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Cassie wakes to find some guy, really hot, burning something in Nick's backyard. It was apparently Jake, Nick's older brother. Also, the Binding Ceremony evidently bound all of them to each other's bloodline, which means they're bound to Jake as well. It seems that Jake once robbed The Boathouse, so Adam hates him. He's sick good-looking. Faye and he used to date and he treated her like crap. She tells Melissa that she needs to move on after Nick and she reminds her that it has been two days.
Cassie tells the others about Jake's inclusion in the Circle and no one is happy about it. She says that they need him to stay safe against all of the stuff that is going to come after them because of their powers. There's a fire in front of the abandoned house and they put it out and a crescent moon was burnt into the ground. Grandma Jane tells Cassie that it's an ancient symbol of conquest. She remembers Jake burning something last night across the way.
Faye catches up with Jake and he says she dressed up for him. He says that she was always too clingy. Then, she asks him if he set the fire outside of the house. He wants to know how she knows about the fire, but she tells him HANDS OFF. Jane tells Dawn that the kids bound their Circle. Dawn acts surprised and vows to help protect the children. She and Charlie decide to try to get Jane's crystal.
Some girl attacks Cassie at her house and Jake hears. He saves her with a spell that she helps incant, revealing their Circular relations. It looks like the girl set the fires that they found earlier. Jane comes home and is really cold to Jake. The day, Adam is really jealous when he sees Cassie and Jake together and Diana is really jealous when she sees Adam being really jealous. Poor Melissa goes to Nick's house and cries in his bed while holding his jacket.
Cassie is adamant that they need Jake's help as part of the Circle. Adam is opposed but Diana isn't. Faye tells Cassie that Jake will RUIN her. Jane gives Cassie her crystal and tells her that she can't tell ANYONE about it. No one. At all. Later, Jake goes to a motel to visit Simone, the girl who attacked Cassie. She hates witches and tries to kill them. That's her thing. He finds the blood she took from Cassie and takes it away.
Nick's wake is sad and has a really effective soundtrack. Ethan gets drunk for the occasion, but I don't mind. Adam tells him to stop, but he's reminded of the fire from years ago. Jake shows up and gets in a fight with Adam after he insults Ethan. As he's leaving with Cassie, he bumps into Charlie, who appears to be going a little crazy with guilt. He accidentally calls him Nick. Awkward. Diana makes coffee for Ethan. He tells her that Adam and Cassie are written in the stars and she needs to give him up. Ouch.
So, um, Simone shows up and apparently he's helping her plot to kill Cassie and the Circle. He says that he won't do it (then), so she attacks him with a knife. Cassie watches the struggle and the subsequent fall on the knife that Simone takes. She thinks she just watched Jake defend himself from Simone's unprovoked attack. She begs him to join the Circle. He agrees to stick around for a while. Diana breaks up with Adam, then goes to tell/blame Cassie. Cassie comforts her, which is nice.
Jake goes to this shack at a dock and answers to this guy with henchmen about what happened with Simone. Jake is apparently a witch killer. Great. No, actually, great. This should be exciting. The boss guy tells him to go after Cassie and he accepts the mission.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Cassie is asleep in her bed. She wakes to the sound of something explosive. She looks out her window to where she used to see Nick standing around, yes, shirtless. But, he's not there. Instead, on the ground, there's another hot blonde dude. And, there's a fire in front of him, on the lawn. He turns around and sees Cassie staring at him, so she hides. The time she looks out, blonde guy is gone and the fire is out.
The morning, Jane tells Cassie that she's baking some things for Nick's wake, which will be the day. That's the difference between the Pacific Northwest and the South. We believe in casseroles for funereal events, and, frankly, I find them more comforting than cookies. There's not enough community in a cookie. She tells Jane, quite casually, that there was a guy in Nick's backyard last night. Jane, also casually, tells Cassie that it must have been Nick's brother, Jake. He left town a few years ago and was "troubled." You know, it might behoove these folks to start taking EVERYTHING a little more seriously. I mean, just last night, a demon made Melissa the most interesting person in the Circle. Anything could happen! Cassie says that they bound the Circle without any clue as to what they were doing. And, now, look what has happened. She thinks maybe it's a good thing that it is broken. Um, not so fast, says Jane. The Circle is still bound. It binds all of them to each others' bloodlines. That sounds like it makes sense, but I've got questions. Jane says that Circles were designed to last, like good tires? They are also designed to protect witches and non-witches, like good tires? Cassie says that she can't deal with this right now. Jane tells her that she has to learn to stay safe and she's stronger than she thinks. I'm not sure she's right about that. Cassie needs to pop out with some discernable personality traits other than incredulity real quick. She's a bore. She tells Cassie that her lineage goes back to the beginning of witchcraft and is therefore the strongest. It's her responsibility to lead and protect.
Diana is in her room looking at pictures. Charlie comes in and tells her that he's going to the office for a few hours. Hmm, I wonder what happens at this office. He asks about the pictures and she tells him that people are bringing photos of Nick to the wake. She didn't think that she had any, but found one of them fishing together when they were little. Charlie looks pained and remembers that Nick used to come look at the boats and he would take them both out for a spin. Diana remembers Nick being scared and holding onto Charlie. "Is that all he gets?" she asks about Nick's life. He says that he wishes he had answers for her. I bet.
Ethan greets Cassie at The Boathouse, where she drops off some of Jane's baking. Diana is there and organizing, because Nick's aunt left town to stay with family. Cassie says that Jake is in town and Adam reacts badly. He says that he doesn't care about anyone but himself. He tells the story of Ethan giving Jake a job and Jake subsequently ripping him off. Adam hasn't forgiven him. Cassie tells Diana that Jake completes the Circle.
Faye is talking with a sad-looking Melissa in a booth. She tells her that a girl from school read a tragic poem she'd written about Nick. She thought it was hilarious. Melissa isn't really paying attention. Then, Faye sees Jake walking by. She hides her face when he walks in. Adam isn't happy to see him. Jake thanks him and his dad for having the wake there and says that they don't need to get bogged down in "ancient history." Can teens have ancient history, excepting bloodlines and all that jazz? Jake sees Cassie and says, "Hey Neighbor." Holy shit, he's hot. She reflects that knowledge and is like, hey. He leaves and Adam seems a little jealous about Cassie's reaction. Faye is thankful that Jake didn't see her because she's been planning the outfit that she would wear at this moment for the last two years. Melissa reminds her that he treated her like crap. Exactly. She needs to make him regret it. Melissa says that she has to go, but Faye stops her and tells her that she can't spend the rest of her life mourning. That is perfect. I love Faye. Melissa reminds her that Nick has been dead for two days. PERFECT.
Jane pays Dawn a visit. She tells her that Nick's death was not an accident, at which point Dawn grabs a knife. Shit. She says that he was killed by a demon, so Dawn has more to work with than just homicide. Jane says that the kids released the demon from Heather Barnes, and Nick was its host. Dawn acts stunned to hear that the Circle is bound and asks Jane if she's going to tell the Elders. She says no, because the children need to be able to protect themselves. She asks if she can count on Dawn's help to look over the children and she agrees.
At the clubhouse, Adam says that he won't allow Jake to be a part of the Circle, but Cassie says that it is already so. Melissa says that they can't just replace Nick with Jake. Cassie says that she knows how hard this must be for Melissa. Cassie says that either Jake is in the Circle, or they are vulnerable. Faye wants to know who died and made Cassie queen witch. Touche. They all hear something burning. There's a fire in front of the house. Adam says that they can put it out. So, he starts saying, "No air for fire." The others join in and the "for" really gets lost. I wonder if diction matters in witchcraft. Not this time. They put the fire out. It's in the shape of a crescent. Adam thinks that Jake did it trying to scare them.
At the ER, Cassie catches up with Jane. She tells her about the fire. Jane tells her that it's an ancient symbol that means "conquest." It's what people used to burn on witches' land to warn/scare them. She says that she saw Jake burning a circle in the ground and Jane warns her to not tell him about the bigger Circle. Meanwhile, at the docks, Faye has gotten her outfit together. She finds Jake and he asks her if she got dolled up just to see him. She's all don't flatter yourself and tells him that she's sorry about Nick. He tells her that she was always clingy, which ruins the moment. She asks him if he's the one who set the fire that morning and he asks her what she's talking about. She considers that a confession and starts to walk away, but he grabs her arm hard and is serious about asking what she's talking about. She reminds him that he doesn't get to tell her what to do anymore.
Meanwhile, Dawn is telling Charlie about her visit from Jane. She tells him that she made Jane believe that they are allies now. Charlie is distracted and Dawn asks him if she's boring him. It's just that he hasn't gotten a lot of sleep since he murdered Nick. She tells him to stay focused and reminds him that, since all of the Circle families once held crystals, Jane may still have hers and it's more powerful because she's a Blake. They might finally get their powers back. She holds his face kind of menacingly and asks him if he's up for doing all of this. He pulls away and says that he is. She's so scary. Can you imagine getting in trouble at school?
Later, Cassie is at home. She's leaving a voicemail for Diana when we see a shadow move behind her. After she hangs up, she senses something. She calls out for Jane. She's not there. Then, she turns around and there's this girl with a knife-like weapon in her hand. Cassie asks her what she wants and she replies, "Your blood." Not good. They start fighting and Jake hears Cassie scream from outside. Just as the girl scratches(?) Cassie with her weapon, Jake comes in and tells her to stop. She does, then Jake starts doing a spell that makes her eyes burn. Cassie joins in and it gets worse, so the girl runs away. He says that he doesn't know who she was. He wants nothing to do with the Circle -- he just happened to find his family's Book of Shadows years ago and learned a few spells. He tells her that she and the other kids are way over their heads. She asks him what he was doing in his backyard last night and he says he was putting out that fire, probably started by that "crazy bitch." The one who was just attacking Cassie, not Faye. She says that, by the way he was looking at the fire, she thought he had set it. Then, Jane arrives. She doesn't like seeing Jake. She tells about the woman who "took a swipe" at her.
The day, Diana is nervous about what happened to Cassie. She and Adam go to Cassie's house and Adam seems jealous to hear that she and Jake did magic together. Jake knows that he's a witch, but didn't say anything because he doesn't plan on staying in Chance Harbor. This guy is really pushing Adam's buttons. Cassie says that Jake saved her life and it only seems to make Adam crazier. The knife that the girl used to hurt Cassie had a crescent moon on it -- she must have set the fire too. Jake says that she might be a witch from another Circle. Adam offers that maybe she followed Jake to town. He says that he's never seen her before. Adam says he's glad Cassie's OK then stomps off to his awesome all-terrain vehicle. Diana follows and tells him that he's acting like a jealous boyfriend, and not hers.
Melissa goes to Nick's house (she has keys) and listens to some music and holds his jacket and cries. It's so sad! At the club house, Cassie tries to convince everyone that they need Jake to stay in town. Adam is of course against it and it annoys Diana. Faye tells Cassie that Jake will sleep with her and leave her in a million twisted little pieces. But, maybe that's what she's into. Love her.
Later, Jane is dressing Cassie's knife scratch. She says that the girl who did it will probably come back. Then, she goes to a shelf and pulls off a clock. In the clock, she is hiding a crystal, which has been passed down in her family. She says it's a lens that magnifies their powers. She says that no one can know that she has the crystal -- not even the Circle.
Later, Jake goes to a motel and sees Simone, the girl who attacked Cassie. They know each other. He pushes her against a wall and asks why she followed him to Chance Harbor and marked his house. Simple -- he's a witch and she doesn't trust witches. She's a True Believer and he says she's itching to kill people. Then, he searches and finds a tissue with blood, Cassie's blood. He says it's too soon for bloodletting and Simone says that he's making a big mistake.
It's the wake and there are gorgeous modeling shots of Nick everywhere. I love the music they're playing right now. Faye is doing drops of Nick's witches brew. She offers some to Melissa but it only annoys her. Adam watches Ethan having a drink. He tells him to take it easy with the sauce, but Ethan is upset that their town is burying more teens. He says something about a wake at the school gym long ago. He adds that Amelia was too distraught over Blackwell's death to go to the funeral. Adam has never heard this name. Ethan doesn't explain. Adam sees Jake with Cassie. He approaches and asks what Jake is trying to pull. Jake says he's probably loaded, like his dad. So, naturally, Adam takes a swing. It doesn't go well for Adam. Cassie tells them to stop and Diana approaches and is pissed.
Cassie follows Jake outside. She says that leaving town didn't give her mother peace, but he says peace isn't what he's looking for. She goes inside and we see that Simone has been watching. Inside, Ethan is trashed and in the back room. Diana arrives with some coffee. He says that Adam and Cassie are meant to be together. The stars and all that. He says that bad things happen when you mess with fate.
Faye is acting like she's going to fly off the pier and Melissa stops her. Melissa asks if this about Jake. She says he needs to stay away from him. She reminds her that this nice isn't about her or Jake -- it's about Nick, and she loved him. Faye says that she knows that Melissa loved him and he loved her too. Melissa says that she can tell that Faye is thinking about herself when she says that, which catches her by surprise. Then, they both giggle. Cute moment. Faye says that Melissa knows her well, then they hug.
At the bar, Cassie tells Adam that Diana loves her and he should stop acting out. He says that he loves her too, he just doesn't trust Jake. I mean, the guy did insult his dad. He had a punch coming to him. They agree that they're all in this together. Diana sees them talking. Adam says he doesn't think he's wrong about Jake. Outside, Simone says that it doesn't look like Jake was going to kill Cassie, which was apparently the plan. So, she knocks Jake over and is about to attack him with a knife when Cassie sees and pulls the crystal out of her pocket. It makes the knife fly out of Simone's hand. Jake grabs it, they struggle, dead Simone.
Later, Jake tells Cassie that Simone was a witch trying to scavenge Nick's power. He seems confused about what Cassie did with the knife. She doesn't tell him about the crystal. She "convinces" him to stay in Chance Harbor. Diana goes to Adam as he's cleaning up. She tells him that she won't stand on the sidelines with him and Cassie anymore. Then, she goes to Cassie and tells her that she broke up with Adam because of her. She doesn't even know why she's at Cassie's house. It's sad. Cassie hugs her.
In some dock shack, Jake is brought before a leader looking dude. He admonishes him for killing Simone. She was a "fellow witch hunter." Jake says that he won't let him down. He will avenge the death of his family by ridding Chance Harbor of witches. Not good for the future of this show.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.