Post by Cassandra Demarais on Mar 26, 2020 20:54:19 GMT -5
[CASSANDRA] Was this it? Was this how it was going to end? She thought she had thought everything through, but clearly she hadn’t. She had been too spontaneous, too quick about getting this done...but she was afraid if she had waited, that Edward would somehow find a way out of his predicament. He always did. Now, she stood there in the cold, damp dungeons terrified for what Renaud knew, how he could possibly know anything. There had been no trail left- Orin had made sure of it. They only had the musings of a young guard who most likely had seen her...but had been drinking and sleeping on the job. That could be fought. So then why was she so terrified right now?
[RENAUD] The door to her cell clanked loudly as the stately man entered it; his hands poised in his lap as he once again sneered down his nose at her. The grin on his face was wider and more obvious than it had been upstairs because he knew he was getting somewhere. He had this little fly caught in his web. “Oh, Cassandra...Cassandra…” he quietly taunted. “What have you done, hm?”
[CASSANDRA] She couldn’t help it, but she backed up against the cold stone wall, suddenly feeling like she was trapped in that cave back on Aldsage. But instead of a bandit, she was face to face with a deranged man hungering for what was still just out of his reach. “This is a poor excuse for a power play, Simon,” she spat, moving away every time he took a step closer.
[RENAUD] There came a deep laugh from within his throat, though it sounded completely sarcastic. “I’m simply doing my part, Your Grace. I was not aware that our dear king had been taking opium in any fashion...and I know everything, you understand.” He eyed her warily before continuing. “And the guard had a very compelling story. That scent…” His approach was faster, causing her to back up into the corner, but he did not get too close, did not touch her, as if Aric’s threat actually carried some weight. “It’s a bit unforgettable.”
[CASSANDRA] As if she wasn’t terrified enough, she was struggling to keep out of his reach, fighting the memories as well as the present. He was trying to provoke her, to goad her into admitting something. Had he forgotten just who he was speaking to? “Is this because I refused your advances all those years ago?” Despite her fear, her words bit.
[RENAUD] He laughed again, waving a finger at her before his hand was moving lightning fast; gripping her throat and forcing her harder against the wall. Renaud leaned in, his breath hot and venomous at her ear. “I’m going to make this quick, so listen very carefully,” he said coldly. “I have no need for your used up cunt, understand? It would have made my life a lot easier before, but my father staked his claim first.”
[CASSANDRA] A gasp fled her lips and the horror replaced the defiance in her eyes. Where were the guards? Did they truly leave her alone with this man? Cassandra was shaking again, unsure of what he planned to do...until something he said had her looking at him with a mix of confusion. His father? “Henry…?” she breathed. What was happening?
[RENAUD] The grip on her neck tightened a little more because she was trying to sidetrack him, and that wasn’t allowed. “I figured he never told you, being as I’m a bastard and all,” he growled. So, she was probably wondering how an unclaimed bastard could rise up to be chancellor, to be a part of a family whose blood ran sidelong with the royals. His mother was a cousin of the Demarais family, who married Lord Renaud just in time to pass Simon off as his own. Smart of her, really, because that meant, if something terrible happened to every single Demarais royal, he would have a shot for the crown. She didn’t need to know all of this, of course. His thumb caressed the hollow of her throat while those cold, steeling eyes watched her trembling mouth. “You being of Demarais blood, well...it could have brought me that much closer. It still could, perhaps, but then we’d have to wait for dear ol’ daddy to die.” Simon sighed and rolled his eyes. “And we don’t have time for that, nor do we need another murder on our hands.” Yes, murder. “But, with the king gone...let’s just say, you help me and I keep you alive. Maybe, once that withered old man finally passes, I’ll give you that precious freedom you’ve always wanted.”
[CASSANDRA] So many questions were running through her head but none of it mattered. The only thing she could seem to concentrate on was how repulsed she felt, how her skin crawled when his thumb brushed against her skin. He was giving her an ultimatum. He was telling her that he could make this all go away or make it go horribly wrong...and the sad thing was, she believed him. The only thing he made clear, however, was what he wanted. What he had always wanted. That was the most terrifying thing of all. Renaud would be worse than Edward upon the throne, and the boys would not be safe. If he was given the regency, he would not be satisfied with it. He would want the crown completely. No, he couldn’t have it. No freedom was worth that risk...not that Cassandra believed he’d hold up his end of the bargain. “You…” she began quietly, desperately seeking her defiance again. “Can go fuck yourself.”
[RENAUD] He barely flinched. It was as though he knew she was going to deny him. But still, he grinned before his hand moved and he was gripping beneath her chin, his fingers digging into the sides of her face. “We’ll see, Cassandra. We’ll see what happens...” He forcefully shoved her back against the wall as he let her go. She could have made things easier for both of them, but now she was just making it all the worse for all those she thought she was gallantly protecting. Smoothing out the front of his jacket, idly fixing the collar, he left the cell where the door creaked loudly and it was promptly locked. “I’ll be back, pet.” And that was a fucking promise.
[RENAUD] The door to her cell clanked loudly as the stately man entered it; his hands poised in his lap as he once again sneered down his nose at her. The grin on his face was wider and more obvious than it had been upstairs because he knew he was getting somewhere. He had this little fly caught in his web. “Oh, Cassandra...Cassandra…” he quietly taunted. “What have you done, hm?”
[CASSANDRA] She couldn’t help it, but she backed up against the cold stone wall, suddenly feeling like she was trapped in that cave back on Aldsage. But instead of a bandit, she was face to face with a deranged man hungering for what was still just out of his reach. “This is a poor excuse for a power play, Simon,” she spat, moving away every time he took a step closer.
[RENAUD] There came a deep laugh from within his throat, though it sounded completely sarcastic. “I’m simply doing my part, Your Grace. I was not aware that our dear king had been taking opium in any fashion...and I know everything, you understand.” He eyed her warily before continuing. “And the guard had a very compelling story. That scent…” His approach was faster, causing her to back up into the corner, but he did not get too close, did not touch her, as if Aric’s threat actually carried some weight. “It’s a bit unforgettable.”
[CASSANDRA] As if she wasn’t terrified enough, she was struggling to keep out of his reach, fighting the memories as well as the present. He was trying to provoke her, to goad her into admitting something. Had he forgotten just who he was speaking to? “Is this because I refused your advances all those years ago?” Despite her fear, her words bit.
[RENAUD] He laughed again, waving a finger at her before his hand was moving lightning fast; gripping her throat and forcing her harder against the wall. Renaud leaned in, his breath hot and venomous at her ear. “I’m going to make this quick, so listen very carefully,” he said coldly. “I have no need for your used up cunt, understand? It would have made my life a lot easier before, but my father staked his claim first.”
[CASSANDRA] A gasp fled her lips and the horror replaced the defiance in her eyes. Where were the guards? Did they truly leave her alone with this man? Cassandra was shaking again, unsure of what he planned to do...until something he said had her looking at him with a mix of confusion. His father? “Henry…?” she breathed. What was happening?
[RENAUD] The grip on her neck tightened a little more because she was trying to sidetrack him, and that wasn’t allowed. “I figured he never told you, being as I’m a bastard and all,” he growled. So, she was probably wondering how an unclaimed bastard could rise up to be chancellor, to be a part of a family whose blood ran sidelong with the royals. His mother was a cousin of the Demarais family, who married Lord Renaud just in time to pass Simon off as his own. Smart of her, really, because that meant, if something terrible happened to every single Demarais royal, he would have a shot for the crown. She didn’t need to know all of this, of course. His thumb caressed the hollow of her throat while those cold, steeling eyes watched her trembling mouth. “You being of Demarais blood, well...it could have brought me that much closer. It still could, perhaps, but then we’d have to wait for dear ol’ daddy to die.” Simon sighed and rolled his eyes. “And we don’t have time for that, nor do we need another murder on our hands.” Yes, murder. “But, with the king gone...let’s just say, you help me and I keep you alive. Maybe, once that withered old man finally passes, I’ll give you that precious freedom you’ve always wanted.”
[CASSANDRA] So many questions were running through her head but none of it mattered. The only thing she could seem to concentrate on was how repulsed she felt, how her skin crawled when his thumb brushed against her skin. He was giving her an ultimatum. He was telling her that he could make this all go away or make it go horribly wrong...and the sad thing was, she believed him. The only thing he made clear, however, was what he wanted. What he had always wanted. That was the most terrifying thing of all. Renaud would be worse than Edward upon the throne, and the boys would not be safe. If he was given the regency, he would not be satisfied with it. He would want the crown completely. No, he couldn’t have it. No freedom was worth that risk...not that Cassandra believed he’d hold up his end of the bargain. “You…” she began quietly, desperately seeking her defiance again. “Can go fuck yourself.”
[RENAUD] He barely flinched. It was as though he knew she was going to deny him. But still, he grinned before his hand moved and he was gripping beneath her chin, his fingers digging into the sides of her face. “We’ll see, Cassandra. We’ll see what happens...” He forcefully shoved her back against the wall as he let her go. She could have made things easier for both of them, but now she was just making it all the worse for all those she thought she was gallantly protecting. Smoothing out the front of his jacket, idly fixing the collar, he left the cell where the door creaked loudly and it was promptly locked. “I’ll be back, pet.” And that was a fucking promise.
