A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you, GoddessxNyte2! You're the besttttttt!
"Wait, wait," Bella glared at her cousin. "You're saying that unless we visit Team Elena, we risk blowing our cover? How the hell does that work?"
Jeremy sighed and looked back down at the untouched pizza between them. It had very obviously been a tactic to soften the succubus for the news, and he was clearly disappointed the carb-y deliciousness hadn't worked it magic.
She scowled at the open box, snatched a slice, and stuffed over half of it in her mouth. "Happy?" she snapped over the mouthful of gooey, extra cheesy, meatball and tomato slice topped pizza.
Jeremy laughed, earning a brief narrowing of Bella's eyes before she joined him.
"I'm really sorry to make you face them all," Jeremy offered as he leaned in to grab a slice for himself.
"Just explain it to me again?"
"Bekah called to update me this morning. Apparently, Stefan convinced Damon and Elena that there was no way I was happy living with Kol, and suspect they've been compelled to forget their Denver trip."
"But what does revealing my presence here do? I mean, what if seeing me jogs their memory?"
Jeremy finished his piece off before continuing and added another to his plate. "Not possible to 'jog their memory' if an Original did it. But if I were the only one that went, they would still smell you, because they expect me by tomorrow or the next day. Then I'd have to lie and say we're dating but you stayed behind—in which case they would absolutely want to meet you."
"Dammit," Bella groaned and leaned back into the comfy recliner seat situated in what had come to be known as the entertainment room. "Kol isn't going to be thrilled."
"Yeah, that's why I'm passing the message on to you and not Kol."
"And that's why you were the one to tell me, and not Rebekah! That little—ugh!"
Jeremy answered her with a guilty smile and worked on eating his dinner. "Maybe?"
"Everything is just moving so quickly." Bella caved and grabbed another slice. "Kol left the decoy house an hour ago."
"I know," Jeremy answered her then frowned. "It isn't great, but there's too much at risk if we don't roll with it."
Bella nodded and waited until she was done chewing to speak again. "What are the odds that once we're there, Team Elena will do everything in their power to keep you there, drawing us deeper into their mess?"
"You know the answer to that," he said, then sighed. "I think they'll try to keep you away, but your education is reason enough to convince them you're an asset. Once we're in, we can figure out what's going on with the whole Klaus situation and maybe run interference?"
"Fine. Just get the shot glasses and find the damn movie. I have to call Kol."
"We doing the usual?"
"Absolutely. I mean a shot for every sexist moment in a James Bond movie is always fun, but 'Diamonds are Forever' might result in our untimely deaths, and you won't have to worry about me murdering everyone in Mystic Falls."
Kol was nervous. He momentarily considered flipping the switch, turning his emotions off entirely, but that left too much up to chance and pain at the thought of losing Bella cut through his chest like a knife.
Well, that's not an option.
On the upside, Klaus was sure to make him angry enough that any violent impulses would be expected.
Especially with how hungry he was. The ache had been worsening ever since he parted from Bella to stay at the decoy house, until it was a nearly constant feature in his life, even in his sleep.
The only thing keeping him away was knowing that he was doing it to keep her safe.
It will be okay.
His cellphone began to vibrate in his pocket, mere miles from Klaus' obnoxiously enormous home; it was her.
"Hello," Kol greeted her neutrally in the event anyone was listening in. Even in his car, he was no longer safe. He was in hybrid territory.
"Hey," Bella whispered back so lowly, that even with his hearing he almost missed it. "Are you in a headspace to talk about something stressful?"
"I'm sure I can manage that," he purred back darkly. Letting the hybrids assume he was hooking up for a feed was better than suspecting he was involved with anyone.
Bella seemed to catch on, and giggled loudly. "Well, my cousin and I are going to be in town tomorrow. Think you can handle two of us?"
Kol almost lost his composure in the middle of the intersection outside of the Mystic Falls Grill. That he was under surveillance was obvious, and continuing the conversation as normally as possible was imperative. "My, my, my. And what brings you to this neck of the woods, you naughty little minx?"
"Well, word gets around, darling, and I have a sinking suspicion you wouldn't be able to ignore me for long. Plus, my cousin so desperately needs to see her family."
Elena and the Salvatore brothers were pulling the strings and dragging Jeremy back into the fray. Granted the risk of exposing Bella to Klaus made his breath catch in his chest, having her nearer to Rebekah, and himself, along with Jeremy, somehow eased some of the pain.
She could handle herself, without question, but leaving her behind had felt so wrong.
Because we're a team.
"Then I suppose we'll have to see just how far you and your cousin are willing to go," he finished with a dark chuckle.
Bella snorted quietly on the other end, apparently impressed that Kol managed to make the call sound like a blood-and-booty call."
"Oh, I think we can handle it," she teased back in a sultry voice.
Message received.
She's got this.
It was with that reassuring thought in mind that he turned off the road to drive down Klaus' ridiculously long driveway. When he finally reached the parking area, a dark-haired vampire opened the front door to greet Kol.
"Kol," Elijah addressed him formally, without so much as a 'welcome home,' or 'good to see you'.
"Elijah," Kol copied the stiff greeting in turn. "I was sorry to hear about Finn."
"He was hoping for it, I assure you," his eldest brother answered him with a hint of sadness.
"How did it happen?"
"Rebekah didn't tell you?" Elijah raised an eyebrow, which was the greatest level of expression the dour man had to express concern in general. Apparently, the lack of communication in their family was bothersome, and he ushered Kol inside the home with a frown. "Though, I suppose that is like our sister."
"Elijah! I am shocked that you find Bek's ability to relay information insufficient. You know full well that no one can live up to the standards you set."
A smirk twitched at Elijah's lips, the only acknowledgement he gave the joke.
"Unfortunately, while Klaus and Bonnie managed to perform the unlinking spell, Finn was daggered with a white oak stake. It had to have been mere moments after the ritual was concluded."
"Who?"
"Stefan and a human named Matt," Elijah answered him quietly while leading the way to the kitchen. "His entire bloodline was destroyed."
At least that explains why Elena and Damon wanted Jeremy's connection to the supernatural afterlife. To dig around.
"And did we seek retribution or…"
"I'm afraid it's more complicated than that."
Kol glared coldly at his brother and gritted his teeth. "It always is with you, isn't it?"
Thankfully, Rebekah pranced into the kitchen and stole the glass of blood Elijah was holding for himself. "Why thank you, 'lijah. I am parched."
Elijah didn't bother trying to get his blood back and simply readied another glass. "Now, I know for a fact you have been feeding regularly, so do tell, sister, what precisely has your thirst so worked up?"
"Oh, yes, do tell," Kol mimicked his brother poorly, much to Rebekah's amusement.
"Well, for starters, Stefan and Damon Salvatore still walk the Earth," she answered flatly.
"Aw, poor Beks," Kol teased, "if it weren't for those meddling kids, you'd have what you want, wouldn't you?"
"Bloody right, I would," she grumbled darkly and finished off her blood.
Kol took a long sip and glanced back to Elijah for clarification.
"Rebekah was trying to figure out what exactly is going on. Since her departure, there have been rumblings of a cure."
"A cure for?"
"Vampirism," Rebekah answered as she dropped into a seat and rested her face in upturned hands. "Can't say I blame them for keeping quiet on the matter, but there's something they aren't telling us, and it makes me nervous."
Her words were honest, and if Rebekah was admitting she was nervous, whatever it was had to be quite serious indeed.
"I believe it to be their involvement or knowledge of the explosion at the pastor's cabin," Elijah offered solemnly.
"Well, I certainly missed a lot. Perhaps between Rebekah and yourself, a middle ground length summary can be divised," Kol directed to Elijah dryly.
"And forgo my contributions entirely?"
Klaus.
Kol's eyes landed on his brother's face. For the first time in centuries, Klaus had changed. There was something wolfish about his appearance and demeanor; he was harder, sharper, and emanated an energy that spoke to his newfound power over others.
And it made him nervous.
Bella kicked the toe of her black boot against her cousin's leg, waking him with a jerk.
"Get the stakes!"
"What?" Panicked, Bella flung her senses outward, searching for any signs of energy, but found nothing of interest.
Jeremy looked around confused, eyes taking in the empty bottle of vodka and shot glass next to his hand where he was laying on the carpet. "Dream," he explained with a groan.
"Yeah, I'm assuming so, since I can't feel anything out there." She dropped into a recliner seat and crossed one denim clad leg over the other. The upper of the two bounced in agitation while she thought. "We should go today."
"I agree, but did you have to wake me up like that?" Jeremy's expression was sour, but he apparently couldn't stay mad at her long and stuck his tongue out petulantly while pulling his lower eyelids down. "I'm dyinggg!"
"I assure you, you are not," Bella aimed another soft, well-placed kick to his ribs with a smirk. "Now, get up and get showered. I've already packed and gotten ready."
"You're a freak of nature," Jeremy grumbled and rubbed his eyes. His face contorted suddenly with horror, his mouth dropping open in shock. "I'm so sorry! I didn't mean—"
"I didn't take it that way," Bella grinned at the Hunter. "Now, go get ready. I'm craving pho, and there's nothing better for hangovers."
"I'm pretty sure neither of us are hungover," Jeremy pointed out with a raised eyebrow.
"Be that as it may, I'm hungry, I don't feel like cooking, and it sounds good. Now go!"
Bella made sure she had everything she needed without looking as though she had prepared to stay in Mystic Falls for the long term. Of course, they both were, but no one else needed to know that.
Why risk ruining my cover over something like a blow dryer or a makeup case?
Since Bella was already wearing jeans, her small duffle bag was filled with only two pairs of shorts, a few bras and tees, a pair of sneakers, and a sweater in case it got chilly. Her toothbrush, toothpaste, and deodorant were packed in a toiletries bag, along with travel sized tubes of her shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
That's everything, right?
Considering Jeremy would convince Team Elena into hosting Bella for a night or two, the amount of personal supplies was reasonable enough. And if she needed anything else, it wasn't like Mystic Falls didn't have a handful of stores she could visit.
She sighed and sat at the light-up vanity Kol installed for her a few weeks ago. A few swirls of powder foundation, a dash of blush, a flick of mascara, a brush of tint in her brows, and a swipe of sheer balm finished off her look. If she had to give her ensemble a name, it would be 'I haven't seen my cousin in over four years and deserve to feel pretty meets I promise I won't kill you' chic.
A hunger pang struck her deep inside, startling Bella.
Bella quickly tossed her supplies into a small makeup bag, dropped it into her purse and gave herself a final once over before turning off the lights and grabbing her soft, black jacket. By the time she got downstairs, having spent a few extra seconds picking out books and a notebook that befitted someone with her education, Jeremy was waiting in the entryway.
"All set?"
"Good to go," she confirmed sadly.
"I don't really want to go either," Jeremy admitted with a grimace. "I mean, sure, it's good to know what's going on and we'll have a unique advantage— or at least I will— but this is home, you know?"
"I do know," she answered with a smile. "But we should probably rip off the band aid and just go."
Jeremy nodded, and they were on their way scant minutes later. The drive to the pho restaurant was filled with a heavy silence, while the cousins contemplated their near, likely dangerous, future.
It wasn't until they entered the shop, her insides twisting with pain, that Bella realized her mistake.
The three weeks Kol spent not feeding on her had likewise involved her not drawing on his energy.
It wasn't her stomach that was hungry. The succubus was hungry.
Each and every body in the restaurant was pulsing with energy, with life, containing the one thing she needed above anything else. To not take from the woman that handed Bella her bowl of pho was challenging to a painful degree. She could have ended her in moments, taking every thing the woman had, leaving nothing but a husk behind.
She was frantic, her body shaking with the effort to restrain herself.
I have to get out of here.
Bella ate the food as quickly as possible, managing to beat the Hunter.
I have to get out of here.
Something she hadn't previously thought possible.
I have to get out of here.
"What's wrong?"
She flicked her eyes to Jeremy's face, taking the concern that lined his eyes and lips. Whatever he saw in her was upsetting, if not on a Hunter level, at least that of her cousin.
"I'm hungry, Jer."
"Do you need more soup? I can—"
"No, I'm hungry." She raised her eyebrows to emphasize the danger that was building with each passing moment.
Understanding dawned in his eyes and Jeremy knocked back the rest of his pho. He grabbed their bowls and led Bella back to his car. He wasn't exactly dragging her, but she most certainly needed his assistance in leaving the small shop before killing everyone inside of it.
"How can I help?"
Bella looked numbly at her cousin, at a loss for the first time in months. She didn't know what to do, nor could she form the words to say so.
Thankfully, her cousin seemed to pick up on her struggle. "So, you haven't been proximity feeding from me? You could if it helps, but you'd have to drive."
"No." Her mouth felt dry, tongue dissolving into ash at the thought of taking from her cousin. "I don't think I can."
He nodded and looked at the map on his phone. "We'll be there in less than two hours. I think that meeting everyone at the boarding house would be best. That way you can take a little from everyone, and more from Stefan and Damon."
Bella nodded her agreement. The plan seemed straightforward enough.
"And it'll probably make things go a little more smoothly in general," Jeremy thought out loud. "I mean, they'll be somewhat…subdued?"
"Yes."
With a clear goal in mind, Jeremy took off quickly, nearly burning rubber in his haste.
Kol's phone was set to silent, but still, he could hear the shift in frequency that sounded every time he got a new text. He was far enough from his siblings that no one else seemed to notice, but he couldn't count on luck being on his side.
"So, we're dealing with a rather seasoned Hunter, one of the five, who was likely drawn here by the explosion?"
"And maybe rumors of Jeremy," Rebekah answered and frowned at the thought before she could catch herself.
Klaus raised his brow at her expression, and she sighed in response.
"It does not bode well, Nik. Trained or no, one of the five in Mystic Falls was bad enough. What if the other is capable of…flipping Jeremy's switch, so to speak?"
"That's possible," Klaus murmured and picked a small piece of lint that only he could see off his sweater in thought.
"It's worth keeping an eye on," Elijah chimed in levelly. "But not so close an eye as to endanger ourselves unnecessarily. We have no idea the second Hunter's equipment, nor his skill level. All we know is that he is hardwired to kill each and every one of us."
"Which also puts Damon and Stefan at risk, does it not?" Rebekah asked with a smile.
"Always one to find the silver linings, Bek," Kol grinned at his sister.
"There is certainly much to consider," Klaus added calmly. "Such as, has the Hunter dealt with Hybrids? And, if not and we have to leg up, when do we go on the offensive and dispense of this Conner?"
"He may yet prove useful," Elijah considered. "I say we wait things out."
"Shocker," Rebekah muttered and leaned back in her seat. "I vote we snuff him out as soon as possible. Get it done and over with to minimize complications."
Klaus shot her a withering glare. "I believe your opinion on this matter is of no consequence due to your sordid history. And if you are so certain of aggressive action, perhaps we should slaughter Jeremy as well."
Kol prevented Rebekah the distress of answering with a sudden outburst of laughter. He sounded unhinged, even to himself. "I have wanted nothing else for months on end, holding off only for your sake and I won't have that have been for nothing. The only thing staying my hand was the need for young Gilbert to be leverage over little Elena, and consequently, the Salvatore brothers."
"To change course now would be folly," Elijah agreed. "Besides, if we lose Elena's willingness to donate blood, your ability to create new Hybrids will be limited. In the event Connor can handle them on his own, and you have need to fortify defenses, you will need her to create more. We must discover the extend of this Hunter's skill."
A growl of frustration rumbled in Klaus' chest, building to a cold rage before he slammed his arm on the table. "Then I suppose I'm to sacrifice a Hybrid, from our already limited number to do so."
"I'm sorry, Nik," Rebekah told him with full sincerity. "This is a difficult choice to make."
Klaus' only scowled darkly in return and left the rest of his siblings alone in the kitchen.
Oh, how absolutely lovely.
Can't wait to see what your rash actions will reap this time.
Elijah excused himself to study information regarding the Hunters, giving Rebekah and Kol the first bit of privacy since his arrival.
"It's good to see you," Rebekah mouthed silently.
Kol smiled in response and nodded. He flipped his phone open to check his texts while his sister checked various social media sites, remarking on the comings and goings of the Mystic Falls residents to cover the sounds of his furious typing.
Bella: We're well on our way. There in less than an hour.
Bella: We need to talk in person as soon as possible.
Bella: But from a distance because my smell.
Bella: Let me know where/when/how.
Bella: Also, I love you.
She hadn't typed in the group message, and if her texts weren't worrisome enough, other private texts from Jeremy arrived sprinkled in between hers.
Jeremy: so im p sure Bella is going to kill everyone
Jeremy: do u know when she last fed on energy?
Jeremy: bc she almost succed out lunch
Shit.
Kol composed a text message to his sister so quickly, he surely looked as if his life depended on it: I must ask you for a favor.
Rebekah didn't so much as react physically, which panned out well considering Elijah chose that moment to round the corner, book in hand.
Bek: Whatever it is, I'll do it. You know that.
"I think, Rebekah, it may behoove the group if you went to the grill this evening. I have it on good authority that Jeremy is meeting his sister and the Salvatore brothers there."
"Good authority?" Kol asked with a raised brow.
Kol: Bella went too long without feeding.
Bek: You want me to shag your girlfriend? I didn't know you were into sharing, brother.
Kol couldn't help that smile that spread across his face at the sheer absurdity of the notion. He didn't feel protective, which spoke volumes as to his trust in Bella.
Kol: You wish :P
Kol: She needs proximity feeding.
"Could you put down your phones for one moment? You'd think the two of you were humans, what with your devotion to technology."
"Come now, brother," Kol glanced up with an evil grin. "Don't tell me you haven't recognized the beauty of having an incognito browser on the go."
Elijah sighed, grimaced, and rubbed at any imaginary headache to convey his displeasure. "Rebekah. Go."
"Whatever, 'Lijah," the blonde vampire answered, phone still in her hand, eyes focused on the screen. "Later, Kol."
Mystic Falls city limits, complete with hideous little sign welcoming whatever rare visitors might drive through with the city's population, came and went when Jeremy's phone buzzed.
"Check that?"
Bella didn't release the iron grip she had on arm rest against the door, but eased her thigh off her other hand where she was digging into her skin to hold herself together to reach for the cellphone in the center console.
"Guess I'll get something to eat at the grill."
She hoped her words would make sense enough to Jeremy but didn't risk elaborating further. Just in case.
"I'm glad to hear it. But you shouldn't skip meals anymore."
Okay, ouch.
"I didn't know I was hungry until I was around food," she explained carefully. "I'm not used to feeling that way."
Jeremy nodded tersely and pulled into a parking lot near the grill just two texts came in. "Looks like Elena, Caroline, Stefan, and Damon are just now heading over. Let's pop inside and get you something to eat."
Bella breathed a sigh of relief and eased herself out of Jeremy's car. Thankfully, the Hunter in him must have known she would need assistance and was at the passenger side door in a flash to escort her inside. Or her cousin was just that perceptive as to how poorly she was actually doing.
Either way, she appreciated the gesture and felt better knowing someone would be able to stop her, or at least slow her if things got out of hand.
Bella registered the familiar blonde head of hair seated at the counter. Rebekah's eyes flashed up to meet hers on the bar mirror and smiled before shifting her margarita glass in what was clearly an invitation. Bella smiled her thanks and let Jeremy guide her to an open table as he nodded a greeting a man bussing tables.
Once seated, Bella closed her eyes and rested her face in her hands before taking a long, slow breath to focus.
Rebekah's energy was easy to find, to hold on to. As Bella drew on the life force, she could feel love radiating from the vampire. Truly, she felt for Bella as a sister would, willing to give her whatever was necessary to make sure she was happy and safe.
She took slowly, not wanting to overwhelm her friend with an all-out energetic assault, and began to feel more in control. Though, she couldn't help but notice that Rebekah's energy wasn't nearly as fulfilling as Kol's, and it didn't have anything to do with sex or attraction. The energy was different as she expected it would be, but it felt as though it wasn't reaching someplace that Kol's did.
There wasn't time to dwell on what the implications, however, as Jeremy tapped her elbow to get her attention.
"Hey, what can I get— Bella?"
Bella shifted her focus to the man she saw bussing tables earlier and felt her face split into a grin. "Hey, Donovan! Look at you!" She stood up to embrace him and made a point to squeeze his arm muscles mockingly. "What are they putting in the water out here?"
A snort came from two tables over, as someone apparently overheard and found the remark funny. Sitting alone in a booth was a woman Bella recognized from past visits.
"Oh, hi Mrs. Lockwood!"
"Hello, hello," she greeted Bella with a fake smile as she stood. Tyler's mother extended a hand politely, as was expected.
Bella struggled to contain her laughter in turn. That the woman didn't like her was obvious. "It's been a long time since I've visited and it's so lovely to see you again," she said with as much sincerity as she could muster.
Mrs. Lockwood's lips disappeared into a thin line, and if she wasn't mistaken, heard the woman breathe 'not long enough' under her breath. And considering she had an Original's energy coursing through her, she was positive that was exactly what she heard.
"It sure has! What brings you back to Mystic Falls?"
"Well, Bella decided she needs to spend more time with her family," Jeremy interjected, sadness in his eyes. "We're all she has left."
Mrs. Lockwood looked genuinely surprised to hear the news and didn't seem to be able to come up with a sufficient answer for a woman of her importance.
"And what with the house burning down, and places being so much cheaper out here, we thought maybe small-town life would be more Bella's speed," he tacked on.
"I just really need someplace to crash while I figure out what I'm doing with my life. I mean, I can't stri— dance forever."
Matt Donovan had flushed such a deep crimson that Bella thought for a moment he might pass out from the rush of blood to his face.
"Ah, well," Mrs. Lockwood finally answered as she tried to regroup herself. "I'm glad you have people that care about you."
The rest of her words went unspoken, but weren't lost on Bella.
Because you, Mrs. Lockwood, certainly don't care.
"Now, I must be off—"
"Your order is almost ready," Matt pointed out with a frown.
"I've just remembered I'm having dinner with a friend," Mrs. Lockwood called out from the entry space. "Just put it on my tab!"
The cousins burst into laughter the moment the door closed behind the woman, startling Matt into speech again. "That has to be a record: I've never seen Mrs. Lockwood try to get away from anyone so quick before. It was beautiful. Whatever you want, Bella, on the house."
"That's sweet, Matt, but I'm not actually homeless," she clarified with a smirk. "I can definitely pay for lunch, and I'm definitely not moving here."
"Well, that's probably a good thing, because you set the bar pretty high for yourself today. Hate for you to fall flat after that. May this afternoon live on in infamy," he spoke solemnly.
"Hey, hey, it wasn't a solo act, Donovan!"
"It was the perfect opening, Jer," Bella mock applauded him. "Now, on to more pressing matters: Matt Donovan, where's the drink menu?"
Matt headed to the bar to grab one for the table, leaving Bella time to look over the menu while Jeremy played with his straw. "You already know what you're getting?"
"Same as usual," Jer answered with a smile. "Best cheeseburgers in the state. On my life."
"Hmm," Bella considered as she scanned the laminated paper. "It's possible I'm feeling the grilled chicken breast burger, but you're selling me on the cheeseburger."
"Split them?"
"You're a genius, Jeremy Gilbert."
Matt put in their orders and by the time her long island iced tea was ready, Elena and the entire gang had arrived. Bella wasn't quite sure whether she should stand up and hug her cousin, or simply greet her politely, but Caroline made the decision for her.
"Bella!" the girl squealed as she raced to embrace the succubus.
"Hey, Car," Bella managed to get out against her mass of curls. "Good to see you again!"
"You too! And damn," she remarked excitedly as she pulled away. "You smell amazing— I mean— what are you wearing?"
Apparently, I'm still catnip to vampires.
"Well, I did make sure to shower this morning."
Caroline laughed and slid into Bella's side of the long booth, tugging Bella down with her.
"Where have you been? What have you been up to?"
"Caroline, heel," Damon ordered with a frown, causing the young vampire to roll her eyes.
"She's not a dog," Bella snapped at the man she wasn't supposed to recognize. She caught the look Stefan flashed him, as if to say 'seriously, can you not?' "Who the hell are you?"
"Damon Salvatore," he extended a hand for the succubus to shake.
Bella flashed him a dismissive smile and turned back to Caroline to answer her questions as the rest of the crew filled the booths. In the end, Caroline, Bella, and Jeremy were on one side, Stefan, Elena, and Damon on the other.
The High Inquisitors.
"Hi, I'm Stefan, and I'm sorry for Damon's abrasiveness," the softer looking vampire spoke quietly.
Bella focused on the younger of the siblings and frowned. "I'm not sure it's your place to apologize. If you're embarrassed by his behavior, say that."
Jeremy choked on his inhale, struggling to contain his amusement at the entire scenario.
Stefan didn't seem to be able to cone up with a response, and simply nodded with a small smile.
"Why did you come back?"
Both Salvatore brothers reacted to Elena's voice, turning their bodies ever so slightly in her direction. Perhaps they weren't even aware of their shift in demeanor, but with one simple, exceedingly rude question, they were prepared to protect her. As though Bella were the enemy.
Not that I've been nice.
"Well, it's nice to see you too," Bella answered sweetly. "It just so happens that I recently graduated with my master's degree and moved to Richmond to complete my counseling certification hours."
"You're a shrink?" Damon's voice was laced with skepticism as he drank in her appearance.
She was wearing jeans and a short pair of combat boots along with a soft black tee and olive colored cardigan, looking all the world prepared for a brisk autumnal walk through a pumpkin patch. It wasn't like she was wearing her favorite red, vinyl thigh-highs and black lipstick.
"I'm breathtakingly close to being a licensed therapist, if that's what you're asking."
Damon's eyes narrowed, indicating the interrogation was underway. "Where did you get your master's?"
"University of Virginia."
"And your undergrad?"
"University of Washington."
"Seattle to Charlottesville is quite the jump. Why did you leave?" Damon was entering dangerously personal waters, and even Caroline seemed embarrassed for her.
"That's really none of your business," Bella answered smoothly. "Also, that was four— you only have sixteen left."
Bella noticed in her peripheral vision that Caroline seemed more than a little confused, but Stefan was grinning.
"You're funny," he offered warmly, apparently recovering from his embarrassment earlier. "But I really don't think there's any need for twenty questions, Damon," the vampire emphasized his brother's name.
They were saved from any sort of snarky remark Damon might have had by the arrival of her and Jeremey's food.
"You going to order anything, Elena?"
Elena didn't shift her gaze from Bella to Matt as she answered. "No, thank you. It's a little early for me."
The comment was likely meant to be a dig at the fact that Bella needed to eat in the late afternoon, but it was yet another thing that wasn't anyone else's business.
Neither she nor Jeremy offered any explanation, such as the fact that had only had soup after spending a night playing a drinking game, and thanked Matt for splitting their burgers and bringing the food over.
"Yeah, no problem, you need anything else?"
"Another one or two of these?" Bella shook what became a glass of ice in record time.
"You'll probably need it," Caroline muttered so quietly that Bella knew she wasn't meant to hear it.
Damon glared at the blonde while Bella poured some ketchup on her plate and shifted it closer to Caroline. "Want some fries?"
It was an innocent enough question, and implied that Bella was ignorant of their specialized diets, which seemed to relax Stefan. Which made sense, since she wasn't supposed to know about vampires, at least, not until they knew what her degree's focus was.
Caroline picked at a few, and managed to eat them without grimacing.
"Elena?" Bella raised a brow and glanced down at her plate in offer.
Elena reached forward and took two and chewed on them slowly. Perhaps she, too, was a little more relaxed than she was before.
"To answer your question," Jeremy piped up after he had finished swallowing a mouthful of food. "Kol went out of town recently, so I asked Bella to come stay for a week or two. And since you asked me to visit, I figured two birds, one car trip."
Elena nodded slowly, and seemed to be accepting their story.
"Why were you in Charlottesville?"
Jeremy glared Damon. "I was checking out the campus. All of the class credits I took in Denver are transferrable, even the art and programming ones, so why not continue?"
"Yeah, Jer, get that degree!" Bella cut in with a smile and nudged his shoulder with hers. "I'm so proud of you, dude."
Elena narrowed her eyes at the familiarity while Damon launched into yet another question. "But if you were touring out the campus over the summer, how could you have run into Bella?"
Bella rolled her eyes. "Are you always this rude? I was visiting a former professor about getting my thesis published," she lied easily. The conversation kept dancing around the potential for Bella to reveal that she knew more than they might think, but no one was asking the right question.
This is such a fun game.
"That's cool!" Caroline practically vibrated in her seat with excitement. "What was your thesis on?"
"The influence of ancient mythology on the societal perceptions of therapy in modern cultures."
Stefan raised an eyebrow, the only response she received from the group. "And what was the conclusion?"
"You're asking me what influence ancient mythology has on the way society thinks of therapy?"
He nodded.
"I found that, with so many cultures and the way people are shaped by their beliefs, it's important to treat your clients from their perspective. Why harm someone by arguing with their beliefs when you can help them deal with their circumstances, whatever they are, in ways that make sense to them?"
"That's actually really cool," Caroline said with a genuine smile. Though, her eyebrows were slightly stiff. Bella knew the expression well, even if she didn't spend much time around her: Caroline's brain was spinning through the possibilities and tearing apart her words, looking for hidden meanings.
"Yeah, sounds interesting," Damon remarked with a roll of his eyes.
Bella's explanation had clearly gone over his head, much to her delight.
Stefan studied her more carefully, however, and finally landed on one of the right questions: "What areas of mythology were your focus?"
Bella couldn't keep a knowing grin from pulling at her lips before she answered. "Mostly Viking and Norse, with a heavy emphasis on the runic language. I've actually done a fair bit of work correcting inaccuracies in the interpretations of many legends and myths about all manner of dark creature. You'd be amazed by the things I know, Stefan Salvatore."
Thank you for all the favs, follows, and reviews!
I'm super excited for the holidays and will get another chapter out to you before the new year!