I woke up and immediately tried to shut my eyes again. Hayden's arms weren't motivation to lay there, awake and comfortable, so I was just going back to sleep. My hair was probably a mess and I probably looked like a mess, still wearing my flapper dress from last night.
Not even the smell of pancakes was enough motivation. Before I could fall asleep again, someone tried to call me. I sighed, slid from the couch to the floor and then picked up my phone. It was Klaus, who was the last person I wanted to speak to, but I was going to anyway.
Hayden walked into the room as I answered my phone. He just smiled at me as I ran my fingers through my hair, surprisingly finding fewer knots than usual. Klaus didn't say anything at first. All I heard was the sound of Klaus yelling at his hybrids and calling them useless fools.
"Thalia, love, we have an issue," Klaus told me, angrily. "Alaric Saltsman is now an Original vampire, so we're fleeing town before he can kill us. I suggest you come home before I have the hybrids move your things. I know how you hate that, so I've held them off for now."
"Gee, thanks for asking me whether or not I wanted to leave," I said, sarcastically. "Klaus, I'm not going with you. I don't want to go with you. When we get Alaric out of the way, and I know that we will, there's a chance that I can be happy here. I have friends here. It's a close community and it's what I need."
"I'm not saving you if Alaric tries anything!" Klaus hissed through the phone.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't expect you to go out of your way to save me, the way I did for you." The sarcasm in my voice was obvious, as was my bitterness. "I assume you'll try to take Elena or get her blood for your hybrids before you leave, so tell the Salvatores that I'm helping. Also, I want a hybrid to drop over some clothes for me. I'll text you the address."
Before Klaus could get angry or complain, I hung up and groaned loudly, but texted him the address anyway. Hayden had heard everything that I had said and he looked concerned, which made me feel odd. I got to my feet, fixed up my dress and then walked over to him.
"I have breakfast ready," he muttered. "I made pancakes."
I followed Hayden to his kitchen, which had a dining table in the same room and looked out, onto their property. There was a semi-circle of trees, but in the middle of them, with a shade over the top and a glass fence all the way around was a large pool. If I had to make a guess, I would say it was just under the size of an olympic swimming pool.
His kitchen bench was black marble. On it, sat two plates with a stake of pancakes on them. We only had three each, but it was well-prepared. There were strawberries next to it. On the dining table was a can of whipped cream, syrup, half a lemon and honey.
We both sat down and I noticed that there was a cup of coffee in front of me. It was hot and brewed just the way I liked it. Well, I like all types of coffee, but this one was really nice and clearly expensive. This is the life I could be living, but using my own money.
I think we came to a silent agreement not to ruin breakfast because it was really good. Whether or not Hayden made these pancakes or bought them doesn't matter because they were beautiful. It was like I'd died and gone to heaven, just to be reborn again by the taste of these marvellous things.
When we had both finished, it was clear that Hayden was full. Technically I could eat all I want because it just dissolves in my stomach because of the acid from what is meant to be venom. When a vampire bites you, there's a bit of venom so it doesn't hurt if you just let us feed and if you struggle, it hurts more than it should.
"That was amazing," I told him, taking a sip of coffee. "If you made that yourself then you should become a chef and open a restaurant that sells mainly pancakes."
"It's the only thing I can really cook," Hayden said. There was a silence before he looked up at me. "So, are you going to leave with Klaus? What's even going on? I only heard half of the conversation."
"Esther made Alaric Saltsman into an Original Vampire who can't be killed by the white oak stake," I explained. "He was going to die instead of turn, to save his friends and everyone he loves. Something happened and now he's immortal and after the rest of the Originals to kill us and get rid of all vampires."
"Intense," he muttered, more to himself than me. "What are you going to do? Wouldn't it be best to run?"
"No. I'm not going to run anymore. I like it here. This was where I was turned into a vampire. Mystic Falls is where I had my first proper kiss and I first really fell in love. I'm not going to let Alaric possibly destroy this town because of me. If I die, at least Klaus, Rebekah, Kol and Elijah will be long gone and he'll have to chase them, saving the town from the destruction that would follow my death."
Hayden looked sad, but he didn't say anything. We sat in an uncomfortable silence for a few minutes. The only thing that broke the silence was someone knocking on the door. Knowing it was for me, I got up and went to answer it.
The hybrid standing at the door went to open his mouth, but I grabbed my clothes and ignored him. I'm not going to waste my time talking to a hybrid. I've got to get dressed and ready, then go and find one of the two Salvatore brothers, if not both of them.
As I walked back into the kitchen, holding my clothes, I saw that Hayden had cleaned up. He was fast. I had to give him credit for this morning and how amazing it's been. It's such a shame that Alaric just had to ruin such a lovely moment.
"Where's your bathroom?" I asked, sheepishly.
Hayden gave me the directions, so I found it easily. Down the hall, first door on the right. It was really a simple direction and I was thankful for it. At least it's not like at Klaus' mansion where you have to go up the stairs, take a right, then another, take a left and then it's the third door on the right.
I changed as quickly as I could and used a comb to brush all of the knots out of my hair. When I dressed completely and was fine with my hair, I looked at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a blood red shirt, a pair of black skinny jeans, black combat boots and a black leather jacket. I was looking like I was ready to kick some ass, and I am.
When I walked out of the bathroom and back to the living room, where I had slept in Hayden's arms, I found him with tears in his eyes. Part of me told me to just go because I have to stop Alaric somehow. However, I couldn't just leave him in tears. That would make me an even worse person than I already am.
"Don't you dare die on me," Hayden told me, turning to face me. "Leave your stuff here. Klaus is leaving and you're not. If you're going to be my fake girlfriend, we're going to make it look like we're actually in love even though my parents aren't here yet. They're good at seeing through façades."
"So you're telling me that I'm moving in?" I questioned, a little confused and surprised by this new side of Hayden.
"Yes," he confirmed. "I'll get all of your stuff, even if that means a confrontation with Klaus. You just work on taking Alaric down and coming back safe. I need to keep my parents from forcing me into marriage and you're my way out. I always get what I want, Thalia. Don't screw it up for me."
I placed my things down, on the couch, as Hayden crossed the room. He angrily kissed me on the lips and then stormed off, down the hall. I called a goodbye and then left.
As I arrived at the Gilbert house, I found Klaus using a newspaper as a torch and holding an explosive propane tank. I'd never been so confused and annoyed in my life. Why the hell was Klaus going to burn down the Gilbert House? What if Elena was in there and hiding or something.
When I reached Klaus, Stefan stepped out, so the make-shift torch was put out and the propane tank was set down. There was tension in the air. I let out a breath I knew I was holding, although I wasn't too sure why I hadn't let it out earlier.
Stefan looked at me and nodded. I walked past Klaus and stood with Stefan, lightly touching him on the shoulder for a few seconds. He got the notion and nodded at me, appreciatively. Damon then smiled at me and it turned into a smug smirk as he looked at Klaus.
"Elena's not here," Stefan stated. "Alaric has her and Caroline and he's gonna kill them both unless you turn yourself over to him."
"Now, I know you're not asking me to walk into a certain death," Klaus said, sarcastically.
"I really wish we could," Stefan told Klaus, bitterly. "Unfortunately, if Alaric kills you there's a one in five chance that we die too."
It's actually one in four because there's no way in hell that I turned Scary Mary, or Mary Porter, which is her actual name. She was a real bitch and refused to leave the Originals alone. I had killed her, but I didn't give her my blood.
Damon walked out with a white picket from a fence over his shoulder. He had a smug look on his face as he stood between Klaus and I. Now he was in a better mood than ever, seeing how Klaus might die today.
"I'll take those odds," Damon decided, earning a pointed look from Stefan.
"And a hundred percent chance that Tyler dies," he added, trying to persuade his older brother.
"I'm good with that too," Damon stated.
"Why don't we just figure out a way to put Alaric down?" I asked, getting sick of that fact that all they were doing was bickering like an old couple. "I mean, we don't know how to kill him because the white oak stake sure as hell won't work, but I know it's not the only way. It can't be."
Klaus and Stefan began to pace, Damon leaned against his picket, and I stood with all of my weight on my left leg and tried to think of a way around this. When I was about three, I accidentally put one of the werewolves in the village in a coma. I hadn't meant to, but it just happened. Maybe there's a spell like that.
Before I could say anything, Klaus stopped pacing. He turned around and it was quite clear that he had an idea. Whether or not it is a good one is yet to be decided. I mean, it's either going to be really crap or really good.
"Okay, how about Damon sneaks in and distracts Alaric, while Stefan grabs Elena and carries her to safety?" Klaus suggested.
"Huh, that's a great idea," Damon said, sarcastically. "What's to stop me from getting killed instantly?"
"Thalia," Klaus stated. "Alaric didn't ask for her, which means he either wants to kill her last or he needs her. I'm willing to bet on the second one."
"Oh, it's great to know you value my life," I told him, sarcastically. "Caroline's in there. Don't you have a thing for her? Or did she just reject you too many times?"
"This isn't really helping too much," Stefan muttered.
"I might have an idea," Bonnie declared, walking out of the house. "My mum used a desiccation spell on Mikael that immobilized him for over fifteen years. If I can get it, I might be able to use it on Alaric."
"If and might?" Klaus questioned. "Your words inspire such confidence."
"I'll get it," Bonnie insisted. "But even with the spell, we'll need a lot of vampire muscle to take him down. Including yours. Thalia seems to be with us, so you're my only worry."
"Just so we're clear, the sun sets in eight hours," Klaus informed us all. "If we don't succeed before then, Elena will be dead, I'll be gone, and the rest of you will be left to fend for yourselves. Oh, and someone will need to take Thalia in. Have fun with that."
I bit my tongue and decided not to tell him about my arrangement with Hayden. It's something that he doesn't need to know and it's not important to him anyway. All I'm doing is moving in with a friend and acting as his girlfriend until his parents leave.
Somehow, I had ended up at the Salvatore Boarding House with Bonnie and Damon. Klaus and Stefan had gone to the high school, which I was thankful for. I didn't want to be around Klaus because he was in a worse mood than last night, after the whole magic thing.
As for Stefan, he's a little intense right now. I'm just trying to live and he's all stiff and still. It's scary and annoying at the same time, if that works somehow. Eh, I'm sure it does.
Damon and I were sitting in our own armchairs as Bonnie paced. Every few minutes Damon or I would make a remark about it. It was clearly getting on her nerves, but that doesn't matter. It was really a battle between Damon and I, centred around who can be more annoying.
There was a knock on the door, Damon made a remark about girl scouts, and then Bonnie left. That left Damon and I in the same room, which was surprisingly okay. We didn't have a remark to make about the other because we'd stayed out of each other's lives.
"So, where are you going to live now that you've been kicked out?" Damon asked, trying to make and maintain conversation.
"With a friend," I replied. "Hayden, if we're going to be exact. He's got a nice house and I'm helping him with something, which means I'll get a few favors in return. Well, it's assuming Alaric doesn't kill me first."
"Why aren't you leaving with Klaus?" Damon questioned, getting nosey. "Aren't you two best friends? Is he angry about the magic thing last night? That was pretty cool, by the way. You should share that gift with me so I can take down Klaus too."
I laughed and it wasn't half-heartedly for once. "It's a long story, but the magic thing just worsened the whole situation."
Both Damon and I could hear Bonnie talking to someone who I assumed was her mother, Abby. Abby seemed like a pretty terrible mum, even by my standards. I mean, at least my mum tried to look after me and didn't abandon my family.
Damon left me as I entered the parlour. He came in a second later with two glasses of blood. He was clearly keeping one for himself and I assumed the second was for Abby. She kept her gaze fixed on me from the moment I walked into the room.
"Blood?" Damon offered, but there was no answer. "Ah, come on. Think of it as a peace offering." Abby just stared at me. "Fine. More for me."
"The hell it is," I said, taking the second glass. "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're Thalia Ashwood, aren't you?" Abby asked, shakily.
"The one and only," I replied, shooting Damon a smug smile, as if to say 'she knows who I am. I doubt she knew you immediately.'
There was an intense silence for a few moments. Damon sat next to Bonnie, who was watching her mother and I closely. In fact, everyone was now staring at me and it made me uncomfortable. I don't like it when I'm stared at. I have to fight the instinct to run.
"I've heard so much about you," she told me, making me feel even more uncomfortable. "I met up with a coven of witches after I desiccated Mikael. They told me all about you. Their leader was a vampire who claimed to be your sister."
There was another silence as I sat down next to Damon. I was stiff and ready to run or kill someone at a moment's notice. That was what I was trained to do and one thousand years isn't about to change that. It's a naturally uncomfortable situation anyway.
"We called you here because I need help with a spell," Bonnie stated, breaking the silence and walking over to her mother. "Esther created a vampire that can't be killed. I was to desiccate him like you did to Mikael."
"Bonnie, it's too dangerous," she insisted, her attention now moving to her daughter and off of me. "Your magic comes from the Earth. It's pure. This spell asks you to tap into dark places. Places of temptation, places you can't handle."
"You turned your back on me for sixteen years," Bonnie pointed out. "You have no idea what I can and can't handle."
"Gotta say, I'm team Bonnie on this one," Damon agreed, with me nodding too. "How hard can it be to parch a vampire?
"The spell allows you to stop a vampire's heart," Abby stated, pointlessly. "The blood will stop flowing and his body will desiccate."
"That's exactly what we want to do," I said, becoming bored.
"To stop a vampire's heart, you need to find a balance among the living. Can you handle that?"
Bonnie just stared at her mother. Damon was the only one who wouldn't understand what was just said because he's never been a witch or warlock. He was confused, but everyone else knew. It was similar to something I've seen before.
"What?" Damon asked, really confused. "What does that mean? I don't speak witch."
"I have to stop a human heart," Bonnie muttered.
This was not a good thing. Bonnie doesn't strike me as someone who could kill a dog by accident and just get over it, let alone purposely kill a person who she'll probably know somehow. I wasn't going to say anything, but I wanted to. I really, really wanted to.
Damon, Bonnie and I all walked up to where Jeremy was sitting on a table. This was the second time in under a day that I'd been here. I wasn't enjoying this whole high school thing, and I haven't even started yet.
Bonnie was on her phone. I assumed she was using find my iPhone because her phone was now able to find Elena's and Caroline's. From what I can see, they were in what was known as Alaric's classroom. It was closest to the south entrance, so we'd enter through there.
There was a remark made and a scoff as I sat on the table, next to Jeremy. He seemed uncomfortable to have me sit next to him, but I couldn't care less. Bonnie noticed this too, but clearly chose not to say anything. Damon just held out his hand and looked at the ring on Jeremy's finger.
"Hand it over," Damon commanded.
"I'm not giving you my ring," he argued. "Let me do this."
"By my math, you've already bit it once," Damon stated. "This will be twice, wearing that thing and if for some reason Bonnie can't restart your heart and you do indeed die, then before you know it, we have another psycho alter-ego case on our hands, which is bad. So give me the ring.
"Let him wear it, Damon," I said, looking him in the eyes and willing him to listen. "Alaric's died at least four times, from what I've heard. That, and Esther won't have nearly enough power to get to Jeremy just before he returns. If so, we'll compel him or something. There's always a loop hole."
Damon glared at me and Jeremy smiled smugly. Bonnie wasn't going to join this argument because it was obvious that she didn't want to kill anyone in the first place. She was nervous and for some reason, I felt like comforting her. Maybe it was the eyes.
"Fine," Damon said, sighing after. He then looked at Bonnie. "Try not to kill him, will you?"
As if summoned by the topic of killing, Klaus showed up with Stefan right behind him. Klaus was clearly bitter and in a terrible moves. His hybrids probably had to call him and tell him that a warlock was trying to get my stuff and was being stubborn about it.
"Look at this," Klaus muttered. "One big, happy family."
Bonnie pulled out a small vial with blood in it. It was her blood and I knew it because I had seen her put it in the vial. It was a tiny vial, but if no one got greedy then we'd be fine and we can stop Alaric. I want to be the one to kill him, but something felt off so I probably won't.
"Drink this," she instructed. "It's my blood. It bridges us all together so that when I stop Jeremy's heart, you'll have the power to stop Alaric's. You need to make a physical connection to his bloodstream; a vein, artery, something connected to his heart."
Damon took the vial and took a sip. He handed it to Stefan, so he did the same. Then it was handed to me and I drunk a little bit and managed to leave some for Klaus. Stefan nodded at me and smiled a little. I think he was trying to reassure me.
"If one of us gets a clean shot, take it," Stefan instructed. "The other two can hold him down and we'll have a back-up no matter what."
"Before we all walk through these doors, let's get on the same page, shall we?" Klaus suggested. "I was the one who created your vampire bloodline, therefore I am responsible for your lives and Tyler's life, Caroline's life, and of course, Abby's life, should anything go wrong."
"Or you're just lying to save your ass," Damon said, not believing it.
"No," I told him, surely. "It had to have been Klaus. I killed Scary Mary, but he admitted to being the last one to see her before I killed that bitch. That, and I had to lure her out of Klaus' room to kill her and the others were out."
Klaus drunk the rest of the blood with a smug look on his face. Not only was he sure that he wouldn't be killed today, but he now knew that his theory about me killing Scary Mary was correct. Everyone else had thought he did it, but it was me.
"Let's just get this over with," Stefan decided.
We all walked to the school together. I went through the gym doors while Klaus went through another set and the Salvatore brothers entered through the southern exit. I heard sounds of struggling, so I tried to move as stealthily as possible to see what was going on.
As I rounded a corner, I saw Elena running as Damon and Stefan rush over and pin down his arms. I saw Klaus, who was closer, but I ran over there anyway. It was too late. Before I could shove my hand into Alaric's chest, he threw both the brothers off.
In a few swift movements, Alaric broke Stefan's spine and temporarily killed him. Then he turned to his ex-best friend, Damon, and snapped his neck. Before I was seen, I went back around the corner and waited for the right moment.
Klaus ran forward and shoved his hands into Alaric's chest. Bonnie must've felt something or we'll all end up dead. Somehow, Alaric was strong enough to pull Klaus's hand out and throw him across the hall.
Turns out that Alaric had the white oak stake in his jacket, because I saw it as he picked Klaus up and slammed him against the lockers. Klaus fell to the floor, on his face. Alaric flipped him over and went to stake Klaus with the white oak stake, but Klaus fought back.
That gave me the opportunity I needed to join the fight. I rushed over silently, then kicked Alaric in the chest, sending him flying off of Klaus and onto the ground, where he landed on his ass and back. The stake was still in his hand, but that wasn't my worry.
I let my fangs out, channelling my vampirism to help. Alaric got straight up and rushed at me. He went to push me back, but I ducked, moved to the side and tripped him. Unfortunately, he didn't lose his footing and Klaus wasn't paying much attention.
"You're weak!" Alaric screamed at me. "Esther told me you'd make a good ally, but you protected Klaus! I guess I'm just going to have to kill you now!"
Alaric ran at me and before I could move, he had me pinned against the lockers. A lock was digging it's way into my back as Alaric held me there, with the stake over my heart. He was hesitant to kill me, but it was more for the joy of it.
Thankfully, there was no light in this hall. I felt the magic I had used on Klaus last night awaken again, so I let the shadows circle Alaric. In one fluid movement, he was flung back by the shadows. Before we could begin to really fight again, Elena yelled at us both.
"Stop!" She yelled, which made me consider continuing to fight, but seeing that Alaric stopped, so did I. Elena was crazy as hell, holding a butter knife to her throat. That won't do anything. "Let them go or I'll kill myself."
"Put it down, Elena," Alaric insisted, clearly worried.
"Why? Because you still need me alive?" This was a dangerous bluff because if she was wrong, we're all dead because she's a stupid little bitch who doesn't know what she's doing. "She didn't want you to be immortal, so she tied your life to a human one. That way you have only one life span to kill all of the vampires and then you'll be gone. So, when I die, you die too. That's it, it has to be!"
"You're wrong."
"Am I?" Elena began to cut her throat open and I almost screamed at her.
"Stop! STOP! STOP! STOP!"
Using Alaric's panic to his advantage, Klaus got to his feet. He then rushed towards Elena, grabbed her and then left before anyone could really process what just happened. When Alaric got to his feet, I ran for it.
I wasn't going to stick around, especially if Alaric can't chase me until the sun goes down. Hell, I'm not even going to go and tell Bonnie. I've got to get the hell out of here before I get killed or something. I'll be safe at Hayden's, but not in a public place.
Using my vampire speed, I got back to Hayden's in a matter of minutes. When I walked into the house, I saw him moving a box. Before I could stop him, he disappeared down the hallway. I shut the front door and breathed a sigh of relief. Alaric wasn't getting in tonight.
Hayden walked into the kitchen, where I was now on the hunt for hard liquor of any kind. Thankfully, I found a bottle of bourbon. It was an expensive kind, meaning I might actually get drunk or at least tipsy by finishing the whole bottle.
"Woah, don't drink that," Hayden said, taking the bottle from me and putting back on the shelf. "That just happens to be my parents' favourite hard liquor. Usually they just drink wine or champagne. Maybe you can compel yourself some bourbon, but if you drink anything here, my parents will know."
"Hayden, I just fought Alaric and he could've killed me," I told him, annoyed. "I could've died, and that would mean that you'd have to face your parents without me. Can't I just have a bit? Maybe the whole bottle? I'll replace it."
"You can't just drink your worries away," Hayden insisted, shutting the cupboard and turning to face me. "I almost got killed because those hybrids came after me. Tyler Lockwood, of all people, was the one to save me. Then they called Klaus, who told them he couldn't give a damn."
"Then we can both drink our problems away. I have the money to replace it, even if it's now worth one million dollars. Money is nothing to me. However, my life and the lives of those I care about mean a hell of a lot to me. So, forgive me if drinking my problems away is how I'm going to spend what could possibly be the last day I see anyone I care about again. At least I can spend it with someone I care for."
It was clear that Hayden didn't know what to do or say. I think he was surprised that I actually cared for him. If my life is a popular story for witches to tell, then he knows I don't really care for many people, but not many people would've helped me outside so I could try and protect Kol. Most would've tried to help me and make me stay still.
Also, most wouldn't have asked me to pretend to be their girlfriend or chosen my side when it was me or my siblings. No one's taken me to a school dance before either. Oh, and no one's told me what to do the way he did.
It was a friendship and part of me would begin to want more. Like this morning, I wanted his arms to be around me and when he kissed me, I wanted him to do it again. There was no way I could do this and not want more, especially from someone so attractive and strong.
"My parents will be here tomorrow morning," Hayden muttered, turning away. "Wear something classy and don't show too much skin."
I sighed and agreed, then told him not to let anyone into the house tonight...