[MC's POV]
I remember being hit by a truck during my morning run. My body was thrown a long way, and I died before the ambulance could reach me.
I was already getting used to the absence of warmth and light around me, but suddenly… I felt alive again. My vision filled with light, and I felt a comforting warmth all around me.
I was in someone's arms.
"My babies…" the voice was soft, like a thread pulling the world back together. I opened my eyes and saw two cribs, two mouths saying different things. Someone was cradling me with the calmness of someone holding something both precious and dangerous at the same time.
A man I immediately recognized as Joshua Parker, from one of my favorite shows, "The Vampire Diaries," appeared.
Wait, so I'm in "The Vampire Diaries" and I'm this guy's son? I thought right away.
Joshua placed his hand on my new mother's shoulder.
"Josephine, don't touch that freak. He might drain your magic," he said. His tone was cold, but also full of concern.
Wait, freak? An imaginary question mark popped up over my head. Shit.
My mom—Josephine—turned to him with wide, teary eyes. The way she pressed me against her chest was all defense and denial. She was hurt that her husband had called their own son a freak.
"He's not a freak, Joshua. He's Malachai, our son!" Josephine retorted.
Joshua's face twisted with rage.
"He almost killed you while you were pregnant, Josephine!" he said, his voice rising slightly. "He drained your magic until you were nearly exhausted—do you remember that?"
"He didn't know what he was doing!" Josephine shouted, pressing me against her chest as if to protect me.
Joshua sighed and stormed out of the room.
I felt Josephine's soft hand stroke my head.
"It's okay, Kai…" she whispered, her mouth close to my ear.
I'd been reincarnated as Kai Parker… just thinking about it made me feel an overwhelming urge to cry.
I'm cooked.