Chapter 56: Is this a trap? It feels like a trap
"My Lord, how do we feel about this design?" Cass had to shake himself, Sam’s words reminding him that he didn’t have time to daydream.
He was busy. Yes. He was a very busy man, doing very busy man things. He was the heir of a Dukedom. He couldn’t be messing around in public.
Cass fought the urge to blush.
"Uh, sorry Sam. Which one were you suggesting?" Cass asked carefully, trying to gather his wits about himself.
He couldn’t really remember how he had escaped Vespertine, but he’d somehow managed it. He knew he’d basically fled with Sam and Sir Forsythe to escape Vespertine, but what else could he have done? He felt like if he stayed too long with him, he would have been devoured.
The man’s eyes had been glowing! He hadn’t even hid that he wasn’t quite human!
Thankfully, he’d made it out relatively intact. Cass wasn’t sure if he felt he was fully intact. His stomach was still a little upset. It felt like it was upside down every once in a while, the tingling a distraction on top of the way Vespertine’s lip-
Cass shook his head, cheeks flushing as he turned his attention to where Sam was pointing.
Thank fuck he had.
Sam had pointed out the gaudiest, loudest carriage here. It was Victorian in design, which was nice, but it was all black. It looked like a vampire or some other ancient creature would disembark from it at any moment.
Sam was looking at him with wide, brown eyes, all excited. He looked like a puppy who’d brought back a stick that Cass had thrown for him. It wasn’t the same stick he’d thrown in the first place, but he was just excited to do anything with him.
Cass sighed, rubbing his hand over his face.
"Um, that’s nice, Sam, but...I don’t think that it’s very practical." Cass told him, and the man whose wares they were viewing gasped.
"I heard you had distinctive tastes, my Lord. I can show you our other products." Cass and Sam were quickly whisked away to a different part of the shop. Sam looked crestfallen, while Cass was just trying to keep it together. He wanted to get back to the mansion as soon as possible.
Cass ended up selecting not the cheapest carriage, but one on the cheaper side. He spared no expense on the actual quality of the carriage, but didn’t want the exterior to be a liability. Sam was incredibly crestfallen, and Cass worried it was because of everything that had happened today. Cass was exhausted, tired, and wanted a nap. He let Sir Forsythe handle getting them horses, since he had no fucking clue about them. Sir Forsythe confirmed that he would get him the best deal, while also getting good quality animals, and Cass just let him go.
He didn’t care. It had been a long day already, and he swore he caught glimpses of Vespertine as he was moving around looking at the carriages.
Cass and Sam were waiting outside as Sir Forsythe was negotiating and viewing the horses to purchase and move the carriage around when Cass noticed a small, narrow shop squeezed in between two boutiques.
It was...a bookstore.
His fingertips tingling, Cass glanced around, wondering if someone had played a prank on him. There was no way that the one thing he’d really wanted on this trip into town was right in front of him. No freaking way.
Sam was beside him, his expression neutral as he carried the basket he’d brought Cass’ food in. Cass felt a little bad. He had barely touched the feast that he’d prepared for him because he’d been so nervous. Sam had put a lot of work into everything, and he felt terrible about it.
But he couldn’t ignore the pull the bookstore had on him. Nervously, he licked his lips. He rubbed his lower stomach, the tingling still there.
"Sam?" Cass called and Sam came to attention.
"Yes, my Lord?" Sam asked.
"Can you slip inside and inform Sir Forsythe that we are going to be across the street at the bookstore? I’ll go ahead first, and you’ll meet me there, alright?" Cass told him and Sam’s eyes widened.
"A...bookstore, my Lord?" Cass nodded, pointing out the small shop for Sam to see. Sam’s eyes widened, and he glanced up at Cass. He had a slightly concerned expression. "Are you sure, my Lord?" He asked carefully and Cass nodded.
"I’m sure I need some more books, don’t you think?" Cass said and Sam gave him a skeptical look.
"You...need more books?" He asked and Cass was sure he was thinking of his overflowing bookcases back in his office. Cass chuckled.
"Not just books on magic, Sam. I’ll meet you there, alright?" Cass told him, patting him on the shoulder before he raced off across the street. He heard Sam calling after him, but he couldn’t stop himself. After so long of just being Lord Blackburn, and having his day messed up over and over, he couldn’t resist when something so tempting was placed before him.
The soft jingle of the bell as he opened the door brought Cass back to a simpler time. A time when he was too poor to afford books on his own, so he and his sister would go into bookstores and spend hours reading. They’d treated the new books like they were sacred objects. Pointing and giggling as they had read.
This was before they really knew about libraries. It was one of the nice service staff who worked in the bookstore who told them about it, and then they’d never returned to terrorize her again. It was a fond memory for Cass, and he was happy that the bell brought back a memory that wasn’t tinged with sadness.
Inside the shop the mood was about as dingy as Lord Blackburn’s dressing room. Moody, gothic, but also well organised. They had used every space available to them to put bookcases, making the long, narrow space feel a tiny bit liminal. Cass could feel he could get lost in here, and he began to wander, looking at the bindings of each book, a stupid grin on his face.
The sections weren’t obvious, not clearly labeled like stores he was used to in his time. It felt almost as if the books were organised alphabetically, at least, until he got to a fresh section and realised that was the case, but there was a sense of a theme. He just couldn’t understand what that theme was.
He was on a mission. He was looking for romance novels. It was something he needed, no, craved and he felt a little bit like an addict trying to get their next hit. It had been so long since he’d last read one that he was worried he forgot how they worked. The way the books were organised weren’t helping him search either.
Frustrated, Cass moved about, trying to find what he was looking for. He was so distracted by his own personal hunt that he didn’t realise he wasn’t alone until he heard a soft, gravely voice speak up beside him.
"Lord Blackburn. What a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you. You should have called for me as soon as you entered. Do you need more of your healing tonic?" It was a jarring question. This was...a bookstore. Why would he purchase medici-?
A shiver of knowing went down his spine and Cass jerked his head towards the man who had spoken. He was about half the height of Cass, so quite short in stature. He wore a hooded robe, similar to what Cass had started the day out in. His hands were dark, almost blackened in colour, and his fingers looked clawed from where they peaked out from under the sleeves. His voice had been gravely, but respectful.
It honestly had taken Cass completely by surprise. Was this some kind of front? Was that why his feet had moved so quickly? Fuck. What was he supposed to do? He had no idea about this. Lord Blackburn hadn’t released these memories. Fuck!
"I’ve had...several testing trials recently. More is needed." Cass said carefully, casually. He hated the stuff, but it worked. The smaller man nodded.
"I’ll prepare your usual then. Shall I meet you at the back?" Cass nodded.
"Yes." He replied tartly, and the smaller man went to scurry off. He paused after a few steps and Cass hadn’t moved with him.
"Are you...not coming?" He asked and Cass froze.
"I planned to browse the books for a few more moments. My knight is picking out some fresh horses. I...didn’t want to sit in a cafe while he did so." The smaller man chuckled.
"Ah. You are forever a mystery, my Lord, but that is why I like you. If you find anything interesting among the collection, let me know. I am always happy to sell you some books." The smaller man disappeared around a corner of a shelf and Cass felt like his heart was going 100 miles a minute.
What the hell was that? He had just selected this shop randomly. He’d seen it by accident. How the hell was Lord Blackburn attached to this strange shop, and why the hell was this where he got his healing tonic? How did Lord Blackburn even stumble across a place like this? Who was that man? All of this felt rather suspicious, and honestly, if you were going to use anything as a front, a bookstore was a slightly strange one.
Flustered, Cass began to turn his attention back to the books, and nearly felt his heart freeze again in surprise.
These books...they were...they weren’t on anything that he’d seen yet. Cass glanced at where he assumed the owner had gone. Where the fuck had he gotten these?