024: OUTSIDE THE MANSION
024: OUTSIDE THE MANSION
A month—that’s how long Cassian has survived in the Lancasters’ mansion, and that’s enough for Cassian to realize he won’t achieve anything locked up in the hellish walls of the mansion. He decides to do something else today.
Power doesn’t just fall into your lap, and secrets don’t walk into your room, begging to be discovered. If he wants answers about the dungeon, about the rebels, about humans, then he has to step outside.
“But you have never wanted to go grocery shopping before,” Ollie says with a tilt of his head, confusion dancing in his eyes as he looks at Casaian, who just offered to escort the servants and help restock the house with food everyone pretends to eat.
No matter how much they pretend to be humans, they will always be bloodsuckers; no food is going to change that. At least their fake lifestyle prevents Cassian from starving, so he’s not complaining.
Cassian shrugs, feigning boredom as he adjusts the cloak Ollie handed him. “I thought I should help out with something around here or I might end up fat and unwanted,” he tells the boy and leaves, walking out the door.
“Vampires don’t get fat,” Ollie frowns as he follows after his master.
~~
They arrive at the supermarket half an hour later. Ollie pushes the cart behind him while Cassian pretends to inspect the shelves he has no intention of buying from. Bread, fruit, and meat, sealed in neat packages, are all pointless as his gaze is fixed on the exit. He needs to get out of here without Ollie and the servants noticing. His fingers curl inside his cloak. This is going to be a lot harder than he thought.
“Ollie, can you go check the others and see if they've got everything on the list?” Cassian sharply turns to the unsuspecting valet.
Ollie blinks at him, then looks down at the list in his hand. “Uh… yes, Master Cassian,” he says after a second. “I’ll be right back.”
Cassian nods, forcing his face to stay calm as Ollie pushes the cart away, heading toward the far end of the store where the servants are arguing over something Cassian doesn’t care about.
The moment Ollie’s back turns, Cassian exhales sharply. Now is the time.
He doesn't look back as he starts moving, and he doesn't run. He walks slowly, blending in with the other shoppers, keeping his head down and his cloak pulled close around him while his heart pounds so loud in his ears he’s sure someone will hear it. He walks towards the exit when he almost collides with something or someone, and whatever the person is holding crashes to the floor.
“I’m sorry,” Cassian says immediately as he goes down to pick up the fallen items, shoving them into the cart till he grabs a bag of blood. Cassian snaps his head up to meet the fearful eyes of a woman. “This is yours…” he says as he stretches the bag of blood, and immediately, she snatches it from him.
“Are you okay?” he starts to say, reaching out to help her up, but instead, she shoves him hard on the chest, causing him to land on his butt on the floor, and then she sprints for the exit with the bag of blood just as a loud shout erupts from nowhere.
“REBELS! Seal the exits! Don’t let them escape!”
Cassian whips his head back, watching as so many guards appear from nowhere, chasing after the woman.
“Master Cassian!”
Cassian hears Ollie yell, and the young vampire boy is beside him seconds later, helping him to stand.
“Are you okay?” he asks worriedly, scanning Cassian over, brushing the invisible dust from his cloak. “Master Cassian, we should leave. It’s not safe.”
Cassian nods, swallowing hard. His plans just had to be ruined. “Yes. Let’s go,” he says, but when they turn to leave, they come face to face with three guards blocking their paths while two other guards enter, dragging in the woman with the stolen blood bag.
Cassian notices that the woman can barely stand, supported by the guards, keeping her from falling. What did they do to her?
“You are coming with us, rebel.”
Casasian whips his head back to the guard who spoke, and suddenly, he’s reaching out of Cassain, who barely has time to react before he’s grabbed by both hands by the two other guards.
“What are you doing? Let go of him!” Ollie tries to pry the hands off his master, but he is shoved off.
“Get away, boy, she said he was the one who gave her the blood. They are working together. He is a rebel!” the guard growls, flashing red eyes at Ollie, who cowers back in fear, while Cassian can’t believe his ears, and he doesn’t even try to struggle because what could his little skills as a human do when many vampire guards surround him?
Cassian’s breath leaves him in a sharp rush. “That’s a lie,” he says quickly, his voice sharp despite the fear crawling up his spine. He can’t be taken like this! “I didn’t give her anything; she ran into me!”
“That’s enough! You rebels protect each other. You think we don’t know your tricks?” the guard snaps.
“Do you know who he is?” Ollie pushes forward again. “He is Lord Alastor’s mate! You are going to regret laying your hands on him!”
Silence suddenly falls, and Cassian almost thinks they are going to let him go as the guards glance at each other, but that hope comes crashing when they suddenly burst into mocking laughter.
“Do you know how many people have claimed to be Lord Alastor’s mate once they are finally captured?” the guards mock. “I think you are a rebel, too. Grab the little boy; he’s coming with his master. We have enough rooms for these rebels. I can’t wait to see their heads chopped off their bodies!”
Cassian’s eyes widen in horror as they grab Ollie. “No, let him go. He is just a child!” He finally struggles against the guards, but his human strength is nothing compared to theirs as they hold him in place.
“Then he shouldn't have become a rebel. Take all of them. Make sure they don’t escape.”
And that’s the last thing Cassian hears before he feels a sharp needle pain at the back of his neck, and everything goes black.