a matter of time, baby

“But maybe happiness isn’t in the choosing. Maybe it’s in the fiction, in the pretending: that wherever we have ended up is where we intended to be all along. — Lauren Oliver, Requiem

Life in the Haze:

The Hydrus was born and raised in Stella Valley as a sweet little, innocent princess. Everything about her invited others to be her friend, her kindness rubbed off on others; her life was perfect and she loved everything about it, even through the drama and hardships. As she grew she learned to accept everything thrown at her. That was the type of girl she was, the one who could have so much thrown at her and so much on her plate, but she’d be able to handle it. Kate majored in international relations and left Stella Valley only for six years to move back and fall in love with Jay Holden. He got her involved in the political world even more so, and she helped him win the run for Governor of Stella Valley. The two dated, married, and fell apart just as quick. He began to cheat on the pure hearted girl, slowly turning her into a monster. Instead of causing a scandal with the media and ruining both her husband and her life, she kept it a secret and turned into a snake. Everything that came out of her mouth had another meaning only Jay would know, she began to blackmail and torture others. Slowly she made her way back to her husband, but only in the political way. She pretended to be the nice, dedicated wife so he would tell her his plans and she would modify them behind his back and slither in her ideas. 

When the bombings began, it was Katelyn who told her husband what to say since he was so scared he peed himself. She took control and helped others rebuild their apartments and buildings; she was the face of showing no fear. Kate was the leader of the Rebels the Night of Stars, she called them in and told them when to attack, all the while watching her creations strike fear into the hearts of everyone. At the end of it all, Katelyn was the last standing. She saw scattered dead bodies mingled with the bodies of those who passed out and woke up. She remembered it all in that moment, looking out, and before she woke from the haze a smirk appeared on her face, knowing she had won. 

Her past in Izanami:

Katelyn was always a strong, ruthless woman. Nobody knew how ruthless and strong she was until she was of an older age. She was of a top socialite family in Sector Three; her father a creator of weapons for the Fighters and her mother was a professor at the top college in Sector Three for languages (French, Russian, and her native tongue Italian). She was born on the top and she worked her ass off to stay there. She made sure everybody loved her at every place she went to. A bow in her hair, a nice dress, a smile that said “hello,” and a sweet voice to top it off. All her kindness may have been true, but the evil snake that was her trueborn name kept hidden underneath her skin. Katelyn made sure she looked perfect and as she grew into her teen years she made herself look so perfect it was scary. Things about her changed, she made threats to get things she wanted, but always made them sweet, she got others secrets and told them to follow her or have their dark secrets exposed. She snaked her way around others and people saw her as one who could handle much on her plate and still keep walking. She made her way into the business world and it was no trouble for her to get the respect she deserved. She was always an argumentative woman, loving the controversial topics and bantering back and forth, even if she lost the argument (which was slim) she never cared about losing because she loved to get into the minds of others and fight for what she believed in. She gave little to lies from others and stupid stories, her cunning ways landed her to being the C.E.O. of the major weapons manufacturing business (which her father started but made her work for her position). The snake the itched under her skin more and more, until she met Jay Holden and fell in love with the stupid man. He swooned her and soon the two married. Well into the beginning of their marriage Jay began to cheat and lie to Katelyn (who loathed lying). Angry and full of revenge, Katelyn met Damien Burns, who after years of studying the Royal Family knew exactly who he was. The two developed a relationship and he revealed his invention to her. She fell in love with the idea and the talk of all the power he would receive rubbed onto her and soon she wanted the power. She wanted to be Queen. She played the role of helpful companion and encouraged his dreams and once the Haze was made she volunteered herself and Jay to be the first ones inside. She’d planned their whole fake lives so she would be the least suspected (though her hateful personality would set others off).

Connections:

Inside the Haze, Garrett Sterling was her husband’s bodyguard. She confided in him and spent countless nights crying in front of him. He was the only one she could trust. Coming out of the Haze Katelyn has had to act like a victim around him. Jay Holden is her husband and the cause of her crying inside the Haze. Both inside and outside the Haze, he had cheated on her multiple times and was the reason her heart turned to black so easily. She did once truly love him, but that time passed and now he is more of her puppet. She acts like he is in charge, but he is per puppet and once she is crowned Queen, she is going to drop him like a fly. 

Inside the Haze, it was told Norma Webber had had her affair with Kate’s husband. Kate developed a deep loathing for the other woman and made her life a living hell and her daughter’s Florence. Keeping her facade, outside the Haze she continues to make their lives hell and enjoys it.