Chapter 25

The sin of the daughter.

Cassie took a deep breath and unclipped a locket from around her neck, opened the latch as if the oval were a pocket watch and handed the now open locket and chain to Caroline. She watched as Caroline's eyes fell on the photograph on the left side of the locket featuring an attractive woman, with Cassie's eyes and hair style.

"My mother," Cassie said, seeing Caroline's question in her eyes. Stefan was peering over Caroline's shoulder. "She died when I was 13 in 1859."

"I've never seen any image of your mother." Stefan said. "She died of scarlet fever, didn't she? And i thought you were 7?"

"No, Stefan I told you that, just as I did my father in order to hide the truth." Cassie sighed. "My mother suffered with what is now called schizophrenia but at the time was seen as madness. She had a heart issue also and, as a thirteen year old with very little control of my magic, I tried to heal her. For a while I thought I had, then she relapsed and once again I tried to save her- only I couldn't. I don't know what spell exactly I did, but whatever it was I caused..." Cassie took a deep breath and continued. "Made her main artery burst, the one that connected her heart and her brain. She died in my arms. I never forgave myself."

Cassie paused for this to sink in before she continued. "At the time my father was a merchant seaman and was very seldom home, with my mother in the condition she was in, I become the main carer for my 8 and a half little brother, Theodore, who you have met. By the time my father had received my letter informing him of mother's death and he'd returned home, it was too late. Mother had been buried three weeks prior. A year before I moved from New York to mystic falls to work for Giuseppe Salvatore, my brother showed signs of s similar condition as my mother. Again, I tried to aid him and I only made it worse. I noticed nothing unusual until the day I left when he informed me that he hated me and ever wanted to see me again for as long as he lived, it was unlike him and it was then I realised I had not aided my brother as I had intended, I had worsened his condition and he had become a raving psychopath. Once again I never forgave myself."

Cassie looked up at Caroline who was watching her with worried eyes. "That's why you won't?"

"Yes."

"What was your mother's name, Cassie?" Stefan asked.

"Elizabeth. Elizabeth "Liz" Forde and my father was called William "Billy" Brinsley." Cassie said quietly and caught Caroline's eye. "I thought that taking care of your mum and Dad- helping them get together to have you- I saw that as my forgiveness from God for my sin. The sin of the daughter."

Caroline handed Cassie her locket back and rose to her feet. "Thank you for helping me understand what I must do, Cassie," Caroline made her way to the door and paused. "I'm sorry about your mum." Cassie smiled at Caroline's departing back before she burst into tears.

Stefan hugged her involuntarily, concerned he'd caused her to be upset. But to be sure he asked. "I'm sorry Cassie, have I said something to upset you?"

"No Stefan, it's just... When our son was stillborn, I believed God was punishing me for my sin and my crime which I carried as a burden for many years. I felt sure He would never forgive me- but then when the twins came into our lives I felt sure he had offered em the olive branch of redemption... Now I wonder what sin I have committed to be handed this infliction on a silver gilt platter- the imminent death of my best friend."

"Our sins are behind us, Cassie, we have moved on and we are together, safe. The lifetimes we have led, God must have absolved our sins many times over. But we are here now and we move forward into the goodness and light from the darkness of sin." Stefan said calmly and just held onto her as she cried