Disclaimer: See prologue
so I wasn't booed off the stage, woot woot :)
I hate these blurred lines
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
But you're a good girl
The way you grab me
Must wanna get nasty
Go ahead, get at me
… … …
Kenzie woke up the next morning feeling tired and sore. She knew they must've only gotten a couple hours of sleep and a very rigorous workout because truthfully, she was used to high school boys who were very much wham bam, I'm done, goodnight. But this hadn't been like that at all, hence the soreness she was now feeling but definitely a good kind of soreness.
She rolled over to see she was alone in bed, not that she minded but she did briefly wonder where Damon was. She got out of the bed and looked for her clothes, groaning when she picked up the tattered remains of her shirt. Luckily her skirt was intact and she moved over to Damon's closet, pulling out a button up shirt before slipping into the bathroom to take a shower. If he wanted her gone, too bad, he would have to wait until she was done getting clean or join her, she really didn't mind either way.
In the front room, Damon heard the shower start and smirked as his brother heard it too and turned to look at him, an accusatory look on his face.
"There's someone here?"
"Who?" Elena asked.
"Relax, Brother. She's fine with all this."
Stefan sighed with a small shake of his head and a disapproving look on his face. "You compelled someone." He stated.
His older brother's smirk only grew as he ignored Elena's dirty looks and turned back to Alaric. "Well?" he prompted.
Alaric slowly shook his head before answering. "All her things are still at Duke. I mean her office is still there, she's technically still missing."
"So can we get access to it? Ric, we need to know what we are dealing with. If this wolf men thing is true, I've seen enough movies to know it's not good. It means Mason Lockwood is a real life Lon Chaney and that little Tyler punk may just very well be Lon Chaney junior which means Bella Lugosi, meaning me, is totally screwed."
"Yes, we should be able to access it, no problem." Alaric told them, "I still have the keys to her office so it's really all about just going there."
"I need to stay." Stefan told them, "I have to help Caroline."
"Then we'll go." Damon announced, referring to the remaining three.
"You? Go with Elena?" Stefan was clearly skeptical about this arrangement.
"Fine, how about I bring my little friend too?" Damon suggested just as they heard the shower stopping.
"Should you really be involving more people in this?" his brother asked. "especially if they're compelled."
Damon heard his bedroom door open "You said compelled, I didn't."
Elena and Stefan exchanged a confused look just as the unknown visitor appeared in the entryway.
"Kenzie?" Elena cried in disbelief.
"Hey." The girl replied with a small wave, no trace of embarrassment on her face.
"Is that my shirt?" Damon asked. She was wearing a black button up shirt, the sleeves rolled up and the top few buttons done, the rest tied up in a knot, a few inches of skin showing, so she wasn't left swimming in it.
"Well, you ruined my other one." She told him with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait." Elena interrupted them. "You? And Damon?"
"Don't look so disgusted." Kenzie told her. "He's hot and really, really good in-"
"Please don't finish that." Stefan pleaded with her.
"I second that."
"Mr. Saltzman?" Kenzie finally realized he was there too and she almost felt embarrassed. Almost. It took a lot more than three people, including her teacher, realizing that she had slept with Damon Salvatore, to make her feel embarrassed.
"We're outside of school and here on other business, call me Alaric or Ric."
"Can I talk to you for a second?" Elena asked, after exchanging a quick look with Stefan, silently communicating with him.
"Sure." Kenzie replied as the taller girl got up and motioned for Kenzie to follow her in to another room.
"Do they not realize we could hear every word?" Damon was asking.
"Then don't listen." Stefan replied before the two girls could no longer hear them.
"Kenzie, did you really sleep with Damon?" Elena asked, concern all over her face.
"Yes." Kenzie replied.
"Why? I mean, did he compel you or something?"
"No." Kenzie held up the hand that had the ring on it. "I mean, really, I was kinda the one to attack him, not the other way around."
"You? but why?"
"Why not? Elena, I'm not one of those good girls, I haven't been a virgin for quite some time and Damon is hot. I wanted to have some fun, so I did."
"He's just using you." The brunette quietly told her. "Damon is in love with- well…."
"You? Yeah, I know."
"But you still slept with him?"
"Yes. We're both well aware of the usage of each other on both sides, it was just a little fun, chill out Elena." She went to leave but Elena grabbed her arm, moving the collar of her shirt down.
"What are you doing?"
"checking for bites."
"He didn't bite my neck, sheesh. I was very well aware of what was going on last night." Kenzie scowled, pulling her arm away and walking back out to the living room, seeing a smug smile on Damon's face.
"eavesdrop much?"
"Just a little." He replied, holding this thumb and index finger apart. "Whatcha say about a road trip Redbird?"
"I'd say, whoa slow down Damon, it's a little too soon to be taking trips together."
He grinned. "Nice one. But no, we're going to Duke to see Elena's mom's lifework."
"Duke? I thought her mom was…. Well like my mom."
"Your mom's a vampire?" Alaric asked.
"Wait, whoa, back up, what?" Kenzie looked between the three men before looking back at Elena who had entered behind her. "Your mom's a vampire?"
"My birth mother is a vampire." Elena hesitantly replied. "I was…adopted."
"Okay…" Kenzie walked further into the room, sitting down on the couch beside Alaric.
"Isobel gave me up for adoption right after she had me."
"And became a vampire?"
"That was a more recent development." The way Damon said it, Kenzie turned to give him an inquisitive look, wondering if he played a role in all that because quite frankly, it wouldn't surprise her in the least.
"Were you…?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Yup."
"That's why I came to town." Alaric told her.
"You knew her?"
"I was married to her." He explained.
"But you're not Elena's father?" Kenzie asked to make sure.
"No." Elena answered. "That would be my Uncle John."
Kenzie looked between all of them before bursting out laughing. "Seriously? Have you ever thought of going on Jerry Springer?"
"Agreed." Damon said. "Now, are you in?"
"Why me? Surely you four would be enough?"
"I have to stay to help Caroline." Stefan explained. "she needs help."
"Okay and what's wrong with you three going?" Kenzie asked, looking at the remaining three.
"My brother, doesn't trust me with Elena."
"So you want me to play chaperone with Alaric?" She tried her hardest to keep a straight face but wasn't very successful. She had a huge grin on her face as she agreed to go with them.
Everyone decided to go home and change, deciding to meet at Elena's when they were done.
… … …
"Sorry you can't come too, Stef." Damon told his brother with a mock pout as him and Elena reached the car.
Stefan ignored him, grabbing Elena around the waist. "Call me if you need anything."
"Oh, I'll take really good care of her." Damon leered before doubling over as Kenzie appeared, whacking him in the stomach.
"You're such a dog." She said, sticking her tongue out at him
"I didn't hear you complaining last night." He reminded her.
"Or in the early morning hours." She said with a quick raise of her eyebrows.
"I'm so glad I wasn't home last night." Stefan muttered.
"I'll miss you." Elena whispered, grabbing Stefan and kissing him hard.
Kenzie watched Damon, who was trying not to look at the kissing couple because she could tell it was really bugging him.
"Time to go." Damon announced, wanting to break them up.
The two pulled apart and Elena went to get in the back but was nudged to the front seat by Damon who got into the back beside Kenzie.
"So what did you tell your dad?" He asked as Alaric pulled out onto the road.
"That I was going to Duke because their cheerleading squad is scouting me and I wanted to check out the campus."
"He actually bought that?" Damon asked.
"It could happen." She replied in defense.
The two looked at each other before bursting out laughing.
"Why is the thought of you going to university so laughable?" Alaric asked, glancing at her in the rear view mirror.
"Because I hate school." She replied with a shrug, not even sounding sorry for saying so in front of her teacher. "Besides, I had to repeat my sophomore year, schools don't look too highly on that."
"Some will, especially if you're grades are good enough and if someone really is scouting you for cheerleading."
Another small shrug from the little redhead. "Yes, well, if my dad asks, that's exactly what's happening here, plus a good word put in by my History teacher who knows people on the admissions board. I think he was just so relieved that I showed any kind of interest in college that he jumped all over it. Doesn't even think it's weird that I'm going with a teacher."
"or creepy?" Damon asked with a smirk before leaning forward to grasp Elena's shoulder. "How are you doing up there? You know, this whole pretending to hate me thing is getting a little silly."
"I don't think she's pretending." Alaric pointed out. "You did kill her brother."
"There is a huge asterisk next to that statement: he came back to life."
"Yeah, thanks to a ring you didn't know he was wearing." Elena muttered, refusing to turn around.
"Oh come on, Why are you so sure I didn't know? Redbird vouched for me, would she lie to you?"
"Kenzie also told me what a great liar she is." Elena told him, turning around to look between the two in the back.
"Yeah, it's true, I did tell Elena that." Kenzie confirmed.
"So was she lying?" Elena asked, looking at Damon.
"No."
"You're lying." She accused him before turning to Kenzie. "Well?"
"Think about what I also said when I told you how well I lie. I only do things that benefit me. How would me lying for Damon benefit me?"
"He offered you something?" the other girl guessed. "Promised not to kill you if you lied for him?"
Kenzie and Damon exchanged another look, trying to hold back their laughter at the last part.
"My threatening to kill her wouldn't do anything." Damon explained. "Redbird needs to fear death in order for that to work."
"Are you telling me that's true?" Elena asked. "How could she not fear death?"
"It's this weird thing, hard to explain." Kenzie waved her off, not wanting to get into that particular story.
Elena stared at her for a few moments before turning back to the front, leaving the two in the back seat to their own devices. Damon kept pushing Kenzie's hair off her neck, leaning in to playfully nip at it once in a while. Every time he did that, she pulled away sent him a quick glare and rearranged her hair, only to have him do it all over again a few minutes later. His hand began to creep up her leg and she pushed him off with a laugh.
"You jerk, can you not in the car? I know you're trying to make Elena jealous but I really don't feel like being felt up in front of my friend and teacher."
"you're no fun." Was Damon's petulant reply as Elena turned around again.
"How could this not make you mad Kenzie?" She asked. "He's blatantly using you and you're just laughing it off."
"it works both ways." The redhead shrugged with a small smile. "Not like I'm in love with him."
"Yet." Damon said with a small smirk.
She leaned over and pinched his cheek. "Of course, right about the time you fall in love with me, right baby?" She finished the last part in a ridiculous baby voice and he swatted her hand away.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Right back atcha." She shot back.
"Why can't we be there already?" Alaric said with a groan.
When they finally arrived at the university, Alaric led them through the department to Isobel's office. "So Isobel was officially employed by the anthropology department given that most paranormal phenomenon is rooted in folklore."
They walked into the office, a tall slim young woman was at a filing cabinet, going through some files.
"Excuse me, hi. I'm Alaric Saltzman, I called earlier."
The woman looked up with a friendly smile, faltering when her eyes landed on Elena. "Yes, of course. I'm Vanessa Monroe, research assistant comparative folklore. Uh, let me just grab Isobel's keys"
"These are my friends Elena, Mackenzie and Damon. I hope this isn't too much of an imposition."
Vanessa waved him off as she motioned for them to follow, "Oh please, Isobel's office is right through there. Isobel was one of my first professors. I'm a grad student, she was brilliant and one of the reasons I went into folklore. Uh I have to ask, has there been any news?"
"No, I'm afraid not." Alaric hoarsely replied.
"It's this way." Vanessa looked away, holding up keys and moving towards another door, unlocking it and walking inside. "I'll grab the light, feel free to look around. It's fascinating isn't it?"
She left and the four spread out through the room, Kenzie glancing at some shelves near Elena, trying not to look bored out of her skull.
"Where did she go?" Damon asked, referring to Vanessa.
Kenzie looked up as Vanessa reappeared in the room, a crossbow in her hands, pointed at Elena.
"Damon." She called out a warning as Vanessa shot an arrow and Kenzie pushed Elena out of the way, leaving her open to the attack.
She watched the arrow come closer and it seemed to be moving in slow motion, then Damon was looking down at her and he let out a small noise of pain before slowly crumbling. Kenzie reached out, grabbing him under the arms as he fell against her, pinning her to the book shelf, Elena grabbed Damon under one arm, helping him to a nearby table he could lean against. Alaric, who had rushed Vanessa just after and pinned her against the wall, grabbed her arm and dragged her into another room.
"Pull it out." Damon grunted as Elena hovered over him, hesitantly reaching for the arrow before pulling her hand back.
"I can't reach it Elena." He impatiently called. "just pull the damn thing out. It hurts."
Him admitting something hurt, spurred Kenzie into action who stepped over to them and grabbed the arrow, yanking it out of his back.
Damon shook off the pain and stood up straight. "That bitch is dead."
"You're not gonna kill her." Elena said, stepping in front of him.
"Watch me." Damon shot back, moving past her.
"You touch her and I swear I will never speak to you again." Elena spun around as Damon stopped and turned back to her.
"What makes you think that has any power over me? Because you think I took an arrow in the back for you? I was actually protecting Redbird, so you're severely overestimating yourself."
Kenzie only raised an eyebrow at him not believing him for a second.
"Right." Elena said, throwing her arms up in the air. "I forgot that I was speaking to a psychotic mind who snaps and kills people impulsively. Fine, go ahead, do whatever you want."
Damon shot her a knowing smile. "you're trying to manipulate me."
Elena responded with a dirty look. "If by "manipulate" you mean "tell the truth" okay, guilty."
"Oh give it up." Kenzie rolled her eyes, placing her hands on her hips. "Elena, you so are trying to and instead of doing that, why don't you ask him not to kill her instead of telling him not to."
"This isn't something you should ask. You shouldn't have to ask anyone to not kill someone." Elena argued.
"But this is Damon we're talking about, so asking might help."
"The bitch shot me, so I'm going to kill her." Damon confirmed, moving into the other room.
Elena looked at Kenzie, making a 'do something' gesture. The redhead flashed a quick smirk and followed after Damon, grabbing his arm before he could really scare Vanessa.
"Please don't?" She told him.
"And what makes you more special then Elena?" Damon asked.
"Nothing but please don't kill her?"
"Oh? And why shouldn't I?"
Kenzie noticed Alaric and Vanessa watching the whole conversation, Vanessa's emotions played on her face as they talked about her fate, looking relieved that both girls were now all for Damon not killing her. Kenzie only grinned as she stepped further towards the girl on the couch and Damon suddenly understood that her evil little mind was at work.
"Fine, I won't." Damon said, noticing the look of relief on Vanessa, Elena and Alaric's face, as well as surprise on Elena's that he would listen to Kenzie and not her.
"Good." Kenzie's grin grew as she turned to look at Vanessa who was now looking at her with worry on her face.
"I'm Elena Gilbert, Isobel's daughter and a descendant of Katherine Pierce." Elena explained. "And this is Mackenzie Miller, a descendant of a founding family and Damon Salvatore who you just shot."
"I'd be extra nice to me right now." Damon warned her.
Elena rolled her eyes at him "Look, we need your help okay? We need to see all of Isobel's research, anything related to Mystic Falls."
Vanessa nodded, glancing at Alaric, who stepped back and she stood up, "I'll get all the information we have for you."
She motioned for them to follow and they did as Vanessa led them into another room and began pulling out boxes for them to look through. Kenzie groaned, not overly excited about having to search through stuff that she really couldn't care less about.
"This box checks Katherine's arrival to Mystic Falls in April of 1864." Vanessa announced, placing a box in front of Elena.
The brunette teen opened to box to look through it. "Is that all there is about her?"
"That I'm aware of."
"it better be good." Damon whispered to Kenzie as they looked through some things in another room.
"What?" She asked with big innocent eyes.
"Hey, I refrained from killing her for you so whatever you have planned better be good." He said with a scowl, before holding up a finger to quiet her.
"Does Vervain really work?" Vanessa was asking Elena.
"No." Damon called out so they could hear.
Kenzie bit back a smile.
"Can he hear us?" Vanessa asked.
"No, that would be creepy." He stage whispered, causing Kenzie to let out a small snort of laughter. Even she could hear them, they weren't exactly being quiet.
"Can he read minds too?"
"You know, if you want to see me naked, all you have to do is ask." Damon told her.
"Um no, I don't think so." Kenzie said. "not quite done with the using here."
"Are those two… together?" Vanessa asked. "Is she a- a Vampire?"
"No, she isn't and they have this whole…thing…"
"It's called Fuck buddies." Kenzie yelled, with the intent of making everyone uncomfortable.
Damon smirked at them giving them a small wave as he gave the door a small push so it closed, leaving him and Kenzie alone in the tiny office. He grabbed her from behind and quickly turned her, placing her on the desk. She let out a small shriek of laughter as he did so and from the other room, they could hear Vanessa's cry of dismay.
"That's my desk, they better not be having sex on my desk."
"I'm tempted to take you right here, right now just to piss her off" Damon said with a wicked smile as his fingers ghosted up her arms and the side of her face before running them through her hair, grabbing a fistful and yanking her head back. She let out a small noise of excitement, her eyes glazing over.
"Better yet, I think you want me to take you right here, right now on this desk."
"What was your first clue?" She asked, leaning up to give him a quick kiss so she could nip at his bottom lip.
"A pity you changed out of my shirt from earlier." He murmured, one hand moving down her neck and the front of her body. "That would've been fun getting you out of."
"You better not be having sex." Elena griped, pounding on the door.
"And for the record, I knew I was saving you and not Elena." He whispered in her ear.
Elena opened the door just moments later to see Kenzie sitting on the desk, one leg crossed over the other as she read an ancient looking book. Damon was on the other side of the room, looking through another box.
"What, did that get you all bothered?" Damon asked the brunette.
"No but we're here looking for information."
"geez Elena, take a joke." Kenzie said with a roll of her eyes as she hopped off the desk. "The moment I landed on the desk, there was a book in my hand, he's just trying to goad you and obviously it worked." She handed the book off to Elena who began to argue with Damon, leaving Kenzie to exit the office and leaving her momentarily alone with Vanessa.
"Thanks, for getting him to not kill me." The university student said with a small smile.
Kenzie glanced around to see Alaric far enough away and she smiled back, picking up a letter opener shaped like a tiny dagger and holding it up to Vanessa as she pushed the girl back against the wall. Vanessa pushed herself into the wall as much as she could, her breath hitching in her throat as she stared down at the letter opener held at her neck.
"I thought she was Katherine." Vanessa whimpered, trying to explain.
"Yes." Kenzie heard Damon's shout of triumph as him and Elena took in the scene, her and Alaric calling her name.
"Lucky for you I was there, huh?" Kenzie said, noticing out of the corner of her eye that Damon was holding the other two back. "I mean, you almost hit me, which I really could care less about, but that caused Damon to take the arrow for me and you were pretty damn close to his heart."
"He's a vampire." Vanessa gasped, "I know what they're capable of."
"Except I find this particular vampire pretty cool and you wouldn't even be alive right now if you had that arrow just a couple inches higher." Kenzie hissed. "You were lucky this time but try any stupid shit like that again? I won't slit your throat with this, I will use it to slowly cut out your spleen and feed it to you in tiny little pieces, got it?"
The woman gulped before finally giving a slow imperceptible nod. Kenzie backed off, dropping the letter opener onto the nearest table with a big cheerleader smile. "Good, I'm glad we understand each other, now tell me, what's the cheerleading program like here?"
Behind her, Damon burst out laughing.
… … …