Chapter Text
“You’re a loser, you know that right?” He snorts, propping himself up with his elbows. She fixes her fishnets, looking at him from the mirror on her bedside table. He smirks, running his hand back through his hair. “I’ve been told. Multiple times. You of all people should know, I don’t really care.” He lays back flat. His eyes focus on the draping canopy over her bed. His copy of Superunknown plays the background.
She brushes back her hair. He looks over at her, taking note of her appearance for the first time this evening. She wore a silver chain Victorian choker with her family’s talisman hanging below it. She had added a few purple streaks in between her long dark tresses. He preferred how she dressed now compared to a few months ago. It was obvious to him she’d changed to fit in with his crowd. He enjoyed the attention, and frankly found her much more tolerable since, though, at times he missed when she was more meek. He had an easier time manipulating her then. He wasn’t sure why he kept her around, especially after she’d given him what he wanted, but he assumed it was because she was part of the bigger plan. He couldn’t wait to parade her after his win. Effectively tarnishing her family’s reputation, and one upping his father.
“Don’t you have anywhere else to be?” She asks, slipping on one of his missing flannels. “You know, like a job or I don’t know, school?” He chuckles, holding his hands to his chest.
“You know it makes my heart swell that you’re so concerned,” his eyes diverted over to her direction. She’d managed to get herself ready in under 15 minutes, filling her backpack with the journals he’d distracted her from when he climbed into her window the night before. “I’m serious, Kai. You’re almost 22. What do you plan on doing with your life.” He snorts, turning on his side, resting his head against his palm. He hated it when she bitched at him, but held any spiteful remarks on the tip of his tongue.
“Miss Bennett, You of all people should know that my family legacy means I may not live to see the next year. Why bother with anything finite if life isn’t promised?” She leans into her mirror, running a purple lipstick over her lips.
“My mom said Jo got into med school,”
“Big whoop!” He rolls his eyes, laying flat again.
“You could pretend to be happy for her, you know.”
“Why? She’ll be dead by our 22nd.” He says nonchalantly, spiking his hair up.
“You’re pretty confident?” She raises an eyebrow. He smirks, cracking his bones and wrapping his hands behind his head.
“I’m betting my life on it.” She rolls her eyes, grabbing the pillow closest to her and hitting him over the head with it. He chuckles, grabbing ahold of the pillow and pulling her into the bed. She giggles, relaxing in his embrace. He rubs her back, absentmindedly, moderately enjoying the closeness.
“Leadership would be wasted on your sister." she says seriously, looking up at him. "There's also the fact her magic sucks." he chuckles, rubbing her back. "No matter how fucked in the head you are, she’s like, no competition.” he nods, his foot tapping in time with Fell On Black Days. “They’re going to make sure you lose.” She says, turning her head to rest on his chest. He shuts his eyes. His jaw clenched. “My mom and Abby are helping Jo with the merge. Your dad asked them to help make sure she wins.” She says plainly, getting up from him and fixing her outfit.
“Why are you telling me this?” She shrugs, fixing her hair.
“Just giving you a heads up.” He nods slowly, biting his inner cheek.
“Good to know.” he sits up on his arms.
“BONNIE HURRY UP!” She shuts her eyes, sighing.
“You’ve got to magic away or something.”
“Or what?” He challenges her. Her eyes snap open, her hands finding their way to her hips.
“ Or what? Or my sister will literally incinerate you if she finds you here. And then she’ll tell mom and she’ll make sure your ashes will never be found. I don’t feel like dealing with that shit today. That’s what.” He rolls his eyes, sitting up.
“Kiss goodbye, then?” He raises a brow, watching her battle with herself. He loved the look of uncertainty in her expression before following through. She leans over the bed, one knee on the mattress, inches from his face as the door flies open.
“Bonnie! Come on! I told you-” the older Bennett sister pauses. An array of emotions crosses her face before settling with a frown. “Oh, you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” Angry magic flickers around her hands. “What is he doing here?” Her sister manages to say in a regulated tone.
“A Hello would be nice, Abigail.” He greets her. She juts out her jaw in irritation.
“I asked, what the hell are you doing here, Malachai?” He shrugs, stretching his arms out.
“Damn, you make my name sound like it’s evil or something?” He jokes, a small smile appearing on his face. Bonnie sighs, looking away from him, avoiding looking at her sister.
“Bonnie!” she yells. Her younger sister looks over at her, visibility irritated.
“What do you think?” Bonnie says plainly, leaning on one leg. Kai remains unphased, smiling simply. The elder Bennett takes a deep breath, pressing her lips tightly together before exhaling.
“Bonnie. Get in the car.” She instructs.
“And have you turn my room into a crime scene, yeah, I’m fine.” the older girl glares at her sister, dismissive of the statement.
“Bonnie. Go.”
“Abby-”
“Get in the car, Bonnie!” She repeats with vigor. Effectively shutting down any protests, shutting her sister up. The younger Bennett looks between the two before sighing. Resigning any fight for later. Kai knits his brows together, quickly grabbing her wrist and tugging her closely.
“Wait. You’re not leaving without saying goodbye, are you?” She blinks, feeling her sister sending daggers at them. He frowns, his eyes moving from her to the elder Bennett, a sour expression forming on his face momentarily. “Fine.” He releases her from his grip. “We’ll talk later.” She nods, brushing her hair behind her ear. Bonnie grabs her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder. Abby shuts her eyes pinching the bridge of her nose before looking at her younger sister. As she passes the older girl she finally looks at her, lightly brushing her shoulder as she walks out of the room. His eyes are cold as he meets the other woman’s gaze. Abby holds a finger up, waiting until the front door before flicking her fingers, locking the door behind her.
“You’re not welcome here.” She crosses her arms over her chest. He feigns ignorance, bringing a hand to his chest.
“Oh I’m not? My bad.” he pauses before smirking “But, you know, Bonnie was very welcoming last night. Abby grimaces in disgust, shaking her head.
“There’s a special place where they send men like you.” he raises his brows in faux interest.
“Oh yeah? Where?” He raises a finger, his expression brightening. “Wait. Wait. is this the part where you tell me I’m going to Hell? because, I’ve heard that one before. You’re going to have to do better than that Abby,” She snorts, poking her tongue against her cheek.
If there was one thing he was certain of, it was that he couldn’t stand the older Bennett girl.
“Prison.” She folds her arms over her chest. “That’s where they send sick fucks like you.” He chuckles, tilting his head to smirk.
“Is that so?” He feigns ignorance. “Because the last time I checked, your little sister is 18. There’s nothing illegal going on here,” he almost sings, mockingly. Abby clenches her fist at her side, the magic surrounding her hands tickling his hands. “You’re sick Malachai! You’re a fucking pest! I won’t have you infecting my sister with your madness.” He chuckles, wrapping the duvet around his waist and standing over the older woman. “I’m sick?” He snorts, looming over her. “You’re a Bennett witch fucking an original vampire. Let’s not throw rocks.” She blinks, thrown off, attempting to regain her composure. “You didn’t really think that no one would find out about you cavorting with that bloodsucker, did you?” He probes her. “But I’m the monster right?” He tilts his head, “Not the freak of nature you’ve volunteered yourself as a personal blood bag for.” He chuckles, clapping his hands together. “But I'm sure your relationship will succeed, you know. So long as he doesn’t drain you and leave you like the rest of his witch whore harem-” She slaps his cheek, her magic rattling at the tips of her fingers, waiting to be released. he holds his cheek, smiling at the reaction he'd coaxed out of her.
“You’re a pest Malachai, and the minute you lose this merge, the world will be free of the likes of you.” She straightens her back. He raises his brows, tilting his head.
“You sound confident.” The shorter woman raises her hand by her side, an offensive spell at the ready.
“I’ll see to it you, you frea-” he smirks, grabbing ahold of her biceps and siphoning, smiling sickly at her.
“Aht, aht, aht. I’d watch how you speak to me Abigail.” He whispers into her ear, inches away from her face. “It’s pathetic watching you pretend to care about you sister as if we all didn’t already know you helped to cover up the fact your mother binded your sister’s magic. You know, the magic that makes her more powerful than the both of you combined.” he chuckles, grabbing his dog chain. “You guys let her think she was a freak like me for 15 years. But, at least you didn’t treat her like shit the way you guys did with me. But the thing is, freaks stick together.” he leans closer to her. “So, I mean, technically, I have you guess I have you guys to thank for getting us together.” he smiles almost innocently, gripping her arms harder. “You didn’t think that your attempt to make nice with her by giving her those magic lessons were the reason she’s been improving, did you?” He chuckles, as she whimpers in pain, tears fogging her eyes.
“Bonnie’s not leaving me and I’m not losing the merge, no matter how much help you and your mother give my sister. And when I win, I’ll show you all just how hard it will be to do away with me.” he releases her arms, using his new magic to clothe himself. “If you have half a brain cell, I'd slip Josette some of her boyfriend's blood before the merge, you know” he unwraps a lollipop from his pocket, shoving it in his mouth.“Just in case,” he pats her shoulder, straightening his back.
“You know, I’m glad we had this talk, I feel so much better.” he claps his hands together, brushing past her weak body and opening the door. “I’ll have your car back at 10,” he winks, leaving her leaning against the wooden drawers. "God, I love Bennett Magic."