haunted, tvd

00, PROLOGUE

1852, AGED 7

Their mother had been the one to force Gaia to haunt the halls of Salvatore estate; she was sick and there was no cure for her, she had told her. But before harsh realities had been taught and trued within the home, Lillian had told her daughter differently. Something along the lines of "it's not your fault they fear you" she had cooed, rocking the young girl back and forth.

With tears in her eyes, the little girl had sniffled, burying her face further into her mother. "Mama, am I ill?"

"What?" Lillian gasped, halting in her movement. She peered down at her daughter, "what do you mean, my girl?"

Still sniffling, little Gaia met her mother's eyes—bright blue, like the sky. Her older brother had their Mama's eyes, Gaia knew, but she felt lucky to have the same colour as their father and her baby brother. A brave brown, their mother called it—like the end of autumn, when the lifeless leaves cover the ground to remind us of our strength as winter's cold creeps in. "Mrs. Bennett said I can't be near the other girls. That I would make them sick."

Lillian cursed the Bennett witch in her mind as she peered down at her beautiful daughter; the gift February had gave her seven years prior. She didn't know how to explain to the young girl why the witches hated her so. How do you tell a child that she's feared? "Do you remember when Mama told you that some people have magic?"

"Because nature shares its power with special people, right?" Gaia added, tilting her head.

Lillian nodded, her fingers playing with the ends of Gaia's long, dark curls. "Such an intelligent girl," she smiled, "do you remember what we call them?"

"Witches!" Gaia giggled, "but only we can call them that because boys don't like that word."

"Exactly," Lillian confirmed, "did you know I have magic?"

"Really?" Gaia whispered, excitedly before she rushed to cover her mother's mouth with her little hands. Lillian laughed from under the small fingers that smothered her face. Gaia spoke frantically, "Mama, you can't say that out loud! What if someone hears?"

Slowly, Lillian pried off Gaia's hands from her mouth. "It can be our little secret, okay? You promise not to tell anyone?"

Gaia nodded frantically, "I promise, Mama."

"That's my girl." Lillian smiled, "but guess what?"

"What, Mama?"

"You," Lillian delicately pointed into Gaia's chest, directing her attention to the flesh over her heart. "Have it, too."

"I do?" Gaia grinned, eyes wide.

"Do you know what your name means, my girl?" The little girl shook her head, so Lillian continued, "Gaia means earth. That's nature's other name."

"Really?" Gaia gaped as if nothing more important had ever been spoken to her. "The Earth and I are both Gaia?" Gaia hung onto every word her mother spoke, begging to learn more of what supposedly was her.

Lillian nodded, "nature—Earth—that is what gives us magic to use, to help. That's what makes us servants of nature." She continued, "but sometimes, nature gets tired; it's hard to make sure everyone has magic all the time." Lillian expressed, watching as her star struck daughter nodded rapidly, as if saying of course. "So nature will find it's strongest servants and will gift them with a special power, just for them." Lillian sighed, pulling her daughter closer, "instead of just becoming witches, they become siphoners."