Lizzie was a lot of things. Some would call her possessive. Some would call her cruel. Many would even call her a bitch.
But most?
Most would call her dangerous. And maybe they were right. Maybe that was what she was.
But she wasn't always. No matter what people say about her.
Lizzie had never wanted to hurt anyone. At least, not on purpose. It was strange how the tide shifted. How someone, who used to fear hurting anyone, could ruthlessly watch someone die. Could have a hand in it.
She had helped Hope kill the carnival vampires. Helped her torture Aurora. While she hadn't been a willing participant in the second, she had in the first.
She killed them mercilessly. Found amusement in their fear. In their pain. She was becoming the one thing she had sworn she would never be.
The monster that her fellow students betted she would always become.
No matter what she did, that was how she would always be viewed by them. She remembered something Emma Tig had told her once.
"First impressions set in stone how people view you. Once a person has formed an opinion, it is very difficult to change it."
There was never anything more accurate. There were only a few people who had ever truly seen the effort she had put in. Her mom, MG, and Hope.
They saw her, but the thing is, maybe they were wrong to believe in her. Whether that was true or not didn't matter anymore.
She was tired of changing. Of being the better person. If she had known how this would all end, would she still end up here?
Maybe. She was dead, but she'd never felt more alive.
A question raged in her heart. Why couldn't she kill Aurora?
Aurora wasn't a good person. Lizzie knew that. She was likely as bad as Hope's dad had been yet she couldn't strike the final blow.
Not even for Hope.
Was it pity? No, it wasn't that. Maybe it was because they were alike in many ways. Except they were also very different.
They both may be bipolar but her disorder wasn't what was controlling her actions. Lizzie was bipolar but was also something else.
Something that had nothing to do with her mental health. Being bipolar didn't make someone a killer or lack empathy.
That came from the darkness that lurked in her blood. No, not just her blood, but her bloodline. She wasn't the only one it affected.
Josie had it in her as well. Hers was just different.
Lizzie found it ironic. Everyone thought that one day she would snap because she was bipolar, but that wasn't what made her 'dangerous'. It just made her more obviously unstable.
She knew what she was. She had always known.
They called her paranoid. Lizzie called it cautious. Aware of the cruelty of the world. Knowing that if she wasn't watching for it, it would come for her. She hated being caught off guard.
She knew the dangers of the world more than most. She and Josie had faced death before they were even born. Then, again, when they were mere children.
Maybe that was why she watched the shadows. Waiting. Always waiting. For what? Something that would try to hurt her. To hurt Josie.
She remembered her dad telling her about Kai Parker trying to kill them when they were four. She didn't remember it, but when she focused, she could feel glimpses of fear and of uncertainty.
She could remember a voice calling her name. And her sister's. The smell of dust. The sound of a bang that sounded like something had hit something else.
It wasn't much but it didn't leave her. It reminded her that a threat could even be someone who was blood. Someone who was family.
She really should have remembered that lesson when she went after Hope. Maybe if she had, this wouldn't be the path she was taking.
Maybe she would have continued to get better for her family and friends. A quiet voice inside whispered, 'but it wouldn't have been for yourself'.
No, it wouldn't have been.
They said she was paranoid, but paranoia meant her worries weren't real - that they were unjustified. Had no basis in fact. And yet…
Most of the things she came to worry about had happened. That wasn't paranoia. Not that anyone would care to hear her side of the story.
They never did.
When they speak of her, they say she was full of rage. And she was. Whereas Josie got sad, Lizzie got angry. Overtime, Josie's sadness turned to resentment but Lizzie's anger went from a bonfire to a raging forest fire.
She had a lot to be angry at. Anger at how she was treated. How Hope was treated. How her dad seemed to watch her like she was a ticking time bomb. How her mom would sometimes act around her. How Josie seemed to always be waiting for the next outburst.
That didn't even include all the other stuff that had happened in her life. The constant danger. The literal life threatening shit that her dad encouraged them to do.
They also called her impulsive. She couldn't deny that. That was the one thing that they got right. However, she wasn't stupid.
She may do things impulsively. Acted on her emotions. But she never did anything stupidly. She would act in an instant, while having a thousand back plans at the ready.
Josie may be better at magic than her and know more spells - partly because she was prevented from using it often so she didn't lose control - but Lizzie understood it better.
She knew magic. It was like breathing to her. She could use it like a tool that she had always mastered. She would even argue that she was more powerful than Josie. At least, magically.
Josie may beat her because of her knowledge and learned skill, but without black magic aiding her, Lizzie had more power behind her.
Lizzie had managed to create a prison world for Rafael all on her own. Then, she was able to transport the entire school into it with her. Then, out again.
It wasn't simple but also wasn't difficult. And she didn't need black magic to give her a boost. Not to say it was a bad thing that Josie used black magic. She did too. She just didn't get consumed by it. She didn't let it control her or direct her to do things she would never want to do.
Lizzie had always wondered why they had differed in their reaction to the black magic, but her working theory was that because she was used to fighting herself and constantly trying to regain control, fighting the black magic was nothing in comparison
Despite all this, Lizzie still couldn't figure out why she didn't want Aurora to die. Maybe it had nothing to do with their similarities. Or the likelihood of her being a mirror into her own future.
She thought back to what Ms. Tig had told her. Aurora had seen her at her worst but didn't not view her as a loose cannon. She knew she was dangerous but never treated her any different.
A rarity given even Hope had a bad impression of her in the beginning.
Was that it? Someone had looked at her and seen someone worth something. It was kind of pathetic that that was all it took.
But it was too late to back out now.
She freed Aurora from her restraints and helped her up after making sure her ring was in place to prevent her from burning alive.
She left her leaning against the wall and quickly made her way into the other room. Her eyes landed on Hope's grimoire.
An idea popped into her head. It was bitch move, but Lizzie had never claimed to be anything else.
Grabbing it, she put it into her bag and walked back to Aurora. She avoided looking at the dead Hope.
It was strange knowing that she had just snapped her neck. A part of her hated it. Hope was one of her best friends, but the vindictive part of her felt like she deserved it.
Her dad was in a coma because of her. He may not ever wake up again because of her. Lizzie may have a tense relationship with her dad but that didn't stop the rage that she could never fully suppress from seeping to the surface.
He was her dad. A bad one, sure. But still her dad.
Besides, Hope had killed her. Had used their sire bond against her. Had tried to make her do something she didn't want to do. And there was nothing that Lizzie hated more than being controlled. Then, losing free will.
Ironically, the thing that caused her the most trouble actually saved her from a life of servitude. Whether or not it was willing at some point. She had done the impossible. Turned out that being bipolar was useful for more than possessions.
A part of her did miss the sire bond. It had felt similar to her bond with Josie, but now it was gone too.
Maybe it was time for Lizzie to learn how to brave the world without anyone beside her. She had always hated being alone.
For her entire life, she had felt lonely but had never actually been alone. Now she was going to be both lonely and alone.
Lizzie let out the breath she was holding, helped Aurora to the car, and drove away from the life she had always known. Who knows, maybe being alone was how it was always meant to be.
A month had passed since Lizzie had broken the sire bond and left Hope behind with her neck broken. She was a little surprised that she didn't come after her but she wasn't about to take her luck for granted.
If Hope had decided that she wasn't worth the effort, she wasn't going to complain. It certainly made her life easier.
She and Aurora had gone their separate ways within a week of being together. During their time together, Aurora had given her some tips on vampiring. Something about not wanting to leave a debt unpaid.
Lizzie had spent the rest of the three weeks trying to figure out what to do with her life. Turns out having eternity to live, didn't come with a manual for how to spend it.
A part of her yearned to return to the boarding school. It was the only home she had ever known, but she couldn't before and she definitely couldn't now.
One of the pieces of advice that Aurora left her with included her telling her to embrace her vampire side. That it was a part of her now and running from it would not end well. She was a predator and she had to figure out what that meant for her.
Lizzie took that to heart. Maybe more than she should've. She learned how to feed, to compel, to kill.
It wasn't difficult but Lizzie could admit that a part of her broke when she killed her first innocent.
Every time before, it had been someone that deserved to die. People that hurt people.
But now, Lizzie found that she could kill nearly anyone with only a little emotional trauma as a result. And to be honest, she loved being a vampire.
She didn't know what that said about her but how could she hate the very thing that made her feel so powerful. The very thing that made it so that the merge would never happen.
She was free from responsibility. From scorn. From suspicion that came from those that were supposed to be on her side.
Lizzie made her way down the sidewalk to the hotel she was staying at when she sensed something strange.
Someone was coming. Actually, it was more than just someone. She could practically taste the magic in the air.
So, Lizzie stepped around to hide in the corner, cloaking herself instinctively, while she waited as if she were a wolf stalking its prey.
A group of people were making their way over. They were looking for something. Or more accurately, someone.
She could tell they were witches. That was a certainty. However, that wasn't all they were. They were a coven.
Their magic seemed interwoven with each other and the magic itself was very similar.
They didn't appear particularly strong, so Lizzie wasn't worried, but she decided to listen closely rather than attack immediately.
It wouldn't do to start a war with a bunch of witches because she accidentally thought they were after her.
However, within a mere second of listening, Lizzie heard a single word that told her enough. There were many words to describe her but abomination was one that witches loved to use.
Lizzie had only just arrived in this small city but she really should have checked to see the situation with the local supernatural. Clearly they were a touchy group.
It wasn't her problem that they didn't like her kind but it was about to become theirs.
She stepped out of the shadows, releasing her cloak as she did so.
"You do know following people is considered rude," Lizzie said, looking between the startled group.
Finally, one spoke up, probably the leader. "We don't want your kind here."
She rolled her eyes. "You guys are never any fun, did you know that?"
"Leave," the man said sharply, "or else you'll force our hand, blood sucker."
Lizzie scoffed. "You should really know who you're threatening before you threaten them."
That made them pause but before they could do anything, she waved her hand sending them flying.
As they lay scattered on the ground, Lizzie made quick work of them.
She sunk her fang into the one closest to her, draining them in an instant. Next, she turned to snap the neck on the one trying to give her a brain aneurysm.
She felt the blood trail down her face as she gave a dark smirk. She threw her hand up to stop the piece of wood sailing towards her.
Looking over, she sent it straight back, impaling the witch in the chest.
There was one person left. The leader. She was beside him before he could do anything and her hand wrapped around his wrist, siphoning harshly.
When she let go, he dropped to the floor, dead.
"Well, that was easy," she commented to herself as wiped the blood off her face with her arm.
"It was impressive too."
Lizzie froze. Say what now? She whirled around to see a man watching her curiously.
He had dark hair and blue eyes. He didn't look familiar but his voice...
For some reason there was an itch in the back of her mind. Telling her there was something she needed to know but she didn't know what it was.
Narrowing her eyes, she threw her hand sending a sharp edged piece of wood at him.
It incinerated before it even touched him. The magic she hadn't sensed before, flared to life. He was a witch. A powerful one at that.
And for some reason, his magic felt familiar, just like his voice. It set her even more on edge because it made her feel safe but also like she was in danger.
It didn't make sense.
"Who are you?" Lizzie asked. She needed to figure out the best way to deal with a powerful unknown witch that gave her the feeling that she should really be running away.
She was powerful too but did she really want to start a fight with someone that made her feel this agitated without even doing anything?
The itch in the back of her mind screamed but she still couldn't understand it.
Watching the man, she noticed his eyes widened with a flash of surprise. Then, they seemed to narrow into contemplation.
"Do you attack everyone you don't know?" he asked, eyeing her. He took a few steps forward.
For some reason, she instinctively took a step back. "I prefer to act and ask questions later."
"And what if you kill someone that wasn't your enemy?" he asked curiously, pausing in his place.
"That is not my problem. If they're dead, then they're dead and I don't have to watch my back," Lizzie said, her eyes flickering around, taking note of things she could use to her advantage if it came to a fight.
She could tell he noticed by the way he raised his hands, opened palmed and held out in front of him. A gesture meant to reassure but did nothing given that he was a witch and she was not stupid.
He let out a sharp laugh at her reaction. "You're a paranoid one, aren't you?"
Lizzie rolled her eyes with a scoff. She was getting so tired of people…no, that was it. She was just tired of people.
"Why does everyone always say that? Paranoia means I'm reacting to imaginary threats," she motioned around her to the dead bodies, "I wouldn't call this imaginary, would you?"
The man smirked slightly. "No, but some would argue that you're the actual threat."
"Oh, I am one. You're right about that but at least I'm not stupid, which reminds me. Who are you and don't even think about deflecting," Lizzie said, releasing her magic in the air to make sure he understood she was done playing around.
He eyes her for a moment before smiling a genuine smile. Or at least, she thought it was genuine. It was hard to tell.
"Let's play a game," he said, clapping his hands excitedly like a little kid. "You get three guesses of who I am after I give you a single hint. That sound fair?"
"You seriously think anyone would be able to guess that with a single hint?" Lizzie said, fighting back a scoff.
"Just trust me, I have faith that'll you get it," he smirked, "you seem smarter than your sister after all."
Lizzie paused. He knew her sister. He knew Josie. How the fuck did he know Josie. Unless…
Unless he was just trying to get under her skin with that comment. He might have never even met her sister, but him saying that meant that he knew who Lizzie was.
So that begged the question. Who the hell was he?
Lizzie didn't let any of this play out across her face. The only indication that she was unnerved was the tightening around her eyes.
"Alright, let's play, what's the hint?"
A part of her wondered why she was even entertaining this, but the itch that refused to go away, made her curious.
He grinned and suddenly he was standing behind her. Lizzie turned around quickly to face him. He was standing right in front of her now, looking very pleased with himself.
A vampire and a witch.
There was only one possible thing he could be, which also meant there was only one possible person he could be.
The itch was gone. Now everything made sense. Why his voice was familiar to her. Why his magic both felt like danger and safety.
Kai Parker. Also known as her uncle and the person who tried to kill her and her sister multiple times. Who was also supposed to be dead.
Guess her luck had to run out at some point.
"I would say it was nice to meet you, Uncle Kai, but given the circumstances that would be a lie," Lizzie said, trying to appear unaffected but her shifting feet likely gave her away.
Kai didn't look offended. Instead, he looked rather pleased.
"I see I was right about you being the smart twin," he said, tilting his head.
"Are you just here to insult Josie?" Lizzie said, exasperated. "And to be fair, Josie is the book smart twin, I'm just the smart at everything else twin."
Kai considered that, something flashing in his eyes. She could read it because it was gone in an instant.
He shook his head. "I have to say your sister is exactly my sister, it's honestly kind of weird."
Kai took a step around her but she turned with him so she didn't let him out of her sight, which ended up with her a step closer to him. The exact opposite was what she wanted.
She took a step back just to be safe. Last thing she needed was to be within touching distance of the other heretic.
"Josie would take that as a compliment," Was her only reply, watching him warily as he seemed to eye her and the dead bodies around them.
It seemed like he was coming to a decision on something. What it was, she didn't know.
"It isn't," he commented, glancing over. Noticing her furrowed brow, he clarified. "A compliment, I mean."
Lizzie didn't know what to say to that. She didn't really feel a lot towards her bio mom, she never had. Caroline had always been her mom and would always be.
But she couldn't help being curious. She had always heard about Josette Laughlin from her dad, who put her on a pedestal. So, a part of her wanted to hear what he had to say.
"Why?" It was a simple question, but he looked surprised by it, like he had expected a different response. Maybe he did.
"Not going to defend her?" he asked, turning fully towards her. "Little Josie did."
Lizzie shrugged. "She's my bio mom, not my mom." It was said as if it explained everything.
Which it did. To her, at least. To him, it just left him looking confused. Like he didn't know what to do with her.
The look was wiped off his face quickly though as he seemed to consider what to say next.
"Would you like to know the truth about your..bio mom, as you put it?" Kai questioned and he seemed genuinely interested in her answer.
"Yeah, but not here. It's a matter of time before someone stumbles across this," she motioned around them, "and I don't want to be here when they do."
He smirked. "There's a diner down the street."
"Lead the way," Lizzie motioned, even though a part of her knew the smartest thing to do would get as far away from her uncle as possible.
Her curiosity was going to get her killed but she also knew that there were multiple sides to every story.
And Lizzie found that oftentimes the one belonging to the so-called villain is the most interesting.
Besides, no one ever heard her side of the story and she couldn't help but wonder if it was the same for him.
Kai grinned. Then, he paused, looking her over. "You should probably do something about the blood, unless you'd prefer having to compel the entire diner."
Lizzie blinked and looked down at her clothes. Yeah, that wasn't inconspicuous. With a wave of her hand, it disappeared.
Looking up, she straightened her clothes. "Let's go."