FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 11

Cass lay still. Everything hurt. Everything was too loud, or too bright. She winced as she tried to turn. This was taking more and more out of her every time she did something. She considered going back to sleep. The voice ran across her mind. No! She had to get up and tell the others. Cass tried opening her eyes. She sagged into the couch. Even that thought was draining. She willed her eyes open.

"Girly having a hard time waking up? Stay. I can keep girly company." Said the voice.
"Leave me alone," answered Cass.
"Girly is so lonely. Let me help."
"Let me go!" She screamed.
She woke up. Her breathing was ragged. She looked around. It was morning. Jared walked in.
"You're awake," said Jared excitedly.
"Yeah," said Cass hoarsely.
"How do you feel?" Asked Jared.
"Tired. Where are the others? I need to speak to all of you," she said.
"On the porch. They've been waiting for you," he answered.
"Let's go," said Cass," There's something you all need to know."
"Okay. Come on,"he said, helping her up as they made their way to the others who eagerly awaited her.

"Cass," said Clarissa as she ran to hug her daughter.
"I'm okay," said Cass.
"You don't look like it," said Jace.
"You look really pale," said Throine.
"I didn't know you were still here," said Cass, looking at Throine.
"I have stayed to help clean up. We lost a few of our own too," he said.
"I'm so sorry," said Cass.
"Not to worry. We are worried about you. The dead can be mourned later. Why do you look as if you saw a ghost?" Asked Throine.
"I believe I did," said Cass.
"What do you mean?" Asked Jared.
"When I passed out. I saw myself spinning round and suddenly I heard it. The voice," said Cass.
"Voice?" Asked Jace.
"It was Him. The Darkness. I couldn't see Him but I heard Him," said Cass," He was there. I don't know how. But he was."
"But you defeated him," said Jared.
"We all thought so. What if I didn't?" Asked Cass.
"We need to know," said Andrea.
"How?" Asked Nick.
"I don't know. We need to find a way. We need to be sure," said Clarissa.
"This is the beast? The one that was here a few nights ago?" Asked Throine.
"Yes," said Cass.
"If you'd allow me, I could go through your memory of what you saw. I will be able to know if he is in fact still in existence," said Throine.
"Anything," said Cass," just do it. I need to know that He's not coming back."
"Let's do it then. Although, you may want to sit or lay down. It can be quite draining," said Throine.
"Fine, let's just get it over with," said Cass.
Cass walked back to the couch which she had been laying on just a few minutes earlier. She sat and nodded at Throine.
"I'm ready," she said.
"Good. We may begin," said Throine.
He knelt down in front of Cass. He put a hand over each of her temples. He looked into her eyes.
"It may be a shock at first. Almost like electricity. A slight buzz. Just remember what we need to know. Stay focused on that and it will be successful," he told her.
"Okay," she said as Throine closed his eyes and small sparks were released from his fingertips.
Cass stiffened as they touched her skin. The air around her was warm. Buzzing with electricity as Throine searched her thoughts. The sparks intensified. Cass dug her nails into the couch. She had to remember it exactly as she saw it. She had to show Throine...
Her vision swerved again.
"We are done," said Throine as he smiled," you did it Cassy."
Cass smiled back and collapsed in on herself. She was sucked back into the black void as before. Her mind was overtaken by fear. She did not want to be here. She wanted to wake up.
Cass floated around in the void as she saw light ahead. She got excited. Was it a way out? As she got closer the light split into different circles. Each of them showing her memories of different parts of her life.
She passed each one slowly, looking into them. They had no obvious order. It was jumbled up. Her fifth birthday showed in the one. Then it showed the night her mother took her through the Doorway. Her first year of high school. Her first day home from the hospital after birth. The day she met Jared. Their first kiss. The night she fought the Darkness...then there was nothing. Only black.
"Dwelling on the past?"
Cassy turned around. She looked for Him. Cass saw nothing.
"Why are you here?" Asked Cass.
"Why else?" It asked.
"That's not an answer," said Cass.
"Why, because I want to talk to you. You look lonely."
"How would you know? You can't see me. I can't see you. Still a coward so I guess I still win."
"Coward hey? I'd like you to think that."
"What does that mean?"
"So many questions, Girl."
"Then just tell me."
"All in time. For now I must go. Someone is trying to interrupt. We wil speak again, Girl."
And with that he was gone.
Cass woke with a start.
Throine was holding her shoulders. She looked at him. He smiled with relief.
"You're alright," he said.
"I guess," said Cass.
"What do you mean?" Asked Throine.
"I heard Him again."
"Yes, I sensed he still exists. It's not in your mind, Cassandra. He just cannot take a form. Yet," said Throine.
"Great," said Cass.
"We will figure this out," said Throine.
"I hope so," said Cass," I can't take much more of this. I'm drained as it is. I can't keep doing this. I won't last."
"We will find a way to get through this," said Jared.
"I can't do much more, Jared. I'm tired and worn down. Exhausted actually. This is too much at once," said Cass as a tear escaped her eye.
Clarissa felt helpless. She couldn't even help her daughter. She turned to Jace and tucked her head under his arm.
"We have to help somehow," said Clarissa.
"We will,"said Jace," when we know how."
Jared wiped the tear from Cassy's cheek.
"Hey," he said," I'll always be here. No matter what."
"I know," said Cass softly," but how do we keep fighting?"
"I don't know," said Jared.
"My people will stand behind you," said Throine.
"Thank you," said Cass," but you can't keep losing lives because of our fight."
"It is done with honor. There is nothing greater to us than dying to protect something important. Besides, this is our planet too. So that makes it our fight as well," said Throine.
"You will have us too," said another creature with pointed ears.
"You're Fae?" Asked Cass.
"No," she said," we are the Elves of the East. We will fight when the time comes."
"You were here last night?"Asked Cass.
"My warriors yes. I am Astriel. It means starlight" she said.
"Thank you, Astriel. I am Cass and would be grateful for the help."
"Then you will have it," said Astriel, bowing.
"We have so many behind us," said Jared, "are you so sure that we won't win?"
"With this much help, we might just make it," said Cass.
"Good," said Astriel,"the magicians of the North will arrive soon. They will be a great force against the Necromancers when the time comes."
"There are so many things that I'm learning exist. I thought they were stories," said Cass.
"You have much to learn," said Throine.
"Yes, she does," said Andrea," but then, so do we."

"We will help where we can," said Astriel.
"We will too," said Throine.
"Good," said Clarissa," so many if you that are standing were thought to have died off long ago."
"That is how we stayed safe," said Astriel.
"It was easier letting our enemies think we were dead,"said Throine.
"We understand," said Andrea.
"Of course," said Clarissa,"we ourselves have stayed scarce."

"Okay well, I'm ready to start learning," said Cass.
Throine got a sparkle in his eye.
"We'll then," he said,"I will begin."
Cass listened intently as Throine told her of the many battles the Fae had fought. He told her of their beginning and how they grew.
Everyone payed close attention as the history of the Fae got cleared up for the first time in centuries.

They all spoke until the late hours of that night. Asking questions, adding opinions and watching as Throine and Astriel argued which was better.
Cass wondered which one it was.
Fae or Elf?
She thought about it long and hard until her mind couldn't anymore. She slept peacefully that night in the arms of her soul mate.
The stars sang songs of victory as a new dawn started, bringing hope along with it.