Her Purpose || Kai Parker

Chapter 42

Damon, Stefan, and Alaric arrived in Portland, their mission clear: to investigate the enigmatic Gemini coven.

The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as they navigated the familiar streets.

Stefan, still harboring a sense of frustration, repeatedly noted how he had thoroughly searched this very area, meticulously combing through every house without discovering anything even remotely suspicious or providing a single clue.

As they continued down the road, the trio kept their eyes peeled for any signs of the coven.

Suddenly, a large house loomed into view at the end of the street, its imposing silhouette stark against the twilight sky. Stefan’s brows furrowed in disbelief; despite months of searching, he had never noticed this house before.

Stefan’s eyes widened in surprise. “How did I miss this?” he exclaimed, disbelief evident in his tone. “I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”

Damon couldn’t resist the opportunity for a jab. “Maybe you were too drunk to see it, just like Caroline’s feelings for you,” he quipped, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

Stefan shot him an annoyed glance. “Oh, ha ha. Very funny,” he retorted, trying to mask his irritation with a sarcastic smile.

As the brothers found themselves unable to enter the house, Alaric took it upon himself to trespass inside, returning shortly with a handful of photographs and documents clutched tightly in his hands. However, his search yielded no evidence of the Ascendant, the elusive object they desperately sought.

“Jo lived here,” he said, sorting through the contents he had retrieved. “There’s a drawer full of items—newspaper articles about Jo’s medical practice, pictures of her as a kid, and some from her teenage years.”

Damon, intrigued, picked up a photo from the pile. “Hold on. Rewind. That’s Kai from 1994,” he stated, squinting at the image.

“Wait. Jo is his sister?” Stefan asked, piecing together the connection.

“Either that, or they both have a thing for Cosby sweaters,” Damon replied with a smirk. “And there’s only one photo of him here, looking positively creepy.”

Just then, a man appeared a few feet away, his presence unexpected yet commanding.

“I didn’t know I had guests. You’ve met Kai?” the man inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.

Damon regarded him coolly. “Met him? I watched him die and come back to life. Why? Do you know him?”

The man stepped forward, introducing himself. “Yes, I’m Joshua Parker. He’s my son.”

“Damon and Stefan Salvatore, along with Alaric Saltzman,” Damon introduced himself and his companions.

Stefan interjected, “We mean no harm. We’re just trying to find a way to help our sister, who’s stuck there.” His gaze was earnest, a plea for understanding in his eyes.

Joshua shook his head solemnly. “I can’t help you. I can’t risk opening the prison world.”

Damon’s expression shifted, a hint of desperation creeping into his demeanor.

“I need something from you,” he said, gesturing animatedly with his hands. “It’s round, about ye big, with a bunch of little gears and wheels. It’s a lot harder to describe than I thought.”

Joshua looked at him, his expression turning serious. “The Ascendant.”

“Yeah, that’s it. You know it. Where is it?” Damon pressed, his urgency evident.