The ritual was over. I had served my part as the sacrifice and Niklaus Mikaelson was freed from his curse. My Original was now a true hybrid. Thanks to the resurrection amulet he'd given me, I'd come back to life despite his mother's best attempts to keep me from doing so. God, I hated that woman. The spell that linked me to Nik and his brother Elijah had faded with my death. My magic was muted. I could feel it buzzing under my skin but I couldn't access it. I hadn't said a word to either Original brother. We were dealing with enough at the moment without adding that to the mix.

It was the day after I returned to life and Nik sat in his favorite chair while I perched in his lap. We hadn't left each other's side for even a second since the moment I returned from the Other Side. We had been too close to losing each other to take the time we had together for granted.

My head leaned against his shoulder and his hand made lazy circles on my back as he read from Jane Eyre. It was one of my favorites and Nik was going out of his way to be accommodating. He was trying to make amends for killing me. It was unnecessary but I wasn't about to complain.

Our lazy afternoon was interrupted by the front door being thrown open. Our gazes shifted to the doorway of the living room, but otherwise we stayed where we were. "Klaus!"

Nik groaned as he recognized Stefan's voice. "In here, Salvatore." He didn't bother raising his voice. The vampire could hear him just fine.

Stefan came into view. His brow was furrowed and his eyes were wide. His gaze darted from the hybrid to me and his expression changed to one of shock. "Cassidy? But…you were dead. We saw you."

I chuckled and gave him a small smile. "I was dead. Now I'm not."

"You need to tell everyone," he insisted. "Elena has been beside herself. They are planning a memorial for you."

"Was there something you needed?" Nik asked, his voice heavy with irritation. He wasn't looking forward to having to share his time with me with anyone but his brother. I rolled my eyes. I had already told him that we couldn't remain hermits forever though I hadn't been in a rush to tell everyone either. I was still coming to terms with everything that happened the past few days.

"It's Damon," Stefan said. "He's dying."

That got my attention and I pushed myself off Nik's lap and to my feet. "What do you mean dying?"

Stefan swallowed as his gaze moved from me to the hybrid again. His tongue darted out to wet his lips. "Tyler Lockwood bit him. The witches said you have a cure."

I glanced over my shoulder to Nik. He rolled his eyes before standing. "And what will you give me for it, hmm? Surely you don't expect me to just be charitable and hand it over after all the trouble you and your friends have caused?"

Stefan's jaw went tight. "What do you want?"

An arched brow in my boyfriend's direction conveyed my opinion of his current action.

He sighed. "All right, fine. We'll be right back, Stefan. Stay here."

The younger vampire frowned in confusion but simply nodded and perched on the edge of a chair. I followed Nik from the room and into the kitchen, leaning in the doorway as I watched him sift through drawers. "What are you looking for, babe?"

He glanced up to give me a crooked smile at the nickname before resuming his search. "A vial or something."

I walked over to the drawer closest to the refrigerator and retrieved a large vial for him. "Always ask the witch to help find things, hybrid. We have a knack for that."

He hummed in agreement. "So, I see." His hands settled on my waist and he pulled me close. He pressed his lips softly in the space just behind my ear before he left a trail of kisses down the side of my neck.

As much as I wanted to continue, I huffed a laugh and pushed against his chest. "Lest you forget, Damon is my friend. I'd prefer it if he didn't die."

"So demanding," he said with a frown. But he took a step back and bit his wrist, letting the blood flow into the vial. He capped it and handed it over. I slid it into my pocket before taking his hand in mine. He led me into the living room where Stefan hopped to his feet.

"Where is it?" he asked when neither of us said anything or produced anything resembling a cure.

"Cassie will see that it is delivered. As for you, mate, I have a proposition for you," Nik said.

I shook my head but said nothing. It wasn't a surprise as we'd discussed it the night before. To say that I was shocked to discover Nik and Stefan had been friends once upon a time was an understatement. Now that the curse was broken, Nik's next goal was to rekindle his friendship with the other vampire.

"I have a journey that must be made this summer. I would like you to accompany me," Nik offered.

"Me? Why?"

"Let's just say that I see something in you, Stefan. Something you've buried. The true you as it were. What do you say?"

"Is this what you want in exchange for the cure?" Stefan asked. His lips were pressed into a thin line.

When Nik looked as if he was actually considering the offer, I elbowed him in the ribs. He laughed and held up his hands in a gesture of innocence. "The cure is freely given. This would just be an agreement amongst friends."

"Friends?" Stefan said with an arched brow.

"Why don't you two have a drink?" I interrupted. "I'll run this over to Damon."

Nik kissed me on the cheek. "Be careful, sweetheart. Call if you have any trouble."

I nodded and hurried from the house. The drive to the Salvatore boarding house went quickly. I was unsurprised to see several cars parked out front when I got there. Contrary to what he seemed to think most of the time, Damon had a lot of people that cared about him whether he realized it or not. When I got to the door, I opened it without knocking. I didn't see much point. It wasn't as if Damon would be up to answering.

"Hello?" I called though I didn't raise my voice much. Steps moved through the house in my direction. After a moment Jenna appeared. Once she caught sight of me, her smile slipped as her mouth fell open. She wanted to say something but I wasn't entirely certain she was able. Finally, she closed the distance between us and wrapped me in her arms. "We thought you were gone," she managed to say after a moment.

I leaned back and gave her a little smile. "I was for a bit. But I'm fine. And I'm here to save Damon. Where is he?"

"He's in his room. Elena is with him. Have you seen Stefan?" Jenna's gaze darted over to the door as if she expected the younger Salvatore to walk through at any moment.

"He's having a drink with an old friend." I headed toward the stairs. "I need to get this up to Damon. I'll be back."

She nodded, pulling her phone from her pocket as I hurried up the stairs to Damon's room. Voices drifting into the hall slowed my steps as I neared the door. When I peered inside it was to see my cousin kissing her boyfriend's brother. I gave a little shake of my head then took it upon myself to interrupt. As much as I loved my cousin, Elena was the last thing Damon needed in his life right now.

"Hope I'm not interrupting," I said as I walked into the room.

Both of their heads snapped in my direction. "Cassidy?" Elena questioned before launching herself at me and wrapping her arms around me. I hugged her just as fiercely in return. "I thought I was never going to see you again."

I looked past her to Damon. He was covered in a sheen of sweat and his brow was furrowed. "Cassidy?"

"It's me, Salvatore. And once again I am here to save your sorry ass." I pulled the vial from my pocket. "Elena, help him lean up."

Once he was upright enough that I thought he could drink the blood without choking on it, I uncapped the vial and tipped it in his mouth. He swallowed it eagerly. I tossed the empty vial in the trash and perched on the end of the bed, waiting for him to recover.

It didn't take long at all for his color to improve and soon he was sitting up. He rested his back against the headboard and studied me with that piercing gaze of his. Instead of saying anything, he glanced at Elena. "Where's Stefan?"

"He went to talk to Klaus. Bonnie said he knew the cure."

His gaze shifted back to me. "I guess that explains the special delivery. Where's my brother, Grimes?"

Irritation spiked through me. "I don't think I like your tone, Salvatore. After everything you still don't trust me?"

He shifted so he was sitting more upright. "That depends. You still with Klaus?"

I arched a brow. "Is there a reason I shouldn't be with Nik?"

"Damn it, Cas. Are you insane? He killed you. Why can't you see that he is not a nice guy?"

Surprisingly, Elena was staying out of it. Her gaze just kept shifting between the two of us.

I bent my head forward and pinched the bridge of my nose as I tried to calm my irritation. "Elena is alive. I am alive. You are alive. Why do you insist on making him the villain?"

He shook his head and his jaw went tight. "You just don't get it, Grimes. And at this point, I don't think you ever will. If he had the cure all this time, he could have saved Rose. He could have but he chose not to. He let you get hurt and he let her die. A good person doesn't do that."

"I guess I'm not a good person then, Damon. You want to blame someone for Rose, blame me. I was the one that told him not to save her. She didn't deserve it. Her little stunt with Elena could have gotten us all killed. But you're going to mourn her death and paint Nik as the villain. Whatever, Salvatore." I stood with a sigh and shifted my gaze to Elena. "Nik and I are going out of town for a while. I'll be back." What I didn't tell her was that if the hybrid got his way, Stefan would be joining us. No sense dealing with that meltdown until necessary.

After a small wave, I went down the stairs with the intention of heading home. My steps faltered when I saw Alaric waiting for me at the foot of the stairs.

He swallowed and tears fell from his eyes. "Jenna said…I didn't believe her. Is it really you?"

My heart ached a little at the knowledge of what he must have gone through when he thought me dead. In answer, I closed the distance between us and threw my arms around his neck. "It's me, Ric. I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for, Cassidy? Saving Elena? Being alive? God, it's good to see you."

Finally, we separated and I wiped the sheen of tears from my eyes. "I love you, Ric."

"You too, kid."

I gave him one last hug before heading to the door. I opened it but turned back before stepping out. "By the way, Nik saved your pain in the ass bestie, even if he doesn't appreciate it."