Fun fact, that one guy that attacked Elena in season one... that was working with Anna ( Not Ben) is still alive but he never attacked... the Tomb situation was opened before the normal part in the series... we are going to learn about the Dance we missed etc...
I am thinking of writing another sibling of Elena, a younger brother who resistant to Compulsion for some reason, or a reboot of Crimes Against Nature or Malachai's son... thoughts?
Damon's eyes found Alaric Saltzman the moment he sat at the bar, but he kept his distance for a bit, just waiting for the right moment to strike... a moment that came when the man downed his first bourbon. Served to him by none other then a very smiley Vicki Donovan. His favorite She-Pire offered him a wink as he walked over.
"Bourbon." Said Vicki poured him a shot, illegally, and pushed it towards him then walked away, keeping her ears open and eyes sharp. He appreciated the closeness, his recent bonds ( no matter how he'd deny it) made it easier to bare Katherine's loss. Just having Vicki nearby, a kind but not pitying smile on her face, helped ease some of the pain. " Behold the great author. Don't you have a book to write?"
Alaric, as he recently learned his name was ( He had forgotten until Carol reinformed him.) piped up. " It's, uh, more fun with a buzz."
"Well, most things in life are. Sober's depressing" He downed his bourbon, enjoying the burn on the way down. However it didn't mask the man's twitchy face or the deep lack of comfort so evident on his expression.
"You don't strike me as somebody who gets depressed."
His words caught Damon for a loop, he offered a smile on his face. "You say that like you know me." He wondered if he killed somebody the man knew, or worse... wouldn't be the first time he got caught over the years.
"Nope. Just a hunch."They shared a long look, one of familiar pain and something unnerving before Alaric downed the rest of his shot. "You have a good afternoon.
"Not likely." Alaric got up and left, leaving an air of mystery and discomfort in his wake.
Not long after his departure, Liz his favorite sheriff walked up to the bar, stood next to Damon.
" Daytime drinking, huh?"
" It's all the rage."
His favorite Sheriff offered a snicker. "Listen, I need a favor."
"You ever been in love?"
"Excuse me?"
"Have you ever been so bent on someone, just to have your heart ripped out by them?"
" You forget I was married."
" Right. Gay husband." He gestured to the barman. "She'll have what I'm having." The bartender, not Vicki since she was underage, poured another bourbon. Damon patted the seat next to him. "Sit down."
Liz nodded, sitting down next to him with smirk.
"There's a fundraiser here tonight that the Founder's Council is throwing. The town's most eligible bachelors get raffled off for dates, and, well, we're short a bachelor."
"Is this what you do when there's no, um..." Lowering his voice, he leaned in close. "Vampires? Organize bachelor raffles?"
Liz laughed. "Oh, trust me. At this point, I miss the vampires. Look, you're a hero to this town, Damon. I know most people don't know it, but you are, and you're single and a catch. Oh, come on, help me out. Carol Lockwood won't let me live it down if I come up empty-handed."
"You know, a room full of women clamoring to win a date with me. Sounds tasty."
She sighed, a sweet amused sound. " Thank you."
"One thing. Can you get information on someone for me? Alaric Saltzman, the book guy. There's just something a little off about him, and I just - I just wanna make sure that the high school did their homework on this guy.
Liz stood, her eyes serious as she deeply trusted him. "You got it."
"Thanks."
Vicki approached him, a dish in her hand. "What got you worried bout the author? He seems nice, pretty handsome."
"Just a feeling, he keeps on giving me these looks..."
She nodded, looking at him seriously. "I'll get Samantha or Bonnie to give him a reading. That should help get a clearer understanding of him, beyond his past."
"You do that..."
"Oh, I just got a text from Samantha. Turns out her mom's a vamp. " He coughed, looking at her with wide eyes. "She used a truth spell to weasel out some information from that Trudie lady, her bio mom's best friend. They didn't learn a lot but she knew enough to not invite them in and gave them vervain tea... they were pretty freaked out."
He laughed a little, taking the rest of his shot. " I would be, too... and I know." He cringed at Vicki's look. " I figured it out today, I turned her myself. I didn't know it was Elena's or Samantha's mom..."
Vicki stared at him for a moment, but sighed. "Get ready for Elena's judgement, but I can almost assure you that Samantha won't really care. Did Isobel ask for it?"
"She begged me."
"Then it's her issue not yours. Don't let it get to you."
"Like I would."
Vicki's eyes were fixed on him, amused with something that left a sour taste in his mouth.
"I'm going home to get dressed, I'll see you later."
"Behave yourself, D... Please?" Vicki's eyes were caught onto him, making him sigh. "I am not asking you to be perfect just to not freak out or get too drunk. Be nice to your date, it's too obvious if you hurt them."
"I'm not stupid, don't worry... or do...it's up to you."
"""
Elena walked into Stefan's room, a sigh on her lips as she pipped up. "Stefan. "
To her chagrin, Damon voice was the one that piped up. "Better. Me."
Damon walked out of the bathroom, a disheveled look on his face.
Despite her dislike of him, Elena's heart ached for Damon. Month of healing or not, he still looked broken. " You look, um... "
"Dashing? Gorgeous? Irresistible?" With each word, he got closer and closer to her, leaving her uncomfortable. Without hesitating, she shoved him backed.
"Wrecked. You look wrecked."
"No reason why. Do you know that I am one of Mystic Falls' most eligible bachelors?"
"Huh."
"Yep."
"How are you doing?"
"Never better. Yep." He looked into the mirror, struggling to get his buttons in their holes. "What can I do for you? I'm a barrel of favors today. It's my newfound purpose—how can I help people?"
"I'm just meeting Stefan. We're going to the fundraiser. Samantha's already there with Vicki, I am sure their betting on a date even if they can't actually win. Too young."
Clearly pretending, Damon gave her a pouting look, a mocking glance to his unbuttoned shirt.
"Help a guy out, will you? Can't get this."
With a sigh, knowing he was faking, Elena walked over to Damon and started to button up his shirt, ignoring the gaze on her and the stench of booze oozing from his lips giving her a mild headache.
"So I found out who my birth mother is."
Damon made a sound at the back of his throat. " Eccch. Who cares?" Unable to hide her pain, she gave him a pained look. He offered her a warm smile for a moment. "She left you. She sucks."
Then, to her pain, they shared a warm look before she felt someone behind Damon, looking up to see Stefan smiling at her kindly.
"Stefan. There you are."
She walked over to Stefan, a smile on her face.
"Uhh. I need a bigger jacket. Wow. Pity, I like this jacket. Guess no hunting has gotten me to fill out a bit more, might have to change that." Damon tossed his jacket on Stefan's bed, a smirk on his lips as he sauntered out of the room.
Elena was unable to mask her gap. "He's fine."
Her lover smirked a little. "He's Damon."
"Maybe this heartache will be good for him. It'll remind him that he has one, even if it doesn't beat."
"Won't hold my breath."
Unable to mask her snicker, Elena turned fully towards Stefan. " So I went to see Trudie Peterson." Stefan's face becomes stony. " I know, but don't worry I took Samantha with me. Found out a lot."
"How was it?"
"She has vervain. She knows about vampire stuff, and it can't be a coincidence. Samantha cast a truth spell, and was able to actually see Isobel when she touched me. We think Isobel is a vampire, it would explain a lot... why Trudie knew about vampires, why she reacted so paranoidly towards us... why Samantha can see her when she touched me... we are going to be casting a tracking spell tonight."
He nodded, leaning in and kissing her softly. "I hope it works out for you. Do you want me to be there?"
"If you want... but will Samantha like it? She still hasn't entirely forgiven you and I don't want any problems messing with her magic."
"I'll behave."
"You always do."
'''
Caroline, Matt, and Elena were standing around, milling aimlessly together while Samantha and Vicki watched from a distance. Elena could feel her sister's stare from across the room, like a tiny fly just waiting for her to screw up. It was unnerving in it's own way but also comforting. Her sister would protect her always, as would Vicki... It was a nice feeling... no matter how odd it could be.
To the surprise of no one, Caroline pipped up. " He's already been hit on, like, 35 times. He's total cougar bait."
"Impressive." Elena snarked out, smiling at her friends.
Matt shrugged it off. " More like embarrassing."
Caroline laughs, her eyes getting a sort of haunted look as she saw Kelly Donovan enter the Grill, looking nervous and uncomfortable. " Hi, Mrs. Donovan." Elena felt the urge to slap the lady as she looked down on Caroline, who was nothing but polite. Maybe Samantha was rubbing off on her after all?
"Elena, honey." Kelly looked at Elena, a kind look on her face as she adored her.
It was awkward. "Hi, Kelly."
She stepped back when Kelly moved in for a hug. "I'm with Vicki and my sister, you need to back off. Your not welcome here anymore. You've had a thousand chances." She hated herself for those words, but her sister's passionate argument ( after Vicki told her about the situation over the phone while they drove back into town) had swayed her. Kelly did not deserve any respect after the crap she pulled.
Matt and Vicki deserved better.
Kelly's face looked pained, like she had been slapped... finally with some tears in her eyes, she turned to Caroline and tossed her some money. " Oh. However many that'll buy. I just hope I don't get Bachelor 3. I dated him in high school. Not impressive. In any way. Very exciting." Then she strode off, leaving a fuming Matt and a very sad Elena behind.
"What a bitch." Elena jumped, turning to face her twin. "Matt, I might kill her one of these days."
"Please don't."
Samantha just pouted. "Don't tempt me so much then, looking so pathetic... I hate her... anyway, why aren't you being sold off? I mean your handsome and sweet... but not so single are you?" She offered a fun look at Caroline, one that was oddly respectful for Samantha. "I can't believe I didn't know, show's how busy I have been."
Matt offered a warm smile and embraced Caroline from the side. "Yeah, you must have been busy."
Elena was actually rather proud of her sister, she knew how much she disliked Matt and Caroline... that she was being this respectful was a serious upgrade.
'''
Damon smirked at Carol Lockwood, loving how easily she was drinking in his false flirtations. "I've got the big date planned. It's a romantic dinner, secluded spot somewhere woodsy."
"You're making me think I should buy a ticket."
"Well, you are in charge. You could always rig it."
Damon says this with a sly smirk just Liz entered the Grill, looking worried more then normal. "Mmm. Pardon me." Damon rubs Carol's arm and walks over to Liz. Together they retreated into a corner, where Liz handed him a folder.
The Sheriff sighed. "I ran the check on the history teacher. You want this before or after your big debut" Her lips turned to a fun smirk, mocking but playful.
"How's it look?"
The Sheriff gestured to the papers. "He checks out. Couple of speeding tickets. It's a rough story, though. Turns out his wife went missing a few years back in North Carolina."
"North Carolina? She have a name?" He wasn't a praying man, but he prayed that this wasn't another coincidence that was piling up against him.
"Yeah. Isobel."
" Isobel... she looks just like her daughter." He mumbled, eyes wide as he looked at the near identical face of Samantha.
"I'm sorry, what are you... oh my god, she looks just like Samantha Gilbert. I knew she was adopted, Miranda told me... but this...The condescendence alone is just too much." She leaned in. "She was obsessed with Vampires according to her husband, I think she really knew...you were right, we have to keep a closer eye on him."
Damien nodded, a rare flare of guilt in his chest, both at what he did to Samantha's mother but also the knowledge that he had just revealed potentially private stuff to the Sheriff of all people. "I'll talk to Samantha, she needs to know... I knew Isobel... " He cringed internally at the little look Liz gave him. "Samantha is going to kill me... ugh..."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
I was actually worried that I was making Samantha too center but I realized that is what I excel at. It makes sense, Elena is center because she is stupid and the doppleganger… but Samantha and people like her make a career out of it. They become the center because they earn it... and they take control. That is something I have to remind myself because of the mean comments I get sometimes...
We are going to see Samantha's limits soon though, she is winning a lot...
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.