Chapter 19: Cracks in the Mask

  Cassian’s breath caught.

  Vera’s voice remained light, unreadable.

  “But even the best masks… crack.”

  Cassian didn’t stop walking. He didn’t look back. But as he followed Sky deeper into the villa, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had just stepped into something far more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

  As they reached their designated rooms and were about to enter, the sharp sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. Cassian turned just as Malcolm appeared, his usually composed expression tight with urgency.

  “Young Master, may I ask you a question, if I may be allowed to?”

  Cassian leaned against the doorway, keeping his posture relaxed despite the tension thrumming in the air. “Have I even said no?”

  Malcolm exhaled, his sharp eyes locked onto Cassian’s face. “Ahhh...Yes, Young Master, ....you are right” He hesitated, as if choosing his words carefully. " It's about your parents...your father and mother..." His voice lowered, heavy with something close to restraint. “We received reports that someone was following.... And now…” His words trailed off, but the unspoken weight remained.

  Cassian felt Sky stiffen beside him. The child gripped the fabric of Cassian’s sleeve tightly, though he said nothing.

  'This was it. The real test. i need to act well or i am dead'

  Cassian took a slow breath, forcing a carefully measured expression onto his face. He turned his gaze slightly downward. “I’m not sure, Malcolm,” he said, letting his voice hold the right amount of uncertainty. “When we were being pursued, Sky and I got separated from them. I tried to look, but…” He shook his head “Sky fainted, hmm.. I had no choice but to getting him somewhere safe.”

  Malcolm’s brows furrowed, his jaw tightening as he listened.

  Cassian continued, shifting his stance just slightly. “I took him to one of our safe houses in the outskirts of the city. I thought Mother and Father would find their way there, but....sigh....they never did.” He let out a breath, tilting his head “I tried, but my search yielded no results.”

  Silence stretched between them.

  Cassian could see the gears turning in Malcolm’s mind. The man wanted to believe him. He needed an answer to explain why the Starfall Lord and Starfall lady were gone—why their bodies had been found, but Cassian and Sky had survived.

  Cassian had given him an answer that made sense. One that fit.

  'I guess it good enough'

  Finally, Malcolm exhaled sharply, his broad shoulders dropping just slightly. “…I see.”

  His voice was quieter now, tinged with something close to regret.

  Cassian studied him closely, keeping his own expression unreadable. He knew Malcolm wasn’t fully convinced—but he wasn’t suspicious either.

  Not yet.

  “Anything else you need to know,” Cassian said, his tone casual but firm. “But later, not now. I need to ensure Sky is settled.”

  Malcolm’s sharp eyes flicked to the small boy beside him. Sky was gripping Cassian’s sleeve tightly, his face partially hidden in the folds of his shirt.

  A muscle in Malcolm’s jaw ticked before he finally gave a slow nod. “…Understood, Young Master.”

  Cassian didn’t wait for anything more. He turned, opening the door and guiding Sky inside. The moment the door clicked shut behind them, Cassian exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face.

  Sky wasted no time before whispering, “That was scary!!!! brother” His voice was hushed but urgent, his wide eyes filled with lingering tension. “I thought he was going to figure it out for sure, Brother!”

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  Cassian dropped onto one of the chairs, rolling his shoulders. “I told you,” he muttered, smirking slightly."I read your brother’s diary cover to cover. I knew how he acted, and I knew they'd ask about your parents."

  Sky pouted but quickly climbed onto the bed, hugging a pillow tightly. “Do you think Malcolm believes you?”

  Cassian leaning back against the chair, he exhaled. “He should...”

  Sky’s little brows furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  Cassian’s gaze flickered toward the door, his voice lowering slightly. "Malcolm isn’t stupid; he’s trained, experienced. Right now, though, he’s dealing with grief. He needed an answer. And I gave him one.”

  Sky hummed softly, hugging the pillow closer. “So… we just have to make sure he keeps believing you?”

  Cassian smirked, though the expression didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  “Yeah, kid,” he murmured. “That’s exactly what we have to do.”

  But deep down, he knew—

  'This was just the beginning.'

  ----

  The hours bled away unnoticed. At some point, the sun dipped beneath the horizon, and the soft hues of twilight surrendered to the consuming dark. The air grew heavier, thick with the lingering warmth of the day fading into the creeping chill of the night.

  Cassian let out a slow breath, watching Sky’s small form as he curled into the blankets. The room was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the lamp beside the bed. Shadows flickered against the walls, stretching long and distorted, but neither of them seemed to mind.

  “You should sleep, kid,” Cassian said, his voice softer than usual.

  Sky, still hugging the pillow, didn’t respond immediately. He hesitated, then murmured, “You know…brother... I know my parents are dead.”

  Cassian’s breath hitched. He turned toward the boy, his fingers instinctively twitching as if to reach for him—but he stopped himself. "what?”

  Sky tilted his head, his expression unreadable in the dim glow. “Don’t be so shocked.” His voice was steady, but there was something hollow beneath it. Something that made Cassian’s chest tighten. “I knew it… because we were connected.”

  Cassian furrowed his brows, confusion flickering across his face. “Connected?”

  Sky nodded. “Our family… hmm...its like....we can feel each other’s presence. Even if we’re far away. It’s faint, like a whisper at the back of the mind, but it’s always there.” He paused, then added, “I can’t tell where someone is, but I can tell if they’re… gone.”

  Cassian remained silent.

  Sky inhaled sharply, clutching the pillow a little tighter. “That’s why I knew. The moment I didn't feel them I knew they aren’t coming back.”

  Cassian lowered his gaze, staring at the darkened floor.

  But before he could even attempt to respond, Sky’s voice softened. “And thank you.”

  Cassian blinked, startled. “what For?”

  “For staying,” Sky whispered. “I know you must be facing your own problems. I know taking me in must’ve been a burden. But you still didn’t leave.” His fingers curled against the fabric. "I'm... I'm so thankful you're here."

  A lump formed in Cassian’s throat. He had killed, stolen, and fought to survive in the darkest corners of the world. He wasn’t kind. He wasn’t selfless. He was anything but.

  And yet…

  He found himself stepping forward, lowering himself onto the edge of the bed beside Sky. His hands rested on his lap, fingers loosely intertwined. “I’ll say it again—you’re really too mature for your age,” he muttered.

  Sky let out a small laugh, though it was weak. “ Yeah, I know.”

  A brief silence settled between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable.

  Then Sky suddenly perked up, pointing toward a thick, leather-bound books resting on the desk. “Oh! Brother, those books—it’s all the records and accounts of the estate. You should take a look.”

  Cassian glanced at it. The cover was worn, the edges slightly frayed from use.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you trusting a stranger too much?”

  Sky tilted his head, his expression utterly sincere as he blinked up at him.

  “Stranger?” he echoed. “You are my brother.”

  Cassian’s chest tightened.

  He exhaled, rubbing his fingers over his temple before reaching for the book. “You really are something else, kid.”

  Sky only grinned, before finally closing his eyes.

  Cassian watched him for a moment longer before shifting his focus to the records. He traced his fingers over the cover, feeling the weight of what he was about to step into.

  The Starfall name. The legacy. The secrets buried beneath it.

  And now, whether he wanted it or not—they were his to uncover.