there's a dark room inside of my head / developing images i'd rather forget
come back for me - jaymes young
May 6th, 2014
1903 Prison World
"You have really nice palms." Kai commented, hoping to diffuse the tension.
She gave him a strange look before resuming her chanting. Changing tacts, he tried again—Bonnie had always liked honesty, he had noticed.
"Do you know why I'm here?" he asked. "Because my guilt keeps me up at night."
She didn't open her eyes, or stop chanting.
"I don't expect you to believe me—but I need you to give me one more chance."
Still no acknowledgment, and Kai's frustration built—his emotions were wound tightly lately.
"Bonnie! Listen to me!" he yelled, grabbing her hands, hard—too hard; he had drawn blood.
She sent him an enraged look and remorse—he was pretty sure that's what it was—flooded through him as he watched her bleed in horror.
"Sorry, oh my God, I didn't mean to do that." he stammered, reeling.
"But you did it anyway." Bonnie said evenly.
"I'll admit, I'm still adjusting, but that was not intentional. I'm getting used to feeling things like frustration, anger, and guilt again, there has to be a buffer period, Bonnie, I'm sorry."
She was silent for a few minutes, studying him, searching for something in his eyes—something which she must have found, given her next words.
"You get a second chance with your Coven—not with me." she whispered. "I never want to see you again."
"Bonnie—" he started.
"I am not selfish enough to leave you here and rob your Coven of its leader, but so help me God, if you don't step up for them, I will kill you—Coven life link or not, understood?"
He nodded, swallowing the excuses that had been on the tip of his tongue—she didn't deserve to have to listen to them. He owed it to her to try, even if she never got to see the results.
Annual Coven Convention - January 25th, 2015
Portland, Oregon
"Our Coven is honored to be hosting this year's convention," Kai intoned, his voice echoing through the room with an authority Bonnie hadn't realized he possessed. "My name is Malachai, the Ruler of the Gemini Coven of Portland, and I look forward to a future of prosperous alliances and friendships with you all."
"Beneficia ad vos." The delegation of witches chanted, including Lucy, sitting beside her.
Bonnie leaned over to whisper in her cousin's ear. "What are they doing?"
"It's a blessing—our acceptance of him in his new position." Lucy whispered back. "It's a complete formality, though, since we don't really have the power to reject him anyways."
"Let the Covens bring forward their motions for the assembly to take under consideration." Kai said, sitting back down.
Bonnie sent her cousin a questioning look, and Lucy leaned over once more. "Motions are requests for aid usually, or requests for reform. They're rare, since most Covens like to handle their own problems unless they have no other choice—usually, never more than three or four motions are brought forward. Leaders only attend the conventions if they plan to put forward a motion, otherwise, they typically only send diplomats as a delegation in their stead to hear and report back the going ons in the larger witch community. Beyond just wasted time, having all the Coven leaders in the same spot makes for too big and convenient of a target, don't you think?"
Bonnie nodded weakly, still processing all the information Lucy had just dumped on her.
"I am Emmaline, leader of the Lunar Coven of Wyoming." a tall, blonde witch introduced herself, standing up gracefully. She had electrifying blue eyes, which, coupled with her high cheekbones and controlled demeanor, made for an intimidating figure—good thing Bonnie was approximately three years past being intimidated by anyone. "As you know, our Coven is in good standing with the werewolves in our community, for our shared connections to the moon."
"The Lunar Coven chooses its leaders by leaving the hopeful new potentials in werewolf territory on a full moon—the last one standing gets the title." Lucy explained. "Horrible business, really—dozens of werewolves and witches die in the ritual, but it fuels their moon-conducted magic for the next few decades, until a new leader is chosen."
"But there have been some rogue, rebellious bands of werewolves who have separated from the cooperative clans and are now targeting and persecuting us." Emmaline continued. "With our diminished numbers, we are too weak to fend them off alone—we request aid from the assembly."
Kai tilted his head thoughtfully. "We will take under consideration with the other Covens and form a diverse auxiliary within the next month. Is that suitable?"
Emmaline inclined her head. "Yes, thank you." she said, before sitting down again.
"Since the Gemini Coven is hosting the convention this year, it is Kai's duty to rule the assembly." Lucy told her quietly. "He basically has to come up with the solutions and assign other Covens to aiding their allies with their motions. If a large enough number of the assembly feel that one of his decisions is not satisfactory, they can veto it with a majority vote, but until that occurs, he's in control. Next year, the role will belong to someone else—the host of the next convention—and Kai will likely send someone to attend in his stead."
"I am Gabriel, Ruler of the Bronx Coven of New York." A confident-looking latino man announced, standing up. "Our Coven has had a bit of a recent problem with birthing siphoners, despite our rather unblemished history. We have narrowed down which bloodline it comes from and have contained it."
The air became electric, and it would have been possible to hear a pin drop as some of the witches dared to risk a nervous glance in Kai's direction.
Gabriel continued, unaware of the newfound tension. "To dilute the siphoner gene from our Coven, we are officially opening marital negotiations with other Covens, with help from the assembly, of course."
No one moved, no one spoke—Bonnie couldn't tell if anyone was even breathing anymore as they all waited for the Gemini leader's reaction—the reaction of a siphoner faced with the brutality of his people's prejudice. His face was carefully blank, but Bonnie could see that his hands were white-knuckled around the armrests of his chair. Beside him, his father looked much more relaxed, borderline amused, while on Kai's other side, Liv looked mildly horrified, as if waiting for an inevitable trainwreck.
"Denied." Kai said coldly, after another moment of loaded silence.
"What- what? Why?" Gabriel sputtured, trying to regain his composure, obviously shocked by the reaction he had received to his words.
"I will not repeat myself twice." Kai told him sharply. "Thank you, Gabriel, please sit down and allow the next motion to be put forward."
The Ruler of the Bronx Coven sat down, completely putoff, but not stupid enough to protest the rebuke in front of the assembly.
"Jo was right." Bonnie murmured, pleasantly surprised by how calmly he had handled the extremely volatile situation.
"What?" her cousin asked, confused.
Bonnie subtly nodded in Kai's direction. "He is good at this."
An old, stout African American woman stood up, looking undaunted by Kai's newly acquired black mood. "I am Agnes, Elder of The French Quarter Coven of New Orleans. With the permission of the Regent of the Nine Covens of New Orleans, I have been sent to request urgent aid."
Bonnie noticed that everyone stiffened at the mention of the Regent of the Nine Covens of New Orleans. While she had never heard of the title before—she assumed it was a powerful thing indeed for them to have approved an urgent request for aid.
"And what is so wrong in New Orleans that the Regent would sanction a call for aid?" Kai asked cautiously, lacing his hands together on top of the table in front of him.
"We have a vampire problem—a big one. Marcel Gerard, the self-pronounced king of New Orleans, placed a ban on witches performing any magic in the Quarter, on pain of death—it's one of his 'rules' that he set into metaphorical law." Agnes elaborated evenly. "Naturally, my Coven did not take this well. We spoke to our ancestors and were told that it was time to perform the Harvest ritual to rejuvenate our connection to our ancestral magic—make us stronger as we went up against the vampires. It would've worked, if not for Marcel, who intervened before it could be completed, stealing away one of our Harvest girls before the ritual could be completed and leaving us in limbo. Davina now has the power of three other witches in her, and Marcel uses her to monitor our magical activity, pinpointing and punishing any who practice it." she paused, tucking her hands behind her. "If we do not complete the Harvest ritual soon, my Coven's magic will fade completely and we will be mortal, unable to practice any magic at all."
The look of shock on everyone's faces would have been comedic to Bonnie, if not for the horror she felt flowing through her own veins. Unable to practice magic? She had been there, done that, and had no desire to be stuck with the terrible feeling permanently—a perpetual black hole in her soul; a feeling of incompleteness.
There was silence for a complete twenty seconds before whispers and exclamations of shock started to clutter the hall, quickly deteriorating into pandemonium as people heatedly debated what courses of action should be taken.
"This is not good." Lucy muttered, glancing warily around the chaotic room, but Bonnie didn't even register her words, her gaze drawn to the only man who remained quiet.
He was still sitting, dangerously still, his only movement his fingers, which were steadily drumming against his armrest. He looked deep in thought, and Bonnie couldn't tell what emotion was pounding through his body until he slowly turned his head to meet her gaze, as if he had sensed her watching him. She saw it then, in his icy grey-blue eyes—anger. Bonnie knew it was reflected in her own, and for once, she and Kai Parker were on the same side of a fight.
"Quiet." he ordered, and silence instantly fell as the assembly took in the anger that was so clearly radiating off of him in waves. "Your vampire infestation greatly concerns me, as much as I'm sure it concerns everyone else in this room. We cannot allow our New Orleans brethren to lose their magic, much less under the tyrannical rule of a vampire. How does the Regent think the assembly's auxiliary should approach the situation?"
"Up until a week ago, the Regent would've had you send in your most skilled witches and wipe out our vampire population," Agnes said grimly. "But now the game has changed—the Originals are in town once more."
More whispers broke out, but Kai held up his hand and silence fell once more.
"So a diplomatic delegation first." he proposed calmly. "A small one—small enough to not be perceived as a direct threat—made up of skilled witches who are powerful enough to survive an encounter with an Original if worst comes to worst. Two or three at most."
"This sounds wise." Agnes agreed, nodding.
Kai sighed. "This troubles me deeply, Agnes, and as such, I feel it is appropriate that I take one of the places in the delegation myself."
Outraged protests erupted all over the room, and Liv, who looked like she'd been slapped, leaned over to whisper intensely into her brother's ear, joined in her shock by the previously relaxed dark haired man sitting beside her.
"Is this unusual?" Bonnie asked Lucy.
She frowned. "Not really. The Gemini Coven is one the more powerful Covens in the United States, and Kai is uniquely powerful in that he is a siphoner with the power of two witches within him—whoever this Davina character is, she might meet her match in Kai." Lucy shrugged. "I think all the fuss is because he's a newer leader, no less one whose life is attached to all those in his coven. Kai's not stupid, I'm sure he'll be careful, but whoever goes with him needs to be fairly powerful as well, just in case."
"Someone who we know can survive against an Original." Bonnie breathed, a dangerous idea forming in her mind.
Her thoughts must have been clear on her face, because Lucy immediately shook her head vigorously. "No. No. Bonnie, this is your first convention, you shouldn't be jumping aboard the delegation for the most dangerous motion we've had put forward in decades." she hissed.
"I'm sure I've done more dangerous things than this." Bonnie dismissed.
"Don't you ever get tired of playing hero?" her cousin asked desperately.
"If not me, then who, Lucy?" she demanded evenly. "Who else in this room is as qualified for this job as me? Do you think that I want to spend God knows how long playing bodyguard to Kai? No—but I've dealt with the Originals before, I know how they operate. He'll need me, both my powers and my knowledge." Bonnie shrugged. "Besides, I have friends in the Gemini Coven. If he dies, so does Liv and so does Jo, who is pregnant with another one of my friends' children. This is the only logical solution—the path that ensures the least chance of them all dying. Me and Kai may not have the best track record, but if he's truly changed, as I've been told repeatedly, I'm sure we can at least cooperate for the greater good."
"We'll see just how long it takes you to call me and complain." Lucy muttered. "My guess is five hours—just because you're extra stubborn. Otherwise, it would be two."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Her cousin sighed heavily, sending her a long-suffering look. "Just remember to speak ultra-formally when you volunteer—it's important to them and their protocols."
Bonnie smiled. "Thanks, Lucy."
Liv was still engaged in a furiously paced conversation with Kai, although now their father had joined them in their debate, and by the ticking in Kai's jaw, he wasn't liking the way it was going—probably something to do with him being linked to the lives of all of their Coven.
Finally he had enough, and he waved them off. "Enough." he ordered, and again, as if by a spell of some sort—or maybe he truly was that commanding—everyone fell silent. "Who else does the assembly propose for this delegation?"
Without a second thought, Bonnie stood up. "I am Bonnie Bennett from Mystic Falls, Virginia, and I volunteer to be a member of the delegation."
Everyone stared, startled by the invoking of her infamous last name, but Bonnie couldn't bring herself to care—she was simply trying not to look too absurd as she spoke as formally as she could manage.
"I come from a powerful line of witches, and I have faced off against the Originals before—have even helped kill two of them. I feel that I am uniquely suited for this delegation."
She could feel Kai's burning gaze on her, and when she turned to meet it, she registered the surprise and confusion in his eyes, despite his carefully schooled face. In stark contrast, next to him, Liv's mouth was hanging wide open in unmasked shock, and Joshua Parker was studying her like one might a turkey before the Thanksgiving slaughter.
Kai recovered quickly. "Is this a suitable delegation for starting negotiations?"
Agnes nodded. "You two will be satisfactory."
He smiled lightly—just the corners of his mouth tilted upwards in an almost indecipherable movement—but it was there.
"Now that that's settled," Kai said, absent-mindedly twisting one of the rings on his right hand. "Next motion please."
Bonnie sat down, a little shakily, and Lucy took her hand, murmuring something that Bonnie didn't hear.
What did I just sign up for?
8 months ago...
Portland, Oregon
She didn't make any noise, but he could feel her, even without having to use his magic—they were twins, after all. She was standing in the doorway of his apartment, arms crossed as she watched him, simultaneously wary and morbidly curious—if those were even the right labels for those emotions; Kai still often got them mixed up.
"Yay, you're back." he said flatly, not looking up from the Grimoire he was currently pouring over. "Domestic bliss over so soon?"
"You didn't come to the wedding." his sister commented delicately.
"Wasn't aware I was invited." Kai intoned, skimming over notes about cauldron care.
"You weren't."
"Good thing I didn't come then." he said evenly, finally making eye contact.
"That's never stopped you before."
Kai tilted his head. "Well, I've never had Luke in my head before either, so maybe that's the common denominator."
A loaded silence descended, and Kai felt like sighing heavily and leaving, but he had decided last night that he owed it to Jo to try, no matter how painful, awkward, or confusing it got.
"I wouldn't have turned you away if you'd come." she told him, and he almost stiffened in surprise before he remembered himself.
"Was dad there?" he asked, feigning disinterest as he ran his finger down the spine of the Grimoire.
"He walked me down the aisle."
"Then you knew I wouldn't have come."
She shrugged. "I had hoped you might set aside old grudges for a few hours."
"Maybe one day I'll be able to look at the guy without wanting to rip his throat out, but until then, I think I'll keep my distance." he said mildly, reaching for the glass of rum on the coffee table next to him.
Jo's lips pressed together disapprovingly, but she didn't comment. Maybe she was trying too.
"How's Alaric doing?" Kai asked, internally wincing the moment the words left his mouth because of how insincere they sounded.
Jo didn't bat an eyelash. "He's good. He's currently unpacking our luggages in our new home."
Kai nodded, staying silent as he tapped his fingernails against the glass he was holding.
His sister narrowed her eyes. "Our new home—the deed to which showed up among the rest of our wedding presents with no return address, no card, and no name to attribute it to—just a note card that said 'congratulations'."
"Sounds very mysterious." he said, taking another sip of rum. Rum—he didn't even like rum.
No bourbon, I'm secure enough in my masculinity. Vodka's boring. Rum's too tropical. Ooh, tequila, you do not wanna see me on tequila. What about gin, is that weird?
Not if you're a fifty-year-old, Liv had answered. Then he had chased her around the bar in a deadly game of tag.
He didn't like rum, he remembered, setting down the glass distastefully.
"I recognize your handwriting, Kai." Jo said flatly.
He raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And?" she repeated, bewildered.
"And nothing, Jo. It's my wedding gift to you and your charming new husband."
"Kai, it's a house. A two-story one with a view of Forest Park—it must have cost a fortune."
He sighed heavily, setting the Grimoire aside. "You are pregnant, correct?"
"Yes."
"Then you need a house." he reasoned. "And unless you're planning on raising your kids in the creepy old Parker Manor, I suggest you either use the house I gave you, or buy yourselves another one."
"Kai- I- what?" she stammered.
He groaned. "Jo, it's really not that complicated."
"Coming from you, it kind of is!" she exclaimed.
"No strings attached." Kai said firmly. "Just a place for you to get away from the usual crazy Gemini Coven bullshit, and raise a family, with the man you love, in peace—you deserve it." he said the last part quietly, and something foreign-feeling flooded through him—was it sadness, anger, or shame? He really couldn't tell, and he didn't have the energy to try to figure it out right now. He felt drained. Drained. That was a feeling he'd correctly identified—he was pretty sure.
"I wouldn't have turned you away if you'd come." she repeated.
"How's Bonnie?" Kai asked absentmindedly, deflecting.
Bonnie Bennett—now that was a trip. Her words still rung painfully in his head, and he hated—he was pretty sure it was hate—that she had been the one that forced him to get his act together.
But so help me, if you don't step up for them, I will kill you—Coven or not.
"She's…Bonnie." Jo answered cautiously.
"You think she misses me?" he asked, a small smirk tugging on his lips—he already knew the answer to that.
"She's…Bonnie." his sister reiterated, sending him a sharp look.
"She hates my guts." he translated brightly, even as something inside of him shattered. "She'll have to get in line, I guess."
Jo laughed weakly, and Kai could hear the loud internal monologue on 'reading the room' that Luke was hurling at him, even as he tried to tune it out.
"And it sure is a long line." Kai added, chuckling lightly as he reached for his glass of rum once more, despite his previous reservations—alcohol was alcohol, after all.
Jo finally moved from her post at the door, walking over and collapsing into the blue armchair across from him. "It is." she agreed.
"Pretty sure Liv and Bonnie are fighting for the top spot on it." he commented mildly.
His sister sighed. "Liv will come around."
Kai laughed harshly. "I killed her twin brother—there's no coming back from that."
"The old you had no chance of coming back from that." she corrected. "Now that you're merged with Luke, I think it may be a different story."
"We'll see." he murmured, his gaze wandering the grey rug at his feet.
"I don't trust you." Jo told him abruptly.
He tipped his glass in her direction. "Probably an intelligent choice."
"But I will help you."
Kai blinked.
"You're surrounded on all sides and completely outnumbered. " she continued, crossing her arms as she leaned further back. "You need someone in your corner. Like I said, I don't trust you, but you are different, and what I see makes me think you're capable of further change—reminds me of you when we were younger."
"Thanks, sissy." he muttered, distinctly uncomfortable as he picked the Grimoire back up.
"Still working on those emotions, I see."
"Less on them and more on identifying them." he hummed.
"Well, what do you identify your feelings as now?"
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Currently? I'm leaning toward annoyance."
"Kai, I'm serious."
"Fine. I'm pretty sure it's discomfort." he said with a grimace.
"Because I told you I thought you were capable of change—that the original Kai was in there somewhere?"
He slammed the Grimoire shut once more. "He's dead—he died when we were eight."
"Maybe. But I sure am seeing a lot of him recently—in the guy who bought me a house despite not being invited to the wedding."
Kai shrugged. "I don't like weddings anyway."
"Just- just let me help you. Let me in. Prove to me that I'm not wrong—that you've changed."
"I don't know how to do this—any of this," he said, putting his head in his hands. "Emotions, family, running the Coven." he laughed bitterly. "I spent so much time wanting this, and I didn't even realize that dad never prepared me for any of it. I was never meant for this and I have no fucking clue how to do it."
"Kai-"
"And beyond that," he continued. "Even if I did know how to do it, I'm still not sure I could pull it off. Everyone in our Coven would gladly murder me if the oppurtunity arose—how I am supposed to lead them if they're going to spend every minute questioning my decisions and scheming my downfall behind closed doors?"
"You have to gain their trust." Jo told him softly. "Earn your place, and they'll see the change in you sooner rather than later."
"I miss being a sociopath." he said, massaging his temple. "Things were simpler when I wasn't tied up with these nasty emotions like guilt or sadness."
"Don't say that, Kai." Jo warned. "It's not funny."
"Funny? Ah, yes that's the word for what I was feeling."
"Kai, you were a sociopath who killed people. Don't-"
"Do you know why I'm a sociopath?" he asked her softly, interrupting her mid-rebuke. Fine—if she wanted him to let her in, he would. The damage that ensued wouldn't be his fault.
Silence.
"I wasn't born this way—you know that. I'm not sure it was even a conscious choice. Our father's cruelty—I became desensitized to it; it became a survival instinct to not feel. There's only so much abuse an eight-year-old can take before something snaps."
She cautiously got up, walking the few steps to kneel beside him and put a light hand on his shoulder. He vaguely realized that there was something pooling in his eyes, the alien excretion fluids—no, tears was what Elena had called them.
"I broke something inside of myself—and I don't think I'll ever be able to piece it back together again." he whispered, not even recognizing his own hoarse voice. What the fuck was happening to him?
"Kai, I-" her voice failed her as she grasped for the right words.
He quickly wiped away his tears, with no small amount of horror, and cleared his throat. "Sorry Jo. I didn't mean to unload that on you. I haven't thought about it in so long that I don't even know where that came from."
"No, it's okay." she whispered, and he could tell she was recalling their conversation in the hospital, when he was sick and needed her magic to complete the loophole merge.
"As much as I'm sure you enjoy my suffering, or whatever, this is not the way to handle this situation."
"This is all just a ploy! A trick to get more magic!"
"It's a ploy for all of us to stay alive, actually. Sorry if that seems selfish to you."
"I don't believe you! You are a liar—and you are the worst kind of liar because your lies sound so much like the truth, it's impossible for me to tell the difference."
"You're right. I am a liar, alright? I'm the black sheep—the defective twin that nobody wanted. Must feel real nice, for you to stand here judging me, surrounded by all the things you got out of life, while I spent eighteen years in isolation as the family reject. And let me tell you, every inch of me wants to kill you for that. Every! Part! But I can't. The only way I can survive is if you help me. And I would like to live, frankly, because I didn't get to do a whole lot of that before everyone decided that I wasn't worth it."
Jo did something she hadn't done in years—she hugged him, tentatively, and he almost shot out of his seat in surprise. He remained frozen for a few seconds, his brain sluggishly processing what was happening, before finally moving his arms to cautiously encircle his sister. The last time he'd touched her was when he'd carved out her spleen a little less than two decades ago—a stark contrast to the scene unfolding currently.
You are a liar.
Jo released him after a few moments, pulling back with tears shining in her eyes.
And you are the worst kind of liar because your lies sound so much like the truth, it's impossible for me to tell the difference.
"Kai, I'm sorry." she breathed.
I spent eighteen years in isolation as the family reject.
"I know what dad did to you and I didn't stop it-"
Everyone decided that I wasn't worth it.
"I should've tried to stop it—stop him. I knew it was wrong-"
The defective twin that nobody wanted.
"But I was so blinded by our stigma and the hatred of what you could do-"
I spent eighteen years in isolation as the family reject.
"It was fear more than anything and-"
Everyone decided that I wasn't worth it.
"I know that that's why you are the way you are-"
The defective twin that nobody wanted.
"And I have to take responsibility for-" she was sobbing now, Kai noticed numbly.
Defective.
"My silence, I was a coward and I was weak-"
And then his father's voice. Abomination. And then again. Abomination. And again. Abomination. And again. Abomination. And again. Abomination. Abomination. Abomination.
Kai closed his eyes tightly, trying to block it out, but it was Jo's crying that snapped him out of it, and his eyes flew open as he grabbed her shoulders gently, a brotherly instinct he hadn't felt in years rearing its head.
"Hey, hey, hey." he whispered. "It's okay, it's okay." he tried for a smirk. "I got you back pretty good, didn't I?"
She slapped his bicep, hard. "Jerk!" she exclaimed, affronted by his lack of tact.
"There she is." he said, smiling lightly. "Sorry, all this mushy, touchy-feely stuff makes me edgy."
She threw him a concerned look. "Kai-"
"You don't owe me any apologies, Jo." he told her firmly. "There was a certain point where I stopped caring about anything but tormenting the whole lot of you—successfully. I cut out your spleen, for God's sake! No one here has the right to feel guilty, except me. You were a scared little girl, who was afraid to stand up to her father, much less on the behalf of her cruel, freakshow brother."
Jo stood up, running a hand through her hair as she sighed.
"You don't owe me anything." he repeated. "Go home to your husband. Enjoy your domestic bliss. We'll talk in the morning."
She nodded, grabbing her purse from the armchair, before pausing in the middle of the doorway.
"You may not be there yet." Jo said, voice shaky as she kept her face away from his view, fixated on the door. "But I haven't seen you cry in twenty-seven years. Luke hasn't taken over, he's just released your emotions. You're still you—the real you." she turned around slowly. "Liv will come around—they all will, once you prove to them what you have proved to me tonight."
Kai didn't answer—how was he supposed to?!—and she left silently, leaving him to his own twisting, confusing thoughts.
"God, Luke." he murmured to himself. "How did you do this for so long? I've been at it for less than thirty minutes and I'm ready to drive off a bridge—I'm pretty sure that's called frustration, right?" he rubbed his eyes with the palms of his hands. "How on earth am I supposed to unite this godforsaken Coven who wanted nothing to do with me for so long—who still want nothing to do with me? How am I supposed to become the patriarch of a family who hates me—who would sooner kill me than hold a two-minute conversation with me?"
Not Jo, his conscience reminded him. His conscience sounded an awful lot like Luke these days. Not that his conscience and him had had much of a relationship for the past two and half decades—none at all, really.
Sociopathy tended to have that effect.
Bennett Residence
Mystic Falls, Virginia
"I'm going home tomorrow." Liv told her softly.
"You don't have to." Bonnie protested.
Liv sent her a saddened look. "It's going to be hard to be in Portland without Luke, but yes, I do. I need to make sure Kai doesn't break everything, and that Jo and Alaric are safe." she paused. "And that my father doesn't kill Kai out of spite and mass murder our whole Coven."
Bonnie sighed. "Yeah, good luck with that."
"Who knows? Maybe they'll both surprise us with some newfound maturity." Liv sent her a blinding smile.
"Let's start with sanity." she murmured.
Liv's phone started ringing, and Josette Parker's name flashed across the screen. Liv immediately picked it up, sending Bonnie an alarmed look.
"Hi Jo, is everything okay?" she asked. "You what? He what? Wait, wait, back up! He cried? What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean 'am I coming home'? Of course I'm coming home! You think I'd just leave you with- well, I don't care if he becomes fucking Mother Teresa—I don't trust him. You don't either? Fantastic, at least you have some of your brain left."
"What is happening?" Bonnie hissed, and Liv put her phone on speaker, setting it down on the coffee table.
"You didn't see him, Liv. It's like he's feeling everything he's experienced during the last few decades all at the same time." Jo's voice sounded frantic and rushed through the phone.
"He hasn't felt anything for the last few decades!" Liv protested.
"He hasn't, but only because he hasn't actually processed anything that's happened. And now, it's all hitting him like a freight train and I'm worried he won't know how to handle it."
"Kai doesn't know how to handle anything, he's a sociopath—that's the point!"
At his name, Bonnie stiffened, despite already assuming they were talking about him.
"Not anymore. Merging with Luke released his emotions—things he hasn't felt since we were eight."
"You mean when he killed Luke." Liv corrected her sister cooly.
"That was the old Kai." Jo insisted. "This one—Liv, this one could do all of this. If we help him navigate his emotions—he's identifying them correctly now—then I think he could be a good leader."
Liv almost choked, and Bonnie clapped her on the back through her short coughing fit.
"Think about it. Kai's always been smart, and he's definitely politically astute—he understands that he has hoops that he has to jump through. He still has a certain level of detachment—like dad—which is perfect for the Gemini; they're like wolves, one small show of weakness and they'll pounce—especially on him."
Liv sighed. "Jo, I-"
"Just come home." her sister interrupted. "You'll see. I'm not saying he's forgiven, and I'm not saying I trust him, but he needs our help. We need to be supportive to help him survive the rest of the Gemini, give him somewhere to draw strength from—where better than family? We've never been sisters to him, Liv, and now it's time to step up."
Step up. The words echoed through Bonnie's head ominously—some of her last words to Kai.
"Fine. I had a plane ticket booked for tomorrow anyways, so this all seems redundant." Liv grumbled.
"Sure you don't want to spend one more night with me?" Bonnie asked, nudging her gently.
"Liv, who are you with?" Jo's voice demanded sharply.
"Bonnie." Liv answered, wincing.
"Oh. Hi, Bonnie." she said awkwardly. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were with Liv."
"It's okay." Bonnie assured, but even to herself, it sounded strained.
"Alright, I'm going to have to call you back, Jo." Liv said. "I'll be in Portland by tomorrow night and we'll talk then."
"Okay, have a safe flight, Liv."
"Love you." she said, sing-songy, before ending the call. "Sorry about that, Bonnie, I know you don't want to hear about him."
"I don't want to see him." she corrected. "If he's really changing, I don't think I'll mind hearing some updates every now and again."
"We'll see." Liv muttered.
"You don't believe he's capable of change?" Bonnie asked.
She shrugged. "I'll believe it when I see it. This is the guy who killed half my siblings."
"But, like Jo said, it's not. He has Luke in him now."
"And like I said, we'll see."
Bonnie sighed. "I'm inclined to agree with you, despite giving him a second chance."
"Thanks for that, by the way." Liv added amusedly.
"Thanks for what?"
"Not killing him and, subsequently, not killing the rest of us."
"Oh." Bonnie sent her an awkward glance. "Yeah. I admit, the thought did cross my mind before I remembered that pesky little life link curse. You and Jo are my friends, one of which is pregnant with Alaric's kids—no choice there, really."
Liv chuckled, pouring another glass of wine and offering it to Bonnie.
"What is with that, anyways?" Bonnie demanded, snatching the glass from her grip. "Seems kind of stupid to link everyone in the Coven to one person."
Liv shrugged. "Something to do with checks and balances. The Gemini are an ambitious bunch, and I'm pretty sure the life link is to make sure that no one can plan a coup against the sitting Ruler. Upside: it unites us. Downside: it makes it easier for our enemies to wipe us out in one fell swoop."
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "That seems like a pretty big downside."
"Yeah, but luckily, the merge ceremony makes the Ruler the most powerful witch in our Coven, so they're by no means easy to kill."
"Also puts a huge target on their back." she countered.
"Alright!" Liv exclaimed, grinning. "So it's not a perfect system—tell me something I don't know! The creators of it probably had their reasons."
"Still feels like a pretty big oversight on their part." Bonnie said, looking skeptical.
She snorted. "The whole structure of the Gemini Coven seems like a huge oversight—starting with that damned merge ceremony." she paused for a second before continuing sarcastically, "I suppose I should thank Kai—Luke's blood is not on my hands, and mine is not on his."
"That's a horrible thing to have to take comfort in." Bonnie told her friend quietly.
"Dad would have forced us to merge," Liv bitterly added, gulping down a large mouthful of wine. "I would have lost, I'm sure, but there's always a chance—that 1% chance that Luke could have been weakened and I would have won." she shivered. "I'm not sure I would have been able to live with myself had that happened, but nor did I want to die."
"You shouldn't have ever had to even think about those outcomes—he was your twin brother." Bonnie fiercely whispered. "How does no one else see how wrong this all is?"
"Stop—I'm just drunk enough to cry." Liv informed her, smirking slightly. "And if I do, I would kindly ask you to bitch slap me."
"Liv!" she exclaimed.
"What?" her friend sent her an innocent look, and Bonnie scowled.
"I'm serious! Why does no one in the Gemini Coven say anything?" she demanded. "I mean, come on, you're just kids! You shouldn't have to grow up knowing that you'll one day kill your twin."
Liv shrugged, getting off the couch to grab another bottle of wine. "Don't ask me, the Gemini like their rules and their hierarchy enough to overlook any atrocities committed once every few decades—and why should they care? It doesn't happen to them; only the Parkers have to deal with that crap." she tsked. "Just another miserable complication where my last name is concerned."
Bonnie shook her head in wonder. "I don't know how you do it."
"Do what?" Liv asked, barking out a harsh laugh. "I haven't done anything—nor have I ever had the chance to. I was never given a choice—no one in my family was. Joshua Parker—benevolent Coven leader and complete pain in my ass—acted as a dictator throughout most of my life, and honestly, Kai inherited so many of his traits that I'm not entirely convinced his rule will be any different."
Bonnie raised her wine glass in a toast. "To hope for changing leadership."
Liv grumbled an unconvincing agreement, lightly tapping her glass to Bonnie's before throwing back the rest of the wine in it.
"You're gonna have a killer headache tomorrow." she commented as she studied the newly drained glass in Liv's hand.
"Trust me, if we're gonna keep talking about my Coven—I'm going to need all the alcohol I can feasibly put into my system."
Bonnie shrugged. "Fair enough—topic change."
Live eyed her wearily. "Like what?"
"What's up with you and Tyler?"
"Nothing." her friend replied immediately, sending her a withering look.
"How did he react to thinking you might die in the merge? Or wait, go back—how did you tell him that you probably wouldn't win the merge?" she asked. "I'm not sure you ever told me."
"Probably because we've never had a conversation about Tyler before." Liv mumbled into her refilled glass.
Bonnie sent her a sharp look, and Liv sighed.
"Word for word?" she looked at her for confirmation, and Bonnie nodded, grinning at her very drunk friend. "Well, I'm pretty sure I said: 'Hey it's not all bad. If I survive, you'll be dating the all-powerful leader of the Gemini Coven. And if I don't, you can date Luke.'" she shrugged, and Bonnie burst out laughing.
"You said that to Tyler Lockwood?" she demanded, gasping for air as she laughed so hard that she developed stitches in her side.
"Why not? Dude's a puppy to me." Liv said easily, and Bonnie shook her head in amazement.
"You're real special, Liv—most girls can't get past the snarling wolf phase."
Liv shrugged again. "He's a softie inside."
"So how about now? Where do you guys stand with each other?"
Liv's face fell. "He yelled at me and told me he never wanted to see me again—that I'd chosen death over him." she said flatly.
Bonnie sent her an alarmed look. "What context could that possibly be in?"
"When I went on that suicide mission to kill Kai after Luke died," she winced—the wounds were still fresh. "Tyler tried to stop me. He tried to convince me that attempting to kill Kai would only result in my own pointless death—good advice when I think back on it—but I wasn't in the right mindset to listen to it. He told me that he'd made a promise to protect me and that he couldn't let me leave, and well, I couldn't risk him coming with me, since I obviously wasn't going to listen to him. So I kissed him and then hexed him with a sleeping curse. Left him right there on the floor too, with only a pillow under his head and no note or explanation. His reaction was well-deserved—I can't fault him for it—it was entirely my doing. He didn't come to Jo's wedding—probably because of me."
"Damn, Liv." Bonnie exhaled deeply, running a hand through her hair. "That's…messy."
Liv snorted. "Story of my fucking life, Bonnie." she tilted her glass in Bonnie's direction. "Welcome to my world."
"Oh, trust me," she said, tilting her glass as well. "I'm in the boat right alongside you—complicated and messy are practically my middle name."
Liv grinned roguishly. "And that, right there, is why we are friends, Bonnie Bennett—even though we couldn't stand each other at first."
Bonnie smiled right back, thinking back to what now seemed to be simpler times. "All the best friendships start out when you both think the other is a bitch—just look at Damon and I. I couldn't stand the guy for at least three years, and now he's my best friend."
"Yeah," Liv wrinkled her nose. "I still don't understand that dynamic."
"Truthfully, I don't either." she admitted. "It just…works."
"I'll toast to that—not digging beneath the surface of confusing, yet functional, machines. That's just looking for trouble, if you ask me." Liv announced.
"We've got to stop toasting to things before I lose my ability to walk straight." Bonnie protested weakly.
"Uh, Bonnie, no—that's like the whole point." the blonde shot back, downing yet another glass.
"Fair enough." she grumbled, finishing her glass of wine as well.
"What about you, any love interests on the horizon?" Liv asked, and Bonnie shook her head vigorously.
"Absolutely not." she said firmly. "Jeremy and I are done, done—and right now I'm more worried about Lily Salvatore than anyone's sex appeal."
Liv snorted derisively. "That is the most Bonnie Bennett-sounding sentence I've ever heard."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bonnie demanded.
Her friend sat up, putting her chin in her hands as she faced her, staring her down. "You need to loosen up—you can save the world and find a hot guy."
Bonnie sent her an annoyed look. "I'm surrounded by vampires—finding a hot guy isn't the problem, it's finding a nice one."
Liv groaned. "Bonnie Bennett—I can assure you that you do not want a nice guy. Kind? Yes. But nice? No."
"What does that mean?" she repeated, put-off.
"It means I know you, and I know that you're over the nice guys who treat you like a porcelain doll—guys like Jeremy." Bonnie opened her mouth to disagree, but Liv cut her off. "You're a powerful, gorgeous, badass witch from an impeccable bloodline—trust me Bonnie, you can do better than nice."
Bonnie glared at her. "I happen to like nice."
Liv shrugged. "All I'm saying is that you can take care of yourself, and you don't need someone to protect you anymore. As far as I understand it, Elena realized that—and now she's with Damon instead of Stefan."
"That's not the same!" Bonnie protested. "Setting aside the fact that Damon is the most protective boyfriend on the planet, human Elena chose Stefan—she only chose Damon after she changed and became a vampire."
"And you haven't changed?" Liv asked, raising an eyebrow, and when Bonnie stayed resolutely silent, she sighed. "Look, you might not see it yet, but I do. You need someone just as powerful and as fucking stubborn as you are—and maybe I don't know Jeremy well enough, but I know his type, and I'm pretty sure that it's not what you need—not what the new, changed Bonnie needs."
"Whatever," she mumbled. "I have bigger fish to fry anyways."
Liv frowned. "What kind of fish?"
"A huge trout named Lily Salvatore, who's focused on bringing back her lunatic family of heretics."
"You think Lily Salvatore would be a trout?" Liv mused.
Bonnie stared disbelievingly. "That's your takeaway from that sentence?" she snatched the wine glass out of her friend's hand. "That's a sign that you've had enough—you can die from alcohol poisoning, you know."
"That would be a really anti-climactic end to my life." she protested, fussing with her curly hair.
"Exactly my point. Let's get you to bed, come on."
"Nooooo." Liv whined.
"You have a plane to Portland to catch tomorrow." Bonnie reminded her.
"Just another reason." she grumbled.
Parker Manor
Portland, Oregon
Jo sighed. "Try not to kill each other until after Liv arrives from the airport."
"I don't know why I agreed to this." Kai muttered, glaring at the man across the room.
"Me neither." Joshua Parker replied sharply.
"Lord save me." Jo murmured, sending her eyes to the sky. It was bound to happen eventually, she knew—the family reunion from hell—and she had had no positive expectations, but she had hoped things might go well. Yet, despite her earlier optimism, she found herself completely unsurprised by the suffocating hostility filling the room.
Pure hate—on both their parts, and for once in her life, Jo wasn't entirely sure which side she was supposed to be on. A few months ago she would have unquestionably sided with her father, but with the fact that Joshua had tried to murder her when he thought Kai was coming back, as well as the promise that she had made to Kai a few days ago, came major complications—and now she was stuck playing buffer for her psychopathic father and spleen-gutting brother. Just how she had planned on spending her first month of married life.
"We need to work together." she tried.
"Why would I help Malachai keep the throne he murdered and lied to get to?" their father asked, crossing his arms.
"And why would I keep him alive?" Kai asked her innocently. "Remember when I told you that I should stay away from him until the urge to rip his throat out had passed? Yeah, we're definitely not there yet."
"Feeling's mutual." Joshua sneered.
"You'll help," she told Joshua through gritted teeth. "Because what's done is done. Now all we can do is ensure the continuation of the Parker line—your line." she pointed at her father. "So unless you want the goddamned Vossens to attempt a coup, you need to present a united front."
"What do you mean 'you'?" Kai demanded. "Aren't you on the Parker family seat?"
Jo tilted her head. "I'm married, pregnant, and lacking any magic—I think it's safe to assume I won't be at many council meetings."
"Great." Kai mumbled. "So I'm stuck with him," he jerked his thumb in Joshua's direction. "On the Parker family seat?"
Joshua sent him a scathing look. "I'm a former Ruler—I don't get the family seat, boy."
"So Liv's on the family seat?" he asked, eyes widening.
Jo winced. "Not exactly-" she started, before being brusquely interrupted.
"Joey's on the family seat." their father informed him flatly.
Kai made a strangled sound. "What? No, Joey's dead—I would know."
An unfortunate oversight on her part, she could admit. Joey, the oldest non-twin Parker brother, had been drowned in the pool by Kai eighteen years ago, but had been revived by their father out of sheer good timing—a fact that Kai had been ignorant of until now.
It was sad, really. Joey had always looked up to Kai, right up until the moment his older brother had put him in a coma for five months after trying to kill him—she couldn't imagine that he would be very supportive of Kai's new authority, or be willing to look past old grudges to see the changes Kai had undergone.
"He's alive." Jo said softly.
Kai leaned against the wall, as if afraid he would fall without its support. "Jesus Christ." he muttered. "How?"
"I revived him." Joshua told him bitterly. "He wasn't quite dead."
"No, no! I drowned him—he stopped breathing! What do you mean he wasn't quite dead?!" he exclaimed.
"Does it really matter?" Jo sighed. "This is a gruesome enough subject without dwelling on it."
Kai shrugged. "I guess that helps ease my guilt—knowing he's still alive. Now I've only got four siblings' deaths weighing on my conscience."
"Cali, Nate, Hylla, and Luke deserve better than just weighing on your conscience." Joshua seethed.
Callista and Nathaniel were the first ones he'd killed—the ones he'd hung off the stairwell railing. And Hylla—well, he had put a hunting knife in her gut after she tried to save her two younger siblings.
"Believe me, their deaths—all of them—are seared into my memory." Kai snapped.
Jo sighed again. "Dad, will you help?"
Joshua sent another glare in Kai's direction, but there was less heat in it than the first time. "Fine."
"Oh thank God." she murmured. "What's the situation look like?"
He shook his head grimly. "Not good for Malachai-"
"Kai." her brother corrected.
Joshua rolled his eyes. "Completely undignified-"
"And Malachai is?" Kai demanded, disbelieving.
"It's certainly better than-"
"Focus! Both of you." Jo ordered. "What were you saying, Dad?"
"Things aren't good—I doubt any of the old families will support you."
"Not even the Killians?" Kai asked.
Joshua bit his lip thoughtfully. "Now that Geoff died and Azriel has his seat, you might get his support. You were friends before…everything."
"My only friend ever." Kai agreed.
"That's just because he's a sociopath in denial." Jo muttered.
Her brother smirked. "You only think that because you liked him and he didn't return your feelings—doesn't make the guy a sociopath."
Jo glared, but their father barreled on before she could retort.
"Anyways," Joshua said, obviously uncomfortable with the shift in topic. "Other than the Killians, I can't imagine any of the other old families supporting you, although you might get a few of the elected council members on your side."
The Gemini Coven's council was made up of twelve representatives—excluding the Coven Ruler. Five seats went to the old families—the Parkers, the Killians, the Vossens, the Talbots, and the Argents. Five seats went to witches elected by the majority of the rest of the Coven members, and the last two seats were appointed by the Coven Ruler—they had no vote, as they served as advisors instead of representatives.
"Who's in the elected seats this term?" Kai asked.
"Blackwood's been re-elected for his fourth term and so has Wright. The Jackson girl is on her second term," Joshua listed. "And Tristian Mallor and Ivanka Lovelace were voted into their first term in January—so far everyone likes them."
"Do you think I'd have any luck swaying any of them?"
"Blackwood's in Athena Vossen's pocket," he said, shaking his head, and Kai let out a low growl at the name. "And Denise Jackson comes from a very conservative family—your siphoning won't win you any points with her. However, Mallor might be swayed—his family is much more liberal. Lovelace and Wright are some of the most neutral, so you might be able to get them as well."
"So I could—best case scenario—get half of the elected seats, and virtually none of the family seats." Kai summed up darkly.
"As far as the old families go, while the Talbots aren't traditionally liberal, Morgaine has proven to be much more neutral than her father before her—you might be able to appeal to her." Joshua mused.
Kai nodded tightly. "I might have to meet them first, before devising how to charm all their asses off."
"Welcome to politics." he grumbled. "It's all ass-kissing."
Jo beamed. "See? How hard was that? You guys make a great team." her statement was met with cricket-filled silence, and she sighed. "What about your two advisor seats, Kai?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I have to feel people out before I make any decisions."
"Well, how about Dad for one of them?" she offered.
Both men sent her a concerned look, silently asking if she was out of her mind.
"What?" Jo demanded. "He agreed to help—the best way to do that is from within the council, right?"
"Is there no other choice?" Kai asked, a horrified look on his face.
"Your only other trusted choice is Liv—does our little sister seem like the type you would want on a strictly formal council?"
Kai shook his head silently.
"My point exactly." Jo said, smiling slightly. "If she agrees to help, Liv would make for a better lieutenant—she'd be a rubbish advisor."
"I heard that!" a voice called from behind her, the Parker Manor's door creaking open loudly.
"Speak of the devil."
"Heard that too, Jo." Liv said, closing the door behind her.
"Did you have a good flight?" she asked, hugging her sister.
Liv shrugged. "Yes, other than the crying babies. It was dreadfully boring."
Kai stayed silent and if Jo's memory served her correctly, it was probably because the last time they had been in the same room, they had both been trying to brutally murder each other—old habits died hard. To Liv's credit, she avoided her father's gaze just as adamantly as she was avoiding Kai's. It looked like neither had a right to her forgiveness yet—justly, Jo would admit.
"How long are you staying?" Joshua asked.
"I don't know yet." she answered, her eyes not leaving the wall she was staring at.
"Well, your room is here for as long as you need it."
"Actually," Jo interrupted. "I promised Liv she could stay with me and Alaric."
That drew a grimace from Joshua, who had made his feelings for Alaric quite clear. Truthfully, she really couldn't care less, regardless of whatever witch-diluting gene humans supposedly had, Jo was already pregnant anyways. Furthermore, the Gemini's irrational fear that humans brainwashed witches, leading them astray from their magical roots, (which was complete bullshit to start with), was void now that she didn't have her magic anymore—talk about a day late and a dollar short with the precautionary tactics.
Kai, in all his power, was two seconds from bolting if Liv so much as looked in his direction. His sister had a terrifying look on her face, and he didn't think he was ready to contend with it yet. Coward was no longer a label that scared him—he would gladly bear it to avoid the undoubtedly uncomfortable conversation that would follow Liv's acknowledgment of him. Unfortunately for him, Liv was more of the confrontational type, and it didn't take her long to turn her glare on him.
"Kai."
"Liv."
Jo smiled warmly, and Kai felt a twinge of guilt at the coldness between him and his youngest sister. Just try, he reminded himself.
"How's everyone in Mystic Falls?" he asked, with no small degree of caution, but Jo beamed nonetheless, and Kai figured it was worth it, no matter what Liv's response may be.
She simply shrugged. "They're all okay, I guess. Just trying to make sure Lily Salvatore doesn't release her freak show abominations from their prison world."
Just from the word, Kai felt like he'd been sucker punched in the gut, but he didn't let it show—not in front of Liv, who had probably purposefully used it to see what reaction she'd get. However, Jo winced, sending Liv a semi-dirty look but otherwise staying silent.
"Sounds like they'll be busy a while then." he replied evenly.
"Yeah." Liv agreed warily, and Kai couldn't figure out if she was satisfied by the answer he had given or not.
"We were just talking about the council." Jo ventured.
She snorted. "Those vultures?"
Joshua sent her a warning look. "The council who is owed some respect."
"Well they're looking for it in the wrong person." his youngest sister snapped.
"And you wonder why we think you wouldn't make a good council member." Jo murmured.
Liv sighed. "Jo, what am I doing here?"
"Jo thought it would be wise to offer you the position of my lieutenant." Kai said heavily, wincing internally as he watched her face contort into a mask of annoyance.
"You're not serious."
"As a heart attack." he replied.
Being a Ruler's lieutenant wasn't an official position per se, but it was a traditional one, and an important one at that. The lieutenant was in charge of enforcing and communicating the Ruler's commands to the rest of the Coven, as well as acting as a general in times of conflict. Despite the role's obedience to the Ruler, the lieutenant also acted as a permanent advisor to them. Jo had made it quite clear that she thought Liv would be perfect for the position, but Kai suspected that the biggest problem wouldn't be Liv's qualification but her willingness. He wouldn't be surprised if she wanted nothing to do with the council or him.
Liv scoffed, grabbing her coat off the armchair and moving towards the door. "Hell with this!"
"Mature." he commented dryly, despite his lack of surprise at the reaction he had seen coming from miles away.
"I don't give a fuck, Kai! You, of all people, shouldn't be lecturing me in maturity because any you have isn't even yours." she spat, with enough venom in her voice to melt the skin off his bones.
"A fair argument if I was still just Kai." he answered, crossing his arms but not moving from where he was still leaning against the wall. "Which is clearly no longer the case."
"As long as you wear that face, I don't think I'll ever be able to look at you without wanting to disembowel you—Luke or no." Liv told him, her anger still bright as she opened the door with more force than strictly necessary. "And don't expect me at your swearing-in ceremony!"
"Fine." he replied.
"Fine!" she yelled back, slamming the door behind her as she left.
"Well that went well." Joshua commented wryly.
Much to Kai's pleasant surprise, it was Jo who told him off.
"Shut up." she muttered.
Joshua adopted an affronted look, opening his mouth to speak before snapping it shut when Kai leveled him with a glower. His face must have promised murder for Joshua to back down to him so easily, Kai thought amusedly, keeping his fearsome expression pinned.
"I guess we'll reconvene when we can all stand being around each other again." he said cheerfully.
"If only—then we wouldn't ever see each other again." Joshua grumbled.
Jo sighed heavily, running a tired hand through her hair. "Very helpful, Dad, thank you."
"I'll call you tomorrow, Jo." Kai said, walking towards the door. "I can't stay in this house without smashing anything for much longer." he nodded rigidly to his dad. "See you later, I'm sure."
"I'm sure." Joshua parroted, and Kai had to physically stop himself from trying to punch the old man squarely in the jaw.
Instead, he walked out and sidled up to the black audi he had bought only a few days prior to Jo's wedding. He inhaled the fresh air deeply, trying to regain some of his hard-earned patience, which had been slowly chipped away for the duration of that horrible encounter.
He was starting to feel better until his phone began to ring, and he pulled it out of his pocket with no small amount of annoyance. An unknown number was flashing across his screen persistently.
He sighed, accepting the call. "Kai Parker."
"Welcome back, buddy." a familiar, low voice answered.
Kai grinned widely. "Az, do I even want to know how you got my number?"
Azriel laughed. "Probably not. Say, what are you doing tonight, Kai?"
"Not much," he answered, shoving his left hand into his pocket and leaning against his car, enjoying the sunshine beating down on his face. "Why?"
"How about we get that drink?"
"Which drink?"
"The one you promised me eighteen years ago—the one you never delivered on." Azriel answered sardonically, and his tone brought a smile to Kai's face—those were getting rarer these days.
"Give me an hour."
Author's Notes:
→ I always felt that Bonnie stabbing Kai and abandoning him in the prison world was out of character so here we are...
→ So, yes, I do know that the Originals starts before Kai Parker ever even enters the picture, but for the sake of plot, let's pretend that Season 1 of the Originals started only a week or so before the convention scene picks up, (although that scene is 8 months down the line from where the rest of the chapter picks up from).
→ Is the convention cannon? Hard no, but I did think it was stupid that the different Covens wouldn't check in on each other and make sure that witchcraft is still a fortified practice, so this is my little headcannon! There's so much witch lore and community-related things that I'm sad TVD didn't delve deeper into—especially with the Gemini Coven, so here we go.
→ The scene in the hospital between Kai and Jo is canon, (it's on youtube), but it was a deleted scene that REALLY shouldn't have been deleted.
→ Beneficia ad vos is the latin translation for 'blessings to you'