Damon, now the sole heir to the Mikaelson Dynasty, must choose between the life he has only ever known within the walls of their family home, or to be the man he sought after by leaving the family and all its related business behind just five years ago.

 

It was a difficult time back then, Damon, a twenty-three-year-old, bachelor with a multimillion-dollar family income, a second-year senior at Rice University, and the ever-popular fraternity party boy that had everything in life he could have ever wanted, until the night he met that feisty, eighteen-year-old blonde freshman, Cassandra Hurst, that he would soon have to make the hardest decision he had ever had to face.

 

Cassandra, Cassie as we all know, was just starting out in the professional world as a wrestler, something both parents and older brother, Colton, had already established.  Her studies in the field of Natural Sciences in Kinesiology and Exercise Physiology helped her train her body to be at its top performance both inside and outside of the ring.  She had her mother’s cunning spirit, and flawless beauty, with the fire of her father’s will for destruction.  Competition was a deadly combo with Cassie, her fighting desire to be the best possible athlete she could be, to doing what she had to do to achieve her goal.  Something that deadly could have only spawned from her parents.

 

As Damon left the altar, he was brought back to the other night at the hospital.  The two most influential women in his life were at the very same place.  One, he thought he would never see again; the other, he wouldn't. 

He stopped just short of an inch from his father as he remained sitting, he looked at him with a spark in his eye; and with a flame in his heart, he lowered his head and whispered.

 

“I know you are responsible for this, and mark my word when I prove it, I will kill you myself.”

 

Damon stood back up slowly, never losing eye contact with his father.  He stepped back, turning once again to his mother’s coffin.

 

“You will be avenged, even if it takes my last breath to do so.”

 

Damon turns his head once again to his father and slowly proceeds to walk out of the church.  His father remains seated only now with a sadistic smile across his face.

 

While the memorial service was ending, Damon sat in his car behind the hearse that would escort his mother’s body to her final resting place.  Friends and family from around the world passed by to show respect as each would line their vehicles behind his on the way to the cemetery.  Damon’s father was not amongst the crowd.

 

As the procession leads on, Damon notices a female silhouette standing off in the distance.  Her slender frame leans against a tree; a very familiar tree.  He approached closer, realizing it was the very same tree he would have to say “Good-bye” to Cassandra under just five long years ago, for it was their meeting spot.   

 

Every inch closer, his pulse raced, was it Cassie? Was everything at the hospital just an act in front of her brother and if so, why?  He found himself searching for a way to pull over, to somehow stop just to make sure, but he couldn’t.  Could it be Cassie or was his mind playing a cruel joke.  Her back was turned, he could not see her face.  Her left hand seemed to be attached to a leash of some sorts, connected to that of a black dog on the other end.  As he slowly passed, he gazed through the review mirror and noticed the right hand of the female standing along the side of the tree was indeed wrapped up in what appeared to be a cast.  It was in fact Cassie. 

 

“Shit..”  Damon was desperate, he needed to speak to her, but he could just not leave the procession; after all this was his mother.  He finds himself thumbing through his phone, he kept her number even after all these years, he could not bring himself to delete her, even though she wanted nothing to do with him.  He puts down the phone and sighs; they had reached the cemetery.

 

He stopped, placed his car in park and began his walk to the gravesite.  This would be the hardest event for him thus far. As the ceremony commences, Damon looks around for his father, who obviously does not seem to be present, nor his father’s elite crew.  

 

“Hey man, sorry to hear about your mom. How long are you in town for, we should really hang out like the old days man, before you got with that freshman chick in college.” 

 

An old college buddy stepped up to greet Damon.  The two stood alongside his mother’s casket reminiscing of old days. 

 

“Ya, man, sounds good.  I’m not sure how long I will be here for, but I’m hoping to make a return once I tie up some loose ends.”

 

Damon tries to smile, but his eyes water as they begin to lower his mother’s coffin slowly into the ground.

 

“Alright man, you hang in there.  Just look me up when you’re ready.  I still have the same number.”

 

The young man pats Damon upon the back and the two shake hands.  With a nod, the man walks back to his vehicle.  Damon slowly begins to walk away from the grave, he cannot seem to bare the sight of the dirt being tossed onto his mother’s casket and each toss of dirt, sounds like a gunshot to him.  He takes a moment to collect himself as he can’t seem to pull himself away.  An older woman is walking towards him, he recognizes her as he walks to greet her.

 

“I am so sorry Damon, Helen was my best friend, a sister to me.  I will never forget the night they brought her in the ER after her accident.”

 

The woman reached her arms out and wrapped them tightly around Damon’s neck.

 

“Thank you, Ms. Diane, but can I ask you something about that night?” 

He began to pull away slowly.

 

“Of course you can.”  She replied.

 

“Can you tell me what exactly happened?  I did not get here until the other night, when my father called me and said she was in an accident and that it did not appear to be good.”

 

The woman lowered her head, as if she had a secret to hide.  “Damon, I’m sorry, I do not know the details of that night, it seemed pretty hush hush when your father brought her in and had the mayor and the chief of police with him.  I wasn’t allowed back in the room.”

 

Damon looks a bit confused.  This was his mother’s best friend, coworker and only the best surgeon Cumberland Hospital had on staff.  He did not understand why his father would not allow her to help.

 

“What do you mean you were not allowed?”   Damon questioned her sternly.

 

From off in the distance, Damon’s Father’s car was slowly pulling into the drive of the graveyard.  The black Chevrolet Suburban with its blackout tint all around, comes to a stop just beside Damon and Ms. Diane.  The door swings open and out steps Dominic Mikaelson.  His slicked gray hair, rugged build and charming, dark brown eyes went perfectly together with his black Ralph Lauren double-faced, cashmere topcoat that draped ever so fitting over a black suit and tie.

 

“Damon..”  His father said as he walked up to the two glaring over at Diane with a stern look.

 

“What’s going on here?”  He looked to Diane seeking her response. 

 

Damon noticed the uncomfortable situation Diane was in, and he quickly answered the question. 

 

“Nothing, Pop, Diane just came to give her condolences.”

 

“I see, thank you Diane, it’s good to see you again.  I know how close you and Helen were.  If you need to extend your leave to grieve, I’m sure I can get that arranged for you.”  Dominic cut his glare to Diane as he placed his hand upon her shoulder.

 

“Come Damon, let’s say our good-byes.”  He motions for Damon to follow, as Damon refuses.

 

“Nah, you go on Pop, I’ve said my good-byes already.  Mom knows my heart and would not want me to wallow in self-pity over this, but you go on, I’m sure you have quite a bit to repent over.”

 

Damon nods his head at Diane in a farewell gesture and begins to walk towards his car.  As he steps closer and begins to unlock the door, he feels a vibration coming from his back pocket.  Slowly he pulls out his cellphone and notices a text message from an unknown number.

 

“Wait 3 days, meet me at your mom’s favorite coffee shop at 6 am, we have much to discuss.  Do not tell anyone and come alone.  Do not reply.  D”

 

Confused, Damon began looking around the area.  He opens the car door, gets inside and shuts the door.  Diane drives slowly by.