46Title: The Pitfalls of Madness
Chapter 1: The Message
Author: Alicia "Kamitose" Guy
Summary: After receiving a message from another swords girl to beware of Raphael, Cassandra seeks him out to settle the score once and for all, but is she truly prepared for what she is about to face?
Rating: R, for strong language, violence, and possible sexual situations.
Disclaimer: None of the characters mentioned in this piece of fiction belong to me. They belong to Namco. Dronia Fairborough belongs to me (don't worry, she is but a very bit part, I don't even pair her up with anyone. She is not a Mary Sue.)
Distribution: As long as I am credited, and as long as you ask (and let me know once it's posted) then I don't care where its distributed. BUT you have to ask.
Author's Note: This is my first ever Soul Calibur fanfiction. This site is severely lacking in Cassandra/Raphael fanfiction and I would like to help remedy that.
The air was thick and heavy as the young woman collapsed against the withered tree that stood solemnly on the old, worn path. Dronia Fairborough had traveled many days, battered and beaten, to find the woman she was meant to contact.
She looked at the waning moon that hung in the sky. Closing her eyes for a moment she let her instincts take over. After all, she was a trained hunter and assassin, finding one girl shouldn't be too much of a problem. Especially not now. Off in the distance she heard footsteps. She forced herself to move forward toward the sound.
Cassandra had traversed this path many times before. The quest to find the cursed sword Soul Edge had brought her this way on several occasions. She no longer needed aid in navigating the mountains. This particular trip she had made against her sister's wishes. Sophitia had begged her sister to stay home, but Cassandra was head strong and refused. Sophitia had finally reunited with her husband and children. She belonged there. Cassandra opted to go in her stead.
She stopped suddenly, sensing a strange presence.
"Who's there?" Cassandra said, gripping the hilt of her sword as she drew her shield to her chest. "You better show yourself, because I'm really not in the mood to fool around."
An unfamiliar figure stepped out from behind Cassandra and pressed a sword to her back. "It would be best if you turned around and went back home, little girl." The stranger warned.
Cassandra narrowed her eyes and spun around, drawing her weapon in one fluid movement. "You know, in most lands, when someone asks you to introduce yourself, it is common courtesy to comply."
The stranger stepped into the faint moonlight. She appeared tall and lithe in crimson clothing . Her pale skin seemed almost translucent in this light and was a stark contrast to her long, black hair. A cloak billowed behind her. The stranger narrowed her vibrant red eyes.
"I have a message for you Cassandra. It is from Raphael." She said coldly.
Cassandra tilted her head to the side. She wondered why Raphael would wish to send a messenger to find her. This did not seem like his usual tactics. "Go on."
"Very well. The message is this, 'Run. Go back while there is still time.' He's coming for you Cassandra. He is not pleased with your last encounter and wishes you ill. You really ought to turn back now." The stranger replied. She lowered her head as shadows seemed to consume her face.
Cassandra laughed. "If he thinks I'm going to stop just because he can't take a beating like a man, then he's mistaken. He obviously doesn't know me very-" The stranger cut her off.
"He's not what you think, Cassandra!" The stranger's calm demeanor was gone now, replaced with an urgency.
The sudden outburst caught the young Athenian woman off guard. "Calm down, sheesh. If he's not what I think, then pray-tell, what is he?" She said putting her shield hand on her hip.
The stranger limped over to Cassandra, grabbing her by her shoulders and staring her straight in the eyes. "You do not know the madness he has succumbed to. The evil that permeates his soul. He's different from when you met last."
The wind picked up at that moment and seemed to be the only sound piercing the silence that followed the stranger's words. It was almost a minute before Cassandra could find the words to say. "How is he different? Who are you?"
"My name is Dronia Fairborough. I've been hunting those touched by the Evil Seed, finding those who are beyond the help of healers. I end their existence before they can spread their evil further. My hunt had led me to Raphael's castle. We had engaged in battle, but I was no match for his skill. I was quickly overcome by him. He has infected me with his madness. Cassandra, he is no longer human." She said brushing her hair away from her neck to show Cassandra the scars of Raphael's infliction upon her. A tear in her throat, accentuated by two, very noticeable puncture wounds. "And neither am I."
Cassandra stepped back. "What do you mean no longer human... did he do that to you? Why did he send you to warn me?"
"Too many questions and not enough time, child. He is malcontent. The seed has changed him, not just mentally. He is stronger now. The warning to run was my own. He's coming for you. Leave these cursed mountains, girl. Leave now!" Dronia then quickly grabbed the blade of Cassandra's sword. "But please, end my life before you depart. I cannot live like this. I cannot be this... thing. I have spent too many nights under his watchful eyes and too many days hiding from the sun. End me, so that I may rest before the malcontent takes my mind as well." She pleaded.
Cassandra stared wide-eyed at the woman in shock. She wanted Cassandra to kill her. She shook her head. "I won't kill you. I can't heal you, but I won't end your life. As much as I appreciate your warning, I have to continue on. Raphael may have information I need to find Soul Edge and destroy it once and for all. I am grateful for your words, but your life is not mine to take. Now please, let go of my sword."
The woman looked at her distraught. "He will kill you... or worse!" Dronia shouted.
"Let him try." Cassandra answered in a determined voice. She turned around and started to walk off towards Raphael's castle. She stopped, if only for a moment. "There are those, who may help you. Seek out the Holy Stones. They may cure you of your infliction." Cassandra offered. With that she continued on her way, leaving the unfortunate woman alone with her darkness.
Cassandra didn't stop to ponder the poor woman's fate. She had too much to do and little time to do it in. The sun shone dimly through the thick blanket of gray clouds covering the mid-afternoon sky. Her legs were growing tired from the seemingly endless walking. She wiped the sweat from her brow and removed her travel sack from her back. Pulling out an apple, Cassandra sat down and rested her weary legs for a little bit. She took a bite out of the apple.
So, Raphael thinks he can just waltz right in and take me down... well, he's got another thing coming, that's for sure. She thought to herself. The clouds had started to pour rain down on the girl, soaking her travel sack and cloak. She pulled the cloak's hood over her head and got back up. "Well, I might as well get this over with." She replied to the Heavens. "Destiny isn't going to wait forever."
She continued down the lonely path another couple days before finally reaching the castle. The dark clouds had been following her for days now. Putting her hand on the hilt of her sword, Cassandra cleared her throat and began to make her way up the stone steps.
A figure loomed from one of the castles ramparts, watching the young woman prepare herself for what awaited her inside. "Ah, my lovely Cassandra..." Raphael said to himself, knowing full well she couldn't hear him. "You made it here. Undeterred by my messenger's warnings. Good... it is this stubbornness that makes this encounter all the more delicious." He raised a glass of wine to his lips and took a sip.
He stole one last glance of his intended prey before gracefully spinning around and walking down the steps towards the main hall.
Tonight would be his night.
A/N: And that would be the end of the first chapter. I hope I've got their voices right so far. For those concerned, don't worry, thats the only time you'll see Dronia. She was a D&D character of mine that never got used so I had to use her somewhere, so I used her as a plot device and sent her off to her possible death. Please let me know if you think anything needs reworking. I'm new to Soul Calibur fanfiction. Thanks for reading. :D