Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord
Chapter 108: Haven (1)

Chapter 108: Haven (1)

Cassandra looked out the carriage window, excitedly awaiting her visit to the church. It was the one place in town where she could feel safe from the watchful eyes of vampires. None of them would dare to step foot in a church unless they wanted to harm themselves.

Cassandra was grateful Gabriel had not tried to tag along with her since she had other things she intended to do during this visit.

Gabriel kept himself busy by telling others about their wedding and inviting those he deemed important. Cassandra still wished to see the king but knew it was a long time before Gabriel would have such guests.

"Are you well, Milady?" Mandy asked.

"Gazing out a window does not mean I am not well. It means that I am in deep thought and wouldn’t like to be disturbed," Cassandra replied, facing the woman Gabriel forced to come with her.

After what happened to his mother, why did Gabriel think having someone like Mandy around would keep her safe? While Mandy was a vampire, she was weak in Cassandra’s eyes.

As soon as she carried Gabriel’s name Cassandra would be ready to replace many of the vampires in their homes with humans.

Mandy looked down at her lap to avoid Cassandra’s eyes. "I didn’t mean it like that. You seemed ill this morning. I am not used to the sickness of your kind."

"Then that would mean that you shouldn’t be the one to care for me. I can’t have someone who doesn’t understand what I need if something were to happen to me. I shall replace you when I return home. The door," Cassandra said when the carriage stopped.

How was it that vampires thought they were superior? They couldn’t do simple things like open a door right away.

Mandy opened the door and stepped out first to help Cassandra down but it was useless since Cassandra avoided her touch.

Mandy thought she was wrong at first but the more time she stayed at Cassandra’s side, the more she realised that Cassandra was not fond of vampires just like Lucinda.

Cassandra had been kinder to the humans she encountered but distant to vampires. Cassandra only seemed to play nice when Gabriel was around.

While it would be good to warn Gabriel, Mandy didn’t want to risk upsetting him and having to face his anger.

"You are to stay here and watch the carriage. All of you," Cassandra ordered the servants. Before they could object she added, "I know he asked to watch over me but you won’t do well in a church. I will not be long so wait here."

Mandy did not understand the lady since now she acted like she cared for their wellbeing. Or was there something she wanted to hide?

Cassandra walked to the church alone and greeted the visitors who must also find it to be a haven. When in doubt, Cassandra could always come to a church. It was the very place which saved her many years ago and sheltered her.

Cassandra searched for the man who was meant to stay out of her way but she knew he was always close. She frowned when she found him standing out amongst the crowd instead of blending in.

"Why are you here like this?" Cassandra questioned the priest. She knew Bryce would stay close to the church but not like this.

Bryce peered down at his robes. "Can’t you tell? I am here as the new priest. This church needed someone to take over and luckily, I had time for it. Do you need to have a word with me alone?"

Cassandra sighed as she covered her face. She did not need him to find a place in this town where many could see him. "Yes, I wish to speak to you in private."

Bryce led Cassandra to a room away from the other visitors. He knew she was upset but he did not mind it. The real priest she wanted to speak to would come soon.

"You do not seem to understand what it means to be out of sight. Why are you in a church as a priest?" Cassandra asked.

"Have you forgotten that I was raised to become a priest? It should not be unusual for you to see me dressed this way. I am merely doing-"

"Enough!" Cassandra covered his mouth. "You know I hate it when you repeat yourself. You have already created quite the trouble for me with that woman’s death."

Cassandra dragged her feet to the bed in the room and fell on it. The bed here was far more comfortable than the one she used with Gabriel though this one was quite smaller. "I feel disgusting."

"The trouble I created? You were the one who asked me to do that. I didn’t want to harm our kind but I felt forced. I couldn’t bring myself to finish it so I left her there. You should think about what that did to me," Bryce said, annoyed that Cassandra was placing it all on him.

Cassandra covered her face with her right hand. ’You will get over it. You must or you will be removed from this task. I need water to cleanse myself. Do not laugh!"

Bryce continued to laugh. "I cannot help laughing. It is times like this when I am grateful to not be a woman. I admire your strength to put up with sharing a bed with him."

"Strength? I constantly think of putting a knife in his back whenever he asks to be with me. I will lose it if there comes a day he has put a baby inside of me. I cannot go that far," said Cassandra.

"Oh, but you must if the plan is not ready yet. You must do what you can to keep that man happy. Must I remind you how hard it was to get you at his side? How hard it was to help make him a hero? Do not ruin our hard work or you will join others in death," Bryce warned Cassandra.

"I am well aware that our plans cannot be spoiled but it is easy for all of you to speak since it is not you who has to lay with a vampire. I do not want to go so far that a child would see the light of day. I will never give birth to their kind," Cassandra said, hoping something would be done soon.

Bryce did not see the issue. "If you were to have a child, you wouldn’t need to worry about raising it. We will do what we did with the others. Either kill it or raise it to do what we need. You worry too much."

Cassandra wished there was a knife at her fingertips to throw at Bryce. "I must worry since I am the one being intimate with him. How would you like it if you had to sleep with one of them? Why isn’t it in the plan that you seduce one of their ladies?"

"Because it is better to use a beautiful seemingly helpless woman. Look how quickly your appearance got his attention. He is willing to make you his wife. Our plans have worked," said Bryce.

Cassandra moved her hand from her face. "It has worked too well. Why couldn’t it have been someone else? I hope the one who lied about Lord Blackthorn joining the war was punished. The plans would be better if I had him."