Middle of the night
Krystal could feel it in her bones, she jerked up, lightening flashed outside the window lighting the room, that bad feeling, it was getting stronger, making it into her world again. She could feel her brother, she couldn't see him, but she knew without a doubt he was there,
"You are going to have to fight again," her brother softly,
"No, what are you talking about," Krystal softly asked,
"He is coming," her brother explained,
"Who is coming?" Krystal looking around for her brother, thunder rolled shaking the house, Kate and Krystal both let out an ear piercing scream. Stefan jerked up, he went to Kate,
"I'm scared Stefan," Kate cried, Cadence came running in with Eddie behind her, she saw her sister sitting there shaking like a leaf. Stefan had Kate and stared over at Krystal,
"Help me get them down to the couch," Stefan pulling a blanket over and around Kate for comfort, Cadence nodded, she got a blanket around Krystal but knowing that it wasn't much comfort for her. They got them downstairs and to the couch, Krystal wrapped Kate in her arms as they both shook,
"Why is Krystal afraid of storms? I thought she was a vampire, that she could handle anything?" Eddie asked Stefan,
"Just because we are who we are, doesn't mean nothing scares us, I think it has to do with the guy she dated when she was human, the one who killed her and her parents," Stefan making some hot chocolate for them.
"It has everything to do with that bastard, but she took care of him, he is dead," Cadence explained,
"Doesn't mean that she isn't still bothered by the storms," Stefan softly but strongly. He took the hot chocolate to the girls,
"Careful, it's a little hot," Stefan explained, Kate took the mug,
"Thank you Stefan," Kate softly, Krystal took the other mug,
"Thanks," Krystal moving away from Kate so she didn't spill on Kate, she sat by her, she shook like a leaf as she carefully sipped her hot chocolate,
"Are you okay?" Stefan asked softly,
"He's coming," Krystal mumbled, Stefan wondered if she meant the guy that had already been killed by her hands,
"Who?" Stefan asked,
"I don't know, my brother said that he was coming, then just disappeared," Krystal not wanting Cadence to overhear them talking. Stefan sat by her,
"You are not in this alone, I wont let anyone hurt you," Stefan strongly as he wrapped his arms around her. After Krystal and Kate finished their drinks they cuddled on the couch and went back to sleep, Stefan watched over them, Cadence and Eddie went back to sleep.
Morning came, everyone was waking up around ten in the morning, Krystal got ready for the funeral, she got Kate ready as well, by the time they went to see their parents it was 11 in the afternoon. Krystal went with Cadence and Eddie up to see their parents, Stefan stood in the same room but held Kate back so she didn't get scared, Krystal came back over to Stefan,
"I want to go see them," Kate softly, Krystal glanced at Stefan,
"I don't think it's a good idea," Krystal softly.
"I can handle it," Kate pleaded, finally Stefan took Kate to see them, he stared at her parents, they were cut up and bruised up on the face and hands but had makeup covering it the best it could, he noticed that her mother wore a dress that had a collar around her neck, but Stefan saw a part of a cut around her neck, he assumed her mother had been decapitated,
"They look like they are sleeping," Kate softly,
"Come on, lets go," Stefan turning and taking her hand and walking back to Krystal,
"You didn't tell me how bad it was," Stefan whispered,
"I don't want to talk about it," Krystal whispered back a little harshly, Stefan nodded, he felt bad every time he turned into the ripper and had mutilated his victims, its why he always tried to put them back together, he lost his mind when he was the ripper.
They followed the hearse to the gravesite and had a private funeral for their parents, Krystal stood out from under the tent and watched the service, she watched how Eddie consoled her sister, as she was currently getting soaked, but the best thing about the pouring rain was they couldn't see her tears.
Stefan stood under the tent with Kate, he stared at Krystal, he knew why she was standing in the rain and didn't want to console her own sister, Krystal had never thought herself strong enough to be there for someone, that and he supposed she was finally allowing herself to shed a few tears over her parents.
"I have to go Krystal, but you aren't alone," her brother softly,
"I will miss you, brother, tell them I'm sorry, and that I will protect Cadence," Krystal nodded slowly,
"They still love you, it wasn't your fault, bury the guilt you feel with them or you will not survive the oncoming battle," her brother explained,
"But I need you to get me through it, I cant survive without you," Krystal mumbled,
"You did great the first time, you don't need me, you have dad's teachings, and you have Stefan, and that little girl needs you, don't let any of them down, you have something to survive for," her brother giving her a smile.
"I love you," Krystal softly,
"We love you too," her mother appearing with her father,
"I'm so sorry," Krystal swallowing hard,
"No honey, don't be sorry, we wanted to protect you, its time you let someone protect you, don't be afraid to trust Stefan," her father explained. Krystal closed her eyes and nodded slowly,
"We will watch over you, we will never be far," her mother giving her a true smile, Krystal nodded, finally opening her eyes,
"Goodbye," Krystal walking away, she couldn't stay there any longer, she did right by them by giving them a proper burial at the location they wanted to be buried, but she couldn't watch them be buried, she couldn't move on from this, she would never closure from this. Stefan watched as she broke into a run, she made it to the nearby woods and then used her vampire speed to disappear. Stefan knew she needed time to herself to break down, she wanted everyone to think she was invincible, that she could take anything thrown at her.
"Here, go ahead and take Kate home, I'm going to get them to cover the ground today," Stefan whispered to Eddie, he nodded, Stefan gave them the keys to the car and the house and they left, he knew better than go looking for Krystal, she would show up, more than likely she would wind up back here tonight. So he would compel the gravediggers to fill the holes back up, go back home, he would lay in wait for a few hours and then go back hopefully not scaring her off, but if he was there staking the place out and she sensed him she would more than likely run off again.
