i thought i'd try something with The Secret Circle gang tell me what you think

The Power Within

Chapter One: Signs

Cassie couldn't believe they had survived. She gripped Adam's hand tight and he looked down at her and smiled. His arm was around her shoulders his fingers still interlinked with hers. The Club were happy. They had defeated Black John the house at number thirteen Crowhaven had disappeared into the ground. They were free.

Diana was laughing her emerald eyes twinkling and she winked at Cassie and Cassie blushed. She knew what the whole of the Circle thought. But she knew they were right. She felt Adam's eyes on her. He squeezed her shoulders and she smiled.

"We should celebrate!" Deborah called. "Deb your arm is broken!" Melanie scolded. "It needs looking at." "It's fine! The Crones have looked after it and everything. I can't feel a thing." "We need to Party!" Chris and Doug called. "We need to make up for all the birthdays we missed."

"That's true." Laurel mused aloud. "We can organise a party. To celebrate. At the weekend." The whole Club cheered. "Party! Party! Party!" Doug and Chris chanted pumping their fists in the air.

Faye looked on slightly apart from them but there was an amused expression on her face.

Deborah was watching Cassie and Adam and a smile made her face light up. "You guys should get out of here you obviously need to talk." Cassie couldn't miss the way she casually used the word "Talk" a blush crept up her neck and she noticed that Adam was slightly redder than two minutes ago.

"Debs is right." Nick said smiling. He had changed so much. The Old Nick still remained somewhere within him but he was more open now. He was more open to magic. To them. To the Club. Cassie knew she would always confide in him. He had been there for her when she needs someone. She still wished she could have loved him the way she wanted too.

"Get out of here. We'll organise the party without you!" "No!" Cassie said quickly "We'll stay and help you." Diana laughed. "You're making us all dopey the way you keep looking at one another. We'll manage without you. Go!"

Cassie and Adam grinned and then set off for the beach than ran along by Crowhaven Road.

Raj barked happily and bounded after them along the beach. Then took off ahead of them. Cassie laughed as Raj plunged straight into the sea. "Raj!" Adam called Raj barked and then returned to his master.

The eclipse was waning and Adam and Cassie sat on the sand dune holding hands. "Is this real?" Cassie whispered. Everything seemed so enchanted and she felt like she was caught in its grasp.

"If it's a dream then I don't want to wake up." Adam said in a whisper. She turned to face him and the moon was reflecting off his hair and his eyes were a soft sliver. He looked so happy. The way he was meant to be.

She felt the cord pull between them and she leaned towards him as if it was the most natural thing in the world and he leaned towards her and his lips touched hers.

At first it was just the slightest of touches, like a butterflies wing. Adam's lips were warm and soft and her lips opened under his and he began to kiss her deeper and deeper. Cassie closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him and pulled him closer.

She felt that everything was were it should be and she was where she belonged. She kissed Adam with as much abandon, as he seemed to be kissing her. There was a bark and then something furry bounded at them and they broke away laughing.

"Raj!" Cassie giggled "it's ok I'll give you a kiss too." She kissed the dog's muzzle and ruffled his fur. Raj licked Cassie's face and snuggled up against her looking up at her with laughing eyes that said, "I want a kiss too."

Cassie kissed his muzzle again cuddled the dog to her and looked up into the cool blue eyes of his master. Adam was looking more than amused. "He's getting more attention than I am. That's not fair!" Cassie giggled drunk on love and happiness.

She leaned in and kissed him. "There." She said, "Now you're square." "Not quite yet." Adam said seemingly to think about it.

He kissed her again.

A little while later they were sat on the dunes talking about everything, what had happened, their families their powers, The Club, what they would do now, everything and Cassie said "Adam?"

"Yeah?" Adam smiled. He was smiling more and more now. "I…" She wasn't sure if saying this was a good idea. But she was going to say it anyway. It was true and it wouldn't change.

Adam was looking at her with a question in his eyes. "I love you." Cassie said simply. "I'm in love with you." Adam's eyes softened. "I love you too Cassie." They hugged.

"I better get you home." Adam said like it was an after thought "Diana will kill me if I don't get you home." Cassie could believe that.

They stood up and walked back towards Crowhaven Road.

The Church Square is silent hundreds, perhaps thousands of people are there silently watching with hard staring eyes. Those same people watch as chained and imprisoned with no hope of rescue I am lead to the centre of the square and my guards that show no emotion in their eyes.

I cannot appeal to them their eyes grim and dull tell me everything I need to know. they have seen death before and I just another nameless person that has been convicted of the biggest offence there is.

I don't want to die!

I want someone to tell me this is a lie!

Someone to speak up for me.

But I know this is hopeless.

I am a wanted criminal and there is a prize on my head. It is a lot of money and times are hard. No citizen will listen to my cries of innocence when everyone else tells them I am guilty. They believe those with authority because they are always right.

I know now that I will die on this day and in this hour. But I want justice for my death. I want them to pay.

I know I will die. I am lead to the stake and they tie me with bonds so tight they make my wrists sore and ache.

Witnesses were called at my trial. But a trial it was not. It was a mockery of me. It made me feel dirty. They swore on the name of the Bible that I had done them harm when they and I know this is not the case.

They swore I lived to maim and harm using words known only to the Devil and all other Underworld upheaval. It does not matter that it is the biggest nonsense I have ever heard.

No one listens to the guilty.

But I know it's not the case. As do all those intent on killing me.

But I was dead from the first claim. These people love bloodshed they long for it. My death will be the spectacle of the week talked about for months. I am dying for their entertainment.

God if your up there you have a sick sense of humour.

I look up into the cool grey eyes of the executioner. He can't wait for the moment to come. He has waited for years. "Choose me or the fire!" I spit in his face I can't stand to look at him. I'd rather die on this pyre than give myself to him.

He turns to the crowd and says, "The witch has refused to repent…" the rest of the words are lost in the roar of the crowd. There is a roaring in my ears and my heart is currently residing in my throat.

I've never known terror like this.

The words are lost to me. All but one sentence. "I'm sending her back to hell where she belongs!"

Everything seems to move in slow motion the kindling catches fire and the flames shoot up dancing around my feet, so close to my body I feel the heat.

The smoke is thick and I cough as it engulfs me. The flames climb higher and I know my time is nearly over. There is someone screaming and I realise its me, I am the one that's screaming, screaming as my legs are engulfed in flame.

The pain is unbearable. Distantly I hear a bell and realise that will be the last sound I ever hear.

I am dying to the sound of a bell. I scream and I know I'm being sent straight to hell…

Cassie woke in a sweat. The sheets of her bed were wrapped around her in a tangle and her hair was a wet tangle around her face plastered to her head. Her heart was beating so hard it was hurting her chest.

Without thinking she sent a message with her thoughts straight to Adam. Adam! She called Adam I need you!

She felt his instant response. I'm coming hold on.

Her panic and fear were harder to control. She was in Diana's room. Diana was still asleep and despite her terror Cassie didn't have the heart to wake her. She got up and crept from the room and padded down the stairs.

She felt Adam coming up the drive and slipped out to meet him. She closed the door and threw herself into Adam's arms.

"What is it?" Adam said urgently. Cassie felt stupid now, now she knew she was safe. Now she was in Adam's arms but she knew she had had true dreams before and that was what had scared her.

The dream was so real. The pain had been real. Even now the screams of the crowd echoed in her head. She buried her face in Adam's chest. Adam held her close.

"I had a nightmare." She whispered keeping her face buried in his jumper. "Tell me." He said gently. She couldn't understand why she was so scared. It was just a dream…but she was still terrified.

The fear was a black mist surrounding her. No! She thought I won't let you get to me. I am not going to let you win!

She took three deep breaths trying to calm her shaking body. Adam was stroking her back she could feel him sending out waves of calm and she felt her terror slipping away from her.

Slowly Cassie retold Adam everything she could remember about the dream and everything she could see from the stake. By the end of the telling Adam's eyes were dark.

"What?" Cassie asked.

"It's dangerous." Adam muttered. "Come with me." "I have to get back to Diana She'll wonder where I am." Cassie said. "No." Adam said "I'm not letting you out my sight."

"It was just a dream." Cassie said confused by his outburst. "It wasn't it was more than that." "You think so?" Cassie whispered. "I know so." Adam said. "Before we met you I was reading up on true dreams and past lives and it seems to me this is what it is."

"My past life?" Cassie whispered. She was stunned. "Are you sure?" she felt compelled to ask. "Cassie we all know that you're a strong witch. One of the strongest in the club. But things still aren't right. I thought it was because of Black John but number thirteen has disappeared and I still feel something evil circling us. Something is not right." Cassie shivered. She didn't want to think about it. Why did everything have to collapse on her again? She shivered. Adam seemed to know because he pulled to him and whispered, "Hey, Hey its ok. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. It's ok. I will not let anything happen to you. I promise you."

Cassie believed him.

Now it was just what were they going to do about this latest evil. Adam led her back to the house and she felt the black began to circle her again and then she screamed.

It pieacred the night. Diana came flying out the house. And she cuddled Cassie to her. "Why did you leave the house." Cassie couldn't speak. "Look." Was all she could say. They looked in the direction she was pointing and there was a dead cat hung on the fence of Diana's house.

"Oh god." Diana and Adam said.

"They're signs." Cassie said. "I'm going to die."