Chapter 2: Brian
School started again and with it brought a certain separation from Cassidy's problems; she could always lose herself in a conversation with her friends. But in those awkward pauses, she was forever thinking about the heavy weight that now rested on her shoulders.
And as if this wasn't enough, some guy kept following her around everywhere. She would catch him watching her but when she turned to glare at him, he would dash around the nearest corner.
One such time, her best friend, Rose was walking with her.
"Ooo! I think he likes you, Cassidy!" she said.
Cassidy punched her on the arm, "I hope not; he's not really my type."
But as time went by, the boy followed her more and more.
It wasn't until early winter that he really gave her a scare.
She was in a deserted hallway after school. Cassidy opened her pack and took out the Book. She was just opening it when she heard a muffled gasp. She turned to find the source, she caught a glimpse of the boy before two strong arms grabbed her around the throat. She was choking, blackness creeping up on her. The Book slid from her grasp.
The arms let go, allowing her to breathe. Cassidy saw stars.
By the time she finally caught her breath, the Book and the boy, were gone.
Cassidy was distraught. Though she no longer saw the boy, she felt terrible; she had lost her only connection to the world of the triangle and perhaps her only weapon to save it.
She was constantly on the lookout for the boy. When she finally saw him again, he looked very sad and sorry indeed. His clothes were torn and dirty, and his face was smudged with dirt. He was covered in bruises.
Cassidy waited for her chance to give the little twerp what was coming to him.
After-school, she waited behind the dump for him to pass. Cassidy heard the crunch of snow behind her. She whirled around and threw a punch. Then rushed to apologize.
Rose was in tears. Cassidy's fist had landed square on the nose. The snow beneath turned chrisom.
"What's gotten into you!? You never talk-," Rose was yelling.
"Rose, I-," Cassidy began.
"You don't hang out with us anymore; you don't even eat with us! And now this?!"
"Rose, I can explain,"
"No! I'm through with it! You either come clean right now, or that's that, because I know there's something going on that you don't want to talk about,"
Cassidy shook her head.
"Fine! I'll just go and find myself someone who isn't a-a bitch!" Rose stormed off.
Cassidy fought to hold back her tears; what Rose had said had really hit home: her parents were taking her into consoling because of constant fights at home. She was always teetering on edge, afraid that if she let her guard slip someone would discover her secret.
"It's my fault isn't it? You were expecting me, not your friend, huh?" came a male voice from behind her. Cassidy spun around; the boy was eyeing her with kind regard.
"You BASTARD!!" Cassidy rushed at him, knocking him to the ground.
She hit every inch that she could; why not when it wouldn't show against his previous bruises? It was only when she started to calm down that she noticed that he wasn't fighting. He was lying perfectly still in the snow. She put a finger to his neck. There was a pulse, though faint.
"Oh god," she breathed. She heaved him up and dragged him off the ground she got out her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1. She explained the situation as best as she could without saying that she was the attacker.
After she hung up, on the advice of the operator, Cassidy laid him on a clear patch of land. The boy stirred.
"What-happened?" it seemed as if it was a struggle for him to speak.
"Shut up. You'll hurt yourself even more," Cassidy replied not unkindly, "Now, here's what going to happen: you're going to tell the ambulance crew that you were attacked from behind and didn't see them, got it?"
"And why would I do that? Why wouldn't I simply ask for the justice that I deserve?" he asked stubbornly.
"Because I'll explain to you what that Book that you stole does," the words were out of Cassidy's mouth before she could think, "But only if you stick to the story and give it back to me immediately afterwards,"
The boy laughed, "I already know what it does. Anyway, I couldn't give it back to you in the first place,"
Cassidy's blood turned to ice, "Why not?"
"Because I gave it to the guy who was having me follow you. He paid me big bucks to get it to him,"
"Do you remember what his name was?"
The boy scrunched up his face, deep in thought. In the distance they heard the ambulance coming.
"Arswon, I think,"
Cassidy sank to her knees. It had been her only hope that Arswon hadn't gotten the Book, and now that hope was torn away from her. Arswon would now have all the information he needed to capture the triangle. All was lost. And the reason behind it was right in front of her. All it would take would be one good thump to the chest and he'd be history.
Cassidy raised her fist to deliver the blow...and then let it fall. She couldn't kill him; it wasn't his fault that Arswon had hired him. By the looks of it, he could probably use the money.
"Well, what do you think would be a fair exchange?" Cassidy asked in a would-be-calm voice.
The boy blushed, "A date with you would be nice,"
Cassidy was taken aback, "With me? I don't even know you're name,"
"Oh that part's easy to fix. My name's Brian. Brian Smith,"
She smiled, "It's a date!"
As the ambulance came around the corner, she thought, "Huh. Rose does know what she's talking about,"
The doctors in the ambulance insisted upon taking Cassidy with Brian, to check out all her cuts and scrapes and to make sure that neither "youngster" had frostbite or hypothermia.
Cassidy's parents were torn between pride at their daughter for helping Brian, and scolding her for allowing the hospital to call them instead of her. Pride won out.
The doctor ushered her parents out, so that he could give the final say on whether or not she was staying at the hospital overnight. He tested her reflexes and vision, among other things before telling her that he would like to keep her at the hospital for at least one night, to make sure that she didn't have any infections.
That night was probably one of the weirdest in Cassidy's life.
Brian had insisted on being in the bed right next to her; the only other one in the room. It was his voice that woke her.
"...I've done my best! It's not my fault she doesn't trust me: you're the one who told me to follow her! I-"
"Shut up! She's awake," a cold, male voice called.
Heavy footsteps stopped in front of her bed. The man leaned over and whispered in her ear, "I know who and what you are, Cassidy Kenton. I know that you were in Washington this summer, and I know that you are the famed Revealer. I even know about how you beat-up Brian,"
Cassidy sat up. It was the same dark-haired man she had seen at Mary-Anne's house. Now that she could get a better look at him, she shivered at the look in his eyes. His were doused Cassidy in a cold stare that left her with absolutely no warmth in her body. She felt her blood turn to ice, for the second time that day, for the man in front of her could only be someone who had never loved, never felt happiness, never even what it was like to cry. All this man had ever felt was hatred, anger, and that crushingly cold iciness. She knew, in her heart that it could only be one person: Arswon.
Yet she still asked, against all hope, "Who are you?"
He smiled, "I think you already know the answer to that question, Cassidy,"
Brian crawled out of bed and started creeping towards Arswon.
Cassidy hurriedly asked Arswon, "What do you want with me?"
"Another question you already suspect the answer to, but I suppose I could answer. I need to destroy the triangles; as you already know. But I need your unlimited information I order to do so, to put it simply,"-Brian was closing in on him-"Of course, you could see, where having that knowledge would help. But of course, your foolish grandmother, hasn't even explained to you what I mean,"
"Do tell,"
Arswon laughed, "Not so fast there! It wouldn't do to tell you everything; that would put me at a disadvantage,"
"But then it wouldn't be a fair fight!" Cassidy protested.
"But that's half the fun! And speaking of unfair fights-," Arswon whirled around and with that same burst of power that he had used in Mary-Anne's house, sent Brian sprawling to the floor, "Didn't anybody ever teach you to never attack your enemies from behind? It's a cowardly thing to do,"
Brian was breathing hard and couldn't speak. Slowly, Cassidy grabbed her beeper-a device that would instantly call the nurses to her room. She was about to hit the button, when an arm encircled her, pinning her arms against her body. The beeper fell.
"I really wouldn't do that, Cassidy. I'd be gone faster than you could blink," Arswon said.
"Let go of me!" Cassidy struggled.
His grip on her tightened, "No, I don't think so. I think you have a choice to make,"
"And-what-would-that-be!?" Cassidy snarled.
"My, you are feisty aren't you? Well let's see, I could either kill you, making it seem as if you died from your injuries, or I could mercifully allow you to join me in my quest against the triangles. Which is it?" He smiled pleasantly, as if they were discussing nothing more than the weather. She stretched her toe out for the beeper.
"Why do you keep talking about the triangle as if there's more than one?"
"Because there is: thirteen triangles to be exact, though some undiscovered. I can't take over one, until I have all. Now choose!" His tone was dangerous.
At that moment, Cassidy's foot found the beeper. She stomped on it. Immediately, lights blared in the room and she could hear the receiver in the nurse room being activated.
Cassidy gave Arswon a triumphant grin, "Neither,"
Arswon was furious, "This isn't over yet, Cassidy Kenton," and without a word, he vanished.
The nurses started arriving, wondering why they had been called away from their gossip session. Cassidy told them that she and Brian had been talking, when he suddenly passed out. She couldn't wake him up, so she called for help. Brian was wheeled off to the emergency room, while Cassidy was told to go back to sleep.
"As if," she thought, as she rolled over and closed her eyes, "Not with what I have to think about,"
Arswon could have cursed himself, as he strode through the grand halls of his fort. He had let the girl get away again! What would he have done to any of his men if they had pulled a stunt like that? Why the assholes would never have seen the light of day again!
He sighed heavily and sat down in his throne. The hope he had was for naught; she would never return his feelings for her. And besides hadn't he promised himself when he decided to continue King Fernando's work, that it would remain unspoiled by love? Love was for the worthless, the cowardly, and those who had nothing else to live for, wasn't it? He didn't know anymore.
But one thing was for sure: Cassidy would never return his love; they're families had been fighting each other for centuries. They were born enemies and not even he could turn back the clock, though his aching heart wished that he could.
Despite what Cassidy had thought, she did go back to sleep, though not a very restful sleep. She kept tossing and turning and Arswon, kept entering into her dreams, unbidden. Cassidy awoke tired and more scared then when she'd gone to sleep.
Brian had returned from the emergency room they sat and while they waited for their parents, discussed last nights' disturbing events.
"How did he know where we were? How does he know my name? How-?" Cassidy asked question after question.
"I don't know, but it's no use panicking over it. I think he had like this spell that followed the Revealer's thoughts. That way, when they found out that they were the Revealer, he would find out their name and where they were. So if the spell was still in play, he could still follow your thoughts," Brian explained.
Far from calming her, Brian's explanation made her even more freaked out. Cassidy started shaking.
"Stop, unless you want to stay at the hospital another night," Brian chastised.
"Sorry," Cassidy replied "I just don't know what to do. I've got a huge responsibility, and I don't know how to cope with it! I just want to tear my hair out, I'm so frustrated," She covered her face with her hands.
Brian appeared surprised, "You know, you don't have to do this,"
"What?" Cassidy jerked her head up.
"Well, just because some prophet says you have to doesn't mean that you do. I mean you're still allowed to run your own life, right?"
"I guess. I never really thought about it that way before," Cassidy's dim outlook on life suddenly brightened slightly; she could choose! She wasn't doomed to fail.
Although if she was truly being honest with herself, which side would she choose? She knew, in her heart of hearts that even though it seemed as if she had a choice, she would still choose to help the triangles, in any way, shape, or form. But it was her choice now. And she intended to stick with it, no matter what.
Cassidy's mom knocked on the door before poking her head in, "Ready to go home, Cassidy?"
"In a second, Mom. Just gotta say bye,"
She turned to Brian and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Brian looked up in shock, "What was that for?"
"For helping me get a better outlook on life,"
"Oh. You're welcome," His face was redder than a sunset in the desert. Cassidy smiled to herself and turned to leave.
"Oh! Don't forget, you still owe me a date. How's Friday?" Brian called.
"Friday's fine. Meet you at school at say, five?"
"Yeah. Yeah that's perfect,"
"Cool. See you then," Cassidy left the room.
Brian fell back on his bed, "Wow. I have a date with the Revealer,"
Friday couldn't come soon enough. Though Cassidy was back to her old self, she hadn't seen Rose since the fight. She tried not to concern herself with it; Rose would probably forgive her when she saw how great things were. She went shopping with some of her other friends for the big night. When it finally came, Cassidy had her mom drive her to the school. Brian was already waiting. He was decked out in a nice suit and loafers.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yep,"
"Then let's go,"
They caught a bus to downtown and Brian showed her his car. When Cassidy asked him if was too young to have a car, he said, "I'm sixteen; I'm old enough,"
They drove to a nice restaurant down by the docks and ate dinner on a balcony overlooking the bay.
They talked about school and home life, finding out they had more in common than anyone could ever imagine. Cassidy was happier than she had ever been before. Brian was a great guy and he truly cared about her for who she was; not because she was the Revealer.
After they had eaten, Brian announced he had a surprise for her.
"What is it?" Cassidy asked.
He shook his finger at her, "If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise, would it?" His manner reminded her vaguely of someone, but she couldn't figure out who.
He put a blindfold on her and helped her into the car. He drove for what seemed to be a long time. After the normal sounds of traffic disappeared, Cassidy began to get worried.
"It's not too much farther, is it?" she asked.
"No, not much farther,"
Presently the car slowed. Cassidy heard Brian put the car in park and get out. He opened her door, took her by the hand, and helped her out. He opened what sounded like the door of a building and took her inside.
"Can I see it now?" Cassidy asked. Her voice echoed.
"No not yet. Walk around and when you get to the right spot I'll tell you,"
Cassidy took a few steps forward, "Now?"
"No, just keep walking. I'll tell you when,"
Cassidy walked some more, counting steps. When she got to thirty-six steps, Brian spoke, "You can take it off now,"
Cassidy ripped off the blindfold, a massive grin on her face. The grin was wiped off as soon as she saw what she was looking at.
Standing in front of her, near the center off a massive room, was none other than Arswon.
"Long time, no see," he said.
Cassidy turned to flee, only to be grabbed by two men. They rushed at her and grabbed her arms. Cassidy thrashed about like a fish out of water, but she couldn't get free. She turned to Brian, who was standing in the doorway.
"I trusted you! How could you do this to me?!"
At a signal from Arswon, the men dragged her down a hallway off of the room.
Cassidy twisted herself around, her face streamed with tears, "You're a traitor! You better hope I don't see your sorry face again or I'll beat you up more than I did before..." Cassidy's voice trailed off in the distance.
Arswon walked over to Brian. He was crying. Arswon put a consoling arm around him, "Well done little brother," he said.