Disclaimer: I don't own 'The Secret Circle'.

So, it's been a while. Again. After the show's cancellation, I guess I just didn't have the motivation to write this story, but then I woke up today and felt like writing it out again despite being disappointed in the CW. Sorry, but it's true. Anyway, I figured the ONLY way I was ever going to get out that slight depression would be to continue writing this story so here you go! Don't forget to review! Feedback is the breath of life for writers! Enjoy the chapter :)

The rain trickled against Jake's bedroom window. From his seat on the edge of his bed he watched soundly as Cassie paced back and forth in her bedroom. If he weren't her boyfriend then it would've been slightly considered as stalking. But since that wasn't the case everything was ay- OK.

No it's not, she's been ignoring all of your phone calls.

He sighed. His conversation with his supposed dead brother had gone smoothly even if it did freak them both out.

How was he alive?

Long story. He didn't want to go over it right this second because everything his baby brother had told him… The horrors of dying and being resuscitated were too gruesome to repeat both mentally and physically.

"I lost everything, Jake." Nick rasped, swallowing the lump in his throat. "After I was drowned, something happened… Something bigger than the both of us,"

Jake ran a hand through his hair. Thunderclouds above roared. "Which is why I need your help now,"

"I'm not quite sure what kind of possession you're talking about- I was possessed by demons, not old witch souls."

"But they all fall under the same category!" he didn't mean to yell but he was running out options and running out of time. Jake's eyes fell to his feet. "I'm losing her, Nick."

"You can't lose what you never had- she's been taken since the day she was born."

"I refuse to believe that," he argued. "Nick, she chose me- something just feels so right when I'm with her. We have something stronger than destiny."

Nick stared at his older brother in dismay. He felt sympathy for him because of everything he'd been through: losing his parents, losing his way, losing his own brother and finally, losing Cassie.

He was scared. No matter how much he played the touch guy act, Jake was just as frightened as Nick was. To put matters into simplicity, they were lost causes.

"You're sure that those feelings won't just fade away the longer you're together?"

Jake snorted. "The only thing that's gone away after being with her for so long is the doubt I had in the first place."

There was a moment of pure silence as both brothers contemplated their options. It was fight or lose at this point.

"Okay, I'll help you as much as I can, Jake. Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise me that you won't tell anyone else from the circle that I'm alive- especially Melissa."

So, he was caught between a rock and a hard place. The path was narrow and Jake knew he had to trek carefully. In the distance he saw Cassie's small frame halt. A minute later his phone rang.

"Hello?" he asked tentatively.

"It's me," Nick rasped again.

Jake immediately stood up, turning his back to the window. "What did you find out?"

"Well, with everything you told me, it certainly sounds like Cassie's been possessed by some sort of old witch soul."

"How do you know it's a witch that's possessing Cassie?"

There was fumbling on the other line and he waited patiently for his brother to answer his question. "Nick?" he pressed.

"Because," he paused briefly. "She's showing all the signs- the switch into a completely different persona with only one motive: power. And her blackouts, they are blackouts, right?"

"Yeah… But how do we stop it?"

"That's the thing, Jake. You can't. Only a witch with dark magic carries the power to overcome the aura of a witch inhabiting another witch."

"Cassie's the only one with dark magic," Nick added on.

Ice traveled up Jake's spine and his fingers turned numb. Suddenly he found himself back to the night when he'd told Cassie about her half- sibling within the circle. He was certain of Isaac's warning but in retrospect, Jake didn't have the slightest clue who it could be. Nobody else had shown signs of possessing dark magic.

Did that piss him off a bit? Yeah.

So Jake shifted his weight on his feet, letting out a long suppressed groan. "No, she's not the only one with dark magic."

More shuffling on the other end. "What do you mean, not the only one?"

"Exactly how it sounds. Cassie isn't the only child of Blackwell's within the circle."

"…That changes things, then."

Jake watched through his window as Cassie's small figure disappeared into her hallway and out of his sight. "What's the next step?"

"Wait." Faye pressed on. "Explain that to me again."

"It felt… Good." Melissa said, rolling her eyes and shoving her school materials into her bag. "I did the spell exactly like it was in my mom's book of shadows and it felt so freeing. For the first time since Nick died, I didn't feel worthless or empty."

The raven haired beauty gaped at her best friend. "You practically self- mutilated yourself! Melissa, that's disgusting and not normal."

Melissa halted her movements to stare at Faye. "And you think being a witch is normal? God, Faye, we don't know what normal is anymore. Not since finding out we're witches, not since binding the circle-"

"Binding the damn circle was a colossal mistake, Mel." Faye interjected. "You wouldn't feel so crappy if you had super awesome individual magic."

"You mean, feel corrupted like Cassie is right now?"

Faye's brows scrunched together.

Melissa sighed, "Don't tell me you haven't noticed her weird crave for power."

"Sorry, I try not to feed the flame to her already exploding ego." Faye answered, earning an eye roll from Melissa.

"I'm serious. I'm kind of worried about her. All that dark magic can't be good for you, you know?"

"Well, it's her fault for using it in the first place," Faye sighed, looking over her shoulder at the other teens practically running out the door. "Can you believe school's over? The holiday break is in full swing, babe."

Melissa shut her locker and laughed softly. "So, what's on the Fabulous Faye's agenda for the holiday?"

Faye locked arms with Melissa, smiling energetically. "Let's take over this town. I want to remember our last winter break as high- schoolers before we graduate next year."

"I like the way you think," Melissa commented. "But, promise me we'll still be alive for next term, got it? I've got papers to write."

Faye smiled. "Of course."

Do the spell, do it now. The voice crept forward, causing Cassie to crack her neck twice. It was a sickly feeling that just wouldn't go away.

Leave me alone, Cassie pleaded. She was on the verge of tears because no matter how much she tried to think good intentions, the voice kept dragging her back into the darkest corner of her mind.

You'd be nothing without me, you know. The voice, better known as the Dark Cassie, whispered. Cassie felt her skin crawl and her hands started to tremble in fear. For the sake of her safety, she tossed the knife she was currently using to slice vegetables with to the other side of the counter. Somehow she knew having weapons so close was a bad idea.

Stop doing this. Why are you doing this to me? The good Cassie questioned desperately. Inside she knew she should've told the circle. But with everything going on and how she'd practically almost killed Adam, she couldn't bring herself to face them out of shame.

I'm the darkest thought you've ever had, Cassie. Every sinister act you've done, every demented thing you've ever felt- I'm it. I'm what makes you truly a great and powerful witch.

Are you- Are you my dark magic?

In essence, of course. But I'm also you. The side you suppressed the moment you bound that stupid circle.

A sharp sensation at the back of her neck hit her like a ton of bricks, causing her to gasp aloud. Suddenly her body felt robotic, mechanical. It was as if watching from a room upstairs as her physical self reached out for the knife.

Let me show you what you're capable of with me. It whispered. Cassie's heart raced as she watched the metal gleam before she felt a cold sting against her forearm. A single bright line of crimson appeared before her eyes and she winced. She may not have been in control of cutting herself but she felt all of the pain. Do the spell.

No. I'm not giving myself over to it. I promised them I'd stop with the dark magic.

Them? The incompetent group of teenagers? Together we are unstoppable. But in order to succeed, we have to work as one.

I don't want to work as one with you- so go the hell away!

"Cassie?"

She turned around and came face to face with Jake's worried eyes. He looked back and forth from her bleeding arm to her nervous expression.

With three strides, he made it across the kitchen and gently grabbed her wrist. "Did you do this to yourself?"

"I- I don't know." she fumbled weakly. Cassie didn't want to look at him. She couldn't face herself to tell him that she was going insane. That now she was hearing a voice on top of everything else.

"What do you mean, you 'don't know'? Cassie, if there's something else going on with you, tell me because you're starting to seriously freak me out."

"Jake."

He let go of her wrist and cupped her face in his hands. It worried him how she wouldn't meet his gaze. Instead, she shut her eyes and breathed shallowly. "Cassie?"

After what seemed like forever, she shook once, feeling tears behind her eyelids. "I don't know what's happening to me."

Jake watched her crumble and he embraced her, careful not to hurt the injured arm. "Tell me what's going on, please." he pleaded, desperate.

Cassie shook her head against his chest, tearing falling freely. "I'm going insane."

"How?"

"It hurts, Jake. It hurts so much."

He shook his head. "Tell me what hurts."

"The voice won't go away-"

"- Voice?"

She nodded against him. "No matter how much I try to get rid of it, it just won't leave me alone. It's evil, Jake. It wants me to do evil, sinister things… I don't know how much longer I can keep fighting it."

"Have you still been having those blackouts you told me about earlier?"

"Yes. Am I crazy?"

"No," Jake said, shaking his head again. "No, you're not crazy. But I'm going to help you, Cassie."

"Why? I could hurt you." she reasoned.

Jake chuckled humorlessly. "Because I love you, that's why. You're all I have left and I'm not going to lose you just because of something those damn hunters did to you."

Cassie pulled away. "The hunters did this to me?"

He sighed. "We're assuming it was when they held you hostage at the docks. It might've been that they hexed you."

"Jake, who's 'we'?"

His eyes widened a bit and he licked his lips. "I meant 'me'. I'm assuming it was the hunters."

She didn't look too convinced but she dropped it, wincing as she moved her arm. "Ow. I need to clean this up."

"Here, I'll help you."

Her small hand pushed him away gently. He could tell that she was trying to look strong but failing hopelessly. "No, I've got it."

He sighed. "You know I'm here for you, don't you?"

Cassie smiled small. "I know that. And I love you for it, so thank you." she looked at her cut and shook her head. "It's just this is all so ridiculous. If I was hexed, shouldn't it have passed 24 hours after being spelled? It's been way more than that."

He shrugged, grabbing a paper towel and wetting it. "I assumed it was hexing. But the more you describe this to me, the less sure I am about it. They did something- that much I already knew. But now I'm not so sure it was hexing. They're hunters, they don't normally use that stuff against their enemies."

"So, could it be something worse?"

He wiped the counter of her blood. "What do you mean?"

"Could- Could it be a demon?"

Jake straightened his posture. "It's not very likely. At least, it's not a demon possession."

Cassie stopped wrapping her arm in a towel. "What do you mean when you say 'not a demon possession'? Am I being possessed by some other type of thing?"

He looked into her eyes in all seriousness. "It's possible."

Nick knew that this was probably one of the stupidest things he'd ever done. But he hadn't gotten a choice. It was either die or lie about being dead.

Suffice to say he chose the second option.

He'd know the consequences long before he'd actually left, however. He knew that if the circle believed he'd drowned and died, that he'd be tying up the loose ends- but he hadn't done it out of selfishness. He'd done it out of safety for his friends… His only family.

After he'd been possessed and practically drowned by Mr. Meade, he'd later awoken in his coffin. Yeah, he'd freaked out a bit considering he'd felt himself physically die and get a one way ticket upstairs but to resuscitate, in his own grave, was scary as shit.

How had he managed to come back? It seemed that the crystal had done something to him. Some kind of spell or hex or whatever to bring him back once the demon was out of his body.

That demon. He'd been glad to die as long as it died with him or as long as it left his body. The way it had felt to be possessed by that thing… It was horrifying and he never wanted to feel it again. It was the feeling of having something crawling under your skin constantly. It was like that sickly feeling someone got while they were in the process of catching the flu. It. Was. Shitty.

And frightening. He didn't have control over what he said or did. Yet at the same time, it was as if the demon fed on his repressed anger, of his hatred towards the idiots who'd cost them the freedom to be who they were. If it hadn't been for their parent's mistakes as a circle, they wouldn't have died. Maybe Nick and the rest of his friends might've had previous knowledge to prevent the demons from ever getting out again.

So, back to his immediate revival. Nick had to keep it a secret for so many reasons. He couldn't be seen in Chance Harbor after so many people had miraculously attended his wake and funeral. And he definitely couldn't stand the sight of Melissa grieving over an empty grave every weekend.

Why? Because he loved her.

No matter how much time it'd been since he'd last been with her, since he'd last made her smile, the feeling never wavered and deep down he knew that she'd be the only woman for him. Would he be the only man for her? Hell. He hoped that for her sake he wasn't. It pained him to see her cry over his "death." He just wished some guy would come back in and sweep her off her feet for the sake of her happiness and saneness.

But regardless, Nick was an idiot for standing in a hoodie and sunglasses right outside the Boathouse, watching as Melissa and Faye talked endlessly. He saw Melissa smile softly without the same radiance it once held.

At least she's still smiling. He thought weakly.

His pocket buzzed twice and he looked down at his screen. Two messages. One from his brother and the other from the hunters.

Yes. The hunters.

Ever since he'd been brought back to life, he'd stupidly followed in the footsteps of Jake and joined the hunters. Did they know he was a witch?

Of course. Did they care?

Not really. As long as he served them in helping to hex and locate other witches and circles, he was practically guaranteed his own safety. It had been rough the first couple of weeks. They'd trained him in heavy combat and hunting skills. Now he felt… Stronger. Secure. Safe. For the first time in a long time, he didn't feel like a lost little boy who'd been abandoned from his brother and parents. He was a hunter, no matter how much he might despise what they did to the witches. He was unfortunately one of them.

To know how to take down the enemy you have to be with the enemy. He thought sourly, responding to both messages in simple words. Oh yes, he had a bigger plan when he'd joined the hunters. He was going to take them down even if it's the last thing he ever does.

I'm with Cassie. Meet us at her house in an hour. - Jake.

He shook his head. Jake. Older brother and ex- witch hunter. How ironic that Nick had taken his place.

But he had to give his brother props for having the strength to come back after so many years of leaving. He'd been genuinely surprised to hear that he hadn't rekindled his fling with Faye and had instead chosen a serious relationship with Cassie Blake of all people. But then again Jake cared for Cassie the way Nick cared for Melissa. At least they could be together.

Diana avoided the Boathouse for one reason: Adam. But that didn't mean that she would just sit at home pouting over a boy who obviously didn't want her back. It hurt, yeah, but after he'd slept with her and acted like it was nothing…. She didn't even recognize him anymore.

I won't just sit on the sidelines and let him play me while wanting Cassie. She thought sourly, taking a seat in her usual booth after putting in her order. The coffee house was always a good place to think.

She sighed, taking out a book to try and distract herself from the bad thoughts she was having of Adam suffering the way she was right now.

The waitress placed her coffee on the table and Diana thanked her with a smile. She focused on the bland words in the pages of the book and it almost all seemed normal until a voice intervened.

"Anne Rice, huh?"

Diana looked up from her book and smiled small. There was a guy standing from of her, and by the twinkle in his eye, she could tell he was trying to flirt with her.

"Yeah, one my friends told me it was to die for, but I'm not really into the whole vampire thing. You?"

He shrugged. "I don't necessarily read those kinds of books- I'm more of a historical fiction kind of guy."

Diana chuckled lightly, outstretching her hand. "I'm Diana."

He took her hand and smiled. If she was being honest, she had to say that he had one of the most dazzling smiles ever. "I'm Grant."

"So, Grant." Diana said, motioning for him to take the seat across from her. He accepted and she continued. "I haven't seen you around here. Are you new to town?"

He smiled. "You could say that."

"He's what?" Cassie screeched, jumping up from her seat on her bed. Jake followed suit and tried to steady her but she slapped his hands away. "That's not funny, Jake!"

"I'm not joking, Cassie." he reasoned. "Please, calm down. It's not good for you right now. Just hear me out."

"You expect me, the person who found him after he was dead, to believe that Nick is still alive and that he'll be here in an hour?" Cassie threw her hands up in the air. "Stop messing with me because this isn't the time to joke!"

"It's not a joke. He's alive. Listen to me, Nick is alive. He's been in hiding all this time."

"How- How?" she said breathlessly, pacing back and forth. Jake tried to calm her down but it was no use. She was already hyped up.

"I'm not so sure. He explained it to me but I'm not entirely convinced he really knows, either." Jake grabbed her waist from behind and she halted. "Just calm down. Too much stress isn't good for you right now."

She breathed, leaning into him a little. "You're right. I'm sorry. It's just… I can't really believe what you're telling me. Jake, I saw him. He was dead. Dead when I found him. Dead when we buried him. He couldn't possibly be alive…. He just can't."

"He is." Jake said. "I didn't believe it at first, either. I thought he was ghost. Then he explained how he'd ended up joining the hunters."

She shook her head again. "This is just… Crazy."

Jake sighed, turning her around and sitting her back down on her bed. He took a seat next to her and grabbed her hands. "He knows more about possession than I do. That's why we need his help."

She didn't look convinced.

"He wouldn't double cross us, he made it very clear he wants them gone, too. He's just working from the inside to take them down."

Cassie closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Jake's. She needed a breather. With everything going on in her mind and everything he'd just told her, she was surprised that the voice hadn't made any appearance yet. For that she was slightly glad. The good Cassie wasn't shut out in the darkness when Jake was with her. It was as if he was her only solution.

"I love you." she whispered. "So much."

Jake smiled, his own eyes closed as he relished this sweet moment. "Me too." he moved his head a little closer until his lips found hers.

Cassie sighed in content. It'd been a while since they'd last kissed. It was a feeling that she'd missed terribly. She leaned into it and he deepened the kiss, his hand skimming the skin of her bare arm. She let out a small whimper as the touch sent sparks throughout her body. She didn't have any idea how much she'd needed him until this moment.

Without hesitation, her hand found his hair and tugged on it lightly. He made a noise signaling she was on the right path. Pulling her closer, Jake pressed his mouth against her neck, letting go of all of his bottled up feelings. He heard her sigh and felt her other small hand hold onto his shirt, not letting him go.

The doorbell brought reality back into their minds, making them break apart. He shook his head, watching as her now slightly swollen lips smiled softly. "Go. It's probably Nick."

Jake ran a hand through his hair, nodding. "I'll be right back, okay?"

She rolled her eyes at his protectiveness. "Okay."

John Blackwell stared at the men in front of him. He really didn't like these hunter confrontations, they were such pests.

"Gentlemen, what else can I do for you? Other than ask what exactly you've done to my daughter. Of course, you never answered, so…"

"Die. Like you were suppose to the first time." one of them said. John studied the burn marks on his face and chuckled lightly.

"Ah, yes. When you tried to burn me alive. How did it feel, to stand there as the flames melted your flesh? Not too good, I hope."

The man growled. "Shut up!"

Another grabbed his shoulder. "Enough. It's exactly what he wants. He wants us to be angry." he turned to John. "We're not angry with you, John. In fact, you no longer serve us any purpose. You don't have powers therefore you are not a witch. But that circle in Chance Harbor… They must die."

John shook his head. "Now, now. Let's not be too harsh, here. They're just kids. What could they possibly do?"

"They've already exposed demons. They've almost revealed magic to the mortals. They are an abomination. Just like your daughter, they must all die."

John grinded his teeth together in attempt to not do anything too stupid or reckless. "Excuse me? I won't have you say that about my child."

The man chuckled darkly. "And what about your other five children? Can I say the same about them?"

John stayed silent.

"That's right. We know you're trying to create a circle of Blackwell children. Well, it won't work if we get rid of the two in Chance Harbor."

"Okay. Okay." John sighed, throwing his palms up in surrender. "You got me. You found out my plan after what… 16 years? Oh, yes, you guys are geniuses."

"Don't mock us, Blackwell. We'll soon find out which one of the other five is your offspring as well."

"I doubt it. My other child hasn't even shown of possessing dark magic. It's unfortunate if they never develop their power. Truly, it'll sadden me."

"Mark our words, Blackwell. We will find out who the other child is. And when we do, we'll make sure they both die a painful, slow and agonizing death."

John smirked and glanced at the three hunters. They weren't too important. Maybe second or third in command. He clutched his medallion in his fist and shook his head. "No, you won't."

Then all hell broke loose as the streetlamps exploded and the men caught fire, screeching for help that never came.

Sorry if there are any typos. I was too lazy to reread it for proofing :P

-Fanatic4Fiction