Those words ignited something in Cassandra. “You can take that piece of paper…” She wasn’t certain what to say. “If you’ll kindly move, I’m late for supper. Elissa will be worried about me. She’ll come looking for me.”
Yohan’s laugh startled Cassandra. “We both know that isn’t true. That woman never leaves the cabin. At least not when it’s daytime. You are on your own.”
The growl reminded Cassandra she was far from alone. “Even if that were true, I’m not alone. I suggest you move out of my way, before my friend here becomes more agitated.”
The gun suddenly pointed at Raven’s head caused Cassandra to gasp. “I said you are coming with me. No woman or wolf is going to stand in the way of what I want.”
“I beg to differ.” The sound of a wagon skidding to a stop in the snow caused Yohan to temporarily lose focus on his niece.
Cassandra took the opportunity to knock the gun from the man’s hand. It fired, but luckily the bullet wedged in one of the shelves of the store. She didn’t hesitate in rushing past her uncle.
“Get in.” Elissa held the reins at the ready. Already her skin was beginning to burn. She didn’t care. They needed to leave the village. “Are you two settled back there?”
“Let me drive.” Cassandra had made her way to the front of the wagon. She knew her friend had to be hurting. The sun was bright on this winter day. “You need to seek cover.”
“Hold on. We’ll change up as soon as we get away from your uncle.” Elissa snapped the reins. The mules took off at a slow pace. They were fighting the snow. The horse tied to the back of the wagon was struggling as well.
The sound of a gunshot echoed throughout the village. Elissa turned back to her charge. “Are you two all right?” She waited until she heard they were all right before focusing on getting the mules to move as fast as safety allowed.
The sound of horses could be heard in the background. Elissa cursed in front of her charge once again. There was a part of the vampire that wished she had thought to obtain a rifle. Perhaps at the next village they came to.
Instead, Elissa would have to improvise. “Take the reins. I have to go back and slow down whoever is after us.” She waited to see if Cassandra would argue.
Thankfully, Cassandra took the reins without a word. Elissa jumped from the rapidly moving wagon. She waited in the shadows until the horses she had heard were near enough she could see who was chasing them.
There were only two men. Elissa recognized both. One was Cassandra’s uncle. The other was the constable. She waited until they were even before tackling them to the ground.
Elissa used her speed to make certain the men were not in a position to follow them. “Stay away from Cassandra. She’s everything to me. If you attempt to take her away again, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.”
For a moment, Elissa made certain her glacial expression was emphasizing her words. She could hear more voices in the background. She couldn’t afford to remain any longer.
In several blinks of the eye, Elissa had returned to the wagon. She launched herself through the narrow opening in the back. Unfortunately, she was burned worse than the last time. If only she could handle being in the sun, life would be so much easier.
“Are you all right?” Cassandra didn’t dare turn around. She wasn’t as confident in her driving at this speed. “And can I slow down a little?”
“I’ll be fine in an hour or two.” Elissa groaned as she made her way to the front of the wagon. Damn she was sore. “And you can slow down. Just be ready. I heard voices. The villagers were after their constable. We’ll see if they come for us.”
Cassandra nodded as she pulled up a little on the reins so the mules slowed their pace. She turned the wagon toward the southwest. And towards a new beginning of a new adventure.
Chapter 16
Casandra stretched. She loved Sundays. Unlike her classmates, she was able to sleep in. She did read the bible, if only to satisfy her own curiosity and to be able to discuss certain topics with her peers.
The fourteen-year-old knew Elissa would already have breakfast waiting for her, warming in the stove. Raven would be out romping around in the endless fields of grass that surrounded their small farmhouse.
The petite blonde couldn’t believe it had been a year since they had settled just outside the village of Keosauqua, Iowa. It had been over three years since they had last seen her uncle.
Cassandra shuddered at the thought of ever seeing Yohan again. It was probably only a matter of time, if he wasn’t dead. The sum of money she was entitled to, which he could only get his hands on through her, was enough to keep the soulless man after her.
Shaking her head to clear it of negativity, Cassandra finally bounded out of bed. She hastily washed with the water left for her before changing into her best Sunday outfit. There was a picnic she had been invited to by one of the young boys she went to school with.
The cabin was so different from the hut they had left behind in Seneca, New York. There were two distinctive rooms. Her bedroom and the outer room. There was also a small attic space they used for storing canned vegetables, dried meat and Cassandra’s old clothing.
The scent of coffee assaulted the young woman. Cassandra had learned she loved the bitter liquid. If she was lucky, she would sweeten it with sugar.
As Cassandra sat at the table, a plate was placed before her. Over the years, Elissa had become quite the cook. She had learned how to slaughter animals they raised on their small farm. “Scrambled eggs, ham and toast. Thank you.”
Elissa said nothing. Ever since Cassandra had informed her of the picnic, she had felt something she hadn’t felt before. And she had distanced herself from her charge.
Emerald eyes sought out azure ones, but Elissa had already returned to her corner by the door. She still made clothing to specification. Cassandra would trade them in once a week for either goods or money.
Cassandra slowly ate her breakfast. It wasn’t like Elissa to act like this. Four years ago, it would have been. The vampire hadn’t spoken a great deal and she definitely didn’t speak about her emotions.
Something had changed between them once again. Cassandra studied Elissa as she finished the last of her coffee. She would do the dishes and bake bread for the week before she left for her picnic.
The heat of the oven was oppressing, but thankfully the window next to it was open. Cassandra always made certain the curtain was closed when she was finished in the kitchen so Elissa didn’t have to worry about the sun. The rest of the windows were covered at all times.
Cassandra cursed having put on her best dress. She would make do with a bit of powder to freshen up. Before she left, she wanted to see if she could get Elissa to speak to her.
After readying herself once again, Cassandra sat on the chair nearest where Elissa had worked the entire time without even looking at her. “Are you ok?”
Elissa poked herself with the large needle. She cursed loudly. Luckily, there was no blood to mar the leather she was working with. She couldn’t find any words so she remained silent.
“You didn’t even tell me not to repeat your curse.” Cassandra was taken back at the lack of banter. Every time since she was eleven that Elissa cursed, she always told her not to repeat the word or words.
All the vampire could manage to do was shrug. How could Elissa tell Cassandra she was feeling something she didn’t even know what word to use to describe it?
Elissa knew she wasn’t being fair to Cassandra. She also knew her charge would continue to push. Perhaps not today as she knew if she pushed the vampire too far she would not react well.
“Just doing my work. I need something to keep me from being lonely today.” Elissa cringed at the last statement. She hadn’t meant to reveal that she was feeling lonely.
Cassandra tilted her head as she studied Elissa. Even after studying her friend, she couldn’t figure out what had changed between them. “I thought you wanted me to socialize with mortals more
?”
“I do. It’s just…” Elissa reached for the scissors which were placed gently in her hand. “Thank you.” She sighed heavily. “Can we talk about this when you get back? Maybe then I’ll be able to put into words what I’m feeling.”
Elissa was asking her to wait so they could discuss what she was feeling? It was a first. And it was something Cassandra could not deny her friend. “All right. Do you mind if I take Winnie?”
The vampire cringed at the name Cassandra had given the mare three years ago. Elissa could not deny her charge anything. “I’d prefer it. That way if you lose track of time, Winnie will be able to bring you home without having to see in the dark.”
“I promise I won’t be gone that long.” Cassandra stood. Even riding Winnie, she would be late if she didn’t leave now. She didn’t hesitate in kissing Elissa on top of the head.
Cassandra sighed deeply as there still was no reaction. She didn’t bother saying anything more. Raven was at the door, as usual knowing when her master was leaving. She made her way to the small barn to saddle Winnie.
Inside the cabin, Elissa sat slumped in her chair. She eyed the leather shirt she had been working on. It wasn’t up to her usual standards. She had to figure out why.
It had to do with the thought of Cassandra spending time with others. But that wasn’t true. When her charge spent time with the other children from school in groups, she was more than happy for her.
Why was Cassandra spending the day with a boy affecting her so? Azure eyes blinked several times. Could it be? Elissa shook her head no in an attempt to deny her feelings.
There was no denying her feelings, was there? Elissa had watched over Cassandra since she was a child. It wasn’t until she was ten that they had actually met. From that time forward, the vampire had done everything in her power to protect her charge.
Elissa had…feelings for Cassandra. Not just to protect the youth because she needed someone. The moment she had seen the child it was as if her soul had become complete.
Now that Cassandra was quickly coming of age, had Elissa’s feelings for her changed that much? The vampire sighed heavily. She wasn’t worthy of Cassandra’s affections, even if she could ever return the emotions.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The entire ride had Cassandra wondering what Elissa was struggling with. All she could do was keep asking. And make certain her friend knew she loved her.
Cassandra had never told Elissa she loved her. And Elissa had never told Cassandra she had loved her. Maybe that was the issue. They had never expressed how much they meant to one another.
A blonde head shook as Cassandra attempted to clear her head. There were several picnic tables lining main street. Though the village only had a population of around seven hundred, it seemed the entire county had arrived for the picnic.
It took Cassandra ten minutes to find young Joseph after leaving Winnie at the stables. His father ran the bank and was a lawyer. His family was the wealthiest in the county.
It’s not why Cassandra had agreed to attend the picnic with him. In fact, she wasn’t certain why. She had merely wanted to see what the summer picnic was like. She could have come alone, but being invited meant she had someone to be with.
“You look amazing!” Joseph’s brown eyes twinkled. His father was already hinting it was time to settle down and begin a family. In another year, he would begin working for his father at the bank. He might even go to college to become a lawyer. It’s what his father wanted for him.
“Thank you.” Cassandra felt underdressed. There were very few like her that lived on a farm and struggled for money. Those that did probably had remained at home. “You look…nice.”
For some reason, Cassandra couldn’t bring herself to say handsome. She didn’t feel anything for him, other than as a friend. Not that friends couldn’t say such things.
“Shall we?” Cassandra nodded and placed a hand on the arm offered her. They chose a more secluded spot. “I’ll get you a plate. Wait here.”
Cassandra watched him walk away. She felt out of place. Not because she was in town. It was because everyone was looking at her. Because she was with Joseph it seemed something was expected of her. But what?
Her school teacher cleared her throat before taking a seat opposite Cassandra. “You look lost and afraid. Is everything all right, Cassandra?”
“Miss Belle, I don’t know. When I’m at school or at the general store, everything is fine.” Cassandra noticed Joseph was already making his way back to her. “But since I’ve been seen with Joseph it’s as if I’m a spectacle or something.”
“You don’t know?” Cassandra shook her head no. “Joseph’s father has been saying for weeks that you and his son are to be wed. This was just the first of many public appearances until you wed.”
“Wed?” Cassandra attempted to keep her voice down. She didn’t even know Joseph, not really. They went to school. She sometimes spent time with him on the days she traded at the general store.
None of that even came close to spending the rest of her life with someone. If Cassandra had to choose, she would choose to spend the rest of her life with Elissa.
Something clicked in Cassandra’s brain. It wasn’t something she could put into words. It was the inkling of something. Something she knew she would have to study later.
At that moment, Joseph was taking his seat next to her. Cassandra immediately felt uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you two alone.” Miss Belle winked at Cassandra before taking her leave.
“Did you miss me?” Joseph placed his hand on Cassandra’s thigh. He felt the twinge but didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he began eating. “I didn’t know what you liked so I got a little of each.”
There was no way Cassandra would allow for the intimacy Joseph was taking the liberties with. She forcefully removed his hand. “I don’t think I’m very hungry anymore.” She hastily stood.
Cassandra was nearly to the stables to retrieve Winnie before Joseph was able to reach her. He roughly grabbed her by the arm. “How can you just leave me like that? With the entire village watching. I’m now the laughing stock.”
Once again, Cassandra roughly removed the unwanted hand from her arm. “I don’t care. I thought you invited me merely as a friend. So that I wasn’t alone at the picnic. I didn’t know about the price that came with it.”
“Price?” Joseph didn’t hesitate in pinning Cassandra against the wall of the barn. “Any girl would consider themselves lucky to have been chosen to be my wife.”
Cassandra couldn’t react she was so stunned by the turn of events. Suddenly there was a tongue thrust into her mouth. She found herself gagging.
When the insistent tongue refused to leave, Cassandra bit down as hard as she could. The slap stung. “You bitch! How dare you do that to me.”
“How dare I?” Cassandra forcefully shoved Joseph away from her. “If you were a true gentleman, you would have at least asked permission to kiss me. I don’t want to see you ever again.”
Dark brown eyes bore into Cassandra. She wasn’t even able to scream before the fist hit the side of her head. Emerald eyes were stunned momentarily before everything went dark.
Chapter 17
Elissa paced the cabin. Something had happened. It wasn’t merely how the sun was nearly ready to set. It was the sensation she had felt twenty minutes prior. If the sun hadn’t been bright and high in the sky, she would have already been in the village.
The scratching at the front door indicated Raven was back. Where had the wolf been? Normally she was with Cassandra. It’s the other reason Elissa hadn’t immediately left in search of her charge.
Who was she kidding? Elissa opened the door as her brain continued to process her thoughts. She had been jealous of the time Cassandra spent away from her.
But it was more than that and Elissa knew it. She was beginning to have certain feelings toward Cassandra. They were leaning more toward adult feelings. Ones she would have to be careful to keep u
nder tight control.
“What is it Raven?” Elissa took in the wolf’s demeanor. Something was horribly wrong. “Let’s go.” Not even worrying about the sun, the vampire moved as fast as Raven.
They made it to a place Elissa had never been. There were a few times when she had made it to the village when the weather had been unpleasant. But it was only to the general store and school.
The building seemed to be one of the more prominent ones in the village. Her skin was burning already. She was grateful to be on the stairs that led to the upper portion of the building. Elissa was following Raven who was whimpering.
Elissa hesitated outside the door. She listened intently. Raven was staring at her intently waiting for the vampire to make the first move.
Elissa slowly opened the door. It was obviously living quarters. As she opened the door even further, it was clear whoever lived here had money.
The room Elissa and Raven entered was the living area. There was a couch and two-seater. The fireplace was burning low, even though it was warm.
There were two doors. Elissa took a moment to see if she sensed anyone. A familiar scent hit her. Cassandra would be recognizable anywhere. The fact Raven was already waiting near the door she had thought Cassandra was behind only confirmed her instincts.
For a moment, Elissa remained outside the door she had chosen. She was listening. There was deep breathing as if someone was sleeping. She couldn’t decipher if anyone else was in the room.
Elissa slowly turned the doorknob only to discover it wouldn’t turn. A low growl escaped the vampire before she used her strength to break the offending device off in her hand.
Slowly, Elissa opened the door. There was no light but that wasn’t a problem for the vampire. Her eyes were instantly drawn to the lump on the bed.
“Stay. Guard.” Raven whined but turned around so she could keep watch. Elissa made her way to the bed. She knelt down beside it.
Elissa pulled back the blanket that had been covering the head. The growl caught in her throat. Cassandra was suffering from a fat lip and a black eye. Anger flowed through the vampire like she had never felt before.
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