Chapter 8
" Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf, Not Me!"
Lydia was loaded. Head to toe she was decked in tailored luxury. She sashayed into the coffee shop like a model off the runway and I was entranced. Lydia's scarlet red blazer and white trouser seemed made for her and it probably was. I would like to say I was comfortable enough in my body to feel completely self-assured in it but seeing Lydia rocking it in a designer ensemble compared to my slouchy activewear made me regret my attire and maybe my whole existence.
"Sweetheart thank you for reaching out to me." She gave me the equivalent of a high fashion hug quick and without meaning or affection. " I heard about your demotion at the party, it's quite tragic you had just moved up."
"Wasn't that bad, I just gave the kid a bottle and made sure he didn't hurt himself." I shrugged not really wanting to talk about it.
" Play your cards right and you could be a future Lockwood," Lydia smirked a devilish smiling gracing her red painted lips.
"Gross Tyler is too cute to be interested in. He is my protégé at this point, I have to train him in the ways of being a devilish drunkard, it harder than you may think." I paused to order a cortado from the barista wanting to get my caffeine high as Lydia grabbed a latte.
"I am sure Carol enjoys you taking her son under your wing." Lydia smiled salaciously at me teasing at my presumed misery.
" I think she deems me worthy of babysitting her son. I am not sure if this means she trusts me or not though."
"Maybe she thinks it is an honor for you, maybe you are the chosen one."
"Hey, have you heard of someone called Damon. " Our last encounter had been playing in my mind since I had last run into him.
"Mhm, he is a Salvatore, tall dark handsome, has all the Mystic Falls Females panting in dry heat."
"That's the one, what do you think of him?" I enquired feeling curious about what a powerhouse like Lydia thought of the enigmatic human he was.
"Sexy, fun, probably good for one free ride. For a man like that, it is either a really fun ride or a really disappointing ride though."
"I have been getting weird vibes from the dude." I leaned in and whispered feeling like I was exchanging a national secret.
" Do tell, this town is so dull so I enjoy all the gossip I can get." Lydia's eyes lit up with interest. Note to self-Lydia is a gossipmonger this may be a benefit or a detriment later on.
"I feel like he wants to murder me or he wants to fuck me. That is not a good combo if you ask me." I grabbing my small cup in both hands attempting to warm them up. " He gives me the chills but I am not sure if I like it or not."
"Fuck him."
"What."
"Fuck him get it over with and then move on. Then you won't have to worry about him. Just do a one and done deal and move on with your life."
"And if he tries to murders me?"
"Taze him." Lydia brought out a hot pink taser from her purse and placing it on the table. "And if that doesn't work," She opened her purse wide so I could see the contents inside." Shoot him."
"Has anyone told you how psychotic you are?"
" An ex or two but they still come begging back for more."
"I want to be you when I grow up," I told Lydia earnestly, she was practically a mogul in this town and I was discovering how much of a femme fatale she was. Lydia was what I wanted to be.
" Don't make me feel old, I am barely older than you."
"But you are ten times more awesome so it factors."
" Talking about men," Lydia paused and looked me square in the eye." Is your brother single?"
"Gross, nope I am not encouraging this."
"I would be a great sister in law. Plus I would finally be in the direct line for a founding family, so it would be beneficial," She raised her hands' miming reading a billboard. " Lydia Fell, sounds great, doesn't it? I bet it would draw in all types of clients too."
"Stoooooooop, no more!" I looked up to the tv in the corner of the café and notice my brother on it. "Speak of the Devil." Breaking news flashed across the bottom of the screen and apparently, a drug deal had gone wrong. Something about the situation didn't sit right with me and I felt sick.
XXX
After I went home and was in the security of my household where no one could overhear me and hear how ludicrous I sounded I gave Logan a call. I was pacing as the dial tone rang I was unable to keep still and started to fiddle around by making myself a cup of tea. My father had left a huge stock of it at his house and the floral scent and taste were unusual but calming. I had started drinking it when I had moved into the old house and had a cup almost every morning now. Logan didn't pick up on the first call so I kept on ringing him till he did. On the third call the phone picked up and I didn't even wait for a greeting.
"Was it them, was it the vampires?" I lowered my voice despite being in my own house just speaking about it made me nervous.
"We think so, the bodies were burned to disguise the signs." Logan's voice crackled through the line. "Stay inside and stay safe the council is handling this."
"People should be warned! We cannot just let them continue to wander around and get hurt, Logan!" I could feel myself growing angrier and I wanted to throttle my dipshit of a brother. How high was the body count now? It had to be getting closer to double digits.
"We have a way or tracking them now. We are going to hunt the monster done tonight and make sure they don't hurt anyone again." He sounded firm and admit about the plan but it made my stomach clench. I did not want him to go out. Logan was my idiot brother, a pretty boy, he was not a fighter.
" Lo, don't go out tonight, please." I wanted to beg. I wanted to punch him till he listened. I wanted him not to be his cocky over assured self.
" It will be fine, I will have back up, the sheriff and the council will have my back."
"Lo, please!" I began to feel a lump in my throat form. "Just sit this one out!
" It will be okay, I will have weapons and look I will text you before it happens and then give you a call after okay."
"Lo, I don't like this."
" It will be fine Belle, I am doing this for you, I want you to be safe. I don't think I could live with myself if you were hurt because of one of these things." His voice wavered on the line and I knew he meant it and was stuck on the idea of being the hero.
"If you get hurt in any way I am going to kill you!"
" Good thing I won't."
" I love you, Lo."
"Love you too Belle."
XXX
Logan texted me around 9:30 p.m. that he was heading out with the council to take the vampire down. I couldn't stop the anxiety that filled me. I felt like I was in the constant state of needing to throw up and needing to move. I was angry too, why did he feel like he needed to be the hero? The sheriff is trained for this stuff, she should be the one romping around in the dark looking for the vampire. I couldn't stand this, I wanted to get out but Logan had made me promise I would stay in. The anger and anxiety inside me grew and grew until I could barely hold it in.
I waited for an hour and there was no text. I am sure vampire hunting in the dark took some time so I tried to breathe through my heart being in a constant state of panic. I grabbed a glass of wine to calm my nerves. My hand shook as I poured it sloshing some about on to the floor below. I was too anxious to care I resumed my nervous pacing sure I would wear a hole into the floor if this kept up.
Two more hours passed. I was going crazy. It should be over by now but I had no response. Logan should have called or texted. I gave up the fear of giving away his location to the vampire and started to call him. The phone picked up, thank god I started to feel relieved.
"Hello, " my heart stopped the voice was female.
"Who is this?" I don't think my heart was beating at all.
"Belle this is Sheriff Forbes," I wanted to vomit this was not happening. "Your brother was in an accident." My knees gave out.
"No no no."
"I am coming over right now this is not something to talk about over the phone." She sighed and I wanted to throttle this inefficient bitch it was her job to protect this town, not my brother's why was he the one hurt.
"Is he alive? Just tell me if he is alive."
"Belle I-"
"YES OR NO, IS HE ALIVE!"
"No."
"THIS IS ON YOU!" I roared out all the anger I had been suppressing was bursting out from my chest. "YOU MURDERED HIM! HE WAS JUST A FUCKING REPORTER!"
"Belle, its-"
"You should have been the one the vampire killed." I hissed out my heart breaking a gasp came from the other side of the phone.
"You know-"
"I know it was your job to protect the town, not his." Tears were spilling down my cheeks I was just so angry. I couldn't help the hatred spilling from me. I wanted to punch someone. I wanted to kill someone. I wanted to kill that vampire. "Next council meeting I want in."
"Belle, I don't –
"I don't care, next meeting I better be there or I will let everyone know what really happened to Logan."
XXX
Days blurred together. The council met with me like I requested my anger still brewing beneath my skin. I wanted to bash their brains in but mostly I wanted revenge. I looked them at them all gathered together pity in their eyes at the poor orphan girl and I couldn't help but glare.
"I want in," and with that, the plan unfolded to cover up my brother's murder.
Author's Note:
Yay, now the fun can begin! I feel like the story will be faster paced now that we have gotten past this landmark. Belle will be a more integral part of the town with Logan's passing and once Damon get's on the council they can start budding up more. Also I am really like Lydia's character she has become a surprise favorite to me. Hope you are enjoying the story so far!