CHAPTER 12
My breath was coming in small staggered gasps. The color red was swimming in and out of my vision. I felt like my lungs weren't working. I could feel small rivulets of blood slipping down my neck. My body was starting to go cold.
"Cassie! CASSIE!" Rory screamed and sobbed tearlessly running over to me. I must still be alive. Even when he was overcome with sadness, he looked exquisite. I tried to force my face into a smile. He kneeled over me.
"I can't believe it, no, this can't be happening…" his voice was fading in and out. It was like someone continued to put cotton in my ears. "I should have listened to them, I thought that-that it couldn't be true" he cried tearlessly.
"Listened to whom?" I asked pushing the words out. I just wanted to hear him talk, his voice was amazing.
"Listened to Damien, to Melanie, to Jill, to Elyse, to Triston, to everyone." He said gripping my wrist. I knew that he was probably crushing my bones, but I couldn't feel any pain. I knew that I wouldn't live. Once the pain was gone, it meant you had no chance.
"And what did they say?" I asked once again struggling to form words, struggling to stay conscious.
"d-Damien," Rory stuttered. I felt horrible for causing him this much sadness. "H-he said he thought that he knew why, why no one could use their power on you. H-he said that it was because you reminded everyone of someone. Someone who died, died while they were human. This is so strange, so unreal. It can't be the truth!" Rory shouted.
"Just, just tell me the rest." I pleaded.
"He says that you had no chance. That fate wouldn't let you be changed. Because you needed to die while you were human, like all those people that you reminded others of. Damn it, this isn't fair! That's why I said that I wouldn't change you!" he said. I looked up into his beautifully handsome face.
I studied it, its perfect symmetry. His magnificent green eyes. The stunning shade of his pure skin. He wouldn't change me because he hadn't wanted to lose me. I was drifting back in to memories of the rest f his family. I was seeing each of their smiling faces. Their wonderful loving remarks. My own father and mothers faces. But as much as I wanted to cling on to those I longed to see the face that was truly before me. Rory's.
"Life isn't fair." I muttered darkly. "I didn't believe in heaven before, but now I do, and it was here… On earth… when I was with you." I finished. I wanted to cry, but my body's functions and systems were starting to shut down.
"Don't talk like that!" Rory roared.
"So, what about you. You can use your power on me. Does that change anything?" I asked trying to lighten the morbid mood. I wanted my last moments with him to be happy. To see him smiling.
At my words his face lit up.
"I-I don't know. Maybe I'm supposed to save you. Maybe I can!" he looked around fervently as if searching for a tool that would save me.
I looked at him pityingly.
"No, no you can't." I told him
"Stop! This isn't happening. Stop acting like your going to die, I won't let you!" he shouted, I didn't have the energy to cringe at his volume. He pulled me into his arms, cradling me where we sat. But instead of my heart fluttering at his touch, it stuttered and started to slow.
"I love you Rory." I said. His glorious eyes hidden by his golden locks.
"Please don't" he said, his voice trembling. I sighed as best I could.
"Say it one last time." I said.
"Say what?" he asked resigning himself from shouting.
"Say you love me." I whispered.
The last thing I heard before the darkness enveloped me was Rory's voice, smooth and rich as warm honey.
"I love you Cassandra."