Page 124 of Remnants: Disruption
“Them,” she says gesturing at the carnage. “Not just them, either. Tempest is no longer united, and we have enemies within our walls.”
I blink stupidly as I watch turmoil mar her beautiful face.
“Use me how?”
She splutters something in a language I don’t understand before gripping the back of my head. Her teeth clack against mine as she presses another searing kiss to my lips. Something sharp cuts at my gum, but I barely notice as she pulls back again.
“A weakness. An exploit,” she huffs.
“You don’t have any weaknesses,” I stammer out, pain beginning to return despite whatever magic is in her lips.
The one, unfailing certainty that I’ve learned in the Citadel is that Bloody Mary cannot be beaten. Cannot be manipulated.
She sobs out again as she presses her forehead to mine.
”Youare my weakness,” she pulls at the knife at my back, and it releases with an awful sound. I howl out, but she holds me tight as either her magic or my healing factor kicks in.
“Surely you–” I start, wondering where this could all be coming from. “You’ve ignored me for the last two weeks. I felt so goddamned alone until I met Marla and her wife.”
Pain flashes across her face as she nods.
“I know I have a lot to explain. And you probably think I am some obsessive, power hungry psychopath. But I took over the investigation into you expecting to find someone powerful but menial.”
Mary heaves out a breath, sounding flustered.
“Except you are remarkable, Arya. And I hated the way everyone treated you. I hated the wayshetreated you.”
Anger flashes through what had been undiluted suffering as she pins me with gorgeous orange irises.
“I know she was your friend. I know you had feelings for her. But, by the old gods, I will never forgive her for how she treated you. I almost—”
She lets out a cry, wrapping hands around the back of my neck.
“I almost lost you that night and it had been the one night where I was not watching. I was almost too late.”
I imagine normal people might feel violated or creeped out that Mary had been watching me during those moments. During the times when I felt so alone.
Except I don’t.
She shakes her head like she knows she’s rambling—and it’s fucking adorable.
“I don’t know what to say,” I say softly, feeling my body begin to knit itself together. “But I don’t think you’re an obsessive psychopath. I guess I don’t get why I’m so important to you. And I don’t get why you treated me like I was dirt.”
Mary only nods, looking relieved that I hadn’t yet passed judgement. Though, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is some half-cocked hallucination my brain conjured after the battle. Because, of course, I would choose to die thinking Bloody Mary had actually been infatuated with me this entire time.
“I want to tell you everything, but we should get you patched up,” she says, patting me down as if looking for other weapons in my body.
“I’m going to need a nap,” I whisper, feeling chills track down my spine. Sweat had turned icy within the last few minutes.
“I will have someone down here to clean these up,” she says, glancing around at the room.
“I’m sorry,” I say, dropping my head. “I was just so angry.”
She wraps delicate fingers around my chin and tilts my head to meet her eyes.
“Never apologize for slaughtering the enemy, Arya,” she studies me for a moment before smiling thinly, “and my name is Cassandra.”
“Cassandra?” I ask, a stupid fog forming in my mind at the drained adrenaline.
