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The show begins with Cassie packing her bags. She is moving home because Jane is returning home from the Clinic for the Open-Stayed Visits from the Neurologically Demised. Wow. That was epic. Diana is sad to see her go and Charlie seems a little weirded out when he hears that Jane is returning. Well, that was a lie. Jane is totally not coming home yet, but Cassie felt like she was imposing on Diana. At least they're talking about it. She goes home and Jake is there. He's worried about her. He found ash around her house, which means that the witch hunters are already out to kill her. She's totally not into Jake right now, so she tells him to get out.
Then, she sees someone hanging around her door. The door opens, witch-like, and there's a guy standing there. IT'S JOHN BLACKWELL. It's freaking Jake from One Life To Live as well as Mr. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He has an amazing haircut, so we can assume that the undercover witch life has been good to him. He tells Cassie that he needs to talk to her, but Adam arrives and they agree to meet later, though he tells her to keep mum about his presence. She totally tells Adam right away. She goes to see him later and he tells her that he felt her presence from the medallion when she unlocked it. He wants her to give it to him for her protection, but this makes her suspicious.
Callum pops into the Boathouse and invites Melissa to a party at his place. Faye is there and doesn't even stop her. Whatever.
After Cassie's chat with her dad, she gets kidnapped by Eben. Saw that coming. John is hanging around his old house, 7 Briar Hill, when Jake arrives. He's of course like who the hell are you and John says that he's Cassie's father. Jake has been looking for her and can't find her. They both rush out. Jake finds Cassie tied to a chair and surrounded by ash (prepped for witch-killing) in Eben's lair. He tells him that he'll bring John to them if they let Cassie go. He agrees.
Melissa is at the party with Callum and he takes her into another room where he has two power totems like the one that Lee gave Faye. They play a little game where they exchange energy and Callum senses that Melissa is a witch. At the same time, Diana has shamed Faye for letting Melissa go to this party and they've arrived with Lee to find her. Melissa rushes out of the room with Callum and they're all safe. Melissa tells Faye that the power totems are made to take power from her and she later confronts Lee. She thinks he was trying to steal her power. He takes her power totem and breaks it, then says that he would never do anything to hurt her. Then, they kiss. February has been very good to Faye.
Eben puts these weird eye drops in Cassie's lamps before Jake returns with John. Then, he just lets her go. After John and Cassie leave, Eben asks why Jake didn't kill John and he says that he doesn't have to because Cassie will. Then, he's about to kill Jake (he's decided that his use for him is over) when the rest of the Circle walks up and sends Eben flying up to a tree where he gets impaled on a branch. After they make sure that Jake is OK, they look up and he's gone. But, he's not a witch? In the woods, Cassie suddenly grabs a stick and some herb or something (she can't stop herself) and starts the process of killing John. He doesn't have powers anymore, so he can't stop her. The Circle arrives and helps Cassie stop right before she is about to set her dad on fire!
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Cassie is packing her things in Diana's room when Diana comes in holding her own bag, which suggests she was just at the gym or the Police Academy. Cassie explains that she's moving home because her grandmother is coming home from wherever the hell she's been. That night! Did her insurance cover this? Cassie says she will miss Diana's snoring. That could be the most damaging thing that she has done to their friendship. Diana says that, without Cassie asking her if she's awake, how will she know it's the middle of the night? I hear bubbling resentment! Charlie, who is sporting a new sexy do that really suits him, comes into the room with college pamphlets that he feels the girls should read. Diana tells him that Cassie is going home and he feigns something like pleasure regarding Jane's recovery. He also mentions that Cassie just got a new job at the Java Brew and baby witch is all grown up. She thanks him for taking care of her and he says it was his pleasure and leaves. Then, Diana asks her why all of the men in her life like Cassie more than her. Wow. Luckily, she giggles and says that she's just kidding.
When she gets to her house, the door is open. She grabs an umbrella like a ninja and Jake pops out. He says that opening that umbrella would be very bad luck. He thought he saw someone at her place from door -- the door was unlocked when he checked. Maybe someone broke in to tidy the place up? She looks down and finds some ash on the floor that was tracked in from outside. This freaks Jake out. He runs outside and finds a trail of ash around the house. Witch hunters are planning on killing her!
Jake tells Cassie that Isaac was furious when he heard that she destroyed the medallion. He's not sure why, since he wouldn't be able to use it, but it's clear that they are coming after her. Cassie says that she can take care of herself. She thinks that Jake has uncontrollable anger issues. He also has an uncontrollable body and face. They won't stop. They can't be stopped. Cassie takes her umbrella, points it at Jake and sends a shock through the end into his shoulder. He's all, "What the hell?" but he liked it. He leaves.
It's Cassie's first day as a barista and she's not any good. Adam is watching and gives her some tips and she improves immediately. She tells Adam that witch hunters have been to her house (also that Jane is not coming home yet -- she's just tired of imposing on Diana; you know, at least they're addressing the woman's absence) and he says that he's coming over that night. He makes it light though by saying it's an excuse to be alone with her. He leaves and nods at Faye and Melissa, who are having coffee together. Faye is thrilled that Cassie is serving her. Melissa tells her to get over the fact that Jake has a thing for Cassie. Faye says that she doesn't care about Jake (that was fast -- and IMPOSSIBLE) and Melissa suggests that she concentrate on Lee, who clearly has a thing for her. Faye considers that dating below her station (I mean, she actually uses that phrase) just as Callum walks into the Java Brew. And, walks straight to their table. Don't they usually hang out at the Boathouse? Doesn't Lee (and presumably Callum) live like 45 minutes away or something? Does Chance Harbor have only two places to hang out? I'm just saying, as a person who doesn't really know them at all, it was easy for him to find them. It would have made more sense if he dropped by the table after having already picked up his frap and doughnut holes. So Callum drops by the table and invites him to a party he's having. Faye says that they're only doing coffee these days, but Melissa smiles and says that it might be fun. After he's gone, Melissa says that Callum isn't a bad guy.
Cassie talks to Jane on the phone. After she's off, she sees someone standing outside her door. It flies open and there's a man with a natty suit and really excellent hair and beard grooming standing on the other side. He says that he's John Blackwell, Cassie's father! Perhaps he has been working at a department store all these years? I'm just saying, he looks like he spends A LOT of time thinking about tailoring. She asks how she knows that's true and he says that he knows that she knows. She's pissed about him being a deadbeat witch all these years. He says that he was aware that she had activated the medallion. She tells him to go (Really? You don't even have any questions) and that she doesn't need his help (Really? Mel Gibson's ash tray is sprinkled around your house. You need help). Then, John looks out the window and sees Adam drive up. He tells her to meet him at the boardwalk in an hour -- all will be explained. He tells her not to tell Adam about his presence. He says that everything he has done has been to protect Cassie. She agrees and he leaves as Adam walks in, without knocking. Rude. He invites her to a movie and she says that something has come up. Then, she just spills the beans about her dad being there. That was fast. Adam tries to keep her from meeting her. He reminds her of all the stories about his evildoings. Adam thinks that he's there for more than just helping her.
Faye is doing her nails when Diana calls. She's looking for Melissa. Faye says that Diana is awfully clingy in relationships and Diana says that she's just looking after Melissa post-devil smack OD. Faye tells Diana that she's at Callum's party and Diana freaks out about what might be happening, which shames Faye. She says that she can find out where Callum's party is (even though they got invited together). We see Lee sitting at the bedside of the catatonic girl. She's not hooked up to anything, which must be nice for her. He gets up and goes to his spooky garage, where Faye and Diana are waiting. He jokes about Diana coming back for more and she says that she doesn't know what he's talking about re: Diana all hopped up and kissing him like he was the sexy pizza guy she ordered. Faye tells him that they need to know where Callum lives. He's startled that they let Melissa go alone to Callum's. He's going with them. He says that he practices bad voodoo and some people leave his parties never being the same. Ouch.
It's apparently totally dark an hour after Cassie met John. She sees him on the boardwalk. He says that the truth is bigger than the stories about their family line being evil. He says that he loved her mother. She's upset. She wonders if he's apologizing for missing dance recitals, even though she never did those things. He tells her to give him the medallion, because it's dangerous for her to have it. She says that Adam was right about him wanting something from her. He says that she shouldn't have told him. She says that she doesn't need his help and has been fine without it for this long. She stomps off and gets into her car where Eben grabs her from behind!
She's knocked out (from whatever) and Eben and his thugs tie her to a chair in some dock house and prepare for a ceremony. Meanwhile, Melissa is at Callum's party. She asks him if girls like all of the voodoo stuff in his place. Some do. He offers her some devil's spirit, but she turns him down. Fine, so why don't they do some voodoo stuff? He pulls out these little power totems. He tells her to concentrate, then she gets some surge of energy. She likes it. Then, they switch totems. They get to the party with Lee and he tells the girls to find Melissa and get ready to leave. He wanders off and Diana points out that he is very protective of Faye. Melissa and Callum do the totem thing again and this time he feels her energy. It was probably witchy and he really liked it. He wants to take her somewhere private.
John is reminiscing at 7 Briar Hill when Jake rushes in shouting for Cassie. John tries to hide but Jake sees him. They tussle for a moment (I didn't mind that) and John says that he's Cassie's father. I guess it's not so big a secret anymore. John wants to know something is wrong and Jake tells him that he found ash at her house. He says she might be with Adam at the Boathouse. She's not. She's being surrounded by ash as she's tied to a chair. Jake arrives and tries to free her but Eben's thugs stop him. Eben says that Isaac has a soft spot for Jake, so he's taking care of business. Jake offers John for Cassie. She wakes up just as Eben is missing some sort of potion. He tells her that her power is worthless when she's surrounded by the ash, especially since she destroyed the medallion. He puts the potion in an eyedropper and puts them in her eyes. They go all black!
John shows up at the Boathouse and tells Adam that he needs to find Cassie. Ethan sees and says, "What the hell?" He tells John to stay away from his son and get out of town. John says that they clearly have unfinished business, but he's currently trying to protect his daughter. Ethan tells Adam that he needs to stay away from John. He's the last person that he wants to know. John and Jake meet up outside. Jake tells him that the witch hunters have Cassie. Adam sees this exchange and calls Diana and says that he needs her help.
Callum takes Melissa to a room and locks the door. He senses that she's different because of the energy he felt from her in their totem games. He knows that she's a witch. Melissa senses some danger and warns him that, if she's as powerful as he thinks, he doesn't want to test her. Then, she unlocks the door and leaves. Faye finds her and Melissa tells her that the totem that Lee gave her is made for taking power, not giving it. Diana shows up and they get ready to leave. Faye sees Lee and tells him that she knows what he's about. He tries to explain that it's the spell, not the totem, that matters, but Faye just says that she can't believe she trusted Lee and scrams.
Jake and John are in the woods. Jake says that the hunters were taking Cassie to this place, which he knows because he has "history" with the hunters. Eben shows up with Cassie and says any funny business and she's dead. The deal is Cassie for Jake. Eben says that they have unsettled business. Jake agrees. Eben looks in Cassie's black eyes and tells her to go to her father. She does. Eben puts cuffs on Jake (he says that the iron will keep his "power in check" -- so may made up witch rules on this show) as Cassie and John walk away. Jake asks why he didn't kill Blackwell and Eben says that he doesn't have to, Cassie will. Cripes!
Callum confronts Lee about the fact that Faye and her friends are witches. He's interested. Lee slams Callum against a... fence? In his apartment? So, yes, a fence. He does this and tells him to stay away from Faye and her friends. Callum says that Lee is using them too. That's what they do. Lee just walks away.
John and Cassie are walking through the woods. When Cassie grabs a branch and some leaves. She's tying the leaves around the branch when John asks her what she's doing. She says she doesn't know! Black eyedrops are bad! She points the stick at John and he falls to his knees. She starts to make a circle around John on the ground with the stick, even as she's saying that she doesn't know what's happening. John says that it must be a spell. She tells him to stop her but he says that he doesn't have magic anymore. She asks him to knock her over or something but he says he won't hurt her. He also says that she's stronger than she thinks. She points the stick at him again and the circle that she made bursts into flames.
Eben is walking with Jake and makes him drop to his knees. He says that his usefulness has come to an end. Jake reminds him that they had a deal and Eben says that Jake's father said that, right before he slit his throat (which is why I wonder why all this fancy witch-killing stuff needs to happen if you can dispatch with them as easy as that). Suddenly, Eben flies into the air and is impaled on a branch in a nearby tree. The Circle, sans Cassie, is behind him. Jake asks who did that and Adam says that they all did. He's all, "You're welcome." I don't think Jake seemed particularly ungrateful at that moment, so Adam needs to cool his freaking jets. The Circle unlocks the iron that kept Jake's power in check. Jake looks up and Eben is gone, which naturally surprises Jake. Adam says that he doesn't KNOW how that happened, but they need to find Cassie right now. Fine, yes, Cassie needs to be found, but it's not exactly INSIGNIFICANT that the freaking witch hunter that you just impaled on a tree 30 feet or so in the air has vanished. That's a big deal.
Cassie is still killing her father and he tells her to fight the spell. The Circle shows up and tries to help Cassie stop. But, they need her help. Everyone has great advice about how to accomplish this. She needs to forget about what her body is doing and just think of the spell. Anyone wonder how they became experts? I wonder. Anyway, so she forgets her body and they're able to make her drop the branch and the fire stops. She runs to John but thinks better before hugging him or anything.
At 7 Briar Hill, Faye asks if John is really really evil. Diana says that he's not acting evil. Adam, always suspect of any other male in the area, says that he hopes they did the right thing by saving him. He says that he never saw his father so scared as when he saw John that evening.
Cassie is at her house with her dad. She asks him how he lost his powers and he says that it happened when the elders took away the powers of the rest of his Circle. He wishes it had happened earlier as black magic has taken everything important to him (Cassie, Amelia... that's it). He says that no one will ever believe that he has changed, but he's not the same man that he used to be. Cassie tells him that she destroyed the medallion, so he can leave. He says that he's staying because she can't protect herself now. She wonders how Eben was able to spell her if he's not a witch. John says that Eben's no witch, but he's staying in town until he figures out what's up.
Lee is in Faye's room when she gets home. He climbed in the window. He says that he wouldn't do anything to hurt her. To prove himself, he takes the totem he gave her and breaks it. There's a tiny sound effect when that happens, but no one says anything. Then, they start kissing. Faye, you my friend, are having the BEST 2012. Suddenly, the catatonic girl opens her eyes and seems frightened.
Jake is at his house and gets a visit from John who points out that Jake set him up that evening. He says that he was just protecting Cassie. John thanks him for saving Cassie's life. He says that they should work together to keep her safe, because tonight was only the beginning.
Cassie finds Adam at the Boathouse. He's sitting alone in a booth. She sits beside him and he holds her.
Jeff Long is a writer/performer in Brooklyn. He can be reached at jeff.long75@gmail.com and followed on Twitter at @jblong.
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