Cassius 3rd person

It had been a week since Alex had disappeared. Catherine had reported the incident to Rafia who'd taken action immediately. The academy grounds were scoured and a three-mile radius was set up outside the academy to find the child.

There was still no sign of him.

Catherine clearly felt guilty. She'd spent two days in her room sorting through the mess trying to find clues. When she'd come up with nothing, she'd ended up punching a wall hard enough to break the bone in her ring finger.

Azriel had mended it.

Desmond had just been strangely absent over the past two days. He hadn't been in his room and he didn't reply to texts. They'd all been concerned but one of Desmond's friends, claimed that he tended to disappear off the face of the earth this time of year.

No one seemed to know why but Cassius intended to find out when Desmond came back.

"I really don't think Alex created that mess Catherine," Azriel said.

Cassius returned to the present. The three of them were in Azriel's room. Catherine paced, Azriel was lying on the bed and Cassius had propped himself up against the wall.

"There's no evidences of a break in and not many people knew, or even cared that Alex was staying with me. That rules out most sensible explanations," Catherine replied.

"Okay let's go over it again. The only people that really knew about him are Annabelle, Theo, Rafia, and us," Cassius started.

"Yeah and the teenagers left to stay with their parents for a bit and they haven't been back since, so unless you're implying that Rafia hired someone to create that mess and kidnap the kid," Catherine started.

"It is plausible," Azriel mused.

"Why would Rafia do that," Catherine asked.

Azriel just shrugged. Catherine resumed her pacing. Cassius was honestly too worried about Desmond to fully partake in the present conversation.

Desmond was antisocial but to disappear off the face of the earth like this so soon after Alex had disappeared didn't sit well with him.

"Guys have you tried Desmond," Cassius asked.

"45 times today Cass. He hasn't replied once," Azriel replied glumly.

"He's a big boy. He'll be fine," Catherine said.

But all three of them were worried. Desmond's friend had claimed that this was an annual thing but still, what if it wasn't? What if someone that had taken Alex had taken Desmond too?

Cassius knew his eyes were a brighter green than usual before Catherine even gestured for him to cool it.

Catherine went out around 7 to get dinner. Cassius tried Desmond's number again. This time, it went straight to voicemail.

He pocketed his phone with a frustrated groan.

"He's fine Cass. He'll be back soon," Azriel said.

Azriel pulled himself off the bed and took a seat next to Cassius against the wall. He gently placed a hand on Cassius' knee. Cassius reached out and intertwined their fingers together.

Azriel gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before putting his head on Cassius' shoulder.

"I can't help but worry," Cassius admitted.

"I know. He chose a terrible time to fall off the face of the earth," Azriel replied.

They stayed like that, Azriel's soft breathing slowly calming down Cassius. There were few people who could calm down his wolf when it was on edge. He was glad that his wolf saw Azriel as one of those people.

He looked down at their joined hands and he couldn't help his smile.

About twenty minutes later, Cassius was beginning to get worried for a whole new reason. Azriel had fallen asleep on his shoulder so he'd picked him up and put him on the bed. Catherine still wasn't back with dinner.

If another one of his friends went missing he didn't know what he'd do with himself.

Just as he was about to call her, she appeared at the doorway. Her eyes were bright with a joy that had been missing for some time now. It didn't take a fool to realize why.

She had her arms wrapped around a very, very drunk Desmond.

"Look what the cat dragged in," she announced.

"Oh thank god," Cassius muttered.

He didn't think before rushing forward and wrapping his arms around both of them. Desmond didn't seem to notice his presence. Catherine ran a hand down his back and that was when he realized he was shaking.

"Here let me take him," Cassius offered.

Catherine handed him off before pulling out Azriel's chair from his desk. Cassius carefully sat Desmond down on it. Desmond's head drooped forward and Cassius reached out on instinct to tilt it back up.

"Here," Catherine said.

She handed him a bottle of water, which Cassius carefully fed Desmond. After a few minutes, he looked far more awake. He looked between Catherine and Cassius with wide eyes.

For the first time, Desmond looked slightly vulnerable. Cassius would go as far as to call him scared.

Catherine jolted Azriel awake, whose eyes lit up when he saw that Desmond had returned. He came to stand at Cassius' other side, putting a hand on his shoulder. All three of them waited for Desmond to say or do something.

Anything.

But only silence greeted them as Desmond just stared back. His mind seemed to be far away though. It was Catherine that finally broke the silence.

"Can you make him sober with your magic," Catherine asked.

"I'm afraid that's overextending my abilities sweetheart," he replied.

"Should we give him some more water," Cassius asked.

"Not unless you want me to pee my pants," Desmond said gruffly.

All three of them directed their attention back towards Desmond. Desmond pushed himself up with what looked like great effort, and he managed to stand on trembling legs. Cassius had a hand out, ready to catch him if he fell forward.

But Desmond only swayed.

"I'll see you people later," he said vaguely.

He stepped toward the door. He'd barely made it halfway there when he fell forward. Azriel shot out a hand, using his magic to easily right him.

"Desmond what's wrong? Talk to us," Azriel asked gently.

"I'd rather not," he countered.

"Please Des. We've been worried," Cassius begged.

"I don't care," Desmond snapped.

His voice was colder than Cassius had ever heard it and he flinched. Azriel reeled back like Desmond had just hit him. Seemingly satisfied, Desmond marched towards the door.

Catherine stood in front of it with a glare on her face and he collided straight into her.

"Watch where you're going," he said angrily.

"You're not leaving this room until you tell us where the hell you've been for the past two days," Catherine said.

"Catherine if he doesn't want to talk," Azriel started.

"I don't care if he wants to talk or not. You called him 45 times and this moron couldn't pick up his goddamned phone even once and tell us that he was alright," Catherine asked angrily.

Desmond slammed one of his hands on the door, just inches away from Catherine's face. They were both close, breathing in each other's faces as they glared. Desmond leaned forward and Cassius took a step towards them, ready to intervene if he really tried to hurt her.

Not that Catherine couldn't just turn into a tiger and snap his neck if she thought he was really a danger to her.

"I'm not answerable to you. I'm not answerable to anyone in this room. I can do whatever the hell I want to so back the hell off," Desmond growled lowly.

"Catherine let him leave," Azriel said firmly.

But Catherine just stood firm, eyes narrowed as she glared at Desmond. The anger that permeated the air between them was almost stifling. Neither of them backed down.

"Where. Were. You," Catherine gritted out.

Each word was punctuated, low and almost deadly. She could have gotten answers from anyone with that tone but she stood across from Desmond.

"Get out of my way before I make you," he replied.

Cassius was now partially shifted in case Catherine didn't listen, but Catherine ducked under Desmond's arm. She looked beyond livid. Azriel pulled her to his side. Red ribbons of magic were glowing at his fingertips but his eyes just held infinite sadness as he looked at Desmond.

Desmond stepped through the door and turned back to look at them.

For a second, Cassius glimpsed something akin to guilt cross his features. In a flash however, he was gone. Cassius let the tension leave his body, his green eyes returning to their normal hue.

"I shouldn't have pushed him," Catherine said.

"No you shouldn't have," Azriel said tiredly.

Catherine's eyes were fogged up with tears but she stubbornly refused to let them fall. She'd already been trying so hard to hold it together with everything that was happening with Alex. Then Desmond had to come around and say all the wrong things. Cassius put an arm around her to offer some semblance of comfort.

Desmond was clearly in a bad place but, as he'd stated earlier, if he wasn't answerable to any of them then he didn't have the right to take it out on them either.

"I'm going to make sure he got back to his room. I'll see you in the morning alright," Cassius said.

Catherine nodded, her shoulders curved inward. Cassius was hit with the strong realization of how small she was next to him. He couldn't help the surge of protectiveness that rushed over him for her.

"Both of you said some things you didn't mean. You can sort this all out tomorrow okay Cat," he said gently.

He let his thumb skim across her cheekbone in what he hoped was a soothing way. She chuckled wryly as her hand came up hold his steady against her cheek. Her eyes were no longer watery as she looked up at him.

"Cat," she asked incredulously.

"What you don't like it," he asked.

"I think you can come up with something better than that," she teased.

He grinned, glad that she didn't look as forlorn as she had before. Waving a hand goodbye to Azriel, who seemed to be dead on his feet, he left the room to find Desmond. The man had collapsed at the end of Azriel's hallway, mouth wide open as he snored loudly.

Cassius just sighed before hoisting him over his shoulder and resuming his walk to Desmond's room.

Cassius had just finished his last class of the day when Azriel texted him that Desmond was awake. Cassius grabbed an apple from his room before heading to Desmond's room. Azriel was already there, sat beside Desmond's bed with a cup of coffee in his hand.

He looked like he hadn't slept with his hair sticking up in random directions and the crinkles in his navy blue shirt.

"You just can't stop yourself from taking care of people can you," Cassius commented.

"You're making me sound like a much better person than I am. I just help when I can," Azriel said nonchalantly.

Cassius knew he wasn't winning this argument. Besides, Azriel's helping nature was one of the things that Cassius liked most about him. Well other than when he pushed himself too hard due to his clear lack of self-preservation.

Desmond stirred and Cassius snapped out of his thoughts.

"God my head," Desmond moaned.

He rolled on to his side, forehead wrinkled with pain. Within an instant, Azriel's magic was out to help. The wrinkles in his forehead disappeared as quickly as they came.

"Remind me to always have you around when I have a hangover," Desmond said.

"Or you could just not drink your body weight in beer," Cassius retorted with a smirk

Desmond glared at him as he sat himself up against the bed. Azriel handed over the coffee. The vampire didn't say a word as he silently sipped his drink.

Cassius was unsure whether to press the issue or not as he took a seat next to Azriel. He'd seen how Desmond had lost it when Catherine had pushed. Unlike Catherine, he couldn't exactly hold his wolf back if Desmond tried intimidating him in the same way.

But this wasn't healthy, whatever it was that made Desmond drink like this every year.

"You feeling better," Azriel asked.

Desmond put down the now empty mug. He looked far more awake. Cassius' nose however could still pick up the pungent scent of alcohol on him.

"I'll feel better once I take a shower," Desmond said.

Neither of them tried to stop Desmond as he disappeared into the bathroom on slightly unsteady legs. Five minutes later, he reemerged with just a towel wrapped around his waist. Cassius hastily looked away feeling warmth on his cheeks.

Thank god Desmond didn't seem to notice.

"Do you want to talk about what happened last night," Azriel started.

Desmond reassumed his seat on the bed with wary eyes after sliding on a pair of pants and a black t-shirt.

"You know what my answer is going to be to that so why do you ask," Desmond replied.

Azriel huffed out a disappointed sigh.

"Okay. Just, please don't disappear like that again with everything that's been going on. With Alex missing and you disappearing just days after that, you had people worried," Azriel explained.

Desmond was about to reply but Azriel cut him off.

"I know you're not answerable to any of us but we care about you. All we're asking for is for you to understand and respect that," Azriel finished.

Cassius didn't know how Azriel always seemed to be filled with so much patience. Despite how weary he looked, despite the fact that he clearly hadn't slept last night and probably hadn't eaten this morning; he was nothing but kind to Desmond. Cassius felt a rush of heat in his heart as he looked at the boy next to him.

Azriel might have been the most incredible person he'd ever met.

A part of Desmond must have realized that too because just as Azriel turned away to stand, Desmond reached out and stopped him. Azriel looked down to where Desmond's fingers were wrapped around his wrist. There was a trace of that vulnerability Cassius had seen the previous night in Desmond's eyes as Azriel met his gaze.

Desmond opened and closed his mouth several times, apparently at loss for words. After several tries he finally spoke. His voice was barely audible.

"I'm sorry," he said.

Cassius felt that Azriel deserved a bit more than that. Of course, Azriel didn't feel the same. He just smiled at Desmond before freeing his hand and disappearing into the bathroom.

That left just the two of them, neither of who were particularly good with words like Azriel was.

"I, I'm glad you're okay," Cassius mumbled.

"Yeah and, I'm sorry I disappeared," Desmond, replied unsteadily.

The air between them became suffocating. Cassius stared at his shoes trying to think of something to say. It was Desmond who finally broke the silence before Cassius could just bolt out of the room.

"I know Catherine can't stand me most of the time but I kind of expected her to be here," Desmond said.

As if on cue, the dorm room door swung open. Catherine stood in the doorway looking frazzled. She noticed Desmond completely awake and almost immediately, her energy seemed to seep out of her as a frown twisted her features.

Before Cassius could explain what had happened the previous night, to Desmond, Catherine returned to her usual self.

"You guys have got to see this," she said, tossing her phone to them. 

A slightly longer chapter than usual to celebrate 1.2K reads! The first milestone for this book and I'm so grateful to all of you who've helped me reach it. It means so much to me that you're loving this book. These characters and their story have their own special place in my heart. I can't wait to show you guys how it's all going to unfold. 

With that aside, I hope you liked this chapter! If you did, vote and comment below. Constructive criticism and advice is much appreciated. What do you think Desmond is hiding? What do you think is going to happen next? Let me know below. 

The next chapter will be out soon. Until then, 

LOVE, 

ASH