BLOOD OATH

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A REQUEST

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A REQUEST

By the time Serena finally let me go, the sun had already begun to set.

She waved enthusiastically as I walked away.

"Come back tomorrow, Sarah!"

I paused for a second.

Then corrected her gently.

"It's Isabella."

She tilted her head.

"I know."

"But you're Sarah too."

There was no winning against her.

I simply waved once before heading back toward the servants' quarters.

......

Maria was waiting outside the room with her hands on her waist.

"There you are!"

"I've been looking everywhere."

"I was with Serena."

Her eyes widened.

"You were?"

I nodded.

"She mistook me for someone else."

Maria's smile slowly faded.

"So..."

"It happened."

I frowned.

"You know about it?"

Maria sighed sadly.

"Everyone here does."

"Sarah and Serena were inseparable."

"They did everything together."

"They cooked together."

"They played together."

"They even built that little house together."

I remained silent.

"So after Sarah..."

Maria couldn't finish the sentence.

Instead, she smiled weakly.

"I'm just glad Serena smiled today."

I looked away.

Why did everyone in this empire smile even when they were sad?

......

That night...

I couldn't stop thinking about Serena.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

I lay on my bed with one arm beneath my head.

Maria had already fallen asleep.

I turned to the other side.

Then back again.

Sleep refused to come.

I hated nights like this.

Just as I was about to shut my eyes again...

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

I frowned.

Who now?

I quietly got out of bed and walked to the door.

Peeking through the small opening...

I froze.

Cassian.

What did the beetroot want this time?

I slowly opened the door.

He stood there quietly.

"I need to talk to you."

"Can't it wait until morning?"

He shook his head.

"It's important."

I sighed dramatically.

"Fine."

......

He led the way without saying another word.

I followed behind him.

Soon...

We arrived at the artificial lake.

The moon reflected beautifully on the calm water.

Cassian sat on one of the flat rocks before patting the empty space beside him.

I stared at the rock.

Then at him.

"What?"

"You can sit."

"I know."

"I was deciding whether I wanted to."

He smiled faintly.

"You've decided."

I sat down.

Silence settled between us.

Only the sound of the water filled the air.

After a while...

He finally spoke.

"You were wondering why Serena called you Sarah."

I didn't answer.

He took my silence as permission to continue.

"Sarah was a cook here."

"They became friends when they were children."

"They were together every single day."

His voice became quieter.

"Then..."

"Sarah died."

I looked at him from the corner of my eye.

He wasn't looking at me.

His eyes remained fixed on the lake.

"Since then..."

"Serena hasn't been the same."

"Sometimes she knows exactly who everyone is."

"And sometimes..."

"She believes Sarah has come back."

I stayed quiet.

What exactly was I supposed to say?

Comfort him?

That wasn't something I knew how to do.

Cassian let out a tired sigh.

"I know it isn't fair."

"But..."

He finally looked at me.

"When she mistakes you for Sarah..."

"Could you please..."

"...go along with her?"

His voice wasn't commanding.

It wasn't demanding.

It was pleading.

I hated pleading.

It made people look vulnerable.

I looked away.

"You really ask strange favors."

"I know."

There was another brief silence.

Finally...

I nodded once.

"I'll do it."

Relief washed across his face.

"Thank you."

"There you go again."

He blinked.

"What?"

"You thank people too much."

A small laugh escaped him.

"I suppose I do."

"You should stop."

"I'll try."

"You won't."

"I probably won't."

For some strange reason...

We both laughed.

The night suddenly didn't feel as cold anymore.