Cassia (Flash Fiction)

"With her long brown hair, green eyes, and soft face, Cassia Larsen was a beautiful woman ... Santiago hated her already."

Author’s note: This is a submission for an IronAge Media prompt: The Inspector.

---

“Here’s her picture, sir.”

Generalissimo Santiago James thanked the soldier in front of him as he took the photo. Carefully, he examined the portrait in hand. With her long brown hair, green eyes, and soft face, Cassia Larsen was a beautiful woman. Clad in her black cap and brown uniform, she looked to be deep in thought. It was a hypnotizing portrait.

Santiago hated her already. The Generalissimo knew a honeypot when he saw one. Cassia’s red lipstick was a dead giveaway anyways; none of the scant women in the ranks of the North American military could get away with such a fashion statement. And yet, she had a picture with one.

The Generalissimo was no fool. He was sure that the inspector was nothing more than a political commissar, sent to his army to keep an eye on him. After all, Santiago was a major monarchist voice in the North American Union while Cassia was the daughter of the communist leader Karl Larsen.