My heart begins pounding out of my chest; I can't begin to process what's happening around me. I turn around and begin to run further down the road to Mystic Falls. The man appears in front of me again; I skid my feet to a stop and scream. I'm in disbelief is this person really a monster or is he just messing with me? I close my eyes bracing myself for the end. I feel a whoosh rush by my face, my whole body goes weak; making me fall to my rear. I keep my eyes closed not wanting to open them for fear seeing something horrible.
"You can open your eyes now." A soft male voice speaks to me. He doesn't sound like the one before; somehow his voice sounds comforting.
I open my one eye slowly to take a peak. My eyes open wide as I stare at the severed head before me on the ground. I let out a shrill scream and begin scooting backwards on the sidewalk.
"My bad." The soft spoken man says as he picks up the head and tosses it into the woods. I watch it roll down the hill. The man then walks back and holds his hand out to me. "You should be getting back to where you came from. Mystic Falls isn't a safe place for you."
I get up slowly with his help. I take a moment to admire him; he was tall, with dark brown hair, a chiseled jaw and gorgeous green eyes. He was terrifying but I couldn't help feel intrigued. Most importantly he did save my life. "Hi I'm Zoé Benson."
He looks at me with a very stern look on his face. "I'm Stefan Salvatore; you really need to get back to your..." He looks over my shoulder. "...Truck and leave." He looks at me deep in the eyes, I can feel my knees trembling.
"But what happened here?" I ask confused; I can't even begin to process what happened. Maybe that man was his accomplice, I mean he just cut off his head and disposed of it in the woods...Okay I'll go home and tell the cops. "You're right I should just leave...Thank you... Stefan."
I begin to walk back towards my truck; the moment I cross pass the road sign I begin having a horrible pain in my stomach, I reach down and cup my hands over my abdomen. The moment my hand touches my stomach I feel a warm, wet feeling on them. I look down; it's blood. I begin to cough, choke and gag. The metallic taste of blood taints my mouth. I turn around to look at Stefan he's looking at me in shock while the blood pours from my mouth. My knees fall to the ground I begin to shake uncontrollably. Suddenly everything goes dark.
Did I just die?
I wake to the sound of voices echoing around me. I'm not in a hospital; so where the hell am I? I open my eyes and sit up slowly. I lay on an old antique couch with my back up against the arm. I'm disoriented; I try to stand but fall back down.
"Ah. Good you're awake." A familiar voice says; it was Stefan.
I immediately check my stomach; nothing...no wound...just dries blood. "W-what happened to me?" I ask looking up at him.
Just then a tall man with dark hair walks into the room and plunks himself down on the opposite couch. He was pale, and rather handsome. "You crossed a magical boarder that was set up by witches to keep all magical beings like myself and Stefan stuck here in Mystic Falls...So that brings me to the question. What are you?"
I stare blankly at him and blink my eyes...I can't help but laugh. "I'm a 24 year old girl with a B.A. in Egyptology and a Minor in Archaeology." I blink; the man just looks at me. What does he mean? 'What Am I?'
"Ignore my rude Brother." Stefan interrupts. "He's forgotten what manners are. Can I get you anything Zoé?"
I bite on my nails and look at Stefan. "Um...maybe a cup of tea if you have it."
I look over at Stefan's brother; he's staring at me intently. He leans forward. "You're lying." He accuses.
He's accusing me of lying, really? I furrow my brow. "Why would I lie?" I cross my legs; not the easiest task in fake leather pants and look at him directly in the eyes. They were a gorgeous blue with a small hint of green fleck; just like the waters I saw when I was in Greece. I feel my cheeks start to blush; I lean my arm on my crossed legs. "What are you?" I ask being the smart ass I am.
"A vampire." He replies with a dead serious look on his face.
I stare at him and start laughing; I can't help it. How preposterous of a statement? He laughs lightly then his face tenses; veins showing, eyes dark and bares his teeth. My eyes widen.
"Damon that's enough!" Stefan scolds from the kitchen, emerging in the door frame. "Excuse my Brother; Zoé. Yes...he's right; we are both Vampires but we aren't like the one that attacked you at the border."
The one that attacked me at the boarder? "You mean...That man you saved me from was a Vampire?" I feel my stomach sink...they aren't pulling my leg, they're being serious. Vampires? Really...no that's just...he can't be. "What happened to me when I crossed back to Holloway Grove?"
"Have you ever died Zoé?" Damon asks leaning back on the couch a smug smirk on his face.
I think for a moment. "Legally for about 3 minutes. I was once in a car accident; I was in Italy when my car was T-Boned by a Truck." I place my hand on my stomach. "I-I had a piece of metal stuck in my abdomen that caused internal bleeding; they managed to stop it and bring me back just in time."
Stefan brings over my cup of tea and sets it down on the coffee table in front of me. "Hope you like Lavender." He says softly. "Unfortunately we're not really used to having human guests so our tea levels are a little low."
I take a sip of my tea and smile at him. "I love lavender, thank you." I set the cup back down on the table and rub my temples. "This so confusing to me...I really need to lay back down."
Stefan nods. "I'll get you set up upstairs in a spare room; it'll be right across from mine so I can keep an eye on you. Follow me and I'll show you to it."
Damon follows us down the hall with a glass of what I assume is some form of liquor; it reeks. "So Kai dies and these witches put a spell like the one that kept us out of Mystic Falls on us to keep us in Mystic Falls because a whole bunch of Vampires have gone rogue and turned off their humanity." Damon explains.
I turn slowly to look at him. "How many bad Vampires are there?"
"A lot Zoé. When you wake we can talk about it more."
Did I really live or did I die out there? Vampires this is just all so crazy! I fold down the blankets from the bed. "I still don't understand what happened to me." I say looking back at Stefan.
He walks into the room and sits on the edge of the bed. "Did your Family grow up around here?" He asks.
"My Dad was from Florida and my Mom doesn't talk about it...her Maiden name is Fell and when I asked her about it she clammed up...Oh my god my Mother! Do you have a phone so I can call her?"
Stefan hands me my cell phone. "I found this by your truck."
I pause before taking it from him. "How did you cross the border to my truck?"
"Zoé you almost didn't make it; I had to cross after you; I grabbed your phone after I pushed you over. I wanted to make sure you had your personal belongings when you could return." He explained.
I hold my phone to my chest. "Thank you! For everything...I mean I wouldn't be here if you didn't save my life. You risked your life for me and I'm forever grateful."
Stefan stands up and smiles. "Give you Mother a call Zoé; let her know you are alright then get a goodnight sleep."
I look at my phone and dial my Mother's number the phone rings once and then pick up. "Zoé Abigail Benson! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? ARE YOU OKAY!?" She yells.
Taking a deep breath I reply. "Mother I'm alright...I'm in Mystic Falls." My Mother doesn't respond. "Mom...Is there something you're not telling me?"
She takes a deep breath. "I never wanted you to end of there." I can hear her beginning to cry on the other end. "We're related to the Fell's; one of the Founding Families." She pauses again. "Zoé...you're not really my Daughter..."
My heart sinks.
"I'm sorry; what?" I'm totally not understanding...this is getting too complicated for me.
"You see Zoé my Brother had a child when he was younger...neither he nor his Girlfriend at the time we're ready to raise a baby. Your, Father and I wanted to have children but we were unable to so we adopted you from my Brother and his Girlfriend. You're biological Father was named Tripp and...you're biological Mother...well she went missing shortly after she gave birth to you."
I stay silent on the other end choking back the tears. "Why did you never tell me?"
"I was going to tell you when you were 18...but you took off for school and I honestly didn't want to ruin your happiness."
I bite my lip. "Is that why I'm stuck here? Why I can't cross this boarder because my biological Mother is somehow involved in this?"
I hear her sigh. "You're biological Mother was...not normal Zoé...she was sick..."
"Mom...I need to get some sleep...I'll call you back tomorrow..." I hang up the phone and begin to cry. Streams of black tears trickle down my pale cheeks.
"I totally know who your real Father was...Don't worry he was a dick! You didn't miss much." Damon says from the doorframe of the room.
"We're you eavesdropping?" I ask defensively.
Damon walks into my room and sits beside me on the bed. "Just keep in mind Vampires have very good hearing...You might want to keep that in mind if you talk about how hot I am." He gives me a devilish smirk.
I blink wildly and look at him with disbelief. How can someone be so conceded? I can't help but laugh. "I'll try and keep that in mind." I reply sarcastically while cocking my head towards him.
"I think I know what you are Zoé." Damon claims looking at me in the eyes.
Skeptical I look into his eyes. "Really?"
He grabs my hands still looking into my eyes. "You're going to go downstairs and poor me a drink."
"Why on Earth would I do that?"
Damon smiles and looks down to the hall. "Stefan she's a Witch!" he calls out to his Brother.
I pull my hands away and stand up stomping my foot on the hardwood floor in protest. "I'm not a witch!"
Damon smirks. "Only witches and werewolves can't be compelled by Vampires...and since I don't have a drink in my hand nor do you come from a family of werewolves I can conclude you're a witch." He sounds so smug; I can almost visualize myself hitting him at this point I'm that angry.
"I can't cast spells...I don't do magic! I'm not a witch!" As I yell the lightbulb in the fixture above my head explodes. Damon just looks at me giving me a – I told you so look. "That was a coincidence!" I protest stomping my foot on the ground.
Stefan walks into the room with a new lightbulb.
"Thanks." I say grabbing the light bulb and replacing the broken one. "So let me get this straight; I can't go home because there is a spell that keeps all supernatural beings from leaving this town...to protect others." I complain.
Damon looks at me and smiles. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
I turn my head to face him; giving him an 'Eat shit and die look'.
"Fine I'll let you rest but we all need to talk when you wake." Damon insists.
I don't recall I time where I ever cried myself to sleep...I didn't even cry when my Dad; if I can even call him that now? Walked out on us. I feel as if my whole life has been one giant lie! I sit up in bed and look at the empty chair in my room. I hold out my hand and flick my fingers while saying: "Move!"
Nothing happens.
"Move!" I try it again...nothing.
"It's not that easy." Damon says from the other side of the room.
I pull my blanket close to me in a flight reflex. "Jesus Christ!" I exclaim. I place my hand on my clammy forehead. "Don't you ever knock?"
"Last time I check...This was my house." He replies with a smirk on his face.
I laugh under my breath and push down the blankets. "Right."
Damon tosses a pile of clothes at me. "I guessed your size, if I got it wrong don't be mad at me. I'll leave you to get dressed." He says leaving the room.
Looking through the clothes I find a black and pink lace bra; I look at the size and feel a little uncomfortable. "32 C right on the dot."
"Your welcome!" He yells from down the hall.
Vampire have super good hearing...right.
I get dressed, most of the clothes fit just right. The jeans were a little tight but other than that it wasn't bad. When I get downstairs Stefan is sitting at the table with a blonde girl.
"Is that her?" I hear her say to Stefan.
"Hi...I'm Zoé." I say with a shy wave.
The blonde jumps up and gives me a hug. "EEK! Hi I'm Caroline! You're a witch? That's super cool; so you're going to bring Elena back?"
I push away from the bubbly blonde. "Is that why you guys haven't killed me?" I ask bitterly, feeling slightly used.
"No!" Stefan exclaims looking slightly jilted. "Zoé we're not like the vampire that attacked you at the border! We were meaning to ask you-"
"We do need you though to help us." Damon announces from behind me interrupting his brother.
I turn around giving him an unimpressed look; I place my hand on my hip and cock my head to the side. "Help you how? It's not like I can control whatever I am. I'm not even convinced that I am a witch." I place my hand on my head and push my brown hair back. This is stupid, I'm not anything...I'm going crazy!
"Our friend Bonnie and my Girlfriend Elena have been connected by a spell. Once Bon-Bon dies I'll get Elena back...but you see I rather like my friend and it would be nice now that Kai is gone to find a way to have them both here at the same time. Call me selfish if you'd like." Damon tried to explain to me but actually all I was hearing the sound the adults made on the Peanuts show.
I look up at Damon and furrow my brow. "I'm not even sure I am a witch."
"If you help me bring back my girlfriend and break this spell; I'll help you find your Birth Mother."
Is he seriously playing that card? Even if I want to help him...can I. "Okay...I'll give you as much help as I can...but if you don't hold up to your bargain I'll find a way to hurt you." I say trying to be threatening, though I'm pretty sure I sound sheepish.
I sit at the old wooden desk and read over the books in front of me. "I'd say they're Greek to me but I can read Greek. None of these make any sense Damon." I let out a sigh; It was all spells and incantations; talking about magical binding spells and resurgence. I rub my temples as I look over the books on the shelf. "What about that one?" I ask pointing over to a very old looking book; the book was filled with loose papers. "It's a very old book, it's written in a language I've never learned." He replies pulling it gently from the shelf.
I open the book very carefully. "It's written in the Paleo-Hebrew alphabet. It was used around the 10th century BCE but began to fall out with the Jewish people in the 5th century BCE when the Aramaic alphabet was adapted from it. Where did you get this?"
He shakes his head with a blank look on his face; trying to look as if he understands what I'm saying. "In my travels as an immortal stud."
I just look at him blankly."Righttt... Anyways these parchments are very old. In fact, can you grab me a pair of gloves so I can further examine them without damaging them with the oils from my hands?" Before I even blink I feel a swift wind and Damon hands me a pair of vinyl gloves. "Thanks!" I reply putting them on. I begin to trace my finger over the old text. "This part refers to Vampires and the sun; the lore stemming from Ra and Horus in Egypt placing the curse of the sun on the Vampires." Damon laughs under his breath as he sits beside me and stares at me. "What?" I ask with a stunned look on my face.
He leans his head on his propped up fist. "Not even Bonnie could read those. She once said that they were scriptures written by witches."
"Who would believe that my useless degree would come in handy?" I laugh to myself.
"I do." Damon replies. I'm not sure if he's trying to be nice or is just patronizing me. He places his hand on one of the frail pieces of paper.
I pick up his hand and slide it over back onto the table as I continue to read it. "You're going to damage it...Either put on glove or what where you put your hands." I scold.
He looks at me with wide eyes. "You're a little feisty."
Pushing my hair back with my forearm I reply. "No...just going through nicotine withdrawal; I haven't had cigarette since the other night when I was out with my friends."
"So little Miss Perfect isn't so perfect." Damon joked.
"Never claimed I was." I flip over the page I was looking at and begin reading over the next page. "These ones are written in hieroglyphs and by the type of material it's printed on it's even older than the one I just read. Fascinating!" I exclaim.
"What?" He asks looking on over my shoulder.
I lifted his arm off the other parchment and give him another stern look. "This refers to assisting in death." I say pointing to a hieroglyph that looked like two arms in the arm. "Then this one looks the exact same but has this twisty thing in between; well that refers to the goddess of magic. The goddess of magic assisting those in death. Necromancy"
"If I get you some cigarettes; can you read more?" Damon asked; I could see deep down he was optimistic that we would find a way to bring his girlfriend back.
I smile and nod in agreement. "Menthol's please." It was at this moment I made a deal with the devil; with the gorgeous blue eyes.
