Never Be The Same

[Castalia]

This roleplay takes place after Hellspawn

After Cedric had gone, Castalia drew to a pause. She thought about the last time she had saw her dad in person - it had been the night before her turning and she had been fighting with her mom about Nolan. I don’t care if he is dating that girl, Castalia, he’s still your husband. It should bother you. The words had been a slap because she had cared. She had cared enough that before even coming to the house, she had met her dad in the park and she had cried. He had told her it was going to be okay. That everything would be okay, because everything happened for a reason. He had known she loved Nolan, that she wanted to fix things… but they couldn’t be fixed.

Now as she gathered her keys and pulled on her jacket, Castalia realized that at that point, she did have a chance to fix things. That chance had passed, however, the moment that she had met Kika, felt a dizziness come across her as the crazed woman fed on her before leaving her for dead. Initially, there had been horror mixed with fury that she would never return to her old life, to her children - a mirror had been smashed as she caught her ghastly reflection. It was strange to think how it was only a few months back, but now, it felt to Castalia to be years as her long hair was pulled back and she left her apartment.

Taking a deep breath of the musty air, she let it out before reading off the strange language that accompanied the tome Ambrose had given her and arrived in the sacrifice chamber, a place she rarely dwelled for long. From there, she stepped through a fadeportal and within seconds, she landed without notice in Newborough. Castalia kept her head down as she walked, digging out enough money from her pocket to purchase a ticket to Honeymead. “It won’t be too long now.” She thought and found a seat quietly, taking out her phone and scrolled through aimlessly, trying to pass the time as she felt the train jerk enough to have her set her hand down so that she wouldn’t fall over onto the seat.

Her plan was simple.

All Castalia would have to do is get in and get out. It wouldn’t be too difficult. Her parents, by this time of night, were likely having dinner or drinks. They lived in the nightlife, just as Castalia had as a nurse. It was only on Sundays, really, that they stayed home. Back home in New Orleans, Sundays would be when they went to church and then have a large brunch with family and friends. It was because for Castalia’s mother, it was really the only day the woman could get off her hangover because she forbade anyone to drink then.

It became a little unnerving as the train pulled to a screech at Honeymead station. From the moment she stepped foot off the platform, Castalia was hit with familiarity and a strong sense of longing. There was the school her children attended, the slightest trace of their scent being picked up as a man stood on a step, sweeping. The library she spent time in during college. “I should have made one of them come with me.” She thought grimly, pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt before she began to walk towards the house where she’d spent half her life.

Nolan had convinced her to buy a house near her parents even though they both worked out of Bullwood. It was by a good school, a beautiful library. She had agreed because she thought they would be together for more than seven years. And with each step she took further into the neighborhood, Castalia could feel the memories threatening to spill over. There was the park the two had their first date. Where Judy had learned to ride a bike. Where Reid refused to even try until Castalia did - knowing his mother didn’t like to ride bikes due to falling off one as a child.

A sound to show her displeasure escaped past her lips as she shook her head to push them aside. Her fingertips found her back pocket and she pulled her phone from where she put it. There was nothing from Cedric and with a sigh, she stuffed it back into place before looking down the street. From where she stood, she could see her parents house. There was a snowman with a lopsided head from the last snowfall - something from Judy, Castalia figured, as her daughter never liked doing anything exact. It drove her crazy, really. Neither car was in the driveway and she knew there wouldn't be in the garage - after the earthquake, her father had been a bit paranoid and had converted it into a safety spot for any and all disasters.

The modest two-story home with the soft blue trim was a harsh slap of reality. It looked so home-y, so lively. “You can do this, Cas.” She told herself and clenched her jaw before she took her keys out of her pocket, keeping her head down as she walked the rest of the way down the street. Castalia took a deep breath, the act useless as she would slide her key into the lock and turn it. It wasn’t a surprise that it had worked, her parents weren’t fond of change. Truthfully, it had been a shock when they even moved to Canada in the first place, and as the scents washed over her, Castalia felt her heart twist in her chest.

She wanted to go.

They could find the answer another way.

This was wrong.

It was your idea.

She didn’t bother taking off her shoes after making sure the snow had been kicked and then dried off. It would have been something her mom would have killed her over had she known and Castalia listened carefully for heartbeats. When she found she was alone, she walked slowly towards her dad’s study and took in her surroundings. There were various pictures on the wall, going back as young as when Castalia was a baby - a blessing, as some of their pictures had been lost during Hurricane Katrina. Her fingertips itched to take one of her, her parents and her children, but she resisted the urge as she stepped further into the house.

When she reached the double doors, the brunette hesitated only moments before pushing one open and moved inside, leaving it cracked behind her. His cologne lingered everywhere, the smell of his aftershave significant enough to make her need to cover her nose as she made her way to the bookshelf. With a single glance around the room, she pulled the first book about vampires off the shelf and began to flip through it, searching for something.

[Castalia]

An hour had passed from the first book that she had picked up and Castalia had moved to sit on the floor in front of the shelves as she skimmed through the pages. Once, before she’d gone to nursing school, it had been a regular sight for the family to see - she had never been one to sit in chairs unless she was lounging across her couch or accompanied there by someone. Maybe it was because she felt better against the cooler part of the house, because it surely wasn’t comfortable against her behind, but she could easily sit there for hours if allowed. Sighing out loud, Castalia closed the book and lifted her hand to rub at her temples, paying no attention to the shadow that moved across the wall before there was a soft gasp and something thudded against the wooden floor.

“Talia?”

The softness in the man’s voice sent a chill down her spine, the tone of disbelief that was twisted in as the pitch rose to end the question breaking her heart. Why hadn’t she heard her dad coming into his study? Why hadn’t she listened for footsteps rather than let herself get lost in the ink on pages? She swallowed quietly and then set the book back on the shelf before pushing up on the floor so that she could get to her feet. When she faced her father, she could see his surprise on his features. There were more wrinkles in his face that she hadn’t remembered seeing, marring his handsome face. Where there had been dark brown hair, there was more gray than the last time he had last time. Castalia didn’t know if it were her enhanced eyesight making her see things that she had never noticed before or if her father, in less than six months, had aged significantly. Either way, she didn’t like it.

“Hi Daddy.”

She bit her bottom lip as he studied her. She knew she looked different, the steady tan that had survived even in the harsh Canadian winters had paled since her death, and Castalia’s body had become a bit more toned with the activity of martial arts - training against the creatures of the underworld that she belonged with. There was scrunity, followed by anger in his bright blue eyes, and then finally, relief. Before Castalia could stop him, the man embraced her in a tight hug and she had to hold her breath. The smell of his blood was the first thing to assault her once she had gotten used to the smell of his cologne, and the sound of his heartbeat, steady and strong, caused her heart to twist in knots as she didn’t know what to do. Finally, though, as she reminded herself over and over again that this was her father, this was the man who raised her and not a meal, Castalia hugged him in return.

And for the first time since she was turned, Castalia wanted to cry.

It wasn’t something that she understood, how easily her father’s hugs could turn her back into the little girl she was years ago, but she’d always appreciated it. He tightened his hold on her, pressed a kiss to her temple and held her close. “What on earth happened with you, Castalia?” She didn’t know what to say. At least, she knew what she couldn’t say: the night she’d gone looking out for Nolan’s stupid dog, a beautiful woman named Kika had grabbed her and fed off her. And then, after a while, the feeding had caused Castalia’s heart to cease beating. But, if she said the words, she would just be shipping herself off to a mental hospital. Not to mention, she couldn’t quite tell the man that had raised her that she’d lured men to their deaths, as well as after making one man think he’d be getting laid, she’d turned him instead. And Keagan… nope.

“I can’t tell you.”

From the moment the words slipped past her lips, Castalia could feel that they were the wrong ones to say as her father’s hands found her shoulders and he stared at her, his lips pressed into a thin line. “Castalia Levise Pierson, you tell me right now.” Even as an adult, the sternness in his voice caused her to flinch - she knew she was in trouble when her full name was introduced into a conversation. But, she knew that it was likely because of who her biological mother was - Levicy. Because Castalia didn’t want to tell him, as she had learned as a teenager when she’d sneak out, he was always concerned that she would turn out like her. A druggie, a nobody. Alcoholism hadn’t been avoided, but he had always wanted to make sure she never was doing something like that. “I’m still not going to tell you, daddy. But I’m okay, I haven’t done anything wrong.”

She frowned, looking at him, “But you can’t tell anyone that you’ve seen me. Not Nolan, not the kids… but maybe you can help me.” As soon as she said it, she could see the concern in his eyes. The worry. The - “Castalia, please tell me you have not gotten pregnant again.” Her mouth fell open, and then closed, before she shook her head.

“No. Reid was my last child. Anyway. I was actually wondering if you-.”

“Do you need money?”

“No, I -.”

“Are you doing drugs?”

“Dad, I’m -.”

“Meth, pills? Honey, we can get you some help.”

“Daddy, I’m just looking for -.”

“Are you sure you’re not pregnant?”

“DAD. I’m not pregnant. I’m not on drugs, I don’t need money. I need a book.”

Her emotions hit her like a freight train as she felt her irritation peak. At her outburst, the man fell quiet and he folded his arms in front of his chest. “A book?” He sounded skeptical and then looked around at his study, and then to where Castalia had been sitting. “Why are you looking in the mythology section of my books?” He questioned and she frowned, “It’s a long story, but can you just help me find something? About vampires and these kind of shadow-y things?” Her father stared at her for a few moments before he asked in a cautious tone, looking around at the room before his eyes returned to his only daughter with fear in his eyes. “Have you seen them, too, Castalia?”

There was a steadiness to his heartbeat when he said the words that Castalia had noticed when someone wasn’t lying and the emotion in his eyes had her weary as she said, “I haven’t, but someone important to me has.” And for the first time in several months, Castalia was glad about her father being one big on mythology and legends as he went directly to a corner she hadn’t checked yet and pulled off several books on a shelf. “Sit. I might have something here.”