Death was never something I thought about fondly… In fact, it was always the opposite…
I never gave death the proper importance and that was how I met my end.
It wasn't anything heroic or tragic, I went to sleep and when I woke up I was looking at my own body.
So while I stood there in shock watching my dead body, I realized I would waste away inside it.
I didn't have any close relatives here since I moved alone to attend university and graduated, getting a job in the city in my field.
I didn't have a wife; actually, that was one of my only regrets… You know, not having someone to spend life with… Lamentable.
And then, I didn't have time to reflect when a white light shone and my vision disappeared.
"It's a boy," the voice caught my attention after the flash.
It was something I didn't expect to see… Damn, something is holding me and I can't see properly… Damn.
They're giants, don't tell me I was reincarnated as a Greek god and I'm going to be eaten by Father Time, and it seemed like there was another child with me, damn, this can't be right, I don't think any of the gods have twins.
"It's a boy and a girl," the stitched-face creature said. "What are their names going to be?"
"Nik and Hope Mikaelson," the larger shadow said in a tired tone.
Ohhh, please tell me that's not it.
"Great… It seems only the girl was born a tribrid… We can use the boy for our benefit," the larger shadow said and pointed something at the other child… What the hell is happening… Why does that thing in her hand look like a knife and it's pointed at what I think is my new mother?
Is she going to kill my new mother? No, no, no.
Why am I having this feeling? I don't even know my sister, and that's when I felt something and a light shone from me.
----+++-----
3rd person
"Noooooo!" Niklaus' scream haunted the room when he arrived and, in fury, lunged at the witches.
But the witches, using the power of the ancestors, managed to throw him back and pin him against the wall.
He fought with all his strength, but remained trapped against the church wall.
Klaus could only curse the witches and watch the two children being born. He became completely enamored with both of them, and it was when the witch slit Hayley's throat that one of the babies glowed and threw one of the witches away.
But at the same time, the baby disappeared.
Leaving one witch less, and they soon lamented the loss of a weapon, but went on to finish their ritual.
---++++-----
When the light faded… I was no longer in the same place as before.
No… It was completely different, it wasn't a church, it was a Greek castle.
"Well, well, well…" A female voice full of malice fell into my ears; unfortunately… I was completely unable to respond or look.
"A Hanzen firstborn in my world," the voice spoke again, and a giant hand grabbed me—I hate giant hands—"not only a Hanzen, but also a Mikaelson, half vampire and half witch, not those annoying heretic things, a perfect hybrid."
The woman's voice sounded increasingly amused and I increasingly terrified. Okay, at least I'm in a TV series and not in Greek mythology.
"A hybrid of the powerful Hanzen lineage, coming from the fool who stole my spell and distorted it, creating a new species," the woman joked in an irritated yet amused tone, and even so, "quite a creation, actually, and it seems you are proof that the hypocritical mortals who think they are protectors of nature think they're right."
She kept chattering, holding me and rocking me as if I were a baby—and I was a baby.
"Too bad, one of the last living Hanzens will want to take you by agreement, your grandmother," the woman said in an even more amused tone. "I liked you, I'm going to adopt you."
The woman I saw all blurry put what seemed like a finger in my mouth and I felt a taste of blood in my mouth.
"I am replacing the Hanzen lineage with mine," the woman said, now in a serious tone. "You will still have the firstborn's magic, but you will have the Bennett privileges."
---++---
After the day I was adopted by this witch, whom I have the faint impression is A something, but I'll call her mother—it's easier—after she adopted me things were fun.
She somehow managed to create milk in her breasts and breastfed me so I could survive.
The hunger was horrible, especially when you're a baby.
---+++----
Happiness had a name, and for Tessa it was the name of her adopted son, to the point where she simply forgot her ex-fiancé.
She stopped sending dreams and dead terror deities to terrorize the man.
Among the thousands of supernatural beings on the Other Side, she chose the worst and most terrifying nightmares to terrorize the ex-fiancé and his lover.
But now the one who was terrified was her; her son was sick and wasn't getting better.
She asked some descendant witches to help her find out what was happening.
Of course, after she cut prejudice at the root with pure terror and power, showing them who she was.
"Ancestor… This child is alive," one of the spiritualist witches said. "His place is not in this realm, it's in the mortal realm. He's only still alive because of the vampire side; otherwise he would already be one of the spirits on the Other Side."
This wasn't good, Tessa thought… Her son had so much to live… He couldn't be trapped on the Other Side forever.
"Very well… I'm leaving," Tessa picked up her son and appeared in Sheila Bennett's living room. "Hello, my descendant, this is my son and you will take care of him."
"Who are you?" Sheila fell off the couch and quickly stood up. "How did you get past the barriers?"
"Very simple… This spell doesn't prevent family from entering," Tessa said, laughing, and continued to walk around.
"Family… I don't know you," Sheila replied irritably and defensively.
"But I know you very well, Sheila," Tessa laughed maniacally and disappeared, reappearing behind Sheila. "I've known you since the day you were born."
"How did you do that?" Sheila asked, stunned and full of fear. The closest she had seen to someone appearing and disappearing like that was an ancient vampire she fought when she was young and almost died.
In fact, the vampire spared her because she couldn't even scratch him.
But this wasn't speed; this was literally appearing and disappearing.
"What the hell are you?" Sheila asked fearfully.
"I was a witch just like you… Today I am something more…" Tessa laughed. "The difference between me and you is that I don't follow the foolish rules of an ideology that limits me."
Sheila felt the weight of those words like a badly cast spell.
There was no direct threat in Tessa's voice. That was what was most frightening. Witches threaten, vampires attack, werewolves snarl. But Tessa… Tessa explained. Like someone explaining a law of physics that continues to exist even if you don't believe in it.
— Something more… — Sheila repeated, planting her feet on the ground. Her hands were already drawing containment symbols in the air by reflex. — Everything that goes beyond the rules has a price.
Tessa tilted her head, amused.
— That phrase is repeated by people who never tried to negotiate the price — she replied. — I paid mine. In full. With interest.
The baby in her arms whimpered softly. A weak, tired sound. Tessa felt her heart tighten and instinctively pulled the child closer in a caring embrace.
— He's not well — Sheila said. — Whatever you did… is killing him.
Tessa's smile faltered. It didn't disappear, but it lost its cruel shine.
— I know — she admitted.
Sheila closed her eyes for a second, feeling the boy's magic. It wasn't violent. It wasn't chaotic. It was too deep, like a river trying to run inside a cup.
— He needs normality — Sheila finally said. — Simple things. Mortal life. Body. Routine. Love, if you believe in those things.
— I believe — Tessa replied immediately. — I just don't trust it.
She approached, slowly this time, respecting the space. Something rare.
— You will raise him — she continued. — When his magic awakens, I will come to get him.
Sheila raised her gaze. "No, he will decide whether he goes or not. If you don't accept that, you can take him to another witch."
Tessa laughed, but there was melancholy there.
— Acceptance isn't my specialty. — She extended her hand, lightly touching the baby's forehead. — But I can… delay interference.
Invisible runes closed around the child. Nothing oppressive. Nothing cruel. It was like a cocoon.
The crying stopped. The breathing became steadier.
Sheila felt the difference immediately.
— This won't last forever — Sheila warned.
— I know — Tessa replied. — Nothing worth having lasts without effort.
She began to move away, reality around her gently rippling.
— What's his name? — Sheila asked, before it was too late.
Tessa stopped.
— Nik — she said, with unexpected softness. — Nik Bennett…
The air folded.
Tessa disappeared as if she had never been there.
Silence returned to the room, broken only by the ticking of the old clock. Sheila looked at the baby in her arms, now sleeping deeply, as if the world had finally decided to let him breathe.
— All right, little one — she murmured. — You stay with me.
----+++-----
3rd person
"Mom… Who is this child?" Abby Bennett complained as she entered the house, she had a big pregnant belly. "You're not taking neighborhood kids again to look after them, right? We don't need money like that."
"Of course not," Sheila replied irritably. "I don't do it for money, money is what I have the most."
"So who is this child?" Abby asked again.
"This is Nik Bennett," Sheila didn't need to say much. "The grandson of a sister; unfortunately she can't take care of him because she got sick, and his parents can't care for him."
"But he's white and blond," Abby said, poking at the lie.
"First, we're in the countryside… There aren't many options for us, and second… Our family has origins in Greece…"
"Whatever… Just don't let him cause trouble," Abby said irritably. She didn't fully believe her mother and went to rest.
"That's impossible, this child smells like trouble," Sheila sighed.
---++----
Nik began to grow, and when he was six months old, Bonnie was born… At that moment Abby had already gotten used to Nik's presence and was starting to like him.
It was one day when Sheila and Abby were at home taking care of the children that she appeared again, Tessa.
"Look how cute he's become," Tessa's voice shattered the silence of the living room.
"Who are you?" Abby stood up before Sheila and put herself in front of the children. "What the hell do you want here? Identify yourself."
Abby was already ready to cast magic at Tessa, and Tessa found it amusing.
"Daughter… Calm down," Sheila tried to calm Abby. "She's not someone we can defeat."
"That's right, Abby, don't provoke me," Tessa said with an amused smile. "It would be a shame to turn you into a frog and make you wait for Prince Charming to kiss you."
Abby noticed the fear in Sheila's eyes and voice and became frightened; her mother had never shown fear and had always been a powerful witch.
"You're violating the agreement we made," Sheila stepped forward and spoke in a tone half angry, half cautious.
"I didn't violate it. I said I wouldn't take him, I never said I wouldn't visit," Tessa said and disappeared.
"Shit…" Abby gasped when she saw Tessa simply disappear as if she had never been there. "What happened?"
Sheila didn't have time to answer.
"Mommy," the cute sound of a child caught their attention and they saw Tessa standing in front of the children's crib.
"Yes, I am your mommy…" Tessa's eyes filled with tears and she went to pick Nik up.
"Get away from there!" Abby was the first to shout, seeing her daughter at risk.
"No, let her," Sheila said with a sigh.
"But Bonnie and Nik?" Abby asked fearfully.
"She wouldn't harm her own lineage," Sheila sighed with slight discomfort. "Isn't she an ancestor?"
"Ancestor? You mean the dead witches?" Abby asked in shock.
"No, I mean the ancestor, the one who commands the dead witches," Sheila replied with a slight tone of respect.
"Oohhh, how did you figure that out?" Tessa asked, curious.
"I did a lineage test on Nik," Sheila sighed with slight fatigue. "His lineage comes directly from the beginning of the Bennett line; he is the son of the progenitor of our lineage, that is, you."
"Yes… You were very clever," Tessa commented indifferently. "Did you see anything else?"
"The lineage of his father," Sheila began. "That shouldn't be possible."
"Everything is possible," Tessa replied in an amused tone. "I died before Jesus was born and I'm standing in front of you."
"But nature…" Sheila began again, now more confused than ever.
"Nature is perfectly capable of defending itself," Tessa replied sharply. "I remember 800 years ago when a clay monster started causing problems, nature resolved it quickly… I mean, I resolved it, but miraculously I gained the ability to jump to the mortal world without sacrifices… Nature has its methods."
Sheila was speechless and didn't understand half of what Tessa said.
"You talk as if you were a goddess, but you're leaving your son with us," Abby said angrily, stepping forward. "The ones raising your son are us."
"And you will be rewarded," Tessa said happily. "When you die, you will go straight to a paradise and have certain privileges over the other witches."
"You speak as if you had the power to do that," Abby said indignantly. No witch had that much power; it was wrong and unnatural.
"Girl… I have more power than necessary to do that," Tessa adjusted Nik in her arms. "In the north I was called Hela, in the east Izanami, in my land they called me Persephone."
"That's impossible," Abby said in denial. "It can't be… It can't exist, it's unnatural."
"As I said, if I exist it's because nature allows it," Tessa replied with a smile.
"All the names you mentioned… They are names of beings that have a domain or are part of the administration of one. You created a dimension," Sheila deduced the obvious. "But the Parkers also did that and aren't called gods."
"Oohhh, the Parkers and their little prison world," Tessa said sarcastically. "They created a dimension using Bennett blood… I think you know what that means, right?"
"That they needed the blood of one of your descendants to create their prison world," Sheila sighed tiredly. In the end everything led back to Tessa and proved how divine she was. "But creating a dimension like that requires an anchor."
"I needed one for a long time…" Tessa joked, and then snapped her fingers. "But when I did a favor for nature, the anchor was no longer necessary."
Everyone was in shock at that information.
"Now it's time for me to go," Tessa said, placing Nik in the crib, but little Nik grabbed the sleeve of her blouse.
"Mommy," he called, not wanting to let go of her sleeve, and Tessa's eyes filled with tears. "Mommy."
"Mommy is going out for a bit, behave yourself, okay?" Tessa freed herself from Nik and disappeared.
"What the hell just happened?" Abby gasped.