CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE
[71]
song: identity by taemin

AS THE NIGHT BEGAN TO FALL INTO IT'S USUAL SILENCE, the stripes of bright lights started to make their way across the dark sky. Bonnie, Kai and Daisy stood in the cave, watching through the hole above them as the shower began.

Daisy trembled with anticipation, the thought that she could truly be getting out of here this time was terrifying, but a good terrifying.

She wondered what it would feel like, if portal jumping, or whatever Kai called it, had any effect on the human brain. She got motion sick in cars usually, maybe it felt something like that. She couldn't even remember being sent here, and how it felt from all those years ago, so this was still a fairly new experience.

She stood close to Kai, a reflex she had when she felt like she needed some sort of protection. She didn't like that she had to go to him to feel that safety, but she was still constantly aware of where she fell on the supernatural food chain.

Daisy eyed Bonnie, watching her cautiously as she began to dig the sharp edges of The Ascendant into her palm, bleeding onto it.

As soon as her blood fell to the object, it's gears began to twist and turn with a quiet clanking sound. Bonnie lifted her head up towards the sky and nodded, signaling she was ready.

Kai glanced down at Daisy who stood next to him, sending her a reassuring nod and a soft smile as he gently grabbed her hand.

With her hand in his, she felt ready, ready for whatever came next. She was scared, but she knew she wasn't tackling it alone- they had each other. That's all they needed.

Daisy and Kai stepped forward into the ring of light, where Bonnie stood with her backpack at her feet. Daisy caught glance of the teddy bear inside of her bag, wondering why she decided to bring it along. Daisy then realized she didn't have anything to bring herself, but she also wasn't sure she wanted anything to remember this place by.

"Okay." Bonnie said, with a slight sigh. She eyed the couple in front of her before closing her eyes and beginning the spell.

Kai quickly latched onto Bonnie's arm, making both her and Daisy jump at the sudden movement. "Just in-case you were gonna try and leave without us." He winked.

Bonnie shot him a glare before returning to her previous position, eyes closed, but focused, as she continued her spell.

Kai gently squeezed Daisy's hand, and she could feel the anticipation radiate off of him too. She swallowed deeply, before taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, knowing that a bright light is what came next.

She wondered what they'd do first when they got back. Would they go straight to find Kai's coven, or would they take a vacation? A vacation would be nice. A vacation where they're being served would be even better. Sure she'd been to a beach or two in her time here but she had to prepare her own meals, and there was no poolside drink service.

Maybe they'd find somewhere to live, maybe a house. Or an apartment. Or maybe she'd go to college. She hadn't even thought about college. She didn't have to go- but maybe she wanted to.

Maybe they'd go to concerts, that are packed door to door with people. Maybe they'd get jobs. Maybe they'd leave the country.

There was a lot of maybes, but they had all the time to decide.

Click.

Daisy's eyes opened, and as she was pulled from her thoughts of their future together, all of those maybes were slowly being ripped away from her again, one by one, as realization began to set in.

The Ascendant closed, and at first she didn't understand, that was until she felt Kai also begin to panic. "What the hell is happening?" Kai asks, glancing back and forth between The Ascendant and the sky above him.

"I don't know." Bonnie shook her head confusedly.

"Keep going, hurry." Kai says frantically, as he realized the shower was beginning to end.

"I can't." Bonnie responds.

"Keep going!" He raises his voice a little.

"I can't!" Bonnie yells back.

"What do you mean you can't?!" Daisy widens her eyes.

"I've lost my magic." Bonnie says sternly.

"What are you talking about?! You were just doing the spell—" As Kai talks, he pulls his hand away from Daisy's to grab onto Bonnie's wrists.

Daisy felt herself sink right back into that darkness she thought she was finally rid of.

As Kai tries to siphon Bonnie, realization hits him, and he looks at her with wide, concerned eyes. "There's no magic." He lets out.

"That's so strange..." Bonnie says quietly. "I wonder if I... accidentally put it somewhere?" Her tone of voice had shifted, to a familiar way of speaking that Daisy knew all too well. Bonnie was toying with them. "Oh, I remember now. I put it somewhere safe."

Daisy's eyes fall right to the backpack at Bonnie's feet, bending down quickly and opening it up. She expected to see the brown teddy bear she saw just moments ago- but it was gone. No where to be seen.

"Where did you put your magic?" Kai says, trying to remain calm but anger was churning in his words.

"In the bear." Daisy answers for him with the empty backpack in hand. She clenches her jaw as she brings her eyes up to Bonnie, with that smug look on her face. "You put it in the bear." She felt a chuckle creep up from her throat, but it also could've been the choking feeling of tears forming. Maybe a mix of the two.

Bonnie didn't say anything, she didn't need to, the look on her face was enough. Daisy dropped the empty bag, feeling her knees want to buckle and fall to the ground. Instead she stumbled back, not sure what was truly happening.

"Where's the bear?" Kai asks Bonnie. Daisy was leaned up against a rock, once again- hopeless. Her eyes stay glued to the cave floor as she knew this was her last chance home, and it was gone. And they were truly imprisoned forever.

"Oh, it's gone. I guess we're stuck here. Forever." Bonnie says. "Sorry."

Daisy lifted her head up, not hearing anything of what Bonnie and Kai just said, as she was too busy mulling over her own thoughts. Kai glances towards her. "Knock her out." Daisy commands. "We'll deal with her later."

—
song: the beach by the neighbourhood

The taste of whiskey that would've previously made Daisy gag washed down her throat like water. She set the bottle down on the bar as she wiped her mouth, her eyes heavy from exhaustion, and the overwhelming feeling of loss.

Kai hadn't spoken much, neither of them had. There wasn't much to say, since it was clear both of them had no clue what they could do next. There might not even be a next. This was it.

Bonnie was still knocked out. She sat on the floor, leaned against the wall by the door of the restaurant they sat in.

Kai's eyes slowly drifted to Daisy, who sat alone at the bar with her back to him as he sat at one of the tables. His fingers tapped against the side of the glass he held, as he leaned on his elbow.

He could tell by the way her shoulders slumped over, and how she struggled to keep her head from burying itself in her arms, that she was done. Done getting her hopes up.

He felt an unfamiliar sense of guilt. He wondered if maybe she blamed him for how everything had turned out. If he would've been smarter about all this, they'd probably already be home. She was following his plan, after all. She was bound to be angry.

He wanted to make things better. If there was a way to get her home— even if that meant having Bonnie take her home without him— he'd do it. He was the reason she was here in the first place.

But that wasn't even an option anymore, without Bonnie's magic, they were stuck.

They were always just- stuck.

His tired eyes shifted over to the witch, who sat slumped over with her eyes closed leaned against the walls. The overwhelming sense of rage that followed when he saw her sleeping peacefully, drew him to take another drink from the alcohol in his hand.

She won. Her plan worked, and she won.

After he swallowed, he slammed the glass down on the table so hard that it shattered in his hand. While he barely flinched, Daisy jumped at the sudden noise- turning around to see what it was.

She quickly raised from her seat, walking over to him as he sat motionless at the table- his hand bleeding. Daisy's eyes grew concerned, as she glanced back and fourth between his hand and his lifeless eyes, that stared straight down at the blood.

Daisy gently grabbed his wrist, and with her other hand she grabbed what was left of the broken glass from him. She waited for him to react, but he didn't. Her soft eyes searched for his. "Kai," she spoke gently.

He slowly lifted his gaze to her for the first time, and a bit of relief washed over her. A mix of anger and pure sorrow lay deep in his eyes, despite his emotionless expression.

"Come on," Daisy said quietly, her hand still on his wrist as she helped him up and out of his chair. As Daisy led him to the bathroom, he watched her as she examined his hand.

Daisy knew he felt guilty, but he shouldn't. This wasn't anyone's fault but Bonnie's. She knew that, but he didn't. She tried to appear as calm and collected as she could, but it was difficult when she saw him like this- defeated.

Kai just watched as she grabbed some paper towels to wrap his hand. She must've forgotten he could heal himself, but he let her continue.

She turned back to him, forcing a gentle smile as she held out a hand for his. Kai held his bleeding hand out towards the girl.

As she wrapped the cheap paper towels around his hand, the red immediately seeped through like a never ending current. The wounds were fresh, so covering them seemed pointless. Though her touch brought Kai the comfort that she wanted to give.

Her hands were shaky, perhaps from the alcohol or the anxiety that stood still in her lungs, never escaping even with each deep exhale.

Kai's gaze never left Daisy, as he watched her gently hold his arm, as she pieced together a makeshift wrap. Her soft touch was his medication.

It was a quiet emotion that in time, became part of the oxygen he needs to breathe.

"I love you." Kai said.

Daisy met his eyes quickly, lifting her chin up.

He'd told her that before, many times. But this felt like the first time. This felt like what he should've felt when he said it before.

He'd always known a part of him was missing, but he hadn't felt that was in a long time- not when he was with her. It was difficult for him to understand, but it wasn't something he had to understand. He just had to feel it, and he did.

"I love you, too." Daisy responds.

"No, you don't." Kai responded with a soft, understanding smile. "But it's okay."

Daisy didn't know if his response should make her sad or relieved. She didn't know what she felt, but the words fell from her lips before she could stop them.

'It's okay.'

What comforting, confusing words.

It was a way of saying that he understood, understood that it would be hard to love someone like him. He was different, before he wouldn't have said that it's okay. He would've kept pushing, he would've tried harder to get her to love him.

But he knew now that those feelings should come to her when she was ready, and if she wasn't ever ready- that was okay too. But he had to tell her. He had to tell her that someone loved her, because everyone deserved that feeling.

Daisy stepped forward closer to him, lifting her chin up to look up into his eyes. There was no hint of pleading in his, he wasn't awaiting for her to reinstate her words.

He knew she didn't love him- but that didn't mean she never could. And she knew she would, in time.

He brought his injured hand to her cheek, cupping her face. Daisy felt herself relax into him. She closed her eyes and leaned into his hand, as she brought up hers to hold it.

Kai felt okay. And that was enough for him. She was enough for him.

Daisy recalled the fact that under these cheap paper towels, his palm was cut up from all the glass. She gently leaned away from him, not wanting to add any unwanted pressure. But she doesn't let go of it. "We should probably go check on Bonnie—"

As soon as her name fell from her lips, something clicked in her brain. It must've been clear on her face, as Kai gave her a confused expression.

"What?" Kai asks, not lifting his eyes from her.

Daisy glanced out the bathroom door before making her way out to the hallway, Kai not far behind her. Her eyes land on Bonnie's lifeless body leaned against the wall, and she bent down to her level.

Grabbing onto Bonnie's wrists, Daisy held up her arm toward her face so she could get a better look at her hand. Fresh wounds remain on Bonnie's palms from the numerous times she'd cut them, and bled onto The Ascendant.

Daisy examined them quickly, her mind racing with anything and everything this could mean. She lifted her head up towards Kai who stood at her side, looking down at her.

"Why does she have to bleed onto The Ascendant?" Daisy asks, Bonnie's wrist still gently in her grip.

Kai shrugs a bit. "That's how it opens." He says.

Daisy thought for a few seconds before speaking again. "But she doesn't do the spell until after it's open, right?" Daisy questions.

Kai looked just as confused as before. "Right?"

"What if..." Daisy shakes her head a little bit, not sure if her thoughts were rational enough to make a call like this right now. "What if you don't need a Bennett witch to do the spell? What if you just need Bennett blood?" She asks, standing up.

Daisy watches as Kai's expression shifts from completely lost to catching on. His eyebrows relax from their narrowed position and move up on his forehead, as he realizes she might be onto something.

"Her blood opens The Ascendant." Daisy says. "There's no magical law about who's performing what spell, right?"

"And I read that Bennett witches practice a lot of blood magic..." Kai nods.

Daisy shrugs lightly, her eyebrows raised. "Wouldn't hurt to try."

Kai gives a mix of a sinister and excited smile, before the both of them turn to face Bonnie as she remained passed out on the floor. "Doesn't seem fair to do it while she's knocked out." Daisy frowns a bit, narrowing her eyes at the girl.

"She's defenseless either way." Kai shrugs, turning on his heel and grabbing a cup, and a knife off of one of the tables they stood by. He spoke as he turned back around. "This way there's less begging and more getting right to the point." He says, talking dramatically with his hands and eyes.

"Good call." Daisy nodded, crossing her arms and stepping back as Kai bent down to Bonnie's level.

He points the knife at her lifeless face as he speaks. "Sorry." He says, in the least apologetic tone he could muster, before plunging the knife into the girl's stomach.

While Daisy barely flinched at the action she had become so used to, a slight feeling of guilt crept up into her stomach. Daisy knew that Bonnie was just trying to do the right thing, but Daisy tried to do that too once- and it doesn't get a person very far.

That feeling was quickly washed away as Kai stood back up with a small cup of Bonnie's blood. "Gross." He says, examining it with a disgusted face. "Think it's enough?" He questions.

Daisy smiles. "It better be."

—

Once again the two found themselves surrounded by the familiarities of the cave. That same mildew-smell, and constant sound of dripping of water. Everything felt the same, but those nervous feelings that usually loomed within them were nonexistent.

Although anxiety found a place to live within the two, it wasn't the same kind they'd been feeling every time they'd been down here. In those times, the nerves came from the fear of something not working- or something going wrong.

But things felt different, it was just them two, no one to betray, no one to betray them. These nerves came from the fear of what came next.

Daisy stood frozen at the edge of the ring of light from the moon. Why there was a knot growing in her throat- she didn't know. She swallowed harshly, straightening her posture as she looked up towards the moon.

"Are you okay?" Kai asks, examining The Ascendant in his hand as he stood in the ring of light.

Daisy inhales sharply and let's out a small scoff. "I don't know." She says truthfully, there was no point in lying to him.

"You're scared." He says.

Daisy shakes it off, embarrassed. "I'm not scared." She says, this time she was lying. Kai gives her a knowing look and she flails her arms out. "Okay, I'm scared."

Kai takes a deep breath before nodding. "I am too." He says, holding out a reassuring hand.

Daisy felt her shoulders relax as she joined him in the circle of light, grabbing onto his hand. She closed her eyes, knowing that she shouldn't get her hopes up again, but also trusting her instincts. This is actually gonna work.

"You know our stay here actually hasn't been too bad." Kai says, the corners of his lips turning into a small smile.

Daisy looks at him like he was an idiot. "Uh- yeah, no." She shakes her head, laughing. "It's been bad. Very bad."

The two exchange laughs for a few moments, before Kai lifts his head up to watch as the shower begins with its few streaks of light. He took a shaky, deep breath as he returned to face Daisy. "Okay." He lets out quietly, nodding in reassurance for himself.

Daisy swallows harshly as she watches him grab Bonnie's blood, and pour it onto The Ascendant. He holds it in one hand, and with the other, he held onto Daisy's. 

She didn't look away from him as she heard The Ascendant click open, too petrified to move in fear she might mess something up. "You ready?" He asks, looking just as nervous as her as he glanced in between the night sky and The Ascendant.

Daisy shook her head. "No- I- I don't know." She laughed awkwardly, her voice shaky.

Kai squeezed her hand a bit, a signal in showing that it'd be okay. She closed her eyes when he did, and listened to him begin the spell.

She felt the urge to sob creep up in her throat, but she stifled it down. She knew she was an emotional person, but this feeling was so desperate and unknowing- it almost hurt. She wanted nothing more than to be free, with him.

When his spell came to it's sudden close, they both opened their eyes- seeing their last glimpses of this world they'd grown so familiar with.

And then they saw a very bright light.

a/n
long update bc i've been so so so busy w school and i feel bad for leaving yall on the hook for a week :'(

anyways, hope u enjoyed !