Name: Dream Dangerously, Fassbender Fan, Jimjamz
Title: Changes (part 5)
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,

Thelma's bottom lip trembled nervously, she wanted to run but her legs were rooted to the spot it seemed. She stared into the lifeless eyes that watched her intently.

He was not how Thelma had pictured them but then again this, she knew, could not be his true face. He looked almost angelic ironically, sat cross-legged atop the statue.

Thelma swallowed hard, opening her mouth to speak, shutting it again when she realized she had nothing to say. Fear and courage battled inside her as she stood opposite the demon. Lifting her chin she broke the silence-

"..And what are you going to do about it?" her voice quavered as she spoke which annoyed her somewhat as she had wanted to portray herself as fearless.

Sariel laughed, the sound echoing inside Thelma's head as he jumped effortlessly to the ground beside her.

His hands curled around her shoulders before she could move, long nails scratching at her skin..he leaned close to her ear his breath hot on her neck..

"Death is not the end. You'd do well to remember that"

His breath lingered upon her skin; every hair on her body seemed to stand on end as she closed her eyes tightly. Releasing a tear she opened them to find herself alone once more..

She slowly looked round, checking the demon was truly gone. The park was deserted. Without a moments hesitation she ran for it, back up to the school. She had to see Cassie...

***

"...Its not a case of what I've done. Its a case of what I can do" Azazeal smirked, his arm draped around Rose's shoulder. She wore a mocking smile, and as Cassie stared at her, she felt the anger bubbling inside. He'd sent someone to spy on her?

"What do you mean? What have you got planned?" Cassie asked, her voice shaking with a mixture of fear and rage.

Azazeal chuckled softly, and walked over to Cassie's bedside table, leaving Rose standing at the door. He bent slightly to retrieve something off it, his back turned to both of the girls.
"Such a lovely picture" He said, straightening up and turning round. In his hands was the photo of Cassie and Thelma. He ran his finger across it, then looked up at the blonde.

"Such a lovely girl, Thelma is. If not a bit meddlesome...but I can sort that out"

"You cant..." Cassie whispered, staring at the image of Thelma, "You've done enough already" She ignored Rose, who by now was looking quite confused. Azazeal raised an eyebrow.

"Don't underestimate me, Cassie," He said. Cassie shook her head, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall, willing herself not to show Azazeal any weakness. What was he planning? She had to see Thelma...without looking at either one of the people in the room she ran for the door, and wrenched it open quickly. As she ran out she felt the strangest sensation, as if she'd just been submerged in icy water. She'd only felt that once before...

"Thelma! Don't go in there!"

Cassie felt herself stumble as the ghost passed through her body toward the open doorway she had just escaped through.

Thelma stepped through the entrance turning to Cassie as she did so.

"There you are! I've just seen..I..He..It..Cassie you have to be care-" a cold wind blew through the room the two had once shared passing through Thelma and causing Cassie's hair to blow, as the wind gathered speed Thelma was interrupted by the door slamming. Separating the two friends. One inside. One out.

Cassie's eyes widened as she bolted toward the door, slamming her fists and hastily turning the now locked doorknob. Tears she had fought now streamed down her face as panic overcame her.
*

Thelma felt a rush of air as her body was pulled backward with the ease of a child pulling a rag-doll. She landed in a heap underneath the window, her head making harsh contact with the radiator underneath.

Blearily she looked upon her attacker and was greeted with the familiar presence of Azazeal and the not-so-familiar Rose.

"What the-"

"Now now Thelma, we don't want you setting a bad example upon Rose here..Watch. Your. Tongue!" the patron-ism in his voice angered Thelma, all she could do was scowl as she rose to her feet.

"You seem to enjoy being a ghost quite well. An area I overlooked when taking your life. But that can all be remedied-"

"You can't kill me!" Thelma spat back indignantly

"No" Azazeal replied coolly fingering a small locket in the palm of his hand "I've already done that"

He looked up to face the ghost, passing the jewellery to Rose who remained smirking and silent by his side.

"But I can do something much worse-" Thelma felt the same fear pulsing through her veins as she had in the grounds earlier that evening. "-I can take Cassie away from you. Forever"

"She'll never choose you!" Thelma eyed the angel confident of Cassie's love for her.

"Ah you underestimate me my dear. She may not choose to be with me but if she believes you are at risk she will do anything." The smugness of his voice only accentuated his evil ability.

Before Thelma could speak the door flew open and Cassie fell through.

"What are you doing? Thelma are you-"

Azazeal placed a long finger to his lips, silencing his former lover with a power only he appeared to wield over her. "I believe we may be able to come to some kind of arrangement."

"I'm not arranging anything with you!" Cassie's anger bubbled over as she saw the fear in her friends' eyes.

"Oh I think you will"

Cassie laughed, surprising even herself.

"You've taken everything haven't you?"

She put a palm to her forehead. She sat down heavily on the bed.

"You don't just want to mess me up; you want to take every last piece of me. You want to destroy everything. So.... why should I."

Anger flashed across Azazeal's face. "What!" He snapped back.

Cassie was laughing again. "I said why should I. If I make a deal with you, you'll just take more and more and more until I have nothing left. Either way I loose, but I'm sure as hell not going to give in to you."

Azazeal's eyes sparked pure fury and Thelma sat, still in her crumpled position on the floor, gob smacked.

"Cass!" she called quietly to her friend. "Cass what are you doing? This isn't good." She looked warily at Azazeal. She needed to distract him so she chimed in to try and buy more time.

"She's right you know, you can do your tricks but what are you going to achieve?"

Azazeal laughed mockingly which only spurred Thelma on.

" You've done all the damage you can muster already.... besides...."

She struggled for words, then hit on an idea, ".... besides, you threaten me but what can you do? I met someone today who's far scarier than you.... and to be frank Azazeal," Thelma began to get bold, " he has a lot more style going for him too. None of your old floaty Romantic crap...I'd say being an angel of death is a far more scary gig."

Azazeal turned quickly to look at Thelma his face tight, his jaw clenched. He stared at her as if taking in what she had said.

"Sariel." He muttered, more to himself than anyone else, seeming to forget where he was for a moment. "He's not supposed to be here. What's he playing at?"

To Cassie and Thelma's surprise he headed for the door, grabbing Rose's arm roughly and dragging her behind him, ignorant to her cry of pain.

Thelma breathed a sigh of relief as Cassie slid off the bed to sit on the floor next to her friend. She leaned back against the bed and rubbed her eyes wearily.

"Thelma?" she said, sounding exhausted,

"Yes?"

"Who in the hell is Sariel?"

Azazeal paced up and down the eerie room he and Michael occupied pausing only to kick a dusty chair across the room.

"Temper temper." Michael said un-enthusiastically

Azazeal threw his son a glare but ended his pacing, his hands cupping the back of his head; a look of despair across his face.

A slender arm slid around the angel's waist as Rose rotated herself into position in front of Azazeal. He looked down at her milky complexion, her flawless skin only accentuated by the blood red lipstick she wore, her eyes large and round-staring longingly into his.

"Shall I leave you two alone?" Michael added smirking, swinging his child-like legs from the desk on which he was perched.

Azazeal removed himself from Rose's grasp and slumped in a nearby armchair. The once red material now pale with age and dirt.

"I don't see what the problem is really?" Michael chimed in once more..."As much as I love my Mother, I don't see why Rose here can't be your queen.at least she's willing" he added quietly

Rose's face lit up as she glanced at Azazeal. He returned her look with one of patronism.

"I don't want her...and I always get what I want"
*
The room was filled with hundreds if not thousands of bodies, Cassie span around looking for escape but she was surrounded. The only sound; her own heart pounding in her ears and the panicky rasp of her own breath on the air.

Her head ached as she strained to see their faces..the only light being a handful of candles toward the back of the room...the room she had been forced into..the room she was going to die in..

"Cassie!! Cassie!!" Thelma's voice rang out as the figures disappeared into the shadows and a bright light hurt Cassie's eyes.

"Will you wake up for god's sake if I could slap you I would!"

Cassie opened her eyes abruptly, so much so that Thelma jumped when her friend finally awoke.

"That's more like it" she declared folding her arms with a grin "-what were you dreaming about anyway? You were making all sorts of noises"

A thin line of sweat dampened Cassie's forehead as she ran her hands nervously through her hair.

"I don't think it was a dream Thelma," she said with a certainty foreign to her. She could hear herself speaking but the proof of her words she did not know.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know...its whets going to happen" Cassie explained, sitting up. She didn't even know where all the words were coming from, but for some reason she knew they were true.
"You're in danger. I'm in danger. Were all in danger," She whispered, as if she'd only just realised. A single tear ran down her cheek as she looked at Thelma.
"We need to get help. And fast"

*