Chapter 52: The Illusion of Progress
'If I could I'd start over again. Let's start again with a shrug of our shoulders. Angels always start over again, with a rude little mess; they'll always be bolder than you and me'
Ryan's POV~
I was stuck under the command and will of Damon Salvatore and James Thomas, well until the sun set. I was now totally vulnerable as we drove to Charleston, the only thing keeping we from burning was that I was chucked in the back of a black window tinted car of Klaus's, he obviously had the same motives as everyone. Finding the cure. And it seemed that so far I was the only one who even got a little information from Katherine.
"You better be a good boy on this trip" Damon taunted from the front so I kicked his chair. I soon regretted my actions when James opened the back windows slowing, gradually dimming sunlight scorching my skin. "We make a good team James" He chuckled as I screamed out in pain.
"Ok! Ok! I'm sorry!" I growled out as darkness returned to the back of the car, I breathed out heavily. "How long do we have left?"
They both ignored me; I grumbled and folded my arms tightly. I closed my eyes slowly, maybe if I slept this journey would go quicker? As they continued to chat and plan on how they were going to defeat Silas I blocked them out and slowly fell asleep.
*I opened my eyes as the sunlight disturbed my sleep, I jumped slightly at the realization that I wasn't burning. I rubbed my forehead and took in my surroundings; I was alone lying in a large white bed. The sheer light curtains swayed as the breeze came through the window. I frowned and lightly pressed my fingers into each other, this felt so real. I suddenly noticed a small dark blue ring on my index finger, I carefully turned it.
"I thought you'd never wake up" I darted my eyes up to see Jane skip into the room wearing my shirt, she hopped beside me and took my hand. "I've been awake for hours"
"And you're still just wearing a shirt?" I furrowed a brow as she smirk and leant in closer, I felt my cheeks burn as I felt her breath on my skin.
"I wanted to shower with you" She smirked and kissed my lightly before thumbing my chin.
"What is this?" I narrowed my eyes as her dark beautiful eyes looked straight into my soul. "What about Kol?" She took both of my cheeks and her eyes glossed with sympathy.
"Ryan, what are you going on about?" She smiled sweetly "Kol and I broke up years ago, I've been with you since" My heart lightened and her soft voice. "You still do love me don't you?" Her worried face made me want to hold her tightly, I went to reply but I froze. I knew this wasn't right, despite my heart begging it to be. I scowled
"No" I quickly snapped her neck.
I opened my eyes again to find myself still in the car; I growled and sat up as I heard James.
"What about Jane?"
"You dick" I spat and kicked Damon's seat; he didn't reply or even punish me. I bit into my gums and tried to calm down, but it wasn't embarrassment it was fear. If Damon told anyone my little secret, Kol would kill me in seconds.
Jane's POV~
To my surprise and confusion I woke up before morning, something was different and I didn't like it. I rolled over to see that Kol wasn't beside me anymore, that's when alarm bells began to ring. I slowly got out of bed and tried to find something to wear; with my top in shreds I had no choice but to wear one of Kol's.
I quietly tip toed out of his room and onto the landing, something wasn't right, I could feel it in my bones. I swallowed hard as I reached the stairs, as silent as I could I went down the stairs. There was still nothing in the house, by now Kol would've heard me, I began to worry.
I ran into the kitchen and grabbed the nearest knife I could find before beginning my search. My body shook and my heart beat fast, I was petrified, but my love for Kol kept me going, I had to find him.
Cautiously, I entered the lounge. The fire still burning at the hearth, I heard a grumbling. I spun around to see Klaus's slumped body with a white stake protruding from his stomach. I immediately ran to his side, his eyes rolling up to mine.
"Go away Silas…I don't have it" I frowned and cupped his cheeks to steady his eyes.
"It's ok, its me, Jane" I tried my best smile before pulling the stake from his body, he breathed deeply. "I'll call Care, she'll be here soon" He nodded and rested his head on my lap. "Where's Kol?" I asked as he slowly pulled himself up.
"Over there" He lightly pointed at Kol's sprawled out body, my heart dropped as I ran to his side.
"Kol, wake up" I lightly tapped his cheeks; his skin was grey so I feared the worse. My eyes watered at the limited response. Klaus appeared beside me and sighed with annoyance as he pulled out the dagger from his brother's chest.
"Come on little brother, wake up" He sighed as he twirled the dagger in between his fingers.
"What is that?" I asked in confusion "And how can you be so calm about this" I gasped through tears as I cradled Kol's head in my lap.
"This dagger only immobilises an Original, once removed he will wake up" He grasped the dagger tightly before standing up. "How Silas got this I do not know, it seems the rule of invitation into a home does not apply to him" I frowned
"I thought that only counts with humans?"
"It does" He replied quickly
"Then who owns this house?" He seemed annoyed at my question, he watched me from the corner of his eye.
"You"
James's POV~
Charleston didn't look like anything you'd expect a cure for vampirism and the only weapon against the first ever immortal being to be hiding, so of course it had to be. It looked like any other city across North America; bustling, rapidly growing and filled with dark alleyways where vampires could hide. I glanced towards Damon; he knew Katherine's behaviour and habits better than we did, so we went with what he said.
"Best bet is to find one of her minions" He muttered with a sigh as he looked around at the city, it was going to be difficult to look at night. "Let's try the bars"
"Excellent" Ryan chirped and slapped his hands together as we continued to walk through the street, the nightlife was just picking up, of course Ryan knew this. "I'm starving"
"You don't even know how to hunt properly" Damon scoffed "You'll bring us too much attention" Ryan's face dropped as he sighed, I could understand his frustration, he'd been locked up most of his vampire life.
"Then teach me! I'm not like your brother; I don't go doodle-ally near human blood"
"I know…I just don't like you" Damon briefly narrowed his eyes; I pressed my lips together to try and hold in my laugh. I rolled my eyes as they gave cold stares towards one and other, but suddenly something changed in the young vampire's eyes.
"Don't make me black mail you" He folded his arms "Since I have no idea how to control myself…I don't even know what will happen" He smirked as we looked at each other.
"We're both older than you, you can't do anything" I butted in and shook my head as I began to search for nearby pubs, clubs and bars on my phone. There were was one just around the corner; I looked up to mention it.
"Mmm" Ryan blurted out as he observed a couple of young women walking past us "They look nice, wouldn't you say so Damon?"
"Are you really going down this road? I don't care about some human" Ryan rolled his eyes towards me
"But he does" I frowned "I could just ruin your mission to find this cure?"
"No you won't, because Jane's in danger if we don't find it" I narrowed my eyes at him "And what would she think? She put all that hope in you"
"Don't use my feelings against me, I've got enough problems with everyone hating me and punishing me for something I didn't know I was doing" He got closer to me, I smirked.
"You like her don't you" I tilted my head and veined my eyes before pinning him into the nearest car. "Then let's make this perfectly clear, you will help us find that damn cure and ram it down Silas's throat, for Jane" My grip tightened "And if you think you have a chance with her, you are wrong. One wrong step and I will let Kol know of your little secret" His eyes glossed with slight fear. "And if you ever try and harm that girl again I will kill you"
"Ok, ok" Damon announced and pulled us apart, my glare fixed on Ryan. "You think this is going to get us any closer to the cure? Eh eh"
"Fine" I grumbled and straightened my jacket before looking towards him "You lead the way"
A/N~ First set of italics are lyrics from Trumpet or Tap by Biffy Clyro. The second set marked with * is a dream given to him by Damon. Let me know what you think and as always thank you for reading x
