Chapter 89: I would never want your damn spot
"How long have you been out here?" She didn’t even address Cass, and that was a big deal. She had done a complete switch compared to yesterday, and Cass almost felt giddy. This was insane. What was going on with her?
Lady Fiona was staring at her like she was seeing a different person, her eyes wide and hurt. She was clearly shocked by Lady Ava’s reaction, and so was Byron. Sam was a little less so, having heard both of her rants today.
"Who?" Cass asked, gently placing a hand on his chest. "Me, or my servants?" Cass knew he was being an asshole, but this? He was kind of liking this. While he knew he should be repairing their relationship for his own peace of mind, he could push a little, right?
Lady Ava trembled, her hands clenched, her face flushed with colour. It was a little sad that the colour suited her, but not the angry, nearly crazed look in her eyes. Cass had seen that look before. In people on the streets who were addicted to a substance. Whose addiction had taken over their lives.
Cass didn’t think that this could have happened so quickly if that was the case, and he wondered even if it was true. Could one be addicted to conversations with a god? He knew they could be addicted to power, fame and wealth, but this? This was a completely different reaction. Unless you’ve seen someone like this before, you wouldn’t understand.
These people gave up everything for their addictions. Like others who had given up their family, their responsibilities, their friends, their jobs and home. It felt like whatever Lady Ava was dealing with was big, and honestly? Cass might have just been a catalyst. She got lucky in the book that before he had shown up that it hadn’t ruined her life and she was able to hold herself together.
That, or Lady Fiona never spoke of it, and never wanted to for Lady Ava’s sake.
"You know what I was asking." Lady Ava growled as Cass stared at her, before he smirked.
"Oh? Do I? Lady Ava, you aren’t speaking with clarity. Who are you speaking to?" He was an ass. He would take that accusation hands down. Lady Fiona was practically begging him with her eyes not to instigate her, but Cass wanted to see how far this would go. Lady Ava was not herself. Would she actually attack him?
"I was speaking to you." She growled, barely containing herself. Seeing her like this, Cass was very glad that he hadn’t seen her in the temple nor the main hallway. He had a feeling things could have taken a turn for the worst, especially while he was communicating with the gods.
"Lady Ava, what has gotten into you? Have I done something to upset you?" Cass asked innocently, and Lady Fiona was staring at him like he was a fool as Cass batted his eyes innocently, and Lady Ava looked as if she was gnashing her teeth.
"Don’t play coy. Fifi already told me that she spoke with you this morning. You know what you did wrong." If her words could kill, Cass would have been shot up on sight. Thank goodness holy power couldn’t be used that way.
"What I did wrong?" Cass repeated, before he glanced at his two servants who were anxiously waiting beside him. He turned back to Lady Ava. "I’m sorry you feel that way, Lady Ava, but there is nothing I can do. My hands are tied. I chose the least painful punishment for what he had done." Lady Ava opened her mouth, shocked, before she closed it. She was shaking so violently Cass was actually worried she might hurt herself.
"Least painful? He’s been whipped by your damn guard dog for almost half a day!" She shouted, the power leaving her lungs surprising Cass, and answering how he was able to hear her from so far. She was just...robust, he guessed.
"My guard dog?" Cass repeated, a little stunned by the usage of words. Lady Ava growled.
"Of course he’s a guard dog? What else is he if he isn’t letting anyone else prevent him from doing what he is doing?" She scoffed and Cass felt a laugh leave his lips.
"Someone who is loyal to me? Is that such a bad thing, Lady Ava, or do you feel like your spot is being taken?" Lady Ava opened her mouth, her eyes going wide as she heard his words. Cass noticed everything. Her hands unclenching in surprise, her shoulders dropping, the way she swallowed.
So that was it. Something had triggered her into thinking her spot was being taken. What spot that was, Cass had no idea. Nor did he care. What was ridiculous was that she knew he was going to leave the party at some point. She knew that, so why had this upset her so much?
He’d given her plenty of information, and the damn fool had fumbled it all. What the fuck was wrong with her?
"Lady Ava," Cass started, taking a step towards her. Lady Ava, now shaken, took a step back. "I do not know what ideas you have floating around in your mind, but clearly, there is something wrong, and you need help. I am not here to take whatever position you desire, nor do I care what position that is. I never have. All I want is to do my work, defeat the greater evil, and leave. Is that clear?" Lady Ava swallowed, but she wasn’t able to react. Cass smirked. "And I am allowed to punish my people. I doubt that you knew that almost everyone in this mansion is employed by me, did you? It was never something you ever had to think about, since everyone treated you with respect, but that is not the same for me." Cass shifted closer, narrowing his gaze.
"You see, when common folk see how others are treated, even if they are the most noble of nobles, they begin to think that they can treat them the same way that others have." Cass wasn’t speaking about their behaviour, not really. He was talking about the years and years of mistreatment half of the employees in the mansion had seen and participated in at the Blackburn manor. Lady Ava didn’t know that, no one in this damn mansion who cared about him did outside of Sir Forsythe. "I have grown tired of such treatment, and I am now trying to rectify it. I apologise that you had to witness it, but have we not seen the worst or the worst when dealing with the encroaching demons and monsters on our land? Have you not seen what they have done, Lady Ava?" Lady Ava swallowed.
"W-What does that-"
"Do you know who harbors demons the most, Lady Ava?" Cass asked sweetly, carefully, knowing this information with every fiber of his being. Lady Ava shook her head. "Humans. Humans harbor demons the most. Those who aren’t like you, who don’t look like you, who have mixed blood, different blood, whatever you want to call it, are able to resist the lure of demons better than humans. This problem, the demons trying to take over," Cass watched as Lady Ava went white, "isn’t just a me or you problem. It isn’t just a fairy problem, or some village out in the wild’s problem. It starts with the humans. Those, I am beginning to think, you think the gods favour most." Cass stepped back, shaking his head. He stared at her, making sure to put as much pity in his gaze as possible.
"Lord Cassian, uh-" Lady Fiona tried to speak up, her voice hesitant, but Cass continued.
"Let me ask you something, Lady Fiona, Lady Ava. How many gods can you speak to?" It came out of nowhere for Lady Ava, who seemed blindsided by the question. Lady Fiona seemed able to tell that Cass had heard something from their conversation, and she looked unwell. Lady Ava was stuttering over her words.
"W-W-Why does t-that matter?" She crossed her arms, defiant, and Cass gave her a pitying look.
"Because it appears, dear Lady Ava, that you seem to think because of your powers that you are the end all and be all. My guess is Lady Fiona hasn’t told you how many gods she can speak to because she knew it would upset you. As you are already upset with me, I see no reason to hold back. I have so far spoken to three gods, and one of them is fairly significant. The middle of the statues in the temple." Cass hinted, and both Lady’s went pale. Cass stuck his nose in the air slightly. "I can tell from the way that everyone babies you, Lady Ava, that they are worried that you will shatter if you realise the ways of the world. My worry is all that babying is going to make you into the worst kind of spoiled brat. Correct yourself, before you force me to interfere. I will not be as kind as they are. I do not know how. After all, I am Lord Blackburn." Cass gave a smirk, taking in their shocked expressions, before he turned, leaving Lady Fiona to deal with the mess.
He felt slightly bad, but only in the sense he was basically shoving a petulant child into her arms that he had helped make, and was running out.
What could he do? He had meetings, and with people who he also needed to rub their faces into the ground. Lady Ava was lucky. Because she was important to the mission, and everyone else, Cass had been nice. Even after he had heard her say not very nice things about one of his favourites.
There was a large part of him that wanted to scream at them about what they didn’t know, what little he knew about Lord Blackburn’s life, but he knew better. Even if he did that, there was a chance they wouldn’t even listen, and in Lady Ava’s current mentality, that he deserved it in some way. He knew that villains didn’t come from fucking nothing, but he did hate that Lord Blackburn had to have such a basic, terrible background.
Sighing, Cass pushed open the door, almost smacking into Vespertine.
All of Cass’ body tensed at the sight of him, while he seemed shocked.
"Cass-"
"If you are looking for Lady Ava and Lady Fiona, you are heading in the right direction. I have to attend to some meetings, so excuse me." Cass breezed past him, noticing the way that Vespertine’s expression fell. Cass didn’t look back at him, making sure that he kept moving. Byron and Sam flanked him from behind, and Cass was grateful that Vespertine didn’t do anything stupid, like grab his wrist and try to stop him.
He had been feeling so good about everything, but seeing Vespertine had left a sour taste in his mouth. Fuck.