Ghostly World

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own Victorious now and never will

A/N:

Chapter 13 (Devastation Surrounds Her)

Cat panicked as she ran through the dark halls of a black castle. The carpeting was painted crimson like blood and the walls were black. Her heart was pounding, she was more than just confused, she was fearful. She wanted out of this place, she needed to get out. When she had awakened, she took a look in the mirror and noticed her body changing. She didn't understand it, it scared her even more so. "Somebody help me! Robbie? Jade? Tori? I need someone!"

A creature was after her, a man who wanted to simply kill her. He was ghostly, had a long black cloak and grey hair pointing past his head. She didn't know where he was, he kept changing locations. When she first saw him, she noted he had fangs. She always thought Vampires were a thing of the past, that they didn't exist.

She looked behind her, he wasn't there. She turned her head forward and gasped as she ran into him and fell back onto the floor. The man stared at her with a vicious glare. His murderous eyes narrowed onto hers and she quickly began trying to move back. "What do you want from me!"

"I am Dracula, I was the king of vampires." Cat began to pale and flipped over onto her hands and knees, beginning her frantic crawl. Dracula roared and reached for her, missing her by an inch. "I have no desire to turn you, I must kill you. I've been waiting for years, drinking as much human blood as I could to try and live again. It has yet to happen." Cat screamed and rose to her feet, running once more down the hall. Dracula narrowed his eyes and turned around. "You can't get away from me. I will kill you. I will take your life essence from you."

"No!" So this was it, then? She was stuck here in a house with a madman? She closed her eyes and whimpered. Dracula transformed into a small bat and began flying at her. She looked at the bat and her eyes widened, a scream escaped her throat. She was scared enough, he had to turn into a bat of all things? "Leave me alone! Please, just let me out of here!" He screeched and she ducked around a corner. When she did so, she froze in shock. There was a woman with blood trickling down her neck, she was pale and translucent. "Oh my god!"

"Quick, come in here…" The woman pushed Cat into a room, then ran in and closed the door. She put her hand over Cat's mouth and the girl whimpered. Tears ran down her eyes and the woman listened as Dracula flew past the door. "Okay, we'll be safe for a few minutes." The woman released Cat and she flew over to the bed, crouching behind it and watching the ghostly woman closely.

"Who, or what are you?" The woman was in Victorian era clothing and had her hair up in a bun.

"I am one of his millions of victims. He and his assistant killed me." Cat's mouth turned downward as the woman slowly walked over to a dresser. "This room is off limits to Dracula, being dead now, he can't enter into here. This is the room where a large majority of his victims were killed in." Cat shrieked and moved away from the bed quickly. The woman chuckled slightly and shook her head. "You're fine. You see, he can't enter because of the spirits of his victims claiming this room. I don't know what you're doing here, but you're a ghost too…"

"What? No! I'm not dead!" Cat whined and looked down at her body, she too had a ghostly glow. She'd noticed it before, but had refused to acknowledge it. The ghost looked at her with a vague smile and grabbed a brush from the dresser. She moved over to Cat and began to brush her hair.

"It's okay, you're different from other ghosts I've seen. You're just halfway out of your body it seems." Cat raised her eyebrow and felt a cold rush of air. Her heart was unsettled and in despair. "I don't Dracula's quite aware that you're dead, he wouldn't get what he's looking for from you. He's gotten crazier and more hell bent since he died."

"How do I get out of here? That's all I care about right now…"

"I know, and I wish I could tell you. Myself, all of his victims, are trapped here for eternity. None of us have been able to leave. You should be able to…I think you're just letting yourself get so scared that you're not thinking of where the exits are."

"Calming down would definitely help…I want my mom…" The woman frowned and returned the brush to the dresser. Cat's stomach began gurgling and her eyes widened as her skin began to stretch. She was changing again, she could feel it. "Uh…can you go check on where that maniac is?" The lady gave her a kind smile and nodded, leaving the room quietly. Cat placed her arms over her stomach and leaned back on the bed, moaning as yet another change took place.

She opened her eyes and sat upright, staring into a vanity mirror across the room. She let out a tearful gasp and cupped her hands over her mouth, she turned into her mother. Just then a thought appeared in her mind, as though her mother were thinking them at this minute. "Cat, you must listen to me." Cat's eyes darted across the room and she closed her eyes, letting her heart settle. "If you're hearing this, then it means you've discovered your power and have turned to me. You are a shapeshifter, capable of so much. You can know my thoughts as I think them, you can know all my memories…everything. After this, you will understand your power, you will know how to control it."

She whined and shook her head. She didn't want this, she didn't even understand this. However, if her mother promised her, then she would listen. She tapped into one of her mother's oldest memories and gasped softly.

A strong woman stood with her young daughter in a field filled with flowers and trees swaying with the wind. "Mommy, I don't understand…"

"Kathy, you know this world well." Land of the shapeshifters, a beautiful realm where everybody could transform into others all around. It was heavenly and a highly valued place. "Your powers are awakening early, but that is understandable. You are a princess, after all, my dear." Kathy smiled softly and placed her seven year old hand into her mother's mighty, yet soft palm. She walked through the meadow with her, listening to every word she spoke. "When you focus your mind on who you wish to turn into and you are calm, you can transform into anyone. The ability to change is voluntary, but at first you know it will be involuntary. The reason you're not changing right now is because you are calm, your mind is holding it back. Eventually, the more you do this, the more it won't happen unless you want it."

"I think I understand, mommy. So, you're saying I need to practice being calm?"

"Yes. It is why I have brought you to this meadow. This was where I meditated as a girl, where my powers were awakened. All you have to do is mimic a calm, relaxing place such as this, and meditate there." Kathy nodded slowly and spotted a small patch of earth being circled by a large amount of daisies. She ran over to it and sat down Indian style, then closed her eyes. Her mother smiled at her and nodded carefully. "Good, it is the first step into your meditation." The woman went on to explain the concept of the shapeshifters, how continual meditation helped to keep the mind strong and focused. "By no means do you have to meditate twenty four seven, but it would definitely help. You just need to slow your breathing, relax, and focus on any one form you want. Where you go, your mind and body will follow."

"I understand, Mommy." The woman knelt beside her young daughter and placed her hand upon her shoulder, smiling softly.

"One day, Kathy, you will be a strong warrior, and a powerful Queen." Kathy nodded and kept her eyes closed, she was focusing on slowing her power's compulsive changing, she needed to have the upper hand on it. "A shapeshifter can turn into anyone and mimic their powers, but the downfall is their powers are only half of the original form."

"So, just a copy?"

"Yes, but we can see all of their memories, we can know everything there is to know about that person. Kathy, turn into me. Can you do that?" Kathy breathed out and began focusing on her mother's image. Her brow furrowed and her forehead twitched for a minute. It was almost painful, but within a few minutes, she had retained the full appearance of her mother. "I am proud of you, Kathy."

"Mommy? You're dying?" The woman closed her eyes as her daughter's face tensed. The form went away and she stared at her mother with fear. "I…" The woman placed her hand to her chest and took a deep breath.

"Kathy, when you take someone's appearance, you must never allow the connection to break. If it were to break in the middle of battle…the results could be devastating." She listened to her mother well and sucked in her confused tears, why would her mother die? It was that Angel of Death, he inflicted some disease into her mother's heart many years ago. "It's a slowly debilitating disease, I will die within sixteen years of having it…"

"I wasn't even born though…"

"You're right…I suspect you will become queen by the time you are thirteen." Kathy shook her head and her mom hugged her closely, kissing her daughter on the top of her head. "No matter what, I will always be with you. Whatever affliction you come across, I will be in your heart. Do you understand?"

"I don't want you to die, Mommy…" Her heart trembled and her eyes dripped with wet tears. The woman held onto her and pet her hair softly.

"I know baby, but you must not focus on it. As hard as it will be, when that time comes, you must use it as your strength. Don't let it become your weakness."

"I…I won't…" She wanted to raise her children the way her mom raised her, she knew that. She would always value her mother close to her heart.

"Until then, I will teach you everything there is to know about the shapeshifters realm, everything you need to know about ruling this beautiful land."

"Okay mommy…"

Cat followed through the memories, silent tears dripping from her eyes. When her mother turned fourteen, it was as her own mother said, the older woman passed away from Sinjin's evil and Kathy became the Queen. When her mother was twenty five, she gave birth to a young girl. Cat smiled at this, but frowned at the next memory.

Kathy held onto her one year old daughter as she watched from the balcony, her face was twisted in pain. Below her, clouds of darkness loomed all across the land. Demons infested it, the Angel of Death had begun his assault upon their world. Unfortunately, it was too late to save the land, she had to protect her daughter.

As she turned around, the Angel of Death had found her. He chuckled slightly and narrowed his eyes dangerously. Kathy growled slightly as he spread his arms out. "Congratulations, you're witnessing the destruction of your beautiful world. I've decided not to care about this place, so in the next few minutes…this world will implode. There is absolutely nothing you can do now, the process has already begun."

"What?" Her blood ran cold and her eyes drifted out to the land, her heart broke as she heard the cries of her people. How could she be the one to let this happen? Her home, her world, it just didn't make any sense! Kathy sneered at the Angel of Death and took a step forward. "I swear on my soul, one day I will kill you. Be it myself, or be it my daughter, we will rise up and we will avenge my people."

"Yeah, good luck with that…" He vanished and Kathy mournfully turned to the destruction below. It was not long before her best friend and confidante, Miriam, ran out onto the balcony. She was bleeding profusely from the right side of her chest and sweating bullets.

"Kathy, you have to leave. You can't die." Kathy pressed her lips together and closed her eyes. No, she was stronger than this, she didn't believe in running. Her daughter's shrill cry rang out and she slowly lifted her free hand up, muttering the words of a portal spell. Miriam held her chest, trying to slow the bleeding. She breathed in and watched as a portal to earth opened. Kathy turned her eyes to the portal and looked inside. "Los Angeles, California. North America, Earth." She held her baby closer to her chest and kissed her forehead. "Catherine, Cat…my beloved daughter. This will be your new home." Miriam looked out and gasped, the clouds were beginning to seep into the core of the planet, disintegrating it!

"Hurry! You must be safe!" The world was vanishing quickly, and the degenerative process was reaching the palace walls. Kathy's heart sank and she turned her head to Miriam.

"I will not leave my world, I will go down with it. I don't want my daughter to die, however…So I want you to take her and go through this portal. You must…it won't be long…only the royal bloodlines can open up these portals."

"What?" Miriam was in shock, she'd just heard her best friend say she was willing to give up her life for her world. "No! You're a mother now, you have to think about your daughter!"

"I am, but look at this world, our home. It is shameful that I have allowed this to happen…"

"You didn't allow anything to happen! That Angel of Death is just a piece of crap." Miriam's heart started racing as she eyed the castle grounds. The floor beneath her was starting to fade. "No…" She wasn't going to allow her leader and her best friend to die. She clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes, she would fulfill her duty to the end. "As part of the shapeshifters Royal Guard, I'm trained to protect you and your daughter until my dying breath…"

"Miriam?" Miriam's body shook as she walked closer to Kathy and the portal. She let out a single sob and extended her arms.

"Goodbye, Kathy…"

"What?" With a quick shove, Miriam pushed Kathy into the portal. Kathy clutched her daughter close to her chest and extended her free arm, crying out as Miriam smiled tearfully. "Miriam! Miriam, no!"

She landed on her feet on the solid ground and gasped as she looked to the portal, she could only see dead space with Miriam waving at her from the other side of the portal. She had five seconds.

"Miriam!" She watched with wide eyes as Miriam let out a shrill cry, her body was vanishing. Kathy screamed out again and fell to her knees. Her jaw quivered and her muscles tensed. The portal slammed shut. Kathy cupped her mouth and began to sob. The baby cried out as a shadow fell upon her. Kathy turned around and stood up, it was the Angel of Death! She clutched Cat closer to her chest and growled.

"So, the leader of your Royal Guard protected you with her life. How nice. She could have just opened her own portal right on you to send you through…" True, those in the Royal Guard, along with the Royal bloodlines and the top three leaders of each realm were able to open portals into other worlds. It was a convenience. "Maybe her attempt to save your life won't be in vain, or maybe not."

"What are you talking about, Satan?" The angel of death paused for a minute, then laughed.

"I'm flattered, really! But like the Head Angel isn't God, I'm not Satan. I must answer to him, though." Kathy's chest heaved out as the man lifted up a finger. A black orb appeared at his fingertip and she watched closely as he pressed it into her chest. She gasped and pain surged through her body. She froze and her eyes popped out. What did he just do to her?

"W-What are you doing?" She sank to her knees again and grimaced. Her heart started pounding heavily as the demon angel grinned, his white teeth gleaming in the sun.

"Like mother like daughter. You suffer the sixteen year curse." Kathy gasped and her heart pulsed. Her body began to tremble and her muscles strained themselves as she tensed dangerously. "Sixteen years to this day, you will drop dead. I will enjoy seeing watching you suffer."

"N-No…" The man laughed maliciously and started to walk away as Kathy let out a shrill sob. "You bastard! You will pay! You will die!" Death laughed once more and turned his glare onto her.

"I have no more time to waste, I have other places to decide whether I want to invade and take over, or destroy. Have fun with the next sixteen years of your life. Don't worry, your daughter will be well past the age of seventeen before you die, so she will know her mother."

"She'll rise against you! I swear it on my mother's grave!"

"Technically her grave and your mother do not exist any longer…" Kathy's lips parted as he disappeared into the distance. Silence devastated her and sweat dripped from her forehead. She looked up as another man walked up to her, he appeared concerned for her.

"Are you okay miss?"

"Y-Yeah…"

"Here, let me help you up." Kathy put her hand in his and pushed herself up, using him as support. "My name's Roger, do you have anywhere to go?"

"Thanks…and I…" She remembered the devastation of her world, the look of terror on Miriam's face as she faded away, and she nearly buckled once more, but she had to remain strong. Her heart mourned. "I have nothing but my daughter…"

Cat's eyes flew open, her body was clammy and trembling. She brought her mouth to her lips and her eyes misted over. She had turned seventeen three months ago, her mother didn't have long to live at all. She whimpered and closed her eyes tightly. It wasn't fair! Why should she lose her mother to that man? Why must she lose her home to that man?

The next chapter, Cat will escape and curiosity will lead her to reveal the real "Sinjin".