Cassiopeia Forbes has spent years distancing herself from Mystic Falls-a town steeped in memories of her younger sister, Caroline, and the mother she never truly connected with. Leaving at just nine year old to live with her father, Cassie vowed nev...
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We arrived at a quaint house nestled in the middle of meadows, far from the bustle of the town. The house was modest but charming, with a white facade and a wrap-around porch that seemed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding greenery. It had an air of quiet solitude, sitting alone as if guarding its secrets.
Nik parked the car, and the three of us stepped out. Nik led us to the front door and knocked. We waited in silence, the only sound being the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. After a moment, the door creaked open, revealing an older woman, probably in her late fifties, with kind but discerning eyes.
"Welcome," she said, her voice warm yet commanding. She stepped aside to let us in.
Elijah greeted her with a respectful nod. "Esmeralda, it's good to see you."
Nik introduced me. "This is Cassiopeia Forbes."
Esmeralda's eyes widened slightly at my full name. "Cassiopeia?" she repeated, looking at me with a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
Elijah, too, seemed taken aback. He glanced at me, "Cassiopeia?" I nodded, acknowledging his unspoken question.
Nik then explained the situation to Esmeralda, detailing the night's events: how I had been under Katerina's compulsion, how I had pushed Katerina away, and how the vampire blood hadn't worked on me. He also mentioned my self-healing. As he spoke, Esmeralda observed me closely, her gaze intense and thoughtful.
"May I see your hands?" Esmeralda finally asked.
I extended my hands towards her. She took them gently in hers, wrapping them with a soft cloth. She began to murmur words in a language I didn't recognize-ancient and rhythmic, almost like a chant. The atmosphere felt charged with an energy I couldn't quite place.
After several moments, she released my hands and looked at us with a serious expression. Elijah leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Did you find anything? What's the verdict?"
Esmeralda took a deep breath before speaking. "You all need to sit," she instructed. We settled into nearby chairs, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Esmeralda took her time before speaking again, her gaze shifting between the three of us. "Cassie is not a werewolf. There is something else at play here. She may indeed be a witch."
I felt a mix of relief and confusion at her words. The confirmation of my potential as a witch was overwhelming. My mind raced with the implications of what this could mean for my life.
Elijah frowned, his concern evident. "But if she's a witch, she should have known it by now, shouldn't she?"
Nik added, "And my blood wasn't effective on her."
Confusion gripped me. "So, I'm not a witch?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Esmeralda beckoned me to sit near her. I complied, feeling a mix of trepidation and curiosity. She asked, "Have you ever felt some kind of energy, like flickering lights or moving things just by focusing on them?"
