Chapter 47
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Chapter 47: In Too Deep
Warnings: Coarse language, implied nekidness, adult situations, violence, emo vampires.
Cecilia glanced down at her cellphone again impatiently, as if the device would acknowledge her and do something... like ring.
The phone stayed silent. Not even a text message from friends. Come to think of it, no one has called her in a while. A few weeks ago, this would have bothered her a lot. Now, it was just an afterthought.
She didn't really want to be doing homework. Text and history dates swam in front of her eyes, and she'd find herself drifting through each sentence, only to realize she hadn't absorbed a thing. She must have gone through the same paragraph three times now.
Cecilia should be feeling a little more desperate than this. She had skipped enough classes to be in serious trouble, and she was well behind on all her assignments. But she couldn't really concentrate.
That morning, she had skipped another couple of classes to go on a brunch date with Malcolm Landgraab IV.
For the most part it went well. He was sweet and polite, and constantly flattering. It was nice to just be able to forget about everything and talk. It was always something she was good at, and Malcolm leaned forward and listened with genuine interest to everything she had to say. He didn't act bored or dismissive as most people did when she talked. With him, Cecilia felt important... like she wasn't just another one night stand to him.
She wasn't sure how she felt about Malcolm yet, but the idea of being important to him made her smile. She also liked the idea that she could go back to the Tri-Var Mansion and tell all her sorority sisters that she and Malcolm, the richest sim ever, were exclusive.
She could even almost forget the ghost she'd encountered in his library earlier on.
Unfortunately the date ended sooner than she would have liked. His assistant approached, earning a scowl from Malcolm. He lowered his voice and said there was a matter of importance that Malcolm needed to address. Cecilia almost felt bad for this guy. She could see Malcolm purse his lips and his eyes darken.
Malcolm wasn't happy.
He apologized profusedly, but he did assure her that this had to be important otherwise he'd never had allowed Carter to interrupt them. She told him it was okay... and it really was. Cecilia didn't exactly think the rest of the date through. Maybe it was better this way.
So she went to the rest of her classes, came home and buried herself in studying to try to keep herself occupied. What she really wanted was his phone call.
She wondered to herself if he had planned that interruption to get out of the date, or if there was something important enough that he had to deal with personally.
Wilhemina: Forgive me, my Lord.
Malcolm: Madame, I dislike having my schedule disrupted. Why are you here?
Wilhemina: I would not have come if this were not important, my Lord... it's the Heir. Willow.
Malcolm: You were instructed to watch over her, Madame.
Wilhemina: Yes, my Lord, such a great honour to be given such a task...
Malcolm: A task I hope you have not failed. What of Willow?
Wilhemina: She's... she's gone, my Lord. She cannot be found.
Malcolm was not happy.
Willow drifted in and out of sleep... if you can call it sleep. It was a strange sort of subconsciousness, she felt, but it wasn't quite sleep. In a way it was relaxing, but still very disconcerting. Her mind was moving in all kinds of directions, and she wasn't able to control it.
She had only been here in this magic cell for a day. But she was no longer afraid. She just had to be patient.
Her thoughts drifted to the only person she knew could help her now. Wesley.
Wesley's mind wasn't his own anymore. He knew that. But in the moments where he was lucid and could think clearly, he'd find himself wandering the streets. The alternative was lurking around Clara's secret lair, where she had hidden Willow away.
How did he get himself into this?
The Grey Lady greeted him solemnly as she has so many times over the years. Her stone face stained by years of industrial pollution, never betraying the secrets this place held.
For years he had lived here. But he never felt that this was his home.
Home was a concept he'd already forgotten about. He had a place to stay, to hide, and to rest. But nowhere had he ever felt the warmth and closeness of what home should be. This place was close, but only because of her.
He didn't have to take more than a few steps inside the building to know that the old church was empty. It was cold and dark, and he was unable to feel her presence here like he has before. He called her name into the empty room, but she didn't reply.
There was an answer to his call though.
The old cat appeared almost suddenly, at Wesley's feet with a single loud meow. The cat seemed happy to see him.
He smiled down at the cat, bent down to stroke it's head. It purred in response.
Wesley: And where is your mistress tonight?
It purred louder, rubbing himself against his feet. Wesley smiled, never knowing this cat to be this affectionate.
The cat suddenly bolted.
He watched as it scurried up the stairs to the loft.
Dutifully, Wesley followed.
Sibyll.
It took his breath away every time. The woman was very aware of her beauty and she celebrated it as if it would disappear tomorrow. She was immortal, and her beauty would never fade, but she needed these images surrounding her, preserving forever that memory. She hadn't been able to see herself for a thousand years.
Her vanity comforted him now. There was a time, where every single one of those images on the wall seemed to mock him.
He could almost see the pitiful young vampire cowering at the foot of Sibyll's bed.
Whimpering. Cold. Frightened. He never wanted to die, but he was unable to reconcile what he had become in order to live.
Every single one of those memories came back to him sharply; all the fear and helplessness he felt then.
He hated that person he used to be. Even though it was not much more different than who he was now. The only difference now was he had knowledge. He knew what he was doing.
He knew nothing about what he had become. Without her, he would have died as a human.
Without her, he would not have survived as a vampire.
She huddled into herself, mumbling something slightly incoherent as she returned to consciousness. It was the sound of heels clacking against the stone floor beyond the door that woke her.
The door opened with a loud creak.
Willow looked up.
Clara: Hello again, darling.
Clara: Well now. Maybe it's the lighting, or the starvation, but there's just something different about you. A certain "je ne sais quoi" perhaps. It's very flattering.
Clara: So now you've had a few more hours to think. What have we come up with?
Willow: Let me go.
Clara: Tsk. We've gone through this already dear. I'll let you go when you give me the Spellbook.
Willow: You know perfectly well that I cannot... and will not do that.
Clara: Is that so?
Willow: You will never possess the Sorceress' Book. It is mine.
Willow: I know who you are. Clara St. Julien... you've violated one of the most sacred tenets of your Coven and gone against the vows you've spoken to your fellowship and to your leader.
"What do you think they will do to you should they discover your betrayal?"
Clara's breath staggered.
Clara: What? H-how did you know...?
She turned away, surprised at how cold she suddenly felt. Fear suddenly gripped her as the small part of her that believed that Willow might be the Heir began to surface and take root. If this was true... if she was who the Coven said she was...
She felt weak suddenly. She leaned her hand out against the wall to balance herself so she wouldn't fall. Her breath was short. Her skin was covered in gooseflesh.
Willow: I know someone will come for me. Then they'll come for you. My Book won't help you with that.
The witch's aura flared brightly as she turned around to face Willow, enraged.
Clara: I don't know what you did but it isn't going to work, do you hear me? You will shut your mouth right now and give me the spellbook or I swear, I will make you watch me destroy everyone you've ever cared about. Everyone.
Jasmine didn't know how long she was staring. It was as if she could unlock every single one of it's mysteries if she just stared hard enough.
She's done as much as she could do. The urn was sealed so she couldn't even peek inside. She gently shook it to see if anything was knocking around in there, and immediately she felt a little embarassed.
This was after all, the interred remains of someone supposedly close to the woman her father was dating. But right now, it was the only clue Jasmine had about who Clara was.
Adrian: It's not like a ghost is just going to burst out of there and tell you it's entire life story.
Jasmine jumped. She hadn't heard Adrian enter the room.
Adrian: Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised if that actually did happen.
Jasmine: Well...no, that's not what I was trying to do. I mean... I was just looking at it...
Adrian: Jasmine, you've been kinda fixated on that all day. Even more so after you spoke to Samantha. Why didn't you just return it and leave it alone?
Jasmine: I keep going back and forth on that. I know I should, but right now, it's the only thing that I have that's tied to Clara.
Jasmine: I know it's really, really creepy and probably totally insensitive of me, but I keep thinking if I can get this thing open, maybe there's a name or something inside. You'd think she'd have kept the names outside of this thing.
Adrian: Jasmine, it's someone's ashes. That your cousin stole. From a witch. Do you really think it's a good idea to hang on to this?
Jasmine: Yeah. I know. You're right.
Adrian: But you're not just gonna let go, are you.
Adrian: Look, how about we compromise then. Just for tonight, why don't we both relax and not worry about a thing. How does that sound to you?
Jasmine: You really think I'm going to stick to that?
Adrian: No. But it's been a long time since I had to give a girlfriend advice.
Jasmine: Girlfriend?
Adrian: Well... yeah. I mean, I guess I don't want to assume... But why not?
Jasmine: "Why not?" How romantic.
Adrian: Like you were ever the "romantic" type.
Mixed feelings of both doubt and elation crowded her as the word "girlfriend" echoed in her head. But she let that go as he leaned in to kiss her.
Cecilia: Jasmine? Oh... OH ew!!!
Cecilia: You can pull your faces apart now okay? Don't you have a room you can do that in or something? People watch TV in here...
Jasmine: Cecilia, what are you doing here?
Cecilia: Don't act so annoyed. I wanted to bring you back your sweater.
Jasmine: I could have picked it up tomorrow.
Cecilia: And also visit you "dear sister". I can still do that right? Hi Adrian!
Adrian: Hi Cecilia.
Jasmine: Well yeah, but you could have called first.
Cecilia: Since when do I need to call?
Jasmine: Since when don't you call?
Cecilia: Oh, by the way. You and Adrian. I totally knew it.
Jasmine: Cecilia, just... not right now, okay? Do you need me to drive you back to your dorm or something?
Cecilia: What? It's not like it's a bad thing. You two are pretty cute together. Anyway, no I don't need a ride back. I figured I'd take you up on your offer.
Jasmine: My offer?
Cecilia: Yeah. You told me I could stay at your dorm anytime I needed to. And tonight I need to. I'm beginning to hate the Tri-Var Mansion. That bitch down the hall plays her music way too loud and it sucks.
Jasmine: So okay, you'd stay at that mansion when you were aggressively haunted by some psychotic ghost but now you want to leave because someone's playing their tunes a little too loud?
Cecilia: Shut up. I couldn't sleep. Ok?
Cecilia: And I didn't say I wanted to leave... and what the heck is that thing.
Jasmine: It isn't anything.
Cecilia: You sure about that? Because that looks like an urn to me. Did someone, like, die?
Jasmine: Well, no. Not today anyway.
Cecilia: So who is that? Anyone we know?
Jasmine: No.
She thought of it for a moment, looking down at the urn, then back at Cecilia.
Jasmine: Wait... this is a big stretch. But maybe you... you know...
Cecilia: Maybe what?
Jasmine: That thing you do with ghosts...
Cecilia: You're kidding me right?
Jasmine: No. No I'm not. I mean, I don't even know how it would work but maybe you can do something.
Cecilia: Like what, talk to this inanimate object and hope something spooky and dead will talk to me back? First of all, Jasmine, that sounds ridiculous. Second of all, even if I could who in their right mind would want to do that. In case you haven't figured it out, I would love to be done with all this undead bullshit. And now you're just making me look like a freak in front of your boyfriend.
Adrian: Jasmine, I think she's right... not about you looking like a freak though. Maybe you should just leave this alone.
Cecilia: Thank you Adrian.
Jasmine: Look. This urn belongs to Clara.
Cecilia: Dad's girlfriend? What are you doing with her dead relatives?
Jasmine: I don't know if it's her dead relative! That's why I'm asking you.
Cecilia: So what, now I'm the expert on all things dead?
Jasmine: Cecilia. Just humour me.
Cecilia: Fine. Fine.
She looked at Jasmine who was looking at her intently. She sighed and closed her eyes. How would this whole "being a medium" thing work anyway?
Cecilia: Ooooh, something's coming up...
Jasmine: Are you serious?
Cecilia: Ssh! I sense... I sense...
Suddenly Cecilia began to moan loudly, clutching her head in her hands.
Jasmine: Cecilia!?
Cecilia: OOOOHHHH... the spirits of the dead, they call to me.... they're saying...
Jasmine: What are they saying???
Cecilia: They're saying you're a big looooooser! Boooo! OOoooo....
Jasmine: That wasn't funny.
Cecilia: OoooOoooOoOh....
Jasmine: Okay you can shut up now.
Cecilia: Honestly did you really think anything was going to come out of that?
Jasmine: Well after you doing that whole "I'm possessed by a ghost" routine, I thought I'd try.
Cecilia: Whatever. It happened once, and it's not happening again. It's not like ghosts are lining up and paying cover to talk to me okay? Now where was your room again?
She picked up her bag and headed upstairs.
Adrian: That was...
Jasmine: Yeah I know. Okay?
Jasmine came up in a bit to let her know she could stay in her room. She was okay with staying at Adrian's for the night, which made Cecilia simultaneously "awww" and giggle at the same time. They spent the rest of the night watching TV, Cecilia completely ignoring the homework she had to do. When her sister and Adrian retreated finally, Cecilia stayed up a little longer.
She wished that Jasmine of all people wouldn't bring up her thing with ghosts. She never wanted to repeat the experience she had with Brittany. She'd be completely happy if she never encountered anything paranormal ever again.
She laid in Jasmine's bed for a few more hours, tossing and turning restlessly. It didn't help that Jasmine kept that urn in here with her. Why did she even have that?
And how did she manage to get a guy like Adrian anyway? Why did it seem so easy for Jasmine to find a boyfriend, even if she'd claim up and down she wasn't looking for a relationship. While Cecilia has known plenty of guys and had plenty of innocent dates and kisses, she'd never found one that stuck around. Malcolm seemed like he wanted to. Of all the women he could easily get, he had spent time with her.
All those thoughts went through Cecilia's mind until she managed to find some rest.
On the other end of the dorm, Adrian and Jasmine were also up late as well. Though their reasons were completely different.
She didn't care what Gabriel had to say about it earlier that day. She never thought she'd ever end up with Adrian like this. Maybe the first night could have been all about losing inhibitions, but tonight was different. He wanted to be with her. He wanted her to be his girlfriend. Maybe in some ways she hadn't thought the whole thing through. All she had ever wanted existed in the present.
Adrian: What?
Jasmine: Hmm?
Adrian: Why are you looking at me like that?
Jasmine: Should I be looking at something else? What are you looking at?
Adrian: Oh I don't know. My girlfriend maybe?
Jasmine: We're on that again?
Adrian: You think I'm the type to put out for just anyone?
Jasmine: You're a big fool.
Adrian: Aren't we all? Look, I think we still have a lot to learn about eachother but being in a relationship shouldn't be all that complicated. I'm not asking you for any big changes right this moment anyway. I just want to know that this thing is real.
Jasmine: Yeah. Me too.
Not long ago Adrian was pining over Willow. And not long before that she was spending time with her ex-boyfriend. She had strong feelings all this time, none of that had changed and she wanted to believe so much that his feelings for her were genuine too. But she also knew the type of person she was. Adrian was perfect. He'd find out about all her flaws eventually. Would he accept her then?
Gabriel's words came back to her. "When things get too deep for you, you swim back to the shallow end. All the time."
The ligh in her hand flared brightly as she used a summoning spell to retrieve an object. Willow strained to look at what was in her hand. When the light faded, Clara proudly displayed it to her.
Clara: I'm sure you know what this is for, dear. There isn't a lot out there that could kill a vampire. They've been a scourge to simkind since the first night, and our duty has been to eliminate that threat. I've gotten quite good at it over the years, if you don't mind me saying.
Willow: What do you plan to do???
Clara: Oh good, Wesley is here.
Willow: No... you can't.
Clara: I can't?
Clara: Wesley is a sweetheart. Foolish, easy to manipulate and a little on the dim side if you know what I mean. I've known him for years, so believe me when I tell you that I'll really, really miss him.
Willow: Wesley, go!
Just as Willow shrieked, Clara threw the wooden stake.
All Willow could do was scream in terror as she watched the stake fly forward, propelled by her magic. She was certain it would strike him and she'd have to watch him die in front of her...
But the stake stopped.
It hovered, completely still, it's tapered tip barely catching the yarn on his sweater.
Wesley: You know you can't kill me, Clara.
She only chuckled.
Wesley slapped the stake aside, his eyes never leaving Clara.
Wesley: You're bound to the Oath, same as I am. You kill me, you die too.
Clara: Oh, I was just making a "point" for our dear Willow here. There is a lot at "stake".
She grinned at her own pun.
Clara: I know the terms of the Oath better than you, Wesley. If I wanted to I can still hurt him. I'm sure Willow would not want to see that, would you dear.
Willow looked back at Wesley, stepping towards him.
Willow: Wesley, I know about the pact. I know she made you kill Kimberly.
Willow: But she's lying to you. She'll never release you from the Oath as long as you are useful to her. She'll never let me go from here. She will kill me.
Wesley: I won't ever let her do that, Willow.
Willow: How could you be sure of that? Wesley, I can't stand being in here much more. I don't want to die here. But there's more than me in danger. You must believe me.
Clara: You're wasting your breath honey. As much as poor Wesley would love to break the pact, I'm holding it over him and it's good.
Willow: No it's not.
Willow: Because I'm holding him to his promise to me too. He said he'll keep me safe. And I'm no longer safe. Wesley, please help me.
Willow: And if you won't do this for me, do this for the one you loved. For Sibyll.
Wesley: Sibyll...?
Willow: She's dead, Wesley.
"Sibyll is dead. And Clara killed her with the same spell that's holding me now."
Wesley: ... what? How...
Willow: I don't know how I know that. But it's true. Wesley, please...
Wesley lurched forward as Willow began to cringe.
He turned slowly towards Clara. She was no longer smiling.
Wesley: This is true, isn't it.
Clara: Oh please. Sibyll came at me, all I was doing was defending myself. It's no less than what anyone else would have done.
Clara: And really, she was the one who turned you into this creature you are now. Craving blood and never seeing daylight. She's the one who cursed you with this disgusting affliction and you're feeling bad for her? I can guarantee you, Wesley, your darling Sibyll has destroyed way more innocent lives than I ever have.
Faster than a blink of an eye, Wesley moved.
Wesley: You killed Sibyll.
It took a second for the terror to grip Clara. He pushed her down, his full wrath feeding his strength and augmenting her fear.
Clara: Wesley! If I die you die too!
Wesley: So we'll die together.
Wesley: And when you die, your spell will break and Willow can free herself.
Clara: But..
She didn't get a chance to continue.
He ignored her sputtering and grabbed her by the throat. Willow watched in horror, never seeing Wesley so enraged.
Clara's screams were a hoarse, gurgling rasp as Wesley's grip tightened on her. Willow turned away.
He could kill her now. He would die but at least it would all be over. He could feel the pain from the Oath pierce into his skin. The shock of it surprised him and for a second, his grip weakened.
It was all Clara needed to whisper a spell.
Energy exploded out of her, shocking him. Clara fell to the floor and before Wesley could lunge again, she fired a spell that threw him back.
He hit the wall and was pinned there by the magic.
Willow cried out as she watched Clara get to her feet quickly, using what she knew was a binding spell to pull Wesley up the wall and pin him there prone. The spell felt like pins driven through his skin. The pain was intense.
Clara: I think it's time to end this relationship, Wesley. Why couldn't you have just kept things simple? Now it's come to this.
Clara: You want to break the Oath? Fine! Wesley Vaughn, I have the authority to void our Pact as you've repeatedly requested. From this moment, there is no Oath. We are both free and clear of eachother and we owe nothing to one another.
Clara: And you get what you want. The pact is officially broken and you owe nothing to me. You are essentially useless to me now.
She lunged for the wooden stake on the ground. Gripping it tightly in her hands, she held the stake high above her head. She had to kill him now.
If she didn't, it would mean her life. And she had no intention of dying tonight.
She was fast asleep or so she thought.
Something was bumping around in the dark. Cecilia groggily opened her eyes and turned towards the sounds.
The first place she looked was to the desk. The urn sat there innocently.
But it wasn't the urn that was waking Cecilia up right now.
This would be the second ghost she's seen today. She sighed as she looked at the apparition, sitting pale and still at the desk. It was looking at her, waiting.
Cecilia: Go figure.
"You are not Clara. You are not my daughter."
Cecilia: That's right. I'm not.
"There's no need to be disrespectful, little girl."
Cecilia: Uh hello. I'm not a little girl.
"But you are. You will always be a petulant little child. Ungrateful little slattern. You've never learned your place. Just like your mother."
Cecilia: What? Why are you saying all this to me? And you don't know my mother!
"Oh I know her. Denise, that little hellion tramp. Like mother, like daughter."
The anger and fury in the ghost was growing fast. Cecilia could feel it, just like she could feel the anger from Brittany's ghost. Slowly, it began to float towards her, cursing and swearing. With each bitter word, Cecilia managed to piece together its story.
As it came closer, she let out a scream.
Jasmine: Cecilia???
She only screamed once, but it was enough to get them to throw their clothes on and run to the other side of the dorm where Jasmine's room was.
Jasmine: Cecilia, what's going on?
Her sister sat on the bed, holding herself tightly. She was pale and shaking.
Cecilia: Jasmine you were right. You were right.
Jasmine: Talk to me, what happened?
Cecilia: The urn... Clara's urn. That's her mother in there.
Jasmine: Clara's mother? How do you know that?
Cecilia: Her ghost showed up.
Cecilia: Her name is Abigail.
Jasmine: Abigail???
Cecilia: She's Grandpa's second wife. Jasmine... Clara's our aunt.
Next » [ Chapter 48: Ingenue ]
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Notes:
* you knew that was coming didn't you ;) But don't worry, it's not over yet.
* you may want to check chapter 39 for reference about Abigail.
* thank you zx_ta for extracting the wooden stake from TSM!
* I was so excited to write this chapter, between holiday stuff and work, I might have pushed other sim things aside. But now I could move forward!
* I hope you're enjoying your Holidays! Have a wonderful one, all!