The Blood Heiress

The Date

Cassian

Hell, I was jumpy. Every car that pulled up for the past half an hour drew my attention. Of course, it was never hers. I knew, yes I knew that, but just couldn't stop myself from double checking. First the uncharacteristic second guessing when asking her here and now this ball of snakes in the pit of my stomach. What is she doing to me? A pleased smile spread across my face. I hadn't felt like this ever about someone. Doubt kept creeping in and telling me that it wouldn't last. It was just passing interest. But it felt more solid than that. Important. Life-changing.

A black luxury sedan pulled up, the driver got out and opened the back door. I restrained myself from approaching. Not yet. She told me that it was important for her to come to me. I didn't understand the instructions but I would obey them for now. I watched as her friend Verity exited after her. My heart dropped into my stomach. I knew I should have corrected this whole 'outing' business. Who even uses that word? Me, that's who. I hadn't wanted to scare her off with the word I really wanted to use. A date. Now she brought a third wheel. My heart sank even lower when another possibility entered my mind. She doesn't feel safe with me... Of course, she wanted to meet here, approach me, and now brought her friend.

Deep in the middle of overanalyzing every conversation, encounter, word we had had I let out a few sighs, my hand went through my hair. Had I blown it? I couldn't find any one thing that stood out. My mind in overdrive, I managed to miss her car driving away and her approach.

A light touch on my arm brought me back into focus.

"Hey," Her voice cut through any lingering thoughts. "You clean up well."

She wore her dark hair up in a crown of braids secured in the back by a ponytail. Her blouse color matched her eyes perfectly. They were sparkling today I couldn't help but stare and grin. I guess, maybe I had it wrong. She wouldn't be here looking like that, looking at me that way, if I had somehow blown it.

"Thank you but nothing compared to you. You look amazing Dells." I handed her the rose I had brought along and enjoyed the pleasant surprise that filled her features.

"Thanks." She smelled the rose and wore a soft smile.

"Where'd Verity go?" I looked around us and couldn't see her anywhere.

"Oh, she caught a cab to a go downtown. She just rode here with me as my part of my ruse." She stopped abruptly and looked up at me.

"Ruse?"

"Yeah, I don't think Ben likes you much." she fidgeted with the rose, twirling it round in her fingers slowly.

"Ben?" Confused didn't even cut it at this point. Who the bloody hell is Ben?

She nodded "My...uh...butler."

"Okay then...." I let out a short, relieved laugh. "I will remember to steer clear of Ben. Now shall we?" She slid her soft small hand into mine. Small sparks went shooting up my arm, like always. Important, life-changing.

***

Adella

We spent the morning walking around the gardens and enjoying the scenery and wildlife. They were in some ways similar to my own back home but with more people. Around lunch time Cass steered us towards the concessions. We both decided on a good burger, Chef Louis at home was fantastic, but a good burger he could not make. We took the food to a table set up in front of the stalls and got comfortable.

Without much conversation, we happily dug in and comfortably existed in each other's company while enjoying the good food.

"You ready for the best part?" I nodded my head finishing off my fries.

"Absolutely, lead the way." We threw away the waste and I put my hand in his. We had been holding hands for the majority of the day so far. He lit up and excited hurried towards the opposite end of the park. So far it was a day of firsts for me. Going on a date.... outing, sneaking around, holding hands, going to Occidental Park. I was only minuetly bothered by how easily I took it in stride, how little time I spent dwelling on these developments as they came. These were checkmarks on a list of to do's I had been dreaming of my whole life (except for the sneaking out part). And here they came one after another in a lovely procession and I had barely enough time to register their arrival before the next appeared.

Cass's large hand felt so safe and warm as he led us out of the main park. Before us rose up the makings of an amusement park. This is what I had been so excited to see as a kid. The gardens held there own charm. But the amusement park with it's kitchy rides from an earlier time, the vendors, the game stalls, was a whole experience. It all looked just as I had hoped. I paused right before we went in, stalling Cass as well. He looked at me pleased with my reaction.

"It's more fun once you go in the gate" He bumped my shoulder and I nodded.

"Alright, I am ready. I just wanted to soak it all in. What should we try first?" I looked expectantly at him. I got the feeling that he had been here before. He should have some idea while I had absolutely none.

"You ever been on a rollercoaster?" He could barely hide his excitement at what was apparently his favorite ride.

"Orphan remember." I shook my head.

"Just checking. Come on let's get you initiated." He smiled broadly.

We got our tickets at the gate and then proceeded to navigate through the maze of game stalls and vendors. As well as the lines for other rides that spilled into the narrow pathways weaving through it all. The crush of humanity at certain junctions had us rudely pushing through, holding each other's hands like a lifeline. Everywhere were bright colors and loud noises. I had stopped trying to make sense of our path and blindly followed where ever Cass led.

Which ended with me bumping into the back of him when he stopped abruptly the goal finally realized. A roller coaster. It rose off the ground in undulating defiance. It was wood. Its paint peeling, grey aging wood revealed underneath. I gave a shudder. I watched as a car whizzed by going down a hill the occupants squeeling in joy and terror.

I felt his eyes on me and turned to him to see a lopsided smile and quirked brow. "You sure you want to do this? You are looking a little green just watching it."

His gracious offer of an exit caused me to waver. But my resolve to give it at least try hardened the next minute when a family with three young children barely able to contain their infectious excitment at being able to ride it went past. If three little children could ride it then this adult woman could certain try it once. I gave him a firm and curt nod fully aware that I probably still looked a little terrified.

"If you are sure...." he slowly led us to our spot in line. A small lead weight took up residence in my stomach as I stepped in beside him. I gripped his hand tighter. He looked down at it and then over at me but said nothing. The lead weight grew with every step we took closer.

"It won't bother me a bit if you want to go do something else." Cass leaned over and down to whisper in my eye. My nerves already on high alert were sent into overdrive. I rotated my head to give him a determined look.

"It would bother me." My voice came out far more confident than I currently felt. He nodded and squeezed my hand in solidarity and I leaned into him slightly.

"I know I said I wouldn't pry so take this or leave it. But how does a gal who grew up in an orphanage end up with a Ben?"

"Ben?"

"A driver/butler hybrid. A luxury sedan. I bet it is quite the story." I lowered my questioning brows and nodded.

"It is. I am still trying to unravel a lot of it. But as far as Ben he has always been there. I just didn't really know who he was until later."

"Yeah." I stalled and fell quiet. Up until now, our conversation had been light and happy. I knew what he was up to, the end of the line was just ahead of us. The young family enthusiastically moved up to board. "He always visited me, checking up on me. I thought he might want to adopt me at some point but I realized of course, he didn't. Over time, he became my closest friend. Well he and Verity."

"That explains why you are hiding me from him. Not exactly common practice you know, to care what a person in a position like Ben's thinks." He bumped my hip and I shrugged with a small smile. I wanted to bite back that it shouldn't matter what 'position' someone had.

"Tickets!" A loud voice interrupted us. We had arrived at the end of the line now and the attendant took the tickets from Cass and gestured to empty car in front of us.

"Your choice, though it isn't often you get your pick. I recommend the very back or the very front. Less visually thrilling in the back but more air. More visually thrilling but less air in the front."

I had no idea what 'air' he referred to. Overwhelmed I shrugged and looked at him pleading.

"I trust you. Pick."

He led us to the very back care and I let out a relieved breath. He buckled us in and lowered the metal bar.

The lead weight was back now and doubled in size in my stomach as I looked from the bar to the seat belt. There was a good six inches between the bar and my legs. How would that even work to keep us in, in the even we needed it to? Was it just for show? Cass covered up my hand closest to him.

"It's safe."

"It feels dangerous."

He shrugged and gave me a smirk as the last person strapped in.

"Well, then is it dangerously safe? Or is it safely dangerous? You decide after this."

There was a click and the car moved forward toward the end of the covered platform. My attention flew to what lay ahead. The first hill loomed ahead of us. I watched the front of the car get snagged by the everrunning chain running up the center of the track. A sterotypical click click click of rollercoasters everywhere began. Cass started getting antsy and grinning like a madman. I gripped the metal bar until my knuckles grew white. The front had now reached the top. I felt myself start to hyperventilate. Then I felt something else. Cassian pressed a quick kiss to my temple. My eyes flew to his face in shock.

"Smile Dells, it's gonna be okay." He grabbed my hand on the bar and lifted it. "Oh and it is tradition to put your hands up for this part." I let him have the one hand and kept the other firmly on the bar.

The front now disappeared from view and felt the momentum take us with it down down down the hill. Hurtling to the ground. The weight was gone now, butterflies had been released in its place. I tried to scream, an stangled noise exited instead. It was terrifying, beyond terrifying. But also exhilerating, thrilling, freeing. My body lifted out of the seat by the bottom of the hill and hit with a thud when the car roared up the next hill. Up and down, up and down. Sharp, quick turns threw us into each other. The fear quickly was replaced by its cousin anxious anticipation. By the end of the short two minutes I had a smile plastered that matched Cass's face and had let go of the bar. Overcome with relief and filled with andrenaline I couldn't believe how much fun I had just had tempting fate. Moving on impulse I returned his earlier kiss on my temple with one on his cheek and blushed a little after what I had just done sunk in.

"Thanks that was fun." I snuck a look at him. His smile softer, more tender as he stared at me.

"So was it dangerously safe? Or safely dangerous?" He unbuckled us after the bar releaseed and held out a hand to help me out of the car and onto the platform. I openly watched his face trying to put words to what I felt.

"It was amazing." I laughed. He laughed. We headed to Cass's next suggested ride.

The day was closing out by the time I tired of rides. I had ridden the coaster a few more times with Cass and sampled the rest at least once. We found ourselves choosing which games to give a try while eating a corndog.

"I don't think I have seen you smile so much before."

"I don't think I have ever had this much fun." I responded quietly. "Thank you Cass. This was an excellent idea for an outing." I looked at him out the side of my eye to gauge his reaction. He looked pleased but also troubled.

"Honored to be the one to share it with you." His lips pursed. "I wanted to clear something up though. I am hoping it won't scare you off. I know I said this was an outing. I don't know why I called this an outing. Who even says 'outing'" He seemed to be talking to himself now.

"Verity said something like that yesterday." I offered. "She said just call it what it is already."

"Oh," he snapped his attention to me and looked over my face curiously. "And what did she think this might be then?" His smirk returned.

"A..." I held his gaze and put my corndog back into its boat. "date?"

His smirk grew and his eyes lit up. "Is that scary to you? I mean s**t, not scary. Is that too much, too soon?"

I shook my head and also responded to make sure there wasn't any way he could doubt my answer. "No."

"Huh" He looked me over once more. Silence settled between us, his eyes darted down to my lips. A wild spark dancing in his eyes. The emerald green muddying to a crimson for a moment. I almost didn't believe it, except it happened again and then he turned away and locked onto a booth.

"Let's go play." I stood finished with my snack. I held out my hand. We walked down to the game he had his eye on. It was the one with the darts. I soon realized why. All that time at the bar, he had developed a superhuman skill with them. I almost felt bad for the hawker but he also seemed in awe of Cassian's skill.

"Which one do you want?" Cass gestured at the largest prizes the stall contained. It was between a giant unicorn with rainbow mane and tail and a giant armidillo with shiny scales. I pointed at the armidillo. "I am glad I asked. You are just full of surprises, Dells"

"Did I pick the wrong one?" I held up the armadillo looking for defects which was rather difficult given that is was half my size. "What is wrong with it?"

Cassian's laugh filled the air. "Nothing. If you like it that is. I pegged you for a girl who might want a rainbow unicorn. But I see I am mistaken."

He pulled me close with an arm around me neck and placed a kiss against my hair. We walked a bit like that. His arm around my neck, me hugging the giant armadillo. Checking out the other stalls. Cass seemed content to wander without playing and I was content to stay as we were. Eventually, I let out a yawn. The lack of decent sleep creeping up to claim me. Darkness was also creeping up the sky. Our day, our wonderful day was coming to a close.

"Nightmares again?" His voice held concern. I nodded in reply and we stopped. "Same ones?"

I nodded again putting my face into the stuffed animal. "Yeah" my muffled voice drifted out of it. I hoped he could understand it. When he still didn't reply I peeked up and over, ready to hide in embarassment again if needed. Why did I have to tell him about them? Especially when he is a prominent figure in them?

"Come on" He looked towards the entrance for the amusement park. We walked hand in hand back out into the park proper. "When is Ben coming to pick you up?"

"Whenever I call him." He nodded and pulled me to a bench by the park pond. The path lights began to come on, the park was far less crowded now. I set the armadillo next to me and scooted over against Cass. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and looked at the water thoughfully.

"I am here Dells." He didn't continue.

I straightened and looked at him quizzically. "I am here too Cass."

He turned towards me. "I mean I am not going anywhere. As long as that is alright with you. You say the word and I can disappear. But until you do," He drew his face closer. "I am right here."

His features highlighted in the lights, I was struck with his handsomeness all over again. My eyes drifted down to his lips. Hesistantly, I placed my hand on the side of his face and peered into his eyes.

"Cass?"

"MMhmm...." He dreamily replied watching my face with keen interest.

"I really want to kiss you right now." I looked down at the ground embarrassed and shocked at my free admission. What the heck? Did I really just say that?

"That makes two of us. I really want to kiss you." That was all it took, when I brought my face up his lips met mine. He brought his arm around my waist and pulled me onto his lap. It was amazing and overwhelming all at once. His soft lips against mine in a sweet kiss that deepened quickly. I was acutely aware of his hands steadfastly keeping their post on either one of my hips. Bringing my hands up I put one on either side of his face anchoring myself. His prickly stubble tickled my palms. I felt a spark ignite deep within myself. Something wild stirred. Exhileration filled me as the kiss went on and his hands began to move up my sides. I didn't want the feeling to end but also knew that it should and I certainly didn't want to take it too far. I took my hands off his face and eased back. The cool air hit the spaces between us now and I instantly regretted ending the kiss. To make up for it I ran my hand through his hair like I had seen him do so many times. His hair was as soft as I had imagined. I was rewarded with a questioning gaze and gentle smile on Cassian's face. I brought my hand back.

"Sorry, I have wanted to do that for awhile." I giggled softly, the adrenaline still running through me.

"You have no idea." He shrugged his smile now a silly grin.

Both his hands were still firmly around my waist where they had halted when the kiss ended. I felt so alive in that moment. The lamplight casting a warm glow over everything, my whole body tingling. One of his hands left my waist and found the back of my head. With light pressure he brought my lips back to his.