Chapter 252: Witch meeting a cursed one - 1

Cassian tilted his head, regarding the lifeless body hanging from the ceiling. The captive’s head had fallen forward, and what remained of the liquid expelled from his body had collected beneath his dangling feet, creating a pool of red liquid. Cassian studied him for a moment longer before turning towards Sashkia, his irises gradually changing colour as a deadly smirk appeared on his face.

"It seems I can no longer leave the Syrvoskis alone."

A shiver ran down Sashkia’s spine. She did not respond immediately. Her gaze remained on the blood covering the floor, and she clenched her fists while considering what the captive had revealed.

The weapons had been delivered to the border of Northhaven, but that did not necessarily mean the Syrvoskis were responsible. She had known their bloodline for centuries, and the possibility that one of them had taken a cowardly step was unimaginable. Yet she could not dismiss the location either, especially when Cassian was already looking at her as though he had found the evidence he needed.

"He said it was at the border, Cassian," she reminded him, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. "He did not say the weapons were delivered to the Syrvoskis."

"Then tell me, Sashkia, who dares to conduct such business around or within the lands ruled by the Syrvoskis without their knowledge?"

Sashkia opened her mouth, but no convincing answer came to her. Their territories were closely guarded, and anyone moving dark weapons should have been felt by the Syrvoskis and the soldiers who guarded the land. However, she still believed there could be another explanation, but Cassian’s question had struck precisely where her argument was weakest.

He watched her struggle with the possibility before allowing a softer smile to replace the dangerous expression on his face. "Now, I believe it is time to introduce you to Cixi. But first, you need to change your clothes."

Cassian rose from the couch and walked towards the door, behaving as though he had not just suggested investigating a bloodline whose involvement could threaten the balance of three worlds. He paused with his hand near the door and glanced over his shoulder.

"Shall we?"

Sashkia looked once more at the dead captive before following him. His discovery did not sit well with her, but she had already recognised that further arguments would accomplish little. Cassian had made up his mind to investigate the Syrvoskis, and she knew him well enough to understand that he would not abandon that decision simply because she found it dangerous.

After changing out of her clothes and attending to her appearance, Cassian and Sashkia returned to the car. For the first few minutes, Sashkia remained quiet, still considering the consequences of what had happened in the interrogation room.

Cassian, on the other hand, appeared perfectly comfortable, looking through the window as the car pulled away from the Casanova building.

"What are you planning to do?" she eventually asked.

Cassian did not turn towards her immediately. "I would rather not involve you, Sashkia. After all, you are carrying a child, and I would hate for your name to be dragged into breaking the Trinity Contract."

Sashkia bit the inside of her cheek, recognising the mockery beneath his apparent consideration. He was perfectly capable of starting a catastrophe and then presenting his decision to exclude her as an act of kindness.

"Keep their women out of it," she warned once more, refusing to let his remark distract her. "Whatever you intend to do, do not involve the women of their bloodline."

"Cixi was in the car with me when the first attempt on my life," Cassian replied, his voice carrying no trace of humour. Mark had informed him what had transpired. And how Cixi was taken by human traffickers. He remembered everything, but the only thing missing from those memories was Cixi.

It was strange for him not to know why he had forgotten her.... Only Her?

"Cassian," Sashkia stressed his name, hoping to make him understand that she was not dismissing the danger Cixi had faced. "I know you have every reason to hunt the people responsible. But I still do not believe the Syrvoskis are involved."

Cassian finally turned towards her. "Then tell me something. What kind of spell can prevent an ancient demon like me from finding a single clue for six months? I am Lucifer’s right-hand man, Sashkia, not just anyone else, and someone has managed to conceal their identity from me so thoroughly that I had to drag you into it and take out information by drying him out of blood." His eyes hardened as he continued. "The sword and bullets used in the attack were marked with magic powerful enough to almost kill me. No ordinary witch could have accomplished that. Whoever planned the attempt knew exactly what it took to bring down someone of my kind, and they had the means to conceal themselves afterwards. So tell me, who has that kind of power if not Lucifer himself or someone from the White Wings dogs—Syrvoski bloodline?... Or should I consider your mother, who is a Dark Witch!"

"No! She can’t be involved, and I know it," Sashkia declared with a hint of urgency in her voice. "She is working on something alongside the King of Hell in secrecy! If she even entertained the thought of harming you, he would drag my mother into the abyss without a second thought. You are not just anyone, Cassian. You are his comrade, his sworn brother! So it’s not my mother!"

"hmmm." Cassian only hummed. "Did you manage to identify the spell placed on the captive?" Cassian asked, watching her expression closely.

"No," Sashkia admitted disappointedly. "I could not identify its origin or determine exactly how it was constructed. I only suspected that the binding was flowing into his blood after my earlier spells failed. When I replaced his blood, the restriction weakened enough for him to answer your questions."

"And even you could not identify it," Cassian pointed out. "You managed to interfere with the spell without discovering what it was. Does that not tell you something about the person who cast it?"

"It tells me the caster is powerful and exceptionally skilled at concealing their work," Sashkia replied firmly. "It does not tell me they belong to the Syrvoskis."

Cassian gave her a faint smile. "Then we shall find out."

Sashkia studied him with growing concern. It was not merely his suspicion that worried her, but the satisfaction he seemed to derive from the possibility of confronting an enemy bloodline.

"Whatever you do, think a million times before taking action against the Syrvoskis," she warned him for the third time. "One reckless move could bring about a war, and this will not be a conflict you can contain within your own territory. None of us will be able to remain outside the consequences. We will be dragged into it whether we want to fight or not."

Rather than looking concerned, Cassian’s grin widened.

"Would that be such a terrible thing?" he asked. "Perhaps it is time to awaken all those sleeping beauties from their centuries of slumber. I am certain their palms must be itching for something more exciting than sleeping soundly."

Sashkia glared at him, which would have discouraged most men from continuing. Unfortunately, Cassian appeared to find her reaction entertaining. "You speak of war as though you are planning a festival. I prefer a peaceful existence where my family is not forced to suffer because an ancient demon has grown bored," she retorted. "Before you do anything irrational, inform me. I might ask the King to relocate my family and me to another planet."

"You would be called Runaway Coward Witch." Cassian had been looking through the window, but her declaration made him turn his head. He regarded her with a cunning expression, the faint smile on his lips suggesting that her proposed escape had given him another idea.

Sashkia narrowed her eyes. "What?"

Cassian said nothing.

Sashkia pressed her lips together and decided that continuing the argument would only encourage him. Cassian returned his attention to the window, leaving her to wonder whether he had already devised a plan or was simply enjoying the prospect of making her worry.

The rest of their journey passed with a discussion about Valtham City, though Sashkia made certain not to reveal anything further about her mother, or Liora Valentine’s future impact on Valtham.

Cassian occasionally questioned her about the city’s affairs, but he did not return to the matter of the Syrvoskis. Eventually, the car entered the underground parking area of the hospital where Cixi and Lily had been receiving treatment.

Cassian’s attention shifted towards the hospital entrance as the car came to a stop. A short while later, the automatic glass doors slid open, and he spotted Cixi walking beside Lily, holding her friend’s hand as they made their way towards the waiting vehicle. Zoyar and his men surrounded the two women in a protective square, maintaining their positions while watching the people moving through the parking area.

Sashkia stepped out of the car as they approached. Her attention first settled on Lily, whose bruised and swollen face immediately caught her eye. Despite the injuries, the young woman did not appear subdued. Sashkia examined her more carefully, extending her senses to read the energy surrounding her.

There was an unusual liveliness about Lily, accompanied by a strong will that seemed entirely unaffected by the discomfort she was experiencing. Her large eyes remained alert as she walked beside Cixi, occasionally looking towards Zoyar with an expression that suggested she had plenty to say to him.

Sashkia found herself amused by the combination. Her spirit had not suffered the same damage as her face. She seemed like someone who would speak her mind even when doing so brought her trouble, and regret was unlikely to last long enough to discourage her from doing it again.

Then Sashkia’s attention moved to the woman holding Lily’s hand.

Cixi!

Her golden-blonde hair was the first thing Sashkia noticed, followed by her pale grey eyes and the delicate beauty that distinguished her from the surrounding people. She looked nothing like the kind of woman Sashkia had imagined would capture Cassian Crown’s attention, and that alone made her curious.

Cassian had never been easily impressed by beauty, nor was he a man who allowed affection to interfere with his decisions. Yet he had spoken of Cixi with a concern that Sashkia had rarely heard in his voice.

As the two women approached, Sashkia studied Cixi with increasing interest. There was something unexpectedly refreshing about her appearance. In a city filled with greed, corruption, and creatures concealing their true nature behind human faces, Cixi appeared almost out of place. She was a breath of fresh air in the polluted environment.