To His Hell and Back-Chapter 33: Sparrow’s Dilemma

Indeed, Cassius had never hurt her— yet. But the keyword was "yet," a foreboding reminder that his mercy had limits, if it existed at all.

His ruthlessness was unparalleled, sparing neither vampire nor human, woman nor man. His indiscriminate cruelty was a constant shadow, feeding her doubts that any glimmer of mercy resided within him. And now, with Queen Morgana’s words echoing in her mind, an unsettling thought clawed its way into her heart—what if he did kill her one day?

Her life, precariously perched on a knife’s edge, was nothing more than a transaction. Safety came at the cost of entertaining him. She could live only so long as she held his interest. But what would happen if she failed to amuse him?

Death.

The answer was as chilling as it was certain.

Her thoughts turned to the sparrows, the fragile little creatures he once cherished so deeply. He had loved them, doted on them, even called them his "birdies," lavishing them with affection and care. Yet when their fleeting freedom or his own boredom crept in, their fate was sealed. Each of them met their end by his hand.

Was she any different?

Her heart clenched as she realized the horrifying parallel. To him, she might very well be just another bird, another fleeting source of fascination, another fragile thing to hold, to name, to adore for a time, only to be discarded or destroyed when the novelty wore thin.

The thought made her stomach churn, fear wrapping tightly around her chest like a vice. She wondered if she, too, would one day become just another tragic echo of his fleeting obsessions.

The Queen smiled, she could see how under Arabella’s reddish brown lashes, her green eyes had faltered in panic. It was quickly confirmed by the Queen that her relationship with Cassius wasn’t one that was with so much loyalty or trust.

"I suppose you know that your demise is already certain if you follow him. He’s called the mad Crown Prince for a reason after all. You’re no different," she sang, grinning, "Tell me child. What do you wish. Money? Fame? Or a life like a noble?"

Arabella’s eyes flickered. She felt as if she could finally understand the reason why the Queen had called her here. No. It wasn’t to warn her or to help her. It’s different. This was her way of an exchange.

"I do not want any of that," she answered sincerely. Looking at the Queen who she distrusts. After all when she first entered, this vampiress was about to dry her off her blood. "I only want to leave the castle."

"That’s even more reason you should be wary, little bird," Queen Morgana’s voice was as sweet as poisoned honey, her words dripping with a knowing cruelty. The title, little bird, struck Arabella like a dagger, a reminder that the Queen, much like Cassius, saw her as less than human, something to be caged and controlled. "He would never let you leave the castle, never willingly at least. But do not fret. In this place, he isn’t the only one with authority and power to shape your fate."

Arabella stiffened, her sharp mind already piecing together the veiled offer behind the Queen’s words. She wasn’t naive; the Queen wasn’t speaking out of kindness. There was always a cost, a hidden hook beneath every gilded offer. Yet her heart trembled with the tiniest flicker of hope, however dangerous it might be.

"Do you mean," Arabella began, her voice low but steady, "that if I follow your requests, you would grant me the chance to leave this castle?"

A faint smile curved Queen Morgana’s lips, one that didn’t reach her cold, calculating eyes. "You catch on quickly. Perhaps you’re sharper than I gave you credit for. Yes, little bird, I can grant you that freedom. But only if you’re willing to... earn it."

Arabella’s stomach churned. There was no denying the weight of the offer, the promise of freedom dangled before her like a tempting mirage. But at what cost? She already knew the Queen’s schemes were as dangerous as Cassius’s possessive hold. It was a choice between two cages— one gilded, one bloodstained.

"You can make your choice, be as foolish as those sparrows who sang days on end to please him only to be killed, or leave this castle in peace once you have succeeded my demands," she laughed, "Though I don’t think it’s such a hard decision to make, is it?"

Bella closed her eyes, those murderous tone couldn’t mask the Queen’s true intention against Cassius. She wondered why the Queen would be so hateful toward Cassius, her own son?

It was clear by the way Queen Morgana had spoken, it was as if she wanted her to find Cassius’s ultimate weakness, or perhaps even to take his life.

Was the mother and son relationship so bitter that even mothers would kill their sons?

No wonder Cassius had turned so strangely twisted, she thought in her head.

"That is why, little bird," the Queen said, her words drawn out like silk over steel. She reached out a delicate hand, her deep purple-red lips curving into a sinister smile. "I want you to—"

"Your Majesty, Princess Marissa is demanding a visit with you," Minister Rueben interrupted, stepping cautiously into the room.

The air turned icy. The Queen’s smile froze mid-curve, and her hand slowly withdrew, curling into a fist. Her gaze shifted to the minister, sharp and venomous, as though she were deciding whether he was even worth the effort of her wrath. The room seemed to darken under her displeasure.

With an exhale that was more hiss than sigh, the Queen finally turned away from Arabella, her mood visibly soured. "Princess Marissa," she drawled, her voice laced with barely concealed irritation. "Always so demanding. Tell her I’ll see her shortly. And, Minister Rueben..."

Her gaze returned to him, a chilling smile now gracing her lips. "I trust you won’t make a habit of barging in unannounced. I might not be so... forgiving next time."

Rueben bowed deeply, murmuring apologies as he backed out of the room with his eyes viciously eyeing at Bella. But Bella couldn’t be concerned by his gaze, looking at the Queen who had clearly meant to offer her something dangerous...

But also Princess Marissa is here? From what Cassius had told her, it seems that she despise the castle and left the palace.

The timing was far too good, thought Bella that she shuddered.

The Queen turned her attention back to her after a while, her smile slow to return but no less calculating. "Now, where were we, little bird? Ah, yes. Your chance for freedom. But as you can see, even a Queen’s time is in demand." She leaned closer, her voice dropping to a silken whisper. "We’ll continue this discussion later. Until then, be a good girl and think carefully about what you’re willing to do to earn your wings."

With that, she swept out of the room, leaving Arabella to the suffocating weight of her unspoken promise.

"You may leave," she then demanded and Bella pushed herself from the floor, her head lowered as she pondered what Queen Morgana could want from her. If it’s true that the Queen despise her own son, it would mean that the woman would want her to do something dangerous against Cassius.

But...

She never imagined she would ever feel a twinge of pity for the infamous Crown Prince. Yet, for a man so reviled, not only by his own sister but also by a mother who wished him dead, could this be the root of his cruelty? Was this endless cycle of betrayal and disdain what had shaped him into the twisted, hateful being he had become?

The more she uncovered about the castle and Cassius himself, the more it felt like slicing through the layers of an intricate, bittersweet cake, each cut revealing secrets buried deeper within, secrets that hinted at the darkness he tried to mask beneath his veneer of ruthlessness.

And with each revelation, Arabella couldn’t help but wonder: if she reached the very core, would she find something salvageable? Or would she find that his heart had rotted away entirely?

As the door creaked open, Arabella’s eyes fell on Lady Marissa, her black hair sleek and cutting off sharply at her shoulders. The princess’s crimson eyes locked onto her, flickering with a moment of surprise that quickly hardened into a cold, narrowed gaze.

Arabella instinctively lowered her head, avoiding the intensity of Marissa’s scrutiny. She felt the weight of that gaze linger on her like a warning before the princess stepped closer, her voice dropping into a near-whisper, soft but laced with authority.

"I will have a word with you," Marissa murmured, her tone carrying no room for argument, rather than a request it was a demand. "Wait until I leave."

Bella could only stretched out her hands, she couldn’t even tell the princess that she needed to go back to Cassius’s room before dangers come crawling to her as the lady had already entered the door, shutting it with a loud slam.

Sighing, Bella crouched next to the door, hugging her knees as she wondered what could that twisted Cassius could be on?

If she asked him about himself, would he even answer her, a mere pet?