heyo! oh boi this story is over 200k words now That is insane. so, we're gonna open up with a bit of fluff, please enjoy!
I managed to grab my phone from Damon, well, more like he handed it to me after finding out who it was on the phone.
Tyler...he'd almost killed somebody.
And he was freaking out, he'd given Mason the moonstone and everything, wanting nothing to do with the werewolf supernatural aspect of all this. I'd managed to calm him down a bit but he was still worried. Hopefully, he'd at least be able to sleep tonight.
After the phonecall though, I found Caroline crying...
She told Elena and me that Katherine had forced her to become a spy and report back everything about Elena's life to her, threatening not only her but Matt too.
I lay there staring up at the high ceiling, feeling awful. There was me sitting in the Grill - where Matt works as well! - having a fun little chat with Katherine, not realising that the bitch is threatening my friends.
Something has to be done to stop her, we can't keep going on like this. She wants something, and it's high time we find out what, and either get rid of it or just give it to her so she can get out of our lives. For good.
I sighed, turning on my side to try and get comfy, trying not to wake Care up who was sleeping at the opposite end of the couch. I expected being a vampire with super senses made it harder to fall asleep.
Damon was still talking to Liz, the woman was still awake surprisingly enough. I mean, it wasn't the most glamourous room in the house but still...it'd been a long day.
Eventually, though, I feel myself start to drift off...
My eyes opened slowed, only to widen when I see myself outdoors. On a road, in what looks to be the middle of the woods, in the middle of nowhere.
Great.
"Oh no," I sighed, realising I'd fallen asleep. I looked down at my hands, seeing them clearly and able to tell that nope. These were not my hands. They were smaller, more dainty, and more noticeably with a big circular birthmark on the back of it.
"Hey, look out!"
Looking behind me, I quickly stumble back and fall on my behind as a horse pulling a cart comes to a sudden halt, the horse crying out loudly as it's brought to a sudden stop.
"Are you alright?" the man calls from the seat, a look of shock on his face. He quickly hopped down from the seat and offered me a hand.
"Yes, thank you," I said, allowing him to help me up, the dress I was wearing not exactly practical.
I take note of him, finding him slightly familiar although we didn't seem to know each other. His brown hair fell into his eyes slightly as he seemed to stare at the marking on my hand.
Probably realising he hadn't let go of my hand yet, and neither of us had said anything for a few moments longer than was comfortable, he lifted his head and gave me a dazzling smile.
"I'm glad to hear it, darling," he said, tilting his head slightly to the side. "Can I offer you a ride anywhere?"
"Oh, no," I refused, putting my hands in front of me. "I couldn't possibly - "
"Please," he interrupted, somehow managing to still sound polite. "I insist. It's the least I can do for almost knocking you over."
"Well..." I thought about how my dress was probably ruined, and how I would look walking around with a stain on the back of it, and the walk was so long already and well... "Alright."
"Brilliant, allow me to help you up."
True to his word, he helps me up the step and onto the seat beside him up front where he picks up the reigns again. I glance into the back of the cart, wondering if he was a travelling merchant and what he may be selling.
Instead, I see the back of another man, lying down beside the array of barrels and crates.
"Ah, my companion and I take turns," the man explains briefly, keeping his head facing the road. I nod my head, figuring that makes sense.
Strange he didn't wake up with all the movement and noise we were making though...
"You can probably guess who is better leading the way, right?" he joked, that grin back on his face as he tilted his head to look at me once more. "Now, where to, darling?"
"The end of this road, right before the turning into the next village," I directed, watching the trees gradually pass us by. "I apologise but I don't think I got your name."
"Oh, please excuse my manners, my brother would be embarrassed by me," he said, briefly bowing his head in my direction. "You can call me..."
A shake.
"Skye?"
I groaned, lifting a hand to block out the light.
"What time is it?" I asked, my voice croaking.
"Late," Damon replied, brushing a hand over my head. "You looked like you were having a nightmare though..."
I sat up, shaking my head. "No, I was having another memory but...it was nice."
He snorted, "Didn't seem like it."
"Well, I did almost get run over...but I got checked on, and given a ride home."
"Wow..." Damon drawled out, getting to his feet. "I can't believe you're cheating on me in your dreams."
I smiled, "No other way to do it."
Caroline groans, drawing our attention to the other side of the sofa. She opens her eyes, not looking happy. "Can you guys go flirt somewhere else? I'm trying to sleep."
"Sorry, Care..."
"Sure thing blondie, let's go, Skye."
"Damon!"
Damon picks me up from the sofa, throwing the rest of the blanket over Caroline's head - ignoring the "hey" she yells at him - before walking towards the stairs.
The slow walk makes me more nervous than if he were to just vampire speed us upstairs, part of his plan probably.
"Damn, are you jealous of my dreams?" I teased.
"No, of course not," Damon said, rolling his eyes. "I have the real deal right here."
"Right," I drawled, holding onto him as he used one hand to open the door.
"You know I could drop you."
"Ooo, maybe that dream guy will come to catch me."
"Oh, so it was a guy!" Damon says, throwing me onto the bed.
I laughed, bouncing for a moment before sitting up. "You know, you could just ask me out..."
"To?"
"To the masquerade event?" I continued, raising an eyebrow. "The prep for it is tomorrow, I'm helping out, but the actual main event...?" I wiggled my eyebrows.
"This sounds like you asking me out, actually," Damon said, falling beside me on his back.
I roll over, resting my chin on his chest. "Maybe I am..."
"Hmm," he says, moving an arm over me. "Well, since you asked so nicely."
I grinned, laying my head comfortably on his chest, wrapping an arm around his middle.
"Don't be smug, go back to sleep."
I bit my lip, trying to stop myself from laughing.
"And no dreaming of other guys."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
The next day I woke up early, my phone blaring at me to get up and move.
I didn't want to move, the last thing I wanted was to move.
"This is the comfiest bed I've ever slept on."
"The company's not too bad either right?"
"Sure but this bed, where did you get this bed?"
"Alright, it's time for you to get up."
I groaned, rolling to my other side to avoid the logic.
"Nuh-uh," Damon said, removing the covers with one swift go. I shivered from the sudden loss of heat. "Go shower, I'll make you some breakfast. Pancakes?"
That one word made me wake up: pancakes.
I smile up at him, "With blueberries?"
"I'll see what I can do," he said, planting a kiss on my cheek before getting up. "And don't go back to sleep!"
Sighing I opt to get up because I know if I don't get up now I won't get up at all.
Plus, how many times will I get to use Damon's fancy bathroom?
I grab a towel, picking up one of Damon's plain t-shirts from a drawer to wear after before jumping in. It's then I realise hmm I don't know how to work this shower, and I forgot to ask.
This happens every time, why is no shower the same? Like, it isn't as if the stores sell a different shower make to each house, so why is it that I've never seen two houses with the same shower before? So weird.
Being nosey, I manage to find a fresh new toothbrush and opt to clean my teeth first before trying to figure out how the shower works.
I finally manage to get the water running, jumping at how cold it is and hoping it would warm up soon.
It really was a beautiful bathroom, open plan and all. A massive bathtub, all very bright and elegant and a nice contrast to the darker tones of the main bedroom.
I don't bother washing my hair, not seeing any point in doing so as it was gonna need cleaning after working through today anyway, so it was a quick shower. And a good thing too as when I walked out, tucking Damon's shirt into my pants the man himself walked in with a tray filled with a stack of pancakes and a glass of orange juice.
"Aw, did I miss the show?" he asked, placing the tray on the bed. "Is that my shirt?"
"Yup," I grinned, leaning up to give him a peck on the lips. "I think I wear it better."
"Hm, you might be right. But quick, take it off and let me try it on, just to compare."
Instead of doing that, I turned to the little breakfast tray. The stack of pancakes even had blueberries on them! In the shape of a smiley face! And was that whipped cream? As vampire fangs?
"This is so cute," I said, pointing the mini-fork at Damon. "You are so cute."
"Don't go spreading rumours like that," he said, taking a blueberry from the top, throwing and catching it in his mouth. "I have a reputation to uphold."
"I love being special."
You know, I'm beginning to think these so-called 'charity events' are just an excuse for free labour. Like, the mayor doesn't have to use up any budget arranging for an actual company to come in and do the catering, setting up the chairs and tables and all the masks and stuff like. Wow, kinda genius but kinda evil too.
I was currently trying to help Tyler and Matt move a very expensive looking table and vase from one room to the next. The boys opted to take the table and I was left carrying the vase with some fresh flowers in it already.
"You're gonna hit the corner!" I tried warning them.
"We've got it, Skye," Matt said, only to then let one side slip at the last second.
"Tyler! Be careful with that."
"Uh oh," I said, seeing Mrs Lockdwood approaching.
Tyler lifted the table, "Don't worry about it, Mom."
I sniggered, keeping a tight hold on the vase as we followed Tyler's mom into the room, allowing her to clear the way for us.
It was a busy event this, but not busy enough when I found myself almost running straight into Bonnie.
The two of us stared at each other for a moment, and immediately tried to sidestep the other only to be facing each other again. Once more we tried the sidestep thing.
I was the first to break, snorting in amusement. Bonnie tried to hide a smile.
"Hey," I said, deciding to go first.
"Hey," Bonnie replied nervously. "How have you been?"
I shrugged, "So-so, there's been a lot happening."
She looked surprised to hear this. "Really?"
"Yeah," I said, "What with everything happening with Care, the whole werewolf situation and, you know, Katherine..."
"Ah," Bonnie nods, biting her lip, "Supernatural, vampire busy."
"Yeah..." I didn't know what else to say to that, she didn't want to be involved in the supernatural business, vampire-related business at least. "I better...go find Tyler."
"Right, see you later."
We nodded awkwardly before walking by each other, heading in separate directions.
I breathed a sigh of relief, the tension leaving me real quick.
Today was gonna be a long day...
Today has been a weird day, to say the least...
I don't know how else to say it, but something just felt off.
There was a moment where I was helping Stefan with some glasses, and I was trying to figure out why he was pretending that he and Elena were fighting when Mason had shown up.
And it was tense, even more so than the interaction between Bonnie and I with all the fake smiles and faux friendly attitudes. It was kind of funny to watch though in an 'I hope they don't kill each other' kind of way.
Bonnie had shown up after Mason left though, I don't see the woman for what feels like weeks and then I see her twice in one day, go figure. She looked spooked though after bumping into him.
I turned and walked away though, leaving Stefan and Bonnie to chat.
You know, it's a bit hypocritical about how "all vampires are bad therefore I can no longer be friends with Caroline" but then she can talk to Stefan.
Huffing, and trying not to act like a toddler, I went to go find Tyler again, find something to do that was worthwhile.
I found him and Matt both wearing gigantic masks, one very happy looking and one very sad looking, and stomping around the room.
The pair turned around to face me, hearing the door open. They straightened up.
I snorted, "What the hell are you two doing?"
Matt and Tyler, still wearing the ridiculously large masks, looked at each other then back to me before stomping forward, making some god awful horrific sound.
I laughed, making a break for it.
It was all fun and games until Matt knocked something over and Tyler barely caught it. The three of us had stared at the ancient and very expensive looking porcelain statue, laughing nervously when Mrs Lockwood had turned the corner and proceeded to give us into some bother...
Who knew running around wearing giant masks and making a lot of noise would attract any attention?
The three of us did the walk of shame back to the room to put the masks back and pick out what ones we wanted for the masquerade. Having first dibs wasn't all that bad.
"This one will suit you, Skye," Tyler said, his back to me as he looked in the mirror.
"Let's see," I said, waiting for him to turn around, already unamused.
Lo and behold, the mask he was wearing just happened to be a clown one. Matt laughed at least. I rolled my eyes.
"Hardy har har."
The rest of this setup event would have gone the same if it weren't for the sudden realisation that a few people were acting kind of suspicious, namely Stefan and Elena. The pair had given up their little fake fight act and were conversing normally. And honestly, if Stefan and Elena are acting sus then hey gang, looks like we have another mystery on our hands!
It was as I was hanging up some balloons, pretending not to be staring that I decided I should probably get caught up on what was going on, already half regretting my decision.
"What's going on?" I ask them as soon as they spot me approaching.
"Skye, hey," Stefan says, shoving his phone in his pocket.
"We know where the moonstone is," Elena said, that determined look in her eye.
I raised an eyebrow, "I thought Mason had it?"
"Yeah, he hid it in the old well on the Lockwood property," Stefan explained. "We're about to go grab it."
"Awesome, let's go," I said, taking the lead.
The three of us didn't have to walk very long, I already had a vague idea about where the well was. Tyler and I had almost fallen in when we were little and trying to see over the edge before his dad came and gave us into some serious trouble.
"I don't think I'd ever seen him so mad," I laughed, retelling the story to fill in the awkward silence in the group. "Ah, good, the chain is still here."
The three of us peered over the edge and I whistled, looking at how deep it went. I guess it wasn't just my childhood imagination, it really was a big drop.
"Right," I said, looking over at the other two. "Whose going down? Personally, Elena is the lightest and I think Stefan should be the one to man the ropes or er... chains."
Stefan shrugged out of his jacket, "I can just jump down, grab it, climb back up, no worries."
"Oh...well, that makes things easier," I nodded, forgetting the whole vampire supernatural ability.
Stefan nodded his head before jumping in, creating a large splash and crying out in pain.
"Stefan!" Elena called down in worry, "Stefan, what's wrong?!"
For a moment I fear he might have broken his legs or been stabbed with something on the way down, but no, it was something much more deadly for a vampire. "It's vervain! There's vervain in the water!"
Elena and I gaped at each other in realisation.
Shit.
I turned and started lifting the chains, groaning under the weight of them. In our panic, Elena and I started yelling instructions at her, calling down to see if Stefan was still conscious. He was slowly losing it under the constant pain of the vervain.
As I'm connecting on chain link to another, a wild Caroline suddenly appears.
"Care!" I said, feeling relief hit me already. "Don't go down!"
"What's wrong? I heard yelling."
"Stefan is stuck down there, help us with the chain, quick!" Elena said, untangling the end of the chain.
"I could just - "
"There's vervain down there, don't!" I warned, grabbing her wrist.
"Shit..."
It took us no time at all to be properly prepared to lower Elena down when Bonnie showed up out of nowhere. Apparently, she and Care had been talking. I'll have to contain my excitement for when we know Stefan is safe, but this is a great start!
Once Elena was down and had hooked the chain link around Stefan's torso, Caroline quite easily and very impressively lifted him up. Bonnie and I were the ones that had to pull him over the edge and lay him down, not wanting Care to touch the vervain he had practically been drowned in.
"No worries, my ass," I groaned before laying him on the ground, checking for any signs of life. He's breathing, that's good.
Caroline had already passed the chain link back down to grab Elena when she yelled about finding it. At this point I didn't care about the moonstone, let's just get everyone out and safe.
Only when Elena started screaming did I scramble to my feet and stand beside Bonnie, looking over the edge and wondering what the hell was going on.
"Elena!" we called down in worry.
"Pull me up, quick!" she called, and Care didn't need to be told twice.
Once she was close enough, Bonnie and I grabbed an arm each and helped her over, where she collapsed next to a still unconscious Stefan.
She had dropped the moonstone on the grass, going to check on him. I leaned over and grabbed the box it had been in, holding up the smooth, white rock that couldn't have been much bigger than a standard bar of soap.
I turned it over in my hands, again, finding something familiar about it. It's getting a little annoying, that feeling.
But we got it.
It wasn't a bad day, I guess, overall.
Already I could see Stefan looking better. Bonnie had spoken to not only me but Caroline too, a start to repairing our friendship hopefully. Just about everything was set up for the masquerade ball tomorrow. And Caroline's mom will be released from vervain rehab.
Sure, we're now going to have to deal with an upset Mason and Katherine, but I'm still counting my wins here.
We all arrived back at the house, except for Caroline who rushed off to check on her mom. Stefan looked much better after having time to heal and a bit of squirrel. We were grabbing our coats and bags from the cloakroom area when Tyler comes in, looking around. "Have any of you seen Mason?"
I shook my head, "No sorry."
"So weird," he says, shaking his head in disbelief. "The guy has been awol all day."
"I'm sure he'll turn up," I said, taking my hair out of the ponytail I'd had it in for the day of work. "Tell your mom we'll see her for the big day. Save me a dance?"
"Yeah, sure," Tyler says, ruffling my hair before leaving for the next room.
It's only as he's leaving that I realise the rest of the gang is oddly quiet as they get ready, it's then I realise I never asked...
"Guys?" I said, getting their attention.
They looked up at me, all with their own look of concern.
Hm. Not promising.
"How did you find out where the moonstone was?" I asked cautiously.
There was a pause in the air as if I'd just asked the million-dollar question and not something that should have been easy enough to answer.
"When Bonnie bumped into him, she got a read on him," Stefan carefully explained.
"Right," I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest, not quite believing that as the whole truth. "And she just managed to get an exact location like that from just a quick bump?"
The longer I went on, the harder my heart began to ache, the heavier it felt in my chest.
The glances they kept sending each other, trying to come up with an excuse was not what I wanted.
"Where's Mason?" I asked a hard look on my face for sure.
Bonnie stepped forward, "Skye - "
"Don't," I warned, "Just take me to where he is so we can get him home."
"He's with Damon," Bonnie finished.
And it felt like a slap in the face.
I nodded, "I figured."
He was the only one that I hadn't seen today.
And I tried not to let that fact hurt me as much as I knew it did.
"So," I said, not backing down from this. "Where to?"
The boarding house.
The goddamn boarding house.
I was here this morning, waking up to the sweetest display of care and affection, and here I was returning the same day to...this.
In the end, I had gotten a lift with Chad. He was leaving at the same time and was heading out this way anyway. It was better, at least I could talk like a normal teen for a minute.
Little did he know what he was dropping me off to...
I entered the dimly lit house, hearing cries of pain from the living room, choking, torture.
"Now, why would a vampire want to break the curse of the moon?" I heard Damon ask arrogantly.
I silently shut the door behind me, the sounds of Mason in pain covering up any noise I seemed to make.
"Because then I wouldn't have to turn!"
"So?"
"She loves me! She wants me to be happy!"
My heart truly broke for Mason right there and then. He'd been manipulated by Katherine. Another fallen victim to her charm.
But then I heard Damon laugh. "Wow, I get it now. You're just an idiot! God, she doesn't love you, she's using you!"
"No..."
I slowly approached the edge of the living room, peeking around the corner to see the scene before me. There was Mason chained to a chair across from the fireplace, a plastic tarp underneath him.
No...he wouldn't.
And hold up, what the hell was Jeremy doing here?
"It's time to go, Gilbert..."
God, it seems like everyone knew about this, except me and Tyler.
When Damon suddenly lifts Jeremy off the ground by the neck, pressing him into the wall do I emerge.
"Damon!" I called, making him freeze.
I could see his shoulders tense as he put Jeremy back on his feet. "Get out of here...both of you."
I shook my head.
"Now!" Damon yelled, shoving Jeremy towards the door. The kid looked back and I nodded, giving him the go-ahead to leave. Once Jeremy is gone, Damon turns to me. "That means you too, Skye."
Again, I shake my head, stepping down towards him and Mason.
"No way am I leaving," I announced, glaring up at Damon, receiving an equally cold glare back.
"Skye..." Mason wheezed, making me break eye contact with Damon. I truly got the look of utter defeat on his face, the dried blood and wounds still healing all over him. "Look after Ty...don't let this happen to him..."
"I will," I said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "and so will you."
As I try to release the first hook in the chain, Damon grabs both my wrists, pulling them towards his chest and away from freeing Mason.
"Let go."
"Skye," Damon warned, squeezing my wrists not enough to hurt but enough of a warning.
I shook my head, my anger causing tears to spring to my eyes.
"Damon, you don't have to kill him."
"Skye, I do, you know I do."
"But you don't!" I yelled, trying to yank my wrists out of his grasp. "You even said it, Katherine just manipulated him. Like she manipulates everybody! Please, don't punish him for making the same mistake others have made."
Damon continued to seethe, "You mean like I made?"
I closed my eyes, "I didn't say that."
"No," he said, somehow pulling me closer. "But that's what you meant, right?"
"I didn't mean anything by it other than she's a manipulative bitch!" I cried, trying to smack his chest and for him to see reason. "Please, Damon. Tyler's already lost his dad, don't...don't make him lose his uncle too."
Glaring down at me, Damon bites his tongue, finally letting go of my wrists. "Fine," he says, then turning to Mason. "You got lucky. Try killing me and my brother again and next time I won't hesitate."
He ripped the chains apart, freeing Mason roughly who groans in pain at finally being released.
The relief I felt over Mason being alive is almost squashed watching as Damon leaves the room without so much as a parting word or glance.
Whatever...
I helped Mason to sit on the couch, rushing to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and a damp dishtowel. I cleaned off some of the wounds on his hands as he chugged the water back, drinking it all in one.
Breathlessly, he took the rag from me and began tending to his own wounds.
I wasn't sure what to say to him at this moment. Last time I'd seen him, he'd threatened me and my friends. But here he had been, tortured and almost killed.
The relief I felt was immense, no matter how much it seemed as if he was the bad guy, Katherine was the one to blame for it.
The words he spoke to me made me freeze, "You should have let him kill me, Skye."
I shook my head, "No way. You're Tyler's family. And Tyler is my family. I couldn't let that happen. No matter how problematic you've been lately..."
He snorted, "Yeah...sorry about that."
There's a pause between us as we just stare into the flames.
I turn to him, practically begging him. "Please, Mason, don't choose her over your family..."
"Skye..." he sighed.
"She doesn't care about you, clearly," I rambled, swallowing back any over-emotional feelings in my throat. "If she did don't you think she would have come to save you? I'm...I'm so sorry but please..."
"I know," Mason said, leaning back in his seat. "I'll end it with her..."
I closed my eyes, my eyes stinging. "I'm sorry."
"Not your fault, kiddo...not your fault."
The walk back from the boarding house was longer than I ever remembered it being. Maybe it was because I was used to the Damon shortcut but whatever. I hadn't seen him on my way out, and okay, fine, it bothered me a bit.
Finally, it felt like...something serious with feeling and stuff was happening between us and then this happens.
I was in my room, tossing and turning, struggling to sleep with a huff. Man, I hated this.
It's not like I didn't know the awful things Damon had done, I'd witnessed all those memories one after another. But...I thought he had changed. Even I could tell the difference of when he first arrived to now. There was something almost lifeless to the Damon I'd first met, so uncaring and spiteful...
I wondered if he was also up right now, struggling to sleep. A part of me knew that vampires didn't need to sleep, so he probably wasn't even going to bother and that someone made me huff in annoyance too.
My stomach growled, making me groan when I realised I hadn't had time to have dinner.
I'm contemplating whether to risk going downstairs for a minute snack when the light from my phone caught my eye. I know I shouldn't look, it'll just keep me up longer if I do decide to just try and sleep, but also...it's 2 am, who the hell is messaging me at this time and why?
Tyler? Oh, this one is from earlier: Mason's taken off to Florida, again. And just after I gave him the moonstone as well. Typical.
I could feel my heart dropping into my stomach.
I don't know what I expected from him, to be honest, but just...poor Ty.
There's some relief I guess knowing that Mason was leaving town and therefore getting away from Katherine. I hope wherever he is in Florida and whatever it is that he gets up to he'll be happy.
Wordcount: 5,249
Proofread?: yea, a lil, not a lot lol
WHEW WEE MAMA A LOT HAPPENED THIS CHAPTER!
First off, aw fluff but then oh no conflict!
Second off, Mason! What did you think about how I did just a cheeky lil oop?
And thirdly hey, hey, did anyone else notice that that first interaction in the dream was awfully similar to how Damon and Skye first met? Almost getting hit by someone's motor? Haha, fun.
Let me know what you think! I love hearing your theories and thoughts and ideas, it's great fun and a great way for me to avoid my actual responsibilities lmao
Replying to your cheeky wee reviews
flawsome4ever - ah! glad to hear you loved the bloopers! sorry there weren't any for this chapter, but maybe some time in the future lmao. Thanks so much for leaving a cheeky wee review!
sickofmyownthoughts - thank you so much! Stefan and Skye's friendship is something I don't get the chance to showcase often, but hey, there's always future chapters. Thanks again for leaving a wee review!
