Aristandros picked up a croissant from the tray of food Emile had just brought in. He took two bites, and then threw the croissant back onto the tray. He frowned, ruining his godly features. If the woman continued to bring him the same boring tasteless food, he would have no choice but to fire her. There were many women who would gladly take her job if offered.
He returned to the balcony, hands folded across hard chest. The only problem with the other women would be Cassandra. Cassandra was a secret to women of the town. It was possible some knew, but it was not something that was spoken about openly. If he brought another woman in Emile's place, who knew what Cassandra would say to her? He couldn't make a mistake of exposing her to more human contact, other than the customers, of course.
*
Cassandra drained her cup of tea and set it on the tray. She flinched as the hot stuff burned her throat. She got off from her chair and went to the window. Birds were flying freely outside, but she saw none of that. She squinted, wanting to see ground, but it was fruitless. The castle was way up for her to make out anything in town. She already knew this, but she always tried, hoping one day she would see something. She missed it, missed being alive.
The door suddenly opened, revealing Emile who looked like the world had just crashed on her. Cassandra momentarily looked at her and then at the window. She missed having privacy. It was not really privacy since she had shared her room with two of her sisters, but at least they knocked. The thought of her sisters made a look of disgust cross her face.
Emile gathered the cup and plate, set them on the tray and walked out. At the door she turned.
"Mam, it would be better if you got rid of that".
Cassandra turned sharply. She raised her brow.
"What?"
Emile's face looked rigid. She wasn't smiling.
"That over there", she said pointing to a crumpled piece of paper just next to Cassandra's bed.
Cassandra left the window hastily and picked up the note.
Hope to see you soon...
She folded it again and searched hungrily for a place in which she would hide it. What was wrong with her? Hiding it was not a solution, she had to throw it as far away from her or tear it apart. Her bedroom windows were impossible to open, so the only solution was to tear it up. She held a firm grip on the note, intending to tear into pieces. It was impossible. She tried it one more time, it did not budge. It was clear a charm was put on it, since it looked like a simple page from a notebook, which a two year old would tear into shreds. There was nowhere she could hide it, if she wanted no one to see it.
"Emile, can you, can you destroy it for me?"
Emile's eyes doubled in size. She stood rooted to the spot. Cassandra walked over to her and placed the note in her hand, closing it gently.
"Please", she whispered.
Emile shook her head. Not only had she lied to her Lord, she was being asked to destroy the evidence. If he knew...
"I cannot do it", she said softly, handing the note back to Cassandra.
"Why can't you Emile? You only have to throw it in the fire, that's all", Cassandra pleaded.
She knew it was not an easy task. It would seem easy to any human being, but not one who worked in her master's castle. If the note was found on her, she was certain she was going to see Luthesia's most brutal murder being committed. She had seen enough corpses to last her a lifetime.
