Urban Plundering: I Corrupted The System! - Chapter 591

Chapter 591: Cassandra’s Curse @

Sometimes, they did. Sometimes, they listened… a few of them at least like Isis, Cleo and now her brother and Ma’at (Evelyn). But sometimes, they doubted her, even when she was screaming at them to listen. Because that’s what happened when you knew the future—people either thought you were full of shit or they hated you for it.

“What happens when you see a vision where one of them has to die when they come for trouble?” Parker pressed. “What do you see yourself doing? Do you tell them? Do you try to change it? Or do you just… let it happen?”

She swallowed hard.

It had already happened before.

She had already lost people.

And she had already lied about things she saw.

Just once.

Just to see if things could be different.

And it hadn’t worked.

Her hands curled into fists on her lap. “They need me. Sometimes…”

“Do they?” Parker’s voice was calm, but his words were cutting. “Or do they just need someone to blame when things go wrong?”

Her breath hitched.

She didn’t want to think about that.

“Cassandra I will ask again.” His tone softened now. “Who are you without them? Without the prophecies, the visions, the gods fucking with your fate? If you woke up tomorrow and never saw the future again…, would you even know who you are anymore?”

She shivered. It wasn’t from the cold.

That question burrowed deep, lodged into her ribs like a blade.

Who the hell was she without all of it?

She didn’t have an answer.

For the first time in her life, she didn’t have a goddamn answer.

She felt Parker shift beside her, then suddenly, his hands were on her shoulders, grounding her, steadying her, the warmth of his touch sinking through her skin. She looked up, and fuck—those stormy gray eyes of his. There was something so unwavering about them, so focused. Like no matter how fucked everything was, he wasn’t letting go.

He wasn’t letting her go.

“You deserve better,” he said quietly. “A life as a woman, not a pawn in some divine game. That kind of life is not a woman like you deserves”

Her throat went tight. “But—”

“But what?” His fingers tightened just slightly. “Who’s a child among them and can’t make a decision for themselves? Who actually understands what it means to carry what you do? And what are you gonna do since they don’t even believe you and think you had allied with me?” Cleo had told him what criticism they carried among the disappeared champions.

She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Because fuck, he was right.

Parker’s grip loosened, but he didn’t let go completely. “You could have a life, Cassie. A real one. No more gods. No more war. Just you.”

The words sent another shiver through her.

A life as just Cassandra.

Not the Oracle. Not a champion. Not a pawn.

Just her.

She wasn’t sure if it sounded more like a dream or a nightmare.

Her hands gripped his forearms, steadying herself, and she whispered, “You’re the only person who ever even believed me.”

He smirked, that damn cocky, knowing smirk of his. “Yeah. The curse doesn’t work on me.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “Wait, what?” She thought it at least affected him but could believe her regardless of the effect, but it did not affect him at all. Not in the slightest.

He just shrugged. “I see what I see. I believe what I want to believe. Doesn’t matter what the gods or the curse want me to think.” Then, smoothly, “More reason why you should never leave my side.” He laughed.

“Cocky Prince of Existence.” That pulled a soft, unexpected giggle from her, like the smallest crack of light through the storm. She shook her head, half-smirking. “Damn. That was smooth as fuck.”

He grinned. “And y’all always love it.”

Another laugh. This one lighter, freer.

For the first time in a long time, Cassandra felt…

Better completely.

Like maybe this whole thing wasn’t impossible.

Like maybe—if she just took a step in his direction fully—things could actually be easy.

She still had her worries.

Of course she did.

But then—

Parker pulled her into his arms.

Just like that.

No hesitation. No awkward build-up. No second-guessing.

Strong, steady, warm—holding her in a way that made her feel, for the first time in her entire goddamn life, like she didn’t have to be looking ten steps ahead.

His voice, low and sure, rumbled against her ear.

“I’ll protect you,” he murmured. “From anything. Even the gods won’t fucking touch you.”

She pressed her face into his chest, exhaling slowly, sinking into it.

For once—just once—she let herself enjoy it.

The credits rolled. The theater dimmed by now.

****

They left the theater. The night air was crisp, the city buzzing around them.

Cassandra shoved her hands into her jacket pockets. “Well. That was depressing as hell.”

Parker smirked. “Yeah. You sure know how to pick a feel-good flick.”

She rolled her eyes. “Next time, we’re watching something stupid. Rom-com or some shit. Something where nobody fucking dies.”

He snorted. “Yeah. Good luck with that.”

She bumped his shoulder as they walked. “Thanks, by the way.”

“For what?”

“For not letting me drown in my own bullshit.”

He smirked. “Anytime, prophetess.”

And for once, she didn’t hate the title.

But the conversation from before still lingered, that quiet weight in her chest that hadn’t quite faded. Because Parker wasn’t wrong. About any of it.

She glanced at him as they walked, the glow of streetlights catching on the sharp angles of his face. “Did you mean what you said?”

He didn’t even need to ask what she was referring to.

“Yeah, I am the Prince of Existence” he said simply.

Cassandra let out a breath, tilting her head toward the night sky. “I don’t even know where I’d start.”

“You don’t have to figure it all out tonight.” His voice was steady, like a rock against the current. “Just… think about it. What do you actually want?”

That was the problem.

She had no fucking clue.

Her whole life had been dictated by fate, by visions, by prophecies that no one believed until it was too late. But if she let go of all that—if she walked away—who would she even be?

The thought terrified her more than any prophecy ever had.

Parker nudged her lightly with his elbow. “Hey. Baby steps.”

She looked at him.

His gaze was sharp, serious. “If you ever decide to walk away… I meant what I said. I’d protect you. From anything. Even the gods won’t fucking touch you.”

Her breath caught, something tight and warm twisting in her chest.

He said it like it was just a fact. Like it was that simple

Like it was possible. And it was… she knew it.

Cassandra exhaled slowly. “I know… you do not bluff”

His smirk was slow, knowing. “I don’t bluff.”

She huffed a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “God, you’re cocky.”

Another laugh, lighter this time. The weight in her chest didn’t feel so suffocating anymore.

Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!