Hello, my lovely readers. The story takes a new twist in this chap. On with the show…
Chapter 7: Mary Alice
Mary Alice Claire. Just the name sparked Davina's curiosity. She never really knew much about her father's side of the family. He'd taken off when she was young. Her mother and Davina had not been as close as Davina wished for them to be. And when her mother tried to sacrifice her to the ancestors, well, that kind ended Davina's desire to bond with Mom. That and the whole her mother being dead.
Now, Davina just needed to get back to the tunnel she used to find Mary Alice in the first place. The only problem was—it seemed to have moved while Davina was not looking.
The original passageway had been through Klaus' bedroom. However, as luck would have it, the whole place seemed to have disappeared and Davina did not have a clue where to go in search of a new entryway.
"Damn it!" Davina cried, sighing and looking at nothing but dark and dirt walls.
"Davina." Josh placed his free hand, the one not holding a flashlight to his heart and gave Davina a mock shocked look. "My! I didn't know you knew such words."
Laughing, Davina rolled her eyes. "Did you think I'm a Disney princess, Josh?"
"Now that you bring it up… Probably." Josh grinned and Davina shook her head. "On the bright side, no scary ghost means we can get back out of here. I think the Bachelor's on. And I bought a pint of Ben and Jerry's strawberry cheesecake ice cream."
"Josh," Davina began. "I really need to find Mary Alice. She's the key to helping me understand what's going on around here. I just know she is. So, help me find her. Or go and watch the Bachelor." Placing her hands on her hips, Davina gave Josh her best girl-on-a-mission look.
Josh groaned. "Fine. But if we get killed, and there is no Ben and Jerry's on The Other Side, I'm going to be seriously pissed off."
Davina couldn't help but laugh. She had half-expected Josh to take the out. She wouldn't blame him if he did. For one thing, this might be a wild goose chase, or end up with Davin and Josh also becoming more names on the list of the missing.
"If I were a dead witch, where would I be?" Josh said, tapping the flashlight against his thigh.
Davina thought she had a clue. "Okay. Let's get out of here before someone decides to bury us."
"Thought had not occurred to me. Thank you for that," Josh moaned and they made their way back out of the tunnel.
Once they returned to the compound, Davina marched back to her own room. "I can do a spell to try to summon Mary Alice. But we'll have to go to the cemetery first."
"I love cemeteries," Josh's sarcasm was not lost on Davina.
Davina smirked at him. "Seeing as you are a vamp, you think you would."
"Yes. And I also have my very own coffin. I turn into a bat. Or a wolf. Oooo. Turning into a wolf might be cool. Do you think you can, in this world?" Josh's excitement about Davina's possible wolf-status had Davina turning to give him a look that read her displeasure.
"Oh, come on? You've never wanted to know what it was like to be a werewolf? Just a little bit?" Josh shoved his hands in his front pockets. "You could scare those kids who are picking on you at school."
"How do you know about that?" Davina asked, pulling out a spell book and examining the contents. It seemed to be just a tiny bit more advanced than what she knew from her own practicing, but Davina felt sure she could master the new spells quickly.
"Nope. Not even a little bit." Davina shook her head before she clapped the book shut. "This is the one. Now, off to the graveyard."
"Yay!" Josh cheered. "If we hurry, we can still watch the last ten minutes."
Holding her tongue, Davina shook her head. Poor Josh. He really needed to meet a boy. And soon.
On their way out of the compound, Davina glanced at the moon. It was not quite at its apex. They had a few days before they might come into contact with any kind of wolves. Davina felt thankful for that because she did not know what her position with the wolves was, yet.
Turning back around, Davina continued on her way until a voice stopped her. "Davina?" Tim's voice made her falter. "Hey!"
"Tim," Davina felt her heart flutter and she smiled like an idiot. "What are you doing here?"
Tim's eyebrows rose. His confusion was clear as he looked across the street. "I have a gig." He hooked a thumb at the open doors of Rousseau's. "Umm. Are you busy? It's always nice to have a cheering section."
"Oh?" Davina felt her heart sink. "I…"
Holding up his hands, Tim shook his head. "I didn't mean to say that. It sounds like I'm trying to guilt you or something. Okay. Let's start over. I'm playing. And it would be nice if you could come to watch. But if you're busy, with…your friend, that's cool. I'll see you at school."
"Tim…" Davina cast a look at the boy she missed so much. Then she remembered that Kol and Marcel would be back soon. Once they returned, her every move would be watched. She wouldn't be able to do anything without their being underfoot. If she wanted to meet with Mary Alice, she had to do it now. "I'm so sorry. I have to go. To do something. Else. But I'd love to see you play. Some other time."
"Some other time works, too," Tim said, grinning and then he waved. Crossing the street, his step looked lighter and he greeted people leaving the bar with a smile.
Groaning, Davina led Josh down the street. "I hate this."
"I know." Josh patted her shoulder. "But I'm sure you'll get another chance to hang with him. It would be too cruel to wind up here and to not get to hang with your guy."
Nodding, Davina cheered up. They only had another ten blocks to walk before they arrived and the walk went by quickly as Davina indulged in fantasies of dancing with Tim and kissing Tim. Josh had it right. She and Tim would have their time.
Together Davina and Josh entered the graveyard. They went into the graveyard. Davina located her family's tomb and lifted her hands. With a quick word and mild concentration, Davina watched Mary Alice's portion open. "Flashlight," she called to Josh.
Flicking it on, Josh held up the light and Davina peered inside. What she saw left her gaping.
"There's nothing there," Josh said.
"I know." Davina couldn't believe it. "They buried her without her body."
"Does this mean she's a vampire?" Josh inquired, looking around like she might be there, about to snap his neck.
"No. I don't think so." Davina turned to look at Josh. "I think her family never recovered the body. So, they just made a stone for her empty coffin."
"That's pleasant." Josh seemed to have forgotten his TV show and ice cream. "Where do we look now?"
Shaking her head, Davina had to admit, she did not have a clue. "If I don't have anything of hers, I can't find her." This was great. Another dead end. Literally.
"So, we're going back to the compound?" Josh said.
"I guess," Davina sighed. She hated this. First, she didn't get to see Tim play. Now, she couldn't track down her only lead. What next?
As if someone heard her, Davina heard a sound from close by. "Who is there?"
"A friend," a young man came from behind the gravestone and he eyed Josh. "Hi."
"Hi," Josh replied, his eyes wide and he looked at Davina. "He's a wolf."
"I'm a friend," the man repeated. "Of her mom's."
"Oh, yeah. Okay. We'll just take your word for it." Josh folded his arms over his chest. "Because wolves never lie about anything. Do they?"
The wolf puffed out his chest and his large blue eyes bore into Davina's. Some part of her that felt on edge settled. She knew this feeling. It was similar to the one she felt when she was near another witch. This must be a wolf equivalent. At least it didn't involve them sniffing each other or licking.
"The pack heard whispers that Hayley is missing?" the wolf said. "We want to help. If we can."
"We've got it covered," Josh said, frowning at the wolf.
The wolf cocked his head to the side and then he laughed. "I can see that. That's why you're out here, looking for dead witches and coming up with nothing."
"Do you know anything about this witch?" Davina nodded at the cracked tomb.
The wolf glanced at Mary Alice's name. "Not a clue. But I can ask around. Some wolves worked well with the witches, before our time. Some didn't. It depended on who you asked. I'll let you know what I find out."
"Okay. Don't take too long though," Davina called to him.
"Where can I meet you?" the wolf asked.
Davina thought about that. She probably shouldn't tell him the school. Or here, again. Other witches hung out here and they would spy on her and her new ally. "At the compound is fine," she told him.
The wolf nodded and turned on his heel. He started to leave when Josh called to him. "Who are you?"
"Aiden," the wolf called. "See you later, Josh."
Josh looked at Davina. "He was spying on us." Aiden's chuckle could be heard as he turned a corner and disappeared. "You really think you can trust that guy?"
"I have no idea," Davina retorted. "But I can't seem to trust anyone." Josh gave her a look. "Other than you. And Kol. And Marcel. I have to expand my horizons."
"Thank you, Hallmark." Josh shook his head and checked his watch. "So much for that last ten minutes."
Davina smiled. "There's always streaming on-line."
"This is why you're my best friend," Josh said, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
~0~
The next day, Davina woke up early and poured herself a bowl of cereal. She took it and her laptop out to the courtyard to do some research. She might be able to find some historical information about the Claire family.
A pair of feet announced themselves with a tread so soft that most creatures would not hear them. But Davina did. "Aiden," Davina said, closing her laptop. "Hey. Thanks for coming. Did you find anything?"
"Yes." Aiden nodded. "A long time ago, this Mary Alice woman used to run with vamps. Well, she apparently pissed off her own people because they had her locked up in an old house."
"Okay. Do you know where it is?" Davina asked, leaning closer to the wolf.
"Yes. And you do not want to go in there. You won't be able to come back out," Aiden said, taking a seat and shaking his head. "I'm sorry."
Davina groaned and fell back on the chaise. Josh came striding in and looked from Aiden to Davina. "What did I miss?"
"Bad news. Aiden says that Mary Alice is in a house I can go into but can't come back out of." Davina felt her jaw set. "There's got to be a way of contacting her." Shaking her head, she picked up her laptop. "Thanks for the information, Aiden."
"You're welcome," Aiden said and he glanced at Josh. Josh stared back and then he averted his gaze. "I guess I'll see you around," Aiden said, moving to leave.
"You could come by for dinner. Until Kol comes back, you're welcome to hang out." Davina looked from Aiden to Josh. Josh looked pleased and he was doing a poor job of hiding it.
"Okay," Aiden nodded. "Thanks."
Davina decided to disappear and see how things worked out between her vamp and her newfound furry friend.
~0~
The day passed by as Davina flipped through books and brainstormed through ideas of how to contact Mary Alice. Then it became obvious to her. She hurried out of the courtyard. Josh and Aiden were talking about some game that Davina never heard of. "I have an idea," she told them with a smile.
"Great." Josh got to his feet. "Where do you need us?"
"Upstairs," Davina told them. She led Josh and Aiden up the stairs. "I'm going to astral-ly project myself into the house."
"You're going to what?" Josh looked at Davina, his expression showing how dubious he felt this idea was.
"Just be there to pull me back if I'm gone too long," Davina told them.
"Okay." Josh looked at Aiden. "What do we do?"
"Catch me," Davina said and closed her eyes.
Opening her eyes, Davina found herself in the Dowager house that Aiden told her about. She looked around. Apparently she ended up in the basement. "Hello?" she called. "Mary Alice?"
Silence followed and Davina wondered if Aiden had bad info. "You shouldn't be here," Mary Alice said. She came out of the shadows. Her blonde curls fell around face. Her skin looked pale and Davina wondered if Josh was right about the possibility that she was a vampire.
"I need help," Davina protested.
Shaking her head, Mary Alice puckered her lips. "You can't help them. You can't trust them. You need to find a way home, Davina. You don't belong here. They'll get you killed. Stay away from him."
"You mean: Them?" Davina watched Mary Alice look at a skeleton in the corner. "Is that you?"
Mary Alice nodded. "Go home."
"Help me!" a voice cried.
"Did you hear that?" Davina asked Mary Alice.
Mary Alice gave Davina a blank look.
"Help me! Please!" a soft voice called. It sounded young. "Find me! Help me!"
Davina turned in a circle. She could not see any other spirits in the room. "You don't hear that?" Mary Alice stared back. "Fine. Don't help." Davina rolled her eyes and concentrated on the voice.
Finding herself in another room, Davina looked around. "Hello?"
"Here!" the voice cried. It came from the middle of the room.
Frowning, Davina went to stand over a glass casket. A girl who could be no older than fifteen or sixteen-years-old laid inside. Her eyes were closed. For all the world, she appeared to be asleep. Davina examined the girl's long dark reddish-brown hair hanging down her back, her red lips were titled in a smile, her pale skin made Davina think of…someone else, but she had no idea who. Or maybe she did.
"Who are you?" Davina called.
Before she could get an answer, Davina woke to find herself in Kol's arms. "What have you been up to?" he demanded.
"Um," Davina looked at Josh who shook his head. "Just practicing my powers." She offered Kol a smile and she knew he did not believe her. She just hoped he had not popped into her head.
"Nik would kill me if he knew you had a wolf in here," Kol said.
And it dawned on Davina who the girl looked like. Niklaus Mikaelson. The girl was Klaus' real daughter.
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Guest: I hope you liked the update.
Peace,
J
