Disclaimer: See prologue
Separate yourself from what compels you to relinquish us
Push your way on to me, entirely
Stay away from me,
… … …
The next evening, Kenzie and her dad, Darren were standing on the front porch of the Gilbert house, a bottle of wine in her dad's hands as she stood there with her arms crossed over her chest.
"Stop scowling." He warned her.
"Why couldn't I have stayed home?" She muttered.
"Because I'm tired of you moping." He replied as the door opened and Elena stood there with a smile on her face.
"Hey, thank you for coming, Aunt Jenna's just in the kitchen. I'll take you there Mr. Miller. Kenzie we can talk in the living room if you want to head there."
Kenzie shrugged and moved into the living room and sat down, waiting for Elena to come back and join her. When she did, she sat down beside her on the couch with a smile.
"I talked to Alaric today."
"Who?"
"Oh, right, Mr. Saltzman, he's kind of seeing my aunt. But he told me he was being all mysterious with you about the disappearances. I just wanted to make sure you weren't too freaked out."
Kenzie brushed some hair back, not noticing that Elena followed her hand, frowning at it. "No, not really, I mean, it was a bit weird."
"That's an interesting ring." Elena observed.
Kenzie held out her hand, smiling down at the simple silver ring she had put on after her dream. "Thanks my dad gave it to me a couple years ago for my 16th birthday. He says it's a family heirloom."
"Do you know what kind of stone it is?"
She shrugged. "A pretty blue one? I'm sure he told me before but I never remember these things."
"A couple years ago? I thought you were a Junior."
"I am." She replied, not elaborating.
"My friend Bonnie might be able to tell you more about your ring."
"How?" Kenzie asked. "And why?"
"Oh, she's um, very good with history type stuff, we can always show her. In fact I'm seeing her tonight if you want me to give it to her."
"It really doesn't bug me, I like it because it's pretty."
"Oh, okay then." Elena hesitantly replied, seemingly bugged by her answers. "Anyways, I know Alaric was all mysterious, then Stefan before that in history class, this town just has a huge obsession with founding families and if they think they found someone who could've been, well I'm sure they'll be a huge party."
"I'm not from a founding family." Kenzie told her.
"Doesn't hurt to check. Stranger things have happened in this town you know. I could lend you one of my ancestors journal, maybe you could research some names from there."
The redhead sighed, it wasn't something she would normally do but maybe it would shed some light into that letter she received yesterday. "Ok, I guess, why not?"
"great, I'll give that to you before you leave."
"Yay." Came her unenthusiastic reply. "So why did you quit the squad?"
"I fell way behind and just lost the passion I had for it."
"Because of your parents." Kenzie's jaw dropped open. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. Caroline mentioned it yesterday. I'm sorry, the same thing happened to my mom and sister a couple years ago."
Elena looked surprised. "You lost your mom and sister in a car accident too?"
The redhead nodded. "Yeah, they were on their way to pick me up from dance and they never made it. That's why I'm only a junior, I should be a senior but I had to repeat my sophomore year because I didn't deal too well."
"Neither did I, I barely finished last year. My parents had just picked me up from a party and they drove off a bridge with me in the car. I was saved but they weren't so lucky."
Both girls grew silent as they reflected on their past and the pain they were both feeling.
"Well, now that we totally depressed ourselves, maybe we should go see how dinner is." Kenzie suggested, not wanting to think about her mom or her sister anymore. She hated thinking about them and tried not to if she could help it.
"Don't bother, Jenna is just finishing up."
"Mr. Saltzman? You didn't tell me I was having dinner with a teacher." Kenzie shot an accusatory look at Elena who smiled and shrugged.
"Sorry, he's just usually here, so I don't really think of it."
"I promise Mackenzie, I'm not going to sit here and drill you on class." Alaric promised, sitting down in a chair across from them. "Although I do have something for you to do for class, Mackenzie."
Kenzie shot a look at Elena before looking back at her teacher. "Extra credit already?"
"Just so you can catch up on the history of the town." He told her. "You're going to be writing a paper on the history of Mystic Falls and its-"
"Don't tell me." Kenzie interrupted. "Its founding families."
"That whole topic does come up a lot, doesn't it?"
"Just a smidge." She sarcastically replied. "Truth is, I have a note from my doctor that says no term papers."
He grinned at her, liking his new sarcastic student. "Sorry, but California Doctor Notes don't work in this state."
"Darn. Fine, Perhaps I'll do it on the Millers since everyone is so damn sure I'm related to them."
"Do you think you are?"
"No." She replied.
"Stranger things have happened." Alaric told her.
"Dinner's ready." A voice called.
Kenzie shrugged at her teacher before following Elena into the dining room.
… … …
The next morning, Kenzie was out jogging, for once not minding the cool air as she pushed herself hard. She liked running, and she liked being the best so was always pushing herself as hard as possible.
Dinner last night hadn't been so bad. Kenzie was kind of quiet, letting the adults talk. She was glad her dad had at least made some friends and when it was over, Elena had received a call and asked if she wanted to come with her to meet up with Stefan, but she declined, instead choosing to go home with her dad. She couldn't help the feeling that Elena only asked her out of politeness and she had rushed out of there rather quickly, Alaric following not too long after. So she had gone home, skyped with her friends from her old home and was left feeling even more homesick. When she woke up she decided to go for a run to take her mind off everything.
"You, you're new here."
Kenzie glanced over before doing a double take, slowing down to a walk. The guy in the blue car staring at her with the black hair and the blue eyes was super hot and somehow super familiar. Like the same familiarity she had when she first met Elena.
"Keep tabs on every single person in town?" She asked with a small flirtatious smile.
"Something like that." He replied with a smirk,
"creepy much?" She walked over to the car, peering through the window at him.
"no, just smart, actually. You're Elena's new little friend aren't you?"
She rolled her eyes. "Maybe and anytime you want to tell me who you are so you don't seem so creepy would be lovely."
He raised an eyebrow at her. "Oh, you're a little snarky, I kind of like that, until it pisses me off, then bad things happen."
"Still waiting." She sang.
"Damon Salvatore." He held out a hand to shake and she accepted, letting out a small cry of surprise as he moved with almost lightning fast speed, pulling her closer and staring down at the ring on her hand.
"Interesting ring you got there." He noted.
"So I've been told." She replied with gritted teeth, trying unsuccessfully to pull her hand away. "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" He asked.
"Move so fast and can I have my hand back?"
"No." he simply replied. "Not until you tell me where you got the ring from."
"my dad gave it to me for my 16th birthday, you creeper."
"Where did he get it from?"
"It's been in my family for generations. What the hell is your trauma?"
"Do you even know what this is?" His questions came rapidly and Kenzie was getting frustrated that she still couldn't pull away from him.
"It's a frickin ring, let me go."
He pulled her closer, forcing her to look into his eyes. "You will forget having met me today, you will forget about the questions about your ring and you will remember that you finished your run at record pace."
He let her go and Kenzie stared at him, her mouth dropped open in shock. She gave her head a small shake as she straightened up and took a few steps back.
"Seriously, what kind of drugs are you on? You can't just tell me to forget something."
She turned away to finish the run to her house, letting out a small scream as Damon appeared in front of her, she glanced back at the car, the door wide open then him again. He put a hand over her mouth, shutting her up and pushed her back towards the car, throwing her into the passenger seat before he got in himself. Kenzie grabbed the handle of the passenger side about to throw herself out of the car when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"What are you doing? Let me go." She yelled at him, hitting his arm.
"Not until we figure out who the hell you are." He told her as he sped away.
"What?" She asked in disbelief. "I told you already. Ask Elena or Stefan or Caroline, they've met me."
"That's not what I mean and you know it."
"No I don't. Seriously, let me go and I won't call the police."
"Please." He said with a small smirk. "As if they would believe you over me. They love me."
"What do you want from me?" She asked, trying to keep the hysterics out of her voice.
"To figure out who you are and why you're here."
How many times do I have to tell you?" She snapped. "My name is Mackenzie Miller and I'm here because my dad was transferred here."
"Then why do you have that ring? Do you have vervain on you?"
"Ver what now?"
"You know this cute little innocent act you got going on? Starting to really bug me. If not for Elena, I'd probably have killed you by now."
"You sick sadistic son of a bitch, let me go right now."
He pulled into the driveway of a large old house, turning off the car and getting out. Kenzie threw the door open to make a run for it but he was already there, grabbing hold of her arm and dragging her into the house.
"Oh Stefan," He called. "I found one of your little friends."
She continued to struggle but to no avail when Stefan appeared in the hallway, sighing at what he saw.
"Damon, what are you doing?"
"Found this one out running. Have you seen the ring she has on her or the fact that you can't compel her. She's really good at playing human, how old do you think this one is?"
"Playing human? Seriously, what the fuck are you talking about?" Kenzie's brave front was starting to crumble.
"Maybe older than Katherine, what do you think?" Damon asked, ignoring the little redhead's words.
"Maybe she's drinking vervain?" Stefan suggested. "Maybe Elena slipped her some last night."
"Slipped who what?" Elena asked, appearing behind Stefan, fresh out of the shower. She stopped at seeing Damon there, a firm grasp on Kenzie, who looked completely freaked out.
"Damon." Elena cried. "Let her go."
"No." Damon replied. "Did you give her vervain last night?"
"What? No."
"Hm, perhaps I should test her out, see if there's any in her blood."
"My blood?" Kenzie screeched, beginning to struggle more.
"Stop." Elena cried, stepping closer to them. "Damon, what is going on?"
"I can't compel her. She has a ring like ours so I'm thinking Vampire, one who is way too good at playing human. Didn't even try too hard to get away and acting completely like she has no clue what's going on."
"Just let her go, okay?" Elena begged him.
Damon rolled his eyes but finally complied and Kenzie stepped away, rubbing her wrists, trying not to hyperventilate as her old friend, sarcasm returned to her.
"Yes, I'm a Vampire and I'm going to suck the blood from all of you because I'm super hungry. Seriously, what kind of fairytale land are you people living in? Vampires? Don't exist. So take your whackjob delusions elsewhere and let me go."
"Can we see your ring then?" Stefan quietly asked.
"Stefan." Elena cried. "You can't seriously believe Damon."
"No but this will clear the whole mess up quickly enough."
Kenzie glared at them all before pulling off her ring and dropping it into Stefan's outstretched hand. Before she could blink, she was flying out the front door, landing on her backside just outside of the house. The air was knocked out of her and she gasped for air as one arm went up to block out the sun that was now shining down on her.
"Kenzie." Elena yelled, rushing out the door towards her.
She helped the new girl stand and quickly brushed the debris off of her yoga pants and sports bra that she was using as a top.
"Guess I was wrong, brother." Damon was saying from the doorway with a smirk.
Kenzie shrugged Elena off and stomped back towards the house, poking Damon in the chest. "Don't you ever lay a finger on me again, you psychotic son of a bitch. You come near me again and I will rip out your intestines and use it as tinsel for my Christmas tree, capice?"
"Don't poke me." He growled.
"Then don't kidnap me, accuse me of impossible things, then throw me out of your house in an attempt to prove these impossible things. Vampires don't exist you nimrod and everyone knows that if they did exist, they wouldn't be able to walk in the daylight so get your facts straight." She punctuated her last point with another poke to the chest, earning another growl from him.
"I'm going to hurt your friend, Elena." Damon threatened.
"You've done enough, Damon." The brunette told him, "Come on Kenzie, I'll drive you home."
The petite redhead held out a hand to Stefan, not once breaking eye contact with his brother as she waited for him to return her ring. When he did, with a murmured apology, to which she ignored, she put it back on her finger and stepped away with one last glare.
"remember what I said." She warned him.
"You don't scare me little girl." Damon called after them with a smirk.
"Yet." She muttered, not realizing just how well the brothers could hear her.
Damon couldn't help but smirk though at the retreating girls backs. "I should kill her for poking me but her fun imagery filled threats are kinda piquing my interest."
Stefan glared at him before going back into the house.
"I'm so sorry, Kenzie." Elena told her once they were well on the way back to her place.
The red head looked over at her. "Seriously? That dude needs a mental ward. What the hell is everyone's issue with me and my ring and this vampire mess? What the hell Elena? Is everyone here a bunch of whack jobs?"
"Not everyone." Elena weakly replied. "Look, Kenzie, there's a lot of things going on with Mystic Falls, some that are a little hard to believe."
The new girl turned to glare at the brunette. "I swear, if you tell me that the whole psychotic thing that those guys were ranting about were true, I'm gonna throw myself out of this stupid car, right now."
Elena nervously chewed her lip before seemingly coming to a decision. "I won't tell you that. There's just been a lot of crazy things going on and people are on edge. I'm sorry for what Damon did and I'm sorry if he scared you." She pulled up outside of Kenzie's house who pushed open the door to the car and got out, turning to poke her head back into the car.
"I don't want your apology. I want Damon to stay the hell away from me and if you or Stefan decide to get all wacky and crazy, then you can stay far, far away from me too." She slammed the car door, walking into her house.
… … …