Name: Dream Dangerously, Fassbender Fan, Jimjamz
Title: Changes (part 3)
Disclaimer: characters belong to the writers of Hex and Shine Entertainment with the exception of original characters created for this fic.
Character focus: Cassie/Thelma/Azazeal.
Rating: PG
Summary: Cassie returns to Medenham after the events of Series 1 to discover some shocking changes. This was originally written as a continue the plot fic on the Strange Thoughts board.
Context: Just after series 1, an alternative version of events to series 2.
Keywords: drama,

As Cassie entered the room that her and Thelma once shared she felt so confused. She walked towards the room all these thoughts going round in her head...

"I have a son with Azazeal... but what do we really have in common"

"Thelma's my best friend... but she's dead"

she stepped inside the room and as she peered round the corner she could see Thelma's sad face. She shut the door behind her.

She didn't quite now what to say to her friend but it didn't take long before Thelma was talking anyway.

"How could you do this to me? That child is evil and you know it"

" look I know you are taking this hard Thelma but that child is my son my little boy"

"I thought you loved me that man has done nothing but bad to you..."

with that Thelma stormed out off the room.........

"Thelma...wait!" Cassie called out, but the ghost just slammed the door shut behind her.

Cassie sighed and rested her head in her hands, confused thoughts whirling through her mind. She felt sad, angry; disgusted with herself- why on earth had she even considered being with Azazeal? Sure, they had a child together- a child born out of manipulation. Then her thoughts turned to Michael. He'd seemed so sweet back there, just like any normal little boy. But just like that he could turn cold, unnervingly detached. Just like his father.

She needed to get out. A long walk would do her good, she was sure of it. It had always helped when she'd been like this before. She pulled a pair of shoes on and left the room. She walked quickly through the school, keeping her head down. Everyone was in classes at the moment so she was quite convinced she wouldn't run into anybody she knew. That was the last thing she needed...

"Cassie?"

She turned round slowly, hoping it wasn't who she thought it was. But it was.

"Troy..."

Troy seemed nervous, he ran a hand through his curly hair and looked down as if he found it hard to look at her.

For a second Cassie wondered what he was going to say to her. Their parting had been so awkward; especially considering she looked heavily pregnant the last time they'd spoken.

Inwardly Cassie cringed. She had mistreated Troy. Badly. He didn't deserve anything that he'd got from Cassie. Yet another joyous example of the Azazeal effect Cassie thought bitterly.

"I...um...did you have a good holiday?" Troy asked.

Cassie blinked for a few seconds. This was not the question she had expected, it was hardly "how's that bad case of pregnancy working out for you?"

"It was...quiet." Cassie paused awkwardly, "umm...and you?"

All of a sudden anger seemed to flash in Troy's eyes. He finally looked directly at Cassie.

"That was wrong you know, what you did and there's nothing quite like being avoided by someone is there? Were you going to hide in your room all term or is that just special treatment you reserve for me? I tried to call you, you know that?" his voice softened and he looked down again. "I was worried. Cass, you mess with my head, you know that? I thought I was all done with this and now I see you again..."

He shook his head at her then turned and walked off.

Cassie stood alone awkwardly for a moment. She had seen the sincerity and pain in his eyes and she felt a pang of guilt-how the tables had turned since last year when she would have given her soul for the attention of Troy. But it seemed she had lost that the moment she met Azazeal...

Letting out a sigh of exasperation she turned on her heel and continued her departure from the school.

Once she had reached a sufficient distance she slowed her pace and walked absent-mindedly across the lawns. A cool breeze caressed her cheeks as she pulled her cardigan tight around her.

Closing her eyes, the wind whistled past her ears blowing her blonde hair and created a false sense of freedom and escape for the girl. Begrudgingly opening her eyes Cassie found herself in a familiar spot. She was stood in a clearing among the trees, under one particular tree.

Dread swept over her and the light feeling she had just felt disappeared with a thud as she looked at the ground beneath her feet. Her fears were confirmed. Loose earth beneath her feet revealed a hidden stone. A gravestone.

Shivers ran through Cassie's weary body like an electric shock as she backed away from the grave. The sky seemed darker and the air colder as she turned to run. She immediately collided with Azazeal. The rough texture of his coat against her face and the faint aroma of cigarette smoke filled her nostrils as she struggled with the man.

"Let me go!" Escaped from her lips as her enemy tightened his grasp around her arms.

"Cassie this is not a game" his voice was deep and threatening as he gave her a hard stare not loosening his hold upon her

Cassie relinquished her struggle and stared back into his eyes. Those eyes that had once seemed so alive to her but now all she saw was death. How long would he haunt her?

"I am tired of your resistance; you have seen your son. You have embraced him. Embraced us. I have removed all obstacles yet you still withdraw from me? It has to stop."

A sense of definition rang with his words as Cassie felt the will to fight drain from her body. An ache pulsated through her head as she spoke wearily, an air of surrender in her voice.

"What do you want me to do?"

A tiny smile touched the corner of Azazeal's mouth. He bent his head slightly so he was looking directly in to Cassie's eyes.

"I want us to be a family Cassie. The time is coming when our boy will do great things, with a powerful army in his hands. They're coming now, thousands of them drawn here and the battle is inevitable. You and I will be mother and father to them all. I need you to be my queen, my goddess."

He spoke with a frightening intensity, a gleam of fervour in his eyes. Cassie found herself being swept up in his words, as beautiful as they were terrible.

"You and I, separately we're powerful but together we're glorious. " He reached out and gently ran a finger down her cheek.

"Only think, there will be no more pain, no more tears. The world will be as it was meant to be. The Nephilim are awake Cassie. There's no stopping it now. This is destiny."

Cassie felt the tears on her cheeks. She was so tired. She couldn't fight all this any more. She looked at Azazeal. Perhaps he could make it all better. Perhaps giving in was easier than fighting.

She allowed herself to be drawn in to his arms and rested her head against him with a sigh of surrender.

She didn't hear the desperate scream of her name carried on the wind or see the triumphant and wicked smile on Azazeal's face.

Thelma did.

Thelma threw herself on the ground next to Cassie. She wish at that moment that she could touch her... so she could pull her away from this evil man!!!

"CASSIE NO!!!!!!!" she screamed.

Cassie looked down at the floor to where her friend lay. At that moment she pulled away from Azazeal.

"I cant do this I just cant trust you"

with that Cassie walked away. Thelma followed slowly behind.

"What were you thinking Cassie??????" Thelma urged as they entered the school.

" I don't know I guess I just got caught up in the moment"

She looked into her friend's concerned eyes.

"But I promise it will never happen again..."

"It shouldn't have happened in the first place," Thelma said, glaring at her friend, "Come on- in here. We need to talk" The ghost walked into the empty classroom on her right, and Cassie followed behind.

"I cant believe you did that" Thelma began, as soon as the door was closed, "Azazeal...you...gave up for a minute there"

"I didn't give up," The blonde said, staring straight into her friend's eyes. She moved closer, so they were face-to-face, "Your going to hate me for this. But Thelma...what he says...it makes sense. The Nephilim are awake. What can we do? I have a son, and I want to be his mother. Its the only way..."
"What are you planning to do?" Thelma asked, worry shaking her voice; hoping against hope her worst fears weren't going to come true.

"I have to be with Azazeal" Cassie said, in a voice devoid of emotion. She looked down, breaking all eye contact with the ghost. Thelma just stared.

"You are JOKING?" She said, her voice rising with every word, "AFTER ALL HE'S DONE...TO ME.... TO YOU! YOU CAN'T! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT CASSIE, YOU CANT LET HIM WIN!"

Cassie looked up, glaring at her friend, "Don't you get it?" She said, tears welling up in her eyes, "This isn't about me, you OR Azazeal. Its about Michael!"

A long silence passed between the two girls, as they glared at each other, both with tears rolling down their cheeks. Finally Thelma spoke.

"Please..." She pleaded desperately. Cassie shook her head.

"Its the only way"

"No its not! Your...You! You're just not brave enough to find another way! You just want to give in! Well you do that, ruin your life, ruin everyone's lives! You know what the Nephilim are capable of! And Azazeal doesn't love you...I do" Thelma took one last look at her friend, before walking over to the door, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Where are you going?" Cassie asked her, "To see that Peggy? Its where you always are when I need you, isn't it?"

"You don't need me" Thelma whispered, "Not anymore..."