A/N: The last one was difficult for me to write. We've all had trouble with family before. I hope I did it justice. Let me know how you're feeling in the comments. Also, I realize that we didn't get Damon's whole "humane" moment of sparing the sheriff in the last chapter. I just didn't feel like it. This isn't a Damon-positive story if you hadn't noticed. This is really a story about Sabrina and Caroline, their relationships, etc. I'd like to keep it that way for the time being. I am curious though. How do you think I should do the Damon arc of this story? I have some ideas, but I'd like your opinions.
Chapter Twenty-One:
"I'll Drag You Down with Me"
Songs for this chapter:
"Earth Melodies" by Ekaterina Shelehova
"Which Witch" by Florence + the Machine
-O-
Liz woke with a pounding headache, a hangover with vengeance. She sat up in darkness, dried leaves crunching under her shifting. Her hands shook as she lifted them. The heady scent of iron filled her senses. A wooden stake fell from her hand. The moon hung overhead, shining in-between skeleton tree branches.
She dropped the stake with a gasp, recoiling. She shifted, and her back hit something solid. Her body felt heavy, like moving through molasses. She turned, the back of her hand dragging over the ground, the mud sticking to her sleeve. She saw the muddy jeans and bejeweled t-shirt before she noticed the familiar blonde curls. A patch of red spread across the dirty white t-shirt.
God, no. No, no, no…nononononono. Caroline. Her daughter lay, eyes half open, death grey instead of cornflower blue. Then, the blood on her hands suddenly burned. She brushed her daughter's hair from her face, cradling it between her palms, resting her forehead against hers.
"Oh, baby," a dry sob heaved her chest. "Oh, baby, why did you—,"
Water sloshed behind her, and Liz jerked up, her heart jumping painfully. Her eyes darted along the tree line before settling at the pool near the base of the falls. Small waves edged up the shore, barely reaching the bottom of her boot. Another slosh, and Liz forced herself to her feet, backing away from the water. She spotted a fin breaking the water. No catfish was that big, especially not with the spikes. A dull hum wrapped itself around her heart like a thorned rose vine. Water hit the shore, flooding around her shoes. She didn't step back.
Dark hair and grey skin broke the surface of the water, black eyes reflecting back at her. The hum tightened its grip, yanking and pulling. A short step, and her boot sunk into the mud. The water soaked up to her knees, and she felt scales brush against the back of her legs.
"No, please…"
Dark hands wrapped around her waist. The cold water bit into her thighs, sending an ache through her knees. A tear slid down her face. The hands pulled her into the water. She didn't struggle until the water covered her face. The water boiled red underneath the fog and the moon.
A scream ripped her throat raw as Sabrina shot up in bed. Cold sweat poured down her body as wind rattled the windows. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped her quilt and sheets. Thunder rumbled, shaking the house. Something tapped against glass. Raking her hands through damp hair, she turned her head. Green eyes reflected back at her. Peanut pawed at the window again, probably howling with the way her mouth moved. Standing on shaky legs, she crossed the room, pushing the window up, allowing the sopping cat inside, letting it traipse across her desk, muddying several papers. She collapsed on the edge of the bed, tears burning her eyes.
"Don't let me drag you down with me," her breath broke in a gasp. "P-please,"
