Wicked Casters
Disclaimer: I do not own the Twilight Saga
Chapter 23: Life and Death
Ginger's POV
Maybe I didn't treat you
Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you
Quite as often as I could have
A drunk man sang as he made his way across the street. He was swaying while holding onto a bottle of alcohol. I didn't pay much attention to him as he walked by.
It was dusk when Eleanor and I reached the condemned ballet studio. My heart was racing in fear for my mother. Betsy wasn't a witch or any supernatural being, just human. And if she died because of me, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Even with our ups and downs, she is blood and learning from my coven; blood is stronger than water. I've seen the relationship between Eleanor and her mother Constance and Zelena with her heritage.
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
My thoughts wonder if Alice has seen our future changed. I can only assume Eleanor's spell, and Zelena's charm covered us from Alice's visions to be this far. Though before the spells were cast, I wondered if she'd seen me in the mirror room with James. Then I thought of Edward, how heartbroken he would feel to discover I ran away. If James didn't have my mom, I would have gone on the next flight to wherever or with Zelena to England.
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
You were always on my mind
The man walked by, almost colliding with us. He tripped, I caught him, and Eleanor caught his bottle.
"Ssssorrry," the man slurred as he corrected himself.
"It's alright," I assured him.
The man nodded as he stood up straight and walked down the street singing that Elvis song. Man, I kind of feel sorry for him. He must have gone through a terrible breakup and drank himself to this condition. Or he is simply a drunk who likes Elvis. Anyway, we waited to ensure the man was safe and out of reach before continuing.
"You're sure about this?" Eleanor asked, holding the bottle to be Diablo de Flores.
Damn, that is like good tequila, I thought.
"Yeah," I breathed, staring at the ballet studio. "Promise to take my mom out of here. Take her somewhere safe."
"I'll come back," Eleanor added. "Last thing I need is you to be killed or worse, one of them."
"I don't mind becoming one of them," I confessed.
Eleanor paused, taking my hand so we could face each other. She held a stern look, one that any mother figure had. "You don't get it. We Casters, us Traditionals, when we change our form… everything becomes like a rejection. I don't know the feelings, but I read it to a point I fear it. I've lost a loved one. I don't want a sister in the grave as well."
Her words touched me. Even with our differences and my having a relationship with Edward… no doubt confirmed we are sisters. Our coven is small, and we know each other for a short period of time, but in the end, our bond is stronger than people would assume. I hugged her tightly before pulling back.
As I thought throughout the day, I'd never given much thought to how I would die. But dying in the place of someone I love seems like a good way to go. I can't bring myself to regret the decisions that brought me face-to-face with death. They also brought me to Edward. Including my coven family. If Eleanor comes back in time, I will value the second chance on life.
Eleanor wiped off the top of the tequila bottle and handed it to me. I truly appreciated it, as I accepted the bottle and took a large swig. The alcohol burned right through and into my stomach, creating warmth. I handed the bottle back to Eleanor, who took it and cautiously took a gulp. Her face cringed as she almost gagged. I couldn't help but laugh, making a mental note not to buy Eleanor a bottle of tequila when we are older. Setting the bottle aside, we took a deep breath to save my mom.
We headed inside the condemned studio, finding it cold, wet, and musty from the aftermath of Katrina. A few lights were on, some flickering while others illuminated a dim blue color. The floors were scuffed and warping, and several mirrors were broken or covered by graffiti. I remember coming here once with a bunch of kids, as they showed me the devastation of a hurricane. Now it has become the judge of life and death, and the scenery projects death.
Across the studio stood James with Betsy tied up and gagged on the ground. She had bruises on her arms and a welt on her forehead, from what I could see. Other than that, she was still alive. As much as I want to kill James for hurting her, I have to keep to the act. He thinks I'm a human. Little did he know the magic I possess? Anyway, the predator smiled as he saw us come in.
"Sorry about this, Georgia." James cooed. "But isn't it better that your mother got a chance to see you before you die?"
"Let her go," I demanded. "She has nothing to do with this."
James nodded as he picked Betsy up and pushed her towards us. She stumbled from the restraints, falling halfway through the studio, yet I caught her. I hugged her gingerly, smelling her fragrance of jasmine lotion for the last time. I whispered, "I love you, mom." Before handing her off to Eleanor. Betsy protested, but Eleanor shoved a potion down her mouth, making her numb and obedient to follow. I thanked Eleanor as she led Betsy out of the building and away from danger.
"You don't seem angry that I brought your mother into this," James murmured. Suddenly he was in my face shoving me against the mirrors hard. "I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you." He lifted up a video camera. "So to make things more entertaining, I'm gonna make a little film of our time together. I hope you don't mind." He then pulled back, lifting the camera. "And action."
I huffed, taking a deep breath to control my emotions. Sadly, my anger was spiraling out of control, that my hands became burning hot with fire. The only control I had was not exposing the flames right in front of him.
Fire.
Edward mentioned, tearing the vampire apart and burning them could be their end.
Still oblivious of what is going on, James continues his rants. "That'll break Edward's little heart."
"Leave him out of this," I yelled.
"But he does," he continued. "His rage will make for a more interesting sport than his feeble attempt to protect you. And let's continue."
Growling, I raised my hand, aiming at the bastard. He arched a brow, confused, but was too slow as I fired a fireball at him, getting him in the shoulder. He shouted in pain, trying to extinguish the flame. I took the opportunity to escape. Running towards the nearest emergency exit. Suddenly James grabbed me by the neck and tossed me against the wall. I was so close to the exit. I cried out in pain on impact, feeling something snap in the ribs.
"Beautiful. Very visually dynamic. I've chose my stage well." He said. "I had my suspicions you were special. And you just clarified you are a witch. It's too bad he didn't have the strength to turn you. Instead, he kept you as this fragile little witch." He then grabbed my hand in a vice grip as blood oozed out. "By the smell, you're a Salem Witch. It's a shame you don't have much control over it."
Suddenly he stomped on my right leg, shattering it. I screamed from the intense pain. None that I ever felt. He smirked defiantly as he aimed the camera at me. "Tell Edward how much it hurts."
Before I could reply, James was shoved off by an unknown force.
"Get away from her, you bloodsucking bastard!"
.o0o.
Eleanor's POV
I've gotten Betsy to a safe location, having a taxi driver take the injured woman to Miss Robichaux's Academy while using a spell on the driver to forget once he gets there and make sure Betsy is in Spalding or Cordelia's care. Afterward, I ran back to the Ballet Studio to witness James stomping on Ginger's leg.
Unable to control myself, I used my telekinesis to shove the Tracker off her and pinned him to a mirror. The amount of force put into the push shattered the glass. But I didn't care as I stood in front of Ginger, shielding her from the beast.
James stood up, bemused, wiping the dust off his shoulders, correcting his leather jacket, and then faced me. I gazed deep into those red eyes of a predator. Deep down, I could feel my instincts urging me to run away. But I will not leave my coven sister behind. The ancestors spent too long in hiding. Now it is time to fight.
After a moment, James started to laugh, "This is splendid. Two Salem witches in my game!"
"Watch it," I sneered as I ignited a fire orb in my hand.
He smirked, "Please, as if I haven't enjoyed playing with your kind before. But before we begin… I would like to rub it in just a little bit. The answer was there all along, and I was afraid Edward would see that and ruin my fun. But it seems like he's too weak to make that choice, on your dear friend. It happened once, oh, ages ago."
"Enough," I shouted, throwing the fire orb at him.
Unfortunately, he dodged it, jumping onto the stage still with the camera at hand.
"You see, the vampire who was so stupidly fond of this little victim made a choice." He explained. "When the old one knew I was after his little friend, he stole her from the asylum where he worked. As soon as he freed her, he made her safe. She didn't even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature. She'd been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her vision. A witch just likes you, only she didn't know her heritage in time."
"…Alice." Ginger gasped.
That explains it. It explains why Alice holds the same aura as us, let alone her atmosphere. Alice's time period in the early twentieth century, back when Casters were migrating throughout the United States and consummating with humans to hide in plain sight in the past three hundred years.
"Yes, your little friend," James confirmed. "I was surprised to see her in the clearing. The old vampire made her a strong new vampire, and there was no reason for me to touch her then. . . I destroyed the old one in vengeance. So…I get Georgia…but they get her. I suggest you walk away, miss."
"Look," I warned. "What's done is done. Unless you seek a witch hunt, I demand you leave us. Otherwise, all of New Orleans and Casters will destroy you. Marcel is aware of your presence and is on his way."
I thought mentioning Marcel, the King of the French Quarters of New Orleans, could frighten this vampire. No one would dare challenge a vampire who has been sired by the Originals and was appointed to the territory. And hearing what Marcel has done to the werewolves in this state…then maybe, just maybe, James will step aside.
James shook his head as he jumped down, walking towards us at a human pace. "The one victim who escaped me, quite an honor actually. And she did smell delicious. I still regret that I never got to taste. She smelled even better than both of you."
He didn't take my threat. Either he knew I was bluffing, or this Tracker shows no fear towards authority. I need to destroy him. I need to tear him apart and burn him. Otherwise, Ginger and I will be dead.
I was about to conjure another fireball when James vanished. I turned around to listen for him, but he was too fast. I growled, creating a force field around Ginger and me when, suddenly, I was pinned to the wall.
"I don't mean to be offensive. You girls do have a very nice smell." James commented. "I'm sorry, but I just don't think you are valuable at the moment. But don't worry… I'll come back for you."
After he said that, he punched me in the belly, right in the diaphragm. I gasped, having the wind knocked out of me as I doubled over. It was impossible to breathe as James chuckled, letting me fall to the ground, then went towards Ginger.
"Now, where were we," James murmured. "Ah yes, Georgia, I just don't think he'll be able to resist hunting me after watching this. And I wouldn't want him to miss anything. It was all for him, of course. Unfortunately, you're simply a witch… who unfortunately was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, might I add."
Ginger tried to crawl away while conjuring her fire to blast at him. But James got a hold of her, bending her arm in the opposite direction. Her screams echoed throughout the studio, but there was nobody. I tried to conjure my energy to blast him away, except the pain in my belly was unbearable to ignore. Leaving me nothing to do but watch the Tracker toss Ginger around like a rag doll, ranting that Edward should avenge her.
"Stop!" I cried, firing a fireball, getting him in the back.
James vanished, and once more, I was tossed across the ballet studio and into a column. I groaned, clinging to my left shoulder.
"Again, I'll be back for you," he murmured as he grabbed me by my hair and forced me to sit up. I tried to use my telekinesis to restrain him, except James bashed my head on the column. Pain consumed me, followed by shock. Fire came across us as it struck James on the shoulder.
"Fiery, I like it," James murmured, adjusting the camera and rushing to Ginger.
He crouched over Ginger and pressed his free hand along her leg. Ginger screamed from that as her face contorted in pain.
"Tell Edward how much it hurts," James instructed with a sadistic grin. "Tell him to avenge you. Tell him!"
"Edward!" Ginger screamed.
I tried to stand up, yet I fumbled.
"Stop!" I exclaimed. "Leave her alone!"
"Tell him!" he growled. "Tell him!"
Before James could express his satanic desire, he was shoved off Ginger by a blur. Ginger leans up to see Edward standing right in front of her. His face molded in anger and scrutiny. It wasn't long before the two Cold Ones started fighting. Battling their way through the condemned building. Then James pinned Edward by the neck to a mirrored column.
"You're alone 'because you're faster than the others." He noted, followed by slamming his head on the glass. "But not stronger."
"I'm strong enough to kill you," Edward growled, kicking James across the room, smashing into a piano.
Edward ran towards James, except the blond vampire got up, grabbed him, and tossed Edward to the ceiling. As if he weighed nothing. Ginger gasped as I covered my eyes from the fragments of glass falling everywhere. Once opening my eyes, the two vampires were nothing but blurs as mirrors, columns, and windows were being destroyed.
Desperately, I tried to make my way over to Ginger. I needed to make a forcefield around us to be safe. Already I saw Ginger lying on the ground, bleeding. Desperately, I crawled towards Ginger, trying to get her out of trouble.
However, James hovered over her.
"Stay away from her," I yelled.
James ignored me as he knelt down, taking Ginger's hand and biting her wrist.
"No," I shriek
My anger pushed my magic into my hands, blasting James off her.
Edward caught James pinning him to the wall while biting his ear off. I didn't care how Edward dealt with the damn bastard. All my concentration went to Ginger, grabbing hold of her hand and examining the wound. I cursed to find the bite mark had broken skin.
Now, there were two options: either Ginger becomes a vampire, or she dies.
.o0o.
Ginger's POV
Death was cruel.
I thought death would be an instant and then be consumed in darkness. My thought of being dead was James ripped a vital artery as I bled to death or my neck internally decapitated. Right now, I feel my body is on fire. Starting from my left arm all the way up to my chest. It burned like acid in my veins. My body shakes as if I'm having a seizure, and the cries escape me.
I could feel Eleanor holding me through the haze as she pressed her hand on my leg, casting a spell. Only to hear her curse. Something was wrong. The burning pain was unbearable, and I couldn't tell what was healing and what was decaying. Then I could hear a bell-like voice, Alice.
"Carlisle? Her blood." Alice called out.
I could hear two other voices.
"I got him," it was Emmett.
"Start the fire," Jasper ordered.
"Get the floorboards," Emmett added.
Suddenly another person was above me.
"What happened?" Carlisle asked.
"Blunt force trauma to the head… shattered right leg… broken left arm… and… and lacerations," Eleanor listed with panic. "He bit her."
"Can you magically heal her?" Carlisle asked.
"Nnn, not with ...with the ven... venom in her…her system." Eleanor stuttered.
"Eleanor, breathe. I can help. Just keep her still." Carlisle instructed.
"Alice," Jasper called out.
"Alice, go," Carlisle instructed. "Eleanor, keep her down."
I felt hands holding me down as my body struggled against Eleanor's hold. Meanwhile, a set of cold hands touched my leg. Assuming it was Carlisle as he added pressure to the laceration on wound.
"Her femoral artery's has been severed. She's losing too much blood." Carlisle said.
"No, no, it burns!" I cried.
"It's the venom," Edward growled.
"You have to make a choice," Carlisle said. "You could let the change happen. "
"No," Edward mumbled.
"It's gonna happen, Edward. I've seen it." Alice said.
"It doesn't have to be that way," Edward countered.
"She's still hemorrhaging," Carlisle said. "Alice, make me a tourniquet. Your belt. Eleanor, rip a piece of your dress."
Both girls did so as Carlisle spontaneously formed a tourniquet over my leg in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
"Carlisle, what's my other option?" Edward asked.
"We could try to suck the venom out," Carlisle suggested.
"You know I won't be able to stop," Edward reminded.
"Then find the will to stop." Carlisle snapped. "But choose. She only has minutes left."
"Do it," Eleanor begged. "I can bring her back."
"Make it stop," I cried, grabbing hold of Edward's hand.
The pain became worse to the point I felt like I was blind. Unable to see as everyone around me vanished in smoke. A cold hand held my bitted wrist as it was brought to Edward's lips.
"I'm gonna make it go away, Ginger," Edward murmured." I'll make it go away."
His cold lips were on my skin. Eleanor's voice tried to calm me as her arms locked in my head. Carlisle's stone hands add pressure to the wounds. And then…I could feel the relief. The acid burning began to dull, concentrating on a small point. As the darkness consumed me, my heart, which was beating rapidly, started to fight to continue pumping. The blood in me began to drain rapidly as Edward drank my blood.
"Is it all out?" Carlisle asked.
Instantly Edward yanked himself away from my wrist. "Her blood tastes clean. I can taste the morphine."
Suddenly my heart stops. I don't know what happened. But the next thing I knew was warm lips pressed against my own. The hands of the owner cradle my cheeks in a familiar way as the person whispers a sacred spell.
"Vitalum Vitalis."
The moment I was dead, I gasped from the brink of death. Cold arms wrapped around me as Edward embraced me in his hold. His cold lips pressed against my forehead, "Sleep now, Ginger."
And then everything went black.
Death is peaceful, easy.
Life is harder.
And magic…magic is confusing.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading, and please leave a review. Reviews encourage me to write more.
Song used: Always on my mind by Elvis
Updated