FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 8

"Cass?"
There was movement around her. She heard them as they all ran toward her. She Felt anxiety. Worry. Relief.
"Baby?"
She opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred. Someone was looking at her. Someone with brown hair. Her vision came into focus.
"Mom?" She moaned. Her entire body hurt.
"Oh, baby. You're alright. You're okay." Clarissa hugged her tightly.
She winced.
"What's wrong?"
"My body hurts, and my throat is dry. Could I ask for something to drink?"
A glass was handed to her. She gulped the contents. That felt better.
"Cass?" It was Jared.
Her face lit up.
"Jared!" She shot up only to fall back down.
He leaned down and hugged her.
"Take it slow, angel. You're exhausted."
"What happened?" Asked Cass.
"We're not quite sure. You started falling and then your entire body lit up. Like a fire but burning white," said Jared.
"Wow," she looked up," the Darkness?"
"Defeated. He swallowed you and exploded. We found you passed out."
"I remember getting really hot and blacking out. Nothing more."
"You did it, sweety," said Jace," you beat Him."
"I did? Good. Then we don't have to worry about Him anymore."
"Now we can focus on the Prophecy. Which has mostly passed. Just a few more tests. Then we are done with all this nonsense," said Andrea.
"Then we will take it on as it comes."
"Well now that you're awake. How about we discuss what you did?" Asked Jace.
"What I did?" Asked Cass.
"Honey. You flew. You zapped Him with lightning, clapped your hands and made thunder, you pushed him away from us with air, and turned into a fireball in a matter of seconds."
"Oh. That."
"Well?" Asked Nick eagerly.
"I don't know how I did it. I just did."
"You have to have an idea?" Asked Clarissa.
"Not really, Mom. I just thought what I wanted to do and I did it."
"This is new," said Andrea,"no witch has ever done any of those things. Ever."
"I can't explain it. I just thought it and there it was."
"What were you feeling? Emotionally?" Asked Andrea.
"I'm not sure. Fear, worry, love, hate and so many more."
"It must take alot to do what you did," said Nick.
"It was exhausting," said Cass.
"All that matters is we did it. We saved everything," said Andrea.
"For now," said Cass.
"What do you mean?" Asked Jared.
"The prophecy still has to pass. We still have an evil to battle. We will be ready. But we must be cautious," said Cass.
"It sure does sound like you know a lot more than you are saying," said Nick.
"All I know is I can sense that caution must be taken. We will be struck when we least expect it."
"How do you know this?" Asked Clarissa.
"I don't know," said Cass," I just do."

Cass slept for most of the morning and woke just after noon. She went downstairs where the others were discussing what had happened.
"Cass," said Jared as she entered the room. He walked up to her. She smiled at him. He embraced her and led her to the couch.
"Feeling better, sweety?" Asked Andrea.
"Yes, thank you. Much."
"That's good to hear," said Clarissa.
"I'm glad you're okay,"said Jace.
"Thanks Dad."
Jace smiled at her.
"I love you, baby girl," said Jace.
"I love you too, Daddy," said Cass.
"There couldn't be any prouder parents than us."
"Hey you're forgetting about us," said Nick.
"You men always forget one another," said Andrea.
"So true," said Clarissa.
"Well what are the plans?" Asked Cass.
"Plans?" Asked Jared.
"You know. For today, tomorrow, next year. What are the plans?" She asked again.
"Oh, we're just going to keep today as simple as possible. No drama. Tomorrow we'll tackle the problem head on and see what we can do. As for next year, my love,that is when I will become your husband and you my wife. If time allows it."
Everyone stared at Jared with open mouths.
"Was it something I said?" Asked Jared.
Cass smiled and jumped into his arms.
"I think it was something you said. Maybe the last part?"
"Oh. That part. It made sense at the time."
"Hmm, okay. If you think so."

Everyone headed to the back yard for a game of dodge ball. They worked in teams of two.
"Remember," shouted Cass,"losing team makes dinner!"
"Oh, there's no way we're losing," said Jace.
"We're not either," answered Nick.
"Well then," said Jared, "We'll just have to see. May the best team win!"
With that the game started. Jace and Clarissa rushed around dodging as much as they could, Nick and Andrea did rather well. It wasn't long before the losing team became known. Jared and Cass.
"Looks like you two are making food," said Clarissa laughingly.
"Yeah, I guess," said Cass.
"Come on, honey. We'll get it done," said Jared.
"Sure thing," said Cass.
They started walking towards the kitchen when Cass stopped in her tracks. She looked around. A chill went over her. Something was coming. Watching. Waiting for them to fail. Waiting for them to break apart. If it would wait that long.
"Cass?" Asked Clarissa.
"Something is wrong. Something is coming," said Cass.
"What?" Asked Jared.
"Something evil. Minions of The Darkness."
"How long?" Asked Nick.
"A few days at most," said Cass.
"We must be ready," said Jace.
"I'm not sure we will be," said Cass.
"Don't think like that," said Jared.
"I'm not being negative. There's just so many."
"What form are they in?" Asked Jace.
"I don't know," said Cass,"I just know it's not good. We'll have a fight that could destroy our planet. The universe maybe."
"They can't be worse than The Darkness," said Andrea.
"As a whole," said Cass, "they are. One by one? That's nothing. They're travelling in groups though."
"That's fine," said Nick.
"No, it's not. They're all heading straight for us. They will hit in waves or all at once. Either way I have no idea how we're going to win this one," said Cass with worry in her voice.
"We'll find a way," said Jared.
"Are you sure?" Asked Cass.
"We always do."
"Defeating The Darkness almost killed me. He was just one target. How do I defeat hundreds? Maybe thousands?"
"We will stand together," said Nick.
"We can fight this battle," said Andrea.
"You couldn't do it last time," said Cass.
"No, we couldn't," said Andrea," but that was because of the prophecy. This was not stated in the prophecy. We are free to fight."
"Okay, well we better get ready then. For all I know they could come tonight. If we'll all make it out alive? That I cannot See. I just know that we have to try. If we don't defeat them, they will ransack the earth and no one will be able to stop them. This is our fight. Our responsibility," said Cass.
"When did you get so big?" Asked Jace as he hugged her.
"The day I had my first Vision," answered Cass grimly.
"Do you know how it will happen?" Asked Clarissa.
"Not yet but I have a feeling I will soon. I was right about how The Darkness would strike. We just changed the outcome of that one. As soon as I know, you all will too," said Cass.
With that, everyone went inside. Making sure everything was locked, they sat down and discussed what Cass had told them as they waited for food. The sun set and night fell with an eery feeling. This was going to be a long night...

After food was served, coffee was made and five pairs of eyes watched Cass as she fell into a fitful sleep on the couch.
"What do you think she's Seeing?" Asked Andrea.
"Do we know she is even?" Asked Nick.
"We do," said Jared," I Feel it. She's having a Vision. Not a good one."
"Maybe she Sees what will happen when the beasts arrive," said Jace.
"I wouldn't think otherwise," said Clarissa.
"I wish this could be done with," said Jared,"I want her to have a normal life. She should be stressing about boys and school. Her future career. Not a prophecy. Not evil."
"We know, Son," said Nick.
"We want the same," said Andrea.
"And so do we," said Clarissa.
"All we can do is wait for her to wake. At least we can help her then," said Andrea.
"Is there no other way?" Asked Jared.
"One," said Clarissa," but it is not something your mother and I can do unfortunately."
"What is it?" Asked Jared.
"We need someone who can view her dreams and Visions as she does. A link which is only possible through a Dreamwalker,"said Andrea.
"Do we know someone like that?" Asked Jared.
"No, Son," said Nick,"there hasn't been one for centuries."
"Maybe I can try?" Said Jared.
"Do you think you can do it?" Asked Andrea.
"Well we're connected, right? I think that's as close as we're going to get to a Dreamwalker. And the Mother has linked us that way before," said Jared.
"Of course," said Clarissa," with her Vision of the Darkness!"
"Yes, so are we going to try it?" Asked Jared.
"We can if you think you can do it," said Clarissa.
Jace nodded.
"Right then," said Andrea,"You'll need to know what you intend to do. It will be almost like a sleep but more of a trance."
"Okay," said Jared as he calmed his breathing.
Everyone held their breath as Jared fell into a deep trance. They waited. A sliver of light connected Cass and Jared at the temples. All they could do was wait for the two to wake...