CH 98: Provocation

Toni’s eyes were filled with wonderment as he walked out of the bathroom. The butler who attended to him held the door open for him and bowed to him. Toni could feel his chest tighten with every glance he took of the butler. His smile was bright when he turned to find his retainer.

Maeve was standing near another woman, though Toni couldn’t tell who she was. What he could tell, however, was that Maeve was angry. The tension in her posture was unmistakable, and two of their guards were hastily making their way toward them.

“Everything alright, Captain?” One of the guards asked Maeve.

“Yes. Return to your posts, I’ve got this handled.” Maeve said, waving them away.

“Yes, ma’am,” The two said in unison. They turned and walked back to where they were stationed.

“Maeve?” Toni asked, his beaming smile softening the scowl on Maeve’s face. “You okay?”

“Yes. Just had a minor disagreement with our host’s Captain.” Maeve said, not wanting to even say Lilith’s name.

“Oh… um, sorry for interrupting…” Toni said, his enthusiasm dimming.

“Don’t be. I was just leaving.” Lilith finally spoke. Her tone was cold as ice. She didn’t even look back at Toni before leaving.

Toni glanced at Casseus, who, for a brief moment, had wide eyes. Toni recognized that something in Lilith’s demeanor scared him. But as soon as Casseus noticed Toni’s gaze, he masked his expression.

“Sorry about our Captain, master Toni,” Casseus said politely. “She has a lot of stress on her shoulders…”

“Oh, that’s understandable,” Toni said meekly. He could feel his cheeks flush again as Casseus called him master.

“Toni. Are you all done?” Maeve asked coldly, crossing her arms. “We should head back to your room.”

“Um, I wanted to chat with Casseus a bit more,” Toni said, doing his best to plead. He clasped his hands together and acted cute, just the way Maeve liked it. “Can I?”

“No, Casseus needs to go back now,” Maeve said, her voice firm despite Toni’s charms. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yes, Captain Maeve,” Casseus said, bowing to the woman. He turned to Toni and gave him a warm smile. “Thank you, master Toni, for humoring me. I don’t get to read very often, so learning from you was a pleasure.”

Toni could feel his heart flutter again as he stared up at Casseus. He wanted to protest and fight to keep the boy near him. He knew this would be the only time they’d get to spend together. He desperately wanted to hold Casseus's hand or just be near him. He looked up at Maeve, who was still scowling.

He knew it was futile. Maeve wasn’t in the mood for a fight. He did give in to one of his urges, though.

With a sudden burst of impulsive affection, Toni wrapped his arms around Casseus in a tight hug. He had to get on his tiptoes to make it a proper embrace, but the second his arms encircled the butler, Casseus froze.

Toni held on for a moment longer, wishing he could savor the closeness, but the stiffness in Casseus’s body didn’t go unnoticed. He pulled back reluctantly, offering a sheepish smile. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you."

“No need to apologize,” Casseus said, recovering. “It was just unexpected.”

Toni gave him one last smile before Casseus bowed to him. He turned and bowed to Maeve before taking his leave. Toni’s heart ached as he watched the boy leave the hallway.

“Come on, Toni. We’ll discuss this later.” Maeve said, her tone warming up. Her scowl was eased slightly, and a smile was beginning to form. Toni felt his face heat up as he couldn’t help but smile.

He reached out, offering his hand to Maeve, knowing she needed it. Her fingers closed around his firmly, and for a brief moment, the tension in the air seemed to fade. Toni led her down the hall, trying to ignore the hollow feeling that lingered after Casseus’s departure.

Maeve’s mind wandered to the confrontation with Lilith, but it didn’t last long. She had more important things to focus on right now. She could deal with Lilith later. For now, she was curious about Toni’s interaction with Casseus.

Casseus returned to the butlers’ quarters. The younger boys were bunched together in the corner, seeking refuge behind Beau. He stood firm before the Captain, his posture defiant despite the fear he knew he had to hide. Beau’s stance was one of quiet rebellion, a protective shield for the others, but it was all in vain.

She was waiting for him.

“Captain?” Casseus called out, he was adept at hiding his fear by now. He knew exactly what was coming.

“Ah, just the boy I wanted to see,” Lilith said, her tone was sickly sweet. “Have fun with that little bastard?”

Casseus felt his fist clench involuntarily. His anger flared, but he held it back, not allowing it to spill over. Toni was no bastard. “Lady Lilith, Toni is not a bastard. He’s far too kind for that,” he said through gritted teeth, his voice low but firm.

“Oh? Seems like you got to know him quite well.” Lilith said, turning to face him. Her eyes were filled with anger, and Casseus knew what would come next. She needed something to take her anger out, and Casseus was just glad she waited for his return.

“Yes, I did,” Casseus said calmly. He met the captain’s gaze and felt that defiance bubble up. “Told me all about his Captain as well. Seems he was luckier than us…”

The words left his mouth before he could stop them, and as soon as they were out, he knew it had been the wrong thing to say. He could see the flicker of rage flash in Lilith's eyes. He’d provoked her, but something inside him told him it was worth it. He needed to stand his ground, to protect Toni in whatever small way he could, even if it meant challenging the Captain.

Casseus could feel the bruises on his back ache, a constant reminder of the world he lived in. The captain’s gaze rattled him deeply. It was one he should be used to by now, but she always found a way to twist the knife. Make it hard to get used to.

“Cass! Don’t provoke her.” Beau called out, his voice cracking.

Casseus held his hand up, stopping him from intervening. “No. Not provoking her. Only telling the truth.”

He watched Lilith’s eye twitch. It was a small movement, but it was all he needed to see. That little tick was everything. It was how she signaled the start of a storm. It meant one of them would be her punching bag. He couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Seems that’s what pisses her off the most,” he said, testing her.

Casseus couldn’t follow the blow that landed on his face. His head snapped to the side as his vision filled with a white light. After the daze came the burning pain. He felt his cheek flare up and begin to swell.

He looked up, his eyes not losing their defiance. The captain was truly mad. This wasn’t her methodical torture. No, this was far too quick. Far too simple. She was losing control.

He gingerly moved his jaw, checking for any pain when he moved. It didn’t feel like his jaw was broken. Perfect. “Guessing Captain Maeve struck a nerve. Did you know he-”

He was cut off by a kick to the gut. All the breath left his lungs as he let out a gasp. As he was catching his breath, he couldn’t help but smile. He was right. The truth was what set her off. Not some perceived slight from another noble.

This was the hard truth of an old wound. One that festered for years. Casseus was piecing it together now. He could feel it. Maeve and Lilith must have been close. Something must have happened long ago to cause a rift, and Lilith was truly mad. Maeve must have meant a lot to her.

“You think you’re so smart, don’t you, boy?” Lilith knelt down, her voice seething with anger. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled him to meet her burning gaze. “Got me all figured out, huh?”

“Yup.” Casseus weakly got out. “Maeve is who you wish you were.”

That was it. The world went black after that

Casseus woke up with burning pain covering his face. His mind spun with dizziness, and every breath felt like an effort. He slowly shifted, trying to sit up, the weight of his body feeling heavier than usual. His gaze landed on Beau and the others, huddled around him, their faces filled with concern, their hands gently tending to him.

The image of Lilith standing above the pile of boys burned into his mind. Her fists were dripping with blood, her expression still twisted with the fury she’d just unleashed. Casseus’s head pounded, and it took a moment for him to focus. It wasn’t a long blackout. She hadn't let him slip away for long.

“Please!” Beau desperately begged. “He didn’t mean it!”

“You’ll kill him.” Another boy, Ray, chimed in.

Lilith took a deep breath, her anger finally beginning to leave her. A wide, predatory smile plastered on her face, she was reveling in the pain she inflicted. She drank in the despair etched on the boys' faces, savoring the power she held over them. The constant reminder of what power she possessed. With that, she turned and left, leaving the boys to attend to Casseus.

“Why would you provoke her?” Beau asked, dabbing his face with a towel. The other boys joined in, grabbing bandages and medical supplies.

“Because… she insulted a good man…” Casseus could barely get it out.