Gwen carefully makes her towards the ruins of fells church. Where Emily Bennett sealed twenty-seven vampires in its underground tomb. Now empty thanks to Bonnie Bennett and her grandma breaking their ancestors spell. Crickets and birds her only company in the night. Natasha , a women with brown curls, eyes and copper skin, walks silently ahead of Gwen. A women part of a powerful group who stop people from finding the crystal.
No fear licks at Gwen as she follows Natasha. Thanks to Damon's unwavering steady presence beside her. Reaching their destination Gwen spots a familiar man. Nicely dressed with black receding hair and eye color.
"Colton," Gwen greets him, " appreciate you not resorting to kidnapping and threats this time."
"I hope you now see that we do not need to be enemies and that we can arrange meetings like civilized people," Colton answers as Natasha moves to stand beside him, "Though I had hoped to speak to you alone."
Damon snorts, "Sorry but we don't trust you, nothing personal," Damon smirks , "While maybe a tiny bit personal. "
Gwen shrugs, "He has a point, when Natasha showed up didn't know if she was gonna knock me out. Anyway what do you want?"
"That depends on you " Colton replies, " Now that Klaus has left town, what do you want miss Jordan? what are you going to do?"
Damon releases a annoyed sigh, "Just ask what you want to know already."
I know what he wants, Gwen thinks the same moment Colton speaks. Confirming her thoughts with his question, "Are you still looking for the crystal? "
"No," Gwen replies honestly ,at least not right now and maybe never unless I find a way to destroy it , "You can leave town now."
"Yes," Colton nods, "Some will stay behind...to make sure you are not lying."
Gwen shrugs, "Do what you want I have other things to worry about."
Without replying Colton and Natasha leave first. Turning around Gwen and Damon make Their way back home. Gwen doesn't pull back as Damon's hand grabs hers. Abruptly Damon stops pulling Gwen to his chest. Earning a small laugh from Gwen and smile.
"It is a nice night for a long walk," Damon suggest with a winks.
Still smiling Gwen reminds him, "We have a party to get to."
"No need to rush besides Carolina and Bonnie got it under control," Damon argues.
Her protest his cut off by Damon's lips meeting hers. All thoughts escape her as Their lips move as one. Releasing Damon's hands she clutches his shirt. While one of his finds its way into her hair. The other pulling her body closer. Gwen lets herself get lost in Damon without fear. Drowning in bliss not wanting to resurface. The need for air forces Gwen to pull away. Breathing heavy she leans her forehead against his.
Wish it didn't take soon get to get out second chance.
Damon speaks softly, "I love you."
"Always?" Gwen asks.
"Always."
Gwen responds with a smile and her own admission, "And I love you Damon Salvatore, always," pulling away she tugs on his hand, "Now let's go."
They arrive to music blaring from the Salvatore boarding house. Gwen leads the way past silent and roudy teens. Damon right behind her as they head inside. Past Bonnie and Jeremy lounging on the parlors couch. To Caroline's ex boyfriend Matt hanging out in the kitchen.
"Hey," Gwen practically shouts causing Matt to turn towards her, "Where is Elena?"
"Spotted her and Caroline heading for the backyard." Matt answers looking unconformable at mentioning Caroline's name.
Gwen isn't surprised and does not comment. After all the two have not spoken for months. Since Matt followed Damon look the night of the sacrifice. To where Caroline and Taylor were being held captive. By a witch and Necormancer working for Klaus. Guess he didn't have enjoy dealing with Taylor in werewolf form any more then Damon did, at least Matt and Caroline avoided getting bit.
"Thanks, " Gwen replies before turning to Damon, "I'm gonna go talk with Elena while you make more friends."
Damon groans, "I regret agreeing to this party now."
Laughing Gwen pushes her way to the backdoor. Easily spotting Elena and Caroline amongst the small crowd. Elena in a white lace dress, Caroline in a black top and patterned purple skirt. Standing far away from everyone else talking. Elena sees Gwen first a smile forming on her face. While Gwen spots a circle silver necklace. With a stone on the top and simple second hanging from Elena's neck.
"Happy Birthday, I see you got mine and Damon's gifts," Gwen says stopping in front of them.
Elena glances at her necklace, "Yes and thank you." Glad Caroline and Bonnie didn't forget to give it to her "Where did you find it?"
"Alaric found it in his loft." Gwen informs her.
Caroline quickly changes topics. A hint if curiosity in her voice asking with a wink's, "How did your secret meeting go?"
"Good, pretty much just like I expected. I promised to stop looking, they promised to leave. While most of them are leaving town," Gwen sighs, "Colton is leaving some of his people to watch me. Colton of course didn't say for how long."
"Better than them trying to kill you again," Caroline reasons.
"yeah...so Elena how is Jenna doing?" Gwen inquires
"Adjusting to a new reality the best she can, " Elena smiles, "It helps that her and Alaric are back on good terms."
Caroline plasters on as huge smile, "Alright enough with all the gloomy talk," addressing Elena, "We are here to celebrate Your birthday."
"Sorry Caroline not really in the celebrating mood," Elena responds.
Gwen quickly steps in giving Elena a comforting squeeze, "Hey we are going to find and get Stefan back and then you two can dance around like happy lunatics," Gwen's words earn a genuine league form Elena, "Promise everything is going to be fine."
Please let me be right.
(The next day)
Quietly Sitting on Damon's bed while he cleans out his closet of newspaper clippings. Gwen can't stop her eyes from occasionally flickering to her index finger. More specifically the ring decorating it. A gift from Damon Gwen has not taken off since receiving it. Her mind drifts to their turbulent past. How they started as innocent children. To grown adults full of emotions endlessly swirling inside them. Sometimes lashing out at each other and ignoring their own feelings. Only took us many years to really grow up, but it was worth it all, Gwen would repeat it all again without hesitation.
With a sigh she turns back to the book opened on her lap, Trent's shadow Gilmour. Gwen is thankful to his parents and older sister. For letting her borrow just a but longer and their politeness. For patiently listening on the parlors couch. As Gwen retold them what happened to Trent with as much detail as possible. After her story arms pulled her into a tight hug. His mother's peppermint perfume washing over Gwen. A nod from his Dad letting Gwen know they are not mad at her. It probably helped they all met before. They left with a reminder to call if she ever needs help. Refocusing Gwen slowly flips through Trent's Shadow Gilmour again. Once more disappointed finding only one page. Holding a small amount of information she is looking for.
(Magical objects no matter how complex are not invincible. Destroying one can be complex and dangerous. More often than not it is simple. Burning or breaking is the top methods. If object has a protection spell one must make it void, with a counter spell.
"I don't think rereading it a million times is gonna make new information appear," Damon remarks with a smile plastered on his face, "Wait maybe it will. "
Setting Trent's shadow Gilmour aside Gwen hurls a pillow at Damon, " Ha ha ha...sorry I forgot you are such a expert on magic."
Their tiny bickering is interrupted by Elena walking into the room. Face down cast hinting at her despairing thoughts.
She addresses Damon, "I saw on the news that Andi is dead..."
"You can thank Stefan for that," Damon replies bitterly.
Giving Damon a scowl Gwen joins Elena side as she keeps talking with him, " I'm sorry, but I still believe there is hope, that Stefan is not completely gone. He wouldn't have called me if he was."
"Wait, Stefan called you, when, what did he say?" Gwen asks in disbelief.
"Last night, he didn't say anything but it was him," Elena answers, "I asked Sheriff Forbes if she would trace the call's origin. It came from Tennessee."
Damon sighs, " Where he's binge drinking on the country folk. We went through this, Elena. Stefan's gone. I don't mean geographically," He waves with his hands, "You can leave now with your unneeded sense if hope."
Gwen rolls her eyes, "Clearly someone needs to relearn some manners," She tugs on Elena's arm towards the door, "Come on I need a break from him anyway," scowling Damon gently grabs her elbow, "Wait for me downstairs?" Gwen asks Elena who nods and leaves.
"What are you doing?" Damon questions once they are alone.
"Relax, I'm just gonna keep a eye on her and hopefully take here mind if Stefan," Damon doesn't stop Gwen moving out of his grip, "Promise if Elena tries to do anything I will text or call you."
"Fine, " Damon relents as Gwen plants a kiss on his lips.
Racing down stairs she joins Elena following her to her car. The girls sit in comfortable silence occasionally broken by small talk. After a hour of exploring shops in town and lunch at Mystic Grill. Elena drops Gwen off at the Salvatore boarding house. Gwen ungracefully plops down on the parlors couch. While shouting to Damon she is back. Her mind drifts away to a recent discovered memory. Her mother's words of trusting Charlotte repeating themselves. Chewing on her lap Gwen clutches at her necklace fingers tracing circles.
Charlotte Roslyn Jordan, One of six children, only older brother also made it to adulthood, known to be a serious child and consider a great beauty, town and family see baffled and confused why she ran away. Gwen recites and summaries information gathered from her recent research. Wanting to learn everything about Charlotte. Hoping for a clue why her mother thought the ghost was trustworthy, How would mother even know? Do we share the same power? Commanders of the dead. Maybe Charlotte can answer all my questions...somehow.
Carefully Gwen unhooks her necklace. Setting it down on the coffee table Gwen stands. Concentrating on Charlotte's full name. Her color long hair, color eyes and pale skin. Staying calm as cold air surrounds her. Opening her eyes Gwen find Charlotte staring at her. Directly in front of Gwen back grassing the coffee tables edge. Gwen shivers at Charlotte's pale lips sown shut.
Forcing out her questions in a even voice, "Why do you haunt me?"
Author Note:
Alright that concludes the first chapter of Gwen's next journey. Hope you all enjoy this one as much as Tragic Souls. Also I decided instead of using some fancy name. I'm just gonna stick with Necromancer. Anyway catch you all on the next update.