‘You’ve grown up a stunner, Cassandra. No doubt your friends will be frantic with the loss of such beauty.’
‘You seem familiar with me. Nevertheless I’m not sure I’ve had the pleasure,’ she smiled, trying to be polite and friendly so he didn’t wipe her from existence. She figured if she played nice, maybe he’d let her live until at least help arrived.
‘Let me clear up the misunderstanding, Cassandra. My name is Aldebaran. I’m your father.’ If that was not shock enough, he continued. ‘Your mother was my woman until she ran off with a wealthy human, a con-man. By the shocked look on your face I can see Mummy dear never told you who you are. I’m sorry to say the father you grew up with and thought was your dad, was not biologically so.’ His attention was on Cassie’s expressions, watching it change with her thoughts that she had not yet revealed. Even though she tried to come up with a clever retort, nothing seemed appropriate. ‘Your mother, Alexis, she is well?’ Not waiting for an answer and realising she needed time to let it soak in, he waved his hand and the guards put down their weapons. He walked over to her. ‘Dismount, child so I can get a better look at you.’
Closing her mouth that was still open in shock, she slid off and stood leaning closely against Starburst, ever so glad he was there with her. At least he was real. This conversation was not. Maybe it was a joke the wizard was playing to rattle her. Okay, she thought. I’ll play along with this psycho wizard if it keeps him from slitting my throat.
Finally finding her voice, she gave a slight cough before speaking. ‘My mother is someone I care little about. You would have to go ask her yourself,’ she said, glaring at the man who seemed delusional enough to believe that he was her father.
He threw his head back and roared with laughter. ‘She always was a piece of work. It sounds like nothing’s changed. She even has her own daughter hating her.’ He stared at her intensely, looking for an emotion from her but she was a closed book since he had mentioned her mother. He wondered what had conspired between them to cause so much hostility.
‘Hate is a bit mild where she is concerned.’
‘I am glad then that it is she who has driven you back to me. Now you are here I want you to quit this nonsense of fighting against me and come home, Cassandra. You belong here with me and it is about time your ancestry was honoured.’ He stopped and looked her up and down. Making a quick movement too fast for her to pull away from, he took her hands, turning them as if he was studying them. ‘I always wondered if you would take after your old man. These hands are weapons of mass destruction. It looks like you are a real chip off the old block. A very powerful gift you have there, daughter of mine,’ he said, letting her go and adding an edge to his voice that was grating to Cassie. ‘You probably think you’re very clever foiling my plans against the Cross family.’
Cassie glared at him angrily. This little game had gone on long enough. It was bad enough that he was calling her his daughter but comparing her to him was the last straw. ‘My friends will be looking for me and I don’t need to tell you what they will do to your star if they find it is you who has kidnapped me, never mind held me against my will.’ She stood with her chin jutted out, hands on her hips, eyes dark and dangerous as she spoke.
He shook his head. ‘You have my temper as well I see,’ he smiled. ‘You don’t need to fret, Cassandra. I’m going to send you back to your friends but first I want an hour of your time to get to know you just a little. Come and have a drink. You must be thirsty—you’ve been out there a long time.’ He put out his arm which she took, glad he wasn’t kidnapping her and was going to send her home.
For my freedom, I can be nice for an hour.
‘What’s your poison?’
‘Rum, straight up.’
He had his servant pour them both a glass of rum on the rocks. If she had to stay here she needed something strong to give her courage. He sat her down near him at the end of the table so he could chat. ‘You’re the prettiest little thing I’ve seen in many years. You must take after my side because although your mother had attributes, one of her finest was not her good looks.’
Cassie thought his voice sounded far away as if he was trying to remember every detail of her. Surely he is dreaming. Or maybe I am. Yet watching his eyes turn a magical blue as thoughts of his past flashed before him she somehow knew he wasn’t lying. Yet she still refused to believe him, even though his eyes were the exact blue that was reflected back at her whenever she glanced in a mirror.