FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 12

The morning started out warm. Everyone enjoyed the sun in the back yard as the day slowly went by. Throine and Astriel discussed how they would divide their warriors. Cass waited for the magicians that were promised to come.
"They'll be here," said Jared softly as he came up behind her her.
"I know," said Cass," I just want them to be here now."
Jared chuckled.
"Don't worry. When the time is right,  they'll be here," he said.
"Okay," said Cass as they walked back to the others.
"I see you've decided to join us again," said Throine.
"Yes," said Cass.
"If you're waiting for the magicians it will be a long wait," said Astriel," they shall arrive when they feel the time is right."
"I noticed," said Cass with a sigh.
"Worry not, young one. They will help us," said Throine.
"I hope so," said Cass looking in the direction which she was watching earlier.
Clarissa brought drinks and food to everyone outside then disappeared into the house again. Cass followed her.
Cass walked into the house and heard sniffling. She looked in the kitchen. Clarissa stood at the window, crying.
"Mom?" Asked Cass as she entered the kitchen.
Clarissa wiped her eyes and turned to Cass.
"Hey sweety. Are you still hungry?" She asked.
"No, thanks. Mom, are you okay?"
"Oh, baby. You're constantly in a state and here you are, asking about me," said Clarissa.
"Well, you are my mom. Are you okay?" Cass asked again.
"I'm fine baby. Just worried about you, that's all."
"I'm okay. Tired, but okay. I've got all of you and we've got more help. We'll be okay, Mom."

Cass hugged her mother. Clarissa squeezed her tightly. She sniffled again.
"Don't you think of leaving me, Cassy."
"I won't. Not until it is my last day."
"I fear for the day that will be your last. I fear it will be too soon," said Clarissa.
"I'll be alive long after you have gone, Mom. And I'll have children and---" Cass stopped.
"Children?" Asked Clarissa.
"Someday," said Cass.
"Then I will love them just as I love you," said Clarissa as Jace walked in.
"Everything alright?" He asked.
"Fine," said Clarissa, "everything is fine."
"Good. Throine and Astriel wish to speak to us. Let's rather not keep them waiting," said Jace.
"Let's go then," said Cass.

As they went outside Cass noticed that the sun had disappeared. Now, only dark clouds were visible.
"There's going to be a storm," said Cass as they reached Throine and Astriel.
"This is no natural storm," said Astriel.
"What?" Asked Cass.
"This is the work of the Necromancers. They are close," said Throine.
"But the magicians," said Cass.
"They are on their way. They will reach us before the Necromancers. This is just a warning that they are close," said Astriel.
"How close?" Asked Jace.
"We are not sure. It could be days, it could be hours," said Astriel.
"How will we know?" Asked Cass.
"That is simple. The magicians will be able to track them. They will know," said Astriel.
"Do we know when the magicians will arrive?" Asked Andrea.
"Not precisely. But it will be soon. During or after the storm," said Throine.
A loud clap of thunder filled the air. Astriel looked up.
"We must get inside. This storm will not wait," she said.
They just entered the house when a spark of lighting shot out. The rain fell. It had begun. Now all they could do was wait. Wait for the magicians and after that, the Necromancers.

"I don't understand though," said Cass.
"What is that?" Asked Astriel.
"In the stories Necromancers fought wizards. Not magicians."
"The magicians are descended from wizards. Therefore they choose not to bear the same name as them," said Astriel.
"Oh," said Cass, trying to process the information.
"But if that is the case," said Jared, "then how is it that the Necromancers still exist?"
"They do not age like the magicians," said Astriel," they can live centuries, mellenium even. The magicians are blessed if they make it to two hundred years of age."
"Strange. How do the Necromancers live so long?" Asked Cass.
"No one knows for sure but we believe the reason for it is that they use dark magic. That which comes from the void," said Astriel.
"The void? Is that where I sent the other beasts I fought? And the Darkness?" Asked Cass.
"We suspect so," said Throine.
"This is just too much," said Cass as she sat down.
"They can not leave," said Throine,"the Necromancers just draw on the energy from the void."
"Oh. I hope so. I don't think I can fight all those again. But the Darkness?" Asked Cass.
"We believe he did not go all the way into the void. Merely a place before that,"said Throine.
A strange whistling noise from outside stopped their conversation. 
Astriel listened closely. She smiled.
"It is them! The magicians have arrived! Quickly," she said as she ran to the door.
"Wait," said Throine,"How do you know it is them?"
"My family has dealt with them for centuries. I know their signal. No Necromancer can make that sound. Their magic is too dark," said Astriel.
Astriel opened the door.
"Astriel," said a magician as he walked in," Good to see you again."
"And you, Magni. It is good to see you too," said Astriel.
The second magician entered.
"Astriel," she greeted.
"Anthrial," answered Astriel.
The third and last magician entered and Astriel closed the door.
Astriel walked to her.
"Hello, Rosa," she said.
Rosa turned to Astriel.
"It is good to see you, dear friend," she said.
"And the same to you," said Astriel.
Cass looked at the three magicians standing before her. Each had hair as white as snow, skin that had spent time in the sun, and all three were tall. Their cloaks matched the color of their eyes.  Magni had eyes as green as grass. Anthrial's were as blue as the sea. Rosa had eyes that were as gold as the sun. Cass looked on in wonder as they were introduced.
"It is a pleasure to meet you," said Cass,  addressing them.
"The pleasure is all ours," said Magni.
Anthrial and Rosa nodded.
"I want to thank all of you for your help. We will need it," said Cass.
"We are here because it is our world that is in danger too. Therefore that makes it our fight," said Anthrial.
"We only wish to save our home," said Rosa.
"And so you will," said Astriel as she walked closer.
"This is everyone's fight," said Magni.
"Yes, we all have a part in this," said Throine.
"Well then, we might as well find you a place to rest," said Clarissa as she finished up.
They all looked at her.
"Well,  I don't use the dining room so we just put beds in there to accommodate you," she explained.
"I see," said Magni," we are grateful. It is a long journey from the mountains. Thank you, Clarissa."
Clarissa nodded.
"So do you know when the Necromancers are to arrive?" Asked Astriel.
"Not yet," said Magni," we will need to rest first. They are far enough for us to have that luxury."
"Alright then," said Astriel.
"We will speak in the morning," said Magni.
"See you then," said Cass.
They said goodnight and went to rest as the others discussed what they would do the next day.

Soon enough,  everyone had gone to bed. That left Jared and Cass all alone to wonder over everything.
"Our lives are so hectic now," said Cass.
"It did change very fast," said Jared.
"I wish this could be over with already. We never have time to relax or take a breath."
"It will be over soon. We just need to get through a few more things. After that all we have to worry about is school and what you're going to wear for our wedding."
Cass blushed.
"I had completely forgotten about that. It feels so far away. At least when it's over then Mom can stop worrying."
"What do you mean?"
"I saw her crying today. She's really worried about me. I told her everything is fine but she said I'm just taking on too much. She is afraid that I will leave her because of all this."
"Leave her?"
"She thinks I will die before we get through this prophecy."
"Oh, well you better not. I'm planning to live a long and happy life with you. So don't go anywhere."
"I won't. I promise."
"Thank you."
He kissed her and said goodnight.

They fell asleep and Cass started rolling over not long after.
***
"Mamma, I want to play outside."
"Not now, sweety. Wait until it is warmer."
"Please Mamma? Pappa said I could go whenever I wanted."
"Yes, but it's too early now."
Cassy looked out the window.
"Just a little while longer, okay?"
"Okay, Mamma."
Cassy smiled. Then stopped. That girl had just called her 'Mamma'. She saw a photo on the kitchen wall. It was a photo of her, Jared and the little girl. They were all smiling.
Bree. That was the little girl's name. Her daughter's name.
Bree had blonde hair like Jared's. Although she had Cassy's curls. Her cheeks were always pink. She had blue eyes with flecks of grey.
Cassy sat. She had a daughter. A beautiful daughter. Bree. She wondered who chose that name. Probably Jared. She looked around. Where was Jared? A note stuck to the fridge caught her eye. It said:
'Gone to the store. Will see you soon.
Love, Jared.
Xxx."
She sighed. At least she knew where he was. Where was Bree?
Cassy panicked.
"Bree?" She called.
No answer.
"Bree?"
Cassy ran through the house. The back door stood open. She ran outside.
There she was. Bree was running around, trying to catch butterflies. Very strange butterflies. Cassy walked to her.
"Bree, why didn't you wait?" She asked.
"I wanted to," said Bree," but then I saw the butterflies. Aren't they pretty, Mamma?"
Cassy looked at them. They had the deepest shade of purple and bright pink on their wings. The outside was lined with light blue. And---shone with glitter?
"Bree, where did you see them?"
"In the woods, Mamma. They were coming from there."
Cassy looked to where Bree had pointed. Even more flew around there. She walked closer. A note lay against a tree. She picked it up.
She read:" 'beautiful daughter. Wish I could meet her'." It was signed 'Astriel.' Cassy looked around. She could not see the Elf anywhere. She turned and walked back toward Bree.
"Come on," she said," your father will be here soon."
They walked into the house and waited for Jared to arrive.