"Cass! You better be in there and make it worth me having to pass through that smelly passageway," the annoyed voice of Lotus came through one of the tunnels leading into the arena.
Sighing heavily, Cassandra called out.
"I am here."
A young woman with brown curled-up hair and a very fancy rose-shaded gown emerged. The frills, laces and bodice were a piece of art on her gown. Heavy jewellery adorned her beautiful neck and dainty wrists.
Instead of a smile, she wore a small scowl on her cute little face. Two maids followed her, fanning her with hand fans and carrying the side of her gown.
"There you are, you know how I hate this place and had to walk through the mud. Look, my shoes are all dirty."
She gestured to her maids, who raised her gown from the sides a bit further, and she pointed towards her shining shoes. Not a speck of dust could be seen on them.
Cassandra had to bite her lower lip to hold back a snort. Lotus and her dramatics.
"Why did you follow me here?" Cassandra asked, facing her sister, who was now watching Siroos with a keen interest and scrunching her eyes.
"Well, I heard Father is making you participate in the arena and you received a gift from an alpha. That was a lot, even for your standards. Just needed to make sure. Is that him?"
Lotus grabbed a hand fan from one of the maids and began to fan herself more rapidly. Beads of perspiration were breaking on her dainty forehead.
"It's what it is and yes," Cassandra answered, knowing how difficult it was for Lotus to break out of her bubble and come all the way to this filthy place. But she was the only one who didn't hate Cassandra and cared for her.
Punishments by their father and Stephanie were what kept Cassandra from involving Lotus too much in her affairs. She didn't want her sister to get hurt because of her.
"Wow, you shifter men are made different. Look at all these muscles."
She stepped closer and poked Siroos's arm with the tip of her fan, just to check them. The curiosity sitting on her face like a cute cat.
Siroos narrowed his eyes at her, not at all pleased at being poked. Cassandra had on an apologetic look now.
"Is it true you people drink the soup of the bones of your victims to prolong your age and build all these muscles?" Lotus curiously questioned. Waving her fan in front of him while craning her neck to take in all of his majestic build. She stood at least a foot smaller than him.
Siroos lowered his head, placed both his hands on his tapered waist and flashed her an animalistic smile that bordered on insanity, before crawling out.
"Yes! Especially of pretty girls who talk too much."
Lotus placed a hand on her heart and dramatically leaned her body back.
"Blimey! How barbaric."
Cassandra was shaking her head by now. Understanding Siroos was lying and Lotus was overreacting.
"We should head back; Siroos needs to eat, not the bone soup but real food, and we need to discuss more strategies to survive that arena."
Cassandra separated the two and took Lotus's hand, propelling her forward. She leaned on Cassandra and whispered in her ear as they began to walk back.
"That man has insane vibes. Be careful, Cass. I can't believe our father is doing this. What does
Commander Razial has to say about this?"
"He hardly acknowledges my presence, at this point, I believe he must be delighted that he may get rid of me for good. I am nothing but a thorn in his throat." Cassandra sighed, her shoulders slumping.
Maids and Siroos walked at a distance from them, letting the sisters talk.
"Nonsense, how many times have I told you to dress in finer gowns and tame these wild hair of yours? Be more proper and you will win his heart in no time," Lotus instructed, adjusting her own well-curled hair on her forehead.
"There is no spark between us, sister. No amount of clothes or powder will fix it. I am doomed, I was doomed the day I was born." Cassandra spoke with a bleeding heart. Sometimes she wondered about her crimes to have been given such a miserable life. Maybe it was for the best to die in that arena.
"You are not doomed, we all are too self-conceited to realise the goodness you hold, Cassandra. You are destined for greater things, I just know it." A faint smile graced Cassandra's lips at her sister's words.
She said, "I appreciate you, sister. Can I make a small request?"
"Of course, anything."
"Can you arrange a meal for Siroos? He hasn't eaten anything since he arrived and you know how servants are with me."
"Don't worry, it will be arranged. I will send my special maids with food, three times a day. As long as he doesn't eat them." Lotus turned her head at the last sentence and cast a dubious look his way.
He flashed an equally infuriating smile back at Lotus as if hearing what she had said.
They arrived outside his room, Lotus and her maids took their leave while Cassandra lingered.
Before Siroos could go inside his chamber she spoke, making him halt.
"Look, I will train day and night to hone my skills, to become better and not be the reason you go down. But if it comes to it that I become the weakest link then you should let me be. Just save yourself."
His head turned to face her and she could clearly see the wrinkled forehead and annoyance-riddled eyes. He seemed disturbed at her suggestion and spoke clearly but his words were sharp and held an edge.
"There will be no more training sessions. I will see you at the arena, princess." Opening the door he entered and banged it close behind him without letting her explain any further.