Deviating from the original plot

Chapter ninety-two

"Damien!" Cassius dropped his sword and rushed forward, grabbing the man by the collar. "What are you doing?"

Damien's glazed eyes flicked toward him, his breathing ragged. "I... am being punished," he wheezed. "My master's angry with me... the pain—"

Cassius's jaw tightened. He let go, and Damien crumpled back to the floor, curling in agony.

"I've... disobeyed him," Damien whispered, his voice shaking.

Cassius's expression hardened. "I'm telling Victoria," he said, turning toward the door.

"No—don't!" Damien croaked, clutching at his sleeve weakly. "She'll... she'll try to save me. She'd use her blood, and I... I deserve this. I failed him. It's only right that I suffer."

"Shut up!" Cassius snapped, anger flaring in his chest. "Can't you see how twisted that is? What kind of master tortures his own followers? That's not devotion—it's slavery!"

Without another word, he ran out of the shed and sprinted back toward the manor. Upstairs, he burst into Victoria's chamber and rummaged through her cabinet until he found a small vial of the enchanted solution she had brewed earlier.

When he returned to the shed, Damien was barely conscious. Cassius knelt beside him and carefully poured the shimmering liquid over the man's wounds. The light from the vial pulsed softly, seeping into Damien's skin. Slowly, his breathing steadied, the bleeding stopped, and the bruises began to fade.

Damien blinked weakly, confusion flickering across his face. "What... what was that?"

"Victoria's blood," Cassius replied simply.

Damien's expression darkened. "That's... an abomination to us," he spat weakly.

Cassius folded his arms, unamused. "Funny. Because that abomination just saved your life. Maybe you should ask yourself why something that's supposed to be 'evil' brought you healing, and why the thing you serve calls for your suffering."

Damien looked away, shame flickering in his eyes. He had no answer.

Cassius leaned back, his tone softening. "I won't pretend I was ever like you," he said quietly, "but I do know what it's like to trust someone who doesn't deserve it. Anyways why are you still loyal to that thing?"

Damien's face twisted with conflict. "I have no choice," he said hoarsely. "My parents were slaughtered before my eyes. He gave me strength—power—to take revenge. He made me who I am."

Cassius continued, his voice firm. "He used you."

Damien's lips parted slightly, but no words came.

Cassius broke the silence. "Besides... aren't you supposed to be Victoria's friend? Why are you doing this to her?"

Damien's eyes dimmed. "Victoria was... an unforeseen variable," he murmured. "At first, I thought I could bring her to our side. But her path was already chosen—light and shadow cannot walk together."

Cassius sighed quietly and lowered himself to sit beside him, resting his sword across his knees.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Damien asked after a moment, his tone laced with exhaustion rather than fear.

Cassius gave a faint, humourless smile. "Victoria's blood weakens black mages. You already know you couldn't stop me even if you tried."

Damien frowned, looking away. The tension in his shoulders eased slightly.

"You can still change," Cassius said. "Victoria would do anything to help you—because, despite everything, she still sees you as her friend." 

Damien's expression twisted. "I doubt that," he said bitterly. "She hates me—rightfully so."