Chapter 68: A fair and legal contract
Cass thought that he was doing a great job. Tyler, who had been nervous, and clearly upset, had become attached to the hip with him. While he wasn’t one for most kids, for some reason, he really liked Tyler.
While the director had said that he was rather rambunctious, Cass could tell he was more muted because of the accident when he’d seen his life flash before his eyes. Anyone would be, given what he’d gone through. The only reason Cass was doing okay was, unfortunately, because of Draken.
He’d helped him quite a bit, even if he was seething from leaving Cass to deal with the kids before they had been satiated like the demon spawn that they were. But Tyler was different.
The poor guy seemed to need some comfort, and it appeared that Cass was the only one who could give it. The little guy was like a leech at his side, holding onto the baggier part of Cass’ shirt that he’d borrowed from Draken, but not tugging enough that it came out from his pants.
Sam was shocked to notice the little leech he had, and so was Sir Forsythe. The man had worked up enough balls to approach him. Cass had given him a look, and he at least had the presence of mind to look like a guilty puppy. That didn’t mean he was going to get off for his behaviour, but he at least knew that he’d done something wrong.
Sam, surprisingly, treated Tyler completely normally. It was surprising because Cass noticed that Sam, who didn’t treat any of the adults differently besides Lady Ava, did give some preferential treatment to some of the kids. Tyler was one of them. The other 4 were so innocuous that Cass had no idea what was different about them besides the fact that he’d felt a little bit of a draw towards them.
It was the same kind of twinge he’d felt when he realised that Ser Hune was a fairy, but it wasn’t quite...the same? The kids all looked like normal humans too, so Cass wasn’t sure what made them different.
Either way, he’d just noticed as they had stuck around to play with the kids that Sam was behaving this way. Sometimes he’d help one of them up before another kid, or give them an extra head pat. Cass didn’t think it was anything...strange, but he did wonder where it stemmed from.
Tyler, however, remained glued to Cass even when the other kids started to play with the new toys. He had picked out a toy after Cass had taken him over to have a look at them. It was a soft looking dragon stuffy. It was dark red with orange eyes, and it made Cass scowl. He couldn’t be upset.
It was just a dragon stuffy, and he was a kid. He had no idea that Draken was a dragon, and that he had red scales like the stuffy. Or that the stuffy was modeled after him. Draken rarely revealed how big of a deal he was, and that was just something that Cass had to deal with.
Even if Cass hated that Tyler’s eyes sparkled as he looked at the stuffy, and he could see Draken in the background looking smug as hell. When he was sure no kids were looking, Cass gave the man the middle finger and he could hear Draken’s boom of laughter across the large dirt clearing.
Cass did end up going inside and chatting to the Director about his donations and his intentions. She didn’t have a contract or anything that formal, and Cass quietly berated her about that. With his help, and the help of Sam, they drafted up a rough draft of a contract that listed the terms of everything. What he would give, what she would give in return, and how often.
Her eyes had bulged at the amount he had suggested, while Cass considered it a low amount. He’d checked Lord Blackburn’s secret funds and knew that this wouldn’t even make a dent in it. It was, apparently, too much to run an orphanage with. At least, in her mind.
Cass had to bully her into accepting it. It made him feel like a bad guy, but at the same time, why did he care? Lord Backburn had been a bad guy, and Cass was sure he had no idea how to do anything good. Him being a little rough around the edges would be more authentic.
Sam had seemed so proud of him, beaming as Cass practically forced her to sign the contract. It felt like he’d made her sign it in blood from the way she was shaking and how pale she was, but Cass didn’t care. He made two copies of the contract, handed one to her, and handed the other to Sam for safe keeping.
Tyler had remained glued to his side the whole time, his eyes wide, and the damn stuffed dragon under his other arm. It appeared that was what truly softened the director. Cass knew the unspoken truth.
Orphans, at least in commercials and on paper, softened everyone’s hearts. In real life? They were viewed as an inconvenience and a burden.
The director remained in her office after they had signed the contract to look it over, and gather her wits. Cass, Sam, Tyler and Sir Forsythe returned to the outside dirt lot to check on the children. Lady Ava appeared to be having a great time, laughing, grinning and playing with the children. Her white clothes were even dirty, and she looked...alive.
Cass would admit, she looked good. It was a begrudging admittance, and he would never say it out loud. Because while she was flourishing, Cass could feel himself growing tired and weak. He sighed heavily, and felt both Sam and Tyler look at him.
"Are you tired, my Lord?" Sam asked and Cass nodded. He raised his hands above his head, stretching before he bent at waist and stretched, reaching for his toes.
"Yeah. It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?" Sam gave a very sympathetic look towards him.
"Yes my Lord, it has. Shall we head back to the mansion?" He asked and Tyler began to panic.
"Are you leaving already?" He asked, his eyes wide, and his skin paling. "W-What if another-" Cass turned, dropping until he was closer to Tyler’s eyesight.
"Tyler, breathe." Cass ordered, and watched as the smaller boy began to tremble, his eyes watering but he quickly wiped away the tears.
"W-What if they come back?" He whispered and Cass felt his heart jerk. Ah fuck. The kid was scared senseless, and he was clinging to Cass because he was the one who saved him. Damn it. He couldn’t leave the kid alone then.
"Tyler, the knights took care of all of them." Cass tried to gentle his voice, but Lord Blackburn didn’t have that as a skill. The man only knew how to yell, scream, and be sarcastic. Gentle wasn’t something he’d ever had to be. Tyler’s eyes continued to water.
"B-But none of them can use magic." He protested and Cass sighed. He reached out, placing his hands on Tyler’s small, scared shoulders. Fuck. He was going to hate doing this, but damn it, it was the best thing he could think of.
"Tyler, what kind of creature is your stuffy?" Cass asked carefully, slowly, and waited as tears rolled down Tyler’s face and he tried to cry quietly.
"A-A dragon." He mumbled, and Cass nodded. He gave his shoulders a squeeze.
"Yes. A dragon. Did you know that dragons are powerful both in magic and in physical attacks?" Cass said and Tyler nodded.
"Yeah. Everyone knows that." Tyler stated and Cass felt his lips twitch. He only knew that from the book, not from everyday knowledge. He had no idea it was such a common truth.
"Well, can I tell you a secret?" Cass moved closer, whispering to the boy. Tyler sniffed, his eyes wide.
"Yeah." Cass had to fight a smile at the sad way he sounded and looked. The kid was growing on him.
"There’s a dragon who lives in this forest, and he’s made sure aaaaall the dire wolves are gone. You aren’t going to be in danger anymore, alright?" Cass leaned in closer. "And if you ever feel in danger again, you just hug that dragon real tight and whisper all of your fears to it, and it’ll hear them and take care of them, alright?" Cass told him quietly.
At first, he was worried that Tyler wasn’t going to believe him. He was staring down at the dragon in his arms, and then glancing back up to Cass suspiciously. But, it appeared as if he did get through to the little guy, as Tyler swallowed and sniffed.
"You promise?" He asked, his voice weak and Cass nodded gravely.
"I promise." He told him and Tyler sniffed again.
"So are you going to leave now? Are you coming back?" Tyler asked carefully, wiping at his eyes with the back of his hand and Cass felt his heart tug towards the guy. Fuck.
He knew all about making promises and then having them broken. He didn’t want to hurt the little guy like he’d been hurt in the past. Fuck.
"I can’t make any promises, Tyler. I’m a busy guy. While I am just down the road and donating to the orphanage, I am really, really busy. I don’t want to make a promise to you only to hurt you later." Tyler nodded, his expression resigned.
"I understand." He said, and Cass fucking hated that the kid was already this used to this kind of thing. He squeezed his shoulders.
"If you do well in the classes I’ve asked the director to get started for everyone, and you learn how to write, you can send me letters. I promise I will respond to them if you do, alright?" It was something easy, and a goal he could work towards. He noticed how the boy lit up almost instantly at the small sliver that Cass was giving him. It made him feel like an asshole.
"I can do that! I know my alphabet already!" He bragged as Cass felt his lips twitch up into a smile.
"Perfect. Then you’ll be writing me letters in no time. I have to go, Tyler, but it was lovely meeting you and your friends, alright? Take care." Cass stood up, about to turn away when he felt a small body wrap around him and Cass froze.
Tyler was hugging him, and not one to be an asshole to kids, Cass hugged him back, turning so that he could give him a proper hug. He at least knew how to do that. His sister had taught him.
That was the end though, and Cass turned, waving at him as he headed towards his not-so-new carriage and Sam gasped.
"What happened?" He asked and Cass sighed.
"Draken."