"So, let me get this straight. So if you're wearing vervain, or it's in your system, you can't be compelled by a vampire?" I asked Stefan.
"That's right." Stefan said handing Elena and I the box of vervain and vervain jewelry. "Since there is a new vampire in town, we have to be careful. Do you remember anything else about him?" Stefan asked me.
"Not really. I never saw his face. He was wearing a hoodie and I just saw black boots coming towards me." Stefan was over at our house and we were discussing about the whole new vampire situation.
"Maddie, Elena, I need the money!" Jeremy yelled upstairs. Jeremy had ordered pizza because Jenna had to stay late to write her report at the college.
"I'll take care of it." I told Elena and Stefan as I grabbed the money and went down the stairs. I pulled out a ten dollar bill and handed it to him. "Here, keep the change." I said.
"Thanks. And you have a good night." The pizza guy said as he walked out.
-0-
Third Person POV
Damon was looking through different books and pulling them off the bookshelves. "What are you looking for, Damon?" Stefan asked as he walked in, noticing all of the books on the ground.
"Not your concern." Damon said as he continued to search.
"No, but putting Maddie in harm's way. That is my concern." Stefan said.
"What are you talking about?" Damon chuckled.
"I'm talking about Atlanta." Stefan clarified.
"Oh, yeah. Maddie and I had a blast. Besides, shouldn't you be worried about Elena? I mean, she is your girlfriend."
This time it was Stefan's turn to let out a laugh. "I get it. You're just bitter because one of us gets to be with the person that we love, and poor Katherine is just out of reach. Besides, you know I think of Maddie as a sister. So I'm guessing Bree told you there was another way into the tomb, huh?"
"You're pathetic when you're fishing." Damon said as he continued his search.
"And you're transparent when you're deflecting." Stefan responded.
Damon got annoyed at Stefan. "Don't you have school?"
Stefan just smiled as he walked off, leaving Damon alone to search through more books.
-0-
Maddie's POV
"Oh, it's so pretty, thank you!" Caroline said after we gave her a vervain necklace.
"Maddie's the one who picked it out." Elena said.
"God, it'll go with, like, everything. Thanks! So what's the occasion?" Caroline asked us.
"No occasion. Just a little friend gift." Elena said.
"Think of it as a good luck charm." I smiled.
"Lesbian friend necklace, 'cause we're freakylace like that?" Carline joked as she winked at us.
"Your friendship is important to me." Elena said.
"And by me, she means us." I added and they both giggled.
"Why are you two being so mushy?" Caroline asked as we sat on one of the benches outside of the school for lunch.
"Because you've been avoiding me. And I wanted you to know whatever is going with you and Matt, it's ok." Elena said.
Caroline's eyes widened. "I was gonna talk to you about that. I was, but there's just not much to say. We've hung out a couple of times. That's it, but…I just feel like we've peaked as friends." Caroline said.
"Matt and Caroline sitting in a tree…" I began singing.
"Grow up!" Caroline laughed as she threw some carrots at me. "You know, this is weird. I shouldn't be talking to you about this, especially with little Ms. Immature over here." Caroline joked.
"Hey! I am not immature! I'm the funnest person you will ever meet!" I said flashing a big smile.
"It's weird, though. It's weird, right?" Caroline asked.
"It's a little weird, but if it's what you and Matt want, then it's not about me." Elena reassured.
Caroline looked confused. "But it's all about you." Elena now looked confused, but I could see where Caroline was coming from. "Matt's not over you, and we all know it."
"I'm with Stefan now, and Matt understands that. He knows he has to move on." Elena said, but Caroline wasn't really buying it.
She looked over at me. "Didn't I just throw those at you?" She asked referring to the carrots I was eating.
"Yeah…" I said taking another bite.
"And you just picked them back off of the ground and are eating them?" She asked, a little horrified.
"Three second rule." I smiled. Caroline and Elena both 'ewwed.' "What? They looked clean." I said innocently and we all just laughed.
-0-
I was at the Grill. Bonnie and Elena were talking about Elena's adoptive situation, and I was just hanging out with some random people at school as we were playing pool when Elena walked up to me. "You ready?"
"I was ready like an hour ago." I said with a smile.
"Shut up," Elena laughed. "Let's just go to the store."
"Alrighty." I said and we walked out to the car. We were almost to the car, when Elena's cell phone rang.
"Hello?" Elena asked.
"Hi Elena." I heard someone say on the other line.
"Who's this?" She asked as she unlocked the car.
"You're friend hit me with her car." He said and Elena looked at me. We exchanged glances; we were both frightened. "Is that a new one?" Elena tried to open the door to the car as I looked around. "You got away from me. You won't next time." He said. I looked around and I saw him walking towards us on the other side of the road.
Elena finally got in the car and I jumped in. "Drive!" I said frantically, and she didn't hesitate to drive off.
-0-
Elena and I went over to Stefan's house the next day. We told him what happened last night. "Why me? What does he want with me? A-and if he's trying to kill me, then why call first?"
"That's because we're predators. We hunt. We stalk. It's often as exciting as the kill. And are you sure he's just after you?" Stefan asked.
"He specified that Elena got away from him, not the both of us. I think he's just after Elena, but I could be wrong." I said.
"I want you to take this." Stefan said handing out Jeremy's pocket watch to Elena.
"This is Jeremy's pocket watch. How did you get it?" Elena asked.
"I took it from Damon, who took it from Logan, who must have taken it from you." Stefan clarified.
"What happened to it?" Elena asked looking at it.
"Well, it's not just a watch. It's a—it's a sort of compass, but it points to vampires." Stefan said.
"So like a vampire tracker?" I asked.
"Kind of." Stefan said. Elena and I looked at the watch as it spun around and then stopped, pointing at Stefan.
"Why did my father have it?" Elena asked.
"Gilbert's were one of the founding families, and back in 1864, they were among those who sought to eradicate the vampires. The compass was used to find us."
"Did you know them?"
"Yes." Stefan nodded. "I want you two to keep this, that way, you'll know if you're ever in danger." Elena and I both nodded.
-0-
Elena and I were both ready for the 50s dance as we came down the stairs. Elena placed her bag on the chair and I grabbed an apple. "Well, I called the insurance company. The car's totaled." Jenna said. She was more saying it to Elena, but they hadn't really been talking much. "You two can use mine for now."
"So are you coming to the dance?" Elena asked.
"Alaric asked me to help chaperone." Jenna said smiling.
"…Alaric and Jenna sitting in a tree." I began singing again until a throw pillow was thrown at me. I looked over and Jenna was laughing. I laughed too, but Elena was still quiet. We both looked at her.
"Why didn't you tell me, Jenna?" Elena asked.
"Your mom was gonna do it eventually. I never thought I'd have to." Jenna said.
"If my mom were here right now, and I asked, she'd tell me the truth." Elena stated.
"Your dad was about to leave the office one night when this girl showed up. She was 16, a runaway, and about to give birth. He delivered the baby, gave her a place to stay, but a few days later, she disappeared. And there you were. Your parents were trying so hard to have a baby, but it wasn't happening. All Miranda ever wanted was to be a mom." Jenna explained. I just ate my apple as I listened.
"Well, why were my parents' names on the birth certificate?" Elena asked.
"Your dad was a doctor, Elena. He took care of it. They didn't wanna lose you, so they kept it quiet, told as few people as possible, but if anyone ever wanted proof, they had documentation."
"What else do you know about her? The girl?" Elena asked.
"Just her name. Isabelle." Jenna said.
-0-
"Maddie, was that you?" I heard Elena ask from her room. Jenna and Jeremy had already left to the dance, but Elena and I stayed behind because we were still working on our 50s outfits.
"Was what me?" I asked as I finished fixing my bracelet. I knew I needed to go back to the site where I crashed Elena's car to find my locket, but until then, I needed something to help me from being compelled.
"Wait, are you upstairs?" Elena asked as I walked to her room.
I stuck my head in her doorway. "Yeah…why?" I asked. Elena opened her mouth to answer, but we both heard the compass start spinning. Elena and I both exchanged glances before she whirled around and picked up the compass.
"Call Stefan." Elena said.
"On it!" I said as I dialed Stefan's number and Elena ran downstairs.
"Stefan's phone. How may I help you?" I heard Damon say.
"Where is he?" I asked.
"He's on his way to get Elena, forgot his phone." Damon said.
"Oh good! This compass was spinning like crazy. Stefan's probably here. Thanks." I sighed.
"You're welcome," Damon said and hung up.
"It's just Stefan." I yelled downstairs but heard Elena scream. I ran down and saw a vampire about to bite Elena, but Stefan came in and threw him off and pushed Elena away. I ran over to Elena to help her up as the vampire flashed out.
Elena got up and ran to Stefan. "Are you ok?" He asked and Elena just nodded. I was just looking at the door, remembering the night before. He was the pizza guy! "Maddie," Stefan said, getting my attention. "Call Damon." I nodded and Damon was here in less than five minutes.
"How'd he get in?" Damon asked when he got here. I was leaning against the stairway and Elena and Stefan were on the couch.
"He was invited in." Elena said.
"He posed as the pizza delivery guy last night." Stefan clarified for Damon.
"Well, he gets points for that. Did he say what he wanted?" Damon asked Elena and me.
"No, he was too busy trying to kill me." Elena scoffed.
"And you have no idea who this is?" Stefan asked Damon as Damon rounded the couch.
"No," Damon said but Stefan gave him a look that said 'yeah right.' "Don't look at me like that. I told you we had company."
"You think there's more than one?" Elena asked.
"We don't know." Damon said.
"Well," I said as I walked up and stood behind the couch. "That's reassuring."
"Damon, he was invited in." Stefan said.
Damon nodded. "Then we go get him tonight." Damon looked at me and Elena. "You two up for it?"
I nodded and so did Elena. "What do I have to do?" Elena asked.
"Let your boyfriend take you to the dance. We'll see who shows up." Damon said.
"That's a bad idea." Stefan said.
"Till we get him, this house isn't safe. For Elena and anyone who lives in it." Damon said nodding my way.
"So does that mean I should stay here in case Jenna or Jeremy come home?" I asked, still standing behind the couch.
"Too dangerous. Elena and Stefan are sticking together, so you and I will have to team up." Damon said as he looked at me.
"But what will happen if one of them comes back and he's here?" I asked.
"There'll be nothing you can do, anyway." Damon said as he stood up.
"I could do something." I argued.
Damon flashed behind me and held me in a position where I couldn't move. "It takes a vampire that long to get a hold of you, and half of that to snap your neck." He said still holding onto me.
"Alright, fine, I get it. I'll go." I sighed and Damon let go.
"Me too." Elena said. Stefan looked worried. "We'll be safe with the two of you." Elena reassured.
-0-
Elena, Stefan, Damon, and I got to the dance. I was really surprised on how the decorations turned out. Everyone was dancing and it really did feel like we were in the 50s. Stefan and Damon searched for the vampire we saw tonight and Elena and I met up with Caroline and Bonnie. "Having fun?" Elena asked them.
"No, but this took 2 hours," Caroline began as she referred to her outfit. "So I'm staying at least half of that." We all giggled.
"What's Damon doing here?" Bonnie asked.
"He wanted to come." Elena said.
"Don't worry, he'll behave." I reassured.
"What is this now? Elena and Stefan, and you and Damon?" Caroline asked annoyed.
"Oh, please. The possibility of me and Damon is the same as if the stars and moon collided." I retorted. "Plus, Stefan and Elena are dating, and since we both live under the same roof, we both have to learn to tolerate Damon."
"Yeah, it's not like we can kill him." Elena added.
"There's a thought." Bonnie said.
"Mmm. I'll help." Caroline added as they clinked their glasses with punch in them. Elena and I just chuckled. Elena walked over to Stefan, but I stayed with Caroline and Bonnie.
We were all laughing but then Bonnie stopped. Caroline and I looked over and saw Damon coming over to us. "Hi, Bonnie. Wanna dance?" Damon smirked.
"I'm outta here." Bonnie said annoyed as she turned to leave.
"Please give me another chance." Damon said and Bonnie just rolled her eyes as she walked off.
"Back off, Damon." Caroline glared and followed Bonnie. Damon looked at me, but I just took a sip of my punch, trying to hide the amusement on my face.
Elena and Stefan walked up to us. "Where did they go?" Elena asked.
"I don't know." Damon said innocently.
"What did you say to them?" Stefan asked, enjoying this as much as I was.
"I was perfectly polite." Damon said.
"When are you going to realize that polite doesn't suit you?" I asked as I walked around the punch bowl and was now standing in the circle we created.
Damon just rolled his eyes and looked at Elena. "Elena, would you like to dance?" He asked.
"I would love to." She said and Damon smirked. Elena turned to Stefan. "May I have this dance?" She asked Stefan. I had to purse my lips together just to keep from laughing.
Stefan and Elena both walked to the dance floor and I let out a small giggle. "Not funny." Damon commented.
"Kinda is." I chuckled.
"Would you like to dance?" Damon smirked.
"Well…." I said dragging out the 'well' pretending like I was considering it.
"Maybe this might change your mind." Damon said as he pulled out a locket. But not just any locket, it was my locket.
My eyes widened. "Where did you get that?! Give it back!" I said as I reached for my locket.
"Ah, ah, ah. One dance, and then you can have it back." Damon said as he held my locket out of my reach.
"Damon Salvatore, are you blackmailing me?" I chuckled folding my arms.
"Come on, it's just one dance." Damon smirked.
"Fine," I said giving in and he led me onto the dance floor.
He held out his hand and twirled me around until we were in a normal slow dance position. He chuckled at my surprised reaction. "Surprised?" He smirked.
"I didn't know you could dance." I said.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." Damon smirked as he looked around the room, searching for the vampire.
"Can't you guys sense each other, or something?" I asked.
"Doesn't work that way."
"What was it like? The 50s?" I asked as he twirled me again.
"Poodle skirts, flashy colors, jocks and milkshakes. Pretty boring if you ask me."
"Why? No vampire drama?" I joked.
"There's always vampire drama." Damon smirked.
"Yay." I said very unenthusiastically. I noticed it started feeling really hot in here and I felt another migraine start to surface. "Hey, I'll be right back." I said as he slow dance ended.
"Where you going?" Damon asked concerned.
"It's just a little too hot in here. I'm gonna go take a breather." I said as I headed off towards the bathrooms. Damon just shrugged his shoulders and walked towards the punch bowl.
I ran to one of the bathrooms on the farther end of the school. I started getting really dizzy and grabbed my head in pain as images started appearing in my head. It looked like an old bar and people were having a good time. I fell to the floor as the pain increased and then everything went black.
-0-
Third Person POV
He watched as she ran into the bathroom. He heard her groan in pain, and then there was silence. He walked in and saw her fainted on the floor. He smiled as he carried her out and into the closet located in the basement, locking it.
-0-
Elena and Stefan were over by the punch bowl. They looked over and saw Damon dancing with a random girl on the dance floor. "You can't take him anywhere, can you?" Elena chuckled.
"Uh, no." Stefan said.
"Wasn't Maddie with Damon?" Elena asked.
"Uh, no. I don't think she was. Come to think of it," Stefan said as he looked around. "I haven't seen her for a while."
Elena got worried and looked around. And then she saw the vampire, which didn't ease her worries. "Stefan," Elena said as she looked at Stefan. "The back corner." Elena looked back at the vampire.
Stefan followed her gaze. "Get Damon. And find Maddie." Stefan said as he took off following the vampire.
Elena frantically searched for Damon and Maddie when her cell phone rang. She quickly answered it. "Hello, Elena." The vampire said and Elena was frozen. "Here's what you're going to do. There's an exit door behind you. You have five seconds."
"No," Elena said.
"Or your brother dies." Elena quickly turned to see Jeremy, and the vampire just a few feet away from him. "I can snap his neck so fast; I bet there's not even a witness. And then I'll go straight for your friend. Now start walking." He demanded.
"Don't you dare touch him," Elena said as she started walking towards the door.
"Keep walking." He instructed. "Through the door." Elena shut off her phone and ran through the hallway. She made it to the end and tried to open the doors, but they were locked. She turned around and saw him. She ran into the cafeteria and tried the emergency exit doors, but they wouldn't budge either. She turned around and he was right in front of her. Elena tried to run away, but he grabbed her by the hair and kept her in place.
He threw her across the table and she fell on the ground, in search for something to protect herself with. She grabbed a couple of pencils before she was thrown against the wall. He went to bite her, but she stabbed him multiple times with the pencils and he fell to the floor.
Elena looked over and reached for the mop. She broke it in half and tried to use the broken edge to stab him with it. His reflexes were faster; he threw the piece of wood off to the side and lunged for Elena. Elena screamed just as Stefan came in and threw him off of her. "Hey dickhead." Damon said as the vampire turned around; Damon had a wooden plank in his hand. "Nobody wants to kill you. We just wanna talk." The vampire tried to run off, but Damon threw the plank at Stefan and Stefan stabbed him with it.
"Now you feel like talking?" Stefan asked the vampire.
"Screw you." He spat.
Stefan plunged the plank in deeper. "Wrong answer. Why are you doing this?"
"Because it's fun." The vampire said like it wasn't obvious.
"Where's Maddie?" Elena asked.
"Kill me, and you'll never find her."
Stefan pulled the plank upward. "What do you want with Elena?"
He looked at Elena. "She looks like Katherine."
This got both Damon and Stefan's attention. "You knew Katherine?" Damon asked.
"Oh, you thought you were the only ones. You don't even remember me." He said.
"Tell me how to get in the tomb. Hmm?" Damon said, lowering to his eye level.
"No." He said and Stefan pushed the plank even deeper. "The grimoire." He groaned.
"Where is it?" Damon asked.
"Check the journal. The journal." He gasped. "Jonathan's journal. Jonathan Gilbert's." He said and Damon stood up. Elena gasped in horror at what she was witnessing, and neither one of them noticed Anna watching the whole thing from the window in the doorway.
"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asked. Anna's eyes grew as she raced off and Alaric walked around the corner.
"Who else is there?" Damon asked when he wouldn't answer.
"No," The vampire said. "You're gonna have to kill me." Stefan pulled out the stake, and then plunged it in his heart. The vampire turned gray and was dead.
"How are—how are you going to find the others now?" Elena gasped.
"He had to die." Damon said.
"But…" Elena began.
"Elena," Stefan said and Elena faced Stefan. "He's been invited in."
"But what about Maddie? We don't know where she is." Elena said. They all looked over as they saw someone walk past the cafeteria.
"Go," Stefan said to Damon and Damon took off. Stefan turned back to Elena. "Don't worry. We'll find her."
Damon walked out and saw Alaric walking off. He flashed in front of him. "What are you doing?" Damon asked, compelling Alaric.
"Looking for Ms. Hilden." Alaric said.
"Why are you in Mystic Falls?" Damon asked.
"Got a job as a teacher."
"Do you know what I am?"
"You're my student's brother."
"Is everything you're telling me the truth?"
"Yes."
"Then forget we had this conversation." Damon said as he patted Alaric's shoulder and went to find Maddie. Little did Damon know Alaric was holding vervain.
-0-
Maddie's POV
My eyes fluttered open to a small room filled with darkness. Where am I? Am I still in the bathroom? I looked around and found different types of cleaning equipment. I stood up and looked for the door. It was so dark, I could barely see anything. I found where the door is and tried to open it; it was locked. Great, just great. "Hello?" I yelled, but my voice was a bit raspy. I tried to jiggle the doorknob, but that wasn't working. "Someone? Anyone?" I yelled.
I looked down at my phone. No Service….great…..just what I need. I started kicking at the door as hard as I could. This door looks like it's fifty thousand years old. Why won't it budge? I continued kicking the door, but after about five minutes of it not working, I stopped. How am I supposed to get out of here? I can't call, kicking isn't doing squat…. And then an idea popped into my head. It was stupid and I was going to regret the outcome, but it could work. Who knows how long I could be stuck down here.
I walked back as far as I could, and charged at the door, using my arm to push against the door. I heard a snap from the door, but just a small one. I charged at the door, this time, I was able to break through the door. I came out and fell on my side. I looked around the room. Is this what the boiler room looks like? How did I get here? I tried to move but the whole left side of my body hurt and I'm pretty sure I did something to my ankle because it was burning. Great, you sprained your ankle. Caroline is going to kill you at practice next week.
I tried to stand up, but when I put weight on my left ankle, I started to fall again. I waited for myself to hit the ground, but I felt arms catch me instead. I looked up and saw Damon. "This is one of the stupidest ideas you have ever had." He said helping me up.
"Yeah, it felt stupid." I winced through the pain.
"Here, let me help you." Damon said as he picked me up. He flashed out of the boiler room and outside to where Stefan and Elena were.
"Thank God you're ok!" Elena said as Damon set me down.
"Ok isn't really the word I would use." I said as I tried to stand on my ankle.
"Where were you?" Stefan asked.
"Boiler room, in the closet. Good thing it wasn't by the gym, or else I would have never heard her banging against the door." Damon said.
"Yeah, well there's not much of a closet down there anymore." I said referring to the door I broke.
"What happened after you left?" Damon asked.
I frantically searched for something to say. I can't tell them I'm having these weird visions. Hurry, Maddie! Think of something! "I, uh, was walking outside. I heard something behind me, but when I turned around…well, that's all I remember." I said. Good job Maddie! Way to dodge the bullet.
"It was that vampire. We thought we wouldn't be able to find you." Stefan said.
"And make sure to be a little more patient the next time you want to throw yourself at a locked door." Damon said and I just rolled my eyes.
-0-
I was at the house with Stefan and Elena. They told me about everything the vampire said. "Elena, how are you doing?" Stefan asked.
"Is it weird if I say I'm doing ok?" She asked. "I don't feel as scared, but…exhilarated." Elena said.
"It's just the adrenaline. You'll crash soon." Stefan said as he came over to the couch.
"I fought back tonight. It felt good. Is that how you feel when you stand up to vampires?" Elena asked me.
"Kinda, except stupidity also has a major part in it." I said and Elena and Stefan laughed.
"Well, I wish you two didn't have to defend yourselves." Stefan said as he sat down. "I need to tell you two something, and I don't know how you're both gonna feel about it."
Elena stopped drinking her coffee and I stopped eating my sandwich. "What?" Elena asked.
"I told Damon that I'd help him get into that tomb to get Katherine back. But it was a lie. I let him believe that he could trust me." Stefan said.
Elena and I exchanged glances. "Then why would you be worried about telling us?" I asked.
"Because he can be very persuasive," Stefan began and then looked at me. "And I know you two have bonded lately."
I scoffed. "That doesn't mean I trust him. It's going to take a lot more than a road trip and a rescue for me to forget what Damon has done and who he is." I said.
"I don't want to be his enemy, but I can't let him do it." Stefan said.
"Then don't." Elena said.
"And we'll help you, whatever it takes." I added.
-0-
Stefan had left and Elena already went to bed. I was sitting in the living room, finishing up homework and reading until I felt tired. I yawned as I walked upstairs. I got to my room and got ready for bed. I was putting some clothes away in my drawers when I noticed something on my nightstand. I walked over and noticed my locket sitting there. I let out a small smile, remembering that Damon had it and he was supposed to give it back to me at the dance. I took off my bracelet and put it in my drawer as I put on my necklace.
I thought about how Damon got the necklace. Sure, he said he found it on the side of the road, but why would he go looking for it? Knowing Damon, he probably had it the whole time. I scoffed at the idea. But it didn't matter now. I had my locket back, and that's all that matters.