𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐓 𐦟 𝐓𝐕𝐃𝐔

Chapter 5

The days had gone by in a blur, things were heating up. Between the supposed return of Klaus, Rose's death, and the bitchy werewolf named Jules, Cassie really had no time to think. It also didn't help that her nephews hated Elijah's guts, the tension between them all was almost too much to bare. She still hadn't told them about her and Elijah's relations but to be totally honest she didn't want to. They had tried to kill him and completely failed. Cassie prayed that tonight's dinner party could smooth things over, Stefan and Damon were up to something and Cassie knew it. She tried to push it from her mind, hoping that this was just a friendly dinner with everyone.

She knew her wishes were silly but she was hoping for a nice evening. A night where there was no drama, only having fun with some of her friends. Cassie looked herself up and down in the mirror, she wore a tight fit long sleeve shirt, some dark wash low rise jeans, and a long cardigan over it. It wasn't exactly a very classy outfit but she didn't mind. There was knock on the door, "Come in." It was Jenna who walked in, Cassie didn't know her very well but she seemed sweet, she was also with Alaric. Alaric had seemed to take a dislike for Cassie. Maybe it was her attitude or the fact that she was an original. Whatever it was he tried not to make to obvious, but she could sense it. "Hey I was just curious if I could get your help with dinner. Alaric isn't exactly the best cook and I could really use an extra hand." Cassie turned around, "Of course, I'll be down in a minute." Jenna nodded and walked out of the room.

Cassie walked down the stairs and made her way to the kitchen, the smell flooded her nose and she couldn't help but smile, "Is everything ok?" Jenna had a towel slung over her shoulder and had an eyebrow raised. "Oh of course, it just smells divine. I used to love cooking in this kitchen when I was younger." Jenna nodded, it was slow and skeptical, "How old are you? I mean I couldn't help but notice you don't go to school with Elena or Stefan but yet you look so young." Cassie giggled, "I'm only 20, my parents had me when they were quite old, they also had my brother when they were young." Jenna smiled, "So you're from their dad's side?" Cassie's eyes went wide as she slowly realized the web of lies she had spun, "Yes. That's correct. What can I do?" Jenna turned around back to the stove, "If you could dice up those scallions that would be great." Cassie nodded and grabbed a knife from the block, she began diving up the scallions.

  There were a few moments of silence before Jenna decided to break the tension, "So you and Elijah huh?" Cassie whipped her head around, "What are you talking about?" Jenna laughed and let out a sigh, "Stefan and Damon may be clueless about you two but I'm not, it's the perks of being an aunt." Jenna turned around and winked, Cassie's hand were shaky, "You-you can't tell them." Jenna tilted her head, "I wasn't planning on it, you seem shaken up about it, you alright?" Cassie closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "The boys don't exactly care for Elijah, I'm afraid they wouldn't be too happy if they found out about us." Cassie tried to keep her voice down. "Well I'm not going to tell them so you don't have to worry about it from my end." Cassie forced a smile and continued to cook in silence.

It was about another hour before dinner was prepared, they had put dessert in the oven and were setting the table. Stefan and Damon seemed to be dancing around, constantly moving off to talk, or getting jumpy whenever Cassie entered the room. She tried to ignore it but she knew they were planning something, probably against her or Elijah. She helped Jenna set the table as she sat down at the table, she had saved a seat next to her for Elijah, she wanted to keep him as close as possible, when she motioned for Elijah to sit next to her Damon quickly took the seat, "Sorry, just wanted to have some time with my aunt, you don't mind do you?" Damon looked up at Elijah who just huffed, "No, I don't mind at all." He moved to sit down across from Cassie.

They all got into their places at the dinner table, it was full of delicious foods, it all looked fantastic and she felt terrible at the fact that she wasn't hungry. Cassie had been sucking on a blood bag before she got dressed and plus she didn't really have the need to eat. She picked at her food, she couldn't ignore the anxious feeling in her stomach, it was eating away at her. The table was mostly silent, the occasional scraping of the plate only made it worse. "So Cassandra I couldn't help but overhear your conversation with Jenna in the kitchen, was it something about a man in your life?" Cassie swallowed the bite of meat and looked over in John Gilbert's direction. "There's no mystery man I can assure you that." She began cutting her meat, each movement getting more and more aggressive. "Oh I don't know it sounded pretty serious, what was so distinct to me was that you didn't want Stefan or Damon to know. Why's that? Will they not approve, is that what you're worried about?" Jenna shot him a dirty glare, she could feel all eyes on her.

Cassie's leg began to bounce up and down, she could feel her body getting heated, all she wanted was to rip his head off. "Alright John, how about we discuss your extra curricular activities hm? I hear you're awfully busy this time around." John put his silverware down and looked up at her, "I'd be happy to." Cassie put everything down, "Well alright then let's talk about it, and don't you dare leave out the nitty gritty details. I'm not one to shy away." Just as she was about to stand up a timer dinged from inside the kitchen. Jenna quickly got up mumbling something about getting the dessert. Cassie got herself comfortable, and took a deep breathe. Alaric stood up and pushed his chair in. Right as Cassie was about to say something she felt Damon's arm sneak around the back of her chair. Before she could react his hand came around the back of her neck and held her mouth shut. Within the blink of an eye Alaric came and stabbed Elijah in the chest.

Cassie cried out but nothing escaped from the grasp of Damon's hand. Cassie shoved his hand off of her, Stefan quickly stepped in the way and held her, "Don't make a scene, don't." His voice was calm, as if he was trying to sooth her, Cassie shoved him onto the ground, "How dare you? How could you do that?" Cassie stepped over him, "I won't be shy about it since John seems to have ruined the whole little secret. I'm in love with Elijah, I have been since I was human. He loved me before everything, before I was a witch and before I was a vampire. But I loved him back, he's been the only person I've ever truly loved. Now you just staked him in the heart with that stupid little dagger." Cassie stormed out of the house, she slammed the door behind her and walked down the gravel driveway.

She knew she was being dramatic, but she couldn't care less. Elijah wasn't dead, this also wasn't the first time it had happened. It still hurt though. The fact that her nephews went behind her back with John Gilbert and Alaric Saltzman was what hurt more. She cried out in frustration, a shattering sound came from a light post down the street. The glass had completely shattered, the pieces were nothing but dust. Cassie took a deep breath, trying as hard as she could to maintain her composure but the backstabbing of others made it kind of difficult. Cassie walked back into the house, when she arrived they were all sitting at the table, except for Elijah, for obvious reasons.

     "Is Elijah ok? Alaric said he had some business matters to attend to." Jenna looked up at her as if nothing happened, probably because she didn't know. Cassie sighed and forced a smile, "Yes he just had some things to clear up at the office, I'm afraid he won't be returning but on a more important note I am not drunk yet, I'm going to go get some wine from the cellar." Cassie went to the basement and towards the cell area, she knew Elijah would be down here. She went to the first door and saw his body lying there. Cassie tried to open the door but it was locked. She gripped the door tighter and pried it off the hinges and walked in. There was a hand on her shoulder, she whipped around and there stood Elena, with Stefan and Damon behind her.

     "Let go of me before I crush your hand." Cassie grabbed Elena's wrist and held it tightly, "Hey, lighten up." Stefan grabbed Cassie's wrist, she let go and pulled her arm away. "I can't believe you two, you had this planned the entire time?" Damon scoffed, "You would've saved him the first chance you got, like you would actually be the one to do it." She giggled, "Wouldn't be the first time." Elena narrowed her eyes, "When did you stake him?" Cassie just shrugged, "He was pissing me off and I needed a break, it was only a day or two." The three of them looked at her as if she was insane, she just shrugged. "If you had a good reason then I have no right to be angry." They all staid silent once again, Cassie went to pull the dagger from Elijah but when she went to touch him she pulled her hand away quickly. Her hand was steaming and sizzling, "Vervain? Are you serious?"

"Vervain keeps you from touching him or using your magic on him." Stefan leaned against the door frame, "I'm sorry Cassie, I really am, but it's safer this way." She rolled her eyes, "Quit acting like you care. You clearly don't, you're all a bunch of back stabbers. I would be more pissed about that but I can't be, because you learned it from the best." Cassie shoved them all to the side she went up to her room and slammed the door shut. She couldn't believe it. At the same time she could. Cassie did this to herself by not trusting her instinct, she shouldn't have trusted them. Now look where it's gotten her.