Chapter Seven: I Am Not A Cannibal!

See, a new chapter in a somewhat reasonable amount of time. Not too bad, right? At this point, I'm just having fun with the characters while struggling to maintain a bit of my sanity. Who knows we might even see a mentioning of other TVD canon characters in this chapter? Stranger things have happened, like IDK an actual plot to this story. I'm getting to it. There's just so much groundwork I want to lay, but I'm trying to keep myself from word-vomiting all over the page.

Songs for this chapter:

"Baiulus" by the Black Atlantic

"When You Were Made" by The Growlers

"How Magic Will Be Lost" by Rob Lane

-O-

Sabrina's trepidation of the trunk grew after she realized that Reyna would be taking a sledgehammer to the basement concrete in order to retrieve it. Reyna's first powerful swing sent dust scattering across the room. She pushed Caroline back a few steps before turning to Miriam.

"Isn't there an easier way to do this?"

Miriam brushed the dust from her arm. "Oh, definitely." The skin around her eyes crinkled in fondness. "But she seems so excited about this, doesn't she?"

Slam!

-O-

The ornate brass box landed against the table with a thud that hurt Sabrina's ears. Miriam removed one of her necklaces while Reyna and Tim did the same. Sabrina hadn't known that Tim even wore a necklace underneath his shirt. Each shard joined together to form a round medallion, Sabrina realized. A key.

Miriam took the different pieces, holding them against each other until the shards melded together. Sabrina recognized the form of a bird with a sharp-hooked beak, the wings stretching from, opposing ends of the key. Miriam placed it on top of the chest's center. Hooks latched onto the medallion, locking it into place. Miriam turned the key with both hands until three separate clicks echoed in the silent room. Sabrina heard wheels and cogs struggle to turn. The rods barring the lid shifted, startling to life. The lid popped open. Miriam dusted off the box, revealing various carvings etched into the brass.

Sabrina's chest stirred when her eyes lingered on one symbol in particular. Having one set of conscious thoughts had been enough. Two may be enough to send her over the edge of complete insanity. But giving over control had never been part of Sabrina's personality, so why start now?

She looked away from Miriam, turning to Caroline, who held her phone to her ear, listening to a familiar voice. Sadness slanted her mouth. She tapped Caroline's arm. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Caroline shook her head, pocketing her phone. "Nothing. It's just Matt. He went by my house to check on me,"

Despite herself, a small, fond smile crossed Sabrina's lips. "What? Little Matty Donovan?" Pink tinged Caroline's cheeks as she shifted on her feet. Sabrina suddenly became more interested. For the first time that day, Sabrina's tone turned teasing. "Why's he at your house? Caroline?"

Caroline huffed. "He's just a friend, Sabrina,"

Her smile widened, but she conceded with a nod. She replied innocently. "Ok." Caroline glared. "What? I said ok,"

Caroline crossed her arms, leaning against the wall. She scoffed before giving a self-deprecating chuckle. "Besides, it doesn't matter anyway,"

Sabrina's smile fell away along with her gently teasing tone. "What do you mean? Of course, it matters. Care, if it matters to you, it matters,"

Caroline's next smile was more of a baring of teeth than the sunshine Sabrina was used to. Her reply was blithe. "They'll come looking for me." She shook her head. "They always do. They always come when they need something,"

An angry flush heated Sabrina's cheeks. "Caroline.."

Caroline held up her hand, interrupting her, "I know what you're going to say. And I can't do it. Elena and Bonnie-"

"I haven't said anything so let me finish. Please." Sabrina said. Caroline's eyes darted away. She continued, her voice rising. "Thank you. What I was trying to tell you is that you don't have to do this alone anymore. Alright? Damn it!"

A faint, genuine smile crossed Caroline's features. "Why're you yelling at me?"

Because you're worrying me. Instead, she said, "Because you're pissing me off!"

Reyna laughed. "Finally, someone's making sense,"

"Reyna," Sabrina said in askance. Reyna raised her hands in surrender. "Care, I know that I was gone. And I missed a lot that I shouldn't've. But that's over because I'm here now. I'm telling you this because you're not alone anymore. You're not going to have to do this by yourself,"

Caroline appeared stricken. "But they're my friends, Sabrina!"

Tears stung at the edges of Sabrina's eyes as desperation clawed at her chest. "But they're not yours, baby." She grabbed Caroline's shoulders. "They're not yours. At least… not right now they're not." She paused. "You have to let me in, to let me help you. Just let me listen,"

Caroline wouldn't meet her eyes. "We'll talk later,"

Miriam snapped her fingers, "Sabrina. Your hand, please,"

She gave a last look to Caroline before crossing over to Miriam at the table. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the trunk's contents. Most of it appeared like it belonged in a medieval torture chamber.

"Should I be concerned for my life?" Sabrina asked, chuckling uneasily.

Her brow pinched, which Sabrina did not take as a good sign. "Perhaps later,"

A briny scent reached Sabrina's nose, and her mouth watered. Her eyes drew down to a bronze cuff lying near the trunk's corner. A small hum built inside her chest. She felt a small shift in her features, a slight sharpening visible to everyone else. Everyone, except Miriam, grew trepidous.

"What draws you, Sabrina? Show me,"

Her snarled lip revealed elongated pearly canines. She answered in a roughened tone, "That one,"

The bob of Miriam's head was considering, thoughtful. "Hmm. Very nice." She took the cuff into her hands. "Old but a classic old." She winked. "Like me,"

Reyna huffed. "Yeah… right,"

Sabrina's intense focus disturbed even herself, but she couldn't look away. That one, she thought. I need that one.

The quieted voice inside Sabrina murmured, 'Old magic.' It felt like a caged animal circling the confines of her mind with one word flashing in her mind over and over: Take, take, take.

She swallowed. "What is that one?"

Caroline crossed her arms, looking over Miriam's shoulder, her nose scrunching, "That is the tackiest thing I've ever seen." She leaned back, planting her weight on her back foot. "Is there anything post-1973 Wonder Woman?"

"Don't hate on Linda Carter, man," Tim said.

Caroline snorted, "Well, if she would get better sunglasses I wouldn't have to,"

Sabrina's eyes gleamed, reflecting in the overhead fluorescent. Receded fangs in her gums itched. She tapped her fingers against her thigh. A dull humming echoed in her ears, and the cuff jerked on the table, falling to its opposite side.

Caroline looked between Miriam and Sabrina. "Was that you or her?"

Miriam turned magnanimous, "Does it matter?" She picked up the cuff, the stone in the center shifting between green and azure blue in the light. "Oma loved this too,"

"Oma also thought the mail carrier was Himmler reincarnate and that Tim was a radish when she got old," Reyna said. "What's your point?"

Miriam gave a withering glare before she forced herself to relax when she looked at Sabrina. "So," she began, "What do you know about medieval torture techniques used by Jewish sages in the desert?"

Miriam laughed at her garbled, "What?"