FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 3

Cassy felt Jared slip in next to her. She smiled. At least he was here now. She moved closer so she could snuggle into his arms. Jared placed her head on his shoulder. Cassy looked at him with a confused gaze.
"Doctor's orders," he whispered as she laid her head down again.
She nodded. This felt good. Safe. She wasn't alone. She had him.
The one person that meant everything to her. She couldn't imagine going on without Jared which was odd in a way. They had only met a few days ago. Cassy sighed. That day felt so far away. Like a dream. A lifetime ago. She decided not to give it any more thought as she felt herself falling asleep once again. This time, Jared relaxed along with her. Both falling into a peaceful slumber.

Clarissa woke first. It was dawn. The first rays of sunshine reaching out in the slowly vanishing night. The rays were as red as blood. Never quite catching the stars. She smiled. Jace would have been awake now. Watching those last stars vanish from sight. She sighed. Jace Clarke was a wonderful husband. He loved his daughter more than anything in the world. He had always told Clarissa that Cassy was special. If only he knew how right he would be. Cassy was ten years old when it happened. Jace and Clarissa were up late when thy heard it. The murmur of town people getting louder. Jace stood up.
"I'll go see what the problem is. Whatever happens, make sure Cassy is safe. She is to play a very important role one day."
"Okay," she said,"should I wake her?"
"Only when it is needed. For now, let her sleep."
With that Jace was out the door, locking it as he left. Clarissa watched from behind the curtains. She watched as Jace caught up with their neighbours and an argument break out. She felt him in the back of her mind.
"Run," he whispered to her without saying a word. She ran to Cassy as fast as she could. She got her out of bed as quietly as she could. All the while as she packed for Cassy, she felt Jace in her mind. Then as she was about to step through the Doorway, nothing. Jace was gone. She ran through and thought of the safest place she could. Her aunt in Australia.
Clarissa sighed. She hadn't thought of that night for almost ten years. She never told Cassy the story. About how she lost her dad. Only that he saved them. He gave them a chance to live which they did. The day Jace spoke of had come and he wasn't even there to see it. He would have been proud of the person his daughter had become.

Cassy and Jared walked into the kitchen together. Looking alot better than they had the night before.
"Morning,"said Clarissa.
"Hey, Mom," said Cassy.
"Hi,"answered Jared.
"How did you sleep?"
"Alot better since Jared came," Cassy said.
" I'm glad. No more Visions then?"
"Nope. I haven't slept that well for a while. Thank you, Mom. For letting him come to me."
"You needed it."
Cassy hugged her mother tight.
"Mom?" She asked.
"Yes, Cass?"
"I love you."
Clarissa's eyes watered.
"I love you too, my baby."
Jared joined in, hugging both of them in a tight embrace.
"And I love you both," he said with a smile,"so where's breakfast?"
They all laughed as they sat down to eggs and bacon.

The day started slow but soon enough everyone was making preparations for Saturday. Clarissa and Cassy cleaned up while Jared worked out what they would be eating. He decided on a serving of beef, chicken and steak along with rice, potatoes and a green salad. Pudding would be a delicious chocolate mousse along with custard. He sat back. It looked like a good meal. Now he just needed to figure out what they were going to drink. Seeing how Cassy wasn't eighteen yet he figured the adults could drink wine or whiskey and he could get juice for Cassy and himself.

"Everything done?" Asked Clarissa as she and Cassy walked in.
"Yep," Jared said as he looked up," I figured out what the menu will be and we can always just go get what we don't have tomorrow morning?"
Clarissa looked over his shoulder at the piece of paper.
"Hmm, I should have most of that. We can just top up on the juice for you two. And get the meat. You two can go pick it up in the morning then."
"Fine by me," said Jared.
"Yep," answered Cass.
"Good. I suppose I should make dinner while you two get ready for bed?"
"Sounds good, Mom."
"Yep, we could do that," said Jared.
"Good. Go on, food will be ready soon."
"Okay, okay," said Cassy as Jared led her upstairs.

The three of them spoke over mugs of coffee after dinner. They discussed how the next day would go on. Cass suggested that she and Jared could pick his parents up on the way back from town. Clarissa agreed if they would find it easier. Jared phoned and confirmed with them. All was set. They finished their coffee and went to bed.

Jared felt Cass shiver as the night grew unexpectedly cool.
"Do you want a blanket?" He asked.
"No," she said," just hold me please."
"Okay."
He moved closer and felt how perfectly she folded into him. A perfect fit. He wrapped his arms around her and felt her relax. He smiled. At least he could comfort her, support her. Whenever she needed it, he would be there to give it. Always. That, love and much more.
"Thank you," she said,"That's really sweet. And nice to know."
"But, Cass...I didn't say it..."
"Of course you did. I just heard you, dummy."
"Okay, fine but Cass,  I thought that. Not said."
He felt her stiffen.
How? How could she have heard his thoughts? And did it work both ways?
"I guess not," Jared answered.
"I didn't speak, Jared."
"Oh, no. Look as cool as it is, it usually takes a lifetime to learn how to do that. And you'd have to be really connected to someone for decades. That or be a Psychic. Which also takes a few decades by the way."
"Then why can I-we do it?"
"I don't know. I'm guessing you have many more Gifts than we thought. Which is weird. Every witch only has one Gift. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Cass, we don't have much time left. The Darkness is coming. And He wants you. Your Gifts. If you lose, he takes it all. Your soul too."
Cassy sat up.
"Why?!" She shrieked.
"Shh, I don't know but that's why I'm here, Cass. For you."
Clarissa burst into the room and put on the light.
"Cass? Jared,  what's wrong?"
"Cass can Mindspeak and so can I apparently."
"To each other? How long have you been trying?"
"That's the thing. We weren't trying. I was just thinking and Cass Heard it. Then I Heard her."
"Impossible. The only thing I can think of is-"
"The Darkness is coming. Isn't He?"
"We have to assume that, Jared. Stay with Cass. She'll need you more than ever now."
"Wasn't planning on anything else."
"Thank you Mom. And you too Jared. This keeps getting creepier by the day. I don't want to be alone. Not now. Not ever. So don't either of you even think of leaving me."
"We won't. Promise. Right Jared?"
"Right. No one is getting my Cass."
"Alright we'll tackle this tomorrow. For now, get some rest," said Clarissa as she put off the light and went to bed.
"Are we going to be okay?" Asked Cassy in the dark.
"We'll be fine. I'll never leave you." Answered Jared.
"Thank you," said Cass as she leaned in to kiss him.
"Hmm," he said against her lips.
She pulled back. And went back for another kiss. This time deeper, a fiery desire waking in her soul. Jared pulled her closer and deepened it even more by doing so. Suddenly the world felt so far away. The Prophecy, the Darkness, everything.  It was just the two of them. All that mattered was that moment where they felt as one. Something clicked inside Cass, then Jared. It felt as if nothing could seperate them. As if this is how it was meant to be. Cass pushed all that to the back of her mind and locked it away. This moment would not be spoiled. She would figure that out later.
Her breathing got heavier as the kiss felt like it would never end. She starting clutching handfuls of Jared's clothes in her fists. He responded just as eager.
"Cass," Jared said.
"Hmm," she answered.
"I love you."
"I love you too."