Hey guys! So, those of you who added me as an author alert were probably expecting this to be an update for Flying Through Twilight or Flight of the Tides. Which, now that I write them together, it makes them sound a lot alike... I'll have to change that. Anyway, I've been blocked from Flying Through Twilight for a very long time and if I updated it tonight, it would be crap. I wish I could redo it but I really don't like Twilight so it would turn into an OOC parody. And, to be honest, Maximum Ride hasn't been the best recently either. The new book Angel comes out Monday! It comes out on Valentines Day. If that isn't a sign that it's going to be a total screw up, then I don't know what is. What's promising is the eighth and final book's release date: 2012. Apocalypse, anyone? James Patterson had better not mess that up.
Wow, that rant was getting way too long. Sorry. Anyway, I would be updating Flight of the Tides but I lost my copy of The Titan's Curse so I have no reference point until I either a) get a new copy or b) find my old one. But I promise I'll update as soon as I get the book! I have so many ideas flowing for that right now, it's not even funny. I have the entire story planned out and a general sketch for the sequel (which I am really looking forward to). So, for now, I will be writing a new story for Vampire Diaries. Does anyone else think that season two is not as good as season one was? Still awesome, I mean, it has Ian Sexy-halder in it, after all. Just not as good.
Anyway! I have to stop ranting... This story came from one of my random spazzes when I see a moment in a show and think "wow, that would have worked out so differently if [insert character here] from [insert piece of entertainment] was in it..." I get those a lot. Originally, it was going to be another Maximum Ride crossover, but I decided that a) I already had too many of those and b) the flock wasn't really necessary and neither were the wings so I just made Max's role in the story into an OC's role. Anyway, tell me what you think. Oh! And this starts in 1857, 7 years before everything with Katherine and the vampires so the Salvatore brothers are still human.
Okay, sorry for the super long author's note. They're usually not this bad, I promise!
Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Diaries. I do own Vira and this plot line. Any copyright infringement is unintentional and I offer my sincere apologies.
On with the story!
Vira's Point of View
"Hello, Mr. Gilbert, how are you?" I asked, my voice polite and proper... and also very fake. My mind was not focused on the situation. Instead, it was out in the barn with the horses. Damon and Stefan were so lucky to be boys. They had so many freedoms that women did not. They were respected. I, however, was not allowed to do anything that my sexist, controlling father does not approve of. Whenever I wanted to go out and ride- wearing Damon's trousers, of course. How was one supposed to ride in the stupid dresses that modern society forced women into?- I would have to sneak out or wait for Father to leave on business, leaving Stefan in charge because, of course, Damon was untrustworthy and I was just a girl who was to be played with and pushed around, not to be respected. Then, I would go out to the barn, without Stefan knowing, of course, because he would just tell Father, and ride my beautiful black mare, Desdemona. But, because Father was indeed home and Jonathan Gilbert was lurking around the house, I was stuck playing the "seen-but-never-heard" role of a woman in the nineteenth century.
"I'm very well, Miss Salvatore. And yourself?" He commented in a patronizing voice. Jonathan Gilbert had to be the most arrogant man I'd ever met. Well, besides Damon, of course, but he's different.
"I am good, Mr. Gilbert," I said, stiffly, careful not to give away any "get-away-from-me-you-arrogant-asshole" vibes that were trapped inside of me about to explode. "What is your business here?" Oops... I might have sounded a little too sharp. If he noticed anything, however, he didn't show it. His face still held that "I'm so important" sneer that made me want to kick him.
"I'm actually here to speak with your father. Is he available?"
I nodded. "Yes, sir," I said, still using the phony voice that made me sick. "He's in the study. Should I go get him?"
"Of course. I'll wait here." Yes, no doubt to snoop around my family's house. Despite my feelings, however, I turned out of the parlor and walked down the hallway, only stopping when I reached the door to Father's study. I was forbidden from entering, just like everybody else, even though I was his own daughter. Not even Stefan was allowed inside. I lightly rapped on the door.
"Father," I called, raising my voice so I could be heard through the doors. "Mr. Gilbert is here to see you."
"I shall be out in a minute." His voice was firm and impatient, as if he didn't want to have to talk to his own daughter and he was irritated that I'd interrupted him. I didn't know what Father did in there, I'd never been inside, but when he wasn't meeting with the Founder's Council or trying to find suitors for me- I mean, really, I'm only thirteen!- he was locked away in his study, shut off from the rest of the world, buried in his thoughts and secrets.
The cedar doors creaked open and my father stepped out of his niche. He looked down at me with an air of distaste and indifference. "Where is Mr. Gilbert?"
"In the parlor, sir."
He nodded, stiffly. "Thank you, Elvira." Ugh, I hate that name. Only Father and Stefan call me that (though Stefan picked up that particular habit from Father, so he's not really to blame for that). "Get back to your knitting so Mrs. Lockwood is not as disappointed in next week's lesson. And have a maid moisturize your hands with lotion. Mrs. Lockwood was complaining about the callouses- from what, I don't know- on your palms and fingers and it is unbecoming for a young lady to have rough hands."
I gritted my teeth. The callouses had been from Desdemona's reigns and climbing the fence to get to the barn. The fence was tall, wooden, rough, and it had many splinters. So, of course it "damaged" my hands, but I no longer felt the pain. These so-called "callouses" would not go away anytime soon. But, not wanting to anger Father, I swallowed my retort with all the strength inside of me and said,"Yes, sir." Please. More like "yes, you sexist bastard, I'll do what you say. But really, I'll be sneaking off into the barn to groom Desdemona."
Satisfied with my lie, he turned and closed the study doors behind him then walked into the parlor, never once looking back at his only daughter. Just as I was about to walk up to Damon's room to borrow some trousers, I noticed something. The door to the always-locked room-of-secrets had gotten caught on a loose screw that had come undone from the knob and remained unlocked. I gasped. It was open?
Curiosity filled me and my mind reeled. This could be it: the only chance I'd ever have to look behind those doors and see all that's hidden there. I knew it was forbidden, but since when have I ever followed the rules?
I grabbed the knob in my hand and slowly pulled the door open, hearing it creek and hoping Father was far enough away that he wouldn't hear it as well. I lightly tip-toed into the study and shut the door behind me. I looked around and was instantly awed. It was a library. The walls were covered will shelves filled with leather-bound ancient-looking books. In the center of the room, there was a dark cedar desk that was covered with pile upon pile of papers. On top of the desk, there was an open black leather journal. It was opened to today's date. My irritating sense of curiosity took over again and before I could stop myself, I'd picked up the book and began to read.
June 29, 1857
It's been three years now and still the secrets of the Book remain impossible for me to decipher. The words are like a puzzle with one piece missing. It's extremely frustrating that I can not uncover the truth. She must have known I was going to find out what she was at some point and decided to protect her work. But they will not remain secrets for much longer. I will find the answer.
Luckily, the children do not suspect anything of vampires or witches. They are convinced that the fire was an accident and that the sole purpose of the Founder's Council was to keep this town strong. This journal and the grimoires are all kept hidden away in my study for a reason. If the children were to find out... But they haven't and they won't. The secrets of Josephine are safe.
G.S.
I frowned and my eyebrows furrowed. Witches? Vampires? And Josephine? What did my mother have to do with this? What secrets does my mother- and, apparently, my father- have? Had my father finally gone crazy? Had his stories and legends finally drove him mad? And what of these grimoires he wrote of? They're witches spell books. Was that what all these books were?
I turned, setting the journal down, and picked up the nearest book of the shelf. There was no title but a simple name written on the spine.
Abigail Williams.
My confusion only increased. Abigail Williams? The Abigail Williams? Abigail start-of-the-witch-hunt Williams? I opened the book and saw writing in a different language. Latin? Galician, maybe? Either way, it looked like chanting.
Exorto os catro elementos para alcanzar o meu desexo
Eu chamo o chan firme da terra para o meu círculo
Que traia de decisión e foco
Eu chamo a forza da auga mastestic meu círculo
Que limpar e eliminar calquera potencias estranxeiras
Eu chamo de luz e aire elevada para o meu círculo
Que iso levanto a miña forza e amosar a miña posición dominante
E por último, Exorto Fire
Pode queimar todos os inimigos que veñen contra min
E agora, chamamento a Morte
Chamamento aos espíritos, de medo, de dor e sufrimento
Eu chamo os mortos para servir-me na miña xornada
I pulled back, tearing my eyes off the page. I don't know what that said but I got the most horrible feeling as if someone had stepped over my grave and called upon my soul, disturbing me from rest.
"A spell," I whispered, amazed. I put the book back on the shelf and began to scan other names.
Guinevere of Camelot- I gasped at that. Queen Guinevere- King Arthur's Guinevere- was a witch?- Theresa Fairchild, Isabella Carver, Morgan le Fey- not so much of a shock- Elizabeth Miller, and so on. I kept moving along the shelves until I reached one and the surprise hit me so hard, I fell backwards onto the floor, tripping over the carpet, falling against the desk.
Josephine Salvatore.
Yeah, so I'd totally write more, but a) I kinda wanted a cliffie (yes, I'm evil and no, I don't want you to hate me) and b) I have to babysit in like 15 minutes, so I have to go. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Review please! (By the way, I promise it'll pick up in the next couple of chapters!)
Thanks! Now review or I'll snap your neck!
All my love,
AJL
P.S. Hailey, if you're reading this, I love you! You the weirdest person in the world and only you could come up with that. ALL of that credit goes to you.