On Trial

Secrets and Nightmares

"Her trial is on the seventh," Fredric sighed, shuffling papers on a desk.

"I think by that time, I shall have her cell arranged."

Fredric smiled at the woman opposite him, who had a leer on her heavily made-up face.

"After a few months of staying in the inclosure," she continued, "I shall give her to Mr Trellis. He'll be able to find someone, who'll have use for her, I'm sure."

Fredric hummed in satisfaction, twiddling his thumbs.

"Now remember," the woman trilled standing up, "this is between you and I. No one else will ever know the truth, and if that girl ever tells anyone or tries to ask for help, she'll be as good as dead."

"Indeed," Fredric said, standing up from his chair and shaking the woman's hand, "it's been a pleasure doing business with you, Madame."

"Likewise, your Majesty."

The woman bowed and left, her long, dark skirts dragging behind her, gracefully.

It wasn't long after she was gone, however, when there was a hasty knock at the door.

"Come in!" Fredric sighed.

The last person he was expecting to see was James the guard, looking terribly out of puff.

"Is everything alright, James?"

James shook his pimply head.

"No! The witch's father attacked me!" He yelled, "Please your Majesty, you have to believe me! He pinned me up against the wall and punched me, spat on me, beat me, all because I shouted at his daughter, when she kicked me!"

Fredric's eyes widened.

"Also, Captain Eugene has taken the prisoner to a bedroom and is pampering her! It's appalling, I tell you, appalling!"

Fredric didn't need to hear anymore, he was already marching out of the room.

This was the last straw. He was fed up with Fitzherbert, his future son in law, as well as, his own wife and daughter, treating such a disgusting brat, with kindness and compassion, after everything she'd done.

Well, he wasn't going to stand for it. He was going to make her pay a price she'd never forget.

He had everything under control.

"I wouldn't thrash your head, if I were you. I wouldn't want to damage your lovely face anymore, than necessary."

Cassandra was petrified as the knife grazed across the bottom of her tongue. She was screaming, crying for help. Her eyes were wide and tearful, as she stared into her attacker's.

She desperately searched for any trace of reluctancy or compassion in them, but could only see cruelty and malevolence.

Her eyes squeezed shut, but she still continued to shriek.

"Say goodbye to your loud mouth, beautiful."

This time Eugene and Robit didn't come rushing in. This time no one saved her. This time, her tongue was torn out, slowly and painfully, as she cried.

Cassandra's eyes flew open. She howled into the brightly lit room. Her heart pounded as she struggled to move her limbs, her mind forgetting that she had been given the Arcophyme.

The door burst open and Stan, along with Pete filed into the room.

"Cassandra, what's the matter?!" Pete tried asking, as Stan attempted to calm her down.

Cassandra barely heard him. In her mind, she was still lying on the trial room floor, as her tongue was being slit.

"Can you hear us, Cassandra?!" Stan asked, shaking her arm.

The two men tried everything they could think of, but nothing was working. Cassandra didn't register them, caught up her own mind.

Her hoarse cries, echoed around the room and showed no sign of stopping.

"Her lips are going blue!" Pete exclaimed, "get Captain Eugene and a medic!"

Stan leapt to his feet immediately, while Pete made every effort to snap Cassandra out of her state.

Eugene sighed, resting his hand on his cheek. He signed another piece of tedious paperwork, and placed it on the ever growing pile. To be fair to the uninspiring pieces of dung, though, they were keeping him distracted from the Cassandra situation.

At least, until his attention was completely grabbed by it, once again, staring when a frantic voice cried out: "Captain Eugene!", followed by several pounds at the oak doors.

"Come in!" He yelled in response.

Stan bursted in, his eyes wide and frantic.

"What's wrong, Stan?!" Eugene asked, standing up from his desk.

"It's Cassandra! She's just woken up from her nap, screaming and crying and we can't get her to stop. She's turning blue, because she can't get enough air in!"

"Grab the medic, I'll go to Cass!" Eugene ordered, darting out of the room.

The warmth of candles and flickering flames, dancing in Cassandra's decorated fireplace, greeted Eugene as he entered the young woman's bedroom.

The said young woman, was no longer screaming, but instead was shaking and whimpering, as Pete held her hand.

"She's calmed down a bit, but I don't think that she knows where she is." Pete explained.

Eugene joined Pete at Cassandra's bedside and tried asking if she could hear her.

They waited for a few moments, not expecting the answer they received.

"E-E-Eugene?" Cassandra whispered, "w-w-why can I-t-talk? W-what's g-going on?"

"Cass, of course you can talk, you've always been able to talk."

Cassandra shook her head, only just beginning to come to her senses.

"N-no, James cut my tongue out!" She argued.

"No, Cass, Robit and I saved you from that, remember?"

Yes. That was right. Eugene was right. It was all coming back.

"Oh." She mumbled.

"Are you alright?" Pete asked.

Cassandra shook her head and dissolved into tears.

"I'm scared!" She wailed, "I don't know what happened!"

"It's alright, Cass. There's no need to be scared, you're totally safe." Eugene whispered, stroking her hand.

If only Eugene knew, what the King had in store.

Cass kind of went into shock in this chapter. I was going to add a scene where the medic cane in and sort of diagnosed her, but I've decided to save that for the next chapter instead.

Also, thank you all so much, again for all the views, likes, comments and now fanart! I am so thankful to every one of you! 💖💖💖💖