I've Got The Magic In Me
A/N: I don't own the Vampire Diaries or any of its spin-off.
Thank you all for the love and support that you guys give. It's overwhelming to read all your comments, see the reviews and the votes and collections. Thank you for the love you show the story.
I was surprised by the amount of people who were interested in Jeremy x Kol, Bonnie x Damon x Enzo and Finn x Jenna. I might actually do one of them.
OC pairing? I am going to list here the pairings that I did considered for Neena in the beginning of the story. As of now, I am going to let the story decide how this goes because I have always wanted to let the Character's emotions and their logical reaction decide that. It's how Damon x Bonnie happened. I wrote those scenes with the thought of what would these characters do in that situation. Damon would see an opportunity to gain a Bennett witch's help, and she is pretty so would flirt with her. Bonnie at the beginning of the series was a typical teenager. She is a giggling mess when a guy flirts with her in Canon after all. It's so cute. So, Handsome Damon with Tragic past flirting with her would lead to her going puppy love at him. It can only become true love after the tomb event though because by then she will realize his darker side and his secrets.
But I digress, as I was saying....Neena will be with the person that will connect to her emotionally and anchor her. Right now, she is sort of acting as the de-facto mother figure for the group [which was weird because I didn't realize she would start caring for them so much until the Dinner chapter.] and as the Plot thickens things will become clearer.
The list of Potentials:
Klaus x Neena [Personal Favorite and number one in pairings]
Caroline x Neena[ So many of you are asking for this. Like from the moment the two became best friends again. I can see the potential and am warming up to the idea.]
Elijah x Neena [They sort of have the same agenda of 'Protect My Family' by this point. I had to include this because there were quite a few people who wanted this.]
Caroline x Klaus x Neena [The number of people who want this to Happen is only second to Care x Neena.]
Neena x Kol [Another contender just below Klaus x Neena. But I fear Neena becoming a mothering personality with him so I am personally hesitant. But we will see.]
Klaus x Neena x Elijah (this one is weird but I saw that there were people who wanted to see it, so it is a contender I guess.)
Neena x Kai [this is an interesting pairing. But this is another one I fear that she might end up mothering him with the way my weird mind works.]
Neena x Enzo (I think only 1 or 2 people wanted this but since it was mentioned, I put it here as well.)
NOTE:
I was going to make Elena and Neena not be sisters in reality in the beginning. Neena was supposed to be adopted. This changed. Obviously.
Neena and Elena became actual twin sisters in my plotting. But Neena had already started to use magic at that point even though the Petrova line had become Travellers so that was a gaping plot hole.
I was unsure on which direction I should take the plot so that this Canon divergence still worked. I had a reader in AO3 who said to me what being a Traveler meant as a witch. I know honey, I have been wracking my brain on how to fix it. And then I finally thought of a way to fix this plot hole that I created. The beginning of the chapter is a clue on the solution that I came up with.
This new plot thread was something that was going to be released during the time when Emily possessed Bonnie. Emily was supposed to reveal this to Neena and then she would have the visions. But now I am doing it the other way around. I'm going to show the visions first and then finally have Emily reveal the entire truth.
The way my new narrative works is that I might be able to incorporate certain someones into the story faster. (Hint: A certain OP Family.) No promises though.
Happy readings.
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Chapter 15
I've Got the Magic in Me
'I'll help you' the woman in the ancient clothing said. She looked like Bonnie so much that Neena wondered if she could have been Bonnie's sister.
'At what price?' Neena asked the woman. Her heart was twinging in pain. 'I tried to calculate it differently but the result is the same. I can't knowingly push people to death. Eliza, do think before you speak.'
'They would be deserving of it.'
'Then I would judge myself as a monster, let alone Nature."
The woman smiled at her with a fond look. 'I'm sure we can find those who are willing if it means so much to you.'
Neena looked at her dark eyes in trepidation. There was a hunger in them that didn't seem all sane.
'Why should I want more anyway, Eliza? Is what I am not enough if trying to change my nature will hurt others?'
Eliza took Neena's hand in her own. 'Ivanka, you were the one who wanted this, remember? You were the one to ask how it was fair to you. You wanted to be more. Are you going to back away just because of this minor setback?'
'Minor setback?' Ivanka asked in disbelief. 'Four lives will be lost! How is that a minor setback? And there's no guarantee that it will even work!'
Eliza sighed. 'What if it does?'
Ivanka cried. 'I can't do it! Not after knowing that invoking Nature's Judgment-"
Ivanka woke up to her 4:00 am alarm in a daze. "Eliza, I don't want to do-"
[Host!]
Ivanka blinked. "Eliza? You sound-"
[Who are you?]
The voice sounded mechanical, and cold. She couldn't distinguish its gender. Ivanka tried to think but her head hurt. Who was this entity in her head?
"Who are you!"
[You know who I am, Host. This is the Plot trying to take over. You are stronger than this. Think. Who are you? Who am I?]
"Ivanka Petrova," She introduced herself. Ivanka looked around her in a daze. She saw her phone on her pillow. She took it up and looked through it.
[What are you holding?]
Ivanka stared at the mobile phone confusion. What was it?
"I...am not sure."
She saw a message from Caroline asking how she was.
What language was this? How did she learn this language?
Ivanka tried to think hard.
[Host? Do you want me to Eject you out of this World?]
"I...I...I don't kn-"
Ivanka...no, Neena stilled at the thought of leaving. She was Neena. Ivanka calmed herself.
'No need, I'm back.'
[You stated to talk in Bulgarian.]
'Oh?'
[What happened?]
'Had a dream that I was Ivanka. Yesterday's events must have weakened my mind more than I thought it would. Anyway, I learned that Ivanka was a friend of Eliza Bennett, one of Bonnie's ancestor. They were going to evoke Nature's something using a sacrificial ritual.'
[To what end?]
'Don't know. Now be quiet. I need to start practicing my magic again. It has been too long since I last did it.'
Neena started to practice her magic. But there seemed to be something different about her magic. It felt more volatile. More temperamental.
Almost like it was starting have a conscious of its own.
Neena squeezed her eyes shut, picturing a ball of flame in her hand. The warmth of the flame in her palm was comfortable. She put out her other hand, trying to create a second one.
Screams of pain echoed in her ears.
The second flame died.
Neena took a deep breath and tried again.
The screams returned. An image of the little girl she tried to save flashed before her eyes. The child morphed to that of Katerina's. Her tears trained face changed to that of Tanner, blood oozing from his neck.
The Flames in both her hands stuttered and went out.
Neena gritted her teeth, frustrated.
She forced herself to calm down. Tanner's death shouldn't have affected her as much as it did. She had never really seen death outside of her TV screen before. Even during her death, she wasn't really aware of the people dying around her. But she had felt Tanner's life drain out of him.
She had been helpless to do anything.
An idea formed in her mind.
'System? Open the System market.'
[Ding!]
The virtual market place opened up, showing the potions it had available. She clicked on the 'Next' button.
Shelves of grimoires and scrolls lined up before her eyes. Her eyes searched for the really affordable ones.
She looked at the Host Points that she had. 350 Host Points!
She looked at the shelves of Books and scrolls with excitement.
'Give me details on what I could buy and what I can't.'
[Ding!]
A holographic list detailing the cost of the items appeared in front of her.
[Basic Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 100 years =100 Host Points.
Basic Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 500 years =300 Host Points.
Basic Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 1000 years =600 Host Points.
Basic Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 1500 years =1000 Host Points.
***
Intermediate Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 100 years =200 Host Points.
Intermediate Spells by Witches who were alive in the last 500 years =500 Host Points.
:
:
:]
Neena decided to look at the Grimoires of Witches who lived in the last 100 years. As much as she wanted to buy Emily's Grimoire she couldn't. She could buy a Basic and Intermediate book of a Witch who lived in the last 100 years at the price of a Basic book of someone from Emily's time.
She will buy those books sometime in the future but for now her eyes were on the younger witches. There were names listed in them and almost all of them were unfamiliar.
She looked at the last names she was familiar with: Bennett and Parker.
She looked through the names and found two that she was the most curious about.
Sheila Bennett.
And Joshua Parker.
She decided on Joshua for the simple fact that Sheila was in Mystic Falls and if everything goes well she would be able to learn from Grams herself or have Bonnie's help. And the Gemini Coven seemed to have some really unique spells.
'Get me the Basic and Intermediate Grimoires of Joshua Parker. Do all witches divide books like this or is this something you did?'
Two books materialized in front of her. She started to rifle through it.
[It is System Classification. What are you looking for exactly?]
'Healing Spells.'
[This is because of Tanner.]
'Mm. I can't be that helpless ever again. It's because I didn't prepare enough that I couldn't save him in the end.'
[What about your new skill of Wind Manipulation?]
'I'll get to it. First, healing spells.'
[How are you going to practice it?]
Neena stilled. She didn't think of that. 'Don't have a clue. Any suggestions?'
[Learn the spells first. Then fine animals that are hurt or injured. You also have a best friend who always gets injured during practice and a little brother who gets into fights with Jocks.]
'Are you telling me to use my loved ones as the Guinea pigs?'
[I like to call them Test Subjects.]
Neena snorted. 'Cause that is so much better.'
[It is. So, what do you think?]
'I agree. Lab ratted family and friends is the best choice. Caroline would be in for it too.'
[If you were going to agree why did you make it sound like my suggestion was horrifying.]
'Just because I agreed with you does not make it less unethical. Now quiet.'
Neena started to memorize the basic healing spells in the book. There were 18 of them and each dealt with a specific problem: like bleeding, burns, knife wounds, animal wounds, scrapes etc.
Five minutes later, Neena closed the book in frustration.
[What happened?]
'Maybe it's because of the vision but...I can't concentrate.'
[There is Potion for it in the Market.]
'I know but I might need some of the points for later. Maybe I should take a break. Distract me.'
[I am a sophisticated AI System used for World Jumping. I am not meant to entertain you.]
'Fine. Then...What's the next immediate plotline anyway?'
[Damon getting Vervained, Logan Fell, Gilbert Watch, and Emily's Crystal.]
Neena hummed.
'So, keep Logan away from Jenna, don't let Stefan vervain Damon, let Damon keep the Crystal so that Grams doesn't die, and...the Watch...what do I do with the Watch?'
[Give it to Jeremy?]
'Yes, but how? Should I let Elena do it? I thought it was a good Character moment for them and I don't want to take that away...'
[Just tell her to give it to Jeremy because your father wanted it to be his. Problem solved. What is there to think about?]
Neena smirked. 'It's an opportunity to have character interactions. You should be encouraging me to find a way to make use of it. Silly system. But your words do give me an idea.'
[What?]
'A Family Ceremony thing to hand it over to him. We can call the Main Cast members and have a get together. I'll have Caroline plan it!'
[Ding!]
[Quest Alert!
Family Tradition!
Give Jeremy Gilbert the Gilbert Watch using Tradition as a ruse to interact with most of the Main Cast.
Reward: 400 Experience Points.]
Neena gaped. 'What?'
[Congratulations on your first Self-made Quest. Note: The System will decide what actions of yours are big enough to be a Quest.]
'You can decide that all my actions lead to Plot deviation.'
[No thank you. That will make you complacent.]
'Jerk,' Neena thought and closed her eyes, letting the magic in her flow out. Her mind went to the spells she had tried to learn. From the brief look she had, there was one thing in common. They all talked about the essence of life. How everything living had its own kind of magic that makes it living. Maybe she couldn't learn the spells because she didn't know what the magic of life essence felt like. Her magic slowly seeped around her, into every fibre of her being and then spread all around the room.
There was only one other organic substance in the room. The vervain plant near her window. She could sense the soft, warm magic the flowers had. She could feel a similarity between it and herself. The feeling of being alive. There was a calmness in that essence.
She started to understand the essence of the spells she wanted to learn.
She thought of the properties of Vervain. It was really surprising to think, such a small plant would be so deadly to powerful creatures like Vampires.
Infact, both Vampires and Werewolves were super-powered beings that were defeated by plants.
Neena suppressed a laugh at that thought.
Neena's Phone vibrated. She looked at the caller ID.
Bonbon.
The call was cut off when she was about to take it.
A message came.
BONBON: We need to talk about last night. Care said you were looking for me. Meet me.
Neena typed her answer back.
You: Get me from my home at around 5: 45 am. Don't tell Elena or anyone else. I'll sneak out.
BONBON: Got it.
[Ding!]
[Quest Alert!
I've Got the Magic in Me
Explain to Bonnie Bennett that you are a witch.
Bonus Quest: Get Bonnie Bennett to be your apprentice.
Reward: 200 Experience Points.
Bonus Reward: 500 Experience Points.]
'Bonus Quest?'
[Yes. Some Quests would have them.]
'I talked to Jenna about Magic but got no Quest. I talked to Jeremy about Magic and got no Quest. So why is it working now?'
[Because it would not lead to major Plot deviation unlike if Bonnie, the only witch of the Main Cast has a witch friend.]
Neena grinned. 'Oh. Things just got even better.'
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A/N: Short Chapter, I know. Sorry. I was in a weird mindset this week where I felt...stuck.
But! Next chapter will cover her talk with Bonnie, the Gilbert's Watch and cover the Founder's Party. So that is exciting!