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•───⋅☾ ☽⋅───•
𝐁𝐮𝐥𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚, 𝟏𝟒𝟗𝟏
The night air was brittle and rainy. Her damp clothes clung to her as she trekked through the long entryway to a large, dimly lit home. It was late in the evening, thunder rumbling loudly each time the lightning lit the sky.
One year ago, Josefina got word from a pack of werewolves in Serbia that the doppelgänger has resurfaced. She was 17, and with child. Fortunately for Josefina, her presence was unbeknownst to most everyone, and anyone who did know was compelled to forget.
Benesj Petrova was a tall, gauntly man. He possessed unkempt shoulder length hair and a wildly stubby beard. With their low status, the clothes he wore were stained and old and his shoes were worn away. Benesj was terribly stubborn and put his beliefs first, hoping to one day commit one of his daughters to someone of wealth and prosperity.
He was no fool though, and he certainly knew of the deathly night creatures. He knew the dangers they possessed, and hoped to protect his family from anything that could harm them.
Unfortunately, as hard as he tried, he could not protect his family from everything. His eldest daughter, Katerina, became with child out of wedlock. This angered Benesj because it put their family's reputation and hope for a wealthier future at risk. In only way he knew to protect his family, he was to erase all proof of this baby from history. The baby would be entrusted to someone else. All records would be burned, and Katerina's cover story would be of an unexpected death.
The young brunette had disgraced their family, and she would be ousted. It was her own doing, and he must protect his other daughter from such fate.
Josefina had also learned that Benesj knew Katerina was the doppelgänger. He knew her status could put his other family members at risk, yet his coven, travelers, stood firmly in their stance to protect her. That was, until, Benesj sent the young girl away after her humiliating mistake of sleeping with a man before marriage.
Silently, she stood on the porch holding her hand before the door to knock. The sound of rustling about came from inside which indicated the family was yet to lay to rest for the evening.
She rattled her hand against the door causing the rustling to stop.
Her uncanny hearing caught on to the sound of three hearts racing rapidly, each one pounding harshly against their petite frames.
The house was now still, the occupants inside hoping whoever was at their door would just as soon leave.
Outside, Josefina's patience was beginning to wear thin as she stood out in downpour. She was tempted to burst in and gather the whereabouts with violence. She needed an excuse to see Niklaus again. This was her only hope in gaining the approval from her father to find him.
Benesj approached the door slowly, one hand clinging to a wooden stake he carved the night he found out of Katerina's status as the doppelgänger. With a trembling hand, he pulled the door open in hopes of finding a neighbor, or perhaps even a resident from the town who simply needed a favor. Alas, his eyes met with the being before him.
"Hello Benesj, oh how I've been searching near and far for your family." Josefina snickered, eyes glancing behind the man into the empty room. She could almost taste the fear floating through the doorway.
Her long, black hair clung to her neck and body as she stood emotionless. A thick line of carmine blood on her lip caused the man to freeze. Any confidence he once had now diminished into panic.
"Vampyr!" He shouted harshly.
The dingy man leapt forward immediately and plunged the stake into her icy skin attempting to put an end to this scare.
Josefina winced slightly, then shoved the foolish man forcefully to the ground.
"Not quite.." She sneered, pulling the wooden stake from her chest. "Though I admire your bravery."
He whimpered, hugging his now injured arm against his chest ignoring the blood pooling onto the muddy floor.
"Behemoth! Stay away from me! You devil!" With adrenaline pulsing through his veins, he was quickly able scoot himself back away from the porch.
Josefina giggled at the sight of the man. Someone who thought of himself as a protector now cowering in her presence.
"Perhaps under different circumstances I'd handle you with much more compassion. However," she paused, closing in on the pungent man, "I've had a rather strenuous search, and with all of these accusations I'm really feeling like I should just string up your limbs for your entire village to see."
"Monster! I do not wish to help you!" He scooted further and further back, finally reaching a large oak tree.
"Where is your lovely daughter this evening Katerina?"
His fearful expression hardened at the mention of her name. He pressed his back against the oak tree using his free arm to search for a weapon on the rugged floor beneath him.
"I have but one daughter! Emiliya! Stay away from us, you Vampyr!" Benesj whimpered once more, now trapped against the sharp bark poking from the tree.
She crouched down coming face to face with him, examining his expression. "Now you know, dishonesty never gets you far, Mr. Petrova." She delicately cupped his face and turned his dastardly eyes to her own. "Where is your daughter?" She compelled.
"Katerina fled to England after her expulsion from this town! Please do not harm my precious Emiliya! She is the only hope I have left!"
She contemplated what to do next for a moment, wondering if she should discard him or give this man a second chance at life. One where he needn't fear for his family's safety.
In her grasp, the beady eyed man shuddered, unsure of who the being before him was. He was presumed to be immune to compulsion, yet he spewed out the truth under her gaze. No such thing has happened to witches.
"I suppose you have given me all you can this evening." Josefina stood abruptly, pulling the weakling up with her. "I am feeling a bit of relief at the moment." She smiled and looked up to the cloudy night sky. The moon peaked through the dark clouds, revealing a sign of approval from her father.
"Katerina will serve her purpose."
Fangs elongated from her gums as she bit into her wrist. Blood oozed out from the wound and she placed it to his mouth. He could not fight against her, the warm blood pouring into his mouth quickly. Though he had never tasted blood, hers was comparable to alcohol as it burned down his throat.
His wounds healed quickly and once again he was at full strength. Before he could move, she compelled him.
"You do not have the burden of Katerina any longer. You know she is at peace. You will not remember our encounter, nor will you think of it again. Emiliya will grant you all that you wish for, and will have a fulfilled life."
Just as she had came, she was gone. Her shadow disappeared into the night, frolicking in the chance that she would fulfill her hearts desire of seeing Niklaus.
After ninety long years, their souls would ignite one another again.
