Chapter Twelve
"So tell me why we're doing this again?" I panted while trying to keep up with Stefan's movements.
We were God knows where in some random clearing near a lake. I had never been this deep in the woods before but I knew we were nowhere near the city or the boarding house. It was unsettling. Damon's blood was still in my system and I had no idea where the guy was. Every part of my body wanted me to find him. It was downright annoying but Elena had woken up from a wonderful sleep at the break of dawn. Apparently, she and Stefan were up most of the night discussing Damon and I's blood bond. They had a lot of questions and wanted to test a few things out. On top of that, I had missed a few training days with the youngest Salvatore due to the craziness that is Mystic Falls. There were so many things I needed to be prepared for. Klaus, even though he was momentarily on our side, the possibility of needing to disarm Jeremy if he lost control over himself, and Dark. None of us were sure about him so he was currently out of our circle of trust. I was great with a bow now; that was given. However, when Chase was in front of me I was powerless. I had no idea how to handle myself. For now, I would be their ranged, secret weapon but if the time ever arose, which it would, when I needed to be up close and personal, I needed to be ready. The only problem: Vampires are very fast and Stefan was not going to go easy on me.
"We want to see the extent of the bond. Damon has no idea where we're at. How are you feeling?" Elena questioned from the sidelines.
She had some training with my older brother so she was helping to criticize my movements and give helpful tips.
"I thought we already concluded that we were stuck together." I stated with an exasperated sigh when I missed Stefan with my next gab once again.
"Think of it as hide and seek. We want to see if you can….sense each other." Stefan explained as he placed his hands on my shoulders to stop me.
Elena came up from behind and gently encased my wrists with her hands. She then began to show me the proper way to stake a vampire. I nodded in understanding and took all of their tips to heart. I was, in a way, desperate to learn. I couldn't be the damsel in distress forever. I needed to be helpful and not a liability. Elena released me and motioned for me to try once more.
"And we want to see if you two can physically not be near each other without losing it." Elena teased.
Rolling my eyes, I scrunched my nose. In truth, I wasn't losing it. I just felt jittery and wanted to get this training over with as fast as possible…so maybe I was kind of losing it…just a little…
I readied myself for whatever Stefan may be planning. They had told me to never rush attacking; just be patient. Vampires are much too fast for me to try and be faster and finish them off first. Just wait for the opportune moment. That's what made Alaric so great. He found that moment every time.
He came at me in a blur; it took every strain of my eye sight to see where he would possibly be moving. Lucky for me, I had a wonderful guess as I dodged his first movement earning and impressed gaze from the two vampires. Confidence rose in me so I wiggled my brows in a challenging manor and motioned for him to come at me once more which Elena laughed at. I know I was being too cocky but this was my friend I was facing. Cocky was aloud.
My breath caught in my throat when he appeared in front of me so suddenly. I nearly yelped when he swung at me. I knew he wouldn't actually hurt me but it was still startling. I was able to evade him but it was so close that I heard the air ring in my ears. Now it was Stefan's turn to be challenging me with his gaze.
"Stick to the brooding." I pouted but a small laugh escaped my lips.
I was grinning from ear to ear when I found myself evading all of his movements. And then it happened; I saw my opening. My back pressed to a hard tree and that's when Stefan took his chance. His hand grasped around my throat with a triumphant grin.
"That was better." He complimented.
I smirked and turned to Elena.
"Judges?" I laughed.
Elena was laughing as well and that's when Stefan's eyes lingering downward. The metal stake, since there was no way I would be using wooden ones in training, in my hands was pressed against Stefan's chest right where his heart was.
"Suck it!" I shot my fist in the air and dropped the stake to the cold ground.
I was feeling very prideful. It was a lucky shot, I have to admit, but it was progress. Patting Stefan's shoulder I began to walk away from the shocked vampire but a small tug on my ankle brought me falling to my knees. I turned with wide eyes only to see Stefan staring towards the sky innocently.
"Did you just trip me?" My jaw dropped.
"Now why would I do that?" He shrugged while wrapping an arm around his girlfriend. Elena rolled her eyes but was stifling a laugh.
"He tripped me." I scoffed as I positioned myself to a sitting position. "Sore loser." I pouted.
The two vampires laughed and Elena walked forward to offer me assistance.
"Watch yourself Salvatore. I'll get you back one day." I threatened with a smile. "So are we done?" I asked hopefully.
I had a few more hours before Damon's blood left my system. That meant a few more hours until this jittery need to be near my alcoholic friend would be gone. At least, that's what we were hoping for.
"Yes, are we done?"
We all turned to the new voice and I couldn't help but smile. He stood leaning against a tree with his arms crossed and a very annoyed look in his icy blue eyes.
"Very cryptic messages baby bro. Very annoying." He stated while shaking his phone.
I turned to Stefan in question but he was too busy trying to get under his brother's skin. My only hope was Elena but the only answer she gave me was a smile.
"Just testing out some things." Stefan answered his brother with a mocking stare.
"Well it worked. Are we done?" Damon glared while taking slow steps closer.
"What am I missing here?" I finally voiced with a loud sigh.
"Like I said: Just wanted to see the extent of the bond." Stefan shrugged as he picked up some of the training gear we had brought along.
Everything clicked in my mind then. I turned to Damon with a surprised grin.
"Wait a minute…so you just found me? How?"
I was truly intrigued. I had no idea that he was nearby. I didn't feel it…I guess that was some of the perks of being a vampire. My lips formed into a pout when Damon didn't answer me. Instead he stocked off with Elena and Stefan following close behind so I did the same. I would try and get an answer out of him later when Stefan wasn't trying his best to annoy.
Once we were back at the boarding house I was able to take a warm shower and wash away all the dirt that was sticking to my skin from all the training. Leaning against the tile wall, I let everything out in one shaky breath. About this time today I was dancing which meant that, by now, Damon's blood should be out of my system. So how do I feel? Confused. All I could think about was that wonderful vision I had the night before. My hands flew up to my lips and my eyes closed at the image of Damon and I locked in each other's arms. If I could see the future then that meant that I had seen Damon and I together. The image was so real it was like I could feel everything. The way my blood was rushing through me, how my heart was beating at dangerous speeds but then I felt a painful numbness…weakness. In my vision, it looked like I had died…it felt that way at least. I had so many questions about these visions and there were only two people in the world, that I knew of, that had answers. Professor Shane and Dark and as of now, neither of them could be trusted. But I needed the truth…so much so that I was willing to take a risk.
There would be a time for that but right now, everyone was waiting for me downstairs. It was time to see the outcome of this bond. Tying to my drying hair into a braid and throwing on some clothes that Elena was letting me borrow, I met the vampires in the palor only to find Elena and Stefan's intence stares. Damon of course seemed to care less as he sipped on his bourbon with a smirk.
"How do you feel?" Stefan asked.
"No different. It's not like I felt any different than myself anyways."
It was the truth. I wouldn't have known any different if they hadn't put the clues together. The only noticeable difference is that I wanted to be near him. All the time.
"Moment of truth." Stefan said while turning his eyes towards Elena who nodded in response.
I lifted my brows in confusion and Damon seemed to be just as lost as I was. Before I could blink, Elena was behind me with her fangs ready to attack. With wide eyes I noticed Stefan had done the same to Damon but with a stake near his heart. Even though I knew without a doubt that Stefan would not harm his brother to the point of death, the mere thought made my heart jump…that was a normal feeling…what wasn't though was the fact that I wanted to grab my bow and make sure Stefan suffered if he so dared drop that weapon.
I sighed and shook my head. Well played my vampire friends.
"Yeah, it's still there. I want to kill you Stefan." I forced a smile trying to lighten the strange air around us.
Damon's eyes narrowed but he stayed silent which was loud enough as if he had explained the feelings going through him. The bond was still there. So what did this mean for us?
"So now what?" Elena questioned for me once her and Stefan had seated themselves on the couch.
"Well, she's sired so that's a good thing…but if this bond may control your actions…that could pose as a problem." Stefan concluded and I had to agree with him.
If Stefan had dropped that stake into Damon's heart, I was more than willing to do the same to Stefan. That was a problem. What would I possibly be capable of if something did happen to Damon?
There was a quiet conversation going on between the brothers. Though neither of them was speaking, they were clearly having a battle with one another. It was times like these when I wish Damon was easier to read. Stefan was clearly upset but Damon…his face was blank. It was unsettling.
"So…now what?" I repeated Elena's previous question.
"Aren't you two late for school?" Damon replied.
Both Elena and I sighed and exchanged annoyed expressions. We weren't going to get any answers from either brother right now. Maybe it was because they were just as lost. They didn't know what the next plan of action was.
"Yeah….after that performance yesterday, I might be on my teacher's good graces. Don't want to ruin that."
There was no point in stopping my life. I was bonded to Damon. No one was in danger and there were no magical threats. I could deal with this. We could all deal with this.
"I guess." Elena muttered.
She sped up the stairs and not long after that Stefan followed her but not without one last glance toward Damon. I had been alone with Damon before and never once had it felt strange…but ever since I had that vision of the two of us so intimate…it was hard to look at him the same. Smiling gently, I turned to get ready for the day.
"Are you avoiding me?" There was a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Why would I do that?" I said with a little strained laughter in my voice.
"Oh I don't know…maybe because you're bonded to me."
Rolling my eyes, I slung my bag over my shoulder. Everyone was going to assume that was the problem. They were making it a bigger deal that what it truly was.
"That's not it at all." I replied without thinking.
I had just admitted that I was avoiding him without actually saying it. The soft cloth of a scarf was lightly draped around me and a tug on the fabric made me turn and face the culprit. His eyes danced across my face as if he was trying to read me.
"It's not the bond and I'm not avoiding you. I just have a lot on my mind." I said quickly, trying to ignore our sudden closeness.
"Either way: I'll figure this out."
Lifting my hands, I encased his that were still gripping my scarf. The electricity that was flowing through me was indeed shocking and I welcome it. But was it really my own feelings?
"All of you need to quit being so worried about this. It's a bond. Not a sire like Klaus and his hybrids." I reassured.
"We don't know that for sure. We don't know the extent of this." He countered.
"Again: Quit worrying about it. It's not like I hated you before. I have my own choices."
His face was void of emotion before his classic smirk graced his lips. I braced myself for the next comment he was about to throw at me.
"So you liked me before?" He raised his brows while the blood rushed to my cheeks.
Releasing his hands, I smacked his shoulder and wiggled the fabric out of his grasp.
"That wasn't a no!" He nearly sang when I opened the door leading to the outside.
"You're an ass." I sighed. "Wait I didn't mean that…..oh my god!" I hissed at the odd emotions going through me. I crossed my arms in exasperation and stalked toward the car Elena and I ridden in together.
She met me by the car with a sympathetic expression with a light smile. Damon was leaning against the doorframe with a grin but wasn't the same smirk I had grown to know. It was almost forced. What more was going on his mind?
"See you in History?" Elena asked Stefan and he nodded before we drove off.
"Alright, so tell me what you're really thinking."
I turned to the girl with a smile. I was glad that she was considerate enough to wait until we were alone to try a pry something from me. I had wanted to speak with Elena since last night. I needed to tell someone about the vision that I had seen and she was the perfect person to talk too.
"About the bond? I'm not worried about it, honestly…but there's something else…" I trailed.
She motioned for me to continue.
"It might be nothing…but so far it seems that I can see the future and I saw something."
Elena turned to me with worry in her eyes. Maybe I should have led with something less concerning.
"I saw Damon and I….together…"
"Like how?"
"Like….together, together…" I replied with a blush.
There was a flash of jealousy in her eyes for a moment but it was gone as fast as it came.
"Aria…"
"No I know. You want me to be careful." I sighed.
"That's not it….well yes be careful…but…like I said…Damon is really passionate about the people he cares about and most of the time that leads him to do really hurtful things…but he does it for the right reasons. He just doesn't handle it the right way." She responded with a far off look in her eyes. I didn't really know what to say next.
"How do you feel about him now?"
"I don't know. It's hard to tell right now."
Elena nodded in understanding but gave an encouraging smile. I was grateful for it too.
"Don't think too much about it until we get this whole bond thing taken care."
I felt better with that part of the conversation taken care of. It would be easier now that I had someone to go to when these feeling bubble to the surface again. Taking in a breath, I readied myself for the worst part.
"That's not all I saw." I said with seriousness that made Elena visibly tense. "I think I saw my death." I whispered.
Elena nearly slammed on the breaks and the look in her eyes was very judgmental. Sliding lower in my seat, I stared out the window to ignore her gaze.
"Why didn't you say anything earlier? How did you die?" She interrogated.
"I don't really know Elena. It looked like I was having a vision and then I just….died at least that's what it looked like and I'm saying something now."
"Yeah, but…oh my god." She breathed. "So do you think these visions might kill you?"
I shrugged and chewed on my lower lip. There was no way for me to really know that…but there were people who did know.
"I don't know….which is why…"
"We should talk with Shane." Elena finished for me and turned the car away from both of our schools.
"We?" I asked with a smile.
"I'm not going to let you talk to the creepy professor alone. Besides, what kind of friend would I be?" She smiled back.
And this is why I went to Elena first.
"Elena…please don't tell Stefan or Damon about this…Not yet." I begged the girl.
I didn't want to worry any more people until we knew all the facts. That was fair, right? Elena seemed skeptic at first but eventually nodded.
"Fine. But I will say something if this turns out to be serious and you stay silent about it." She threatened.
That was fair too.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"This is so wrong." I muttered while Elena and I shifted through the countless paper work piled in the professor's office.
He wasn't in, so Elena thought it would be okay for us to go through his things until we found answers. I guess this was something else I need to get used too.
"Going through my things and breaking and entering all before noon. What do I owe the pleasure, ladies?"
Both of us visibly jumped and I gave the professor an apologetic smile.
"Or maybe I already know." Shane turned to me. "You want answers? Why not ask the Guardian?"
"He's kind of MIA and he tried to kill a friend. He's not the safest person to be demanding answers from right now." I explained.
Elena stood close to me in a cautious way while Shane crossed the room and shifted through some files before he pulled a rather large one out and handed placed it on the desk before us all.
"Like I said, the golden hour glass that appears in your eyes has been seen before." He started before.
Elena and I exchanged a glance before we eagerly asked him to continue.
"Tell me about what's going on with you." He said as he took a seat.
"Visions…we think I'm seeing the future and these didn't start until that man appeared…the guardian you are referring too. Is he the reason?"
Shane shook his head and opened the large file.
"He came because of your visions." He said and handed me a paper with old looking symbols on them. But there was one obvious symbol that I knew very well: The hour glass.
"Egyptian?" I asked with a tilted head.
Shane nodded and began shifting through more papers.
"People have called those with the ability to see the future psychics but the Egyptians had another name for the case you are experiencing. Roughly translated: A Cearess. One with the eyes of the goddess Isis." He explained with fascination in his voice.
"They saw the Cearess as someone sacred. If you can see the future than you can change the past…or the present really. There were people who would want to use that to their advantage so they made an enchantment over one man to protector her every time she returned to the earth after her human death."
"Dark." I nearly whispered.
"That's his name?" Shane leaned forward and scribbled the name on a sheet of paper.
"I think so…it just kind of came to me…" I said, looking towards Elena who was taking the information in.
"Makes sense. You've met him many times."
Running my hands through my hair, I let out a shaky breath. All of these answers only created more questions.
"So after she dies…she's reborn?" Elena questioned.
"That's what they say. And since she is standing here now…maybe it's true." Shane replied.
"Are the visions…fatal?" I finally asked.
"Why don't you ask him?" Shane motioned behind us.
Elena and I turned only to see Dark leaning against the door frame with a solemn look in his purple eyes. Elena tensed and prepared herself for anything but for some odd reason: I could not find myself being afraid of this man. I couldn't hide it anymore. He was familiar. There was something about that feeling that said I could trust him.
"How do you know each other?" Elena hissed.
"As you can see: I'm fascinated by the super natural. We crossed paths a few years ago." Shane grinned.
"Of course you did." I said while adding a mental note to the list of everything that made Shane creepy.
"Seeing the future can come at a price." Dark said uncrossing his toned arms. "Every vision you have, shortens your life span."
Elena's eyes shot toward me immediately but I could not find the ability to give her my attention, or anyone's for that matter. The ground was the most interesting thing I could look at right now.
"That's why you're here?" Elena spoke for me.
"I have been trying to prevent that outcome for centuries." Dark glared toward the new vampire. "I'm here to make sure people like you don't hasten it."
The harsh look in his eyes was the same that he had given to Damon. He knew what Elena was. If Dark was here for me, he needed to get used to the idea that vampires were my friends.
"So I just keep myself from seeing the future. Problem solved." I said hopefully.
"There is no way to control it. It's a gift from Isis." Dark replied gently.
No it wasn't. It was a curse. I turned to Shane then.
"Thank you." I said before turning my attention towards Elena with pleading eyes. "Can we go?"
She nodded and laced her arm with mine before pulling me along.
"Aria, please." Dark followed us.
We both stopped in our tracks and Elena gave him a threatening glare.
"At least let me help you."
There was a deep sadness in his eyes. How long had this man wondered the earth? How long has his sole purpose been to protect me? What kind of things had he possibly experienced? But more importantly…how many times had he witnessed me die?
"If I do: You have deal with the fact that these vampires are my friends. They won't hurt me. If anything, they can help." I told him sternly.
His eyes narrowed but after a long silence he finally nodded with reluctance and in the blink an eye…he was gone.
"I think this calls for a girl's night." Elena said finally.
"An epic one." I agreed.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
The sun had long since fallen and Caroline, Bonnie and Elena were inside the boarding house rummaging through the Salvatore wine stash. For now, I found more comfort sitting on the porch, gazing at the wondrous stars. Letting out a shaky breath, I closed my eyes.
"I don't know if you're here but I'm going to talk like you are." I started as I pictured my older brother's face. "So I can see the future and it may kill me one day…maybe even soon. I don't really know what to think but all I can think about is one thing and I warn you, you won't like it, but…"
In all my days, I was never able to truly keep a secret from Alaric. I would try and fail miserably.
"I want Damon here…I think I like him brother and that worries me. It's not like there would ever be a chance of a future anyways…he's a vampire. I know what you're gonna say: He's not a good guy, Ari." I breathed. "But don't worry…I'm not sure what I really feel yet. I just thought you should know."
After a few moments of silence, I rose from my seat and shook my head with a light laughter.
"I'm crazy." I said before entering the house to see Elena passing out bottles of wine.
"We each get our own bottle? I think I've been doing girl's night all wrong before." I laughed, sitting next to Caroline.
"Are you sure they won't mind?" Bonnie questioned with uncertainty.
"Absolutely."
"Where are they anyways?" Caroline mused.
In that moment, my phone buzzed.
"It's brother bonding night." I laughed with an eye roll.
You're such a liar.
I responded to Damon's text. I don't know why he thought he could feel me. I may not have the wonderful ability to snuff him out like he had with me, but I did feel that he was nowhere close. His very presence seemed to vanish from Mystic Falls. It bothered me.
"Why are you checking in through text?" Caroline muttered with a judgmental tone.
Elena turned to me with a knowing gaze and I really wish she hadn't. Caroline quickly put two and two together after that.
"Is this because of that bond? Or do you like him?" Caroline crossed her arms.
Again, another reason why I went to Elena first.
"Can we not go on a 'why I hate Damon' trip tonight please." I narrowed my eyes at the blonde.
"I'm just saying…"
"Caroline." Bonnie interjected.
"Fine. No guy talk on girl's night." Caroline huffed.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Why would I lie to you?
Damon typed out to Aria with a smirk on his face. It wasn't a total lie. He was with Stefan and in a way, they were bonding. He just left out everything else.
Fine. While you and Stefan "bond" me and the girls are going to raid all the wine. Have fun! ;)
Stefan peered over his older brother's shoulder and shook his head in disappointment. He could see what was going on between the two. The bond was not helping the situation either. This is why Damon had dragged him all the way to New Orleans. Apparently, he had met a witch that helped him break a sire bond many years ago. They were both hoping that maybe they would find answers to breaking the connection that was going on with Damon and Aria. The only problem was: Would Damon actually go through with it?
"The sooner we get this over with the sooner things can go back to normal." Stefan muttered as they both walked down the dark, busy streets.
"Normal?" Damon questioned with a raised brow.
"As happy as I am that you're not pining after Elena anymore; I'd rather you not do anything with, may I remind you, Alaric's little sister. Especially with this bond manipulating everything she feels for you."
Damon stopped in his tracks and scrunched his brows in distaste.
"What you think it's impossible that she would have feelings for me otherwise?" Anger was rising throughout him.
"No. I just know she's blinded to see why you would be wrong for her." Stefan responded with a glare but not long after it was said, his green eyes filled with regret.
"Damon, I'm sorry."
~.~.~.~.~.~
There was so much laughter it was music to my ears. Granted we were high on Bonnie's witchy herbs and drunk off the many bottles of wine we had consumed but we were having normal fun regardless.
"Vampire speed video." Bonnie giggled while showing us the video she had captured of Elena zooming around the house.
"The perfect Christmas Card." Elena laughed.
"I love this tub!" I moaned while I admired Damon's bathroom.
"We need to do this more often." Bonnie commented.
"I'll tell you why we shouldn't. Cooties. Can you imagine how many skanks Damon has seduced in here?" Caroline rolled her eyes.
I grew ridged at her hateful words. The jealousy that stung my heart at the image her words had caused didn't help either. Elena and Bonnie gave my sympathetic stares and I couldn't stand it.
"I thought we agreed not to go there tonight." I glared.
My phone buzzing once more made Caroline return my glare.
"He's just going to try and get into your pants. You can't like him." She was going to go there anyways apparently.
Is your night as bad as mine?
Worse probably.
I replied and continued to ignore Caroline's comments. My silence of course only made her over analyze.
"Don't tell me you have already?" She shrieked.
"No! Jeez, Caroline." I spat. My self control was gone now. If she wanted to have this conversation then we would have it but I wouldn't hold back either.
"You know what Caroline: I do like him and let me tell you why. When Alaric died I thought 'how am I going to get up every day?' I didn't want to dance anymore. My mother seemed to lose a part of her and that only hurt even more. When I met Damon…he just helped me keep living. So somewhere along the way of all his stupid smart ass comments, the constant eye thing he does…I just started to like him." I stopped when I ran out of breath.
The room was silent. Caroline still held a firm gaze.
"I understand….Stefan did the same for me." Elena whispered.
Her mind seemed to be reeling.
"It's the bond you have that's making you feel that way." Caroline concluded and I only rolled my eyes in response.
"It doesn't even matter because I might not even live long enough to find out!"
That was all I needed to say to end the argument. Elena and I had filled the two girls on our discovery earlier in the evening. This whole night was supposed to be a wonderful distraction and give me the chance to just enjoy life. Now it was just proving to do the exact opposite.
"I think we're done now. I'm gonna go home." I muttered and sauntered out of the room.
"Aria!" Bonnie called but I just ignored her. I didn't want to hear anymore.
I was about to exit the boarding house when the door crashed open. Two hybrids exploded in and held Caroline and Elena in a dangerous position. Even though I was angry with the bubbly blonde, I did not wish any harm on her. After a quick struggle, the hybrids were gone and Caroline was nowhere to be found.
Elena quickly whipped out her found and dialed, who I assumed, Tyler's number. I sighed and ran down to the basement to grab the arrows that Stefan and I had been working on. Wooden tips that I had laced with vervain but this situation called for something better. So I grabbed a vile of wolfs bane as well.
"I better get a bad ass apology out of her after this."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"So she's challenging you for the role of Alpha? Seriously?" I couldn't help but giggle a little. This new life never failed to amaze me.
"I don't understand do they not want to be unsired to Klaus?" Elena questioned while we all trudged through the dark woods.
"No they can't stand him. When I was sired to Klaus I hated him but I had to do what he said. Being sired controls your actions. Not how you feel."
I stopped in my tracks and turned to Elena. True, I was not sired. I wasn't a vampire so I couldn't be. But from what Tyler had just explained and everything that we did know about the blood bond, it did not control my feelings…
Shaking my head, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Saving Caroline needed to come first.
"Okay, do what you need to do with the crazy wolf girl. I'll make sure the other hybrids stay out of the way and see you as Alpha bad ass." I grinned and motioned for Elena to give me a boost so I could climb a tree.
One of the branches led to an opening in to the barn house. I would be high enough and out of sight for an advantage. Once I was in position, I pulled a single from my quiver and aimed towards the hybrid that was currently torturing Caroline. I wanted to let my weapon fly but Tyler needed to be the one that put an end to this so no other hybrid would do anything like this again.
"Stop it! Caroline is on our side! She's wants the same thing we do!" Tyler appeared with Elena beside him.
"She's on your team. Not mine." The girl responded with anger.
At those words, eleven other hybrids entered behind Tyler and Elena. With the training I had received earlier today playing in my mind, I could already picture what was going to happen next. So the first hybrid that made the first move, my arrow flew straight at him. Granted, it pierced his shoulder but it made my message clear.
"I only miss on purpose. The next one to move won't be so lucky." I yelled from my perch.
Tyler lunged forward and shoved his hand into Kim's chest and griped hear heart.
"She put you at risk today but I won't do that to you. We all need to work together. Now submit, or die." Tyler hissed.
"I'm sorry." Kim stuttered while falling to her knees. The many hybrids followed Kim's actions and pledged their allegiance.
Lowering my bow, I smiled with pride out our friend. It would make things easier knowing that there were a bunch of hybrids running around town that would be on our side.
~.~.~.~.~
Elena's car pulled up to my house and Caroline jumped out of the car after me and wrapped me tightly in her arms.
"C-Caroline…I'm human remember?" I struggled to breath with a small smile.
"I'm sorry. No matter how I feel about Damon…I'll try and be more supportive." She said while releasing me.
"And you're going to have a long, happy life. We'll find away."
Nodding, I said my good-byes to the girls and immediately went to my mother's room. She was laying in bed reading. Right where I knew she would be. Her warm eyes travelled to me.
"Welcome home. How was your night?" She smiled.
Not saying anything, I slipped into her bed and placed my hand on her lap so she would run her fingers through my hair. Just like she did every time.
"Something wrong, hunny?"
"I love you mom." I whispered quietly.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~
"The only reason a blood bond occurs between a human and a vampire is if feelings are present. Human feelings. There is no way to break it." The witch explained to Stefan and Damon.
"The only way is for you to leave. Tell her to forget all about you. Let her live her life but it will never truly be broken."
Damon didn't stay any longer to listen. The trip was turning out to be a waste of time. He whistled for a cab and pulled out his phone. The picture that Aria had taken of them by the fire lit up his screen. Her brown eyes were practically glowing from the fire light and her face was lit up with a joyful smile. Shaking his head, he pocked the phone but not before Stefan's green eyes had the chance to witness the image.
"I know what I have to do Stefan. Don't bother saying it." He said turning towards his brother.
Stefan nodded but was struggling with the words that he needed to say.
"I know you will do what needs to be done. What she wants. At least it will be her choice." Stefan grinned.
He opened the cab door and slipped inside while Damon mulled over the strange words Stefan had just said.
"And there's that word I just love so much."
~.~.~.~.~
I don't know how long I had been asleep before I felt a new weight added to my bed that caused me to roll on my side. Taking in a deep breath, I smiled at the familiar sent.
"How was your trip?" I yawned, not opening my eyes.
"Horrible. How was girl's night?"
"Epic failure." I huffed, finally opening my eyes and lifting myself to a seated position.
"Ladies first." He smirked.
Relishing in his presence, I smiled and leaned back against my headboard.
"Caroline and I had a little disagreement, she got captured by a psycho Hybrid named Kim who wanted to be Alpha over Tyler but Tyler kicked her ass. End of night." I listed out.
I didn't want to tell him about Elena and I's escapade with Professor Shane and Dark. I wasn't ready to be talking about that with him yet.
"Your turn."
"Well…there isn't exactly a way to break our bond." Damon trailed.
"That's okay. I spoke with Tyler a little about it…and I don't think we have anything to be worried about. It's not like you'd take advantage of it like Klaus does with his hybrids." I smiled and leaned my head against his strong shoulder.
"Nothing's changed." I finished.
"Everything has Aria."
I rotated myself to be sitting before him and placed both of my hands on his face.
"You're my friend Damon and if you're going to tell me that the only way for this bond to 'somewhat' vanish is for you to disappear than I don't want it. We'll just be epic friends willing to do anything for each other. Why is that a bad thing?" I tried to win over his thoughts.
"Is that your own choice?"
"This bond doesn't change how I feel, Damon." I breathed, leaning closer.
He took my hands in his and squeezed them gently. I could see the wheels in his mind turning at a rapid pace. A gentle smile spread on his face before he nodded.
Our closeness only reminded me of the image of our lips meshing together and the jump in my heart made me finally come to a conclusion:
I was starting to fall for him.
A/N: This is the longest chapter I have written so far! I feel very proud of this chapter and I hope you all enjoy it….which means I hope for a lot of reviews! There is so much more I have to explain about Aria which will be in the next chapter. I'm already writing it and hopefully it will be out in the next couple of days.
Well, the next step has been taken in their relationship. Aria knows that she is falling for Damon! Who knows what could happen next!
Thank you again for all the wonderful reviews! They're amazing! You're all amazing! I hope you liked this chapter!
