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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"No woman should build her life waiting for a man to come along and save her. It's a tragic waste of brains and talent."

Stephanie Grace Whitson

VENTUNO

Jaqueline = 20
Elena = 18
Jeremy=15

Jacqueline sighed as she walked into Rousseau's the local restaurant owned by sisters Sophie and Jane-Anne Deveraux. Honestly she wasn't quite sure what she was doing here, but she figured she could decide that while she was here. Jacqueline knew it wasn't her place, but she wanted to see why Sophie was so against the Harvest.

If the girls had agreed to do this... then who were they to stop them?

Jacqueline figured that if she could confirm that the girls knew what the ritual is and exactly how it's going down then there would be no need to intervene. However, Jacqueline needed to eliminate the possibility that the girls had been lied to or misled. She had heard of that happening before within the ancestral and sacrificial magic practicing covens. Jacqueline could only hope this was different.

"Hi, what can I get you?"

Jacqueline was pleased to see the voice belonged to Sophie Deveraux, just the woman she had wanted to see. "A conversation, Sophie" Jacqueline said giving the witch her friendliest smile

Sophie narrowed her eyes, "Who are you?"

"Jacqueline" she told the woman before nodding to the spare seat at her table. "I'd like to talk to you about the Harvest" Jacqueline announced when Sophie hesitated to give her the time of day. The mention of the Harvest had Sophie sitting down immediately.

Sophie searched Jacqueline's face for anything to indicate what she knew.

"What do you know about it? You're not from our coven" Sophie said eager for information

"I know of the ritual from research" Jacqueline admitted telling as much truth as she could. "It's a rare ritual. I'm here because I heard about your concerns and I want to make sure that those girls know what they're really getting into"

Sophie nodded, "It feels all wrong. The elders are hiding something. The coven has a larger number of witches, the Ancestral magic is spread through too many of us. Bastiana says that the ritual will slice the girls palms and put them into a sleep where they'll be able to communicate with the ancestors. Apparently they'll bring back more magic with them and wake from the coma like state. But I think they're killing off the girls who would be next to have children"

Jacqueline frowned.

That's not what she had heard the ritual is for...

"Well, from my understanding that's not what the Harvest is" Jacqueline said as she leaned forward in concern. "What my sources have found say that 'The Harvest' is a sacrifice. 4 girls go through 4 days of preparations then on the last night they'll be brought to the covens strongest source of power and killed. The blade will be blessed and their throats will be slit... Sophie, the Harvest brings more power to the coven but it's said that the girls will be resurrected once they all die. A small ritual is performed to bring them back form the 'other side'"

Sophie had tears in her eyes that she furiously blinking back.

"So it's all a lie?" Sophie said angrily

Jacqueline shrugged, "Do you know for sure what they've told the girls?"

"Yeah and it doesn't involve them being killed!" Sophie hissed but the anger wasn't directed at Jacqueline. "Listen, Jacqueline, can I see the sources you've looked at?"

"I'll reach out and see if I can get a copy" Jacqueline nodded as she stood again, her mind whirling with her options here. It wasn't her place - something that she kept trying and failing to tell herself. Cause for as much as it wasn't her place, she didn't think she could stand by and let 4 girls be betrayed by their very own coven.

At least not without knowing of the possible betrayal beforehand... Right?

"Can I have your number?" Sophie asked quickly

Jacqueline nodded and exchanged numbers with Sophie before she swiftly left the French Quatre and made her way back to the Pack in the bayou. Jacqueline messaged Giovanni for a copy of the Harvest information she had been able to find. She sent a quick explanation that it looked like the girls were being misled and the leaders were keeping the real information quiet. Jacqueline knew mentioning that the girls family were panicking about not knowing would ensure that Giovanni wouldn't be mad at her for getting involved.

Jacqueline knew the danger she was putting herself in by getting involved.

While she had masked her true lineage... if a whole coven started looking at her closely then she might be discovered.

BloodWitches were targets enough without having actually done something to upset a whole coven of power hungry witches. If this coven were willing to kill their own children for more power then they wouldn't hesitate to kill a BloodWitch for involving herself in something she didn't need to be.

Jacqueline groaned.

She dialled Marcel's number knowing that there were just some things she couldn't allow to happen.

Jacqueline may have lied, cheated, killed, seduced and done some nasty spells in her life... but there were things that nobody should do and Jacqueline stood by that. This happened to be one of those things that Jacqueline would never do or allow to happen. She really wished everybody else felt the same - life would be easier that way.

You don't hurt kids - plain and simple.

The witches were standing around their ancestors graves stones, the entire coven gathered around the 4 young girls. It was a sight to see. The coven stood watching the 4 girls in their white dresses as Basitana - the leader of the coven - set fire to the sacrificial blade.

"Bastiana! Bastiana stop!" Sophie Deveraux yelled as she ran to stop the ritual before it starts.

A man from the coven moved to restrain Sophie and cover her mouth. Bastiana ignored the young witch. It was a touching effort that Sophie put up to the stop the ritual but with little knowledge of her own magic and nobody to help - it was in vein. Though that didn't stop Sophie from continuing to struggle against the witch holding her in place.

Bastiana exchanged a nod with a few of the other witches gathered in the front row watching.

Then Bastiana approached the girls with a smile, "To be born you must sacrifice. Do you have faith?"

The first teen nodded.

Bastiana took the teens extended hand then without warning, yanked the blonde closer and slit her throat. It was horrifically violent and caused the three other girls to scream in terror. This hadn't been what the coven elders had told those girls would be happening. Men from the coven surged forward to hold the other three girls in place. Bastiana swiftly and emotionlessly did the same thing to the red-headed teen who couldn't have been older than 14. The girl never stood a chance as the coven plotted to betrayed her.

"Monique" Bastiana called forward

Monique cried as her legs gave out, but the man holding her only pushed her closer to Bastiana. Monique was shaking in fear as Sophie called and screamed for her to run, to fight, to do anything to save herself from death. Bastiana only continued advancing on Monique as the young girl continued to look around frantically as she cried.

"Run Monique!" Sophie screamed, "Run!"

Monique shook in fear but was frozen in place.

However, Davina was not. Davina didn't want to die and she wasn't going to go without a fight. Davina struggled and screamed and cried. The 17 year old tried to hit and kick and lash out with magic to get away from the men holding in her down. But at the end of the day, Davina wasn't strong enough - not against two of the older witches in the coven.

"Mom!" Davina screamed for her mother who only turned her head away and refused to help. "Help me!" Davina screamed, pleadingly for anyone in the coven to move to help.

Nobody did.

Cause they had all known that this was a part of the ritual and they had all been prepared to allow it to happen.

"Help me!" Davina screamed and continued struggling and fighting against the men holding her. The 17 year old didn't want to die and she was going to fight until the very end.

Jacqueline used her magic to quietly appear in the cemetery right as Marcel and his vampires arrived. A fight broke out as Marcel allowed his vampires to attack any witch who was trying to complete the ritual. Jacqueline gave Marcel a nod when she spotted him ripping out the throat of one of the men who tried to stop him. Earlier in the day when they had met to talk about the ritual, Jacqueline had asked to cast a spell on him to make magic temporarily not work on him.

If anyone could get the girls out of here it was a vampire.

Jacqueline trusted that Marcel would look after the girls because he shared her opinion of kids being off limits. Not to mention the fact that she had been granted a vision of Marcels past where he was a slave on a plantation. Jacqueline knew that if the vision was coming to her then it meant she needed to allow him to do this. Which was why she took the extra step of making sure he would be able to do what needed to be done without getting immobilised by an angry witch.

"Help!" Davina continued struggling

Jacqueline admired the girl for the fight she was putting up and made a show up waving her hand in the air as she sent a flood of magic over to Davina. The man holding Davina fell back lifeless as Jacqueline had intended and Davina searched frantically for the person responsible.

Anyone who was going to help.

"Davina!" Jacqueline called to the girl who she had recognised. She and Sophie had approached the mothers of all the girls with the facts of the ritual.

It turned out that the mothers had known all along.

Davina looked scared but when a female witch from her coven reached to grab her, Davina took off running in Jacqueline's direction. Jacqueline focused and made sure that every witch who lunged for Davina dropped dead before they could lay a hand on the girl. Jacqueline was almost barrelled into by a shaking Davina. Jacqueline grabbed the girl, holding her close as they backed out of the middle of the fight.

Jacqueline's eyes met Marcels.

"Take her out of here. You're faster then me" Jacqueline said knowing he could hear her from across the cemetery

Marcel nodded and was in front of them before she could even blink. Davina jumped and hid further into Jacqueline.

Jacqueline looked at the teenage kindly, "Marcel will keep you safe. Go. I'll check in on you later" Jacqueline smiled calmly despite the situation.

Davina nodded and then Marcel disappeared with the young witch.

Jacqueline shook her head and went to help Sophie Deveraux who was about to literally get stabbed in the back.

When Jacqueline finally got done helping Marcel's vampires destroy the New Orleans witches bodies she couldn't help but feel a little sad at the disrespect. These Ancestral witches will never go to the other side and never be able to watch over their coven from beyond the grave - she had made sure of that. It was the highest disrespect you could give an Ancestral bound witch. It had been necessary though in order to dwindle the power and numbers of the coven.

For Davina.

For the girl who had been betrayed by her mother and coven as they led her to her death.

It had been necessary to make sure that once they died, the coven couldn't feed off of their powers. Jacqueline knew this would send a message to the witches as well as keep Davina safe. Jacqueline could only imagine the hurt Davina was experiencing right now after her family tried to kill her without remorse so they can wage a war against vampires.

It was pathetic.

Hurting children to gain some control over a location...

Jacqueline was glad that she hadn't been able to stand by and watch it happen. She just regretted not getting here faster than she had. It had taken a while for her to get the vampires into the cemetery past the covens barriers. Heaving a sigh she looked up as the people of New Orleans ventured out of their homes to begin their day. She hadn't been to bed yet but she was ready to collapse into the slightly uncomfortable bed with the Pack as soon as possible.

Her phone rang.

"Hello" Jacqueline answered

"It's Marcel" Marcel said, "I've got her to a safe location... we've talked a little about what happens now and decided that I'm gonna protect her from the witches"

Jacqueline let out a small breath of relief, "That's great" she said

"Yeah, well, I was wondering if you'd bring her some stuff she'll need or maybe keep in contact or something - she's lost and hurting right now" Marcel said, "She'll need anyone she can get and right now, all she can get is us"

"Of course. I'll find some clothes and stuff for her right now. She'll want out of what she's in now..." Jacqueline said as she turned on her heel and headed into the stores instead of towards her SUV. "I'll be there with some food or something within the hour. Just text me the address"

"Alright. Thanks" Marcel said before he added, "Listen... I'll take you out for drinks tonight?"

Jacqueline snorted, "Sure. I could use a drink" she agreed before hanging up the phone. Sighing, she shot a text to Tyler about her not being home for a little while longer. She didn't want Tyler or the Pack worrying about her not returning. Though Tyler had been the only one informed on what was actually going down last night, but she knew if he thought she had been hurt that he would of been out searching.

Pack or no Pack.

Jacqueline headed into the store and purchased a few items of clothing and sanitary things that Davina would need. Jacqueline figured she could cloak herself and stop in at Davina's house later when nobody was there to grab Davina's things. They couldn't risk someone from the coven trying to use anything to do a locater spell on Davina. Which also meant Jacqueline would have to put up some wards around wherever Davina would be staying at.

She hoped it was at least a decent place.

The poor girl had been through enough already.

After grabbing some ice lattes and toasted croissants Jacqueline grabbed a box of donuts and used a little cloaking spell so nobody could track or spot her. Following the directions Marcel had given her she arrived at the abandoned church. Cringing a little at the idea of Davina living in the church she entered and easily sensed Davina's magic.

The ritual must have allowed Davina to absorb the other girls magic when they were killed, Jacqueline guessed as she felt the strong magic.

"Davina?" Jacqueline called out as she struggled with the boxes and bags in her hand. When she got no response, Jacqueline used to magic so that she didn't have to hold the bags and boxes. Instead they floated in the air and followed beside her as she walked further into the Church.

Frowning she spotted stairs.

"Davina?" She called out and took the stairs two at a time until she reached an attic room. Furrowing her brow she pushed the door opened and found Davina silently crying on the dirty old bed. "This place needs a good clean" Jacqueline said as way of announcing her presence.

Davina's head snapped up in her direction.

"Hey Davina" Jacqueline smiled at the girl as she ventured further into the room. "I brought you some stuff" she said before taking a seat on the creaky bed beside the sniffling teen.

"It's floating?" Davina said in surprise

Jacqueline grinned as she nodded and used magic to guide everything carefully to the bed. She grabbed the ice lattes and handed one to Davina. "You drink coffee right?"

Davina smiled, "Sugary lattes? Of course"

Jacqueline smiled and sipped her drink before she watched Davina go through everything she had brought and inspect the new clothing. She was glad she had guessed right about Davina's size in clothing cause they all looked like they'll fit just fine for now. While Davina was distracted Jacqueline reached out with her magic and walked around the room creating the barrier to protect Davina. If anyone tried to get into the room they were going to need an invitation - vampire, witch, werewolf or human.

Since it was Jacqueline's magic, the rule didn't apply to herself though.

Or Davina.

"What type of witch are you?" Davina asked

Jacqueline was a little surprised Davina noticed but with the increase in power she had just received, it was probably to be expected. "Can you keep a secret?" Jacqueline questioned

Davina nodded, "Yeah. You saved me the least I can do is keep a secret for you"

"You don't owe me anything, Davina, but I'm a BloodWitch" Jacqueline shrugged when Davina's eyes widened. "We're nothing like your coven would have told you. I'm not evil or bad and my magic isn't dark" she corrected quickly, not wanting Davina to be scared.

Davina was silent.

Then Davina nodded, "If you were evil then you wouldn't have saved a stranger"

Jacqueline nodded in agreement, "There are just some things people shouldn't do - and hurting children is one of them"

"Thanks for that... for saving me... I didn't want to die" Davina whispered

"I could tell with how hard you fought. I respect you for fighting as hard as you did and I couldn't let you die" Jacqueline said, "I just wish I had gotten there in time to save the others"

Davina rested a hand on Jacqueline's in comfort. Jacqueline jerked in surprise when she felt her magic reach out and latch onto Davina. She stared at Davina in surprise before she chuckled a little and patted the girls hand affectionately, "You're going to be very important in my life. You're family now, Davina"

Davina looked surprised, "What?" she squeaked

Jacqueline smiled, "That's how I looked the first time it happened. Did you feel your magic react just a minute ago?"

"It's been doing weird things since the others died" Davina said quietly

"No, I mean, did you feel it reach out just a second ago when I touched your hand?" Jacqueline questioned with knowing eyes as Davina hesitantly nodded. "Well, that's my magic latching onto yours. It tells me that you are going to be important in my life - I don't know how, or why, but I do know that it makes us family and me loyal to you"

Davina's eyes widened.

"You don't have to worry about it now. It's not a bad thing" Jacqueline assured, "It makes us friends"

"Okay" Davina smiled and relaxed at the much simpler explanation.

"Now. Why don't we use some of your new magic and clean this place up some?" Jacqueline asked as she stood and looked around the room.

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