To His Hell and Back
Chapter 48: Gordes Town-II

Chapter 48: Gordes Town-II

Upon entering the alleyway, she noted that Cassius, who despite his first time being in Gordes, was already aware of where he should go. He didn’t seem fearful of entering a dangerous place, even though the vampires are powerful, they were about to see someone who could turn that powerful being and render them into nothing but a monster.

"Say," Bella who didn’t like the quietness of the alleyway started her words, "Why is it that you dislike Queen Morgana?" Well to be fair, Queen Morgana had tried to offer her a chance of freedom in exchange for killing him, but she wanted to see what his reasoning for his hatred first.

"Why?" Cassius hummed as he strode, his voice carrying a trace of amusement. "You ask it as if hatred needs a reason."

Arabella frowned, keeping pace beside him, though his long strides made it difficult. "Hatred always has a reason," she countered. "Even if it’s buried beneath a thousand excuses."

Cassius let out a soft chuckle, dark and knowing. "How philosophical of you, little bird. But you know your philosophy isn’t always the correct one. Perhaps it’s your idealistic wish that you could be pushing into my plate right now."

She furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean by idealistic?"

"That," he pointed, "You told me I should mend things with my sister because your relationship with yours is close and tight knit. But don’t you see how idealistic that is? Not every bond can be mended, Arabella. Not every wound can heal."

She bit her lip, trying to hold his gaze. "But you haven’t even tried."

"Idealistic it is to think that with trying everything could be fixed, birdie," Cassius turned as he made his remark, "Your words are very sweet, but they’re nothing more than pretty little fantasies wrapped in hope."

Arabella clenched her fists but after taking into Cassius’s words, she realized that perhaps there was some truth in Cassius’s words. It’s true that it was idealistic to think every bond that has been broken could be mend, especially when it wasn’t only Cassius who hated Queen Morgana but also Queen Morgana who wanted him dead.

And his relationship with Princess Marissa... true. Not everyone would have the same bond she has with Ariel, this also mean that she couldn’t push all her desire into someone else’s relationship when she hadn’t put herself in his shoes.

"You’re right," she muttered, "I’m sorry."

Cassius merely smiled, a slow, razor sharp curve of his lips. "Apologizing to me?" Has she forgotten that she should have hated him? He brushed off her words, "You see to me birdie, hatred is a far better companion than disappointment. At least it never pretends to be anything else."

There was a hint of loneliness that she could hear from his words but his eyes that seemed so used to being alone held a sense of confidence, something she couldn’t really comprehend. If she was in his position... would she remain sane and calm like he was?

He isn’t sane, that’s for sure.

"Come here," he then pulled her wrist and then they walked out of the alleyway, stopping at a rather desolated inn. The whole building was made up of woods with a flicker of torch being hung outside the inn as if to show that this place was still open for the guests.

"How do you know that there is an inn here?" She inquired as he had came here for the first time yet he knew where he should go as if he could see the future.

"Gut feeling?" He brushed her words with an obvious lie. Then he knocked on the door, once, twice, thrice for them to hear the sound of footsteps approaching them.

A woman whose hair was veiled in a purple scarf and a large bluish bruise under her eyes then opened the door, looking at them and then was taken aback upon realizing the expensive clothing that Cassius had worn. Though it was subtle, the fabric being made up from an expensive silk was immediately noticeable.

"One room for three nights," Cassius immediately requested, his red eyes brushing over the human woman who was instantly petrified when she realized he was a vampire. She fearfully wanted to deny his request but upon seeing Bella’s green eyes, she seemed briefly relieved and stepped away.

"I- Is there anything else you would need?" The woman inquired as she let them inside the foyer, walking toward the counter to pick an old rusty copper key from the shelf. Arabella eyed how nervous the woman was and how she seemed to be trying to rush her works, knowing how vampires are easily displeased and she didn’t want to be the next one on the platter.

"Nothing that you can provide," his cold reply even made Arabella to feel a bit nervous. "I have a servant with me, if there is anything I need she would request it."

"Servant?" the woman looked at Bella and let out a small gasp, "Oh! I thought..."

"You thought?" Bella couldn’t help but ask, "Has there ever been a human and a vampire who came here too?"

The woman eyed her before shaking her head, "No but it’s a well known thing around here, don’t you know?"

She shook her head and the woman continued, "There has been a lot of couple who came to escape Dravail, usually to run away as their families don’t accept marriages between vampires and humans. I thought you two were lovers."

"Lovers?! NO! Impossible!" Arabella let out a quick denial and heard a small chuckle coming from Cassius who stood beside her.

He tilted his head slightly, his amusement only growing at her reaction. "So eager to deny it, little bird? Ouchie," he said with a pouty lips, his handsome face still holding that trace of smugness. "You wound me."

Arabella shot him a glare, her face heating against her will. "It’s not even worth entertaining," she huffed. "Besides, who would ever—"

"Careful," Cassius interrupted smoothly, his voice laced with warning and something almost playful. "You might tempt me into proving you wrong."

She stiffened, eyes narrowing. "You wouldn’t."

His smirk deepened. "Wouldn’t I?"

The woman at the counter cleared her throat awkwardly, clearly regretting her comment. "A- anyway, your room is up the stairs, second door on the left. I trust you’ll keep to yourselves?"

Cassius took the key from her trembling fingers, his cold, claw-tipped hand brushing her skin just enough to make her shudder. "Of course," he murmured, a dark promise in his tone. "We wouldn’t want to disturb the peace."

Arabella followed him up the stairs, muttering under her breath, "You enjoy making people uncomfortable, don’t you?"

Cassius didn’t look back as he unlocked the door. "It’s not my fault humans are so easy to unsettle."

She stepped inside, arms crossed, watching as he surveyed the small, dimly lit room. A single bed, a rickety wooden chair, and a window covered in heavy curtains. Simple. Isolated.

"One bed?" Arabella realized, eyes widening.

Cassius turned to her, all feigned innocence. "Oh? Did you expect separate quarters, birdie?"

Her stomach twisted, both in frustration and something else she didn’t dare name. "You—"

"Don’t worry," he interrupted, shrugging off his coat. "I don’t bite." Then, after a pause, his lips curled wickedly. "Not unless you ask."

Arabella groaned, turning away before he could see the color rising to her cheeks. This was going to be a long three nights.

"So I’ll be sleeping in the flo-"

"Mhm, smart birdie, these days your brain has been working quite well that it tempts me to give you a reward."

She sighed, swallowing the curses but she couldn’t help the comment she left on her lips, "Sometimes, master, it would be better if you speak less. Bird dies out of stress."

Hearing that Cassius’s smile, those red lips and crimson eyes seemed enchanting tonight. She didn’t feel fear anymore upon seeing his eyes which made her wonder if she had adapted so well to the point that his smile ease her.

"Go sleep," he then pointed as he pulled his coat instead of removing it.

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere," he hummed, leaving her with a smile as he opened the door and walking out of it.