Lino’s Cassy

BFTA 37.

At midnight, someone knocked on Cassy's door, rousing her from her deep sleep. Rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand, she slipped out of the soft bed and shuffled barefoot to the door.

It was late. So late. Who could it be?

She pulled the door open and Lino staggered into her, nearly toppling them over. Cassy held his arm to keep him from falling and she was instantly awake.

"Li--lino," she said when he laughed and put his arms around her, pulling her into his warm embrace.

Her ears perked at the scuffling of boots and the voices of passing men and she shut the door quickly before anyone would see them.

"You can't be here, Lino," Cassy said, pulling at his tunic to get him away from her, but Lino nuzzled her neck and murmured against it, "Let me stay with you, Cassy. Please."

He was drunk again, Cassy realized when the smell of strong liquor tickled her nostrils.

She stopped pulling at his shirt and her hands circled his waist inste