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.

..

"It's not hard to hate. To hate people, things, institutions. When they break your spirit and take pleasure in watching you bleed... hate is the only feeling that makes sense. But I know what hated does to a man. Tears him apart. Turns him into something he's not"

Jax Teller, Sons of Anarchy

QUATTORDICI

Jaqueline = 18
Elena = 16
Jeremy= 13

Jacqueline looked up when there was a knock on her door. Frowning, she wondered who it was, considering she didn't really know anyone from the Coven other than Giovanni. Regardless Jacqueline opened the door and came face to face with a man and a woman.

The woman smiled, a large grin that showed all her teeth, and stuck her hand out to Jacqueline to shake. "Hi!" The woman chirped, her blonde hair swaying around her shoulders as she bounced on the balls of her feet. "My name is Jessica Bernardi"

Jacqueline blinked and then slowly shook the blonde's hand in greeting. "I'm Jacqueline" she informed the couple. Jacqueline waited for them to announce why they'd randomly shown up at her new little apartment.

"Oh! Right, sorry!" Jessica chuckled and gestured to the man who had been silently standing there the entire time. "This is my bonded - Raymond Bernardi"

"Bonded?" Jacqueline echoed before she remembered Giovanni's explanation of it being the supernatural equivalent to marriage. "Right. Uh, it's nice to meet you both" Jacqueline said giving a small smile.

"Giovanni told us that you were up here. We thought we might see if you want to do some training with us?" Jessica asked

Jacqueline was surprise but nodded her head nonetheless. "Sure. Would you like to come in while I get ready?" She offered and opened the door wider with a gesture of her hand.

"Sure!" Jessica nodded and flounced on into the mini apartment without hesitation. Raymond chuckled but followed after his bonded without giving Jacqueline more than an amused smirk as he did so.

Jacqueline couldn't help a small snort from leaving her as she followed them into the living room. Both of them seemed a little too comfortable with invading a strangers space for her liking, but she chose not to comment on that. She didn't exactly know how things were done around here, in the coven, and maybe this was something they considered normal.

"Coffee? Tea?" Jacqueline asked, not really sure what she was supposed to do at the moment.

"It's alright" Jessica waved her off as the blonde relaxed into the couch next to Raymond.

Jacqueline shrugged and moved around the apartment as she grabbed shoes and socks. "Did you both, uh, grow up in the Coven?" she asked for lack of anything better to do.

Jessica nodded, "Yeah, well, I did" the blonde smiled warmly at Raymond before continuing. "My Dad died in the same attack as yours did"

"Oh?" Jacqueline mumbled surprised and intrigued at the same time. Giovanni had told her about the attack that sent her mother down a revenge-focused suicide mission. However, Giovanni had kept the specifics close to her chest and Jacqueline had never wanted to push the topic.

...However, Jessica seemed to be able to talk about it freely.

"I was 2 years old at the time of the attack" Jessica nodded and pushed some of her bouncy blonde waves behind her ear as she spoke. "My parents hadn't been together as long as yours had though. My Dad's death crushed my mom, but, you know, their bond wasn't as strong and so she didn't go crazy or anything... but she isn't the same"

"Sorry for your loss" Jacqueline nodded sadly at the blonde

"I don't really have any of my own memories of my father anymore, so, while I know I've lost something irreplaceable - I don't feel it the same way my mother does" Jessica shrugged a shoulder in reluctant acceptance. "At least I can see him in others memories though"

Others memories?

Jacqueline didn't really know what that meant but she smiled at Jessica nonetheless. The blonde seemed nice enough. While Jacqueline was still a little hesitant, she could see herself maybe making some real friends if everyone was this welcoming.

"I think I understand that" Jacqueline shrugged, "I mean, my birth parents, I've been told all these really great things about them. I never met them and I didn't know they existed until a few weeks ago... but from what I've heard about them - I missed out on meeting two really great people" Jacqueline admitted honestly

Ever since she had met Giovanni the older witch had been recounting wonderful stories about Jacqueline's birth parents. Stories that made Jacqueline wish she had been able to meet them. The more Jacqueline heard about her birth parents, the more she was filled with an odd combination of anger, resentment, sadness and a little amusement. The stories made them sound like vibrant people. People full of life, magic and love!

People who Jacqueline would never meet.

People who were replaced by others who didn't give a shit about her and didn't love her like they would have.

Shaking her head in annoyance at her own train of thought, Jacqueline stood and dusted her hands. "Alright. I'm ready to go if you guys are" she confirmed nodding to herself as she grabbed her phone and keys.

Jessica smiled, "Great! Have you been to the gym yet?"

"No" Jacqueline shook her head, "I think Giovanni pointed it out to me when she showed me around though"

"Well, it's great. There's all sorts of equipment and space in the gym" Jessica informed her as they walked out of Jacqueline's apartment.

Jacqueline didn't doubt that though... Everything in this entire coven seemed to be the best of the best. There was all this fancy high tech computers and technology everywhere. It seemed the coven made a point of having many modern and resources. Why would the gym be any different?

...though Jacqueline was perfectly fine with that!

She was excited to see what great equipment this gym would have for her to use. It had been a few weeks since she'd done any real exercise anyway.

God did she need it!

Jacqueline followed Jessica and a silent Raymond into the elevators. Making sure to take note of the fact that Jessica pressed level 4 for future reference. Considering the gym was no doubt a place Jacqueline would visit often.

When the elevator dinged and stopped on their level, Jacqueline stepped out into the large halls.

Following after Jessica and Raymond, she watched the pair move in perfect sync to the other. Jacqueline observed easily that the couple didn't seem to be too aware of their actions - it was as if they moved as one, rather than two seperate people.

They seemed to naturally gravitate towards the other.

And in a way that was so clearly more than just two people in love...

Jessica and Raymond seemed to seek out a small touch or closer proximity from one another. They breathed at the same time, moved at the same time. Such a connection even radiated a supernatural aura of strength that even Jacqueline seemed to be able to pick up on easily.

...She had to wonder if that was all because they were Bonded.

Jacqueline wasn't entirely sure what having a BloodBond meant. Giovanni had explained it as almost like having a soulmate - only soulmates were terms humans used in fiction. Jacqueline had thought it was like a marriage, only for Supernaturals.

However, she now wondered if it was more than just a commitment to the other?

Setting aside the observation for the moment, Jacqueline allowed herself to focus on the gym area they were approaching.

The place was huge!

It was the biggest, cleanest and most professional looking gym that she'd ever set foot in. There was rows of the very best machinery available. Weights were stacked safely against a wall. Punching bags hung in one corner of the room. Various mats provided space to spar or jump rope.

"This place is great" Jacqueline nodded in appreciation

Jessica giggled lightly, "Yeah. Everything in the coven is"

Jacqueline didn't doubt that in the slightest. From everything she'd seen so far - she had to agree with that statement.

Raymond moved to start the speaker system with some rock music.

Jessica smiled at her Bonded before looking back to Jacqueline with a smile. "Do you know how to fight?"

Jacqueline smirked, "Yeah. I used to fight in competitions"

Raymond rose a brow at hearing that. His eyes looked her over in an assessing manner. As if he would be able to tell how good of a fighter she is by muscle mass alone.

"I haven't seen either of you fight before, but I'm confident that I can at the very least hold my own" Jacqueline stated with a shrug, severely underplaying her true ability.

In reality Jacqueline was not only strong, quick and skilled in fighting - but smart and level headed. Jacqueline was an angry person, sure. Her temper often gets to her when confronted. However the one thing that made Jacqueline a great fighter was that she didn't allow her anger to control her actions. In a fight, she was able to see two moves ahead in what most called clam and deadly rage.

She goes from 1 to 10 real quick.

...but she also retains the ability to not let on that she'd reached 10 until it was time to strike.

Then again, that's what years of training teaches someone. It isn't all natural ability, but you do have to possess some control and determination to master it.

"Let's warm up then" Jessica smirked right back at Jacqueline - easily accepting that challenge.

Jacqueline laughed and warmed up with them. She was itching for a good fight.

"I think you'll fit in here perfectly" Jessica smiled excitedly. "Everyone else will love you in no time!"

Jacqueline chuckled but was ultimately relieved to hear that Jessica thought as much. The blonde woman seemed to be someone who very social in the coven. If anyone would know how others could react to Jacquelines presence - it would be Jessica.

...And maybe now she'd already made a friend?

Raymond nodded at her as she finished taping up her hands. "Ready?" He asked, voice low and hoarse.

Jacqueline nodded and smirked excitedly as they danced around each other. He may be a man, a decent sized man, but she was gonna kick his ass!

Jacqueline was excited and a little nervous to begin her learning with the coven. Giovanni had explained that she would easily be able to forego most of the less important classes and skip to the vital ones. Those apparently included languages, physical training, supernatural history and theory, then witchy-101.

...which is how Jacqueline found herself sat on a chair waiting for her history lesson to begin.

"Hello" a man nodded in greeting as he walked into the room. He looked like someone who would usually be labelled a history buff - all decked out in fancy suits and a bow ties. "My name is Christopher Gotti" he introduced himself.

"Im Jacqueline" she nodded in return and watched as he took a seat on top of the desk in front of her.

"Alright. I talked to the elders and they've agreed that since you weren't born and raised in the Coven that your learning will be a bit different"

Jacqueline nodded, "Yeah. They're taking into account that fact that I've already learnt a few things you teach here"

"Indeed" Christopher nodded in agreement. "I teach our covens history to the kids or newcomers"

This was one of the things that Jacqueline had actually been looking forward to learning about. She wasn't much of a fan for high school academics, but that had been mostly because of the school system. That, however, did not mean she was stupid.

Far from it actually.

In fact, Jacqueline was talented in taking in information and retaining it. The problem was that high school had either been difficult to attend or completely boring. Jacqueline just hoped that this type of history and subject would pique her interest more...

"Our coven is the oldest and largest coven to remain in existence" Christopher announced with an ounce of smugness seeping through his formal mask.

Jacqueline smirked without shame - somehow the knowledge that she was a part of a powerful witch covens, made her feel comfortable. The feeling that something in her life was missing had faded during her time with the coven. Hearing her bloodlines history seemed to also be a great thing.

Christopher chuckled and nodded, "We are all a proud bunch, aren't we?"

She let the corners of her lips quirk up into a small smile before she leaned back in her chair. This was going to be a long history lesson!

"The first witches to ever exist were 3 women, thousands and thousands of years ago. One was a Witch bound by nature, the other was a Witch bound by spirits and the third Witch was bound by blood" Christopher announced

"We are all descended from the third Witch?" Jacqueline said, catching on quickly to his point.

Christopher nodded, "Exactly. The three women went on to have many children, both male and female who inherited the same gifts. The Witches bound by spirits created what we now know to be ancestral magic. They were the weakest of the three witches, they had to wait for one of them to die before harnessing any real power. It led to chaos among their own family. The Blood witches and the Witches of Nature watched on as the spirit bound Witches nearly drove themselves to extinction"

Jacqueline shook her head at that information.

Those people had to be some real power hungry assholes to be killing their family in order to drain magic from them once they're dead!

And she had thought those Nature witches she'd met years ago were crazy!

"The rest of the witches lived without much issue for many years. Even leading to a few children being born with a parent from different Witch heritage" Christopher stated, "that soon became a problem though"

Jacqueline nodded unsurprised that children being born of two heritages would cause issues.

"Those children grew to retain the more dominant powers. For example; of a BloodWitch and a Nature bound witch have a child - the child will be a blood-witch" Christopher explained

"Then what was the problem?" Jacqueline frowned, "If the kid is one or the other then what does it matter?"

"They weren't just one or the other, though" Christopher interjected with a smirk at her confusion. "They would receive a special gift. Something that other witches of their dominant heritage couldn't posses"

"Oh" Jacqueline mumbled nodding

"Sometimes that made those children more powerful than most in their dominant heritage. Blood witches are more powerful than Nature bound Witches. This became clear with the mixing of bloodlines. In 100 years, not only did blood Witches triple in population, but so did the witches powers and gifts" Christopher said before sighing and adding, "The Nature bound Witches thought this was theft of their powers"

Jacqueline snorted, "Of course they did"

"Nature bound Witches started to hate Blood Witches because of it. They called our ancestors magic thief's and claimed that Blood Witches wanted more power than one person should have" Christopher explained. "Blood Witches didn't care though. Our ancestors knew enough of their powers by then to know they were stronger without a doubt. So for hundreds of years the hatred between the groups only grew. Covens began to form... at the time a coven was simply one small family of witches, usually a mother and father and their children"

Jacqueline nodded and gestured around the room. The various high tech computers and shelves of old looking books, were proof enough.

Because this coven sure wasn't just some little family...

Christopher chuckled, "Yeah, covens evolved over time. As the saying goes; strength in numbers. The Nature Witches formed Covens of several different families all joining together to hunt down Blood Witches. And Blood Witches formed Covens to ward off attacks and even attempt their own attacks"

"It was war?" Jacqueline asked

"Yes. Large groups of witches from each side had realised they'd never be able to co-exist together" Christopher said

Jacqueline huffed, "But if Blood Witches are more powerful than Nature bound Witches why are they in hiding now?"

She didn't get it.

Jacqueline had been a beginner, merely having access to her magic for a few weeks, when she defeated a group of witches on her own. With a Coven the size of this one, why did they still hide when they clearly were the stronger side?

She didn't get it at all.

Christopher smiled kindly, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. "Because over the last thousand year's enemies grew smarter. Now with the existence of werewolves and vampires... the witches aren't the only ones who are a danger to us"

Frowning in confusion, Jacqueline asked, "What would vampires or werewolves want with a Blood Witch?"

"We aren't limited in our powers like Nature Witches. Our magic belongs to us and cannot be weakened, taken or manipulated. It is our own to do with as we please" Christopher sighed, "That is a great weapon for anyone to have on their side"

"Right" she sighed but ultimately understood the gravity of her situation.

She was forever a target.

Jacqueline would always have to be wary of other supernatural creatures. Hell if she had been a vampire or werewolf in need of something... she'd probably think having a personal and powerful Blood Witch on hand, is a great idea.

The two sat in silence as Christopher let her digest all the information he had just given.

And this was just the cliff notes version!

Jacqueline wasn't sure how to feel now that she realised the threat was not just Nature Witches. Nobody would be able to ward off constant attacks or plots forever. Jacqueline had no doubt that one day someone would attempt something with her at some point. At this rate it's sounding like an inevitable fact...

However, learning all this had steeled Jacqueline.

And Jacqueline had decided, that she is going to be ready when that day comes. Cause she's a survivor and she'll do what needs to be done.

No matter what.

"Are you ready to continue your lesson?" Christopher asked, startling her out of her thoughts.

Jacqueline looked up at him with hard determination in her veins. She nodded, "I'm ready"

.

.