Blackwood – Chapter 3

Cassern

Aidan's POV

This morning has been busy, I'm helping Carol with preparing The Masquerade Ball along Matt and Tyler. They are carrying a table and are about to drop it "Boys! Be careful with that! It's from the 1800s." Carol chastises "Mom, we got it." Tyler said trying to reassure her. Carol makes me help them and I do, we move the table carefully to where it's supposed to be.

Matt is hanging up lanterns while Tyler is holding up the ladder, I'm arranging chairs. I see Jeremy approach Tyler as Matt leaves elsewhere "Hey, man." Jeremy greets "Hey!" Tyler greets back "Hey, so I did a little research on that stone you showed me." Jeremy said, I narrow my eyes at him; what is he up to? "What? Why?" Tyler asks "I don't know. Curiosity, boredom." Jeremy said lying. Tyler tells Jeremy that he gave the stone to Mason because he doesn't want any part of the supernatural drama that comes with that stone and I don't blame him.

I'm moving some boxes around when I over hear a conversation "Anyone seen Mason?" Tyler asks "He, uh, he took off. He said he wasn't sure he'd be back." Stefan answers lying "So weird." Tyler said. I start to leave "Aidan, where are you going?" Tyler questions but I don't answer and continue walking. I shift into my panther form and ran to the Salvatore's Boarding House, when I get near I stop, because I smell… blood and… wolfsbane. I hear Damon from the house "He wants me to kill him, anyway. Don't you Mason? It really is a curse, isn't it?" Damon asks "I love her!" Mason shouts "Oh, I know! I've been where you are. But Katherine will only rip your heart out. Let me do it for her." Damon said then I hear a squishing sound followed by Mason groaning.

I felt it, Mason's dead, I let out a roar in anguish then I run back home. Why didn't I try to save him? Why did it hurt so much when I heard him die? I didn't even trust him. I get to my room and sit on my bed, tears falling down my face "Hey, Aidan, Mason's…" Tyler said but see me in my state "Woah, dude… you alright?" He asks, I wipe my tears "Yeah… I'm fine, just thinking about my Mom." I say lying "Oh… uh, Mason's gone. He left." Tyler said, I sigh "Yeah, I figured." I say.

Tyler goes to his room and I sit here with my thoughts, when Mason was killed… it felt like when Mom died… it hurts… so much. I curl up in my bed as more tears spill from my eyes. I wake up the next day and it's almost night time. Oh, crap! The Masquerade Ball, I have to get ready. I'm in a suit as the Masquerade Ball is underway, I find Tyler and Carol in Uncle Richard's Office "Aidan, you look so handsome." Carol said, I smile slightly "You don't look too bad yourself." I say, Carol smiles "Another compliment, I'll fall over for sure." She said playfully "Come on, let's put on our masks on. Let's just go out there and pretend to have fun." Tyler said "I think I need a cocktail first." Carol said, I chuckle and we got out to the Ball.

Later into the Ball, I'm in Richard's Office with Matt, Tyler, Aimee, and Sarah. We're drinking, yes, even I'm drinking "We're not supposed to be in here." Tyler said "Yeah, I know but we really need to turn this party up. Another shot?" Matt said "Hey, I want a shot." Aimee said "Me too and then we have to dance." Sarah said "Yes." Aimee agrees "You know, usually it's me corrupting you. I like this." Tyler said and they drink. Then they leave to go dance I stay behind and continue drinking on the couch, my eyes start to get heavy. I guess, I had a bit too much alcohol then I pass out.

I wake from my drunken stupor to a commotion "Let me go!" Matt shouts struggling against Caroline then she elbows him in the face, knocking him out "How did you…?" Tyler asks "Matt failed. If Matt fails, I can't." I hear someone say, still in my stupor "Tyler, look out!" Caroline shouts. Sarah stabs Tyler in the chest then he pushes her away and she hits her head hard against the desk, and falls to the floor dead "No, no, no! come on, wake up! Sarah, open your eyes, wake up! This can't be happening! Sarah! Sarah, get up! Sarah! Open your eyes! This can't be happening! Not like this!" Tyler pleads.

Now I'm awake, Tyler grabs his head and screams "Tyler, what's happening?" Caroline questions concerned "Get away!" Tyler shouts "What happening?!" Caroline asks again "You know what's happening." I say glancing at her as my eyes flash an emerald green then I look back at Tyler; he raises his head and his eyes flash amber. Caroline explains what happened in Richard's office to Carol, I look at Tyler "You know I'll help you through this, right?" I say, he looks at me and nods, I smile slightly then I get up and go to my room. Tyler's a werewolf now, and I'll help him through his first full moon.

The next day, I'm at school walking with Tyler to his locker, he tries to open it but ends up pulling off the dial "Tyler, you gotta be careful. Your stronger than the average human now." I tell him, he nods then I go to class. It's after school and I'm playing basketball with Tyler and some other guys, I pass him the ball then he jumps up using his new strength and makes a slam dunk across the court. One of the guys playing freaks out a bit but Tyler ignored him when he saw Caroline and walks over to her, I watch from a distance. They talk for a moment then Caroline starts to leave, Tyler grabs her but she flips him on the ground, I stifle a laugh. Tyler gets back up and leaves angrily then he kicks a garbage can that flies into a car, I rush towards him and drag him away "Idiot." I grumble as I push him "What the hell was that?!" I scold "She was lying! She's a… werewolf." Tyler said whispering the last part.

I scoff "No, she isn't, she's a vampire." I tell him, Tyler gives me a look "What?" He asks confused then he scoffs "Yeah, right." He said not believing me "Fine, go confront her, I'm sure she'll tell you if you push her enough but don't get killed." I say. Tyler shakes his head and walks away, I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. Why is my Cousin such an idiot?

I go home and wait for Tyler to come back. Tyler finally comes back from confronting Caroline "So?" I ask "You were right, she is a vampire." Tyler said "Told you." I say "How did you know?" Tyler asks "I knew the whole time, I could smell it." I tell him. Tyler gives me a look "How?" He asks "I'll tell you later, what else did she say?" I ask him, Tyler said that she was vague about any questions he asked but she also told him that she was the only vampire in town.

I scoff "What?" Tyler asks confused "There's other vampires in town." I tell him, he's stunned "Who?" He asks. I shake my head "Nope, if you become aware of them, there likely to kill you. Vampire are stronger than wolves and there's only two of us." I tell him, he nods but he probably won't let it go. I look him for a moment "So, the full moon is coming soon, have you thought about it at all?" I ask him, he nods "Good." I say "I think, Caroline wants to help." Tyler said. I sigh, great, a vampire, a wolf, and a panther… on a full moon, there's gotta be a joke in there somewhere.