'MOMBIE DEAREST'
When I was a child, all I ever wondered was why I was different from my siblings. Vanessa, Edward and Markus. I was the youngest but the only one who didn't have magic of her own. I knew there was something different in me though. Since I could remember, there has been memories of my family shouting at me, freaking out and looking at me with fear. I couldn't understand why the people who were supposed to show me unconditional love couldn't even look at me in the eyes. Why my mom felt ashamed and tried to keep me as far away from my siblings. I didn't understand that while she showed love, she also showed fear. You're not supposed to fear your children, right? It was then when I made it my mission to find out the truth and what I found, made my entire existence make sense. It changed me. It made me realize that it was no my fault but if my family was treating it that way, why shouldn't I embrace it? And so my reign of coldness began...
Kayla was with Dorian, discussing a lecture when they both heard a panicked Alaric screaming Dorian's name. "Dorian!"
Dorian gave her a quick look before running to Alaric's office. Kayla hesitated for a moment, glancing behind her, shaking her head and following Dorian.
~8~
"Woah"
Those were Kayla's first words as she entered Alaric's office, coming across something she didn't think she'd see.
A bloody bride.
And she looked very confused and frightened as she looked at Alaric with pleading eyes, her eyes darting between the two newcomers, nervously.
"Hopefully the groom didn't do it" Kayla spoke, unknowingly making Alaric tense even more by hearing the girl's voice as he looked between his niece and the bride. "That would have been very ironic"
The woman dressed as a bride took her eyes away from Alaric to rest them on the girl and chuckled, "It would have been" she joked still feeling nervous as she glanced at Alaric. "But, no. It was the brother, actually"
Kayla furrowed her eyebrows "Huh. What a dick"
"Kayla" Alaric told her, without taking his eyes away from the woman "Why don't you head to class?" Kayla opened her mouth to protest but Alaric spoke first before she could, "Oh, and on your way out put a spell on the door so no one can enter, please"
Kayla's frown deepened as she looked at the confused bride, "You're gonna miss their birthday because of this, aren't you?" Alaric didn't answer. Kayla huffed "At least go and say happy birthday to them, uncle Ric"
The woman's eyes snapped toward Alaric when the girl called him uncle, looking between them silently and confused.
Alaric closed his eyes briefly. Whenever Kayla called him uncle, it was because she either was mocking him or being serious. This was the latter.
"Go" Alaric told her, glancing at Dorian who had stopped him from hurting the woman, nodding at him reassuringly.
"She's your niece?" The woman asked softly.
Kayla reached the door, whirling to face the woman, curiously "Who are you to spooke him this much? You gotta show me the trick. Looks fun"
The woman opened her mouth to speak
"Kayla" Alaric snapped, very nervously. He didn't know how they would react to each other if they knew who they were to each other
"Fine" Kayla sighed. She placed a hand in the doorway, letting it glow red.
"Wait-" Alaric tried to stop her but was too late.
The bride gasped in shock, staring at the teen in a new realization.
"Come on, Mr. Williams" Kayla ignored Alaric, looking at the librarian "Or you'll be trapped in the room as well"
"I'll bring Emma" Dorian gave Alaric a confused look, walking toward the door, leaving the room.
Kayla wriggled her fingers at Alaric and the woman, "Bye" she began closing the doors, pausing briefly. "I'll make this spell so only Ms. Tig will be able to pass through, okay?" She pointed at Alaric, warningly. "Don't miss their birthday, Dr. Saltzman. I mean it"
Kayla closed the door. After a moment, both Alaric and the woman noticed a wave of energy passing through the door and walls, letting them know the spell was put up.
The woman looked at Ric, seriously "Siphoners are specifically from the Gemini coven. Who is she?"
Alaric glared at her, "The one who asks the questions is me, okay?" He snapped, turning away from her, passing his hands through his hair, overwhelmed, not wanting to see the woman who supposedly was his dead wife. His daughters' biological mother and his niece's aunt. The woman her father murdered in cold blood in her wedding day.
He didn't want Kayla's progress to be screwed up and go back to square one.
~8~
Kayla fidgeted with the necklace Hope gave her on her last birthday -even though she wasn't fan of her birthday as it was the specific day her family used to remind her she was awful and an abomination-. She was looking at the 'committee' preparing the twins' birthday party, mostly the witches prepared them so it was slightly surprising the werewolves were helping, however once she noticed Rafael barking orders and looking nervous, Kayla understood.
Rafael was either smitten by one of her cousins or he was forced morally to do so as she had slept with Lizzie (Penelope knew somehow and told her). It made her roll her eyes. She loved her cousins, she truly did even if she didn't show it, but Lizzie was a pain in the ass she couldn't help but want to make sure she was happy.
"Are you here to help, Demon?" Penelope walked closer, a clipboard pressed against her chest. Kayla dropped her hand, turning to her friend, "Because all this brooding is not helping the prep mood"
Kayla chuckled. "No, I am not" She nervously brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Penelope's smirk faded as she noticed he unfamiliar expression crossing her friend's face, it was alarming. "I'm okay" Kayla immediately told her dropping her hands, trying to stop fidgeting. "You know everything, right?"
Penelope forced a cheery expression, for the first time worried for her friend. "You know me so well" She smirked, leaning against the wall, looking at Kayla curiously "What do you want to know?"
Kayla looked around, crossing her arms, "Who's the woman in Dr. Saltzman's office?" Penelope stayed quiet, starting to write on the clipboard again. Kayla looked at her, frowning "You know, don't you? Or at least you've heard something about her. You're a sneaky bitch when you want to"
Penelope sighed, "The only thing I know is the twins' mom is not coming for their birthday" Kayla's face fell, sighing to herself. Penelope smiled slightly "And I do know who that woman is. But I don't think you'd like to know"
"I'm asking, am I not?" Kayla snapped. "She looks familiar. Like I've seen her before but I can't remember where"
"Kay" Penelope told her. Kayla huffed angrily, looking away. For some reason, even if she got angry, Penelope was the only one who called her like that and got away with it "She's your aunt"
Kayla snapped her head to Penelope, wide eyed "Wait, what?"
Penelope gave her a sympathetic look, a look deserved only for her and Josie "She's your father's twin"
~8~
Kayla practically skipped toward Alaric's office, wanting to confirm what she had learned from Penelope. However, when she reached the office, she stopped in her tracks, wide eyed. The twins were furiously knocking on the door, calling out to Alaric as to why the doors were closed.
"Uh, girls?" Kayla told them, nervously. Josie turned at the sound, frowning at Kayla in surprise, never having heard that kind of tone in her before. "If you allow me. Um, your dad was the one who made me put a boundary spell in his office this morning"
Lizzie glared at her, "Well, take it off" She snapped "Or are you on with Satan's plan to destroy our birthday?"
Kayla flinched slightly, shrugging "Birthdays are important, specially sixteen" She told her quietly, not meeting her eyes. "I would never ruin someone's birthday like how they were ruined for me" Lizzie blinked shocked, not knowing how to answer to that, feeling slightly guilty as she saw Kayla walk closer to the door, waving her hands at it, putting down the spell. "Salva" Josie pursed her lips, looking at Kayla sadly for that piece of information, giving her a small smile when she turned to them "Uh, done"
"Thank you" Josie told her in behalf of both as Lizzie opened the door.
The twins walked inside, followed by Kayla.
What they saw inside made them pause. Alaric pushed the woman - who was now wearing normal and bloodless clothes- away from him, looking at the girls, trying and failing to find a good cover of what they have been doing.
Lizzie, Josie and Kayla stared at the woman frowning. Lizzie assuming her father was having an affair with her, seizing the woman up and down angrily. Josie looking at her in recognition and Kayla trying to find anything that told her she was indeed Jo Laughlin, her aunt and the woman her father murdered in cold blood the day of her wedding and the reason why her cousins had to grow up with Caroline Forbes as their mother.
"Who's this trollop?" Lizzie asked, looking at Alaric for answers.
'Jo' stepped backward without taking her eyes off the twins.
Josie breathed in recognition, "Oh, my God..."
Kayla glanced at Josie, looking between her and 'Jo', immediately finding the similarities between them, equally as shocked "You're really her"
Josie and Lizzie looked at Kayla, shocked to see she had paled -looking as if she had seen a ghost- as she stared at the woman.
Alaric looked between the girls sternly and nervously, not wanting them to ask questions. "I need you to leave right now"
"I'm sorry" 'Jo' couldn't help herself, her tone shaky "How old are you?"
"Sixteen" The twins answered in unison
"Today" Lizzie told her shrugging "It's our birthday"
'Jo' realized what that meant, looking at them flabbergasted "You're twins?"
"What are we interrupting here?" Kayla asked, crossing her arms.
Lizzie gave her a grateful look for returning to the events at hand, briefly putting aside their differences and because she felt guilty for how she had snapped earlier.
Alaric gave his niece a look, looking between the girls, not wanting them to figure anything out, "I'm serious!" He told them "Do as I say and now just go!"
"Lizzie..." Josie trailed off.
Lizzie rolled her eyes in annoyance, turning to her sister "What?"
"It's her" Josie answered.
Kayla looked at them nervously.
Lizzie scoffed "Her who?"
Alaric clenched his jaw, realizing they knew now.
Josie walked to a nearby bookshelf, grabbing a framed photo off the middle shelf, showing it to her sister. It was a photo of Alaric and Jo at their wedding "Her"
Kayla looked at Jo.
Jo was staring at her daughters dumbstruck, having believed they had died when her twin killed her.
Lizze gasped when she come to the same conclusion, "Holy crap!" She looked at Jo "You're Bio-Mom"
Kayla stared at them, very nervously and for a moment scared of their reaction of them finding out who she was to them.
~8~
Everyone was still in shock.
Kayla silently walked closer to Alaric, somehow finding comfort next to him, hugging herself.
Jo was trying to make sense of all the information "This is impossible" She told them, looking at the twins "I wasn't even showing at our wedding. How-?"
Alaric paced around, noticing the nervous eyes of his niece on him and not her aunt or cousins and couldn't help but feel sympathetic for her, seeing the genuine anxiety in her eyes, realizing she really cared about what her family thought of her. He stopped pacing, stopping next to Kayla, noticing she visibly relaxed at the action.
"Your family's crazy coven magically implanted them in Caroline when you died" Alaric finally responded with the truth "She's their birth mother"
"Caroline?" Jo repeated, assuming they were in a relationship together "So... you two..."
"No" Alaric answered, following her trail of thought "She married Stefan Salvatore, who basically died on their wedding day, too... But that's a long story"
"They're still very close" Lizzie told her, speaking up on Caroline's behalf, believing her to be her real mother.
Alaric nodded in agreement "We opened this school together"
Lizzie crossed her arms over her chest defiantly, acting standoffishly in front of her biological mother, "She's overseas right now, doing very important recruiting work" She stayed silent for a moment "I'm Lizzie... After my mother's mom"
Jo smiled at Lizzie despite her attempts to make her feel badly
Josie looked happy to finally meet the woman who created them, smiling "And I'm Josie. Josette. Like..."
Jo beamed in realization "...Me"
Josie smiled warmly.
Lizzie glared at Josie, as if she was betraying Caroline by befriending Jo.
Jo glanced at the quiet girl, who was avoiding eye contact, hugging herself.
Alaric gulped nervously, looking at Kayla "This is Kayla. Uh-"
"I'm your niece" Kayla told her in a quiet voice. Lizzie and Josie snapped their heads at her in shock. Alaric closed his eyes, but knew it was time for the girls to know the truth, sighing, nodding. "Kayla. Kay..." Finally she looked up, looking nervous as she looked at her family, certain they were going to hate her for eternity now. "After my dad, Kai" Jo blinked in shock, never knowing her brother had a daughter. "I'm really sorry" Kayla breathed out, glancing at the twins as well. "For everything"
"You're lying" Lizzie snapped, not wanting to believe she was related to Kayla.
"I wish I was" Kayla murmured, trying to avoid eye contact with Jo and Lizzie.
Jo looked at Alaric for answers however he was looking at his niece in worry making her realize the girl wasn't like her brother if Alaric of all people was worried for her, and looked back at the girl "Kayla?" Kayla briefly looked at Jo and was shocked to see her smiling warmly at her "Nice to meet you"
Josie, while she was shocked for the news couldn't help but smile slightly, glancing at Kayla curiously.
Lizzie sighed, rolling her eyes at her sister but stayed quiet, angry at both Jo and Kayla for being there and potentially ruining her birthday.
~8~
Kayla told Alaric she was going to bring the magical lie detector orb to his office, pleading with her eyes to let her do it. Alaric agreed, knowing she needed some time to breath. While she was gone, Lizzie had bombarded with questions angrily, asking why he had never told her and Josie she was their evil cousin. Alaric quietly told her it was for that same reason of how she was reacting.
When Kayla entered the office again with the orb, she awkwardly placed it in front of Jo. Jo smiled slightly, trying to find the similarities between the girl and her brother.
"All right, one more time" Alaric told her. "What's your name?"
Jo had her hands in her lap, sitting primly in the chair across from Alaric, answering quietly and with a calm tone of voice "Josette Laughlin"
They looked at the orb. The orb glowed blue which indicated she was telling the truth.
Lizzie looked at Kayla, pursing her lips angrily "Who is your father?"
Everyone looked at the girl who was standing next to Alaric.
"Lizzie..." Alaric warned.
Kayla licked her lips, looking down "Kai Parker" They looked at the orb that had stopped glowing. The orb began glowing blue with Kayla's answer. Kayla glanced at the orb, looking up at Lizzie, pursing her lips "Happy?"
"Girls, please" Jo told them softly. Lizzie and Kayla looked away from each other. Jo looked at Alaric "Continue"
Alaric cleared his throat "What's your profession?"
"I'm a doctor" Jo answered, pausing for a moment "I was, anyway..."
The orb glowed blue again.
Alaric looked grim, not wanting to believe his wife was truly resurrected from the death, clenching his jaw "Repeat after me: 'I am here to harm you'."
"I am here to harm you" Jo repeated slowly
The orb began to glow a bright red, proving she was lying. That she indeed was who she told them.
Josie leaned forward, curiously "How did you meet my dad?"
Alaric blanched, looking uncomfortable "That's not, uh, a question-"
Kayla smirked at Alaric, nudging his shoulder, wriggling her eyebrows when he looked up at her
Jo smiled "I walked up to him at a college party" She answered patiently "He was the only guy over twenty"
"Was it love at first sight?" Josie asked.
"Jo!" Lizzie snapped at her sister. Josie looked at Lizzie impatiently. Lizzie looked away sullen "Don't be so nosy"
Jo smiled wryly "Not quite" she answered. "I flirted with him and asked him for a sip of his drink. He told me he was a germaphobe"
Kayla smiled slightly, as she noticed both adults seemed to be lost in the past. "Must have been funny"
Jo chuckled, "Suspicious, actually" She replied, giving her a small smile. Kayla smiled back, seeming not nervous anymore around her, "But I thought he looked like Indiana Jones, so..."
The orb was still glowing blue.
Josie smiled in satisfaction.
Lizzie unfolded her arms, still not thrilled with the situation and most of all that seemed her biological mother and one of the people she most hated who turned out to be her evil cousin were getting along. "This walk down Weird Old People memory lane is fun and all, but we have a party to get ready for"
Lizzie gave her sister a look, practically demanding her they had to leave.
Josie looked at her birth mother, "Will you still be here after?"
Jo forced a happy smile, her eyes filling with tears as she didn't know how much time she had with them or what brought her back in the first place and why.
"I will be there when I can" Alaric told them, understanding the difficulty in answering the question, "But right now, the office is off-limits"
Josie looked at Jo.
Jo smiled, nodding reassuringly, silently answering her question.
Josie smiled, walking away with her sister.
Jo looked at Kayla curiously "Aren't you going to the party?"
"I am not" Kayla answered "I, uh, I'm not a party girl" Alaric and Jo noticed the orb glowing red, looking up at her. "I don't want to ruin the girls' party, specially after what I just told them" She corrected. The orb glowed blue. "As you could see, we don't, uh, really get along"
Jo smiled slightly "I could tell"
"Yeah" Kayla nodded awkwardly, looking at Alaric "Please, don't miss their party. With Caroline not coming, they need at least one parent there" she glanced at Jo "No offense"
Jo shrugged "None taken"
Alaric sighed, standing "I won't" He reassured before looking at Jo "We should, uh-"
Jo smiled in understanding "I know. I'll be here, don't worry"
They nodded, walking away, out of the office, closing the door.
Alaric looked at Kayla "Put up another boundary spell, please. We still don't know if she's after the knife"
Kayla looked at the door, the heel of her shoes glowing red as she siphoned magic from the school. She made a motion with her arms, as if hugging an invisible person, thinking about Jo "Imperium pythonissam"
A purple wave of energy passed through the door and walls.
"Thank you" Alaric told her, relaxing slightly.
Kayla nodded "No problem"
~8~
It was the time of the party and Kayla could hear the commotion of the party in the grand hall.
She was sitting in her desk, staring at a photo of herself and her mom, Cecily -one of the things she had gotten before she got into the school, the day her family shunned her out the coven and her house was burned up-. She sighed softly, fidgeting with her necklace, nervously. After a moment, she stood, picking up a jean jacket, putting it on and walking out of her room.
~8~
Kayla was near the gym, -as she had to pass by it to go to the kitchen-, when she heard a voice.
"Kayla?"
Kayla stopped in her tracks, recognizing the voice "Hope?"
"Oh, good" Hope told her in relief. Kayla followed her voice to the entrance of the gym, "I'm in the gym"
Kayla laughed slightly when she noticed Rafael in there as well, "Well, well, well..." She stopped at the entrance, raising an eyebrow "Look who we have in here"
"Stop your games and let us out" Hope snapped, putting a hand up that stopped mid-air as if there was an invisible wall. "Penelope put up a barrier spell"
"Huh" Kayla mused out loud, "Great minds think alike. I just put up one in Dr. Saltzman's office"
Hope paused "Wait. What? Why?"
"Long story" Kayla answered.
Rafael walked closer, anxiously "Can you get us out?"
Kayla looked at Rafael, curiously and sarcastically "Did you know only the witch who put up the spell can take it down?"
Rafael frowned, looking at Hope "I was told"
"Did I put up this spell?" Kayla asked slowly as if talking to a child.
Rafael hesitated "No"
"There you go!" Kayla deadpanned, gesturing at him "Then I can't"
Hope rolled her eyes "You and you dramatics" She chuckled "Too bad you're not a normal witch. Siphon this thing"
Kayla pouted, "You take all the fun away from what I do"
Kayla placed a hand on the wall, siphoning Penelope's barrier spell.
Hope raised her hand in front of her, smiling when she saw the spell was gone "Thanks"
Rafael looked at Kayla in realization "You're like Josie. A siphoner"
"Wasn't that obvious?" Kayla asked.
Hope shoved Kayla's shoulder with hers, chuckling "Don't be a bitch. You hid it pretty well"
"But you knew?" Rafael asked.
Hope nodded "Yup. Me and Dr. Saltzman found her in the middle of the debris of her burned up house"
Rafael widened his eyes.
Kayla sheepishly shrugged, "It was an accident. I was defending myself from my family who wanted to send me to a prison world just like my dad's family did to him" Rafael sighed sympathetically and though he didn't know what a prison world was, he knew what it felt like not being loved by your family. Suddenly Kayla's coldness made sense to him. "In my defense, the only offensive spell I knew at the age of fourteen was a fire spell. When Hope found me, I accidentally siphoned her out of 'fear'."
"Out of fear" Hope coughed, smirking in amusement.
Kayla gave her an amused smile, both of them recalling Kayla had pretended to be scared when they found her after Hope put out the fire of her house to cause sympathy so she could leave later. It didn't work though "They knew right away what I was"
"Interesting" Rafael murmured.
"Not really" Kayla replied, shrugging "By the way, didn't you have to escort a blonde egoistical witch to her own sixteen birthday party like half an hour ago?"
Rafael widened his eyes "Yes, I do" He quickly walked away, running out of the gym "Thank you Kayla!"
"Don't mention it!" Kayla replied "Seriously, don't"
Hope smiled at her friend "Thank you" Kayla shrugged "I'll go get ready for the party. Coming?"
Kayla forced a smile, "I won't be so welcomed tonight"
Hope immediately realized something was wrong "What happened?"
Kayla wriggled her fingers, anxiously "They know" Hope sighed, closing her eyes "Dr. Saltzman's dead wife was resurrected. Um, you know, my dad's twin he killed?"
Hope gaped incredulously "How?"
"We don't know" Kayla answered "But Dr. Saltzman thinks she's after the knife. That's why I put up a spell in his office. I told them who I was because I really had to 'cause I couldn't take more the lies or pretending to be a full powers witch in front of the twins, Pen was right about that, but now Lizzie hates me more than ever, I don't even know what Josie thinks! Jo, their bio mom seemed like it didn't matter, but I know she blames me for her brother's actions, and Dr. Saltzman, I know he blames me and hat-"
"Woah!" Hope placed her hands in Kayla's shoulders, interrupting her rambling, concerned by the way she was acting, "Breathe. First of all, Dr. Saltzman doesn't hate you. At all. And secondly, you have nothing to apologize for what your dad did to their family, your family, okay? How many times have we told you you're not him?" For the first time since they met, Kayla allowed Hope to hug her, returning the hug with shaky arms, resting her chin on Hope's shoulder making the tribid smile, "It's okay, Kayla. You're a good person"
Kayla breathed out shakily, "I have never thanked you for being there for me, Hope. You're a good best friend" Hope's smile grew, happy that finally Kayla let her in. "Thank you"
"No problem" Hope pulled away, smiling but still looking concerned "You good now?"
Kayla nodded, slightly composed "Yeah, I'm getting a snack and then going to my room. Have fun on the party, lonely girl"
Hope chuckled, "I wasn't going" she shrugged "Something changed my mind"
Kayla smiled slightly "Have fun, still"
Both girls parted ways.
~8~
Kayla had a bowl of ice cream as she walked through the hallways, about to head to the stairs heading to the dorms when she heard Josie and Jo talking, stopping in her tracks with a spoon in her mouth, whirling around, walking toward the voices, seeing them walking together toward the party as Josie was wearing a pretty dress.
Kayla walked closer from behind them, "Aren't you supposed to be in Dr. Saltzman's office?"
Josie and Jo stopped walking, whirling to face the other siphoner, who had her eyebrows raised at them. She didn't look very serious with an ice cream spoon raised in the air, though.
Josie crossed her arms, "She's my plus one"
Kayla scoffed, walking closer "Are you insane? She could be after the knife for all we know!"
"Just because it was my mom who was brought back from the death and not yours doesn't mean you get to take her away from me because you're jealous!" Josie snapped.
Ouch, Kayla thought to herself, feeling as if a needle pinched her chest where her heart was for the comment as she stared at both women in silence.
It was after a moment Josie realized what she said, looking at her cousin in horror, "Oh, my... I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"
"It's okay" Kayla brushed off the apology, looking at her seriously "But, think about it, Josie. She has a strong bond with the headmaster of this school, a psychological one. Who better than her to lower your father's guard to take the knife? A knife that can potentially destroy all of us for all we know. I'm sorry if I'm hurting your feelings but I won't apologize for being concerned about the safety of the school and everyone else who can be affected if this knife is stolen"
Jo looked at her daughter, "She's right, Josie" She cupped her daughter's cheeks, "As much as I would love to go with you, your cousin's right" Josie flinched a little at the word cousin, glancing at Kayla. "Hey, look at me. I know it must be a shock and you're upset she and your father didn't tell you about her heritage, about who she was to you and your sister but Kayla? She's a different person, different of Kai" Jo told her softly, not wanting her daughters to repeat what her family did to her brother, shunning him. Rejecting him. It was the cause of why Kai had snapped and killed her brothers and sisters, it was out of hurt. Everyone had hurt Kai so much it blackened his heart that she as his twin wasn't strong enough to light it up again. It was so big the damage her family did that Kai acted the way he did and he didn't want her niece to go through the same hurt her father did. She was a good girl for what she could see, she cared for her cousins even if they didn't care for her. "She's not my brother, don't let what he did define her future. They're not the same, okay?"
Josie nodded slowly, "You're going back to dad's office with her, then?" She whispered, her eyes filling with tears. Jo nodded, giving her a small smile. Josie nodded sniffling, looking at Kayla who had returned to eat her ice cream, giving them privacy. "Kayla?" Kayla looked up, the spoon in her mouth, "I'm sorry for snapping"
Kayla pulled out the spoon from her mouth, swallowing the ice cream "I interrupted girl's bonding time, I saw it coming" She shrugged. Josie still looked at her guiltily, knowing she had struck a nerve even if Kayla hid it very well. Kayla sighed "Apology accepted. If it makes you feel better, I'm gonna make sure your bio mom-" Josie and Jo chuckled at that, "Returns to your dad's office unharmed. I'll put up another spell and all that so no one can enter" Josie sighed, nodding "Now, go birthday girl. Before your sister steals even more spotlights from you"
Josie gave her a look, "Thank you" She looked at Jo "Be careful"
Jo smiled, "I will. Go and have fun"
Josie smiled, walking away, heading to her party.
Jo watched her go for a moment before turning to her niece. "Shall we?"
Kayla nodded, "Yeah, and sorry for that Jo, uh, I mean, aunt Jo" She grimaced to herself, shaking her head as she began walking away "Come on Josette. I don't want you to steal the knife or hurting your daughters"
"Kai would never be concerned about anyone else" Jo told her, walking closer, "Not like you are"
"Well, for what I heard from Dr. Saltzman, Kai was a dick to everyone" Kayla replied, causing Jo to laugh. Kayla stopped, turning to face her aunt "Including my mom according to her diaries. Do I look like him?"
Jo paused for a moment, looking at the girl "There are some things you do that remind me of Kai. You have his chin and nose, too" She told her. Kayla touched her nose absentmindedly "Some facial expressions you do are from Kai when he uh, manipulated people" Kayla nodded, playing with the ice cream silently, "Hey, I noticed that but, difference between you two? You try to hide your emotions by trying to look emotionless, Kai faked them when in reality he was emotionless. You're different. What he did to me is not your fault, I don't blame you"
Kayla looked up "Thank you" She murmured. "To be honest, I was nervous of what you were going to think of me. Seeing as you don't hate me, is a weight out of my shoulders" Both girls smiled slightly. Kayla cleared her throat, starting to walk away, Jo followed behind "Well, let's get going or Alaric will have my head if you're out here. He's still not certain you're not here to screw them-" Suddenly Jo stopped walking going stiff, falling flat on her back with a loud thump. Kayla turned around hearing her fall, "Jo?" She knelt at her side, frowning "Hey, Jo?" Jo remained unresponsive. Kayla put away the ice cream, starting to shake her shoulders, "Come on, I don't want your daughter and Dr. Saltzman to skin me alive if something happens to you" She sighed, biting her lip. "Okay, I'll go for help"
Kayla began to stand up, turning around when suddenly a strong hand gripped her wrist, making her turn back to Jo, widening her eyes in alarm.
Jo was looking straight at Kayla, her irises and pupils were clouded over, giving her an eerie, phantomesque appearance. "You have something I want" She spoke deeply with an almost demonic tone of voice with some kind of an english accent, her whole zombie-like appearance making her look more like a corpse than human.
"I knew it..." Kayla murmured, struggling to get out of her grip "You're a fucking zombie"
Jo stood, still gripping Kayla's wrist, smirking darkly.
Kayla began siphoning Jo defensively making her enraged, throwing her harshly against the wall, breaking a portrait as she made contact with the wall, falling to the floor with a groan of pain, shakily touching her head wincing, bringing her hand to her eyesight seeing her fingers coated in blood, looking up to see Jo walking closer to her, smirking menacingly.
~8~
Alaric had returned to his office after what he, Emma and Dorian had found out. Apparently someone had witnessed a group of resurrected World War I soldiers buried in France who came back to life -just like Jo had- and had massacred a village but they didn't remember having hurt anyone. So, it was possible a monster had resurrected Jo and wanted to use her to get the knife and they wouldn't know because she wouldn't know.
Alaric panicked as soon as he saw the doors open in his office, Kayla's boundary spell was gone, starting to think the worse of his dead wife hurting one of his daughters -specially Josie, as he had seen how interested she was in Jo-.
He ran out of the school, calling Dorian to tell him she wasn't there. Dorian was rushing through the ground floor of the school, looking for Jo as well while talking to Alaric on the phone.
Alaric was now out in grounds, running around frantically "She could be anywhere, Dorian"
"I've got the faculty searching the building as we speak" Dorian told him.
"I'm on my way to the dance hall" Alaric told him.
Suddenly, an anxious and concerned Jo rushed toward Alaric, relieved to see him "Ric?"
Alaric quickly wrapped up his phone call with Dorian "Call off the dogs. I think I found her"
"I think I'll keep 'em on standby..." Dorian told him.
They both hung up.
Alaric looked at Jo, expectantly.
"Something's wrong" Jo told him.
"How did you get out?" Alaric asked.
"Josie wanted me to come to the party, and, so she siphoned Kayla's spell" Jo answered, sighing in concern "I know it was stupid, but I just wanted to see their Sweet Sixteen..."
Alaric was trying his best to remain calm for the both of them, taking a deep breath, hoping she didn't do anything to Josie "Okay, just tell me exactly what happened"
Jo looked down worriedly, "I was with Josie but Kayla showed up. Josie left to her party" Alaric closer his eyes in relief. Jo looked up, freaking out "I stayed with Kayla after that, I-I was with her one minute, and then..." She lifted her shaking hands in the air, revealing that they were covered in dirt with soil packed under her nails and around the cuticles as though she had been digging into the earth with her hands. Alaric tried to make sense of this new information, worried about his niece, but trying to calm Jo "Ric, I lost time. I don't know. I must have done something to her, but I just, I don't know..." Jo gasped loudly before suddenly going limp. Alaric, completely overwhelmed and confused just barely managed to catch her before she collapsed onto the ground. Once again, Jo opened her eyes to reveal that they were totally white, speaking with that same deep demonic english accent "There's a knife in your possession that will buy you the answer" Alaric dropped Jo to the ground, disgusted by this change in his deceased wife. Jo laughed before standing to her feet "No need to rush. I'm sure your niece has an hour before she runs out of air"
Alaric grabbed Not-Jo by the front of her shirt, pinning her in a choke-hold against a nearby tree "Where is she?"
"I thought you and your daughters hated her" Not-Jo told him, smirking "Consider it a favor for the knife"
Alaric pulled Not-Jo away from the three to slam her against it again "Where is she?!"
Not-Jo didn't answer, simply smirking silently as her bright white eyes stared at him blankly.
Hope, who had changed into a maroon ball gown for the party, appeared behind them, looking at Alaric with concern and confusion "Dr. Saltzman? What's going on?"
Alaric glanced at Hope relieved as he began to form a plan, breathing heavily for a long moment "Hope, I need your help"
Hope's eyes widened in alarm, nodding.
~8~
Hope was worried for her best friend's whereabouts, immediately picking up a shovel and a large flashlight, heading to the woods to look for Kayla not caring for the twins' party while her best friend needed her. She was so focused in her mission she payed little attention to Penelope and MG debating outside the mill.
Penelope noticed Hope, unable to resist the chance to dig in against Hope, smirking sarcastically "You gonna howl at the moon wearing that?"
Hope rolled her eyes, walking past them "Sorry, no time for bitchy banter..." She stopped suddenly, remembering Penelope was Kayla's roommate. She had to at least care a little for Kayla, right? She turned to her and MG reluctantly. They were watching her curiously "Actually... I could use your help finding Kayla"
Penelope, who after seeing Josie had entered at her party and was having fun, not wanting to ruin her night had been ready to go to her room but had stopped to see MG to give him an 'I told you so' after seeing Rafael dancing with Lizzie. However when she heard those words from Hope, she looked up in alarm.
"What happened?" Penelope demanded "She was in our room, feeling sorry for herself"
Hope looked anxious "Well, not anymore. Apparently her possessed aunt buried her alive in the cemetery"
MG, who really wasn't Kayla's friend or talked to her at all (for fear at her, not like he would admit it out loud) looked up in concern.
Penelope didn't need to hear anything else, picking up a shovel laying around outside of the mill, following after Hope toward the graveyard, worried about her roommate.
MG followed them, concerned as well "We're coming with you"
~8~
Darkness.
It was all Kayla could see around her as she wriggled inside the grave Jo had threw her in. She felt like she couldn't breath, feeling dirt entering her mouth every time she breathed. She felt as if the walls around her were closing in as she couldn't move. She couldn't even open her eyes, feeling the weight of the earth atop her, crushing her.
It felt like that time when she had accidentally siphoned Markus -way before she found out why she was different- and her stepfather Alexander had been furious, picking her up in her moment of shock, shoving her inside the small room under the stairs. It was small, had no windows or holes for where the light could come in. Kayla was seven the first time she had siphoned her brother and her family began treating her even more horrible, while they all did before because of being product of an affair, they loathed her after finding out the horrible thing she could do. Kayla had found about her ability to take magic years earlier with the magical objects laying around the house, managing to trick her family she was a normal witch until that day. Since that moment, the room under the stairs earned Kayla's ownership. They locked her inside every time they could, calling her names -except her mother who just watched but when no one was watching tried of comfort Kayla- and locking her inside for days. Somehow, being buried felt worse. She preferred that room hundred of times over being buried, specially alive. She could feel the earth swallowing her down (She'll never use that metaphor anymore, no one but someone else like her who has been buried would know being embarrassed is better than being buried alive) she could feel the earth blocking her airways, prompting her to hyperventilate, allowing more dirt in.
She could feel her heart pounding loudly in fear and anxiety of dying but couldn't help but selfishly wish she didn't. While she was certain life without her was to be better -as she wouldn't be a reminder to any of her remaining alive family of what she represented, the blood of the one who screwed them over-, she still didn't want to die. She wanted to redeem herself, like Hope's dad did. He was still a villain in the world's eyes but within his family, he was good, he was cherished and loved. She wanted that, she wanted her family to love her like she loved them. She didn't want Lizzie to hate her, she wanted to get along with Josie, maybe try to mend things between her and Penelope, one of her best friends, she wanted Hope, her best friend to be happy. She wanted her uncle to trust her and not fear her anymore, that she wasn't going to hurt him or anyone at the school. She wanted her family to see her as a hero.
"But you're not, sweetcheeks"
Kayla opened her eyes, freezing when she noticed she could see. She was laying in the floor, in the living room of a house. Tinkering and clinking of metal sounded from somewhere at her right, turning her head seeing it lead to a kitchen. "Hello?" She called out nervously, unmoving.
"Give me a second, sweetheart. I'm cleaning up these knives" A male cheery voice answered coming from the kitchen "Ugh, can you believe this? I wasn't even trying and bam! He splashed me! Didn't even give you the chance to practice those spells I was teaching you. I'm really sorry love"
"What?" Kayla murmured in confusion, sitting up. Her hands touching the floor felt sticky and wet, frowning as she raised them, gaping in shock as she noticed her hands were covered in blood, starting to shake as she noticed a puddle of blood behind her, noticing it lead somewhere behind the couch, silently and slowly following the blood trail, crawling over the floor, and once she reached the source, "Oh, my God!" she chocked a scream, covering her mouth with a bloody hand.
Behind the coach there was the body of man covered completely in blood, unmoving and seeming to be not breathing.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that" Someone knelt besides her, making clicking sounds with their tongue. Kayla didn't want to see who was the murderer next to her "Hey! That's offensive, sweetcheeks. I'm a sociopath, not murderer" Kayla slowly turned her head aside to find a smiling man looking at the dead body, "Which is what I've been trying to teach you"
"I'm not-" Kayla began.
"I know" The man snapped, his smiling expression no longer there as he turned to face her. "Sadly you're not. That's why I said 'trying'. Sweetheart-" The man brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, almost lovingly "You want to make Dad proud, don't you?"
Kayla widened her eyes "D-Dad?"
The man, Kai Parker spread his arms, smiling "Yes, my darling, I'm dad" Kayla stared at him in shock "Don't worry, I'm not like your granddad, I'm not gonna call you abomination for being different. For being a siphoner with yuk, feelings" He rolled his eyes smiling, chuckling, "Instead of casting you aside, I'm going to teach you the good ways. After all, no one cares enough for you to save you from drowning with dirt. Yup, I know you are buried alive, sweetheart. Awful way to go by the way, but better than being beheaded, that's for sure. Can you believe that? My head rolled!" Kayla didn't want to hear the sociopath of her father, turning around, starting to hyperventilate again, "At least your body will be complete, whoa darling" Kai grabbed her face, cupping her cheeks, forcing her to see him "Breathe sweetie, I can't lose you this fast. Believe it or not I like you and I'm proud. I mean, you didn't let those idiots of your family to lock you up like your grandparents did to me. You fought for the two of us! I was cheering you on from here! Like, I wanted you to take off their intestines or-or their kidneys but burning them alive was even better"
"Let go of me" Kayla gasped, trying to push away Kai's hands from her face.
Kai, however was stronger "Nope" He said in a cheerful tone. "It's lonely here, I miss you honey" In self-defense, Kayla's face -where Kai's hands were- began to glow red siphoning Kai making him laugh, clicking his tongue "Oh, you found out I have magic. That wasn't supposed to happen until later" Kai dropped his hands, standing, staring down at bloody mess of his daughter "You look good covere-"
Kayla!
Kai and Kayla looked around, hearing a voice. Kayla recognized it as Hope's.
Kai scowled, "Ah, here comes the bestie"
Kayla, I got you!
Kayla frowned at the unfamiliar's guy voice. "Uh-"
Kai gave her an amused look, "You're lucky I'm not alive, sweetcheeks. 'Cause all of your boyfriends or girlfriends, I don't mind 'cause I'm not homophobic" He winked "Would be dead. I mean, being in a relationship is a big down to be a sociopath, unless they're one too" He shrugged, kneeling in front of Kayla, grabbing the sides of her head, "Night night, Kay-bear. Until we see each other again"
That was the last thing Kayla heard from Kai before everything turned dark.
~8~
MG dig through a makeshift grave with his bare hands at vampire speed after managing to somehow locate Kayla between all the noise those zombies they had to fight were making. While he and Kayla weren't necessarily friends, he'd never wish for her death, specially from someone of her family.
Penelope and Hope arrived, starting to help MG. Soon, they noticed a smooth, alive hand rise out of the soil, gasping in shock.
MG quickly grabbed the hand, pulling Kayla out of the earth.
Kayla gasped and coughed earth for several moments, overwhelmed for what she just went through.
Hope ran closer, kneeling in front of her best friend, hugging her tightly "Oh, my God!"
Kayla coughed, "Air"
Hope pulled back immediately, sheepishly "Sorry!" She held Kayla at arms-length, "You won't believe how glad I am that you always wear the jewelry I give you, even if you say you don't like it"
Kayla looked down at her neck, shakily grabbing the silver necklace Hope gave her. "It was given in my birthday. Why wouldn't I wear it if it came from the first genuine friend I had who didn't treat me horrible in my birthday?"
Hope hugged her friend once more, helping her out from the grave with the help of MG and Penelope.
"What does it do?" Penelope asked, relieved her friend was okay.
Hope wrapped her arms around Kayla, smiling slightly "Make quiet things heard"
~8~
Kayla took a shower, staring at her reflection in the mirror, whispering to herself "It was not real. Your father showing himself to you, not real"
Kayla looked emotionally exhausted for both seeing her father in what she now believes was an hallucination for the lack of oxygen and for reviving one of her childhood traumas. She took a deep breath, walking out of the girl's bathroom, dressed in her pajamas, knowing she had some thank you's to give.
Penelope and MG were just outside Penelope and Kayla's room talking when Kayla walked closer. They stopped talking turning to the girl.
Kayla first turned to her roommate, hugging her tightly, surprising her "Thank you for saving me"
Penelope hugged her back "You're important in my life as well, Kay" She felt Kayla tense for a moment before relaxing, making Penelope smile as she pulled away "Just like your cousin"
Kayla smiled slightly, turning to MG who looked slightly nervous "Thank you for tonight, MG" Kayla hesitated for a moment before wrapping her arms around the vampire, making him go stiff for a second before he hugged back "I know we weren't friends and you didn't have to help but I wouldn't be alive without you right now, so thanks"
MG's jaw dropped in excitement, looking at Penelope over Kayla's shoulder. Penelope smiled. "I wouldn't want you to die, ever, Kayla"
Kayla pulled away, smiling in amusement "'Cause a hero doesn't do that?" MG shook his head in agreement, smiling in excitement. "Well, you're one tonight. Thanks"
"First hero thank-you?" MG told her, laughing "Uh, accepted!" The roommates watched MG go in amusement as he turned around to them, again "Up, up, and away!"
Kayla chuckled softly "He's something isn't he?"
Penelope nodded, "Annoyingly smitten by Lizzie as well"
Kayla nodded sadly, "I hope he realizes soon how Lizzie is"
Penelope noticed Kayla seemed physically exhausted as well, "Going back to sleep?"
Kayla shook her head, "I want to see Jo one more time" Penelope looked ready to protest. "It wasn't her who buried me a-alive, Pen. Someone was controlling her. I want to tell her I don't blame her or hate her"
Penelope sighed softly, "You and Josie are alike in so many ways. Both of you are so deep in the codependency hole I'm not certain you'd be able to climb out"
"They're my family, Pen" Kayla whispered, biting her lip "The only one I have left"
Penelope nodded in understanding, sighing "I know. See you later"
Kayla nodded, walking away, wiping the skin under her eye once Penelope wasn't seeing her face.
Penelope watched her go for a moment, walking away in the opposite direction.
~8~
Kayla found her way to Alaric's office, knocking softly on the door, even if it was open.
Alaric and Jo looked her way, both of them visibly relieved she was okay.
"Mikayla" Alaric crossed the room, scooping his niece in his arms and hugging her tightly, surprising her completely "I'm glad you're okay"
Still overwhelmed for what she went through, Kayla hugged Alaric back as if she would to a parental figure, still spooked for seeing Kai in an hallucination "I thought you hated me and would let me die"
Alaric's heart broke by hearing his niece's whispered words and closed his eyes for what Kayla thought, having the suspicion she was feeling like that since a while ago now "Never. You're family, Kayla. I'll never let anyone hurt you or try to kill you again. I promise"
Kayla briefly closed her eyes, pulling away "I want to talk to Jo"
Alaric met her eyes, "Are you sure?"
Kayla nodded.
Alaric looked over his shoulder, nodding at Jo.
Jo immediately ran to her niece, hugging her tightly, "Oh, Kayla. I'm so sorry"
Kayla hugged back, "Not your fault, Jo" Jo pulled away, keeping Kayla at arms-length, surprised and touched, her muscles relaxing for hearing Kayla didn't blame her nor was mad at her "It was that monster who brought you back's fault. He's the one I hate for controlling you"
Jo gave her a teary-eyed smile, "You were right after all. I was after the knife" She looked at Alaric, both of them becoming teary-eyed. Kayla looked between them in alarm "That's why we need you and the girls to siphon on me of magic"
"But you'd-" Kayla trailed off in realization.
Jo nodded slowly, "If I continue here, there's the possibility I try to go for the knife again, Kayla. And maybe the next time, I do end up killing you or the girls. I don't want that"
Kayla's eyes were filled with tears, "Neither do I. I don't care if they hate me. I don't want them getting hurt. If anything, I'm glad it was me you buried than Josie" Jo shook her head sadly. Alaric closed his eyes, "Yes, I am. I prefer me suffering than them. Even if they don't believe it" She took a deep breath, "Let's go then, let's suck you dry of magic"
~8~
Alaric, Kayla and Jo found the twins in their room, both of them getting ready to sleep after enjoying their party. Josie had arrived at the party after her sister finished dancing with MG, both of them dancing the night away until Rafael arrived. After being heartbroken by Rafael, Lizzie stuck to Josie's side the rest of the night, trying to forget Rafael's rejection. But even after having a good time with her sister, she was still salty about the events.
When Alaric told the girls what was his plan after what happened, Josie looked at Kayla worriedly, who avoided her eyes. Lizzie managed not to make some snarky comments about her even if she was still mad Kayla was related to them by seeing she still looked pale and there was some light shaking in her arms and body. It made her sympathetic enough to not be awful to her at the moment.
Once they finished hearing the plan and their role in the plan and again being surprised Kayla was a siphoner as well, Lizzie narrowed her eyes.
"So, we, including our evil cousin just siphon the magic out of her until she's what, dead again?" Lizzie asked confused and apprehensive.
"Oh, my God" Josie looked at her sister appalled, not believing what she just heard from Lizzie "Lizzie, what is wrong with you?"
Lizzie frowned in exasperation "What?"
"That you don't have a heart" Kayla snapped.
Lizzie looked taken back, glaring at her.
"It's okay, Josie, Kayla" Jo immediately jumped in to deescalate the situation, wanting to avoid a fight in her last moments together with her family, especially after all she knew Kayla went through that evening. "It's okay" Jo smiled affectionately at both girls, "I'm already dead. I was a witch, just like you, and we believe in the natural order of things. I shouldn't be here. I love that I had this, but it's a lie. And now, I need you to help me make it right" Alaric watched Jo speak, tears in his eyes. Kayla was leaning her head on his shoulder, fighting back tears as well. Josie nodded, her eyes filling with tears. Jo looked back and forth between Josie and Lizzie, "The longer I'm here, the more I remember where I came from. I used to watch you. I used to watch all of you like in a dream, where everything is warm and happy. I think I was at peace. So, that's where I'll be—waiting for you"
Lizzie's eyes started to fill with tears, "I'm so sorry" She told her, looking at her guiltily and apologetically "I was awful to you"
Jo smiled at Lizzie warmly "Oh, Lizzie. You have such a big heart. It's okay to let other people see it" Lizzie bursted into tears. Jo stood so she could kneel in front of them to look them in the eyes "Oh, my beautiful girls. You are everything that I could have ever wished for. Everything. Be good to each other. Fight for each other. When you're older, you'll understand what I mean, but I need you to remember that I said it"
Jo held out her right hand. Lizzie hesitated before she finally took it. Jo looked at Josie, offering her her left hand
Josie shook her head, overwhelmed with sadness, starting to cry as well "I can't. I can't"
"Oh, Josette, this is the right thing to do" Jo told her softly "It's the only thing to do for you"
Kayla looked up, "I can do it for you, Jo-Jo if you want" She told her quietly. Josie looked at her, slowly shaking her head "I can save you the pain of doing it" She looked at Lizzie as well "Either of you"
Jo looked at Kayla over her shoulder, "Oh, my sweet niece. You have such a heart. Something that my brother didn't have" Kayla flinched at the mention of Jo's brother "Something that tells people you're not him. Why you should stop pushing people away from you because of him" She looked at her daughters, "You three are family. I know it's hard letting go of the past, but you have to remember not only you two have suffered. You lost me but you gained a mother who loves you. Kayla she-"
"I didn't gain a father if that's what you're going to say" Kayla snapped in a murmur. Jo looked at her knowingly "He wasn't a father at all"
"She only has you now" Jo continued. "She has Alaric. But most of all, she has you as cousins. Family. Don't fall into what my family did to her father. Don't cast each other out. You're all you have, girls" She looked between the three siphoners, "There's nothing more powerful than the love of family. A family who'll always be at your side, protecting you. I know it'll be hard at first but, the reward will be worth it"
Lizzie, Kayla and Josie looked at each other, each one of them listening to Jo's words intently, mentally promising they were going to try, try to let behind the past and focus on the future.
Josie took Jo's hand sniffling, looking up at Kayla "Thank you" Her voice broke "But I can do this"
Jo looked around at the four members of her family surrounding her, smiling softly "I love you" She stood, "I love all of you so much"
Alaric bursted into tears. Kayla wrapped her arms around Alaric, wanting to be there for him like he had been for her earlier on, fighting back her tears but a few tears fell down her cheeks against her will. Jo looked at them, nodding encouragingly before turning back to the twins, taking a deep breath, closing her eyes. Josie and Lizzie closed their eyes, their hands starting to glow red as they siphoned the magic from their biological mother. After a moment, Jo faded into dust, leaving the girls with their hands out trying to reach her.
Alaric and Kayla stood, trying to remain strong. Alaric wrapped his arms around the twins into a tight hug, all of them crying together.
Kayla smiled through her tears, silently making her way to the door, however, a hand grabbing her Pajama pants stopped her, turning to face Lizzie who had her arm reached out to her in a silent invitation to join them. The action made Kayla cry silently at the action of the usual cold twin, accepting the invitation and hugging Lizzie -for the first time- and joining her family in mourning Josette Laughlin.
Together.