Chapter Twenty One : Feud with The Wyatt Family
Roman and I left the ring and he was still amazed by the way I could spread my power to cover him to keep him safe from the fire I had started. By the time we got backstage I was infuriated. Nobody had said anything to me about The Wyatts starting a feud with us. When Rodney told me that Stephanie wanted to see us, I was already on my way to her office. I barged in and slammed the door behind Joe.
"Did you know about The Wyatts pulling that shit and forget to tell me, Stephanie?" I asked her angrily.
"You need to calm down, Cassie. We need to discuss your flagrant disregard of safety of those three Superstars."
"Not until you answer my question, Stephanie," I growled at her.
Joe had his hand on my back, trying to calm me. Anger was radiating off of me. The Wyatts had more than unsettled me. Stephanie sighed and looked at her hands.
"No. They weren't supposed to go out to the ring. Dean Ambrose and AJ Lee were to challenge the two of you to a mixed tag match at Extreme Rules. It was supposed to end the storyline between all of you. It was made clear to the two of them that if they didn't stop harassing the two of you they would be released from their contracts. The Wyatts weren't supposed to be anywhere near you," Stephanie said, looking me in the eye at last.
She confirmed my worst nightmare. Bray Wyatt did in fact know more about me than I wanted. I started shaking. Joe noticed.
"What's wrong, Cassie?" Joe asked.
"Windham knows," I said, the anger turning to fear.
"Knows what, Cassie," Stephanie asked, noticing the change. "What do you mean?"
"Tonight was a set-up. He knows about my power. He pushed me. I don't know how he knows, but I've suspected he's known since before Hell in a Cell, but I've avoided him, Jon, and Joseph actively. Tonight he was pushing me to get a reaction. I don't know how he knew to say what he did, though," I said looking at the floor, angry at myself for giving in to his plan.
"What are you talking about, Baby Girl?"
"When he said he'd teach me to be a good girl. That's what set me off. The night I was attacked I was told that. I was told that I had to be taught to be a good girl," I said, leaving out the fact that Joe's former best friends had also mentioned him while doing it and the fact it wasn't the only time.
Stephanie's face softened. Joe's face warred between rage and wanting to comfort me. He gave in to comforting me. He put his arms around me.
"Oh, Cassie," Stephanie said to me. "I'm sorry. No wonder you lost control out there. We're not gonna make a big deal about this as far as discipline, but we can't ignore what The Wyatts just started. Can you handle this feud for a short while?"
"Not alone and not for too long, Stephanie. I don't know what they know or how, but I don't trust what they're up to."
"We'll have this go only a few weeks. It will come to an end at Extreme Rules. We'll push the end of your feud with Dean and AJ back to Payback. Can you handle that?"
"Can my dad become involved? And maybe Glenn? So I don't have to get in the ring with them every time? I mean, I am the only Diva who fights in the men's division nowadays, but I don't want to face these guys too much before Extreme Rules. Besides, I'm not clear to go in ring until next Monday."
"I think that's a good idea. Roman Reigns joining the Family of Destruction to defend his girlfriend? I think that will be amazing for business. But maybe you should go talk to your father, Cassie. I assume you haven't told him what happened after Survivor Series?"
I shook my head to tell her I hadn't.
"He's here. He saw what you did in the ring and he was in here, furious that you had done what you did to The Wyatts. I think you are gonna have to tell him the truth to make him back off."
I looked up at her. She didn't realize what she was asking me.
"Stephanie, if I tell him, what I did in that ring will be nothing compared to what he will do. Where do you think I get these abilities from? Both parents. Ask your father, there have been instances over the years when the pyrotechnics malfunctioned. That was Dad, not a malfunction. Let me avoid him for the rest of the event. I'll find something to tell him tomorrow. I'll leave here with Joe as soon as his match ends tonight."
Stephanie's eyes went wide with realization.
"That night when fire almost hit AJ, it was him, wasn't it?"
"Yes. He realized she had put a ring on during our match and cut my eye. He got angry because she'd intentionally done something that could have left me blind."
"Alright. I'll make sure he's distracted. I'll put him in a match next. Joe, your match will be at the mid-way point so you can get out of here early with Cassie. You guys lay low until then."
Dad was put in a match against Luke Harper. I watched from backstage as he leveled him. They weren't that different in terms of height, but it was clear that Harper was no match for Dad in terms of power. No matter what Harper did, Dad got back up. Dad was furious, Harper, Bray, and Rowan had gone off-script to come after me. After the match, Joe and I made ourselves scarce as he got ready for his match against Randy Orton.
We decided I would go ringside for the match so I wouldn't run into Dad while Joe was in the ring and this way when he finished we could leave. I entered with him to his music and stayed at the announce table next to Jerry. The match started, but I didn't pay much attention to it until the lights went out and the music for The Wyatt Family started. I got up and went into the ring even though I shouldn't have been in there.
The lights came back on and Randy was gone. It was me and Roman with our backs to the announce table facing off against Bray, Luke, and Erick on the opposite side of the ring. Bray took a step toward the center of the ring. I followed suit with Roman at my side.
"You shouldn't be in this ring, now should you, Little Girl?" Bray asked me.
Nobody but Stephanie, Paul, Natalie, and my family knew about me being restricted for the week. It wasn't unheard of for the Divas to go a week or so without being in-ring. But, again, he knew more than he should.
"After that match yesterday, you were told to rest, weren't you?" he asked.
I just glared at him. I refused to answer him. Instead I took one step closer to him.
"Are you coming to your senses and joining us, Morgana? You know you're as much a monster on the inside as we are," he said to me.
He went to grab me to perform Sister Abigail, but I was ready for that. I kicked him in the stomach. I grabbed him by his neck and performed a swinging neckbreaker as Roman speared both Harper and Rowan. Bray hit the mat and before I got up, whispered something that stopped me in my tracks long enough for him to grab me.
"Baby killer," he whispered in my ear before I got away from him.
He grabbed me to perform Sister Abigail, but Roman stopped him. Instead, Bray got a Superman Punch. I hit the mat, but not as badly as I would have if Bray had performed his finisher on me. Sore from overexertion, Roman and I made our way out of the ring to the backstage area of the arena, where we grabbed our gym bags and left, still in our ring attire.
The following morning Joe and I woke up to banging on our hotel room door. I got to the door before Joe got out of his room. Dad was on the other side. As I opened the door, Joe came out of his room pulling on a t-shirt.
"CASSIDY WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT LAST NIGHT?!" Dad started yelling at me before the door fully closed.
"Good morning to you too, Dad," I said, stifling a yawn.
"Don't give me that good morning shit, Cassidy! I told you that you being here was dangerous! First you attacked three Superstars! Then you went against doctors' orders to have an in-ring altercation with the same three Superstars that could have really hurt you! What is going on with you?!"
I looked at Joe. He nodded at me.
"Mark, would you like some coffee? Why don't you sit down at the table and give Cassie a minute?"
"You! What were you thinking letting her do those things? You should have made her stay in the hotel last night!" Dad rounded on Joe.
My last nerve snapped and I burned Dad's hand on purpose. He yelled in pain then looked at me incredulously.
"Did you just burn me, Cassidy?!"
"YES! NOW, SIT DOWN AND HAVE SOME FUCKING COFFEE WITHOUT PICKING ON JOE OR I'LL DO MORE THAN BURN YOUR HAND, DAD! HE CAN'T CONTROL ME ANY MORE THAN YOU CAN! I'VE BEEN AWAKE FOR ALL OF FIVE MINUTES WITH YOU IN MY HOTEL ROOM BARKING AT BOTH OF US ABOUT THINGS WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON! NOW SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP OR LEAVE!"
Joe backed up into the kitchenette of the suite, looking like he wanted to disappear. Dad looked between the two of us and gave in, sitting down at the table. He may be The Undertaker, but he knew better than to push me too far when I was just waking up. I was more likely to attack someone and not care. I went into my room and threw on a sweatshirt, ran a brush through my hair, and then went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I went to the table, Joe went inside to do the same, but Dad had his coffee.
"Are you calmer, Dad?" I asked him sitting down.
"I don't have a choice, do I?"
"Not really," I said to him. "I needed space last night and didn't think talking to you last night would do anything but start a pyrokinetic war in the arena. That's why I didn't see you last night. I was going to come see you today. If you don't believe me, ask Stephanie. I told her I would. After I asked her if she would let you and maybe Glenn help with the new problem I'm finding myself in with The Wyatts. I don't want to fight them too much."
"It didn't seem like that last night, Cassie. What the hell happened? What set you off?"
Damn, he's going right for the big questions, I thought.
Joe came and sat down next to me, holding my hand, giving me strength. With him there, I could face Dad. I didn't know how, but I knew that. I squeezed his hand and looked at him. He gave me an encouraging nod.
"Cassie, what's going on with you?"
I looked at Dad and just started talking.
"There's a lot you don't know, Dad. Things I didn't want to tell anyone, but I was forced to tell Joe and Stephanie after the Elimination Chamber and then Natalie on Sunday night. It ties in to why I've been acting the way I have in some ways, and it ties into the fight with Bray last night before Joe and I left Raw."
"What is it, Cassie?" Dad asked me worried.
I took a deep breath before I continued. Joe put one arm around my shoulders, the other still holding my hand.
"The night after Survivor Series, I didn't get food poisoning, Dad. Joe helped me lie to Paul. I wasn't sick. I lied to everyone about that, even you," I started, but stopped when I saw him getting angry. "Don't get mad at Joe. He didn't know the truth about what he was covering up for me. I was hurt, but he only knew part of it. Denise went to him, that part was true, but she went to him because I was about to die, Dad."
"What the hell really happened that night, Cassie? Why did you lie to everyone?" he started asking before he realized why I would lie about that. "Did you cut yourself, Cassie? You promised you were trying to stop!"
"Dad! Stop!" I shouted at him. "Let me finish or I won't be able to get this out. This isn't easy to talk about. I'm trying to tell you the truth here, but if you keep yelling at me I'm not gonna be able to."
He looked from me to Joe. I saw Joe shake his head no at him. That shake of his head made it clear, Joe wouldn't help my father. He was on my side.
"Fine," Dad said grudgingly.
"Yes, I cut myself. I cut myself a lot. The week Joe and I stayed together I kept losing consciousness because I was pushing myself to heal the cuts so nobody would know they were fresh. They looked a few years old by the time we went back and Paul sent me for the physical. But there was a reason I cut myself, Dad. I snapped. I snapped so bad and I didn't care anymore.
"When I left Raw that night I was just gonna go back to the hotel and relax. I had a lot on my mind. I was still trying to figure out what the hell was going on in my life. I was avoiding Joe. Brie, who had been my friend for years, had double-crossed me to work with The Shield. Nikki and Bryan were mad at me. I was having a lot of issues. But I didn't make it to the hotel, I didn't even make it to my rental car.
"Someone came up behind me in the parking lot and stuck me with something. They drugged me and took me to some motel in the middle of nowhere and raped me, Dad. It was two guys. I don't remember much, but Denise saved me. She drained the drugs out of me so I could use my powers to melt the handcuffs they had me restrained with off of me. I escaped, but they had made it clear if told anyone they would find me and attack me again, so I didn't tell anyone.
"I left Stephen's room and checked into my own room. When I was alone, I started cutting myself, watching as I bled. I vaguely remember Denise coming back to me, saying she would get me help. The next thing I remember, I was in a different room, with Joe in the living area. He took care of me, putting out fires when I got upset, cleaning up my cuts when they reopened, getting me steaks and burgers to keep my energy up as much as possible.
"I started getting depressed and sick before the Elimination Chamber. Joe was worried about me, and that's why we had the party. But at the event, Stephanie insisted I needed to have a pregnancy test, Dad. She said if I was pregnant, I'd have to take leave. I was. I was almost four months pregnant. Before you ask, there is no possibility that it was Joe's. I've been too scared to go that far with him, and he's never pressured me. That's why we get two bedroom suites when we book our hotel rooms. We don't share a bed. I got pregnant from the rape.
"I refused to have the baby. I told Stephanie as much when she started telling me about going on leave, so the Tuesday after the Elimination Chamber, the day after I finally told Joe what happened, he took me to have an abortion. Until Sunday, only him, Stephanie, and Doc Fernandez knew about that. On Sunday I told Nattie because she felt guilty about hurting me with the abdominal stretch.
"Last night, Bray was goading me into setting the fires. I've suspected since Hell in a Cell that he's known about my abilities, but I don't know how. But when he interrupted Joe's match he told me he knows more. When I did the swinging neckbreaker on him he called me a baby killer. Only a handful of people knew about that. Not to mention the wording he was using on me when he came out the first time, it was the wording the people who attacked me used on me. They told me they had to teach me to be a good girl. It's why I snapped, Dad.
"They weren't supposed to be out there, Dad. Stephanie told me that much last night. But she wants to put an end to the storyline quickly. She asked that we carry it out until the next pay-per-view. Will you help me and Joe? She's thinking have him join with The Family of Destruction for Morgana's protection."
Dad stared at the table and I could see the smoke going from his hands. He was struggling not to set something on fire himself. Joe hugged me and kissed my forehead.
"I'm proud of you for finally telling him, Baby Girl," he whispered against my temple.
I snuggled against his chest while Dad fought with his warring emotions. The ball was in his court. I was as honest as I was ready to be at that point.
"Cassie," Dad started, finally finding his voice. "Why wouldn't you tell me sooner?"
I saw the pain in his eyes. It broke my heart.
"Dad, I didn't want to disappoint you. How could I tell you I could handle my life and tell you that I couldn't protect myself? I didn't want to tell anyone. I only told Joe and Stephanie because I had to. I don't know that I would have done it if I hadn't been put in a position where I had to yet."
"Cass, I love you, and I want you to come to me if you are hurt or in trouble. You know that, right?"
I bit back what I wanted to say, which was that I knew that he felt that way if it fit in around his legitimate children.
"I know, Dad," I said instead.
"I'll help you. But you need to stay out of the ring until you're clear to go back. No more fighting with The Wyatts."
"I won't. I'm not going to the taping of Main Event or Smackdown this week."
Dad got up and hugged me. Then he shocked me and Joe by hugging Joe too.
"Thank you for taking such good care of my daughter when she wouldn't let anyone else in," he said to him.
"I'm just glad that Denise came to me so I could get to her in time," Joe said to Dad.
"I'm going to lay back down. This took a lot out of me," I said standing up and giving Dad a kiss on the cheek.
"I'll go talk to Stephanie and Paul," he said to me.
"Thanks, Dad."
"Take care of her, Joe."
"I will, Mark."
Dad left the hotel room and after Joe walked him out he met me in my room to hold me as I fell asleep. It was the only way I could sleep without nightmares anymore. I would fall asleep in his arms and then he would leave my room.
The feud with The Wyatts got a little out of hand. The Monday before Extreme Rules, I was put in a singles match against Bray Wyatt. He went for a victory roll in the match and the closeness of his body was too much for me. After I kicked out, I attacked back.
Harper and Rowan were at ringside, but so were Dad, Kane and Roman. I performed an enzuigiri kick on Bray, leaving him seeing stars. I didn't let it go from there. I did a running bulldog on him. When he got up, I hit him with an elbow to the back of the head. He fell to his knees on the mat. I rolled him up and while Dad, Kane and Roman kept Harper and Rowan out of the ring, he was counted down for the pin.
The morning of Extreme Rules I went to Stephanie in her office. I wanted to talk to her about something. It was big.
"Stephanie?" I said as walked into her office.
"Yeah, sit down, Cassie. What can I do for you?"
"I wanted to talk to you about something. Strictly work related."
"Okay. I'm all ears."
"Well, I've held the Diva's Championship almost constantly for over a year now."
"Right. So?"
"I hardly fight the Divas. I'm not complaining about that so much, but I'm starting to think maybe it's not fair to the Divas. I came in as a newcomer last year, won the championship in my first match, and hardly ever have matches against Divas."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
"Well, the WWE Universe seems to like Morgana fighting the Superstars a lot. And you did mention you were planning on ending the Morgana/AJ feud at Payback, right?"
"Yeah. What are you thinking?"
"What if Morgana vacates the Diva's title the day after Payback to fight the Superstars?"
"Why not drop the title to AJ?"
"I can't bring myself to do that. You told me you want to put mine and Joe's titles up at Payback. I can't ask him to lose his title to Dean for me. Please, after all the two of them have put us through, don't ask me to job the title to her. I'll vacate it. You can have a match between any Diva you want to find a new champion afterwards. Just don't ask me to do that."
"I'll think about it. It's not a bad idea. I mean, other than Natalie, you're too strong for most of the Divas. This could have its benefits. And you do seem to hold your own in singles competition versus some of the top Superstars," she said to me. "I'll talk to Paul and I'll get back to you. You should go get ready for tonight. Are you sure you're still up to this?"
"If it means this is over? Yes, I am," I said to her. "One other thing, Stephanie. Can you and Paul keep this to yourselves for now? I haven't told Joe I was coming to talk to you about this. I didn't want to talk to him unless I knew there was a reason to."
"As long as you don't keep this from him the way you kept your debut from your dad, Cassie."
"I won't. I'll tell them both. Just not until you decide."
"Alright."
"Thanks, Stephanie."
Later that night, after I'd been checked in medical to make sure I had no injuries that were undiscovered and I'd spent some time in the warm-up gym, I was ready for my match. Roman Reigns and The Family of Destruction were taking on The Wyatt family in an Inferno match. In order to win, one team had to eliminate all the members of the other team by setting the opposing team members on fire. As a competitor was set on fire, they were to report back to the locker room.
The Wyatt Family entered before The Family of Destruction and Roman Reigns. When we came out, Bray just kept staring at me. I kept myself between Roman and Dad with Kane behind me. Right after we entered the ring, it was set on fire. I was nervous. We were in there and I knew Roman could get hurt if I didn't protect him.
Harper and Rowan went straight for Dad and Kane so Roman and I went straight for Bray. Roman speared Bray and he went down. When Bray got back to his feet, I suplexed him, hoping I could get him close enough to the apron that his clothes would catch fire, but I had no luck. Bray performed a running bulldog on Roman and turned back to me, a demonic look in his eyes.
"You shouldn't fight destiny, Morgana. You belong with us."
I ran at him to clothesline him, but Erick Rowan got in my way and pushed me back halfway across the ring. Before Roman could get to Rowan, Kane chokeslammed Rowan onto the ropes, making his jumpsuit catch fire. He was the first elimination. Trainers pulled him from the ring from the outside to be extinguished and taken to the medical suite to be checked for injuries.
"The numbers are in favor of Roman Reigns and The Family of Destruction. Four on Two… unless Bray and Harper can come up with some impressive maneuvers, things aren't looking good for them," I heard JBL telling Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler.
I got up and turned back to Bray, only to have Harper try to knock me onto the ropes. It didn't work. Dad got in the way and Tombstoned Harper in the center of the ring. Roman was near the ropes going punch for punch with Bray. Kane came over to help me up and when he did, Harper used a drop toe hold on him to drop him onto the ropes, making his sleeve catch fire and eliminating him.
"HARPER ELIMINATED KANE! LUKE HARPER HAS ELIMINATED THE BIG RED MONSTER, KANE!" Jerry Lawler yelled from the announce table.
The flames grew in size by about two feet. Kane was pissed off. I knew it. I looked at Dad and he just nodded, confirming my suspicions.
Getting back to my feet, Dad and I went after Harper. When Dad went for a Big Right Hand on Harper, I did a sweep kick on him, and we really knocked him on his ass. He was seeing stars. Dad picked him up, getting ready to throw him onto the ropes to eliminate him. Unfortunately, Harper squirmed out of Dad's grip and knocked Dad onto the ropes before he could regain his footing. Dad was eliminated. Thankfully, Harper went right after him, his t-shirt being set on fire when Roman came behind him and speared him onto the flaming ropes.
Dad and Harper started fighting outside the ring. Dad put the flames on his ring attire out on his own immediately. Harper's fire went out after Dad Tombstoned him on the metal ramp. Harper didn't get back up. Dad looked back to me and gave me his signature thumb across the throat, he wanted me and Roman to finish Bray Wyatt.
I turned to Bray and found him staring back at me and Roman. His eyes looked dead. The look in them sent chills down my spine. I hated him and wanted to hurt him. He came running at Roman and I threw myself in the way, kicking him in the face with a Big Boot.
"That's for my Father!" I yelled at him.
He didn't get back up. I pounced on him and started punching him repeatedly. His face started bleeding and I still didn't stop beating him. Roman pulled me off of him, pushing me closer to the edge of the ring to give me some breathing room from Bray.
"Calm down, Baby Girl," he said to me.
Neither of us saw Bray come up behind Roman to push us both onto the ropes. We hit the ropes and Roman caught fire. In my panic, my power spread and protected him. He didn't get hurt. Me on the other hand, the fire didn't touch. The trainers pulled Roman from the ring and I could hear him fighting them to let him back in.
"She can't be left alone in there with that freak!"
"Roman! You're eliminated! Go to the locker room!" The head trainer told him.
"Bray Wyatt eliminated Roman Reigns! Morgana didn't catch fire! It's down to Bray Wyatt and Morgana!" JBL was exclaiming.
"You cheated there Morgana," Bray said to me.
"Prove it, Bray."
He ran at me, but I was furious. I was seeing blood everywhere in my rage. I still didn't know how he did it, but he had to have spied on me to find out my secrets. When he went to grab at me, I hit him with a roundhouse kick and grabbed his arm, climbing up on the ropes, which were still not burning me, and performed Old School.
"You can't burn me, Bray!"
Everyone could see of the two of us, he was the one who came into the ring soaking wet. There was no reason for me not to catch fire. I rolled away from him after Old School and took the moments he was dazed to try to steady my breathing. He came at me to try to clothesline me onto the rope again, but I ran at him, spearing him. When I hit him, I hit him back to the ropes. His gear caught fire.
"MORGANA HAS JUST BEAT BRAY WYATT IN AN INFERNO MATCH! MORGANA, DAUGHTER OF THE UNDERTAKER, HAS BEATEN BRAY WYATT!" Jerry Lawler was yelling from the announce table.
Bray was pulled from the ring and extinguished. Trainers took him to the medical suite as others came to extinguish the fire around the ring. I didn't wait. I walked through it and up the ramp. The WWE Universe went nuts.
When I got into the medical suite, Bray was being put down on an exam table. Before they could start checking him, I walked over to him and decked him so hard his eyes glazed over. The trainers pulled me off of him.
"If you ever come near me without it being scripted again, Windham, I'll do worse than I did tonight!"
At this point, Joe came running in to check on me. He held me in his arms as he led me to the locker room where Dad and Kane were waiting. When we walked in, Dad looked at me with pride for the first time in over a year.
"I'm proud of you, Cassie."
"Me too, Cass. You taught him a lesson I doubt he'll ever forget," Glenn chimed in.
I went over to Dad and hugged him. It had been so long since we had been able to be around each other without fighting about me being in the WWE or me dating Joe or something else. The fact that he was here for me, on my side, AND proud of me made tonight even better than it already was.
"You should've seen the right hook she gave him in the medical suite before I could get to her. She made it clear he better back off," Joe told them.
Dad and Glenn looked at me impressed.
"Maybe you should be wrestling the guys," Glenn said.
"Maybe I should," I said. "I usually do anyway."
"Are you okay, Cassie? You spent a lot of time in the flames. Did they burn you?" Joe asked.
I laughed.
"Joe, you still don't get it. I can sit in the middle of an inferno, literally, and not burn. Why do you think you have no burns? I spread my power to you to keep you safe. I was too mad to burn. There was no way I could lose that match tonight," I replied.
"Cassie, that's cheating," Joe said.
"It is, and I don't care. He wasn't ever supposed to come after me. So I taught him a lesson my way. He wanted to hint he knew about me and my powers, I gave him a hint of what I could do. I'm not gonna hide in fear from him. If he wants to threaten me, I'm gonna fight."
"She's right, Joe. If she didn't she'd be hiding from him or at his mercy for the rest of her life," Glenn said.
Joe came and hugged me. Things were finally starting to look up. I was less scared because I didn't let Bray and his minions scare me into hiding. My life was mine to command. Now I just needed to do the same with Jonathan and Colby.