Grandpa Royce's Place

L.J. Smith owns The Secret Circle books and CW the TV Series.

Caution this content is rated T but may contain sexual themes.

Cassie and Jake drove down to Grandpa Royce's house. Jake had tried to call him a few times but there was no answer. Neither of them were surprised by that seeing how paranoid he was, using the telephone as a means of communication would be a big 'no no' in his world. Cassie drove most of the way, although Jake assured her his legs had resumed their normalcy by now. They reminisced about all they had been through with the witch hunters, the crystal skull, John Blackwell. Talking about Blackwell put a bit of a damper on Cassie's mood, so Jake quickly changed the subject. They started analyzing the note Grandpa Royce had sent Jake. It alarmed them to think that almost all of what Royce had said earlier did come true although the delivery of these messages could have been better. They started to talk about the other circles. Could there have been just three like Royce had suggested or where there more? How would they know once one had been bound?

When they finally reached Grandpa Royce's place they did the lock unlock spell as they had the last time they were there.

J: I really need to get a spare key for this place

C: Don't you mean keys?

They both smirked at that comment and made their way in. They started to look at the conspiracy wall with a keen eye this time, the last time they were here they had too quickly dismissed it as a manifestation of Royce's mental state but this time they looked at it with a new found respect. Almost as if it were a large puzzle, one they had to solve with pieces that would not be found easily because instead of one there were multiple puzzles all thrown onto the wall. They sat for hours reading through old books, newspaper clippings which seemed to cover most of the walls, going through anything really that would give them a clue about what Royce's note meant. To their disappointment they really didn't find anything. Cassie told Jake she was tired and needed to lie down.

J: There's a spare room to the left just down the hall, I noticed it the last time I was here and needed to use the bathroom. I'm going to stay out here and go through some more books.

It was already five o'clock in the evening and they had been there trying to find something for the last two hours. As Cassie looked around the spare bedroom all she saw was a queen size bed with a very old looking bed frame, a night stand, a lamp and a chest of drawers. As she lay down on the bed she felt her phone against the mattress and took it out of her jean pocket and placed it at the side of the night lamp. Just as she shut eyes her phone buzzed, this time she was thrilled to see a text from Diana it didn't say much, just simply

D: Just wanted to let you know I'm ok - Di

With that Cassie had the widest smile on her face, she wanted to just call Diana to tell her how happy she was to hear from her, about the scar on her palm, the vial, Royce's note and ofcourse about Jake and their budding relationship. But doing that would have been selfish, Diana needed some space although Cassie didn't want any between them she was going to respect her wishes.

She still missed her sister as Cassie went to put her phone on the night stand she notice the drawer slightly opened, she opened it to find a very old looking book, a picture of Jake and Nick when they were kids probably taken when Jake was around eight and Nick six. She smiled as a tear escaped her eyes, she thought of how much Jake had been through in his young life losing both his parents and how tough it must be for him seeing his Grandpa almost senile still yet trying to bond with him all the same. As she went to put the photo back in the drawer she notice tucked away far behind a tiny wooden box, she pulled it out and observed the striking intricate designs on the box which looked Celtic. She opened it, to her surprise it looked empty, how odd she thought and then remembered that she was in paranoid Grandpa Royce's house, finding anything in the box would have been too easy. She started to chant lowly

C: nochtann dom cad e i bhfolach, nochtann dom cad e i bhfolach, nochtann dom cad e i bhfolach'

A spell she had found in Jake's book of shadows then suddenly she saw a gorgeous shinny ring. She picked it up to look at it closer and she thought it looked like a claddagh ring it was gold all the way around with a heart shaped emerald held by the two hands indicative of the claddagh style and on top of the emerald there were three diamonds set to look like the crown. It was a gorgeous ring and from the looks of it looked like a family heirloom of sorts. Cassie yawned as all the driving in addition to her activities with Jake made her sleepy. She didn't realize when she fell asleep but she did with the ring still in her hand as she drifted off. Meanwhile in the living room Jake was still rummaging through the old books, he had now taken off his shoes and jacket and was stretched out on the couch relaxed with a book in hand.

Cassie had a smile on her face as she was dreaming, she dreamt of being in a lavender field walking in a white and violet flowing deep necked dress that flattered her body, her beautiful blond hair swaying in the wind and a huge smile on her face. She then glanced over to see four tiny blond children playing in a distance part of the field. The oldest looked around six and was a handsome boy, the next child looked around four and she was stunning, she had the most gorgeous lightly curled blond hair. The other two boys looked liked twins they were wearing matching outfits and had the cutest haircuts they both looked similar but not identical about roughly two years of age. The children were running around barefoot in the field throwing pieces of lavender at each other, laughing, talking to each other, stomping around and then the oldest boy looked right at Cassie and said something to Cassie that she couldn't quite hear and resumed playing. She moved closer towards the children but their speech still wasn't clear. She now felt close enough to touch the oldest one on the shoulder, he turned around looked at her with his precious mesmerizing blue eyes, smiled and said "mom".

With that Cassie gasped loudly as she bolted out of her dream, she sat up on the bed dazed and confused as to what she saw. She looked towards the door to see Jake standing there with his mouth half open looking as confused as she did.

C: What it is?

Jake went over to sit down right besides her on the bed. Both of them were just starring at each other a bit bewildered then Jake put his arms around Cassie giving her a hug.

J: Are you ok?

C: Yes I am thanks. I just had an incredible really vivid dream about being in a lavender field

Jake's body stiffened he moved a few inches back now so he was looking right at her, his face stone cold

J: Did you see some children playing in the field?

C: Yes I believe I did four of them to be exact

J: Three boys and a girl

Cassie gasped at his words as Jake looked her in the eyes then spoke in a serious tone

J: Cassie we had the same dream

C: What? How is that possible?

J: I was sitting on the couch trying to find something really anything about the other circles and I must have dozed off. I started dreaming of you in this beautiful white and purple dress, I thought wow she looks stunning. I tried to walk towards you to give you a kiss but you kept walking away. You kept walking towards something and then I finally saw them you were walking towards some children.

C: And then? What else did you hear or see?

J: Nothing that was pretty much it; I came over to tell you it was so bizarre because it felt so real. I could have reached out my arm and grabbed you in my dream.

Cassie was relieved even though she was not quite sure why, but she was that Jake hadn't heard what the oldest boy had said to her.

J: It's getting late and there's still no sign of my Grandpa maybe we should eat some dinner and stay the night here, it's too late to drive back now.

Cassie nodded in agreement. Jake was glad Cassie had prepared for this, putting extra clothes, toothbrushes along with some other personal items in the duffle bag. Jake went to get their overnight bag from the car and put it in the spare bedroom, the only room that didn't have papers surrounding it. When he left the room Cassie saw her fist was still clenched from her dream and in it was the emerald claddagh ring. She quickly put it back in the box and closed the drawer.

Jake had just arrived back with their bag she looked up at him and smiled. He looked so sexy in his black jeans, navy blue V-neck t-shirt that hung perfectly on his body. She gave him a seductive look then signaled with her fingers that he join her on the bed she was still lying on. He had a cocky smirk on his face as he walked over there leaping onto the bed causing Cassie to yelp at first then giggle loudly. He got on top of her as he started kissing her quite fervently then all of a sudden they heard the locks on the door unlock and before they knew it Grandpa Royce was standing in front of them at the door. He was happy to see them but he had a slightly disapproving look of the position he caught them in. Jake got off Cassie walked over to give his Grandpa a hug

J: I got your note Grandpa, we're here to talk to you about it.

Thank you for reading my story, feedback as always is sincerely appreciated.