so I'm leaving for vacay.. so enjoy LOL/ fun fact... the song I've chosen for this chapter... thats ALL the lyrics hahaha. it's a 2 minute, 15 second song LOL
I'm also curious. Do you want chapters at this length or do you want them way longer? let me know. I'm still undecided and will keep chapters at the 4000-6000 range... if you want longer chapters, I'll probably push up to 10,000... what do you think?
... ... ...
She broke down and let me in
Made me see where I've been
Been down one time
Been down two times
I'm never going back again
You don't know what it means to win
Come down and see me again
Been down one time
Been down two times
I'm never going back again
"Kenzie, over here." Rebekah called, waving as the redhead walked into The Grill. Kenzie sighed but made her way over to the bar anyway. Rebekah had a large bottle of alcohol on it and Kenzie grabbed herself a cup, about to pour herself some when a bartender came over and asked for some ID. She rolled her eyes, looking to the blonde who smiled and leaned across the bar, compelling him to leave them alone. He did and Kenzie poured herself a drink, shooting it back.
"How are you since Elijah has left town?"
Kenzie shrugged. "we didn't have some epic romance, so I'm dealing."
"But you could have." Rebekah replied with a small pout.
"Ya know, me jumping into bed with your brother wasn't going to make me change my mind." She slyly told the blonde, referring to her wanting Kenzie to become a vampire.
"But we could have so much fun, Kenzie."
"Anyways, why are you here?"
"Just trying to learn some information about the town I grew up in."
"At the Grill?" Kenzie asked with a smirk.
"Well, I was talking to the Mayor, than the Salvatore's about it."
"Oh yeah, looking for some more Damon loving?" Kenzie couldn't help but ask.
Another pout from the blonde. "I only did it so you would see he was no good for you."
Kenzie took another shot. "You know he only slept with you because he was mad at me for being there with Elijah."
"I know." Rebekah replied in a small voice and Kenzie shot her a glance, wondering if there was more to her sleeping with Damon than she really let on.
"So where are the darling Salvatore Brothers?" She asked.
"Playing darts, talking about some stupid guys night."
Kenzie spun in her stool to see Stefan huddled over a bottle of alcohol and Damon with darts in his hand but looking towards them.
"Stop being so creepy." She told him, knowing he could perfectly hear her.
He turned to shoot a dart.
"There are a lot of murders going on in this town and they can't figure out who it is." Rebekah mused, getting off the stool and walking towards the brothers. She grabbed a dart that Damon threw inches away from the board, announcing that his latest comment was sexist.
"A woman could easily kill a man, with the right motivation." She continued as Kenzie grabbed the bottle and drifted towards the three vampires.
"You just don't give up, do you?" Stefan asked.
"Give up what?" Kenzie asked, sitting down beside the younger brother.
"Her constant need for information." Stefan muttered as Kenzie poured them both a drink.
"Why are you so grumpy?" Rebekah asked.
"He's on a master cleanse, trying to be a better man and all." Damon said with a smirk.
"You know, you were a lot more fun in the twenties." The blonde mused.
"Rile him up." Damon suggested. "He's testy when he's being self righteous."
The younger brother rolled his eyes before snapping. "I'm not being self righteous, Damon. I'm just not interested in the slaughtering of human beings anymore."
"Oh. Okay, fair enough, my mistake." Damon reached into a bag and pulled out a book. "You used to be self righteous." He looked down at the book and began reading. "Dear Diary, Damon has lost his way."
Kenzie slammed her glass on the table as he continued reading until Rebekah grabbed it from him to keep reading. The redhead stood up with a scowl, stomping over to them and pulling the book out of Rebekah's hand. Kenzie turned around, giving it to Stefan.
"What the hell, Red? Don't ruin our fun." Damon griped.
Kenzie whirled on him, her emerald eyes flashing. "Listen up, you dickhead, your brother is doing just fine without you needling him on."
"Oh Redbird, you know I love it when you get all fiery and stuff." Damon smirked.
She glared at him as Stefan began impatiently tapping his hand against the table, Damon raised an eyebrow at him.
"You're doing it again."
"Alright, you know what? I need to um, I need to get out of here." Stefan said, standing up and putting his jacket on.
"Sure." Damon agreed. "But first, admit you're jonesing."
"Damon-" Stefan began but was stopped by his brother rushing forward and grabbing him by the front of his coat.
"Admit it." Damon whispered.
"Let him go." Kenzie snapped, forcing her way in between them and pushing Damon away. "God, we can all tell your brother is struggling, what did I just say about being a dick? Let him be."
"No." Damon replied.
Kenzie pushed him away before grabbing Stefan's arm. "Let's just go, Stefan."
They left the Grill and walked outside.
"Thanks." Stefan muttered.
She shrugged. "I said I would help. Don't look now but our buddies are following us."
"I know." Stefan sighed. "I do like him telling her all about me."
"Really?" Kenzie asked, listening to their conversation behind them. "Because I quite enjoy them wondering if I've moved on with you now."
They turned down an alleyway, walking fast in an attempt to be rid of the other two and for a few wonderful moments it was quiet and Kenzie risked taking a look back, only to see Damon standing in front of a blonde woman with curly hair before pulling her closer as he sank his fangs into her neck.
"Stefan, you need to go home." Kenzie told him.
"What, why?" He asked, turning around to see what was going on. Seeing the blonde in distress, he ran back, pushing them apart. Damon went stumbling back as the woman fell back against Rebekah who held her with a small gleeful smile.
"Sorry brother." Damon announced, "It's dinner time. Have a bite."
"What are you doing?" Stefan gasped, staring at the woman just as Kenzie approached.
"Tough love Stefan. You're not gonna survive this cold turkey thing, you never do."
"Then give him a chance." Kenzie snapped. "Don't do this to him, Damon."
"Stay out of this, Red. This is family business."
"Fuck that." Kenzie snarled. "I said I would help him, so how about you butt out."
"Fine." Damon replied, walking around behind the girl. "I'll let Rebekah have her way with her and she'll kill her."
"You know I will." The Original replied.
"Her blood will be on your hands."
"You seem to mistake me for someone who cares." The redhead hissed. "I don't have some stupid moral code, Damon."
"You don't. but my brother does." He stepped back towards his brother. "Come on Stefan, have a little drink, save her life."
"Why are you doing this? You know what blood does to me." Stefan growled.
"You let it control you. You always have. I'm just hear to help you learn how to fight it."
Stefan looked ready to pounce when Kenzie stepped in front of the girl.
"Don't, Stefan, you're better than this."
"This is rubbish." Rebekah said, turning the woman around and letting her fangs come out.
Kenzie swiftly turned around, her hand coming up to smack the blonde's face. Rebekah stumbled back, looking at the redhead in surprise as she let the blonde go.
"I can't believe you would let Damon talk you into this." Kenzie cried. "You say you're my friend, so why don't you start acting like it, Rebekah. I can't be your friend when you're there sleeping with Damon, following along with his fucked up plans, I can't. My morals may not be like Elena's or something but there are lines."
She turned back around in time to see Stefan plunging his fangs into the poor woman's neck and Kenzie's face fell as she rushed the younger Salvatore at human speed, only to have him push her away with vampire strength. She went flying back, hitting the wall of a building before falling to the ground. She laid there in a heap, knowing that human Kenzie wouldn't be getting up right now and listening to Damon tell Rebekah to leave, even as she tried to check on her. Damon said he would deal, that Kenzie wouldn't want to talk to her anyways and the blonde finally left in a huff. Next, Damon pulled Stefan away from the girl, feeding her blood and talking to his brother. They were interrupted by a voice at the mouth of the alley that Kenzie realized was Elena.
"What are you doing?" She cried, before whispering Stefan's name.
Matt, who had been with Elena, began ushering her away.
"So… that's going to take a little time." Damon told his brother.
Moments later, Stefan was helping Kenzie up, supporting her weight as they walked away.
"Stefan… Red, come on." Damon yelled but the two ignored them as they kept walking.
Only when they were far enough away did the redhead straighten out and they were both silent as the made their way back to the Salvatore house.
"It wasn't your fault." Kenzie said.
"I almost killed her." Stefan retorted.
"Because Damon's an asshole. But he is right, you need to learn control, otherwise you're just going to keep falling off the wagon."
"I can't do control." Stefan cried. "I'm a Ripper, Kenz. It's like…"
"A drug addiction?" She finished with a sigh. "I know but we have to try, I'll help you. I said I would and I will."
He sat down in front of the fireplace, staring at the flames, not answering Kenzie, even when she did try to talk to him.
When Damon came home later, that was how he found his brother and at first he couldn't see the petite redhead, who was on the other side of the room, her arms across her chest as she watched Stefan. As soon as Damon cleared the entranceway Kenzie stalked towards him, bringing her fist back and punching him in the face, wishing she could use her full strength when hitting him.
"I hate you." She hissed before leaving the house and going home.
… … …
"How are you still watching this?" Kenzie asked Jill with a groan, sitting on the couch.
"I do not know, but this is very addictive." Her ancestor replied, watching Snooki take some more shots.
"I'm almost afraid to tell you about the spin off with Snooki and JWoww."
"I have already recorded all those." Jill said.
"You scare me. Anything on Jack yet?"
Now Jill turned to look at her, her eyebrows knitted in fear. "What if he has left me? What if he never comes back?"
"I don't believe it. Your love is… eternal? I mean, you guys became vampires together. I'll talk to Katherine, she can put some feelers out."
"Thank you, Mackenzie." Jill said, giving her hand a small squeeze before turning back to the TV.
Kenzie rolled her eyes, contemplating going upstairs when there was a knock on the door. She listened to who it was, going to open the door when she realized it was Elena, Alaric and Meredith Fell.
"It's awfully late." She pointed out.
"We need to talk to you." Meredith said, by way of greeting. "Elena tells me you have a special ring like Alaric's."
Kenzie nodded.
"Was it a Gilbert ring?"
"So I'm told."
"By who?"
Kenzie opened the door further and pointed to the front room where Jill was. The three entered and crowded into the living room, facing Jill.
"Hello." Jill softly said.
"Jill, this is Meredith." Elena introduced. "She has some questions about your rings."
"Why were you given Gilbert rings?" Meredith asked, getting right down to business.
"They-they were a wedding gift." Jill hesitantly replied.
"Were you close to the Gilbert's?"
"To one of them." Jill glanced at Kenzie, then Elena before looking away.
"What are you not telling us?" Kenzie asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I-I don't know what you mean."
"You're hiding something. What did you do, steal these rings?"
"No, I was not lying when I said they were a gift."
"But why?" Elena asked. "What made you and Jack so special?"
Jill's eyes flitted around the room, looking anywhere but at them. "Cecilia… my daughter Cecilia… she wasn't Jack's."
Kenzie's eyes closed with a sigh, knowing where this was heading. "Are you fucking kidding me?"
"Can someone catch me up here?" Alaric asked.
Kenzie turned to him, her eyes flashing angrily. "What Jill is trying to oh so delicately say… Elena and I? We're cousins. Cecilia was a Gilbert, wasn't she?"
"Yes." Jill whispered, looking down, ashamed.
"Does Jack know?"
"Not back then." Jill replied. "We were to be married, we were engaged and I love Jack with everything I have. But there was an incident. A Gilbert, I refuse to say his name, forced himself on me. Just days before my wedding, I learned I was with child. I was given the rings as a way to keep quiet under the guise that they were a wedding present. When Cecilia was born, one was made for her because she was truly a Gilbert."
"Holy fuck." Kenzie muttered as she began pacing. "Holy fucking fuck." She stopped and turned to look at Jill. "Did Jack really leave looking for me?"
"No." Jill whispered, her lower lip trembling. "I- I told him, finally. He left in a rage."
"My brain hurts." Kenzie groaned.
"We're off topic." Meredith said. "So you were given Gilbert rings and they work the same way as the original rings?"
"Not exactly." Jill replied.
"They're souped up." Kenzie finished. "They're also daylight rings for Vampires and stop the wearer from being compelled."
"But they bring you back to life if you die a supernatural death?" Meredith pressed.
Both Millers nodded and the doctor turned to Kenzie.
"How often have you died?"
"A lot." Elena replied for her, to which Kenzie shrugged as if to agree.
"Have you noticed yourself having any blackouts or missing any time?"
"No." Kenzie replied.
"There might be some problems with the rings." Alaric explained. "Meredith thinks we're…"
"Sick." The doctor finished.
"It happened almost a hundred years ago." Elena explained. "One of my- our relatives wore that ring and it made her go crazy. She murdered a bunch of people."
"So now you think Ric and I are going around murdering people?" Kenzie asked with a look of disbelief.
"They're my weapons." Ric said. "It's probably me but we know you have a ring and we know you've died probably as much as I have."
"So it's only a matter of time before I become a homicidal maniac?" She asked with an amused smirk before glancing at Jill.
"We don't know." Elena replied.
"But I'm running tests on Alaric tomorrow and I would like to run some on you too." Meredith told her.
Her eyes narrowed."What kind of tests?"
"CAT scan to start."
Kenzie sighed. "Fine. I'll agree to that but no other tests right now."
"That's a start." Meredith said. "If we find something, we'll fix it, I promise."
"Ok. I'll be at the hospital tomorrow morning." Kenzie replied, walking them to the door.
When they were gone, Kenzie stopped in the doorway, looking at Jill who was staring at her hands in her lap. "You know, some days I want to rip Elena's hair out and now, I find out she's my cousin."
"Yes." Jill whispered. "Are you going for the tests tomorrow?"
Kenzie sighed, rolling her eyes at the subject change. |Why not? I doubt my brain is that much different on a scan."
"Would it not be easier to just tell them that you are a vampire so you will not be going insane and killing anyone anytime soon?" the elder vampire asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Eh, that remains to be seen." Kenzie replied, with a small wave before going up to bed.
… … …
After the tests, Kenzie got the all clear from Meredith before gathering her stuff to leave the hospital. She had just gotten to the entrance when Damon appeared, looking surprised to see her.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"Seeing if I've gone crazy." She casually replied before holding out her hand with the ring on it. "Something about me dying a lot? I wasn't really paying attention."
"I always wondered what a vampires brain would turn up with a CAT scan." Damon pondered.
She refused to react to that jab that he may know more than what was going on and gestured behind her. "I'm sure Meredith will put you under there and let you know."
His head cocked to the side as he looked at her. "You're not your usual amount of snarky, what gives?"
"Nothing." She replied. "Alaric should be done too, Elena, my dear cousin, is there too."
"Cousin?" He questioned.
"Oh that was fun to find out, why not go ask her. Though, she'll probably rip you a new one, she's not happy about Stefan."
Damon rolled his eyes. "Of course, it's always Stefan. That's all either of you care about."
Kenzie raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I'm trying to help Stefan, I just have a much different way than you do. And it's not always Stefan."
"Right, like you wouldn't choose Stefan in a heartbeat?"
She smiled, sadly shaking her head. "No, Damon, he's your brother and despite our history, I wouldn't do that to you, even if I did have feelings, which I don't. I'll see you around."
She turned to leave but was stopped by Damon grabbing her arm.
"Seriously, Red, what gives? You're far too calm."
She sighed, "I just get tired of being angry all the time, Damon. I'm going to the new Wickery bridge so I'll see you around."
She left and went outside to where Rebekah was waiting in her car to pick her up.
"Well?" Rebekah asked, "Are you insane?"
"Very." Kenzie muttered. "Just not in the way that they thought I was. So why did you ask me to come with you? The New Wickery Bridge doesn't exactly seem like my cup of tea, yours either for that matter."
"I'm just trying to learn some things about the history of this town." Rebekah replied.
"Why?"
"Because I'm a very curious person."
"You know I don't buy that, right?" the redhead asked as her friend pulled up to the bridge and parked the car.
"Are you calling me a liar?" Rebekah snapped, turning to her with a scowl.
"Yes." She replied with an amused grin.
"Sometimes I really hate your honesty." The Original griped, getting out of the car.
"No, you don't, otherwise we wouldn't be hanging out with me. You like that I'm the only one who tells you the truth, don't deny it Beks."
The blonde rolled her eyes. "I'm going to talk to the Mayor."
Kenzie sighed. "Fine, I'll go get some food or something."
In the distance, she heard a familiar voice and glanced back towards the parking lot to see Damon there. She stopped herself from groaning as she looked back at Rebekah and gave her a small smile before pushing herself into the crowd and trying to disappear. She thought she was doing a good job as she stood behind a tall man listening to the speeches going on. She risked a glance at Damon who was looking in her direction and all at once, he left Meredith and Alaric, making his way towards her. She prepared herself for the confrontation, pursing her lips as he neared her but to her surprise and disbelief he walked right past her, not even noticing she was there as he stopped in front of another redhead. Kenzie's eyes narrowed as she looked at the older woman, having never seen her before but she couldn't help the flare of jealousy that lit up in her as he talked to this woman who's hair was not as red and fiery, her eyes not as bright as her own. God, she really was jealous.
"Damon Salvatore, my favourite student." The woman greeted him.
"Sage, my hottest teacher." He replied. "What are you doing here?"
Kenzie clenched her teeth as she eavesdropped on them but turned to look at the speaker on the podium so as not to be too obvious.
"Just passing through." She casually replied.
"Oh come on, no one just passes through Mystic Falls." He chided.
"Look what the cat dragged in."
Kenzie turned to look now, seeing Rebekah had joined them and was scowling at the other woman.
"Easy there, Rebekah." Damon warned her. "She used to beat men for sport."
"She always was quite common."
Seeing as her blonde friend was there now, Kenzie made her way over, trying to appear casual.
"Rebekah, what a pleasant surprise." Sage greeted her.
"What are you doing here, Sage?" the blonde asked as Kenzie appeared on her right, watching the two talk with open curiosity.
Damon's eyes narrowed as he looked at her but Sage barely spared her a glance before turning back to Rebekah.
"Well I heard Finn was finally free from that casket you're rageaholic brother, Klaus, carted him around in."
Kenzie let out a small snort, quickly schooling her face into a neutral expression after Rebekah elbowed her in the side before she answered the other redhead.
"Ohh, Finn. You just missed him. He just left town and didn't tell a soul where he was going."
"He probably went looking for me." Sage shot back.
The blonde smirked. "Or possibly forgot all about you."
"I doubt that."
"No?" She asked. "Because he didn't mention you. So you came all this way for nothing, have a nice life." She turned and grabbed Kenzie's hand pulling her away from them.
"God I hate that elitist original bitch." Sage muttered, making Rebekah grip her friend's hand harder. "Who's the other little bitch with her?"
"That's Kenzie." Damon said with a sigh.
"You love her."
Kenzie waited for him to deny it but he didn't and she risked looking back at them to see Damon staring after her. Their eyes briefly met before he turned to talk to Sage with a flirtatious smirk.
"Who's the bitch?" Kenzie asked with a scowl as she turned back to Rebekah. "Didn't she get the memo? I'm the only redhead allowed here."
Rebekah rolled her eyes as she let go of Kenzie's hand. She glanced back at Damon and Sage again only to find them gone and a part of her stomped down hard at the jealousy threatening to overtaker her. Damon was a dick. He didn't know how to be faithful or how to properly love someone and the sooner she realized that the better off she would be.
"You're jealous." The blonde told her, watching as she tried to casually look for Damon.
"No." Kenzie snorted. "I am not."
"You are too. And as much as I would love to go off on a 'you can do better than Damon.' Rant again. You have nothing to worry about with Sage. She's madly in love with Finn, god knows why."
"Your brother who's been daggered for a long time. God that girl can hold a torch."
Rebekah shrugged. "Yes, well she's convinced that her and Finn are meant to be together since he turned her all those years ago."
"And you don't like her."
"I don't. Finn is far too good for her. Besides, there is only one redhead that I can stand."
Kenzie grinned. "Aww, how sweet, as long as you mean me because if you didn't… awkward."
Rebekah returned the grin before changing the subject. "Have you heard from Elijah, lately?"
"No." she hesitantly replied. "I thought he would message but he hasn't."
"He will." The taller girl promised. "I'm sure he's just in the middle of something."
Kenzie nodded, just as her phone beeped and she pulled it out, wondering if Elijah was psychic and had messaged her but turning it on, she saw it was Stefan messaging her with only '911' as the message.
"Beks, I need to go, we'll catch up later, okay?"
"What's wrong?" The blonde asked with a small frown.
"I need to go help a friend. Have fun, message me if you stake the ugly, skanky redhead. We'll party."
Rebekah grinned. "DO you need a ride?"
"No, they'll pick me up down the road. It was fun hanging out." Kenzie gave her a quick hug before taking off and disappearing into the crowd. She came out on the edge of the parking lot and hurried down the road, waiting until she was way out of sight before slipping into the forest, taking a quick look around, and taking off for the Salvatore house.
Kenzie entered without knocking, listening for Stefan as she sighed and went downstairs where he was hanging out with his head in the fridge, empty blood bags all around him.
"Well, I'm glad you messaged me about this, I just wish you would have waited before starting this."
"Why?" He asked, dropping an empty bag and reaching for another. "You want some?"
"I already ate." She told him, stepping towards him and reaching for the bag in his hand.
He growled and pushed her away, sending her stumbling back and Kenzie let out an indignant huff as she stepped forward and punched him in the face and ripped the bag out of his hands with a scowl.
"what the hell." He snapped, turning to her and looking ready to charge her.
"I promised to punch you when you needed it." She reminded him with a raised eyebrow. "Now, go upstairs and fix yourself up, I'm going to clean this up. You've had enough blood today, mister."
He looked ready to argue but she placed her hands on her hips and fixed him with a glare until he finally sighed and left to do what she said. Waiting until he was up the stairs before she began hunting for a garbage bag to clean everything up. When she was done, she locked the fridge back up and brought the bag upstairs to burn. She threw it in the fireplace and watched it burn down before moving to go upstairs to change. Damon still had some of her clothes and she wasn't going to walk around with blood on the clothes she was wearing. She ran into Stefan who was on the way down the steps and told him what she was doing and not to go anywhere but the living room, that they would talk when she was done. He gave her a small smile before continuing down the steps and she went into Damon's room, pulling some clothes out of the closet, a part of her still a little surprised that Damon kept all her stuff. Why hadn't he returned it? Or even thrown it out? A quick glance around showed that her personal effects were still there and she took the clothes into the bathroom, noting her special shampoo and conditioner were still there as she stepped into the shower, turning the water as hot as she could stand.
She kept the shower short, not wanting to leave Stefan for too long but took the time to put her hair into a French braid before making her way down the steps. She silently groaned when she heard Damon was home but continued into the living room where he was talking to Stefan.
"Do me a favour Damon, next time you're talking to Elena, keep me out of it." Stefan was snapping at his brother.
"Gladly." Damon replied as Kenzie appeared behind him. "Now, unless you're interested in a Sage, Rebekah sex sandwich, I suggest you make yourself scarce."
"Sex sandwich?" Kenzie asked in disbelief.
Damon spun around, looking at Kenzie in shock. "When did you get here? How did you get in here without me noticing?"
She shrugged before crossing her arms over chest "I was here all along. Now, sex sandwich? With Rebekah, who I honestly doubt would touch you again and the skanky redhead from earlier?"
"Jealous of Sage?" He asked with a smirk just as the doorbell rang.
"Not fucking likely." She muttered.
"Oh really? Why not join the party then?"
"Come on, let's get out of here." Stefan told her, stepping up to grab her hand. "You don't need to be around for this."
"What? Going for a little date?" Damon couldn't help but call after them.
Kenzie stopped and looked back at him, her anger gone, her expression indifferent as she shook her head, letting Stefan lead her towards the door. He opened it, revealing Sage who lifted an eyebrow at Stefan with a small smirk.
"Sage." He muttered by way of greeting, pushing past her with Kenzie right behind him.
"You again?" Sage wondered, her eyes taking in the form of the smaller redhead.
"Get bent, skank." She muttered, trying to walk past her, only to find herself lifted up by the neck and slammed against the open door.
"What did you say to me?" Sage snarled at her as Stefan yelled at the older vampire to put her down.
Damon came rushing in from the living room, hitting Sage and pushing her away as one arm grabbed Kenzie before she could hit the ground.
"I knew you were in love with her." Sage yelled as she stood up and brushed herself off.
The elder Salvatore ignored her as he checked Kenzie over, who hands were covering her throat to hide the bruise that she knew was there but would be gone in no time. She didn't want him to see it.
"Did she hurt you?"
Kenzie shook her head and Damon looked at his little brother. "get her out of here."
Stefan nodded, grabbing Kenzie into his arms and taking off with his vampire speed. The last thing she saw was Damon looking after them with a concerned look.
… … …