So I got demands for a sequel to my last fanfic, Inherit the Night, and here it is. I wrote it so that you don't have to read the first one in order to understand this one. I will warn you now, I hit on some very mature topics though don't worry I wouldn't consider this rated R by far. I really hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear feedback so read and review people! We come here for criticism don't we?
I do not own these characters, they are the property of DC Nation. Cassie is my only true OC. Enjoy.
Prologue:
Saturday, 3 September 2013
1:35 AM
Cassie's POV
Dangling her feet over the edge of a cliff Cassie watches the sun set over Jump City's sparkling bay, if her dad were there she is sure he would yell at her and tell her to be more careful. The rock face could crumble and drop her into the open air but she isn't worried. Wind brushes across her face blowing some of her long black hair into her eyes and raising goose bumps on her arms. She rubs her arms trying to get rid of the chill and finds they are covered in the stretchy black material of her uniform. Confused, she picks at the material unable to recall why she is wearing it. Is she on a mission? She presses around her eyes gently with her fingertips searching for a mask that isn't there. She looks down at herself, a thin, red, V-shaped bird sprawled over her chest, her stomach bare, black utility belt strapped to her hips, black pants, and boots; Sparrow's compete uniform minus the mask. Her turquoise eyes search the crashing surf below looking for an explanation.
In her peripheral vision something darts by. Instinctively, Cassie is on her feet in seconds, hand hovering over her utility belt, scanning her surroundings. She moves away from the edge of the cliff her feet leaving prints in the dirt, in front of her is a wide expanse of grass dominated by a cluster of massive boulders to her left and in the distance she can make out some neglected concrete buildings extending in rows for a fair distance. Something about the old compound is familiar to her but she can't quite place where she knows it from. Cautiously she moves forward and a sound like a falling rock emanates from around the boulders.
"Hello?" Silence. The quiet makes her more uneasy, an ominous feeling hanging in the dusty air, a sense of panic she can't explain starts to build in her chest. Get a grip! "Is anyone there?" There is a high ear-splitting scream.
Without really knowing how, they must have run there when she wasn't looking, Cassandra finds two people locked together in a fight where she had been standing at the edge of the cliff. She freezes. Something here is very wrong. The panic grows, rooting her in place. The man isn't facing her, he is tall and muscular, his body covered from head to toe in a plated suit and the woman is obviously in trouble, her red hair whips around as she fights back kicking and punching all the while constantly looking over her shoulder for something. Cassie's breathing comes short and she can't figure out why. A bright green bolt of energy builds in the woman's hand and she sends it at the man's face, he yelps and falls back. The woman with the red hair looks in her direction and they lock eyes, hers are shining green and the moment they land on Cassie they fill with terror to match Cassandra's own. The woman mouths "Cassie," in shock. Oh my God! No! It hits her, why everything is so familiar, this is the day her mom died.
"No!" She bursts forward desperate to stop what is about to happen ignoring her mother's orders to turn around and find her dad. Cassie's eyes find the man, Slade, he took the opportunity to his advantage drawing closer to Starfire. "Mom! Mom, Look out!" Desperation colors her voice. She reaches for her utility belt, if she could just throw a bird-a-rang, he would never see it coming; her hand only finds the trim of her pants. It was there! No! She's too late. Blood streams out from Starfire's side staining her purple skirt and dampening the grass. "No!" Cassie falls to her knees at her mother's side squeezing her hand, shaking her shoulders, crying over her collapsed body while the light drains out of her green eyes. "Don't leave me again! Mom, please!" Her breath comes short and shallow all of her training and control forgotten.
"Don't worry…" Cassandra is yanked to her feet by her hair and her back is pressed against a solid body before she can think to react. "You are going with her." Slade's cold gravelly voice is the last thing she hears before she bolts upright in bed.
City sounds spill in, muffled through the window, and Cassie sucks air into her trembling body. She looks around at her room its purple walls and pictures all familiar even in the shadows of night. It takes her a moment to realize what happened – a nightmare. Her first thought is to hope she hadn't screamed in her sleep and woken up her dad but the door remains shut so she decides she hadn't. Not again! Frustrated she throws off her blankets and hugs her knees to her chest trying to put it out of her mind. Every year, every September, the nightmares came again. Every September a part of her felt like her mom had just died. Thankfully after a few minutes of deep breathing she manages to set the panic aside and lays back on her pillows staring out her window wishing for patrol.