Chapter 38
Cassie woke up and rolled onto her back. Thoughts of her escape from Klaus flooded her mind, as she decided to go on a run.
She stretched and changed into some running shorts, her black sports bra and a jacket.
She walked downstairs and made an egg while she wrote a note to whoever was currently in the house that she needed to go on a run.
She opened the door and took off running.
She couldn't tell you how long she ran or how far she ran, only that she ran until her muscles were screaming for her to stop.
She stopped in the clearing where they practiced and started to stretch. Her senses were going off.
"I know your there, you might as well come out" she called into the woods while she continued to stretch.
Klaus walked out, Cassie tensed slightly while she continued to stretch, she took in his appearance. He was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt with his usual arrangement of necklaces.
"Can I help you" Cassie said as she started to calculate ways to escape, running wasn't an option, she wouldn't last long in a fight, she was going to have to find a way in incapacitate him then run.
"I just wanted to make sure you were ok love," he said as he kept walking towards her.
"I'm fine" she replied
"Good" he replied.
"Is that it?" she asked coldly.
"Don't you think we should talk?" he asked just a softly not letting how cold Cassie was being affect him.
Cassie scoffed "now you want to talk? Why should I listen, why should I extend you the same curtsey you denied me?"
Klaus stopped in his advance towards Cassie. He started to laugh.
"I'm glad you find this amusing" Cassie deadpanned.
"It's not that, sweetheart, because you're absolutely right, it's the fact that after everything, you still call me on my bullshit" he said.
"Well, somebody needs to deflate your ego." Cassie said.
Klaus nodded. "Despite our difference of opinions on whether or not my ego is to big, there is a bigger elephant in the room we should talk about"
"Don't worry, I'm not about to start a war against you and your family," she said.
"Well, that's good news, but is that it?" Klaus asked.
"There isn't anything else to say" Cassie said she turned around and started to run away.
Klaus blurred in front of her, Cassie stopped right in front of him, her heart was pounding. "Oh Cassandra" he said wiping a piece of hair from her face "there is so much more to say"
Cassie looked up into his eyes, those blue green orbs that were begging for Cassie to say something. She almost broke, she wanted to be there with him and talk like they used to, to forget the past.
Almost.
"Not today" she whispered taking a side step and kept running back to her house, leaving Klaus standing there.
Cassie walked up the porch and saw Robert standing there.
"Rob?" she asked.
"Hey girlie" he said as she ran up to him and gave him a hug.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, "last time I saw you, you were dead-ish"
Rob laughed "Kol un-daggered me, then I came here and defused the bomb that is my little brother before you lost a limb."
"Thanks for that, by the way" Cassie told him.
Robert just waved the thanks away with his hand "I owed you one, and speaking of owing one, who did you have to make a deal with to get my coffin back. Because I know they wouldn't of just let you have it."
"Vaughn" Cassie said
"Cass" he started "you didn't need to"
"Yes I did, it wasn't right for you to be daggered in the first place and if I have to owe Vaughn one then its fine." She replied.
"But Vaughn" rob said.
Cassie just shrugged her shoulders, "it is what it is"
"My brother seems to think that you are now planning a war against us," Rob said.
Cassie laughed, "I know, he cornered me this morning on my run"
"He did what?" rob asked "damn it I told him to let you come to us and not to pressure you, Cass I'm sorry did he at least act like a human being."
"He didn't threaten me if that's what your asking, and don't worry its not beneficial to for me to start a war" she told him.
Rob just gave Cassie a sad smile.
"What?" she asked
"Your detaching," he said "its sad"
"What happened was a wake up call, a well needed wake up call"
Cassie said. "I got relaxed and let my guard down."
"I know that, it's just that this is your home Cassie, you should be able to let your guard down," he told her sadly. "I've seen what you have here, it's a shame that you're not going to get to enjoy being around your family."
The corner of Cassie's lip turned in a sad smile.
"So I heard that you caught my brother's eye," he said teasing as the two of them sat on the porch swing
"If by that you mean that I look like the Anita, then yes," she replied.
"No, this is much more then that" Rob said "he defiantly likes you, not Anita, you"
"Oh" she said softly.
"Oh, that's all you have to say about that is oh" Robert said "come on Cass I know your not completely detached I can see it in your eyes, so tell me"
"Rob" she said softly "it doesn't matter, after what happened"
"Tell me" he whined, "Cassie come on, I have been in a coffin for a year and a half, you're my best friend. You have got to have some sort of reaction."
"I can't Rob" she said.
"Fine" he huffed
Cassie laughed "oh Rob, I've missed you"
Rob smiled and put an arm around Cassie "glad that I could be here"
The two sat in silence as they rocked on the swing.
Cassie sighed, "I should go inside"
"Yep, and I should go check on my siblings" Rob said standing up
"Until next time?" Cassie asked
"Next time" Rob said giving her another hug before she went inside.
Rob walked into the mansion. Klaus, Elijah, and Rebecca were sitting around the living room.
Rebecca was reading a magazine, Elijah was reading a book, and Klaus was sketching something on his sketchpad.
"Klaus" he said Klaus looked up. "Well that's good"
"What?" Klaus asked. Elijah and Rebecca had stopped what they were doing and watched their siblings.
"I just wanted to make sure your hearing was working." Rob said "because you sure as hell didn't listen to me when I said to leave Cassie alone"
"You did what?" Elijah asked
"What did she say?" Rebecca asked.
"I was just taking a walk through the woods, and I happen to see Cassandra there so I took the opportunity, after all its been two days" Klaus said.
"Bullshit" Rob said sitting down.
"Well what where you doing over there" Klaus said
"I wanted to see my best friend and how she was after last night" rob said.
"What exactly happened" Elijah asked.
"Long story short" Rob said "as a hunter Cassie's body is programmed to fight vampires, not use any advantage a vampire can offer. Cassie had too much vampire blood so her body rejected it and purged herself."
Klaus stood up his sketchpad falling to the ground "is it painful?" he asked.
"Nicklaus, her body purged itself of all of her blood, of course it was painful" Elijah replied.
Klaus just walked out of the room.
Cassie walked into the house; Bonnie, Matt, Jeremy, and Alaric were sitting around the kitchen table.
Cassie sat down as Jeremy slid her a cup of tea. "Thanks" she told him.
Jeremy just nodded.
"So how long did I pass out?" Cassie asked.
"Two days" Alaric told her.
Cassie nodded, "alright Bonnie, tell me how your magic is going with Shane"
"Great, he is teaching me this new form called expression" she said happily.
"Expression?" Cassie asked.
"Ya, it means that I can do magic without worrying about the spirits" bonnie said
"I know, Danny was telling me about it, how well do you know this Shane guy?" Cassie asked.
"Why?" bonnie asked.
"Just a question" she asked.
"Well, we were talking about Elena" Matt said trying to defuse the fight.
Cassie took a drink of her tea. "Something is defiantly up with Elena and Damon but I think Stefan, Caroline and Katherine are taking that problem, so we have the cure."
"Got it," Jeremy said
"So Bonnie, I'm going to call Danny and see if I can get him down here and help with you and Shane." Cassie said
Bonnie nodded.
"Jer, we need to work on expanding the mark, so I want you to draw the mark as it is right now." Cassie said.
"Got it," Jeremy said.
"Matt, you get the day off, go be a normal teenager" Cassie told him.
"As long as you promise no bad ass hunters trip" matt said.
Cassie laughed, "I promise"
"What about me?" Alaric asked.
"You, father get to grade that stack of papers," Cassie said.
"Team break" Jeremy joked as everyone got up to do his or her job.
Alaric and Cassie walked into the living room.
"Alright" Alaric began "what's up with expression"
"If I remember correctly its bad news" Cassie said pulling her cell phone out.
Stefan, Caroline, and Katherine were sitting around the boarding house living room.
"So you think Elena and Damon are being compelled?" Caroline asked.
"That's just a theory," Stefan said.
"But something is up with mini me" Katherine said.
"Where are they anyway?" Caroline asked.
"Damon called this morning" Stefan said, "they are chilling at the lake house, Elena needed a break"
"I am not going near that," Caroline said.
"Good idea Blondie" Katherine said, "Besides we have more pressing matters"
"Like what we are going to do about those two" Stefan said.
"And how we are going to fix it" Katherine finished.
"I don't understand, why would Mikael compel those two, and to fall in love and run away?" Caroline said.
"I don't know" Stefan said.
"Blondie does your mom still have any vervain?" Katherine asked "because we need to get everyone back on it"
"I'll find out" Caroline picking up her phone and walking out.
Katherine's phone beeped and she pulled it out to look.
"Cassie up" she told Stefan.
"How is she?" Stefan asked
"Eager to get going, apparently she went on a run this morning" Katherine replied.
"So we have the Elena/Damon problem, and Cassie is working on the cure" Stefan said.
"The original family is taking care of their daddy issues," Katherine said
"And our wolves are working on the hybrids" Stefan finished.
"Is that the most pressing problems on our list?" Katherine said.
"I believe so" Stefan replied.
Katherine nodded, "it doesn't make sense, why focus on Elena and Damon?"
"To keep us distracted" Stefan offered
"Keep us distracted from what?" Katherine asked, "besides killing Klaus what else his he going after?"
"That's what we need to figure out" Stefan replied.
"I couldn't get ahold of Daniel" she told Jeremy and Alaric "but I'm pretty sure that expression is wrong."
Alaric could tell the way she interacted with Jeremy that Cassie had already pulled back.
"Here you go" Jeremy said handing her the mark that he drew.
"Thanks" Cassie said. "Jeremy your training has started to slip, so I'm going to pick up on the hunting trips, we need to get this cure."
"Ok" Jeremy said softly.
"I want to meet with this Shane guy," Cassie finally said.
"I'll tell Bonnie" Jeremy said pulling out her phone.
The three of them sat in silence. Alaric watched his daughter; he could tell her mind was going a million miles a minute.
"I'll be right back," Cassie said standing up and walking out.
"Cass is there anything else?" Jeremy asked.
"No" Cassie said, "take the day, be a teenager and go have fun"
Jeremy stood up and gave Cassie a hug.
Cassie pulled back "thanks" she whispered and left the house.
She walked, still in her running outfit, to nowhere in particular. Cassie needed to think and she thought best when she was moving around.
After a while Kol fell into step with Cassie, she was quiet for a while; Kol didn't know if she didn't notice him or if she was ignoring him.
"Care to share darling?" Kol finally asked not being able to handle the silence.
"Sorry" Cassie said "I know how you feel about silence, I'm just thinking."
"Maybe I can help" Kol offered
"How is your information on witches?" Cassie asked.
"Surprisingly a lot, I have the utmost respect for them, how about you and I go grab a milkshake and I'll tell you about them." Kol asked
"Deal" Cassie said.
Kol smiled as the two of them started to head for the grill.
After they had ordered and received their milkshakes Kol turned towards Cassie.
"Shoot" Kol said "let me awe and astound you with my knowledge"
Cassie smiled, "ever heard of expression?" she asked.
"I have" Kol said "it's powerful, to be sure but its unreliable and dark, tends to drive the witch using it mad"
"Is that why most witches avoid it?" she asked
"No, witches are the balance of nature, expression makes it so the witch doesn't have to answer to the spirits." Kol explained.
Cassie nodded.
"Why the sudden interest?" he asked.
"The professor that blew into town that is helping Bonnie is teaching her it and I just remember Daniel that said something about It." she told him.
It was Kol's turn to nod.
"I don't trust him," Cassie said after a while.
"Why?" Kol asked interest in where Cassie's train of thought was going.
"He is too eager to help, what does he gain from this, he doesn't need the cure so why help?" Cassie explained.
"You think he is hiding something?" Kol asked
"I do" Cassie confirmed.
The two of them finished their milkshakes.
"Ok, ask" Cassie said as they started the trip back home.
"Ask what darling?" Kol asked
"Whatever you wanted to ask since you saw me, I have to say I'm impressed that you managed to keep it to yourself." Cassie said.
Kol stopped and turned Cassie so she was facing him.
"Where do we stand?" he asked. "Because I've come to grow accustomed to your friendship Cass, I don't want to lose it."
Cassie smiled. "I would hate for people to judge me on the actions of my family, so don't worry Kol"
Kol smiled and picked Cassie up in a hug, "I'm so happy to hear that"
The two separated "but, Kol its not going to be the same" she warned
"Why?" he asked
"I can't allow myself to make the same mistakes again," she said.
"Mistakes?" Kol asked.
"I let my guard down and it clearly bit me in the ass" she said
"Fine" Kol whined.
Cassie laughed, "your just like your brother."
The two of them continued to walk.
"I'm glad I could help" Kol said, "It feels good to be able to actually help, instead of just keeping watch."
"Kol, give yourself some more credit" Cassie told him "beside, you'll always be on my team"
Kol smiled as they arrived at the Gilbert's place. "Here you are," he said.
"I'll call you later" Cassie said walking up the porch.
Kol blurred away leaving Cassie there by herself.
"Your brother is gone" she called "I know you here just come out."
Klaus once again blurred in front of her.
"You know, you have a hard time listening" Cassie said sitting on the porch swing.
"My brother said the exact same thing," Klaus said smirking as he sat next her. Klaus couldn't help the pang that went through his heart as she tensed up when he sat next to her.
"Nik, what do you want" she asked sounding exhausted.
"To apologize for so many things love," Klaus replied.
"You can't just say you're sorry and expect things to be what they were," Cassie said.
"I know that, but it's a start" Klaus said.
"I'm just not sure if I'm ready to hear it" Cassie said.
Klaus leaned back on the swing, that wasn't what he expected to hear.
"But, I should ask if your ready to hear mine" she said
"What?" Klaus asked.
"Are you ready to hear my apology?" Cassie asked.
"Sweetheart what do you think you need to apologize for?" Klaus asked
"I lied to you," she said
"You didn't lie" Klaus said remembering the words Robert said. "I never asked you if you were one of the five"
"That sounds like something Rob would say" Cassie said
Klaus chuckled "he did say it,"
"Ya, and we both know that I lied to you," Cassie said, "so that brings me back to are you ready to hear my apology"
"Cassandra" Klaus said turning towards her.
"Are you ready or not" she said her voice soft.
"Sure" he said saying anything to keep talking to Cassie.
"I'm sorry," she said turning to him and looking him in the eye. "I shouldn't of lied to you, I broke your trust, and I'm sorry"
Klaus nodded "all is forgiven" he said taking a hand and putting it on the side of her cheek.
Cassie flinched back, sadness filled Klaus. "Cassandra" he began
"Nik" she interrupted "it can't go back to what we were"
"Sure is it love, you've apologized and I'll apologize whenever you are ready then we can go exactly to where we were" he said
Cassie laughed "why are you so sure of that?"
"Because Cassie, one thing I have noticed is that you and I" he said motioning a finger between himself and Cassie "we are alike, and if I want to get this incident forgiven and forgotten and to go back to how it was, I know you do too"
"If we are alike, then you know that we let our guard down, let ourselves be vulnerable and it bit us in the ass, and we cant afford to relax, because if we relax then who will watch over our family." Cassie replied.
"As skilled as you are at distraction love, you didn't answer my question" Klaus said.
"What about you" Cassie asked, "You are ignoring the facts"
"Cassandra" Klaus said "I'll answer you, after you answer me."
Cassie stood up and walked towards the door, Klaus grabbed her wrist. "Cassandra"
"Yes" she said so quietly Klaus would have missed it if he wasn't paying attention. "I want to go back to the way it was."
Klaus's heart leapt and he blurred himself and Cassie so she was pressed up against the wall of the house; he was pressed up against her.
"See, love, you and I can get pass this" he said his accented voice whispering in her ear.
"Nik, just because I want to, doesn't mean I can," she said looking up in his blue-green orbs.
Klaus pulled back "well love, I'm not giving up on this"
Cassie pushed him off of her gently. "And why do you think you have a choice"
"Because you are still calling me Nik," he said simply.
Cassie didn't say anything else just stared in his blue-green eyes, her own shining with want.
Klaus broke the silence when he turned to leave, but stopping he turned around. "Your right love, I let my guard down with you and I shouldn't want to do it again but I'm willing to take the chance if you are" he said then he blurred away.
Cassie walked into the house and sank down to the floor after she shut the door.
She pulled out her phone as it started to ring.
"Hello?" she answered not recognizing the number.
"How is my favorite American" came the Scottish tilt
"Oh Vaughn, how I miss you" she said laughing.
"We lass, miss me no longer cause its time for me to call in that favor" Vaughn said
"Alright, what do you need?" she asked.
"Well, word on the street is that you have taken a young hunter under your wing" he said
"Your point?" she asked
"The point is that I'm going to need you to grab him and put a team together, I'll be in mystic falls tomorrow" he said
"See you then" Cassie before hanging up.
Groaning she sent a text to Katherine.
Katherine picked up her phone "damn it" she said.
"What?" Stefan and Caroline asked.
"Cassie has someone calling in the favor she gave when she got Rob's coffin" Katherine said.