by Ethan Egorov
“Oh you have certainly disappointed me Cassandra. You know that I could have given you the world, all I asked of you was a bit of loyalty.”
“Killing children is not in my moral compass, nor will it ever be. If that’s your fucked up version of loyalty then I’m afraid I’ll never be loyal. Oh every dog is loyal as long as you feed them. Isn’t that right, Kristina? Have you not been catered to? You know what else I’ve learned Cassandra? Every dog is loyal too even if you discipline them first. You have a world of suffering coming to you. Actually I’m quite glad that my incompetent hitmen loused up the job, that way I get the pleasure of ending your days bit by bit. You’re not the only artist. I think you’d appreciate the way I’m going to carve up your flesh.”
“Bring it old man.”
With that Augustin quickly flung Kristina against the wall and the woman cracked her head against the hard plaster. A small trail of blood remained on the white walls as she sank into the mattress. She groaned and shook her head trying to get her bearings. Through her dizziness and blurry eyes she could see that Augustin had turned his vile attention to Cassandra and was sizing up the woman. They were getting ready to fight and all she could do was watch in horror as the bigger man looked to be a more formidable opponent than Cassandra could handle. Trent was still on the floor as well, tussling with the guard and the men were exchanging blows the gun had slid across the room long ago and neither one of them seemed interested in making a move for it. Instead they were only focused on besting each other in hand-to-hand combat. Augustin moved to Cassandra with a wicked grin on his face. “So I suppose it’s time to take care of some business.”
“Fuck you. I don’t have any business with you anymore Augustin. You’re just a sad old man who’s going to die alone and I don’t feel one bit of remorse about that.”
“Hah! You don’t know how widespread my legacy is. Oh you foolish woman. You don’t realize that there are hundreds of Cassandra’s all over the world. I’ve started a culture if you will. They also have their own Kristina’s as well to train and properly initiate. It’s a movement and you should be thankful that I allowed you to get in on the ground floor of that.”
“A movement? Haha! You are quite delusional. I’m afraid that you’re not the originator of this culture. People have been paying people to kill other people since the invention of currency, Augustin. This is not a novel idea. I can’t wait to cut out your tongue, you never did want to shut up. You were always in love with the sound of your own voice.”
Augustin lunged for Cassandra, who deftly dodged his attempt to grab her. Cassandra knew that his endurance wasn’t what it used to be and time had slowed his reflexes some. She would wear him out and then make her move. She backed away from him and he once more came towards her. “There’s no place to hide her Cassie. I know your motif always was to linger in the shadows and wait for the perfect moment to strike, but guess what. There are no shadows here. Here we all are in the light and everything is on the table.”
“Come get me if you want me old man.”
He lunged at her once more and she deftly sidestepped him, this time she turned as she did so and landed a hard kick against his ribs. She then knew that he would overpower her, should she get into a wrestling match with him, so once more she stepped back instead keeping her focus and breathing deeply. “Ugh. You bitch! When I get you I’m going to make you suffer.”
“That was for the scars on my back. There’s more to come Augustin.” This time, Cassandra was the aggressor in the action and grabbed for the man. He dodged her and easily twisted his weight against her own, sending her to the ground. She landed with a hard thud. In her rage she had forgotten to brace her body for impact and the force of the blow forced the air from her lungs. Augustin took advantage of the opportunity and tackled her while she was on the ground. He placed his hand against her shoulders and pulled the knife from his pocket once more. He looked as Cassandra and flashed her a wicked grin. “So tell me pet? Who’s going to save you from this catastrophe? See you made a critical mistake in your timing, but that’s part of your personality as well, you never were the most patient of creatures. The gleam of the knife caught in the light and Kristina focused on it. She knew that she had to help her friend, so she managed to crawl to the gun of the floor without being noticed. Augustin was too busy toying with Cassandra to notice that she had managed to regain her bearings. Cassandra stretched out her arms and attempted to use her knee to force Augustin’s weight from her body, but she was unsuccessful. She twisted and squirmed underneath him and as he bent forward to sink the knife into the center of her chest a shot rang out.
Cassandra closed her eyes in horror. Trent hit the guard one final time knocking him out and lay on the floor. He looked up to see what had occurred. Augustin’s blood and brain matter was everywhere. Cassandra slipped herself out from underneath the now dead body and looked up to see Kristina still standing over top of it. The guns was smoking and she was very still. The blood poured from her head as well and there were patches of her own dried blood on her cheeks still remaining. Cassandra looked up at her and whispered, “Kristina?”
Kristina was silent for a few moments. She didn’t seem to even recognize the fact that Augustin was dead and the threat was gone. She began shaking and Cassandra stood up and quickly wrapped the woman in her arms. “Hey, it’s okay Kristina. It’s okay, we’re all fine now. You’re safe. We’re here. Augustin is dead. You’ve killed him. I need to you talk to me okay?” Kristina nodded then began sobbing. She fell into Cassandra’s and said, “Thank God you came. I knew you would though. I kept telling Augustin that Trent was coming for me.”
“Yes. I’m right here, love. Come here.”
She then walked to Trent and Trent stood holding his knee, but he still wrapped Kristina in his arms, holding her tight to his body until she slowly stopped shaking. “There ya go. Calm down, Kristina. We’re all alright. Let’s get out of here. What do you say that we go home?”
She nodded and gave Augustin’s body one final look as the three of them slowly walked out of the bedroom and down the long hall, turning to exit the house, taking their time winding through the garden. They would walk outside until they reached a good place to contact Drew to get a ride back into the city. As they walked through the garden, Cassandra became quiet. She breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the lilacs blooming. She even inhaled the sweet smell of the roses in the warm night air. She stopped for a few moments and shut her eyes. “Hey Cassie are you coming or what?”
“Yeah… I just can’t believe it’s over. I can’t believe he’s really dead.” Trent hobbled back to Cassandra and loped his arm over her shoulders. “Oh yeah. They don’t come back from that kind of kill shot. He’s gone forever Cassandra. You’re free now to do whatever you want.”
“I can’t believe it. I can finally just live my life without looking over my shoulder to see if anyone is following me. I don’t have to worry about putting my friends and loved ones in harm’s way by not following an order, or not taking a job.”
“Yup. You can do whatever you want Cassie. I mean, you can even come back home with Kristina and I if you want to. I mean, I’m sure that Pops wouldn’t mind you staying at the mansion until you could figure out your next step.”
Cassandra smiled at Trent and took one final look at Augustin’s mansion before she began to walk with them again. “Oh Trenton. I really do appreciate that, but I won’t impose on you any longer. Trust me, I will never forget how much you helped me in my time of need. If I can ever repay you just let me know.”
“Well I will never presume to speak for Kristina, but that’s not necessary at least not on my part. I now consider you family. You and Kristina will always be friends, and I’m glad to see that you got back in touch with one another. That was a gift that Augustin inadvertently gave you.”
“Yes, that’s very true.”
“Cassie are you going to be okay? I mean, you still have the shop in Vegas are you goin
g to go back there?”
“No. I don’t think I will. I mean, who knows what’s happened to it in my absence. Also, it did get pretty messed up when Augustin sent his thugs after me. I think that it’s really just time for me to move on from that area. I guess he found a way to taint even Vegas for me.”
“So where to?”
They finished their walk through the garden and Trent was pleasantly surprised to find that there was a car parked outside waiting for them. It was Drew. Trent smiled broadly at him and Drew quickly hopped out of the car and embraced his friend. “Hey boss. I had a hunch you would be here. What the hell happened to you? You look like shit Trent.”
“Yeah. Well let’s just say that I’m getting a little too old to be playing a tackle anymore.”
“Someone got the drop on you didn’t you?”
“Hah! No! You know that never happens. I don’t think anyone’s ever gotten the drop on me in all the years I’ve known you. Come on, Drew, help this old rock star sit down will ya?” The driver patted Trent on the back and helped him ease into the passenger seat of the Sedan while the girls slid in the back, smiling at the comfort they found in sitting down and also the relief that their ordeal was finally over. “So Kristina do you forgive me for not being around for years?”
“Yeah… I mean, you’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a best friend, Cassie. I most certainly want you in my life. Listen, I know that you were hurt when things transpired the way they did, but I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know. I never intended on dragging you into my mess either Kristina, you’ve got to believe me. I only wanted to keep you safe, that’s part of the reason I stayed with Augustin for as long as I did.”
“I know. Thank you for that. So, really though please consider Trent’s offer. He’s right, I mean no one has a better definition for family than what he does. You would most certainly be welcome. I’m sure that you’d be the talk of the neighborhood too. I bet in one weekend you could get more marriage proposals than I got in my entire eighteen years of living in the neighborhood.”
“Hah! While I’m certainly flattered by the compliment and the offer, I’ll have to decline. I mean….you and Trent, you two have a bright future together if you stay together. You just somehow work. Hey Drew… I need a favor.”
“Yes, Cassandra. Do you think you could drop me off at the end of the French Quarter?”
“Sure, anything you want. Are you sure you want to stay here though? I mean, I’m heading out of town.”
“Yeah. You know I feel as if the city has grown on me some. It seems just as good as any place to settle down at least for a bit, don’t you think?”
“Ugh… I don’t know. It’s hot here and besides I don’t think I could live on all of the seafood they serve here.”
“Hah! I’ll get used to it.”
Drew did as he was asked and dropped Cassandra off at the end of the French Quarter as she requested. She bid everyone a gracious goodbye, making certain to embrace Trent and Kristina before they parted ways. She promised that she would keep in touch with Kristina, but then let her know as well that she would be staying in the city for some time, especially if things panned out. She retrieved her small bag from the trunk of Drew’s car and walked off into the distance. When she left, Kristina then stretched her long legs out over the backseat of the car and reclined her head. She felt as if she’d hadn’t slept for weeks. Just knowing that Trent and Cassie were safe, however, gave her the warm feeling in the pit of her stomach she needed to drift off. She knew that Cassandra would be okay, even in relocating to a new city she was a woman of the world and always seemed to land on her feet, even if she seldom put down roots.
Cassandra arrived at her destination and knocked on the door of the shop. She knew it was a long shot, but she allowed herself to trust her gut and see if she’d been correct in her assumptions. She was greeted by the mysterious woman she’d met earlier in the evening. She opened the door wider and wrapped her shawl around her a bit tighter against the chill that had formed in the night air. “I’ve been expecting you. Do come in, Cassandra.”
Cassandra entered the shop and followed the psychic to the small kitchenette that was off of the main area in which she performed her readings. “Do take off your coat, Cassie and make yourself at home. I’ve taken the liberty of preparing you some tea.”
“How did you know that I was coming?”
“Oh I just have a feeling about some things and I try to act on my intuition when I know that good things will come from it.” Cassandra sat down at the small table and smiled appreciatively at the woman. Lady Larue set a steam mug of tea down in front of her as well as a few ginger snaps that she had prepared earlier. “Here. You have had a very long couple of days. Eat some of these as well, it will help your stomach. Also, the answer to your question is yes.”
“What question?”
“The one you’re about to ask me. Yes… I would very much like you to stay with me for however long you see fit. Yes, I think you are very attractive and the moment after you left I missed the warmth of your body, your scent, and the excitement you brought my soul. Yes, Cassie I would like to make this your home, so rest you mind. Be at ease with your feelings and just know that my arms are open.”
“Oh my God. Yes, I needed to hear you say all of those things, Lady Larue.”
“Haha! Though I enjoy you call me that I do have a name you know.”
Cassandra sipped her tea and then put a ginger snap in her mouth. She chewed in contemplation while Lady Larue sat down beside her and firmly placed her hand on Cassandra’s thigh. She then looked the woman in her eyes and smiled coyly. “Oh I have a strong premonition of my own. I think in the future I’ll be calling you by many names.”
“Just for future reference though… it’s Dana Kennedy Larue.”
“Oh wow. So yeah, there’s lots of names I can call you. I rather like them. They harmonize well together.”
“I think we do too. Now come upstairs Cassandra and I help you get ready for bed. I feel as if your body needs replenishing.”
“Yes Dana Kennedy Larue. You’re the boss.”
“You’ve needed a new one for quite some time.”
“Damn I’m glad I found you.”
“I suppose it was fated in the cards.” Lady Larue took Cassandra’s hand and quietly led her upstairs to a waiting shower and also a soft bed. Before she fell asleep that night, Dana made certain that she was comfortable and sleeping soundly before she kissed her on the forehead and wished her a calm goodnight.
A few months had passed since their Vegas vacation. Trent and Kristina went back to their father’s mansion and resumed life as normal, which for Kristina was spent mostly going to therapy as well as doing lots of online shopping. She hadn’t really allowed herself to splurge from her previous jobs and decided that she was going to start letting go of some of those earnings. Trent approved of her plan. He also took a break from work and spent more time with his father and brother, Tommy. Together all three of them worked to formulate a plan for their own separate businesses. They had grown their little empire to include much of the city. With their father’s new connections out west they also considered an expansion to other parts of the country. Their first joint purchase was the small diner on the outskirts of Vegas where Drew took them for some sanctuary in their dealings with Augustin. They all opted to keep the day-to-day functions the same, but they also planned an expansion to the building and decided that putting in a bar area complete with a jukebox would be a good draw for the nighttime travelers looking for a little bit of rest and relaxation. Trent made certain that when the order for the equipment was placed the jukebox included every Elvis album recorded. Elvis and Frank Sinatra together in one place, in his opinion, made it a notable stop.
After finishing the Vegas deal with Tommy, Trent and Kristina decided once more to get away. Instead of planning an elaborate vacation they picked Trent’s favorite spot. They decided that a calmer vacation
at the lake would be a better idea than travelling anywhere there could be any of their potential enemies.
The first night they arrived, Trent lit a fire in the cabin’s fireplace and they cuddled together on the plush, grey sofa that sat in the cabin’s modest living room. As the flames crackled and sparked in front of them, they drank cocoa and sighed contently. It had seemed like a million years since they both had been that relaxed. Of course, Kristina’s trauma at Augustin’s hands had been something that Trent wanted to be supportive of her while she worked through those issues. He didn’t pry into why she felt distant or kept to herself on some days. He just assumed that when she was ready to talk she would. He also wanted to make certain that she knew that he would continue to be there for her in the future, that he had found a reason to want to be stable. She was his reason for wanting to continue working and provide a good environment for both of them.
As they finished up their cocoa, Kristina rested her head on Trent’s shoulder and he wrapped his arm around her. They were sharing a handmade quilt that stayed at the cabin during the off season and with the unexpected cold front which had set in both of them were grateful for its extra warmth. “Ya know Kristina, I didn’t realize just how much I missed this place. I think from here on out, we should come here for vacations.”
“Yeah that’s good for you. I think though that our next trip should be somewhere even more exotic though.”
