˖*°࿐chapter twenty one.
xxi. WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS

———

Tonight was Jo and Elena's turn to watch Janelle. They weren't supposed to be at the lake house, but her brothers weren't available. Well, Damon was, but Elena insisted on trying to get on Janelle's good side. Even though it wasn't entirely her fault for what her baby has done. As for Stefan, he wasn't exactly comfortable being around his sister after what happened the previous night.

He still loves Janelle, obviously — he just wanted to give her the space she needed.

Jo picked up a plate of fruit she made off the counter and turned to Elena. "Okay, I'm gonna bring this to Janelle, you stay here. I don't want you provoking her baby."

Elena scoffed, "Provoking her? Like it's my fault."

Jo waved her off. "Oh, you know what I mean." She walked into the living room to where she saw Janelle on the couch with headphones against her stomach. "What are you doing?"

"Shh!" Janelle hushed her as she opened her eyes. "I'm playing Mozart for the baby to bring out her peaceful nature. Studies show that babies can hear and remember songs from the womb."

"Hm, that's lovely." Jo sat down next her, placing the plate on the coffee table in front of them. "How about you eat something since you haven't had anything to eat all day."

Janelle cringed at the sight, "I've been nauseous all day."

"You've been a little fresh all day," Jo retorted.

She picked up a slice of watermelon and without either of them realizing it, the piece of fruit turned into raw meat. "I'm thinking about trying acupuncture. I hear that helps." Janelle brought, what she thought was watermelon, towards her mouth.

She was about to take a bite until Jo gasped, grabbing Janelle's wrist. "Janelle, don't."

She dropped the meat onto the plate, completely disgusted now. "Aw, I'm gonna puke."

"Maybe your baby would prefer to listen to Ozzy," Jo commented.

"My life's a mess," Janelle whimpered, hiding her face in a pillow.

Janelle felt hopeless.

Within a matter of five days, her child was able to completely take over her life and she wasn't even born yet. Pregnancy was supposed to be something Janelle was going to enjoy, but now she was completely drained. There really wasn't anything that could have possibly made this experience worse for her.

"Jo, your phone is —" Before Elena even got the chance to finish her sentence she yelped as Janelle abruptly stood up and threw fire at her.

Never mind.

On instinct, Elena vamped to the other side of the room. Jo reacted quickly by pushing Janelle's arm down. Janelle's lips formed into a thin line as she looked away.

"How come your baby only attacks me?" Elena questioned, trying to keep her composure.

"I don't know, Elena, she must resent you. I mean, you never really liked her father," Janelle mentioned.

"With good reason!" she yelled back. "Hey, maybe you resent me and the baby's just modeling after mom."

Janelle frowned, "Elena, how can you say that?"

"All right, enough!" Jo interrupted their arguing. "The two of you will not address each other, you will not set foot into the same room until further notice, got it?"

Both of the girls rolled their eyes and Elena walked back into the kitchen, shaking her head. "Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath.

Jo faced Janelle, "Now, you. You're gonna get the Grimoire and figure out a way to control Chucky there."

"I can't. I told Cassandra I'd meet her in about half an hour."

"She wants you to go out in public? I don't think that's a good idea. Your baby —"

"Is fine," Janelle finished for her. "Just as long as she doesn't feel threatened and meet anyone with unresolved issues with her father!" she raised her voice, emphasizing the last part.

"I heard that!" Elena grumbled.

———

It probably wasn't wise to have Janelle out in public at a time like this, but Cassandra couldn't wait any longer.

This was a matter of life and death.

Janelle killed a Phoenix — that weakened the coven. It would only be temporary, but now their powers weren't as strong as they used to be. If someone were to attack again, there's no telling if they could fend for themselves.

Cassandra asked Janelle to meet her at a diner, still outside of town. It was near closing time, so they were the only ones there.

"So have you figured out who's behind all of this yet?" Janelle asked taking a seat across from Cassandra.

She shook her head, "Unfortunately, no. I've had visions, but I haven't seen anyone I recognize. Whoever it is, is staying out of the action."

"Well, that's just great," Janelle mumbled sarcastically. "We haven't gotten any closer to finding out who's put a death wish on me."

"I've already told you, Janelle. This person doesn't want you dead."

"Oh, right. They just want my baby," Janelle scoffed. "But what's to stop them from killing me once they have her?"

"That's not going to happen," Cassandra assured her. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she replied. "I think the baby's resting. It's when she's active and using magic that it affects me the most."

A waitress came around with two drinks on her tray and placed it down on the table. "Here. I ordered you some iced tea. It'll cool you off."

Janelle took it from her with a slight smile. "Thanks." Just as she was bringing the glass towards her lips, she was forced to throw it across the room. "What the hell? I can't even enjoy some iced tea?!" she exclaimed.

"Um, it wasn't iced tea," Cassandra confessed, making Janelle tilt her head as she furrowed her eyebrows. "It was a binding potion."

Janelle's gaze hardened. "You were going strip my child's magic? Do you realize that would have taken away mine as well? I'm vulnerable without my powers."

"I'm sorry," Cassandra apologized. "Chris suggested it to help control the baby and I couldn't tell you because if I did, she would've stopped you."

"She stopped me anyway," Janelle said. "She knows things that I don't know. She's trying to take control of me."

"You can't let that happen. If she takes control, she'll never let go."

Janelle's phone vibrated on the table and she picked it up to read the message.

[rebekah] please tell me you're still at the lake house

[janelle] no. i'm at a diner just outside of mystic falls with cassandra

[rebekah] get out of there now. they're coming for you

[janelle] who's they?

[rebekah] the werewolves that attacked you. i know who sent them

[janelle] well tell me!!

"Janelle," Cassandra rapidly tapped her forearm. "Janelle. Get up."

"Why — oh, my God." She got up from her seat when she saw four men standing right behind her. They were dressed the same as the people who broke into the Boarding House.

"G-Get away from me," Janelle stuttered out. "You can't have her."

Janelle was beyond terrified of what they would do to her, or her baby. She didn't want to lose her

Cassandra easily sensed that one of them was a witch, but she couldn't pinpoint which one. Something was throwing her magic off. That's why she didn't have a vision of these people coming earlier. She tried using her powers to throw them all into the wall, but it didn't even phase them.

But it sure as hell pissed them off even more. "We're not the ones who want the child," the tallest one spoke. "If you come willingly, we promise to go easy on the witch."

Janelle grabbed Cassandra's arm in panic. "Don't think so." One of the men stepped forward and a beam of blue light shined out of Janelle's hand, easily vanquishing him. "How did I —"

"No time. Let's go," Cassandra cut her off.

Both of them shimmered to the lake house where they knew was the safest place to be. As soon Janelle set foot in the house, she hunched over, clutching her stomach.

Cassandra quickly caught her, "What is it? What's wrong?"

"My stomach," she answered, shakily. "It's like something's t-tearing."

Hearing all the commotion from the other room, Jo ran in. "What's going on?"

"We were attacked at the diner. She tried to use the baby's magic, but it's overwhelming her." Cassandra hovered her hands over Janelle, trying to heal her, but nothing was happening. "I can't heal her."

"B-Blood," Janelle choked out, grabbing onto the nearest thing, so she could steady her balance. "The baby needs to feed on blood."

Jo wasted no time, going into the fridge and grabbing one the blood bags Elena had left for when she got hungry. She ripped open the seal and passed it to Janelle. Almost immediately, she gulped down all the contents in the bag and threw it over her shoulder when she was done. Unfortunately, it still left Janelle feeling weak. She moved to walk again, only to end up falling to her knees.

"Oh, God," she groaned, feeling another jab in her lower abdomen.

Jo got down behind her and held her hands, trying to make her comfortable. "It's okay. Just breathe. You're gonna be just fine."

Janelle listened to what she was saying and took slow, deep breaths. She found herself still struggling to make the pain go away. She felt like she was going to explode.

"Janelle, I need to call Klaus," Cassandra said to her, softly.

"Don't you dare," Janelle seethed, squeezing Jo's hand. "It's just going to give him another excuse to take me back to New Orleans."

"He's the father of your child. This involves him as well."

"I said no!" Her voice echoed throughout the room as it started to shake and some things were knocked to the ground. Her eyes turned black as she screamed in pain. "Let go of me!" Janelle shouted as she began thrashing around in Jo's arms.

Jo struggled to hold her down, "Any more bright ideas?"

"I don't care what she says. I'm summoning Klaus." Cassandra went into the hallway but stopped when the lights flickered on and off. "Who are you?" She asked the woman who appeared in front of her.

"Motis," the woman pushed Cassandra away with her magic, making her back hit the wall. Cassandra fell to the ground with a thud, rendering her unconscious.

The unidentified woman smirked, stepping over Cassandra's body and into the living room. She turned the corner, only to see that no one was there. In the middle of Janelle fighting with Jo, she had shimmered them to the Boarding House.

"Damon! Get in here!" Jo called for him and he appeared in a matter of seconds. "Well, don't just stand there. Help me."

"What's wrong with her?" he rushed over to them, holding down Janelle's legs.

"I don't know. I tried giving her blood for the baby, but it only made it worse."

"Janelle. Look at me," he grabbed her face, forcing her pitch black eyes to meet his. "This isn't you. Fight it."

"Go to hell," Janelle spat, trying to break free once again.

"Damon, she's burning up," Jo said, frantically. "Cassandra couldn't heal her and I doubt your blood is going to work."

"What is all the —" Kai stepped in, cutting himself off when he saw what was going on, "Janelle." He was at her side in a matter of seconds when he noticed her eyes. "Why is she —"

"When are you gonna give it up?" Janelle said towards Kai in a much calmer tone. "When are you going to realize that you're wasting your time? She doesn't love you. She never loved you, and she never will, yet you still try to fight for her?" She chuckled evilly as she shook her head, whispering, "Pathetic."

Kai let Janelle's word sink in and it clearly showed that it cut him deep.

Jo brought her twin's attention to her. "Kai, that wasn't her. It was the baby. Don't let her get under your skin."

Janelle scoffed, "Like he wasn't thinking it."

"Okay. We'll have to confine her until we figure out a plan. So, tie her down?" Jo suggested to Damon.

"Screw you, bitch!" Janelle snarled.

"Yeah, we're gonna have to put her in the cellar." Damon pulled Janelle up to her feet and she glared at him.

"You're too late," Janelle smirked.

Damon wrapped his hand around her neck as his thumb pressed down on spot behind her ear. Janelle's weight fell limp and Damon easily caught her. He slid one arm behind her back and the other underneath her legs as he picked his little sister up.

"What'd you do?" Jo wondered, standing up as well.

"She's got a pressure point on the back of her ear that only I know about."

Damon carried her down to the cellar in the basement, gently laying her across the small bed. He closed the door behind him, taking one last glance at Janelle before locking it. Damon hated having to do this to her, but he didn't have a choice. This was his only option until he could figure out how to fix Janelle.

If she could be fixed.

Kai went over to Damon. "How long will she have to stay down there?" he asked.

"Until I can find a way to save my sister, she won't be getting out there any time soon," Damon stated, going to grab his jacket. "Now, I need to go find Stefan, so that means you're in charge of her till I get back. If she wakes up, call me. No matter what she says to you, don't let her out. Got it?"

"Got it," Kai nodded.

"Good. The cellar is magically charmed, so her powers won't work as long she stays in there. And don't think just because I'm letting you watch her, it means I suddenly trust you." Just as Damon was about to leave, a crash sounded off in another part of the house. "Oh, great. Now what?"

"Wait a minute," Kai furrowed his eyebrows, scanning the room. "Where's Jo?"

There was a loud scream that was heard from the library. The two of them rushed in to find Jo lying on the floor with a huge gash near her temple. Damon bit into his wrist, feeding her some of his blood. Jo coughed from the metallic taste and pushed Damon's arm away. She wiped her mouth, sitting upright on her elbows.

"What happened?" Damon questioned her. "What were you even doing in here?"

"I thought I heard something, so I went to check it out," she groaned, rubbing her forehead. "Next thing I knew, someone knocked me over the head."

"Well, did you see who it was?"

"They were wearing a hood. I didn't see their face," Jo replied.

Damon sighed, turning to Kai. "All right, clean her up, and I'm gonna go get Stefan."

"No, wait, Damon." Jo latched onto the sleeve of Damon's leather jacket. "I think they're still in the house," she whispered.

The realization hit Damon when remembered what Janelle had told him earlier. "Janelle." He flashed into the hallway and basement door was wide open.

"No," he said to himself, running down the stairs as fast as his legs would allow him to.

Jo and Kai followed right behind Damon, becoming just as frantic as he was.

But when they finally got down to the cellar, it was in fact, too late.

Damon tried blinking a couple of times, hoping that his eyes were deceiving him, but they weren't. He just stared at the wall, sorrow, and guilt washing over his face.

"She's gone."