"Morning" Jade greets Rina when she made her way downstairs and finds Mac and Julian sitting near the kitchen island, holding two cups of coffee in their hands. 

"Morning" Rina greets back in more of a grumble than a greeting. "Mac, would it be possible for us to go to someplace like Starbucks so that I can get some breakfast?" she asks him.

"Yeah, of course" he says with a nod, "let me go warm up the car" he adds as he rose from his seat.

"You don't have to go all the way to some café just to avoid eating what Sm and I make, Rina" Jade says, saddened by the though of it.

"I told you that you would have to earn my trust, Jade" Rina points out to her. "I'm sorry to say, but I don't trust you and Sam yet, not even close" she adds as Jade nods in understanding at this.

"Alright then, let's go" Julian says to Rina as he rose from his own seat and made his way toward her. "You feeling okay?" he asks her when he notices that she looked a little sick.

"I'm fine" she mutters as they step out the house, "just a few consequences of mine and Godric's separation" she admits to him, seeing no need to lie to him.

She isn't sure if Julian knows about what she is even though she's sure that he knows by now that she's not fully human.

"I don't imagine that's easy" Julian comments in concern as Rina shakes her head no at this but makes no move to answer. "Maybe we should pass by the pharmacy?" he asks in suggestion.

"This isn't something that can be healed by medicine" Rina confesses with a small smile at his suggestion.

"Well that's rough" Julian comments with a slight flinch.

"Yeah well" Rina says with a shrug, "when has life ever been nice?" she adds.

"I can think of a few moments when it's been nice" he says, "of course they are few and far in between" he adds as Rina looks up to face the large man and meets his brown eyes.

Mac interrupts their locked eyes by pulling out of the garage and pulling up in front of the house as they made their way toward the car.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

"She's still really hurt, huh?" Sam asks her sister when she poured herself some coffee after she came downstairs and found Rina, Mac and Julian missing as Jade explained that Rina went out to go get breakfast.

"No shit" Jade says as she takes a sip of her coffee. "I think what really hurt her the most is that she opened up to you and well...we killed her" she adds.

Sam nods at this.

"While she's gone maybe we should work on setting some barrier spells" she adds as Jade nods at this. "How did she look?" she asks, wondering how being separated from her bonded mate was affecting Rina.

"To be honest she appeared normal but I can tell that something is happening to her though she won't tell me about it" Jade says.

"Personal feelings for us aside, I think that I need to have a chat with her" Sam says, "I need to explain to her that she shouldn't bear the pain alone" she adds.

"Good luck with that" Jade says to her sister.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

"Rina, can we talk?" Sam asks her when Rina returned, holding a bag of muffins in her hands.

"About?" Rina asks her.

"About a lot of things" Sam says, "Mac and Julian can come if you'd like" she adds as Rina nods at this as they headed to the backyard before Sam sits on the steps leading to backyard as Rina sits beside her.

"What's up?" Rina asks her as Mac and Julian stood at a distance to give them some privacy though their eyes were trained on the both of them.

"Before I say anything I want to apologise to you" Sam says to her, "you trusted me and opened up to me and I know that isn't easy for you given everything that's happened in your life" she adds, surprising Rina at this, "and I hurt you, so for that I'm sorry" she adds.

"Thanks for the apology" Rina says simply. Her tone isn't harsh but it isn't exactly trusting but Sam is happy to have done it and hopes that they can now work on rebuilding the trust that they shared before.

"In addition, I also wanted to know how you are?" Sam says to her, "really" she adds as Rina stared ahead of her at this.

"I feel like shit" Rina admits to her. "I feel like I'm going through fucking menopause" she says as Sam nods in understanding at this.

"Jade and I will help you gain better control of your powers" she says, "and hopefully when you do you'll have enough control to be with Godric without running the risk of physically hurting him" she adds.

"Thanks" Rina says as Sam nods at this.

"While you were gone Jade and I set up barriers all around the house and the general property" Sam reveals, "I'm sure Julian can confirm this" she says as she turned to face the werewolf where he stood as he nodded to show that he hears what they said and can confirm this.

"What are they for?" Rina asks as she turns to face Sam at this as her friend also turned to face her.

"When you activate your powers you will release a very powerful signature and heat wave until you have better control of yourself and we don't want any unwanted supernaturals stumbling onto you or who knows who they might tell" she adds.

"So the barrier keeps out unwanted supernaturals?"

"Essentially" Sam nods.

"But it wouldn't hurt someone like Joe, Bel or..." she trails off.

"Godric?" Sam concludes for her as Rina's stomach ties into knots at the mere mention of his name.

"Y-Yes" she says with a nod.

"No" Sam admits with a night. "But we could tweak it to keep...anyone that you don't want to see out for the time being" she adds, careful not to say Godric's name again given how poorly Rina had reacted to hearing it.

"No" Rina says as she shakes her head at this. "I'm fine" she lies, "I'll be okay" she adds.

"You will be" Sam says to her, "because we're all here for you if you need us" she says as Rina nods at this.

"So when do we get started on training me?" Rina asks her.

"We could even start now if you'd like?" Sam says to her as Rina nods at this.

"Okay sure, let's do it" she adds as Sam nods at this as they rose from their seats as Rina placed her bag filled with muffins on the ground.

"Sam" Rina says as Sam turns to face her, "what exactly are you and Jade?" she asks as Sam offers her a half-smile at this.

"We've been called various names by various people" Sam says, "but the more commonly used one nowadays is witch" she adds.

"Wow" Rina says in shock. "Like the witches from the Salem witch trials?"

"Most of those poor women were wrongfully convicted" Sam reveals to her, "very few of them were actually witches" she reveals, much to Rina's surprise. "Unfortunately we don't have pointy noses and hats or green skin" Sam teases to try and lighten to air after such a serious topic, "though I have suggested that to Jade many time only to get shot down every time" she adds with a dramatic faux sigh of sadness as Rina snorts amusedly at this. "You sure that you want Mac and Julian to see you in your true form?" she asks Rina who turns to face both men over her shoulder at this.

"I'm sure" she says as Sam nodded at this as they stood in the middle of the backyard.

"We've seen now that your powers are still heavily linked with your emotions" Sam says, "so that's the angle we're going to go with at for the time being" she adds as Rina nods at this. "You need to remember, Marina that right now you and your phoenix are two completely different people. Basically strangers to one another, but you need to merge so that you become one" she adds, "You ready?"

"I'm ready" Rina nodded in determination.

"Okay" Sam says, "I want you to close your eyes" she directs as Rina does as suggested, "and now I want you to take a deep breath" she adds as Rina does this, "good" Sam praises, "now when the noise in your brain is quiet I want you to reach into the part of you that feels as if it's growing" she adds, "can you feel it?"

"I feel it" Rina nods.

"Good" Sam says, "think of it as a light switch" she adds, "and now I want you to flick it on" she adds as Rina does as asked and she can feel the air around her growing warmer. "Easy" Sam says gently, "now, open your eyes" she says as Rina slowly opens her eyes.

"Uh S-Sam–" Rina stutters nervously as she looked at her glowing hands nervously . She wasn't aware that her eyes were also glowing. "Sam" she says fearfully as her hands shook.

"There's nothing to be afraid of" Sam says to her. "The fire is you" she says as Rina's entire body is suddenly engulfed in fire at this "you control it" she adds as the fire died down almost immediately.

"I-I'm sorry" Rina says fearfully.

"You've got this, Marina" Sam reassures her. "If I had any doubt in you then I wouldn't be urging you to push yourself like this" she adds, "you're doing great" she says as Rina nodded gratefully at this as she took a deep breath and started the process all over again.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

"Will I ever reach a point where I fly without being on fire?" Rina asks Sam as they headed inside the house as the sun set in the background.

"Of course you will" Sam says to her, "it'll just take a lot of practice" she says as Rina nods at this.

"Did - Did my mother also have difficulty in the beginning?" Rina finally asks, even though she'd promised herself that she wouldn't ask about the woman whom it felt like had abandoned her and Joe.

"All phoenixes do" Sam replies easily, "life isn't a movie where you can learn how to shoot a gun in a day, Rina" Sam teases lightly, "it takes practice and more practice and lots of concentration" she adds as Rina nodded at this as she shivers a bit, stumbling a little as Sam catches her.

"Marina!" Mac and Julian say in sync.

"She's fine" Rina reassures them, "she's just a little exhausted because of today, right?" she says to Rina who nods at this.

"Let me help you upstairs" Julian volunteers as Sam looks at Rina for confirmation at this as Rina nods as Sam steps aside and Julian steps in and helps her upstairs.

"Is every day going to be like that?" Mac asks Sam, "will it always leave her that exhausted?" he asks.

It will as long as she continues to remain separated from Godric Sam says internally.

"She just has to get used to it" she replies. Mac notes that she doesn't answer his question but doesn't comment on it.

"You're talking all of this surprisingly well for a shifter" Sam says to him as his eyes widen a bit in shock that she knows what he is. "I've been alive for a long time and I know a thing or two, Mac" she says with a chuckle as he nods at this.

"I should have known that you know what I am" he adds.

"How do you cope being with Julian most of the time? Weres have very intense emotions" Sam says, referring to how difficult it is for shifters to be surrounded by intense emotions as they feed off of them and basically get off on them.

"You're telling me" Mac says with a snort. "I've known Julian some time now so it gets easier with each day, I guess" he says with a shrug as Sam nods at this.

"You say that you've known him for some time" Sam starts, "is he always so protective of others as he is with Rina?" she asks him as they headed to the kitchen to grab them some bottles of water from the fridge.

"That's not my place to answer" Mac replies as Sam nods at this as she hands him his water.

"It's not poisoned, relax" Sam says with an eyeroll. "You're his friend" she says, "or whatever the hell you two are" she adds dismissively, "so you have to warn him that if he let's his feelings for Rina develop then it'll only end up hurting him" she says bluntly as Mac nods at this.

"She seems to enjoy his company, though" he notes.

"Of course she would" Sam says, "he's a were, a son of the soil and he steadies her and grounds her and for an unstable phoenix that's the best feeling at the moment right now" she adds. "Just like you" she adds.

"So all supes are represented by the elements?" he asks in intrigue as Sam nods yes at this. "What element represents vampires then?" he asks curiously.

"Water" Sam replies as she takes gulp of her water as she headed for the door. "Oh and Mac" she says as she turns sharply on her heel to face him, "when you update Godric about Rina tel him that she's doing okay if not a little sickly due to their distance" she adds as he chokes in his water at this.

"H-How–?"

"I told you already" Sam says with a smug smirk, "I've been around for a long time" she adds.

"Does Rina know?" Mac asks, fearing that Godric will be upset with him for failing to hide that Godric sent him to spy on Rina and her progress.

Naturally Rina would assume Julian but never him and he had used that to his advantage.

"Of course not" Sam says, "I imagine Godric doesn't want to appear like he's hovering and disregarding her wishes" she adds as Mac nods at this. "Your secret is safe with me" she adds.

"Thank you Samaat" he adds as she nods at this and walked off.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

"Would you like for me to send a donor for you, sheriff?" Isabel asks him, noting his pale appearance.

"No. Thank you, Isabel" Godric declines politely with his eyes trained on the paperwork before him.

Isabel opens her mouth to speak at this, fearing for his health as she hasn't seen him this weak since before Rina came into his life. She decides against it out of fear of angering him.

"Is there anything else?" he asks monotonously, noting that she hasn't left yet.

"N-No Godric" she says nervously as she headed for the door, closing it gently behind her as she does as Godric finally lifts his head and leans back into his seat, wiping away the blood that leaks from his nose as he does.

More than anything he wants to see Marina and if he were a younger vampire who was left in control of himself then he would have taken off in her location as soon as he woke up but what stopped him is the memory of the seriousness in Marina's eyes when she told him that this is something that she feels that she has to do.

Alone, her eyes had said to him.

His telephone rings and he picks it up. "Good evening, sheriff" he says as a familiar voice greets him.

"Good evening, Mr. McMahon" Godric says.

"I have news" Mac says before updating Godric about Marina's day and the progress that she seemed to be making with Sam.

"Appearance-wise, how is she?" Godric asks, knowing that he can't be the only one being affected by their distance.

"She looks okay" Mac admits, "but she suffers from sudden shivers and shudders" he adds, "she confided to Sam that she feels hot and then cold and it continues like this for some time before she can get a firm grip on herself" he adds.

"I see" Godric says tonelessly at the revelation. "Keep up the good work Mac and whatever she requires I want you to inform either myself or Isabel of it" he adds.

"Yes, sheriff" Mac says as they ended their phone-call as Godric grips tightly onto his desk when he feels an overwhelming wave of nausea, a foreign sensation to him as he hasn't felt anything like this since his human life.

"Is ionann scaradh uait agus céasadh, a ghrá (Separation from you is like torture, my love)" he comments right before being sent to his knees by another overwhelming wave of nausea.

⚜️Dig Down Deep⚜️

Rina felt like she was suffering from a panic attack as she was having difficulty breathing.

"Y-You are the storm, Marina" she says in between with a deep breath as her eyes closed as she tried to calm her racing heart, "s-so you can control the s-storm" she says as she tried to calm herself down.

"Marina?" she heard Julian's voice coming from the other side of the door. He probably heard her elevated heart rate. "Marina are you alright in there?!" he says as he knocked on her door.

"J-Julian" she calls out, trying to get better control of herself

"Open the door, Marina!" he says as he tried to open the locked door. "Marina open this door!" he demands.

"No" she says, "y-you can't come in" she says as the glow of her powers started to grow bigger and bigger.

"Marina!" She hears Jade's voice calling for her. "Can I come in!?" she asks.

"Jade" She chokes out as she fell to her knees and tried to inhale deeply as she hears her door banging loudly as if someone was trying to break it down.

"Don't be such a caveman, Julian!" She hears Sam shout as the door clicks and they open the door before staggering back at the heat coming from inside Rina's room as her whole body is engulfed in flames.

"Ahhh!" she screams before the glow of her fire grows bigger as she immediately bursts into a bright, hot inferno of fire.

Jade's eyes glow blue as she draws closer to Rina as Julian and Max shield their faces from the intense heat.

Sam's eyes glow silver as Rina feels a cool breeze circling all around her as she closed her eyes and tried to get better control of herself as the breeze started to turn colder and colder as the two sisters worked at lowering the heat of the fire as Rina exhales at this as her fire died down before dying out completely as she opened her eyes to meet those of her friends as the glow of Jade and Sam's eyes also dies down.

"I'm so sorry" Rina says to them.

"There's nothing to apologize for" Jade reassures her. "The fact that you managed to calm your fire down is impressive as it usually takes a bit of time to calm down" she praises as Rina nods gratefully at her encouragement.

"I-I don't want to hurt anyone" Rina says to them, "please I don't–"

"You're doing okay, Rina" Sam assures her. "You're going at a slow and steady pace and that's good" she adds.

A/N: I still have so much planned and I really hope that you guys stick around to see it. I hope that you enjoyed the chapter. Please like and comment on your faves because feedback helps my creative juices to flow and makes me very happy✌️