Sam had the same thought.
"I have no desire for you that way, Sam. I am just saying I appreciate your work. I do not think of you that way." Cass told him as he glanced at the glass beside him. "Now, help me drink this god awful stuff. I'm sure I never complained about the taste, did I?" Sam's mouth quirked slightly.
"You never said anything, no, but you'd grip my arm a little tighter whenever I helped you drink it. You should only have one a day until your wound is healed. I'll give it a quick check before we get you dressed." Sam told him and Cass nodded, bracing himself for the black, viscous sewer water.
Sam helped him raise the glass to his lips, and took control after Cass took the first sip. His gaze was focused, his grip firm. It was like he was a seasoned veteran in dealing with him. Cass struggled, kicking his feet as he tried to swallow the foul tasting medicine. Sam didn't stop forcing him until the glass was empty and when he pulled away, Cass had to lay back and catch his breath. Fuck. It was so damn awful.
What made it worse was the damn mural on the ceiling. Fuck.
"Sam?" Cass asked, his voice croaking. Sam was by his side in a heartbeat.
"Yes, my Lord?"
"Who the fuck commissioned this painting?" Cass asked and Sam looked a little awkward.
"Uh, I believe you did, my Lord." Cass closed his eyes, his head beginning to throb. A headache was definitely coming on. He needed to get out of this room.
"Right. Of course I did. Help me to the bathroom and then get my outfit ready. We'll check the wound once I'm done." Sam easily agreed to his words, helping Cass to his feet and both waited a second to see how sturdy he was. He was better than yesterday, but still used Sam's help to get to the bathroom. Sam closed the door behind him and Cass moved as quickly as his body would allow him.
He first checked his body to see if there was a mark on his body somewhere visible to himself, but couldn't find anything. He avoided looking at his face as much as he could. It was obvious that someone would have said something if the mark showed up there. He just hoped the "gods" didn't play a prank on him and put the mark somewhere silly, like his butt or thigh or something.