Chapter 7
The Miss Mystic Falls pageant was in two days and Elena was entered in the competition. Her and Stefan were over at the house for family night. Jenna was on a date with a mystery man and Jeremy was stuck up in his room. Vicki Donovan was missing and so Jer was kind of freaking out. Or at least he thought she was missing. I didn't know exactly but I had a strong feeling that Vicki was a little more than missing. When Stefan came in he avoided touching me, which made me incredibly anxious. But I could smell human blood on his breath. He looked like he was coming down from a high and he ended up having to leave early. I turned to Elena when I could no longer hear his footsteps.
"Were you planning on telling me what the hell happened to Stefan?" I could hear her heartbeat speeding up.
"What are you talking about?" she said nervously.
"What do you mean 'what am I talking about'? He looked like he was having a bad trip the whole time, he refused to touch me and not to mention, his breath smelled like blood. Human blood." She looked down at her wrist.
"He bit you! What the hell were you thinking! He's a vampire, Elena. No matter how much he loves you, I can guarantee he loves the feel of warm human blood running down his throat more."
"I had to do it. He was going to die otherwise" she said quietly.
"I could feel his heartbeat and the pulsing in his throat. He wants more, and he is going to do whatever it takes to get more."
"He has more self control than you think. You're just underestimating him."
"No one has that much self control, I can promise you that." She tried to shrug it off, but I could tell she was really worried. Not for her sake, but for Stefan's.
The pageant was happening the next day. That night I went for a good long hunt. I even caught a mountain lion. I planned on leaving town for the pageant. I was never really into that kind of stuff. Besides, I knew that most of it would be Caroline bitching about how Damon broke up with her, and I really was not looking forward to that. I felt bad that I wouldn't be there for emotional support for Elena, but I knew she had her other friends and family. That night, I decided to walk home from the hunt. It was a beautiful, crisp night and I thought it might me a good idea. Then I saw Damon lying in the middle of the street, like a total idiot. I walked over and kicked him lightly in the side, and by lightly I mean not enough to break his ribs.
"Ouch" he said incredibly sarcastically.
"Oops" I said with an equal amount of sarcasm, "What are you doing out here anyway?"
"Oh you know, just trying to catch a meal."
"Well you have definitely found the best way to do it. Lay in road waiting for a car to run you over."
"What do you want anyway. I thought you were mad me."
"I am" I said as I kicked him in the side again, a little harder this time.
"Again, ouch."
"Again, oops." I handed him my hand to help him up. Not because he needed it but because I was oddly attracted to him, and I wanted to become friends, or at least frenemies. He grabbed it and I saw everything. His whole life flashed before my eyes. It was awful. He had suffered through so much, he had made so many sacrifices for the good of his loved ones, and yet he thought of himself as an evil psychopath. It was the most tragic life I had ever seen. Then I saw him see Elena, he was in love with her from the first time he laid eyes on her.
"What's wrong" he asked as he stood in front of me. I was perfectly aware of exactly how close his body was to mine. Thank God I don't have a heartbeat, because it would definitely be accelerated.
"Nothing."
"Are you sure? You look a little shaken up." As he said this he moved his hand to my face and push a piece of hair behind my ear. I had to stop breathing in order to hide my anxiousness.
"I'm fine." He leaned into me so that his nose almost brushed the side of my cheek, I closed my eyes.
"What the hell is that?" he said. He was just looking over my shoulder. I turned around to see where he was looking. There were two headlights coming at us fast. I grabbed him and I ran into the forest at the edge of the woods as quickly as I could. He was breathing heavily. I let go of him as fast as could. His heartbeat was steady, the whole time, it never sped up.
"Well, I should be going. If the sun comes up and I'm not home people will get suspicious."
"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow at the pageant."
"Actually, I'm going to be out of town."
"Pageant's aren't really your thing?"
"I'm surprised your attending."
"Well, you know, founding family responsibilities."
"Yeah. Good night Damon."
"Good night, Eden Rose."
I spent the rest of that night on the roof. Around five in the morning I came in through the skylight. I made some black tea and waited for Elena to get up. Around seven she came downstairs and I helped get her ready for the "big day". I made breakfast for the whole family and then Jer and Elena left. Jenna checked with me one more time if I wanted to go with her or not. I told her I was sure and she left. After I heard the car round to corner I sighed. I locked all the doors, grabbed my care keys and headed out of town. I had found a bar just outside of town and that was where I was headed. I compelled the bartender to not ask for any ID. I drank there for a few hours, but then drove back to Mystic Falls. I spent some time at the grill but eventually I found myself back home. Jenna came home around five. She was downstairs in the living room watching the news and I was in the attic reading. Jer arrived only a few minutes later, he joined Jenna on the couch, but shortly after he retired to his room. I put my headphones in and blasted Stateless. I did this a lot because it was the only way I could avoid hearing what was going on. Then I heard Jenna open the door and I heard Elena's voice. I turned off my music and headed downstairs. I was standing at the top of the stairs when Elena almost ran into me.
"Hey. Are you okay?" I asked.
"Yeah. Just really tired." She didn't sound like herself.
"Yeah. Me too, I barely got any sleep last night" I baited.
"Me neither" it wasn't Elena, "I'm gonna hit the hay."
"Okay. Night." She brushed my shoulder on her way past me. It was Katerina. Katerina Petrova. I saw her whole life. She was a survivor and she was horrible. Her life had a tragic beginning but that only led to her narcissistic behavior. Then I saw her on my porch. Damon was there, he had kissed her. I already knew that he was in love with Elena, but I never thought he would do something like that. But even more alarming, Katerina was back, and she had been invited into my home.
I stood on the stairs for a few seconds, wide-eyed. Then I headed down and made some tea. Jenna was there and we had a short conversation about my day and the pageant, then she said goodnight and headed up stairs. After I heard her close her door I looked at the text message that had been sent to me a few minutes before, it was from Elena. It read:
Hey Eden. I am sleeping over at Caroline's tonight. Please let Jenna know. You're welcome to stop by if you want, if not I'll see you tomorrow.
I replied:
Okay. I'll sit this one out. Congrats on the win. Have fun and be safe. I'll let her know. Night.
After I pressed send I went upstairs to have a little chat with Katerina. I stood in the door and watched her go through the top of Elena's desk.
"Hey" I said and she jumped at little.
"Hey. I didn't see you there" she said.
"Yeah, yeah. I figured. So, why exactly are you here?"
"What are you talking about. I just got home from the pageant."
"Let's not play games Katerina. I figure your a little too old for that nonsense." She looked up, shocked.
"Fine. You clearly know who I am, so I expect you to return the favor."
"You really didn't do any research on her life, did you?"
"Clearly."
"Well I am Eden Rose Woods. I would say it's a pleasure to meet you but…I'm not a liar."
"How do you know who I am?"
"You seem to have an awful lot of questions."
"You don't seem to have any."
"Let's make a deal. I'll answer yours if you answer mine."
"Fine. So, how do you know who I am?"
"The first time I touch someone I see their whole lives and all their memories" I said and I looked at my hand, "It's a gift and a curse. My turn! Why are you here?"
"Call it curiosity. I was rather interested in finally meeting myself."
"And you are still in love with her now boyfriend."
"That's only part of it."
"Yes I know."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Because I was curious to see wether or not you were a lier."
"What's the verdict"
"That you're a selfish, narcissistic bitch who apparently has a death wish."
"Oh yeah. Why's that?"
"Because you decided to talk to me."
"What should I have done instead of talk?"
"Run." She laughed.
"From you? I can promise you I am much older and tougher, and I could kill you anytime I wanted."
"Older yes. Tougher, debatable. The killing me part, that's where you definitely went wrong."
"And why is that?"
"Because I'm stronger, faster, smarter, and oh yeah, I can't barely be killed." Her eyes widened.
"You're the 'Special'."
"Bingo."
NOTE: Sorry it took me so long to post, I am in the hospital. I promise I will be posting more often now.
