I’m really just jumping straight into this with one of my whumpees, Cassius. He’s a former noble kid with uncontrolled fire powers in a fantasy setting where magic is forbidden Let me know if anything isn’t clear!
CW’s: nightmares, fires, family issues, improper use of exorcisms, surrendering to tumblr formatting issues
-—
Cassius checked behind him before he descended into the sunken clearing. He was only a few yards from the road, but the hill would hide him, and the small collection of stones in the center indicated others camped here before him. He must be doing something right then.
Cassius circled the small valley until he found a root that looked sufficiently sized to be a pillow, and he glanced round once more. After that last apothecary gave him a weird look, he got away from the major city as quickly as possible. While most apothecaries respected magic and probably knew of at least a couple mages, some bought into the King’s propaganda about the devilish nature of magic. If anyone found out about Cassius’s powers, they’d murder him on sight. If he managed to survive, they’d just burn him at the stake.
Another throb hit his head, and the young man rubbed his eyes. The brief darkness excited his mind. Sleep? Sleep?! They could finally sleep? Cassius didn’t want to. He didn’t feel safe. However, he’d already been on the move for two full days and a night. If he didn’t sleep now, in the tentative safety of the darkness, he’d have to wait another day. Sleep deprivation in that amount gave him hallucinations, and he couldn’t convince himself it was worth it.
He laid his head on the tree root, and it took a couple shifts around to get comfortable, but then he was out.
-—
Cassius pet a horse’s dark fur. Dilon. His sweet boy. A pit sank into his stomach as he realized why he was here. He could only see Dilon’s neck, where his head was buried, which meant he knew what happened next.
Even though Cassius knew what was coming, old Cassius still startled at his sister surprising him. A flame shot out of his palm. He blinked, and the barn was on fire. Cassius ran for his sister as her own horse kicked the stable door open toward her. Outside the barn, he saw her blistered and angry arm in the glow from the fire.
Cassius sat in a tavern. He knew now that taverns weren’t safe in his noble dress. He didn’t know that then. He curled up behind the tavern as two people kicked him and took half the belongings he had left. Dilon softly nudged his bruised face.
Now Cassius sat at a fine table, pushing food around with his fork. Typically, his parents would be quick to tell him off for it, but they were busy arguing over Cassius himself. Cassius only looked up from his food when his sister ran out of the room.
Chains dug into his arms, laying bruises into the skin. He’d given up fighting them, but they were still tight. Cassius winced as a priest sprinkled him with “holy water” and the other clergy chanted about demons and salvation. He remained unaffected for a while, until the crazy priest grabbed a candle and poured the hot wax all over his palm. He screamed.
-—
Cassius flipped over, grabbing the wrist near him and shoving them back. Flame illuminated the clearing. The robber shouted in surprise. The ball of fire hit a tree, igniting it in a flash.
“What the hell!” The robber yelled. It was a stubby man, and he dashed off before Cassius could stop him. No! He’d tell someone. Cassius ran after him, but he was still blinking sleep out of his eyes. His foot slipped on a branch, and he tumbled into the road. The man ran toward the town, and as Cassius scrambled to his feet, he saw that the fire had spread. His heart pounded against his chest. He had to go. He had to run. So he did.
