012; THE DUCHESS
012; THE DUCHESS
As soon as Cassian slams the door on Clarissa’s face, the little vampire witch goes to rant about him, and Cassian is forced out of his room and now he stands before the woman who calls herself the Duchess, Alastor's self proclaimed mother, and Cassian has never seen her before.
She stares him down like he's some snake, her eyes deep and hollow and an unimpressed scorn on her face over her pair of glasses, her legs crossed over the other and a piece of paper sitting on top of her knee.
“I know we haven't met before but I expect to be honored,” she begins, once again staring him down as if he's nothing. “This once, I will overlook your insolence,” she adjusts her glasses and picks up the paper. “I did a background check on you. I didn't find much but compared to the other mates Alastor had, you are the lowest in status and seem to have an attitude also and you're the longest that has lasted. I was hoping to see something different but you're just a male from a poor background.”
It's already hard that Cassian has to deal with vampires in general; now he has to deal with a mother-in-law that doesn't like him. His jaw clenches. He doesn't get to say anything before she continues.
“As Alastor's mate, it's your duty to run the affairs of the household but because of the death of his previous mates, this duty has fallen back on me several times.”
Cassian’s jaw tightens, but he forces himself to stay still, his hands at his sides. “I understand,” he says evenly, his voice low and controlled. “I will… learn.”
The last thing he wants is to have another vampire hate him.
The Duchess snorts, a sound so sharp and cold. “Learn? Oh, pet, some lessons are far more complicated than you realize and you are… far too inexperienced to even know where to begin. I’ve seen many of Alastor’s mates fall, and you are lucky you have lasted this long.”
Cassian swallows the tightening lump in his throat, forcing his lips into a polite, neutral line.
Lucky, she says. If she knew what he truly is… “I will not fail,” he says carefully. “I… intend to honor my role.”
He will be able to get information faster this way, but it's getting harder and harder to live among vampires.
“You will honor the role but I'm not sure how long you will survive.” She runs her eyes over him, seeming to search for something and when she finds whatever she's looking for, she shakes her head disappointedly. “The reason why his other mates died is because they weren't able to withstand his mating mark, so I don't think you will be any different. After all, you look weak.”
Cassian stares at her with a blank gaze. The longer he stares at her, the more the heat of anger builds up in his chest. “I am not like his other mates.”
“Trust me, I don't see any difference, but I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. One month. If you manage to survive for a month, I will let you run the affairs of the household, but until then, you will serve me and heed my every order.”
In an instant, the little, pretend barely in existence smile on Cassian’s face falls. “Serve you?”
The Duchess smiles then, slow and thin, like she’s been waiting for that reaction. “Yes. Serve me.”
Cassian feels humiliation burn in his chest and she continues to speak.
“You will attend meetings, balls, and parties when I tell you to,” she continues. “You will sit, listen, pour wine, and keep your mouth shut unless spoken to. You will learn how this household is run and you will do it my way. This is not a request.”
She expects him to be at her beck and call; her personal servant. He won't be able to achieve anything.
Cassian’s fingers curl slowly at his side. “I believe I am here to serve and be a mate to Lord Alastor, not to become a servant to someone who has deemed me unworthy at first sight. If you want a servant, I'll advise you to look for someone else.”
If Oscar were here, he would have facepalmed and scolded Cassian on how he's digging his own grave.
Cassian might be a human hiding among vampires; he won't be subjected to a servant by anyone. If he thought becoming a servant was the best way to gain Alastor's love and trust, he would have entered the household as one. He is the mate of a vampire lord and should be treated as one.
If looks could kill, Cassian would have dropped dead by the sharpness of the Duchess's gaze. “You have some nerve talking back like that.”
Cassian’s human eyes don't see the slap coming till her hand is an inch away from his face with someone else's hand around her wrist to stop her: Alastor.
Cassian freezes, his breath catching in his throat while his body stiffens and every muscle taut.
“Alastor!” She rasps, drawing her hand back.
“I plead that you forgive my mate for his tone. He's still upset about the party.” Alastor stands in front of Cassian, shielding him from the woman glaring eyes.
“This insolent little thing has no manners. You had a ballroom of beautiful ladies from noble homes yet you picked this one. He's from a miserable background and has no respect.”
“He is my mate; he is mine to deal with,” Alastor states calmly, too calm for the situation yet his gaze punctures through her face warningly.
“Fine, deal with him,” she throws her hands up and turns, walking away sharply.
Alastor turns to Cassian and smirks. “I see you do not wish to keep the little breath in you any longer, petal.”
Cassian swallows hard, his throat dry as he stares at Alastor. His heart is still racing, his ears ringing from everything that just happened.
“I wasn’t trying to die,” he says quietly. “She crossed a line.”
Alastor’s smirk widens. “She is the Duchess,” he replies. “And you stood your ground in front of her. Brave… or foolish. I haven’t decided which yet.” He reaches out and ruffles Cassian's hair like he's a pet and then he walks away, leaving Cassian standing there alone.