FORBIDDEN

CHAPTER 14

Everyone in the house got more nervous as the days went by. Cassy continued to sleep. Never waking, never moving. Clarissa, Jace and Jared felt it the most. They could do nothing to help her. They hated that part the most.

Cassy was bombarded with Visions as she slept. One after the other. She only had a few moments of peace between each one. They rolled over her in waves. Although she slept, she did not rest. There were many. Bad, good even some that she could not comprehend as yet. All of them blurred as they passed. Then, one came into sharp focus. The battle her family and friends would have to fight alone.

Cassy stood in the sidelines. No one saw or heard her. No matter how hard she cried out, she was invisible. They were deaf to her warnings. She was hopeless. How could she help them if they didn't even know she was there?
They all stood, ready to fight. Ready to protect her. Ready to give their lives for her. She didn't want that! She wanted to fight! Cass was at a loss for words as hideous trolls ran down the hill, toward her family.
She screamed their names. Still, no one heard her. They were alone. Truly and utterly alone. She could not help them. She could not warn them. Cassy watched in horror as her family were torn apart or flattened in seconds. The Elves, Fae and magicians put up a good fight but they were soon dead, too. Cassy watched as the trolls entered the house. They went upstairs until they reached her room. They stood over her and watched as she slept. She looked so peaceful. A troll lifted his arms and came down. Hard. Cassy was shocked to her core as she watched herself die.

They had failed. The Darkness had won. He would take the world and ruin it. He would destroy their planet. They couldn't stop him anymore. He regained enough strength to materialise into a form once again. His minions at His side. Destroying the planet one continent at a time. With in two months, the earth was His. It was damaged, broken. It was lifeless except for the beasts that thrived in darkness and chaos.
***
Throine did what he could to help, but Cass still didn't wake. She remained in a slumber. The day came where they had to fight. They were caught by surprise. Without Cassy to warn them, they had no way of knowing. It would be an unfair fight. And a long one too...
Clarissa had just finished with dishes.
"Do you want to rest?" Asked Jace.
"No," said Clarissa, "I want my daughter."
Jace embraced her.
"I know. I want her too. We all do," he said in a strained tone.
"Why won't she wake up?" Asked Clarissa.
"I don't know. Throine and the magicians are lost as well. They did what they could and it still didn't help," said Jace.
"I want my baby girl," cried Clarissa.
"I know, I know," said Jace.
Andrea walked in and saw her friend. She traded with Jace and held Clarissa.
"We know how you feel," said Andrea,"we miss her too."
"It's my baby. Why won't she get better?" Asked Clarissa.
"She will," said Andrea," she just needs time."
"How much time? Without her we have no way of knowing when or what will attack," said Clarissa.
"I don't know how long. We must be aware. Now more than ever," said Andrea.
"We need to keep her safe," said Jace.
"How do we do that when we don't even know what we'll be fighting?" Asked Clarissa.
"Shh, there now. We will do what it takes," said Andrea," even if it means giving our lives for her."
"No," said Clarissa, "Cass wouldn't want that."

Jared straightened.
"What is it, Son?" Asked Nick.
"It's Cassy. She's still unconscious but she's trying to contact me," said Jared.
Clarissa looked up.
"How?" Asked Clarissa.
"In my mind. It's just a whisper, but she's there. She's fighting to come through," answered Jared.
"Can you answer?" Asked Clarissa.
"I'm trying," said Jared.
"Please, we need to know she's okay," said Clarissa.
"She's struggling. She can't wake up. She says there is a fight coming. She won't be awake when it does. We will have to fight without her," said Jared.
"When?" Asked Clarissa.
Jared looked at her.
"Today," he said.
"What is it?" Asked Nick.
"Trolls. They'll be here at sunset. She says out best chance is with the others. We need to count on them. We won't be able to win alone," said Jared.
"We are here. We will fight and the others too," said Throine.
The others nodded.
"Cassy says thank you," said Jared.
"We must protect her," said Astriel," she is our only hope in this war."
"We will do our best," said Magni.
"We have to," said Jared," if we fail, we all die. Cassy too. If we fail, The Darkness will rose again."
"We cannot allow that to happen," said Throine.
"No," said Jace," not after everything Cass went through to defeat Him."
"Tell Cassy we will do what we can," said Andrea.
"She can hear all of us. She can only answer through me," said Jared.
"I love you, baby girl," said Clarissa.
"She says she loves you too," said Jared, " but we have to get ready. It won't be long before the trolls get here."
"Let's do it then," said Nick as everyone ran about.

'Are you okay?' Cassy whispered in Jared's mind.
'Yes, just really tired and missing you.'
'I'm sorry. I wish I could wake up. I miss you too. Your smell. Your touch. Everything about you, Jared.'
'Don't feel guilty. It isn't your fault. We know you're trying. Just don't give up, okay?'
'I won't. It ducks being stuck here. Not being able to move or talk. I'm just glad I got through to you. I've been trying since I realised I wasn't waking up. How long has it been?'
'Two days. That's how long you've been asleep. Are you feeling better?'
'No, I keep having Visions. That's how I knew about the trolls. I just wish I could help.'
'You have. You warned us. All you have to do is stay safe. And alive.'
'I'm not planning on dying so you can relax. I hate this. At least I can talk to you now. I missed your voice, Jared. I missed it so much!'
'And I missed yours. I'm so used to hearing it the whole time. These past two days have been torture. Not hearing your voice. Not seeing your smile. When you wake up, I want a big hug and kiss.'
'That's fine by me.'
'You sound tired. Your voice is a whisper. Do you want to rest?'
'No! I mean, I just can't take the silence. It's driving me insane. I just got through to you. I'm not letting that slip away again.'
'Okay but if you get too tired, rest. Please?'
'Okay. I'm fine for now though.'
'Okay. I'll keep talking then.'
'Thank you, Jared.'
'Sure thing,Cass.'
'What's wrong?'
'I think our guests are close.'
'Is the ground shaking?'
'A little but yes.'
'Jared, you have to warn everyone. They're early! They're coming and they aren't far off!'
'Okay I'll tell them.'
'Thank you. I'm losing my energy again. If I go quiet, then I don't have enough left to do this.'
'Okay. I'll talk to you until then.'
'I love you, Jared.'
'I love you too. Always and forever.'
'Until time stands still...'

With that Cass went quiet. Jared sighed. He missed her all over again. He shook the thought from his mind. He had to help the others. He ran outside to meet up with them.
"The trolls will be here soon," said Throine.
"Sooner than Cass just said?" Asked Jared.
"I believe so. They can arrive at any second now," answered Throine.
"Let them come. Let's finish this," said Jared.

Just then the first troll came through the trees. It was huge. It had grey skin and beady eyes. Its mouth had small teeth. It had shoulders that reached far apart. Its hands were the size of boulders and it stood about halfway up the trees when standing straight.

Magni caught the first in a whirlwind which made it vanish completely. No one quite understood but they didn't dare ask. They stood back as archers shot continuously, slowing the trolls. The Fae attacked from beneath their feet and the magicians finished them off with spells or charms.

The more they fought, the more came. It was a never ending stream of beasts. Each one uglier or bigger than the last. The archers were running out if arrows and the spells were wearing the magicians down. Only the Fae still had a firm grip on their role. To make up for the lack of power, they started stringing the trolls up in the trees where the Elves resorted to swords.

It started looking as if they could win. No one gave that thought any time I  their minds as they strove to finish the battle. The magicians were running out of power. They were drained. They resorted to only using spells when absolutely necessary. The rest of the time, they finished off stragglers. The Fae and Elves worked side by side in order to capture and decapitate the last of the trolls.

Finally. They killed the last of the trolls. It was over. They could rest. Everyone went inside and got food and coffee. Soon after that they started going to bed.
Jared was the last to go. He laid down next to Cassy as he watched her breathing.
'I'm okay,' came a soft whisper in Jared's mind.
'That's good. We won.'
'I know. I can't keep talking much longer but I'm glad you're here.'
'So am I."

Silence.

Jared hugged Cassy and held her close as he closed his eyes for the night. Cassy was there. Now she just had to wake up.

Jared fell asleep as he waited for morning to come. Then he would check on Cass again.

Cass waited for morning for a different reason. She would wake up. Finally. She would see Jared's face again and feel his touch after what felt like a lifetime...