April 3rd.
'The fact is that we have no way of knowing if the person who we think we are is at the core of our being. Are you a decent girl with the potential to someday become an evil monster, or are you an evil monster that thinks it's a decent girl?'
'Wouldn't I know which one I was?'
'Good God, no. The lies we tell other people are nothing to the lies we tell ourselves.'
--Derek Landy, Death Bringer
Cherith breathed in and out that morning, as she floated high up in the trees of the Mystic Falls woods, sat in a meditative stance in the air.
Yesterday had been a wild day in her opinion.
A lot had happened… a lot of things she wasn't sure she even believed.
But what she could definitely believe in though… was her powers warring inside of her, and the title of the Scarlet Witch.
It couldn't just be pure ceremonial. There had to be something tied to it. So while she didn't want to believe Jonas Martin, why would he lie so believably about something like this.
It didn't even look like vampire 2.0 was involved or even knew about this… the 'he' person he had uttered with such respect.
And when he'd said…
The great shadow who has slept since before man crawled from the sea.
That sounded ancient… that sounded like it was a bad idea waiting to happen.
And Cherith didn't like that, because let's face it… even though she had power… she didn't have the knowledge to back that power up.
She didn't know what was going on, the full story! And while she felt like it was only Wales that could give her an answer, it honestly felt like it was so far away!
It was crazy! Frustrating really!
When people tell you, you have the ability to bend even reality to your whims… but you don't know what to do with the knowledge…
She sighed, pushing her magic out of her and it spread out as if testing the waters…
Searching out and feeling everything around the area.
The animals chattering about for food or running from predators, the rustle of the trees and the movement of the air around the area.
It felt so peaceful—
She paused suddenly as she felt something from somewhere.
It felt old, ancient and held power.
It also seemed to whisper to her magic.
Not exactly here but somewhere.
Cherith popped her eyes open with a frown, looking around her, the quiet of the woods appealing in that moment.
But she heard nothing.
But she knew there was something somewhere.
Her magic wanted her to go somewhere…
It was quite… pushy even… about it.
Floating in the air with her lit hands, she looked around, wondering what exactly called to her.
It was like a beacon of sort.
It wasn't calling her no, but her magic wanted to answer it.
Very confusing but what did she know about her magic?
As she moved to follow wherever it was taking her though, the sound of her phone snapped her out of it.
Floating back to the ground, she brought her phone out of her pocket and checked the ID.
Leslie.
"Hey Les, what's up?"
"Hey you! I'll be heading to the Grill at noon. Want to come??"
Her chipper voice sounded over the phone and Cherith brightened up a bit at the thought of food.
Food just might take her mind off the craziness that was raging through her mind.
"Sure! See you there, ya?"
"Uh-huh! Bye girlie!"
Cherith cut the call, looking around once more as she put her phone back in her pocket.
She could still feel her magic.
She felt this urge to go somewhere and she had no idea why…
Very tempting though… very tempting indeed.
It was a bit past 11 already, the ruby haired girl decided to just head on to the Grill so she could take her mind off of things.
Let it be known that Cherith Gilbert was a Slytherin! She wasn't about to jump around looking for something she had no idea if it would be dangerous to her.
Her life was just too precious to be snuffed out without a care in the world.
Maybe another time.
Lighting her hands up again, she took to the air, flying towards her car.
The Grill.
It truly was the only place in Mystic Falls people came to hangout in to be honest!
Cherith grunted slightly as she discreetly used her magic to yank someone's leg, making them fall out of her way and into 3 other people, who in turn fell into some other people as well.
Chaos.
All in a day's work.
She sat down at a newly vacant table, glaring others away when they tried to ask if a seat was taken or not.
It probably didn't help that with her glare, she also looked unapproachable that wonderful Saturday.
Dressed in a back large shirt with a white skull on it, white cargo pants with black cursive linings all over it and black boots, she rather looked like someone ready to smash the brains out of anyone who so much as looked at her the wrong way.
But Cherith was rather a famous girl in Mystic Falls.
With her character and her rather unique taste in clothes as well as her beauty.
Perhaps, the only person that could compete over popularity with her and win was Caroline. The Fell girls were popular too, but only because they were such oddities and one of them gave freely to guys, then probably Tyler Lockwood as the Mayor's son. Then Elena, but after dropping out of Cheerleading as well as not dating Matt anymore and also pretty much dropping all the things she used to do, she was more or less now a normal student with perhaps popular friends.
Cherith raised her hand to check her watch, it was almost 12. Without wasting anymore time, she eagerly ordered her food.
She'd also spotted Damon with Jenna's friend who was a TV anchor. Alaric sitting with them too.
Honestly Cherith felt like she was in another world of her own!
Damon Salvatore dating Andie??
Since when?!
Eh, whatever floats his boat anyways.
A lot of things had been happening that while she wasn't too privy to information mainly because she had made it clear she wasn't a member of their little gang, she actually preferred it this way.
Just keeping to herself, and if they ended up making mistakes and needing her help… well, a favor for a favor.
Cherith truly was becoming a shrewd business woman.
"Hey you!"
She looked up as Leslie walked towards the table, sitting down with a large grin and Cherith raised an eyebrow.
"Well someone's happy today."
Leslie beamed.
"Well of course I am! Come on, we need to celebrate today. I have good news… for me, that is."
She winked as the waiter brought Cherith's food and she ordered her own as well.
"What good news?"
"So… you know how prom is by the end of the month?"
"Oh yeah!"
Cherith's eyes brightens in surprise.
"I totally forgot about that!"
She idly comments as she enjoys her food and Leslie gave her a look.
"You forgot about prom? Especially when you're part of the prom court?"
Cherith shrugged.
"Ah darling Leslie… you have no idea what I've been going through dearest friend."
Leslie gives her a look, as if searching for something before she sighs.
"I can take a guess."
She mutters.
"What?"
"Oh nothing."
She waves her hand and Cherith shrugs as they bring Leslie's food as well.
Cherith, enjoying her food so much, doesn't notice her aunt walk in with someone but Leslie does as the two pass them by.
"Hey Cherith, who's that with Je—"
She freezes as she looks at the two who stop by a table, making Cherith look up with a frown.
"Wha—"
She turns as she sees Leslie's slightly disturbed face to see her aunt and grins.
They hadn't really talked since the whole 'Elena Gilbert is John's bastard child' moment.
Leslie's skin turns pale and her heartbeat quickens as she looks at the person next to Jenna.
Her hands shake uncontrollably as she looks like a deer caught in headlights.
Cherith turns back to her friend with a grin.
"Hey, I wanna go say hi—are you okay?"
She frowns as her friend seems to hyperventilate but Leslie quickly puts a fake smile on as she stands up.
"Oh?... Yeah. I uh… I just need to wash my face. I think I swallowed the wrong way."
She shakily replies her friend as she rushes towards the bathroom, leaving Cherith a bit concerned.
With a shrug, she stands up, walking towards the now crowd of 5, bumping shoulders with Jenna.
"Hey Jenzy Wenzy!"
Jenna and the others turn to her and the strawberry blonde smiles at her niece.
"Hey Cherry! Didn't even know you were here!"
She then looks at Elijah with a smile as he looks at the ruby haired girl curiously.
"Oh Cherry, I don't think you've met—"
"Oh it's you!"
Cherith smiles a bits, her smile suddenly faltering as she tries to remember the name of tall, dark and handsome in front of her.
"Uh… it's uh…"
She snaps her fingers, trying to remember his name much to the amusement of Damon and Alaric and the consternation of Jenna.
"It's—"
"No, no! I got it!"
Cherith cuts Elijah off and Damon's grin widened.
"Aha! Richard!"
She beams with a satisfied look on her face, having finally remembered his name.
Damon snorts.
Jenna let's out a sigh.
Cherith looks at them with a frown as Elijah stifled a grin.
"What? Did I not get it right?"
Jenna looks at her niece.
"Not even close."
"Oh… Maxwell? Marcus?... Denise?"
She grins amusedly at said Vampire and Jenna scoffs.
"You're ridiculous."
"Wonderful name for him though."
Damon chimes in with a slightly condescending smile at the vampire 2.0
"It's Elijah."
He finally says his name and Cherith tilts her head a bit.
"Huh… thought it'd be something like Jim though… sorry. Apparently I forget people's names occasionally or some such nonsense."
She waves him off and Jenna huffed.
"I'm pretty sure you've renamed everyone gathered at this table, niece of mine."
"What? No I haven't. Never misnamed Andie before."
Jenna gave her an unamused look.
"The 5th time you met her, you were still calling her Clarisse."
"Still don't know where that came from."
Andie grinned, winking at the girl who smirked.
"Well, it was nice meeting you ELIJAH."
He nods his head at her, curiosity shining in his eyes as he stared at her with a mixture of fascination.
"Well! See you losers. I'm here with someone."
"Like a date?"
"Yes Jenna. We're getting married next month."
Cherith rolled her eyes as she walked off.
She could still hear Jenna call her a 'brat'.
As Cherith settled back down, Leslie was already there, a small frown on her face.
"Hey, you okay?"
Cherith asked her friend curiously and Leslie blinked a bit, feigning a smile.
"Hm?... Oh yeah! Sorry… was just, out of it. H-hey, who was that guy next to Jenna? He seemed odd."
Cherith snorted.
"All of them over there are odd so… be more specific."
She winked playfully and Leslie shook her head.
"Yeah, yeah… just… be careful though…"
She whispered slightly, one last look at the figure before looking down at her food and Cherith frowned, staring at her friend as her mind immediately went a mile a minute, wondering what that was about.
Did she know—
"So! Want to hear about my good news?"
Leslie grinned, and though she seemed to be back to herself again, deep down, there was still a tension in her, even as her spine was stiff straight.
She knew she was in the presence of not just one danger, but two!
"Uh… sureeee…"
Cherith said in a slightly slow voice, still staring at her friend curiously.
"Chad asked me to prom!"
"Wait, what??"
"Are we still going to New York for our seniors trip?"
Cherith asked her friend as they walked out of the Grill about 2 hours later, having just talked and let loose for a while, basking in friendship and laughter.
"Oh definitely! No change to it believe me! Ooh, I can't wait!"
Cherith snorted.
"Me too. Kind of tired of Mystic Falls in general. New York is a bustling city. I'd love to just see it, even if it's just for a week yeah?"
She then paused in her step, feeling it again.
Her magic.
It was still singing around her, as if wanting her to go somewhere.
Exactly where, she had no idea!
But it was like saying you want to go get milk after your milk has finished especially if you were a huge milk fan and needed it.
It wasn't desperate, more like… you should probably do this now before it becomes desperate.
"Hey what's the hold up?"
Leslie called a bit further away and with a sigh, Cherith jogged over to her friend.
"Hey Leslie… I just realized I have somewhere to be. Let's talk later yeah?"
Leslie nods.
"Sure okay. I need to go for my dress fitting anyways… it's not exactly fitted on the waist."
Cherith grinned, waving as she ran to her car.
"Great! I'll see you later then!"
She ran, entering her car and turning on the ignition, driving off.
She had no idea where she was going to be honest.
Heck, she had no idea why she was driving in the first place, but… it just felt, rather instinctual for her… wherever she was going, she just hoped she'd find no trouble there.
About 20 minutes after she drove past the Mystic Falls sign and out of town, she sighed.
"Ah, fuck it! When have I ever turned down an adventure anyways?"
She slammed down on the accelerator, zooming off and into the unknown.
It was almost 5pm when she found herself entering her possible destination.
Amherst County, Virginia.
Where there, she had no idea, but she continued driving without stop.
She had no idea where she was headed, just that she hadn't reached her destination yet.
The area was quiet, wherever she was in the county or which town she was in.
Amherst County is located in the Piedmont region near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Cherith packed her car by the woods, looking around the area.
The trees, the forest itself, was more… healthy, more or less, than Mystic Falls' woods was.
It seemed to sing with relish as she walked through it, even though she had no idea where she was going, just following her magic itself, which, should be a bad idea, no doubt about it, when it occasionally encourages her to cause chaos and destruction occasionally, but she just couldn't ignore this one.
It was like an itch that needed to be taken care of or she'd end up going crazy!
The sun still shone a bit in the forest, bathing it in some sort of evening glow as the tall trees all around her rustled and birds chirped here and there.
Honestly, it reminded her of the forests of Twilight: New Moon.
It was just that healthy, not like the one in her home town that seemed to have some patches. It could also be with the number of fires and magics that have taken place in there.
Mystic Falls really was a supernatural hot spot, that much she knew.
"Who are you?"
Cherith jumped, slightly startled, turning to see three strangers looking at her confused and warily.
They had beautiful bronze skin and brown eyes. Two men and a woman, probably in their late teens or so.
They were natives.
She was in Amherst, and if her calculations were correct… they were part of the Monacan Indian Tribe.
"Um…"
She cleared her throat, giving a small wave.
"Hi… I'm kind of, lost."
"I can see that."
The guy with longer hair in a bun snorts as he looks at her curiously, while the girl just stares at her as if in deep thought.
Cherith gives him a small glare.
What could she say anyways??
That her magic LED her here?!
She'd probably be carted off to some mental institution or something.
"Um…"
She looked at the three, especially the girl.
"Do you by chance know any…"
She waved her hand around, not sure exactly what she was looking for.
"Are you here for the bonfire?"
The girl spoke up finally, her voice rather soft and low.
She had her black hair like the other two and shining bronze skin, her hair falling to her mid back and Cherith blinked.
Bonfire?
Whatever. She'd take it.
"Yeah! Yes. That is, exactly what I'm looking for… in the middle, of a uh… forest."
She finished, looking around, still unsure of exactly what she was doing here and the third guy finally spoke up, a friendly grin on his face as he walked over to her, both standing almost at the same height of 5'8.
"Well why didn't you say so before! We always have visitors to this thing every month!"
He placed his hand over her shoulder, directing her to the other two, the taller boy with the long hair in a bun rolling his eyes as the four finally started moving.
"Um… do you get visitors a lot?"
Cherith hesitantly asked, still confused how everything dramatically changed and she was in the middle of a group of natives, going who knows where, in the middle of a beautiful forest.
She was wary, no doubt about that… but this was just the kind of weird ass story one would hear from their grandparent boasting about some 'adventure' they'd had in their 'back when I was a youngin' time.
So there she was… stranded in an evil and utterly desolate forest, when suddenly! She was surrounded by the enemy—
"Oh yeah! A lot! They just wander in and some of us find them wandering through the forest, not exactly sure what they're looking for but ending up at the bon fire talking to one of the elders of the tribal council. By the way, I'm Jared. These are my best friends, Kendra and Tal-el."
Cherith nodded in greeting at the two who waved back.
"I'm uh, Cherith."
"Cherith. Very unusual name. Unique though."
Kendra grinned and Cherith smirked.
"Well of course. My birth mother knew she'd have an amazing daughter. It's not a Welsh name though."
Tal-el snorts at her forwardness as Jared frowns confused.
"Welsh?"
"I'm half Welsh."
"Ah… you know…"
Kendra smirked.
"Fun fact. History refers to us as Welsh Indians, actually."
Cherith's eyebrows raised at that.
Well what a coincidence.
"Hunh… well, Is there any facet of truth to it?"
As Jared opened his mouth to talk, Tal-el speaks up.
"We're here!"
Cherith turns, suddenly realizing they were at a clearing and blinked at it.
They were at the backyard of a house.
Brick red and just a story, but slightly long and a bit ranch styled.
And a few walks away was a bunch of well maintained and styled logs circling a bunch of well arranged woods for a bonfire.
A couple of people sat around it though it was still unlit and Tal-el ran over to sit with a preteen girl who waved him over.
"See you at the bonfire then!"
Jared grins before jogging after his friend and Kendra rolls her eyes with an exasperated sigh.
"Boys. So uncultured."
Cherith snorts.
"Aren't they all?"
"Hm, you'd be surprised some are actually decent."
Cherith twisted her face in thought, thinking of all the male specimens she knew.
Her brother was a snort wagon in her opinion.
Tyler was a pig. Matt was weird, Stefan was too Stefanie.
Damon… the more unsaid about the psychopath.
John… president of the Asshole and Me foundation.
Alaric… he was just too easy to pull.
Cherith looked at Kendra.
"I'll uh… I'll take your word for it."
Kendra grins with amusement in her eyes.
"Maybe I should get a dog."
The ruby haired girl mused and Kendra shook her head, gesturing her over.
"Come on! I'll show you to an elder."
Cherith shrugged as she followed the girl.
Her magic seemed to have settled around the area, as if telling her that this was her destination.
What exactly was she to even find here?
"Uncle!"
Kendra greeted a man who looked about his mid 50s or so who was sitting with another man who looked about his 60s there about.
The two looked up from where they sat by the porch of the house.
"Ah, Kendra! Brought us an outsider I see?"
Cherith blinked slightly as the man turned to her with a knowing look on her face.
"Yes uncle. Found her in the woods with Jared and Tal-el."
"Of course… of course… there is always one."
Her uncle sighed with some exasperation.
"Well you can go sit and tell the boys to light the fire. It is almost 6 now."
"Of course uncle."
Kendra then turned to Cherith.
"Well it was nice to meet you, Cherith."
"Uh yeah. You too."
She nodded at the girl as she walked off and turned to the two men with an expectant look on her face.
"So, what now?"
She spoke bluntly and the older man in his 60s grunts with a frown.
"So rude. Young ones these days."
Kendra's uncle grinned.
"Ah! Let them express themselves."
"Hmpf! Express themselves… when they all talk like they put their feet in cow dung! Back in my day—"
"Yes, yes Branham we all know your story. We don't know this one's story though."
He motioned back to a confused looking Cherith who had been staring bemused at the two and she blinked.
"I uh… I'm… I—"
Kendra's uncle's sighed.
"You're probably here to see Bill if you're not sure why you're here."
Cherith frowned.
"What? Why?"
The older man shook his head as he stood up.
"You're not the first seemingly lost cause who wondered here unannounced child. And you're not going to be the last, I assure you."
With that, he walks towards the bonfire and Kendra's uncle chuckled.
"He's a grumpy one, but he isn't lying. Bill is the oldest elder around. 94 years of age and a very peculiar old man… you will understand when you meet him. For now, come. Join us for our little bonfire. The elders and their family, we make sure to maintain our closeness every month with it."
He stands up, directing her towards the bonfire that was now lit and close to 20 of all age and gender gathered around.
"Are you related to an elder perhaps?"
Cherith asked him and he grinned.
"I was. My name is Cameron. I am the tribal chief of my people."
Cherith blinked as she moved to sit down.
"Hunh. How about that…"
The bonfire started officially by 6:30pm and foods were passed all around.
From marshmallows, to smores, some homemade food like barbequed meat, honey mustard hotdogs, some fudge, some bread and a couple of others.
Some sang some traditional songs amongst each other and some little kids ran around, giggling and shrieking. In fact, Cherith found that she liked the atmosphere.
It tingled with something old too.
Old and traditional, mind you. She put it down to be the magic of the Natives. Something she'd read once. Something that had to do with their ancestors. Not quite like nature magic but still tied to it as well.
Some elder ones passed traditional tobacco amongst the adults and one who sat next to her turned before frowning.
"And how old are you child?"
Cherith blinked, pausing for a moment.
"Uh… 24."
She beams and the woman huffs, slapping Cherith's hand away from the tobacco rather painfully.
"Ow!"
Cherith pouted with a frown, holding her hand to herself, giving the woman a hurt look but the woman huffed disbelievingly.
"Don't lie to your elders… also, if you want someone to be convinced, don't add up to 10 years on your real age."
"10?! I'm 16 not 14 years old lady!"
"16 ey?... Could have fooled me!"
Cherith huffed disbelievingly, turning to look away from the woman.
"This old man better appear fast or some people are gonna get it."
She grumbled as she bit her marshmallow, and as if hearing her, the crowd quietened a bit and Cherith turned slightly to see Cameron stand up, others following him and Cherith did as well.
After all, when in Rome, it was imperative to act like the Romans. Something she'd always told herself to do.
Never look down on others' tradition and religion and beliefs if you don't want others to look down on you. Well, except those that are just negative of course.
She then watched as a very old yet agile looking man moved towards the gathering, a middle aged woman by his side as he held her arm.
It was a bit difficult to believe this man was 94 years old if he was indeed the Bill that Cameron had been talking about.
He had white long hair to his elbows well taken care of and he was about 5'6 or so.
And indeed, like Cameron had said, he was rather peculiar looking. His eyes… they were a sort of sharp grey that looked unseeing yet so sharp that you knew they looked at everything and probably saw more than expected.
As soon as he sat down, everyone else sat down and some whispered chatters were heard as everyone was now attentive towards the man and Cherith stared at him confused, wondering what was about to happen.
Bill looked around at the crowd with his sharp eyes when it stopped at the ruby haired girl further from him, with her rather peculiar looking amethyst eyes.
The air around her moved as if it were alive, but when he really looked, he saw that she was a burning flame, and he saw the aura around her… dangerous yet protective.
And when he looked deep into her eyes, he saw chaos dancing in it, uncontrolled, raging like fire that could never be put out.
"Hmm… I see…"
He hummed lowly and everyone focused on him and Cherith stared back at the strange old man that seemed to stare right through her.
"I will be giving a special story tonight instead."
He spoke out in a voice that while quiet, carried around with such power and drew you in and even the bonfire itself seemed to dance to the man's voice.
Just who or what the heck was he?
"Billions of years ago, before the era in which the first single-celled organism formed on Earth, the Elder God Demiurge achieved consciousness after being formed and coalesced from the Earth's biosphere. As conditions on Earth began to support life, it became self-aware. Wanting to know itself, the Demiurge split itself into countless aspects, one of them being Chthon."
As he said it, the magic in the air seemed to darken as the wind blew and Cherith could feel the hairs on her body raised just at the name itself.
"Chthon, like one of his sisters Gaea, was born a god of the Earth, but he was not of the life-giving soul that she was, instead Chthon was a being of the dark cold soul of the grave and the underworld."
His eyes darkened as he said so and everyone leaned in, totally caught in the story, Cherith included.
"Chthon was Earth's first master of black magic, occupying his existence in the pursuit of knowledge of things which should not be."
Of course, there was always one.
"But, as with the majority of Elder Gods, Chthon began his degeneration into a demonic state, by consuming the life energies of their fellow Elder Gods. The more they consumed, the more they hungered for power. With more power, the hunger became insatiable. Many became corrupt and began warring to satisfy the thirst for power; the victor feeding off the other. After millions of years, all the Elder Gods, except for Gaea and Oshtur had degenerated to less than their Godhood, becoming evil. Becoming the worst things that plagued existence itself."
Bill frowned, looking into the fire as if he was watching it all happen right before his eyes, and Cherith certainly wouldn't be surprised if he was. His eyes were just as peculiar as hers after all.
"Oshtur had left Earth before the degeneration of the Elder Gods, Gaea being the only one to watch all her siblings become the worst things born of the demiurge itself, and she remained peaceful, protecting the growing life on earth. Seeing how things were getting even more worse, the benevolent Gaea mated with the Demiurge and spawned Atum, who became the first of a new generation of gods that would protect the world from the 'Demonic Elder Gods'."
He looked right at Cherith at that moment, as if seeing something in her and the ruby haired girl felt herself straighten up at that gaze, her heart pounding slightly, before he looked away, staring back into the fire again.
"Chthon saw the threat this new 'God-Killer' posed. Atum indeed became a threat to the Elder Gods, as he began destroying them for their evil and degradation, absorbing their energies into himself. Many of the Elder Gods fell to Atum, and those who were not destroyed fled to other dimensions. Chthon, sensing the end was near, cast a spell that allowed him an escape into another dimension before Atum could slay him."
His eyes darkened again.
"Before he left though, Chthon left the parchment he had written behind, serving as a touchstone. Not only that, Chthon, as well as many of the Elder Gods, had the talent of foresight. And as the threat of Gaea's offspring came to light, he had inscribed all his dark mystical knowledge acquired through millennia of practicing evil incarnate, onto indestructible parchments to leave in this dimension, should he be defeated, as a testament to his power and a link between him and this world. Not only that though… he left an essence of himself, which would later on help him, along with his inscribed parchments, find a way back into the world again."
Bill then looked around.
"As the remaining Demonic Elder Gods fled, Gaea, the only Elder God left and permitted to stay on Earth, infused her godly essence into the Earth and into all living things, becoming known as Mother Earth, or Mother Nature, or Mother Magic. Atum, finally done with his work, released the energies he had absorbed, reverting back to his original form, and then took residence within Earth's sun itself. Bringing the war to an end. But…"
He looked around.
"Evil always finds a way to seep back where it is unwanted. Where purity and light resides. With parts of himself and his magic still residing on earth, it is to be expected that it would not only affect things… but people themselves. And those people, will indeed scour the whole of earth, trying to find his belongings, looking for a way to bring him back into our dimension, where he can pollute the world with his unending darkness."
He finished, everyone quiet, some having scared looks on their faces and even Cherith having a dark look on her face.
"Of course… it is all fairytale children. No need to work yourself too hard thinking of such stories."
As soon as he said that with some amusement seeping in through his voice, the air seemed to relax around them all as people began muttering amongst each other and the atmosphere became light once more, people breaking into groups to talk and chatter or laugh and sing.
Cherith though, didn't believe that story was some… fairytale gibberish nonsense.
She felt it… right in her heart, that the story itself was true, and she wondered just how despicable Chthon was, and if he would ever find a way back into the world once more.
That thought scared her.
She felt eyes on her, and looked up to see Bill staring right at her, a knowing look in his eyes, and with her decision made, she stood up, walking over to him as he stared into the fire again and she sat next to him.
At first, both said nothing, till Cherith cleared her throat.
"Uh, nice story… sir…"
Bill snorted amused.
"Thank you child. But that is not why you're here talking to me, is it?"
Cherith hummed.
"No. No it isn't."
She then turned to him.
"I was… sort of directed here, in a way… and I don't know why."
"Of course. I know that. When I saw you, I knew… there was something different about you. There is something inside of you. Dark… chilling…"
Cherith's heartbeat picked up at that and she frowned, bringing a hand to her chest.
"I don't feel that way though…"
"You wouldn't feel that way because you have felt it all of your life. And now as you grow and near full maturity, it wars within you, struggling to gain control of not just your will, but your soul as well."
"Well shit…"
Cherith blurted out and the old man shook his head.
"Uh, what do I do?... I don't… I want to be me. I don't want whatever it is to gain control of me. I can't…"
She struggled to find the word as her fists curled up in anger and he hummed again.
"Easy. You Control yet embrace it."
Cherith scoffed.
"Control yet embrace?? And how am I supposed to do that without giving in?! You just said it's trying to take my will and my soul from me! Nobody gets to do that to me!"
Bill smiled.
"You have will. You have stubbornness. I see it within you. That is good. That is very good."
He muttered to himself.
"You have to find a way still. Because if you don't, then you risk loosing yourself to it, which would lead to the total annihilation of Earth itself."
Cherith looked away, her fear growing even more.
She had followed her magic, hoping that she'd find a solution to what had been disturbing her ever since her run in with Jonas Martin, but now, her fears had certainly increased.
"My magic led me here. How did it know to lead me here?"
She turned to him and he grinned.
"Why, to hear the story of course. Wonderful, wasn't it?"
The look she gave him was one that said he was a barmy old man and he grinned.
"A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner; 'Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time'. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, 'The one I feed the most'."
He then taps her forehead.
"Everything you need, and are searching for is already in there. You just don't know how to tap into and find it yet."
He waves towards the middle aged beautiful lady that he'd walked with earlier and she stood up, helping him up and he turned to her, pointing into the raging fire of the bonfire and pointing to his own head as well.
"Focus."
And with that, he walked away, leaving an even more confused Cherith, pouting about crazy old men and their need to sound all mysterious and shit.
With a sigh, she turns towards the yellowish red fire, watching as it crackled slightly and danced in the wind.
It was rather captivating and beautiful, in it's own fiery way.
She had no idea how long she stared into the fire, nor did she notice as the people around her seemed to vanish, until the fires turned a deep ember red and she blinked in shock.
"What the—"
She paused as she stared into it and it seemed to clear up with a bright white light in it, and her mouth dropped at the scene inside the fire.
A beautiful woman stood tall and defensive. Her light blonde hair billowing in the air, falling past her waist, very pregnant, and her right hand super red as her blood seemed to drip to the floor as she grasped something in it like it was her very lifeline, crimson red pulsing through the cracks as tears fell from her face, and her eyes… her eyes… they were a beautiful amethyst color, like hers.
Cherith had no idea tears fell from her eyes as she sniffled, realization settling in at just who was right in the fire.
"Mum…"
She croaked out with such… heavy need in her voice and she trembled as she saw her mother alive for the very first time!
Iola Cadwallader grunted with determination, even as she looked like she was ready to put to bed.
Suddenly, her amethyst eyes glowed a crimson red and Cherith gasped as her mother raised her left hand and a large wave of golden red mist fills the scene, screams of pain and anguish filling the air as people Cherith couldn't see cried out, and Cherith jumped, startled at the cries as well as the bright light and she squeezed her eyes shut.
When she opened it again though, she was back where she had previously been.
Sitting and staring into a bonfire with people around, chattering amongst each other, laughing or joking around.
Cherith gasped slightly, looking around a bit and bringing a hand to her cheeks, quickly wiping her tears away as she looked at the fire again.
What the heck was that?!
How had she…
Her lips wobbled again as she thought of the picture once more.
Her mother.
She had been so beautiful and strong.
Fierce.
And she'd also noticed a thing or two as well.
Like a few feet behind her mother, a familiar looking manor she'd seen in pictures.
The Cadwallader family home.
And whatever had been in her mother's hand and made her bleed like that, her mother held it so hard like she was protecting it with her very life.
She also seemed to have been drawing power from it too… and the color of her mother's eyes… they had become like hers!
Perhaps… perhaps Jonas Martin had been saying the truth when he talked about her family protecting something.
And those screams too…
It had been… disconcerting to listen to… like she was the one screaming.
She knew that, whatever or whoever her mother had been targeting, and they had to be a large number, they had all died that day.
Her mother had also looked like it was her time to put to bed.
Perhaps there was some truth to her parents being in Wales, or at least her mother… but there was still how her mother had found herself putting to bed in Mystic Falls, one of the worst towns in the world granted, but still…
One thing she knew above all though, was that Sheila Bennett must have been right about a setup or two being responsible for her parents deaths.
There was just too much to take into consideration, a puzzle so large that she didn't think there was a way to arrange it, after all, the people that could have told her more on it, were dead.
"Hey!"
Cherith looked up to see Kendra smiling down at her and she forced a smile on her face.
"Oh hey… sorry, was just… lost in it."
She mumbled and Kendra waves her off with a friendly smile.
"It's okay. Anyone who talks to Elder Bill always ends up quite confused. Anyways, it's already late out and my uncle talked to my parents so you can stay at ours and leave tomorrow if you want?"
Cherith's eyes widened as she quickly brought out her phone, checking to see that it was already a bit past 8 already.
She let out a small curse as she realized there was no way to head on home without Jenna or even John questioning her.
Cherith looked back at Kendra with a thankful smile.
"Yes. I'll really appreciate it a lot. I'll just call my aunt to let her know."
"Cool! We'll be heading back home in a few minutes, I'll call you over when it's time."
Cherith thanked the girl before scrolling through her phone and stopping at a number, patiently waiting for said person to pick up.
"Yo…"
"Hey Leslie… I need a favor…"
Cherith spoke into the phone.
The next morning Sunday came and Cherith had breakfast with Kendra and her family, thanking them for letting her crash at their place before beginning her journey back home.
She'd told Leslie to cover up for her that she was indeed having a sleepover at her place before calling Jenna to say so.
Granted, the way the Gilbert siblings seemed to go in and out of their home, it was a wonder who slept there every night.
Cherith just didn't want to worry Jenna.
A lot was happening after all, especially for Cherith, the more she discovered a lot of things about herself and her family as well.
Before she'd left, she'd stopped at the tribal chief's home who directed her to Bill's home and she had a small talk with him before she began her journey back home.
She remembered his words clearly.
"You are whoever or whatever you want to be. Either a hero or villain of your story, it is up to you to decide which one you want to become, and fast."
He'd then told her that she was more than welcome to visit anytime.
As she drove home, Cherith realized she really did have a battle… not just with herself… but with someone or something out there.
Was she ready to even confront any?
Fuck no!
But she sure as hell would be waiting…
She just hoped she wouldn't loose herself in the whole skirmish.
"Hero or Villain…"
She murmured to herself, idly remembering what the old man had said.
In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be.
Robert Louis Stevenson.
She speeds off with a discontent frown.
Greene Residence.
Leslie gulps as dread fills her, staring at her phone at the person calling her.
With a deep and harsh breath, she picks it, bringing it to her ear.
"Leslie! Why exactly have I not heard from you in weeks!"
Her cold voice spat out in anger and Leslie winced.
"S-sorry Agatha… it's just that a lot—"
"Enough with the setbacks! Tell me, is Cherith Cadwallader making the trip to Wales or not?... And you better not lie to me…"
She warned, her voice as cold as ice and as slippery sounding as a serpent's.
Leslie's lips wobbled.
"There is an Original in town."
She whispered put and there was a pause from Agatha's side before she curses out.
"What?!"
She spat out in anger and disgust.
"Which one of them?!"
"The one who calls himself the noble one."
Agatha huffed.
"Noble one. Please! They're all as deadly as the next. They think they're better than each other and think they're the most apex of predators. They have no idea what is out there… and just how easily they can be snuffed out. What is he doing there?! Why is he in that forsaken town again!"
"I-I'm not sure. But I think it involves Cherith's adoptive sister. But… he also seems to have taken an interest in those around Cherith, herself included."
Agatha curses again.
"He better not ruin my plan or I will destroy that species! They were never meant to be created anyways and I assure you, they won't last. Just make sure she doesn't change her plan and arrives when she says she will! I will not let my plans be destroyed because of that family! If not… I will come to Mystic Falls myself and drag her to Wales!"
Leslie nods, unable to say anything.
"Remember Leslie… do as I say or else your silly adoptive family will be nothing but husks if you fail me."
"Of-Of course!"
"You know I will do it, regardless of our relation. I will kill them, and I will kill you."
Leslie swallowed.
"Good. I'll keep in touch, cousin."
"Bye…"
Leslie whispered out as the line cut and she pulled into herself, her heart pounding within her as she felt like tearing herself apart.
The world didn't seem as bright as it used to.
In fact… she wasn't sure she wanted to live in it anymore.
So that's it!
Yes! Her mother was indeed a badass!
Cherith will obviously not get answers in Mystic Falls till she heads to her mother's birth place.
And yes!!!
Leslie and Agatha are related and are in fact cousins!
I wonder how far or how close they're related though… hmmm… lol.
Remember just like the Cadwallader family, the Harkness used to be big as well before something happened to both sides.
A lot of things will start happening soon, and yes, I have decided to end the fic somewhere in season 3.
I wasn't fully a fan of other seasons much and I think it would be better to just end the fic in a nice way rather than continue adding storylines upon storylines and not being able to finish it because I lost my muse or whatever.
Like I've said, this is her story, and she has a prophecy tied to her as well as how she becomes who she was meant to be, I guess it was just a mistake that she was born in the midst of vampires, wolves and the lot, lol. I mean, if you look at things, she would have been raised in the UK and away from that while focusing on herself instead.
Basically, the prophecy is why this story is taking place in the first place.
I don't know how I'll fully integrate all my story lines into the TVD chapters yet but I'll find a way to do it!
So yes!
I already know how it would end… and… yikes!
Dun dun dun!...
