#Bennett bloodline

[roisy]

I mean, if Bonnie HAD to be the last Bennett witch (which was lazy and complete bullshit) then it should've meant something. Like have a prophecy that the last living Bennett witch would either save the world or bring it to its knees.

Her bloodline was the cornerstone of the supernatural world. Immortality in basically all forms, the Other Side, and paved the way for spirit magic?

Everyone worth their salt would've been shook if they heard a prophecy about a Bennett witch.

(... yes I'm writing a long fic based on this concept.)

[melmedardasworld]

I read your metas and loved them! What is your opinion about the Traveller's storyline? I really thought that we would get more Bennett history since it was revealed that Qetsiyah is one, but it was mostly focused on the Parker family, really.

First off, thank you for your kind words and taking the time to read my thoughts! The Traveler storyline certainly had a lot of potential, especially in relation to Bonnie’s rich family history. It was a shame how they wrapped it up so quick and just made a mess out of it. It didn’t help that we got the love triangle being dragged and forced once more to come to the conclusion that true love doesn’t exist; it was just a spell to break a 1500+ year old curse. I know TVD is a romance show, but come on…. It was corny to me.

While the show introduced significant lore surrounding the Travelers and the witch community, through Qetsiyah and Silas, it did more to explore the Parkers than the already established Bennetts. No surprise it was around the same time JP had plans to kill of Bonnie for good but Kat convinced her that there was more to tell, we would have gotten Liv as the go to witch for the MFG. Considering that the Bennetts are a prominent witch family with a deep-rooted history in magic and set the TVD lore of the universe for us, it was a missed opportunity not to delve into their family's connections with the Travelers.

Qetsiyah and her descendants: Qetsiyah stands out as one of the most powerful witches in the universe. If her storyline had been more entwined with her descendants, too, we could have expanded on how her actions created ripples throughout supernatural history. Her creation of the Immortality Spell led to significant schisms for magic, the impact of which could have been explored through Bonnie’s bloodline. This could have included infighting among offshoots of her bloodline or even other Traveler branch clans (like the Parkers or Silas’s family, for example) who either supported or rejected Qetsiyah’s actions. It’s what we the show so often popularized as the Balance of Nature aka the Spirits. I believe this relationship dynamic could have been enriched by introducing Bonnie to (distant) family members who did adhere to the strict ideals to not use magic without rules (the Spirits / Spirit Magic) or those betrayed by their forebears for cursing them. Also, her having zero interactions with Bonnie?? Nah that’s some bs.

Potential for Infighting: I also think this would introduce a narrative where the Bennetts’ bloodline suffers from centuries infighting due to differing ideologies about magic and the use of their powers. The show could have introduced family members who either aligned in favor of Qetsiyah’s actions (replacing Markos and his group) or fiercely opposed them (we already had the Spirits and we only saw the Bennetts at the forefront of it), providing more depth to Bonnie’s character development and the complexity of magic and it’s lore.

The Travelers Curse

The origin and implications of the Travelers’ curse were also somewhat convoluted to me when it was revealed tied to Stelena and true love not actually being true love or destiny. As I said, we also got a whole new witch family introduced when the Bennetts were right there. Onto my thoughts about how the plot could've gone.

Historical Context: When Qetsiyah created the immortality spell, it caused a schism within the Traveler community. Many of the branch family’s (Parkers and Silas’s) already feared the power of Qetsiyah and her family. They knew they were powerful, and Qetsiyah was a step above that too. But with her true immortality spell and defying Nature itself for love, they believed that this family's seemingly unlimited power was a threat to them. Keeping the Balance was just an excuse they could use to strengthen those fears and cripple her and her family. So even after Qetsiyah’s brother killed her to redeem his family, the other Traveller covend insisted on further measures—leading to what is known as the Traveller’s Curse placed upon Qetsiyah’s descendants. Again, this introduces some intrigue and infighting in one of the earliest witch covens.

The Curse’s Mechanism: To prevent future disruptions by his family, Qetsiyah’s brother promised the other Traveler families to limit the power his bloodline, forcing it to scatter whenever they attempted to congregate as large coven. If they did, this resulted in disasters and plagues or their death, effectively suppressing the extraordinary abilities and potential of Qetsiyah's descendants. The Bennett witches today may be known but remain unaware of their full history—their curse hidden and forgotten even from them.

Living Bennett Witches: Contrary to the show’s narrative, which suggests very few Bennetts are left, I feel it’s important for the story to recognize that their bloodline is significant and widespread. Even on an individual level we get so much of their feats, inventions and spells. This concept would open the door for multiple lines of the Bennett family, allowing Bonnie to discover relatives with diverse views on magic, some aligned with tradition and others breaking away from it.

Thematic Depth and Character Development

The motivations behind magic use in TVD could have been explored more deeply. The recurring theme in the TVD universe was witches maintaining the balance of Nature often felt hypocritical and biased and even bitter. Yet the Bennetts frequently disrupted it with their feats.

Nature’s Perspective: The concept around Nature as an entity that puts things back into balance is intriguing. Rather than being strict overseers, the witches could have been portrayed as part of a wider supernatural ecosystem, where even supernatural beings like vampires, hybrids, and werewolves might eventually be normalized instead of abominations and whatnot.

Potential for Conflict: By aligning the story with Bonnie's journey, we could have seen infighting not just among the Travelers, but also among witch factions within the Bennett line—those adhering to Nature's rules versus those who pursue Qetsiyah's radical legacy, even if that wasn't her intention at all. Such tensions could have elevated Bonnie’s journey as she navigates her identity, her ancestry and power.

I know you said you’ve read my metas but below some links on my theories and the travelers / Qetsiyah and the Bennetts specifically.

My Love-Hate Relationship with the Travelers

Qetsiyah's Legacy

Modern Bennetts and Nature

[saintsir4n]

Omg yes, Klaus returning to NOLA after finding out Marcel was alive and then struggling to have a natural relationship because of their greed for power but also their wanting to have family in each other. They had so many parallels and I agree with what you said about how they forced Hope into the plot to give him the exact same thing.

People do routinely say “Marcel isn’t a Mikaelson” which is both anti-adoption and I don’t doubt it’s coated with sly racism. They could’ve explored his dynamic with Kol, and why Kol hated him (it was obvious but still, that was put on the back burner). Marcel’s relationship with Elijah was strained due to Klaus’ possessiveness and fear of abandonment.

There was so much to explore with the family that we were given and adding that to the central plots, Ester, Dalia, Mikael, the Strix, the ancestors… I felt like the storyline would’ve been goated but nope.

This is not me dissing Hope at all, I like the idea of her character don’t get me wrong and I can’t analyse her fully because I block out season 5 and I haven’t watched Legacies. However, I do feel like they should’ve done more with the materials, like Henrik mentions of even how there were times that hinted to him being a wolf like Klaus. Like that boy was the catalyst for vamperism.

They destroyed Kol over and over again as if he wasn’t interesting and had the desire for magic and it would’ve been cool to see him trying to get it back as well as him being a vampire. They could’ve had him in more scenes with Bonnie or even had him take an interest in the Bennett bloodline, as it was the backbone of the TVD.

Finn… don’t get me started on how the fans judge him for simply not wanting to be a vampire and getting revenge for being abandoned and held hostage for 900+ years. His mind was deteriorating for centuries and everyone calls him a bore… he’s one of the most sympathetic family members to me.

And yes, Klaus’ bio dad should’ve stuck around more, it would’ve been interesting to see how Klaus would’ve acted or reacted to Ansel’s characterisation, and vice versa. Ansel’s reaction to the family’s history/ dynamics. Even giving him some tips on being a dad and seeing that being pushed onto Marcel. Ansel helping Klaus at accepting his wolf side because it seems like he repressed it and often mocked it at times because of others and Mikael.

At times I felt like they gave the Hayley most of the Wolf plots… I didn’t care about the wolves in general but considering Klaus was one of the main characters, it would’ve been cool to see him navigate being both a vampire and werewolf.

Kol is such a baby in this scene and I love him for it. Clearly, Klaus can't resist how adorable he is either.

Another reason to resent Julie, because imagine if The Originals was actually about the family becoming whole again...

[acknowledge-reigns]

Y'all 🥺

[cancerian-woman]

Klonnie AU: After a difficult reunion with her mother, Bonnie did not expect Abby to share the news that when Mikael were to rise, he wouldn't just seek his children's deaths, but wanted revenge on the Bennetts. With her relationship strained with Elena and her lack of trust in the Salavatores, Bonnie felt devastated by the potential threat to her life. Unwilling to give up, Bonnie boldly forges an unlikely alliance with Klaus to put a final end to their shared enemy. Season 3 AU

[bennett-mikealson]

Ppl give Esther too much credit.

If she cheated on her man and hid the fact that Klaus wasn't Mikeals for all them years what makes yall think she could make an immortality spell on her own when she could barely do magic herself???

Sis stole that spell!!!

[icepandawarrior]

It's crazy to think that Julie had fine ass Gina Torres, Ms. Jessica Pearson herself in The Vampire Diaries...

Just to have that blue eyed grinch face smirking bourbon drinking pick me fucking loser fave of hers kill her off and for no fucking reason

[lilypads17]

do you know how bad i want to write a vtmb/suckening crossover where they end up wandering into the asylum

[videogamepolls]

Video Games Polls 1-Year Report

I've been running this blog for a full year and I've polled nearly 3,000 games, so I wanted to post an updated report with the top 10 games for each of the four options included in my polls, plus a couple other categories.

📊 General Stats

Games Polled: 2,864

Average Sample Size: 728

Games with 40%+ "yes" votes: 149 (5.2%)

🏆 Most Played

Games with the highest percentage of "Yes" votes:

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 93.9%

Pac-Man (1980) - 93.4%

Wii Sports (2006) - 87.7%

Tetris (1985) - 86.9%

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet (1995) - 85.5%

Pokemon Go (2016) - 82.9%

Minecraft (2011) - 81.1%

Angry Birds (2009) - 80.1%

Stardew Valley (2016) - 79.3%

Space Invaders (1978) - 78.5%

🏆 Most Known But Not Played

Games with the highest percentage of "No" votes:

Raid: Shadow Legends (2018) - 85.8%

Final Fantasy XI (2002) - 82.1%

Far Cry (2004) - 79.3%

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018) - 78.3%

Far Cry 2 (2008) - 78.2%

Halo Infinite (2021) - 77.6%

Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999) - 75.4%

Final Fantasy V (1992) - 76.4%

Baldur's Gate (1998) - 76.1%

Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000) - 75.8%

🏆 Most Watched

Games with the highest percentage of "I watched someone play it" votes:

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy (2017) - 54.2%

I Am Bread (2015) - 51.3%

Octodad: Dadliest Catch (2014) - 47.0%

Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach (2021) - 45.6%

Baldi's Basics in Education and Learning (2018) - 43.5%

Amanda the Adventurer (2023) - 42.5%

Phasmophobia (2020, Early Access) - 41.3%

P.T. (2014) - 41.0%

PowerWash Simulator (2022) - 40.4%

The Mortuary Assistant (2022) - 38.7%

🏆 Most Obscure

Games with the highest percentage of "I've never heard of it" votes:

Jessica's Uncomfortable Hanukkah Adventure (2023, Early Access) - 97.8%

Batty Zabella (2022) - 97.6%

Citampi Stories: Love & Life (2019) - 97.0%

Tears - 9, 10 (2002) - 97.0%

Just, Bearly (2018) - 96.9%

Anito: Defend a Land Enraged (2003) - 96.6%

That Damn Goat (2023) - 96.5%

Star Seeker in: The Secret of the Sorcerous Standoff (2020) - 96.4%

Cisini Stories: Girl Life RPG (2024) - 96.4%

Dear Substance of Kin (2019) - 96.3%

🏆 Most Balanced

Games with the most even spread of votes:

Human Fall Flat (2016) - 19.3% Yes | 28.5% No | 26.1% Watched | 26.1% Never Heard

Kerbal Space Program (2015) - 21.9% | 31.1% | 24.5% | 22.5%

The Henry Stickmin Collection (2020) - 19.3% | 29.2% | 22% | 29.5%

Ib (2012) - 24.1% | 26.8% | 19.2% | 29.9%

Superhot (2016) - 24.9% | 25.1% | 30.5% | 19.5%

Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc (2010) - 25.8% | 31.1% | 20% | 23.2%

Limbo (2010) - 30.2% | 28.7% | 23.9% | 17.1%

Wobble Dogs (2022) - 18% | 25.4% | 25.2% | 31.3%

Slay the Princess (2023) - 30.2% | 27.4% | 26.1% | 16.4%

Golf with Your Friends (2020) - 13.9% | 16.9% | 23.6% | 30.8%

🏆 Most Votes

Games with the most number of votes:

3D Pinball for Windows – Space Cadet (1995) - 11,773

Robot Unicorn Attack (2010) - 7,600

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) - 4,329

Flight Rising (2013) - 4,132

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (2004) - 4,053

Final Fantasy XV (2016) - 3,056

Zero Escape: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors (2009) - 2,844

Dark Souls (2011) - 2,823

The Dinosaur Game (2014, AKA Chrome Dino Game) - 2,758

QWOP (2008) - 2,636

*I did not take most Pokémon games into consideration since I handle those polls a little differently.

Check out my results spreadsheet for an alphabetized list of all poll results plus some other stats, and in case anyone is interested in comparing results to past reports here are the links to my 6-month and 9-month posts.

[klonnieshippersclub]

I’ve had this edit saved for over a year now. I am not the original creator and I believe they got their account deleted as a disclaimer.

I love everything about this edit. It is so honorable to Bonnie and the Bennett’s. It depicts a different storyline than what we were given with them. I wish they were given a bigger forefront than some other character’s families. This is the superior witch bloodline to me, they are the creators and the blueprints! This is a matriarchal line of black and brown women how amazing is that?!

Julie could not relate to Bonnie which applies to her “struggles” (racism)writing her and her bloodline. If a fan can make an edit like this then there is no excuse why a writer couldn’t uplift Bonnie and her relatives. The Bennett’s are still the superior bloodline to me.

[themoonandthedogstar]

okay but wtf was Bonnie not being at the Mikaelson ball or even mentioned in that whole ep, just for 3x15 to start with Bonnie testing a spell Elena saw whilst listening to her rant about Damon the next fucking day?!?

Bonnie should’ve been at the ball especially because that’s where Esther - who is channeling the whole Bennett bloodline - did the spell that linked the originals

[roisy]

Forever mad Qetsiyah and Bonnie didn't interact.

Qetsiyah when Bonnie brings a boy back to life who then goes on to cheat on her:

Qetsiyah when Bonnie *dies* bringing back the boy who cheated on her:

[melmedardasworld]

The way the writers retconned Silas being the creator of the immortality spell failed hilariously.

Clearly, she was the better witch of the two, using traditional magic btw to steal her spell for him and Amara.

Hell, witch!Silas even used the Solar boundary spell she taught him to trap her and Sefan in the cabin.

Only thing I can attribute to him is him teaching Bonnie Expression, but I wonder if he’s actually used it himself (because it is the most powerful form of witchraft using only your will) during his time or if someone else he knew.

[hyperactivewhore]

Nothing about why Hope is a powerful witch makes sense, considering the Mikaelson and Labonair bloodline.

Her paternal grandmother wasn't the great witch everyone thinks, she went to her sister for a fertility spell, was always channeling someone and out of her seven children, only two inherited her magic gene. Hayley and Klaus both descend from the seven original werewolves bloodline, but that only means Hope should have been a crazily overpowered werewolf destined to destroy them all, not the death to all witches.

I get why Klaus was her father, due to being the original hybrid, but Hayley? She was a good mother, don't get me wrong, I'm not criticizing her but the writing, and it's obvious neither of them had a strong witch bloodline. But do you know who did? Bonnie Bennett.

She should have been Hope's mother, it's what makes the most sense plot-wise.

[acute-crashout-jeyuso]

Power: a Rhea Ripley x Bloodline fic.

Chapter 14: J

Demi stood in front of the mirror, brushing her hair with deliberate strokes. The sunlight filtered through the cabin windows, casting a soft glow on her reflection. She felt a sense of empowerment coursing through her veins, a feeling she hadn’t experienced in far too long. After speaking with Jonathan and Joseph, she was finally on the path to the life she wanted—a life where she could choose freely. A life with someone who wouldn’t try to share her, someone who valued her as more than a piece in their elaborate puzzle.

She set down the brush, grabbed her wallet, and took a deep breath. This was it—the start of her new beginning. She heard the honk of the limo outside and smiled. The sound felt like a symbol of her freedom, her next step forward.

She exited the cabin, her heart light with the anticipation of what lay ahead. The driver stepped out, tipping his cap respectfully before opening the door for her. "Miss Bennett," he said with a polite nod.

"Thank you," Demi replied with a smile, stepping into the limo.

But the smile faded the instant her eyes landed on the figure seated inside. Joe.

Her breath hitched, and her grip on her wallet tightened. He was dressed impeccably, as always, exuding the quiet authority that had once drawn her to him. His dark eyes met hers, unreadable yet piercing. Her happiness faltered, replaced by a storm of emotions she couldn’t immediately name.

She hesitated, her body frozen in the doorway, but Joe gestured toward the seat across from him. "Sit," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Demi swallowed hard and forced herself to move. She climbed into the limo, closing the door behind her, and slowly lowered herself into the plush seat opposite him. The door shut with a soft click, sealing her inside with the man who had been the center of so much of her turmoil.

Joe watched her closely, his hands resting on his knees, his posture relaxed yet commanding. "You look… determined," he said, his voice carrying a subtle edge. "Heading somewhere important?"

Demi narrowed her eyes slightly, refusing to let him rattle her. "Yes. Somewhere that has nothing to do with you."

Joe leaned back, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You’ve always had a way with words, Demi."

She didn’t respond, her jaw tightening as she stared at him. The power dynamic that had once defined their relationship felt different now—shifted, but not entirely gone.

Joe tilted his head, studying her. "I wanted to see you before you left," he said finally. "To talk."

"Talk?" Demi repeated, her tone incredulous. "What could you possibly have to say, Joe? Haven’t we said enough?"

Joe sighed, his expression softening, though his eyes remained sharp. "I want to make sure you know what you're walking away from. What you're choosing to leave behind."

Demi’s gaze hardened. "What I’m leaving behind, Joe, is a situation that no longer serves me. A situation where I wasn’t treated like an equal. I’m choosing something real. Something I deserve."

Joe nodded slowly, as if considering her words. "And you think that’s with Joshua?"

Her stomach flipped at the mention of Joshua’s name, but she held her ground. "Yes. I think it is."

Joe leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. "I’m not here to stop you, Demi. But I need you to understand something. Joshua… he’s not as strong as you think he is. Not when it comes to you."

Demi frowned, confusion creeping into her expression. "What are you talking about?"

The limo came to a stop, and Demi felt a knot of unease tighten in her chest. The driver opened the door, and the crisp air rushed in. Joe leaned back, gesturing toward the open door. "Let's head in."

She stared at him for a moment, searching his face for any sign of deception, but all she found was that infuriating calmness he always carried. Without a word, she stepped out of the limo, her mind racing as she walked toward what she thought would be the next chapter of her life.

But even as she moved forward, she couldn’t shake the lingering feeling that Joe’s words held more weight than she wanted to admit.

As they were led to a private dining room that was enclosed, Joe pulled out a chair and gestured for Demi to sit. She hesitated for a moment before softly lowering herself into the seat. Her movements were deliberate, as if she were bracing for whatever this meeting would bring. Joe took his seat across from her, his presence as commanding as ever.

The waiter approached with a bottle of red wine and expertly poured it into their glasses and then he excused himself. Demi watched in silence, her fingers lightly drumming on the edge of the table.

Joe picked up his glass, swirling the liquid lazily before taking a sip. “I remembered you prefer red,” he said casually.

Demi’s eyes flicked up to meet his, her expression cold. “So what?” she asked, her voice laced with sarcasm. “You think because you finally chose a red wine, I’d stay with you in this… dynamic?”

Joe chuckled softly, setting his glass down. “I figured you’d appreciate the little things.”

Demi rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “The little things,” she repeated, her tone biting.

Joe leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes fixed on hers. “Do you even realize how good you have it? Private jets. First-class flights. Sixteen thousand dollars a month wired to your account. Jewelry—endless jewelry. All I’ve ever asked is for you to dedicate your body and soul to each one of us. Is that really too much to ask, Demi?”

Her jaw clenched, and she looked away. “I’m sorry, Joe,” she said softly. “I thought I was in love with you.”

“You still are,” Joe said firmly, his voice unwavering.

Demi shook her head, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not.”

“You are,” Joe insisted, his voice calm but with an edge of certainty.

Demi’s hands tightened into fists. Her chest heaved as anger and frustration bubbled to the surface. Without thinking, she grabbed her wine glass and hurled it to the floor. It shattered on impact, the sound ringing out through the room.

“NO I AM NOT!” she shouted, her voice cracking.

Joe stood up abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. In an instant, he closed the distance between them, pinning her to the wall with his hands on either side of her. His eyes burned with intensity, his face mere inches from hers.

The air between them was charged, thick with tension. Demi’s breath came in short gasps, her heart pounding as she stared up at him.

Joe’s grip loosened as realization dawned on him. He stepped back, his expression shifting to a stoic mask. He ran a hand through his hair, his movements slow and deliberate.

“You’re not leaving,” he said, his voice low and steady.

Demi pushed herself off the wall, her chin lifted in defiance. “Joshua is the one I want to be with,” she said, her voice firm.

Joe’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His silence was deafening, heavier than any words he could have spoken.

Joe backed up slightly, his expression a mix of anger and desperation. “You’re confused,” he said, his voice strained. “You don’t know what you want.”

Demi’s eyes flared with frustration, her hands trembling at her sides. “I do, Joe,” she said firmly.

Joe pointed at her, his voice rising. “I heard you! You communicated with me! I heard you every single time you went into a room with one of them!”

Demi threw her hands up in exasperation. “I was confused, for fuck’s sake, Joe!” she yelled.

Joe’s breathing grew heavier, his jaw clenching as he processed her words. “I know what you told me,” he said, his tone quieter but laced with steel. “And I will never leave it alone.”

Demi took a step closer, her voice breaking slightly as she spoke. “Joe… I had never been with anyone else before you. Everything I experienced with Jonathan, Joseph, and Joshua—it was so different. It was new. It was overwhelming.”

Joe’s eyes narrowed, his tone sharp. “So you admit it. You admit you wanted them.”

Demi shook her head, her voice firm. “I told both of them that my experiences with them will always be a memory. That’s it. A memory.”

Joe’s fists clenched at his sides, his voice trembling with fury. “You’re not fucking leaving,” he said, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her stomach churn.

Demi stood her ground, meeting his gaze with equal fire. “I am leaving, Joe. And you can’t stop me.”

The dining room fell into an eerie silence, the weight of their words hanging heavily in the air. Joe took a step back, his face unreadable, but the storm in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

“Sit down.” Joe commanded but Demi didn’t listen and she kept her posture.

Joe’s eyes darkened as he leaned forward, placing his glass firmly on the table. “Sit down, now,” he commanded again, his tone leaving no room for argument. This time, Demi felt her knees weaken, and despite every rebellious fiber in her body, she sank into the chair. Something about the way he said it didn’t scare her—it reminded her of the submissive role she had once willingly embraced.

Joe took another measured sip of his wine, his demeanor cold and calculated. “Your life is made,” he stated, as if it were a universal truth, unshakable and undeniable.

Demi opened her mouth to retort, but her words faltered. Finally, she managed, “But… what if I want kids?”

Joe’s expression didn’t waver, but his reply caught her off guard. “I have one. I’m doing just fine.”

Her eyes widened, her heart racing. “You… you have a child?” she whispered, stunned. In all their time together, he had never once mentioned this.

Joe leaned back in his chair, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “If you want kids, pick one of us to father it. But you’re not leaving us.”

Demi’s stomach churned. The weight of his control pressed down on her chest. “What if I want marriage?” she asked, her voice breaking slightly.

Joe laughed, a low, dismissive sound that made her fists clench under the table. “We can marry each other,” he said, as if the idea were a joke.

Her heart sank, tears threatening to spill over. “You know what I want, Joe,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “And this… this isn’t it.”

For a moment, Joe’s smirk disappeared, replaced by something darker, more dangerous. He leaned in close, his voice low but firm. “You think you know what you want, Demi. But you’re wrong. What you want—what you need—is already in front of you. And I’m not letting you walk away.”

Demi blinked back her tears, her resolve shaking but still intact. “I’ll never stop wanting more,” she whispered.

Joe stared at her, his silence heavier than his words had ever been. The battle between them was far from over.

Demi’s hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the table, her breath uneven as she fought to keep her emotions in check. “Why couldn’t it have just been me and you, Joe?” she asked, her voice cracking under the weight of her feelings. “Why did it have to turn into this… circus?”

Joe exhaled, his expression unreadable, though his dark eyes locked onto hers with unsettling intensity. “Because you were always meant to be like this,” he said quietly, gesturing toward her as though she was some masterpiece he had helped create. “Right here. Right now. Sitting across from me, knowing what you’ve been through, knowing what you’ve felt. This is who you’re supposed to be, Demi.”

Her throat tightened, the lump rising as tears threatened to spill. “It was supposed to be just us, Joe,” she whispered, her voice laced with heartbreak. “That’s all I ever wanted—just you.”

Joe leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table as he clasped his hands together. His voice dropped, but it cut through the air like a blade. “Maybe I was just tired,” he said with a shrug, as though his reasoning were perfectly rational. “Tired of seeing you so… vanilla.”

Demi recoiled, confusion and anger flashing in her tear-streaked eyes. “What the hell does that even mean?” she demanded, her voice rising as her composure slipped further.

Joe smirked faintly, his gaze never wavering. “It means you didn’t even know yourself,” he said bluntly. “Not until you were with them. After every session, after every punishment or reward, you had this glow. This… aura. You don’t even understand how beautiful you looked.”

Her breath hitched, his words a cruel twist of the knife. “I looked beautiful because I was broken, Joe,” she snapped, her voice shaking with rage and grief. “You broke me. You all did.”

Joe’s expression didn’t falter. If anything, he looked proud. “I saw a picture of you after Jonathan punished you,” he said, his voice soft but full of an unsettling reverence. “You looked… otherworldly. Untouchable. Like no one could hurt you, even though you’d been hurt. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He paused, his gaze burning into hers. “You never looked like that when it was just me and you.”

Demi’s stomach twisted painfully, his words slicing through her like shards of glass. Her voice cracked as she whispered, “Do you even hear yourself right now? You’re telling me that I wasn’t enough for you. That I had to be—what? Hurt? Used? Controlled? Shared? Just to make you think I was alive?”

Joe’s jaw tightened, his stoic demeanor breaking for only a fraction of a second before he regained control. “It wasn’t about me,” he said defensively. “It was about what you needed.”

“What I needed?” Demi scoffed, her laugh bitter and hollow. “You don’t know a damn thing about what I needed. You just wanted to control me, to shape me into something that fit into your world. That’s not love, Joe. That’s manipulation.”

Joe sat back, his expression hardening. “And yet, here you are. Sitting across from me, still fighting to understand why you can’t walk away.”

Demi stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor as she rose. Her legs felt weak, but her resolve kept her upright. “You’re right, Joe. I stayed too long. I let you convince me that this was what I deserved. But not anymore.”

She turned to leave, her steps unsteady but purposeful.

“You won’t leave,” Joe said firmly, his voice calm yet commanding.

Demi froze for a moment, her back to him, before she slowly turned to face him. Her tears had stopped, replaced by a quiet fury. “Watch me,” she said, her voice steady and cold. She turned once more and headed to the door.

“GET BACK HERE AND SIT DOWN!”

Demi hesitated at the door, her hand gripping the handle tightly as her mind screamed at her to leave. Joe’s voice rang out behind her, sharp and commanding.

“SIT DOWN.”

She froze. Her heart pounded in her chest, a battle waging between her mind and body. Her mind told her to walk away, to finally reclaim her life. But her body, conditioned to respond to the voice of her dominant, betrayed her. Slowly, reluctantly, she turned and walked back to the chair, sinking into it without a word.

Joe exhaled deeply, his dark eyes watching her every move. “That’s better,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “Now, let’s talk.”

Demi avoided his gaze, her hands trembling as they rested on her lap. “What’s left to say, Joe?” she asked, her voice low and strained. “I’ve already told you what I want.”

Joe leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table as he studied her. “No, you told me what you think you want,” he said. “But what you feel—what you need—is right here, in this room.”

Demi’s head snapped up, her tear-filled eyes locking onto his. “You don’t get it, do you?” she said, her voice breaking. “I don’t want this anymore. I don’t want to be just another piece in your game.”

“This isn’t a game, Demi,” Joe said, his voice soft but intense. “This is us. This is everything we’ve built together. Everything you’ve discovered about yourself. Don’t you see? No one will ever understand you the way I do. No one will ever love you the way I do.”

“That’s not love,” Demi shot back, her voice trembling. “Love doesn’t feel like this—like I’m suffocating, like I’m losing myself.”

Joe stood slowly, his presence looming over her as he stepped closer. “You’re not losing yourself,” he said, his voice low and intimate. “You’re finding who you really are. And you’re scared of it.”

Demi shook her head, tears slipping down her cheeks. “I’m not scared, Joe. I’m just done.”

Joe moved closer, his eyes never leaving hers. “You’re not done, Demi,” he said softly, his voice like a magnet drawing her in. “You’re just running. From me, from yourself, from what we could be.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but before she could speak, Joe cupped her face in his hands, his touch firm yet gentle. His thumb brushed away a tear as he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers.

The kiss was slow, deliberate, filled with the passion and dominance she had always known in him. It wasn’t just a kiss; it was a claim, a reminder of everything they had shared, everything he had awakened in her.

Demi tried to resist, her mind screaming at her to pull away, but her body betrayed her once again. Her hands moved to his chest, not to push him away but to steady herself as she melted into him.

Joe pulled back just enough to look into her eyes, his forehead resting against hers. “You’re mine, Demi,” he whispered, his voice rough with emotion. “You always have been, and you always will be.”

Demi’s resolve crumbled. She closed her eyes, a sob escaping her lips as she nodded, her hands clutching his shirt tightly. “I hate you,” she whispered, her voice cracking.

Joe smiled faintly, brushing his lips against hers once more. “No, you don’t,” he said. “You hate how much you need me.”

And in that moment, Demi knew he was right.

[cancerian-woman]

I know why but it’s very telling people define the Bennett’s as the weaker bloodline because they aren’t shown as combative as the other witch bloodlines. When none of the other witch bloodlines have any creations to their name.

This is a very short meta of my “the Bennett’s are just as capable of being ruthless” thoughts.