Disclaimer: See prologue.
AN: soooo we still have some readers?
and on another note, you should know that I have published my original fiction. epub anyways. It's available at Smashwords and is shipping to all retailers this week. I currently have 25% sample for free and it's only 99 cents to buy right now, if you're interested, let me know, I'll send you the link. or you can go to my profile page and follow the links. It's been "shipped" to all major retailers. The book is called Cursed. the author is C.D. Blaire so look for it on any ebooks site. let me know what you think.
thanks
... ... ...
Speaking of heaven, she looked like a god on earth
It was something I could not understand, or explain
I mean you
Don't know
The things I do for you while you are out cold
The things I do for you will lead to my breakdown
And I'm still curious
Kenzie woke up the next morning to a phone ringing and a body hitting the floor.
"Hello?" Elena sleepily answered.
"Elena." Caroline complained as Bonnie let out a groan.
The brunette crawled out of the room and Kenzie let out her own groan as she lifted up her upper body to look around. She had fallen asleep on the end of the bed, while the other three girls were squished together at the top. Kenzie looked over at them just as Caroline caught sight of her and burst out laughing. Bonnie lifted her head and upon seeing Kenzie, began giggling.
"Your hair." Caroline gasped in between laughter as Elena crawled back into the room.
"What's so funny?" She asked with a yawn before catching sight of Kenzie and giggling madly.
"And this is why I never have sleepovers." Kenzie griped, lifting her arms and trying to make a part through her wild curls so the girls could see her glaring at them. "My hair has a mind of its own. We both share a body and have come to an understanding, which includes letting it do whatever the hell it wants in the morning, so nyeah."
The girls finally stopped giggling as Kenzie fought with her hair only to fall off the edge of the bed, setting the girls off into another round of giggles. They heard her muttering and finally her head popped up, a bright cheery smile on her face.
"So, what's for breakfast?"
"As much as I would love to stay, Stefan and I are heading up to the lake house for some alone time." Elena announced, gathering up her clothes.
"Boo, you whore. what about you guys?" Kenzie looked hopefully at the other two girls.
"Why don't we head to the Grill?" Bonnie suggested. "I'm starving too."
"Yay." Kenzie jumped up with a small clap of her hands. "See Bonnie? We could totally get along."
The witch smiled at her, happy that they were getting along now. The redhead wasn't so bad once you got past the snarkiness and their difference of opinions when it came to Vampires or Damon in general. She had seen a softer side of Kenzie, one she wouldn't mind getting to know.
The girls changed into their clothes for the day and split up outside of Caroline's house. Elena going to meet up with Stefan and the other three going to the Mystic Grill. They made small talk on the way there and when they were sitting down, Bonnie looked between the two of them.
"I have a plan." She announced. "I think I'll need your help. We still don't know what Elijah is up to."
"No, we don't." Caroline agreed.
"So I'm gonna ask Luka to tell me what he knows."
"Who's Luka?" Kenzie interrupted them, knowing she was still missing parts of the story.
"Oh." Caroline exclaimed. "the guy who did the mind thingy to the werewolves, Luka is his son, who seemed to be crushing on Bonnie only to learn that they are working for Elijah."
Kenzie shook her head in disbelief. "Sometimes, I feel like I'm in a Soap Opera."
"Trust me, so do we." Caroline said with a nod. "but Bon, I don't think he's gonna tell you anything."
"I didn't say he was gonna have a choice." The witch replied with a devious smile.
"your cool factor just shot up like, a million." Kenzie told her.
Caroline looked past her and waved at someone and she turned to see Matt walk by and totally snub her.
"What was that about?" Bonnie asked
The blonde frowned as she watched Matt walk away "Uh, I don't know. I thought that we were..." She stopped, letting out a sigh with a small shake of her head. "I don't know."
"Go talk to him." Kenzie suggested.
Caroline nodded, still staring at Matt as she stood up and made her way towards him. The two girls watched briefly before turning back to each other.
"So what's your plan?"Kenzie asked.
"Kill him with kindness." Bonnie replied. "show up with a peace offering, let him take said peace offering and it will knock him out, then I have a spell to learn what I need to."
"Where are you going to do that?" Kenzie asked. "here's a little obvious."
"I know." Bonnie replied with a frown, "I'm still working out the details, we'll get it."
"Give me a few and I'm sure- hey" She stood up, seeing Tyler had entered, making a beeline for Caroline. "I don't want him anywhere near her." She hissed as her hands began to shake, remembering what she had to do last night to save her friends.
"Kenzie, it's okay." Bonnie replied, shooting her a worried look.
"Did you see that? He bumped her, then pocketed her phone. Why would he steal her phone? Tell Caroline, I'm gonna follow him."
She left in a rush before Bonnie could stop her and followed Tyler outside, chasing him across the parking lot as he made his way into the woods. Kenzie contemplated calling out to him but stopped as he met up with a group of people. That group being Jules and the werewolves that were still alive. She stayed as far back as she dared, watching them as Tyler pulled out Caroline's phone and typed out a message, waiting a few moments before speaking.
"She's going to Dunham lake. Her family has a house up there."
"Nice. Let's go get our doppelganger." The guy who had tortured her and Caroline announced.
Kenzie slipped away, calling Elena, then Stefan when she was back on the street. Neither answered and she let out a noise of frustration as she called Damon.
"Redbird." He said by way of greeting.
"Hi." She replied. "I can't get a hold of Stelena."
"Stelena?" he asked in amusement.
"Celebrity couple name to shorten my explanation which you totally ruined by making me explain it. But I can't get a hold of them and well, we have-"
"I swear if you say a problem, I'm going to rip out someone's spine." He groaned.
"Where are you?" Kenzie asked.
"At the Lockwood's, keeping an eye on Elijah."
Kenzie sighed, tiredly rubbing at her forehead. "Okay, let me give you the short version. Tyler pocketed Caroline's phone, I followed him, he met up with Jules and that asshole who shot me and basically found out where Stelena are going and they know she's the doppelganger."
"Why am I not surprised they're still in town?"
"Because they're complete dumbasses? What do I do?"
"Keep trying them? Go up there to warn them? I can't leave here just yet."
"That's a big no, unless it's walking distance. I don't drive, Damon."
"You don't?" He asked in confusion. "How did I not know this? Look, just, go back to the Grill, hang out with your friends and keep trying them. How many wolves were there?"
"4 including Tyler, maybe a few more that I couldn't see?"
"I somehow doubt they're all going up there, they need the moonstone and the doppelganger. Stefan can handle who ever ends up there, just keep trying them. I'll deal with whoever is left after this stupid tea."
"I really doubt Elijah is going to do anything with the whole council there."
"I want to know more about him."
"Hi, you came." A female voice cried, then she heard the sound of a kiss being exchanged.
"Oh god, Damon. Who are you making out with now, is it Rose?"
"Rose took off while you were all feverish. I'm sure she's in Antarctica by now."
"So much for wanting to help. Wait so who is it?"
"Hold on." The noise around him dimmed. "She's my cover for being here, that's all. It's the news reporter, she had to interview Elijah, I'm using her to get closer. I haven't slept with her or anything."
Kenzie grew quiet as she tried to mull this over in her mind, wondering just why the thought of him kissing someone bothered her and why him announcing he hadn't slept with her made her sigh in relief.
"Kenzie? Red? Still there?"
"Yes." She confirmed. "Look, Damon, you don't owe me an explanation, it doesn't matter if you slept with her or not, F.B.'s and all that, ya know?"
"Yeah." He quietly replied. "Look, just, keep trying, try Tyler, even. As much as I hate him, he might not know what the hell they plan to do to Elena and if he does, then so kindly remind him what I'll do to him. It involves a dull spoon and digging out his kidney."
"I like it." Kenzie replied. "Can I meet you at your place? Bonnie and Caroline are doing this whole, trying to get Luka to talk thing with her witchiness and they really don't need me around too."
He sighed and Kenzie had the slightest feeling he didn't really want her too. "Look, if you don't want me-"
"Red? Shut up. Go home, do whatever girly things you need to do and meet me at my place in a couple hours."
She grinned. "Kay, talk to you later."
She tried Stefan and Elena again and left both a message, letting them know that the wolves would be making an appearance and to call her back for more information. After, she tried Caroline's phone, doubting Tyler would pick up and it rang before going to voicemail. Tyler's phone went directly to voicemail and Kenzie sighed before typing out a quick message to Caroline's phone.
Tyler, I know you have Caroline's phone, I saw you take it.
A few moments later, a message came back. 'This doesn't concern you, I don't want to be like this anymore.'
'It concerned me the moment that bitch Jules took a huge chunk out of me the night of the full moon.'
'She bit you? Oh man, look I had no idea. But they don't want the vampires to break the curse.'
Kenzie frowned, if she remembered correctly, the curse being broken would mean that Elena would have to die. She typed out another message.
'We don't want the curse broken.'
'Stop lying to me. I'm sick of the lies, don't you think I don't know what's going on?'
'Tyler, did they tell you that in order to break the curse, Elena has to die? Don't you think that your wolves are also going to kill her? Think about it.'
She waited but he didn't respond and she hoped he was either stopping the plan, or coming up with a way to stop it. She reached her house and decided to hop in the shower and get ready. After doing her hair and makeup and slipping into a short green skirt and black top, she began rummaging around in her dresser, looking for her green bracelet that she wanted to wear. She couldn't remember where she had left it, or if it even got unpacked so when she couldn't find it on her dresser, she tried her desk. She opened up the top drawer, moving some things around and froze when she found a cell phone. Kenzie pulled it out of the drawer, remembering she had found it her first week here but had shut it off and immediately forgotten about it.
Now, she turned it on but there were no new messages. She stared at it, jumping when it began to vibrate, indicating a message had just come in from a blocked number.
Are you prepared to do whatever you need to?
Completely spooked, Kenzie ran to the window and stared outside, hoping to see something. She knew someone was watching her and it was creepy. They had to have seen her turn the phone on, like they had been waiting for her. Oh god, what if they were watching her change? Ick. The phone buzzed again and she looked down at it.
If you want to know more, keep this phone close.
She was tempted to drop it and stomp on it but instead, closed it, slipping it into her purse. She threw on some boots, deciding she was leaving to go see Damon now. Maybe he would have a clue about her creepy phone stalker.
When she got to his house, the door was open and she hesitated outside the threshold, contemplating whether she should go in or not. She poked her head in and seeing nothing amiss, quietly crept into the house, picking up her phone and dialing Damon. She heard it ringing inside the house and a female voice speaking, a voice she hated with a passion by now.
"Ugh, it's Damon's little redheaded whore. Maybe we should invite her to the party what do you think?"
"I think if you ever touch her again, I will hunt down everything and everyone you hold dear and make you watch as I kill each and every one of them slowly and painfully."
"Wow, she really is your soft spot, huh? Funny, considering everything I read about you, caring is not really your forte."
Kenzie heard Damon's cry of pain and immediately looked around for a weapon, finding only a sword, the one he had used the night she was bitten. She picked it up then flattened herself against the wall, crouching down and peeking around the corner, her jaw dropping at seeing Alaric on the floor, supposedly dead and Damon bound to a chair, some type of collar with wooden spikes around his neck that dug into his skin whenever someone yanked on the chains.
"So where's the Moonstone?" Jules asked Damon.
"Oh, if you only knew the irony of this moment right now." Damon said with a low chuckle. "Let me tell you how this is gonna go. You're gonna torture me, I don't talk, someone loses a heart. Last time, it was your boy Mason."
Jules moved closer to glare at him. "This time, it's going to be you."
The guy holding the chains yanked on them and Damon let out another yell of pain as he gritted his teeth and glared at him. Kenzie slapped a hand over her mouth so as not to cry out. She wanted to charge out there, sword swinging and hoping to take a couple of them out before they killed her but it still wouldn't free Damon and she had to make sure that happened first.
Someone handed Jules a shotgun and she leaned on it as she glared at Damon. "You know what the great thing about buckshot is? It scatters through the body, maximum damage." She lifted the gun, aiming it at him. "Where's the moonstone?"
Damon let out a small snort as he smirked at her. "Get over it, honey. You're never gonna get it."
Kenzie knew she didn't have a choice now, she would have to go in there and start swinging, she would have to trust that Damon would get himself out to finish saving her.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and stood up, lifting the sword and ready to charge in when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around, dropping the sword in shock at seeing Elijah there. He grabbed the sword before it hit the ground and gave her a kind smile, before holding a finger to his lips, to tell her to be quiet. She only nodded, staring at him with wide eyes as he walked past her into the living room, motioning for her to follow.
"You looking for this?" Elijah asked.
Everyone turned to look at them and she saw Damon's confused look at Elijah being there before seeing Kenzie. She saw his eyes widen a bit but she gave him an imperceptible shake of her head, wanting him to stay quiet.
Elijah stepped forward and placed the moonstone on a table with a flourish of his hand before stepping back and motioning to the wolves. "Go ahead and take it."
One wolf rushed forward but Elijah used his speed to meet him, ripping out his heart in the process. Two more guys rushed him and he ripped both of their hearts out too. Kenzie's eyes widened as she let out a small noise of horror, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. She threatened many people with removing internal organs, had watched the Elijah pull out Vampire Hearts from behind but seeing it actually being done over and over on what really looked like humans, left her a little green. She glanced at Damon, who actually had an impressed look on his face and she shook her head with a small roll of her eyes, stepping towards him so she could release him.
Jules took off, using her supernatural speed and knocked into Kenzie, sending the tiny teen flying. She was caught by Elijah, who gently placed her on the ground with a small smile before turning to the remaining wolf, who was now curled up into a ball trying to look as small as possible.
"What about you, sweetheart, hmm? You want to take a shot? Yes, no, yes?" Elijah's hand hovered over the guys chest who shook his head, looking terrified. "Where did the girl go?"
"I don't know." Damon replied. "She hit Red while she was taking off, probably to hide."
"It doesn't really matter." Elijah replied, swinging his fist back and punching the wolf in the face, snapping his neck in the same instant and killing him.
"Sick." Kenzie whispered, staring half in horror and half in awe.
Elijah smiled at her again as he grabbed the chains, yanking them off Damon. He stepped back, raising an eyebrow at Damon. "you realize this is the third time I've saved your life now?"
Damon's eyes narrowed as he stared at the Original Vampire who only stepped further back, turning so he could grab the moonstone.
"Thank you." Kenzie called out to him and he stopped turning to face her with an indecipherable look on his face. "I know you and Elena have this deal but thank you, for saving him."
His head tilted to the side and when Kenzie blinked, he was suddenly standing in front of her. She only looked at him, no fear on her face.
"You are the decoy Doppelganger from Richmond, are you not?"
"I'm a twin and the evil one so technically, a doppelganger, if that helps."
"Shut up." Damon groaned.
"But you are not the Petrova Doppelganger. You do not fear me." Elijah noted. "You almost tried to take the wolves on with a sword, one you did not know how to use and yet you did not fear that although it would have meant your death."
"That one's not quite right in the head." Damon drawled. "A little damaged, doesn't know when to be scared."
"It's actually quite refreshing." Elijah told her, lifting her hand to place a kiss on the back of it. "I am Elijah."
"I know." She replied, "I'm Mackenzie, Kenzie actually."
"Mackenzie. What a pretty name for a beautiful girl. The pleasure is all mine."
Kenzie bit her lip to stop the smile threatening to break through. "Are you flirting with me?" She glanced at Damon. "Check me out, an original Vampire is flirting with me. That's like, celebrity level in the supernatural world, isn't it?"
Damon groaned again.
"You are a breath of fresh air. Until we meet again Mackenzie." He turned and grabbed the moonstone before leaving.
"What if he had killed you?" Damon asked with a scowl as she moved towards him, trying to help him out of the collar that was still around his neck.
"Pretty sure I'm on Elena's do not kill list, at least I hope I am" She told him, watching as he ripped the collar off. "Oh god, your neck."
He shrugged it off, "I've already had a pencil driven through my neck thanks to your new boyfriend."
Kenzie rolled her eyes. "Please, he was probably trying to piss you off and I can't believe it worked. So, is Ric dead?"
"No, he has a fancy ring, he'll be alive soon, Stay here, I'm going to get blood." He left and his phone started ringing. Kenzie looked at the call display and picked up.
"Hey Bonnie."
"Kenzie, everything okay? Where's Damon?"
"Getting a snack from the basement. There was an issue with some wolves, then Elijah was here and he killed them and I think he was flirting with me."
"You're turning into a Vampire magnet like Elena."
Kenzie laughed. "I can't help it if I'm irresistible."
"Of course, I really do need to talk with Damon though."
"No prob, here he is."
Damon finished drinking from the blood pack and took the phone from her, talking to Bonnie for a few minutes before hanging up.
"Great."
"What?"
"Elijah is only keeping Elena alive right now so he can kill her."
"What? But I thought he was supposed to protect us."
"Yes. Us. Not her."
They both looked over at Alaric who was groaning as he sat up.
"Finally." Damon huffed "You missed all the fun."
Alaric ignored him as he sat up and reached for his phone. Damon motioned to Kenzie to help him roll up the blood stained carpet.
"Ew, gross. No."
"Seriously?" He asked in disbelief.
"Seriously." She confirmed. "You're a Vampire, use your strength and do it."
He glared at her before rolling it up himself and leaving the room with it just as Alaric finished his phone call. He gingerly got to his feet, telling Kenzie to tell Damon he would talk to them tomorrow before letting himself out.
Her phone rang and she picked it up, huffing when Stefan greeted her.
"Finally. Did you get my messages? Are you guys okay? Did they show?"
"Yes." Stefan replied. "Brady and Tyler were here. Brady shot me and went after Elena and Tyler confirmed with me what you had told him and I killed Brady. We're both okay. What happened there?"
Kenzie quickly gave him a rundown of events but passed the phone off to Damon so he could tell his brother about the conversation with Bonnie. When he hung up, he turned to her.
"You were seriously coming in here to try and rescue me with a sword?"
"well, maybe not rescue you. Just distract them so when they come after me, you would be free to save me."
He gave her a look. "Your logic is dumb."
"Yes, 'cause her shooting you was a great idea."
He grabbed her arms, pulling her closer to stare at her. "Stop trying to save me, you're going to get yourself killed."
She pulled away from him with a scowl. "I'll stop when you stop."
"Don't be stupid."
"Then you don't be stupid."
He grabbed her arms again, staring hard at her. "Kenzie, I have lived for over 160 years. Whatever happens, happens. But you, you haven't even begun yet, stop trying to throw it all away."
Her face flushed red as she glared at him, her voice getting louder. "I'm not purposely doing it but I'm not just going to stand around while someone tries to kill you."
"Why do you care so much?" He yelled.
"Because I lo-" She stopped, her nose wrinkling in confusion as if she had forgotten what she was going to say. And she had. She knew they were fighting about saving each other and she had been about to tell him why but it was like her mind had gone momentarily blank.
"Because you're my best friend." She lamely replied.
Damon's grip had tightened in shock when she almost said what he was pretty sure would be a declaration of love, but that was impossible.
He pulled her closer, crushing her against his chest. "Oh Redbird, don't die for me, it's not worth it."
She mumbled something against his chest and he loosened his grip so she could pull away. She did, sending him a glare. "I won't get the chance if you decide to kill me by smothering. But as I was so eloquently mumbling into your chest. I beg to differ."
He rolled his eyes, stepping away as he grabbed her hand, pulling her along to his bedroom. "I need a shower, care to join?"
"Sure you don't want to call Andie? I'm sure she would love to join you."
"You're lucky green looks so good on you."
"I'm so not jealous. I just don't see why you have to use your mind thingy to compel her into thinking you're having wild crazy monkey sex. You don't need her for anything, you can find other ways."
He pulled her into his bedroom, walking her back until her legs were against the bed when he pushed her down, hovering over her.
"What bugs you so much? The fact that she thinks we're a hot and heavy item? Or the fact that I compelled her?"
Her mouth opened before snapping shut as she glared at him, pushing him away so she could sit up. "Have you gotten hot and heavy with her?"
"I told you, no."
"Just making sure you weren't lying." She replied with a sickly sweet smile.
"Oh, right and you can tell when I'm lying?"
"I have my ways."
"Do share." He urged her.
"And give away all my trade secrets?" She asked with a smirk, standing up and pulling her shirt off over her head.
"Ah, you little minx." He grabbed her pulling her to him as he playfully attacked her neck.
"This isn't the shower." She sang.
"Don't care." He replied back before pulling away to look at her. "So, Stelena? What awesome name would we have?"
She cocked her head to the side, thinking about it. "Hmm, how about Damenzie? Dakenzie? Kenmon?"
He laughed, returning his attention to her neck. They were interrupted by a phone beeping.
"Tell whoever it is, to fuck off." They told each other before their eyes widened in surprise.
"That's not my phone." They said at the same time.
Kenzie pursed her lips. "Well it's not- Oh. Oh no."
She pulled away for him to grab the spare phone she had found.
"That's not your phone." He observed.
"No, it's not." She opened the phone, gasping when she read the message.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Someone's here." She whispered, handing him the phone.
Stay away from him.
"Whose phone is this?" Damon demanded to know.
"I don't know. I found it my first week here and I just remembered to turn it on. When I did, someone sent these messages." She quickly pulled them up to show him. "Someone's watching me."
He glanced around, placing a finger to his lips before disappearing in a flash. She kept quiet, not daring to move until he returned.
"Someone was here, they're long gone now." He told her.
"I'm creeped out." She whispered.
"No idea who it is?"
She shook her head. "not a clue."
"Tell me everything that happened the day you got that."
She told him about Caroline's party and seeing two figures watching from the woods and how she followed them, when she came across the phone.
Damon sighed. "So it's not Elijah, can't be Katherine. It's Jack or Jill, it has to be."
Her eyes lit up. "Really? You think so? I need to talk to them."
"Are you crazy?"
"Nope, just curious. I need to know how my family is connected to this town."
"Listen, I know you want to find out more about your family but believe me, some family secrets are better kept secret." Damon told her.
"I'm not sure what you mean." She said with a frown.
"It means that, maybe you won't like what you find out, maybe they only want to kill you."
"Why haven't they?" Kenzie asked. "My guess is they want to know as much about me as I want to know about them."
Damon tugged the phone out of her hand. "So, are you going to listen to that message?"
"No." She replied with a roll of her eyes, jumping on him and kissing him. "Let's go take a shower."
He grinned, using his supernatural speed to the bathroom.
… … …