Cassandra Cassandra Farrelli: Scarlet Women Book 1

I played over the rest of the conversation from the car in my head through the rest of the day- Viktor thought I was crazy, to come between a marked woman and a Nephilim was apparently a really bad idea, and Violet felt my pain and frustration knowing that my last descendant was to die and that the souls of women from my line were either in hell or trapped in the void. They had both asked me what my plan was, but I told them I wasn’t sure, I hadn’t thought further than to ask for help. Viktor had told Violet and I to go to school and that he would talk to his mother, and see what they might be able to come up with— and to meet him tonight, at some place he called, Plumanara, where we would reconvene and discuss the topic further. Violet and I had agreed, somewhat hesitantly, because Mark Farrelli was in our class, and he was for all intensive purposes a spy. I tried to show no interest in the fact that Mark was one of a set of twins, and that he was Lucas’ oldest son— after all I had no intention of letting Viktor or Violet know I had born Lucas those children, at the dawn of the world— I had a sneaky suspicion that they wouldn’t like that bit of information. Turns out all my worrying was for nothing, Mark was absent, something to do with maintaining some werewolves in the night class, not that it mattered. The next time Mark saw me, aka Cassandra, I wouldn’t be at the helm… something told me he would be able to sense my presence, and that would ruin everything. Someday, I’d have to face all my children, but today didn’t feel like the right day to do so.

I stifled a yawn, if not for the fourth or fifth time that day, and Irene smacked me lightly, “psst. Don’t fall asleep again!”

Flimheart cleared his throat, and glared at us. I sighed. ‘School,’ and learning might be interesting for Cassandra, but I was bored out of my mind, being stuck in this stuffy classroom all day, when what I wanted was to be outside, wandering in the beautiful world, in nature. Human and supernatural beings alike seemed to be taking the gloriousness of the world for granted, and yet, we were the earth’s stewards… something this age of people and supernatural beings alike had forgotten. “Alright class, ten minutes and we’ll return with our final class subject of the day, the myth of the human who lived to be nine hundred, Enoch.” My head snapped up, as the classroom came alive, students rushing out to grab some fresh air, or chat with friends— I found I couldn’t move. “Ah, Cassandra, welcome back to class. It’s nice to see that we finally have your attention.” Flimheart sent me a fleeting smile and turned to scribble on the white board behind him. I didn’t have too much time to contemplate a reply because Violet grabbed my arm and steered me into the hallway where we met Irene.

“So, here’s the plan. Viktor is working at Plumanara tonight— Cassandra wants to see what all the hype is about, and I figured we should probably come clean with her…”

Irene shot Violet a guarded glance, “come clean?” Her voice came out as a squeak.

“Come on Irene, she already knows.”

“But we’re not allowed to talk about it. It’s against the rules to tell hum-”

“To tell humans that you’re vampires?” I finished for her.

Irene almost screamed, and jumping looked all the way around us, but we were alone in the hallway.

“Calm down Irene. You’re going to give yourself an ulster.” Violet rolled her eyes at Irene and then met my own again. “So, I am what they call a Pureblood, I can trace my ancestry back, well— probably almost as far as you can.” She blushed, and I knew what she meant. “While my dear Irene here? She is what we call a mixed blood, she wasn’t turned, she was born this way, but someone in his family was turned, hence the bright pink hair— it’s a birth defect.”

“HEY!” Irene cried, “I am not defected!”

“Sorry, Irene.” Violet said in a voice that was super sincere, she took Irene’s arm and patted it gently, “I didn’t mean to say you are. It’s how I was raised to think. Please forgive me, friend.” In a matter of moments Irene was calm. It was intriguing to watch her gift of emotional manipulation at work. “Anyways,” she continued, “there are now more of them, the mixed bloods, then there are of us— the Purebloods.”

I nodded. “And who runs the coven?”

“Well, there isn’t one answer, per say. Each family house takes care of its own, but we have a council which meets in France and sets down rules that we all must live by.”

“Like keeping your secret from humans…”

“Yes.” Irene buttered, still not looking happy I was learning all of this information.

“And those rules are enforced by one family per continent.”

Continents, yes, Lucas had told me that the Pangea had broken up, so these land masses were called continents, good to know. “And which family oversees this continent?”

“The Steinhearts.” My heart lurched in my chest, I could see Marcus’ face in my head… but certainly it couldn’t be- “Led by Marcus Steinheart.”

So it was true, he was alive after all this time? But how? I suppose I shouldn’t ask, if I was here now, and Lucas and Juliette and Silvaneous— anything was possible. A little bell sounded from our classroom, and Mr. Flimheart’s voice floated to us down the hallway. “Please return to the classroom, break is over. Let us resume our class with our conversation on Enoch.”

Violet, Irene and I headed back towards the classroom. “There’s one last thing,” Irene whispered, glancing over at Violet suspiciously, “they say that there exists an inner council made up of only Purebloods— ruling from Turkey. No one knows who sits on that council, but they shadow rule our whole world— not just vampires, but Fae, shapeshifters, werewolves, witches and the like.” Violet filed into the classroom, as Irene grabbed my arm, “just promise me you’ll be careful.”

I nodded. Irene couldn’t really think that Violet would know anything about the inner council just because she was a Pureblood, did she? After all, Irene and Violet were friends… weren’t they? Irene, seemingly convinced that I had heard and would heed her warning, let go of my arm and gently pushed me into the classroom. I made my way to my seat, as Flimheart began to monologue.

“We don’t have a lot of time, so we’re going to dive right in. Enoch was a human being who, according to myth and legends— both those written in many scrolls, books and even in the human Bible, existed near the dawn of humanity. Enoch was a man descended from the line of Adam, he was for the purpose of our discussion today, a mere human. Books and scrolls all agree that he was what was referred to as righteous, in all that he did— some even saying that he walked and talked with God. He was granted an extremely long life, nine hundred years, to be precise, and yet did not die. How is this possible you ask? Good. You’re all paying attention. It was rumored that Enoch did not die but was taken up to heaven by God himself and spared death.”

“Wouldn’t that make him a vampire?” Someone from the back of the classroom called out.

“No, Tom. It wouldn’t, but, good question.”

Good question? Were these people stupid? Enoch was human, but everyone lived longer back then, lives not being cursed till later. Till after the war. And it wasn’t a myth, it was true— I had seen Enoch many times walking with God and talking with him.

“How is it possible?” Flimheart asked the silent classroom, he turned to look at me, as if he sensed my displeasure. “Cassandra, perhaps you have thoughts.”

“Yes, professor, many thoughts.”

“Any you’d care to share?”

Not really, was what I wanted to say, but if no one else was going to share, then sure— I had a mouthful. “Look. You say, it’s crazy that Enoch, a human, walked and talked with God, lived till he was nine hundred and then was no more… right?”

“That is what has been posed to the class.”

“Okay— well let me counter. Enoch lived at a much different time than our own— the human mandate to take care of the earth, to steward it and govern it, that was the mandate then. Humans lived a much different life, there was no such things as technology, or electricity— it was simpler. Much more clear. And there weren’t distractions to take away from that call— care for the earth. In caring for the earth, as we must assume Enoch did, he was being ‘righteous’ where as many who did not care for nature, but rather what they could bend nature into their will to do— they build great cities and monuments to themselves, but Enoch, he gave glory and thanks to his creator, so yes he was righteous.”

“This is hypothetical, isn’t it Cassandra?”

I wanted to stick my tongue out at him and tell him off, but I managed instead a weak smile. “Of course, professor. But— if I may continue?”

“By all means.”

“So we have this man, righteous, walking and talking with God. In addition to this, add in the fact that humans in general lived much longer lives, sometimes surpassing six hundred years old in their lifetimes, their lives not numbered to one hundred and twenty, as they are now. So then we may posit that if such was the case, then yes, Enoch, a human— could have lived to nine hundred years old, quite simply.”

“Interesting hypothesis. And how then do you explain away the fact that he didn’t die? Would you say, like Tom, he must have been a vampire?”

“No, sir. I simply conclude that God blesses those he wants to and curses those he wants to— and some, a very few rare ones are granted such favor as to not have to die a mortal death.”

“So you attribute Enoch’s not dying to him having unmerited favor with God?”

I nodded, and bit my lip, flabbergasted. How could this professor claim to teach if he didn’t even know his own history? Perhaps even the origin of the vampire history was now always considered a myth or legend… where did they think they came from? And did thy not see that they were cursed?

“Anyone else want to comment, disagree— chime in?” Not a muscle moved in the classroom, no one even spoke. Professor Flimheart cleared his throat, “alright class, if that is the case, we will dismiss early today. Please do not forget that there will be a quiz on the readings for Human Myths and legends this coming Thursday. Have a wonderful Monday afternoon.”

I got the impression that being let out of class early was a rare occurrence, from the amount of movement and hoops and hollers. Violet took my arm, and gave it a squeeze, only flinching a little bit when she touched my mark. I followed her and Irene from the classroom, down and out the building and into the main school building. This building was clearly newer than the one we had classes in — it smelt of linoleum, plastic and paint. “Where are we going?”

Violet and Irene led me into the heart of the building where we found a cafeteria— it was gorgeous here— vaulted ceilings of glass and steel, tables of various shapes, but all seeming to fit together in some kind of pattern in the cafe. At one end there was a good bar, where I assumed all the non vampire students would grab their lunches, and on the other, various vending machines. In the middle of the room a group of rambunctious werewolf teens were hanging out, Irene steered us toward them, “Now, Cassandra, Irene, play nice.” From within the group I could see Tom sitting on top of a table and eating an apple, looking for all the world like he didn’t care about anything.

“Tom.”

“Vi.” Tom grinned, as if the two were old friends, but I could tell that was anything but the truth. “And you brought the marked girl.” Ouch. Suddenly I didn’t have a name? That hurt.

“You’re rude.” I spat back.

Everyone froze, the entire group of werewolves and Violet and Irene…

“And you’re ballsy.” Tom looked me up and down, “I suppose I should have guessed that any friend of Melanie would be.”

Ahhh yes, I had forgotten how I’d known Tom’s name, my shadow self was friends with his girlfriend, who was by all information I had, a human.

“Look Vi- I promised Mels that I’d keep an eye on this one here, but she’s not supposed to know I am, and knowing what I know— about the-” he leaned forward and whispered, even though no one else was speaking, and his whisper carried in the empty cafeteria, “mark, I’ve been keeping that from Mels, but I don’t know how much longer I can lie. And she’s going to be coming home soon— like back from the Steinhearts place. That’s why I’ve been avoiding her, so look, I’d appreciate it if-”

Violet sighed. “I understand Tom, Mel was my friend too— but there is a lot at stake. You aren’t the only one with someone you care about at Steinheart Manor.” She paused, and I wanted to ask what she meant, but she took a deep breath and pushed on. “You’ve been picking up shifts at Plumanara?”

Tom nodded, “yeah— trying to get enough money together to get out of my parents place. You know what it’s like living with the pack— I guess you guys call it a coven, hey? But that’s not why you asked, I guess… what’s up?”

“Look Tom, Viktor is supposed to be working the door tonight, but I need him-we,” she gestured at Irene and I, “need him to help us out with a delicate situation. Think you can take his shift?”

“It’s not a full moon, is it?” Tom pulled out a little silver flip phone, and stared at the screen, “nope, no full moon, so yeah, we’re good.”

“I thought you could turn whenever you wanted to, what’s a full moon to do with anything?” Irene pipped in, finally finding some of her courage and sassiness.

“I just get more grouchy— and trust me, if you had to bounce and Plumanara when you were hormonal, you’d understand… sometimes I want to rip every throat out when-” Tom shut his mouth as he took in Violet’s glare. “Right, but that would start an international crisis, what with the council, so don’t worry— I’m cool. You tell Viktor, I got him covered.” Tom cleared his throat and checked his phone again, “would you look at that, I better head if I’m going to grab a decent steak before my shift at the club.” The werewolf teens howled in dismay. “Sorry my dudes. Yo, if you’re going by the house for dinner would you mind telling Carl that his oldest isn’t coming home? Thanks.”

The rambunctious teens guffawed and slapped Tom on the back, muttering all kinds of farewell’s and other random sentences, then amid the chaos they slithered off, leaving Tom with Irene, Violet and I.

“Carl is still doing nightly dinners for the kids with no pack?”

“Yeah, dad’s all about loving and such. In fact he’s even going to be renting out his penthouse to some hoity-toity vampire brat. Don’t look at me like that Vi. I don’t hate vampires, most of the time.” Tom pushed himself up off the table, and again locked eyes with me, “Please, for the love of God— don’t tell Mel I know.”

I nodded. I’d let my shadow self deal with that, whenever she got around to it. For as much as Cassandra knew, she would never have even met Tom.

“Thanks.” Tom ran his hand through his hair, “okay, I’m gonna hit up Gusto’s now. Man really knows how to make the perfect steak. And look— whatever you’re planning concerning Cassandra, know this Vi— I’m not going to stop you, but a lot of people are going to have questions— and if you’re not careful, it won’t be me starting an international incident, it will be you.”

“Got it. Thanks, Tom, really.”

Tom flashed a grin, again I could sense it wasn’t fully genuine, then he lopped off in the direction of the parking lot.

“What’s going on?” Irene hissed once Tom was out of earshot— and why did you have to go to the wolves for help?”

Violet tossed me a look that screamed to not say anything, I nodded. “It’s nothing. Come on, we’re going to hit up Worthington Manor before Plumanara. Are you still good, Irene?”

Sighing, Irene nodded, and all four of us made our way to the parking lot. In the lot a limo was waiting, Violet headed straight for it. I had never been in a vehicle like this. I had barely been in any vehicles really… Violet opened the backdoor and plunged into the dark recess inside, followed by Irene. “You coming, Cass?” Irene’s mood seemed to have shifted back to jovial the moment we’d left the school building, and now her pink head was all I could see from the interior of the car. I skipped the last few steps to the limo, and slid onto the bench seat beside Irene, who pulled the door shut beside me. “At least, let’s try to have a good time tonight?”

“Of course!” Violet grinned, “Besides, it’s Cassandra’s first time going to Plumanara! It has to be fun!”

Irene squealed, “AMAZING!” As I watched the school slip out of view, the car moved so smoothly on the street that it almost seemed like a dream that we were moving at all. Houses and businesses blurred past, a stream of color— and from somewhere within me, I wondered if I had had this thought before? Watching the world fly past like a stream of color. No, that was. impossible.

Violet took my hand, as we headed down a private road that took us into a forest-like area, where the road was suddenly bumpy, even for the limo, and I realized it was because it was made out of dirt. “My mother wants to meet you.” I felt a surge of fear run through me, and then right out of me into Violet, as peace replaced the fear I just had been feeling.

“Thanks.” I whispered.

We arrived at a pair of iron wrought gates, the driver having to get out of the car and open them, and once we were through, get out to close them behind us. I had a sense that we were heading into a little universe all unto itself, a private ‘garden’ if it were. There were trees planted on each side of the gravel drive, and beyond that a massive lake, surrounded by weeping willows. We drove for what felt like miles, until we approached a massive house, more like a mansion. There was a roundabout with a gleaming marble fountain in the center, shooting crystal clear water into the sky, and cascading down like rain. The limo pulled around and came to a stop before steps leading up to the house. Irene was already out the car the moment that it stopped, having obviously been here many times. Violet gave me a small encouraging smile and I followed, my anxiety returning. So, I was finally going to meet Juliette, again, after all these years. This was bound to be wildly exciting, informing and terrifying.

Violet and I made our way out of the car and up the stone stairs together, I could hear lots of excited voices from the top, near the house. Looking up I saw the massive doors of the house thrown wide open, and there just in the open door, a woman I never thought I would see again. Juliette Steinheart. She was just as I remembered her, but older. Obviously no one else would have even noticed, she still looked young— it was her soul that had aged. We reached the top of the stairs, Violet gave my arms a squeeze, and then walked into the house and closed the door behind her, leaving me with Juliette.

“So,” Juliette whispered, her long auburn hair blowing in the slight breeze, her bright green eyes narrowing as she took me in, “I had an interesting conversation with my son earlier today.”

I closed the distance between us, walking the last few steps to the house, and pausing to stand in front of Juliette, I looked up and we locked eyes, she gasped.

“Cassandra?”

I didn’t know what to say. I had never been close to Juliette— she had always been against Marcus taking up with me— and when it was rumored that he had killed my human husband to be with me, it had increased her dislike of me. It had never been my intention to come between Marcus and Juliette, but I also remembered not caring, and only wanting to be with him, the man I loved. “It’s been a while, Juliette.”

“Yes. It has.” Juliette’s mouth tightened to a line, “walk with me.” She turned away from the house and we walked along a gravel path beside the house. Everything was green here, rows of hedges along the house blocked view into the bottom windows running alongside the giant mansion, and ivy blossoming with small white flowers grew up the sides of parts of the brick. Juliette was a few paces in front of me, leading away from the house, she walked down a few marble steps, with winged cherubim statues on either side of the path. This path continued downwards down many steps, each lined with winged cherubim statues, leading toward the lake I had seen beside the house on the way up the drive. It was so much more than it had appeared from the drive, hidden under the weeping willows was a pathway, leading around the label, and a garden. “Yes, welcome,” Juliette looked over her shoulder and smiled at me, as if sensing my thoughts. “Do you like what I have done with the garden?”

It almost felt wrong to talk here, in a place so serene. “Yes,” I found myself whispering in awe. “It is so beautiful.”

We continued to walk for a while, neither speaking— birds sang their songs from the tree’s above, I could hear frogs, crickets, even the fish leaping from the surface in hopes of catching something skimming the water above— it was the peace of nature I had truly been longing for. Juliette strode around the bend in the path just in front of me, I quickened my pace to catch up, when I saw her taking a seat on a well loved wooden bench. I followed suit and sat, waiting for whatever wrath or comeuppance she might throw at me— which would be fully justified-

“It’s taken me years to coax life into this garden, to build a home— to live. Without fear.”

“Juliette-”

“”I thought you’d find it more peaceful here than in the house.”

“Juliette, I know-”

“You know nothing.” Juliette’s calm demeanor vanished, like it was merely a glossy coating over a painting. “You destroyed my brother— you and my Father made him into the monster he is today.” I shivered beneath Juliette’s green eyed glare. “And then? You know the worst part? You chose to love the Devil himself… and ignited a war, a war which took out so many supernatural beings we might as well have not existed in the first place. Your lover, Lucifer was killed, along with my grandfather and the Fallen were punished, you were cursed, and the Angels took their leave, but not without putting down protective shields to stop humans from sensing supernatural beings, or from having supernatural powers themselves… it was a mess.”

Something wasn’t right, I felt my face frown before I even knew I was doing it, “your grandfather?” Yes, something was very wrong indeed, “You didn’t have a grandfather.”

“What?”

“Juliette, I know that I have made my fair share of problems, not just for you— but for-” I thought of all the women born after me, all the women who were cursed because I’d been selfish… “for my descendants, for Marcus and-” I took a deep breath, “something has gone wrong with time. You never had a grandfather, it was always Silvaneous, he was the first, along with his family, they were the first-”

“The first to what?”

My God, did she not know? Had Silvaneous really hidden their origin from her? “Juliette, do you really not know how your race began?” Juliette gave me a blank look, and I realized she had no clue what I was talking about. “Look, one day soon, if I survive— we must have a conversation about this.” What did I mean? Had I suddenly decided that I would be the one who stayed in this body, and not Cassandra? She had been the one I was trying to save, that’s why I was brought back, right? “I’m running out of time.”

“Why are you here Cassandra? Who brought you back? … Does Marcus know?”

I took Juliette’s hands in mine, they were cold as ice— when had that happened, anyways, that vampires no longer felt warm to the touch? “I am here to break the curse on the women in my family, and to finally give them peace, allowing their souls to enter the white gates. This body that I am in? It is the body of my last descendant, my namesake. She as you know and can sense is marked, but I have found a way to break the curse and corrupt the seed of the child.”

Juliette jerked her hand out of mine, and stood. “No one, and I mean no one comes between a Nephilim and his mate. Viktor asked me if or how we could help you— but I can’t, no I won’t allow him to turn you-”

“Juliette, I am not asking to be turned right now. I am asking if you would help me turn slowly.”

“That isn’t possible Cassandra. I think you should go— enjoy your time left before you are taken by the Fallen scum-”

“But don’t you want to know the best part? The reason that you’re going to help me?”

“Cassandra, the only vampire stupid enough to help you now would be Marcus, and if you go to him, and turn his world upside down again, I swear I’ll-“

“You’ll what Juliette? You never were the violent type.” Sighing I stood, “I don’t want to fight. I can’t change the past, but I want to make it up to you— and save myself in the process. You want to know why I am here? I am here because my namesake, asked to know more about the women in my family, asked to not have to mentally or emotionally deal with being taken— by Lucifer.”

Juliette’s voice caught in her throat, she spun to face me, her already pale features going ashen as she raised her delicate hands to her lips to cover her surprise.

“There is something wrong here Juliette. I spent hours researching things online over the weekend— nothing adds up. From the manuscripts to the scrolls and books— there isn’t even one mention of this war you keep alluding to, even though I remember its beginning stages, right before I died. Someone has altered history, locked the war in a vault, a time vault. History is wrong. Lucifer didn’t die, I have spoken with him, he’s alive and well, and killing off every woman in my family line for six thousand years. Yes, I used to love him. Perhaps I always will— but Marcus… I thought he was dead, or I never would have done what I did. Your Father lied to me…” Even thinking about it made my eyes well up with tears, “oh, God.” I fell to my knees, and let myself sit there for a moment, drowning in all the emotions I hadn’t ever thought I would feel. I looked up at Juliette, she looked like a bird that might take off at any moment. “Please, Juliette. I beg you. I need your help. There is a way, a way where I would drink some vampire blood a little at a time. I know it says that to be turned you have to be drained of blood, and so everyone assumes that a vampire has to drain you after you’ve drunk some of theirs, but it isn’t true— you just need to have vampire blood in your system when you die. If I am to die again, carrying a demon spawn, then at least it won’t be a pure Nephilim baby. It will have vampire blood, and Lucifer will think I’ve died, while the transitioning is complete— all I need from you is permission for Viktor or Violet or anyone really to give me their blood, and then to come get me from St. Mary’s cemetery, when the time is right.” My mouth felt dry and my eyes stung holding back tears, if I had to beg, then beg I would.

Juliette paced, “You’re asking a lot of me and my family Cassandra— and what do I have to go on? Your word? It hasn’t been so reliable in the past. Lucifer alive? Of course there have been rumors… but I always dismissed them.”

“There is more.” I croaked, my throat parched. “It has been rumored that Marcus has a set of twins…”

“Well, yes. I’ve only just met them recently.” Juliette’s eyes widened, almost popping out of her skull. “Vincent and Marissa? No, they can’t be,” she strode over to me and grabbed my chin, examining my face, looking for something- “Oh, my.” Her voice was so soft, I could barely hear her, “so, it is true. I can’t possibly understand how, but it is true. Marissa looks exactly like you.”

I swallowed the lump beginning to form in my throat. There was so much more I wanted to tell her, my sister-in-law, but now was not the time. I needed to earn her trust, and this was the way to do it. “Look Juliette— I’ll leave, but if this is the plan, if you say yes… It won’t just help me, but it will help me save all the women that those curses Nephilim mark.”

“You mean if you survive.”

“Yes. And I promise that if I survive I won’t interfere with Marcus, unless he comes for me— I promise I will leave him alone. This will be my penance, saving women who like me, were marked for death.”

“You promise?”

“I do.” I guess that was what I had decided, I had decided that I was going to stay here and fight, this world needed me, Cassandra, daughter of Eve, to find out not just what had gone wrong with time, but to save innocent women’s lives. Cassandra, daughter of Mariah— unfortunately her story was almost over. I sighed, she wasn’t going to be happy with me, but at least she’d finally be at peace.

Juliette reached down, grasping my arms, and lifted me up, as if I were nothing more than a toy. I had forgotten how strong vampires were. “Then yes, I will help you Cassandra. Now, let’s get you back to the house, you’ll need something other than this floral dress to wear, and I am sure Violet will have just the thing. Let’s not keep them waiting, besides, if were going to be working together for the foreseeable future, then you should meet a few of my older children, you’ll forgive me if i only introduce you to those members of my family, I have a feeling we should keep your resurrection to ourselves for the foreseeable future.”

“Thank you Juliette.”

Juliette nodded and hooked her arm in mine, “Tisk, it’s nothing, after all, what are sister-in-law’s for? Come, I’m sure they are all wondering what we could be talking about for so long. We mustn’t keep them waiting and more than we have to.” At that we turned and headed back towards the house, and I couldn’t help but smile— my plan was in place, now to figure out a way to keep it a secret from Cassandra Pirot, until the right time, and hopefully by that time I’d be able to explain why she had to die, so I could live, until then— it was time to live, and live as I never had before.