DISCLAIMER: I don't own The Secret Circle. L.J. Smith owns the books and CW owns the show. I just own the crazy things that happen on here in my mind :P

Paradise Circus: Oh well, the devil makes us sin.

This is a bit darker than some of my other fics, but I hope you enjoy it like the others! Don't forget to review, I appreciate the feedback! Enjoy!:D

This wasn't right. It couldn't be happening.

There are others that want your power- they will come looking for it. They will come for you.

Cassie shut her eyes tight and clenched her hands, her hearing picking up any and all movement on the hardwood floor. She supposed this was how it would all end, anyway... The whole witchcraft thing and the circle... Her father. Everything.

Damn it. I- I can't think like that...

But it was no use trying to pick up her thoughts. The witch hunters were outside, preparing to kill her with their stupid special ritual they used to murder dark witches. The same one that they'd tried to use to kill her father- the one who had managed to escape and forget about his own daughter.

That bastard...

She breathed out and focused on all the remaining energy she had left. Most of it she had used trying to protect the rest of the circle earlier that evening in the woods.

"Cassie, you aren't actually taking this into consideration, are you?" Adam had hissed. Diana put a hand on his arm, restraining him from grabbing a hold of Cassie and shaking her so she'd change her mind.

"Adam," Diana whispered. "Cassie knows what she's doing. And the cost."

There was a pause before Jake cleared his throat. "As much as I have faith in Cassie's powers," he looked at her and his eyes seemed to soften. "I agree with Adam. I think this is a big mistake. Cassie, the witch hunters won't hesitate to kill you." he glanced over the three witches and sighed. "Or any of us, for that matter."

Cassie bit her lip. "I have to try. It's the only way I'll know the truth about my father." she edged closer to Jake, whom for the moment seemed like he would let the moisture in his eyes spill into tears. "Jake, I have to."

He didn't look at her, he just bowed his head and shook it. The words he spoke were just audible enough for her to hear without Diana or Adam knowing, "I can't lose you too, Cassie. You're all I have left."

Guilt flooded her and she looked away, gulping the huge knot forming in her throat. She couldn't just drop her plan for him or anyone else. This was something she just had to accomplish. It would literally kill her if she didn't at least try.

Melissa was the one to draw them out of their little grieving bubble. "Guys, I hate to be a Debby- Downer but it's almost time." her dark eyes shimmered in the moonlight.

"Okay," Cassie said at last. "It's time to call the seance."

Reluctantly, Adam was forced to take Diana's and Melissa's hands. Jake didn't budge until Cassie extended her hand towards him.

His eyes showed it all: I won't do this.

But Cassie sighed, shaking her head slightly. "Jake," her voice cracked. "Please understand."

At last, he took a hold of her hand with a grimace.

Cassie took a deep breath and projected boldly. "Fire, Earth, Metal, Air, Water, and Blood. We call to you as guidance. Help us reach the unreachable path."

The wind picked up slightly, making the flames of the camp fire dance. "Elements, show me John Black-"

"Your little rendezvous is over, demons!" Isaac boomed, throwing off Cassie's concentration. The fire dimmed slightly as her heart rate accelerated in fear. She had already known they were coming- she had set this up in the first place. Wherever her father was, he was close. She could just... Feel it from within.

But the price she was paying just to know him... It was all too much. She was practically betraying her circle; better yet, Diana's circle since she still claimed leadership.

"I'm so sorry." Cassie said, feeling the hunters edge closer as the fire began to dim even more. Her eyes flickered once to Jake then to the rest of the circle and she gave a small nod at Diana. It was a heads up for what came next.

Bracing herself and focusing all too entirely on the task, Cassie whirled, her mind picturing the flames directly toward the mob of hunters.

There was screaming and she knew it had worked.

"Run!" she yelled, pushing her way past the mob and into the forest. There was chaos. There was a hunger from within herself battling to go and fight back. But no- that would put the rest of them in danger. It was her that the hunters wanted.

Well, come and get me. she challenged silently, her hands frantically pushing aside a loose branch.

There were footsteps behind her and then an iron hand clasped around her wrist, pulling her roughly backward.

"What the hell are you doing?" Jake's voice hissed.

Cassie shut her eyes. "What the hell are you doing?" she threw back, her voice wavering from the need to get him safely away from this spot.

He laughed harshly. "Cassie, did you really think I didn't know what you were planning? What the hell are you thinking... Going and baiting yourself?"

Cassie wrenched her wrist free and whirled to face him, fuming. "It's me they want, Jake. I did this to protect the circle- to protect you!"

His eyes darkened. "We're stronger together. If you even believed in your own words then you wouldn't be doing this."

"What?"

There was a slight pause. "That night I ran off with the hunters... In my house you told me that running wasn't going to help anything or anyone. But here you are, regardless of what you stood by then, waiting to be killed."

"It's different." she stated. "I know this is the only way- it may seem reckless to you, but I don't care."

"That's a lie. Otherwise you wouldn't be standing here arguing why this is right."

She bit her lip. "Please," her hands gently caressed his face. "Please, go. I- I can't watch you get hurt."

"I can't let you get hurt." he bit back softly. She didn't say anything, they just stared into each others eyes; neither willing to back down.

And then his mouth was on hers. Gentle at first, then harsher- the desperation emanating from him pulsating through her like a circuit. Cassie could feel the hot tears pooling and spilling over. She was suppose to be strong but here she was, crying silently as Jake kissed her over and over. He wasn't making it any easier.

With the last of her will, Cassie pulled back. His lips followed but she shook her head and he pulled back, his eyes moist.

"Cassie..."

Her neck craned behind her and then back to Jake. "Go. If you love me you'll go."

His jaw clicked and the icy look he usually had when angry covered his face. "Fine. But I will not let you die, do you understand? I won't." he stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes. After about five seconds, he was gone.

And then there was a voice that broke the deadly silence. Isaac. The rest of the hunters pointing their flashlights in her eyes.

"Cassie Blake. At last." he reached over and harshly put her in handcuffs.

"Wow Isaac. Always so damn gentle?" Cassie spat, rolling her eyes. "Took you long enough to find me- I've been standing here for the last ten minutes."

He chuckled darkly and she faintly heard something spilling onto the ground. There was a zip and then he pressed a cloth over her mouth.

The last thing she saw before being knocked unconscious was the light of the moon.

So here she was, waiting for the trial to start. But just for kicks, she tugged on the rope that was slowly cutting into her wrists. No, they were tied so tight it hurt to move her fingers.

How did her father do it?

Oh yeah, he used that medallion. Cassie breathed, thanking herself for wearing the piece under her shirt. Adam had gotten angry when she'd spent so much time with it that she had no other choice but to hide it. Now it was tucked away under the neck of her shirt. And because the hunters made witches wear the cloaks, it was concealed 100 percent.

The door wrenched open and heavy boots padded the floor. The Council trudged in slowly and then the door shut and she scanned the arc. There were at least ten men surrounding her and she looked up. Her stomach clenched nervously.

"Cassie Blake," someone noted coldly. "Daughter of John Blackwell, descendant of Francis Balcoin. You are accused of practicing unholy dark magic and binding a secret circle. Your punishment is death."

Her teeth clenched. "Go on." she urged.

"Silence, witch!" another hunter exclaimed, reaching over and grabbing the lighter. Another was making a circle around her pire. So they remembered how to do it properly.

"Any last words, witch?"

Cassie glared at him with a look of ice, letting her heart beat slow down. This was it- it was now or never to prove just how powerful she was. And if all went right, her father would be here. She could sense it.

"Go to hell." she spat. He chuckled and lit the circle, the flames erupting wildly around her.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She let it happen: she let her darkness take over for that one moment. And it felt... Good. The power was so potent as it coursed through her veins and spasmed from her hands. The restraints seemed to fall like threads and focused on the medallion. With its essence, her dark power reached its heightened state. The flames danced all around her and then there was screaming from the hunters. Cassie opened her eyes to find them burning. She was fine- the problem was that at any moment the entire building would set fire.

History was repeating itself. And that's when she felt it. It was a small pang from her head and she looked to her left. A dark shadowy figure stood there and her eyes widened.

It was him. It had to be him. She wrenched herself free and jumped, avoiding the flames as she pushed the door wide open. The figure was walking away by now but she ran after it, her eyes frantic.

The man was tall and he walked with such confidence that it honestly scared her. If this man... If he was her father- no. She knew it was. Her dark magic that coursed through her veins seemed to pump erratically. She knew it. Cassie was sure it was him.

Licking her dry lips, she mustered up all the courage she had within herself to shout, "John Blackwell!"

The figure stopped.

There was an eerie silence before his shoulders slumped a bit, his head turning slightly as if to stare at her. "Cassie Blake."

His voice was raspy and menacing. To her, it sounded like he'd long forgotten what it was like to talk without threatening. His tone seeped with darkness. "John Blackwell." she repeated, taking one step closer to him. He didn't move.

"Yes, child?"

She swallowed roughly and loudly, her bones chilling. "Do you know who I am?"

"Of course. I'm not an idiot, Cassie." he chuckled darkly. "You look so much like your mother." he paused briefly. "Tell me, how is Amelia doing these days?"

Cassie's heart beat erratically with slight determination to get her point across. "Dead. She died months ago."

"Oh?" it didn't seem like he cared much.

"She was murdered. I thought you were dead too," she added nonchalantly. "Then I learned that all this time you've been hiding behind your fake death."

Silence followed and seemed to outstretch infinitely. It was slightly uncomfortable. "You may have Amelia's looks but you take after me. For that I am slightly sorry."

"You're my father. Why didn't you come back? Why didn't you help me with this... Dark magic?"

"Because there's nothing wrong with dark magic."

Cassie shook her head. "It's evil- I don't want it!"

"You'll change your mind when you realize that dark magic is the reason you're still alive."

"I can survive with the circle. I don't need this evil inside of me. I won't let it consume me the way it consumed you."

"It didn't consume me. I let it. It was my choice. Anything anyone else has told you is wrong. All wrong."

She bit her lip. "So you didn't betray your own circle?"

He didn't say anything.

"That's what I thought."

"What do you want, Cassie?" he demanded. "Do you want me to tell you some twisted heroic story? That I'm the good guy? No. I'm bad, very bad. Yes, I led the circle into a trap. That's why your mother hated me. She found out about it the day you were born."

"What?"

He laughed menacingly. "That's why she had you that day- she tried to stop me and over exerted herself. You came early, you know. Everyone was for sure that you'd die." he clenched his hands and the gesture made her question as to whether or not this was true. "But the darkness inside you, even then, saved you. Balcoin blood is hard to rid of, you should be lucky. We withstand most spells too."

Tears threatened to fall onto her cheeks, and she stopped breathing momentarily to stop them. "Did you even love my mother?"

"I can't tell you whether I had feelings for her, child. Maybe I did once... Before I let my true power show. Before I learned that the world is cruel and twisted. When I learned that for us, we have to do everything to survive."

"You never cared, did you?"

John Blackwell broadened his shoulders and turned around completely, letting Cassie catch sight of his face. It was rough from the years of wear and tear and a long scar lined from his chin down his neck. His eyes, although darkness loomed inside the pupils, seemed tired and so endlessly determined.

"I was ignorant of the truth back then." he answered, glancing at the boat in utter dismay. "I thought that if I loved someone then maybe people would stop dying. That maybe this evil that kept growing despite me caring about others would just... Disappear." he made a hand motion and spit out every word. It made her uneasy. "I cared once. But it made me weak."

"So it doesn't matter that I'm your daughter?"

He chuckled darkly. "I have another child as well, surely you must know that."

Cassie clenched her jaw. Yes, Jake had told her weeks after he'd come back to Chance Harbor. It had happened right after they'd had sex- she remembered every detail because she was so hurt, so angry that he'd kept it from her.

Right now Cassie was lying next to the one boy who seemed to keep her coming right back. She knew that Adam was hurt when she'd chosen Jake- but the fact that he seemed so caught up that the whole 'written in the stars' thing was real was just ridiculous. Don't get her wrong, Cassie cared about Adam. But she cared for Jake, too. Immensely so. With Adam, her life seemed too normal... It was a typical romance. And with Jake... It was all consuming and wildfire. It was something special; something that burned from within and radiated on the surface so brightly that it was hard to miss.

There'd been another reason as to why she didn't feel that way with Adam. It was Diana. Cassie was her friend and as much as she hated to admit it- it took a short while to grow close and feel safe with Diana Meade. That's just the way things were. And Diana loved Adam so much that Cassie didn't want to be the reason for their unhappiness. As far as Cassie knew, Adam was lucky to have a person as gentle, kind and loving as Diana waiting in the wings.

So she let him go. Cassie looked at the stars and rearranged them somehow. She was not going to the one to destroy their true love. Besides, sometimes destinies have to be rewritten.

So here she was, looking at the ceiling in her bedroom as Jake stroked her arm calmly. They'd just taken the monumental step of consummating their official relationship. It was... Perfect. Absolutely perfect. "Hmm." she breathed, closing her eyes.

He chuckled lightly. "You okay there?"

She smiled and nodded. "I'm just thinking about how things turn out for the better."

Jake kissed the top of her head. "Oh?"

"I trust you, Jake." she stated softly. "As much as the rest of the circle protested- I still and will always trust you."

"It took a while to earn your trust, so thank you." he replied. "I swear to you that I won't make you regret doing so."

"Just, no more secrets, okay?" Cassie said, opening her eyes and angling her head to look at him.

He frowned slightly, shying away just a bit.

"What?" she asked, confused by his answer.

Jake looked away and sighed. "There's something I haven't told you yet. Something important."

She sat up quickly. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"The night I left with the hunters... Isaac mentioned something peculiar about the circle."

She blinked.

"He told me that you weren't the only one with Balcoin blood."

Her fingers grew numb and she opened her mouth, words failing to form. "What are you saying?"

"Cassie, John Blackwell fathered another child. You have a half-sibling within your circle."

Her jaw went slack, eyes blinking away in shock. There wasn't.. There couldn't be... Why the hell did he keep this vital piece of information from her?

"Why didn't you tell me?" she answered.

His clear colored eyes stared at her solemnly. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me?" she got up, going to the corner where clothes lay messily and grabbed his hoodie, throwing it at him. "You hurt me by not telling me!"

"Cassie," he protested.

She shook her head stubbornly. "Get out!"

''I know." she said softly. "But that doesn't make me any less of your daughter."

"I suppose. You were born before my other child- I presume that's why you developed a stronger upbringing."

"I didn't know I was a witch until I moved back here." she stated.

He raised a brow. "Pity. You could've been as strong, if not stronger, than me. After all, you come from Balcoin and Blake magic."

"Don't change the subject." she spat, edging closer to him. "I need answers. I need to know what happened here sixteen year ago."

Her father glanced at the burned sides of the metal boats. He sighed, as if remembering. "Ah, yes. That so called 'dreadful' day. I found it more inconvenient than anything, really."

"A lot of people died that day. Diana's mom, Adam's mom, Faye's father... Nick and Jake's parents. They all died because you betrayed them."

"They were foolish enough to try and bargain with the hunters. They were the ones willing to let me die. I know for a fact that Ethan Conant wanted me dead so he could have your mother."

"He had his wife. There's no motive for him!"

"He was selfish! He was the selfish bastard who led everyone else into this trap! If anything, it's that drunk's fault all this happened."

She licked her lips and shook her head furiously. "Stop it! Why can't you just tell me what happened? Why does everyone who was there have to hide the truth?" she could feel her blood beginning to boil. "Just tell me the truth! I deserve to know!"

John Blackwell never let down. He sighed and shook his head. "There are darker and twisted things in the world Cassie. Things you just can't handle right now. And as much as I hate to do this to you..." he fished for something in his coat pocket.

Cassie swallowed. "What are you doing?"

There was something shiny in his hand. His fist was curled around it but it looked kind of like the medallion she was currently wearing. "You can't know anything right now- it's not time yet." he murmured something and suddenly she felt nauseated. Her eyes closed and she felt herself sway before falling to her knees.

Her heart raced. "Why are you...?"

"Because it's just the way things are. Goodbye, Cassie Blake."

Then she was sucked into the unholy darkness.

Cassie awoke hours later in her bed. Jake was sitting beside her, a concerned look plastered on his face.

She tried to sit up but his hands held her back down. "Take it easy."

"Ugh," she moaned, closing her eyes. "What happened?"

His brows scrunched together. "You don't remember?"

She shook her head slowly.

"You passed out and John Blackwell got away. I found you a while later on the dock. You looked so pale, are you feeling okay?"

Cassie nodded slowly. "I-I'm fine. But he got away... He didn't tell me what I wanted to know."

"I figured he wouldn't."

There was silence before she shifted slightly. "You were right about it all. I shouldn't have gone."

Jake pursed his lips and shifted his own eyes from the wall to her face. "Sort of wish I hadn't been,"

She outstretched her arms in a welcoming manner and he obediently went to her. Now they were in an intimate embrace, nothing too strong, but meaningful all the while. "But you were." she finally murmured. "I'm sorry about putting the circle in danger; about putting you in danger."

"I can take care of myself, Cassie." he answered softly, eyes closing slowly. He felt at peace when she held him like this.. It was a form of touch that only a maternal figure would do- something he'd been unfortunately deprived of as a child. "You're good at this."

Her brows knit together in confusion. "What?"

"I meant the embrace. It's not surprising that you have maternal instincts."

Cassie's face flushed and she tried not to smile, momentarily pushing aside the sour aspects of the previous event. "I guess I'm just a natural or something."

He sighed. "You'll be a great mother."

Cassie froze slightly. She knew it was just casual talk but the fact that he would say something like that so out of the blue... It made her kind of nervous for the future. After all, the thought of having kids had honestly never, ever occurred to her before. "What brought this on?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I was just noticing how loving you can be sometimes and here we are, talking about maternal instincts."

"Maternal instincts," Cassie mumbled sourly. This conversation was starting to vaguely remind her of her mother and the fact that she never told her the truth about her father and magic. "Where were you when I was talking to Blackwell?"

He sighed. "I was handling something with Adam."

Her eyebrow arched. "Oh?"

Jake shifted so he was out of the embrace and looking at her face, his elbow propping him up on the bed. "Don't be mad."

"Why would I be mad?" Cassie cautioned slowly.

"I punched Adam."

"What?" she reacted quickly. "Why would you do something like that?"

"Cassie- he slept with Diana and he's judging me for being with you!"

"That doesn't sound like Adam." Cassie stated sharply. There was no way that after everything that had happened today that her circle would be falling apart.

"He's telling me I'm the bad guy because I'm intervening with fate. But then he goes and sleeps with Diana who's gullible enough to believe that it was because he's in love with her."

"He does love Diana." she countered.

"I never said he didn't love her. I said that he wasn't in love with her." he watched as Cassie blinked slowly, trying to process everything he was telling her. "I was sick and tired of him being the hypocrite that I just snapped. I know it was wrong."

Her blonde locks covered her face as she looked down. Her shoulders slumped and for the first time since her mom died, Cassie let herself be driven by pure tears. Her chest heaved twice before she broke out in silent, subtle sobs. "I can't believe I let the circle fall apart."

Jake's arms wrapped around her tightly even though he didn't know what to do exactly. He'd never stayed long enough to watch a girl cry but just watching Cassie it broke his heart. "Don't cry." he said meekly.

She shook her head. "Ever since I came here I've slowly started losing myself. I though that maybe if I found my father I'd find some piece of me again." she leaned against him and settled her sobs. "But look where that's gotten the circle. They're all in danger and there's no way to protect ourselves because we can't cooperate. And my father.. He's out there and he knows where I am- he'll probably end up killing us."

"Stop thinking like that!" he exclaimed desperately. He clutched her arms and held his forehead to hers. "Do you remember what I told you that night at the fundraiser?"

"You mean the night you left me for the hunters?" she hissed.

He ignored her pessimistic comment and kept going. "I told you that when I'd talked to Nick, he had said you were strong- sad, yes. Like the person who'd just had a tragedy in her life but kept seeing the light of day in order to keep going. You were, and still are, strong- you're a survivor, Cassie Blake. No matter what happens, you always survive. And believe me, you'll survive this. We'll survive this."

"What if we can't? What if I lose myself the way my dad did in dark magic? Jake, it's slowly consuming me from the inside out. I can't stop it and every moment I feel it creeping underneath my skin, waiting for it to erupt into this dark explosion."

He swallowed and for a moment, the look in her eyes frightened him a bit. No, he wasn't scared for himself but for her safety. "You're a good person, Cassie. That'll never happen."

She bared her teeth, frustrated now. "Says the guy who kept telling me over and over that turning to the darkness was what I needed to protect myself!" she flung herself out of her bed and tugged her boots on quickly, regardless of his protests. "Well, this is exactly what I'm doing, Jake! I'm letting my anger drive me. All the rage from my father, the circle, you... It's suffocating me and I just... I just-" she gasped, her eyes widening as she realized what was happening. She was having a panic attack- that or she was profoundly crazy.

Jake acted quickly and held her face between his hands in an iron grip. She couldn't control her limbs as she flailed her hands pathetically, trying to find an escape to the blur in her eyes. But it never happened. She faintly heard his muffled demands to 'keep breathing' as she started to lose her complete hold on consciousness. He murmured something in her ear and within the next few seconds the world started returning back to normal. Finally, she just leaned against him as he held her tightly.

"Cassie, I don't like these faints you're having." he said softly. "Are you okay... Physically?"

"I'm fine." she responded weakly. Her small hands slowly distanced him away and she glared at the wall. "I need to be alone for a bit. I need to go."

He shook his head. "You're not okay. I'm not comfortable leaving you alone."

"I'm a big girl, Jake. I can take care of myself." she shot, grabbing her jacket and moving to her bedroom door. Holding the handle, she glanced at him. "Don't follow me and lock the door when you leave."

The firewood had obviously just burnt out. Cassie was alone in the woods, the only sounds coming from the wind and the way the leaves rustled violently. Her hair kept getting in the way of her vision and she tried not to yell out her frustrations.

She was stuck. She had no plan- no way to protect those she cared about. And her father... Why had he knocked her unconscious?

What the hell was he hiding?

She breathed out slowly as she stared at the tiny little piece of wood that still glowed. Focusing on it shortly, it sparked and turned into a small flame, the fire dancing its way rapidly across the remains of the rest of the wood, a small fire producing in a matter of seconds.

Cassie could feel the dark magic creeping from her insides to her fingertips. It wasn't a good feeling but it wasn't unpleasant either. She'd been feeling it for weeks now and she hadn't tried to stop it. She was ashamed to admit that she'd given up making boundaries to a part of her that was so obviously dominant. The good witch inside Cassie Blake had long been silenced- not gone- just hidden in the darkest and loneliest of corners inside her mind. She only made an appearance when it pertained to Jake.

Jake.

He cared about her on another level that Adam couldn't. She knew it was danger messing with fate but she felt so connected to him. It made her laugh whenever she would think of their relationship as soulmates. Could that trump something written in the stars?

But he was ignorant to the truth. He still thought that she could fend off the evil within- he was wrong. It was eating away at her and she hated lying to him but she couldn't stop it. Every single moment she thought of those who'd caused harm a flame of anger would spark inside her, tempting itself to cause havoc on all those around her.

And it wasn't like she hadn't killed before. She had. She killed that hunter that was going to kill Diana that Halloween night. She had almost strangled Adam and almost killed that physic that had ultimately betrayed them.

I'm no good. I can't stop what's coming- but I sure as hell can fight.

Cassie gripped tightly onto the cold, old metal of the medallion. This was her fathers but she claimed rights to it now. It spoke to her in a way that excited and scared her half to death. She could use this to defend herself and her circle.

It was a promise. Something that she kept repeating to herself internally.

I will protect my circle. No matter what it takes to do so. I will not be the victim anymore- I choose not to be. I will defend the circle- whatever it takes.

Even if it means giving up what matters the most? Like love? Like yourself? To protect the power of the circle?

She bit her lip. She hated her moral side sometimes and wished she had permanently gotten rid of the good Cassie.

Whatever it takes.

Well, tell me what you think of it by reviewing! It makes me all fuzzy inside and motivates me to keep writing!

-Fanatic4Fiction :D