8- One Hundred Sixty- Two Candles

I didn't want to go but since I was present when Vicki died Elena dragged me along with them to speak to the sheriff.

I felt bad lying especially when Jeremy & Matt were both completely clueless as to what happened to Vicki. After Damon dropped me off at home, he'd gone by Elena's house to compel Jeremy.

I personally thought it would be better if he actually knew what happened to her. From what I gathered Damon buried her somewhere deep in the woods, But nothing ever stays buried in this town.

Elena may not see it how I see it, but when Vicki's body inevitably turned up this same hurt she was trying to avoid for Jeremy was going to come back tenfold.

I walked right past Stelena and climbed into the car with Jeremy & Jenna. I had to fight Jeremy for shotgun but I'd gotten it much to Jenna's amusement. By the time I finished flipping through the radio Elena had climbed into the backseat and we were on our way.

"You okay?" I turned a bit to face Elena she smoothed some hair behind her ear and smiled it was obviously forced but I didn't really have a choice but to accept it since we had an audience. The ride to my Gramms was very interesting I'm not sure how much Damon compelled Jeremy but he was extremely social, he sang with me, and flirted a bit too. I couldn't get out the car fast enough.

"What's going on?" I asked strolling into the living room, Bonnie was packing her bag while Gramms sat on the couch beside her.

"Dad doesn't like for me to stay here too long." Bonnie explained with a shrug. I raised an eyebrow and scrunched up my face I wasn't told this and I spent more time here than Bonnie did.

"But I'm always here?"

"Bonnie was always his princess, and you are mine." Gramms smiled at me. I resented my Dad almost as much as I resented my Mother. It was no secret he favored Bonnie but it didn't make it hurt any less.

"Probably doesn't help that he thinks you're just filling the good child's head with witchy nonsense." I added going into the kitchen and helping myself to some tea.

I heard Bonnie agree with me as I was coming back into the room. I caught sight of Emily's necklace glistening just as Bonnie shoved it into her bag.

"You need to be wearing that." Gramms & I said at the same time. I visibly watched the words go in one ear and out the other. I wanted Bonnie to keep it, and she told me she would but her facial expression says otherwise right now.

"I need to give it back to Caroline. It's not mine."

"It's your ancestors, now it's yours." Gramms said shaking her head.

"I told you I'd gladly take it off your hands if you hate it that much." I added. I was already thinking of all the outfits I could pair it with. If Bonnie didn't realize how truly special it was despite both Gramms and I telling her then she was hopeless.

"No. It found you Bonnie." Gramms said as Bonnie finally pulled it back out of her bag." It protected you. A witch's talisman is a powerful tool, don't be giving that back to anyone."

"Bu-."

"Not even Alicia."

"Fine, but I wish it was prettier." Bonnie shrugged. I fought the urge to reach out for it. Gramms would probably zap my hand if I did anyway.

"I can't wait til you help me pick out my own." I pouted."I'm thinking a blue heart on a silver chain."

"Now that I would wear." Bonnie smiled. We did some more practicing before we had to head home. Gramms decided now would be a good time to teach us how to channel one and other she claimed we'd never know when we'd need to do it. I felt bad for anybody who managed to cross us both at the same time, with a bit more direction Bonnie & I would be able to take over to world.

Instead of heading home like I expected Bonnie wanted to go by Elena's. I however had enough Elena for one day and took the car and headed to Caroline's after dropping Bonnie off.

I parked in front to Caroline's door and honked the horn. The blonde came bouncing down the steps two seconds later she climbed into the passenger seat and we made our way to the grill.

"So I'm curious." Caroline turned toward me when I put the car into park.

"About?"

"Well, it's more of a test since Bonnie claims she's psychic or Clairvoyant or whatever." Caroline paused grinning." Close your eyes and I'm gonna mess with the radio if you can tell me what's gonna be on before I change it then maybe there's some truth to this thing."

"Of all the things?" I snorted. I could literally pick Caroline up with my mind and flip her upside down and she wants me to predict songs on the radio. I humored her however and covered my eyes.

"Okay now." I could hear the giggle in her voice when she said it.

"Good girls go bad Cobra Starships." I shrugged, Caroline changed the station and the loud guitar filled the car.

"That songs always on." Caroline said after a moment."Next station."

"I like a long hair thick red bone." I sang as she flipped the station the exact same line from Every girl by young money played. Caroline clapped giddily and went to flip it again."Russian Roulette."

"What else can you predict?" The blonde asked as I turned off the radio.

"Donald Trump is gonna become president, Fall Out Boy will get back together & you are gonna date Matt."

"Okay, you play way too much." Caroline snorted as we both got out of the car."Why would I date Matt?"

"Ah that's the thing you take away from this." I laughed. We got a table and sat down. I needed something normal right now, yes spending time with Gramms & Bonnie helped but my mind was all over the place. I go from seeing Vicki get her neck snapped to seeing her get impaled through the heart.

So Caroline & I did what we always did, ate fries, drank soda, gossiped about everything and everybody at school. And it was great until Damon walked in, Caroline immediately tensed up and she flat out walked away from the table when he slid into the booth beside me.

"What's blondies problem?"

"You bit her." I deadpanned he just shrugged, I rolled my eyes and tried to shove him out the booth so I could go after Caroline but it was like shoving a brick wall.

"In a hurry much? I need you to do me a favor." He grabbed a fist full of my fries and scarfed them down as if he even needed my fries to keep him alive.

"What do you want, Damon?" I yanked my fries away from him and glared. Everybody knew to never come between me, my fries and a good pair of boots. And he was coming in between two of those while I was wearing a good pair of boots.

"I want you and blondie to throw a party here tonight."

"Why would we do that?" I looked at him skeptically, I don't see a reason to actually celebrate anything on this random day. Especially right after having to lie about a girl I knew all my life's death.

"For Stefan's birthday. I need a big turn out and who better to do that than you and Blondie?" He smirked, I tapped my fingernails against the table and outright growled when he made another move for my French fries.

"It depends." I lean a bit closer to him and smirk hopefully it was just as annoying as his."I would like a favor."

"What do you want?"

"I would like to have a party at an undetermined date at the boarding house."

"My room and the basements off limits." He countered. I grinned as I held out my pinky for him to take. He looked around to make sure nobody was watching and quickly wrapped his pinky around mine.

"Great, have him here by 8."

"You're a lifesaver." He slid out the booth and walked off, Caroline seemingly materialized out of thin air reclaiming her seat. She stared at Damon's retreating form annoyed.

"I have no idea how you're still friends with him." Caroline hissed."He was hot at first but now he just bothers me."

"Has he talked to you since that day?" I asked, Caroline didn't say anything and I knew what her silence meant. I was curious what he could have left to discuss with her, he'd bitten her, compelled her and did god knows what else to her.

Caroline was adamant about not wanting to help Damon but changed her tone when I let her know it was a party for Stefan. So we did the only logical thing a teenage girl would do, text everybody in our phones. Caroline decided to go the extra mile and go get a cake. I personally wouldn't have done it but I wasn't as extra as she was.

I dropped Caroline back off at her house so she could get dressed and then grab a store brand cake. I went back by Elena's and picked up Bonnie so the two of us could talk a bit and get ready.

When we got home shockingly Dad was home, he talked to Bonnie for a bit while I just went straight to my room and started to sort through clothes.

"Alicia are you decent?" Bonnie asked, knocking on the door. I yelled back yeah and she came inside. I held a pair of jeans in one hand and a tank top in the other. "Pair it with a leather jacket."

"My red one." I hummed in agreement." So how'd it go with Elena?"

"I told her."

"Told her what?" I asked pulling my shirt over my head and changing into the new top.

"That we're witches." Bonnie replied I glanced at her and started to take my pants off.

"You been told them, funny enough Care thought it was cute to have me predict what songs were on the radio." I replied Bonnie snorted."So how'd you get her to believe you?"

"I showed her the feather trick."

"Hmm? Did you cause a tornado again?" I smirked and Bonnie rolled her eyes.

"It wasn't intentional and do not make that face you look like Damon."

"Anyways go get dressed, we're going to the grill."

"But you just came from there." Bonnie pouted."I get it's the only place in town to hang out but."

"Party for Stefan."

"What? Elena didn't say anything about that." Bonnie replied flopping into my fluffy chair. I lobbed my jacket at her and she got up."Fine I'm gonna get dressed."

When I say we planned a party I really meant Caroline planned the party, she had good music playing some food already laying out. It was a good time already. I strolled in with Bonnie at my hip, Caroline & Damon were talking at the bar?

Bonnie scoffed at Damon and went the other way, I shrugged and made my way over to the two. Caroline grinned at me while Damon looked almost annoyed.

"Amazing party Caroline." I smiled pulling her into a hug. She looked too at ease standing next to Damon. It unnerved me a bit. She was never able to tell us exactly what happened but judging by her usual reaction at his mention or just being around him upset her but this was a complete 180.

"Only the best for Damon's little brother." She grinned. And now I was very much suspicious of him. "Oh! I'm gonna go say hi to Bonnie."

The blonde strolled away leaving me with Damon, I took the seat Caroline was sitting in and glared at Damon."Can I ask what you did to my friend?"

"She never put on that little trinket you gave her." He shrugged."Guess it just wasn't her style, some best friend she is."

I rolled my eyes, I was gonna clasp it to Caroline's ankle when she went to sleep tonight. Seriously? It's a cute anklet that I picked out specifically with her in mind." What were you talking about?"

"Just the weather." He shrugged. A gorgeous blonde with chubby cheeks walked up to him and he immediately turned his attention to her. I turned my attention to the plate of fries behind me and took a few. I was off in my own little world of absolute bliss when I felt eyes staring at me.

"Uh? What?" I turned back toward them I'm pretty sure I had a face covered in cheese.

"Lexi wanted to know who you were." Damon repeated."She doesn't get why a girl like you would be hanging out with a guy like me."

The last part was sarcastic coming from him but most likely Lexi meant it too. Something about her gave me this feeling that I could trust her, her spirit seemed kind.

"Alicia, and we're not friends." I smiled holding my hand out to her, ignoring Damon who clutched his chest as if I hurt his feelings.

"I thought you were the Clyde to my Bonnie?"

"Oh god." Lexi snorted."That is cheesy as hell." Obviously I got that spine chilly feeling from her but she ended up being probably the coolest vampire I'd ever met and I'd met three so I'm allowed to make that statement.

Time seemed to fly by when I was hanging out with Lexi she told me a bit about herself, and how she knew Stefan & Damon. I hoped she'd stick around but I knew she wouldn't. I excused myself and left Lexi hanging out with Damon while she waited for Stefan. I went off and found Bonnie who looked irritated, she filled me in on how Caroline's apparently been on the hunt for Bonnie's necklace.

I'd have to do damage control with my best friend and my sister before the night was over if Caroline didn't do it herself. With Damon here he's bound to keep trying to make her get it back for him.

"Care what's this I hear about you calling Bonnie fat over a necklace?" I asked when I finally caught up with the Blonde she was at a pool table with Tyler.

"I asked for it back and she wouldn't give it to me." Caroline whined, I could practically see her stomp her foot and ball up her fists."She doesn't even like it."

I glanced around, Tyler had took a few steps away from us when he heard the nature of our conversation. When I went into overprotective sister mode everyone knew to steer clear until I've dealt with the problem." I need you to listen to me, Care okay?"

"Okay."

"Never be mean to Bonnie again? At least unprovoked, you literally gave it to her and said wear it or toss it out." I said putting air quotes around what she said, she opened her mouth to talk but closed her mouth when she saw my face." And it's actually more than a necklace, it belonged to the woman I'm named after apparently."

"No freaking way." Caroline looked stunned."How does that happen? It's so ugly."

"It's not just a necklace it's a talisman." I explained I mentally palmed myself. I was doing exactly what I chastised Bonnie the other day for."She drew her power from it. Why aren't you wearing the anklet, I got you?"

"I put it on my dresser and forgot about it." She replied looking bashful."I'll put it on when you come back for our sleepover alright?"

"Deal."

"Birthday boys finally here." Caroline commented. I noticed once Stefan walked over to Lexi. Damon walked out of the grill, and Damon being Damon meant somebody was in danger of dying.

"I'll be right back." I weaved my way through the crowd and made it out the front doors, I pulled my jacket tighter around me once the cold air hit me. I closed my eyes tightly and focused, I'd only worked on sensing Bonnie so this would be my first time trying it on somebody else.

I was embarrassed to admit it took me longer than I wanted to and I had to do some walking before I finally was able to catch up to Damon. But I managed to find him, in the middle of tearing into a girl's throat, a dead body laid at his feet.

I fried his brain a bit causing him to stop feeding on the girl, his grip on her never faltered however.

"What the hell!" I yelled shocked and alarmed at what I was witnessing.

"Stay still, do not make a sound, or move a muscle." He compelled the girl, who as he ordered stood as still as a statue.

"You killed Duncan!" I shrieked getting a closer look at the body on the ground."He was cool."

"The town is suspicious which is just as bad for me as it is for your family." He responded walking up to me."So I suggest you go back to the party while I do what I have to do."

"In hindsight, it would've made more sense to turn over Vicki's body." I mumbled. If the council wanted a vampire, Vicki's who was staked through the chest whose body didn't look normal would have easily solved this problem.

"Thanks captain hindsight." He scoffed."You didn't handle Vicki well so I suggest you go, Alicia."

"Wait, the only other vampire is Lexi." It clicked in my head, I wanted to be mad but I actually had an idea that I think would save this girl and save Lexi."She's so awesome you can't kill her."

"Unless you have a better idea, I have to."

"Heal her, compel her." I replied Damon snorted."And find someone who's a serial killer or a rapist somebody who is a bad person and turn them like you did Vicki and then cause a huge show staking them."

"That would take time." Damon replied in a duh voice." Time I don't have, I'll tell you what. I won't hurt Lexi but." He tore into his wrist and shoved his arm into the girls mouth, before I could even protest he snapped her neck.

I flinched at the sudden movement and stared slack jawed at both dead bodies. Ah yes, bring on the PTSD I'm most likely going to develop before I finish high school.

"How long would it have taken for you to find an actual bad person?"

"My bad person receptors might be a bit off." He shrugged, tossing her limp body over his shoulder while dragging Duncan's body by the leg."Just buy me time until she wakes up and I can get her to feed then vervain her."

"How the hell do I do that?" I yelled at his back. He didn't bother answering and just kept walking. I kicked over a trash can and stormed back inside the grill, was I upset about the outcome yes but when I looked at how happy Stefan looked with Lexi it made me feel a bit better about the outcome. He'd most likely known her for decades and it probably wouldn't have ended well for Damon if she had died when all she wanted to do was help Stefan enjoy his birthday.

When I came back Caroline was absolutely hammered, like stumbling over herself, an incoherent mess. I wanted to make sure she got home, but she looked pretty cozy with Matt. I typically wouldn't trust a male with a drunk female in general but Matt was the ultimate good guy and would probably wipe off Care's make up, take off her shoes and tuck her in.

How long did it take to wake up in transition? I pouted I was ready to go home. I glanced at my phone and saw it was only 10pm. Sigh, I felt like an old lady but my Gramms was probably wide awake right now.

A light bulb went off above my head. Caroline's cake, we could sing happy birthday to Stefan and cut up cake that should kill some time.

As I expected it took more time for me to round up everybody, hunt down the cake (since Caroline never told me where it was and she was now gone), and get everybody quiet than it actually did to sing the goddamn song.

Stefan was a bit surprised when I explained, Caroline and I were behind the whole thing but in this moment he looked every bit like the 17 year old boy he was on the outside, grinning ear to ear with cake smashed all over him standing in the middle of the two most important ladies in his life.

I also decided I was gonna keep the fact I managed to save Lexi's life to myself. A person who truly wanted to do good didn't need praise for doing it. Finally when I collected my sister and was ready to head out was when I saw Damon and my reworked plan play out.

A crowd of officers stood around while there was what looked like two tarps thrown over someone in the alley I'd stood in yelling at Damon not too long ago. Bonnie stopped to watch but I grabbed her arm and guided her to the car.

"Vampire drama, just let's get you home." I downplayed it, Bonnie looked tired and didn't even question anything.

I started the car and slammed my head against the steering wheel. I was supposed to sleep over at Caroline's and I'd let Matt take her home, Sheriff Forbes would have her hands tied with cleaning and covering up Damon's plan and Caroline was not going to answer her phone.

Another day, another chance for Caroline to keep getting compelled.