Rayner blinked twice. He couldn't believe that his son would give in to his request just like that.
"Pardon?" He asked.
"I am ready to make Cassie mine. I can't allow Kash to have her. I don't care if he is her guardian but I met her before him." He said.
"Now, you're talking like my son. I thought you would never come to your senses." He patted Asher's shoulders.
"But dad, I don't want Cassie to get hurt." Asher said.
"Of course! We need her so we have no reason to hurt her. All you have to do is use that opportunity during the school dance to make her yours." Rayner said.
"I will." He stood up and left.
Rayner's joy knew no bounds. He loved the way his son had returned to what he knew how to do best. And as for that Kash of a guy, he would banish him from existence sooner than later.
After Asher left his father's office, the lady helping Rayner appeared.
"Just in time!" Rayner exclaimed, gesturing for her to sit down.
"In time for what?" She sat down.
"My son finally agreed to do what I say. Victory will soon be ours." Rayner chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" She asked with a slight frown.
"Why are you acting like you don't understand what I am talking about? My son has agreed to make Cassie his. That way, I'll get to meet her everytime and finally make her do whatever we say." He chuckled.
"Are you sure that your son will really do it?" She asked.
"He said he would do whatever I said as far as I don't hurt her." Rayner answered with a chuckle.
"That's brilliant!" She exclaimed.
"Of course! I am smart after all." He chuckled.
"Where could Asher be?" Cassie asked, heading to the principal's office. She was about to turn the doorknob and open the door when she overheard their conversation. She turned to leave when she heard her name.
"What if Cassandra doesn't agree to do what you say?" She asked.
Cassie stopped and put her ear on the door, listening to what they were saying.
"Cassandra? I am Cassandra! No, they can't be talking about me. There are a lot of Cassandras in this school, right?" She asked herself. "And why does that lady's voice sound so familiar?"
Rayner chuckled at the question. "She can't refuse because she likes Asher and if she does, I'm going to use Asher to threaten her." Rayner replied.
"Asher?" Cassie asked, still putting her ear to hear more.
"What are you going to do?" The lady asked.
"I will threaten to kill Asher if she doesn't hand over the throne of Athens to me. She cares about Asher a lot, so she wouldn't risk his life." Rayner said.
"Throne of Athens? They're talking about me." She gasped.
"You're so evil, Rayner. How can you put your son's life at stake like that? Asher is cute and innocent." The lady said dreamily.
"Don't tell me you're falling for my son." Rayner glared at her.
"Who wouldn't fall for a hottie like your son? I wish he would seduce me instead. I'll give in on his first try." She chuckled.
"Asher will never love you. He loves Cassie. Now..." Mr. Rayner trailed off and stood up, walking to the door.
"Asher... loves me?" Cassie smiled.
She wanted to hear more of what they were saying but couldn't hear anything again. All she could hear was the sound of footsteps.
"Oh no!" She gasped.
If she runs, he might see her and she will get caught. What is she going to do? The footsteps grew louder, meaning that he was closing in on her. She looked both ways and when she saw that no student was coming, she disappeared.
Rayner opened the door and looked around. When he didn't see anyone, he closed it and went to sit down.
"What happened?" She asked.
"I thought someone was eavesdropping." He answered and sat down.
She chuckled. "What a wild imagination you have. A meeting was held in the realm few days ago." She looked at her nails.
"Really? What was discussed?" Rayner asked.
"Cassie is supposed to return to the realm when she clocks 19 years of age but the king and queen wants to shorten it as a result of the quick mastery of her powers. So, they want her to come when she turns 18 in few months." She answered.
"Is that a good thing?" Rayner asked.
"Of course it is. It means that your plans won't be delayed anymore. Her 18th birthday is coming sooner than you think, so you have to step up your plans. We can't allow the witches and demons get hold of her first." The lady said.
"No problem. I'll work on that. Thanks for the information." Rayner smiled and she disappeared.
****
Cassie reappeared in the girl's bathroom and held her chest. She couldn't believe all that she had heard today even though she was the one that heard it and it wasn't someone that told her.
"Asher's father is evil," She said, holding her chest tighter.
She washed her face with the water from the tap and shook her head to clear the thoughts. Maybe she was dreaming; maybe she had heard wrong or was she hallucinating? But she was sure of what she heard. She wondered if Asher knew what his father was planning.
"I have to find Asher... No, I'll find Kash first." She muttered and turned to run but saw someone.
"Hello, Princess Cassandra!" The lady smirked.
"You! You were the one talking with the principal. Why would you do something like this?" Cassie yelled.
"You don't deserve to know my reasons." She said.
"Why?" Cassie asked.
"Because you're never going to remember whatever happened here." As she said that, a mist started to form around her and covered the whole bathroom.
Cassie tried to disappear but it seemed like her powers were frozen at that moment. She could feel herself suddenly fading into oblivion.
"Kash." Was all she could say before she passed out.
The lady looked at her. "I would have ended you here and now but you're needed for something more important." With that said, she disappeared.
Kash, who was in the boy's bathroom suddenly felt a nudge. Something wasn't right.
"Kash."
He heard his name and gasped. "Cassie!" He exclaimed and ran out. He tried to hear her thoughts but they were blank. Where could she be? What happened to her? He ran around the place looking for her but he couldn't find her. He tried to feel her energy so as to locate her but he got nothing. He was already panicking and ran past Diego without even noticing him.
"What's up with him?" He asked, following Kash.
Kash got to a place where girls were gathered. He rushed to their midsts and saw that it was Cassie. She had passed out! He quickly bent and took her head in his arms.
"What happened to her?" He asked but the girls only shook their heads.
"Is she dead?" Lily, who saw her asked.
Kash shot her a deadly glare and she stepped back.
"Why would you say something like this?" Stella poked Lily's forehead but Lily shrugged.
"Cassie! Cassie!" Kash called but got no response.
He took her up and carried her in a bridal style, running to the infirmary. Diego who had seen what happened smirked.
"Cassie is his weakness." He chuckled.
Kash rushed in and dropped her on the bed. The nurse rushed to check on her while he waited outside, pacing around in deep fear. It was his fault for leaving her. He should have stayed with her; he should have stuck to her. Now, she's hurt and he doesn't know what was wrong with her.
"You can come in." The nurse said from inside and Kash rushed in.
"Is she okay?" Kash asked.
"Yes. I have found nothing wrong with her. I guess she fell asleep." The nurse answered.
"She fell asleep?" Kash asked. That answer didn't actually convince him. Cassie isn't the type to sleep carelessly. The way she called his name gave it off that she was in trouble.
"Yes. She is perfectly fine." The nurse smiled and walked away.
Kash stared at Cassie. He was sure she didn't just fall asleep. He used his magic to switch off the CCTV in the infirmary and disappeared with Cassie. He reappeared in her room and placed her on her bed. Luckily, Aunt Maggie was at work. He covered her with a blanket and made it so she would be comfortable.
"I know you didn't fall asleep, Cassie. What really happened to you?" He asked and intertwined their fingers. Her breath returned and her breathing stabilized. He started feeling her energy but her mind was still blank.
"Someone did this to you. I swear to deal with whoever dared to make you pass out. Wake up soon and tell me who that rascal is." He muttered.
His mind went to Diego at first but he brushed it off. He already knew something was wrong with Diego because he had been keeping an eye on him. He thought about Asher but he knew deep down that Asher wouldn't dare to hurt Cassie. Could it be the witches or demons?
She moved and he turned to look at her. He admired how beautiful she was even with her eyes closed. Her clear porcelain skin made her beauty shine brightly before him. Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze met his.
"Kash." She smiled.
"You're awake!" He exclaimed and hugged her. Cassie smiled and hugged him back.
When they disengaged from the hug, she sat up and held her head. Some images flashed through her head but she couldn't comprehend them.
"Ah!" She held her head.
"What happened?" Kash asked, holding her.
"I'm having a terrible headache, I don't know why." She muttered.
Kash stood up and gave her water to drink. After she had drank to her fill, he dropped the glass's cup on the bedside table.
"What happened to you?" He asked.
"What happened to me?" She asked and he nodded. She tried to remember but instead her head ached. She looked at him hopelessly.
"I... don't remember."