Chapter One
Cory Jameson curled her fingers through her straight gold blonde hair, from her roots, all the way to the tips that stopped at her elbow. She was late for her senior year of high school. The school would more than likely call, and she prayed her mother wouldn't pick up the phone. Cory didn't need the added anger when she felt so down. She just needed to finish the semester as quick as possible and she'd be graduating by the end of February. Which hopefully meant getting away from here.
Anywhere but here. It was the only reason she got up in the morning. The only goal Cory had for her life.
Cory didn't bother with a hairbrush and glided into the bathroom next to her bedroom. Her bedroom could only fit a three-drawer dresser made of cheap (mostly plastic looking wood) and a single bed with worn sheets. She didn't have a comforter. It didn't bother Cory. Even the cold Wisconsin winters didn't faze her. She'd rather freeze to death than ask her mother for anything.
Slipping into the bathroom she paused to look at the greasy floor length bathroom mirror. Grey indifferent eyes stared back, but if anyone looked for more than a few seconds they would see it.
They would see the defeat.
Cory sighed and turned away from the bathroom mirror in her mother's house and glanced sluggishly around the small room. Simple ceramic toilet and bathtub with a shower. White walls and white tiles with a lone double pane window. It was like a psychiatric ward on TV without the literal metal bars. At least those places helped people get better.
This house. It only knew how to belittle everyone within it.
Pain burned her wrist, the bruises in the shape of her mother's hand came to view when she scooted her black hoodie sleeve up. For a moment she was mesmerized by the silver scars that dragged across her wrists and forearms. Anyone could tell what they were and who they came from. Some darker scars were from…Attempts.
Deep breaths. Cory told herself, but the words flew around her head, weaker than ones that whispered harshly. Her eyes landed back to the mirror, a dark bruise under her left eye, her right eye dark from exhaustion. Why does she hate me?
Tears trickled down her high cheekbones.
Cory took in herself. An action she hadn't done in a long time. She was thinner than she remembered, and she was half tempted to step on the scale behind the door. What would be the point? She knew the problem. Her mother had said she was getting too big. She took it upon herself to 'help' Cory. Her black hoodie, that she remembered being form-fitting, hung loosely around her, and the skinny jeans she was wearing seemed to be a size larger than she remembered. What happened to my thighs?
Cory had always been curvy. Ever since she had hit puberty at twelve. Her thighs helped carry it. Her shoulders were broad due to the large chest she supported.
All of her seemed to be smaller, a wish she had when being backed in a corner, not when she looked in the mirror.
At least her father's friends might leave her alone for once.
The sleeping pills eyed her from the sink. It had been opened and next to them sat a razor blade. Cory didn't have it in her to do it here. Her mother would find her again and save her out of pure love and goodness of her heart. Out of the corner of her eye through the bathroom window, she saw something dart to the forest outside of her mother's house.
"What-?" Cory marched to the window and watched the woods. Her eyes narrowed in on a cluster of leaves that swirled, and she could've sworn she'd seen a figure run deeper into the woods down the path.
"Might as well check it out," She grumbled under her breath, pulled down the sleeve of her black hoodie, while taking two steps at a time, down the stairs to the back door. She passed the living room with her father's poker table (a foldable table with four matching chairs) barely acknowledging the loveseat and armchair by a flat screen TV. Plain walls and plain hardwood led her to the kitchen.
Tan tiles littered the floor, the ceiling popcorned from the seventies, and plain cupboards lined the grey painted walls. The fridge stood off to the side near the four-seat dining table, across from it the sink was overflowing with dirty dishes, and the oven remained near it. A black old appliance that her mother used for frozen meals. That was the extensiveness of her cooking.
She recalled a time that her Gran homecooked when she spent the night at her cozy cottage. Cookies and different Italian meals that she didn't remember the names of.
Cory missed her.
Before trapezing through the woods, Cory made sure her Gran's ring was still on her left ring finger, a silver ring that had two gemstones swirling together in black and white. She remembered her mother trying to sell it after they had gone to a pawn shop and they told her that the stones were in fact diamonds. Her mother threw a fit when she found out her mother had given her daughter diamonds instead of her.
And it was also the last thing Cory had of the only person who expressed love to her.
Her feet carried her to the backyard, empty with green grass covered in old autumn leaves, the dark blue fence wrapped around the blue paneled house with its gate leading directly to the forest. The outside was eerily quiet, usually, the birds would be chirping, or squirrels scattering to get away from any intruders. Not even the leaves scraped the forest floor. Cory moved passed the gate and stepped foot into the silent woods.
Carefully maneuvering through the trees; the clear path she knew seemed to slowly disappear. A quick turn behind her made her realize that the house she dreaded consistently in her life vanished. A high-pitched noise invaded her ears.
"AHHHH." Cory clamped her hands over her ears, the noise didn't cease, instead, a bright white light pained her eyes so much that she squeezed them shut. Her aching eyes poured tears down her cheeks. A voice demanded to be heard.
Was it above her? Or was it below her? Cory couldn't tell. She could barely tell if she was still in the woods outside her mother's house. She couldn't tell if she was standing, sitting, existing…The ground she couldn't feel it beneath her feet. Which way was up? Which way was down?
"CORDELIA!" The voice sounded like thousands of voices. They were chanting her name. The name her mother called her by. The name she despised as she grew. Once it had been called lovingly by her Gran. Now it reminded her of how much it scared her.
"ANDROMEDA!" Cory shook her head with her hands still clamped tight to her ears to block out the violating sound. She tried to scream out, but a whimper left her trembling pink lips.
"JAMESON!"
"Stop!" Her plea was ignored. The voices reaching a level of ear-piercing she had never witnessed before.
"CORDELIA ANDROMEDA JAMESON! FREE. BLESSED. FREE BE THE BLESSED!" The way they said it. Her full name. It was happiness. Blessed? Not even the normal 'bless her heart' kind of blessed. Like they were saying bless and then the name Ed. What is a 'Blessed'?
"I d-don't get it."
"FREE? FREE?" Her body broke into tremors of shaking she couldn't control. The voices sounded like they were singing or praising her as if whoever they were, they were pleased to see her. Suddenly, the voices dropped in volume but continued in dripping enthusiastic tones.
"WHERE? WHERE?"
"Anywhere." It left her lips breathlessly. "Anywhere, but here." If Cory could get away. Get away from her mother, from her father, from his friends, and from everyone. Being away from here was her freedom.
"SEND HOME. HOME. TO ALL MOTHER. TO LIFE. TO DEATH. TO NATURE. PRAISE THE BLESSED!" The shaking ended. Cory felt her knees touch grass, her hands caught her from falling, and her eyes blinked open, draining away the light that had blinded her. Instead, she could make out a car, the headlights glaring in her peripheral vision and in front of her was a worn sign with simple words. Words that sent a shiver down her back. There was no way.
WELCOME TO MYSTIC FALLS.
Fuck her life. This is where those voices sent her? The Vampire Diaries? By her luck Cory was going to die the minute Stefan and Damon waltzed into town. By being hit by a car or something, not even a supernatural occurrence. A more important question fell on her. Why was it the middle of the night when it had been morning before she had world jumped? When had world jumping become normal for her? Focus. Cory told herself. I can handle this…Hopefully.
"Cory, are you alright? Are you injured?" Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes, with her short blonde hair and her clean-cut police uniform, knelt in front of her, her voice filled with worry. The car, Cory could see now, on the side said Mystic Falls Police.
"I-I think so." Cory's body shuddered. "I'm-I'm not injured."
"Alright," Liz's radio beeped, and a voice came through, and Cory's head spun from dizziness. "Cory, can you stand?"
"I-I," she shook her head, "I need a moment and then I think, I think I might-" her voice trailed off. Wait, she knew my name. "You know me?" Liz's eyes widened.
"Cory, you know who I am don't you?" Cory could see her panic and confusion. It showed by the clenching of her jaw and the slight shaking of her head.
"Yes," Cory couldn't tell her the truth, she didn't even know what was going on, "I don't know how you know me." Liz nodded.
"Caroline. You and Caroline are best friends. Cory, tell me you remember her."
"Yeah, I do." She was friends with Caroline Forbes. The Caroline Forbes! And they were best friends! Cory didn't even remember having actual real friends. Friends who didn't betray her after knowing her for a month. Friends that didn't shove her head in the girl's toilets to gain popularity from the cheerleaders at school.
"You might have a concussion, can you try sitting up, Cor?" Cor? Was that a nickname she had here? She sat up and her vision was swirly until it evened out and she could finally see straight.
"I think I'm okay to get all the way up." Cory breathed, Liz reached for her arm and hauled her to her feet. It was a weird feeling. To be in a world you've only seen on a TV screen. Cory doubted she'd get used to it.
"What happened? Did someone hurt you? Did they leave you out here?" The sound of someone worried about her safety made her stomach flip flop and her heart flutter in her chest. Cory couldn't remember the last time someone had been worried about her. No, she did. Gran. Before she died when she was seven, eleven years ago, it was also the last time someone touched her without the intention to harm her.
"I don't know. My mother. And I think so." Cory couldn't think of a lie to come up with and she really didn't want to lie to Sheriff Forbes as much as she knew she'd end up doing. Liz helped her get into the passenger side of the cruiser and her arms stretched behind her towards the ceiling. Immediately, Cory's body tensed, and she kept her gaze on Liz's arm. The car's inside light flickered on. Liz smiled at her. Her eyes were filled with things she didn't remember being directed at her before. Warmth. Kindness. Concern.
"Cory, do you remember what happened before you got to the house?"
"House?"
"You're staying with Caroline and me. Your biological parents live in Texas, do you not remember?" Biological parents? Liz gave her a sympathetic look. Cory opened her mouth and shut it. Liz took it as an answer, and she was glad she did. There wasn't anything else to say about the subject.
"You don't, do you? Alright, stay right here, I need to report in and then we'll go to the hospital. I can get Gray-Dr. Gilbert to look at you." Liz rubbed her forehead, a habit of tiredness or frustration, Cory couldn't tell. Maybe both. Liz pulled out her radio and began speaking.
Alright so no vampires, yet, that meant she had the opportunity to stop the crash from happening. But if Elena's parents live that stops the entirety of the show. That meant that almost everything would be prevented from happening.
It meant that Katerina would find Elena, the moonstone, a vampire, and a werewolf to give to Klaus to bargain for her freedom.
Cory realized quickly that if she was going to be in this world. She was going to protect and save as many people as she could. Even if she died in the process. In the end, she would be sent back to her world if she died, right? But being dead in a dream could kill you in real life. She'd happily save someone's life even if it killed her.
Besides, this was a chance to change the timeline. Prevent deaths and keep everyone happy. Which included not sacrificing everyone for one person. Elena. Of course, she wanted to help her, but letting people die just because Damon and Stefan were hopelessly in love with her and didn't care who paid the price while slowly convincing everyone around them that it was completely okay was not the way to go about it. It was going to help that she knew how to save everyone due to her foreknowledge.
Cory was going to try to keep people from turning (like Caroline even though her character development revolved around it). She also planned to stop some deaths that weren't needed. Stopping Damon from being Mega Douche of the year and not to mention helping Stefan get off his bunny diet.
The Mikaelsons. That was a can of worms. Let Klaus have a kid or tell him before it happens?
The real battle was getting anyone to believe when she told them about being from a different world and knowing them as fictional TV characters. Stefan and Elijah would at least hear her out before ripping her heart out. If she was lucky. And Cory was not lucky at all. If there was a single rock on the sidewalk, a small chance of getting it in her shoe, it would hop right into hers.
"Cory?" Her head snapped up, her grey eyes meeting warm brown ones, Liz gave her a reassuring smile. "Let's get you to the hospital. I called Dr. Gilbert and he might know what's going on." Right the vampire torturer. Eww. Instead of voicing her inner thoughts, Cory nodded her head and slid further into the car, buckling her seat belt while waiting for Liz to get into the driver's side.
Here we go. Somehow Cory doubted this was the last she'd be at the hospital in this world.
"Cory, it's good to see you, how are you feeling?" Dr. Gilbert gave her a grin and motioned for her to sit on the checkup bed. They had reached Mystic Falls Hospital quickly and they immediately walked into one of the checkup rooms. Cory held back her awe to not be so weirdly out of place. Though she doubted she could keep it up for long.
"I feel fine." Cory eyed his hands as he gripped his clipboard. She noted the distance between them and calculated subconsciously how quick she could get away if he tried something. The door wasn't far from the checkup bed. Maybe a minute at the most? If she dashed unexpectedly. He'd be too surprised to react that fast, right?
"Where did the black eye come from?" Cory inhaled a breath and prepared a response.
"My mother," Liz and Grayson shared a look.
"Rachel?" Liz spoke softly. Cory still flinched and nodded numbly. Somehow Liz knew her life, including apparently her biological parents. Did that mean she was adopted?
"I'll make a few calls, while you answer Grayson's questions, okay sweetie?" Cory nodded and thanked Liz as she left the room. Now she was alone with someone who worked with that damn society.
"Do you know who I am, Cory?" Yeah, a morally grey character who was convinced that torturing and killing morally grey vampires was the perfect way to live. What an ass. She was sorry Elena had to find out by reading in the journals, but Cory supposed catching him torturing vampires would be much, much worse.
"Yeah, you're Grayson Gilbert."
"Good, Good," He looked down at the papers he had. "Alright, you know who my daughter is?" Do you mean your niece?
"Elena Gilbert."
"Okay, how do you know her?" Cory wasn't sure she wanted to tell him about the whole world changing fictional and later dead conversation.
"We've never met." He nodded and watched her for a moment. Cory shifted where she sat and glanced around the room. It felt too small and it was harder to catch her breath.
"Cory," Grayson gently laid his hand against hers, her left one laying on the hospital checkup bed, she jolted at the touch and did her best to feign calmness. Not daring to move even though her heart hammered against her chest.
"I think you are suffering from Amnesia, a specific type that involves the loss of knowing your relationships with the people you know. You know them, but you don't remember why or how you know them." Honestly going with that was a good idea, she wasn't sure how else to put it other than revealing the truth. The crazy world jumping thing. The big huge elephant in the room that only Cory could see. She nodded her head and Grayson excused himself from the room.
Alright, the first plan was to hopefully get a shower and some food. She was hungry after world jumping for the first time. Then she'd find a way to save Grayson and Miranda. Then she'd figure out how to contact someone who could help her. Sheila? Brie? Hell, she'd even go to New Orleans to get some answers. She needed to write down a time to go save Davina before the Harvest.
Suddenly a vibration rushed over her, and her head felt…weird. She couldn't describe the feeling that winded her breathing. Cory had no control over it. She just barely managed to lay herself down before her vision darkened and she slipped into a pitch-black foggy forest.
"Hello, my daughter, I've waited for this moment." A masculine voice called behind her. Cory spun to face a tall male figure made of leaves. Green and autumn colored leaves. It wasn't her father. Not the one she may have been adopted by at least.
"I'm sorry, I-,"
"I know, Blessed, but soon. At this moment, I cannot allow you to change the timeline to be so, what is the right word, diverted."
"Wait, did you send me here?"
"I've wanted to send you away from that treacherous mother and father that took you from the family I gave you to. I was not allowed. Fate doesn't want me to meddle any further into their plans. Karma thought it was a good way to force a change on those two." Cory's thoughts flung from one place to another.
"You, you're my father? My actual real-life father?"
"Yes, I apologize, my daughter. I am Life. I serve Nature and the Balance besides Fate, Karma, and Death. Fate has tasked me in informing you that, due to Nature and the Balance, I cannot let you move the timeline as you have planned. You have to keep it near its original path to the best of your ability." Cory shook her head. Let people die? Let everyone fight only to lose in the end? Not happening.
"All those people? They'll die, their lives will be miserable, how am I going to help anyone near me if I can't change anything? How can I lie to people who are my friends? How can I look at someone and tell them everything is going to be fine when it's all a lie!" Hot tears poured over her cheeks; it wasn't fair. Human, vampire, or hybrid. Cory just wanted the timeline to give people happier ends. Life sighed softly and gave her a soft look? Cory couldn't tell he was made of leaves.
"I understand your frustration, Cory. Fate will cause you to lose consciousness each time you try to change the timeline to an extreme that they cannot allow."
"They can't tell me, like a message, a voice?" Life paused.
"I can ask on your behalf, but I cannot guarantee a change of decision. They have much to see and attend to, with Death, Karma, and I." Cory nodded.
"When I wake up will-,"
"Fate has asked we keep you asleep until a turning point passes over."
"Miranda and Grayson driving off of Wickery Bridge," She whispered. Fate knew she had wanted to stop it.
"The supernatural switch that attracts the attention of, the night creatures, the slaves of the moon, and the servants of nature."
"And everything in between." Cory reminded, her Dad she supposed, before taking in her surroundings. 'Fate was asked we keep you asleep' We? "There's a 'we'?"
"Death and I." It was obvious the surprise on her face was noticeable as he laughed.
"Where are we anyway?" She smiled softly, feeling warm and safe in his presence. Cory hadn't even realized they were about two feet away from each other until now. It was nice. It was comforting and reminded her of her Gran. Cory felt like she ate a brick. Shaking her head, she stared at her Dad expectantly.
"This is the Edge. A place that is not of Life, but not of Death. We tend to meet here. To discuss Nature and the Balance."
"Is it as strict and limited as witches say it is?" Life gave her a smile. She still didn't know what his intention was, and she couldn't read him. He was a figure made of leaves after all.
"Yes and No. Depending on how Fate and Karma decide, the witch will then feel what they will stop or allow. You are the exception to those feelings; to that ruling. Cory, you are my daughter, the Blessed, they have to give you some leeway as your presence is unpredictable to the timeline, they will give, or they will take."
"What is a Blessed? I mean it can't be special, not really, nothing has ever happened around me or anything. So, I'd guess I'm not a type of witch or werewolf."
"You are special. You are a child of Life and Death. Two things that are only allowed to create and destroy once in their existence. We created you."
"What was destroyed?" Life sighed. It was clear to see that he didn't enjoy talking about what he was going to tell her.
"Despite us creating you, we were not allowed to bring you up. To teach you of the world, to mold you how we wanted. Maybe it was a moment of selfishness for us to create you."
"I don't think it was selfish. You obviously wanted to create me. You sound proud." He gave her a smile that she felt was fond and full of affection.
"We are proud of you, Cory. We were never allowed to know you until your abilities flared and you became the Blessed." A shaking raked over the forest.
"Dad-," Cory began.
"I wish we had more time. You need to leave, Cory," her eyes shot to him as he disappeared and reappeared beside her. He looked feminine now. Maybe it would be easier to call him (she?) her parent rather than her Dad. They are my parent/guardian. Cory decided.
"But-,"
"We will talk in your dreams. You will forever return here when you sleep. One visitation to the Edge does this. Do not fret, your abilities involve visions, whether for giving or taking, it is all on your intention. It will always be about your intention, Cory. Wake up, my daughter, I wish you good luck."
Wherever Cory woke up it was bright. Not as blinding as her world jumping from before. Bright enough to irritate her eyes. God, what has her life become? When has world jumping become a norm for her? There was beeping to her right. And her eyes fell on a heart monitor.
"Oh my god! You're awake, how are you? Horrible question. I'm so glad you're okay. I came here to tell you what happened to Elena and her parents, Cor. I missed you so much!" Caroline Forbes, in her bright bubbly glory, sat beside her in one of the hospital chairs. Her blonde hair was beautiful and wavy with her pretty blue-green eyes gazing at her full of excitement. She wore skinny jeans and a yellow blouse that tied at the front with a cute brown jacket to complete it. Cory smiled despite barely remembering them being best friends. She had always wanted a best friend.
"It's really good to see you, Care. I missed you too." She beamed at that and scooted the chair closer. Cory furrowed her brows, pretending to be confused, "you mentioned Elena, is she okay?" Caroline's eyes widened,
"So, Elena went to a party and, you know how she feels about the whole Matt thing. They got into a fight, which you know, she doesn't want to talk about getting married and the future. Anyway, they broke up, she called her parents to pick her up and then they drove off Wickery Bridge. Elena's okay, but her parents…" Her eyes were soft and sad showing how empathetic she was. Why didn't the show talk about this part of her more when she was human?
"Oh, that's awful, have you talked to her?" Cory pushed as much sadness into her voice. She was a bit desensitized due to seeing it on TV. Was that believable?
"A little, she's really quiet and I had to go to Cheer Camp with Bonnie, so we haven't talked much."
"How long have I been here?"
"Four months, they said you had Amnesia, specifically that you couldn't remember our friendship or living with me and my mom. Or anyone you know, which is weird, isn't it?" Cory grinned at her.
"Yeah, I hate that I can't remember it, but I can't wait to make more memories and spend time with you." Cory was excited for spending time with her favorite characters. Caroline was one of her favorites. She had a specific few she kept close to her heart. Caroline was one of them, despite her strong dislike of Damon for a long time, Cory still adored and really didn't blame her. This time she wasn't going to let Damon compel and feed off her. It was nonconsensual when you really thought about it, but for some reason, no one talked about it later, just for those episodes in it. No one's going to hurt Caroline on her watch.
"That's the Cory we all know and love!" Caroline giggled as she grabbed her arm excitedly. Then she froze.
"Oh my god, I was supposed to tell, Dr. Fell and my mom when you woke up. I'll be right back! Stay awake. School is in a week and I need you to be there." Caroline darted out of the room and Cory realized this was it. She was stuck in the Vampire Diaries. One of her favorite TV shows with her favorite characters. She grinned to herself this was better than her life had ever been, and she'd only been here for twenty-four hours. Technically. Kind of. Oh well, she was going to enjoy it. And OCD over making a plan to save as many people as she could. Here we go!