A/N: Hello, here's the next chapter. I have changed some things about the structure. The more extensive chapters are going to be divided into parts, with their own theme.
Caroline examined the look in the mirror. Her eyes were let down, her face wasn't lit up and her lips were pale. It wasn't just the lack of make-up, which she found completely appropriate for the ceremony she was about to attend, it was also the pure weight of what was about to happen that was dragging her down.
She wore a simple black dress that generously touched her knees. Again, not the usual, especially not for her. This dress was only worn on special occasions, such as today.
Special? More like depressing, she thought. The last time she wore it was not too long ago, at Carol's funeral.
She sighed as she brushed her hair. In times like these she didn't feel like dressing up, like putting all her effort into the outfit of the day for more likes on Instagram. Her arms moved the comb lazily. She felt a certain numbness in her limbs.
Caroline left the bathroom and went into the living room where Matt waited for her. He sat on a chair, hunched over a crumpled piece of paper. She wetted her lips and stepped towards the coat hanger from which she grabbed a plain jacket.
She knew what he was doing. He was going over the speech they worked on last night. Matt insisted he'd say something at Jeremy's funeral but he was at a loss as to where to start. Together they put up a few words that were representative of what they both felt towards Elena's little brother.
She put on a pair of small black pumps and walked to Matt. Her heels echoed against the floor as she approached him and he looked up. He wasn't startled, he just moved his head up unfazed, in an almost zombie-like manner. Unlike last night when even a falling leaf could break his peace of mind, today he just seemed disconnected. His black eyes and creased forehead told the rest of the story.
"You look…" he started but then looked away.
Caroline pressed her lips tighter and took a seat next to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder and nodded. "It's okay, Matt." She looked down at her shoes and noticed dirt on the edges. Her heart contracted immediately.
She wore these shoes to Carol's funeral and when she arrived back home, she just threw them in the closet, not wanting to do anything with them ever again.
Sighing, she opened her purse and took out a pack of napkins. God knew, she needed them. Vampires cry, she thought to herself. She knew that firsthand.
Throwing the napkin on the counter, Caroline grabbed a small black purse, which hung on the side of one of the living room chairs. With one final tug against the strap, she said, "Mom said she had to leave early to settle some things at work. Matt, we should." A pause. "…go as well."
Matt folded the piece of paper once again and stuffed it in a pocket, all while getting up. He started towards the door, his heavy steps creaking the wooden floor. Caroline followed him out in the front yard. He stopped and glanced at the red car parked from last night.
Matt opened his mouth, but words failed to come out. He cleared his throat and tried once again, "I need to give Stefan the car back."
Caroline stepped forward and shook her head. "No, Matt," she stuttered. She couldn't possibly let him drive like that. He didn't have her vampire reflexes. "Come with me. You can bring the car this afternoon… I can take you anywhere you need." She moved to open the passenger door and Matt looked at the car one last time before moving towards her.
Caroline released a sigh of relief once they were both inside the vehicle. At least this went smoothly, she thought and pressed the gas pedal. They were going to his house first so he could get ready.
She held the steering wheel with one hand and with the other reached into her jacket for the phone. She caught a look at Matt. He was slumped down in his seat with the window open and not wearing a seatbelt. She couldn't really blame him. She wasn't wearing a seatbelt herself.
She dialed the number she was looking for and pressed the phone at her ear, holding it with the shoulder. In a surprisingly short while, the person answered.
"Hey, Caroline."
"Hi, Bonnie." Oh, how glad she was that she answered. "How are you holding up?"
There were a few moments of silence. "I'm doing it, I guess."
Caroline's heart clenched in her chest. "Do you need me to pick you up? I'm with Matt. We're going over to his house first, but we can get to you shortly. What do you say?"
"No," Bonnie quickly declined. "I'll just see you there." She held a pause and Caroline was about to say something, but she cut her off. "Yes, I'm sure."
The blonde sighed. "Alright then. We'll see you at the church." She heard the goodbye and carried on with the drive towards Matt's house.
Bonnie closed the phone and pressed against the screen. She focused on her breathing. In and out. In and out. She grabbed onto this mundane action and held onto it with everything she could. Things were different now. They had Kaithlyn on their side.
More or less, she thought. She still wasn't certain about the relationship between that girl and Jeremy. She hoped with all her heart that Kaithlyn wouldn't hurt Jeremy or try to steal the hunter mark or harm him.
Either way, Damon would be there. She knew that he was bluffing last night. So was she. There was no way in hell she was going to suggest that Jeremy would be left in danger. Bonnie only did so because she was rational. Stefan couldn't be the one to stay behind with Kaithlyn. The lack of blood combined with the power it held on him was too powerful to risk it.
Damon didn't have this problem, but she knew Stefan wouldn't let Damon stay behind if it meant his brother wasn't safe. It wasn't in his nature. So, in an unspoken unison, the vampire and her synced into a plan that ensured bringing Elena's brother back.
Bonnie moved towards the white dresser in her room and pulled the last shelf open. She wasn't looking for clothes to wear; she was already dressed in a modest black dress and black flats. She was after something else. She pulled and pushed against the heap of clothes until she reached the back and pulled a black and dark green plaid shirt. She took it out and closed the dresser.
Her hands immediately pressed against the material and she couldn't help smelling the cologne radiating off it. This didn't belong to her, no; it belonged to someone else.
"Jeremy," Bonnie whimpered softly and caught herself. It wasn't the time to break down, not when she had a plan to undo this wrong. Still, she allowed herself a moment. She hoped, oh, God, she really hoped that Kaithlyn would be able to bring him back as she intended. She hoped with all her heart that she could get Jeremy back and not bring every other supernatural being that died back on Earth.
She wasn't sure what to think. Kaithlyn went out of her way to bring a witch to do the restoration spell on Jeremy. She said she was still preparing for the ritual. All of this hadto mean something. She wouldn't have done this for nothing. She wouldn't have done this if she really didn't want him back for a reason or another.
Bonnie didn't know what to make of the hunter's powers. The only psychic she knew was Silas, but he was the strongest on Earth. She couldn't compare her to him. And what was curious enough, after she got home last night, she couldn't get a hold of Silas. She wanted to ask him more details because he surely knew the method Kaithlyn was planning to use.
All she got was silence. Silence last night and silence right now. She reached into a dresser and took out a small penknife. She always had those handy since the Salvatores came back.
Bonnie used the tip of the blade to puncture the center of her palm. Not much blood poured out, that wasn't even the point. She then rested her left hand, palm up, on the plaid shirt. She focused her powers and without uttering a word, the link was made. She felt it; she felt the connection between the wound and the corpse in the Salvatore basement, between her and the dead boy. And involuntarily, her mind slipped into a memory.
Bonnie entered the living room with a huge bowl of popcorn. In front of the couch, on an uncountable amount of pillows and covers sat the boy she loved.
Upon entering, he turned at her and said, "Wow, what a haul. Are you sure this is just for us?"
She laughed and came to sit down beside him. She took a small amount and popped it in her mouth. "Just for us," she said. "Did you bring the movie?"
"Of course, since last time you were the one who did, and we ended up watching How to train your dragon again, I made sure to remember, " he said and pressed a hand on his chest.
Bonnie shoved him and said while giggling, "It's a great movie, Jeremy."
"We saw it five times already!" he replied and laughed, to which Bonnie just shook her head and told him to shut up. "Either way," he started and put his hand in his backpack and pulled out a hard cover. "I got us this."
She raised her eyebrows. "Iron Man 2?"
He shrugged. "You could use some of the moves on Klaus."
Bonnie burst out laughing, knocking the bowl on her lap down in the process. "On Klaus? I don't think that would work."
Jeremy picked the bowl up and smiled on his own. "Why not? You're like a real life super hero."
The witch shook her head, the smile disappearing from her features. "You're still worried," she said.
"How could I not be?" he retorted and looked down at his lap. "It's just that-" he started but was cut off by Bonnie who placed a finger to his lips.
"Ssshh," she said. "I've got this. Trust me."
Jeremy grabbed the hand and kissed her knuckles softly. He held it and massaged it. "Promise me," he requested solemnly, but then looked away for a split second. She didn't say anything; it appeared as if he wasn't finished yet. Suddenly, he let go of her and took off his dark green and black plaid shirt, remaining in a white tank top. He grabbed both of her hands and put the shirt in them. "I'm borrowing this to you. I want it back. Promise me that after the 50s dance is over and Klaus is out of the picture, you're going to return it to me."
Her eyes sparkled in the dim light and she looked at him mesmerized. She pressed the shirt to her chest and softly said, "I promise."
Bonnie sighed as she opened her eyes. She never gave him the shirt back, she intended to keep it for a little longer as a reminder of what they faced that day. Days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Oh, how ironic it was that right now it wasn't her that broke the promise, but him.
She placed the shirt on the dresser and ran her hand over it one last time. It felt just like it did the first time. She unconsciously pressed one of her fingers to the small wound in her left hand. All she had to do now was wait for it to expand.
˜.˜
Damon arranged the black collar on his shirt. He wasn't going to the funeral, he stayed behind, but somehow it still felt mandatory to dress like this today. It wasn't as if it was unusual for him anyway.
Today was the day. Everyone would go and mourn the death of Jeremy Gilbert. The body they would bury belonged to another man who hadn't been identified at the morgue. Stefan and him managed to fool the system and get it prepared for the ceremony. He sighed and leaned against the counter, turning around and crossing his arms over his chest.
Not if Kaithlyn manages to change that, he thought. He wasn't sure what to make of her. Could she possibly do it? Could she really undo nature's will all by herself? The only person he knew that was strong enough to do that was Bonnie. Frankly, he didn't see how Kaithlyn could live up to that.
There was also something in her urgency that Damon found unsettling. What did Jeremy mean to her? If what Kaithlyn said about them was true, then they spent just a few weeks together in Denver. This mere short friendship, was this enough for Kaithlyn to bend over backwards to bring him back?
He played with the idea of something more existing between the two of them, but he quickly dismissed it. To him it was obvious that Jeremy was head of over heels in love with Bonnie. This didn't mean that she didn't have a relationship with Kol. However, didn't her annoying stupid friend from last night point out how it wasn't Kaithlyn's deal to hang out with vampires? By the looks of it, the girls were close.
Damon looked up at the window of his bathroom. Light was peaking through. Time was ticking. Either way, Kaithlyn wanted him back alive. If she wanted Jeremy for him, fine. If she wanted Jeremy for revenge, off with her head. If she wanted Jeremy for his mark, off with her head. He would not hesitate. And with Bonnie coming, she didn't stand a chance.
"You seem deep in thought," he heard and looked to his right. "Damon."
He unhooked his arms and stopped resting against the counter. "Stefan," he started. "No, it's just another day. Body in the basement, funeral, deal with a stranger who might screw us over. The usual."
Stefan sighed and leaned against the wall next to the mirror. "You're worried about her."
"No, Stefan. I'm worried about what she can do for us." He stared him up and down. "She can die for all I care," he spitted.
He ignored his remark. "You know, you have an option. I also didn't drink blood. I could take your place."
Damon looked away and walked past him into the bedroom. This was precisely why he told Stefan he'd run if it came down to it. His brother always tried to protect everyone. Stefan was weak from the deprivation of blood and the torture he endured and too impressed by Kaithlyn's act. He was easier to take advantage of. He was in more risk to get hurt. And he got hurt enough already.
"I've got it, Stefan," he finally said as he picked up his phone from the nightstand. "Bonnie's coming anyway."
Stefan stood in silence for a few moments and then finally said, "If that's what you want." He turned around. "Call me once the ritual is done or if anything goes wrong. And please don't sabotage Kaithlyn. We need Jeremy back."
"Don't worry, Stefan. I'm gonna handle her just fine," he said and drew a hand through his hair.
Stefan walked towards him and placed his hands on his shoulders. "I know I've been hard on you this week and for that I'm sorry. I just want to fix everything. Give Elena her life back. This is our chance." Damon already started rolling his eyes. "Listen, Kaithlyn isn't a bad person. She wants him back the same way we do. We might not know her yet, but we'll have time for that."
Damon looked at the clock on his phone. "You should go," he said. "It's late."
He nodded and started walking away. He stopped at the door. "Take care of yourself, brother."
"I'll see you soon," Damon replied and Stefan smiled before turning around and swiftly leaving.
He looked at his clock again. When was Kaithlyn even going to show herself? Time will tell, he thought. Time would give him the answer to all of his questions.
˜.˜
When Caroline pulled up in the church parking lot, people had already begun gathering. Groups of people moved separately into one direction, coming together into one. There was one thing that they all shared in common: the dreadful black clothing.
She glanced at Matt. "Whenever you're ready."
He nodded a few times quickly. "Just give me a moment," he said through a muffled breath.
Out of the corner of her eyes she could see some of Jeremy's classmates, some of Jeremy's neighbors, some of Jeremy's teachers. Everything came together into a horrific sync.
Her phone buzzed. I just got here. Where are you? Stefan wrote.
Here. Just a sec, she replied back.
"Matt, Stefan's here. Do you…?" she asked so softly as to not jolt him.
His brows were furrowed together, eyes locked in place. He took in a sharp breath. "Let's just go," he finally said and opened the door.
Caroline followed suit, closing the windows and the doors behind them. They made a few steps together and stopped in front of the car. She could see his wavering expression.
She stepped closer to him, pressed a hand to his shoulder. "Take a few deep breaths, okay?" His head picked up and he looked into her eyes with a destroyed expression. Water glassed his eyes and sweat covered his forehead. He was hesitant. "It will make you feel better. Matt, please…"
He gave in to her and started breathing heavily, eyes never leaving hers. She could feel the weight of their connection, his unforgiving need for a leg to stand on. She intended to be that for him. She held his gaze and felt his heartbeat slowly dribble down to a normal rate.
"Matt," she started and looked away just for a split second. "Are you sure you want to do the speech?" Her eyes returned to him. "I mean I could-"
"No!" he suddenly yelped. He rubbed his forehead and looked away on his own. "Yes, I mean, don't do it." He gulped. "I- I need to do this."
Caroline nodded and smiled at him. "Okay," she simply said. "You'll do great." He didn't say anything back to that. She had already told him that a hundred times last night. She reached into her purse and grabbed a package of napkins. She handed them to him and he thanked her.
While he rubbed his forehead and hands, she looked around. A whole lot of people. They all cared for the boy that lost his life.
In her dazed glance, Caroline caught sight of someone who she couldn't believe showed up. Elena. With a shaking figure, hair bound back in a ponytail and a black dress that reached her knees, Elena advanced towards the church entrance.
She turned towards Matt who didn't seem like he noticed her. "Go inside. Stefan's there. I'll come in a minute."
He didn't protest any further and began moving with the rest of the crowd. Caroline, on the other hand, started towards the vampire who was nodding her head while people muttered about how sorry they were. She made her whole act look so believable, she was a player. The blonde saw right through it.
When she got close to her, she barely acknowledged her presence, still overtaken by a couple who were staring down at her.
"Sweetie, if you'd like, you can always come eat dinner with us. We're here with you. At any hour. Just make sure you have our phone. We gave you the number. Are you sure it's right? Let me check. Oh, there it is. You can call at any time," the woman in the couple blabbed while Elena kept nodding her head and staring at her shoes.
"Thank you," she said with a raspy voice.
Caroline looked at the couple. "Hey, I'll just talk with her for a minute."
The woman lit up with a warm smile. "Oh, we were already done. You can have all the time. She really needs her friends close right now." They made sure Elena understood that they were there for her one more time before turning away and joining the crowd.
Elena simply turned around and started walking towards the forest that surrounded the church. She still had her head bowed down and shaking her knees as she stepped. Caroline had no choice but to follow her.
Once they were out of the eyes of the public Elena regained her usual posture and body movement. She stopped in front of a big oak tree that shaded both of them and leisurely turned around.
"You have something to say, or?" she inquired and shrugged.
Caroline got her composure together and explained with a steady voice, "I do. But first I just need to say. Playing this role and playing the whole town is incredibly disgusting."
Elena rolled her eyes and moved past her. She bent down, picked up a small twig. She twirled it around her fingers while she smirked at the girl next to her. "You were saying?"
Caroline crossed her arms over her chest. The threat didn't pass by her ears. It also didn't cease to leave a bitter taste in her mouth, considering the reference to the night of the party.
"Come on," she said dragging the words. "If you don't say something useful, I will."
Caroline shook her head and untangled her arms. "Right," she said and drew in a sharp breath. "A new hunter came into town." The girl narrowed her eyes. "Her name is Kaithlyn Downright. She's a werewolf hunter who has psychic abilities. We don't know much about her, but trust me Elena, she's dangerous."
Elena puffed her cheeks and furrowed her brows slightly. "And how exactly could a werewolf hunter harm me, a vampire?"
"Whatever you do, don't set her off," Caroline said and the girl stepped back and looked away unimpressed. "Elena, she went to look for us at cheerleader practice. She went after Matt and she was planning on going after Stefan and Damon."
She leaned against the tree. "Okay, fine. What does she want?"
To bring Jeremy back and punish the one who killed him, she immediately thought. She couldn't say that. Not in the state Elena was. "We think she's looking for Connor. Elena, you have to keep shut about what you did to him."
Elena let out an exasperated sigh and slapped her arms against her thighs. "Fantastic. How does she look like?"
"Tall, brunette, brown or green eyes. She wears this black coat…" she explained and drifted off. "Wait, you want to know because-"
"I want to kill her," she firmly ended her statement.
Caroline frantically stepped forward and shook her head. "No, no. She's too dangerous. She has this weird council on her side and-"
Elena raised her hand. "Stop right there," she said. "Is this all? Because I have things to say as well." Caroline pressed her lips shut and eyed the girl before her. "Prom's coming up. I need a dress. This is where you come in. I want you to come shopping with me."
"No," she simply answered.
Elena waved her finger at her and got off the tree. "In this case, I'll have to talk to Sherriff Forbes, your mother." She leaned her head in her direction and smiled proudly. "You see, I have to report a crime. This Wednesday, a tragedy happened in our town. Twelve poor souls lost their lives…" Caroline's eyes started to widen and her whole expression untied. Elena's smile turned into a smirk as she came closer to the petrified vampire. She leaned closer, so close Caroline could feel her breath against her ear. "And I know exactly who the killer is," she whispered and pulled back.
Caroline's arms hung stiffly against her sides as she started pinching the side of her dress between her fingers. The girl before her just bounced back and circled around her. Caroline turned towards her. The grin on her face made her stomach turn.
"So we have a deal then?" she said pointing at her.
"Yes," she firmly stated.
"Good," Elena said. She coughed a few times and grabbed her eyelashes, smudging her mascara. With a newfound raspy voice, she whimpered, "How does this sound?"
Caroline's expression dropped flat. She just wanted to get out of there. "Fine."
The vampire smiled and started walking away before turning and saying with a cheerful voice, "I'll message you the details." She then caught herself and cleared her voice once again. "I'll message you the detail, I mean," she said with a depressed tone.
Caroline just stood there in disbelief. How could she let it get this far? She drew her hands through her hair. She needed to get back to Matt.
˜.˜
Kaithlyn pulled the brakes on her car as soon as she parked in front of the Salvatore Mansion. Her window was down and the clear air surrounded her, wrapping around her in a cold embrace.
She reached into her black coat and took out the phone. She pressed the lock button until the option to turn it off appeared. With that slide over, she reached into the glove compartment and placed it somewhere in that mess.
I really need to clean that, she thought and immediately caught herself. She wasn't supposed to let her mind drift off like that, for it to get bogged down with useless thoughts. Her mind needed to be clear for the ritual.
Kaithlyn grabbed the collar of her coat and pushed it outside further, showcasing her neck. She placed her right hand on her thigh and her left arm out the window. It was then that she started a breathing exercise. For four seconds she had to breathe through her nose, then for seven seconds she had to hold her breath and finally for eight seconds she had to breathe through her mouth. Her slender fingers counted the seconds away on her thigh. She did this exercise three times.
When she finished, she got out of her car, heels clicking against the pavement. She let the world around her flood her thoughts, letting her mind rest for the last few moments before the ritual.
Knock, knock.
The door opened wide and Damon immediately let her walk inside. "Good morning, Kaithlyn."
"Hello, Damon," she said dreamily and continued walking down the corridor before stopping in the living room.
Damon closed the door and followed her behind. "Well, how about we keep it a good morning by, you know, succeeding?"
She raised a finger up. "Don't talk about the ritual," she said through gritted teeth. She couldn't slip into thinking about it.
He held his hands up and shrugged. "What were those weird sounds in your car?"
Kaithlyn rubbed her wrists, not looking at the vampire next to her. "Just my breathing exercise." She massaged against her pulse spot. "Did you do as I said?"
Damon rolled his eyes. "Yes, I met your ridiculous request. I'm starving, so…" He turned towards the staircase. "The boy's in the basement."
She held her hand up. "No," she said and finally looked at him in the eyes. "We don't need to do it there. What's the place in this house that you had your happiest memory?"
"My bedroom," he replied dryly.
She pointed at him. "Lead the way then."
Damon went towards the stairs and started climbing them one at a time. There was something about the woman next to him that had changed. Her eyes, they were so much clearer and there was a certain daze hidden in their light.
He found himself glancing in her direction from time to time, to make sure she wouldn't trip and fall down. If something were to happen to her, he'd rather it was after Jeremy was up and healthy.
His room was in the corridor at the top of the stairs, through one of the many doors. He opened it and stepped inside, walking towards his bathroom. Kaithlyn entered and examined the room. Luxurious bed, fancy bathroom, high ceiling. "Impressive," she said as she took off her coat. She put it down on the armchair next to the door.
Kaithlyn tentatively walked towards his bed. She looked at it and then sheepishly turned to Damon. "You changed the sheaths, right?"
Damon nodded and said in a low voice, "Yeah."
She stepped out of her heels and plopped herself down on the bed. She placed her legs in a triangle position with her torso, the right leg, the one on the dominant side, on top. She pulled her hair back and looked at him.
"I believe it's only fair I tell you a few things."
Damon opened his arms wide. "About time."
She paid him no mind. "I'm going to exit my body and search for Jeremy on the Other Side. In order for this to work, I'm going to use my connection with him." She tapped her right knee. "Our marks are on the opposite arms, which makes us Matched. Still, it might take a while." She sighed. "Whatever happens, Damon, do not interfere." She massaged the palm of her left hand. "Any questions?"
"Yeah, about that," he started and raised his shoulders slightly. "That's the power of the hunter marks?"
"That's none of your business. Anything else?"
Damon rolled his eyes. "Alright then, can you have more than one?"
She stared to the side of the bed and for a moment appeared to be deep in thought. "No," she finally said. "Anythingurgent?" she asked.
He shook his head, but then came to a halt. "Can I drink?"
She arranged the edge of her black jeans. "Anything but blood. You can do anything really. Just don't interfere with me."
"Alright then," he said and went towards the huge dresser to the left of the bathroom. He pulled on the first drawer and took out a bottle of scotch from underneath a sweater. He walked to the armchair, sat down on it careful to not bother Kaithlyn's coat and swung the bottle.
The girl on the bed leaned back on her hands and smiled at him. It was the first time she ever did. "You always have this stuff handy?" she asked. He noticed there was a certain easiness about her in that moment.
Damon raised the bottle and glanced at it with disgust on his face before turning back to Kaithlyn. "Yeah, but I don't like scotch that much. Bourbon for me."
She narrowed her eyes and straightened her posture back to how it was. Discuss time was over. "I'm starting now."
Kaithlyn placed her hands on her knees, palms facing upward. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes and then let the air out slowly. After her mind was cleared one more time, she turned for the first anchor she was going to use: the memory of the first time they met.
It was evening. She was working at a bar in Denver, taking a break from the hunter world due to certain things that happened prior. She was wearing the standard uniform: a black shirt with short sleeves and a few buttons undone, black pants and white sneakers. Her hair was curled and twisted around in a complicated bun, one of the many hairstyles she found on Pintrest and tried during that time. She wanted to distract herself from what had happened.
Kaithlyn focused on every single detail of who she was back in that moment, then turned to the setting, to what was around her. The multitude of bottles displayed to her back, the hard polished wood under her hands, the number of glasses stacked on top of each other in groups. Everything came to her in a perfect picture.
Then, slowly, she felt her whole body forget Damon's room and turn to the bar in Denver. Her spirit had transcended into the memory, living through that moment once again.
Kaithlyn rubbed one of the glasses clean, placed it near the others and wiped the wood with the piece of cloth in her hand. She raised her head and saw the small frame of the teenager move towards her. Yes, here he was. In his usual pace, Jeremy walked towards her and took a seat on the barstools.
He placed his left elbow on the bar. "Hello, can I have some Irish whiskey?"
"Sure. Can I see your ID first?" Kaithlyn said as she tossed the piece of cloth to the side.
He started to fidget. There was something about the heaviness in his shoulders, the circles under his eyes, the dryness of his lips that made her be more careful. "I'm twenty one. I just forgot my ID."
Kaithlyn shook her head. "I don't believe you."
Jeremy threw his head back and replied with a harder tone, "Look, lady, I'm just trying to have a good night. Don't stop that just because I forgot my ID home."
She pressed her lips together and came closer to him. "Oh really?" she said and stared into his eyes. "What's the date of your birth?"
He looked down and stayed in silence for a few moments before saying anything. "It's-"
"See?" she cut him off. "You wouldn't have hesitated if you were really the age you claim to be."
Jeremy backed off and his whole body appeared to have slouched. He looked away for a second before raising his head back up. "You're right. I'm sixteen."
She smiled at him. "That wasn't so hard now, was it…?"
"Jeremy," he said and moved his left hand over the bar.
Kaithlyn took notice of this and stretched her left hand to meet his. "Kaithlyn," she said as she grabbed his hand.
He shook it. "Nice to meet you, Kaithlyn."
She smiled at him. "Nice to meet you, too," she said while holding his eyes and not letting go of his hand.
Jeremy's forehead started to crease as he noticed the iron grip she had on his hand. Next, she pulled him towards her, turning his arms so the veins were exposed and grabbed one of the nearby knifes. She plunged the knife deep into his wrist, the tip of the knife sticking into the hard wood of the bar. Blood gushed out of his wound and he tried to break free, but she held him still.
He started jerking his body, attempting anything that would have him escape. He had no chance. Slowly, the skin on his hands began peeling off, revealing a rough black hide with flocks of grey hair puffing out in some places. The tips of his hand narrowed off into stubby claws.
Kaithlyn smirked and yanked the knife out, making the monster wince once again. With his newfound weakness, she pulled him towards her and sliced his throat before he even finished uncovering his mask.
His whole body dissipated into a puff of black smoke that blew away into the air of the bar, leaving a black smudge where he sat.
The spirit that had impersonated Jeremy went back to where it came from, leaving Kaithlyn sighing in frustration. If the first try came out to be a demon, she was off to a bad start. The monster had left a dark energy behind, which meant that future reruns of this setting had a higher chance of luring in another imposter.
Kaithlyn breathed in a new load of air. This memory was too important to discard it already. The richer the memory in an energetic sense, the higher the chances she had of linking back to the real spirit of Jeremy Gilbert and bringing him back with her.
She exhaled. It was time to run on the setting again.
A/N: And that is the first part of chapter 7, Uncertainty.
Did you like Bonnie and Jeremy's little flashback?
What do you think about Elena and Caroline's fight? Elena has a new objective now. How will that affect the dynamic of the story?
Anything else? Let me know in a review.
People who review will get a sneak peak of the next chapter. *wink*
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Have a nice day.