Chapter 25

Cassia

Cassia had thrown herself into training. She had spent the last week throwing knives at targets, duelling with her new guard and just plotting against Hunter. The more she focused on ruining Hunter's life, the less she mourned Astra, and she welcomed the new feeling.

Cassia was with her new guard, Sakura, in the training room - a bare room with nothing, but shelves of weapons and wooden dummies for them to throw knives at. They had set up three targets against a wall and they'd been throwing knives at them. Cassia imagined they were Hunter and she threw knife after knife at them, and each time it pierced the dummies heart.

"Not bad," Sakura said, shooting her a wicked grin. Her black hair was up in a pony tail and she had dark brown - nearly black eyes. She was the same age as Cassia and Cassia should welcome a new person at her side, but she hated it. She hated how her father had replaced Astra.

"Thanks," Cassia said, walking towards the target.

There were three knifes implanted around the target's heart and she yanked them out and held them by their dark hilts. She wheeled around to see Sakura watching her - a curious expression on her face.

"What was it like to be in love?" Sakura asked. "I've never fallen for anyone. Must have been fun before... well, you know."

Cassia's expression darkened, but Sakura was unaffected. And Cassia hated that. She missed the way Astra worried about everything she did.

"It was horrible," Cassia spat. "I'm much happier now that I can kill him for what he did."

Sakura's eyebrows rose. "It's tragic, isn it? To go from lovers to enemies."

Cassia's heart lurched forward. It was a strange feeling - one she despised herself for having.

"We went from enemies to lovers and back to enemies - it's quite fitting." Cassia strolled back to Sakura, wishing she could hold a knife up to her to tell her to stop this. Stop bringing up Hunter in the ways she wanted to forget. "Before when I was with him, I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was suffocating with fear because I didn't trust him and I wish I trusted my gut instincts, but I was an idiot. And now I know to never trust again."

Sakura nodded as Cassia handed her a knife. She threw it at a target - seeming to feed off Cassia's energy and it sunk into the target's heart.

"Well, men suck," Sakura said. "We'll ruin them all."

Sakura shot her a wicked grin and for the first time in days, Cassia smiled.

They both jolted when the grand doors leading to the training room burst open. They whirled around and Cassia's father appeared, wearing red robes as he glided across the vast room. His feet slapped against the wooden ground and the lights blinked above him, illuminating his dark hair with artificial lights.

"Hello daughter, Sakura," her father said. He nodded towards them and they slid closer. "I have important news - we found Kain and his followers hideout. And we plan to attack them tonight."

Cassia's eyes widened. Finally. She desperately wished to slit their throats and finally they had the chance to.

"The plan is to capture Kain's son," Cassia's father said. "We want to use him as a pawn to lure his father out. He will be our negotiating piece."

Cassia groaned. "I rather kill him."

"We will eventually." Her father smirked. "But for now, we must capture him."

Cassia sighed. Her excitement fizzled out as her shoulders slumped.

"But, his friends aren't off limits," her father added. "If it's necessary to reach the boy, you may take them out."

Cassia straightened up and beamed. At the thought of Liana and Chase who helped Astra get killed, Cassia smirked and held onto her knife tighter, thinking about her revenge.

"I won't be joining and I rather not have you join," her father said, giving Cassia a pointed look. "But if you must go then keep Sakura close to your side. And if things get too heated, leave immediately. No debate."

"Yes," Cassia said. It was only half true, but she smiled sweetly. "I'll do what you say."

Her father smiled, nodding as he looked pleased. His eyes gleamed with revenge and Cassia's expression mirrored his.

"We will show them no mercy."

*****

It was pitch black outside. The sun had set hours ago and Cassia, Sakura and two more guards were hiding within the shadows of the stable near the house Hunter was hiding out in. Their hideout was in the middle of nowhere - on the outskirts of Oflaria and it was a tiny house with white walls and a roof that was chipping away.

"Okay, I want us to split into pairs," Elijah, one of her father's guards said. Even in the darkness of the night, his blue eyes shone. "Cassia, go with Sakura and keep an eye out for any trouble. Richard and I will find the boy."

Cassia gritted her teeth. She wanted to tell him hell no. She wanted to say Hunter was hers to capture, but she smiled sweetly instead.

"Got that," Cassia said. "So are we just going to storm through the front door?"

"No, you and Sakura can, but Elijah and I will go through the back," Richard said.

Cassia nodded and after exchanging a few more words, they broke into pairs. Sakura and Cassia slithered through the field leading up to the door and Elijah and Richard scurried off to the side until they were out of sight.

Cassia reached the front door and pulled at it, but it wouldn't budge, so she waited for the signal - three knocks against the door the guards were at. And once the knocks echoed out, Cassia gritted her teeth and slammed her sword against the hinges - shoving the door as well, and the door broke down. It went crashing to the ground and glass exploded into the silent night from the back of the house as well.

Cassia strode inside with Sakura on her tail. But, instead of staying downstairs as lookouts, Cassia stormed towards the wooden staircase nearby and charged up them, and Sakura gasped.

"Cassia... this isn't part of the plan," Sakura said.

Cassia ignored her and ran up the stairs, ignoring the way her feet slammed against the steps. Sounds of people scrambling upstairs resounded and she pushed herself faster, awaiting the moment she could sink her sword into everyone.

Cassia landed on the top floor and she dove down the hallway that was filled with doors, but then the door burst open and Liana appeared. She was in nothing but a nightgown - a small dagger in hand and Cassia snickered. Because now Liana was the one with the disadvantage.

"Do you have a death wish," Liana spat, charging towards Cassia.

Cassia raised her sword up, but then Sakura charged at Liana. Cassia cursed, but Sakura ignored her as she struck down at Liana, who threw her dagger up to block it.

Their weapons rang out and Cassia stepped forward, but then Chase burst out of his room along with a man and woman, who looked eerily like him. Feet pounded up the stairs and Elijah and Richard appeared, cursing at Cassia. But, she ignored them as the last door burst open.

And there was Hunter. Hunter who's eyes fell upon her, beholding her as if she was still the only star in his sky.

She faltered. For a moment, it was as if Hunter and her were the only two people in the house. He wore wore loose clothes, his brown hair a mess and he was just as still as she was, but his eyes were on her.

The way he looked at her hadn't changed.

But then, Chase charged at her and Cassia gasped as she staggered back. Her legs nearly gave away, but she caught herself before she fell and threw up her sword to block Chase's sword as it struck down on her.

She gasped as the strength of the blow made her entire arm vibrate. Her teeth gritted together as she shoved him back and he went stumbling.

She stood up and glanced at Elijah and Richard, who were duelling with who looked like Chase's parents. They were sweating as they became a blur of swords and Sakura and Liana were fighting as well, their blows equal in force.

Cassia returned her attention back to Chase who loomed over her, his teeth gritting at the mere sight of her. She never spoke to him - never really cared for him, but his hate resembled her own.

"I hate you," Cassia spat.

Chase's expression darkened and he lunged forward and Cassia parried his blow away. His sword swung back and Cassia thrusted her sword forward, but Chase leapt away. She didn't remember him being this good at swordplay. And her teeth gritted as she charged at him.

Chase thrusted his sword forward and Cassia threw hers up to block it, and their swords rang out as they collided. Once again, her arms shook at the gravity of the force - of the way Chase used his entire strength with every blow. Chase may not be as fast as Cassia, but he was definitely much stronger.

They continued exchanging blows and they were equal foes. For every blow Cassia threw, Chase would throw the same blow and their swords chimed out along with the other swords that clashed together. Everyone was duelling someone. Everyone was struggling. It looked like a never ending battle.

"Stop Chase!"

Cassia froze for a second as Chase thrusted his sword forward, but before it nicked her Hunter yanked Chase back, and the sword missed her by a hairbreadth. Chase staggered away and whirled on Hunter, who was grabbing onto his shirt.

"What was that for!" Chase shouted.

Hunter's expression was hidden behind a mask. But, his eyes were on Chase as if willing him to change his mind.

And that was Cassia's chance.

She smirked, feeling adrenaline pumping thorough her, realizing this was it. This was the moment to kill the same people who killed Astra.

So as Chase and Hunter squared off, Cassia lunged forward, sword pointed towards Chase's throat and Chase whipped his head to look at her. But, it was too late. There was no way Chase could move out of the way in time and Hunter's jaw dropped open as he went to push Chase.

She would kill him. With this blow she would end his life and get her revenge.

But, she faltered. Instead of plunging her sword into Chase's throat, she nicked his neck instead, acting as if she missed and her eyes flew wide. Chase leapt away and Hunter whirled on her, his face set alight with an anger she'd never seen him wear.

He reached over and grabbed her arm, yanking her forward and Cassia gasped as she stumbled towards him. Hunter held her arm so tightly she winced, but he only glowered at her - his eyes burning into her.

And for the first time ever, Hunter wore a look of pure hate.

"What is wrong with you!" Hunter roared.

Cassia faltered for a mere second before she stomped on his foot. He yelped and released her, and she maneuvered so that her sword was to his throat. Her eyes slid to where Elijah stood over the knocked out bodies of Chase's parents, and to where Sakura and Liana continued to duel. They officially had the upper hand.

"Come with us," Cassia demanded, pushing her sword closer and closer to Hunter's throat. "Or we'll kill everyone here."

Hunter's jaw clenched. He still glared at her, his body rising and falling with every heavy breath he took.

"Answer me," Cassia said, pushing her sword closer.

It nicked him and blood slid down his throat. His eyes widened for a fraction of a second before he concealed his look and glanced around, calculating his options before he held his hands up.

"Fine," Hunter spat. "Take me and leave everyone else."

Cassia smirked. She won. She beat the man who she thought had power over her.

"Hunter!" Liana shouted, her blade a blur as she continued to duel with Sakura. "You can't!"

"You better stop fighting," Cassia sneered. "Or I'll kill Hunter right now. Try anything and he'll be dead."

Liana stilled. Sakura kept her sword pointed towards Liana and Cassia smirked as Liana ashen.

Chase was silent as well. Elijah was near him in case he would try anything and Cassia's smirk grew. She never felt so powerful.

"Let's get out of here," Cassia barked out to her guards. "We need to take him back to the castle."

They nodded, looking both frightened and impressed by Cassia's ruthlessness. Because this was once the boy she loved. The boy that should be her weakness, but there she was holding a sword to his throat as if he meant nothing to her.

Her power was back. No longer could anyone ever take advantage of her again.