Letter to Jake

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

Caution this content is rated T and may contain sexual themes

The rain hadn't stopped but it had subsided enough so they could drive back now. As Cassie was leaving Jake's truck she saw a letter that had probably slipped out of his jacket she reached to grab it to give it to him and felt a surge go through her.

C: What was hell was that Jake?

J: I've been trying to find out myself for days. I found this letter in my closet floor tried to open it and figured out it was spelled. I tried to unspell it back to its original form and then I saw this Balcoin symbol appear at the back. I meant to ask you or Diana to touch it so I can finally open it and read what's inside

C: Well I felt a surge similar to the feeling I get when I'm in John's house under the Balcoin symbol

J: Let's see it's still not open. Cassie can you please place your palm where the Balcoin symbol is

C: Ahh! That was painful it felt like the first time I realized I was branded a Balcoin. Let's check now

J: It's opening now

Jake moved to open the letter and it was fairly long for a hand written letter it consisted of several pages but who would write him such a long letter, then seal it with the Balcoin mark and then spell it on top of that? Obviously someone went to great lengths to make sure the contents of the letter would only be available to Jake. He scanned through the pages until he got to the last page he was stunned to see the signature, it was from John Blackwell.

J: Cassie the letter is from your father John Blackwell, do you not want me to read it now?

She was in shock hearing her father's name and took a minute to respond hesitantly

C: If he sealed the letter so you'd need a Balcoin to open it knowing that I was probably the closest Balcoin to you obviously he wanted me to know what's inside. Go ahead read it out to me but I do to want to touch it I don't want anything from that man.

Jake nodded acknowledging her position then proceeded to read out the letter out loud:

Jake if you're reading this means I have failed. Failed to acquire the crystal skull, failed to rid the earth of non Balcoin witches and worst of all I've failed to protect my children. Since you are reading this, you have figured out how to open the letter which confirms my initial impression of you as an adult its why I've always had faith in you. By now you've probably figured that I want my Balcoin blooded children to bind their own circle for together there is no power greater than them. Me trying to get rid of the other witches was to ensure my children's' rise to power, the only threat to the Balcoin line are other witches it was not personal and I hope someday you understand that Jake.

I know your feelings for my oldest daughter Cassie runs deep, I want you to know that if I'm not around you're the only person I can trust to do what's in her best interest. You will stop at nothing to protect my daughter and for that I am eternally grateful to you. Please don't prove me wrong. I might not have been a great father to her or my other children but perhaps when you become a father you'll understand I only tried to protect them by eliminate any threat to them and ensure their power.

Which brings me to my other friend, your father Richard. We were the best of friends since we were little children. I'm the one who taught him to play soccer, he and your grandpa taught me to fish, since I didn't have my own father around Royce took it upon himself to take me in, he treated me like another son. I pushed Richard to muster up the courage to ask your mother Sarah out on their first date. I was the best man at your parents wedding and I also am your godfather, just in case no one ever mentioned that to you. Losing them in the boatyard fire was very personal to me and as painful as loosing Amelia when she decided to leave and take Cassie far away from me. In one night I lost everyone I ever considered family.

Although you don't remember me I looked after you a lot when you were a child. Amelia and I baby sat you when your parents needed a break. We spent a lot of time with you, how your aunt Amelia loved you, playing with you made us want children of our own. I knew then what I know now about you, which is you were always a determined young fellow. This is why I am trusting you with taking care of the most precious piece of me, my daughter Cassie.

If she hasn't yet seen you for the man you are she will, don't give up. I meant what I said to you, a man can change I know this to be true from my own experience. Fight for her, please protect my daughter and the generations to come through her.

Forever indebted to you,
John Blackwell

Jake was perturbed as he read the letter out to Cassie, they were both bewildered at what they had just heard. Was this another one of Blackwell's mind games? Was this the one shred of decency he had left? Why did he leave a letter for a Jake and not Cassie or Diana? This is why Jake's mom Sarah trusted him, he wasn't sure if Richard and John had a fall out before the boat yard fire but from what little information Jake saw when Cassie and him went back into his memories, he remembers his father asking his mom why she was blinded by Blackwell. Was this one of the reasons Royce was so paranoid? He trusted John, thought of him as another son only to be let down when his Balcoin power kicked in? Did Royce feel deeply betrayed by him? The pieces were slowly starting to fall into place now.

In his own way John was begging Jake to watch out for Cassie, to continue to fight for her love. Blackwell would be pleased to know they had already gotten together all on their own without any intervention from him. Still having Blackwell's blessing for dating Cassie from the grave felt kind of creepy. Cassie was millions of miles away reeling from what had just been revealed, Jake had to break the ice

J: Guess that means your dad wouldn't mind if I take you to prom

C: Hmm..Yeah (still miles away deep in thought)

J: Cassie are you ok to drive? Do you want me to take you home, we can always come back for your car later

C: No I'm ok Jake thanks for asking, do you mind if I keep the letter?

J: Eeer sure...no I don't mind

Just then Jake got a text from Faye

F: Can you please ask your girlfriend how to change my hair color back to normal? My mom has tried fifteen spells, four hair colors later nothing's worked. I'm sick of hiding in beanies because of this orange hair could you ask her to turn is back?

Jake smiled knowing that she reached out to him rather than Cassie directly because she was a bit scared of her now.

J: Cassie could you please stop by Faye's house? She's having some hair trouble that you might have created.

Cassie nodded still not saying anything and Jake went in for a kiss goodbye before they had to leave. Cassie drove her own car, Jake followed closely behind until she turned to go towards Faye's house and he continued back home.

Cassie knocked on Faye's door, Faye pulled her in quickly

F: Hurry up I don't want the whole neighborhood to see this orange catastrophe. How do I get my normal hair color back? My mom tried fifteen spells that didn't work then I tried four hair colors that didn't work either. Can you please get my hair back to its normal color?

C: It's actually quite easy Faye you and only you control your hair color

F: What do you mean?

C: I mean only you have the power to change your hair color, all you have to do is control your emotions

F: What? Are you saying that I could have my color back days ago and all I have to do is control myself?

C: Yes let's try it, close your eyes and think of all the happy times you've had

Reluctantly she closed her eyes and followed Cassie's advice. She started thinking about going fishing with her grandpa at the lake house, remembered Melissa and her sharing an ice cream, flirting with the school hockey team, dancing with Jake at the prom, kissing Jake, kissing Lee, the pillow fight at her house with Melissa and Diana. All these things made Faye smile.

C: Open your eyes Faye (Cassie directed her to the closest mirror)

F: Oh my god Cassie my hair it's back to normal (Faye was in disbelief)

C: See all you have to do is go to the happy place you were just at, keep your emotions in check and you have nothing to worry about. The more you fuel your energy with anger, hate and destruction the orange will come back (Cassie warned). You see it's not me who controls the color it's you Faye

F: Thank you Cassie (Faye's tone was timid)

C: So I take it you're not going to be hiding in Jake's closet anymore? (She said smirking)

Both girls smiled at each other as Cassie made her way out of Faye's door. They were never best friends and probably would never be but now they had reached a mutual understanding with each other. They were both witches, members of the secret circle (even it is was currently unbound) both had deep feelings for Jake but only one of them could be with him and it was clear who Jake had chosen. Faye was his past while Cassie was his present and potentially his future, they were both ready to move passed this now.

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