The New Year had started much like the last year had ended for Asa Blake. Being experimented by James. It's been months now and Asa is fast losing any belief he had in the past that the cure to vampirism will happen.
He feels worse after every "session" despite his ex-wife, Annalise, doing her best to help him manage his..illness? He feels like he did when he was human and had a bad case of influenza but maybe it's progress? That he feels something that isn't normal for one of his kind.
He mind is thankfully distracted from his existence when he catches James approach Liberty through the window. Normally he would stay and listen but he rather go lay down in his coffin and rest.
"I know something is going on, you've been avoiding me for months. I rarely see you." James confronts his wife. Granted he finds plenty to keep himself busy with.
"I have a job now." is all Liberty offers.
James has to stop himself from rolling his eyes. "I know that and I know you spend time with your sister but something else is going on."
Before Liberty realises it, James is in front of her. She really is distracted, she's the vampire not him.
"Tell me what it is, darling." James demands softly. "I'll find out anyway."
"I had a conversation with Caleb." Liberty admits, glaring at her husband. She wants to rip his handsome face off his head.
"Let me guess, he apologized to you?" James asks. He's not really surprised the two ex-lovers ended up speaking to each other though he's not really pleased about it.
Liberty nods her head. "I don't totally forgive him but it gave me some answers I needed." She knew her spouse wouldn't be happy about her talking to Caleb, that's why she had been avoiding him so she could sort through the conversation for herself without any outside opinions.
"Did he happen to mention how he killed Ciara?" James asks firmly, grasping his wife's chin gently and making her look at him.
"What?" Liberty asks him, her voice a whisper. She could feel her heart break at the idea of Ciara being killed. She had known that Ciara had been gone for a few years but didn't know what had happened to her.
James sighes, his features and his voice softening a bit. Despite what some may think, he doesn't enjoy seeing his wife sad but he had to tell her. It's the truth after all and the truth was going to keep Liberty from forgiving Caleb and staying on his side. Twice now the truth of all things has gotten Caleb in trouble. "It's true. She kidnapped Vera. Caleb, Lilith and Dakota went in to rescue Vera, Ciara was killed during all of it."
Liberty backed away from James "I...need to think."
"Ciara." Liberty whispers, trying not to cry. She understands many hated her God-daughter but all Liberty could think of was holding her for the first time when Summer and Travis brought her home from the hospital.
Career: Didn't work, she had an inheritance from her Aunt.
Romantic Life: Dated Joey Gates through high school and college, though Ciara was actually older than led to believe - thanks to magic.
Countless flings through the years. No marriages.
Children: None
Parents: Mother: Summer Scott
Father : Travis Scott
Other family: Aunt Emelia Ernest
Interesting Tidbits: Ciara's parents were killed by Thaddeus Laws after her mother wouldn't leave her father for him. Thaddeus turned Ciara into a witch, the reason for that has never come to light. Her Aunt took her in after her parents' passing and mentored Ciara.
Liberty Lee was like an Aunt to Ciara but had disappeared by the time Summer and Travis were murdered.
Ciara was actually an elder but thanks to magic, she gave herself beauty treatments to appear younger and to feel younger.
She once kidnapped Vera Grant and planned to kill her, in her mind it was revenge. She couldn't get at Thad but she could get at his son, Dakota, by killing the woman he loved.
Life State: Witch, deceased. Killed by Caleb Vatore.
It’s a little after midnight as Lilith arrives in Willow Creek with Jackson in tow. She hadn’t exactly told her brother that she was bringing Jackson along. Or that he’s now one of them. Right now, she has a mission. That talk will come later.
Lilith walks into the cemetery, trailed by the new vampire. She walks down the row of graves, reading them one by one. She reads Ciara Scott. The woman who had spent years plotting revenge for what Thaddeus Laws had done to her parents. Her parents, Travis and Summer Scott are buried beside her. Finally, she reaches the stone that says “Liberty Lee”. She calls to Jackson to get the shovel from the rental car. Silence.
Lilith drags Jackson into the graveyard. He says he’s scared, which causes Lilith to roll her eyes. She reminds him that they are the scariest thing in the graveyard. Apparently, while human, Jackson was scared of ghosts. Lilith usually has more patience with the new vampire, but her mission is important. She spars with Jackson, easily defeating him and ordering him to dig up Liberty’s grave. Simply seeing the stone isn’t enough proof for Lilith and she doubts it will be for Caleb.
Five minutes later..
Lilith moves the simple wooden coffin over more towards the fence. Even if it is in the middle of the night, she doesn’t want to risk being seen. She quickly goes to open the coffin.
She places a call to her brother, who is in Sulani with Vera’s side of the family. The call is quick.
“There’s bones in the coffin.” Lilith says and listens to Caleb on the other end. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a sample? We can try to test it.” Another pause as Caleb explains that none of Liberty’s relatives are living. “Maybe she had dental records? I saw a few teeth.”
In the end, Caleb says yes to taking one tooth. Just in case. Lilith ends the phone call and stares down Jackson as she moves the coffin back to the grave.
I got a call after work today from Joey. He was upset. Ciara had shown up at his house, demanding he give her Muffin. He wanted me to come over as Muffin’s vet to see if I could give Ciara medical reasons not to remove the dog. I said I would try my best. I know he loves Muffin. I don’t want to see anyone loose their pet.
“Who is this?” Ciara asked after I walked in the door. I remember her from the pictures Joey used to post online. I had never met her. I can say I haven’t been missing much. Her whole vibe reeked of attitude and not the cute kind.
Luna, Joey and Dakota’s Mom was also there. I hadn’t seen her since I was in high school.
Dakota explained to her that I am Muffin’s vet.
I did my best to try to reason with her. Explaining that Muffin is bonded with Joey. She is used to his house being her home. The town being her home. From what Joey had told me on the phone, Ciara lives in Willow Creek, of all places. So I explained moving Muffin away would be stressful for her. All of it was true.
Of course, Ciara didn’t care. I got the feeling she just wanted to hurt Joey. There wasn’t anything Joey could do to stop her since Ciara has Muffin’s papers and they list her as the owner.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t stop her.” I told him after Ciara left with Muffin.
“Me too. Man, what do you even see in her?” Dakota asked Joey. For once, I shared the same thought as Dakota. I didn’t get it.
“Love blinds you and makes you do stupid things.” Joey responded.
“Can’t argue with that one.” I told him. I really can’t argue with what he said.
“Things can’t be changed.” He said with a sigh then seemed to straighten up in his seat “Let’s go out to eat. The three of us. At the new bistro in town.”
