Chapter 5

Cassia

Cassia sat in the cafeteria with Astra, who sat across from her on the wooden table. They were eating their eggs and brown bread in silence and Cassia scanned the room they were in, with sunlight seeping through the windows, and her eyes slid towards the table where Liana and Chase were laughing so loudly they were all she could hear in the crowded room.

Her eyes slithered towards Hunter and the second her eyes landed on him, his eyes shot up to look at her. And he smiled, his eyes lighting up a bit, and Cassia's eyes flew away. They lowered to her table and she scowled, annoyed with the boy who wouldn't leave her alone.

"What are you mad about, princess?" Astra asked.

"Nothing," Cassia mumbled. "Some people are just so infuriating in this camp."

"Do you mean Hunter?"

Cassia tensed. She tried to hide her surprise as Astra studied her.

"Maybe," Cassia said. "Do you find him infuriating, too?"

"I don't know him enough," Astra said. "But I've been hearing rumours about you. Rumours that you're falling in love."

"What! With who?"

"Hunter. Isn't it obvious?"

Cassia gawked at Astra, who merely stared at her as if it all made sense. And a wave of nausea rose within her at the idea of loving Hunter.

"Is it true?" Astra asked. "You're blushing, princess."

"No!" Cassia exclaimed. She blushed when a few people shot her dark looks. Her voice lowered. "Of course not, Astra. Why would I fall in love with him?"

"Because he's quite handsome."

Cassia stiffened, but immediately she could visualize Hunter clearly, as if she had a photograph of him embedded into her mind. He was tall - a lot taller than her and he had broad shoulders and a muscular build - as if he'd been training for years. And his eyes were a hazel that resembled a forest - a sea of woods with hints of leaves, and every angle and curve on his face was sculpted flawlessly as if an angel had carved him to prove perfection existed.

Cassia scowled. Her thoughts were disgusting.

"I could never wed someone who isn't a prince," Cassia said, crossing her arms over her chest. "My father would never allow it. Just look at what happened to my mother. She was my father's secret and she was sent away for bearing his child out of wedlock."

Astra grew quiet. A look of pity clouded her expression and humiliation rushed through Cassia.

She hated talking about her family. Hated the pain it caused her - a familiar ache that constantly haunted her, reminding her that she was a mistake.

So, she fixed her gaze on the table and remained silent for the rest of the meal. Because she rather speak to no one than to be reminded that there was something wrong with her.

*****

Cassia could see Hunter sitting at the pond from where she sat on her cabin steps. It was past noon and Astra was reading a book, and Cassia craved to feel the sun kiss her skin, so she sat outside.

Cassia could also see Liana and Chase sitting away from Hunter on a red and white checkered blanket. They were deep in conversation - wearing the same faded clothes they wore every single day, and for some reason Hunter was on his own, his face clouded with a peace Cassia couldn't relate to.

And at the thought of what Astra told her earlier, her blood boiled. It was all his fault people were spreading rumours about her.

Cassia rose up and dusted dirt off her gray dress. She marched towards Hunter like a general preparing for war and when she neared him, she cleared her throat and Hunter's eyes slid to hers.

He didn't seem surprised to see her.

"Yes, princess?" Hunter said. "How did I become so lucky to have you grace my presence."

"This is all your fault," Cassia snapped. "You've tainted my reputation."

Hunter blinked and rose to stand. He towered over her, making her feel like fine china. She hated him more for that.

"I think you've done a pretty good job of tainting your own reputation," Hunter said, his eyebrows raising. "How have I assisted you?"

"Because of you, everyone thinks I fancy you," Cassia snapped. "You've given everyone the wrong impression! And it's ludicrous because I could never fall for someone like you."

"Why not?"

Cassia paused, caught off guard by his question. He was expressionless, but his eyes held hers as if searching for the answer himself through the tunnel that led to her soul.

"I'm a princess," Cassia said. "And you're nothing, but a poor commoner. We come from two worlds that should never collide."

Hunter's eyes darkened. This was the first time she'd seen him look genuinely angry and it surprised her.

"I constantly try to give you the benefit of the doubt, but time and time again you go ahead and prove everything people have to say about you," Hunter said.

Cassia winced and it surprised her. It startled her how she recoiled from Hunter's words.

"Very well, Cassia," Hunter said, smiling sweetly. "You said we're enemies, so be it. You have just declared war and I intend to be the one to win."

Hunter bowed towards Cassia before stalking off and Cassia stared after him, watching as he returned to his friends. And although she asked fo this, it was odd to see Hunter finally realize he hated her, too.

*****

The sun had set and there was no contest, so the campers had planned a bonfire event. Everyone was invited to attend and usually Cassia wouldn't have bothered, but she couldn't help but attend it with Astra. Because deep down, she was tired of being an outcast.

Cassia was standing off to the side away from the campfire and the logs that surrounded it. Astra was with her and Cassia examined the area, noticing the way everyone sat with their friends deep in conversation. They all beheld the fire that casted everyone with an orange glow.

Hunter was there with Liana and Chase, who were laughing as Hunter spoke. His eyes were mostly on Liana and they were laughing and touching each other playfully, and Liana was smiling as if Hunter had lit up her world.

It was strange seeing him be the opposite of her - loved and the life of the party. Although Cassia never minded being friendless, it was a contrast to see Hunter with people always flocking him, while her only company was her guard who by duty was forced to be with her.

"Okay, story time!" Locke exclaimed.

A silence fell over everyone and their eyes fell upon Locke, who's brown eyes were lit with excitement. Cassia took a swig of her wine and her eyes fought to remain on Locke. Because a part of her craved to absorb Hunter again.

"What's the story about?" Hunter asked.

Hunter smiled, his eyes glistening with joy. Cassia's heart jerked as if Hunter was tugging on it with the hands of a puppeteer.

"The banished prince." Locke grinned. "Have any of you heard it?"

A few people nodded and Cassia shook her head.

"It's the story about a prince who was about to become king. He was at his coronation and about to be crowned, but his friend offered to duel him for the crown," Locke said. "The prince thought it was merely a joke and his friend wouldn't win, so he agreed. But then his friend overtook him and the prince lost his crown. And in a fit of rage, the prince tried to slay his friend.

"But he was restrained and because he broke the laws of a duel, he was banished from the kingdom and shunned by everyone. He was no longer a prince. Just a man who lost everything because of his best friend."

It was silent. No one spoke and they all wore varying expressions - some people looked surprised and others looked horrified. Cassia was frowning.

"Rumour is, the banished prince is looking for revenge," Locke continued. "And I fear this tale is a true."

"I really doubt it," a girl said, barking out a laugh. "We would know who the banished prince was, wouldn't we?"

"No, the banished prince was kept hidden and out of sight. At least, that was the plan until he was kinged. But as we've learnt, that never happened."

Cassia's eyes slid over the crowd and they continued to stare at Locke with varying expressions of horror, surprise and disgust. Her eyes soon landed on Hunter who wore a look of sorrow.

"Who thinks it's true?" Locke asked.

A debate broke out and some people said it had to be true - that a tale like that couldn't be made up, but others said it was too crazy to be factual. Clearly, if it were true, it would be a tale spread so wide everyone would know it.

Cassia didn't know how to feel. She'd never heard the tale before and she doubted it was true. Mostly because she couldn't imagine herself in the position of the banished prince.

She glanced at Hunter again and froze because he was already observing her. His eyes were lit by the fire - illuminating his hazel eyes, so they were vivid and on her as if they were drinking her in. Her heart stuttered at the way he looked at her. And she could do nothing, but stare back for a moment as if she was hypnotized.

Something about the way he looked at her made her shiver as if someone was running their fingers down her body, caressing every nerve and setting it alight. And that feeling terrified her. It was a feeling she'd never felt before and it unnerved her. Everything about Hunter made her feel so exposed, as if one by one he was pealing her armour off, revealing parts of her she desperately tried to hide.

And she hated it. She hated the way her heart pounded. She hated the way she couldn't look away from him. She hated him.