Salvatore Boarding House.

Elena paces to and fro by the lit fireplace, tears in her eyes and fists curling and uncurling.

Not only had her best friend died, but her sister was missing… Gone.

And there was absolutely nothing she could do about it!

She let out a small sob as her body trembled.

"Hey…"

Stefan walked over to her with a cup.

"You should drink this."

Elena shook her head.

"No. No, I can't."

Stefan sighed, walking closer to her.

"Yes you can."

He pushed the cup into her hand and she pushed it back.

"I can't Stefan! Bonnie is dead! Because of me!"

She cried out, tears falling down her face as she hit her chest rather harshly.

"It's my fault! Cause I'm the stupid Doppelganger! And now Cherith is missing, cause of something Klaus did to her! And I have no idea where she is!"

"Elena—"

"My baby sister's missing Stefan!"

She spat out at him and he stopped, slightly surprised at just how much she seemed to be like Cherith the day Elena had been kidnapped by Anna.

He sighed, dropping the cup and leading her to a chair.

It was totally understandable she was feeling this way.

Her best friend had just died, and there was worry for her missing sister.

But deep down, Stefan believed Cherith was okay. Or would be okay.

Maybe it was because he knew just how different she was, but Cherith wouldn't be Cherith if she didn't bounce back.

"Hey… Listen to me… It's Cherith. She'll be fine. You know her…"

Elena shook her head.

"I can't… I don't know what to think Stefan… I can't find her! I have to go try again!"

She jumped on her feet and Stefan blurred to stop her.

"It's okay. Damon's out looking for her. It wouldn't do to be out this late when Klaus is in town—"

"I don't care about him!"

She argued back but Stefan continued.

"Cherith is powerful, Elena. Much more than you think… Much more than we imagine. She'll be fine."

The brunette slumped back in the chair, feeling much more useless than ever.

Where would she start looking for her sister?

It's not like she had any powers that could give her an edge and—

Elena paused, turning to Stefan who sat back down.

"Stefan… do you know something about Cherith?... Something I don't know about?"

She whispered and he furrowed his brows in confusion.

"What?"

"Klaus… he said something about Cherith being a uh… a Scarlet Witch. Something different. Something powerful. Do you know something about it?"

Stefan turned away for a moment, his mind playing all rational scenarios on how to answer.

He didn't think he should be the one telling her about this.

But—

Footsteps drew them out of their conversation and they both jumped to their feet as Damon walked in, blank faced.

Elena though, immediately walked up to him.

"What did you do with Bonnie? Where did you put her?"

She demanded and he turned to his brother.

"Would you calm her down?"

Elena scoffed.

"No! I'm not some kind of pet you can treat this way!... Did you know she was going to die??"

Something must have shown on his face as her anger grew again.

"You knew! Didn't you? You knew that if she harnessed all that power, that she would die, didn't you?"

Damon looked down at her and nodded.

"Yes. Yes, I knew."

Immediately he said that, all the anger, guilt, sadness and fear she'd been feeling inside built up in her as she slapped him.

For a moment, it was quiet, Stefan watching his brother closely as he tried to reign in his emotions and Elena taking a step back, slightly shocked at what she just did.

Damon sighed, turning to her again.

"You need to listen to me, and prepare for what I'm about to say. Bonnie had to die. Klaus using Alaric's body was a total surprise. She wasn't prepared for that. And he wasn't going to stop, and we weren't going to be able to stop him until he knew she was dead. He had to believe it."

He gave her and Stefan a meaningful look that had a thousand meanings behind it.


Cherith's lip wobbled a bit.

"…Mum?..."

She whispered and her voice carried over like a whisper inside an echoing mountain.

"Well hello there little bird."

Iola Cadwallader smiled as she stood opposite her daughter.

She looked just in her early 20s.

Somewhere between 22 and 23 which was when she had died.

A forever beauty, if you will.

"But… but how?"

Cherith struggled out and Iola raised an eyebrow.

"Talk later, hugs first little bird."

Cherith blinked for a moment, before she slowly walked closer to the woman, and slowly but surely, embraced her.

It felt like a thousand fireworks had been let off in her heart and she trembled slightly at the warmth the older woman exuded, and Iola tightened the hug as she wrapped her arms around her only child.

"Hmm…"

She sighed out.

"I've always wondered how that would feel like."

Cherith smiled at that.

She had always wondered too.

And it felt like everything she'd imagined and more.

And then they separated, a similar smile on their face. It was like looking at a pair of almost identical twins, just that one was slightly older.

"So! Tell me…"

Iola grinned a mischievous grin that was just about the same as Cherith's when she was about to tease friends and enemies.

"Are you asexual??"

Cherith's eyes popped out, or at least tried to, as her jaw dropped and then her brows furrowed.

"What??"

Iola shrugged.

"Well you've never dated! Or even been with anyone intimately! I just wanted to know! Granted, your father would probably be happy about it. Something about only dating when you've crossed your pearl jubilee or some such nonsense."

"Mother!"

"It's not a bad thing! I had an asexual friend! I'm just—"

"Wait."

Cherith narrowed her eyes.

"Have you been spying on me from the Great beyond or something??"

Her eyes widened in panic and Iola snorted, waving her off.

"Oh calm your panties will you? I only know so much about you because I was invited here to talk to you. Your life sort of, flashed before my eyes."

Cherith paused before shaking her head.

"Okay. I have a number of questions now. Invited? How? Where are we? Is the great beyond real? And if it is, does that mean there's a down under? Also, how are you here?"

Iola tilted her head slightly and Cherith immediately knew where she got the weird reflex action from.

"Hm, the invitation… later discussion. Where we are? Well… you've sort of traveled outside of here before so I thought you'd guess. Or maybe you wouldn't, seeing how freaked out you were that day. This is sort of a plane of existence inside another plane of existence. This one is called the other side. A place created by a Wicca over two thousand years ago where dead supernaturals who have unfinished business end up in."

Cherith frowned.

"Wait, so… Am I dead?"

Iola shook her head.

"No you aren't, little bird. Like I said… visitation of sorts. The other side is similar to something called 'prison world'. This creations are all pocket dimensions of sorts inside another plane of existence called the Astral Plane. Since the other side is a mini 'other world' in this plane, I was given a chance to have a long awaited talk with you."

Cherith blinked at the influx of information, not really understanding what had just been said but knowing it was important.

Ah well.

"We should be fast though, so as not to attract the attention of some… unwanteds."

Iola then grinned, continuing her conversation.

"Anyways, the great beyond is indeed real, as well as the… down under, as you called it. Terribly horrible place, I've heard. Wouldn't recommend it. Although I did hear that they've been having some ongoing feud with some upstart of sorts on earth who created his own plane and is stealing prisoners from them."

Cherith raised an eyebrow.

"Stealing from… hell?"

"Yeah. Some guy named Kaleb or Cade or Caiden… something like that, but not our problem. He sure as heck will get it when it's his time to go there. Now, we have to talk."

She became serious as the two sat on the luscious green grass, cross legged.

Iola was in a beautiful golden Greek style one armed gown and barefoot.

"First off… I have to apologize for some things."

Cherith frowned.

"I'm so sorry your father and I couldn't have been there for you through your childhood."

She frowned sadly.

"You were something we truly looked forward to. My family… I was the last one. The last of my line. Of my father's line and of my father's father. We have a burden on us, and I just left you without any information."

Cherith shook her head.

"It really wasn't your fault though."

Iola sighed.

"It sort of is the fault of the Cadwallader branch. I can't tell you everything, seeing as we don't have much time, and I also am not privileged to."

Cherith pouted.

"What? Why not??"

Iola grinned.

"Easy. You've got to figure some out. Don't you have an IQ of 187?"

She asked innocently and Cherith glared at her mother.

Dang it!

So this was how people felt when she was being cheeky!

Would she change though?...

Pft!

"Yeah, Yeah. Continue your… otherworldly business."

Iola snorts.

"Now. I know you know about the Scarlet Witch business. Believe me, I hadn't expected it to be you, but I should have seen it coming."

Her eyes darkened as she seemed lost in thought.

"If only those…"

She hissed her last sentence in anger before breathing in and out and continuing.

"The event that took place the night your father and I passed, was what made you into what you are. As the saying goes, The Scarlet Witch is not born, she is forged… created… for destiny's purpose."

Cherith narrowed her eyes.

"I'm not going to be destiny's bitch, mum."

"I'm not asking you to be. The Scarlet Witch is a nexus being… you won't be held down by something as trivial as that. Governed, maybe. But not controlled. You are the last of our line, little bird. I guarantee you will make us proud."

Cherith grinned, a warm feeling in her heart.

"So… have I lost my mind now or something?"

Cherith asked her mother.

"Whatever happened to me was caused by that Krampus fellow. I want to have my revenge."

Her eyes narrowed in anger.

"Little bird, you were never supposed to be involved in this doppelganger squabble in the first place."

"Huh?"

"You were supposed to have been born and raised in Wales. Your connection with the vampires and werewolves of Mystic Falls, or your close relationship with your adoptive siblings would have practically been non-existent. You would have trained there under another's tutelage. A number of things happened the night your father and I died. Perhaps in another life, they probably wouldn't have known about you and would have had to deal with everything… on their own."

She then made eye contact with her daughter.

"And that's why I want to tell you this… no matter what you try to do… no matter how you try to save her, Elena Gilbert will still be sacrificed on the full moon, and that Mikaelson boy will become exactly what he is to be."

"What?! No!"

Iola nods.

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes, little bird."

"No!"

"Little bird…"

Cherith glared, fists tightened.

"Look mum, I know Elena frustrates us all—"

"And how do you know she frustrates me?"

Iola asked amused.

"But I grew up with her. No matter how much I despise a number of things she does… we still carry the same blood. She didn't kill my pet, she didn't poison me. She didn't cause me any great harm to make me hate her forever, we just have differing opinions… and I'm more brilliant than she is."

Iola nodded in agreement at everything.

"I can't just let her walk to her death! This isn't Harry Potter! I already don't have plenty family left in my life. Heck, it's just four! Four!"

Iola rolls her eyes.

"Little bird, don't be dramatic. They are your only family in the physical plane, yes. But these things have been aligning since before you were born. You, as a nexus being, just have to watch to see who the victor will be. I know you can't stand by and watch as your family is put in harms way, but this thing happening in Mystic Falls?... I can guarantee it's just a speck of what you will soon face when the time comes. And it will, oh yes."

Cherith frowned.

"Does it involve anything about Harknesses and Darkholds?"

Iola's eyes darkened.

"Harkness. The bane of our family."

Cherith swallowed.

"So it's true then…"

"Yes."

"Who are they anyways?"

Iola sighed.

"They're like blights on this world. A long, long time ago, our families were the closest. Friends and brothers in arms. In favor, we used to occasionally intermarry. That was how close we were. That is, until power came between us, and the power chose us Cadwalladers as it's defender. Now I know why."

She looked meaningfully at her daughter before continuing.

"I thought our little war would finally end with me, after it going for centuries, especially when I aimed for their destruction that night."

Cherith idly remembered the scene in the fire of Amherst with her very pregnant mother, bleeding in one hand but glowing crimson.

Aiming for their destruction?

It was official.

Her mother was cooler than she was.

Ah well… She didn't mind that much.

"I should have known they would have contingency plans."

She then looked back up at her daughter.

"Go to Wales, daughter of mine. I assure you that would be where you will find all your answers."

"I know… but, why?... Is it because of that Darkhold thing?"

"It is one, yes. But, there are forces that want to use you as a key to unleash something dark. Something… vengeful, back into this plane of existence. If it is ever brought back, then it will be hell on earth. You need to be wary and ready. Mystic Falls is not your fight. Your fight is in Wales, as well as your future. There's a reason why you've been thinking of your death lately little bird…"

Cherith's heart panged.

"Does it mean I'll die?"

Iola looked away.

"I can't tell you… but you definitely won't be seeing next year."

Cherith swallowed, tears picking up in her eyes.

"I see."

Iola shook her head.

"No. You don't see. Just because I said you wouldn't be seeing next year, does not mean you die."

Cherith looked at her confused.

"What? How is that even possible?!"

Iola snorted.

"Honey, I'm dead. You're alive. We're talking in the Astral Plane, inside a pocket called the other side for dead supernaturals. Anything is possible."

Cherith sighed.

"Yeah… You're probably right. Besides…"

She sighed, looking up into the very clear blue skies.

"Maybe death wouldn't be such a bad thing after all."

A smile drifted across her face, only to give way to a startled shout as Iola slapped her daughter over the head.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"For being such a bloody little blighter! Don't give up on life before you experience it! Look at me! I died young but you don't see me crying my eyes out about it!"

"Well maybe because you accomplished the greatest thing in the world! Giving birth to this awesome human!"

She huffed and Iola raised a hand, making Cherith raise her hands in defeat, both laughing.

"Okay. Fine. I'll look forward to living. Do you by chance want a grandchild? I mean… I like children… when they're not crying that is. And when they're sleeping."

Iola tutted, though a smile was on her lips.

"Hush. Just go to Wales. There are things you need to learn. Sheila Bennett, bless her, thought you however little she could, and you thought yourself as much as you could, but you weren't trained the right way. You will in Wales. That is one of the only good things that came with your mind getting scrambled."

Cherith looked at her smiling mother weirdly.

"What? You basically forced yourself into learning chaos magic but you still don't embrace it. You should embrace not only the chaos, but your nature magic side as well!"

Cherith rolled her eyes.

"I've definitely been hearing that a lot. 'Embrace the chaos' 'come the chaotic side, we have cookies here'. Whatever."

Iola chuckled.

"I'm not saying embrace it and get lost in it, no. I'm saying embrace it. Own it. Revel in it. Let it become you and you become it. But I understand, you're not ready for that yet, or probably even any time soon. But you will… one day."

They don't talk for a while again.

Both basking in the feeling of comfort. Comfort Cherith had never felt in her life.

It had all been with her mother and probably her father too. Too bad he couldn't be here.

"What about dad?"

"Christian?... He's happy. And he will be proud of all you've achieved. Trust me."

Iola smiles, turning to her daughter.

"He was the one who gave you the nickname 'Little Bird' after all."

Cherith turned to her in surprise.

"Really? How?"

"Well… when you were still in mummy's tummy—"

"Urgh, stop that."

Cherith blushed red and Iola laughed.

"You always used to give me this fluttering feeling. Like, you knew everything that was going on, it was always fluttering. I don't know how to explain, only that I kept using that word. And your father hilariously said 'It's because you were his little bird'. It stuck after that."

Cherith smiled, a warm feeling in her, before she calmed and turned to Iola with a curious look.

"How much of this is all real?"

"Depends. This universe is larger than any human knows. To some, it could be a figment of their imagination. That's why when some people die and are brought back in under seconds or a minute or are in a coma, they talk about finding themselves walking towards a light or somewhere in between. Humans will say it was just their imagination or something their minds thought up to fill their unconscious, but between you and me, I assure you… it's very real."

Cherith nods.

"So it is indeed real."

Iola huffed.

"Little bird, I am certainly not explaining to you again."

Cherith threw her mother a look.

"So this is where I got my shitty attitude from. I thought perhaps it was dad."

Iola let out a barking laughter.

"Your dad could be... but honey, you have Welsh blood. We are one hell of a people."

Cherith grinned.

"What should I know about Wales before going there?"

Iola beamed.

"Well, first off, rugby is a religion. Everyone knows someone you know. Everyone knows someone called 'Dai'. Believe me I knew two."

Cherith snorts.

"You will hear a lot of the surnames 'Jones, Williams and Thomas'. It sort of always rains there."

Cherith made a small noise at the back of her throat as well as a disturbed look on.

"We can drink any nation under the bleeding table!"

Cherith snorts.

"There is a clear difference between England and Wales honey. Remember that so you don't get jumped."

Cherith huffed.

"Better know the Welsh language too, little bird."

"Already do."

"Good. And finally… we have the BEST sense of humor."

Cherith smirked.

"Oh I know that. I mean… Wherever would I have gotten mine from? Let's face it, the Gilberts have none."

Iola nodded with a grin.

"Oh yes. Your father was just a special case."

They sighed in contentment and Iola spoke in a soft voice.

"I'm really glad I could talk to you at least once in your teenage/adulthood years."

Cherith smiled.

"Me too."

"Good. Because…"

Iola stood up, helping her daughter as well.

"It's time for you to leave as well."

Cherith's eyes popped at that.

"What? No! There's still a lot to talk about! Things to discuss!"

Iola nods with a sad smile.

"I know that. But I've overstayed my welcome here. And so have you."

Cherith opened her mouth to protest but her mum beat her to it.

"This is no place for someone who has found peace, like me. And certainly no place for someone who still lives. Like you. Besides… time runs differently here. You don't know how long has passed in the real world. If your family searches for you. Don't you want to at least see Jenna again?"

Cherith bit her lip.

"I…"

"She's a good one. I remember her very briefly from the time I met her. She was still young then. She certainly doesn't fit this life, that I can say."

Cherith nods, her eyes slowly getting watery.

"Well… I guess there should be someone who cares well enough for her to take her away from it."

She looked pointedly at Cherith.

"Mystic Falls is no two for someone like her. Even though she'd never actively make that decision on her own… Sometimes, we have to be selfish…"

Cherith sighs as her mother brings her in for another hug and Cherith immediately knew… this was probably her last time doing so.

This one took close to a minute before Cherith separated herself and Iola placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Time to wake up little bird. I know you will make your father an I proud. No matter how much I say I love you, just know I love you more than that. The mighty Cherith Iola Gilbert. Scarlet Witch. Nexus Being. The greatest of us all."

And just like that, she seemed to place a finger on Cherith's head and push her.

Cherith falls backwards with a startled shout, and the last thing she saw was her mother's smile and wave, before she sits up with a blink.

It was dark out.

She was in a forest.

She knew this forest.

Mystic Falls.

She was back again.


Iola smiled as her daughter found herself back in the physical plane again.

Oh she still felt like she should be worried for her, but… she would get all the help she needed. She just knew that.

"She'll be fine."

A calm, female voice sounded behind her and Iola sighed, turning to stare at the new figure.

She was otherworldly.

Her hair was a jet black for that seemed to change color every moment, and her eyes were a golden white.

Also, she had no irises… or pupils. Her whole eyes were just that.

Golden white.

But they didn't seem creepy at all, what with the rather lazy smile on her face.

She wore a dark blue silky robe that flowed to the ground and her head was covered with the cape. The robe had golden lining across all it's ends in circular shape.

This wasn't a normal person by any means.

"And how do you know?"

Iola asked the stranger.

"Because she is one of ours now… or will be."

"But that is if everything goes well."

The stranger nods and Iola sighs.

"Don't worry. He will help her."

"And how are you so sure?"

"Because he has waited. And because it is his job too."

Iola looks down.

"She will be fine. She is one of ours. But now, it is your time to leave here."

Iola nods slowly, a small smile filtering across her face once more.

"Of course. Thank you for letting me see her."

"The talk had to happen one way or the other. Now, time to go back to your eternal rest."

Iola smiled.

This time, she was leaving on her own accord.

As she placed her hand in the stranger's, the world turned white.


Mystic Falls.

Woods by Mystic Falls High.

Cherith looked up into the sky.

It was quiet and dark, and she felt stuck.

Looking around herself, she let out a gasp as she found herself little buried by a tree, with only her eyes, nose and mouth popping out from green, healthy grass.

Green, healthy grass that seemed so foreign to the woods of Mystic Falls.

It was probably connected to how she got to the Astral Plane.

At least she had been protected from the Cold and dangerous animals.

Lighting up her hands, she fired upwards and dirt and sand flea everywhere and she had to cover her eyes as it fell over and around her.

As she finally sat up, the cold hair of the evening hit her body as she stared down at herself.

Her white cardigan was grimy and dirty. Well, her whole body was.

She honestly looked like she'd just crawled out from the ground… Which she just did… Sort of.

Her mind then played the conversation she'd had with her mother, especially the part about her having no chance to stop the ritual.

Apparently, the fucking universe was against her in this.

Hmpf!

But now, she needed to know what was going on though…

She crouched and grabbed her purse, bringing out her phone and turning it on.

As she checked the time, her jaw dropped.

April 26th had been the day of the decade dance.

The day was April 28th.

Prom was in 2 days.

But most importantly, the full moon was that night.

She looked up where the moon seemed to be taunting her.

It was almost fully out.

"Well shit."


So that's it!

Sort of short, I know, but I want the full moon chapter to stand on its own.

Just like Cherith, Iola has a thing with names too, lmao! Mikaelson boy… pft!

The title of the chapter, Maia, means mother.

For Cherith and her mother's introduction, I was reminded of the instrumental from Enola Holmes (If you've watched it) and I loved it so much.

It's called 'Mother' by Daniel Pemberton.

I thought it fit Cherith and Iola's first meeting, especially from the part '1:00 to the End'.

It's a truly beautiful piece.

P.s. Even though it's been out a long, long while, who loved the Netflix adaptation of Enola Holmes?

While different, I certainly did love it. They didn't overcomplicate it either.

Recently, I've gained back my Harry Potter muse and I've been writing a lot of different HP fics.

I love stories relating to the 1800s and dressing like that. With the Wizarding World being behind in fashion, I'm pretty sure even in the 1900s they dressed more like that. I wonder how an OC like Enola would be like?

Maybe born into a mad wizarding family like the Lovegoods or even the Blacks. Cassiopeia was not really touched on but she certainly leaves us imagining her character. Maybe even her daughter. Marauder era or even Tom Riddle era sounds nice.

Anyways…

Anyone wondering how 'Iola' is pronounced, it has different ways.

The American way is "Eye-O-La"

But the Welsh and even Spanish pronunciation is "Yo-la".

That's how Cherith and the older generation pronounces her mom's name, but you can still pronounce it however you want. I just wanted to let you guys know how it'll be pronounced when she finally leaves Mystic Falls by other people.

Iola means violet, Violet flower or purple flower. A small throw to her and Cherith's amethyst colored eyes.

Lol, I prefer to use slightly rare names for my stories, or rather, names that you rarely find in Fanfics.

For example, one of my HP fics, her name is 'Edelweiss'.

I even have another where her name is Leilani. Not as rare but still.

When I write, the names of my characters matter a lot to me. Believe me, sometimes I spend up to a week trying to pick a name that I feel resonates with my OC. If it doesn't, I can change the name again, lol.

Okay so this is the end of it for now!!

Please leave comments!! Thank you!!

God Bless!!!