Iris groaned and rolled out, she opened her blearily eyes and clumsily reached out to grab her alarm clock, she frowned when she saw that her alarm wasn't making the shrilling sound
"What the-" where the hell was that noise coming from, she got up onto her knees and saw that it was her cell, she had no clue how the cell phone was in the middle of her bed
"Hello?" she croaked and cleared her throat
"Iris, it's Elena are you coming over?"
"What it's only- bloody hell it's one?" she asked and tumbled out of bed, she vaguely heard Elena laughing
"Yes it is, so you coming, Jeremy and Bonnie are here as well"
"Ok, ok, I'll be there in twenty minutes" Iris replied and bid her goodbye; she tossed the cell onto her bed and stumbled towards the bathroom. She turned the shower faucet on and while the water warmed up she brushed her teeth. Iris concluded that she was terrible at multitasking as she managed to slip onto the tiled floor whilst gurgling
"Oww, oww, oww" she hissed getting back onto her feet, she examined the scrape on her arm and winced when she prodded "wonderful" she muttered sarcastically. Iris stripped out of her clothes and stepped under the spray of warm water. She lathered up her wash cloth and quickly cleansed herself.
Once Iris had dried off she dug through her dresser and slipped on pair of dark purple panties and a matching bra. She rummaged through her closet and opted to wear a pair black buttoned down shorts since it did look warm out. She slipped on a cap sleeve top and slipped on a light cardigan and pulled on her pair of ballet flats. Iris skipped downstairs and made herself a cup of tea and some toast.
"So this is what the fuss is all about?" Iris asked holding the moonstone up, twirling it in her hands
"Haven't you seen it before?" Jeremy asked, Bonnie and Elena were on the brunettes bed, whilst Iris was leaning against the desk
"Not up close" she answered and placed it back down on the desk, Iris dropped down onto the window seat next to Jeremy "so now you got it, what are you going to do with it?" she asked resting her head on Jeremy's shoulder
"Right now it's what's binding the curse so if I can figure out way to remove the spell from the stone then the stone would become useless"
Iris nodded that made sense, she was sure that If Snape was around he would know how to solve it.
"I'll be back" Jeremy whispered and hurried out of the room
"That would definitely piss him off" she muttered Elena nodded in agreement
"And according to Katherine, Klaus becomes vengeful"
"Maybe, if he finds out" Bonnie reasoned, Iris licked her lips thinking were they even aware that they would be going against an Original?
"Can't this wait?" Elena snapped standing "Stefan's stuck in the tomb"
"Stefan would want me to focus on this" Bonnie argued back.
"Well don't listen" Elena screeched, Iris stood up wanting to stretch her legs, she moved towards Elena's vanity and fiddled with the trinkets, keeping an ear out on Bonnie's and Elena's conversation "he thinks he's protecting me but he's not"
"Well I'm taking Stefan's side on this. We're not going to let you or Iris be used in this creepy sacrifice ritual" Iris turned back around to face the two teenaged girls
"I'm with Bonnie and Stefan on this" Iris muttered "we have to at least try and fight this" she folded her arms across her chest
"That's not really your choice to make" Elena snapped
"Excuse me, but I'm in this as well, and I don't want to give up there's a slightest chance that we can avoid this whole sacrifice thing" Iris frowned her eyes hardening
"You should listen to her" Bonnie muttered and put the moonstone in her bag,
"What's going in?" Jeremy asked coming in looking at the trio of girls
"Your sister is what's going on" Iris said under her breath
"Nothing" Elena told him, Iris saw her eyeing her Bonnie's bag.
"I need some coffee" Bonnie said, a smile adorned Iris's face
"Now you mention it I fancy some tea, you do have teabags right?" Iris asked as she walked past Jeremy
"Yes" Jeremy chuckled
"Brilliant" Iris followed Bonnie
"What is it with you and tea?" Bonnie asked with a slight smile on her face
"You have your coffee and I have my tea" she replied as they walked down the stairs, Iris rounded the corner making her way towards the kitchen
"I'm going to see Stefan" she heard Elena call. Iris frowned as Bonnie headed back out towards the stair case
"What's going on?" Iris asked as Bonnie stopped Elena on the stair case and saw Jeremy standing behind Elena
"Elena took the moonstone" Jeremy announced
"What-"
"We tested you and you failed" Bonnie snapped and held her hand out for the moonstone. Iris grumbled under her breath and shook her head
"Do you have some suicide mission in your head?" Iris asked, Elena glared at her
"Klaus killed Katherine's entire family, I'm not going to make the same mistake" the brunette then pushed pass Bonnie as Iris leant against the stair banister and was slightly confused that neither Bonnie or Jeremy went to stop Elena, but found her confusion was soon gone, as Elena pulled open the door and saw that when she stepped forward the brunette was blocked by an invisible wall
A small grin made its way across Iris's face "smart" she muttered to the witch,
"What did you do?" Elena snapped at all three of them.
"It's for the best" Bonnie explained, whilst Elena continued to glare at them, Iris shook her head
"I think I'll be leaving" she stated and stepped over the threshold
"Wait, why can she leave?" Elena asked witnessing Iris going through the doorway
"She's not on a suicide mission" Jeremy said "Where are you going anyway?"
"Hmm I fancy an America cheese burger, thus I'm heading to the grill" Iris grinned and practically skipped away "have fun Elena" she called over her shoulder
"Ergh she's too happy" Elena muttered and stormed off upstairs. Bonnie and Jeremy exchanged amused looks when they saw Iris stumble slightly.
Iris saw that the grill was slightly busy when she entered it, she looked around and grinned spotting Alaric sitting in a booth
"Ric" Iris grinned and sat opposite him
"Iris, how are you?" he asked genuinely interested in the little raven head's going adventures
"I'm good"
"So not up to any secret missions lately?" he asked
Iris knew where he was going with this "I gather that Damon told you about Elena and mine's ventures?"
"Yes, what were you thinking? Never do something like that again" he scolded, sounding oddly like a father which warmed her heart.
"Whoa, whoa before you go all mother hen-"
"Did you just call me a 'hen'-"
"Anyway it wasn't me, Elena tricked me" she nodded her head, just then Damon slipped in beside her,
"Hey flower- oww what the hell-?" Damon snapped as Iris slapped his arm
"You're such a tattle tale" she muttered "if you're going to fill Ric in at least tell him the whole story"
Alaric snorted at the sight of Damon getting berated by a tiny little teen.
"Fine, fine" Damon muttered "here" he handed her a drink when he saw the look he was getting from her he added "don't worry it's not spike"
Iris rolled her eyes and sipped her drink, she jumped in her seat when Damon grunted loudly and realised that Alaric had kicked him under the table
"What the hell-"
"That's for getting spiking her drink, you're lucky I don't have a stake on me" Alaric scowled,
"Alright I said sorry" he uttered the hunter nodded, Iris saw his attention was drawn to the entryway, she followed his gaze and saw a pretty woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties
"Hmm Mason's mystery woman" Damon commented, Iris's eyebrows shot up
"What?"
"She showed up at the Lockwoods, asking for Mason" Alaric told her "where is Mason anyway?"
"Decomposing in his truck" Damon replied, Iris cringed at that and shook her head at his callous attitude.
"You think she's a werewolf?" Iris asked looking discreetly at the woman
"Well I hope not as it's the full moon tonight" Damon pulled out a plastic bags, Iris took one and examined it, and saw that it was of a plant, she recognised it
"Wolfsbane?" she uttered
"That's what it is?" Alaric asked leaning forward; Damon snatched it off of her
"Yep, flower has got it right" Damon smirked
"So what's the plan, you going to chuck it in her face to see if she burns?" Iris scoffed, Alaric snorted loudly at that "brilliant plan" she said sarcastically
"What and you've got a better one?" Damon quirked an eyebrow, a mischievous smiled made its way across Iris face.
"As a matter of fact I do" she turned to face Alaric "How's your acting skills Ric?"
"Erm well I don't-"
"Wonderful" Iris cut him off "just go over to her and act drunk and me and Damon will take it from there" when he didn't move Iris waved him off "shoo go"
"Did she just 'shoo' me?" Alaric muttered
"Afraid so now go" Damon ordered. "You think your plan will work?"
"No clue" Iris admitted and quickly went up over to the bar to play her role
Iris bit down hard on her bottom lip to stop herself from burst out laughing when she heard Alaric attempts to chat the woman up, Iris cleared her throat
"Excuse me" Iris said politely and made sure to keep her features composed "is this guy bothering you?"
"I'm not bothering anyone" Alaric slurred, Iris was impressed the history teacher could act
"Great, but I suggest you go or I'll tell Jenna, you know how she doesn't like you being out on your own, especially with your poor bladder control, we don't want another accident now do we?" Iris swore she would have drawn blood from lip if she kept gnawing at it, Alaric's face was priceless, and the woman looked horrified, he let out a long sigh and nodded and strolled away.
"Thanks, my name is Jules" she turned to face the raven head, Iris caught Alaric glaring at her and miming him slitting her throat.
"Iris Potter" the petite girl held out her hand for the blond woman to shake which she did "sorry about him, he's the town drunk harmless really, he goes out with my friend's aunt"
Iris dropped down on the bar stool beside Jules, she licked her lips
"So what brings you to Mystic Falls? It's not the most exciting town to be in" she drawled hoping that she was acting nonchalant
"How do you know I'm new?" Jules asked frowning slightly
"Oh, well I was the other newbie, plus I haven't seen you around before" she countered
"Well you're right" Jules nodded "I'm only staying for the night; I'm looking for a friend"
"Oh?" Iris murmured feigning interest "would I know them?"
"Mason Lockwood" she responded
"Huh, I thought he went back to Florida" Iris lied, she was inwardly surprised at how well she was doing, but that thought quickly went out of the window when she leant to far back on the stool and ended up crashing on the ground
"Oh my god, are you ok?" Jules asked quickly helping a flushed Iris up
"Yeah, just wounded my pride" she nodded and tucked in a few fallen curls, she caught Alaric's laughing face and proceeded to glare at him.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yeah, I think I'm just going to stand now" Iris said and leant against the bar.
"So how do you know Mason?" she asked sitting back down.
"Erm well-"she floundered for a response "I go to the same school as Tyler and he told me about him" she was relieved that sounded believable
"Couldn't help but over hear" Damon said sliding up on the other side of Jules
"Bet you could" Iris muttered
"That you're talking about Mason, he's a great guy"
"He's missing" Jules stated
"Really?" Iris asked making sure that she had Jules's full attention as Damon was putting some Wolfsbane into her drink, Iris felt a bout of guilt swelling up in the pit of her stomach when she saw the saddened look on the other woman's face "does Tyler know?"
"Yeah" she nodded "I stopped by their house in the morning to tell them, he's now officially listed as a missing person"
Iris knew that would most likely cause trouble "Sorry" Jules looked at her confused, Damon interrupted before the blond could say anything
"Well I'm really tight with the sheriff, isn't that right Iris?" he asked her, she saw his eyes narrowing and plastered a smile on to her face "Yeah him and the sheriff are like this" she crossed her fingers
"Ha yeah like that, anyway if there's anything I can do to help locate Mason then I will" he said sincerely "he's a great guy and after his brother's funeral he stuck around, he helped Tyler deal with his grief an all" he then paused, Iris glanced down at the spike drink and saw that Jules hadn't touched it, Damon had also realised this as well. "You know you hadn't touch your drink"
"I'm not much of a drinker" she answered and stood up "I should get going"
Iris bit her lip and played with the stray threads of her top.
"What's one drink?" Damon asked smirking
Iris tensed as Jules raised the glass to her lips but then she stopped and slammed it back down hard onto the bar, causing Iris to jump
"You think you're really clever don't you?" she snarled at Damon "but you're a fool"
"What do you want with Mason Lockwood?"
"Mason's my friend" Jules snapped, Iris tapped her fingers on the counter of the bar.
"Well I'm sorry you probably won't find him" Damon smirked
"Don't come off as an arse" the raven head muttered under her breath
"Any why not?" the blond woman snarled
"You should leave town" Damon stated ignoring her question; Iris was sort of relieved that the vampire didn't gloat about Mason's death to Jules.
"Are you threatening me?" Damon nodded, Iris had the urge to smack it off, merlin she thought this vampire was asking for a confrontation "On a full moon? How stupid are you?"
"He's incredibly stupid" Iris piped in "Damon stop" she hissed at him
"You should listen to your friend" Jules nodded over to the petite raven head.
"You think I'm scared of you, I'm not" Damon growled, Iris glanced over to Alaric who was watching the scene
"No I don't, that's your vampire arrogance" the smirk on his face dropped, Iris couldn't help but drawl out
"You are a bit too arrogant"
"Shut up Iris" Damon rolled his eyes, whilst Iris scoffed and shook her head
"But you should be scared. I sniffed you out the moment I walked into this bar. Along with your Wolfsbane, you see I've been at this for a long time, any other night this situation would be reversed but tonight, is not the night to pick a fight with me" she snapped, Iris eyes widened as Jules uttered "You've been marked" and without another word she stormed off
"Whoa" Iris said and groaned when Damon walked out after her, she and Alaric ran after him
"Where is she?" Damon asked, Iris frowned and looked both ways there was no sign of Jules
"Now that's creepy" she muttered "leave her alone"
"So what? Are we supposed to let her go?" Damon snapped "what the hell does she mean by I mean 'mark' is it a werewolf thing?"
"She's after you, you dimwit, told you not to piss her off" Iris snapped
"You're the one who came up with the plan" he scowled which Iris returned they were literally toe to toe
"Yeah, because your plan was so much better" she said sarcasm drooping from her "you were going to throw Wolfsbane in her face that would be discreet, don't do anything stupid, it's the full moon one bite from a werewolf and you're dead"
"Well I-"
"Ok, ok enough" Alaric stepped in between the pair "don't risk it Damon, go home and lock your doors we'll deal with this in the morning" Damon sighed but nodded his gaze went to Iris
"I got my car" she told him, the vampire nodded and left, leaving behind Iris and Alaric, she jumped when Alaric lightly pinched her
"Hey, what's that for?"
"I've got bladder control problems?" he cocked and eyebrow, Iris blushed
"Erm…well you see…it was funny?"
Alaric scoffed "Yeah it was so funny I forgot to laugh-"
"Memory problems?" she quipped
"Don't push it" he snorted "You're going to have to hand in a five thousand words essay about the founding families and the contributions they made"
"You've got to be kidding me" she grumbled
"Afraid not, now shoo" Iris looked scandalised much to his amusement
"You're using my own words against me Ric? Shame on you" she tutted, Alaric chuckled and lightly pushed her towards her car.
Iris had just pulled into her driveway and parked her car, she unbuckled herself and nearly jumped out of her seat when her cell rang loudly
"Bloody hell" she muttered and was slightly confused when she saw that the caller was Jenna "Jenna?"
"Hey Iris" she smiled hearing the woman's voice "glad I caught you"
"Oh?" Iris murmured and slammed the car door behind her and leant against it "What's up?"
"Well I need you to come over here, to meet someone, the mayor is also coming. So get a move on"
"Huh?" her brows furrowed in confusion thinking who would want to meet her "fine I'll be there in a minute" she said and hanged up.
Iris hurried up the steps and knocked on the Gilberts front door, it was open a moment later by Elena
"Iris?" she uttered confused
"Yeah Jenna called me" Iris shrugged as Elena stepped aside allowing Iris to come in "so where is she?"
"Well-" but was cut off when she tripped over some boxes, Iris chuckled and helped her up
"Jenna?"
"In here" she heard her call
"Why are you in a cupboard?" Iris asked cocking an eyebrow
"Better yet why are there boxes everywhere?" Elena asked brushing herself off
"Well I got roped into helping Carol Lockwood and the historical society-"
"Where is she anyway?" Iris asked
"Coming, and you're both in time to help me" she stood up and thrust a loaded box into Elena's arms. "and by roped I mean to say I'm very excited to be participating" Jenna said
"Now that's a damn right lie, you just-" but Iris abruptly stopped talking when Jenna slammed the cupboard shut, she heard Elena gasped as her emerald eyes widened seeing who was there Elijah.
"Holy crap" Iris muttered and licked her lips
"Hey I'm Elijah" he smiled, Iris thought he'd has a nice smile but then mentally slapped herself
"Hi" Iris stammered as Jenna took the box off of Elena, the brunette elbowed her earning her light shove from Iris
"Don't be too friendly" she hissed, Iris rolled her eyes.
"Elijah's in town, doing some research on Mystic Falls" Jenna said
"Pleasure" Elijah smiled and held out his hand towards Elena to shake which she reluctantly did, and then proceeded to move on to Iris "lovely to see you again"
Iris nodded and took hold of his hand and felt a jolt go up her spine, Elijah felt it as well, yes this was definitely her he concluded, not a doppelganger but the original, his grip on her hand tightened momentarily. She took in a deep breath as he let go.
"So what are you going to do with all these boxes?" Iris gestured towards them,
"Well-" just then there was a knock on the door
"I think your question is going to be answered" Jenna smiled and moved pass her to answer the door, Iris felt someone looking at her and raised her head and met a pair of oak brown eyes
"Iris" she turned around hearing her name being called and sent Carol Lockwood a smile "How are you dear?"
"I'm fine" she responded
"That's good to hear, so I assume you met Elijah" Carol said as she went to stand beside the Original vampire
"Yeah I have" she nodded, her cheeks were beginning to hurt "Lovely chap"
"Oh my god did you-"
"Shut up" Iris hissed she was slowly beginning to panic
"Well it's good to know "
"Uh huh" Iris nodded.
"So as you know Elijah is in town to do some research on his book, as he is new in town he'll need somewhere to stay and what a better place to be then somewhere in Mystic Falls preferably close so what do you think? Elijah being a guest in your home?"
Iris's jaw literally dropped at that "What? I-"
"Don't worry Iris, you'll hardly notice I'm there" Elijah said smiling at her, Iris felt cornered as Jenna and Carol smiled and nodded at her, from the corner of her eye she could see Elena shaking her head "I'm impeccably tidy and efficient"
"You're totally opposite from Iris then" Jenna chuckled
"So?" Carol prompted
Iris licked her lips crap she thought she couldn't refuse now could she? She took a deep breath and nodded "Sure why not?" she plastered a smile on to her face
"Fantastic, I could come by in an hour with my belongings?" Elijah suggested, inwardly impressed that Iris didn't go running off.
"Great, I'll just go and erm….sort out the guest room" without a backwards glance practically ran out of the house.
She was just on her porch when Carol managed to catch up to her
"Iris"
"Crap" Iris muttered and thumped her head against the door "bloody woman can't leave me alone" she sighed and turned around
"I just wanted to thank you Iris" Carol said sincerely causing Iris to slightly soften, this wasn't the mayor's fault she was now in this sticky situation
"It's no problem Mrs Lockwood" Iris murmured politely whilst digging through her pockets and finally pulled out her keys
"Please call me Carol"
Iris smiled and nodded and bod her goodbye. As soon as she closed the front door she sagged against wonderful she thought, a vampire would be living with her and not just any vampire but an original one.
"Shit, shit, shit" she muttered and quickly pulled out her cell phone and dialled Damon's number and swore when he didn't pick up, she knew Stefan wouldn't be able to help her as he was stuck in the tomb.
"Ok, Iris just breath you can do this, come on you came back from the dead. Just deal with the bloody vampire" Iris pepped herself and remembered that she was supposed to get the guest room. She decided the room further away from her would be best for Elijah.
Iris went through her linen closet pulling out clean sheets all she really could do was to keep her mind busy.
AN: Thanks for the reviews
Elijah made an appearance, he's Iris's roomate dun, dun, dun. Alaric was in this chap as well as was Jules, she'll be back later
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