kai parker - spellbound

CHAPTER ONE

It had been nearly a month since Aurora sacrificed herself for Bonnie and ended up in the prison world. She didn't even know if Bonnie was alive. Here, there were no grimoires, no portals, and most importantly, no magic. She was alone, stuck in 1994, listening to Damon's terrible CDs and drinking his bourbon. It wasn't all bad—she had free rein to do whatever she wanted, but this wasn't her home; she didn't belong here. She kept telling herself she was a good person, that she didn't deserve this exile, Bonnie would figure out a way to bring her back.

Despite the loneliness and the eerie, limbo version of Mystic Falls, Aurora tried to keep herself busy. Every morning, she would wake at the crack of dawn and run unnecessary errands to ease her mind, to feel less trapped. She would go to the grocery store, the library, Bonnie's house to search for magical books or grimoires, and the video store. Movie nights with the fire lit and a bowl of stovetop popcorn brought her moments of happiness. Occasionally, she would explore the town, trying to appreciate this different era of her home. She often found records that she would take home to play on Damon's turntable setup, something he'd never let her near in the real world. But here, with no Damon to stop her, she could do whatever she wanted.

Aurora couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. She poured herself a glass of bourbon, the liquid glinting amber in the dim light, and felt goosebumps rise on her skin. It was as if unseen eyes were always on her, a constant, unnerving presence that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. Rationally, she knew it was impossible—she was alone in this prison world, stripped of her magic, her witchy intuition seemingly as dormant as her powers. But the sensation persisted, gnawing at her sanity with each passing day.

 Aurora put some popcorn on the stove and skimmed Damon's VHS cabinet, looking for a film to watch. Her eyes landed on "Once Bitten," and she scoffed, laughing at the cover. "So cliche, even for you, Damon." She threw the tape on the table and walked back to the kitchen. To her surprise, the popcorn she left on the stove was already sitting in a bowl on the counter.

Was she officially going crazy? Confused, she lifted a knife out of the drawer and walked around, turning the lights on to check for intruders. "Hello? Is anyone there?" she called out. Realizing how foolish she was being, she went back to the kitchen, rubbing her head. "What am I doing?" she muttered, letting out an exhale and setting the knife on the counter.

Making her way back into the living room, she noticed the fire was out. She set down her popcorn and made her way into the kitchen to grab matches. The knife wasn't on the counter anymore.

Aurora's heart skipped a beat. She looked around frantically, every nerve in her body on high alert. "Okay, this isn't funny," she called out, her voice tinged with a mix of fear and frustration. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Get a grip, Aurora," she whispered.

She reached for a frying pan instead, clutching it tightly as she slowly moved through the house, checking every corner, every shadow. Her mind raced with possibilities. Could someone else really be here? She had thought she was alone in this prison world, but now she wasn't so sure.

A sudden noise erupted from the living room—the TV blaring to life. Heart pounding, Aurora made her way cautiously toward the sound, frying pan at the ready. As she entered the living room, she froze. A man she didn't recognize was sitting on the chair, casually eating popcorn. He turned to her and smiled.

"Oh, you're back. 'Once Bitten'... what a classic. Good choice," he said nonchalantly.

Aurora was in shock. "Who the hell are you!?" she shouted, tightening her grip on the frying pan.

"I'm sorry, that was rude of me. Haven't spoken to another person in, like, what? Eighteen years." He stood up, extending his hand with a charming yet unsettling smile. "I'm Kai. Nice to meet you."

Aurora stared at him, disbelief and confusion mingling in her mind. "And you're Aurora. I've been watching you. Not in a creepy way, of course," he added with a laugh that sent chills down her spine.

She didn't lower the frying pan. "You've been watching me?" she echoed, her voice shaking slightly. "Listen, listen. I know you're like totally freaked out," Kai said. "But, if you wanna get out of here, I'm your best bet."

Aurora's grip on the frying pan didn't loosen. She eyed him warily, trying to gauge his intentions. "Why should I trust you?" she demanded. "I don't even know you! You just showed up here—out of nowhere!"

Kai leaned back, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "I get it, I really do. You're scared and confused. But think about it—we're both stuck in this hellhole. Alone, we're screwed. Together, we might stand a chance." He explained in a reasoning tone.

Aurora's eyes narrowed, her skepticism clear. "And how did you end up here?" Aurora asked, her grip on the frying pan still firm.

Kai tightened his jaw, a flicker of something dark passing through his eyes. "Misunderstanding... with my coven," he said, forcing a smile.

"Eighteen years, huh?" Aurora echoed, trying to piece together the puzzle. "What did you say your name was again?"

"Kai," he replied, his voice more steady now. "Kai Parker."

Aurora tilted her head at him, scoffing as she walked out of the room. She returned a moment later with a newspaper she had found in the kitchen, reading it aloud. "Family massacred in Portland. Oldest brother Malachai Parker missing from the crime scene."

Kai's wholesome smile disappeared, replaced by a more sinister expression. "You saw that, huh? Who names a kid Malachai anyway? It's like they expected me to be evil." He laughed under his breath. 

Aurora's eyes hardened as she confronted him. "I guess I've had a lot of free time. Now tell me who you really are and why you're here," she ordered abruptly.

Kai's amusement faded, replaced by a cold, menacing glare. "You don't want to get on my bad side, Aurora. Trust me, it won't end well for you."

Aurora stood her ground, her grip tightening on the frying pan. "What are you gonna do massacre me like you did your family?," she challenged, her voice sassy despite the fear coursing through her.

Kai took a step closer, his eyes never leaving hers. "I was exiled because my coven feared me," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "They couldn't handle my power, so they trapped me here. And now, you and I are stuck together. But if you want to leave this place, you need me." 

Aurora cocked an eyebrow at him. "You've been here 18 years and I'm the one who needs you?" she retorted skeptically. "If you're able to leave, then why haven't you done it already?"

A smile spread across Kai's face again. "I'm glad you asked. I don't have my magic. Obviously. I'm a siphoner, so I can only use magic from another person or item with magic stored in it."

Aurora's expression softened slightly, though her wariness remained. "So, you need me to get your magic back," she concluded. 

Kai nodded, his tone earnest. "Exactly. With your help, we can find a way to restore my magic and break out of this prison world."

"Well, I don't have my magic," Aurora stated bluntly, her frustration evident. "So I can't help you."

Kai walked over to her slowly, closing the distance between them until he was unexpectedly close. "Of course you do," he murmured, his hand hovering inches from her chest. She gulped, caught off guard by his proximity and his touch.

"I can feel it from you," Kai continued, his gaze locked with hers.

Aurora's breath caught in her throat. She hadn't felt the presence of magic within her since arriving in the prison world. It was a faint, almost forgotten sensation, but Kai seemed to sense it clearly.

Not breaking eye contact, Aurora swallowed her apprehension. "What do you need me to do?"

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

anddddd thats chapter one, sorry its a bit short butttt it was kind of just an icebreaker chapter to kick off the story; i hope it doesnt seem too rushed!! anyways thank you for reading<3 chapter 2 will be out tomorrow!

-liv xo