The streets surrounding Emrys’s manor were chaotic, packed with fearful people watching the building blaze against the night sky. Arius dragged Cass’s hood back up over his fair hair as they led him into the crowd; keeping a hand at the back of his head to encourage him to keep his face down. Cass trembled with fear and sorrow as he walked further away from his master… and his partner, the only person who had ever shown him true kindness.

Neither of them spoke a word as they moved through the crowd, finally making their way to quieter streets. Cass didn’t bother to keep track of where Arius led him- it would be no use, as he didn’t know the streets to be able to guess where they were headed. Several blocks away Arius pulled him to a stop, and Cass looked up to see a sleek black vehicle idling by the curb.

“Head down,” Arius hissed, their gaze jumping to the cameras for a moment.

A shiver ran through Cass as he realized Arius’s concern; Emrys had the privilege to access any camera in the city without warning, and there were programs which could track faces with a few keystrokes. Swallowing, Cass let Arius usher him into the backseat of the luxurious black car with black leather upholstery and dark, plush carpeting. A window between the seating and the driver lowered an inch- not quite enough for Cass to see who was behind the wheel- a deep voice murmuring, “Target acquired?”

Arius grimaced, looking at Cass huddled on the seat next to him. “Yes, but not without setbacks. We may be followed- get us out of here, and if we catch a tail, make sure you shake them. You know how important this is to our master.”

“I understand.” The small window rolled up, and the vehicle immediately pulled away from the curb, accelerating so quickly it pressed Cass back into his seat.

His breath caught, heart racing with fear and anxiety as the vehicle raced through the streets. It seemed perilous to travel at such speeds through the city’s thin roads, and his body was tense with the expectation of a crash and he shut his eyes tightly. Arius was equally tense and silent next to him, only muttering a curse when the brakes squealed and the vehicle took sharp turns. 

Cass was shaking when the vehicle finally slowed; his jaw ached from the pressure of gritting his teeth, his fingers sore where they had pressed into the leather seats on either side of him. Arius’s voice made him jump, gaze flashing up to their face as they said, “You can relax- we’re past the boundary of Sector 8 now, and we weren’t followed over the border. Your master’s hounds would have no reason to search for you here.”

Despite the soft, comforting words, Cass’s stomach still churned with anxiety. Swallowing, he slowly raised his hands from where they dug into the comfortable seats, his fingers twisting together in his lap. “Thank you,” he managed, the word nearly inaudible.

Arius gave a soft sigh, their blue eyes flooded with sympathy as they watched the young man tremble. Though they knew little of him- other than the strange power they had seen in Sector 8- it was clear Cass had been traumatized in his years of service. “We’ll protect you…” they paused, a slight frown coming over their face before they said, “We didn’t properly introduce ourselves. What’s your name, young mage?”

“My name is Cassius- but I’m not a mage,” he answered, a ghost of a smile crossing his lips as he saw Arius’s confusion. “The tests never showed any aptitude for magic. Emrys tried all of them.”

Arius winced at the revelation; some of the tests were painful and mentally debilitating, considered nearly taboo. “I’m sorry you were forced to suffer through them,” they said, feeling a pang of painful empathy as Cass gave them a wide-eyed look of surprise; as if nobody had acknowledged his pain before. “I took those tests willingly, and there are nights the memory haunts me.”

Cass took in a shuddering breath, dropping his gaze. “They were performed when I was a child; I hardly remember them now.”

Arius stiffened, anger silencing their words for a moment. The most thorough tests brought one near death in the hopes of awakening a buried connection to elemental magic. The fear a child must have felt held under water until it filled their lungs, or buried deep in the earth for hours on end… It was a miracle Cass hadn’t gone mad. Emrys must have been desperate for answers- but it didn’t excuse torturing a child.

 “He put you through all those trials, and you didn’t show even a hint of connection?” Arius asked hesitantly, horrified to see Cassius slowly shake his head. “But you have some kind of power, don’t you? What you did in the health center…”

Cassius shrugged, his shoulders hunching, as if prepared to be punished for muttering, “I don’t know why I can do it. It’s unnatural, dangerous… That’s why Emrys kept me locked away. I’m a monster that shouldn’t exist- letting me roam freely would put the entire city at risk.” The words were monotonous, his gaze dim, as if he were repeating a script which had been fed to him. 

“So he only let you out of that room when he needed you?” Arius snapped the words, guilt lancing through them when Cass flinched, giving a very slight nod. Groaning, they leaned back in their seat. “Then I’m glad I stumbled across you that day. Nobody deserves to live like that- and Emrys doesn’t deserve to live at all.”

Cass’s eyes widened again, flashing up to Arius. “But… he’s the master of Kamai. He keeps the city safe-”

“He’s a sadistic, manipulative bastard,” Arius spat. Taking a breath, they struggled to calm their voice. “There is a lot about the city you don’t know. I’m sure Raielle will tell you when we arrive, which should be any minute now…”

Their voice trailed off as the vehicle slowed to a smooth stop, and a faint smile pulled at the corner of their mouth as they looked at Cass. “Perfect timing. I promise you will be safe here,” Arius said as they opened the car door.

Cass remained frozen in his seat, watching Arius stand and stretch their long limbs with a soft sigh of satisfaction. His heart pounded in his chest as fresh air wafted into the car- a tantalizing soft breeze which stirred his hair. Arius turned, offering their hand to him with a gentle, encouraging smile. “Come, Cass- it’s time you met my master.”