Saving Cassilia

by Liz Thomas

  Cassilia rose slowly, clasping both hands to her mouth as she took in Cody’s condition and then looked at the monster who’d caused it.

  “Oh, don’t look so surprised.” Roger spat through broken teeth, “This was the only way it could’ve ended—!”

  His surprise was at the blonde who raced into the room and brushed past Cassilia so forcefully that she nearly knocked her down. Cassilia recovered just in time to see Trina leap towards her astonished father, hands aimed at his throat. “NO!!” She cried, “You will not hurt anyone else!”

  The gun went off harmlessly, the bullet entering the ceiling. Trina landed on her father and first wrested the gun from him and then began to beat him mercilessly. She beat him with her fists over and over again until he stopped moving, his face a bruised, beaten, bloody mess.

  Cody and Cassilia watched, stunned. Cassilia thought for a moment about letting Trina finish the job. Roger had it coming, that was for sure.

  Moments later, sirens could be heard approaching. Cassilia reached for Trina and pulled the exhausted, exasperated girl from her father. She looked at Cody, who nodded that he’d be okay. Cassilia held Trina until the police and paramedics arrived.

  Cassilia held up Cody as the paramedics continued to nurse his shoulder. She was surprised when one of the police officers approached her and put a hand on her shoulder. She was relieved to see that the police were not of Black Eagle.

  “I’m sorry to bother you, miss.” The officer said in a friendly manner, “But we’re about to take this guy in.”

  Two more officers secured Roger, his face bloody from the beating Cody and Trina had given him, as his hands were cuffed behind his back. Defeated, angry, he could only glare at Cassilia. “We’ve got him for the murder of the girl, masterminding the assault on the boy….is there anything else we should know about?”

  He killed my mother.

  Cassilia rose, unflinching, and slowly strode over to Roger, who was being held in wait for Cassilia.

  Once the girl reached him, she just stared up at him. There was no emotion, no anger, no hatred, no pity. Nothing.

  He would never hurt anyone ever again.

  “No.” Cassilia finally said, “Nothing else—“

  “YES!” Trina spoke up suddenly, dashing to Cassilia’s side, “Yes, there’s more.” She glowered down at Roger, who suddenly looked like a hurt dog. “Four hundred and seventy-two acts of child sexual assault. Two hundred and eighty-four acts of statuatory rape.” Each of her words were damning, and Roger cringed as the officers glowered down at him. “Each of those acts…” Trina hissed as Roger withered, “…is also an act of child sexual assault.”

  Cassilia put an arm around Trina as the latter got her revenge. To her surprise, Trina reached up touched Cassilia’s hand, grateful for the gesture.

  She stepped to within a few inches of Roger and whispered the last words angrily, “Two counts of murder.” She declared, “For the death of Helen Abernathy by poisoning, and the death of Annalise Abernathy by gunshot.”

  Cassilia was surprised. Trina had just requested that Roger be tried for the murder of her mother.

  “You’d be willing to testify to all of this, miss?” One of the officers asked.

  Roger was shaking, either from fear, anger, or both. Trina was unafraid as she replied, “Happily.”

  One officer looked to the other and nodded. “Let’s get him out of here.”

  Roger held his glare on her as long as he good before hobbling away, towed by the police officers.

  Cassilia held Trina and looked into her eyes. “Are you okay?”

  Trina nodded and smiled. “I will be. Thank you.”

  The two were silent for a moment as two more paramedics escorted Annalise’s body, sealed in a long black bag, down the stairs from Cassilia’s room. They wheeled her past, and out the door. When one of the paramedics saw the mortified look on Trina’s face, he nodded at his partner, who returned the gesture and exited the house with her body. “I think you should know,” The paramedic spoke gently, looking into her eyes, “She went quickly. There was no pain, and she didn’t suffer.”

  Cassilia wasn’t sure that Trina had heard him; she hadn’t taken her eyes off the gurney, which was now being placed into one of the many ambulances on the scene. After Annalise’s body was loaded, the paramedic leaned over and said something to the driver. Then the lights of the ambulance went out.

  “I also want you to know,” The paramedic trying to reassure Trina spoke, “That we will do everything in our power to make sure your father goes away for the rest of his life for this.”

  That seemed to get Trina’s attention. Shivering in Cassilia’s arms, she glowered at the paramedic. “He’s not my father.” She whispered, confessing.

  Cassilia frowned. “What?”

  “He was never my father.” Trina closed her eyes and lowered her head, “And Ramona wasn’t my sister. Neither was Annalise. Roger killed our mothers and took us as his own. He had us undergo this damn surgery so we’d all look like sisters.”

  Trina looked at Cassilia and smiled, tears running down her face. “Did you know my eyes are really brown?”

  Cassilia and the paramedic exchanged knowing looks. Trina would need a lot of long-term care. Cassilia silently vowed to do whatever it took.

  “I’ll take care of her.” Cassilia told the wary paramedic. He nodded at Cassilia, and then took his leave.

  Cody was in the distance, his arm now in a sling, looking on at Cassilia.

  When she noticed he was standing there, she looked Trina, who nodded. “Go. I’ll be fine.”

  Cassilia slowly took her arms from around Trina and strode up to Cody. For a moment, they looked into each other’s eyes, and then she collapsed into his arms. Strong, Cody didn’t buckle under her weight. Instead, he wrapped his good arm around her shoulders and held her tightly. “This is insane.” Cassilia whispered, “What’re we supposed to do now?”

  Cody was already nodding. “I know what we’re supposed to do.”

  He pulled away and looked down into Cassilia’s eyes. “We leave this place, and we never look back. Both of us. You and me.”

  “You still want me to come with you? Even after I said all of those horrible things to you?”

  Cody smiled and nodded. “You were angry. I understand, honey. And I forgive you.”

  At those words, Cassilia beamed. “Do you really?”

  “Of course I do. I love you.”

  Cassilia swooned. No boy had ever said to her before. “You what?”

  “Stop it. You heard me.” Even with one good hand on her shoulder, Cody’s strength seemed immeasurable at that moment, “I love you, Cassilia Abernathy, and I want you to leave this place with me.”

  Five Years Later

  Cassilia awoke slowly, turning over in her massive queen-sized bed and facing the large bay window to the right. She smiled at the sunrise and stretched.

  Running footsteps could be heard approaching her bedroom door, and she grinned from ear-to-ear as she put her feet on the floor, faced the door, and waited.

  A four-year old force of nature crashed through the stair, lumbering awkwardly with a perpetual open-mouthed grin plastered on his face. As he raced towards her, arms outstretched, her called her by that name she still wasn’t quite used too, but never got tired of hearing. “Mommy!”

  “Hey, Tyler!” Cassilia greeted eagerly, arms outstretched. Her son laughed gleefully and then leapt into Cassilia’s arms. She laughed with him and held him, falling back on the bed.

  Laughing turned into rib tickling and Tyler laughed maniacally, mock-begging for his mother to stop. After a moment, playtime was over, and Tyler breathlessly asked his mother. “Mommy, can we watch daddy on TV?”

  Cassilia wrapped her arms around her son and hopped off of the bed, once again relishing the sound of his happy laughter. “Of course we can!” She replied gleefully, “Why don’t you go see if you can find yourself some breakfast and I’ll be down
there in a moment?”

  Tyler hit the ground running. “Okay, mommy!” And he charged from the room.

  She smiled as she watched him go.

  Cassilia glanced down at the digital clock on her nightstand and moved with urgency. Cody’s game was starting soon.

  As she took her first step, her stomach rumbled, not with hunger but with unexpected nausea. She clasped a hand to her mouth as her eyes went wide. She held her stomach and dashed to the bathroom, which luckily was only two doors down, to the right of her bedroom. She fell to her knees, at the open toilet, stuck her head in, and let nature violently take its course.

  It lasted for a few moments before she took a few wheezing breaths and used a shaky hand to wipe her mouth.

  “Hey, are you okay?”

  The pleasant female voice spoke to her from the bathroom door. Still gasping for air, Cassilia looked up at her and nodded, forcing a smile. “Yes, I think so.”

  Trina chuckled and approached. “Man, do I remember those days. I don’t miss ‘em. Exactly what were you and Cody doing last night?”

  “Nothing I care to share with you, thank you very much.” Cassilia said back teasingly as Trina helped her to her feet. Even to look at her now, four years later, Cassilia couldn’t believe how far her former ex-adversary had come. Trina’s hair had been straightened, cut to her shoulders, and restored to its natural auburn. She no longer looked like a stick-figure, adding twenty-five healthy pounds that gave her a healthy, curvy figure. The biggest physical change was in her eyes, which had been surgically altered to be restored to their natural blue. The first few months had been rough, and Cassilia, who’d paid for the surgery despite Cody’s hesitation, had guided her around the house. Now, Trina could see just as well as she ever could, and had become a welcome addition to the family.

  Cassilia was unsteady on her feet and Trina struggled under her weight. In the kitchen, Tyler could be heard laughing happily as dishes fell from shelves. “Tyler, would you take a seat and wait for Auntie Trina to give you some cereal, please?!” Trina yelled down to the kitchen in a simultaneously harsh, playful tone. The kitchen was silent for a moment and then the toddler yelled back up at her. “Hurry up, Auntie Trina! I’m hungry!”

  “Good grief, he’s demanding.” Trina smiled at Cassilia as the latter steadied herself. “Well, who’s fault is that?” Cassilia replied immediately, “Who’s the one who spoils him rotten?”

  “I’m his aunt; that’s my job.” Trina grinned, “Now, seriously, tell me. What were you and Cody doing last night? I’ve had every kind of hangover one can have and I can whip you up a remedy like that.” Trina snapped her fingers as she spoke her last word.

  “We don’t drink, you know that.” Cassilia replied, making her way to the sink.

  “Well, the only other reason why you’d throw up would be because…”

  A wide grin spread across Trina’s face and Cassilia already knew what was coming as she cupped water to her mouth and drank. “Trina…”

  “Oh my God! Congratulations, sis! About time you guys got to work on another one!”

  Cassilia laughed but held her hand up and motioned for Trina to calm down. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay? I’ll take a test and then we’ll know.”

  Trina wagged her finger. “Oh, test my ass. I called Tyler, and I’m calling this one. It’s a girl—”

  Something crashed in the kitchen, and something hard was heard spilling all over the floor. Tyler’s voice rose as he wailed, calling for his mom.

  “Oh, God.” Cassilia said in bleak anticipation.

  Trina stopped her and prepared to step out of the bathroom. “No. You let auntie Trina deal with this. You get dressed and ready for Cody’s kickoff.”

  Cassilia smiled, embracing her sister. “Thank you.” She pulled away and asked her next question hesitantly, “Hey, have you heard from Ramona at all?”

  Trina grew somber and shook her head. “No. Not for a few months now.”

  The two were silent and then Trina continued, “Ramona’s always been tougher than she looks. Or acts. She’ll be okay. She just needs to find herself.”

  There was another moment of silence as the two women relived the events that brought the two of them together. “You go get ready for your husband’s game. I’ll take care of Tyler.”

  “Thank you, Trina.”

  “Anytime, sis.”

  Twenty minutes later, Cassilia had come downstairs. She was cleaned and dressed casually in sweats. She had outgrown the glasses years ago. Trina and Tyler sat on the front room couch. The TV was already on, and the pregame had begun. Tyler was eating a bowl of dry cold cereal with his hands—something he could only get away with on Sundays—and pointing eagerly to the TV as the pregame announcers speculated about the game.

  As Cassilia made her way down the stairs, Trina looked at her expectantly.

  Cassilia merely smiled, exhaled, and nodded.

  Trina squealed and wiggled in her seat. “Mommy, mommy, look!” Tyler called, pointing to the TV, “They’re gonna call daddy’s number!”

  Trina rapped on Cassilia’s leg enthusiastically, grinning as the latter sat down.

  As she got comfortable, the announcer, a retired football player himself, began to call out the names of the starting squad for the away team. “And now,” He began in a salesman’s warming tone, “Starting at Quarterback for the Miami Crocs, out of Victoria University, please welcome Cooooooody Rath!!”

  As fifty thousand people went nuts, the camera closed in on Cody, who had lost weight over the years to become leaner. Garbed in the away uniform of a black top with white pants, Cody raced out of the locker room, slapping the hands of his waiting teammates as he raced onto the field. When he passed the last of his companions, he looked into the camera and screamed, “I LOVE YOU, CASSIE! YOU TOO, TYLER! KEEP MOMMY SAFE!”

  She never got tired of that. Tyler, as usual, was bouncing happily in his seat. As he reached the end fo the row, he turned and waited.

  Both Trina and Cassilia frowned. “I know I don’t get this whole football thing,” Trina asked, “But isn’t Cody supposed to be the last one out?”

  Cassilia shrugged. “Usually.”

  “And now,” The announcer continued to a quieting crowd, “Starting for the crocs, at center, having completed recovery and cleared to play…”

  Surprise and happiness coalesced as Cassilia moved to the edge of the couch.

  “MATTHEW BRYANT!!!” The announcer finished.

  Again, the crowd went insane as Matt, large, beaming, and in full uniform, emerged from the locker room. His hands were high as he waved to the crowd, and as he slowly made his way down the aisle between his teammates, the announcer reMatted that there hadn’t been this much sensation about a player since one of the greats.

  Cassilia laughed. “Look, mommy! Uncle Matt’s gonna play!” Tyler pointed at the TV.

  He met Cody and the two embraced tightly. Cassilia smiled and nodded. Matt was showing no signs of his old injuries.

  After they won that game, Cody would come home to a wonderful surprise.

  With Black Eagle far behind them, life was good.

  Cassilia, Trina, and Tyler sat back and enjoyed the game.

  Moments later, Trina’s phone began to vibrate and she excused herself to take it. In the kitchen, she approved the acceptance of a video message—and then immediately gasped, dropping the phone.

  Frozen on the screen was the image of a broken, mutilated body lying atop jagged gray rocks; her sister, Ramona. The accompanying text message was simply “C U Soon”.

  END

 

 

 
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