Chapter 10 (Enjoy guys!)
(RECAP: In chapter nine, we find out Mr. Donovan, the mayor, is actually Matt. Alaric wants Declan to leave before things get anymore complicated.)
Declan pauses for a second.
"The mayor?"
"Yes."
"This the same Matt from the diaries? The Matt my birth mom dated?"
"Yes. You have to go before It's too late."
"I can't, I've searched so long for this family heritage, and it's finally here. I can't just-"
"You can and you will. I get it Declan, I really do. I understand-"
"No you don't. You've probably had nothing short of a family, the women and two girls in the photo. Probably always felt like you belonged. Nothing compared to what I'm going through."
Alaric takes a long pause, "Maybe kid. Maybe."
He takes a second to breathe. "Look Declan, this is my last warning, out of respect for your parents, I'm telling you to leave."
"And I'm telling you NO." His answer is firm, and a sure decision.
"Fine. When this situation goes south, and it will, you'll remember this. The very moment I gave you a way out."
Alaric hangs up.
Declan looks at his phone.
"Great." He mutters
Where was he supposed to go now?
He continues his walk.
He could go back to Abby's but he didn't have a key. He could go to the diner, but he was already low on money.
Ms. Bennett, he thought.
He changes his course and heads straight to her house.
She was the one person who'd listen to him. She'd give him the truth without any sugarcoating and that was something he needed right now.
…..
Before he could knock she opens up the door, greeting him.
"Declan come inside, hurry."
She looks around before shutting the door behind him.
"Hello again Ms. Bennet."
"Hello Declan."
"So I -"
"You're looking for answers." She takes a seat across from him.
"Yes, the honest straight truth."
She smirks. "Where's Abby?"
"With Nicole. I'm sorry if I'm just barging in like this. I didn't have anywhere else to go."
She looks at his neck.
"What happened to you?"
"That's why I'm here."
"Go on.."
"Don't think I'm crazy, I know you're the only person who'll believe me."
"I'll give it a shot."
"I think it was a vampire."
She immediately begins to shake her head.
"I know, I know it's crazy but you have to believe me."
She looks him in the eye. "I do."
His heart immediately sinks and for a second there, his feet are glued to the floor.
"You do, I me me mean .." he stutters, "Did you know about This? How long?"
"Slow down. I said I believe you but-"
"What?"
"It's impossible."
"Why?"
"Vampires haven't been in Donovans Landing for years."
"Well how?"
"Where were you when it happened, the bite?"
"The mayor's house."
"I see…...It sits right on the edge of town."
"Ms. Bennet after it bit me, it was hurt."
She turns her head back in his direction.
"Hurt how?"
He demonstrates with his hands. "It bit me, I could feel it sucking my blood. Like it was draining the life out of me."
Her eyes shift to the door and Then back to him.
" Then all of a sudden it stopped. Just as he was about to finish up he dropped. He threw up my blood and started to shiver, that's when I passed out."
"Are you sure you weren't hallucinating?"
"Absolutely." He nods.
"In that case-"
His phone vibrates.
He looks down. "Ten missed messages."
"Abby?"
"Yea."
He puts it down. Abby could wait.
"Go on miss Bennet."
"It's very strange-"
His phone rings, interrupting them.
Before he can look, Bonnie tells him it's Abby.
"Take the phone call Declan, She's probably worried."
He holds up his index finger. "One second."
"He-"
"I can't believe you Declan! Then again I can!"
"I'm sorry Abby."
"These people are like my family, how dare you walk out on them?!"
"Me? Walk out?"
"Yes you! He was just trying to find out what happened. He was worried about the both of you. You couldn't have just let him take care of you?"
He could tell by her tone and her voice. There was no getting through to her. She wouldn't believe him if he told her anyway. She aligned herself with the Donovans.
"I just needed some fresh air. Sorry."
"Look where are you? Me and Nicole will come pick you up."
"I'm at Alaric's. No need to come get me. I'm just reading up on the diaries." He lies.
"Whatever." She sighs and hangs up.
He turns to go back to the living room with .
"I'm quite jealous you know."
He jumps at the sound of her voice.
"You scared me, ms. Bennet."
"Sorry, it wasn't my intention to."
He follows her into the kitchen, and takes a seat. "When you say you're jealous."
She nods.
"What do you mean by that?"
She smiles,"It's no secret me and Abby have our differences. I haven't had a real conversation with her since she was twelve. I only wish I could make her react in the same way that you do. Whether it's a smile, a glance,sadness," she pauses, "laughter…..love. Any real emotion. When it comes to me she's….she's numb." she instantly frowns.
He chooses his words carefully.
"If you don't mind me asking… and you can tell me to mind my business and shove it," he takes in a deep breath, "why are you guys so…. distant?"
"Are you sure you have time for all of that? It's a lot that drove us apart. I wouldn't know where to begin."
"What about her father? She never talks about him."
"That's because she doesn't know him. She never had a chance to."
"Because…."
Bonnie turns away.
He turns his head down. "Sorry I've probably crossed a line, I probably shouldn't have asked that."
"No it's fine. Abby never had anybody, really. Except Nicole, Jr., the Donovan family. I lost my rights to Abby when she was thirteen. The mayor took her in. I've regretted that day ever since it happened."
"What'd you do?"
"It's what I tried to do."
He waits for an explanation.
"I needed her for something important, something that only runs in our blood. I failed."
He nods. He doesn't want to dig any deeper, that last part creeped him out a little. "Why don't you two just sit down and talk, let her know how you feel. I know you miss her."
She chuckles, "That must be your mother's side talking. If Elena were here, I have a feeling she'd be saying the exact same thing."
They begin to walk back into the living room.
"So Alaric said something earlier that has me stuck."
He changes the subject, he could feel her getting too emotional.
"He said that I was the mayor's missing piece. Something along the lines of that."
"When did he say this?"
"This morning."
"Why didn't you lead with that?"
"I don't know, you just seemed so upset with Abby."
"I'd rather save this town then my relationship with my daughter. Family therapy is over.
What else did he say?"
He's taken back a bit.
They hear the front door slam."I told him to get out of town. As you can see, he didn't listen. That must be Damon's stubbornness showing through."
Alaric comes in taking a stand behind Bonnie.
"Alaric." Declan and Bonnie say in unison.
"Declan why are you still here?" Alaric asked.
"Like I told you on the phone earlier. I needed to know more. She can tell me more. You both can."
"We want to, but I don't want to put you in the middle of this. I can't. We can't. Your parents wouldn't want us to."
"Dead people usually don't want anything. Usually that's one of the benefits of being dead."
Alaric grits his teeth.
"Me on the other hand I'm alive and well."
"Not for too long if you stay." Alaric says.
" I just want to know what's going on. No more secrets,no more lies.I feel like I've been living one my whole life." His voice raises a little.
Bonnie pulls Alaric to the side.
"We might as well. He deserves to know."
"About what?"
"Everything. I deserve to know too. We have to save this town. What did you find?"
"Okay. You wanted it, so here it goes. Declan your mother and father were both vampires. Earlier I lied. They exist and that's what bit you."
Declan's a little uncertain, and swallows the huge lump in his throat."Okay."
"They took something called the cure. Which cured them from their vampirism. When they were humans they conceived you."
"Go on." He urges them.
"I have my theories."
"What?" Bonnie asked, impatiently.
"When you were born I think some of that energy went inside of you."
Bonnie swallows. "It makes sense. Your bite."
Declan reaches for it and Alaric comes over to remove the bandage.
"It's completely healed. In only six hours."
"What does this mean?" Declan asked.
"You're a walking cure, undiluted and natural. " Bonnie says.
"For?"
"Vampirism." Alaric tells him.
(Let us know what you guys think!)