Chapter 21

Cassia

Cassia was laying in bed with her dagger in hand, twirling it around as she thought about her picnic with Hunter earlier. It was embarrassing to pour her heart out like that. She couldn't believe she confessed her deepest dark insecurity - of how she feared no one could ever love her.

To be vulnerable was terrifying, but Hunter hadn't thought she was weak for opening up to him. In fact, he told her he cared for her - words she'd never heard before and she treasured every touch and whisper he laid against her skin.

"Why do you read Romance books?" Cassia asked.

Astra glanced at Cassia from where she lay on her own bed - the lamp on the nightstand lighting up her green eyes. She held a thick book in her hands that she was almost done.

"Why don't you read Romance books?" Astra asked.

"I didn't think love existed. I thought it was merely a myth, so why should I indulge myself in something I would never experience."

"You're speaking in past tense, so does that mean you no longer think this?"

Cassia didn't reply. But, that was answer enough.

"Love is real as you probably know now," Astra said, smiling. "It is the most powerful feeling in the world. There is a reason why there are so many books written about it and so many songs sang about the mere emotion. I read because it's a feeling I desperately wish to feel."

"I envy you," Cassia said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Ever since I fell for Hunter, my heart never stops pounding. It's like I can't breathe whenever I see him and my body shuts down. It's terrifying."

Astra was quiet and Cassia flushed. She cursed Hunter then. Because ever since she met him, her heart was pouring out ever last insecurity and fear.

And she hated it. Because she was supposed to be strong. She was supposed to be indestructible, but Hunter had ran at her and shattered every guard she threw up to ward off the feeling of love.

"But, you are happy, Cassia," Astra said. "You look happier than I've ever seen you."

Cassia flushed. It was true and she hated it.

"Do you want to settle down?" Cassia asked. "Have a family?"

"Of course. It's finding a man to love that's the problem."

Cassia broke out into a smile. "Don't worry, when we go back to the castle I'll find you a man. Or maybe once we go back, we can go on vacation together and travel to other countries. Foreign men are always gorgeous."

Astra's eyebrows knitted together as Cassia beamed at her. "You want to go on vacation?"

"Of course. I've never left Oflaria and I desperately yearn to. I want to travel the world and learn about other cultures and kingdoms. Our kingdom is decades behind and I wish to learn their secrets. Maybe I can bring them back to Oflaria."

Cassia's voice dripped with a yearning - with a longing she'd never realized she desired. As she thought about the world passed her island of Oflaria, she wished to see what was out there in the world they barely knew.

"Well, I wish I had vacation time," Astra said. "But unfortunately, your father doesn't give us any breaks."

"Well, then I'll demand it from my father," Cassia said. "He must listen to me or else he'll face my wrath."

Astra shook her head, looking as if she couldn't believe Cassia, but she smiled. Her green eyes grew gentle.

"I'm being serious by the way," Cassia said. "You've been my loyal guard for seven years. You deserve a vacation and you and I will have a blast."

Astra beamed. Her entire body was radiant as she grinned at Cassia.

"I'd love that," Astra said. "Cassia, I really like the new you. You are kind when you want to be. And loving. Very loving despite how hard you try to hide it."

And with those words, her heart dropped. Because to love meant to hand your heart over to someone. And when someone held you heart, they had the ability to shatter it.

"How do people love without fear?" Cassia asked. "I wonder that. I even envy it."

"Because it is worth the risk. What is a life without love?"

Cassia's eyes softened. She could visualize Hunter then and try to fathom a life without him, but it didn't exist. Because without Hunter, life was a void she didn't want to trudge through.

And the same could be said about Astra.

"I love you, you know," Cassia whispered. "I really do, Astra."

"And I love you, too, princess."

Astra smiled and Cassia smiled back. Her heart was slamming against her chest with fear, but Cassia was glad she spoke the truth. Because even for a moment, she was happy.

Cassia jolted when someone rapped against the door. It was nearly midnight and most of the other campers had to be asleep by now, so Cassia frowned as Astra hopped out of bed to open it.

And when Hunter appeared wearing an alarmed expression, Cassia frowned. She shoved her dagger into the sheathe at her hip and darted towards him, her heart stuttering at the way his hands shook.

"Hi," Cassia said. Astra frowned and stepped back, looking just as uneasy as Cassia felt. "What's going on?"

"I need to talk to you," Hunter said. "Now. Alone in the field."

Cassia frowned. Astra wavered by her side.

"Why now?" Cassia asked. "It's awfully late."

"Please, Cassia. It's important."

Cassia hesitated before she stepped out of her cabin. Astra was gazing after her, but Cassia waved her off because she trusted Hunter. She really did.

The door shut behind her and Hunter led her towards the field. It was pitch black outside and everything was hazy. The moon was out and it lit the field with twilight, causing the grass to shimmer. Some stars were also out like freckles in a sea of blackness.

Hunter led her down the field, so far they nearly reached the forest. They stopped right before it and Hunter turned to face her, his hazel eyes a sea of emotions that terrified her. She wanted to read him, to dive into his eyes and yank out what exactly he felt, but it was a bottomless pit.

"What's going on?" Cassia asked. "You're scaring me. Why couldn't you talk to me in my cabin?"

Hunter wrung his hands together. He was scarily pale and Cassia reached out to touch him. Her hand touched his smooth cheek and he shivered under the touch.

"Cassia, I haven't been honest with you," Hunter said. "There's something I have to tell you."

Cassia frowned. Her heart hammered against her chest at the panic in his voice.

"What is it?" Cassia asked. "Tell me."

"I-"

Hunter never finished his sentence because three shadows flew out of the forest and Cassia stumbled back, stunned as they darted towards her. Her dagger was at her hip and she pulled it out, yelping when someone lunged at her.

Liana. Her blue eyes were blazing and next to her was Chase, who was holding a sword in his hand. And behind both of them was a man who was tall and broad - his hair black and his eyes a sea of darkness.

"Good job, son," the man said. "You led her right into our trap."

Cassia froze. She glimpsed Hunter who was frozen in place, his face ashen. As his comrades advanced on her, Hunter did nothing but watch the scene unfold.

She couldn't believe it.

Panic slammed into Cassia as she debated on running or fighting. She was outnumbered. Four to one, there was no way Cassia could win, so she slammed her blade into Liana's, causing her to reel back before she whirled around and ran.

Cassia sprinted down the field, her feet slamming into the ground as they tore after her. She pushed herself to run as fast as she could back to the field of cabins and she screamed. For help - for mercy, she screamed as the four of them hunted her down with blades in hand.

A blade whizzed passed her - barely missing her ear and Cassia tumbled to the ground. She whirled around and held her dagger up, blocking a blow Hunter's father unleashed on her. He barked out a laugh and Cassia shoved his blade away, pulling herself up to run again, but then Liana tackled her to the ground.

"This is what you get," Liana sneered. She slammed her dagger down and Cassia blocked it with her own. They rolled around on the ground, trying to best the other as they threw kicks and punches and Cassia gasped as Liana's hand cracked against her face. It sent her flying off and Cassia lay on the grass, her body shuddering with every breath she took.

Both Chase and Hunter's father stood off to the side as if they were witnessing some sort of theatric performance - their eyes lit with delight. Liana was advancing on Cassia and meters away Hunter stood frozen. He wasn't moving at all.

"Why are you doing this?" Cassia whispered. "I-"

"You and your lineage have ruined our lives," Liana spat. "You deserve everything you'll get."

Liana thrusted her dagger forward and Cassia tried to shield her face with her dagger, but then a dagger flew at Liana and sliced a gash into her arm. Liana howled. She fell to her knees and screeched as Cassia pulled herself up.

And there was Astra, eyes wild as she sprinted towards them.

"Her guard!" Chase exclaimed.

Hunter's father growled and Cassia sprinted towards Astra. She wanted to fight. She wanted nothing more than to plunge her sword into all four of them, but not when she was armour-less and weaponless. All three of them were armoured and Cassia wore nothing but a dress.

"Let's get Dawson!" Cassia shouted, grabbing Astra's arm. Astra was pulling out a sword and Cassia lugged her forward. "We need help."

"No princess, we must fight!"

Astra stepped forward and Cassia whirled around. Hunter's father and Chase were advancing on them and still Hunter stood back.

"What do you want?" Cassia hissed, holding her dagger up. "Why are you attacking the princess of Oflaria."

"Oh, we have plans for you," Hunter's father hissed. "Don't worry, we won't kill you yet. We merely want to take you as prisoner."

Cassia glowered. But before she could react, Chase threw himself at Cassia and Hunter's father lunged at Astra. His father struck his sword down and it slammed against Astra's - the sound ringing out throughout the camp.

Cassia shoved Chase away, but he was too large, so he barely budged as he thrusted his sword forward. Cassia jumped away, snarling as to her right, Astra and Hunter's father became a whirlwind of swords and bodies.

"I don't know why I thought you weren't so bad," Cassia hissed, thrusting her dagger at Chase. "I hate you. I hate all of you."

"Good."

Chase and Cassia began to unleash blows onto each other. Both of them fought with blades, but Chase wore armour that protected him from Cassia's blows and Cassia grunted.

They were at a disadvantage. Neither Astra or her were ready for a fight and fear pumped through her.

As Chase unleashed a flurry of blows and Hunter's father unleashed one on Astra as well, Cassia was left to step back and edge closer and closer to the cabins. No one had come out. The entire camp was silent and fear made Cassia's knees wobble as she prayed someone would save them. Save them before it was too late.

And that was when Astra screamed. Cassia's eyes flew wide as Astra crumbled and Hunter's father grunted as his sword dove deeper and deeper into Astra's chest.

Cassia screamed. She screamed as if she could stop what was happening.

Astra collapsed. Her eyes were still open as she lay lifeless and Hunter's father yanked his sword out. Blood dripped from his weapon onto Astra's body and Cassia screamed. She kept screaming until her voice went raw.

And that was when a trumpet bellowed out. Feet slapped against the ground and campers rushed out of their cabins. Hunter's father cursed as a group of employees and campers rampaged over, holding swords and daggers in their hand and Hunter's father stumbled back.

He shot Cassia one last look before he whirled around and grabbed Chase, lugging him back and then grabbed Liana and Hunter, who had fallen to his knees. He pulled him up and the four of them ran towards the forest. Behind them, the hoard of people continued to chase them.

But, Cassia didn't care. As she stumbled towards Astra's body, she didn't care about anything.

Cassia fell to her knees and pulled Astra's limp body to her chest. Blood was soaking her shirt and it leaked onto Cassia's dress, but she didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore.

Because everyone she loved was either dead or gone. Hunter betrayed her, Astra was dead and Cassia realized she was cursed. Cursed to a life where no one could love her.

"Cassia," Dawson said.

He rushed over and Cassia focused on him, feeling lost. She'd never felt so helpless in her life.

"Oh my," Dawson said, his voice cracking. "You must go back to your castle. I'm sorry, but you must go."

"I can't leave Astra."

"Then take her with you. Take my horse and two guards and run home. Because it's not safe here anymore."

Cassia glanced between Astra and Dawson and nodded numbly. Because he was right. It wasn't safe - it hadn't been safe for a while, and Cassia was an idiot for ever thinking she could stay within the camp when her kingdom was about to fall apart.

So numbly, she did exactly what Dawson told her to do.

*****

Cassia was on a white stallion and behind her two guards followed her with their horses trotting across the bridge that led to her the castle's front doors.

Her castle glistened under the moonlight - the silver colour of the stones illuminated. But, Cassia was too numb to care about the beauty of her home. Because she died that day. She felt nothing.

They knocked on the giant doors leading towards her castle and soon, the doors opened and her father appeared. He was wearing his night robes; his eyes darkened from lack of sleep and he gaped at the sight of Cassia in a bloodied dress. And when he glanced at the guards, he froze because Astra lay on one horse - her body devoid of life.

"Oh, dear," her father said. "Come here, Cassia."

Cassia slid off her horse and hobbled towards her father. It was hard to stand. Hard to walk when this all felt like a nightmare.

"He betrayed me," Cassia said. She stopped in front of her father, voice cracking and eyes tearing up. "His father tried to kill me along with his friends and now Astra is dead. I am empty."

Her father pulled her in for a hug and tears filled her eyes. Her throat constricted as if she was on the verge of sobbing, but she was emotionless.

Because Hunter killed her. Maybe she was alive, but she was dead in other ways.

"I'm so sorry," her father whispered. "This is because of my past."

Cassia frowned. She pulled back to observe her father.

"What do you mean?"

"It is a tale I must tell you. But first, you must rest."