Episode 13: Family Night

"I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind."

-Emily Bronte, Wuthering Heights

Mystic Falls, 1864

Stalking Damon through town had become a habit. It wasn't my proudest moment, but ever since Kat had sunk her teeth into Damon I had to keep an eye on him. They were headed to the apothecary, a place Kat often went to visit her friend Pearl, a vampire who appeared in town around the same time as my former sister.

Pearl also had a daughter, Annabelle. She was a quiet young girl, although that was only how she appeared, being a vampire. She was always watching, often waiting outside her mother's apothecary. As she was at that moment, Emily waiting outside along with her. I would wait with them for as long as I could get away with it. While Kat likely knew I was tailing her and Damon, it would be awkward to enter the apothecary.

"Good morning, Emily. Good morning, Annabelle," I greeted. Emily nodded in return. Anna was petting a horse that was hitched near the apothecary.

"Good morning, Maggie." Anna replied politely. When we first met she and Pearl regarded me with the same polite distance as they did with all the townsfolk. It seemed Katherine had told them about me, as now they watched me more closely.

"Do you like horses?" I asked. It was small talk, we both knew that.

Anna smiled at me, her eyes shifted toward the apothecary door for a short moment before returning to me. I wondered if Pearl had told Kat about the vervain elixir Mrs Fell brought to the apothecary yet. The humans of the town were getting wise to their vampire problem, I had smelled the familiar flower on Noah the other day as he passed. Which meant it had probably spread to all the deputies.

"I do. They're beautiful creatures. But you don't want to talk about horses."

"No, I suppose I don't. What did I want to talk about? Since you seem to know so much about it."

"She's not gonna drain him dry in the middle of town," Anna said.

"Who?" I asked, playing coy. Anna's eyes drifted back to the apothecary door.

"Damon. He's okay, you know."

"For now." I replied, my eyes trained on the closed apothecary door as well. "While it suits her."

Mystic Falls, 2009

"Good morning, Caroline." I said as my sister entered the kitchen. I already had her coffee made and placed on the island counter for her.

"Morning." She said shortly. She picked up the coffee, but paused before she took a sip, "Just so you know, I don't forgive you yet. I'm taking this coffee because otherwise it'd go to waste, not because I'm taking your obvious coffee bribe."

"Caroline—" But after the dance and my confession she wasn't willing to talk to me. Silently Caroline went back upstairs, locking the door to her room. The door was locked last night too. We never locked our doors from each other.

We never lied or omitted anything to each other either, so I guess we were just trying new things now.

Even the drive to school was silent except for the Taylor Swift CD playing.

At school I followed after Caroline trying to start a conversation, but she was steadfast on giving me the silent treatment. The tension between us was thick and only interrupted by Bonnie coming up to us at our lockers. Our mutual best friend wasn't happy with me either, but Bonnie was always the more civil one.

"So, how did everyone's night go?" Bonnie asked. My gaze fell to the floor, while Caroline looked away. Bonnie carried on, "Okay, I can start. My night ended pretty great."

"Do you know where you're going on your date?" Caroline asked.

I peeked up. "You have a date?" Bonnie's love life was a neutral topic. "With who?"

"Ben. We're going to meet at the Grill." Bonnie answered, her attention shifting between us.

"Wait, Ben. Ben… isn't he that jock guy that graduated a couple years ago?" I said, "He's taking you out to the place where he works? Isn't that kinda tacky?"

"Thank you!" Caroline exclaimed, then as if she was upset with herself for agreeing with me, she crossed her arms and turned away from the conversation.

"It's not like there are a ton of date spots anyway," Bonnie said defensively. "Besides the Grill is neutral ground, it's where we met."

"Okay…" I said unsure, "but tell him he has to think more creatively for the second date."

"Charlie, if I could have a word?" Mr Saltzman said as I passed his desk after history. Elena gave me a questioning look, but I shooed her off.

"It's okay, I'll meet you in English." I stood awkwardly in front of the teachers desk. "Hey, Mr Saltzman, what's up?"

"You can call me Ric," He corrected. "I just wanted to ask you—"

"That's an old journal." I interrupted, taking notice of the old leather bound book on the desk.

"Yes." Mr Saltzman replied, moving the journal to a drawer in his desk, "A little gem I borrowed from the historical society."

"Who did it belong to?"

"One of the town's founders. It's a really enlightening perspective on the town's history."

"Any mention of vampires?" Mr Saltzman seemed to pale. At his questioning glance I added, "I'm a big fan of paranormal history, I've heard a lot of this town's folklore."

"There is some, yes. But it's easy to see monsters lurking around every corner when you're in the middle of a war." He explained.

"So you're not a believer then?" I asked, watching my teacher carefully. Maybe Damon had a reason to suspect him.

"I'm more of a see-to-believe kind of person. But I didn't stop to talk about myths, I actually wanted to ask you about Damon."

Yes, there was something suspicious about Mr Saltzman. I grew tense, "What about him?"

"Isn't he a little old for you?" he said.

A short laugh came out by accident. It was such a normal valid concern, and I couldn't tell if Mr Saltzman knew how old Damon really was. He definitely didn't know how old I was.

"Damon is not my boyfriend, and no offense Mr Saltzman, even if he was it'd be none of your business. You're not my dad. I already have one of those, even if he is in another state." I left before Mr Saltzman could talk about it any more.

I sat with Bonnie at lunch, while my sister was across the cafeteria with Matt. They were laughing about something and she looked happy. Meanwhile, I was wallowing in my self-pity.

"Am I really that horrible Bon-Bon?" I asked, swirling around cafeteria mashed potatoes with a spork.

"I don't want to take sides, but you did go on a date with her ex. That kinda breaks girl-code."

"It wasn't even a real date! We only went together to protect Elena. There was another vampire after her."

"Oh." Bonnie's eyes grew wide at that information. "What happened?"

"He tried to hurt Elena at the dance, as we thought he would and Stefan staked him. But it's not like I can tell that to Caroline."

"She told me you and Damon kissed?" Bonnie said, but it sounded more like a question.

"On a seperate, non-related occasion! And it didn't even mean anything. She just hasn't given me the chance to explain." I looked wistfully over to Caroline and Matt, resting my chin on my hand. "Not that I would know where to start."

"Do you want to explain it to me?" Bonnie asked, her tone becoming more serious, "Because I don't get it either. Damon fed on Caroline and manipulated her."

I shrugged. "He's a vampire, that's what they do."

"She's your sister," Bonnie said sharply, like a knife to the throat.

"And I love her," I amended, "but it's not like he killed her."

"Why are you making excuses for him? He's a monster."

"I'm not exactly human either."

"You're not a bloodthirsty killer." Bonnie pointed out.

"We don't know that. I'm recovering more and more of my past lives everyday. Who knows what I've done."

"You're not a killer. At least not in this life. It doesn't matter what you might or might not have done in the past."

"It does matter though. I knew Damon when he was human. We were in love, and I can't seem to forget about it."

Bonnie looked disarmed. "What?"

"In the 1860's a very human Damon loved a woman named Maggie. He didn't believe I was really her until Emily possessed you and she recognized me."

"You kissed Damon after he attacked me." She sounded accusatory.

"He was upset. And he kissed me."

"You kissed him back."

"We were both overcome with hundred year old emotions. I'm not Maggie, he knows that, I know that. But there's a part of me, the part that remembers being her, that can't give up on him, that knows Damon still has his humanity. He can still be good."

Bonnie was silent for a moment, stunned as she took in everything I said. "There's no way you can explain that to Caroline."

"So you see my dilemma?"

"You have to say something though."

We looked back at the table where Caroline sat with Matt Donovan. Taking in a breath of courage I walked over to their table. Caroline's expression dropped as she noticed me. Matt became a tad less jovial, but retained his friendly face.

"Hey, Matty-blue-eyes, could I get a moment alone with my sister."

"Uh yeah," Matt got up and as he left he patted me on the shoulder, "Good luck."

"Hey." I said sitting across from Caroline.

"I don't have anything to say to you." Her arms crossed and Caroline turned in her seat as much as she could so that I mostly faced her back.

"Then don't, just listen," I pleaded. "I'm not dating Damon. But there is something between us. I've felt it since I first met him. It's powerful." Caroline looked about to say something. "Please, let me talk. It's gonna sound crazy, but I knew Damon in another life. Our souls knew each other, and they loved each other. I don't know if our current relationship will develop any further than friendship, but I feel like I need to help him."

Caroline sighed. "Look if you're trying to get back at me for dating him first, you did. Just, please, stay away from him."

"I can't," I said resolutely.

"He's not a good guy, Charlie."

"He was once," I said, "he could be again."

"What was that saying dad always used to say?" Caroline said thoughtfully, "A leopard doesn't change its spots?"

"Exactly, he—"

Caroline interrupted me in a yell. "No! We're supposed to learn from each other's mistakes," Caroline's voice had gradually calmed down from her initial outburst, so that she spoke much softer, "and Damon… Damon was a mistake."

"You know what happened, it wasn't your fault," I reminded her, my hand had reached out to sooth her.

Caroline had caught my eyes in an intense stare. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"And I won't. But just in case, can I count on you to be there for me?"

She nodded. "Of course."

Band practice had ended late. I walked back into the empty school hallways to put my flute away in my locker. Around the corner I heard a crashing sound and went to investigate. The only light that was on was in the history classroom.

I walked into the doorway to find Alaric sitting at one of the student desks and Stefan standing, holding some sort of gun that was modified to shoot wooden stakes. And Mr Saltzman said he wasn't a believer.

"Stefan? Mr Saltzman?" I asked, looking between the two. Mr Saltzman turned to me quickly, his eyes wide and full of warning. I must have looked like the picture perfect damsel in distress

"Charlie, run!" Alaric said.

I scoffed, crossing my arms. "Stefan's my friend. Well, sort of. He's not going to hurt me. Besides, even if he tried, vampires don't scare me." I summoned a ball of fire into my palm. It was getting easier the more often I did it.

Alaric flinched and Stefan gave me a look of disapproval. I rolled my eyes.

"What? He already knows what you are."

"And what are you?" He asked, looking at me warily.

"We're not going to hurt you, Mr Saltzman. I'm a—" I paused, remembering what Bree told me about being careful with who I tell, "witch."

In a show of good faith Stefan returned Alaric's special gun. "Now...who are you?" Stefan asks Alaric. The interrogation had begun.

"Oh, that's an easy one Stef," I answer instead, "He's a history teacher by day and Van Helsing by night. The real question, is why? Why kill vampires? Why here? Mystic Falls isn't the only place they hang out."

"And tell the truth." Stefan added.

Alaric answers, telling us about his wife, the parapsychologist, whose work lead him to Mystic Falls. And how she was killed by a vampire.

There was a sinking feeling in my gut. "Do you know who?"

Alaric pointed to Stefan, "his brother."

"Are you certain it was Damon?" I asked, my mouth suddenly feeling very dry. Damon killed plenty of people, which didn't bother me nearly as much as it should, and honestly it didn't bother me as much as it should that he probably killed Alaric's wife too. I was just worried someone might actually stake him over it.

"I witnessed it."

"If you're here for revenge, this is going to end very badly for you." Stefan warned. I wondered if Stef would try to protect his brother, or if he was just warning him against Damon.

"I just want to find out what happened to my wife." Alaric's said.

My forehead wrinkled in confusion, "You just said Damon—"

"Yeah. I saw him draining the life out of her. He must have heard me coming. He just...disappeared. So did her body. They never found her."

"Damon can never know why you're here?" Stefan warned. "He'll kill you without blinking."

"I can take care of myself." Alaric said.

As if on cue, Stefan and I scoffed at the same time.

"No, you can't. I can help you. If you let me." Stefan offered. He was being generous with that offer recently.

"Where's the Gilbert journal?" I asked, because that had to be the reason Stefan was really here.

"What do you want with it?" Alaric asked.

"Where is it?" Stefan repeated.

"It's on my desk." Alaric answered.

I looked over to his desk, finding no leather bound book, only a stack of papers. "No, it's not."

"It was on my desk."

That didn't bode well. There were some papers of a copied book on the desk. I picked up one of the pages and skimmed it.

"He doesn't have the journal," I said showing Stefan the stack of papers, "but a copy's just as good."

I rode with Stefan as he drove to Elena's house; he'd insisted, it was 'Family Night' at the Gilbert house. I spent most of ride flipping through the copied pages of the journal.

"Charlie," Stefan said, "you can't tell Damon about the copy of the journal."

"Why not?" I asked, looking up from the papers, "Damon is under the impression you're trying to help him. Guess that's not true."

"Those vampires in the tomb are dangerous, they'll target everyone in town if they're let out."

"Then we'll just kill them all and not have to think about it ever again." I reasoned, "I know Damon hasn't gone into the details, but really he wants to kill Kat, he agreed not to release the others. He needs the closure, Stefan."

Stefan appeared shocked at the news, but masked it quickly. "Damon also wanted revenge on the town, Charlie. I don't believe he'd just let it go. If that tomb is opened, it puts the whole town at risk."

"I suppose." I said non-committed. I returned to looking through the papers until we arrived at Elena's.

Stefan knocked on the Gilbert's door, surprised when Elena answered with Damon right behind her shoulder. I kinda expected Damon to hover. Damon wasn't very trusting, and from the car ride with Stefan, he had good reason.

"Well?" Damon said expectantly.

"Ric didn't have the journal." Stefan said. Elena and Damon joined us out on the porch, closing the front door behind them.

"Who took it?" Damon asked.

"We don't know."

"It's that teacher. There's something really off about him."

"No, he doesn't know anything." Stefan lied. "Somebody got to it right before me."

"Who else knew it was there?"

Stefan glanced at Jeremy through the window. Damon noticed and walked back into the house to question Elena's brother. Apparently Jeremy told some girl, Anna, about the journal as well, and he was supposed to meet her at the Grill. Damon offered to drive and I tagged along, despite the annoyed look Stefan shot my way. It's not my fault I was honest in my intentions to help Damon.

The Grill was fairly packed when we reached it, making good cover as we watched Jeremy from our place at the bar. Jeremy went towards the pool tables to meet his friend, who I was almost surprised to find that I knew.

"That's Annabelle." I whispered.

Damon growled lowly. "Fantastic, another blast from the past."

"Come on, let's get out of here before she spots us—er, you." I pulled Damon towards the doorway, careful to keep a crowd between us and Anna. She wouldn't know me, but she'd recognize Damon for sure. "At least we know who we're dealing with." I said once we were outside, "This just means we need to figure out how to get into the tomb before she does."

Damon watched her playing pool with Jeremy through the Grill's windows. "Great, I'll nab her and you do that burning torture thing. I'm sure she'll tell us where it is."

My hand shot out to block Damon from walking back into the Grill.

"That's unnecessary." I nodded toward his car. "Damon, I need to tell you something," I said once were seated in his camaro, "before the journal was stolen, Mr Saltzman made a copy. Stefan has it, but I managed to take a peek. Jonathan Gilbert gave the Grimoire to your father."

"Well, that's just great now we'll nev—" Damon paused, "actually, I know exactly where it is."

Damon and I traveled to the Old Cemetery, picking up shovels along the way. Damon lead the way to Giuseppe Salvatore's gravestone and we set up some light.

"You're positive he had it buried with him." I asked, holding onto my shovel.

"I'm sure it's not the only thing he took to the grave, but yes. The Grimoire has to be there."

"Fantastic." I said, pushing my shovel into the dirt and starting to dig. Damon followed suit, as we dug on opposite sides.

"You know I can do this part on my own." Damon said from beside me.

"I know, but I said I was going to help you and I meant it."

Damon stopped digging briefly to stare at me. "I'm starting to believe you're the only one that does."

Once the hole got deeper Damon took over on his own while I sat on the edge of the hole and shined the light down on the grave. Damon continued to dig until his shovel hit something solid, bouncing back with a loud thud. He used the shovel to get as much dirt off as he could, exposing the old coffin, then tossed the shovel away.

Damon looked up at me in apprehension before opening the coffin. "The moment of truth," he said. He lifted the lid, revealing his father's remains and an old leather bound book cradled in Guisseppe's arms. I can see the emotions pass through Damon's face as he stares down at his father: sadness, regret, anger. Finally, Damon rips the Grimoire from his boney grasp and closes the coffin.

In the next moment Damon was out of the grave and standing next to me. We hear people approaching and turned to see a beam of light heading our way. I couldn't see behind the flashlight, but I know the two figures with it are Elena and Stefan.

"Well, what do you know?" Damon's lip curled up in a snarl, "A bit late to stab me in the back."

The pair grew close enough I could see their faces. Elena had the decency to look ashamed. Stefan was looking at me.

"I thought we had an understanding," he said.

"When I make a promise, I actually intend to see it through," I stated.

Damon took step forward, shielding me slightly behind his body.

"Don't bring her into this," Damon said. "From where I'm standing, Charlotte is the only person I can actually trust."

"I can't let you open that tomb. I'm sorry," said Stefan.

"So am I," Damon replied, "for thinking for even a second that I could trust you."

Damon took ahold of me, one arm wrapped around my middle cradling the grimoire between us, his other hand supported my neck as he ran us away at vampire speed.