Artemis hummed she slowly opened her eyes and groaned closing them again.
"Ya know one morning I'd like you to open your eyes and at least pretend you're happy to see me" Damon drawled, her response was to nuzzle her face into his neck
"Ssh too early" she mumbled
"Ok, I give you that. It's six in the morning" Damon murmured
"Ergh"
"Not enough sleep?"
"You'd know" Artemis mumbled, that was true enough half the night she was tossing and turning he knew she only got a couple hours of sleep.
"You don't have to open the store or-"
"No" Artemis yawned and sat up so that she was leaning over Damon "I do, they're going back to school. And I have to help Jeremy pack later." She said slumping against him. Damon sighed and sat up; he pulled her with him so she was on his lap
"You know I can do un-compel him of you like?" Damon suggested playing with the strap of her camisole
"I wish….but it's the best thing for him" Artemis shook her head, he could feel the warmth radiating off of her "I just…I'm going to miss him"
"Me too" she quirked an eyebrow at that making him roll his eyes "Ok, pass all that emo and angst thing going on in his hormone addled mind. He's not that bad" Damon uttered and smiled slightly seeing her face brighten up.
"You know that was kind of sweet" Artemis murmured and leant down kissing him on the lips, she nipped on his bottom lips causing him to groan, he willingly opened his mouth. Artemis felt her skin tingle as he hiked the back of her top; she gasped and pressed herself closer when he stroked the skin on her back.
Damon pulled back knowing she needed to breathe but his lips were relentless, he peppered her jaw and throat with kisses. His fingers dug into her soft flesh when she grinded against him. Artemis wove her fingers into his thick completely loosing herself in the heat of the moment. She felt him kiss her throat and his hands were everywhere. She was brought out of her lust induce state when she felt a stinging pain on her throat. #
"Oww" she yelped "Damon what the-"
He stopped and pulled back she narrowed her eyes on him when she saw the smug smile on his face
"What did you do?"
"Nothing-"
She snorted "Yeah like I believe that" she climbed over him and just managed to get onto her feet when he grabbed the back of her shorts and tugged her back, she landed face up in his lap
"Now this is a nice position, if only you was face down and then you could wrap your lips around-"she pinched his chest "Ok" he groaned I deserve that"
"Ya think" Artemis rolled her eyes and got back over to the mirror she tugged her shorts down causing Damon to groan
"I liked the view-"
"Serious? Can you not have your mind in the gutter?" Artemis lifted her hair aside her eyes widened seeing the vivid love bite "You gave me a hickey?" she asked in disbelief
"One of my greatest works" Damon smirked placing his arms behind his head. If Artemis wasn't annoyed she would have stared at the sight of his naked chest "Keep staring babe it's all yours-"
"Ergh such an ass-"
"Which you want to squeeze"
"Seriously? And a hickey why a hickey, I have to go to that dumb Wickery Bridge thing and now everyone is going to see" Artemis jumped when he appeared behind her.
"Precisely now everyone knows that you're mine" Damon smirked and kissed the hickey.
"You really are possessive aren't you?" she murmured
"Hmm, that's what you get when you date a vampire. I should get going-"
"What are you up to?" Artemis asked looking at him through the mirror
"Nothing-"
"You know when you lie your eyes widened slightly and your brows arched. So cut the crap and tell me what you're up to-"
"My eyes-"
"Damon" Artemis said seriously
He sighed and she turned around so she could look at him in the face "It's nothing for you to worry about-"
"If it's about you I do worry. I don't want you to get hurt"
Damon smiled thinking this was the only woman in his entire lifespan that had said that to him and meant it, without having any ulterior motives.
"I'm meeting Stefan at the old witch house, to talk about Klaus and his hybrids" Damon told her.
"What-"
"Art, let me deal with this ok?" he cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her smooth cheek
"Ok" she stood on her tip toes and kissed him softly on the lips "just be careful, I wouldn't put it pass Stefan to do something psychotic"
"Will do" he kissed her again "I do love you, you know that right?"
Artemis smiled and felt the small jolt in her heart when he said that "I do and I love you" he kissed the crown of her head and blurred out of the room.
She slumped against her dresser and lightly rubbed the patch of skin he had kissed it tingled slightly.
She shook her head and grabbed a lacy forest coloured bra and matching panties. Artemis hurried to the bathroom and locked the door behind her. She did her morning routine and was brushing her teeth when her eyes dropped down on the mark Damon had left behind.
"Arrogant vampire" she muttered and rinsed her mouth "makeup ought to cover it" she checked to see if the water was warm enough and when it was Artemis stripped out of her nightclothes and had a quick shower. When she was done she dried herself off and slipped on her underwear.
Artemis slammed her bedroom door shut behind her and knew that today she would have to look presentable since the fundraising even was tonight. She looked through her closet and opted to wear a pencil skirt and a top. She blow dried her hair and left it out in an attempt to cover the marks that Damon had left behind.
She applied some cover-up and was glad to see that it was less obvious. Artemis pulled on her heels and put on some jewellery before leaving her room. She walked pass Elena's room and knocked on it. She frowned when there was no sound.
"Elena?" she called opened the door, her eyes darted around the room not spotting the younger teen anywhere. "Elena where the-" she spotted a note on the pillow
'Gone with Ric to workout, told Bonnie you needed to talk to her. and that you've got Caroline a present,
Love Elena'
Artemis crumpled up the note and threw it in the trashcan, "Oh Bonnie" with all the madness that's been going on she actually forgot about telling Bonnie that Jeremy would be leaving town. But Artemis stuck with her gut feeling and would deal with the witch when she came.
She exited the room and knocked on Jeremy's "Come in" she heard the teen called. Artemis opened the door and her eyes widened briefly at the scene
"Packing already?"
"Yeah" Jeremy grinned chucking another top into his stuffed duffle bag, she moved forward and picked the top he just threw in and folded it up.
"You excited?" she asked quietly
"Totally, it'll be fun to go to Denver, it'll be good for me" Jeremy said. Artemis forced a smile on her face and nodded
"Yeah, it'll be good for you."
"Art you ok?" Jeremy asked feeling there was something more in her tone.
"Yeah perfectly fine." She plastered a smile on to her face "why don't you finish this tonight and go and get ready for school, I'll make breakfast"
"What kind-"
"Those pecan waffles you like" Artemis grinned seeing the large smile on his face
"Thanks Art" he kissed her on the cheek as he headed towards the bathroom "You're the best"
As soon as she saw that he had shut the bathroom door the smile on her face faltered, she cleared her head knowing that sending Jeremy away was the safest thing to do. She headed downstairs her heels clacking against the polished wooden floor, she left her bag by the front door and walked into the kitchen where she started to make breakfast and a pot of coffee.
She had just set the waffles down when Jeremy strolled into the room "Smells good-"
"Thanks"
"I'm going to miss this ya know, you cooking breakfast for me" Jeremy muttered diving into the pancakes.
"You'll get on fine" she ate her own waffles; it tasted like cardboard though she was having a difficult time swallowing it down. She downed the rest of the coffee "I'll catch you later, we've still got packing to do" Artemis ruffled his head and laughed hearing him groan. She grabbed her bag and slammed the front door shut, she climbed into the rusty yellow bug and groaned realising that she had completely forgot about that.
On an off chance Artemis started the car and was surprised when it started "Oh that's it my car is a miracle…stupid people trash talking my car…" she trailed off when she saw the sticky note on her windshield.
"Filled your tank up with gas,
Ric"
"And there goes Ric ruining my miracle car healing itself" Artemis shook her head and turned on the radio; she pressed her foot down on the accelerator and drove towards the store.
"Walking on sunshine whoa, I'm walking on sunshine-"
"-and don't it feel good-"Artemis shrieked and spun around seeing Betty standing in the doorway to her office
"Fucking hell Betty do you want me to die of cardiac arrest" Artemis clutched her heaving chest. She had been working in the back office doing some paper work
"Of course not dear, now do you want to finish the song?" Betty asked and didn't bother waiting for a reply, she went ahead and turned the volume up, and Artemis laughed as Betty literally belted out the next couple of lyrics.
"Arty?" she heard a voice call from the front of the store. She left the elderly woman singing the rest of the song on her own and shut the office door behind her. "Was that Betty? And-"
"Yeah no words to describe Betty, so Bonnie what's up?" Artemis asked
Bonnie brows furrowed "Erm…Elena told me you wanted me to give Caroline's gift to her-"
"Oh right. Hold on" she left for a second and came straight back, in her hands was a velvet box. "Here"
"Oh what is it?" Bonnie asked
"It's a necklace, antique, belonged to the Forbes family I thought she might like it" Artemis said quietly and licked her lips. "Bonnie there's something I got to tell you" she said. Causing the witch to look up at her she saw the serious look on the elder teen's face.
"Art you're scaring me" it was true Artemis's face was usually lit with a smile but right now she looked exhausted and worried "What happened?"
"Jeremy's going to be leaving town" she said getting straight to the point "he's going to be stay with some family friends in Denver until this whole Klaus thing blows over"
"That's crazy, he wouldn't just leave you and Elena to deal with Klaus on your own" Bonnie frowned, Artemis glanced away and licked her lips
"You're right, he wouldn't so I asked Damon to compel him" she admitted
"What?" Bonnie asked shocked that Artemis was willing to do this.
"I know but I want him to be safe, and he's not whilst he's here. I'm sorry honey but he's leaving. I'm telling you this because I know things between you two haven't sorted things out" Artemis leant against the counter "I wanted to give you a chance to say goodbye-"
"You can't do this Artemis" the witch hissed "you're taking away his free will-"
"I'm doing this to protect him" Artemis snapped back
"Art you can't control him-"
"I am not controlling him. I'm protecting him and if it means leaving us all behind then so be it. At least he would be alive-"
"I'm going to tell him. This is wrong-"she went to walk away but the elder teen grabbed her arm "Art-"
"Bonnie don't tell him" Artemis hissed "don't."
"Art-"
"No he has the chance to be happy don't you want that for him Bonnie?" she said softly, her eyes were swimming in emotions
Bonnie stared at her for a moment "I'm going to be late for school-"
"No wait Bonnie-" but the witch ran off. Artemis slumped against the counter holding her head in her hands. She was praying to god that Bonnie would spill the beans.
"Art-" she jumped and looked over her shoulder seeing a concerned Betty leaning against the door way.
"What's up Betty?" Artemis asked
"Are you alright dear-"
"I'm fin-"
"If you're going to say 'fine' don't even bother finishing that sentence off. I may be old dear but I'm not stupid" she walked around the counter "now what's up?"
"Bet…"
"It's private?"
"Sort of, just some drama between my teenage brother and his ex-girlfriend" Artemis uttered and smiled slightly when Betty pushed the steaming mug of coffee across the glass counter
"Oh that kind of drama, well if his ex-girlfriend, turns out to be a psychotic bitch send her my way" much to Artemis's amusement, Betty pushed up the sleeve of her floral dress showing the teen her frail upper-arm "You see this Art?" Artemis nodded "this is what I call muscle so if that bitch gives you any trouble I'll knock her bloody lights out" she bit down on her bottom lip hard stopping herself from bursting out with laughter
"Thanks Betty"
"No problem dear, I have to get back to the bakery Johnny can't run it on his own for too long though, he practically gives the goods away" Betty grinned and left. After a second Artemis burst out with laughter she laughed so hard she wiped away tears of mirth "Got to love Betty" she muttered under her breath.
Artemis had relocated to the back of the store now; she was lounging on the small couch and was currently on the laptop, she heard her stomach let out a loud growl of hunger.
"Looks like I got here just on time" Damon smirked leaning against the doorway, his eyes roamed her bare legs, Artemis had kicked off her heels and was resting her feet on the table. "Very, very sexy" he walked over to her
"What's up Damon?" her eyes landed on the basket he was carrying
"I've got lunch" he raised the basket, dropping it down on the coffee table. Artemis tucked her foot underneath her bottom and leant forward
"Really?"
"Really" Damon smirked and placed his hand on her knee when she went to get up "Where are you going?"
"To get the plates and-"
"Nope, you relax I got this" Damon opened up the basket and pulled out the food, "It's still warm"
Artemis watched as he piled the plate with pasta
"Oh crap" Damon muttered
"What? It looks good-"
"I bought one plate"
"We can share Damon" Artemis rolled her eyes, he handed her a fork and they dug in "Oh this is good" she moaned her mouth watered at the taste of the sauce
"Keep making…" he trailed off seeing the look on her face "kidding kidding" he assured her and pulled out a bottle of wine
"Really-"
"This is a date Art" he told her pouring them glasses of wine. Artemis raised her fork to mouth and squeaked when Damon gobbled it up
"Hey I was-"she was cut off when he placed a forkful of pasta in her own mouth.
"There so now we're even"
"Hardly" a smile played on her lips, "So Stef-"
"Can we not talk about my brother, this is just about us to" Damon spoke over her,
She nodded and for the rest of the meal they had spent chatting about random things, Artemis placed the empty plate onto the coffee table and leant back
"Oh" she sighed "I'm stuffed" she declared. Damon leant back and an amused smile was on his lips.
"Art you got some sauce on your face"
Artemis blushed and grabbed a napkin "Where? Here"
"No a bit lower" he murmured she saw the mischievous twinkle in his eyes and paused
"Damon?"
"Let me get it" before she could even blink he pounce. Artemis grinned and then gasped when she felt his tongue on the corner of her mouth, her back arched when she felt his fingers sliding up her skirt.
"Damon" she moaned. Damon pulled back and licked his own lips
"You have no idea what you do to me" he purred into her ear "no idea" he smashed his lips against her own, Artemis moved hers against his and arched against when he hiked up her skirt caressing the newly exposed skin. Artemis stroked his lower stomach causing the vampire to groan. He pulled back knowing she needed to breath, her eyes snapped open when she felt his lips going lower and lower. She moaned loudly when he nipped her collar bone Damon hand brushed against her breast causing her to gasped
"Ok, ok Damon" she muttered breathless "Can we slow down?" she asked
Damon nodded and stopped his ministrations "Art-"
"Sorry" she blurted out "I…I-too fast everything was going too fast…" she covered her eyes with her hands "I'm so embarrassed-"
"Don't be" he pulled her hands away and saw the flush look on her face
"You must find me so-"
"Sexy, loving, gently and way too good for me" he cut her off, caressing her cheek "It's ok Art, I can wait an eternity for you"
Artemis felt her heart warm at that, she leant up and kissed his tenderly on the lips.
"But please honey don't make me wait too long-"she whacked him and pushed him off of her sending him tumbling off of the couch
"And there ya go, ruining the moment" Artemis said leaning over the couch,
"Something I'm epic at" Damon smirked.
Artemis laughed and squeaked when he grabbed her wrist puling her off of the couch she landed on him with a grunt
"Now where were we?" Damon murmured.
"I thought Stefan saved your life?" Alaric asked, he, Artemis and Damon were heading towards the Founders Hall where the restoration fundraiser was taking place.
"He did" Damon replied his arm around Artemis's waist
"And now he's willing to risk it just to see how far he can push Klaus?" Alaric asked in disbelief, the vampire had told the pair what had went down.
"Stefan's screwed up" Artemis muttered "So is his humanity on and off?"
"I think there's another option to play" Damon commented "there's a dimmer switch which is a huge problem"
Artemis and Alaric both frowned "How so?" the hunter asked
"Because I can't predict how far he's going to go and willing to risk someone getting killed" Damon said
"Suddenly you care about who lives or dies?" Artemis snorted
"Ric give him a break."
"Yeah I got a small list" Damon rolled his eyes and tugged her closer
"Talk about humanity dimmer switch" Alaric scoffed
"Screw you" Damon retorted
Artemis sighed "Real mature gentleman, but once you two are done with your bitch fights we've got a fundraiser to attend"
Alaric looked up and let out a huff "Can't a council meeting, ever just be a council meeting?"
"Oh no then that'll be too simple for Carole Lockwood" Artemis muttered
"Right, so shall we milady?" Damon offered his arm to her, causing her to smile she nodded and threaded her arms through his
"Lets"
"You guys are so meant to be together" Artemis muttered following after the pair.
Artemis sighed and picked helped herself to a glass of champagne she had snuck away from Damon when he started to have a conversation with the mayor she had found it dreadfully boring.
"Miss Arty"
Artemis frowned and looked around, she jumped when she felt a small hand on her ankle, and she looked down and saw a small red head figure
"Lily what-"
"Ssh" the little girl gestured for her to get down, Artemis looked around and sighed she got on to her knees
"What-"
"Miss Arty you've got to come under here" Katie whispered, the teen crawled underneath the table and looked at the pair of girls
"So you two are going to tell me what's going on?" Artemis whispered
"This part is boring" Lilly pouted "and mom wants to stay for another hour-"
"Ah ok, so another reason you're hiding isn't because of that giant chocolate cake behind your back?"
"I told ya we should have hid it" Katie hit the red head,
"No way Miss Arty is cool she won't tell anyone will ya?" big green eyes stared at Artemis, no way she could say no to that face.
"Alright" she smiled "I won't say a word if you let me have some, deal?"
Both Lily and Katie grinned "Deal" they held up their pinkies causing Artemis to smile "that's why we got this?" Lily held out another fork
"You're good Lily" Artemis grinned and all three of them dove into the chocolate cake.
"So Miss Arty, is that man…ya know the man with the pretty eyes is he your boyfriend?"
"You mean Damon?" she swallowed down a piece of cake Katie nodded "Yeah he's my boyfriend."
"Nice" Lily grinned "Ya should tell him he needs to one day not wear black" Artemis laughed at that
"Will do kid. So how's your love life going?"
"Ergh Miss Arty I'm seven" Lily rolled her eyes eating the cake
"Yeah and there must be someone that you like"
"Pfft no. she hates boys" Katie explained
"You hate boys or just one-"
"There's one boy called Peter, he keeps pushing me off the swing and pulling my hair-"Artemis smothered down her giggles
"Ya know when a boy does that to a girl he likes her" Artemis said quietly
"Seriously?" Katie asked the older girl nodded "boys are weird-"
"Try vampires" Artemis muttered,
"What?"
"Nothing dear"
"So-"
"Ssh your mom's shoes" Katie whispered pointing to a pair of red heels, Artemis groaned
"I should go-"
"Who's going take the cake? I can't the my mom would ground-"
"Well I can't take it" Lily hissed "What do we do?"
Artemis quirked an eyebrow at the pair sometimes those two reminded her of herself and Elena when they were younger
"You two are going to wipe your mouths and I'll take care of the cake" Artemis ushered them out
"Thanks Miss Arty" Katie grinned and gave her a sticky kiss on the cheek, Lily kissed her other cheek, Artemis smiled fondly at the pair and watched as they scurried off, she turned back to the cake and knew she couldn't leave it there. Artemis sighed and finished off the rest. When she was done she crawled out from beneath the table and looked over her shoulder to make sure that no one was watching her.
She grinned thinking that she got away with it but that thought flew straight out of the window. She bumped hard into something and realised that it was a pair of legs. She slowly looked up and smiled sheepishly at the amused looking Damon.
"Arty?"
"Want to help me up Damon?" Artemis held out her hand, he chuckled and wrapped his arm around her waist and hauled her onto her feet.
"Do I want to know why you got chocolate icing on your face?" he asked wiping it off, much to her surprised he licked his finger clean "Hmm…tasty"
"Can you not make everything sexual?" Artemis murmured as he led her through the crowd
"But then it's not fun. I love it when you get all flustered very cute by the way" Damon smirked and kissed her; she laughed and lightly shoved him.
"This is boring though" they had come to a stop beside Alaric who was gazing at the small model of Wickery Bridge; she couldn't help but shudder at the sight of it.
"Hmm you're right, how about we go back to your place and do something?" Artemis rolled her eyes when he wagged his eyebrows up and down
"Really?" Alaric asked "I'm standing right here-"
"And you look very pretty" Artemis grinned making Damon let out a chuckle
"Hmm well let me right a check and we can all get out of here. keep an eye on her Ric, she might sneak under the table and eat a cake"
"Damon" Artemis slapped his arm "You're such an ass" she called after him
"Love you too dear" he grinned and walked off
"So you and cake-"
"Not what its sounds like Ric" Artemis shook her head "Ok maybe it is but I got a good reason-"
"Sure you do" Alaric smirked seeing her shooting him a glare. Before she could retort someone else had made an appearance
"Alaric Saltzman miracle patient" a pretty brunette smiled at him, Artemis's grey orbs darted between the pair
"Doctor Fell-"Artemis cleared her throat "Oh right, Art this is Meredith Fell, and this is Artemis Gilbert-"
"Please call me Arty" she smiled at the o other woman holding out her hand, the doctor smiled and shook it.
"Nice to meet you and you I thought you'd drop dead hallway in your sleep-"
"Oh no Ric is like the terminator, ya can keep knocking him down but he's like Arnold Swagnegger, I could totally imagine him doing the 'I'll be back' but he's not-"
"Art you're rambling" Alaric muttered and smiled seeing the blush on her face.
"Sorry I tend to do that when I meet new people, I think it's a disease ya know but your…crap I think I'll just keep quiet" Artemis looked over to the model bridge and could hear Alaric and Meredith laughing.
"What Art was trying to say is that I've got nine lives"
"Not a bad thing to have in a town with a vampire problem" Artemis snapped her head over to the doctor
"I'm sorry are you on the founders council?" Alaric asked
"I'm a Fell, I come from a long line of founders" Artemis relaxed somewhat finding out why the doctor knew. "I hate that bridge-"
"You're not the only one" Artemis muttered her eyes landing back on it
"My prom date dumped me on that bridge-"
"My parents died on that bridge"
Alaric eyes shot over to Artemis who wasn't even looking at the pair. "Art-"
"No sorry Ric" Artemis murmured and ran a slim finger over the bridge, she sighed "I made things awkward haven't I? I should go find Damon"
"No it's fine" Meredith assured her "Damon is he…where is he? I'm supposed to hit him up for some money"
"Ah you should" Alaric nodded "He's loaded."
"Way loaded" Artemis agreed
"Well he's in good company, some British guy pledge to match every dollar that we raise"
Artemis frowned at that there was only one British guy in town
"British guy?" Alaric asked
"Klaus" Artemis murmured "I'm going to find Damon" without another word she left.
"Is she ok?" Meredith asked watching the teen leave
"Yeah fine"
Artemis looked through the crowd and spotted her boyfriend making out a pay check, she hurried over to him
"Damon Klaus is here-"
"I know" Damon straightened up and handed the check over, he grabbed her hand "relax, I won't let anything happen to you"
Artemis smiled at him "I know but…have you seen him?"
"Yeah, over there" he pointed towards the hybrid who looked like he was having a cosy chat with Carole Lockwood,
"What the hell?"
"Exactly what I'm thinking" Damon said "come on"
"No Damon-"but he ignored her and dragged her over to where Klaus and the Mayor stood she didn't miss the fact that there was a hybrid lingering around. "Don't goad him" she hissed at her boyfriend.
"Look at what the cat dragged him" Damon plastered a smirk on to his face. "Nice vest."
Artemis rolled her eyes and leant closer her boyfriend when Klaus glanced over to her.
"Thank you very much. Good to see you to Damon and a pleasure to see you Artemis, must say you look completely ravishing" Artemis swallowed and looked away, she felt Damon's grip around her waist tightened "Er Carole and I were just discussing whether you be tonight's other big benefactor"
"What do you say Damon? Klaus has made a very generous pledge" Carole said "you know how we're chomping at the bit to begin the renovations" she sipped her drink
"Carole" Damon uttered "don't take this the wrong way but you do realise that you've been kissing the ass of an immortal hybrid who ruined your son's life"
"How is she not meant to take the wrong way?" Artemis hissed at Damon
"Come now, some might say I saved it, what with all that nasty business with the full moon-"
"You're completely leaving out the part where he's now one of your mindless followers" she sniped
"He feels a bond to me, and who can blame him?" Klaus turned to Carole "I didn't have to go through the change more than twice but still I'm very sympathetic"
"I think I'm going to be sick" Artemis muttered
"Klaus has promised to protect Tyler" Carole looked at her and Damon "and our town-"
"From who?"
"The town needs protection from him and his hybrids" Artemis said in disbelief
"Well I would have no use for my hybrids" he took a step towards her but Damon pulled her back and stood in front of her "if your brother would kindly returned my family"
"Not going to happen" Damon snarled
"That's what I thought, which is why I've come to an agreement with the Mayor" Klaus smirked "you and the council stay out of my hair and I'll stay out of yours. The town gets protected and my hybrids get left alone. And everybody would be happy" Artemis gripped onto the back of Damon's leather jacket when Klaus took another step towards them "All you have to do is make Stefan stop decapitating my friends"
Damon's jaw clenched "Please Damon, get you brother under control or the town will be forced to take action"
"You've got to be kidding me" Damon spat glaring at her.
"Come on mate give peace a chance" Klaus smirked; Artemis scowled and snatched the glass of wine out of the Mayor's hands
"Well forgive me for not thinking the same way" with that Artemis threw the wine into Klaus's face.
"You-"
"And that's our cue-"Damon grabbed her hand and dragged her away. They got into an alcove near the staircase so that they were hidden away "have you completely lost it? Tossing drinks into the psychotic hybrid's face?"
"What? He deserved and-"
"Don't you get it Art, he can hurt you" Damon growled gripping her by her upper arms
"Fine" she snapped "I just hate him so much"
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her "I know you do" he kissed her temple "got to admit though it was pretty badass"
Artemis chuckled out at that, and kissed him softly on the lips, he grasped her cheek and kissed her back even harder.
"I'm going to talk to the sheriff try and stay out of trouble. And stay away from Klaus-"
"As if I would go anywhere near him" Artemis snorted.
Artemis bumped into another person; damn she thought this place was busy. She decided to head to the back into the gardens wanting some fresh air; she hadn't spotted Damon yet and was thankful when Klaus hadn't approached her.
She frowned and felt someone was watching her she looked over her shoulder and saw no one there; guests were filtering in and out of the Founders Hall. Artemis sighed went to walk back into the party but stopped when someone appeared in front of her
"Stefan what-" she didn't get to finish the rest of the sentence since she felt an explosion of pain on the side of her head and then darkness took over.
Artemis groaned feeling her head throbbing, it took her a minute to realise that she was in a car.
"Ah sorry about the hit to the head Art, I just knew you weren't going to come quietly" Stefan said, she sat up.
"What are you doing Stefan?" she frowned and felt her phone buzz in her pocket, she pulled it out and saw that Damon was calling her, she went to answer it but he snatched it out of his hand.
"Stef-"
"Hello Damon" Stefan said glancing over to her "Artemis is a little busy right now"
"Stefan give me my cell back" Artemis reached over but he held the cell away and switched ears
"I'm making my next move" he said causing her to frown at him, she lightly touched the side of her head and winced slightly. "Let me ask you something what's Klaus going to do if he can't make any more hybrids?"
"What?" Artemis asked startled and saw him hang up and throw her phone out of the car window. "What are you doing?" she shouted "Stefan let me out of the car" she grabbed the car door handle and tried to open it. But the door didn't budge. "LET ME OUT NOW" she shouted.
"You know Arty, I was meant to grab Elena but I couldn't find her and I saw you. You can keep trying to get out but the door's locked."
Artemis slumped in her seat she'd never thought that she would be scared of Stefan but then she never thought that he would threaten to kill her.
They were speeding down the road "So what's the plan Stefan? The big move? You're such a dick-"
"I took Klaus's family to make him suffer." Stefan told her
"What the hell? You're really operating on crazy aren't you?" Artemis asked, her tough demeanour didn't work on him, he could hear her heart beating giving away the fact that she was beyond terrified.
"Then what are you going to do huh?" Artemis asked "are you going to lock me up?"
"Knowing you, you would escape. Maybe I will just turn you into a vampire?" Stefan looked at her, she had visibly paled.
"No" she shook her head "Stefan let me out" she shouted getting even more panicked. But he pressed his foot down harder on accelerator.
"STOP THE CAR STEFAN" she shouted but he ignored her and pulled out his phone he dialled a number and placed it on the dashboard. Artemis breathed out and watched she swallowed the lump down in her throat
"Stefan" she head Klaus's voice on the other end "how nice to hear your voice"
"Tell your hybrids to get out of Mystic Falls Klaus" Stefan said loudly, Artemis nails dug into her thighs
"Well that's not going to happen till I get my coffins back" Klaus replied
"Ok well I'm going to drive one of your blood sources off the bridge, you need both Artemis and Elena to make your hybrids" Artemis looked over at him; she didn't recognise him at all
"I don't believe you Stefan" Klaus said "you won't kill her"
Artemis backed away when Stefan bit into his wrist "No-"he pressed it against her lips and slammed his hand on the back of her head forcing it down her throat. She struggled against him and attempted clawed out his hands he pulled away. Artemis gagged and choked down some air, blood smeared all over her lips and chin.
"What are you doing?" she gasped
"What's going on?" Klaus asked on the other end
"I've just fed her my blood" Stefan answered "no more hybrids if she's a vampire"
"You won't do it" Klaus growled
"Won't I? Try me, because your coffins are next to go" he slammed his foot down on the accelerator heading straight towards the bridge. Artemis's fear caught up to her
"Say goodbye to your family Klaus" he went full throttle causing Artemis to slam back into her seat
"Stefan slow down" she cried out "Stefan, STEFAN STOP IT" she screamed
"Fine I'll send them away you win" Klaus caved hearing her screaming for the vampire to stop, they were now approaching the car
"STEFAN STOP" she screamed as the car sped towards the bridge,
"Stop the car Stefan" Klaus shouted. Stefan slammed his foot down on the breaks Artemis screamed as the car lurched to a stop.
She gasped tears streamed down her face she climbed out of the car and ran back to the main road heading towards Mystic Falls
"Get in the car Art-"
"Go to hell" she shouted spinning around glaring at him; she hastily wiped away her tears "How could you. My parents died on this bridge I almost lost Elena" he took a step forward but she shoved him away "Stay away from me" her voice shook
"Look he had to believe that I would do it. Your fear sold it"
"What if he didn't-"
"He did-"
"What-"
"HE DID" Stefan shouted "he backed downed I know his weakness and I can destroy him-"
"Is that the only thing you care about?" Artemis shouted "destroying him? Did you forget that you had Elena someone who loves you-"
"I lost Elena the minute I left with him" Stefan said quietly
"You had friends Stefan. I was your friend, you promised me you'll make her happy that you would be here for us"
"People change"
"Evidently."
"Get in the car-"
"I said no. you're not my friend" Artemis breath was coming out in pants "YOU MEAN NOTHING TO ME. NOTHING"
"I don't care about what you think of me" Stefan walked off. Leaving her in the middle of the bridge, she looked around and turned on her heel and ran back onto the main road. Artemis had been walking a couple of minutes and furiously wiped away her tears, she heard the sound of tires slowing down behind her
"Art-"
"Damon" she ran into his arms "he…he tried-"
"I know" Damon murmured rubbing her back, he pulled back and looked at her in the face "You're going to be ok" he told her.
Tears marred her face and blood covered her lips, she nodded and pressed her face into his chest.
"You're going to be ok" he repeated he wasn't just reassuring her but himself as well. When he saw Stefan again he would let it be known that he was furious about what Stefan had done.
"Is it my turn now?" Artemis asked
"She's right you're going to have to let me go Elena" Jeremy laughed as Elena let go.
"You think Art's going to let go anytime soon?" Elena chuckled.
Artemis rolled her eyes and hugged him tightly squeezing him hard.
"Jesus need to breath Art" Jeremy gasped but he hugged her just as tight
She pulled back smiling at him "You're crying-"
"No, alright I am" she muttered wiping away her tears "Make sure you eat and call me when you get there. And don't talk to strangers oh and-"
Jeremy laughed "Art I get it" he assured her "I have to go Alaric's waiting for me"
Artemis took a step back as Elena stood beside her, he was about to leave but Bonnie came running into the house.
"Good you haven't left"
"What are you doing here?" Jeremy asked Artemis tensed up looking at the witch she hoped that she didn't tell him anything. She relaxed when Bonnie said
"I came to say goodbye" she hugged him. With one last glance he left.
"Art-"
"I need some air" Artemis walked out of the house she stood on the pavement and waved goodbye to Jeremy.
Artemis sighed she was standing on the edge of Wickery Bridge, she was looked over the lake, she traced the large crack in the edge, she could make out the disjointed part of the bridge
"That's where we crashed" Elena said coming to stand beside her
"I know" Artemis said quietly "I was scared Elena" she said after a moment of silence
"What? Of Stefan, I know I can't believe he did that" Elena was disgusted when Damon had told her what his brother had done.
"No not that. Well part of it yeah but the thought of dying here where mom and dad died" Artemis turned to face her "You know I hadn't even stepped on this bridge ever since the crash?"
"I know" Elena said and hugged Artemis to her side "Why-"
"Because this is where it all ended, the normality ended here with mom and dad. In a twisted way Stefan did me a favour"
Elena's eyebrows shot to her hairline, "You sure you don't have a concussion" Artemis's lips twitched into a smile
"I'm sure. He made me face my fear straight on. And now I can stand here and let it all go but his method stuck"
Elena snorted at that "True." She saw the disheartened look on her older sister's face "Missing Jeremy already?"
"That obvious?" Artemis countered.
Elena chuckled "It's written all over you face, what do you say to breakfast at the Grill?"
"I'd like that" Artemis smiled and moved away from the edge
"Great I'll race ya" with that Elena took in the direction of the car, Artemis was close on her heels.
AN: Thanks to those who reviewed. Outfit link on profile, and apologies for any grammar or spelling mistakes.
So in this chap, there are Darty moments throughout. From the beginning we see some Art and Jeremy time. Art opens the store and Betty scares the crap out of her. Bonnie visits and Art tells her about Jeremy leaving. Betty tells Art if she wants her to deal with the witch then she will. Damon brings her lunch. Her, Alaric and Damon go to the fundraiser where Art meets Dr Fell. she throws a glass of wine at Klaus. Stefan takes her and uses her to get Klaus to send his hybrids away. She tells Stefan that they are no longer friends Damon comforts her. Arty and Elena say goodbye to Jeremy. and Arty goes back to the bridge where she talks to Elena.
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