The Others

Part 13: Kaydense

I apologize for the confusion. But between tape fourteen and this tape...

Well...

My mother died. Killed by a stray curse.

It took a major outburst on the battlefield a week later and me almost killing the person who shot the curse for me to finally confront my feelings. But first, I needed a name change. I was born with the name Alexis. Because of my mother's inability to accept that I am nonbinary, I went by Alex. It was close enough to my deadname for my mom to actually call me it. But it wasn't quite me.

I always found Alex to be a little too masculine in my opinion. But Kaydense, it didn't feel too masculine or feminine. It felt right.

Today was the service, the funeral. I stood up and gave a eulogy.

I said,

"Funerals, are for the living, not the dead. Sure, a funeral may be in honour of the dead, but it's not for them. The dead are dead, they gain nothing from a funeral. No. Funerals are for the living. It's a time to say goodbye, and it's a time to remember. I watched as the curse hit my mother. I watched as the life drained from her, and I told her goodbye then. So for now, I am just here to remember. Remember her when she was happiest. I remember one night when Maria, my stepmother, came home, and my mother got this look in her eye. Mom loved her wife with all her heart, and it showed. Her eyes never lied. I hope you all have fond memories to remember her by."

The funeral went on for another hour. I didn't stay. I came here. To do the tapes. David and Shara say it's therapeutic in a way. Sybel says she uses her sections like a diary.

Well, I am going to try this too.

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"So why would you think I was in danger if David, or Xania for that matter, was a human?" Shara asks me.

"Well... I didn't lie when I said there were others out there." I say. "The thing is, when you have different factions of supernatural beings, there tend to be arguments, mostly over resources. Like two nations fighting over territory and hunting grounds. The latest one, between the shapeshifters and vampires of Oregon, caught the public eye in Purgatory. Started a war between the humans and the supernatural."

"Purgatory is-" Shara starts.

"Only a few miles from here, I know. I'm one of the sorcerers called to keep it under wraps from the global eye, and y'all sending huge amounts of magical energy out into the world kinda puts a bit more strain on us." I interrupt them, and tug on the end of my leather jacket's sleeve in nervousness. "But if I could convince you to join our side of the war, we may end this war quickly. I hear some of the sorcerers have been switching sides because they're in love with some of the humans, so the war has become a bit more hard to handle, and-"

"You think my powers could help swiftly end the war, some big destructive spell and it all goes away?" Sybel stumbles back inside the room, hanging onto David.

"Actually, we were hoping you could be our medic. Your powers to heal others and yourself are much more valuable, as we're not the side killing people." I propose, my hope clear in my voice. "And afterwards you could mass Mesmer the humans."

"..." The room goes silent. Everyone thinking. No one deciding.

"I can help with the containment." Kiara says.

"And I can be a medic." Her husband pipes up.

"I go where David goes, but Xania stays out of this." Shara seems determined.

"We're gonna help fight." Sybel and David say, in unison.

That's when two more people walk into the house, people I don't recognize.

"Shara, baby, why is everyone in the living room around yet another stranger?" Who I assumed to be Xania says, as they wrap their arms around Shara's shoulders from behind.

"Well, Xania," Shara starts. (I was right, huh.) "This young person has just come to take us to war."

"Can I just... not go?" Xania asks.

"I wouldn't let you if you wanted to go, hunny." Shara says. "While we fight you can go get Xaven a boyfriend."

"You told Shara that Xania?" Who I assumed was Xaven whines.

"She didn't," Shara laughs "It was obvious you had a crush on David, dude."

David laughs, "Yeah, dude. Don't think I didn't notice how you always were in the kitchen when I came back inside from training, making some sandwich."

"I even convinced David to train shirtless just to tease you with my man." Sybel chuckles.

"Y'all are dicks." Xaven runs up the stairs and out into the upper floors.

"We know!" The family yelled up the stairs.

I smiled. Even if it wasn't my family, this family was the kind I wanted to have. I wanted to be part of. I think this is how I got so attached to them all. And so I won't drag them along just yet. I'll stay with them for a few days, give the excuse of helping train the trio who are fighting. I don't want them in danger just yet and they probably really do need some specialized training.