𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍, 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐞
Decisions

THALIA WAKES UP with a gasp escaping her plump limps, breathing heavily, her chest moving upward and outward.

Once she settles down, she looks around and raises a brow, confused about why her surroundings are unfamiliar to her. Changing her uncomfortable position, she sits down, hugging both of her knees.

Before her is a wonderful scenery that can only be seen in paintings, gazing at the ocean, the waves are gently drenching the sand.

Oh, how Thalia thought she could stay here forever, birds flying in the clouds, their chirping sound is calming and relaxing.

"Elie," A voice behind her says. Startled, she frantically turns around to see who the unknown person is to her, and familiarity washes over her as she quickly stands up from her place and runs towards the person.

"Mom," She breathes out as she hugs the woman tightly, afraid of letting go, pulling away gently to examine her mother's age. Lilith Cohen-Bennet still looks the same since Thalia last saw her, which was almost 14 years ago.

"H-How what? How is this possible? Where am I?" Thalia bombards her with questions, and Lilith silences her by placing her soft hand on Thalia's cheek.

"You've grown, Thalia," Lilith adoringly says, focusing on every crevice of her daughter's face, a look of sadness crossing on Lilith's features, "I missed all of this."

"Mom, it's okay. It's not your fault you and Dad aren't there. Speaking of dad-" Thalia says as she cuts off her own sentence looking around, then she hears a man's voice behind her.

"Wouldn't miss this opportunity to see my beautiful daughter again," Karl laughs.

Oh, how Thalia missed that loud laugh of his, "Dad," Thalia runs towards him and hugs him. Karl spins her around and places a kiss on her forehead.

"My little girl, not so little anymore, I see," Karl chuckles while looking at her up and down, "I missed you, Elie."

Lilith smiles and walks towards them as she and Karl hug Thalia. It's a lovely sight to see. Thalia pulls away and looks at them confusedly and questions, "H-How is this possible? Am I dead? Did Liam kill me?"

Lilith and Karl look at each other and purse their lips, and the man nods at Lilith, and the woman just sighs and rolls her eyes.

Karl isn't really good at these conversations, placing a comforting hand on her daughter's cheek, giving her a sad look, and saying, "He did, but it doesn't mean that you're dead, dead," Lilith begins.

Thalia's eyes widen, about to open her mouth. However, Karl shushes her and says, "Let your mom explain first," Thalia nods as Lilith leads her toward the shore, with Karl following behind.

"Liam shot you with a gold bullet Thalia, the only thing that can cause permanent death to a Banshee," Lilith continues and sighs while taking Thalia's hand in hers, and continues, "This-" she says while looking around their surroundings, "This place is where Banshees go after they die."

"So I did die," Thalia says, confused, and frowns, thinking of what she must've Carlisle is going through at the moment. Her heart breaks at this thought.

"Technically," Karl interrupts with a chuckle as Lilith rolls her eyes and looks at Thalia, and says, "You know that our bloodline skipped my generation Thalia, so I was never a Banshee. Your father and I are here because our ancestors let us through to help you make a decision."

"A decision?" Thalia asks curiously while her eyes look to Lilith and Karl, wanting her questions to be answered.

Lilith gives her a motherly smile and says, "A banshee who dies from natural causes passes through without a problem, but a banshee who died because of supernatural or intentional causes, for your example, Liam is a witch, Thalia, he killed you for his interest, and banshees like you are always given a choice."

Thalia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, and releases a heavy sigh. She looks at them and purses her lips, "What choice?"

"To either stay here and come with us, or you can go back," Lilith says, and Thalia looks shocked at what her mother is telling her.

Thalia looks at her father, and the man just gives her a tight lip smile but nods nonetheless.

"I can stay? With both of you?" Thalia asks while gripping both of their hands, and the two just smile and nod.

Then she remembered her grandmother, Celia, then the man she had confessed her soul to and his family, the family who treated her as if they had known each other for decades.

"I know what you're thinking, Thalia," Lilith laughs lightly while shaking her head, "A mother knows when her daughter is having a debate with herself," She places a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder as Karl wraps his arms on Lilith's waist.

"We're not going to be mad when you choose to go back. We're going, to be honest-" Lilith says while looking at Karl to continue what they talked about before, and the man defeatedly sighs and smiles gently at Thalia and says, "Your mom and I decided that it's best if you go back."

Thalia frown and says, "You don't want me to come with you?"

The two shakes their head in disagreement, and Lilith speaks up, "Elie, you don't know how much I want you to stay with us and make up the lost time" and sighs as she takes both of Thalia's hand and continues, "But you still have a lot to go on back there, your life isn't finished yet, it's just starting."

"And as your parent, we always want what is best for you, Thalia, and what makes you happy, and we know who does that," Karl declares with a laugh.

He continues, "Tell him to protect my little girl, or else I'll make a deal with whoever is in charge here, and I'll hunt him for the rest of his immortal life if he ever hurts you," he says with a stern voice, yet his eyes gleaming, betraying his aura of being a protective father.

Lilith playfully slaps his chest and shakes her head with a laugh, wrapping her arm around his waist and placing her head on his shoulder. She looks at Thalia and smiles. "He's good for you, Thalia."

Thalia hugs them both tightly and mutters, "I miss you both so much," the two return her hug, a contented smile on their faces, as Thalia pulls away and curiously asks them, "Before this, have you both found peace?"

Lilith and Karl look, and each other, and Karl gives him a pleading look to let Lilith do all the answering and talking.

The woman just annoyingly rolls her eyes at him and pulls Thalia down to the ground, sitting on the sand, and longingly looks at the ocean and says, "Just recently."

Thalia looks at them, confused. They've been gone for a very long period of time. "How recent?"

"When you met Carlisle," Karl tells her.

Lilith continues his sentence, "We can't find peace when we know and see what you've been through, Thalia, with your banshee side getting triggered because of our deaths and you being in pain because of your need to scream when you feel an upcoming death, and then Liam, and what he did to you," Lilith says a tear falling on her cheeks.

"And we're so sorry we weren't there to help you. We feel so useless," Lilith continues with a sob escaping her lips as Karl hugs her from behind and looks at Lilith with guilt on his features.

"We're so sorry that we're not there to prevent that from happening, Thalia," he stands up and goes to his daughter's side and hugs her placing a kiss on top of her head.

Thalia shakes her head and disagrees. "It's not your fault, Mom, Dad. It's not anybody's fault, but Liam's."

Lilith then pulls Thalia towards her and places her head on her chest, and cradles her body, "And then you bumped into Carlisle. We knew that Carlisle had been watching over you, and we had hoped that you would find your happiness soon enough, and you did. He's the person you are meant to be, Thalia, ask the adorable pixie," Lilith tells her as she rubs Thalia's back comfortably.

"And he gave us peace of mind that you'll be safe in his care," Karl says with a smile. He truly is grateful for Carlisle helping his daughter.

"We trust him," Karl adds while Lilith nods in agreement.

"Have you made your decision?" Lilith asks.

Thalia nods, "I'll go back," she says as the two nod, placing a kiss on the side of her temple.

Lilith hugs her and tells her, "We are so proud of you, Thalia, for the strong woman that you have become, never doubt our love for you, my darling Thalia," she says.

Karl adds, "Go enjoy your immortal life."

Thalia looks at him in shock, she didn't know that she would be in transition in a matter of minutes, and Karl realizes his mistake. "Oh, right, Carlisle gave you his venom. I'll let him explain that when you wake up."

Lilith sighs, glaring at Karl. She looks at Thalia and says, "Don't worry, it won't be painful. Our ancestors will help you in your transition."

While Thalia just nods, trusting her mother and father, she hugs them both tightly and says, "I love you both so much."

"We love you too," They say in unison before Thalia tells her goodbyes. Lilith whispers in her ear, "Tell Mama that I'm so thankful for guiding and taking care of you, and tell her that I love and miss her dearly."

Author's Note:
➵I think this is a well-deserved scene for Thalia.