Gilbert Residence.
'Hello?''
'Hi, is this Amelia Banks? This is Cherith Gilbert speaking.'
Cherith spoke into the phone that morning as she dried her hair by the mirror in her room.
'Oh yes! Thank God, I thought you had forgotten or something.'
'Yeah, I was tempted to.'
Cherith grimaced.
'But, my friend and my aunt have convinced me this past 3 days so… can we meet today? My aunt and I will be at the Lockwood mansion and she'd really love to meet you and hammer things down as well.'
'Oh of course! I'll be there… I'll be taking some little pictures in preparation for the masquerade ball too… very fascinating!'
'I'm sure…'
Cherith mumbled.
'Well see you there.'
She said once more, cutting the call and putting her phone on the desk.
She hadn't been able to sleep much in the night and so had woken up pretty early to go for a jog.
Of course, not before hearing the absolutely disgusting activity going on in her sister's room.
Honestly!
They say they're not together and yet they're having sex??
Are they going for the friends with benefits route now?
"Maybe I should too…"
Cherith grouched, feeling off for the day and she didn't like it.
Not one bit.
She dressed in a long sleeved white shirt, a black loose sweater vest and loose blue jeans with black platform shoes. Her hair in a low and loose ponytail.
When she was done, she grabbed her bag and jogged down the stairs, knowing she was the only one in the house at present.
Jeremy was who knows where, Elena possibly with her boytoy and boytoy's brother, Jenna already at the Lockwoods to get a head start.
She grabbed some frozen pizza from the fridge and even though she wasn't exactly a fan of it, she had to eat something and with it in hand, she was out the door.
As Cherith drove her car, she thought about the moonstone.
Something that was apparently valuable and as she'd researched, she learnt a lot of things.
There had been quite a lot of myths tying down to the stone but thanks to Cherith's sexy brain as she liked to call it, she had been able to rule it down to the sun and moon curse.
Apparently in the 15th century, some Aztec shaman had put a curse on not just the werewolves, but also on vampires. Werewolves became slaves to the moon and vampires to the sun.
Apparently this curse was tied to the moonstone and the curse could be broken with the moonstone.
It sounded very fascinating.
But there was something… off, about the way it became a legend. The sun and moon curse was known even to Africa itself but the way it was spread so accurately… nothing was ever accurate, and yet this curse… it was like all the people who spread it knew exactly what happened and how it happened, and if Cherith knew a thing or two about humans, it was that they were a bunch of gossip deprived race and at least someone would have tried an awful lot to put some bogus lie in it, and yet, the main parts of the story still remained… intact.
History and myth wasn't that straightforward. There was something off about the sun and moon curse.
Real, it might be… but what else was there to it??
Very curious indeed.
Cherith wanted to see the stone, and thankfully for her, Jeremy had told her who exactly had the stone.
It seemed very important… Cherith liked important things too… even if she didn't want to have it, she wanted to see such a stone.
She was an avid history buff who would be studying archaeology in no time… was it ever any surprise?
Lockwood Mansion.
Cherith got down from her car, watching as a large crowd of people here and there helped out for the masquerade ball.
She shook her head amused as she walked in, waving slightly to people who greeted her.
Honestly, it was as if as the days went by lots of people had eyes on her.
Could she go back to her incognito days again??
"Ah! Cherith dear… wonderful to see you again! You look wonderful as always…"
Carol Lockwood greeted her as she entered the building and Cherith gave a small wave.
"Hi, Mrs. Lockwood…"
The woman had certainly mellowed down a bit after her husband's death, and while Cherith hadn't been a huge fan of the couple… and she'd never really liked the Mayor too… she felt bad for the woman who lost her husband.
"Hello dear… I had wondered when I'd see you again, Jenna mentioned you were meeting with Amelia Banks?"
She inquired and Cherith stifled a sigh.
Her aunt was such a gossip… and she'd gone on to talk about her meeting with Amelia Banks to the queen of gossips herself.
"Um, yeah… just a little chat. Nothing serious. At all."
Carol nodded with a smile before pointing out the backyard.
"Well Jenna met up with her already a few minutes ago and they went that way. Sorry, I have to go make sure everything is going in order."
She patted Cherith softly and walked away, chiding some guys who were carrying some old fashioned looking lamps lightly.
Cherith turned away and walked out the backyard where people were also still at work.
She spotted her aunt talking to the curly haired woman, a magazine in hand which made her snort.
"Hey you two."
She greeted as they turned to her with smiles on their faces.
"Hey Cherry, I was just talking to Amelia here… and of course getting an autograph for Ric… she's told me all about the shoots and while I have no final say in this, I still think it'd be a good idea!"
Jenna gushed and Cherith sighed.
What else could she say anyways?
If she rejected it, it'd be like she was being rude. It did take 3 days for her to reply anyways and it was just a simple shoot… right?
"I wouldn't need to make silly poses right?"
Amelia chuckled, shaking her head.
"No. There would be no need for that. You just need to be your normal self on a normal day."
"With less frowns that is…"
Jenna cut in and Cherith gave her a glare.
"You know I'm saying the truth. As beautiful as you are, you are also intimidating to a lot of people."
Cherith opened her mouth to refute the claim before tilting her head in thought.
"You know what?... I really don't even mind that…"
She beamed and Amelia chuckled.
"Alright! So I'll leave you to your work… and I'll email everything I need to email to you over the night and we can set a day for your own shoots while I continue mine over the next couple of days too."
Cherith nodded and as the woman left, Jenna smirked at Cherith.
"My niece, the model."
"Ugh! Don't start with me Jens…"
"Oh come on! It's something to be proud of!"
"Not having this conversation with you… bye aunty!"
Cherith walked off, ignoring Jenna's chuckle.
Cherith sat on a bench outside, headset around her neck as soft music flowed through and she hummed lightly.
She hadn't spotted Tyler yet and she wasn't about to go around asking for him. He'd show up in a while… like fungus.
Cherith looked up from her phone and spotted Bonnie walking hurriedly, a slightly upset look on her face and she grinned.
"Hey Bon-Bon! Haven't seen you in a while!"
Bonnie stopped, slightly startled till she saw Cherith waving at her by the bench and she slowly walked over to it, frown still on her face.
"Hi… Cherry… sorry for not noticing you… I have a lot on my mind."
She muttered quietly as she sat next to the ruby haired girl who nodded.
"Seeing as you have a rather foul look on your face I'm guessing you just ran into either Damon or Elena."
Bonnie sighed.
"Elena, actually…"
Cherith nodded understandingly.
"Why'd you fight? Her attitude? The way her eyes shifts disturbingly sometimes? Her unbearably limp hair?"
Bonnie scoffed, a look of amusement on her face.
"No… none of that. There are just… a lot of things have been happening and I haven't been privy to them."
Cherith scoffed.
"Oh! That's what has you salty? Bon-Bon it's normal for us witches to be held at arms length until we're needed. As you can see, I've moved myself out of the Scooby gang you so badly want to get an invite into. I won't let them make decisions on easy way outs rather than the right thing to do. So! Ignore the rats."
"Yeah but Elena's my best friend. You're her sister… you're a practical grudge holding machine."
Bonnie smirked as Cherith shrugged unapologetic.
"And what about Caroline? You talk to her yet?"
Bonnie immediately groaned.
"Not you too… Cherry, I still need some time."
"Time for what exactly?"
Cherith asked, slightly confused.
"Time to… get used to the fact that she's a…"
She looked around before whispering slightly.
"Freaking vampire!"
Cherith sighed, bringing her fingers to the bridge of her nose and massaging it.
"Bonnie… in case you've forgotten… Caroline died! She died, in order to become a vampire… her last minutes being alive was being robbed of her oxygen and having a pillow pressed to her face, struggling till she could no more! No one was there to help her, not you, not Elena, not Matt… no one! And when she woke up, she had no idea what was going on… she practically had her emotions heightened and whatever she felt as a human has quadrupled as a vampire! She's insecure… known to be neurotic and very unsure of herself! How do you think she'd feel that her best friend practically hates her because of something she had no control about?? Add to the fact that her mother isn't a fan of what she is?? Don't you think she already has enough on her plate??"
Bonnie looked down, guilt eating her up at everything Cherith had said and Cherith frowned, wrinkling her nose and shuddering slightly.
"Ew. I'm getting too emotional… I'm not you people's psychologist! Shoo Bonnie! Give me my space to be heartless again!"
She shooed Bonnie who smiled slightly as she stood up.
"I'll… see you later Cherith. I have to go."
She spoke quietly before walking off towards the direction of the house and Cherith shrugged.
"One good deed of the day done."
Elena is busy sorting through masks for the ball and watching as Stefan and Bonnie talk when Damon suddenly appears by her.
"Damon, what are you doing here?"
She asks him slightly startled and he looks out.
"Looking for my baby bro. Speaking of, would you tell yours to stop following me around? Can't have Cherry Berry thinking I'm introducing him to the dark side or something… she's a meanie."
Elena frowned, turning her attention fully to him at the mention of Jeremy.
"What's going on? What do you mean?"
Damon shrugged.
"Why don't you ask the eager beaver."
He walks away as Jeremy arrives and Elena rounds up at him.
"Jeremy, what is he making you do?"
"He's not making me do anything, Damon and I…"
Elena immediately shook her head at that.
"Uh, no. No way. No, no, no, no. There is no 'Damon and you'. There's Damon and whoever Damon is using, and those people, they end up dead. Whatever is going on Jeremy, I want you to stay out of it. This isn't your concern."
Jeremy scoffed looking at Elena unimpressed and slightly pissed.
"I have no idea how many times you want to hear this... and from either me or Cherith but, I don't really care what you want, Elena. It's because of you that I'm in this mess in the first place, so I'm sorry, but you really don't get to tell me what I'm gonna do."
He gives her a look and walks away, leaving her with a slightly frustrated look on her face as she watches him leave.
Cherith walks around, headset around her neck as she hears the music slightly and moves her head
She had been walking for a little while and of course she'd spotted Elena and the Salvatore brothers somewhere around but she'd avoided running into them, mostly because she felt something was off somewhere.
Maybe it was the way Stefan and Damon seemed to want to ask her something but the glare she gave them, especially Damon, was enough to backtrack them both.
She'd also seen Jeremy talking with Tyler some minutes back, the two vampires obviously eavesdropping.
It certainly was curious, and while Cherith knew she couldn't exactly ask Jeremy what that was all about… not right now in public, she still felt something was very up… and a suspicious Cherith Gilbert-Cadwallader was never a good thing.
She walked up to Tyler who had finished fixing something up and walking towards the mansion again.
"Hey Dante…"
She greeted him, startling him slightly and he snorted.
"You're like, so quiet it's troubling. What the hell? And stop calling me Dante."
He rolled his eyes and Cherith shrugged unconcerned.
"I took ballet as a child. Also I'm not gonna stop calling you Dante… one, because you probably do have a 2 second sex drive like I'd said… two, aren't you glad I have an endearing name for you?"
She fluttered her long lashes at him and while she looked drop dead gorgeous… Tyler knew she was a very dangerous girl at the same time.
"Yeah no… I'll give you a nickname too."
A glare immediately appeared on her face.
"Do it and face death."
"Sheeeeesh! Are you bipolar or something?"
He questioned as they walked into the house, noticing Bonnie hesitatingly following the Salvatore brothers. That didn't bode well…
She needed to know what was going on.
"Maybe. What was my brother asking you anyways? He always was a curious little shit."
Tyler snorts at her amused as he grabbed 2 antique lamps and looked at her expectantly.
"What?"
"At least carry something!"
He replied exasperatedly as he walked past her and she huffed, looking around before choosing to just carry a lamp.
"This is too much work."
She grouched as she walked behind him and he snorted.
"I can guarantee you did absolutely nothing. And Jeremy was just talking about art and stuff… no biggie."
"Hm…"
She narrowed her eyes at him, not believing a single thing he said.
Understandable though… he didn't even know that she knew about the moonstone and stuff like the supernatural, what with Stefan having removed his memory of them being there the night of the werewolf incident.
Cherith dropped the lamp, suddenly looking around.
There was something really… off.
She looked around, ignoring Tyler's puzzled look.
Where was everybody?
Jeremy?
Bonnie?
…The Salvatore brothers??
She turned back to Tyler who was making himself busy.
"I'll see you later Dante, I have somewhere to be at."
She waved him offhandedly and he snorts, not even looking up as she jogs off, idly waving to Leslie who was a few feet away.
Right now… she had to satisfy the monstrous curiosity that was brewing deep in her and making her jittery.
Cherith walked through the house and noticed Matt going through some boxes with Stefan and Elena and walked up to them.
"Hey Mattie Blue eyes… Elena, have you seen Jeremy around?"
She questioned and Elena shook her head with a small frown.
"No. Probably already left though… you know how he is with big crowds."
She shrugged and Cherith still didn't look convinced, eyes settling on Stefan who looked into the box like it was the most important thing in the world.
"Hm…"
Something really was going on.
"Hey, have any of you seen Mason?"
Tyler walked into the room, a frown on his face deepening and this time, it was Stefan who answered.
"He, uh, he took off. He said he wasn't sure when he'd be back."
He stuttered slightly and Cherith tilted her head slightly… eyes narrowed straight at Stefan.
"So weird."
Tyler frowned, walking off and Elena frowned too, knowing something was off with her… boyfriend? Boytoy?
Cherith just needed to know something!
"Are you sure YOU, don't know where my brother is… Stefan?"
Cherith slowly walked up to him, eyes dark and voice dangerously calm and Stefan looked up, slightly uncomfortable as he nodded.
"Of course. Cherith I have no idea."
Just then, Stefan's phone buzzed and he brought it out, going through a message and Cherith's glare became even more pronounced as she gritted her teeth in growing anger… feeling slight ozone at her magic coming alive again.
Not good.
She wanted to know what was going on dammit!!!
As if on cue, a buzzing feeling filtered across her forehead and she brings a hand to it puzzled.
'Seems like they've gotten information from Mason. I should get there now.'
Just like that, the voice in her head turned off and she blinked rapidly.
"You okay, Cherith?"
Matt playfully hit her shoulder with his and she dropped her hand, looking at him slightly.
"I'm fine! Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
She feigned a laugh.
In that moment, Stefan looks up, ignoring Elena's questioning look and walked outside and Cherith knew she'd just read his mind.
She should be surprised… but she remembered the previous year when she'd done the same with Chad.
She couldn't control it and she wasn't sure she wanted to.
How crazy would it be… being able to access the minds of those around you?
She could already make people do what she wanted… did she want to go deeper and darker into something like this?
It was… tempting… salivating… like having the first taste… the first kiss… a first promise.
And it was maliciously welcoming.
She shook her head, ignoring Elena's sigh and walked outside.
She needed to head to the Salvatore boarding house.
There was something obviously going on and if no one would tell her, then she'd find out all by herself.
But first… she needed to drop her car back at home.
It wouldn't do to be spotted from afar in her car and then they try to hide whatever it was they were doing.
Salvatore Boarding House.
"Why do you want the moonstone?"
Damon questioned Mason from where he was tied up, Jeremy a few seats away while Damon loomed over his tied up prisoner, a sadistic emotion on his face as he held a root of wolfs bane threateningly at a weak Mason.
"Screw you!"
Mason spat at him, trying not to show any weakness and any sign of giving up and Damon smirked, shaking his head.
"Ahhh! Wrong answer!"
He brought the wolfsbane closer to the werewolf who shuddered slightly and Jeremy swallowed, looking as uncomfortable as ever.
"If he was gonna say anything, he would have already!"
He finally spat out, not being able to take the torture of someone in front of him but Damon ignore him as usual.
"I'm taking your eyes now."
He grinned maniacally, bringing the wolfsbane closer to Mason's eye and he freaked out.
"The well! You can find it there!"
He screamed out hoarsely and Damon threateningly holds the wolfsbane up to Mason, scoffing.
"Sad for you, I know where it is. I want to know what it does and why you want it."
"I'm getting it for Katherine."
"Why?"
"She's gonna use it to lift the curse."
Damon scoffed, not believing him a bit.
"Of the moon? Now, why would a vampire help a werewolf break a curse that keeps them from turning whenever they want?"
"So I wouldn't have to turn anymore."
"Why?"
"Because she loves me."
He spoke so resolutely and so sure of himself that Damon barked out a laugh, nodding to himself.
"Now – now I get it. You're just stupid. Katherine doesn't love you. She's using you, you moron."
Mason glares at him, fire in his eyes again.
"I'm done talking."
Damon sneers down at him.
"Yes, you are."
He turns away, handing the wolfsbane to Jeremy who grabbed it, standing up and thinking it was finally over.
"It's time to take a walk, Jeremy."
Damon told him, walking away from Jeremy and towards Mason, a look in his eyes saying it was the end of the road for someone in the room and Mason looked away defeated.
"I'm staying."
"No, you should go."
"I'm staying, Damon. He's had enough!"
Jeremy said back to the vampire with a stubborn look in his eyes and Mason turned to the teenage boy, a pleading look on his face.
"You should go. Just… help Tyler. Don't let this happen to him. Please…"
He begged with a weak voice and guilt built up in Jeremy at being an accomplice to… whatever this was.
Times like this, he wishes he'd have listened to Cherith. Or she was at least here to threaten Damon.
He turns to said vampire
"Damon…"
Damon immediately blurs over to Jeremy and grabs him by the throat, glaring at him.
"You wanted to be a part of this? Well, here it is! Kill or be killed! The guy is a werewolf; he'd kill me the first chance he got! So, you suck it up or leave."
He lets go of Jeremy who coughs, holding at his throat slightly in pain.
"He wants me to kill him, anyway. Don't you, Mason?"
He turned to the wolf with a mocking look.
"It really is a curse, isn't it?"
Jeremy gets up and immediately leaves, not wanting to stay anymore, the guilt eating him up from the inside out and all the while hoping he could somehow reach Cherith in time for this mistake to be stopped.
Cherith landed at the backyard of the Salvatore Boarding House, making sure she wasn't heard or seen.
She knew Caroline was down in the cellar with her mother and so needed to make sure no one knew she was there.
She'd spotted Mason's car a but further in the woods and that had definitely put her on edge, after all, she knew just how much Damon seemed to hate the idea of werewolves…
What would he do with one that had tried to kill him?... Not that Cherith even blamed the guy.
Damon was as difficult as a fucking mule… worse than one in fact!
She easily crept around the house, floating a few inches off the ground and hiding slightly as the front door of the house opened and she watched her brother walk out, a grin look appearing on her face mixed with anger and disappointment.
She wasted no time floating through the front door and stopping in shock as she spots Mason Lockwood tied to a chair, bloodied up as Damon glares at him.
"I've been where you are. But Katherine will only rip your heart out. Let me do it for her."
A vindictive look appears on the bastard's face which Cherith didn't like an in that moment, she makes a split décor decision, raising a barrier towards where the entrance to the cellar was which startled Damon slightly as he turned to see an unamused Cherith standing nearby.
His eyes widens and before he can make any moves, Cherith raised a hand and chaos magic floats around Damon's neck, holding it in a tight grip and he gasps out for breath, Mason confused as he couldn't turn to his supposed savior.
Cherith blinks unemotionally and with a little twist of her finger, Damon's neck is snapped and he falls to the ground, dead.
Well… dead for the time being.
Mason gasps out, tears falling from his face, not knowing how to feel at seeing who he thought would be his killer, fall to the ground, neck snapped by some… force.
Cherith walked towards the body, ignoring the tied werewolf whose eyes widened in shock as he watches her crouch by Damon.
"Cherith?... But h-how?..."
He breathed out… shock in his eyes but Cherith still ignores him, bringing her fingers to Damon's head, running her hand through his hair lightly and red mist flows out as she concentrates down on him with crimson eyes.
"You killed him… ripped his heart out… and then you buried him somewhere far from here no one would ever notice… then you drove his car far away… you had a little nap after a celebratory drink… and that's how you'll be found."
Her eyes are back to normal and she steps back, tilting her head slightly as Damon groans but doesn't wake.
She could control people but she had never taken it this far before.
Only time would tell if it worked.
She levitated him and dropped him precariously on a sofa, making him look like some teenage dirtbag.
It helped that there was a half finished cup of bourbon on a table nearby.
She poured some in his mouth just to make it even believable before turning to Mason with a blank expression.
"Now… what to do with you…"
She pondered, finger tapping at her chin.
Evening.
Road…
It was quiet in Mason Lockwood's Jeep.
It was parked at the side of the road, the welcome to Mystic Falls/Goodbye to Mystic Falls sign just a few feet away.
"So… you're a witch."
Mason finally spoke up and Cherith rolled her eyes.
"I did mention I was special. But let's talk about you. Katerina? What's that about? And don't you dare lie to me. I know about the moonstone. I know about the curse of the sun and moon and all that shit… what I don't know is what you're playing with that chick. I don't know much about her and I try not to believe much of what the Salvatore brothers say what with their biasness but… the fuck are you playing at?"
Mason sighed, looking outside, a defeated look on his face.
"I just… I don't want to be like this anymore. I met her before it all happened… and then, when I… triggered this… curse, she was there for me. She told me all about the curse of the sun and moon, how my ancestors had something called a… moonstone and I… I believed it so bad, because I wanted the pain to stop… and I love her…"
Cherith scoffed, a sneer building on her face and giving him a glare.
"Love."
She spat out.
"Love is nothing. Love isn't even a real emotion. It's so fickle and can change into hate. Love can be used to make people do others' bidding."
Mason turned to her… slightly aghast.
"You talk so coldly… have you never been in love? Or even felt what love is?"
Cherith grimaced, turning from him and staring outside.
"I haven't been in love… but I guess I have thought myself that a family is love… but… whatever foundation I built on that… has been slowly crashing down for a while now. Love isn't really something I see right now. It just brings pain and betrayal. I'm sure you feel it now."
She turns to him with a raised eyebrow.
"Because at the end of the day, I think you know that she used you… for what? I have absolutely no idea. But you chose to be used, so I feel no sympathy for you."
She told him and while it was cold, Cherith frowned, not liking how she sounded… she sounded… dead.
Hollow.
"I guess I have to go back to Florida now."
Cherith cleared her throat, fighting off the feeling in her chest.
"Absolutely not. You can't go back to where you came from. As soon as Damon wakes up, everyone is going to think you're dead… if what I did worked, of course. But if you go back to Florida and Tyler ends up actually getting in touch with you and lets it slip somehow, it's going to get back to the people who just tried to kill you… and Katerina. I'm obviously not afraid of any of them… and your life is in your hands now so if you want to go back and end up dying… then it's your problem. I was never built to be a hero in the first place."
Mason sighs… still unsure.
"But Tyler… he's gonna need all the help he can get… what if he gets in touch?"
"Stop using your email then… your phone was left at the Salvatore boarding house so let them do whatever it is with it that they see fit… I'll give you my number to keep in touch or something."
Cherith scoffed.
"He'll be fine. He's an ass who bounces back. Just leave before you cause him real pain."
"Well… I guess another adventure was bound to take me elsewhere soon enough… I wonder where I'll go now…"
A slightly melancholic smile filtered across his face as the cold breeze of the darkening evening hit them and Cherith shrugs.
"I heard Hawaii sounds nice. Nice waves too…"
Mason chuckled for the first time that evening before turning to her.
"Thank you, Cherith. I certainly owe you my life. I think I'd be dead right about now if you had been a second too late. I don't know how I could repay you."
"huh… you really do owe me indeed."
She thought for a moment before unlocking the car and jumping down, closing the door and walking around to stand by Mason's door as he smiles at her.
"I think I'll start cashing out on that favor now."
She smirked at him and he snorts, amused.
"Are you asking me for money doll?"
Cherith snorts back.
"Please… I'm sort of like a millionaire… I don't need your pitiful funds. No. I want you to research something for me. A mythological name. It's called 'The Scarlet Witch'."
Mason looks puzzled, but nods… simple enough favor.
He immediately starts up his ignition and Cherith steps back slightly and he turns back to her, a wistful smile on his face.
"I really thought I'd be able to get rid of the curse you know…"
Cherith could definitely understand him… having something you couldn't control deep within you.
How sad…
He clears his throat giving her a smile.
"Keep an eye on Tyler for me, would ya?"
Cherith shrugs, lighting her hands up.
"I do what I want buddy… no one tells me what to do… I hope I don't see you again man… not gonna be safe at all."
Was all she said as she levitated into the air, giving him a two fingered salute and flying off into the moon, Mason staring out in awe…
"That is some superhero shit right there… straight out of the comics…"
He mumbled as he drives off, a small smile on his lips.
As Cherith flies home that evening… she idly wonders if she actually did a good thing and it wouldn't end up biting her in the ass.
If it did, she'd just kill him herself…
And wasn't that frightening?
How easy it was for her to… decide on that.
It scared her.
Scared her so bad.
Gilbert Residence.
The night air hit Cherith as she landed by the bushes of her house and patted down at her wind blown hair, climbing up the porch and walking right in.
She heard Jenna's laughter and Alaric's voice in the kitchen, ignoring them and jogging up the stairs, walking straight into her room and sighing as she sits down on her bed… looking around and not sure what to do now.
It seemed like crisis had been averted… for now…
But that feeling… it was still clawing at her chest…
Something wasn't right.
It was making her jittery…
Angry...
Her magic was… rejoicing in the chaos and disharmony swimming in her body.
She wanted to revel in it but no… she feared her powers still.
Her door opened and a slightly panicked/guilty looking Jeremy walked in and Cherith could feel her anger boiling under the surface just looking at him.
Her brother, whom she'd thought was level headed.
Didn't try to overdo things…
The actual normal one of the 3.
He closed the door, guilt in his eyes and sighed.
"Cherith… I… I did something bad…"
Cherith scoffed, standing up and glaring at him, her anger… frustration… everything she'd been feeling all day… she was ready to pour it out and Jeremy was there to bear the brunt of it all.
"You did something bad?? Don't get me started on you helping out Damon in the first place!!!!"
She exploded out at him, making him jump slightly.
"What the fuck were you trying to achieve?! With that idiot who killed you! Who has done nothing but make a mess of things ever since he arrived in town!!"
She screamed at him and he winced.
"I'm truly sorry Cherry… I should have listened to you, but Mason Lockwood was apparently conniving with Katherine! I feel so guilty for having a hand in his death… it's all my fault."
He whimpered slightly but Cherith was having none of it.
"Well that's good for you… you deserve to rot in that guilt, Jeremy."
His eyes widened in shock.
"What the hell, Cherry??"
His eyes watering slightly, making Cherith's also water and she angrily cleaned it off.
"How did you feel when Vicki died?! When Anna died?! Do you think it's easy to let go of having a hand in the death of someone?! No matter how bad they are?"
She slammed back at him, not caring that she was crying now…
All her frustration at family… friends, life… her powers… she was letting them all out.
And she was slowly referencing herself while doing it, letting out all her frustration with herself out and how she was feeling.
"Do you have any idea… what it means to have something like that on your hands?!? Do you have any idea how much my humanity is slipping through the cracks?! How much I'm holding on to it through you and Jenna and even Elena?!"
She spat out at him and Jeremy's lips wobble slightly.
"I just… I wanted to help somehow… I wanted to feel important… I just wanted to help."
Cherith scoffed at him, eyes suddenly cold and blank.
"Yeah well, I hope you feel important right now… someone died."
She scoffs, pacing slightly, looking at him.
"You of all people should know how I feel when people try to take the easy way out when it ends up only hurting others in return. I COULD BE LIKE THAT, DAMMIT! But I'm not! Because of my fucking family! But maybe family isn't as strong anymore hunh?..."
She whispered to herself, hands driving through her hair maniacally, looking mad and Jeremy staring at her concerned.
"Cherry…"
"Love really is nothing. It just leads to betrayal. Maybe I should just cut the strings holding me to humanity…"
She glared at him, ignoring his shocked look.
The room was quiet for a moment and as Jeremy opened his mouth to talk, a loud scream came from down the kitchen and the two siblings wasted no time running out the room and down the stairs to the kitchen where they see Jenna on the floor, blood pooling around her as a knife was stuck in her stomach.
Bile rose in Cherith's throat as she pressed a hand to her mouth, squeezing her eyes shut and having a meltdown, falling to the ground.
Jeremy rushed to Jenna who was unconscious, Elena crying out and Alaric calling 911.
"Ch-cherry… you can… can't you fix her??"
Jeremy called out to her urgently and Elena's head whipped to her as well, but Cherith was stuck in her mind as she was on her knees, holding her head and fighting back a magical explosion.
It hurt so bad.
She whimpered.
It was just too much… all too much… she just… she couldn't…
"The ambulance will be here soon!"
Alaric told them as he crouched by Elena whose hands were holding shaking, knife still in Jenna as they didn't want to take it out and cause even more trouble.
"Cherry!"
Jeremy shouts out again, trying to gain her attention and Elena who was closer moved slowly to her whimpering sister.
"C-cherry… hey, she'll be—"
"DON'T TOUCH ME!!"
She screamed out and some glasses around either exploded or cracked, the lights flickering and the wind picking up, making windows and doors slam open or close.
It was her eyes though that made Elena move back.
They were crimson and purple mixed together… it looked like fire… madness personified.
She gulped as Alaric spoke softly.
"Hey… Cherith it's okay… Jenna will be okay take deep breaths… hey, that's the sound of the ambulance… everything will be perfectly fine."
He soothed her and Cherith gritted her teeth, grabbing harshly at her hair and pulling, making her since as she could finally feel again… even if it was pain.
Her eyes returned back to normal just in time for the door to be slammed open and in a matter of minutes, Jenna was strapped up and rolled outside.
Cherith's whole body shook as she entered the ambulance with her siblings and Alaric… moving away from them, her hands trembling so much that she seemed to vibrate as she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to fight off her urge to scream out.
The city of Mystic Falls felt her tremors though… as the wind blew so strongly and the trees bent slightly.
For their sake… for the world's sake… Jenna better live.
Mystic Falls General.
Cherith sat by the emergency ward, leg tapping against the floor anxiously and heart beating fast as she waited for news on Jenna.
Jeremy was seated as well while a scared Elena paced from one point to the other, fear in her eyes.
Cherith's magic rejoiced just beneath her skin at the emotions piling in her and so much of it gave a lot of chaotic potential.
She nervously bit at her fingers, uncaring about her recent manicured hands and eyes dry as her tear ducts had nothing else to give again.
Just then, the doors slid open and an exhausted Alaric walked out, making the 3 siblings rush over to him anticipating any news.
"She's going to be okay."
He sighed out, a small smile on his face and Cherith practically sank into her chair while Jeremy and Elena let out sighs of relief.
"The doctors said she's gonna make it. Just going to be sore for a while."
"But… why would Katherine try to harm Jenna?... Does she even remember all that happened??"
Jeremy asked exasperatedly and before Alaric or Elena could open their mouths, a derisive scoff escaped Cherith's mouth and they turned to see her glaring at them.
"And what kind of a stupid question is that, dearest brother? She's obviously sending a message!"
Cherith spat out, standing up and walking right up to Elena's face who stepped back startled.
"And you little bitch!"
She snarled out in anger making Alaric step between the two as he eyes turned a crimson.
"Cherith! Calm down!"
He chided her looking warily but she ignored him, looking at her sister who had a shocked expression on her face.
"You know why she did that… don't act like you don't!"
Elena looked down, guilt festering in her heart as tears slid down her face.
"You've been going all up and down for quite a while, saying how you and Stefan are having issues and how you're not together anymore and shit… it was for her, wasn't it?"
Cherith scoffs sarcastically.
"And the worst part? You couldn't stay away from him for even a WEEK! For the sake of the family you always pretend to protect!"
"Cherr—"
"No! I don't want to hear anything! And you, Jeremy…"
She swallowed hard, turning to her brother and looking at him with so much disappointment that Jeremy felt he could just die then and there.
Cherith sighed, not wanting to feel anything again.
"I am like… so done with you… both of you… I just… keep doing what you're doing… I won't always be there to help out… and even if I am, I won't do the wrong thing… so I just hope for your sakes you all know what you're doing… for your sakes…"
She finally whispered before walking off, ignoring their calls as she clenched her hand at her chest.
She felt like… she was empty… dying.
Her magic sang within her.
It was… glorious.
Lockwood Mansion.
Tyler walks into his home, pausing when he heard his mum in the dining and walks over to her, marveling over how everything looked.
"Looks good mum."
He called out as he walked over to her and she gave him a soft smile.
"Thanks honey. It was nice to see Matt today. He hasn't been around for a while."
Tyler shrugged.
"We've both been busy, I guess. Life and all, hey have you seen Mason? The guy's been totally AWOL all day."
At the mention of the name, Carol sighed, not sure how to tell her son as she forced a smile on her face to hide the disappointment that had been festering in her all evening.
"Actually Tyler, Mason headed back to Florida."
Tyler blinked at first, before his face changed to that of disbelief.
"What? What do you mean he's gone back to Florida??"
"I'm sorry, honey. I know how much you two hit it off."
"So he just… left?"
He threw his hands up, anger and pain building up in his chest and his mum put her hand on his shoulder, patting him softly.
"I was hoping he'd stick around…I thought that with your dad gone…"
She blinked teary eyed before shaking her head resolutely.
"Anyway, he's gone. So, I guess it's just you and me now."
She gives him a soft, watching as an array of emotions go through Tyler's face before settling on disappointment and sadness.
Before she could open her mouth to make him feel better though, the front door rang and she excused herself, walking over to it.
As she opens the door, she sees Cherith Gilbert rested against the side, hands behind her and a blank look on her face as she turns to her.
"Hi, Mrs. Lockwood. Is Tyler in?"
Carol smiled, nodding.
"Of course, I'll call him over for you."
Cherith nods as she steps back outside, turning to look out at the sky… dark… wind blowing and dreadfully beautiful.
At the sound of footsteps, she turned back just in time to see a moody Tyler walk out the door and close it.
"Hey Cherith… sorry but I'm really not in the mood to talk."
He began and Cherith rolled her eyes at him.
"Me neither. I just had a fight with my favorite sibling and there was an accident as well… if anything…"
She sighed, slowly walking up to him and showing him her hand which contained a bottle of one of the scotch he'd given her and a wry smile appeared on her face.
"I need a drinking buddy."
Tyler looked at the bottle and then back at her before he scoffs, though a small smile filters across his face.
"Come on… the backyard is nice this time of the night."
Cherith grins back at him, looping arms with him and declaring dramatically.
"Come on Dante… let's regret tomorrow's headache now… for tonight! We drink all our sorrows away…"
Tyler scoffed as they headed inside.
"You are so insane…"
"I get it from my Gilbert ancestors."
Katherine's Room.(Bed Breakfast)
Katherine paces back and forth in her room, mind going a mile a minute as she tried to arrange her thoughts after all that had happened. She'd not only lost herself a werewolf no thanks to the Salvatore brothers, but she'd also lost the moonstone… for now, that is…
However!
There were still other ways to go about things.
She turned to her bed where a figure was sat, looking blank.
"I apologize if I seem rattled. Circumstances have changed suddenly, and I had to adjust."
She moves to sit on the bed.
"Mind control is a necessary evil. You see, I need a werewolf, and I've lost the one that I had. Now, tell me what you're going to do to help me get a new one."
She turns fully to Matt Donovan who is under a compulsion and he opens his mouth.
"I'm going to go after Tyler Lockwood."
She nods before looking him deep in the eyes and her pupils contract.
"And you're not going to stop."
"And I'm not going to stop."
"Until?"
"Until he kills me."
Katherine smirks.
Game on, Salvatores…
Game on.
And that happened!!!
Hi guys!!!
A lot happened in this chapter!
And Mason doesn't die! Yayyyyy!
I sort of have a little role for him to play later on that's why.
And Jeremy!
Not this brat putting us all on edge again!
Elena really can be selfish even when she's trying to prove everything she does is for her family.
So this is the chapter!!!
Enjoy!!!! And what did you all think about poor Cherith?!
Lol... She's loosing it... Or maybe she's actually as bipolar as Tyler said!
Purple you all!!!!