It's been a few days, but Kora has regained her strength and doesn't need to rely on anyone for much of anything anymore. It definitely helps that Madalyn was able to heal her faster than usual. But, that being said, it's finally time for Kora to tell us about what she's been through.
We're all sitting in Nate's office - it's the safest place to be, away from prying ears. Kora thought it would be best that no one outside of our small group is aware of what she's been exposed to. As a result, Madalyn took matters into her own hands and used a barricading spell around the room as a precaution.
I take hold of my best friend's hand, which earns a growl from Roddrick. Kora rolls her eyes at this, fully aware that this is the only interaction they've had with each other since they found out that they were mates.
She clears her throat before she says, "Thank you all for being so patient with me and waiting for me to recover."
"That's okay, Kora," Nate says with soft eyes, "you've been through something traumatic. It's only natural to wait a while before having you experience it all over again."
"It would have been unfair to you," Lucas interjects.
Kora squeezes my hand and takes a deep breath, "Okay, I'm ready. But it's not something I can explain to you..."
The rest of what she was about to say gets caught in her throat. She looks at me for guidance and all I do is nod my head in support. This is her story to tell and I will be here for her if she needs me. But this is something that she needs to go through on her own.
"... I have to show you for you to completely understand the severity of the situation," she continues.
This is met with confused looks on the werewolves faces. But, Madalyn, Lucas and I know exactly what Kora's implying.
"Are you sure?" Lucas asks quietly.
"It's the only way, Luc," Kora responds.
"Care to elaborate?" Nate asks.
"Right, basically there's a spell that will allow you all to experience what I've been through in the past."
"I don't agree with this," Madalyn interjects.
"Mom, you know I need to do this. The fate of the supernatural world relies on this information. But, if I'm going to do this, there's one thing I ask."
"What's that?" Nate responds.
"I don't want my mother here."
"You can't do this, Kora! I have to be here. I need to be here!" Madalyn stresses in desperation to her daughter's request.
Kora closes her eyes before she responds, "Mom, there are things that have happened that a mother should never witness. Trust me when I say that this is as much to protect you than it is for me."
"Fine. I'll be outside if anyone needs me. But because of the barricade, it would be best to mind-link me if anything happens." And with that, we all watch as Madalyn makes her exit.
Kora breaks the silence by saying, "Okay, we all need to stand in a circle and hold hands with each other. Whatever happens - whatever you see - " she says as she looks directly at Roddrick, "do NOT let go. If you do, the mirage with break and our minds will return back to where we are."
Everyone nods their heads in acknowledgment before she continues, "keep in mind that what you're about to witness has already happened and cannot be changed. You'll not be able to interfere with the past. No one in the mirage will be able to see you or interact with you either. We're as good as ghosts so there's no excuse to let go."
As Kora finishes up with her speech, she takes out a candle from the satchel she has on her. With a flick of her finger, the navy colored candle ignites and the lights in the room go out. The flame isn't an ordinary flame - it flickers all different colors, jumping between the various colors of the rainbow. It's beautiful. I almost forgot how beautiful it was since the last time we did this - almost hypnotizing.
The five of us gather around the lit candle - myself, Kora, Roddrick, Lucas and Nate. Kora closes her eyes and starts chanting a spell in a language that I'm used to, but clearly the others aren't.
"Trust the process," I whisper to the others so I don't disturb Kora's chant, "It would be best to close your eyes as well."
And with that, we were all transported to the basement of the all too familiar asylum.
The four of us remain quiet and behind Kora, waiting for her to give us any indication of where to go from here. But it doesn't take long before past-Kora appears next to Detective - fucking - Monroe, of all people. I stand there completely speechless. It's Lucas who brings me out of it when he whispers my name. 154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8ZBUaOE67
"I don't fucking believe it," I say completely bewildered. 154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlrlUdz98Z
Kora looks at me confused, "do you know him?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsXA0slkbO
"Yeah, he's the Detective that drove me into town when I came to look for you."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdQ4WMay15
"That explains it," Kora says to herself.
We all watch as Detective Monroe leads a sullen Kora into a cell - one that I've tried to block from my mind for the past few weeks. I hold my breath as I know what I'm about to see. I make sure to stand away from Nate. I don't want to witness his expression.
We follow them into the cell where we see past-me unconscious, wet and hanging from the roof. You could see my labored breaths through my soaked shirt. I hear three growls from behind me. I guess the men don't like what they see. I giggle at my own thought which doesn't seem to be the appropriate response at this moment. I feel a hand on my shoulder and I know it's Nate. I don't bother looking behind me because I don't want to see the pity on their faces.
Monroe breaks the silence, "You sure you don't know this one, witch?"
"I'm sure," she responds.
"Interesting, because she was snooping around your apartment building when we found her."
I narrow my eyes at this because from what I remember, I was being watched at the park when they took me. Unless they've had eyes on me the entire time. Which, come to think about it, isn't a far cry from the truth considering who Detective Monroe seems to be working with.
"Maybe it was a coincidence," past-Kora responds.
"Maybe," Monroe repeats, "Right, follow me, witch."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQbdoXLZkH
He makes his way towards the entrance of the cell before he stops to look back at her, "Oh, and I wouldn't try anything funny if I were you. Dante hates disobedience."
"Dante?" Nate asks no one in particular.
We follow them as they make their way towards a room - it's the same room we found Kora in. I'm guessing this is where everything went south.
"Dante," Monroe says, "the witch insists that she doesn't know who the bloodsucker is."
"Is that right," Dante says in what sounds like a heavy British accent, "if that's the case, then it won't be a problem to get rid of her since we won't be needing her after all."
Past-Kora bites her tongue as to not give anything away.
"Oh, that reminds me, have you located Salem as yet?" Dante asks nonchalantly.
"Pesky little hermit refuses to come out of hiding," Monroe responds in frustration, "give us three more days. I'm sure we'll find him then."
"I'll give you one more day, Monroe," Dante says with a bite to his tone, "my patience is running thin. If you don't find him within 24 hours, you lose a hand."
Monroe rubs his wrist in response, "one day," he confirms before leaving Kora in the room with Dante.
"Now that we're alone, my love," Dante says as he walks towards Kora with intent, "why don't you tell me the truth."
He grabs her wrist and pulls her towards him. He smells her hair and grazes his teeth on the side of her neck.
I hear a growl coming from behind me - no doubt that it came from Roddrick. He's probably not to pleased with the fact that another man is touching his mate in such an intimate way.
"I swear, I don't know her, Dante," Kora says pressing into Dante's embrace, "would I ever lie to you?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutwzRd3x7b
"I do believe you would, Love," Dante responds, "I do believe you would."
"You might want to close your eyes for this one, Roddrick," Kora warns.
Roddrick grunts in response and turns around to leave the room.
Dante beings to leave trails of kisses down Kora's neck as he lifts her dress up, revealing her nakedness from the waist down. But that's all it takes for me to turn around and leave the room with the others.
"What the fuck was that?" Roddrick screams into Kora's face.
"THAT was me trying to survive," Kora says with confidence, "and I'd do it again if it meant saving Riley."
"No you fucking won't," Roddrick grunts, "because it'll never happen again."
"Ah, guys?" Lucas questions from the back.
We all turn to see what he's looking at, and what we see horrifies us.
"What the fuck is going on, Kora?" Nate asks.
"I - I don't know. I'm inside the office with Dante, remember. I don't know what's happening outside."
In front of us, we see Monroe feeding on one of the guards.
"He's a vampire?" I ask no one in particular.
"It appears so," an unknown voice says from behind us.
We all jump in shock.
"Who the hell are you?" Roddrick forces out, "Kora, what the hell is this?"154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrIR3RQE7S
"I - I don't know," she stutters, trying to make sense of it all.
The man laughs before responding, "Allow me to introduce myself; the name's Salem. The witch you're all on the hunt for."154Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zbfSVuycI
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