— 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟒 —
𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐤

Cassandra decided that she needed a glass of wine to get through the story about herself.

On the walk back to her condo, any other hesitations Sandy had about the two were quickly put to rest when she learned that they were strictly "vegetarian" vampires.

AKA, they and their entire family only drink the blood of animals.

While Sandy did not approve of any sort of killing, especially of animals, the fact that the Cullens were trying to be better was amazing to her.

Vampires had to drink blood to survive, but rather than slaughtering countless humans, the Cullens had figured out a way to make themselves more humane.

Cassandra did not care what type of argument one tried to make, she had heard vampires try to justify killing people all the time, and it disgusted her. Especially when they was very clearly other alternatives in the world: blood bags and animal blood.

She gave no craps about the "food chain" — Sandy loved animals more than the average person, but even she knew there was a difference between killing a bear and murdering a person.

Momentarily, Cassandra was pulled back into the vision she had years ago of her mates in the midst of one of their feeding sessions. The way that Caius had ripped a woman's throat out and Aro crushed a man as he fed violently.

It took a few months, but Cassandra managed to track down the people that the Aro and Caius had killed while feeding.

The woman Caius had drunk from was named Donna Oliver: a single mother from Kentucky who had won a free trip to Italy.

Donna had decided to take a break from the stress of being a single mother who constantly had to pick up the night shifts as a nurse. She decided to take advantage of the free vacation she could not remember signing up for.

But they say to never look a gifted horse in the mouth.

She entrusted her only daughter to her sister for the week. Or at least it was supposed to be a week.

To the authorities, Donna Oliver was still missing with no answer as to whatever happened to her. Her daughter still holds hope and searches for her to this day.

The man Aro had killed was a new graduate from university — he'd been in school to be an engineer. His name was John Greene and he was about to start his first job when he won the free week-long trip to Italy.

He never returned: he is also known as missing to the authorities and to his family. His parents still search for him.

Cassandra sobbed for days when she learned this: for these people to have their lives taken from them so violently. For their families to never know what truly happened to them.

It was terrible!

Her opinion on vampires and of the Volturi went down even further if possible upon learning how the Cullens' lived.

She had known they were monsters the entire time, but once she learned that there were alternative feeding methods, it only solidified what she already knew. The Volturi truly did hold no regard for human life.

Sandy did not even bat an eyelash at her father, for she knew he was a monster long before this. She was not surprised that he still chose to slaughter countless humans over drinking animal blood.

Not only did he drink from them but he killed them in the most violent ways possible.

There had been one time that Sandy even walked in on him raping a woman before he fed from her and killed her.

She would never be able to unsee nor unhear that poor woman's whimpers and pleads for mercy.

But it hurt a lot more knowing that her mates chose to drink from humans when they could drink from animals instead.

That they brought dozens of excited tourists in by the week only to slaughter them all.

But her respect for the Cullen coven went up immensely.

Alice and Rosalie had told her that they currently lived in some place in the middle of nowhere Michigan. But it was beautiful, as they had claimed, surrounded by nothing by wilderness for hundreds of miles with total privacy.

Sandy decided she would like to visit someday.

By the time Sandy had gotten through the story about her own life: about two hours had passed, three glasses of wine were downed, a few tears were shed (she was an emotional woman okay!), and many hugs were given. She was the slightest bit tipsy by the end of it and rather tired.

But she answered their questions nonetheless.

"What kind of magic do you have? Are your senses and strength like a vampire?" Rosalie had questioned.

"Not necessarily: while I am stronger and much faster than a human, I am still much weaker and slower than a vampire. The same goes for my senses!

My magic allows me to do much, but it mostly pertains to the elements and simple feats of spells." Sandy explained. "While my elemental magic is much stronger than a witch or warlocks: a witch surely bests me in spell casting."

"Where are the rest of your siblings? Who all escaped?" Alice had gasped.

Neither Rosalie nor Alice had ever heard of this vampire called Lithiovai, but Sandy assured them that was exactly what he wanted. Lithiovai wanted the least amount of people to know of his existence: he wanted the world to think him dead.

"Those of us who escaped are all scattered across the globe — we tend to stay separated as to not draw attention, but we keep tabs on each other. Noelle and Zulon are traveling through Asia, I believe. Nicholas is in New Orleans studying the magic there. And Cassius is in England... being an accountant..."

"An accountant?" Both Alice and Rosalie sputtered in surprise.

"Yeah," Sandy shrugged, "he likes numbers apparently,"

"Well, what about your other three siblings? What were their names again?"

"Abigail, Adam, and Thespian," She answered easily.

Otherwise known as the witch, the werewolf-vampire hybrid, and the human-vampire hybrid who was able to summon crazy swords of energy out of thin air. "They did not want to leave, they're not evil like Father, but everyone reacts to fear in different ways. They are too scared to leave, both of Lithiovai and as to what they would become without him. Abigail, in particular, was saved by him, so she also feels as though she owes him her life..." Sandy trailed off sadly thinking about the three siblings whom she had not seen since she escaped.

Zulon and Noelle managed to escape first, the Oni and the kitsune. Zulon was able to cover them with shadows.

Nicholas, the warlock, was next — he was smart — he left when Father least expected it. Used a spell to cover him.

Cassius, the djinn, left soon after Nicholas. True to the tricky nature of the djinn, he tricked their father into getting so angry: he wished that Cassius would leave. And leave he did, never to be seen again.

Her father was incredibly angry after that—he took his anger at himself out on the rest of them.

Sandy was the last one to escape, leaving in the middle of the night in the midst of winter. She barely managed to escape as her father was on high alert after the escape of her four other siblings. However, she did, and she had not been back since.

Their father raised them in Virginia — in the middle of the woodland, on enchanted land that allowed him to control their powers. So long as they were on his land, they would be unable to use their power to hurt him.

It took a lot of strength for Cassandra to muster up the courage to run. More than her rising above the fear of Lithiovai—Cassandra was a mixed woman—which, at the time, in the eyes of a white person was the same as being fully black.

She left in a time of slavery. In the South of America.

Sandy had to do what she had to do to survive.

To remain hidden: she revealed herself to mortals and was taken as a slave, sold to a horrid family in South Carolina.

She was what they called a "house slave" with many of the other black women the family-owned. The men were forced to work in the cotton fields with little water under the blistering sun.

Cassandra had escaped the prison of Lithiovai only to find herself in different shackles.

Being a mixed woman in America was a very odd concept. In the previous decades: people did not recognize her mixed nature, they only saw her as black.

It was not until the 1900s that people started recognizing her as mixed. Not that this mattered: she quite literally was a slave.

And she had been counted as black all her life—for it to suddenly change had been odd.

Of course, when she was in her clan: skin color did not matter at all. But Cassandra was young when she was taken—barely any of her life was spent in Roseanine.

It made her sad to think about it.

The early and mid-1900s' were fun but slightly lonely: the concept of being mixed during this time was frowned upon.

Too black for the white people and too white for the black people.

Despite this: she still considered herself mostly black and was a huge activist for civil rights during this time.

"I can't believe this happened: I can't believe the Volturi did not catch this!" Rosalie exclaimed.

Sandy shrugged, "Lithiovai is cunning, nearly as cunning as Aro, Marcus, and Caius. This plan was a long time in the making, and he is careful. He knows none of us would ever approach the Volturi by choice, they'd kill us on the spot and then go after the others..."

Cassandra did not mention that her mates were Aro, Marcus, and Caius. She was barely able to admit it to herself let alone to others.

"Yeah, it's probably not much safer for you to go to them..." Alice agreed.

Though she had no vision of what would happen if Sandy did approach said coven, she was speaking simply based on what she knew of them. They were the most powerful coven in the world: the makers of vampire law.

They certainly would not take kindly to people made specifically as weapons against them. Even if said threat was warning them—they would not chance it.

"Still, I can't believe they would allow for one of our kind to finish off an entire species," Rosalie muttered in disbelief, voicing her thoughts on the Volturi letting Lithiovai kill off the last known clan of the fae.

To be fair, it was not like they let him. They did not even know he was alive!

And Cassandra recognized this, but she also recognized that it was kind of their job to know this!

Aro, in particular, seemed to be a rather sentimental individual at times. As well as an easily fascinated man, he no doubt enjoyed learning the most of the three leaders (such as his abilities). Sandy could not imagine that the raven-haired leader would just allow for the decimation of an entire supernatural species that posed no threat. On behalf of a vampire at that.

The fae were not like the Children of the Moon who made spectacles of themselves and attacked without reason.

But none of this mattered, for what was done was done.

"They probably thought we were extinct long before Lithiovai finished off the job," Sandy said sadly, polishing off her third glass of wine before standing up, "it matters not, what is done is done. I simply ask that you try to avoid the Volturi as well: Aro in specific, I'd rather not have my presence revealed..." Especially considering Aro would realize she was his mate (and his brothers') the moment he saw her in someone else's thoughts.

"Of course!" Alice agreed quickly.

Rosalie was a bit more hesitant. Not because she wanted to out Cassandra, but because it could cause her family major issues.

"But won't we be implicated if the Volturi learned that we knew about a fugitive who is supposed to be dead is actually alive and planning an uprising against them!?"

Yeah, that sounded pretty bad. And of course, they would! No questions about that.

There's no way Caius, in particular, would let a coven go Scot-free for essentially deceiving them.

But Sandy decided to look on the bright side. "Lithiovai can hardly put his plans into action without all of his children — he's missing more than half of us at that! Can you just do me a solid and not mention anything unless my father somehow managed to get all eight of us back? Then definitely run and warn the Volturi that he's probably about to try and burn down the world or some shit... but until that moment... maybe just keep it on the down low? Please...?"

This time both Rosalie and Alice hesitated, both of them cringing at how Sandy phrased it.

Sandy cringed as well, she probably should have worded it much better.

Better and less cynical.

Sandy opened her mouth to once again beg, now becoming fearful and kicking herself for telling these vampires everything. They may have been good, but fear makes people do rash things.

Of course, they would run to the Volturi immediately! What was she thinking telling them all that?

She was a chatter, okay!

To her shock, Rosalie cried out an indignant, "Fine! Fine! We'll stay on the down low and won't say anything unless it comes down to it! But we need to tell the rest of our coven, at least, when we get home. They're our family, they deserve to know... and I'm sure Carlisle, our leader, will be very interested to know about the existence of fae," she said.

Sandy smiled brightly.

"Oh thank you guys so much!" Both the vampires yelped as they were pulled into a surprisingly strong hug from the small woman. "Of course, you can tell your family! If they are anything like you guys, I'm sure they're perfectly delightful!"

Rosalie and Alice were grateful for the permission to tell their family. They had yet to explain how Edward could read minds and would undoubtedly be reading theirs the moment they got back. And it would be too hard to simply not think about Cassandra or anything she told them while around Edward.

The three chatted for a short while before Sandy announced she had to go to bed. She was getting up early to run with Christian and Avan, after all.

While they said their goodbyes, they agreed that they would see each other tomorrow night.

———————

"C'mon slow pokes!" Sandy happily chirped, pausing and jogging in place as she waited for both Christian and Avan to catch up to her.

Both males were confused as to how the hell Sandy was such a morning person. That and how she was able to virtually not be out of breath in the slightest upon them hitting their third mile without stopping.

Christian prided himself on being an avid jogger, but Sandy somehow bested him in this with her physical shape and seemingly unshakeable endurance.

"We're coming!" The French Opera singer hollered and Avan groaned from his side as they both sped up ever-so-slightly.

Sandy only smiled as they approached, slowing down her pace so that they could keep up with her this time. They were nearing the end of their planned running route.

Sandy decided that she wanted—no needed—sugar. And a chocolate milkshake sounded quite good: the breakfast of champions, of course. That along with a tall stack of pancakes — or even better, french toast!

With syrup and sugar powdered drizzled on it — no — drowning! Her stomach growled just envisioning it.

"Would you two like to get milkshakes after this?" The fae asked her mortal friends in a hopeful tone of voice, her eyes sparkling at the thought of sugar.

Christian rolled his eyes, "Because that is the best breakfast after burning all these calories on our run..." he muttered sourly, his French accent thick.

Sandy did not exactly have that issue: while her body did change, it took a lot of work on her part to do that. Naturally, she was gifted with a petite hourglass figure.

Eight years ago, she had been working her body to be muscular and slender with broad shoulders. While she very much enjoyed this figure, it was a lot of work to stay in such shape. With how much time being in the Phantom of the Opera took up, she did not have the time to put in that work and her body reverted to her natural figure.

Avan sniggered, replying much kinder than his boyfriend. "Sure, we'll be sure to stop by Maggie's Diner after this..."

Maggie's Diner was a small diner that served the best breakfast, lunch, and desserts. It was Sandy's favorite place to go to get a milkshake.

She hummed happily.

In the next forty-five minutes, the three were sat in the diner. Sandy had a large stack of pancakes in front of her with a half-drank milkshake next to her. Christian, who was in a much better mood now that he was not dying from the run, sat with a healthy benedict.

Avan's was in between them in terms of healthiness, a hearty American breakfast sitting in front of him.

"I am so jealous you can eat whatever you want and keep a figure like that..." Christian sighed and Avan agreed with him.

Sandy smiled. "Don't forget that I am vegetarian though..." she chided, not wanting Christian to feel bad but also not knowing how to tell him it would take a lot for her to lose her figure without alluding to her true nature. "It has a lot to do with it..."

"You're right!" Christian lit up. "Babe, do you want to try to be a vegetarian with me?" He turned to his boyfriend hopefully.

Avan rose a brow from where he was eating his bacon. "Uhm, no..." he said in between bites of said bacon.

Christian deflated with a huff, sinking into his chair.

A few seconds of comfortable silence passed before Christian was turning to Sandy. "Have you been auditioning for different productions?"

Sandy was shocked at the blunt question, but Christian was also a very blunt person, he never tiptoed around things. It was something that she appreciated.

"Uhm, nooo..." she dragged out the word, "have you? Oh my gosh! Are you leaving the production!?" She suddenly gasped, her voice getting louder and higher-pitched as she spoke.

Christian was quick to flap his hands about to quiet her. "No, but Lily, the cast has been the same with minimal changes for eight years! The director is going to start making some cuts soon, especially with how popular it has become. I'd like to leave before I get fired..."

"Christian, they wouldn't fire you! If anything, they are probably very grateful for you staying," Sandy said, her voice gentle.

"I know, Lily, but it doesn't look good for actors to stay in the same production for this long. I think it's time to move on... Grease is opening up next year... and I was thinking of going for the part of Danny... but I can't think of anyone who would play a better Sandy than you!"

It was very coincidental that Christian wanted Sandy to play a famous character with her exact name. Of course, Sandy in the play was not short for Cassandra — but the mortals in Cassandra's life currently either knew her as Lily or Sandy.

"Oh," Sandy looked down at his words, a pondering look upon her face, "Well, I don't know, Christian..."

It was true — Sandy absolutely loved The Phantom of the Opera. She loved playing Christine Daaé, seeing as it had been eight years, Sandy felt as though Christine was a part of her. To leave would be hard.

But then again, Sandy knew that the clock was ticking.

She had two years left in New York and maybe a few months before she would NEED to pack up and leave. People would begin to notice that she was not aging and start to ask questions. Not to mention that ten years in one place was much longer than Sandy usually would ever stay.

It was very dangerous for her to stay that long.

New York was just so big that it allowed her to stay longer than usual. That and she was keeping a keen eye on Lithiovai and her remaining three siblings to make sure that none of them knew her to be in New York.

She was not so much as worried about the Volturi because there was no reason for any of the members to make the trip to New York City. Let alone Aro, Caius, or Marcus who rarely left Volterra.

Sandy could not imagine running into Caius randomly in a poetry reading one day. Or Marcus on the streets. Or Aro sitting in a cafe.

"C'mon, Sandy! We're not getting any younger, we should at least audition — we probably won't even get the parts with how many people they will no doubt be looking at!" Christian tried.

While he did have a point, he did not need to know that Sandy technically was not aging at all.

She may have had all the time in the world, but she did not have all the time in New York as an actress. It would be decades before she could return and act once again — she would need to make sure that all the people who once knew the industry were long gone.

"Okay, get me the information and I'll audition with you..." she smiled and Christian was shouting glee in French earning a lot of looks.

Avan was watching him as though he were insane.

Cassandra recognized that in Grease, the part she would be auditioning for — Sandy — was typically played by a Caucasian blonde female. If Sandy managed to snag that role, she'd no doubt be making history just as she did with The Phantom of the Opera.

But this would be far more monumental seeing as Grease was set in the American 50s.

For many reasons, if Sandy did happen to get the part: she'd realistically only be able to play it for a year before she had to move on from New York City. She planned to move on to Brazil where she would begin studying ballet.

However long it took, Sandy did not care, but she planned to get the leading role in a ballet production at some point in her life. While it certainly would take time, effort, and patience: she wanted to do it.

In her life: Sandy had already done much. But she was determined to do everything.

Thus far she has been an activist, a nurse, a world war fighter, a mechanic, a teacher (and student!), a chef, and many other things. Now she was focusing on the arts.

She arguably loved being a Broadway performer for musicals and operas the best.

"Just watch — I promise you, by this time next year: our names are going to be all over! The Phantom of the Opera stars both secure the roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Olsson!"

Sandy smiled, "We'll see," she said, but even she could not deny the feeling in her gut.

She had a feeling that his words might just end up being true.