Naysa Bennett Pov
*Flashback*
Year 1889
Dear Diary,
New York City, as ever, has been alive in the night.
These lonesome town streets remind me of London on rainy days.
It has been two treacherous-confounding years.
It was a year after the disappearances of my sistas, that I reunited with Saul. Who becomes an unforgettable supporter and lover.
When he asked for my hand in marriage, I was reluctant due to the determination of finding the whereabouts of the only family I've known.
Keziah, who was effectively born a year before I- however took the role of my elder sibling.
In secret I kept knowledge that my dear sista Keziah, in our mother's womb, was a twin. Keziah survived while the other infant did not. It was never known to outsiders, however I now perhaps the only soul alive to know of the truth. Keziah had the ability to travel.
Keziah and I come from a bloodline of gifted Travelers.
It's why we fled New Orleans, once most of our family passed, we were taken in by our uncle. Our uncle (a master of old-school voodoo practitioner) and biological daughter Emmalynn who, like Keziah, disagreed with the ancient community of gifted witches who used their powerful magic to achieve other worldly things. Older now, I frown upon one's gift to harvest someone else's form.
At the age of seven I learned of Keziah's deepest darkest secret, when I envisioned my sickly infant sibling Zemira- (my mother would later name her) an toddler watching Keziah sleeping. The vision was like a dream- yet the reality of it was immensely symbolic when the twin silently revealed what Keziah had done.
That following evening, I practiced a ritual of information gathering on Keziah. A ritual I onced witnessed my uncle and his former lady lover Gloria issued on orphans Dalton would take in.
Entering womanhood earlier than most witches our age. I felt it was my duty to never have Keziah have an upperhand on Zemira. It wasn't until Keziah's disappearance the night I sent Joseph Winchester traveler friend back to his home land. I knew changes were the range of vision, evermore.
Little did I foresee, A hunter like myself would soon apare back to me.
Saul, a man I first loved at age nine, was located for a hunting rescue. Nights afterward, he requested that I accompany his departure from New York boat harbor.
We spent evenings sailing the sea and conversing about our younger days.
This day, together we rode a carriage to New Orleans, down the bayou where Saul rebuilt a wooden home that was once lived in by his enslaved ancestors.
With ink, it has only been twenty-four years since slavery has been abolished. Saul, can remember perfectly when his family sought out to find new rest lands- only to return with everyone gone.
I hope to only raise our two year old Marie, and our not yet born child that I carry, in New Orleans.
The trees are quiet, and the weather is warm.
Rain is coming through the night, yet clear by early sunrise.
Lately, with becoming pregnant I can easily sense what's to come without visions.
I haven't yet revealed to Saul and my dear Marie my hidden yearn to find what truly happened to my sistas.
…
"Momma?"
Marie kneeled at my side, frowning her heart face and long eyelashes. The adorableness must come to ask for sweet bread and berries.
"Yes, dear?"
"Outside?" She pointed to the cabin door. "Go.. outside?"
Looking into her eyes, it was clear she wished to feel the wet grass beneath her toes. Our skin, touch to touch with the bare earth and the sun heat in our locs. It was necessary too for me she must know.
"Of course. Let's play outdoors." I whisper, carefully not to wake Saul who slept sound asleep across the cabin.
Marie is as calm as a Llama. "Thank you."
"Oh. Much obliged." I quickly kissed her hair, tucking my ink with my journal beneath my rocking chair.
Slowly rising from the floor, Saul lightly coughs, placing his bare feet to the faded wooden floor.
"She's on a quest, huh?" He smiles his big languorous light brown eyes at me.
Two steps forward, I rested my hand on his cheek softly.
"Very much so." I can only hope he rests well to join us soon. "I put a spare duck on the fire when I woke. Rest more, then come out before nightfall.
"Momma?" Marie softly frightened tone called from the entryway, having both I and Saul to pause.
Suddenly in view a muscular, robust man who stood five foot, and eight inches.
His tanned skin, long black hair and hazel brown eyes were familiar. A Lockwood, whose family pedigree of claws and full moon agony.
Black suit. Beard and stubble. He always knew when to look presentable.
"Traven Lockwood?" I was surprised. It's been two years since I have seen his face in the flesh.
He was not due to visit till the fall. In my sight I saw leaves on the ground when he arrived.
"Greetings, Naysa Bennett. Good day we are having, isn't it?" He asked, showing his huge teeth though unsettlement rocked him.
I looked at my child who wore a questionable look.
"Darling, go collect some luna hibiscus." I say for privacy reasons.
"Yes, momma."
"Precious," Traven gave a small smile to Marie.
In that, looking into his eyes, he sighed hopelessly sadden.
"Come in the noontide, you won't believe such a thing she can be a handful of stubborn." I spoke of Marie as Saul slowly placed his arm around my body in a hug, suddenly awoken.
"I don't mean to be intrigued." He says, as Marie rushes past him with luna hibiscus in her hands.
Saul keeps his glare on Traven, already aware that he is a werewolf.
"Lockwood? What brings you?" Saul asks and Marie rushes to her father's side keeping the flowers in her palms.
"I see great sorrow change within. Traven. What has happened?"
I see that there was more he held in his mind.
With Saul and Marie beside me, Traven's not sure to speak freely.
"I- I have come to ask for help." Traven looks to Saul, then I. "In my possession. I have a device that very well may save us all. Yet, it could be harmful from within."
"Device?" Saul questions.
"From our ancestors' daybooks. They speak of insightful ways to shelter every village against -Night drinkers." He says.
I knew of every device from my mother's diary, I even inquired using my own spells on other objects to trap those night-drinkers long ago. If it wasn't for my sistas disappearance I would own my own inventions.
"Our apologies, that would be a huge inconvenience for my family." Saul breathed.
"My family as well has been under great inconvenience. I beg that you reconsider." Traven says to him.
"The despair is unbecoming, Traven.." I speak.
"Yes. Yes. Naysa, Saul- I see that the significance of family is dire…" Traven nods to my growing belly. "Please. I will fail without you."
George Lockwood, grandfather, was no hunter before his death, yet as the mayor of Mystic Falls he had good and bad habits when it came to the undead.
"Accompanying William Forbes, the Fell family, my father Gene and brother Charlie have found a lair. " Traven spoke.
With the fast heat of fire and smoke, my vision flashes of a dark castle, cave, blood, then death. Many, Many bodies of dead creatures.
Blinking in Saul brawny hold. "Sweetheart? What's happening? What did you see?" Saul whispers. "Naysa?"
I breathed heavily reaching for my rocking chair.
"There will be death soon. Your family, … some of the other elders. The lair of sort-"
"Lair?" Saul questioned. "Vampires, and other kinds. All the found is on a quest to Virginia we will not leave our children to hunt. Not in the night or in the daylight." Saul didn't want us to take part in any battle.
I do not disagree with my husband.
"Back to Mystic falls… Saul…" I spoke as he kneeled below for support as I rested in the chair.
Marie silently poured water from a jug into a mug. "Momma, drink."
Beyond her years she was indeed.
"Thank you, Sweetheart." Taking the mug I gave her a peck on her cheek. "Always the most helpful you are."
Saul smooths his palm across Marie's back with warm stress-free movements.
The Founding Families founded Mystic Falls back in 1860.
"Her kindness reminds me of Johnathan Gilbert's granddaughter -Samantha." Traven comments.
I agreed with a nod. Two years ago before my sisters and I left New Orleans, we passed through Mystic Falls for a town meeting with the council. Samuel Gilbert just had a daughter Samantha. She was an infant when I met her, yet I saw who she would become. I foresee it will be a non-so-easy going-life for the Gilbert descendants.
"Naysa?" Traven says in a cautious tone. "There's something I should tell you?"
"Go on." I commanded.
"We found Emmalynn."
"What? How? When? You say this now!"
"Last midnight. In Dalton's care. She has changed. Like a night-drinker.. Yet, different." Traven confessed.
"No. No, she loved- she loves you. Have you seen her?" It was absurd.
"I have not yet gone. Not without you. You're her family. Her true blood." Traven answered. He knew Emmalynn was truly my cousin, not sista. Blood family, still we are no matter what comes of us.
Emmalynn had fancied him before we were sent to move away.
I took a great look at Saul and Marie. They are my family now. I will never ever abandon them.
"No. I cannot. My husband and sweet child are here. I will stay." I spoke to Traven.
"Darling?" Saul whispered.
With tears already forming in my eyes. I knew what he wanted me to do.
"We must go, my love. We end this tonight.. We rest tomorrow." He says ever-so-delicately.
"Saul, I will not put us in grave danger. I'm carrying our second child. Marie is too young to be left alone. My mother is gone. I will not leave our children." I swore.
Saul breathed heavily. "Then stay. I will go. I will save your sista, and all will be well again."
"Saul, please. I don't know what the ending is. It could be my death or yours."
Saul stood to his feet and pushed back his shoulders. "Stay, until we return." He then moved to the firepit to grab his shotgun. "Marie, look after your momma and baby brother. I will return at dawn with news."
"Yes, Papa."
"It's a girl." I corrected him.
"Of course." He smiled, giving my belly a gentle touch.
I started feeling ill.
I wish he would not leave.
He had confidence and charisma when presenting himself to anyone. His braveness as a hunter was admirable. He does have a secretive side as he blamed my sistas for my sorrow when we reunited. He disliked them in his mind. I have not yet seen his ending, and I trust that it will not be tonight.
Traven, on the other hand. As a werewolf. He had not yet committed to any transformation. He has always held an honorable side, that's why Keziah and myself always approved of Emmalynn's love for him. Only his family is knowledgeable of the secret curse. In my mother's diary I have read that like the rest of the creatures of the night.. All wolf's secrets are kept buried.
"Before we go into the night, Lockwood. I need to know everything." Saul says to him.
With the clearing of his throat, Traven nodded then looked at me.
"Very well." Traven takes a step towards us, as if he's ready to reveal his darkest secret. "My cousin.. Third removed… he's been missing for a few years. I went to New York years ago to continue the search for him. Often I go on short visits for information. Now, it seems he has been found."
"What is his name, may I ask?" I questioned.
"Bronzen. His name is Bronzen. He may as well have an eleven year old son." Traven confessed to us.
I gasp as I very much knew of this Bronzen. He was in fact Emmalynn's thought-to-be-deceased lover. I helped him hide his death two years ago.
How could I not see that he was bloodlined with the Lockwoods?
"A wolf child?" Saul asked.
"Not quite." Traven spoke. "Bronzen's son Lorenzo may not be aware of who or what he is, and I pray that he has yet triggered his curse. He was taken from his mother too young. I'm only now learning from my father's journals of my family's secrets. They were mercifully sold to Dalton years ago. I must find my cousin and his son. Urgently, before Dalton uses them anymore."
*End Of Flashback*
