Chapter 22
Stefan surveys the landscape in front of him as far as he can see. He knows hidden dangers are waiting for just one of the Salvatores to have their guards down. Ever since becoming a witch, his internal senses are more intense than the physical senses he relied on so strongly as a vampire. As a witch, his physical instincts were almost useless, yet his internal senses were more intense and potent than anything he experienced as a vampire. He felt Caroline before he heard her, "Do you see or sense anything, Honey?" Caroline vamped back to his side, "No, I covered the entire property line and surrounding woods for a half-mile." Ric, Lizzie, and Hannah had just joined the couple. Ric questions, "Elena wants to do this out here. So Elena gets what she wants." Stefan breathes in deeply, "Yep, that is the general way of things. It makes me long for the good ole days of her daily impending life endangerment. Where keeping her alive wasn't so disguised. And Damon would have Bonnie spell her in the house." Caroline laughed, "It was funny. She was so mad at him." Ric chuckles, "I'm sure if there is a direct threat, he wouldn't think twice about doing it again. In the meantime, should I run a boundary recon?" Hannah cleared her throat to get everyone's attention, "If you would allow me, I can be of help. With the help of an energy source, I can create a temporary protection barrier for this area. Everyone inside the barrier would be completely safe and anything outside would be completely visual should any unwanted guests arrive." Stefan agrees immediately, "Hannah, that would be great. Damon is the only one that created force fields this large. His magic has been wonky since Peanut." Hannah nods in understanding, "Let's try this all together. Perhaps, you and Lizzie can assist me. It may teach you how to make your own. If Ric and Caroline can join us as well. Stefan, you and Lizzie can draw energy from your elements. I shall draw from Ric and Caroline. We should all hold hands with Stefan and Lizzie at each end of the line. Caroline, if you hold my hand, Ric, my other hand, Lizzie can hold her father's, and Stefan, you can take Caroline's." Hannah waits for everyone to get into place, "This looks as it should. If everyone could, please, I could use a little assistance. Only allow pleasant thoughts into your minds, clearing them of all negative thoughts and opening your hearts to nothing but love. You are letting nothing but good thoughts, happy thoughts, thoughts of your favorite things, your favorite places, or your favorite memories engulf your mind. Keep thinking of them over and over. Witches, you need to feel the protective energy come from deep inside you, let it fill you, fill up your mind and your heart, then think about where you are, what, and who you want to protect. Once you have that clearly understood, reach out for your power and your element." Hannah made sure that her students were ready before the next set of directions, "When you are ready, direct all your protective feelings to where you want them to go." Hannah watches as Stefan nods while Lizzie says, "I'm going to protect all the area around the house and the green grass, right Zio?" Stefan answers, "That's right, Princess." Lizzie adds, "My protection is going to be purple. What color is your protection, Zio?" Stefan grins, "I'm not sure, we will have to see. Are you ready now?" Lizzie nods her head.
Hannah starts a whispering hum from deep in her throat. Caroline feels a slight temperature change in Hannah's palm, then a rhythmic vibration. Caroline had been channeled by Bonnie enough to know that energy was being pulled from her. She stayed calm and took a deep breath knowing that Hannah was protecting her family.
Stefan could feel the change in the air around them, he knew Hannah had started the spell. He stretched his hand toward the water fountain. He felt the energy from the water vapors as they quench every pore of his skin at the same time bursts of power leave his fingertips. He tried to relax and concentrate on the feelings of his love for Caroline, Lizzie, Josie, Damon, Elena, Ric, Jeremy, Bonnie, Enzo, and Matt. He could feel the power filling his body. Next changed his thoughts and focus to their protection.
That is when he felt it. The force field erupt from his entire body, he felt all of it, and every pore of his body released energy, powerful magic. And he controls it, every part of it. Stefan knew where it landed, how tall it was, he knew how tight the barrier was sealed to the ground, how each blade of grass felt against it, and where each treetop tickled the dome. Stefan opened his eyes as he felt the drops of sweat trickle down his brow. He lifted his hand and wiped the moisture onto his palm, it had been a long time, over a century since he had seen his sweat. He raised his eyes to see what he had accomplished as his hands drop, he knew his force field was there. Even though it was invisible to the human eye, his magical eyes could see the haze of it. As a vampire, he knew strength, the raw strength of tearing apart a tree or bending iron. As the Ripper, he knew what the Power of holding someone's life in his hands or teeth felt like. This was very different from both. There was confidence in the way his energy coursed through his body. The magic, he corrected his thought, HIS magic, was part of him, HIS power was strong and stable, not teetering on the edge of control or the loss of it, instead, it strengthened him, re-enforced him. Stefan looked at his family, he stared at the force field he had just created, which he could see so clearly, and the realization came over him.
Stefan Salvatore no longer had an evil murderous monster that was sitting in wait, just underneath, waiting for him to lose a fraction of control to take over and cause incredible amounts of evil. That monster is long gone, the Ripper was no longer a part of his body, or soul, just as The Ripper had never resided in his heart. He was no longer afraid of using the full force of his powers, he wasn't fearful of losing control. He watched as Lizzie used her powers without reservation to play and smiled as the pride beamed from Caroline's face. He knew his past wasn't in vain, the memories started to flood his mind.
Stefan's entire existence had been marred by what Katherine took away that fateful moment in 1864. His youthful ego and arrogance had pushed his destiny even farther away. Until now, Stefan shook his head, as he realized everything had brought him to this moment. The time to feel dread and despair was over. Katherine had attempted to convince him on many occasions that life with her would be heaven. In the end, she did give him heaven, just not the way she intended. Katherine had it possible for him to have a life with Caroline, Lizzie, and Josie. Stefan laughed as he looked down at the ground to give a little appreciative grin to the woman that he knows made it to hell. After all, he did have the scars to prove it.
Caroline looked at the water fountain and saw unicorns dancing out of the spouts. She immediately knew her daughter was still siphoning. She looked around the property line and her hand flew up to her mouth in aww. Ric came over and put his hand on her shoulder, "She's doing it, right? You see it too?" Caroline had not let go of Lizzie's hand as she looked down at her daughter, whose eyes were tightly closed and her mouth mumbling words that no one could understand. Caroline squeezed Lizzie's hand gently, "Baby, it's ok. Breathe now." Lizzie didn't open her eyes or move her hand from hovering toward the water fountain, "I am almost done. Mommy, I just have to fill my right little toe." Caroline smiles, "Ok, don't forget the little toe, it's important." Stefan had heard Lizzie and caught Caroline's look, he wiped the tears off her cheek before he kissed her forehead. Stefan got down on his knees in front of Lizzie, "How's that little toe doing?" Lizzie squinted, "It's halfway full." Stefan smiled, "Your halfway full little toe is very powerful, Princess." Lizzie opened her eyes and turned her body around in a circle as she saw a lite lilac haze around the grassy area, the driveway, and the boarding house. She jumped up and down, "My protection… My protection!… Mommy, did you see?… My protection…" Caroline took her daughter in her arms, "Yes, my baby, I see your protection is so beautiful. I am so proud of you. You are so amazing. You did such a great job." Lizzie saw her father, "Daddy... I did protection... It's purple... No one can hurt our family, 'cause I know how to do protection." Caroline transferred her into Ric's waiting arms. Ric kissed and hugged her tightly, "You sure did. That is the best force field I've ever seen. And the prettiest." Lizzie threw her arms around his neck. His praise meant the world to her. Ric wasn't the most emotional man, but his eyes were tearing with these little arms so tightly wound around him.
Josie came running out, getting Lizzie's attention, "Uncle D has sugar cookies and chocolate milk." when Josie saw Lizzie holding on to her father, she ran to her mother. Holding on to Caroline's leg, Lizzie senses Josie is near. She loosens her hold on Ric and looks down. Lizzie smiled at Josie, "Joz, did you see my Protection?" Josie shakes her head, "Liz, what's your protection?" Lizzie grabbed Josie's hand and took her to the water fountain, "Watch over there." Lizzie pointed to the driveway entrance gate." Lizzie shut her eyes and puts both her hands into the fountain. Josie's eyes widened as the light lilac haze turned darker and started to grow taller, "Sissy, you are doing that magic. Woww. That is strong nenergies." Lizzie opened her eyes to see what she had done, the entire area was covered in a dark purple fence 25 feet tall. She was proud of herself, "Zio and I made protection for the family." Josie looked at Zio, "Can I make protection too?" Stefan nodded, "Yes, you can Princess, Uncle D will teach you." He hugged her before she ran over to her mother. Stefan focuses his attention on Lizzie for a moment as he kneels to her level, "Princess, can I ask you a question?" He waits for Lizzie to turn and focus her attention on him, "I know you love purple, and purple is such a pretty color. Do you think that we should let the bad monsters know you are protecting us? Or should they be surprised when they walk into your protection?" Lizzie squinted her eyes thinking very hard before she answered, "The ugly monsters should bang their noses, hard." Stefan smiles, "Do you think that the monster will see your purple protection? Maybe you should make your protection invisible so the monsters can't see it." Lizzie's face lit up, "Zio, you made invisible protection. I can feel it, but I can't see it." Stefan nodded. Lizzie continued, "I'm gonna do that too." She squeezed her eyes tightly and Stefan watched as the color drained away from the barrier. His hand went to Lizzie's shoulder, "Princess, you did it. No monster can see your force field. They can't get it now." Running to her mother and her father animatedly explaining, "The monsters are going to have bloody noses and big hairy bumps on their heads, you just wait and see."
Damon had his arm around Elena's waist as they walked from the front door to the blanket that Stefan had prepared. He watched the scene as Lizzie took the color away from the force field and the subsequent running in excitement to her parents, he felt Elena's arm tighten around him, knowing she was excited to experience the same with their son one day soon. Damon helps lower Elena onto the blanket, "What did we miss?" Lizzie runs to Damon, "The monsters are going to bang straight into my protections and get all bloody and die right there. Bam!" Lizzie's story had gotten progressively more gruesome the more she told it. She plops down right next to Elena, "Uncle D, then we can chop up the monsters into teeny tiny pieces and throw them in the fire." Damon lies down, stretched out between her and Elena. His voice has an amused tone to it, "Really, into tiny pieces, that's a lot of cutting, little one. Won't your arms get tired?" Josie runs over, "Lizzie, you don't have to cut the monsters, I can use my nenergies to make a bowl around the monsters, and then you can put the fire in the bowl." Lizzie perks up, "That's right, sissy can do that, no tiny pieces at all." The twins shook their hands fearlessly as though they had solved all world's problems. Elena clapped with a beamingly proud auntie smile on her face, "Excellent plan, ladies. I think we should start your grimoire so you can remember all your amazing spells and plans." The twins were equally excited about the idea of having a grimoire of their own.
Damon called to Josie, who settled on his lap. They were sitting alongside a lounging Elena, who, for the first time in months, was enjoying the sun and completely relaxed. She had Stefan to thank for that, he had created the perfect cushion of blankets and pillows on the lawn to support her neck, back, and knees. After words of appreciation are spoken, he turned to Caroline, "I can't take all the credit, I did have some previous experience." Josie, who is always listening and observing, "Zio, this is how Mommy was sleeping when me and Lizzie were in her tummy?" Stefan kneeled beside her, "This is how Mommy would eat french fries and watch TV, she also liked it when I would rub her feet. She would sleep on her side with a pillow between her legs because you two little munchkins would play pattycake in her tummy day and night." He stood up and Caroline was there with her arms around his neck. She whispered so only he could hear in his ear, "A pillow wasn't the only thing between my legs if memory serves me." He turned his head to kiss anything his lips could reach.
Damon held out Josie's hand, "Princess, are you ready to try this? You remember what my magic feels like?" He looked down at her and waited for her to answer, "Like when I used to siphon when we played together out here on the grass?" Damon smiled back at her, surprised that she related to those events before she was part of his coven, "Yes, Princess. The game we are going to play with Peanut first starts with my magic. I'm going to find Peanut's magic and push my magic into his. Then it's your turn, you get to use my magic to find his. Once you feel the difference between my magic and his, you can push your magic into his and see if he likes it." She looks at her Uncle, "Why wouldn't he like it?" Damon pauses to figure out the right words to explain something that he didn't know the answer to, "Peanut can't see your face, it is hard for you to play with your eyes shut, right? He knows I'm his daddy and Auntie E is his Mommy since he is in her tummy. He knows my magic because it is like his, this is the first time he will feel your magic. He might be a little scared. You need to be slow and gentle when you play with him for a little while until he knows you are his cousin." Damon puts his hands on Elena's baby bump, "Princess, put your hands on top of mine, and let's see if we can find Peanut."
The moment comes when Damon feels Peanut grab hold of his magic and at the same instant Josie's body twitches. He knows she has felt the baby and his magic. Damon waits and lets Josie's natural magical instinct go to work. He paused as she leaned closer toward Elena's baby bump, it only took a moment until Josie starts to fidget in his lap. Josie's hand pulled away from his and giggled as Damon felt the release of his magic. Josie looked at her Auntie, "The baby is playing with my magic. Can I play with him?" Damon answered as he took his hands off Elena, "Yes, Princess, just remember, you need to put the magic into Peanut and not siphon from him even if he wants you to."
It wasn't long before Josie was laughing and her hands were jumping from place to place on Elena's belly. The group gathered to watch as the skin on Elena's baby bump had a mind of its own, Peanut was moving around with great gusto, elbows, and knees made themselves known as he played with Josie who was equally as entertained, on the outside of Elena's baby bump.
Hannah noticed everyone's attention focused on the blanket spread out before her. She slowly moved away from the joyous scene, feeling the aura that was filled with love and joy that caressed each person, filling her with a longing she was trying desperately to bury deep inside her. The more she watched, the more she longed for her coven, and the more she mourned their loss. Her vampire emotions were only balanced when she didn't let herself think or feel the emotions associated with her coven. Hannah knew the more times to stayed watching, the less control she would have. She took a breath, knowing that she was about to break up this happy, joyous moment. She knew now was the time to approach the brothers. It was finally time for Hannah to tell the story of her coven, not the myths that had found their way into folklore. The facts that she had witnessed and lived, all the events that made up her life. She had been in the cave that was turned into her prison for so long. Hannah wasn't in a hurry to relive so many pangs of pain. Time was going by so fast even for an immortal. She knew that her enemies were going to find out that she wasn't in the cave soon, and they would come for her. The brothers needed to know the story, the full story, they needed to know the danger she was in. They had to choose to fight with her or protect their coven and send her away.
She wouldn't hold any ill feelings towards them, should they choose to protect their coven, their family. She couldn't say she wouldn't do the same if she had a coven to protect. She would still do her utmost to persuade the brothers to join her in the battle. Hannah knew it wouldn't be long before the Brother's coven would be on the hit list and the same danger would be coming for them. She couldn't put it off any longer. Hannah walked over to Stefan and waited as he laughed at the antics of his stepdaughter and unborn nephew. When the laughter died down, she got his attention, "Stefan, there is much information that needs to be discussed of great importance." That statement got Stefan's attention immediately, "Are you ready to talk about why we found you in a cloaked cave?" Hannah shook her head in agreement, "You should get your brother. This will be a coven concern." Stefan nodded, he didn't like the sound of the tone in her voice.
Without saying a word, the Brother's bond warning went off, and Damon's head perked straight up as his eyes immediately found Stefan. Stefan caulked his head toward the front door and rolled his eyes from Hannah to the rest of the family, who were oblivious to the brother's exchange. The second nod told Damon not to disturb the rest of the family and to follow him as he led Hannah into the house.
Hannah let the silence continue as they walked through the century-old wooden door. She watched as Stefan went directly to the liquor trolley and put two crystal tumblers on the tray. Just as he starts to fill them with the contents of the amber decanter, the sound of the opening and shutting of the front door fills the air behind them.
Damon walks directly to Stefan, takes the tumbler from his outstretched hand, lifts the glass to his mouth, and allows the liquid to slide between his lips before ending the silence, "Ok, there better be a good reason why I'm not out enjoying my wife and son right now." He finishes the remainder of the contents of this glass and holds it out for a refill, of which Stefan is ready with the Bourbon decanter in hand.
After refilling Damon's glass, Stefan takes him to the sofa and sits, "Hannah has a story that she needs the High Priests to hear. And apparently, we will need to make a decision that might have consequences on our coven, on our family." Stefan stares at Hannah, "Our coven is our family. Any decision we make will always be for the protection of our family. Whatever you tell us, better include the complete truth and full details. We wouldn't want to find out something was left out later on. My brother and I will not take that well. I will tell you, as vampires, individuals rarely survived when that happened. I'm not sure how different our problem-solving skills are as witches." Damon's eyebrow went up, he had never heard Stefan threaten anyone so elegantly, and he was impressed. Damon didn't have anything to add he simply walked over to the fireplace and put his glass on the mantle, folded his arms over his chest, and waited for Hannah to start talking with his best evil vampire eyes staring at her.
Hannah tried not to be insulted by the brothers' actions. They were young witches and had a coven. No, she corrected herself, they had a family to protect. Hannah started, "Stefan, I will not endanger any of your family by leaving out a detail or temper the truth. The story starts thousands of years ago, in the land that is now known as Greece. As you have already found out parts of Greek mythology aren't such a myth. You and I are cousins of sorts, both of our lines descent from the Goddess Gaia's granddaughter Hecate, she is the Goddess of witchcraft, earth, and all its elements." Hannah looked at each of the brothers' faces to make sure they understood, "Just like their grandmother, each of Hecate's daughters took on an important power. Unfortunately, not all of the daughters had the same respect for their power, some used their power for good. Others weren't so generous of heart, they did not view humanity with importance." She took a moment to cleanse her thoughts, "I am of direct descent from Hecate's daughter, Circe. Circe was a powerful sorceress, she was renowned for her knowledge of herbs and healing methods. Her grimoire was filled with a vast range of potions and spells. Best of all, she had a family heirloom. You would call it a wand, it was made of a rare tree wood, white oak. It is said that Zeus himself, blessed it with a thunderbolt to energize its power as a reward for her compassion and caring for humans.
From that moment people came from faraway lands to seek help from her magic. Circe's heart was often the cause of her blindness toward humans. She wouldn't stop to think about the consequences of the human request she was asked to grant. Sometimes the requests were not so pure of heart.
With her power and the wand, she could perform powerful magic. She would often grant a special spell to those requesting protection or perhaps as a disguise, frankly, it was one of her favorite spells to perform. She could and would turn humans into shapeshifters if they so desired. This allowed the human to take on an animal form as a protection against the harsh dangers of the land or go into hiding and used as a disguise."
Damon and Stefan looked at one another, shapeshifters sounded like werewolves, and white oak wands weren't that far from white oak stakes that kill original vampires. The brothers didn't say anything and remained silent. The look between them spoke volumes as they wondered where this story would take them.
Hannah watched them as she revealed the next bombshell of information, "My family lived in a small village in ancient Greece for a very long time. Generations of people wrote songs and tales about my family and my grandfather. As part of the blessings, my grandmother's magic protected my father's body from aging. He lived for many thousands of full moons. So many that he lost count. His life was full of adventures and luxury. Telegonus wanted nothing, no material possession. Between his father's wealth and his mother's powers, all his wants and needs were bestowed upon him. Even though, he, himself had the strength to conquer all his desires on his own.
That was not his wish, like his mother and his father before him, Telegonus was a true protector deep in his heart, in his soul. His greatest gift was his heart, he could love, to show compassion and kindness to all just like his father, who his mother loved dearly. His father did not return his mother Circe's affection with the same intensity. Yet she continued to use her magic to protect him as he conquered the lands that he dared to quest."
She took a breath as she got ready for the next part of the story, "My powers have been directly tied to my Great Grandmother's since her execution the day I was born. Circe's death was masterminded by my grandfather Telegonus of Cyrene. His plot began out of revenge and anguish. Circe set him on a quest to find his father during the Trojan War, in an unfortunate accident my grandfather killed his father Odysseus. My grandfather blamed his mother the Goddess Circe, she was the goddess of witchcraft, and she should have known that his actions would lead to the death of his father. My grandfather began to believe that it was a plot to kill Odysseus because of his love for Penelope and not Circe. That she had sent him out of jealousy not love."
Damon snickered, "Murder and mayhem, can't happen without a little three-way... Can it bro." Stefan just shook his head, turning his attention back to Hanna...
Hannah continued, "Telegonus enlisted the help of his Great Aunt Erinyes, who had always been jealous of her sister's powers. Erinyes wasn't a nice or ethical being to start with, she was known for her cruelty to humans. Humans called her another name, the Furies. When Erinyes's vengeance got out of control, my great-grandmother was called upon to create a potion or spell to control her and punish her for the destruction she brought upon humankind. Circe created a potion that divided Erinyes into the Furies. Erinyes was irate, she thought she would never be able to unite her being again for all of eternity. With her powers diminished Erinyes could not take revenge on her sister, she could do nothing, so her hate for my great-grandmother grew and festered over time. But as the Furies, she still had limited mayhem control over humans. She did anything and everything she could to cause harm to humans at every opportunity she could create. Circe protected humans overall. She loved humans, so much so that she wanted to be human more than anything. She eventually met a human male and they had a child. My grandfather, Telgonus did not inherit any of her magical abilities. She did bestow on him a blessing of protection and supreme human strength."
Stefan did interrupt, "You are saying you are 4,000 years old?" Hannah nodded, not exactly knowing what else to do, "As a witch, my powers are a direct gift from the gods. Much like yours are. The difference is my powers came directly from my bloodline and on the rising full moon my grandfather killed his mother with the curse his Great Aunt taught him, it happen at the moment of my birth. Aunt Erinyes knew that magic always needs a balance, she was thinking that she would be the balance and Circe's magic would find her. That she would gain all of Circe's magic. Magic fooled her, her powers were transferred to me, a human within the bloodline of the gods. Odysseus was human, Circe and Odysseus' son, my grandfather also had no powers, even as a demi-god his blood was so diluted from Gaia and Uranus. As a human, he was blessed with extra stamina and above-average human strength. However, it was nothing that would be considered a god or demi-god-like power. My mother diluted the bloodline even further. The curse had tainted the available human blood, except for mine. A brand new, just out-of-the-womb, baby girl, with Goddess Gaia's DNA running through her veins. The magical balance was… me. My great-grandmother's powers were transferred to me, along with her immorality, in a way. I age, just extremely slowly."
Hannah continued, "No one understood what Erinyes had done. My parents did not realize I had powers until the second year of my birth. By that time they were so concerned that the Furies would find out and seek vengeance on our family, they took my sister and me in the dead of night. We went into hiding, we slowly made our way across Greece and through what you know as Austria. We settled on the seashores of modern-day France until my sisters and brothers passed on, as did their families. France was our family home for 12 generations, I watched over my family, and I taught ones that were sighted or gifted magic. I nursed and raised their babies when the mother died in childbirth, which was too often in those days." Hannah took a breath, "Soon, the human outnumbered the gods. And they retreated to their worlds. Soon, every part of my family, my life, just like all the gods had become a myth and legend. A story that was written by some very dead poet, hundreds or thousands of years ago." Hannah took another moment as she started the next phase of her life story, "I got careless… Human life was simpler. I loved being as normal as I could given the circumstances. I started teaching others. I used my magic in the open without any protection, not even a cloaking spell to protect my students or myself. Unbeknownst to me, The Furies had created beasts with magical ruby stone eyes that could sense magic. They were sent out to every corner of the world looking for magic. Not just any magic, pure magic, untempted magic, blessed magic, that was the magic of Circe. She was of the purest of hearts, not tempted by greed or ambition. My great-grandmother's magic was pure and selfless when she used it to punish Erinyes. The spell she created was a life lesson, not a life sentence. She designed a consequence into the spell, a loophole that will put the Furies back together and restore Erinyes to her single self. The hardship is the lesson that mandates the Furies to cease seeking vengeance, for each one to do selfless deeds. The most important was to learn the lesson. Humanity is to be cherished and protected at all costs. Not so easy for demi-gods of vengeance and spite to do."
Hannah knew she needed to hurry the story along. She could see Damon's face was getting more annoyed by the minute. She continued, "By the 1700s, America was an interest to my coven. The younger ones wanted a new life, to experience new ways. It wasn't something I could find fault with as High Priestess, I agreed with the requests. We moved the coven to the United States in 1737, far from the gods' homeland and their legacy. I felt a new sense of freedom. It was a state of mind that I had never felt before, with hindsight, I should have never lowered my guard."
Hannah's memories caught up to her. She stood up and started to pace the floor in front of the sofas. Damon walked to the liquor trolley recognizing the look in her eye. He poured her a drink and extended his hand that held a glass with a double count of his favorite amber elixir. Hannah's eyes caught the gesture, she was about to shake her head to deny the offering. She thought it better to take it. Having something in her hand's grasp might settle her. As her hand reached for the filled glass, the idea of having a bit of a numbing wouldn't be such a bad idea for the next part of her historical story. She took a swig of the bourbon before starting her next breath. As she looked down at the liquid swirling in the glass, she remembered the brown well waters of the territories of what is now Boston.
Hannah takes a breath, "Boston is the first place we settled. At the time, humans were being accused of witchcraft and prosecuted in Salem. We knew it wasn't safe to stay in that area if we wanted to stay alive and hidden. We decide to head west into the undiscovered land. My power is based on the elements; earth, wind, water, and fire. That was our advantage and would protect us from any potential hazard."
She took another sip, "We got as far as New Orleans. It was full of the French at the time. We felt at home and comfortable. Life was content for a moment. Soon the slaves brought their African magic into the city, versions of voodoo magic were being practiced all over the city in basements and deep in the swamps." Stefan asked, "How long did you stay in New Orleans?" Hannah answered, "Not long. The magic there had mixed origins. Some good, some evil, there were constant conflicts, no balance at all. Voodoo magic has hexes and curses that play an important part in its rituals. It creates an aura in and around the city that would make me dizzy and nauseous." Damon asks, "Do you remember meeting a family called the Mikaelsons?" Hannah was silent for a moment before answering, "Damon, my coven and I stayed out of the society. We didn't actively meet people. I did not meet the Mikaelsons in New Orlean. However, I did know of them from France in the 14th century. A family that came to court, a younger sister with 3 brothers. They caused quite a stir and almost tumbled the royal family as I remember it. There was a man that came looking for them. One day they were here causing all sorts of mischief, the next day they were gone. Then a day or two later, a tall blonde man comes into the castle asking everyone questions about them. He goes to each of the surrounding villages as well. His name was Michael, he wasn't a very nice person, as I recall."
Damon and Stefan looked at one another, they knew the story of how Michael hunted his children, and the Mikaelson siblings lived in fear of their father killing them for over a millennium. Somehow hearing what Michael did from another made their lives dredge up more compassionate feelings towards them. Elena had told the brothers many times that the Originals had not been born evil. They were human and a family at one time, events and circumstances had made them react, and become the individuals they had to become for survival. They had done so without the love of their parents. Elena had defended the Mikaelson family on more than one occasion, but neither of the brothers put much effort into retaining her arguments. With the Brothers Bond, Damon and Stefan felt like they were having a silent conversation. When Damon nodded toward Hannah.
Damon asked, "What happened after New Orleans?" Hannah was appeased that the brothers were back and engaged in the conversation again. She made a mental note to ask what importance the Mikaelson was to the coven. Hannah continued her life's journey, "From Louisiana, we traveled along the sea line to Mexico. We lived in peace with La Junta Tribe until the Mexican War in 1846. I begged the chief to let us help fight, to at least put up protective barriers around the warriors, even if it were just the youngest braves. He denied all my requests, except for the women and children, I was allowed to put a protection field around their tent. His excuse for denying all the protection was, in death, the warrior's spirits must be free, he said. I watched as the young boys I had been a midwife to died in front of me. I did nothing, not one protection spell, not one healing spell, nothing because I gave my word to the chief." Hannah stopped to wipe the tears from her cheeks, the memories were getting too much for her.
Hannah looked at the brothers, "That was the first time I knew we had been discovered. The Furies and Erinyes offspring, my great grandmother's enemies were still looking for her powers. They knew cursed powers can't just vanish, the balance of nature and all. When Telegonus cursed the gods and their powers, the moment they felt their powers weaken, they knew their powers had gone somewhere, they just didn't know where. Demi-gods are so power-hungry and insecure that they never stopped searching, not during all those millennia. I knew about the Furies, I didn't know about all the others and the effect the curse had on their powers."
Hannah took a moment before she started the next part of the story too much of this part was about torture and death. She knew this was the most important part. Hannah looked directly at Damon, "My coven moved inland to the area that is now called Colorado. The thermal springs, rich forests, and bountiful mountain range were exactly what my coven needed to stay safe. We thought we had covered our tracks well. We didn't realize that our magical trail led directly to us. The Furies sent vampires to kill us. The Furies didn't count on the leader having a less than loyal attitude towards their commands. When he and his gang of vampires caught up to us, they didn't kill us immediately. Let's just say, they played with their food. They fed on us, then healed us with their blood. They weren't particular with who they tortured, woman, man, or child. The leader Franz took a special liking to one of my sisters. He tried to turn her,.but he didn't realize she would keep her witch abilities. When she woke she was a vampire with magical abilities and a thirst for blood. He thought he could control her, he thought she was one of them. She was out of control and didn't understand what had happened to her. Her magic had changed, it wasn't connected to the earth and nature, it wasn't based on the purity of nature any longer, and it had a dark current that she had never felt before. Elizabeth took a moment to figure it out, during that moment she was a true creature of the night. During that moment, Franz decided that having a gang of super-charged vampires under his control was a good thing. One night while he thought Elizabeth was out feeding, he and his other vamps fed on and killed the rest of the Coven, including me."
The breath that came out of Hannah's lungs wasn't needed and everyone in the room knew it. Hannah took another before she gathered the words to continue, "When I woke up, I knew that I was different. Elizabeth sat by my side holding my hand with tears in her eyes. She told me of the darkness that I would feel. The shadows that would cloud my magic. She told me how she pushed them away to see through the darkness, that her magic was still there. She just had to fight for it. She gave me a fresh heart of local brave that once stole from our coven. She said that accepting this would keep my magic bright. I would be able to lead our Coven without experiencing the same darkness that she did when she turned." Hannah's face when blank as she recalled that night, and her shoulders shook as if she felt the chill once again, "Franz and his men, they didn't realize that was our magic. We are a direct bloodline of the gods, we couldn't be controlled by man, witchcraft, or vampire. But they were older than we were, much older. Many of my sisters and brothers died that day." Stefan asked, "What happened to the children?" Hannah whispered, "The children had no use to them. They were viewed simply as food." Damon didn't like hearing that, even as a vampire, children were off-limits, "Tell me you killed these guys!" Hannah smiled, "Not fast enough. Franz called for backup, specifically for me. The Furies couldn't exactly kill me. No one has the power to do so anymore, not as a Heretic. That is why I was in the cave. They brought some of my relatives and they had enough power to imprison me in the cave and kill the rest of my coven. By killing my coven they could generate enough power to create the cave prison for me using the blood of my coven as the spellbinder. Only a stronger Elements High Priest from the bloodline of a god could break the spellbinder. That was Stefan. He was able to release me." Hannah concludes the story with a warning, "I know that soon, the Furies watchdogs will find me, they have drank my blood as a witch and a heretic. They can find me anywhere, no matter what magical barrier is constructed. I must flee soon, I have stayed too long as it is. I have put myself and your coven at risk. You and your coven may need to flee as well, the Gods will soon realize that your powers have matured and you are a danger to them as well. They will hunt you and your family. They will not stop until the threat is extinguished. Until every last one of your bloodlines is dead. You need to take your families, NOW... Start running and never stop, never look back."