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She could only stare. Her eyes had locked on his form the very moment she saw him. He looked the same, not that she was expecting any radical change. And even if he had - changed, that is - she wouldn't have been fooled. Not anymore. She'd left her days of naivete back where they belonged, back in the same place she tossed aside her wholehearted trust and unfathomable kindness. Ever since he had come into her life, she had been changed. Just as she had been changed when he left her.
As she stared, she couldn't help but wonder what he was doing back in Mystic Falls. He had told her before that nothing was keeping him tied to the town anymore. She had understood. She was relieved. Finally, some shred of normalcy had been given back to her. Sure, she was still aware of what lurked in the shadows, but after the first few months the paranoia had dispersed. He was gone.
And now he was back. The ring on his finger, bestowed by one of her own, allowed him to be wherever she was, at any time of day. She tensed, wondering if she could steal it like she had before. At least when it was hanging around her neck she knew there was no way he could disturb her sunrises. But she dismissed the thought just as quickly as it had come to her. He would never let her anywhere near that damned ring. If there was one thing she was absolutely certain of, it was that.
She watched more intensely as he moved with what seemed to be purpose. As if he was looking for something or someone. As much as it pained her to admit it, she needed to know what that thing or person was. She needed to make sure that no one in the vicinity was in danger. She loved too many of them to allow the scum of the planet to take them from her.
She walked briskly, smiling and shaking her head to Elena's worried gaze and avoiding Stefan's curious eyes all together. This was something she needed to do on her own, without the other Salvatores. She followed from what she hoped was a safe distance, slowing done as to not draw attention to her. She passed teenaged chatter and fearful Ferris Wheel riders. The Falls' annual fall carnival was in full swing and everyone had shown up to take part.
He never turned around, never tensed as if he knew he was being followed. She didn't care. She knew him well enough to know that he didn't show signs of weakness the way other vampires did. He was ruthless and stronger than most others. Before this knowledge terrified her. If she was to be completely honest, it still did.
She hid behind a Suburban as he came to a halt. He turned his head to the right, then he turned around. He was staring right at the vehicle she was using as a shield. And then he was standing no more than three feet in front of her.
"My, my. Three years and you haven't changed at all."
She swallowed back her fears and stood a little straighter. "Neither have you. What are you doing here?"
He smirked. "Why do you care?"
"I..." A pause.
"No, wait. Let me guess. You don't want me to eat your loved ones, is that it?" He took a step forward and watched, amused, as her entire body froze with fear. "I'm not going to hurt you, little witch."
She flinched. It had been years since he'd called her that.
He stroked the side of her face. "There's something about you that I just can't resist..."
Defiantly she slapped his hand away. "You shouldn't be here. You promised you wouldn't come back."
He laughed as if what she said was a joke. "Bonnie...haven't you learned by now that we Salvatores are nothing but petty liars?"
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