AN: Happy Christmas Eve! I hope you guys are all having a wonderful day.
– Friday 2 October 2009 –
– Seattle, Washington –
Klaus sighed as he watched his brother devour the second flight attendant he'd hired for the short journey to Seattle. "Can't you go six hours without feeding, brother?"
Peter suggested using the private jet. After seeing Kol fidget for the last four hours and then kill two fight crew, Klaus was thankful he'd listened.
"I've been in a box for the last century, Nik. Excuse me if I'm a little hungry!"
Kol's control had never been perfect. More than their brothers and sister, he suffered the most with his bloodlust. Klaus had always put it down to his brother losing access to his magic when they were turned. But perhaps it was something more.
Elijah had considered Kol's violent outbursts to be a cry for attention. It didn't go unnoticed by Klaus that Kol had always been on the periphery of their family. Even more so after they became vampires. At first, they'd stuck together and remained as a family. But after Klaus killed the Brotherhood of the Five in retaliation for their attempt to neutralize his family with White Oak Ash Daggers everything changed.
Klaus decided to keep Finn daggered due to his growing resentment of what they'd become and his attitude toward all of them. Klaus had never liked Finn much. As far as he saw it, Finn was better off in a box. Sage—Finn's companion and lover—attempted to rescue him but Klaus wouldn't hear of it and compelled her to leave and not return until he allowed it.
He wondered now if Finn and Sage were mated. If he had made more of an effort to help his brother—despite their dislike toward each other—would Finn have been less inclined toward thoughts of contacting their father so that he could end his own existence? Would Sage have been able to convince him life, even as a vampire, is worth living?
Either way, it didn't matter anymore. He can't change the past. Back then, his only thought was of keeping them all safe and Finn was safest daggered in a box.
Elijah did his best to hold them all together, but it was of little use.
Klaus was plagued by the Hunters Curse. Elijah and Rebekah remained together and, for the most part, they were there for Klaus as he suffered. But Kol became restless. He was left to his own devices and pushed aside by Elijah and Rebekah. At some point—Klaus wasn't even sure when it happened—Kol wandered off on his own and left them. More than three and a half centuries passed before they saw him again. Even today, he wasn't sure what Kol had done during that time or where he'd gone.
Over the centuries, Elijah and Rebekah had tried to find Kol, but Klaus never did. In his mind, if Kol didn't want to be with them and to remain part of their family, then why should he look for him? Kol made his choice and he'd chosen to leave them.
But, perhaps—like with Finn—he should've done more. Been a better big brother. After all, they were in a similar position. Klaus with his curse, the other half of him being bound by their mother. In a way, Kol was also cursed. Cursed to be a vampire for all eternity. Stripped of his magic and the connection he felt to the earth.
It was no wonder Kol rebelled and had such poor control. He was suffering as much as Klaus.
But Klaus hadn't seen that. Not back then. If he had, might things be different now? If he'd given Kol what he needed—the attention he craved, the same vow he swore to Elijah and Rebekah, his trust—they might be a united family. Instead, they were divided, alone, and broken. Rebekah and Finn daggered. Elijah seeking ways to destroy Klaus. And Kol, his baby brother, still struggling with this life after a thousand years.
Klaus shook his head.
He'd take his share of the blame when the time came. But this was not entirely his fault. It was not his fault they were turned into vampires against their will. It was not his fault Kol was robbed of his magic. It was not his fault their father was hunting them all over creation to rid the world of them when it was he who demanded they be turned in the first place!
Yes, Klaus has done some awful things in his life.
Yes, he daggered his siblings.
But that was not the cause of Kol's lack of control. How could it be? He'd daggered and undaggered Rebekah and Elijah over the years and they were fine. Elijah had impeccable control. Only Klaus' control rivaled Elijah's. Despite what his siblings thought, he did have complete control over his bloodlust. His temper was a different matter. But when it came to blood and feeding, he was a master.
No. He refused to believe being daggered was the cause of Kol's lack of control. It was something else. He didn't know what, but it wasn't the dagger.
With a sigh, he went back to his book. Keeping Peter around, being his friend, and indulging this ridiculous notion of a soulmate was starting to make Klaus feel and he wasn't sure he liked that.
In the seat across from him, as if the man had heard Klaus' thoughts, Peter smirked.
─── ･｡ﾟ: *. .* :ﾟ. ───
When they landed, an hour later, Klaus compelled the flight crew to forget those who'd been eaten and then called one of his compelled vampires to clean up Kol's mess. He had a feeling he was going to spend a lot of his time cleaning up after his brother now that he was undaggered.
I wonder if there's a loophole to that deal we made. Kol is very good at making deals . . . his wording was specific . . . perhaps if I had a witch make another dagger or used something else . . . a spell, maybe . . .
His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. The sound seemed to be coming from Kol's jacket pocket.
Klaus frowned, unsure when or how his little brother had got ahold of his cell phone.
Without pause, Kol took the phone out of his pocket and answered. "Nik's phone. Kol speaking."
Peter chuckled and shook his head at their antics.
"Kol!" Klaus growled and took the phone from him.
"Klaus? Is that you? Did I call the wrong number? Hello? Hello? Is anyone there?"
"This is Klaus. Who am I speaking to?"
"Billy Black. From the Quileute Reservation. I believe you knew my grandfather, Ephraim Black. He always said you were a good man, despite being a le—vampire."
Klaus met the Quileute shifters many years ago. They were good men and had a worthy purpose in life. Though, he was under the impression their pack had died out long ago.
"Grandpa always said if we ever got into any serious trouble and needed assistance, to call you . . ."
"That's correct. What seems to be the bother?"
"Would it be possible to speak in person?"
"You're in luck. I've just arrived in Washington State. I have some business to attend to first, perhaps we could meet later tonight or tomorrow?"
"Wonderful! Uh, if we could meet as soon as possible that would be better, i-if you don't mind. Our problem is, uh, urgent . . ."
It was only seven in the morning. He wasn't sure how long meeting his potential mate and assessing the situation would take. If Peter was wrong about this, there'd be no reason to stick around. But if he was right, Klaus figured they'd be staying in Forks for a while.
After agreeing on a time and place to meet, Klaus hung up and turned to look at his brother. "How did you get my phone?" He asked. "And how did you know my password?"
Kol shrugged. "Perhaps you should keep a better hold on your possessions, Nik. You never know who's going to pinch something." His cheeky grin widened as Klaus growled.
"Now," Kol clapped his hands, ignoring his brother, "where are we going? Personally, I'm looking forward to meeting this mate of yours. I do hope she can put up with your temper. We need someone with fire in her veins who's not afraid to stand up to you . . . or any of us, I suppose."
"And it'll have to be someone who's not afraid of Rebekah," he mused. "You know how jealous our little sister gets when you're interested in anyone that isn't her." He smirked at Peter. "Petty little thing, our Bex."
Peter smirked. "I wouldn't worry about Rebekah. She'll be just fine. Pissed at Nik for daggering her for the last ninety years . . ."
"Aren't we all?" Kol sighed. "What about Elijah? He's always on some crusade to save Nik's soul . . . well, I suppose he's gone the other way this time and wants to kill him . . ."
Klaus tensed at the mention of his older brother.
"Elijah will come around eventually. Once he sees his family wasn't dropped into the ocean and destroyed. I'd be more concerned about what Nik's little mate is going to think of Elijah than what he'll think of her. She won't take too kindly to your brother seeking to kill her mate."
That was shocking. Klaus wasn't sure what to say. He'd never given much thought to what he desired in a mate. He certainly didn't think someone would be concerned for his well-being or angry with Elijah for attempting to kill him. It wasn't often—especially these days—that anyone was on his side but him. It was hard to believe this girl would worry for him or even be angry for him rather than turn her ire toward him.
He didn't believe Peter's insight, that there could be anyone in the world for him. It seemed so unlikely after all these centuries. Unrealistic. Too good to be true. He's not known to be a loving, gentle man. He's The Beast. The Bastard Son and Brother. Klaus the Mad. He's certainly no fairytale Prince Charming, that's for sure!
But he was here. He was willing to give Peter the benefit of the doubt. Though he wasn't holding his breath this excursion would change his life.
"I can't wait to see someone angry with Noble Elijah!" Kol laughed. "Especially over Nik." He looked over at Peter. "What do you see in my future?"
Peter rolled his green eyes. "It doesn't work like that. I get what I get," he shrugged. "When The Fates want me to know something, I'll tell you."
Kol huffed. "Fine." A second later his mood shifted again and he clapped his hands together. "Right. I'm assuming we'll need a car? Are we stealing or buying?"
Klaus shook himself. Now wasn't the time to be thinking these things. He'd just have to deal with whatever was to come as it came at him. He'd promised Peter he'd meet with the girl and he would. Nothing changes if Peter is wrong and this girl isn't his mate. Life would go back to the way it was a few days ago and he'd continue with the search for the doppelgänger and his moonstone.
If she did turn out to be his soulmate . . . well, he'd cross that bridge when he got there.
– Same Day –
– Forks, Washington –
When Bella woke Friday morning the house was quiet. Her alarm had gone off an hour ago but she couldn't bring herself to move. Not yet. She was warm and comfortable.
Her dreams had been strange and chaotic. She wasn't sure what she was dreaming about, but she could clearly remember a pair of the most intense cerulean blue eyes staring back at her. There was nothing familiar about these eyes. They were darker than Damon's. Harder than Nan's soft baby blues. With hints of green around the pupil and a hard line of dark azure around the outermost edge of the iris.
It probably didn't matter. They were just eyes after all.
With a sigh, she rolled over. The bright numbers on her alarm clock told her it was twenty past nine. Despite it being Friday, she hadn't gone to school. It was decided that until they knew more about this pregnancy she'd stay home. Charlie called the school and told them she was contagious and wouldn't be back for a few weeks. As the Chief of Police, his word wasn't questioned.
Bella was considering rolling over to her other side when there was a knock on her door and Nan poked her head inside. "Are you awake, dear?"
"Yeah," Bella sighed. "I've been awake most of the night."
Nan pushed the door open and stepped into the room. This morning she was dressed in a hot pink tracksuit with white tennis shoes. "I think it's time for us to have a little chat, my darling."
Nan joined Bella on her bed, making herself comfortable. "Kinda lumpy," she frowned, bouncing in place.
Bella smiled and tried to pull herself up so that she could sit and listen to whatever Nan wanted to tell her. As she scootched up the bed, her oversized T-shirt rode up to reveal the bump protruding from between her hips.
Both she and Nan stared at the bump in complete shock.
"That wasn't there yesterday . . ."
"Nope." Bella shook her head, pulling her T-shirt back down. Yesterday she was bloated and couldn't button her jeans. Today she had an obvious bump. Overnight the devil spawn had doubled in size.
"It would seem this pregnancy is going to progress much quicker than I anticipated," Nan frowned.
"If this keeps up, I'll give birth next week," Bella whispered, tears in her eyes.
Tearing her eyes from the bump, Nan looked back at Bella. "Now, none of that, my darling girl. You are going to be just fine." She shifted closer to Bella and pulled her into a tight hug. "We're so much more powerful than you realize."
Bella smiled and wiped away her tears. "Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?" she wondered. "Or are you finally going to tell me the secret ingredient in your marinara sauce? Or how you make those delicious Italian meatballs?"
"No." Nan smiled. "Those secrets stay with me until I die. And then they will go to you."
Bella sighed. "I think it's more likely I'm going to go before you do, Nan."
"Don't say that . . ."
"I've seen enough movies to know this," she indicated to her stomach, "is not going to end well for me."
Nan shifted, tightening her arms around her granddaughter, holding her close. "This is real life, not a movie," Nan reminded her. "There are two vampires, a werewolf, and two witches in this house. One way or another, we will find a way to save your life and rid you of that . . . thing growing inside of you."
Bella wasn't entirely sure she believed she'd make it through this pregnancy and live to tell the tale, but she didn't want to roll over and give up, either. She didn't want to die. And she certainly didn't want to be bested by a demonic fetus.
"Now," Nan said, changing the subject, "I'm not sure the gravity of what we discussed last night has hit you yet. With the news of your pregnancy, that's not a surprise, but seeing as you blew up the coffee table, I think you should be as prepared as possible for what's to come in your future."
"What do you mean?"
"Well dear, your father is a werewolf," Nan said gently. "And your mother is, or was, a witch."
"So, that's how I blew up the coffee table," Bella said slowly. "I'm like you and Renee, a witch," she frowned. "But Charlie's a werewolf . . . so would that make me . . . a werewolf, too?"
Nan nodded. "It makes you unique. You carry the werewolf gene, but you are also a very special witch."
Bella frowned. "Because I can blow things up?"
"No, dear. We can all do that. Though, admittedly, most of us require an incantation. You, because of who you are, don't."
Bella sighed. "Nan, could you spit it out? I'm not following any of this. I'm special, but why am I special? And how am I special?"
"All right, let's start with a little history," Nan decided. "I come from the Salvatore family. Damon and Stefan are my blood relations; distant paternal uncles."
Bella smiled. "So, not your nephews, then."
"No, I'm their niece. At some point, their father had an affair that resulted in an illegitimate son named Thomas. He was my great, great, great grandfather. After the death of Damon and Stefan's father—Giuseppe Salvatore—and after they were turned into vampires, they made sure Thomas inherited the Salvatore name and everything that went with it."
"So, does that mean I get to call them Uncle Stefan and Uncle Damon?"
Nan laughed softly. "I don't see why not. They're your family now, too. Damon can be a bit of a handful at times. Stefan often lets his emotions get the better of him, but they're good boys and they protect their family. That's what matters."
Bella nodded, taking it all in.
"Now, let's see . . . Thomas married a woman named Edith. Edith was very special. She came from a powerful family of witches known as the Gemini Coven. They weren't happy that Edith decided to marry Thomas and move to Mystic Falls. They wanted her to remain in the Coven and marry a witch, not someone who was related to vampires. Edith refused to give Thomas up, so her family acted against her by placing a curse upon her."
Bella nodded. "Just what every fairytale needs, an evil witch and a curse. So, what happened to Edith and Thomas?"
"Nothing," Nan smiled. "They got married, had many children, and lived happily ever after."
Bella frowned. "But the witches and the curse?"
"I've found, in my years on this earth, some witches can be . . ." she frowned, "a judgmental lot and seem to believe themselves to be morally superior to all other species. Now, I'm not saying all witches are like this, but most, I've found, are the biggest bunch of party poopers you'll ever meet!"
Bella chuckled. "Why do you say that?"
"Witches created this world. They're the reason werewolves exist. A witch created true vampires. And I'm sure a witch had something to do with the creation of cold ones. They didn't just spring up from the earth like daisies. Everything supernatural is tied to magic. And yet, many witches dare to judge and condemn their own creations."
"Don't get me wrong, not all witches are the same. We cannot judge the whole group by the actions of a few. There are a lot of witches in the world who are the kindest, most compassionate people you'll ever meet. But there are others out there who would condemn and judge because you're different. They see themselves as superior and would not hesitate to eradicate something they perceive as evil."
"Like the Gemini Coven?"
Nan sighed. "I don't think I'll ever understand that coven," she admitted. "The curse they placed on Edith affected her magic and ensured no child from her line would ever possess magic again."
"Because she loved someone who was related to vampires?"
Nan nodded.
"But you have magic. And Renee had magic . . . so, what happened? Did they do it wrong?"
"The Fates happened." Nan smiled. "Witches—like the Gemini Coven and all others who're born into a family line or coven—consider themselves Servants of Nature. They see it as their sacred duty to keep the balance of Nature. Everything must have a balance. Good and evil. Light and dark. Life and death. You understand?"
Bella nodded. "I think so."
"The Fates are above everything," Nan continued. "They're beyond the Spirits. Beyond our ancestors. Beyond Nature herself. I'm not sure what kind of power they possess or how vast it is but they're beyond everything we know."
Again, Bella nodded as she listened.
"When The Fates stepped in to help Edith, they removed the Gemini's curse and blessed the female members of our family line with great power," she went on. "In one of her journals, Edith wrote about the vision The Fates shared with her. In it, she described seeing the females of our line growing more powerful as time went on. But there would be one who would come into the world and she would be extraordinary."
"Uh-oh," Bella sighed, "you don't think that female is me, do you?"
Nan smiled. "Yes, my darling, I do."
"Why?" She asked. "I haven't done anything special. Unless you count blowing up the coffee table or miraculously getting pregnant and having no memory of it. I'm certainly not powerful . . ."
Nan took Bella's hands in hers and lifted them so that they were between the two women. "This is how I know. When you blew up the coffee table, your hands glowed purple."
Bella looked down at her hands. "So that wasn't a normal witch thing, then? You don't glow like that?"
"No," Nan shook her head, her white curls bouncing. "I've never seen magic like yours. The best comparison I can give you is a siphon, whose hands glow red."
"A siphon," Bella frowned. "What's that?"
"I believe, it's what you are, sweetheart. Siphons are very special. They're a subsect of witches born without the ability to generate their own magic. Instead, they possess a rare power that allows them to siphon magic from other sources such as vampires, werewolves, other witches, or magical objects."
"Siphons are only found in the Gemini Coven and sadly, they believe them to be abominations because they don't have their own magic like other witches. Throughout the history of the Gemini Coven, siphons have been persecuted. Most, if not all, are rejected from the coven and cast out. Some have been hunted and killed, and I believe, not too long ago, one was trapped inside a prison world."
"A prison world?"
"From my understanding, it's like an alternative dimension that was created by the Gemini Coven to imprison the most cruel and sadistic members of the coven. Only two prison worlds currently exist and contain the most brutal and savage coven members."
"All of whom are siphons . . ."
"Yes," Nan nodded.
"Wonderful," Bella sighed. "So, not only will I be hunted for my species but I run the risk of turning evil and then being imprisoned in another dimension . . ."
"There's no reason to believe you would be in any danger," Nan assured her. "As far as I'm aware, the Gemini Coven believe their curse upon Edith worked and she was stripped of her magic. Nobody knows we're descended from them. I doubt they know either of us exist."
"And the crazy part?" Bella asked, noticing Nan didn't say anything about her possibly losing her marbles in the future.
Nan smiled. "Oh, my darling, if you are a siphon, you're likely the most well-adjusted siphon to exist in this world. Siphons are outcasts. They're rejected, unloved, locked away, and denied any form of contact. They are severely abused and mistreated by their family and the coven. I know you didn't have it easy but—"
"Their actions make Renee look like a saint in comparison . . ." Bella finished.
From what Nan was saying, even though Bella's childhood wasn't perfect, it could've been a whole lot worse. At least she had her dad and Nan. She was loved. And, even if Renee wasn't the best parent, she was never cruel or abusive. Neglectful, yes, but she'd never harmed Bella.
"So," Bella looked down at her hands, "that's what I am? A siphon?"
As she spoke the words the purple wispy stuff coiled around her fingers, almost like it was caressing each digit. She wasn't sure what it was, exactly. Energy, maybe. Or magic.
Nan watched with wide eyes and an awed expression on her face.
"To be honest, my darling, I'm not sure," she answered, her blue eyes watching as the wisps emanated from Bella's hands, and, surprising Nan, even her eyes began to glow purple.
In an instant, the purple haze was gone. Bella blinked and the purple of her irises returned to their natural dark brown.
"A siphon's hands glow red when they siphon from something," Nan said. "But you glow purple. And even if I could explain away the color somehow, it doesn't explain the tendrils of—what I'm assuming is—magical energy coming from your hands. It also doesn't explain why your eyes were just glowing purple. Or where the magic is coming from because you haven't siphoned from anything . . ."
"Could I be siphoning from the fetus?" Bella wondered.
Nan thought about that for a minute. "I don't know enough about cold ones to answer that, sweetheart," she admitted. "I've never met one. I suppose it's a possibility. I'm not sure what a cold one is, or how they were created. I would imagine they come from magic . . . most things in this world are bound by some form of magic . . ."
"But that still doesn't explain the other anomalies," Bella frowned. "My eyes changing color and the wisps of magic . . ."
". . . Aren't typical traits of a siphon," Nan agreed. "But, then again, perhaps they're exclusive to you. From what I read in Edith's journals, you'll be far more powerful than any siphon that's ever walked this earth. In her writing, she spoke of a different form of magic, something that is unique to you."
"A different form of magic . . . what could that mean?"
"There are many different types of magic," Nan explained. "Nature magic, dark magic, spirit magic, hoodoo, voodoo, elemental magic, ancestral magic, traditional magic, blood magic, and more. When you're ready, I'll be able to teach you everything I know."
Bella nodded.
"I don't know what type of magic Edith was referring to in her journals. It may be something new, I suppose." Nan shrugged. "What I do know, is your magic is extraordinary. You will be powerful. And, in time, when you're ready, you will become the Eternal Matriarch of our family line."
"Eternal?" Bella frowned. "As in . . ."
Nan nodded. "As in, Edith strongly believed, you would become immortal at some point and still retain your ability to use magic. Thus, becoming The Salvatore Matriarch. And the leader of our family and our coven."
"The Gemini Coven?"
"No. The Salvatore Coven," Nan corrected.
"But what about you?" Bella asked, feeling uneasy. "Aren't you the family Matriarch?"
"For now. But when I pass onto the other side, you will take my place."
"Shouldn't it be Renee who takes your place?"
"Yes, it should have been," Nan nodded. "This was her birthright until she decided she didn't want it and removed her magic. Now, she has no say in family matters, and the crown—so to speak—goes to you. Unless you decide you don't want it either and remove your magic as your mother did. In that case, the family line will die out with me, and," she shrugged, "that will be that."
Bella shook her head. "I'd never do that." She assured her Nan. "I might be unsure about all of this, but," she sighed, "I've always known I'm different. I've always felt out of place in the normal world. I don't relate well to others. The Cullens were the first people I felt comfortable with . . . that I felt understood me and, as it turns out, they're not people at all! I seem to gravitate toward those who're different," she shrugged. "I think that's why, until Alice, I never really had a friend."
Nan let go of Bella's hands and pulled her in for a hug. "It's okay, my darling. Everything will be okay. We'll get you through this pregnancy and then," she smiled, "maybe you'd consider coming to live with me in Mystic Falls."
Bella lifted her head from Nan's shoulder. "Really?" She smiled. "Y-You'd want me to live with you?"
"Of course! There's plenty of room at the boarding house and you'd love Mystic Falls. It's sunny and hardly ever rains. It gets cold in the winter and it snows, but not nearly as much as here. The people are friendly. I'll introduce you to the knitting club and there are lots of young people. I think you'd get along well with Sheriff Forbes' girl, Caroline. She's a little neurotic and has some insecurities, but she's very kind and considerate. Bonnie Bennett is just coming into her magic like you. Then there's your cousin Tyler . . ."
"Is he a wolf, too?"
"Not that I'm aware. But your father told me your Uncle Mason recently triggered the gene."
Bella nodded. "He and his girlfriend Katherine came to visit a few months ago. I don't think I've seen Tyler in . . ." Bella frowned. ". . . Have I ever met Tyler?"
"Well," Nan sighed, "you might not have. Richard, Tyler's father, and Charlie don't get along. Never have, as far as I know. There's some bad blood in that family. Their father was a horrid man—"
Bella had never met her grandfather but from the few things she knew of him, she didn't want to know him.
"Is that why Dad changed his last name?" Bella wondered. "It wasn't originally Swan, right?"
"That's right. Swan is your grandma Helen's maiden name. Your grandfather, Geoffrey, was a Lockwood. Charlie had his name changed when he turned eighteen and left Mystic Falls."
It was fascinating to hear all the family history. Renee would never tell her anything and she didn't want to ask Charlie because she knew he didn't like talking about his family life and childhood. From what she knew, she didn't blame him, either.
"I think, I'd like to come to Mystic Falls with you," Bella admitted, "but," she sighed, "I don't think I could leave Charlie now. We're just starting to get to know each other again and after everything I've recently put him through with Edward and now this . . ." she looked down at her belly.
"It's okay, dear," Nan assured her. "We have plenty of time to decide what to do. One thing at a time."
Bella nodded. "I don't think I'm ready to take on any official roles—"
"There's no need to worry about that yet, my love," Nan smiled happily. "We have plenty of time for you to learn about magic and your role in the family. I'm not going anywhere."
Bella felt a little unsure about that. Nan was getting on a bit. Though, at eighty-five she was still as sprightly and quick as she'd been at sixty-five.
"Herbs and spells keep me young, dear," she smiled as if she knew where Bella's mind had gone. "Plus, the occasional cocktail with the girls in my knitting club."
Bella laughed. "How was Atlantic City? Did you win big?"
"Of course!" Nan grinned. "I always win."
"That's because you cheat."
The two women looked up to see Damon leaning against the doorframe with a smirk on his handsome face.
Nan smirked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I did as you asked," Damon told her. "She's on her way. Should be here early tomorrow morning."
"Who?" Bella wondered.
"Dr. Meredith Fell," Nan answered.
"We need to know what's cooking inside of you," Damon added. "And she's the only one we know with both medical experience and knowledge of the supernatural world."
Bella nodded.
"She said something about bringing along a colleague who's in on the secret and could be of some use to us."
Nan nodded. "Did she mention who? I wasn't aware there was anyone else working at the hospital that knew the secret."
"He works at Whitmore. A, um, Dr. Wes Maxfield."
"She trusts him?"
"Seems to."
Nan nodded and sighed. "Well, all right then. I trust her judgment."
"D-Do you think we should try to contact Carlisle?" Bella asked. "He's a doctor and a cold one. He might be able to help."
"Do you want us to find him?" Damon wondered. "We can . . . if that's what you want . . ."
"I don't want to die, Uncle Damon," she told him. "I'd face the devil himself if he could get this thing out of me and ensure my safety."
─── ･｡ﾟ: *. .* :ﾟ. ───
Coincidentally, across town, the man who believed himself to be the devil had just passed the 'Welcome to Forks' sign and was on his way to the Swan residence.
AN: This chapter got away from me a bit, but at least we have a little family history and a connection to the Gemini coven. That'll be interesting. And Bella has a connection to the Lockwoods, too.
Klaus arrives in Mystic Falls in the next chapter!
Let me know what you think in the comments! See you next time. xoxo.