Dark's Descent (15 page)

Stella Returns

      From that point forward, Cassie was able to live the normal life she wanted to. The twins grew, and learned new things, and Cassie had graduated from ninth grade. Vander and Vanessa now sported brown hair, and the prettiest blue eyes Cassie's ever seen. Well, except for Charlie's. Now 15 years old, and waiting to turn 16, Cassie had her normalcy, until the text.

      Cassie was walking home with Charlie and Will when Charlie's phone buzzed. He opened the text and stopped dead in his tracks as he dropped the phone. “What is it?!” Cassie cried, picking up the device. She read the message and knew. The text read, 'Hi Char-bear, Remember me? I heard you are single! Great news, because I'm coming back! Love your one and only, Stella'.

      Cassie looked at Charlie and gasped. Did he just smile? Charlie wasn't mad, or sad, but happy? Why was he happy?

      Charlie couldn't help but smile. Stella had been gone for about three years, and still had a crush on him! Duchess Stella Sanders wanted to be his girlfriend. After all this time, living in another country with royalty, she hadn't forgotten him! Then he saw Cassie's face. Oops.

      Charlie instantly stopped smiling. Cassie figured it out! “You like Stella!” she accused.

“Nu-uh!” Charlie snipped. Holy macaroni! Charlie liked Stella, and Stella liked him, and she was coming back! Her enemy! Her best friend likes her enemy!

      Cassie switched sides and remembered how Charlie wasn't a Will fan when they first started dating, but now they are buds!

      “You have my blessing to go out with Stella.” Cassie's words hit him like a rubber glove. Charlie was shocked! Maybe he liked Stella, but he liked Cassie. That's why he broke up with Skyler, and she almost died. Ugh! Why was his life so dramatic!

      Ever since she moved, Stella had been checking in on Charlie with her Magic Mirror. When he broke up with Skyler, she was rolling on the floor with happiness. Until things got nasty anyway. Then she got popcorn. She watched Sky go crazy, and bomb Cassie and Charlie. She cried when the bomb blew because she didn't think he was going to make it.

      Stella saw Cassie get a coma, and for the first time ever was sad. Just a little sad for Cassie. When Charlie begged her to wake up, she bawled. Charlie was so adorable as he hopelessly plead for her awakening. When Cassie woke up, Stella fell backwards. She was not expecting that! Stella threw her popcorn bucket at the mirror as Cassie moaned, “Charlie?” Charlie was so happy though. Then she heard the phone call. “Don't you dare!” she had warned. When Sky opened the door, Stella was whimpering begs for someone to save them. Sky pointed the gun at Charlie and Stella screamed and yelled, and cried. Then it had no bullets and Stella fixed her make-up as Miss Hartenburg sat on the girl. Stella saw pretty much everything that happened, so when Mr. Sanders announced that the people wanted him back due to the new mayor's corruption, Stella leapt for joy and texted her boo.

      When Charlie got home, his grandma told him that he had a visitor upstairs. Intrigued, he went to his bedroom. “Char-Char!” Stella squealed shutting him in, “I'm back!”

      Charlie backed up and fell on his bed. Stella was beautiful! Her hair, her eyes, her soft skin. She was absolutely gorgeous! And she liked him! Charlie felt strange. Was he crushing on Stella?

      Stella was so excited to see him in person! Now she wouldn't have to wash the smudges off of her mirror anymore! “I missed you!” Stella teased.

      Charlie stood up and dusted his shirt off. He swished his hair and smiled. Time to switch on the charm. He did have Cassie's permission after all. He walked right up close and whispered, “You look great!”

      Was Charlie flirting with her? Flirting? With her? Chella is back baby! “Thanks,” she flirted back, “You look hotter than I remember.”

      Charlie put his arm on the door behind her and leaned in, saying “You too.”

      Stella couldn't resist any longer. She pulled Charlie closer and kissed him. He wore different cologne now! Stella closed her eyes as Charlie closed his arms around her. They made not a sound, carefully avoiding bumping that annoying appendage between the eyes. Right at that moment, Stella became the happiest rich girl in the world.

Stella pulled back and said, “I love you!” before continuing. To Stella's surprise, Charlie followed suit, and a few minutes later, pulled away, looked into her eyes and said “I love you too.”

      Cassie and Will were at the movie theater watching 'Evil's Hour'. It was about a wizard who took over the kingdom and was sending troops to other kingdoms to spread his power. Will winced when the prince was thrown off a bridge and eaten by crocodiles.

      After the movie was over, Will walked Cassie home. “My 16th birthday is soon.” Will beamed. “I know, it's on September 30th,” Cassie answered slowly, “about a month after school starts.”

      Will couldn't wait! As Sir Arthur said, 'The portal to Everlanon will open on your sixteenth birthday, it will be open for a year, it should open up somewhere around our house, since that is the strongest connection between here and there.' When his father comes, Will was planning to take Cassie with him, where they will one day rule as King and Queen of Everlanon! He just hoped he could talk her into it.

      Will stopped and looked at Cassie. “You love me, right?” he said. Cassie looked at him weirdly and replied, “Yes I love you!” Will smiled, “Good, I love you too.” He leaned over and gave her a kiss.

      As they continued, Will told Cassie that they would be together forever.

      It was unnecessary though, because Cassie already knew that they would be together forever.

      Stella finally ended their make-out session with a question. “Does this mean Chella is a thing?” she asked. Charlie looked at her and proclaimed, “CHELLA FOREVER!!!!”

The End Of Ever

      September 30th, at one o'clock in the morning, a rumble spread throughout the Realm of the Foretold. The source of the rumble came from the old Braddock estate. For inside the living room where Will grew up, a crack through space and time, and reality itself opened, as a blue light spread out from the portal. “It's time!” a voice from inside echoed. A bearded man wearing a crown and robe entered the house from a far off realm called Everlanon. Following him came an army of twelve knights who volunteered for the mission. “Let's find my boy!” the king announced, “A year only, so don't waste it!”

      A rumble woke Will from his sleep. It was time! He snuck out of the house, and rode his bike to Cassie's.

      Cassie fell out of bed. “That was weird.” she whispered, deciding to investigate the disturbance. She put her slippers on, and went outside.

      Charlie was staying in Stella's guest room. When he heard the rumble, he woke up his girlfriend. “What?” she asked. “I said, get a limousine to take us to Mr. Braddock's old house, I have a strange feeling.” Charlie repeated. Stella jumped up, she loved their midnight adventures. The limo driver put the pedal to the metal, and drove to Mr. Braddock's house at a speed of 100 m.p.h.

      Will pulled his bike up to where Cassie was standing. “Hop on!” he ordered, and Cassie obeyed. She never passed up the opportunity to hold onto her boyfriend's rock-hard abs.

      The limousine and the bike pulled into Braddock's glowing old house at the same time. “What's happening?” Cassie asked in wonder as Charlie and Stella stepped out of the limo. “That's what we're here to find out.” Charlie answered.

      By now the sun was rising, just starting to shine on the neighborhood. Will smiled, “Good, you are all here, I have an announcement. Follow me.” They walked to about three feet from the entrance and stopped.

      Without warning, the house disappeared, exposing a giant, glowing blue circle, so bright, it hurt your eyes to look at directly.

      It was now or never. Time to tell his friends his real identity. How was he going to do that? Hello, I'm a prince from a magical far away realm called Everlanon? Will needed to do it, he wanted to, but he didn't know how. Then, he had an idea.

      A crowd of people emerged from the light. Will looked right at them and yelled, “Hello, people from Everlanon!”

      Everlanon. Everlanon? It sounded so familiar, but Cassie couldn't put her finger on it. Was it online? Did she read about it in a book? Cassie had no clue.

      Will continued, “I am the son of King Albert Eindhoven Herald Rindenton!” A man looked their way. He started running towards them. When he was close enough to see, he was very happy. Wearing a king's costume and a smile, the man studied Will. No one could move. They were too stunned. “Your name?” he asked. “My name is Prince William Henry Oscar Albert Eindhoven Rindenton, are you my father?”

      Cassie couldn't believe it. The man gave Will a big hug. His father? His father died. His father was Mr. Braddock, wasn't it?

      “Can you explain the story to my friends?” Will asked his father. “Of course, William,” the king began, “I am King Albert of Everlanon, and this is my long lost son, Prince Will. Sixteen years ago, an evil sorceress took him from me, for no reason at all, and sent him through a portal to here. I sent my trustworthy knight, Sir Arthur Braddock to protect him with his life, by the way, where is he?”

      Will informed King Albert of the fire, and his death, and the king dropped his head for a moment of silence. Then he continued the story, “I had the twelve most powerful good sorcerers, wizards, and witches, work for sixteen years to open this two-way portal between the realms to bring my son back home!”

      “Wait, are you leaving?” Cassie asked, tears gathering in her eyes. Will turned to his girlfriend and introduced, “Father, this is my girlfriend, Cassie. I was wondering if I could bring her with me. I love her.” Cassie held back the tears. Charlie started to cry silently.

      “If it is okay with the lady,” the king agreed, “then I'll gladly welcome her into my castle.”

      Stella perked up. Castle? Prince?

      “My family?” Cassie stuttered, “Will I ever see them again?” Will looked at her beautiful green eyes, and watched them water. “The portal is open for a year,” Will explained, “so if you wish, you can return.” Cassie grabbed his hand. “What if I return?” she interrogated, “Will I ever see you again?” Will's eyes started to tear. “Probably not.” he whispered. Cassie started to cry, tears running down her face, and dropping on the ground. “I love you, Prince Will! I want to be with you for the rest of my life!” Cassie smiled, “And when the time comes, I will come here and tell my family everything. I will go with you! And I will love and cherish you until death do us part! What do you think?”

      Will looked at his dad, who was gawking at the scene. Seeing his son looking for advice, he nodded. Will turned back to Cassie. “I love you too! And I too will love and cherish you even after, death do us part! This is because I always have, and always will love you! You are my one true love, and I shall never be happy with another!” Cassie beamed and nodded, leaning in for a kiss. Will wrapped his arms around her, and touched her kind lips with his, as the rain began to fall, and the teardrops dried away. They continued kissing, avoiding the awkward nose bump with ease. Cassie smelled her true love, and squeezed him until she couldn't squeeze harder. Cassie felt like she could do anything. She wanted to make the whole universe smile at once! Here she was, finally having her prince sweep her off her feet, just like the fairy tales, where they lived happily ever after.

      Cassie pulled away and said, “I'll love you forever and always!” Will looked at the beautiful lady he held so close to his heart. “I will love you for-”

      Will was interrupted by screaming coming from the portal. “No!” King Albert yelled, “Not her! Not now!”

      “Who is it?” Charlie called out. The king looked at the portal as a black cloud broke through, and answered, “The one who took my son! Evangeline the Evil!”

      A fierce woman took form. She had black hair, and wore a black dress that touched the ground. “What's wrong Bert?” Eva teased, “Can't I have a moment with my daughter, you know, the one you sent here long before I sent your son!”

      “Who is your daughter, witch?!” the king demanded to know, “Because I wouldn't want any part in that reunion!” Evangeline cackled. “Too bad,” she squawked, “because you already are, as it seems, your son sure does know how to pick 'em!”

      Everyone looked at Cassie, still holding Will's hand. “What?” she asked. Eva chuckled. “That's right, Cassandra, you are my only flesh and blood!” Eva explained, “You landed in a bush, and your parents claimed you as their own! Ha! So cruel to hide something like that, don't you think?” Cassie felt the loosening of Will’s grasp, slowly letting her go.

      “Will?” Cassie asked. “Let her go son!” the king demanded, “She has evil in her blood!” Will obeyed, shedding a single tear as he ripped his hand away. “Will? I thought you loved me!” Cassie cried. Will shook his head, “I did.” Cassie began to cry again. “You said you'd love me for-ever!” she screamed.

      Will couldn't believe this was happening. He said that. What was he supposed to do? He did love her. But that was before he knew. There was no way he could ever kiss her again! Will shuddered. He looked straight into her evil eyes and said, “I told you I would love you for-ever. So, I guess this is the end of ever.”