Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

And what about her? Hope never thought about her?

Kayla walked down the empty and dark hallways of the school, weirdly enough wearing a black dress with a gray blazer.

Chapter Text

The school was still a little surprised but relieved she was alive and Kayla was throughly amused - if not still a little wary - for some students reactions whenever Josie and herself were in the same room.

Hope was upset though, that despite everything, Kayla would still greet Josie even if she was the one to stab her to death yet she avoided her like the plague.

Neither Lizzie and MG could help her pinpoint Kayla to one place or entertain her enough for Hope to talk to her.

Kayla hadn't either talked to Landon, nor acknowledged his presence.

It was awkward for him. He didn't know what he did to deserve the chilly, ice cold shoulder. Not yet, anyway.

Hope had been forced to stop trying to win her best friend back when she found out what was going on with Rafael.

Said guy was doomed to death and now was pacing in an empty corner of the library where Kayla found him.

"You're carving a hole on the floor" Kayla told him, carrying a few books and looking like she was ready to leave, a backpack hanging loosely over her shoulder. "Chill out, wolfboy"

Rafael turned to face her as she shoved a red book with gold letters inside her back. He gulped a little, still fearful from his death sentence, "Moving reminds me I'm alive"

Kayla clicked her tongue, brushing a wild strand of hair that fell from her curly hair away from her face, "Death is overrated" Rafael gave her a look, nervous and scared. She realized how insensitive she sounded, briefly looking to the side as if she was expecting someone to scold her for it. "Right"

At the awkwardness from the girl, Rafael couldn't help but twitch his lips, his only thought at the moment was that he wasn't going to die without seeing any other emotion in Kayla's face. He had only ever seen blank expressions, sarcasm and hostility. This? This made her human in his eyes.

"They're trying to help" Rafael said, wriggling nervously his fingers and hands, "But they're looking for the impossible, aren't they?"

Kayla fell silent, looking away.

Rafael nodded to himself, already knowing that.

"You need a road trip" Kayla told him, turning to him. Rafael frowned. She lifted her hand, a key ring hanging around her pointer finger. "Clear your mind. Make your peace" her voice lowered, speaking quietly as she lowered her hand, "Say goodbyes to those important to you"

Rafael felt a lump on his throat but he didn't want to cry in front of anyone. "You're being uncharacteristically nice"

"Being unable to wake up and thinking you were going to die by sleeping tends to change your perspective about things and how to treat people in the same ish situation" Kayla replied, shrugging.

It was at that moment Rafael realized why she was avoiding both Landon and Hope.

And he can't say that he blamed her from that.

"I'm sorry" Rafael said quietly, getting Kayla to look at him questionably. "Must not have been easy"

"I'm not the one dying now" Kayla countered bluntly. Rafael chuckled a bit, for once not minding the cruelty of her words. Finally someone who didn't treat him like glass. "So let's not talk about that"

"Okay, sorry" Rafael raised his hands in defense, noticing that he didn't seem on edge as before. Kayla nodded, hiking up higher the backpack on her shoulder, turning around to leave. "Wait. Kayla"

Kayla glanced at him over her shoulder, stopping. "What?"

Rafael bit on his lip, "About that road trip?"

Kayla's lips twitched briefly.

"You didn't mention you stole Dr. S' car"

"And you didn't mention bird's poop would tag along, but you don't see me complaining about it"

"Glad to hear I'm at least acknowledged this time"

That was the only time he was acknowledged though.

Kayla's hands were a little tense on the wheel, (considering maybe this was one of the few times she's ever driven a car, maybe that's why?), Rafael sitting in the passenger seat with Landon on the back seat.

Kayla was aware of the elixir linking him to the lunar cycle keeping his symptoms at bay, which is why he seemed at ease, looking through the window.

Landon was the nervous one, and Kayla could feel his eyes flickering to her a few times, even caught him doing that through the rear view mirror but so far did a fantastic job on ignoring his existence.

She reminded herself she was only dropping them off where they were headed before continuing her way.

"You never said" Rafael spoke out, not handling the tense silence anymore. Landon flinched at the sudden noise, both guys surprised that Kayla barely reacted, only tilting her head to Rafael as a sign she was listening to him. "Where are you going?"

"Far away from the school" Kayla shrugged, a little lie only two people knew. One she wasn't in speaking terms with.

"Why?" Landon asked, leaning forward.

Kayla didn't answer.

Rafael glanced at Landon apologetically at his frown, "Why are you leaving?"

"Need a bit of space, that's all" Kayla answered.

Landon's frown deepened as he was treated as if he was invisible and he still didn't know why! And the glance Rafael sent him... he knew, didn't he?

Since when Rafael and Kayla became friends anyway?

"Understand the feeling" Rafael said with a small smile.

Landon was surprised when he saw the ghost of a smile playing on her lips. He had to blink twice to see if he saw right but only thing he saw was the stoic, blank expression she wore permanently.

Kayla. You can't ignore me forever. Please tell me where you are.

Both guys snapped their heads in alarm to the girl at her hiss of pain, seeing her raise a hand to her temple.

"I can damn well try" Rafael heard Kayla whisper under her breath.

Landon peered up at her, "That was Hope, wasn't it?" he asked in concern. Rafael saw her other hand still on the wheel tighten her grip. He lightly shook his head at Landon. "She's been worried sick about you, that you're ignoring her"

"Landon" Rafael hissed warningly, eyeing the witch cautiously.

Landon ignored him, looking at Kayla, "She cares about you and she's upset every time you leave the room when she walks in, why-"

The car suddenly came to an abrupt stop, all three passengers almost breaking their necks at the strength of the stop, and it was then when the guys noticed the radio malfunctioning, static playing furiously and the car's lights flickering dangerously.

Kayla unbuckled herself, her car door slamming open magically as she jumped out of the car.

Rafael heard her breathing turning heavier and heavier, snapping a hand to Landon to stop him from running after the angry girl.

After a moment, they heard a loud crack, following the source of the noise with their gazes, seeing a tree falling on the middle of the road.

Suddenly, Rafael was reminded of his anger issues before he triggered his curse.

"Landon" Rafael spoke quietly, watching a calmer Kayla slowly make her way to the car. Landon stopped his gawking over the fallen tree to look at his best friend and the serious expression on his face. "Remember how Hope and Kayla are linked?" Landon nodded. "Well, uh, um. When you were dead, and um Hope wouldn't wake up because you wouldn't be there...?"

Rafael wanted his friend to come to terms himself about why Kayla acted the way she did to both him and Hope.

It took a moment for Landon in which Kayla was already inside the car, calmly turning the car on.

"Oh" Landon murmured in realization.

"There's a bit of an obstacle in the road so I'm going to drive around it" Kayla said loudly, driving down the uneven patch of earth on the side of the road until the tree was left behind, returning to the pavement, "Your destination is close by"

Kayla looked up at Rafael at the silence.

"Thanks" Rafael said quickly.

Kayla gave him a suspicious look, returning her gaze to the road.

Landon and Rafael exchanged a look.

"Thanks again, for this"

Kayla leaned against the jeep, a pair of sunglasses resting on her head.

Rafael hiked up his bag over his shoulder.

"No problem, wolf boy" Kayla replied, pushing herself away from the car, turning around to leave. "Hope it's a peaceful death or whatever"

Rafael reached out to her arm, stopping her, "Hey" Kayla turned to him. "Back there-" he paused, hesitating but finally deciding he didn't want to pressure her about what happened with her anger. "I'm really thankful"

Kayla seemed to relax, thinking he was going to ask something she didn't want to talk about. "It's whatever"

"May I hug you?" Rafael asked shyly, hesitantly. Kayla looked surprised, he quickly began to explain, "I know you're not fan of physical contact, that's why I'm asking"

Oh.

No one has ever asked her that. They simply hug her even though she doesn't want to.

Rafael was considerate but...

"Pass" Kayla told him.

Rafael sighed, "Not even because I'm dying?"

Kayla rolled her eyes, and this time, an actual smile flickered on her lips. "Nice manipulation tactic" she said, impressed. Rafael smiled. "Just for that, you can"

Rafael smiled in relief, dropping his bag gently and carefully wrapped his arms around the surprisingly small girl, feeling her tense body, closing his eyes but not lingering too much as to not make her uncomfortable. She didn't hug back but that was fine, he didn't expect her to.

He pulled away, backing away to give her personal space back.

"Have a good trip to wherever you're going" Rafael told her.

"Thanks" Kayla told him, pausing as she opened the door, "My dad" Rafael tilted his head curiously. "That's where I'm going"

Rafael nodded, understandingly. He was here for his own dad too.

He watched Kayla drive away, feeling Landon stop at his side, both watching the car leave.

"The audacity of leaving me alone to go play hero. And what do you earn? A stake through your stomach and a magical coma state"

Kayla sighed. "What was I thinking by telling you that when you asked 'how did it go?'"

Kai threw a piece of pork rind her way, sticking his tongue at her, "Be glad I didn't use a dad's voice and grounded you for not letting me know. I had to scare off a vamp guy creeping around the motel, that's when I realized something must've happen" Kayla blinked at him, hiding her surprise. Kai pointed at her, triumphantly, "Aha! You know who that is. You sent your boyfriend to check out on dear ol' dad, sweetcheeks?"

"Don't be ridiculous" Kayla huffed, throwing back another pork rind his way. Kai laughed, throwing his head back on the bed where he was lying down. Kayla was sitting with her crossed legs underneath her as they spoke. "He's not my boyfriend and I had to make sure my spell still worked, just in case"

Kai's amusement died at her words, "Oh, that would have been a mistake. Everyone in that school would have dropped dead if they actually killed you"

Kayla stared at Kai in silence.

Kai coughed to kill off the awkward, cheesy mood.

"Someone else is dying" Kayla told him, tearing her eyes away and towards the window, the sun almost setting down. "Not who I wanted to die, though. He's a good guy"

"But you want someone dead?" Kai faked a gasp, placing his hand on his heart in a dramatic fashion. "Your Parker is showing, sweetie"

"If that were the case, I'd be killing him myself" Kayla replied, and knowing Hope... That'll never happen.

Kai clicked his tongue, "You said there's no way to keep him alive? What about one of your fancy little spells? Those you create out of nowhere?"

"I've been trying to focus on one since I dropped him off on my way here" Kayla admitted, turning to her dad, expecting him to mock her for caring for someone but to her surprise, he looked thoughtful, as if he wanted to really help her.

"There's a way" Kai began, but glanced at her cautiously. It didn't escape his notice the little outbursts of magic coming from her affecting the lights or the breeze of the room. His fault for letting her siphon from him the moment she entered the room.

He understood the void, the emptiness where magic was supposed to exist in his body, he didn't want his little spawn to feel the same way with him, ever. If it was up to him, he'd always make sure she has a little bit of reserve magic. He preferred that than her turning into a heretic.

Though, he needed to teach her to contain her magic a little bit and not let herself be ruled by her emotions.

Emotions were a pain in the ass.

"Which is?" his spawn snapped him from his thoughts.

"A prision world" Kai said bluntly. Kayla opened her mouth to retort but he raised his hand to stop her, "Wait, just think about it for a second, logically, sweetheart. If you tie a prison world to you, it keeps you alive"

"Hell no" Kayla snapped, a strong wind coming through the window, slamming the gates open. She ignored it. Kai waved his hand to close the windows magically. "He'll be alone. That's worse than death"

Kai pursed his lips, hating the sympathy that washed him over as he stood, "A prision world is made depending on the creator's motives. My prision world, both of them, the 1903 heretics one, your failed prison world-" he pretended he didn't see her little flinch when he mentioned the prison world Cece's family wanted to send her to, "They were all made to isolate us. To punish us for what we are. For the power that runs through our veins, for the one it doesn't and we have to take. This doesn't have to be like that for your friend, Kay. You don't want him to be alone, then make it possible. You and I both know our fair knowledge of prision worlds" he smiled a little, poking her forehead once he was close enough. "Pour a little bit of your own magic there to make your vision happen for this world" he slid his gaze to the window, knowingly, "Just remember you need a celestial event and Bennett's blood for it to work"

There was a supernova happening over Mystic Falls that night.

Kayla looked at her dad in a new light.

Kai shrugged, pleased with himself by seeing that glimmer on her eyes directed at him.

It made him feel like... Like he mattered to someone unconditionally.

He gave advice to his daughter, one that was wanted and needed and she seemed to appreciate it.

He didn't mind when she left again, a new skip on her pace and a different vibe from the one she had when she arrived, and the little whispered thank you to him before she closed the door was worth it enough to not leave that room for the rest of the night, not to mention he didn't feel that restriction anymore.

By the time Kayla made it back to the Salvatore School, it was almost empty, seeing little Pedro chatting with some of his friends.

"Yo, Pedro" Kayla told him, stalking closer.

Pedro looked up, "Hi, Kayla!"

Awe. How adorable. However, no one ever will hear that from her mouth, "Where's everyone?"

"Hope's with Lizzie in the twins' room" Pedro answered.

Kayla gave him a look, "That's not what I asked"

"No" Pedro agreed, "That's what you meant though"

Kayla smirked, impressed. "Never let anyone crush down your witchy senses, kiddo"

Pedro smiled brightly, taking that as compliment. One of the Salvatore School Heroes complimented him, "She said something nice to me"

"Lucky you" one of his friends, a girl pouted.

Pedro smiled, watching Kayla hurry along through the stairs. "Yeah"

Chapter Text

Both girls looked at each other tensely.

"I think you put the idea on my mind" Hope said after a moment. Kayla flickered her eyes down to see the object in her hands. "And I'm going to need your help, if what I got a glimpse on your head can happen"

"This doesn't make us friends again" Kayla told her bluntly. Hope flinched. "But we definitely need to work together for this"

Hope nodded. "Lay it on me"

They were still tense with each other but they set aside their differences to help Rafael.

And so they set to find Lizzie who seemed very surprised by seeing them together.

"Lizzie, did you see the supernova?" Hope asked as the two girls reached the blonde.

"Kind of hard to miss it" Lizzie replied, then glanced at the object Hope was holding, looking between the two girls curiously, "Is that what I think it is?"

Kayla and Hope exchanged a look.

"We had an idea" Hope told her. "Please tell us you know where your dad keeps his stash of Bennett blood"

"Off the record, I can think of at least three super-secret hiding spots" Lizzie told them.

"Let's go" Kayla told them, turning around to leave, "We're running out of time"

Hope and Lizzie exchanged a look before following after Kayla.

It worked.

Kayla was very apprehensive as she stood in front of the ascendant as they worked on the spell.

Here she was, in the middle of everything, chanting the spell that if things had worked out for her family, she would have been trapped forever in loneliness.

But there was something that this prison world had that the others didn't.

Kayla had used one of her "fancy little spells" as Kai put it to create some sort of portal that allowed those who wanted to, to enter and leave the prison world as they wished without the need of Bennett's blood, they only needed to use a code word that she'd be changing every often and to visit Rafael, they'd have to ask her the code word. And so no one would mess up the prison world, the code word would be erased from their minds until the moment they needed it.

No one but those she allowed would enter Rafael's heaven.

Not prison world. No, Heaven World.

But that didn't change the way Kayla's heart pounded loudly in her ears as she stood in between Lizzie and Hope.

Hope tentatively reached out for her hand, sensing her anxiety and fear through their link, expecting Kayla to pull her hand away but to her surprise, she didn't, only returning the squeeze Hope gave her.

All three girls closed their eyes as they focused and chanted.

And so the ascendant transported Rafael inside.

Kayla went to MG to tell him to spread the word, and to tell them the password.

Excited and relieved that they actually found a way, just like he knew they would, MG had smiled brightly at Kayla, refraining himself from hugging her in his relief as he sped away to tell everyone.

By the time Rafael realized he was alive, everyone was waiting in the living room of his new Heaven World.

Kayla's lips flickered in a small smile as Rafael embraced everyone who were there for him.

When Rafael walked to Kayla, he was no longer surprised at the small smile she sent his way, but sure he was by the way she opened her arms as if asking him if she could hug him.

Rafael didn't hesitate as he closed the space and they hugged.

"You're not alone" Kayla whispered in his ear, "I made sure of that"

Rafael tightened his grip on who he now saw as a good friend, nodding on her shoulder, "Thank you, for everything"

They pulled away

Kayla nodded, her expression back to her neutral state but Rafael didn't mind.

He saw past the coldness.

He saw her kindness.

Rafael smiled at her as he walked away.

MG stepped next to her, nudging her arm. "I saw that"

"You didn't see anything" Kayla told him, side glancing at him. MG smiled. "Shut up"

MG's grin grew, "I didn't say anything"

"You didn't have to" Kayla replied, turning around, leaving.

MG smiled to himself, watching her go.

Kayla carefully hid the Heaven World in a shelf of her room, passing a hand over the place, a shimmering of magic waving over it and cloaking the place with an illusion of books.

"There you will be safe, wolfboy" Kayla murmured to herself.

There was a 'door' in the Heaven World she spelled inside the living room that would be the exit of the world. No way she'd allow anyone to enter her room to get in and out of Rafael's world.

A knock on her doorway made her look back to see a sheepish Hope at the entrance.

Kayla looked away from her, grabbing a book and pretending she was busy.

"I know you hate me" Hope began, slowly walking inside. Kayla didn't look her way. "And I understand. You have all the right in the world. But, don't shut me out"

"You did it first" Kayla told her, glancing at her. "You tossed me aside first. For a guy"

"Landon isn't-" Hope began but flinched when Kayla's book crashed hard against the wall, shocked to see Kayla's eyes glowing like those of a werewolf.

"I keep getting screwed over by you, Hope Mikaleson" Kayla snapped, eyes still glowing. "One thing is choosing him over someone who has been by your side for a long time and another is dragging me as collateral damage. I'm so tired of being dragged into your messes"

Hope pursed her lips, "I never forced you to. You come willingly"

"And you know what?" Kayla scoffed, anger shinning through her voice. Anger Hope had never seen before in her, "Worse decisions I've ever made... Including linking myself to you"

"You didn't want to be alone, that's why you did it, we cleared that up" Hope said, trying to remain calm.

"Yet, that's exactly what happened at the end of the day" Kayla told her. The lights flickered. Hope looked up, concerned. "We jumped into a dark pit of a dark loneliness prison"

"We came back" Hope told her softly, looking back down to her.

"To a world no one wanted us in" Kayla told her, taking a deep breath, the glowing fading. Hope could only feel relief about that. "I told you it was better to have a cleanslate, but you didn't listen. We caused Josie to get addicted to dark magic. Dark Josie almost killed me and you? You playing hero, like all the damn time dragged me into your heads, where I couldn't wake up. No matter how hard I tried"

Hope didn't know that. "What do you mean?"

"I saw sane Josie when you saved her" Kayla said, "She said everything was going to be okay and to wake up. She did. I couldn't. Do you even know how tired my body was when I actually woke up?" Hope looked guilty, opening her mouth to talk but Kayla didn't let her. "Damn tired. I am terrified to sleep, Hope. Because I don't know when you're going to get us into another magical coma"

"That's not going to happen again" Hope reassured.

"That doesn't sound reassuring, because at the end of the day, you keep doing stupid shit for that guy" Kayla told her. "And I'm the one who gets the worst part of everything"

"Like I said it's not going to happen anymore" Hope swallowed through the pain. Both, the guy she loved and her best friend were drifting apart from her.

Kayla blinked, "Oh, so you dropped bird's poop because he's weak"

"It's not that!" Hope snapped.

"He's right though" Kayla pressed. "You can't handle that he's human. However you do love when he's the damsel in distress because you can't help but be his hero. It's the only thing you can ever be to him"

"That's not true!" Hope snapped. The lights flickered, this time with her own anger. "You don't know what you're talking about"

"I'm in your head, I know what I'm talking about" Kayla told her. Electricity cracked in the room.

Hope laughed bitterly, this time wind began to blow in all directions, wiping their hair back. Neither paid attention, "How ironic you talking about being inside each other's heads. Only when it's convenient for you, isn't it?"

Neither girl noticed the door opening and a shocked Lizzie staring at them in shock, hair blowing back due to the wind in the room.

"Not my problem that I know how to block my mind from yours" Kayla smirked at her.

"Hey, guys" Lizzie called out nervously.

"You're impossible" Hope scoffed.

"I'm not a hypocrite, that's what you mean" Kayla told her.

"No, what I mean is that you're psychopath who cares about no one" Hope snapped.

Both girls glared at each other.

"Girls!" Lizzie snapped.

Magic snapped from between both girls' fists, knocking against each other, causing a small explosion that sent the three girls back, crashing against the walls.

They groaned.

The three girls had been hurt by the magical explosion enough to get bleeding gashes.

Lizzie had a small bleeding gash in the middle of her forehead. It wasn't that bad though because she wasn't that close to the blast.

Hope and Kayla?

They had their own injures and a mirror gash from the other girl. Hope's quickly began to heal. Kayla's were slower due to Hope's werewolf healing abilities.

"What's wrong with you two?" Lizzie snapped as she slowly stood up, staring between them with a hand in her head.

Hope and Kayla stared at each other, breathing heavily.

"I've never been this angry before" Kayla said quietly.

Hope looked down, "Another thing to screw you over with" she said quietly. "Werewolves have anger issues. Your eyes were glowing"

Kayla looked away. "Of course. Add werewolf anger to my already innate anger"

"I'm sorry" Hope said softly, standing up. "I'll figure this out. I promise"

Kayla remained in the floor, resting her head back on the wall, without looking at Hope.

Hope nodded to herself, walking away, past Lizzie.

Lizzie stepped aside to let her out, walking to her cousin, kneeling in front of her. By now, Kayla's injures looked barely like scratches.

"What happened?" Lizzie asked softly.

"Our friendship is over I guess" Kayla said tiredly. She seemed sad all of the sudden.

Lizzie pursed her lips and brought her cousin to a well needed hug.

Kayla buried her head on Lizzie's shoulder, sighing heavily.

Chapter Text

Enough that it got the guidance counselor's attention to call Kayla to his office.

"This feels like a deja vu" Kayla commented as she sat on a chair in front of Alaric's desk, her feet up in the desk.

"You were one to get in trouble very often" Dr. Robin Goodfellow smiled briefly at the teenager in front of him, not minding her feet on the desk. "It's not surprising you know that chair very well"

"But I don't anymore, sad" Kayla deadpanned, patting the armrest of her chair. "Maybe I should get more in trouble. For good times' sake"

"Is that the reason why you set those girls' books in fire today?" Dr. Goodfellow raised an eyebrow.

Kayla glanced to the side. "An accident that can happen to anyone"

"Your fire spells are exceptional" Robin countered, reading through the file in his hands. "That wasn't an accident" he looked up. "Not to mention that was around the time Ms. Mikaelson was in the library as well"

Since their fight, being in the same room their anger intensified enough to lose control.

Kai had told her to control her emotions when she visited him after they safely sent Rafael to his prison world.

It was easier said than done because of Hope's werewolf side that brought forth the anger Kayla had carefully under control.

At least the urge to siphon hadn't been present. Yet.

Had to see the little positive things.

"Not everything revolves around Hope" Kayla replied, rolling her eyes.

Robin sighed, "And that's the problem for you, isn't it?" Kayla frowned. "Wouldn't you be feeling jealous of her?"

"Me? Jealous?" Kayla scoffed. "Please"

Robin shook his head slightly, "Think about it. Hope is well liked. She shares her feelings and emotions very easily. You have a wall around you that even yourself struggles to climb. Wouldn't it be nice for you to lower it slightly once in a while?"

Kayla stared at him in silence for a moment. "What did you smoke?"

Robin had to laugh. "Nothing. It's just... I can see it. You do feel lonely but you don't know how to reach out to people. I was trying to help"

"Miss Tig too has tried and she never-" Kayla stopped abruptly. Robin straightened slightly. "She's always been my guidance counselor" she gave him a suspicious look. "Not you... Hope was looking for a monster earlier on"

"I thought you two weren't on speaking terms?" Robin asked, casually tapping on Kayla's file.

Kayla pursed her lips as she stood. "That's not the point" it was mostly routine by now when a monster was around. "She informed me that she tracked it down into the building and lead around here" she narrowed her eyes. "You're the only variable that doesn't make sense" Her head tilted aside, "Therefore you have to be the monster"

"Wouldn't it be possible that Hope was simply using a monster as an excuse to talk to you?" Robin questioned, watching pleasantly as the idea settled on the girl's mind. "I mean, me a monster? You're talking to me, Kayla. You know me. When your sessions with Miss. Tig don't work, you've come to me. I've been here for you since you entered the school. Remember that?"

Kayla blinked slowly, a tense moment happening in which Robin stared into her eyes.

Kayla shook briefly her head as she huffed, sitting back down. "Right. How to forget the creepy shrink"

Robin relaxed back, smiling slightly at her, ignoring her comment. "I don't blame you. I know it's hard for you to lose the trust you deeply developed with someone else, isn't it?"

"Yeah" Kayla sighed under her breath.

"The school is setting up a musical" Robin said, putting out a flier in front of her, "It would do you well to assist"

"I don't sing" Kayla pointed out.

"You remind me of Katherine" Robin spoke, ignoring her comment.

"A backstabbing bitch?" Kayla raised an eyebrow.

Robin chuckled under his breath, "No. Katherine wasn't always like that, was she? She grew to guard her heart in order to not be hurt anymore. And instead of just protecting herself, she began hurting others before they could hurt her. That's not being a, how did you put it? A 'backstabbing bitch', is it?"

"Opinions can differ" Kayla said with a head shake.

Robin hummed, meeting back up her eyes again, holding a stare between them, "At least consider it, alright? Like I said, it'd do you good to be more around your friends who will be there too"

Kayla sucked in a deep breath, "I've considered it and it's still a no" she said standing up, "Thanks for the pep talk though, Doc. See ya"

With that, Kayla left the office leaving an amused Robin behind as he shook his head.

Kayla was in the library, doing some homework, ignoring everyone's excited chattering about the musical.

A girl passed by her, vocalizing.

And that was the end of her patience

Kayla dragged her chair back with a scratch, turning to the girl and everyone 'practicing', waving her open hand above her head, ending with a closed fist, "Silentium!"

The noise suddenly died, students grabbing their throats, looking at each other in panic.

Kayla breathed out, relieved, lowering her hand, "Finally some quiet"

Everyone turned to her, wide eyed.

Kayla gave them a shrug as she sat down back again.

Indeed peace and quiet.

As Kayla passed by the gym, she noticed people doing auditions.

She had to admit on her amusement as she watched everyone auditioning for the Damon role.

Her amusement grew when Jed got the Stefan part as he was the only one auditioning for it.

Heels clicking behind her caught her attention, turning to see Lizzie walking closer from behind her, looking to the blonde.

"You're auditioning?" Lizzie questioned, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "I didn't see you as someone who sings"

"I don't" Kayla replied, "I was told I could do a Katherine though"

Lizzie made a face. "I don't see it"

Kayla flickered her fingers, pointing at her, "Right? I said the same thing"

Lizzie hummed, considering, "But now that you say it..."

"You were doing so well, Liz" Kayla sighed, closing her eyes, dropping her hands.

"I'm joking" Lizzie laughed. Kayla opened her eyes. "To play Katherine you have to know how to act slutty. Manipulative and a bitch, definitely spot on with you, but the rest?" she shook her head slightly, scrunching her nose.

"Who says I can't?" Kayla asked, twirling a strand of her hair, giving Lizzie a little smug smile, looking up through her eyelashes as she tilted her head.

Lizzie blinked in shock, "Oh, my God" she stated as Kayla dropped the act, giving her an annoyed look at her reaction, lowering her hand. Lizzie looked appalled, "You could actually pull this off"

"Not my point, Elizabeth" Kayla drawled, giving her a warning look.

Lizzie wouldn't have it, grabbing her cousin's arm, dragging her inside.

Both girls stopped behind Landon's desk.

Landon seemed to be the director of the musical in recommendation by the guidance counselor.

Lizzie announced their presence, "I'm playing Caroline"

"Lizzie" Landon greeted, giving Kayla a double look for being there as he took a seat on his desk. Kayla crossed her arms, remaining behind as Lizzie sat on the table, "You have to audition"

"Are you saying someone knows my mom better than I do?" Lizzie asked, giving him a look.

Landon thought about it, seeing her point, "Got it"

Landon wrote down Lizzie's name.

"And I know who should play Katherine and Elena" Lizzie told him, getting him to look up at her.

Lizzie looked at her cousin.

Landon followed her gaze. "Her?"

"Not my idea" Kayla pointed at Lizzie who smiled.

Landon frowned. "I don't see you as Elena"

"Because I'm not a whiny, crybaby" Kayla deadpanned.

"Then who?" Landon looked between the cousins.

"Me?"

Josie sat on a couch in a common room. Landon, Lizzie and Kayla were in front of her, standing.

"We all know you can sing" Landon pointed out, having immediately agreed with the cousins' suggestion.

"Well, that doesn't mean I want to be the lead in a musical" Josie told them, worriedly.

"Finally someone with a brain" Kayla commented, throwing her hands a little then using a finger to point at Josie.

Josie gave her a small smile, though a little confused.

Lizzie gave Kayla a look, before looking down at her sister, "I thought you were step, stepping into the light"

Josie gasped, giving her a look, "You promised"

Lizzie smiled, "Look, you're just back from a great visit with Mom, you're feeling good. This could be a great opportunity for a non-magic human to participate in the school's community"

Landon nodded.

Kayla rolled her eyes.

"Are you going to be there too?" Josie asked her cousin.

"No" "Yes" Lizzie and Kayla answered at the same time.

Landon and Josie awkwardly looked at each other then at the girls who stared at each other intently.

"You get to be a bitch to everyone without any repercussion" Lizzie told her, "Focus your anger into something that won't let you out of control"

Josie gave Kayla a look of concern while Landon looked down, quiet and a little guilty.

"I heard what you did earlier in the library" Lizzie reminded. "No one in that room was able to audition and some of them are still silent"

Kayla shrugged, an innocent quirk on her lips.

Josie furrowed her eyebrows a little, "Never heard of a silencing spell as strong as that"

"You wouldn't" Kayla commented, picking at her nails, disinterested, "I invented it"

Josie and Landon looked impressed.

Lizzie was too but she was making a point here, okay?! "What I mean is that you usually don't snap, you endure the stupidness people show, though you haven't lately" Kayla looked away. "Tasha and Ashley's books on fire? You sent Michael to the infirmary after a comment he made"

"He tripped" Kayla corrected. "His shoes weren't tied correctly"

"What about the potions accident?" Lizzie questioned, rolling her eyes. "Your partner messed up?"

"She wouldn't shut up about things that didn't concern her" Kayla said through gritted teeth.

"Like what?" Josie asked softly.

"About the fact that her dad killed our bio mom" Lizzie said quietly.

Kayla exhaled, trying to calm down.

The lamp next to where Josie was sitting exploded.

Josie gasped, jumping back from it.

The three of them looked to Kayla who was rubbing her temple, seemingly taking deep breaths.

"Fine, I'll do it" Kayla said after a moment, dropping her hand.

Lizzie and Josie smiled brightly, though they were very concerned about their cousin.

Landon still looked a little guilty, believing he was partly at fault on her lack of control and her fighting and distance from Hope.

He was distracted enough that Josie was able to snatch his book.

"Can I read the script at least?" Josie asked playfully opening his book as Landon stuttered. Josie's smile faded and Lizzie looked in disappointment as she peeked as well, both girls looking at a gaping Landon.

"It's a work in...progress" Landon awkwardly explained.

Kayla leaned on her tip toes to see the book too. The pages were empty, only the words 'ACT ONE' were written.

Kayla looked at Landon who bit on his fingernails, nervous and awkward as the three girls stared at him.

Now he could see the family resemblance in the way they looked at him and judging him.

Landon closed the book, grabbing it from Josie's hands as the twins exchanged a look, "I'm working on it, okay?"

Landon walked away

"This musical is looking very great so far" Kayla commented, doing a very alike Katherine pose, giving her cousins a sarcastic smile.

Lizzie raised a hand to her, "Don't you and Hope have a saying to not jinx things?"

Kayla dropped her Katherine stance, giving her a look for bringing up Hope. "This thing is made by Landon. It was already jinxed since the moment he accepted doing this"

Kayla walked past the girls, leaving them alone, looking at each other with a sigh.

At the rehearsal, Kayla took very much pride in no laughing out loud at everyone unsynchronized vocalization, not even bothering to vocalize herself.

She didn't even sing. Why bother?

But she had to admit, seeing everyone embarrassing themselves was doing very well for her anger. She hadn't exploded anything nor made the lights malfunction. She was calm and in control.

Not even crashing against Jed while she and him were doing a Katherine/Stefan stand off where Katherine kept telling Stefan he was the one for her, which cue her faking a gag when she read the script and Jed's amused snicker wasn't enough to snap.

The number they were rehearsing didn't include her so she was in a bench, watching as Landon told everyone to take a break.

Josie walked closer to her, and saw immediately the amusement in her face. "Don't say a word"

Kayla raised her hands in innocence, "Sorry, Elena"

"You were right about her being a whiny, crybaby" Josie sighed.

Kayla crossed her leg, sitting in a very unKayla like position, "Why don't you discuss that with the very handsome director?"

Josie stared at her weirdly, before realizing what she was doing, "Acting the total opposite of you and you actually can play her"

"It's very tiring being me" Kayla pouted, making Josie laugh as she walked towards Landon

Kayla smiled to herself, uncrossing her legs and slouching again. She watched Josie and Landon talk, tilting slightly her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, trying to listen in.

Eavesdropping spells were hard to invent, and none had worked yet the way she wanted them to, but she could tell something Josie said struck a nerve. Her lips curled in a smirk. Way to go Josie, she thought as the brunette twin backed away awkwardly.

Just in time for Lizzie's Caroline number.

They were going to have a scene between them where she's supposed to kill Lizzie. The moment Katherine turned Caroline.

The thought of at one point being responsible for either of the twins' deaths always managed to make Kayla doubt herself, that if getting close to them was a good decision.

She was still her father's daughter. What if at one point she turned her back on them and decided on killing them because killing family members was in her DNA?

Even if Kai was working on becoming a better father, he still had those urges to be violent. Only the spell that bounded him to her to not act on those impulses was what stopped him, but he still had them once in a while.

What if she was like him in more ways than she imagined?

What if the reason why she could play Katherine was because she always had an ace under her sleeve and could manipulate everyone she wanted to? She could be making them believe she was a hero, part of the Super Squad that always saved the day, but what if at the end of the day she was just manipulating them so she could hit where it most hurt them?

The thoughts kept cycling in her head as she rehearsed a scene with Jed, but the pounding that started in her head wouldn't let her concentrate on the present, couldn't anchor her. She just kept thinking in her mind she was just as bad as Kathrine and her dad.

-yla

Kayla?

A wave of magic surged from her and outwardly in a circle as she breathed a gasp, opening her eyes. Jed and Landon who were trying to snap her out of her thoughts and some students that were close to her got the worse of her blast, sending everyone flying back across the room.

Kayla exhaled, her hair which had blown back with her magic falling back to their place, looking around at the horrified faces as they backed away. Jed slowly slowly stood up and was helping Landon as he stared at her slightly in concern.

Landon groaned but was glad he wasn't badly hurt.

"I..." Kayla stuttered, something which was unlike her as she left the gym walking calmly, but still feeling like she could explode.

She hadn't felt like that in a while.

Everywhere she walked to the lights kept flickering with static, some lightbulbs exploding or shattering.

She could feel herself siphoning from the school and she wanted it to stop because the more she siphoned, the more she kept using it. The gates were open and magic flew in and out constantly through her, leaving in violent outbursts. Pictures hanging in the walls flew across the hallway as she passed them, breaking in contact.

The magic was overwhelming. It was everywhere. And she couldn't breathe. And that was making it worse.

She stopped in the middle of a small common room, holding the sides of her head with her palms, another outburst of magic leaving her hands, the lamps shattering. Someone screamed.

She wasn't alone.

There were kids present.

She would never hurt kids.

With that thought, she stumbled away, leaving and running to the hallway where she crashed against someone.

"Kayla, hey!" that was a familiar voice. Her hands were grabbed but immediately pulled back. "You're not okay. It hurts again"

Hope.

"Hope?" Kayla asked through the buzzing in the hallway. The lights were on and off, static and electricity cracking in the air.

"Yeah, it's me" Hope called out, sounding worried, "Listen to me, to my voice"

I'll hurt her too.

"No, you won't" Hope reassured, her voice loud. Kayla's arms were grabbed again, immediately feeling even more magic running through her veins. Hope hissed, "And even if you do, I deserve it"

Not her. She didn't.

"Let it out, Kayla" Hope said, getting Kayla to open her eyes to see her. Their hair was wiping harshly behind them. Somehow, Hope managed to get her outside of the school, something like a tornado was around them. And they were in the middle of it. "Don't bottle it up. Like you've done your whole life"

Hope had a tight grip in her hands, they were glowing. She was still siphoning from her. Hope looked a little pale.

"I'm not good at..." Kayla stuttered.

"You don't have to say anything" Hope told her, managing a small but weak smile. "Just... I'll always be here for you. Always. Even if you hate me for eternity, I'll always have your back, you hear me Always-"

"-and forever?" Kayla asked, her voice cracking slightly.

"Always and forever" Hope confirmed, sincerely.

The wind lowered slightly in intensity. So Hope did what she knew her best friend needed. What she had needed once too.

Without letting go, Hope pulled each other closer, wrapping her arms around Kayla, resting her hand on the girl's head, letting her bury her face in the crock of her neck.

Hope's heart broke the moment she felt Kayla letting out a shaky breath, once last surge of magic leaving both girls as they felt on their knees, exhausted.

They remained like that for a couple of seconds, the only sound they could hear was their heavy breathing.

Hope felt a few tears roll down her cheeks as she stared up at the night sky as Kayla continued relaxed in her embrace. She thought about what happened. Their fighting, how she missed her best friend, even more than what she missed Landon, how this musical seemed to affect the two of them.

"I don't want to do the stupid musical" Kayla said, lifting her head, her blue eyes were a little more bright than usual, like the storm they had just been under, and Hope knew she still continued bottling it all up. She didn't comment on that though.

"Then don't" Hope told her.

"Good thing I got one of the witches to learn the lines, just in case" Kayla said, chuckling.

"Yeah" Hope whispered, "Let's go"

Kayla nodded slightly.

Chapter Text

Hope worried a lot and she was glad she had Kayla as distraction, also having missed her best friend. She knew she screwed up, but she knew she wasn't a Mikaelson if she didn't screw up friendships once in a while. That didn't mean she would give up on them either. She was stubborn. She was her father's daughter after all. And she also knew her mom wouldn't want her to give up in something that made her happy.

Kayla and her friendship made her happy.

A soft sigh left Hope's lips, looking away from the easel she was painting on, the sound of paper filtering through the room.

It woke Kayla as well, sitting up, rubbing her eyes.

"What's that?" Kayla asked, watching a letter land in Hope's hands.

"For Lizzie" Hope answered, turning to face her in the stoll, eyebrows furrowing slightly as she examined Kayla's exhausted appearance. "How are you holding up?"

"Magic outbursts like that one always seem to take everything out of me" Kayla replied nonchalantly. "No matter if I got your wolfy stamina"

Hope cringed slightly, pursing her lips, "We should really work on that. Getting you to tap into all of my abilities"

"We should be getting rid of the link" Kayla countered. Hope looked away. "You should be wanting that... Right?"

Hope didn't answer, "I should get this to Lizzie whose probably enjoying the spotlight on her solo as we speak"

"Have fun watching hell in a stage" Kayla told her which made Hope nod awkwardly, standing to leave, though hesitating at the doorframe.

Are we good?

Hope's uncertain mental question went unanswered as Kayla kept her eyes on her nails. She didn't push for an answer, leaving the room.

The moment Hope left, Kayla felt she was able to breathe.

Consider her curious.

Kayla found herself at the back of the auditorium as she watched the ongoing play, reluctantly impressed at Landon's work.

Not like she was going to tell that to him or to anyone.

She watched through everything that followed up to make the school. Her expression shifted at the sight of Robin, brows furrowing slightly as he took on Klaus Mikaelson. The words said by him made something stir in her chest, touching it as she recognized Hope's feelings fluttering through her.

She didn't fight them, but didn't concentrate on them, giving Hope a piece of privacy.

But whatever those feelings stirred on the tribid were enough to put her up in the stage.

Kayla perked when Hope's voice rang after an awkward moment up on the stage. It seemed that Lizzie and Jed and Kaleb as Caroline, Stefan and Damon respectively hit a block in their acting.

Hope entering as Elena certainly brought up startled confusion but that didn't deter them from continuing the scene. At least everyone cheered her on. As confusing the abrupt change of actress was.

Watching intently, Kayla made her way around the crowd, walking towards backstage to figure out what was going on.

She found Landon staring mesmerized at Hope as she started singing, but she didn't say anything as she too stopped to stare, somehow falling to stand shoulder to shoulder with Landon.

Singing, Hope moved her gaze to her right, meeting eyes with the two most important people of her life, smiling softly their way. She could only hope that one day they at least got along so she didn't have to choose between them because she couldn't and didn't want to.

There was a slight smile twitching on Kayla's lips as Hope finished singing while Landon fully smiled, clapping.

Slow, lazy clapping got Landon's attention to finally witness something different to that blank, indifferent expression on the siphoner, knowing this time he didn't imagine it.

He looked away before she caught him staring, not wanting to ruin how at ease Kayla looked, only now noticing that the ease showing in Hope's face mirroring Kayla's. And again he was reminded of how connected those two girls were and how deep that connection ran, making him feel guilt all over again.

A push made Landon stumble forward on his feet, whipping his head to find an annoyed Kayla.

"What are you waiting for?" Kayla scoffed, pointing ahead "Don't make me regret it"

Not an actual effort to get along, but at least she acknowledged him, not in a bad way.

That was a start. A promising one.

With what seemed reluctant approval from the hard to befriend girl, Landon found his feet moving to be met halfway to Hope's side, embracing each other as Hope kissed him as a way of an apology for the way she treated him.

The song he composed out of her letter, the words that held a mark on her life due to her family had made her feel closer to her family than ever. She felt them close for a moment while she was up there and she couldn't help but love it.

"I get it now"

Kayla now felt at full strength physically though her mind was still feeling the draining side effects of her magic outbursts. Her door was opened as she folded a few pieces of clothing to shove in her drawers.

Landon in her doorway talking to her got her to look up. He was lightly rocking on his feet, knowing that walking inside the girl's room while uninvited wouldn't do any good by what he was trying to do.

"Your horrible fashion sense?" Kayla questioned, brows furrowing slightly, realizing that she was hanging around Lizzie too much.

Landon half smiled, shaking his head, "No, but you make a good point" he said, looking down at his ripped jeans and baggy shirt. He was getting ready to go to bed when he realized he needed to do two things or he wouldn't get a proper rest. He looked up, seeing that the had lost Kayla's attention again. "What I'm trying to say is that I understand why you hate me"

There was slight laughter coming from the girl as she turned to face him with a half smile, it didn't match the laugh leaving her lips. It felt cold, "I doubt you do"

"I just want you to know that I won't try anymore to push you for us to get along" Landon told her. "You're important to Hope, and Hope's important to me, but, for obvious reasons-" Kayla raised an eyebrow, getting him to backtrack, "That it took me a while to see but now I do understand, I won't bother you again"

"But you are now?" Kayla shot him a frown.

"Am I?" Landon asked to clarify, "I won't do it again, but, can I ask that we remain civil? For Hope's sake, that's all I ask"

Kayla sighed, rubbing the back of her neck, mulling it over for a couple of seconds into which Landon held his breath. "Alright..." she accepted which made Landon breathe out in relief. She turned her back to him, "I don't make promises on not making snarky comments here or there though"

Landon smiled. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't"

"Was that all?" Kayla asked after a moment of not sensing Landon leave.

Landon sucked in a deep breath, bitting his lip, "No" Kayla turned to face him in exasperation. Landon grew quiet, fidgeting with his sleeve, "Can I get the password?"

Without meaning to, Kayla briefly softened at that.

The password for Rafael's Heaven World.

Since Rafael was first left there, she could count with one hand how many times Landon had visited his brother. Kayla hadn't cared because it meant Landon wouldn't approach her but the way she made the world was so that he wouldn't be alone and people he loved could visit him.

"in caelum" Kayla recited, watching Landon mouth the word to himself, practicing the pronunciation. It was key into opening the door, saying it like Kayla told them to.

"Thank you" Landon smiled slightly, nodding at her.

"Whatever" Kayla turned away, not used to being thanked for anything, nor wanted to be, waiting for Landon to leave, raising her hand to the door to close it. She rubbed the back of her neck again, breathing out a scoff, "Fool asshole"

Yeah, maybe she'll play nice for now, but no way she'd be nice to him just because they had someone in common. Just for now.

Chapter Text

It got Kayla and Hope speaking seriously that morning after Landon surprised the tribid with an anniversary pancake breakfast. The siphoner definitely grossed out at the graphic thought that appeared through their linked minds.

That was definitely going to be a problem through the day, so Hope pleaded for her friend to tune her out completely that day.

Easier said that done.

Hope spent a couple of hours after telling Landon she'll get ready for their day with Kayla, both girls brainstorming ideas into a spell to stop their linking spell to keep growing.

Trying to get rid of it once, it made it grow. They were magically becoming one which is what the whole point of the spell was in the first place. But they were still their own person and wouldn't let magic screw that up.

They managed to cook something up after reading through Kayla's family grimoire about the spell and with Kayla's skill to invent spells.

They just hoped it worked and for the day they kept each other out of their minds and sensations through the day.

"Never a dull day in the life of a Salvatore Student"

Kayla's remark was met with small choruses of agreements as Alaric gathered everyone after casting an echoing an alarm through the entire school to meet him outside the school gates.

"Necromancer has made his move, and the entire student body is in that high school with him" Alaric spoke to the crowd of his students, all of them he watched grow into the people they are now. Potential heroes. "So the question my daughter asked me earlier is one I put to you now: What are we gonna do?" silence followed the question momentarily. Kayla watched everyone looking at each other with slight apprehension or fear, her face was carefully blank as she stood next to Lizzie who stood next to her twin, glancing towards Hope and Landon who were forced to slightly postpone their date day. "I have a plan. In the past, I would have kept it from you. You know, I built this school to protect you and your gifts from a world that understands neither, but the way I see it..." he trailed off momentarily, looking at every one of the students he vowed to protect, sighing softly, "-you're the world's only shot now"

"All right, enough with the speech" Hope spoke, walking forward, hands clasped in front of her. It was weird not hearing any sarcastic comment from her friend in her head, even though they both knew they wouldn't back out from this, "I'm in"

They knew each other so well by now, spell or not spell that Hope wasn't surprised when Kayla took her spot next to Hope, her arms crossed under her chest.

Alaric looked between the two girls, whispering through his teeth, "Et tu, Kayla?" said girl shrugged with a mocking grin playing in her lips, "Well, neither of you have even heard the plan"

The girls exchanged a brief look, shrugging at each other nonchalantly.

Hope turned to Alaric, "It ends with us winning, right?"

"Yeah" Alaric answered.

"There you have it" Kayak deadpanned, chuckling.

Lizzie raised her hand, "Where the hell is MG?"

Kayla furrowed her eyebrows, looking around as if just realizing the boy wasn't there.

"Found a note from him this morning" Kaleb announced, and if anything, his explanation made Kayla's frown deepen even more. "He went to go help Alyssa Chang"

Lizzie smirked, joining her cousin and the tribid, "Then I'm in, too"

"Yeah. Make that the four of us" Landon jogged up to stop on the other side of Hope.

Kayla rolled her eyes, looking away.

Alaric gave him a serious look, "Landon, this is gonna be very dangerous. And given recent events..."

"I went to that school" Landon interrupted, giving him a pleading look, hooking his arm around Hope's. He glanced at her and her best friend, immediately adding, "I mean, I'll stay out of the fight, but I can help" Alaric looked at Hope. Hope looked at Kayla.

At the silence, the siphoner realized almost everyone was looking at her. She gave them a nonchalant wide eyed look as if asking 'why the hell are you asking for my input?'. This was not her damsel in distress boyfriend after all.

Without being able to speak through their heads through the day, Hope and Kayla had to rely on how well they knew each other.

Kayla tilted her head; she didn't care wether Landon came or not.

Hope pursed her lips, turning to Alaric, deciding, "Like he said, we're in"

Landon looked relieved, nodding.

Alaric nodded slowly, "All right" he looked around his students, "Who else is with us?"

Everyone at the school agreed to go. Wanted to become heroes.

Kayla followed her cousins while the other students battled monsters and Hope and Landon found a way to get inside the school.

"Stop being a crybaby, Jo"

Kayla stormed into the twins' room, having just made a spell to locate MG.

Lizzie was in front of Josie, holding a coin to her. A coin Lizzie explained Josie had stored her powers to siphon in. She had stopped trusting herself around magic after everything she did.

Josie frowned as she looked between the two girls, shaking her head, "You of all should not want me to do magic, Kay. I almost killed you"

"Almost being the key word" Kayla replied, walking further into the room, stopping in front of her, "The only mistake you made was use a hell lot dark magic without building a restraint to it first. It is why I was able to resist it. My family dabbled on dark magic since I was little"

Lizzie again held up the coin to Josie, "Jo. Please. I wouldn't ask you to do this" she held her hand for her cousin. Without hesitating, Kayla accepted it, both girls looking straight at Josie, "If recent events have taught me anything, it's that you and I are more powerful together than we are apart. We are family"

"We are gemini witches after all" Kayla reminded. Josie's lips twitched as she looked between the two girls. "And I promise to teach you how to control yourself around dark magic so what happened to you doesn't happen again" Kayla added after a second.

Josie looked nervous yet determined and reassured by both her sister and cousin.

As soon as they got Josie aboard, Kayla led the way to where she found MG.

It led them through the cemetery to a crypt.

Once at the doorway, they found both Alyssa and MG. MG seemed to be in pain leaning against a wall while Alyssa knelt in front of him. Through the back of the room, Kayla noticed a very familiar boiling pit of goo.

Lizzie quietly instructed Josie for her to do the honors.

Kayla teared her eyes from the Malivore goo pit to her cousin, making sure she didn't lose control.

The girl waved her hand toward Alyssa making her fall asleep.

MG looked up to see a worried Josie with Lizzie and Kayla behind her, both girls nodding in approval.

"See, Jo-Jo?" Kayla clapped once, lowering her hands, keeping them clasped in front of her. A slight mirror of Hope's stance that morning when talking to Alaric, "Just like riding a bike"

MG groaned in pain, trying to get up. His pain got the Gemini witches to snap their heads his way, rushing to his side.

"MG" Josie exclaimed.

"Oh, God" Lizzie murmured as the twins knelt next to him.

While also worried, Kayla instead knelt next to Alyssa, checking on her.

After waking up from her magical coma, she hadn't even stopped to think about how Alyssa was coping. It took her by surprise MG and Lizzie telling her she was alive. Not once she considered on checking on her.

Well, not too surprising, considering how Kayla was with her sorta friendships, but seeing her here, breathing was like a slight weight leaving her shoulders.

And the only thought that crossed over her mind was how glad she was that Hope wasn't feeling them nor reading her mind that day.

The girls examined the pit of goo.

"How bad is it?" Josie asked, walking to them.

Kayla was kneeling before the pit, hands hovering above it with her eyes closed while Lizzie stood at her side, looking down at the pit with wary eyes.

"On a scale from horrific to apocalyptic? A 12?" Lizzie asked, giving them a look. Kayla opened her eyes. There was a dark flash passing through them momentarily. She frowned looking up at them, "Can you even imagine how much black magic is brewing in that thing?"

Josie glanced at her cousin briefly, "Trust me, I can. It's been inside me. And her"

Kayla slowly nodded in agreement.

"I know how we can stop it" MG spoke from behind them. They all turned to him. He was still leaning against the wall, weak for the spell Alyssa made him go through. The more monsters were summoned out of Malivore the weaker he'd get until he dies. MG struggled to get up, stumbling against the other wall. "But you're gonna hate it"

"More than dying?" Lizzie asked skeptically. "That's a pretty low bar"

MG groaned in pain, nodding down, "Wake Alyssa up"

Kayla slowly stood as the blonde immediately began to protest.

"There's no way in hell that we're doing that" Lizzie snapped.

MG gave her a serious look, "Lizzie, she knows the spell. She linked it to The Necromancer. So she can stop it or help rewrite it... or find some other loophole with-with your help"

Kayla walked around the pit of goo to MG, staring at him silently.

"If we could trust her" Lizzie told him.

"All you gotta do is trust me" MG slowly glanced at Kayla. "She'll do the right thing. I'm literally betting my life on it"

Kayla locked eyes with MG, they both knowing why she would do it.

MG knew the moment Alyssa saw Kayla with them, she would. She had confessed she did have feelings for the siphoner, despite knowing Kayla would never be able to love her back. But he knew, he knew she'd do whatever to be friends again with Kayla. Just like he would. Because if she wouldn't love them the way they did, they still wanted to be in her life, even as friends.

MG was right as usual.

Alyssa agreed on helping the moment Josie woke her up and Kayla was helping her sit up.

It had taken her everything in her to not jump and hug the cold girl, never thinking she'd actually see her awake in person again.

But, here she was, with her and her family, all four of them standing in a circle, holding a handmade Ascendant, hovering it above the pit of goo inside the crypt. It had been Alyssa's idea the moment she noticed the three girls together after Kayla asked her if she had any idea how to stop the Necromancer.

Chapter Text

The siphoner had waved her off with a roll of her eyes.

Now, Kayla was simply sitting with her chin atop of her knees, hugging them close to her chest as she watched everyone enjoy the celebration.

Suddenly the music stopped when Lizzie loudly snapped to someone, "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Kayla sighed loudly in annoyance, dropping her knees to the ground with a thud. The action got everyone to look her way as she walked closer to her cousin and a somehow familiar but definitely unfamiliar girl.

"Better question" Kayla asked, crossing her arms. Hope turned to face her best friend and the look of distrust and not recognition in her eyes certainly made her heart ache. "Who are you?"

Kaleb stopped next to her as Lizzie surrounded the newcomer to stand next to them.

The cold eyes of Kayla reminded her of when she first met her. It hurt that look was directed her way now; "It's a long story"

Lizzie and Kayla exchanged a look.

The super Squad (plus Kayla because she refused to be part of it) stood in Alaric's office where they called the man so they could all discuss the girl.

A girl Kayla felt so weird about. Like she has the feeling she's seen her before, though she knows she hasn't.

It was why she took the further wall away from the girl, arms crossed over her chest as she intently examined her from afar. She'd let the others take the lead.

Despite of now somewhat being friendlier with several people, she was still more of a loner anyway.

"This is all very confusing" Alaric told her after the girl explained everything.

Apparently they all knew her but forgot about her because she jumped into Malivore to save herself and Landon.

Was Kayla surprised? No.

Being forgotten seemed to be a trend here.

She was a big example out of that.

However, ask her why she thought it was a good idea to jump into Malivore in the first place, she didn't remember.

"Because you're drunk" the girl, Hope replied to Alaric, "And I really need you to focus. This is a matter of life and death"

"First things first" Alaric told her, pointing at himself, "I'm only buzzed"

"Please" Kayla scoffed, drawing Alaric's attention. "I saw you dancing to Kaleb's rap earlier. First of all, you tend to ignore this generation music" Lizzie chuckled in amusement, under her hand that covered her mouth. Kayla turned to Hope, narrowing her eyes, "Secondly, you haven't told any of us why we should believe anything that you said, Hopey"

"Ugh, you remind me of your dad by calling me that" Hope murmured under her breath. Kayla frowned, surprised. Why did she hear that as if Hope spoke in normal volume? "It's Hope. Mikaelson, actually. Klaus's daughter"

"Vampires can't have babies" Lizzie spoke matter of factly, smugly as she looked at the girl, "Anyone else thinking that she's a monster?"

Josie raised her hand, staring warily at Hope.

Hope refrained from rolling her eyes, "I know why you'd think that, because I know that Malivore monsters exits" she explained, using her hands and her voice was a bit dramatic, "I know that the reason why you're celebrating is because you just defeated them" she turned to Lizzie. "I also know that you're a witch. An annoyed witch probably wondering why MG's off with Alyssa Chang instead of you"

Josie looked awkwardly at her twin while Lizzie gaped at the girl in disbelief, "Or psychic" she turned to her twin, whispering, "She's totally psychic"

Hope turned to Kaleb, "You're a vampire. I'm doubling down on drunk"

Kaleb blinked, stunned.

Kayla sighed.

Hope turned to Josie, "Also a witch"

Josie stammered, "Actually, I gave up my magic"

Hope groaned to herself, looking down, "That's gonna make this more difficult"

Alaric frowned at her, "Make what more difficult?"

Hope sighed, looking up, "Do you remember that spell that Josie did to get rid of the Oni?" she asked, looking at them expectantly, waving her hands briefly, "Which I know about, clearly"

Alaric stood from his desk, giving her a serious look, "Listen, we don't doubt what you know. We just doubt how you know it"

Hope hesitated, turning to Kayla. "The Lizzie and MG stuff I know about, through you"

Kayla frowned, pointing at herself questionably, "Me? I don't even know you to speak about my friends, dude"

Hope couldn't help the smile that grew in her lips, anyway, "Awe. You admitting to having friends is so cute" she cooed. If anything, Kayla's eyes turned colder her way. Now she get why Landon found her unsettling before. She hadn't had that look aimed her way at all, before. "Anyway. I read your mind. If you focus, probably you can read mine. We're connected through a spell you made when you first jumped to Malivore with me"

Kayla didn't remember that, "mhm. Prove it"

Hope shrugged, tilting her head back and forth, considering something, "It's already past midnight, ish. The spell we cast must have worn off already" she nodded to herself, taking one of her earrings. "Lift your right hand"

Confused but curious, Kayla raised the hand Hope instructed her to, huffing  "This is totally weird"

The twins and Alaric turned to look between the two girls curiously.

Hope smirked slightly, "This might sting"

With that, she stabbed the sharp end of her earring in her pointed finger. Kayla blinked at the slight sting, barely noticeable in her finger. However, she still looked to her hand to see a drop of blood trailing down from her pointed finger.

"What the hell?" Kayla blinked, glancing between her finger and Hope's, seeing identical injuries in their fingers that healed in seconds.

"You used your grimoire's spell that turns your blood into the one of your choosing" Hope explained, lowering her hand.

Kayla stared at her finger in surprise.

How does she know there's a spell like that one in her family grimoire?

Alaric looked even more serious, this the first time he's ever heard that Kayla had her family grimoire in her position with probably questionable spells all along.

It also explained a lot about that girl saying the truth. Kayla wouldn't usually socialize enough with people to open up about her family for them to know what they were like.

Slightly satisfied she could convince her reluctant best friend, Hope turned to Alaric, pursing her lips, slowly turning to Josie, if Alaric wasn't going to fully trust her, "Okay. I know Landon means a lot to you too, so, I promise I'm telling you the truth-"

"I believe you" Josie stepped forward, staring at Hope. Everyone turned to her, "And I can teach it to you if it's okay with my dad"

Alaric looked at Josie who stared back at him, determined.

Kayla now looked at a hopeful Hope with curiosity.

If she was telling the truth, she really wanted to remember her then.