Disclaimer: See prologue
... ... ...
But it's Not my time,
I'm not going.
There's a fear in me,
And it's not showing.
This could be the end of me.
and everything I know,
ooh but I won't go.
When she woke, she thought for sure she would be spending the day by herself. Elena had sent her a text asking if she wanted to go to some picnic for some historical society but there was no way in hell that was going to happen. She really needed to get some real friends, that weren't vampires, or witches, or doppelgangers because she was getting lonely. She hadn't heard from anyone else besides that text from Elena and had heard nothing from Damon. Not that she cared. Damon was definitely on her shit list at the moment.
Elena ended up calling her a bit later in the day sounding panicked. "We need your help."
"We?"
"Yes. Damon and Stefan were caught, the deputies are dead because Caroline killed them and now her mom knows about her and Damon is threatening to kill her, which is freaking Caroline out."
Kenzie rubbed at her temples. "Why do you need my help?"
"With Damon? Please don't let him kill Caroline's mom."
Kenzie saw red. "What the fuck, Elena. All I ever hear from you now is we need help with keeping Damon in check. Stop him from doing something, please? Drop whatever you're doing because you're Damon's handler. News flash, he's in love with you, so you tell him, I'm sure he'll do whatever you ask, you only have to manipulate him again. In fact, why not ask him to jump, I'm sure his response would be how high. I don't like being used."
"Unless it's for sex?" Elena shot back. There was a momentary silence before she spoke again. "I'm sorry, that was out of line."
"And completely true but sex is awesome and that's okay because there is using on both sides so that part is not a big deal. Using me otherwise, not cool. Goodbye Elena."
She hung up the phone, not feeling bad in the least. Her phone rang again and she picked it up without looking at the call display.
"I said to do your own dirty work. If you don't want him killing anyone, then you tell him, it's not my job."
"Um, Mackenzie." An uncertain voice said.
"Oh. You're not… who is this?"
"Tyler. Tyler Lockwood. Is this a bad time?"
"No, sorry, I was dealing with old squad business. It's just a term, don't worry about it. What can I do for you?"
He was quiet for a moment before finally speaking. "There's this event happening at my house. A masquerade ball for charity."
"God this town has a lot of events."
"You're telling me." He replied with a snort. "Look, Jeremy gave me your number and I was wondering if maybe you wanted to be my date."
"Me?"
And suddenly her loneliness had found a cure.
"Yes, you. I know you're new and well, I can't stand most of the girls in town and you're a really good kisser."
She laughed, remembering when she had kissed him at the carnival to prove a point to Damon. "Thanks, I think. But yes, I'll go."
"I know the guy is supposed to pick up the girl and whatnot but since this is my house, I was wondering-"
"If I could meet you there? Yes, that's not a problem, I'll see you there Tyler."
She hung up with a huge grin on her face.
Yay, she loved parties.
… … …
The night of the masquerade, Kenzie was getting a ride from her dad to the Lockwood's. He was going for a while as much as he didn't want to but knew he had to be somewhat involved in the town, especially since no one from any of the founding families would let him do otherwise. She never told him about her date, just that she was meeting up with some friends and she was okay with that because he would more than likely comment about her outfit. She was wearing a short emerald green dress that fit her like a second glove paired with sparkly silver platform stilettos. Her mask was Silver with green trim and she had done her makeup to match. She straightened her hair, opting to put it half up. Not like anyone wouldn't know it was her under the mask. There wasn't any other 5 feet nothing redheads walking around town that she had seen.
When they arrived, she gave her dad a quick kiss on the cheek before walking towards the house, grinning when she saw Tyler there waiting for her.
"Shouldn't you be wearing a mask?" She asked.
He grinned holding up his mask. "I was just waiting for you. You look really great."
"Thanks, it was nice of you to call and invite me."
He slipped his mask on before holding out an arm for her to take. "Shall we?"
She nodded, taking his arm as he led her through the house into the backyard. They walked down the steps and someone jostled Tyler, causing her to bump into someone else who was standing on the steps.
"Sorry." She told them as they continued on the steps.
"Redbird?"
She looked back at the person she hit, looking through the mask to see the almost unnatural light blue eyes behind it.
"Damon." She said by way of greeting before looking at his companion and realizing it was Stefan. She gave him a small nod which he returned with a smile.
"You're here with Lockwood?"
"yes." She replied. "He called and asked me out, so I said yes."
His eyes glittered dangerously. "Can I speak with you a minute?"
"No." She replied.
"Actually, Matt's waving at me." Tyler told her. "Will you be okay for a few minutes?"
She nodded with an inaudible sigh, knowing she would have no choice but to talk to Damon now. Tyler walked back up the stairs and Damon was at her side, holding out an arm for her. She ignored it, and continued down the steps.
"You know, that dress leaves very little to the imagination. It looks painted on."
"What do you want?"
"Haven't heard from you in a while."
She rolled her eyes as he turned her around, taking one of her hands and wrapping an arm around her as they began moving across the floor.
"You've missed a lot Redbird."
"I don't care." She replied. "I never really wanted anything to do with this anyways."
"Oh come on, you're not the least bit curious about what's going on."
"No." she replied, even though she was super curious about everything that had happened but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
"So I heard you tell Elena off after her and Caroline saved us."
"Why is it up to me to tell you who not to kill? And why would you listen to me?"
"I… value your opinion."
Kenzie raised an eyebrow. "Right because Elena couldn't do all that. She says jump, you say how high."
Damon's eyes narrowed as he pulled her closer, causing her to gasp in surprise then pain at how tightly he was holding her. He leaned in even closer to her.
"I am not her lapdog. I don't do everything she says."
"Let me go." She whispered, her voice dangerously low.
"If I were anyone else, that might just be a little bit scary." He did loosen his grip a little though but made no move to step back. "So really, why are you here with Lockwood?"
"Because he's the only one who asked me." She snapped, feeling super annoyed. She was lonely and she was beginning to resent that feeling. "There, you happy? That's why but that's okay, he's all kinds of hot."
The hand on her waist tightened momentarily and she could see his eyes sparkling with anger. He looked away to reign in his temper before looking back at her. "So, even though you don't want to hear it, I feel I should catch you up. Mason was in cahoots with Katherine and now he's dead. Liz was compelled so doesn't remember anything-"
"Uncle furry is dead?" She asked in disbelief. "Tyler never mentioned it, in fact, no one did."
"Because everyone thinks he's in Florida." Damon explained before continuing. "the whole ripping out his heart pissed Katherine off who compelled Jenna to stab herself because Stefan and Elena didn't do what she wanted, which was break up and stay away from each other."
Kenzie's brow furrowed as she took all the information in, letting her eyes wander over the crowd. "If they're supposed to stay away from each other, why are they dancing together?"
Damon spun them around so he could see. "Because that's not Elena. Katherine promised to do something tonight so Elena isn't coming. She's staying home, completely unaware." He slowly began to drift towards the other couple.
"Damon, keep me out of this, please?"
"Ah, Damon, of course you're here too. Hi Kenzie, so great to see you." Katherine greeted when they were right beside the other couple.
"Hello Kathy. I can call you Kathy right? Since you're using my nickname?"
Katherine smirked at her. "Kathy is so common. But I see Damon told you I wasn't Elena."
"Well Elena doesn't usually dress that slutty."
"Says the girl in the skin tight dress."
Kenzie shrugged. "I never said I didn't dress slutty, just that Elena doesn't."
"How about we switch partners?" The she vamp suggested.
"How about you get bent?" Kenzie replied with a sickly sweet smile.
"Oh, this girl has bite." Katherine grinned, showing she was clearly amused.
"Well Katherine, are we going to do this my way?" Stefan interrupted them.
"Don't be rude Stefan, I'm talking to this lovely little firecracker. Tell me, how long have you and Damon been an item?"
"We're not." Kenzie snapped.
"Really?" a skeptical Katherine asked. "Because he's clearly in love with you. Almost makes me sad that he got over me so fast, it must completely break Elena's heart that he's not in love with only her anymore."
Kenzie rolled her eyes. "You struck out on that one, now excuse me, I have to go find my date."
She easily stepped away from a stunned Damon and went to turn away when Katherine quickly grabbed her and spun her around, pulling her back in close to her.
"I think you need to do this my way Stefan, I think you need to know how serious I am and what better way than to get rid of this uppity little redhead who acts like she's untouchable or something. Just because you look and act like dear great great something or other Grandma Miller doesn't mean I won't kill you."
"What are you talking about?" Kenzie asked in an almost bored voice.
"I wasn't sure at first if it was you, but I did some digging although the hair and those lovely emerald green eyes should have been a dead giveaway. I believe she got those eyes from her Daddy, Mommy had blue eyes if I remember correctly, which I do."
"Again with the huh?"
"Oh please." Katherine was now talking to the brothers. "Please tell me you guys didn't forget the Millers."
"Yes, they moved away." Stefan said.
"Wrong, they were turned not long after baby Miller was born. They ended up in the tombs with the rest of the Vampires, leaving poor baby Miller an orphan."
"Still wondering what this has to do with me." Kenzie said.
Katherine chuckled. "So clueless. I would explain but what's the point since I'm going to kill you."
There was no reaction from Kenzie and Katherine gave her a quick shake. "I said I'm going to kill you."
Damon had paused with one arm lifted towards him as he let out a small snort at Katherine's last words. "You're really beginning to suck at reading people Katherine."
"Because you're in denial over your love for her?"
"No, I'm talking about her, she doesn't think she's untouchable, she just doesn't care."
"Don't be stupid Damon." The brunette snapped. "Everyone fears death, isn't that right Kenzie?"
The redhead still didn't say anything.
"Really? Let's test that out." Katherine stepped back and placed her hand on Kenzie's spine. There was a horrific crack and Kenzie gasped at the pain then the loss of feeling in her legs. "Paralyzed from the waist down."
Kenzie saw Damon's eyes widen in horror as she felt the pressure of Katherine's hand against her neck. "And now, she's dead."
There was another horrifying crack as Damon stepped towards her in an effort to save her but it was too late
Mackenzie Madeline Miller died.
… … …