It was nice. Peaceful.
Without the two men who had been harassing him for the last few days around, Cass felt like the world was quiet in a way he hadn’t experienced since he’d come to this world. He had thought the silence was a bit unsettling when he’d first arrived here, but now?
He was appreciative of it, since he knew how quickly it went away. It was nice to have Sam around, listening to him move around in the room attached to the bathroom, the familiar feeling of someone around, but not nosy or harassing him. Just...doing his job.
Cass was happy, but it also gave him a lot to think about.
What he and Cassian had discussed in the last little bit before he’d been sucked back into his own time was something that Cass had joked about before, but now he knew he had to do. Cassian had gone to a demonic shrine.
Now, it wasn’t the Cassian he had been speaking to that had gone to the demonic shrine. It was the Cassian of the future that had. He’d done it when he’d exhausted all over avenues, and Cassian admitted easily that it was quietly getting to that point as well in his time. He had given a rough estimate that he was probably only a month away from going to the capital and visiting the demonic shrine that he knew was in the capital before Cass had shown up.
Cass was a little freaked out that he was basically on the same path that Cassian was on, even though he had tried to change so much of the future. He hadn’t been punished by the gods yet, so maybe it wasn’t something terrible for him to do. Maybe it was the catalyst that had sent Cassian down the spiral that made him decide that stealing the magical item from the hero party was the right choice? The only choice?
Cass was already going into this with an advantage. He knew that it was the wrong choice across the board. He could not, would not steal that fucking magical item. As soon as his hands touched it, Cass felt like it would be a self fulfilling prophecy, no matter what he did.
He felt like the twisted hands of fate would warp whatever good things he had done prior to it and make it so that the end of the world came to pass, no matter what.
Cass had one fucking job, and that was it. To make sure that the world didn’t end, and fuck it all, Cass was going to make sure that didn’t happen. Not because he felt anything for the gods, but because he didn’t want Cassian’s sacrifice to be in vain. And he needed to protect his sister’s children, and his sister.
If he saw for one damn second that the gods were considering snatching up his family too?
Oo, they would have to make a third category. Cass wouldn’t be a god or a demon, he’d be something much worse. What would it be? Who knows.
So, Cass needed to find that demonic shrine that Cassian had gone to. The man had been about to give him directions, but Cass had woken up. That was alright. He had a feeling that someone around him might know how to go there. Either Edgar for monitoring reasons, or...someone else for completely different reasons.
That was okay. Cass wasn’t a snitch as long as they weren’t hurting anyone. Plus, the gods and the demons were real in this world, and if someone got more results praying to a mother fucker versus a different mother fucker, who was Cass to judge?
He really, really couldn’t. Not while being in the body that he was.
Cass just needed to figure out how to get there, and when was the right time to go. He felt that the classic would be under the cover of night. He kind of wanted to avoid that, but maybe that was the only time you could find it?
It would be sick as fuck if the demonic shrine could only be found at night. Like, the magic only let it appear at night under the full moon. That would be some cool evil villain shit, which Cass knew he should be avoiding, but some of it would be okay, right? He had the hero mark, like Cassian pointed out. If worst came to worst, Cass could just strip off his clothes on his shoulder and show off that he was a hero too.
Or tell them to contact the Vespertine family. The Duke owed him now, and they were actually obligated to help out the heroes. They signed that deal with the gods, like Cass had signed a deal with the gods. He just...got a shoulder tattoo out of it while Duke Vespertine got...something? Cass wasn’t quite sure what he got.
Bragging rights?
Cass was sure he would find out eventually. Particularly if he was going to be around Edgar as much as he was.
Cass felt his face warm at the reminder, and he cleared his throat, shifting in the tub. Yeah. ’Be around’ Edgar. Way to try and fool yourself, Cass. You went down on the man until he was a begging mess, you can’t exactly call that ’being around’ someone. People usually had a name for that kind of relationship.
Cass was just being too much of a relationship-phobe to put a word to it. Honestly, they had signed a contract, so why did he need to?
They were contractor, contractee at this point. Cass didn’t need to expand on it more.
Cass’ chest ached and he knew damn well that he was just using it as an excuse, but he had bigger fish to fry right now. He needed to get more answers, especially after that demon had shown up as he had. The hero party knew that the demons were getting more bold, but to find out that they had tried to get their hands on Lady Ava?
That was alarming. Horrifying actually, now that Cass had the brain capacity to think about it. To find out that the Saintess wasn’t even safe in her own country? Cass could only imagine how she was doing, and had a feeling that Fiona was losing her damn mind. It was actually a bit surprising that Cass hadn’t heard from her. He was sure that she would have someone keeping an eye on him to see when he woke up.
Of course, she was allowed to go out on dates with Lady Ava. The girl probably needed something to lift her spirits, but they did need to have a few conversations about what to do moving forward.
They all did. Cass didn’t like how the King had treated them and he was sure that they were all in agreement about that. They had to reevaluate what the next step was. Cass knew that they could do their job outside of the Kingdom, but he didn’t think that the others would be up for that discussion. They also needed to discuss what they were going to do with Lord Ridgewood.
Cass didn’t exactly want to send him back to his family after making a big stink that the man belonged to Cass. He also didn’t want to keep him too close, even if the man was useful.
He would propose having a discussion tomorrow, after he’d had some time to himself to gather his thoughts, rest his body and plan how he was going to find the demonic shrine if Edgar didn’t have a lead. Hell, Lucian might even have a lead, and that would also work.
Cass’ stomach rumbling put a halt to his thoughts, and finally he got out of the bath. He had more strength in his legs than he ever thought possible, and begrudgingly had to admit that he had been rather well fed over the last week.
It still frustrated him greatly to find out one of the main food groups he needed to consume going forward was going to semen. That was not something one had an easy time realising. It wasn’t a normal food group. The food pyramid did not contain it, but he was pretty sure it was at the bottom of the pyramid with fucking vegetables for Cass.
Drying himself off, wrapping the towel gently around his body and magically pulling the plug out of the tub, Cass made his way slowly towards the bathroom door. His body still ached, but his legs felt like they could hold his weight, his body listened to him when he asked it to move, and he didn’t need fucking wraps on his hands to rejuvenate them.
Cass was really fucking happy with the way things were turning out.
Sam turned, smiling softly as Cass opened the door on his own. Cass had to be smiling as well, since Sam’s smile widened.
"Feeling better, my Lord?" Sam asked and Cass realised he was laying out an outfit for him on the bed. Cass blinked, surprised at the sudden image of Edgar doing the same thing for him. His chest ached slightly at the thought before he brushed it aside.
Edgar was a noble. He really shouldn’t be doing that kind of thing for him. It was Sam’s job, and while he appreciated that Edgar had stepped in to help him when he needed it, he really should...stay in his own lane.
"I am, Sam. How were you while I was...indisposed?" Cass asked and Sam smiled at him before he let out a soft sigh.
"Worried about you, my Lord, but I am glad to see that the methods you decided on worked. For your sake. It was awful watching you suffer the way that you were." Sam said, his expression growing grim before he shook himself. "Either way, I have an outfit laid out for you. I decided on something for moving around in the house. I had a feeling you had no intention of leaving the house tonight." Sam said and Cass nodded.
"You’re correct. I’m planning to stay awake as much as I need to, and then go back to bed. Has the bed been cleaned?" Cass asked, his lips twitching. He was doing his best not to show a reaction as Sam handed over his underwear. A weird version of undergarments, but Cass pulled them on nonetheless.
Sam let out a soft chuckle.
"Yes, the bed and the sheets have been cleaned and changed. Lord Vespertine was rather insistent on it. He knew that you would hate it, while Draken had to take off to take care of some personal matters." Cass wondered what that meant, but he could just ask Lucian about that later.
"Oh, thank you." Cass said and Sam beamed.
"There is no need to thank me for doing something that is my job, but you’re welcome, my Lord." Sam told him and Cass felt like he could finally breathe. He had a bit of familiarity in this strange world. Was it healthy that it was based around one person? Absolutely not, but that was okay.
Cass was going to get dressed, eat, visit the nursery tree, and then it was time to talk to everyone again.
"I’m planning to eat, visit the tree downstairs, and then gather everyone to chat with them. Can you let them know of my plans while I’m eating?" Cass asked as he dropped the towel to the floor. Sam nodded, handing him his pants.
"Of course, my Lord. Byron might have even heard you through the door and might be doing that right now. The walls here are a lot thinner compared to our usual home." Sam said with a smile.
The small shell of comfort he’d built for himself shattered with those words.
The walls were thin? Thin? Did that mean...everyone heard him?