She kept replaying the questions in her head as she walked around the pool. She bent down and touched the water. "Can you give me an answer? Asher is cool! Kash is also cool! I like both of them, but who do I really like?" She asked no one in particular.
"The answer to that question lies in you, princess Cassandra."
Cassie turned and her face beamed with smiles. "Roxy!" She exclaimed and hugged the woman. Roxy was surprised because that was the first time Cassie had hugged her. Cassie disengaged from the hug and smiled at her.
"How have you been, princess?" Roxy asked.
"I'm fine. Did you bring a message from my parents? Can I go see them now? Please!" She pleaded but Roxy chuckled.
"I did bring a message from your parents but you can't see them now." Roxy said.
"But, you aren't the king and queen's messenger. I thought that messages should be delivered by the messenger of the realm," Asher said as he walked up to them.
"Hmmm, son of Alpha Rayner of the vampires. It isn't nice to interrupt me, you know." Roxy rolled her eyes at him.
"Sorry. I was only trying to satisfy my curiosity." Asher replied.
"Kash was curious as well, but he maintained a quiet posture." Roxy said and Kash groaned then became visible.
"You should have allowed me to remain where I was, Roxy." Kash whined.
"No. Must you showoff that you are the only one who can turn invisible?" She asked.
"But I like it that way, and I wasn't showing off." He answered and went to stand beside Cassie.
Asher was about to meet them too but Roxy blocked him. "Sorry, little Alpha but I want to talk to these two." She said.
"Oh, okay. I guess I'll be in the class then." He said and left.
"What message do you have for us, Roxy?" Cassie asked.
"Medusa said, it is almost time for you to come and take over the throne of your parents." Roxy answered.
"I don't get it, Roxy. My parents are not dead yet, so why is it almost time for me to take over?" Cassie asked.
"Actually, in the realm of pure magic, parents don't die before their children takes over the throne. Your parents would have to step down when the time comes, so that when you ascend the throne, they will be taken to a higher realm as leaders. That is how it will keep revolving till you know, whenever their time comes." Roxy answered.
"When is she supposed to take over?" Kash asked.
"Medusa has not told us yet, but she said it would be soon and that Cassie should be well trained and prepared because there are going to be a lot of tests to determine whether she is capable of sitting on the throne. You will be the one to train her, Kash." Roxy ordered.
"I know." Kash replied and she rolled her eyes.
"Showoff!" She scoffed and Kash smirked.
"Thank you for the message, Roxy. You should have allowed the royal messenger to deliver it to avoid stressing yourself out." Cassie said.
"I know but the royal messenger shouldn't be aware of this. He might blab about it. The king and queen said no one in the kingdom should know about you until you come to Athens." Roxy explained.
"Okay." She nodded.
"I have to leave now. Stay safe and out of trouble." She said and disappeared.
Cassie turned to face Kash. "So, when do we start training?" She asked.
"After you're done eating your lunch." He answered as he dragged her back into the cafeteria.
Cassie smiled when she got to her table and sat down. She was about to put the food in to her mouth but he stopped her.
"Don't eat that!" He said and collected the food from her.
"What is wrong?" She asked.
"It has been poisoned!" He said and she gasped. He took the food and sniffed it. "Uh-huh! Just like I suspected."
"What is that?" She asked.
"Witch's poison." He said.
"To kill me?" Cassie asked as she sprung up from where she was seated.
"No, to paralyze you." Kash answered.
"There is only one witch I know of in this school," Cassie said.
"And that is?" Kash asked even though he knew who it was already. He wanted her to figure it out by herself.
"Lily! She is the one! You see why I said that you should have allowed her to die?!" Cassie scolded.
"I understand. How about we give her a taste of her own medicine?" Kash suggested.
"What are you thinking?" She asked.
He smirked and looked at the food. She smiled and faced him.
"Can you do it?" He asked.
"I don't know, but I can try." She answered.
"I know you can." He gave her shoulders a little squeeze and she smiled.
"I can do this." She exhaled and closed her eyes. Kash moved aside so he could watch her. Cassie closed her eyes and tried her best to concentrate. She felt like she was in another universe.
"Now that you are no longer distracted by your surroundings, focus on what you want to achieve." Kash spoke into her mind.
She glanced at where Lily sat with Stella and Zeeva. For a moment, it seemed like the world had stopped. It was like everything moved in slow motion. The human students moved about like there was nothing going on. Cassie used her telekinesis to move the fish tacos from her table and exchanged it with that of Lily. Kash smiled at the accomplishment and was happy she was getting used to her powers. After exchanging the food, Cassie opened her eyes and everything returned to normal.
"Did I do it?" She asked.
"See for yourself." Kash answered.
She looked at the fish tacos on Lily's table and smiled. "I really did it. She didn't even notice." Cassie said and sat down.
"You did great, princess. Let's wait for the drama to unfold." Kash smirked as they watched Lily.
Stella looked at Lily and frowned. "Are you sure that the poison is working?" She asked.
Lily looked at Cassie. "It should have taken effect by now. Why is nothing happening?" Lily asked.
"Why are you asking us? You were the one who took the poison and placed it in her food in the first place." Zeeva scoffed.
"Why don't we go and meet her? Maybe it's showing signs but she hasn't stood up yet for it to take effect." Lily said.
"I guess so," Stella said.
Lily wanted to stand up but couldn't. "What's happening?" She asked.
The students had already started leaving the cafeteria at the time.
"What is wrong with you?" Zeeva asked.
"I don't know. I can't feel my legs," Lily answered. She was about to raise her hand but it fell. "I can't feel my hands either! My body, nothing!" She said.
"That means that you're paralyzed." Stella said.
"No! Cassie is supposed to be the one paralyzed, not me." Lily said.
"I'm sorry but you're the paralyzed one." Stella said.
After the students had left, Cassie came to meet Lily.
"Hi, Lily." She waved.
"What did you do to me?" Lily asked.
"The question should be what have you done to yourself?" Cassie asked.
"You! How did you_"
"Gave you a taste of your own medicine though. If you're going to be paralyzed for a while, I should thank my stars right?" Cassie laughed.
Lily burst into tears.
"How long did you set the paralysis for?" Zeeva asked.
"Two weeks." Lily answered.
"So you're gonna be like this for two weeks? Wow! Good news!" Cassie exclaimed and started walking away.
Kash was about to leave.
"You were there and you allowed her to do this to me?" She asked in tears.
"Same way I should have allowed you do the same thing to her?" He asked.
Lily couldn't answer the question. Kash bent to her level, "Because I took your pain away yesterday doesn't mean that I have gone soft or take a liking to you. I had my reasons, so don't get any funny ideas." With that said, he walked away.
Lily let her tears fall and sniffed.
"Gosh! He's got a really sharp tongue." Zeeva scoffed.
"He's cute!" Stella smiled dreamily. Lily and Zeeva glared at her. "What? It's the truth." She said and started walking away.
"Come back, Stella. We need to get Lily out of here!" Zeeva said.
"Urghh!" Stella groaned and came back to them.
***
That night,
"Goodnight, princess." Kash bowed as they entered her room.
"Goodnight, Kash. Thanks for saving me today," She said.
"I was only doing my duty." He smiled.
"Thanks anyway," She said and he disappeared. "Kash!" She called and he appeared.
"What do you want me to do for you?" He asked.
"Umm... I was thinking if you could take me to an ice cream shop tomorrow." She requested and kicked her lips.
"Whatever you want." He bowed.
"Please stop bowing to me." She rolled her eyes.
"Okay." He smiled.
"Goodnight." She said and he disappeared again.
She sighed and left for the bathroom. After taking her bath, she slid into her pajamas and took out her phone. She surfed the internet for sometime before preparing to sleep.
After she fell asleep, Mia and Ian appeared.
"Check if she is really sleeping." Mia whispered to Ian.
Ian checked and looked at her. "She is asleep." He said.
"Good. Let's take her!" Mia said.
They were about to touch her when Kash cleared his throat.
"How may I help you two?" He asked and they turned to face him with shocked expressions.
"What are you doing here?" Mia asked.
"Doing my job. How about you?" Kash asked.
"We... um..." Mia stuttered.
"Are you really that bent on killing me? You want to use her as a bait right?" He asked.
"How did you know?" Ian asked.
"That doesn't matter. What matters is that, you two are going to héll!"