Hope & Cassandra - Shattered Siblings

[Samaena]

Alex had been right when he has asked her what she’d have left once her walls had crumbled. That one question had cut deep…her answer would have had to have been ‘nothing’ simply that and nothing more. It had gone and she had seen everything from her position within the high crevices of the large hall. The most disturbing scene had been nothing of what she could have possibly expected. The death of her Father. She had in her own way loved him she supposed even then, but he’d have never seen that. The want to take that life from him herself had been taken from her and all she’d been able to do was watch. Watch it all.

Brooding and grieving in her own subtle way…she wished. Cassandra actually wished Alex were here. She’d have asked him outright to help her change, but it was too late. Always too late, always preferring to kick herself in the shin than admit something she hardly wanted to face.
The Castle was hardly a place she wanted to be but her need far outweighed that of her want. So quiet, so still. There was no sound of the engine rumbling away in the background. It just wasn’t a home any longer. Mother wasn’t here…just as well considering the circumstance. Where was she anyway? Last she’d seen of Kaliya was before Tilly had screamed at her to run. She had been stood with Typhus and Jao. A soft groan was the only sound to fill the eaves/roof space…the echo disturbing a few of the bats that often fluttered about the castle. – Would she have to find Alex and break the news? Would she have to tell them all what she had seen…<br>There had been enough of that when she had watched her son left to die. Eyes closed and her grief stole away a silent sob. Enough was enough!

The only things to ring her from that misery was the sister she had always loved to see. This time would be different. She had felt the approach of her Angel but this time she’d be less than welcoming. Each footfall she could hear thundering through the halls. Her descent to the upper landing was silent. The tears were swiped from her pale visage and her pace would match that of her sisters. Two hearts beating as one, none could discriminate between the other had they cared to listen. She would greet Hope…Oh yes, she’d greet the Angel she loved more than her own pitiful existence.

~o~O~o~

Of course she’d had to come. All she knew was that her Father was gone. Lost to her forever. How many did she have to lose? Would Eric go too? He had said he wasn’t leaving but she had gone on ahead, choosing to land within the turrets of the Castle she once knew as home. There were no smiles, there was no eager anticipation of greeting. It was all so dreadfully quiet and that was all she felt. Dread and heartache. – She knew the way down into the main body of the Castle, how could she not? Many hours they had all spent as children filling the halls with mischievous laughter. Only a silent longing for those times back, for the laughter to return to this cold, quiet place.
There were no tears, no regrets from her though. Times had once been good here…once.
For now she had to deal with a few things. Cass lingered, she could feel her within, she could smell her and in all her naïveté she thought that there may be a little comfort found within the arms of her other.

Confident stride had her weave her way through narrow passages, down winding stairs till she could see Cassandra approaching. There were no smiles from either of them…but there was something definitely wrong. The look on her sisters face was grim…and she looked so pale. Ready to open her arms and give what she could…<br>
-- “Ca…” she had begun to say but she never got the chance to finish. Cassandra had greeted her alright with a fantastic backhand to her right cheek. Shock forced her to stagger to her left and clutch at her face. This was far from what she had expected!

“Where the FUCK were you?” Cass spat. Never had such venom tainted her words to her twin. Never had Hope been so horrified. Not the first time they had fought and no doubt it’d not be the last.

“You could have saved him! Where were you!” the vampiress before her was screeching at the top of her voice. All she could do was straighten herself up and shake her head. Reddened face taking on a shade of anger.

[Continued]

[Samaena]

-- “Don’t Cass” she knew her sister hurt and still she reached to offer. Her tone had held pleading and sorrow. She was sorry she wasn’t here. Had it been her fault?

“Don’t touch me!” flinching back as though her Angel’s touch would burn and blister her pale flawless flesh. She hissed with a disdain she had never, ever held for her own flesh and blood.

“Like you really give a damn Hope. You were never here when you were needed. You’re probably glad he’s dead. No more ties huh?” Cassandra in this moment wholly believed that Hope could have saved the day. Such a shame she was sadly deluded.

Hope reeled with shock, there was nothing else she could do. Taking a step back away from her own, shaking her head. Opening her mouth to find no words would come…little did she realise that Cassandra had seen it all.

-- “If I had known!” she began “I’d have been here. If you think I’m glad that he’s dead then you’re sorely mistaken.” She tried then to make a way past Cassandra. She had to get to the main hall. Only she was catching another backhand from Cassandra. Gripping firmly her sisters wrist “Don’t hit me again Cass. We’re not little girls any more” she meant what she said and Cass would have known it. Only it was too late. Cass’s left fist caught her square and fair. Again gristle and tendon snapped in her nose. The spatter of blood on her face and the tears in her eyes told her as much that again the bitch had broken her nose. Dazed and hurt she retaliated. Letting go off Cass’s wrist to offer her own punch, the dodge was anticipated and much as Cass had done her left swung harder and faster. An eye for an eye. It actually felt good to feel the splintering of cartilage, to see that blood christen such a beautiful face.
“I said don’t hit me again!” but she was sobbing and turning away…this was the last thing she needed. She only hoped Eric had stayed away.

“You Bitch!” Cass gasped as she saw her own blood on her hands and felt the sting in her nose. It made a change for Hope to actually hit back. Usually Cassandra had held the upper hand, anything for the quiet life…it had kept the peace. Even way back then.

-- “Don’t start Cassandra. I’m in no mood to fight” there was no light. There was no malice in her tone. There was nothing of the being she truly was or could be. Gathering herself to again make way past her sister to head down to the hall. There was no missing the hateful words sat at her then.

“No. Of course you aren’t. You never were. Never had it in you till now. Only now its too late. You could have helped but you didn’t. Far too busy with that husband of yours. Far too busy being the Angel Father always thought you were. Shame he was wrong isn’t it? You’re not a GreySeerer Hope. You don’t have it in you! Just go back to your own little world eh…do us all a favour”<br>
Cass was hunched up, leaning against the wall and nursing her sore nose. It’d not take long to heal. She knew that much but her cold, emotionless grey eyes watcher her sisters back as she made her own way toward the stairs.

Only Hope had paused, frozen mid-step as those hateful words sank in. She couldn’t believe it. Crushed was an understatement. Of course it didn’t matter that she had, had to give birth in a place she couldn’t even set foot in. Nor did it matter that she had had to watch her husband hand over their new-born son to a total stranger. None of that mattered. She’d not speak a word of it either. Cassandra was hurt and angry…of course that was –all- that mattered. Rather than turn and spit her own words right back…she swung about and paced back and faced her sister off. Waiting till Cass stood upright, till that familiar smirk appeared on her lips. Only then did she purse her own lips and deliver the sharpest smack across Cassandra’s face. She’d wait for a moment for Cass to regain herself, for the retaliation that was sure to come…only it was lacking. There was nothing more to say.

Hope turned away and resumed her path. Cass didn’t deserve to see the tears she shed now. There had been no need had there? It hadn’t been her fault, had it?
So much for wanting and trying to live a normal life. Was it worth it?

Her sobs were stifled, tears were left unchecked to streak her cheeks. The blood from her nose had decorated her white top so…prettily. Her hands were covered with her own and Cassandra’s blood.

“Get out Hope. Don’t come back!” Cassandra’s cry was heard echoing through the whole castle. Surely she didn’t mean it?
Oh but she did. Cassandra was hurting and hurting so badly. Hope didn’t see her other half fall to her knees and cradle her face in her hands as she finally sobbed.

It seemed with Father dead and Mother gone…the whole stability of their so-called ‘family’ was coming apart at the seams. – And no one seemed to care…<br>

[Lillith]

She was quite sure that the little spat the two were having would make her presence be quite unknown. Seemed Faith was correct. Wrapped within the darkness of her wings, peering forth between the glossy feathers at the scene playing out. Such an interesting one too. So De Ja Vu like in its essence. Cassandra going off on Hope, even the laying of hands occuring. Sweet. Blood poured.. Hopes blood. Faith would have liked to have been the one to laid that smack down. Cassandras nose broke.. yelling. Hurtful words. And Faith stood silent in the Shadows through it all.

They were both so stupid. They had both loved Moon so much.. yet their love stemmed from the fact he had actually showed attention to them. Daddy hadn't given her shit. She had loved him.. and had only gotten an attempt on her life in return. Now here her sisters were fighting between themselves and totally missing the Big Picture.

As Hope began to walk away, as Cassandra sat crouched in the corner.. as they both broke into sobs unknown to each other.. they would hear the low sly laughter of the fox that would now step forth from the Shadows. Glorious wings falling behind her, dragging upon the ground as the buckles upon her boots jingled softly with her casual steps. Her shoulder would meet a wall as luminous hues of jade stared down upon Cass, flitting briefly to where Hope had made her exit. Her head would shake back and forth, working to now lazily study her long razor nails, a smirk curling lovely lips looking a tad pale. Faith once again had gone without eating for awhile.

" Both of you are so stupid. That six-winged bug couldn't have done anything to save dear old dad and you know it Cass. Besides.. who gives a fuck? He's gone. 'Bout time if you ask me. Who knows where the fuck Mother is, probably pining and plotting all on her lonesome like she always has. leaving the kids to clean up the mess. Now -there's- a GreySeerer for you. You're right on that piont Cass.. Hope hasn't been a GreySeerer for a very long time. And now, she's a Kheinmor. So.. guess what that leaves sweet cheeks.."

Pushing off the wall Faith would meander over to stand over Cass, kicking at her sisters foot with a heavy steel-toed boot. " What that leaves dear sister of mine.. is us. We -are- GreySeerer, and by fuck we will remind everyone of this fact. If Hope wants to join us she better grow some balls. Hell.. who knows. Maybe some more of the 'family' will leak out of the woodwork now. This family will not go down with Moon. I will not let him win Cassandra.. never. you know how he is. Even in his death.. he'll think he has won.. can't be having that now can we?"