It had been a relatively quiet morning for a change. Ana hadn't even bothered to change out of sweats and a hoodie as she relaxed on the couch. Despite the chaos of knowing people in town were possessed she felt at peace. Nicolas had offered her the best offer anyone had when it came to the goals she had wanted to achieve and what better was there? She still felt bad about Cameron, but people were stepping stones like she had said a million times before. Reading one of her books she was lost in that instead when she heard the knock. It wasn't often she had visitors so it was always best to remain cautious.
Putting her book down she went to get it, but she paused in surprise when she saw both her parents on the other side of the door.
"Mom? Dad? What's-" Anastasia was confused, her heart picking up pace in her chest as she saw it wasn't only them.
Someone else approached and without hesitation or question she slit both of their throats in front of the young witch. A horrified look came over her expression as she felt like the air had been knocked right from her lungs. She wanted to scream but no sound came out at first as she watched them choking on their own blood and gasping for air that wouldn't come while the witch did so again. The blood dripped and left puddles of it at their feet as Anastasia did finally hear someone scream. Maybe a witness. No, it was her own scream she had unknowingly let out. She felt dizzy as they both collapsed in a pool of their own blood at the witches feet.
"No no please..." Ana fell to her knees, scrambling to help them as she pressed her hands to her father's throat first and then she tried the same with her mom. "Please.."
Her hands were shaking as she lifted them to find them coated in her parents blood, and her stomach gave a sudden sharp twist. She thought she might be sickbut she managed not to. At least for now. Their lifeless eyes stared back at her and gave her an image she'd never be able to forget. Silent tears streamed down her face as her expression became stoic . Not uncaring. Not emotionless. In shock. She felt shutdown as she slowly stood up now painted in her own parents blood from attempting to help.
A pair of dead brown eyes looked at nothing in particular as she went down the hall to leave the building. She was vaguely aware of the sight of her parents car and the vampire she could recognize behind the wheel, but she felt like she was a million miles away watching things unfold. When she stepped outside she wasn't an easy sight to miss. A few stared, but a couple people approached cautious and tried to get her attention.
"I--I need help," Anastasia stammered as she looked around but not really looking for anything in particular. "Their dead....they..."
It felt like everything after floated away. She felt empty. Of course the police came and a ambulance but what good did that do? Wrapped in a blanket from an officer she sat on the gurney in the back of the ambulance as they had checked her for any physical wounds given how much blood she was soaked in. She wasn't in any position to explain, but the scene was obvious enough. There was nothing that needed to be done. She watched absently as the bodies of her parents were taken out in the black bags. It didn't feel final, at least not yet. She couldn't process it as her mind had shut down the idea. It was her fault and that much she knew. Her parents meant the world to her. They were the one good living link left that she would have given everything to and would have defended till the end.
Now that they were dead it felt like cutting a very significant cord. Like losing the one thing left tethering her to the reality she knew. Summer picnics, dad watching the tv too loud, mom sewing in the living room.... It felt like someone shattered it all and her glassy eyed perspective of her upbringing was nothing but dust and ghosts. Nicolas was right. She didn't need anyone else. She needed herself, and she sure the hell would not let this go down easily. Whatever light and the slightest spark of good that used to light up her brown eyes seemed to go out like a candle in the morning. The brightness that would show up when she laughed a genuine laugh. When Matt told her he'd be there. When Leo promised to help. When Dom said he cared. It was like watching memories flip past, but each one erased of their attachment shortly after.
When Anastasia was released after being asked a multitude of questions, she was asked if she had anywhere else to go. She really didn't. She insisted she was staying put and went back up to her apartment in the same numb state she had been in for hours. It was only in the shower with the water hot enough to burn that she lost it. She sobbed hard enough that it shook her small frame as she sat in the tub screaming. At what or who it didn't matter.
