Circumstances

Pairing: OC/Rebekah

Summary: As much as everyone thought they knew, Jacqueline always managed to prove them wrong. People claim to know who she is, what she's done, what's she's been through - and yet none of them can see all of it. What happens when she meets a certain Original Vampire who sees every little thing about her. From the way she walks to the way she acts... but will Jacqueline allow her supernatural mate to see her past as if they experienced it themselves. Elena bashing.

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"There is an old saying; that which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I don't believe that. I think that things that try to kill you make you angry and sometimes sad"

Jax Teller, Sons of Anarchy

DOCICI

Jaqueline = 18
Elena = 16
Jeremy=13

"I hate you!" Elena screamed and stomped up the stairs to her room, slamming the door closed behind her as she did so.

Jaqueline stood there attempting to breathe deeply and calm herself down but she'd had a bad morning and this certainly wasn't helping anything. Actually, her entire week had been one shitty thing after the other. The funeral, it had been exactly 20 days ago today... and Elena and Jeremy had seemed to of decided that they would fight her every step of the way from that point on.

At first Jacqueline had thought Jeremy might be more accepting of the situation but he seemed to be taking it worse than she had thought.

...and now it wasn't just one teen lashing out; but both.

"She probably didn't mean it" Tyler offered up awkwardly with a shrug of a shoulder as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen.

While Jacqueline knew Tyler was only attempting to make her feel better about everything, the comment only ignited fury in her very core. Her hand twitched at her side, the overwhelming need to just... just destroy something, was all too consuming.

She had barely left the house after Elena got back home from the hospital. There had been no time for her to deal with her own feelings on what happened. Her parents deaths weren't particularly bothering her, but she felt pain and anger at being the cause of Elena and Jeremy's troubles. Neither teen would even look in the direction of a car and it hurt knowing that they blamed her for what happened.

Yet she had been pushing those feelings down as far as they would go.

It had been a month now and in combination with those feelings, her new found magic and worry over being exposed as a witch were causing her to be even more restless.

She needed to let loose, to get all the bottled up emotions out but there never seemed to be any time for her to do so. Not when she was constantly chasing after Elena and Jeremy to help them get to therapist appointments and everything else that needed to be done. All the while neither teen bothered to speak to her or acknowledge her unless they were saying something about it being her fault.

Jacqueline let out a shaky breath as she attempted to once again force her emotions down... only this time it didn't seem to be working.

"Jacqueline!" Tyler yelped

At the sound of her name she snapped her eyes open and was surprised to see the living room curtains blazing in fire. Of course, she knew what had started the fire - her magic - but she hadn't quite realised just how powerful her emotions seemed to be in affecting said powers. Jacqueline watched as Tyler tried and failed to put out the flames, his face full of worry and a little panicked confusion when she made no move to help him in doing so. She was more focused on the magic buzzing in the room and in her blood.

It felt weird.

The fire and magic, that is.

Jacqueline tilted her head at the flame and concentrated, she could feel it, she could feel the flames as if they were an extension of herself. It was almost like the flames were waiting for her instruction; should they continue to burn the fabric, spread, or die out?

It was kind of amazing!

"Tyler?" Jacqueline called out, sounding way too calm for this situation but she wasn't particularly worried about that. "Can you just - can you just get out of the way for a second?"

Tyler looked at her like she was crazy but, clearly hoping she had a plan, dutifully moved out of the way and looked between her and the burning curtain. "W-what are you doing? We gotta put those out!"

"Just give me a second, alright?" she snapped impatiently then focused her attention back on the flames. Maybe the best way she was going to get control of these powers was through using and understanding them?

...if nobody was going to help her learn then she would do it herself!

Staring at the flames she knew what she wanted to happen and so she focused on what she wanted them to do. For a second she thought that it might not work but then, just as she had envisioned, the flames did what she wanted them to. Slowly the flames died out and extinguished themselves, leaving behind a charred and ruined curtain in its wake.

"I did it!" Jacqueline smiled happily and was filled with a sense of accomplishment and excitement. "This can't be that hard" she nodded to herself completely forgetting Tyler was in the room with her and had watched the entire scene.

Tyler was staring at her with wide eyes, mouth agape and hands running nervously through his hair as he attempted to understand what happened. "W-what?!" Tyler managed to choke out

Jacqueline winced when she looked up at him then sighed before gesturing for him to follow her into the kitchen. "I guess I have some explaining to do, huh?" she muttered sarcastically as they both took a seat at the dinning table.

She waited for him to calm down first.

And it did take a while.

Tyler still looked like he was going to pass out for a while, as they sat there in silence. It only took about 30 minutes before his eyes turned to hers in a look that was more curious disbelief then confusion. "Explain" Tyler demanded

"It's going to sound crazy, Tyler, you probably won't believe me at first but I want you to remember that I have never lied to you" Jacqueline implored before sighing softly, "The supernatural world - it's real"

"Wha- I - How?" Tyler shook his head in confusion, "What do you mean Supernatural world?"

"I mean vampires, witches, werewolves, succubus... their real" she informed him calmly waiting for a reaction. "I'm a witch, I guess. I only found out recently-"

"You are a witch?!" Tyler stood from his seat, his voice in a hushed whisper yell. Shaking his head with a scoff he paced the room a little before dropping back into his seat. The kid looked defeated. Like he knew it was either believe her, or admit he was crazy, and he probably didn't think he was crazy.

Jacqueline's lips twitched up into a small smirk as she watched his reaction, more entertained by it then she was willing let on.

"I tried going to other witches, to find someone who can help me" Jacqueline admitted with an angry sigh that she couldn't repress. Because it still made her angry. Remembering how many times she had been thrown out of witches shops for 'being an abomination' or 'someone who shouldn't exist' when all she was is a confused teenager looking for help.

Jacqueline didn't understand that mentality.

She didn't get how if nature was this 'all seeing' mystical power, like what most consider god to be, then how could an abomination exist?

If nature was always correct, always good, always light, always balanced... then how could it allow something to exist that went against all that?

These witches, in all honestly, sounded like a bunch of whacked-out hypocrites afraid of power that they can't possess or begin to understand. They sounded like they hated her and her magic just because it was something they couldn't have for themselves. Their prejudices seemed so engrained in their minds that she doubted anything would ever be able to change what they think and that was dangerous.

...Cause blind hatred is a scary thing.

And Jacqueline wanted to make sure that Tyler never got caught up in his own incomprehension of something different that he would ever be riddled with blind hatred.

So, she told him everything about meeting Enzo and about the many witches she had gone to see. The very witches who instead of taking the time to explain to her what was happening - had created a ticking time bomb inside her that she had no control over. How they had threatened and spoke down to her as if she were the scum of the earth all because she was born with magic that was 'against nature' and 'against the balance'.

Tyler looked shocked and fascinated all at the same time - something she understood perfectly.

Jacqueline didn't posses knowledge of magic or anything like that but she did have instincts. Instincts that seemed to be magic related. Somehow, Jacqueline just knew - deep in her very bones - that she was capable of more magic than any regular witch could ever handle. She knew her magic was stronger, unlimited, and trusted it explicitly. Those instincts screamed to her that she would never be controlled or dictated by 'nature' or any other witches - she knew never to trust 'natures servants' with anything.

...they're beneath her and she felt that in her very core.

"I- just, wow" Tyler muttered shaking his head as he sat back in the chair and sighed. "That's, I mean, I don't get this whole nature and balance thing"

"I don't really get it either" she admitted on a sigh, "From what I gather, it's basically like, a version of mother nature and god all rolled into one. Witches are apparently supposed to be servants of nature, keeping the balance, doing good..." she rolled her eyes

"No offence but they don't seem that good to me" Tyler snorted

Jacqueline shrugged, "Dunno, never really talked to them for long, they were too busy telling me I shouldn't exist" she sighed

"Well, what are you going to do with the... the magic?" Tyler frowned like he really couldn't believe he was having a serious conversation about magic and witches.

Jacqueline smiled, "I have to learn to control it and fast" she told him growing more serious for a second. "The Augustine group - they wouldn't hesitate in killing or even capturing me if they found out, Tyler" she warned

Tyler paled, "So nobody can find out" he agreed

"Nobody can know" Jacqueline agreed, "And I need to get control of it quickly before someone finds out... I just have to avoid Shelia Bennet at all costs"

"Yeah..." Tyler nodded shaking his head, "I can't believe this is real"

"I get it" Jacqueline smirked knowing that she had felt similarly when she first found out about everything. Though she supposed she had been able to come around to it fairly quickly after seeing Enzo be tortured by her father - that wasn't exactly something you could find an alternate reason for - it was undeniable.

Jacqueline wandering around the town square as she munched on the biscotti she had purchased from one of the stands. Mystic Falls pretty much has an event or some function every week, and this weeks was a international baking contest. The various stalls and activities set up for the town had brought almost everyone to the town square.

And she was Jeremy and Elena's ride here.

She was bored at the moment and considering most people in town avoided her like she'd infect them with her 'delinquent-ness' if they got within a few feet of her.

Rolling her eyes she paused as a weird feeling of chills went down her spine and dread filled her stomach. Frowning she glanced around and found nothing in particular stood out to her as odd or dangerous... but she trusted her instincts and this was no different. Which was why she moved a little quicker in crossing the town square to reach where she had spotted Jeremy and Vicki hanging out.

Jacqueline looked up from the ground to see that 9 women had her surrounded in the woods. Frowning she looked at each of them in confusion and felt pain in the back of her head - like something had hit her really hard. "Who the fuck are you?" Jacqueline demanded

Blinking, Jacqueline looked around only to see she was not in the woods and there were no women surrounding her. She wasn't sure what that was about but it was almost like a video flashing in her mind. A warning feeling trickled down her spine but she didn't stop walking towards Jeremy.

Maybe it was time they got the hell out of here?

A redhead stepped forward from the group and stared down at her with hatred burning in her eyes. "You're young, I'm sorry this has to happen. You can't exist - You're stronger than any of your coven I have every come across... but you have to die to ensure the balance" the woman said

"You're witches" Jacqueline realised and jumped to her feet quickly as she assessed her situation.

"Yes, we're witches and witches are supposed to be servants of nature. Possessing too much magic is wrong and possessing magic capable of such darkness is disgusting" The witch spat out

Jacqueline blinked again and almost stumbled into Jeremy as she came out of whatever trance she had just been in. She frowned in confusion and increasing worry before she felt a hand on her shoulder and refocused her sight on Jeremy's worried face.

"Jacq?" Jeremy frowned, "Are you okay?"

"No, no, we have to go" Jacqueline told him seriously and grabbed his wrist in her hand as she pulled him beside her. Looking around the park she scanned for Elena but couldn't see her little sister anywhere. Instead her eyes landed on a familiar face - one from the flash she had seen of being surrounded by witches.

Jeremy continued frowning as she pulled him along beside her, throwing a confused look over his shoulder at Vicki as they went. It didn't matter how mad Jeremy was at her - he could tell when something was wrong and if it was enough to rattle Jacqueline then Jeremy wouldn't argue with leaving.

However that didn't stop him from wanting to know what was happening.

"Jacqueline?" Jeremy questioned frowning with worry, "What's going on? What's wrong? Is Elena okay?"

Jacqueline sighed not sure how she was supposed to explain this to her little brother at the moment. "We're looking for Elena now, Jer, it's time to head home" she said not wanting him to think Elena was hurt.

...Not after Elena's recent brush with death.

The witches started chanting words she couldn't recognise or understand. Jacqueline looked at them and tried to make a run for it when burning pain took a hold of her entire body. It was agony and she let out a loud scream of pain.

"Why are you doing this?!" Jacqueline asked as she attempted to breath through the agony, she was stronger than they realised and she wouldn't let them just kill her while she waited for the final blow to hit.

A blonde woman tsked, "Because your evil - your power is evil and it will inevitably turn you into a monster" she said.

Jaqueline sucked in a deep breath at the sight of herself being brought to her knees in pain like she had never seen before. Jacqueline wasn't about to let that happen because she didn't want to die anytime soon. No amount of bitchy witches were going to bring her down. Shaking her head to rid it of the - vision? warning? - she didn't know what it was but she wouldn't allow it to actually happen.

Nobody was going to get the jump on her!

"Where the hell is Elena?!" Jacqueline growled but then spotted Tyler and pulled Jeremy over towards where the teen was talking with Matt and some football players.

"What's going on, Jacq?" Jeremy asked again but went ignored as they approached Tyler

"Ty?" Jacqueline called out

Tyler looked up at her and frowned before making his way over to her and Jeremy quickly. Clearly recognising something was wrong, Tyler quickly left his friends and jogged over to them with a deep frown on his face. "What's wrong?" he questioned

Jacqueline sighed and fished out her car keys before pressing them into Tyler's hand, "I need you and Jeremy to find Elena then go home" she told them seriously, her own eyes widening in an effort to convey how serious this was.

Tyler frowned before lowering his voice so Jeremy couldn't hear, "Is this about - about what you told me?" he worried

"Yeah" Jacqueline nodded slowly, "Those nature witches are here, Tyler, and I'm pretty sure that they want me dead" she whispered back

With wide eyes Tyler nodded and took the keys before looking around for Elena as he agreed to what she needed him to do. "Yeah, yeah, we'll get back to your place" Tyler nodded before looking at a suspicious and confused Jeremy. "C'mon, Jeremy... I'll drive"

"Wait!" Jeremy snapped as he looked between them. "What's going on?"

"I'll explain it to you when I get home, Okay?" Jacqueline whispered quickly as she pushed Jeremy to follow after Tyler. "You just have to trust me" she told him before she looked around the park again, her eyes falling on another one of the witches. "I gotta go" she said

Jacqueline walked off in the opposite direction, she could feel the magic humming all around her - strong, and ready for a fight. The magic was poised to strike and allow her to defend herself and she would do just that. Cause if some witches wanted to kill her then she was going to fight tooth and nail against them. There was no way she was going down without a fight.

...she would do whatever she needed to do in order to stay alive.

Swallowing, she realised that it most likely would take more than a few punches to get through this. These witches didn't just want to fight her, they want to kill her, and they weren't going to just walk away without accomplishing that.

Someone is going to die tonight.

And it won't be Jacqueline.

Turning around the corner in the secluded area of the alleyway she ducked into the small fenced off area knowing full well that she was being followed. Jacqueline was going to have to take every advantage she could get and that happened to include the knowledge of the area. Rushing into the dead end alley, she jumped up onto the trash can and hauled herself up onto the roof of the abandoned building.

There weren't many places in town that were abandoned and unused but this was one of them and with the town event, she knew it wasn't likely anyone would be around here.

Which made it perfect for a fight.

The woods was clearly where the witches wanted to do this if it were up to them, and she hoped taking that away gave her the upper hand.

Jacqueline crouched on the rooftop, the sun setting cast a low light across the area below. Shadows appeared from the approaching witches but the moving shadows were the only indication that the witches were nearby. They seemed to move without sound - or at least no sound that she was able to hear. Slowly, she watched the 8 women walk into the alley only to realise that it was a dead end and there wasn't anywhere she could have gone.

Straining to hear, Jacqueline picked up a few words as the women spoke but was quick to realise it was whatever foreign language they had chanted in during her vision or whatever it was.

The redhead began the words speaking with confidence before the others joined in the chanting. It grew in volume and the air around them cracked with magic. Magic, that Jacqueline knew held a great amount of power.

Shaking her head she let a silent sigh pass her lips, this was one mess she didn't know how to get out of!

Jacqueline wasn't even sure how this whole magic witch thing worked let alone how to prevent 8 strong witches from killing her... the plan had been a lot simpler in her mind. Now faced with the reality of it, well, Jacqueline knew she was royally screwed. However, that didn't mean that she had any other option but to fight. These witches weren't going to stop just because she didn't know how to use her powers like they do and they certainly aren't going to stop cause she managed to get home before they could grab her.

It would just mean they had to plan a new attack.

...one that could endanger her family or expose her to the founders council or Augustine organisation.

Breathing in deeply Jacqueline shut her eyes and allowed her instincts to feel the coiled magic she possessed. She wasn't sure what she was doing but she trusted her instincts and she trusted her magic. Without thinking too much about it she let her magic lash out at the unsuspecting and distracted witches below.

Jacqueline's eyes shot open when a rush of magic stuck out against the witches. Letting the anger, confusion and rage motivate her magic to be as volatile as she could get it to be Jacqueline struck out against the redheaded witch. Watching as the woman was thrown into the wall across the alley - breaking the groups chanting and drawing their attention. Thankfully, they had yet to see her and so remaining crouched in her position she continued her assault... magic throwing the women apart with a violent sweep that sent them all sprawling across the alley.

"Well shit" Jacqueline muttered surprised at the strength that was behind a simple flick of her magic. Maybe she really did stand a chance against them in a fight?

Standing up from her crouched position she made her way to the edge of the rooftop, looking down at the witches who had promptly recovered from being thrown about like dolls. Their magic crackling in the air sought Jacqueline out in an effort to hurt her back.

It was a startling feeling.

Before she really knew what was happening, three of the witches were chanting and Jacqueline was flung off the roof. In shock her hands moved out - attempting to break her fall when she eventually landed - but instead she found herself hovering in the air.

What was worse was she didn't know if it was their doing or her own...

Either way, Jacqueline was pissed that they tried to send her off the roof and she lashed out with deadly force. Intending the blonde witch excruciating pain, Jacqueline only blinked when the blonde fell to her knees screaming and clutching her chest. Feeling a little more in control of the situation, Jacqueline expanded her anger and magic so it wasn't only concentrated on the blonde.

It all happened so fast.

One second there were a few witches who had managed to get to their feet and then all of a sudden they were falling to their knees screaming in pain. Jacqueline pursed her lips at the knowledge that she was the one responsible for causing so much pain - it was frightening, especially when she didn't really understand how it was happening.

All she did know was that it's necessary.

It's them or her.

And Jacqueline wasn't going to die today - it was their choice to come after her with the intentions of killing her because of some 'nature' bullshit and these are the consequences of that. They made this choice and Jacqueline drew strength from that. She had known when she sent her brother with Tyler that there was a possibility she would die in this fight, she had seen a version of that. Known those were the consequences of fighting a bunch of witches. Surely they had to of known they faced the same risks by coming after her too?

And if they hadn't then they were idiots...

Shaking her head, Jacqueline was momentarily distracted as she hesitated on what she was supposed to do next. She never counted on the 4 other witches who had been down, to get back up, and that was her mistake.

She didn't see them scramble to their feet at the sound of their friends screams until it was too late...

"What the fuck!" Jacqueline breathed out as she was thrown backwards into a wall, loosing the concentration she had on keeping the other 4 witches down. Now at a disadvantage Jacqueline wheezed in pain when a witch's hand raised and after muttering something under her breath, Jacqueline felt like she couldn't breath.

It felt like something was crushing down on her neck, to the point where she was left gasping for breaths.

"You're strong" The redhead witch said almost appreciatively as she advanced on Jacqueline. "But you're new at this - untrained, weak, and vulnerable all own your own" the woman smirked then, a cruel smirk that meant she enjoyed causing the pain.

Jacqueline sucked in a breath and clutched her neck before forcing her own lips to curl up into an equally snarky smirk. This witch-bitch clearly liked knowing she was causing pain and Jacqueline wasn't going to allow the stupid bitch to get more enjoyment out of this.

If she was going to die then, it would be with her pride intact.

Jacqueline forced out a breathy chuckle as she gasped painfully for air, glaring fiercely at the woman in front of her, Jacqueline let her magic react to the threat. She wanted this witch dead and focused her power on envisioning that. A startled scream left the redhead before her neck was snapped to a unnatural angle with a sickening crunch. "That was some nasty shit" Jacqueline gasped out as the force constricting her airway released. Without time to recover and fight back another witch was mumbling under her breath and shooting pain busted in Jacqueline's head. Her hands clutched at her forehead in unbearable pain that made her vision blurry and white dots to appear as she blinked.

She couldn't think straight.

She couldn't even form a coherent thought.

But Jacqueline had something that those witches weren't accounting for; instinct, power and defiance.

Her head hurt so bad that she couldn't think, so she didn't, she let her magic react with all the strength she had left in her body. All her effort went into pushing the magic away from herself and hoping that it might knock out a few witches or something. She didn't know what was happening or what that would do but she hoped something in her favour would happen...

A scream of effort tore through her hoarse throat and magic exploded from within her so violently that it replicated what Jacqueline assumed a bomb would do.

Sheer exhaustion encompassed Jacqueline as her head stopped exploding and she was able to groggily blink her eyes at her surroundings. At first all she could see was fuzzy shapes but then her eyes widened at the sight of dead witches surrounding where she was crumpled on the floor.

She had done this?

Jacqueline sighed in relief, unable to feel anything else at the moment. She had won - she was going to live another day and Jacqueline didn't think she was capable of feeling bad about that. If it had to be them or her - she would pick herself. And why would anyone expect her to allow a bunch of racist, prejudice, witches to kill her just because they don't like the power she has?

Breathing out Jacqueline attempted to pick herself up off the floor but cried out as pain shot through her entire body. It felt like she had gotten hit by a truck and then smashed in the face with a hammer right after. Everything hurt and she was well aware that her nose was bleeding profusely down the front of her face, neck, and shirt.

She didn't know what the fuck to do now?

Jacqueline closed her eyes and allowed a few tears to fall from her eyes as she attempted to move again. Cringing in pain she only managed to get as far as pulling herself up to lean against the nearby wall before the pain became too much.

The sound of approaching footsteps caught Jacqueline's attention but she was too hazy to actually be able to do anything. Even panicking took more energy than she currently possessed at the moment. Instead, her head lulled to the side against the wall and she watches with drooping eyes as an older woman ran into the alley way. A gasp left the woman as she took in the scene, her eyes searching the mess of blood and bodies until they landed on Jacqueline. "Wow" the woman muttered more to herself than Jacqueline as she approached slowly and crouched down in front of Jacqueline.

Jacqueline tried to move away from the woman, feeling the magic radiating off the stranger and knowing she couldn't win in another fight.

"Hey, Hey" The woman held out her hands in a placating manner as she frowned at Jacqueline and inspected Jacqueline's injured state. "Let me help you... I'm here to help, okay? I-I'm family, blood family. I tried getting here in time to stop it but the attack didn't happen like it was supposed to"

Jaqueline frowned as she tried to comprehend what the woman was saying but she couldn't really think too much at the moment. The pain was too much and Jacqueline gasped in agony again with an excruciating burning started in her head. "I fucking hate witches" she breathed out in her classic deflection of emotion by going straight to sarcasm.

The older woman in front of her blinked, then smiled in amusement, bright emerald green eyes dancing with laughter as the stranger chuckled. "Oh, my darling, you look so much like her but that wit was all him" the woman said sounding sad and proud all at once as she spoke.

Jacqueline blinked at the stranger - her eyes growing droopy as she stared at the older woman - and even in her current state even Jacqueline could recognise that there was something about the stranger that seemed familiar, like there was something about her that Jacqueline recognised. But she didn't get to question it as the world around her fell into darkness and Jacqueline lost consciousness.

When Jacqueline finally woke up she didn't open her eyes, a sense of comfort surrounding her as she lay asleep. Yawning she stretched and was attached by aching muscles. A frown made it's way onto her face before the events of last night came to her mind and she shot up in bed. Looking around, panicked, she remembered the stranger who had found her after the fight.

What the fuck happened?

Jacqueline blinked and looked around recognising that she was in a motel room, on a bed that wasn't her own. There was a few books laying about and a map with what looked like herbs and spices in a bowl. The door handle jiggled and Jacqueline whipped around in time to see the same strange woman walk through the hotel door - a bad of food from the Mystic Grill in hand. Jacqueline would recognise those shitty paper bags anywhere, after all she'd been seeing them her entire life at the only place in town to eat. Letting out a small breath she knew she couldn't be far from home if the the woman was getting food from the Grill.

"Who are you?" Jacqueline asked, her voice hoarse and scratchy after the events of last night.

The woman smiled kindly, "My name is Giovanni Mancinelli of the le streghe d'Italia coven"

Jacqueline blinked in surprise but then nodded her head. "Okay. Where are we?" She asked focusing on the more important question.

Giovanni smiled, "We're in the local hotel, sweetie"

"Great" Jacqueline nodded before standing up and ignoring the way her body protested the movement. "Uh, what happened to those witches? Am I gonna have cops on my doorstep?"

"No. I took care of that" Giovanni assured and the older woman took a seat at the small table in the room corner of the hotel room. Sorting through the food she had brought with her when Jacqueline woke up.

Jacqueline watched Giovanni carefully as she assessed the witch. Giovanni had to be at least 50, maybe even 60 years old. However that didn't mean the witch was walking around with a walker or anything... but you could tell Giovanni wasn't exactly young anymore. With dark curly hair and emerald green eyes - Giovanni Mancinelli undeniably shared a the same prominent features as Jacqueline. She'd have to of been blind to miss it, after all, it's not exactly subtle.

It was obvious that Jacqueline was watching the older witch - she hadn't attempted to hide the fact. Yet Giovanni allowed Jacqueline her time to process before attempting to speak further and Jacqueline was thankful for that.

...there was a lot on her mind, after all.

Jacqueline sighed in comfort when she felt her magic hum once again, it seemed that she had finally regained enough strength to fell her magic again. She could feel it rising to the surface again as it calmed her down and soothed her aching muscles. Curiously Jacqueline tilted her head when she felt her magic reaching out. Those same magical instincts she had discovered kicked in and reached out, crackling in the air around her. Jacqueline wondered briefly if the reaction was because of her close proximity to another witch... and she seemed to be right about that. Cause before she knew what was happening, Jacqueline's magic latched onto Giovanni's magic.

An attachment was formed.

A bond of sorts.

Jacqueline didn't know why or how she knew this... but she does.

Without a doubt Jacqueline knew that Giovanni is an important person and is automatically someone she can trust. It was a strong feeling that sent a jolt through her body as their magic latched onto the others and she wondered if Giovanni felt the jolt too?

However, despite completely trusting her magic and the feelings it gave her - Jacqueline was unwilling to be vulnerable around a stranger and Giovanni was a stranger whether her magic recognised the woman or not. Keeping a blank face Jacqueline rose a brow at Giovanni, "What was that?" she questioned curtly

Giovanni smiled though, "That was a magical bond. This one, in specific, is a familial based bond"

"A magical bond?" Jacqueline echoed barely able to contain her surprise at the confirmation that Giovanni had felt it too. "Why? What does it mean?"

"They aren't something we can control, darling, they just happen when you're a blood witch" Giovanni nodded with a thoughtful hum. "It happens when your magic recognises someone as important to you. Familial bonds tend to happen between family members... usually from birth, though your magic recognised mine instantly. It probably would have happened last night if you hadn't been so drained"

"And how are we related?" Jacqueline frowned not sure how to feel about the suggestion that they were family. Though based off of their looks - it wasn't that far of a leap - but Jacqueline wasn't sure if she wanted to allow someone into her life who could have the capability to hurt her again.

Her current family members do that enough to last a life time...

"You're my granddaughter" Giovanni smiled warmly and her eyes sparkled with fondness already. "We've been searching for you... all these years and I never would have suspected this to be where you had been" The woman reached her hand out to cup Jacqueline's cheek.

Jacqueline stared at the woman claiming to be her grandmother and the gentle loving way Giovanni seemed to act towards her. She knew, without a doubt, that what Giovanni was saying is true. That, however, didn't mean she needed to accept any of it and so without thinking, Jacqueline jerked away from Giovanni and headed for the hotel door. Throwing it open she rushed out of the hotel and towards the stairs.

"Wait!" Giovanni called out from the doorway, "Please! Wait and let me explain!"

Jacqueline didn't stop though, she kept going and walked as quickly as she could further into town. She wasn't sure why she had done it - she knew Giovanni was telling the truth and she knew she could trust the woman. All Giovanni had shown her was kindness...and Jacqueline had thrown it back in the woman's face.

The very woman who had helped her after she passed out last night and apparently 'dealt' with the witches bodies. The woman who had let her sleep and recover before guying food so she could eat.

She felt the guilt gnawing at her as soon as she was far enough away to think clearly about how she reacted. But in her own defence, she wasn't sure why such a thing would get a good reaction from someone with Jacqueline's life experiences. She had trusted before, trusted her family, and they had not only disappointed her but proven time and time again that they didn't care.

It was happening again with Elena and Jeremy too.

Of course, Jacqueline knew that was her own fault - but it didn't make it any easier to deal with.

For as much as she pretends not to care, Elena's anger affected her more than even Elena understood. Jeremy always going silent when Elena's accusations and claims of hate didn't help the situation. It certainly didn't help that Jeremy was yet to look her in the eye properly. Jenna's looks of pity every time something happened only served to rub salt in the already open wound.

So, why would Jacqueline welcome another person into her life that seemed to easily gain the ability to cause her pain?

Jaqueline was always there for the people who are important to her but once again, when times got rough, it wasn't reciprocated. Yet again she was left on the outs. She was left to be the bad guy in order to make their lives easier and safe. Shaking her head she approached the Gilbert driveway and steeled herself for the oncoming fight before she unlocked the front door and stepped inside. Tyler's head shot up from where he had been sitting on the couch - apparently waiting. Tyler stood and pulled her into a hug before quickly pulling back and searching for an injury.

"You look like shit" Tyler commented before his eyes landed on the blood on her shit and whispered, "What the hell happened?"

"Are Jeremy and Elena, okay?" Jacqueline asked

Tyler nodded, "Yeah. Elena complained the entire time and she went into her room to call Bonnie. Jeremy waited up but then disappeared into his room last night" he explained. "Now what happened?"

"C'mon" she jerked her head in the direction of the stairs before leading the way to her bedroom. Jacqueline shut the door behind Tyler and collapsed onto her bed. Pulling out her phone she sighed at the various missed calls from Jeremy, Tyler and even Enzo. Deciding she needed her best friends advice as well, Jacqueline called Enzo back and put him on speaker before she told him and Tyler everything that had happened.

.

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