me and the devil - kai parker

26

It felt worse than the last time, or maybe Madelene just didn't remember the feeling accurately. It was almost as if every molecule in her body was tearing apart and materializing in another place. The sensation didn't hurt, but it brought a wave of nausea and a pulling pressure in her abdomen. When her feet finally touched solid ground again, everything came crashing down.

"No..." Her eyes filled with tears as she took in her surroundings. The landscape looked the same but subtly different. The air smelled different—heavier, almost dirtier. The woods were not as thick anymore, it was dark outside but definitely much warmer, it had to be peak summertime compared to the early May temperatures of the prison world. 

 The oppressive atmosphere confirmed what she feared: they were out of the prison world. The realization hit her like a punch in the gut. Everything she had worked for the last eighteen years, all of the times she died and got hurt, all those times she tried to stop Kai, only for him to succeed over her yet again. 

To her left, Damon stood still, his face a mask of confusion. His eyes were fixated on something behind her. Madelene turned around to see Kai on the ground, clutching his broken leg. He seemed disoriented, not fully aware of their new reality. His forehead was bleeding as well and he no longer had a knife in his hand. It was in Madelene's stomach. 

"No, no, no!" Her cry escalated into hysteria within seconds. "Why did you do this?" She turned to Damon, who was just regaining full consciousness. His eyes widened in realization.

"It worked..." Damon muttered, he sounded relieved.  "Maddie you are hurt" his gaze dropped to her bleeding abonment. 

"Of course, it worked! But you took me and left Bonnie behind!" Madelene's voice cracked with anger and despair. Her hands gripped her long, dirty hair, pulling it with too much force as she tried to comprehend the situation. "Look around, she's not here!" 

"Bonnie..." Damon's eyes darted around the woods, panic setting in. "How is he here and not Bonnie?"

Kai, now fully aware of what had transpired, smiled widely despite the pain. He looked like he might burst, jumping with joy if he could stand. Instead, he struggled as he tried to get up from the ground, all attempts unsuccessful, only creating more pain for him. 

"What do you mean, Damon? I told you I can't leave the prison world! We're magically linked! He goes if I go, no matter the circumstances. How could you do this? How stupid could you be?" Madelene's voice rose with each word. She was now inches from Damon, pushing against his solid chest. He didn't move, his silence adding to her frustration. "You have no idea what you have done" 

"We need to go back." She looked from Kai to Damon before dropping to the ground. Her hands frantically rummaged through the leaves and dirt. "Where is...the Ascendant?" She muttered to herself, her voice manic and desperate.

"It's with Bonnie, obviously" Kai finally spoke up, his tone mocking. "The Ascendant didn't travel with us; it stayed there. You should have paid more attention in that wizarding school of ours." He chuckled, enjoying her misery.

Madelene shot him a murderous glare, feeling an almost uncontrollable urge to throttle him. Her body moved before she could think, launching at him. She gripped his jean jacket, shaking him with fury.

"You think this is funny?!" Her voice was sharp, filled with an intensity that surprised even her.

Kai merely looked at her with bliss, his smile unbothered. He was clearly relishing the chaos. His hands moved to her cheeks, stroking them softly in a mockery of affection.

"I'm so happy I could kiss you right now," he grinned, his eyes twinkling with malice.

Madelene scoffed, recoiling from his touch as if it burned. She stood up quickly, distancing herself from him. "I need to go," she said, turning to Damon.