Welcome to my first darkish fanfic!
Leave a review if you have any questions or just want say 'yoohoo!'
WARNING: Blood, Gore, Murder, psychopaths, trauma, violence.
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of vampire diaries or originals or any of the characters. (Although I wish I did...)
OC - Evangeline Parker = Is my own creation! ;)
I was bored.
B. O. R. E. D.
As in, 'I have been watching the water droplets run down the car window for so long, I've named each one, created a fake life for them and placed bets on which one was going to reach the bottom first', bored.
And for what?
To attend my long-lost sister's wedding.
Never mind the fact that my brother was dead… Or that his funeral had only been a few months ago… or that Joe and I had never met before…
Basically, I was so mind-bogglingly bored, I was actually willing to entertain myself by thinking about what I was going to say when I finally met her for the first time.
The sad part was, I didn't even want to go in the first place!
Yet, here I was, sitting in the front seat of my dad's Jeep, moving agonizingly slowly towards Josette Parker's wedding in Mystic Falls, Virginia, USA.
"Are we there yet?" I asked for the nine hundred and fiftieth time today.
But could you blame me?
I WAS DYING OF BOREDOM OVER HERE!
"Five more minutes, Evangeline," Dad replied, not even bothering to address me by my preferred name. Which was just… UGH!
You would think that as my father's youngest child AND the only one still keeping him company at home, he would have learned to avoid using my full name by now!
He knew perfectly well that I preferred to be called 'Eve'. Just like how Olivia liked to be called 'Liv' or how Lukas liked to be called 'Luke'.
Luke…
God, I missed him.
My brain was still struggling to register that he wasn't coming home for summer break… that he would never be coming home again… Because he was gone now…
"We've arrived!" The car jerked to a sudden stop, sending me flying into the dashboard.
"Seriously, Dad? You couldn't have warned me first!"
He smirked as if he was still a mysterious coven leader. That was to say, he chuckled under his breath at my righteous rage while I glared back hatefully for cruel antics.
For Christ's sake!
His youngest son had just passed away at the hands of his oldest and he was acting like everything was fine. As if today was just another day at the rodeo!
Was he not supposed to be grieving like the rest of us?
God! What was wrong with him!?
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Dad hopped out of the car and straightened his tie. Leaving me to speculate on how exactly he managed to put a bit of pep in his step.
"Evangeline!" He knocked twice on the windshield, "Are you coming?"
His smile was wide and genuine, his eyes sparkled in the afternoon sun and the shadow of grief was absent from his shoulders. He seemed, for all tense and purposes, to be happy.
Which, in my opinion, was just plain disrespectful to Luke's memory.
"Haaaah," I sighed long and hard, "Dear God, please make sure this wedding doesn't suck balls, Amen."
Pushing open the car door, I replied with a quick "Coming!" before stepping out, ready to face the storm.
And, OH BOY! Was it a shitstorm if I ever saw one.
My oh-so-loved big sis had chosen a barn for her wedding venue. Cocktail stands had been erected on the grass, decorated with pretty pink flowers and white silks. Waiters, who clearly wanted to be anywhere but here, were busy passing out champagne flutes to any guest that seemed ready to doze off (They were all dozing off).
Not to mention the seats were made of hay bales!
To top it all off, large wooden poles had been randomly stuck in the ground and connected via beautifully twinkling fairy lights that did my head in. Oh, and there was a mini-orchestra guarding over the punch stand. Although, only the violinist was actually playing…?
"Wow," Dad nodded his head in approval, "This is lovely."
"Oh yea," I said, "Very chic."
I had already regretted my decision to come.
Before my emotionally-dead-to-the-world father could rope me into greeting the whole clan, I stomped up the hill to find a wall I could bash my head into.
It was lucky I did too!
Great Aunt Dorothy had seen her chance as I made my exit and had greedily sunk her talons into Dad's arm and dragged him away to some secluded nook for a 'chat'.
"Idiot," I rolled my eyes, when was he ever going to learn?
If I had a coven leader for as long as he had, I would have turned dodging the elders into an art form by now. But not my dad! He was caught off guard within seconds, Every! Single! Time! One of them approached.
It was truly pathetic.
"Eve?"
CRAP! My ears recognised that voice…
Preparing to dodge and ditch, I turned around as slowly as I could.
"Yes?" I asked gingerly.
Suddenly, my arms were pinned by my sides and I was engulfed in a boney hug. "It is so good to see you again!" Great-Aunt Dena gripped my shoulders tight before pulling me back for inspection, "You have grown into quite the young lady, hmm?"
I inwardly cringed at her choice of outfit. She wore her curly grey hair in a bob that highlighted her six chins and decorated her plump body in a frilly monstrosity coloured a putrid shade of plume, of all things?
"Oh, I'm sure boys simply flock towards you!" She chuckled merrily as she pinched my cheeks. "Now," she transferred her iron grip to my hands and pulled me towards a table filled with drunk teenage boys.
"Have you met my grandson, Nicholas, yet? I believe he is your third cousin, twice removed, making you two the same age!"
Cold hard dread swelled in my chest.
'Good God, please let this be some other Nicholas!'
"He just graduated and is applying for college," The old croon said, "Top of his class, is my Nicholas! Oh, you two will be a perfect match, I assure you!"
As soon as we reached the table, all five occupants' eyes were on us.
Boy number one, I recognised as cousin shaggy. Known for his untameable hair that he eventually learnt was easier to handle when he grew it out. Boy number two, his younger brother by the look of him, I vaguely remembered was being called 'Henry?'
Boys number three and four were a complete mystery…
Their blond, blue-eyed faces were just like Liv's. Yet, the nasty glint in their eyes that seemed to promise physical harassment, set them apart from her.
And then there was Nicholas.
He looked like the tall, strapping young lad he was in my dreams… ARGH! What was I thinking? He was my mortal enemy!
"Nicholas, my dear!" Dena cooed, going in for a one-handed hug (Her other still holding my hands hostage!)
"Grandma D," Nik returned the hug before eyeing me, "Who is this?"
His dismissal hit me like a slap in the face.
'Who is this?' He had asked? 'WHO IS THIS?'
We both knew I knew he knew who the bloody hell I was!
…Not that I could say anything out loud.
Great Aunt Dena tittered, "Don't be so rude! Do you remember Evangeline Parker? Joshua's youngest? I believe you two met last thanksgiving, correct?"
Our eyes met and I scowled.
Let him play the amnesiac, it was his funeral!
"Nicholas… Stank, right?" I asked innocently.
The boys at the table laughed, shamelessly listening in on our little battle of wits.
"It's 'Stonk' actually," Nik said.
"Oh, my bad!" I smiled serenely, "You'll have to forgive me, I don't make a habit of remembering the names of ever bitch I meet."
A chorus of 'oooh's circled around the make-shift battleground.
Nicholas openly glared, "Funny, I was gonna say the same thing about you!"
"Good heavens!" Dena cried, horrified at our, no doubt 'inappropriate,' display.
"Huh, so you do remember me, hmm?" I crossed my arms and raised a brow, "What took you so long? Testosterone scrambled your brains, Nik?"
"Don't go playing the martyr, Eve!" He growled, "It doesn't suit you."
"Like your one to judge, Nicholas. I'm not the one who strung a girl along, only to reveal he already had a girlfriend after he got what he came for!"
"You were the one who guilt-tripped me, crying and whining on my shoulder like a baby!"
"MY BROTHER HAD JUST DIED, YOU ASSHOLE!"
Nobody talked.
Nobody moved.
The entire coven and friends had frozen in shock at my angry outburst.
But, at that moment, I didn't care.
Lukas was dead… my one-night stand was being a dick... And my family was too busy celebrating a wedding to give a damn…
"Screw this!" Spinning on my heel, I let my instincts guide me towards the restroom.
'Motus!'
The toilet door burst open, slamming into the wall with a loud 'BANG!'
I took two steps in, turned on the faucet and was hit with a wave of sadness.
Tears streamed down my cheeks and the weight in my chest was squeezing the air out of my lungs. But all I could do was let myself cry, cry, cry. Until my eyes burned, my nose ran wild with snot, my head pounded like a drum and all my make-up was ruined.
Then, I cried some more.
Through it all, the image of Luke stayed at the forefront of my mind…
His overly serious face would beam back at me, simultaneously lighting up my world and making me feel awful over some non-existent crime at the same time…
His absence hurt.
Remembering him hurt.
Just saying his name hurt.
But what could I do?
Gone was gone! There was nothing I could do to bring him back! The person-shaped hole in my life was never going to be filled or fixed or healed!
"You okay?"
Liv appeared in the doorway, looking fabulous in her black cocktail dress and black stilettoes. It was a mix between goth and couture that suited her to a T.
"Cuz you look like crap," She crossed her arms and leant against the doorframe.
"Yea, well, that's probably because I feel like crap."
Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline, "No clever quip today? You're losing your touch, Eve."
"Cut me some slack," My head drooped onto the rim of the sink, "I'm grieving."
The soft 'click-clack' of Liv's heels drew closer as she walked across the black and white tiles. A hand, warm and comforting, tucked a stray curl behind my ear before pulling me into a much-needed hug.
A strangled croak slipped from my lips.
Liv held me closer.
"Shhh, it's okay," She whispered, "I miss him too."
One little sentence and the flood gates burst open again.
"It hurts," I cried shamelessly into her shoulder and held on for dear life, "I miss him so much, Liv!"
Like an amazing, wonderful, selfless sister, Liv refused to let me fall into despair in the middle of a barn restroom alone. She rubbed circles into my back, ran her fingers through my curly hair and let my snot and tears soak into her dress.
After what felt like centuries, I finally pulled back and took a deep breath.
"Thanks," I wiped my eyes and sniffled pathetically.
My chest still ached, my heart still bled but that giant, brother-shaped wound in the middle of my soul hurt just a tiny bit less with my big sister's support.
We had lost our brother and it hurt.
But I now knew I wasn't the only one grieving at Joe's wedding.
Liv was hurting just as much, if not more and she was holding it together like an absolute pro! There were no tears in her eyes, no forced smile painted across her lips, she was just quietly sad and ignoring the shroud of sorrow floating behind her back.
God, I was such a mess compared to her!
Why couldn't I have held off the emotional rollercoaster until AFTER the bloody wedding?!
"Come on, let's go get our seats," Liv said, walking towards the door.
"Wait… what?"
The only sister I'd ever known looked over her shoulder and shot me a look that just screamed, 'Are you stupid?' The ceremony is about to start!'
My jaw dropped, gobsmacked.
"Do you expect me to go out there looking like a total train wreck?!" I demanded.
Liv quirked her lips, "Isn't that what you always look like?"
"Ha. Ha. Now lend me your mascara."
A few splashes of cold water on my face, a fresh coat of mascara and some blush did wonders for my complexion. All trace of my cryfest was successfully hidden and Liv had vanished the tears stains from my black and white skater dress.
Normally, I wouldn't be caught dead in anything resembling a skirt. But Dad had refused to let me wear my trademark jeans and hoodie combo. Therefore, forcing me to dig deep and suffer the humiliation of a dress. Though I refused to budge when it came to my black converse high tops!
Annnnd… I hate to admit it, but I was glad I did it.
Outside, the coven members had looked average or at least not traditionally dressy.
Inside was another story entirely!
All the boys were decked out in dress suits, a patterned tie or a single coloured bowtie added for flavour. While all the girls were dressed in beautiful free-flowing dresses. Ranging from short-sleeved, long-sleeved or no sleeved, knee-length, floor-length, or skorts.
It was like stepping into a twenty-first century ballroom!
Of course, the heavily decorated barn helped too.
The rafters of the barn roof were hidden away by blue silks and fairy lights. Pink and white material had been half-heartedly scrunched together in the hopes of resembling flowers and stuck against the wails. More fairy lights and pink silks connect them and it looked awfully tacky.
The room had been split into two sides using two identical sections of uncomfortable wooden chairs (spray painted gold for heaven sake!) Allowing for an unimpressive aisle donned with three chandeliers to run down the middle.
If it weren't for the raised platform swamped in pink and white flowers, the whole thing would have looked like a mess.
Yet, somehow it didn't?
Altogether, the individual elements transformed the place into a mini paradise.
"I hate it," I said, turning towards the doors, "I'm gonna wait outside."
Liv grabbed my wrist and yanked me away from freedom, "Suck it up, princess. If I have to sit through this lame ass wedding then so do you."
She dragged me winging and moaning all the way to the front where little place cards had reserved the front row for immediate family. Sadly, that meant only mine, Liv's and Dad's names were written down.
It would have been four if Lukas were still here… or nine… If Mum, Gabriel, Rachel, Hannah and Joseph were here too…
"Sit down! The music's starting," Liv stage whispered.
I took a deep breath, locked the flood gates shut and sat down next to my sis and Dad's empty chair.
Which struck me as oddly suspicious.
Where was he? Did he not know the ceremony was about to start?
I wouldn't have been surprised if he were still being held up somewhere by an overly chatty elder or had snuck off to do who knows what at who knows where?
It was typical dad behaviour in my book.
At a quarter to eight, everyone took their seats, the lucky groom-to-be shuffled nervously down the aisle and onto the impromptu stage and the music began.
Truthfully, I had been expecting the classic 'ba dah dah daa, ba dah daa dah' melody. But Joe had decided to go along with the barnyard theme and hired some douche with a guitar to strum along to his own beat.
Which he did.
For twenty minutes straight…?!
Whispered chatter filled the room, my butt went numb and poor Alaric Saltzman looked ready to tip over. Sweat glistened on his forehead, his hands shook and his eyes kept surveying the room over and over again.
"What is taking so long?" I asked.
Liv crossed her legs and shrugged, "Who knows? Mabey Joe bailed."
"Is she the type?"
"Normally," She said, "But since she's pregnant, I doubt it."
"PREGNANT!?"
I nearly fell off my chair in shock!
This was insane…
Josette was fucking pregnant?
Had that been why Dad forced me to come along? Because my eldest sister was about tio have kids? Making him a Grandpa and Liv and I Aunties!
Oh my god, OF COURSE, that was the reason.
He had duped me into coming along under false pretences, the sly fox!
"I believe she's having twin girls," Liv answered my unsaid question, "They're six weeks old."
Six. Weeks. Old.
"WHAT!"
Liv slapped my shoulder and told me to shush.
But I would not be quiet about this!
"My nieces are six weeks old and NOBODY bothered to TELL ME?"
"Shut up! The music is playing," Liv looked around frantically, dead eyeing anyone who dared to stare.
"Seriously?" I said, "The music has been playing for the last thirty minutes and nothing's happened!"
She brought her finger up to her lips and shushed me AGAIN!
I opened my mouth, ready to spit fire, when the words died in my throat.
The music had changed.
We both spun around to see two individuals stumbling down the aisle all flustered.
Liv smiled and shot me an 'I told you so' look.
"Bitch," I sneered back.
"Evangeline."
It was times like these where I questioned my sanity. Because my sister was a professional backstabber and I didn't know why I kept forgetting that fact.
I promised myself I would get her back later.
A chorus of harmonized 'aww's floated through the air as all heads turned to see none other than the late bride-to-be… and my dad?
"What is he doing?" I whispered.
No reply came.
Liv was just as confused as I was.
…And wasn't that a weird feeling?
Never, in my entire life had both of us not known what was going on at the same time…
'You experience something new every day.'
Despite the highly unusual sight of Dad holding Joe's hand, Father and Daughter slow-walked down the aisle together, looking like the perfect picture of content.
He helped her onto the stage, kissed her hand then sat down a proud man.
The wedding had officially started.
Whoopie.
"Welcome family and friends on this magical evening," Aunt Dena started, "To the wedding of Alaric Saltzman and Josette Laughlin."
Said happy couple gazed lovingly into each other's eyes.
It made me want to puke!
"Josette and Alaric have prepared their own vows."
"Cry me a river," I whispered.
Liv elbowed me in the ribs with the force of speeding truck!
Yep, I was definitely going to get her back for that.
Alaric cleared his throat and launched into his heart-warming speech, "Neither one of us should be here right now. We have spent our lives dodging fate and beating the odds. But, because we did, I got to meet you. The most beautiful, hilarious and intimidatingly brilliant woman I have ever known! You inspire me, you have shown me that happiness is actually something I can have in my life."
Tears pooled in Joe's eyes and Alaric had to stop and take a deep breath.
"And so," He continued, gently slipping the ring onto her finger, "I promise to be with you and love you and dodge fate with you for the rest of our lives."
Everybody smiled.
Sweeter words couldn't have been said.
"Josette?" Aunt Dena placed a soft hand on a speechless joe's shoulder.
She turned in surprise before snapping back into reality.
"Oh god," She wiped her eyes and let out a nervous chuckle, "That's a tough act to follow."
Coven and friends laughed.
I bit my lip to stop myself from gagging.
The whole wedding ceremony was beginning to make up for the previous weeks' melancholy in spades. Alaric was a helpless romantic, I decided. His dinky smile, charming words and complete sincerity formed a perfect package and although I didn't know Joe, even a blind man could've seen they were meant for each other.
"Alaric Saltzman," She began, "You are, AHHH!"
Out of nowhere, Josette jerked forward!
"Joe?" Alaric reached forward and grabbed her shoulders.
She jerked again.
"Joe! What is it?"
A powerful sinking feeling hit the bottom of my stomach… Something was wrong!
"AHHHH!" A circle of blood appeared in the middle of Joe's dress.
This was really, Really, REALLY BAD!
"Oh god!" Alaric stepped forward and caught Joe as she collapsed, "No, no, NO!"
We all sat dumbfounded as the bride bleed to death in the arms of the groom.
I didn't know what to do… what could I do?... Joe was bleeding and Alaric was crying…
'DO SOMETHING, NOW!'
… but what?
"I was gonna wait till the death do us part bit, but it seemed a little on the nose."
A dude was standing in the middle of the stage, a toothy smile lighting up his handsome face. He looked unconcerned that a pregnant woman was dying at his feet.
If anything, he actually seemed to be enjoying watching her as the last breath left her lungs.
"Am I right?" He turned to the coven; arms raised as if he expected us to nod.
"Who's that?"
I hadn't been waiting for an answer, but an answer I got.
Dad jumped to his feet as Liv gasped, "Kai…"
My brain screeched to a halt.
…Kai…
Malachai…?
As in prison World Kai…
… The murderer of my Mum, sisters, brothers and Lukas…Kai?
The Kai that was supposed to be trapped in another Prison World, Malachai?
"…"
There was just no way!
He was trapped. Imprisoned. Captured.
Definitely NOT here right NOW!
I opened my mouth, prepared to swear my way to hell and back when the villain of my nightmares raised his hands and my body seized in pain.
"Miss me?"
My head hurt, my back hurt, my mouth tasted like iron, blood was trickling from my nose!
I clutched my head and slid to my knees, "AHHHHHHHHHH!"
Every piece of my being was on fire!
"No? Oh well."
As my vision began to blur, Malachai Parker, my oldest brother and self-proclaimed sociopath, flicked his wrists and the room exploded.
P.s. She is alive, just unconscious.
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