Chapter 83: No questions? You just...believe me?

Words : 1803 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

Chapter 83: No questions? You just...believe me? "My Lord!" Sam screamed, rushing forward as Cass kept heaving. More black, tar-like liquid poured out from his mouth. Cass wondered where the hell it was coming from as he continued to heave until his diaphragm felt bruised, and his muscles convulsed. Byron was holding him up, while Sam wiped his brow. "We need to call for a Doctor!" Byron whispered tensely, but Sam shook his head. His already pale face went whiter, the freckles on his face in stark contrast as he stared down at the black liquid pooling at their feet. Cass fought for his breath as Sam let out a shaky exhale. "No. A Doctor won’t help." Sam muttered. It was only seconds after that, that the liquid began to sizzle, smoke rising from it as it caught on fire. Sam and Byron yanked Sam back, pool flaring to life as Byron and Sam dragged Cass back. Sam had a grim look on his face, while Byron was in shock. "Dear gods. What is that?" Byron asked and Cass wondered as well. Sam’s soft words shook both of them. "It appears that a demon played a joke on our Lord." Sam’s voice was grim, his expression tight. "I did not notice. I am so sorry, my Lord. I slipped up. I will accept any punishment you deem necessary." Sam was shaking where he was holding onto Cass, while Cass, for the first time in a few days, felt like his head wasn’t clouded with that anger. Actually, it felt like he could think clearly since the first time he arrived here. He wasn’t sure when, but something had shifted in the way he thought, and felt, and the anger had tinted everything, whether he was aware of it or not. Surprised, shocked, actually, Cass had a feeling that whatever had happened, had been going on for a lot longer than Sam was aware of. "Sam." Cass started and he flinched as the three of them watched the liquid he had just thrown up continue to burn. "I think that has been inside of me a lot longer than you have been in my life, so I would not worry about it. You shall not be punished, but I will be asking some questions later." Cass warned, and Sam flinched. He bowed his head, swallowing thickly. "Of course my Lord." He answered quietly, while Byron remained reeling. "H-How are you feeling my Lord?" Byron asked, clearly trying to break the tension between the two. Cass sighed, his legs still shaking, along with his arms but at least he could feel his limbs. He still felt like an imposter, but for some reason, he wanted to have a small bit of faith in that god. They had said that they were the one in the middle of the statues, hadn’t they? What one was- Cass’ thoughts cut off as he realised the one in the middle was the main. Fucking. God. of the religion. They had several, of course, like the had heard Vespertine lecturing Lady Ava about when she was ranting in the main hall, but the god in the middle was the og. The one responsible for creating this world, and the one who most had in their homes. That was who he had been speaking to. No fucking wonder he had felt that he would be destroyed if he spoke in the wrong way to him. Them? Gender wasn’t really known about the gods even now, but most projected them as a male. A male who liked cherry blossoms. Cass could feel a headache coming on already. If that wasn’t a fucking BL flag if he ever heard, and he called him child. Cass better try to avoid running into him again. That had age gap/forbidden love written all over that shit. Shuddering, Cass shook his head, before he raised one hand and wiped at his lips. He thankfully didn’t have any of that liquid on him anymore, but he needed to get moving. "Well, Byron, I think I could be feeling worse. But, we should get moving. We do not want to run into anyone who might ask questions about that." As if on cue, Lady Fiona pushed open the door, sniffed the air, turned to look in the direction of the raging fire before her eyes widened and then she realised that the temple wasn’t empty. Cass swore under his breath. "Lord Cassian? What are you doing here? Was this your doing?" It sounded accusatory, but from her tone, Cass could tell that she wasn’t actually accusing him of the action, just asking. Cass could understand. There were only three people in the temple, you would assume that they had something to do with the pillar of flame near the statues. "Ah, well, kinda?" Cass started. "I just finished speaking with the gods, and then when I awoke from my moment with them, I began to spit up. It was this tar-like liquid. Similar to what I drink as a healing tonic, but it was not the same. Then, it caught on fire." Cass explained, and for once, Lady Fiona just nodded. "Ah. That is quite strange, but if you were speaking with the gods beforehand, that would explain anything bizarre. Was there a particular reason you were speaking to the gods? Or did they ask you to come speak to them through a dream?" She winced. "Again, I apologise for my actions this morning. I was a bit...my troupe leader always used to say I was hot-headed." She apologised again and Cass could think past the block of rage that had been building up inside of him for so long. It was almost as if... Cass glanced over at the fire, curious. Had the anger that had been inside of him been encouraged? For what reason? And how on earth had anything demonic gotten near him? How long had Lord Blackburn been dealing with it before he arrived? And why had it been expelled as soon as he woke up from speaking with those ’gods’. Cass had so many questions, and that was when he realised he hadn’t asked about Lady Ava and that god she was speaking to. "It was on a whim I came to speak to them. Some things weren’t adding up, so I wanted to get some clarity. I am beginning to think something much larger is at play." Cass murmured and Lady Fiona gave him a curious look. "Ah, of course something much bigger is at play? We are both contracted by the gods to help protect the world, Lord Cassian. We are pawns in their game that they are playing." While Lady Fiona seemed happy to say that, something stirred deep inside of Cass, and he was fairly certain that it wasn’t his feelings. They weren’t so sure that this was a good thing. Lord Blackburn, who he now knew for sure was inside of him, didn’t agree with Lady Fiona. He was not happy to be a pawn in their game. In fact, Cass was able to feel his emotions better, and, he was able to distinguish them from his own. It was strange, it was weird, but he agreed with Lord Blackburn. Slightly uncomfortable, but knowing that Lord Blackburn was right to be worried, Cass smiled slightly at Lady Fiona’s words. "Yes, of course. As I am new to this, it’s all rather strange." Lady Fiona narrowed her gaze. "Did your mark show up?" She asked carefully and Cass nodded. "Yes, on my shoulder. Did you want to see?" Cass asked and she flushed, shaking her head and shaking her hands in front of her. "No no! I trust you! Why would you lie about something like that, right? O-Oh look! The fire is gone!" Lady Fiona turned the attention back to the front of the temple, near the statues and Cass was surprised, along with Byron, that the flames were gone. Sam and Lady Fiona seemed to be the only ones not surprised by the series of events. "Have I...I haven’t seen that before, have I?" Cass asked and Lady Fiona laughed. "No. You haven’t raided any of the demon-based dungeons. You’ve been in your monthly seclusion when they have formed." Cass nodded, surprised that she was speaking to him so openly. Actually, Cass was a little surprised that he was just...talking to Lady Fiona. It wasn’t like he had forgiven her, so why on earth was he...just talking with her? Uncomfortable once more, Cass cleared his throat. "Well, that is quite interesting, and a rather strange...coincidence. Unfortunately, I do have several meeting scheduled for the afternoon, so I must get going. Have a...good day, Lady Fiona." She perked up immediately at the goodbye, her expression brightening. "You have a good day as well, Lord Cassian." Cass nodded, before gripping onto Byron’s arm, and they rushed out of the temple. What the hell was that about? Cass knew that the anger he had inside of him had been partially from whatever the fuck he spat out, but he was still upset with Lady Fiona, but it felt like there was a hole missing in him. What had that god done to him? And why did he feel like he couldn’t cuss him out in the slightest? "My Lord? Are you alright?" Sam asked, concern in his voice as they continued down the long hallway from the temple to the main part of the mansion. Cass felt like he could breathe the further he put distance between him and the temple. "I...why did I speak so casually to Lady Fiona?" Cass murmured, not fully ignoring Sam, but not fully acknowledging his words either. Sam frowned as well. "I do not know the answer to that, my Lord. Are you worried?" Sam asked and Cass frowned. "I don’t know. I think I should be, but I can’t seem to make myself care." Cass admitted and Sam frowned. "Hmm. That is concerning. Shall I push back your meetings for the day?" Sam asked and Cass stopped. They were past that hallway, a few steps from the giant sweeping staircase, but still out of sight of the main doors. "No. We should continue. I want to continue, I just...something is different." Cass mumbled, unsure before he shook himself. He wouldn’t let it bother him at the moment. He knew it was concerning, but was it any less concerning then spitting up black liquid that caught on fire in a temple? No, no it wasn’t. So, he was going to push it away until he had a free moment to think about it. Then, he would examine it. For now, his busy day awaits.

Chapter 83: No questions? You just...believe me?

Comments (0)