Training was called off shortly after that, since Cass couldn’t move his arms anymore. Edgar was laughing at Cass silently and Cass so badly wanted to give him the middle finger but his hands were too weak when he tried to do it.
Edgar then laughed at him loudly as he noticed what the other man was attempting to do.
Cass wanted to flip him off more.
Instead, Cass was tended to by a rather serious-looking Lord Ridgewood. He asked for permission to touch Cass, and once he got it, he began to massage his forearms and upper arms with expert hands. His grip was firm, focused, and Cass thought that he would have a good career in massage therapy in another life.
They remained in the clearing until Edgar could take his hat off, and once that was done and Cass’ arms didn’t feel as rubbery, Cass let out a sigh. It was at that moment that he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind.
"We haven’t seen Fiona at all today." Cass said and Edgar blinked. He seemed surprised too.
"I...You’re right. I didn’t notice it earlier since she’s been out with Avie a lot, but I haven’t seen her at all today. Did you see her, Gideon?" Edgar asked, directing the question towards Lord Ridgewood. Lord Ridgewood furrowed his brow, remaining quiet for a moment as he recalled the day.
"I think I saw her this morning as I was doing my morning prayers, but we do have a few other females working at the estate. It could have been someone else." Lord Ridgewood said. "After all, why would Fiona be leaving through the servants entrance?" Lord Ridgewood asked and Cass thought that was a very reasonable thing to ask.
She wouldn’t leave through the servants entrance, at least, he didn’t think so. Lady Ava wouldn’t even think of such a thing.
"She must just be out on another date or something." Cass said, but the nagging feeling didn’t leave his gut. However, he didn’t think it was a big deal. They could also be spending the whole day inside. In their room.
Cass wasn’t about to be the one to find out what they were up to.
"Well, let’s just see if she’s in her room. We can ask someone to knock and if she isn’t, I can tell her later. I’m sure Lucian will be back soon so then I can tell everyone what I heard from the demon shrine and from the gods." Cass said and Edgar and Lord Ridgewood grew interested.
"Are you okay with telling everyone while I’m also here?" Lord Ridgewood asked and Cass gave him a blank look intentionally. Was he fucking serious? Cass had already invited him earlier, and he had also made it clear that while he didn’t trust him, Lord Ridgewood didn’t have a choice.
He should just...grow up and accept that Cass wasn’t going to throw him out onto the street because he tried to kill him. Cass had already had a mental breakdown about that, joked about it, had another mental breakdown, and now here he was.
He would have to get in line, since apparently everyone who was growing to like him now had attempted to do so in the past. The only one who hadn’t was confined to his room right now as Cass waited to tell everyone else what he had found out for real.
Edgar reached out, placing his hand on Lord Ridgewood’s shoulder.
"Gideon, Cass wouldn’t keep including you in things if he didn’t want you there. He doesn’t have that kind of time." Edgar told him and Lord Ridgewood nodded. He looked a little pink though, and Cass wanted to roll his eyes at his behaviour. He was ’fine keeping it a secret’ Cass’ ass!
He was going to explode with a love confession, mark Cass’ words. The man was built for it. He was a damn knight, for fuck’s sake. Half of the job description was pining after another and swearing eternal fealty to someone.
"Should we wait for Lucian in a seating room?" Cass asked and Edgar’s eyes brightened.
"We should. I’m sure he’ll arrive soon. Or, you could call him." Edgar said, smirking and Cass gave him a strange look.
"Call him? With what?" Cass asked and Edgar pointed at his brain.
"You could shout his name really loudly or something? I don’t know. I’m not bonded to anyone." Edgar said, maybe a little smugly, and Cass was really not liking the personality of Edgar today. All coy, pretty, and devious. It was making Cass flustered.
Cass stood, brushing off his jacket and pants with his hands as he looked at Edgar and then at Lord Ridgewood.
"If I shouted, he would come rushing in a dangerous fashion. I care about this property. I do not want it destroyed by a panicking dragon." Cass said curtly and Edgar chuckled.
"Have you called for him before?" He asked and Cass gave him a solemn look.
"Yes. When I was attacked by a group of wolves at the orphanage, I didn’t have my magic control back yet." Cass said, and the humour left Edgar. He actually looked horrified and Cass gave a sniff and turned, heading for the hall.
They were silent after that.
"I’ll meet up with you after I’ve cleaned up." Lord Ridgewood called and Cass gave him a glare.
"You better, or I will send for someone to find you. Don’t make me do that." Cass warned and Lord Ridgewood nodded.
~
Lucian showed up around the same time that Lord Ridgewood did. They were only seconds behind each other, Lucian arriving first to the room where Edgar and Cass were drinking tea. Cass had made it this time and it was a tad strong, but Edgar didn’t seem to mind.
Lucian was a lot happier, and smelled a bit like ozone when he stepped inside. Conversely, Lord Ridgewood looked just as stoic and smelled of sweat and dirt.
It was alarming to Cass that he didn’t mind either smell.
"Come, sit. We sent word to Fiona but she didn’t respond. We’ll have to tell her tomorrow." Cass said and everyone easily agreed. Lucian came and claimed the spot next to Cass that Edgar hadn’t taken, forcing Lord Ridgewood to sit next to Edgar. Cass offered both men a cup of tea and while Lucian waved it off, Lord Ridgewood hesitantly said yes to a cup.
Lord Ridgewood took a sip, made a face and noticed that Cass was watching intently and changed his expression. Cass felt his lips twitch at the sudden change, before any humour left his body.
The room was silent for a moment while everyone settled in before Cass finally spoke up.
"Well, I won’t keep us waiting for too long. When Edgar and I went to the demon shrine, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. There isn’t exactly a guide book for it." Cass started and everyone shifted slightly in their seats. "It’s different from speaking to the gods. I feel like if Edgar had come with me down the path he would have been able to see exactly what I was looking at. It was looking at a mirror that appeared in front of the statue of the demon I was speaking to." Cass said. Lucian furrowed his brows.
"The statue of the demon you were talking to? Do all demons have statues?" He asked and Cass shook his head with a knowing smile.
"No. I think that would be ridiculous." Cass said. Lord Ridgewood was the first to catch on. Cass could tell by the way he jerked his gaze to Cass, looking worried. "I spoke to the demon king. And...My Mom." Edgar gasped, his hand flying up and covering his mouth. Even Lucian looked stunned.
He leaned forward, his elbows coming down on his knees.
"What?"
"You heard me correctly. I spoke to my Mom." Cass let out a long exhale. "I never signed a contract with a demon. I never had to. She signed my name for me on her contract." Cass said and Lord Ridgewood looked horrified.
"Oh my gods. That’s...that’s devilish. Cruel." He whispered and Cass couldn’t agree more. Lucian’s gaze was glowing orange, bathing the room in his eye colour.
"That fucking bitch." He declared, and Cass felt like any anger he’d dealt with was back in full force. Cass let out a humourless laugh.
"I know, right?" Cass joked, shaking his head. Edgar was staring at Cass, his eyes wide.
"She signed a contract? Oh Cass, I’m so sorry." Edgar said and Cass dropped his head, staring at his hands.
"Oh, it gets worse." Cass said, swallowing thickly. "Not only did she sign a contract with the demon king personally, he’s my...other dad." Cass said. He couldn’t look at them as he said the next part. "She also made me the person who had to fulfil her contract. I...I have to produce the next demon king as per her contract." The table shook as Lucian slammed his fist down on it. Cass was actually amazed that it didn’t shatter.
"I want to ring her fucking neck. Are you serious? She did this to you? Your own Mother?" Lucian was outraged and Cass could only smile down at his hands. He let out a shaky breath.
"How do you know that they aren’t lying?" Lord Ridgewood asked and honestly? It was a fair question. Cass raised his head, meeting Lord Ridgewood’s gaze.
"Because she tried to lie and was forced to stop speaking. The demon king confirmed it as well. He had no plans to tell me any of this, but because they knew it would hurt me more, they did. I should have stayed and asked more questions, I should have gotten more answers but I just...I’m sorry." Cass mumbled and suddenly a set of arms were around him. It wasn’t Lucian, like he was expecting.
Instead it was Edgar. He held him tightly, squeezing him.
"You have nothing to apologise for. Nothing. That is...that is a horrifying thing to find out, and alone. Oh Cass. I’m so sorry." Cass let out a weak laugh, holding onto Edgar.
"It’s worse, actually. There’s more. I’m...I’m turning into a sex demon because I...I acted on my urges." Cass whispered. "Things are only going to get worse." Cass said. "He only made a deal with my Mother to make a freak. Demon blood and fairy blood aren’t supposed to mix." Cass told them and Edgar squeezed him tighter. Lord Ridgewood over Edgar’s shoulder looked contemplative while Lucian looked pissed.
"Those fucking sneaky fucks! I can’t believe them!" He was shouting, pissed. "What did the gods say?" He asked and Cass shook his head.
"They need time. They knew that I was important in some way to the demons, but they didn’t know why. There is this unspeakable rule between them about it. Demons can’t know about their contracts, and vice versa. So, I have to wait while they do some research." Cass said and Lord Ridgewood stared at Cass peculiarly.
"You speak as if they are living beings." He said and Cass laughed.
"They are. Just on a different plane, Lord Ridgewood. I’ve even argued with them before." Cass told him. That seemed to make the man even more confused while Cass just turned to Edgar and sought comfort from his arms. At least for a moment, he could do that.