With a grunt I heaved the large red door open. A flip of a light switch and the small concrete room flooded with bright florescent light. The whole room was cluttered with boxes and old crates full of old pictures, clothes, and toys that my parents had refused to get rid of. I searched through the boxes getting frustrated at all the junk my parents kept. I huffed when I found a fifth hand print turkey in a box labelled : Family History!
After my run in with Richard Lockwood I knew I had to move Johnathan Gilbert's inventions as soon as possible. I'm not even positive that the inventions work but better safe than sorry. The last thing I need is them falling into the hands of an idiot that has no idea what he's doing.
After searching for what felt like forever I finally found a box labelled : Johnathan Gilbert. I practically tore the box open and let out a sigh of relief when I saw the inventions and a tall stack of tattered journals. I carefully loaded the box into the trunk of my Dad's old Camero that had been collecting dust in the garage until this morning.
Once I cleaned up the mess I had made and locked up the storage unit I left. I drove until the smooth newly paved road turned into the bumpy and coarse backroad. I shivered when I saw the old Gilbert manor. It looked so creepy and run down now, but it must have been something back in the day but now the house was old and decaying.
No one has been out here in years. Our Dad used to take us out here when we were little. Jeremy, Elena, and I used to play hide and seek for hours. I used to run around pretending I lived here and wonder what it was like to be alive back than? What the people who lived here were like. What their lives were like. My uncle John used to always say I was born in the wrong time.
Once I got inside I lugged the boxes up the excessive staircase. I knew exactly where to hide them. When we would play hide and seek here I always won. I had a place no one else knew about. A secret hide out.
I walked down the hallway and into one of the many bedrooms. This room was always my favourite. The walls were a royal purple with thick white trim dividing the purple walls into panels. I ran my hand over the bumpy and cracking plaster walls counting as I went. When I reached the fifth panel I pressed against it and the panel popped open.
A tunnel ran from this room throughout the entire property. It was so dark I could barely even see my hand in front of my face. I walked carefully through the darkness until the light from the purple room faded. I hid the box in a whole in a decaying wall I used to hide my toys in when I was little.
After the boxes were well hidden I left the tunnel and pressed the panel shut. I blocked the entrance to the tunnel with an empty bookshelf just to be safe. After I was sure the inventions were safe I drove back home hoping Jenna wouldn't ground me for missing curfew.
When I got home I snuck into my room without being detected. I sighed a breath of relief when I closed my bedroom door, but that relief was short lived. There was someone leaning against my window. I couldn't make out the face in the dark but I could tell it was a tall man. With my heart racing a mile a minute I grabbed my gun out of my bag and aimed shakily.
"Who the hell are you?"I asked and the figure jumped before running forward and talking frantically.
"Ava it's me. Put the gun down."He said and I immediately recognized the voice.
"Tyler?" I asked, lowering the gun and flipping the light switch on. Tyler stood in front of me with panic in his wide eyes.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I hissed before walking over to my bed and setting the gun on my bedside table.
"I wanted to make sure you're okay. After everything that happened tonight..."
"By everything that happened tonight do you mean your dad being a gigantic ass, or you being a gigantic ass?" I asked with an icy glare.
"I'm sorry." He answered with a heavy sigh.
"For what? Pointing out that I'm weak and useless or beating up my little brother?" I asked anger bubbling deep inside of me.
"I'm sorry for everything. Punching Jeremy and all those things I said."
"Tyler-"I started to reply still not convinced.
"I said those things because I thought you needed to be protected. "He said and irritation churned inside of me.
He thinks I'm a damsel in distress, and that I need a someone to save me. I really don't need that and I definitely don't want it.
"-but after seeing you stand up to my Dad I realized you didn't need protection. I've never seen anyone tell him off before."Tyler finished.
Silence had fallen between us as I considered his apology.
"Well he is an alpha male douche-bag."I replied using Alaric's colourful nickname.
"I still can't believe Mr. Saltzman said that."Tyler laughed.
"He's got balls."I smiled thinking of the dumbstruck look on Mr. Lockwood's face when Mr. Saltzman told him off.
"What are you doing tomorrow?" Tyler asked pulling me back to reality.
"Nothing." I said looking at him curiously.
"We should hang out at my place." He suggested and I looked at him incredulously.
"Tyler, I just blackmailed your dad-"
"My parents will be gone all day" He promised and I hesitantly agreed.
After another restless night I was standing outside of Tyler's house caught in a downpour. I ran to the front door and knocked excessively. After knocking for five minutes a sleepy looking Tyler answered the door.
"Finally."I yelled before pushing passed him and rushing inside.
"What are you doing here?"He asked as he closed the door.
"You're the one who told me to come over today."I yelled shivering as the air conditioner blew freezing air at me.
"It's barely even morning yet."He replied white stifling a yawn.
"Tyler it's noon." I replied rolling my eyes.
"It is?" He asked sounding surprised. He looked like he was starting waking up. "You're wet." He said sounding confused.
"Really? I hadn't noticed."I glared and he quickly ran up stairs muttering about towels. I never thought Tyler was smart, but I never thought he was stupid either, until now.
I started to wander around the massive Lockwood mansion leaving drops of water behind me. I needed to get away from the dreadful air conditioner before I caught my death. I walked around aimlessly until I saw a large display hanging in the hallway. There were tiny plaques engraved with names of the ancestors of the Founding families. I read all of the familiar names in amazement.
William Forbes
Arthur Fell
Isabella Fell
Giuseppe Salvatore
Stefan Salvatore
Damon Salvatore
James Lockwood
Violet Gilbert
Violet Gilbert's name practically jumped off the plaque. I had read about her in Johnathan Gilbert's journals. Not to mention she was the star of my strange recurring dreams. I couldn't help but feel incredibly curious about her.
"Tyler?"I yelled, urgency in my voice.
I heard the sound of Tyler running towards the stairs. He came running towards me with a fluffy white towel in his hands.
"What is it?" Tyler asked concerned as he handed me the towel.
"Does your family have records of all these people?"I asked wrapping myself up in the towel.
"I think so. Why?"He asked confused.
"I need to see what you have on her."I said pointing at Violet's name."It's important."I added and he looked at me skeptically.
"Why is it so important?"He asked scratching his head in confusion.
"Please Ty."I pleaded giving him my best pout and he smiled.
"That look should be illegal."He laughed running his thumb along my frown and I smiled. "The records are upstairs." He said turning and climbing up the stairs. I secured my towel around my chest and followed him.
He led me up to the old creaky attic. The narrow room was filled with rows of dusty bookshelves. Dim wall sconces barely lit the place. Boarded up windows rattled as the wind howled outside.
"She's a Gilbert so she should be around here."Tyler said walking towards a bookshelf labelled: Gilbert's.
Tyler and I scoured the shelf for hours. So far all we got from our search was paper cuts and ink stained fingertips. I was getting frustrated when Tyler yelled from the other side of the bookshelf.
"Found her."He said and I quickly ran over to his side. When I made it to him he was holding an old tattered book.
"What's it say?"I asked impatiently. Tyler rolled his eyes before flipping the book open and scanning the contents.
"Uh...born May, 23, 1847. The only daughter of Jonathan and Allison Gilbert. She died June, 12,1864."Tyler read and I looked at him expectantly but he stopped reading.
"How did she die?"I asked excitedly.
"It didn't say."Tyler answered. I grabbed the book from him and opened to Violet's page.
"Is that it?" I asked when I found nothing else on the page. Disappointment seeped into my bones.
"I think s-Wait, there might be a picture."Tyler announced and I felt my face break into a smile.
"Where?" I asked flipping through the pages but there was no picture.
"There should be a bunch of pictures at the back of the book." Tyler said flipping to the back and pulling out a wrinkly old folder. He dumped a pile of old pictures onto the book and we looked through them carefully.
I spotted writing on the back of one of the unchecked photographs and felt a jolt of disbelief.
James Lockwood and Violet Gilbert, Founder's party, 1864.
I grabbed the picture and flipped it over. I felt like I was about to get some answers but when I looked at the picture I had a million more questions. As I stared down at the picture my heart dropped into my stomach.
Familiar faces stared up at me. I heard Tyler gasp when he saw the picture in my hand. It was us.
I looked down at the picture completely stunned. This isn't possible. Someone has to be messing with us. Vampires? Okay, Witches? Sure, but what ever this is? How is it possible?
"What the hell?"Tyler asked grabbing the picture out of my hands. He stared at the picture bewildered. His eyes never left the picture. It was like he thought if he looked at it long enough a logical answer would explain this away.
While I was trying to come up with an explanation a face popped into my head. Damon. He was alive back when James and Violet were, and he is in practically all of my dreams with Violet. He has to know something.
"We have to go."I said sliding the book back onto the shelf and heading to the door.
"Where are you going?"Tyler yelled as he ran after me.
"Damon knows something."I said as I marched down the stairs.
"You want to interrogate that psychopath?"He asked grabbing my hand and turning me to face him.
"I think he knows something. He was alive in 1864. He must have known them."I said and turned to leave but Tyler pulled me back again.
Once we arrived at the Salvatore house I jumped out of the car. I couldn't explain the feeling running through me. I was scared of what the answer would be but I needed to get it.
"Damon!"I yelled as I broke through the unlocked front door. I looked around the unfamiliar house for the blue eyed vampire. I searched the whole downstairs but nothing. I was starting to wonder if anyone was home when I felt cool breath on the back of my neck. I whipped around and was face to face with Damon.
"Whatever it is I assure you I am completely innocent."Damon said with a smirk on his face. I looked over and saw Tyler looking startled at Damon's sudden appearance.
"It's not funny Damon."I seethed and he rolled his eyes before walking into the living room.
Elena and Stefan ran down the stairs a few seconds later with worried frowns on their faces.
"Ava, Tyler? What's wrong?"Stefan asked concerned.
I ignored his question and strode into the living room. Tyler, Elena, and Stefan following behind me. Damon was pouring himself a drink as I made my way over to him.
"What is this?"I asked pulling the picture from my back pocket and practically pushing it into his hands.
Damon glanced at me amused before looking down at the picture. His grin quickly disappeared and a dark look washed over his face.
"I believe it's a picture." He said the darkness never leaving him.
"Dam-"I started but Damon quickly cut me off.
"Violet was my best friend."He said a small smile playing on his lips. I looked at him surprised. The fact that Damon ever had a friend is surprising.
Elena walked over towards us and took the picture from Damon. When Elena looked down at the picture her face contorted into a look of shock. Her head snapped over to Stefan. She sent him a questioning look before turning to me with worry in her eyes.
"Go on." I demanded and Damon smiled before actually doing as he was told.
"We knew each other since we were children. Violet was Stefan's age, but she found him boring. Stefan always did as he was told."Damon said, glancing at Stefan who rolled his eyes in response." Violet, never did what she was told. She was a free spirit. Strong willed and independent but then that wasn't a good thing."
"She sounds like you."Tyler said from behind me but I couldn't tear my eyes away from Damon.
"The two of you are very similar."Stefan said as he walked over to us. He glanced down at the picture looking sad, but nowhere as grief stricken as Damon.
"Similar? They're the same person."Damon scoffed and I looked at him confused.
"You're crazy."I said and let Stefan lead me away from Damon. I sat on the couch and looked down at my shaking hands.
"That little song you always hum. Where did you here it?" He asked and I looked at him confused. What does an old song have to do with any of this?
"I don't know. I must have made it up." I said regretting ever coming here.
"Violet used to hum that tune constantly. Her mother used to sing her to sleep with it. You press your lips together whenever you're nervous just like Violet. The way you talk, the way you walk...all your little mannerisms, they're all the same."Damon explained frustrated.
Damon walked out from behind the bar and sat in the chair next to me. I noticed Tyler watching Damon tensely and he was about to say something when Stefan walked over. He sat next to me trying to shield me from Damon's intrusive gaze but failing.
"Tyler, you act just like James. Hot-headed, competitive, and protective."Stefan added handing me the picture.
"Why do we look like them?"Tyler practically growled.
"I have no clue. I never thought I'd see you again."Damon replied staring into my eyes relentlessly.
"What happened to them?"I asked not looking away even though everything inside me was screaming to. "In the journals it said that Violet died young."I said and a pained look took over Damon's features.
"She did. It was tragic. "Damon said vaguely. I turned to Stefan with a pleading look in my eyes.
"The night before she was going to marry James Lockwood she died."Damon said before Stefan could explain.
"How did she die?"I asked cautiously.
"There were hidden tunnels in her bedroom. She locked herself in and suffocated."He answered chugging the rest of his scotch.
The room I hid the Gilbert artifacts. That must have been her room. The room I get chills every time I go inside it. She died in there.
"How do you suffocate? The tunnels opens into the forest?"I asked bewildered.
"Wouldn't I like to know. I was the only one who knew about the tunnels."He said and I was confused as to why he mentioned it until it hit me. He must have been the one who found her.
"And James?"Tyler spoke up. I had been so consumed in figuring out about Violet that I had completely forgotten about James.
"He was a mess after Violet died. He said he couldn't live without her. He even went to a witch and asked if Violet could be brought back. Eventually he killed himself."Stefan explained and Damon rolled his eyes before standing up and walking back to the drink cart.
"Why do we look like them?"Tyler asked before I could open my mouth to question Damon.
"You are them."Damon snapped glaring at Tyler.
"That's impossible."Tyler challenged, glaring right back.
"You're talking to a vampire. Nothing is impossible."Damon quickly replied.
"You can't honestly believe that we're James Lockwood and Violet Gilbert...reincarnated or something."Tyler said in disbelief.
"There's something I need to show you guys."Elena said and I looked at her confused.
"Now?"I asked and she nodded.
It looked like Elena and Stefan were having a silent conversation. Stefan finally nodded before disappearing in the blink of an eye.
"I found out yesterday."Elena said as Stefan reappeared holding an old picture.
"Found out what?"Tyler asked and Elena sighed before passing me the picture.
I looked down and even more shock ran through me. It was a black and white photo of Elena, but on the bottom it said: Katherine,1864. It looked similar to the one of Violet and James. Katherine? As in Stefan and Damon's ex?
"You two have some serious issues."I said shaking my head. Stefan just happened to be dating a girl who is the exact copy of his ex-girlfriend?
How is any of this possible? It isn't possible that Elena is some doppelganger. It isn't possible that Tyler and I are some kind of reincarnated tragedy. None of this is possible.