ALICIA ORTIZ.

“You need to do it. You need to,” she told her, a hand coming up to stroke her hair gently. “There’s no other way,” there was a sad smile forming on her lips, as that’s what Alicia also said to Sonia about this whole thing. It’d be too hard to stop and try again. If she let them go now, having already angered them, there was no telling what they would do to the town. It was already hanging on by a thread. 

Alicia knew she was right. If she let go now, who knew what the witches would do? This was their only chance to stop them, and Alicia had to take it, even if it meant sacrificing more than she’d originally thought. “There’s no other way,” she agrees, one last time, before taking Sonia’s hands and shutting her eyes. Sonia’s still a relatively new vampire, so she’s not extremely powerful, but channeling from her gives Alicia enough juice to keep a firm enough hold on the witches as she finally begins to open the door. The magic’s draining them both now, but Alicia keeps going. She’s so close to finishing this, she can practically taste it. It might have taken minutes, or hours, or even days, but finally, finally, Alicia succeeds. The door opens, she pushes the witches through, and begins to close the door. Even with Sonia, there’s barely enough magic to do it: Alicia knows that this is the end for them both. “I love you,” she whispers, locking eyes with Sonia as the world begins turning gray around her.

She began to grow nervous, just knowing that something was wrong by the way Alicia’s face changed expressions from determined to utterly stressed, moving towards exhaustion. She rushed to her side as she dipped to her knees, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder before shaking her head, “No, you can do this. I know you can do this. You can’t let them get into town,” she told her, before offering her her hands. She was afraid, but a bit of courage, and the desire to do at least a little good overweighed the fear that she felt. “Just–just channel me. I know I’m not really powerful or anything but…just see if it’ll work,” she told her.

Completely exhausted, Alicia looked into Sonia’s eyes and tried to hold on to the determination in her voice - at least until she offered herself as something to channel from. “No, no. I can’t,” she tried to protest, but her voice was weak. The still in Pilar’s constant tirade told her everything she needed to know: channeling Sonia would be enough to finish the spell. But what would it cost her? “What if I hurt you? What if it... what if I take too much?”

The kiss was a sweet parting, even though this made the reality of what was happening all the more real. It was happening right now. Her eyes widen as Alicia starts the spell, and she tried to stay back, to not shake her and stop her from doing all of this. “Okay. You got this,” she told her, taking a step back, careful to keep her voice soft as not to break her focus. Even though she so desperately wanted to. She managed to send a few texts quickly, saying goodbye to Dominic, just in case. If she made it through this, she’d just say that she felt like giving him some words of encouragement. She didn’t bother to text her sister–if she did end up dying and word got back, she wanted her to think she just died human.

Finding them was one thing, but  dragging them back here and keeping a hold of them all was agonizing - even without a corporal form, they all fought tooth and nail. The stress was clear on Alicia’s face as it began to pinch with discomfort, trying to start the second spell while keeping a solid hold on the first. You’re failing, little witch. Pilar’s voice in her head was a nuisance - even more so because the elder witch was right. She was losing her grip on the witches, too much of her magic spent on trying to open the door. “There’s too many. I can’t hold them,” she gasped through gritted teeth, her legs giving out as she dipped down to her knees. She couldn’t lose. She couldn’t let her ancestors beat her again. She had to do this.

She sighed, relenting. She didn’t like it, but it now clicked that it was the only way. That she didn’t really want to do this, either. That she didn’t want to leave her and everything else behind. She paused–yeah, Sonia didn’t want to die. But what kind of person would she be if she wasn’t there for her. She wanted to be there for Alicia, as fucked up as it was. “Okay,” she nodded, “I’ll just–be here. As silent support, I guess.” She felt her throat closing up, and she had a feeling that even though she was just going to be there, that she’d end up dead, too. That was just her luck, and with all that had happened to her, she should have died a long time ago. “I’m not going to leave you here alone.”

“Okay,” Alicia said, silently ashamed of the part of her that was relieved Sonia was going to stay. She knew what she had to do, but she didn’t want to die alone. “Okay,” she says again, reaching one hand out and pulling Sonia close for one last kiss. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was enough to steel Alicia with enough determination to begin her own end. “I’m ready,” she affirms, before stepping backwards into the circle. The chalk starts to glow as the witch chants, her eyes drifting shut as she lets her conscious drift out of her body, feeling like it’s reaching out in tendrils to grasp at what’s left of her family. It takes a few moments of chanting and searching, but finally she’s located them all. “Okay, I’ve got them,” she calls to Sonia, her hands forming fists even though the physical action won’t really help the magic. “Stay back.”

“Oh.” it only took that much but Paige was at least aware to a degree that it wasn’t just a matter of snapping fingers together and sending them back. “Don’t know if i’m overstepping but isn’t that gonna take a lot of power or energy…-pretend I know what I’m talking about with the whole witch-y thing.”

She nodded, chewing on her lower l.ip, the little liens in her face furrowing even more out of sadness, rather than disappointment. She stuffed her hands in the pockets of her shorts, and she wanted to argue more with her, but with the conviction in which she told her all of this. It seemed like it was the only way. Yet, she couldn’t help but ask, still, “Are you sure there’s no other way?” she took a cautious step closer, eyes flickering to the circles of chalk, just now realizing how much of the town had been affected. “And if there’s no other way,” she pressed her lips together, before confirming, “Then I’ll go with you. You shouldn’t do this alone. I can protect you or something.”

“The spell that backfired and created the prison world was blood magic. Only witches with enough Ortiz blood can open or close it. Even the spirits can’t - I’m the only one left. It has to be me.” Her tone held nothing but conviction, but the look in her eyes was clear: she needed Sonia to understand. She needed her to know that this was the only way, and that she wouldn’t be going through with it otherwise. “What? No. Sonia, you have a life. You have friends, the hospital... Dominic.” She’ll never learn to like Dom again, but she knows Sonia still loves him, and he still loves her. “You can stay to watch, but I have do this on my own.”

Hazel smiled sadly, unshed tears forming in her eyes, before she moved closer and wrapped her arms around Alicia.

Wrapping her arms around Hazel as she comes forward, Alicia squeezes her friend tightly and works hard not to cry into her shoulder. “I’ll miss you,” she whispers, not trusting herself to say anymore.

“But why do you have to die to do it?” Harley was as upset as she was angry., This wasn’t at all about her but it just always seemed like fate wanted to take away everybody she tried to hold dear, everybody who was ever kind to her. It was distressing and Alicia knew better than anyone that sometimes she wasn’t strong at all so her words weren’t a comfort, they were just words. Harley made a small grumble of protest when the witch took her face in her hands but she remained there silent, listening to what she had to say. The more she spoke, the more color drained from her already pale skin until finally, she leaned back out of her grip. Tears subsided, an almost blank stare crossed her eyes. “No.” Harley whispered. “You think that I can just ignore your death? I can’t. It’s not a choice. I don’t have a choice in that, even if I could think you died in order to save people, I can’t feel that. All I’m going to feel is how the life was ripped out of you until it hurts so much my lungs give out.” Harley was in a state of shock, there wasn’t any panic in her words, there was nothing in her tone - just a voice that came out soft and steady. “There is no honor in death, Alicia. You can tell yourself differently, martyr yourself for the sake of others and die for your mistake but in the end… No grace comes from a death so tragic.” Her arms rested on her thighs and she snapped a little bit out of her trance, clear by the new bubble of tears that arose in her eyes. “I know you need to hear me tell you I’ll be fine and I know you need my support but- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I can’t support you in this, I love you, Ali - I will not tell you that what you’re doing is noble and just because to me it isn’t. A mistake should never be corrected with the price of a life.”

She walked in, cautious as the disapproving look stayed on her face, taking in the disarray. If she didn’t know better, she would have thought that she was having a psychotic break. She pushed down the lump that formed in the back of his throat, clearing it to ask, “So, walk me through this. What are you planning to do, exactly?” she questioned gently, chewing on her lip. She knew she wouldn’t like the answer, and Alicia was rushing, as if here was a time constraint she was fighting against, but Sonia wasn’t going to lose Alicia because she didn’t ask. Or because she didn’t stop to think for a second that there could maybe be another way, one that didn’t involve her death. Losing her, her best friend, a girl she loved, that was entirely too much to handle. 

“First, I have to call them all out of the bodies of the people they’re possessing and bring their spirits back here.” She gestures to one of the circles drawn in chalk on the floor - the landlord will be pissed, but the witch will be too dead for him to take it out on her. “Then I have to reopen the door, for lack of a better word, and force them all back through. And then I close it.” Alicia sighs, feeling a bit of her nerve waver as she sees the emotions flicker behind Sonia’s disapproving mask. Leaving her friends was never part of the plan. She wanted to save them, not condemn them to a life without someone they loved. “It doesn’t sound like a lot, but opening the door nearly killed me the first time. Opening and closing it again, all while trying to keep hold of all my ancestors... I don’t know of any witch who’d be able to handle it and come out the other end unscathed.”

To be truthful, Sonia didn’t really know what was going on with Alicia and the coven. Of curse, she had explained it to her, but she just didn’t get the gravity of the situation. To her, it more so seemed like she was turning to the easiest, most destructive option. And she wanted to convince her otherwise–there had to be another way. She didn’t even look in the mirror or grab her bag as she left, only her car keys, speeding on the way there. She hopped out of the car, running up to the door and knocking on Alicia’s door with her hand, “Hey, I’m here.” @stregaa

If she was being honest with herself, Alicia was ready to die. Leven had been right about this not being the time to pity herself, but she knew exactly what kind of damage she had done to this town. Pilar was still in her head, taunting Alicia with all of the things her coven would bring upon the residents of Mystic Falls, and Alicia knew it was entirely her fault that any of it was even possible, accident or not. Sonia and Harley were the only things holding her back, but she knew Dominic would look out for them - even if they hated each other, they both loved those women. Her living room was in shambles as she prepared her final spell, ignoring Pilar’s screams that were beginning to feel like a migraine, only stopping when she heard Sonia arrive. “I have to do this, Sonia. It’s the only way.” She doesn’t bother with any preamble as she lets the vampire inside, the look on her face solemn but resolute. “This is the only way I can stop them.”

“And that means a lot to me.” Though she was fairly certain that Alicia knew that, he was the spinning center of her universe and without him, she was lost with no direction. “Promise. I’m working on it.” 

“Huh?…-” she wasn’t sure what the female was talking about in the slightest, which was why she looked so damn confused. “I’m gonna sound completely out of the loop but what’re you gonna fix?”

Hearing Alicia admitting she was wrong, that was music to his ears. ‘’If you’re leaving me some sort of suicide note, I really don’t give a fuck.’’ He said, as she handed him a piece of paper but listened as she went on to talk about the witches. ‘’You’re the only one?’’ He didn’t understand why, he didn’t understand much of anything lately.. ‘’I guess the whole town is fucked then if that’s the case.’’ Because he didn’t believe in Alicia. She had ruined things for him, so, he didn’t have hope she would fix anything else for anyone. ‘’Close the door? To what? A portal to another world?’’ He didn’t know anything, he knew people had been possessed but that was about as far as his knowledge went. ‘’Pilar? What kind of fucking name is that? Isn’t a pillar something that holds up a building? Because I’m about to knock that one down if she even goes near Sonia.’’ He had no fucking idea who Pilar was, but he guessed it was Alicia’s problem from the way she put it. ‘’What did I say? That you’re going to ruin her life.’’ And the fact that someone was now out to kill Sonia, well, he just proved his words right. Dominic felt like laughing in Alicia’s face, but he held back. ‘’Also, who the fuck are you now? You my genie in a lamp granting wishes?’’ Because it sounded like it. ‘’Promise you what? Not to kill you? Seems you’ve already got that covered, don’t worry, I won’t crash your funeral either.’’ Because he didn’t care if Alicia lived or died. She didn’t matter to him. Her being gone wouldn’t ruin his life. It would make it better. 

“I’m going to die. I probably won’t warrant a funeral, so you won’t have the chance to crash.” Alicia sighs, already unbelievably exhausted with this conversation. Now that she’s accepted what has to happen, more than anything she just wants it over with. At least then it’s not hanging over everyone’s head, not hanging over her own head. There are only two things that are keeping her here, worrying her, and oddly enough Dominic is the solution to both of them. “I want you to look out for Sonia and Harley. I know you don’t like me. I don’t like you, either. But we both care about them and want what’s best for them. And me doing this is what’s best for them, so just... take care of them. Please.”

‘‘How about don’t fix anything?’‘ He suggested, not having any idea what she was going on about, well, he had one idea. ’’You can’t bring Leith back because if you could, Leven would have done it already.’’ Dominic would have helped Leven find a way, if it had been possible. ‘’So stop trying because you’ll fuck everything up if you keep trying.’’ He didn’t know how many times he had to tell Alicia the same thing, but he did it again, just in-case she had any ideas. ‘’My life would be a lot more easier if he was around, but he’s not, and I accept that. Not because I want to but because it’s better. If he comes back, Kai comes back and you know Kai kidnapped your girlfriend.’’ He was referring to Sonia. ‘’Might want to check that she’s still your girlfriend though.’’ And he didn’t mean it in a everyone’s possessed sense. 

“I know,” she says, feeling shocked that she’s admitting her own wrongdoing in front of Dominic but doing so nonetheless. “I know I was wrong. And she was never my girlfriend, Dominic, so there’s no use in trying to hurt me with that. I know she still loves you. She’s told me as much.” Alicia sighs, knowing what she has to do despite not liking the idea of it all that much. “I’m the only one who can get rid of the witches possessing people. My family’s magic is the only kind that can open and close the door. To save everyone, I have to die. So you’re going to get your wish,” she admits, before reaching into her pocket. “Actually, you’re going to get two of your wishes. Pilar wanted to give Sonia the cure and then kill her, to hurt me. She found the cure, but she never got the chance. I won back control, and Sonia doesn’t want the cure. But you do.” She fingers the slip of paper in her pocket, hesitating about taking it out and handing it to him. “I know where the cure is. I’ll let you know how to find it, how to use it. But you have to promise me something first.”

“Well, for that to happen, you’re going to have to stick around to remind me of it. Otherwise, it’s never going to happen.” Harley’s tone was flat. A wash of unfiltered emptiness had crawled under her skin and intertwined itself with the death and heartache she couldn’t ignore. “I met someone recently who has promised to help me. Abaddon is dead, she has left me alone after promising she wouldn’t-” her eyes filled with tears and she shifted from foot to foot. “But he told me I could learn how to get there in time to save people. All I do is find bodies and I’m sick of it. I’m tired, I’m- I’m…” she couldn’t finish, she had to stop in order to literally choke back the sob that threatened her lips. “I can’t do this. Ali,” she squeezed her hand, stepping forward with a plea in her eyes. “I can already feel it, like an itch under my skin-” she meant, she could feel Alicia’s death looming over her head. “Please. Please don’t do this. Don’t do this to yourself… Don’t do this to me,” finally, a cry broke through and her tears spilled down her face. Harley was losing her breath, one hand still gripping tight at hers, the other clenching Alica’s shirt. “Don’t martyr yourself. You messed up but- it was a mistake- we..I could help you get away, you could leave- you- anything… Please, don’t stay. I don’t want to feel you die, I can’t feel that- I won’t be able to keep going if you make me feel your death!” having lost all breath in her lungs, her head shook furiously in protest and she let go to clutch her chest and neck as she stumbled backward. Her hands moved to the sides of her head as she straightened up, blocking her own ears, attempting to regain her own control. “Everybody leaves me, Ali. Everybody either dies, or they leave. Please. I’m begging you, please, don’t leave me too… please” crumbling under her own sadness, her legs caved and she fell to her knees. As much as she pleaded, she knew in her guts it was pointless, nothing she could say would change what had to happen - that’s what caused Harley the most distress. 

“I know that you made a mistake and that you don’t need my forgiveness. But from me and him. We forgive you and..we’re proud of you.” She relents before pulling her into a hug because she knows it’s what she needs and for once, she wants to be the person Leith would be in this situation. “We understand what it means to make sacrifices.”