Cass didn’t poke and prod at Sam too much, able to tell that the man was clearly going through it. Cass did wonder how far their relationship had gone while no one else was around to bother them. Given Sam’s reaction to sending Byron away for a day at most, he really did wonder.
He bet there were a few juicy stories there. Maybe Sir Forsythe might get some of the answers while he was there guarding Lady Ava’s family? He could only hope, and then hope that he was willing to divulge his information.
Cass was just stepping off of the bottom step of the cellar when the door at the top flung open and Fiona stood there, huffing, with a Ser Hune behind her. Ser Hune’s face was shrouded in darkness, given the angle, and Cass couldn’t read Fiona’s face either.
She didn’t leave him in suspense for long.
She raced down the stairs, nearly falling because of her skirts but catching herself and coming to a screeching halt in front of Cass.
She was partially ready for the ball, clearly having to take a longer time to get ready when compared to the men. Her hair was half done, she was in what would be considered some version of her underwear for this era, but she didn’t seem to care. She scanned Cass’ body with a laser focus, trying to see if anything was wrong, if anything was out of place.
Cass could feel his neck burning, sure that the men had left some marks on him. He could tell she noticed, but she didn’t say anything. Her ears turned pink, but that was all that happened. Her chest rose and fell as she calmed down, and it was clear that she had raced here.
Ser Hune slowly came down the stairs behind her before placing a hand on her shoulder.
"We should let the Lord go to the nursery tree, Fiona." Fiona sucked in, nodded, and Cass felt the moment break. She fell into step with Cass, still not saying anything as they made their way into the secret grove.
Once there, she stayed by his side, a silent protector as Cass crossed the bridge, the blades of grass feeling good between his toes. The tree shook in a silent breeze as Cass approached, and he could feel the tree reaching for him. Honestly, the tree had been reaching to him for a while, and Cass went to hug it without much thought.
Fiona and Ser Hune stood back, as did Sam, while Cass held onto the warm bark.
Cass listened in silence as the tree’s comforting warmth washed over him. He felt something shift, change slightly inside of him and suddenly he felt full. In a far too similar way as he had last night.
Cass felt his face burn with that thought, and felt the tree shake as if it was laughing at him. A warmth filled him, soft, full of love, and Cass sniffed as the tree spoke to him. Not with words, never with words, but in a way he could still understand.
The tree told him not to be ashamed, it was completely natural. He was starving, and so he ate. Trees and plants and fairies at the flesh and blood of others, all he needed to do was show gratitude for the meal.
Hearing that from the nursery tree did something strange to Cass. the lack of judgement, the understanding, the acceptance. Cass fought the tears, fought the emotions that threatened to swallow him, and instead just took comfort from the tree.
When he turned away with a gentle pat to the bark, the tree shook again, showering Cass in flower petals he hadn’t even been aware they were growing. Cass smiled, as did Fiona, Ser Hune and Sam. Fiona stood by awkwardly, her arms holding onto her sides, across her body, but she stayed where she was.
Cass came to a stop in front of her, before finally sighing, and just saying it.
"Lucian and Edgar are helping me deal with...the other side." Cass told her awkwardly and Fiona gave him a smile. No judgement. Not anger, or even mild tension on her part. Just Cass.
"I know." She said. Simple. Easy. "It’s okay, Cass." She followed up. "I...am a one person kind of gal." She admitted softly. "All of this drama, this chaos...made me realise that. I was never going to be a good partner for them, or anyone outside of one person." Cass blinked, surprised. She shifted on her feet, her smile finally turning a little strange. "I don’t think it would have mattered if it...wasn’t Ava, but seeing what’s happening...yeah. I’m a one person kind of gal, and that person right now is Ava. Might always be Ava." She said softly. Cass felt his heart squeeze.
"I always thought you were doing a remarkable job managing all of them. Myself included." Cass told her. Needed her to know. Fiona’s smile grew wide.
"Awe. You aren’t just saying that, are you?" She teased, and Cass rolled his eyes.
"At this point, Fiona, why the hell would I?" He asked dryly and she laughed.
"You’re right. At this point, we should be honest with each other." She said and Cass felt his heart pick up speed. This was the time. The perfect time.
"Fiona, I-" Cass started but Fiona was also speaking.
"Cass, I-" They both halted. Cass blinked, flushed, and gestured for her to go first. Fiona did the same. They went back and forth for a moment, being too polite, before Cass snapped.
"Just fucking speak, Fiona!" Cass knew that was from his unfinished...nightmare, and Fiona blinked before she started laughing.
"I’ll keep the fact that you’re a little testy in mind. Damn, it’s almost like you’re on your monthlies." She teased, before she froze, her eyes widening and Cass felt something click in place. Cass gasped, Fiona gasped, and then Cass went immediately into denial.
"Do not ever say that, ever again." Cass growled. "I do not need another fucking reminder. Especially not right now." Cass warned and Fiona let out a light chuckle.
"Gosh, I know, but I’m a little envious that it doesn’t involve bleeding." She muttered and Cass groaned.
"Fiona, I have to isolate myself for a whole ass week. How is that not more inconvenient than being able to slap on some pads of cloth, take some pain killers, and continue about my day?" Cass snapped. It was a very surface level understanding of what a period was, but Cass didn’t think he needed to get into the nitty gritty of it.
He also didn’t know how they worked in this time.
Fiona opened her mouth, closed it, seemed to want to make a harsh response, before she just shook her head with a sigh.
"I’m going to give you an honorary pass given that you’re right, having to isolate yourself for a week every month is insane, but I think that is where we should end this comparison." Fiona was choosing her words carefully, and Cass agreed.
His body was different than hers.
It was.
It had to be.
"I agree, Fiona. Was there something else you needed to speak to me about?" Cass asked carefully. Fiona nodded.
"Yes. It’s about Lord Ridgewood, and Ava. I don’t think you’re aware of this, but Ava is irate at the man. She’s..." It was nice to have a normal conversation, not related to him.
As Fiona briefed Cass on what was going on, the layers of the whole situation, the duo began to leave the grove and head back upstairs. They were still chatting to each other in the lobby, Fiona needing to go back to getting ready, and Cass needed to start getting ready. He could tell that Sam was anxiously waiting nearby, and finally, Fiona took her leave, and Cass headed back up to his bedroom.
That was where he found an awake, but slightly groggy Edgar, and a rather displeased-looking Lucian.
How was Cass supposed to deal with this?
~
Cass did his best not to deal with it. Edgar seemed to be in a decent mood, and once Lucian got a wave from Cass, he seemed to calm down. Sam focused less on the other people helping Edgar get ready and more on his own task.
Ser Hune would have remained outside of the room had Cass not thought that would be lonely, so just told her to stand by the door. She welcomed the change, happy to be involved.
Sam was going all out.
Cass was already bathed, so they didn’t have to worry about that aspect of his wear, but it was going to take him a while to get him layered up. The frills, the poofy sleeves, the black, white and gold accents. Cass looked more like a villainous vampire than Edgar ever could.
No one would look at Edgar and ever think the man drank blood. One look at Cass though? He bet that was what everyone thought he was. A vampire. They were a type of demon, and if Cass was honest, he was pale enough.
A corpse walking. That’s what vampires were in his world.
Edgar was so warm though...
A low growl from Lucian warned him that the man was on his way across the room before he got there.
"Stop looking at just Eddie." Lucian warned, and Edgar flushed.
"He was looking at me?" Edgar asked, curious, and clearly pleased to hear Lucian’s words. Cass, for his part, was fucking embarrassed.
"I was just thinking that I look more like-" Cass cut off, groaned, and then shut his mouth. He couldn’t say it. "I look like something more than Edgar." Cass muttered and Lucian stood in front of Cass, his arms crossed, a scowl on his face.
"What? Look like what more than Edgar? A snack? Yeah, you’re right. I’m worried you’re going to show off too much skin." Lucian said, and Cass blinked. A snack? Skin?
In what world was Cass going to be showing off too much skin? He looked like fucking count Dracula! Covered up to the neck! Ser Hune was desperately trying to keep her shit together, while Edgar let out a laugh.
"Well, I agree with the snack part, but I believe he should be showing more skin, Lucy." Edgar countered and Lucian grumbled. A deep rumble leaving him. Cass felt his face flush as he remembered the last time he’d heard that. Especially most recently.
"More skin? More. Skin? Are you insane, Eddie? The others will see how handsome he is and want to attack him! Especially right now. He looks good, he smells good, and-and just look at him! Look at how sweet he looks!" Cass was simply flabbergasted. Him? Sweet? What glue had Lucian been sniffing?