Stolen Season

chapter two: Hole in the Earth

-

Do I know you from somewhere?
Why do you leave me wanting more?

-

Troy was gone and she felt nothing. The news didn't shock her or make her worry over his safety. She didn't even feel guilt for having driven him away. She'd been in love with him for so long that she'd forgotten how it'd even begun. The small things must've affected her at first: his smile maybe, the way he looked when he was troubled by some assignment they were working on, the furrows, his bed hair when he overslept…

Now it was nothing; she didn't miss him or particularly even reminiscent their short time together. Every encounter since she'd obtained the urn seemed unromantic and unable to awaken her desires now that she thought about them afterwards. Just like the clumsy lovemaking when he'd been possessed or making out in his car. She'd been able to stop at any time because her feelings for him were just on the surface and drawing from passion within her that didn't have any particular target. She'd just wanted someone for so long that it'd been easier to pick him.

And now? She'd discovered her true soul mate in that wretched man who used her and lied to her and gave her the sweetest bliss in bittersweet wrapping? Was that love? Was that desire?

It felt like he knew her inside out and could tell she just wanted intimacy right now. He'd lied to her. Lied so cruelly that she wanted to pull away for good and never touch anyone again like that.

Cassie buried her head in her hands, the large natural white sleeves hiding every inch of her face. She had messy hair, no make up on her face. Who cared about that? – Certainly not anyone in this goddamn elitist school.

Thelma was growing worried over Cassie. The girl had not been herself after the abortion. Of course she knew the first few days Cassie had pretended to be all sunshine but now it seemed like her energy had dried out and she had nothing left to give. Azazeal hadn't come around here giving more of his demands and for that Thelma was happy. He ought to find some other easy to pick on witch descendant to have his babies with! Only Thelma wasn't quite sure if he even needed another witch because…

The mere thought made it feel like her heart had stopped again. Thelma had known all along that the baby was the only reason she was allowed to stay in this world with Cassie and that once the baby's life had ended, she'd also disappear from this world. Now the procedure was supposed to be over and done with, only she was still here and Cassie was about to drown in the guilt she didn't even acknowledge herself.

Perhaps Azazeal had got to them first. Perhaps the baby was still alive, able to survive even outside its mother's womb. It was possible he'd have grown enough in that short time, which meant that now Azazeal had his child and a depressed Cassie posed no threat and didn't need to be watched. Thelma glanced at her friend carefully, afraid that all her doubts would be like written notes on her face if Cassie just looked at her. Cassie didn't, she was too stuck in the emotional spider web that evil man had spun.

What use had there been in keeping this secret from Cassie? It didn't even offer her peace of mind! And to be stuck here watching Cassie suffer like this without even being able to hold her and comfort her was torture.

It wasn't guilt she felt, no, she'd done that in awhile ago. This was the moment of clarity when you realize what you can do and what you can't. If telling the truth would at least bring some life into Cassie, that's what she needed to do. Cassie wouldn't allow Azazeal to raise the baby, no, she'd seek them out and fight him – Thelma knew that for sure. That was also what she feared would happen and had tried to prevent. However Cassie needed to know, couldn't move on until she too felt clarity again instead of the loud confusion.

"Cassie," Thelma said with shaking confidence and prepared to let go.

For Cassie she'd do anything: Even death – twice.

-

Seeing the changes in Medham immediately made Baraqiel want to abandon his ugly form and seek comfort in a more suitable lie. It was impossible of course for Azazeal had forbidden him and with a good cause. Knowing his old friend, he'd only sought out to prevent Baraqiel's focus from shifting into less important issues such as the temptation the young humans filled him with. It stirred his insides, sharpened every sense until his vision became unbearable and he had to close his eyes and remember just what he was supposed to be doing.

It wasn't easy to be here again, especially since he'd had much more freedom the last time around. Back then he'd stood by Rachel's side day and night, always watching, always reporting. At least he'd been allowed to amuse himself with the humans Rachel lured for his joy. It wasn't that Baraqiel had ever needed any help in that department but somehow Rachel had seen it better that no one else caught a glimpse of her handsome guest, her cousin as they lied to the public. He kind of missed that woman even now; the soft way she'd called him her cherub.

The fallen angel did not despair however; this torture couldn't go on for long. The child would soon reach maturity and there'd be a calm period where he could do whatever he wanted to while Azazeal and Samyaza gathered their forces. The Nephilim would be allowed to exit their prison all at once and Baraqiel would see everyone again. So this was but a minor annoyance.

Yet as the days passed Baraqiel began growing more and more comfortable in his mission. Cassandra was everything Azazeal had described and more. She didn't appear strong, or particularly convincing in her act. There was something about her shy smile though, something heartwarming. She just didn't fit in, wasn't accepted among the other humans. It was strange for the stench of witch craft really didn't sully that girl and he could tell her isolation was far from willing.

He wanted to examine her closer, find out what it was about her that had Azazeal so enthralled. Of course the angel had done almost everything in his power to fight it and never show it, but the way he'd put her down and eagerly painted her picture into an unimportant one really spoke of something else. Even now the insight made Baraqiel's stomach and throat tickle with laughter. Their prideful and arrogant Azazeal enslaved by a simple girl – now that was a thought!

Trouble waited in the horizon though and soon Baraqiel forgot all about his sexual frustration as he raised his ugly head for real. The girl awoke from her coma, raging and screaming and her despair fuelled her powers. That's when he caught a glimpse of what Azazeal had been so taken in by – her true spirit. She'd hidden it under heavy layers of clothing, tried to mask it with everything but the cosmetics Azazeal had introduced to the humans in the dawn of their fall.

This is how it began. He followed her around, forgetting all about the things he'd sworn to do upon his next release or the needs of his demon form. He became reckless in his quest to catch every last glimpse of her, hoping she'd flare and show more of that spirit. And when he grew more anxious, she began to notice she was being followed and caught glimpses of him as well.

For some reason it didn't bother him at all.

-

Her child was alive and the fear in that doctor's eyes could only be inflicted by Azazeal. He'd had gone as far as killing a man, whose only crime had been helping him in bringing her child into the world. He was a murderer.

"I know I've not got what the others have, but I'm a good guy."

"Of course you are," she nodded at Felix's words, but they escaped her quickly and her mind only returned to the child. Malachai, he'd already named their child and she was free to join their family if she wanted to. But would the cheating and lying ever stop? Azazeal used women, it was his way; He'd used her!

"You're not really like them either."

No, she wasn't quite human, didn't fit in here. But was her place with Azazeal either? Being the… what? His bride, the concubine of a fallen angel? Perhaps she was just his last thread of hope in bringing his heir into this world? Yeah, it was that part she always forgot when he started with his confessions and wooing. She was cheap to him, an imitation of something he'd failed to have, and that's why he treated her the way he did.

"No, I guess not," she replied a tad more reserved than before. Her gaze wandered away from Felix and his confessions. Was that Nephilim still there? Watching her every step and making sure she didn't interfere with whatever it was Azazeal was really planning on doing?

"Well, I can't believe I'm about to say this but this party is making me really depressed."

Cassie turned her head to him again. That melancholy tone had caught her voice and her nurturing instinct responded. Here she was thinking only of herself when Felix was opening himself to her and about to tell her things he wouldn't normally share with anyone. She couldn't just piss at him for trusting her like Azazeal had done to her.

"But I really like you Cassie. I think we could be good together."

It wasn't a soft seduction, or a promise she wanted to be real with every cell in her body. Nothing in his words stirred her and yet it was better than any of Azazeal's lies. He could be a true friend, Cassie knew it.

"Not good quickly like everyone else when it's all over in two weeks."

No, he wasn't offering friendship was he? He was trying to say he loved her, or was beginning to. Once again she'd have someone to project these feelings to and pretend it was enough when it wasn't. As cruel as it was only Azazeal had succeed in making her whole, even if it'd been an act on his part.

"But properly you know? We could talk!"

No they couldn't. She was a witch, her best friend was a lesbian ghost and she was trying to deny her feelings for a fallen angel. Felix was just a guy, a lonely guy. Azazeal's jealousy for Thelma had gotten her killed. No matter how much Cassie might've needed someone alive to just talk to or hang out with the truth was Azazeal most likely would end all such relationships.

"Watch movies, I bet we even like the same food!"

"Felix," she tried interrupting but his soft voice continued without her permission,

"Because we're not like them. We've got something that could be special."

She almost wanted to grab him and sob against him. While holding him she might tell him they could never even be friends, because of what had happened to her. She'd been marked, she belonged to Azazeal and she was the only one, who could fight it.

"Because we both know life's too short and you're alone too long."

She knew. If nothing else, she knew that.

"So what do you say Cassie? You and me?"

He hoped and he had no idea of the anguish she was under. He hadn't noticed for a second how troubled she'd been through out his speech. So in the end this wasn't as much about her as she'd thought. He was lonely, she was lonely. He thought they could fix one another. But they really couldn't.

"Felix you're right," she began, fighting the anguish that wanted to fill her eyes. But she had to crush him for the other option was too cruel.

"We're great friends and I think we will be for a really long time."

The way he was shaking his head struck a blade in her. His defeat was so obvious, the pain she'd inflicted readable in every gesture. But life didn't work like she would have it work. You couldn't keep people close or push them away without hurting them. And explaining really didn't help at all.

"I'm such an idiot."

"Felix!" He shot her down with his blaming eyes. Her image crumbled from a miracle into a truer view.

"Oh please," he denied her, turning his look away. It wasn't begging nor was he he a fool. "I'm such a fucking idiot!"

By now the self accusations had taken him over, the excuses that told him he wasn't good enough. "Of course you wouldn't like me." He looked directly at her for a second before running off. She said his name and ran after him, unable to leave him alone right now even though it might've been for the best.

Cassie followed him through some distance, caught the sound of his silent sobs and felt the sting in her conscience even stronger. But she approached because she might make it better. She might find a way to make it easier. "Felix," she called to him softly, "I'm really sorry."

"I just thought for once," he replied, his voice shaking and tainted with sorrow, "Something was gonna go right."

"I can't stand the way things are now," he claimed, clearly angrier this time around.

Neither could she. Everything had gone from worse to worse and right now she felt suffocated.

"I know."

"No!" he turned around, facing her near furious. She didn't have the right to continue claiming they were alike! "You don't!" Then his expression softened again, after seeing her look back at him with all that hurt. He partly regretted saying that but knew better.

"Everybody likes you Cassie… You're fine."

As sad as it was that really wasn't the case. Long before she'd arrived here, she'd been an outcast; always dwelling in her own dream world, tied to this world only by her sick mother and then Thelma. Here she hadn't really been one of them, the rich brats, who were above everything. She might've acted like them while possessed but that wasn't the true her.

"It's not true."

She hoped her words could reach him and for a moment she was sure they had. Then his look became bitter again and he put her down again.

"Now you're looking at me like I'm an idiot."

No. She wasn't!

"Felix," she tried, forgetting the words she could've said.

"Don't, please." He shook his head and she began walking up to him.

She could at least hold him, so she reached for his hand. "Stop it!" Then he jerked, threw her off and she lost her balance meeting with the ground. Surprise caught her, then the pain and then she realized there was nothing she could do. She was in no position to try and make it better anymore.

"Oh god, Cassie!" he reached his hand to her to help pick her up, clearly sorry of what he'd done. Only it was a distant sound to her ears and never became stronger than an echo; she never quite heard his last words as his chest was slit and the hot blood showered at her.

He breathed aloud one last time and then fell down with a thump not far from her. She stared at his body in shock, unable to do anything, even get up. Then she wasn't staring at his body anymore at all but the being that stood near it. Its rattling breath invaded her senses and the intensive glare captured her still. A Nephilim, she knew. It was the one that'd been following her.

The ugly beast seemed to realize her recognition and began approaching her next. Her limbs gained their feel when it did although she wasn't yet quite sober from the shock. She crept backwards clumsily as the demon descended to four-feet and followed her. There was something humble about it, clumsy even. She needed the distance, couldn't have it close to her so she crept further away from it and it came after her.

She realized it was supporting itself with its wrist instead of the hand that had two long index fingers smeared in blood. Its primary weapon, she thought, still crawling backwards in fear. Yet it was the face that horrified her the most; the mouth with the bare gums and teeth felt distorted and the human eyes that rested in dark holes were too intensive for a mindless beast.

The fear was enough to make her careless; she slipped on the wet grass, fell on her back and the paralysis made her freeze. It slowly caught up with her, crawling on top of her calmly while she had to fight the tears and close her eyes. It'd murdered Felix and now it wanted her. Everything would end in her failure.

The Nephilim opened its mouth and breathed a hot breath against her face, its rattlesnake like breath becoming louder in her ears. She gasped, opened her eyes and looked up. The eyes – they were such brilliant emerald – it was as if they held no ill intention. Its other claw approached her, making her turn her head away. She felt the dull nails touch her temple almost gently and trace it to her cheek.

Cassie could hear her own heartbeat, strong and wild and alive. She wasn't about to give up. If Azazeal wanted her dead she'd fight it because she knew she could. She turned her head again to look at the being defiantly when her courage rose and prepared to reach for her power to push that being from her. However those eyes were upon her again, pouring down to hers. This time she didn't despair and look away, no she gazed into them and found… clemency.

The eyes distanced themselves from her as the Nephilim rose. What? She thought, unable to grasp the truth. Had the monster been apologizing to her? Was it capable of feeling regret?

Then it roared a terrible battle roar, turning around and making her eyes follow its gaze. There was that girl, Ella, standing a small distance away from them and she looked complacent. Cassie didn't know what was going on but the Nephilim didn't hesitate when it charged at Ella through the air. Cassie watched it move under bewilderment. It stung her chest almost physically when Ella wrapped the demon in the party lights they'd decorated the area with. Ella was a witch!

It tried to rip itself through the wires and continued roaring madly at Ella while at it whereas Ella stared at the beast calmly. "This is one party you're gonna wish you'd missed," Ella claimed. She then threw the Nephilim backwards in the air making it land near Cassie. Pain flashed in the creature's eyes and Cassie felt guilt engulf her. It was only protecting her! The green eyes glanced at her again when the wires tightened around the Nephilim's body and especially throat. It roared in pain and Ella watched with satisfaction.

Cassie acted before she thought and the wires broke around the Nephilim, making Ella's eyes widen in disbelief. She then snapped her head at Cassie and made a sharp move with her hand. More wires were launched only this time at Cassie, whose view was quickly blocked the demon she'd helped save a few moments earlier. Midway in their flight the wires suddenly began disintegrating and seized being before they even reached Cassie.

Ella looked pissed. Her respiration had quickened like she was exhausted and she looked ready to kill the Nephilim with her bare hands. "Curse you." Her voice was raspy and full of disgust, yet not pointed at Cassie but towards the Nephilim. Cassie then watched the stumps of wings on the Nephilim's back slowly retreat as its skin changed from near black to white and it shrunk before her eyes.

"A bit late, aren't you Ella?" the Nephilim spoke with a pure voice. It was mocking Ella. Cassie came to realize that instead of a scaly monster she was now being protected by a young man of blonde hair. Ella though saw his cherub-like features as well and his daring grin.

"Baraqiel," she spat, cursing herself for not bringing her primary weapon with her. She knew this one was far too clever for any other attack if she didn't have the element of surprise. Right now it wasn't the only thing that worried her though; the way Azazeal's whore was looking at the demon in disguise was not a good sign. Hell, she'd even saved the bastard before seeing him in his angelic form.

Ella tried to move as quickly as she could but her concentration was broken when the ghost arrived to the scene, shouting for her friend's name. Baraqiel only needed that moment to tie his arms around Cassie and then vanish into thin air with her.

Her heart skipped a beat as she unable to realize this defeat. Everything had been perfectly planned! Cassandra would draw out her protector and Ella would then kill it. Why one earth had that girl helped the demon? Ella knew Cassandra was not on good terms with Azazeal and the beast had even slaughtered one of her friends a moment ago… And what about Baraqiel? Why was he protecting Cassandra when Azazeal had bigger problems he might've needed his favorite fledgling for?

Defeat tasted bitter now. Ella had hoped Azazeal would be drunk on his success and made at least some mistake. Yet he'd played one of his bigger cards very care-freely. Apparently old grudges about Esther had been forgotten then. Azazeal trusted Baraqiel to do his job, which he'd pretty done just now for just like Rachel, Cassandra was utterly taken by the fallen Watcher Baraqiel. It was the only poison of theirs Ella had no remedy for.

Behind her Thelma's cries grew stronger and more desperate. Perhaps she could be of assistance, Ella wondered before turning around abruptly and claiming Thelma's attention. "We need to talk."

-

A/N: Lyrics are Madonna's "Skin"

And thanks to XUE for the review. Always nice to know someone's reading.