Italics-Elena Gilbert
Bold & Italics-Amaya Gilbert and Stefan Salvatore
~Flashback~
~Original Salvatore Estate~1864~
On an exquisite April Morning, the Younger Salvatore Son emerges from within the Salvatore Manor onto the Front Porch as he patiently awaits the arrival of their Temporary House Guest, an Orphaned Teenage Girl that his Father had gladly offered asylum to after her entire Family had allegedly been massacred in the Atlanta Fires mere months earlier.
And with the approach of an elegant Horse Drawn Carriage, the Green Eyed Salvatore descended the Porch Steps as the Carriage Driver dismounted from his perch to make his way towards the Passenger Compartment, pausing after having opened the Carriage Door as he extended his hand to assist the poised Maidservant as she disembarks from the Passenger Compartment before immediately assisting her Mistress from the carriage.
And as the Mahogany Haired Woman straightened her posture while allowing her Handmaiden to dutifully neaten her elegant Day Dress, the Younger Salvatore Brother had seemingly found himself ensnared by her alluring beauty when his Forest Green Eyes connected with her own Dark Brown Eyes as they silently observe one another with rapt fascination before the Chestnut Haired Man decides to politely greet his Father's Honoured Guest.
"You must be Miss Pierce..." Stefan Salvatore greets with a charming smile as he approaches the Pierce Girl while the Bennett Woman graciously stepped away to await further instruction from her Mistress.
"Please... Call me Katherine." Katherine Pierce urges with an apparent flirtatious smile as she curtsies elegantly before Stefan as he grasps onto her hand to brush the customary kiss to her knuckles in welcoming.
And as silence descends between the Pierce Daughter and Salvatore Son, the accomplished smirk that had long since settled upon Katherine's lips seemingly broadened as she noticed the dazed expression that had appeared across Stefan's features as soon as their eyes met.
~Salvatore Boarding House~Present Day~
On the shadowed Veranda of the Salvatore Boarding House, the Vampire/Fae Couple observed the obviously frightened Elder Gilbert Daughter as she stood before them with an apparent expression of unadultered terror etched across her features as she glances between her Younger Twin Sister and the Salvatore Son that had mysteriously appeared in Mystic Falls at the beginning of the School Year.
"What are you?" Elena Gilbert demands with narrowed eyes focused on the Younger Salvatore Brother as she remains extremely cautious of the potential threat that was currently towering above her trembling form.
"You know..." Stefan Salvatore retorted with an expression of absolute calm as he exchanges brief glances with his Fae Girlfriend while Elena vehemently shakes her head in denial.
"No, I don't." Elena argued with uncertainty as she glanced from the Green Eyed Vampire towards the Doe Eyed Fae with glaring suspicion.
"Yes, you do..." Amaya Gilbert declared with an affirmative nod of her head towards her Elder Twin Sister as Elena's rigid body language suggested that she were prepared to flee at the first sign of danger. "Otherwise, you would not have come here."
"It's not possible. It can't be." Elena denied with an exaggerated shake of her head as she stubbornly refused to believe what she had inevitably discovered earlier that Afternoon.
"Everything that you know... And every belief that you have... Is about to change." Stefan retorted with an expression of absolute sincerity as he observed the technically Human Elder Twin Sister of his Fae Girlfriend with vigilant eyes. "Are you prepared for that, Elena...?"
"What the Hell are you?!" Elena demanded once more with an intense glower directed towards the Younger Salvatore Son, believing that Stefan had merely been avoiding admitting the truth of the matter.
"Vampire." Stefan and Amaya responded in tandem with identical expressions of absolute seriousness, causing the Elder Gilbert Daughter's Dark Brown Eyes to widen at the confirmation that her justifiable fears were more than accurate.
"Amaya..." Elena whispered with an alarmed tone of voice as she briefly glanced towards her Younger Twin Sister before returning her attention towards the Younger Salvatore Vampire. "We gotta go. Now."
"I'm not leaving, Elena." Amaya announced with finality as she crossed her arms before her chest, causing Elena to glance towards her Younger Twin Sister with widened eyes of disbelief.
"I shouldn't have come." Elena muttered with an apparent fearful tone of voice as she realized that Amaya had been more than aware of the threat that Stefan posed but had merely disregarded the matter.
As the Elder Gilbert Daughter suddenly sprinted in the direction of her vehicle with an expression of unabashed panic, the Green Eyed Vampire exchanged brief glances with the Doe Eyed Fae yet again before suddenly appearing in the direct path of the frightened Teenage Girl, having immediately recognized the imminent threat that the Human Petrova Doppelganger posed should she reveal what she had learned of the Salvatore Brothers.
"No..." Elena whispered in absolute disbelief as Stefan appeared before her until he was blocking her from accessing her vehicle. "How did you do that?"
"You need not be afraid of me, Elena." Stefan assured with an affirmative nod of his head towards the frightened Elder Gilbert Daughter as she continued to glance between he and her Younger Twin Sister with obvious uncertainty.
"Let me go!" Elena demanded with finality as she carefully maintained an allegedly safe distance from the newly discovered Predatory Creature, causing Amaya to approach her Vampire Boyfriend while continuing to observe her Doppelganger Twin Sister with diligence.
"Not quite yet, Elena..." Amaya declared with an expression of calm confidence as Stefan wrapped an arm around her shoulders while Elena glanced towards her Younger Twin Sister with an obvious glimmer of betrayal in her Dark Brown Eyes. "There are matters that you need to be made aware of since you've discovered the existence of the Supernatural."
"Amaya's correct..." Stefan announced with an authoritative tone of voice as he narrowed his eyes onto Elena with obvious suspicion.
"All those Animal Attacks. Those people who died-" Elena whispered with an expression of sudden realization as she stared at Stefan with widened eyes of unadultered horror.
"That was Damon." Amaya interjected with complete honesty as she crossed her arms before her chest while addressing her Elder Twin Sister's blatant suspicions about the threat that Stefan allegedly posed.
"Damon...?" Elena muttered with furrowed brows of confusion as she glanced briefly towards Stefan with obvious uncertainty.
"Yes. I abstain from feeding on Human Blood. That's not how I choose to survive. But Damon does..." Stefan admitted with an affirmative nod of his head as his arm around Amaya's shoulders tightened at the mere thought of his Elder Brother. "We'll explain everything to you, Elena... But you must understand that under no circumstances are you to mention what you've learned to someone that is not of the Supernatural."
"How can you ask me that?" Elena questioned with an expression of disbelief as she glanced between the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae with widened eyes.
"Because you knowing this is dangerous for countless reasons, Elena... Not just for yourself but for everyone involved." Amaya declared with narrowed eyes as she glowered at her Elder Twin Sister. "You may hate us for this... But you need to trust us."
"Then let me go!" Elena demanded with feigned confidence as she forcefully straightened her posture with an expression of courage. "If you mean me no harm, you'll let me go."
"We've said what needed to be said..." Stefan retorted with an affirmative nod of his head towards the Elder Gilbert Daughter. "You're more than free to leave, Elena."
"Amaya?" Elena voiced with furrowed brows as she glanced towards her Younger Twin Sister with apprehension, doubting that the Doe Eyed Fae would leave the Green Eyed Vampire if the way Stefan's arm tightened yet again around Amaya's shoulder was any indication.
"Tell Jenna that I'll be staying with Caroline tonight." Amaya instructed without an ounce of hesitation before she and Stefan made their way towards the Salvatore Boarding House.
The Elder Gilbert Daughter hesitated momentarily as she stared at her Younger Twin Sister's retreating figure with disbelief before rushing towards her vehicle without further delay as she made her way towards the Gilbert Residence, neither Stefan nor Amaya bothering to spare Elena with another glance as they returned to the Salvatore Boarding House.
~Mystic Falls Cemetery~
At the Mystic Falls Cemetery, the Elder Salvatore Brother viciously drains every ounce of blood from the gathering of nameless Town Drug Addicts that he happened to have stumbled upon at the Salvatore Family Crypt during his desperate pursuit of Human Blood after having been starved to near desiccation by his Younger Brother for several days.
As the Ravenette Vampire drained every ounce of Human Blood from the unknown male, he allowed the motionless body to collapse to the ground in an unceremonious manner with an audible sigh of absolute contentment as he diligently wiped the remaining remnants of blood from his lips before beginning to search the bodies of his unfortunate victims for one of their cell phones while pouring the contents of an unidentifiable Alcohol Bottle over their lifeless forms.
Once having located an inexpensive Flip Phone from one of the Male Victims, the Blue Eyed Vampire absentmindedly dials his Younger Brother's Phone Number while simultaneously continuing to empty the contents of the Alcohol Bottle across each victim. And as the Elder Salvatore Brother impatiently waits for the Green Eyed Vampire to answer, the Raven Haired Man carelessly tosses an idling Zippo Lighter onto the alcohol drenched bodies, causing the lifeless mass of Town Drug Addicts to become consumed within an inferno of flames that effortlessly destroyed any evidence of the Blue Eyed Vampire's involvement.
"Hello?" Stefan answered within mere moments with an uneasy tone of voice as he suspected the unknown Phone Number to have been borrowed by his Elder Brother.
"I want my Daylight Ring." Damon Salvatore declared with an expression of agitation at the mere sound of his Younger Brother's voice while continuing to dowse each individual victim as he passed on his way towards the edge of the Salvatore Family Plot.
"Where are you?" Stefan demanded with an emotionless tone of voice as he distanced himself from the Forbes Residence.
With the imminent threat of the impulsive Ravenette Vampire looming over the Salvatore Boarding House, Stefan had managed to convince Amaya to spend the Evening at the Forbes Household as he suspected that Damon would eventually return to the Salvatore Residence, especially considering his Younger Brother had seized his Daylight Ring while the Elder Salvatore Brother had been imprisoned should he manage to escape from the Underground Cellar. And with the knowledge that the Elder Gilbert Twin had invited the Raven Haired Vampire into the Gilbert Residence, Stefan refused to risk the safety of his Fae Girlfriend should Damon decide to attack Amaya in retaliation against his Younger Brother.
"I'm at the Sizzler. I had the Buffett..." Damon retorted with an apparent sarcastic tone of voice as he momentarily observed the raging inferno that was consuming the lifeless bodies of his victims. "Where's my damn ring?"
"Where are you? What have you done?" Stefan interjected with an expression of urgency as he glanced over his shoulder towards the Forbes Residence to ensure that the Forbes Daughter and Younger Gilbert Daughter were safe within the Sheriff's House.
"No. What have you done...? You're the one that imprisoned me in the basement for several days without blood. So, whatever I've done or whoever I've drained is on your conscience, My Friend." Damon sneered with absolute resentment as he averted his attention from the scene of the burning bodies to focus on the conversation between he and his Younger Brother.
"You're being careless... How many more Animal Attacks do you think the authorities will believe...?" Stefan questioned as he glowered into the neverending darkness that encompassed Mystic Falls while loathing Damon's impulsive tendencies.
"I know how to cover my tracks, Stefan..." Damon retorted with an exaggerated eyeroll as he glanced towards the raging inferno behind him. "Where's my ring?"
"I wouldn't know... Zach was responsible for ensuring it was hidden..." Stefan responded with an expression of resentment written across his features as the image of his Distant Nephew's distorted form flashed through his mind. "Probably shouldn't have killed him."
"Mmm..." Damon hummed after hesitating momentarily before realizing that Stefan would have felt obligated to ensure the Daylight Ring had been safely hidden away. "You almost had me... Where the Hell is it?"
"I'll retrieve it... But I'll need time." Stefan acquiesced with an audible sigh of resignation as he threaded his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"What did you do...? FedEx it to Rome?! Where is it?!" Damon demanded as his agitation with his Younger Brother steadily heightened as he begun to pace the ground in annoyance. "I want my damn ring, Stefan... Or my next visit will be with Amaya."
"You fucking touch her, Damon... And I will stake you my damn self." Stefan threatened with an animalistic growl that echoed from the depths of his chest at the mere notion of Damon harming Amaya.
"You and I both know that you're no threat to me, Stefan..." Damon retorted with an exaggerated eyeroll as his thoughts whirled with previous altercations between he and Stefan, knowing his Younger Brother would never be considered an actual threat as long as he continued to abstain from Human Blood.
"Threaten Amaya one more fucking time... And I swear, I will hunt you to the Ends of the Earth with the sole purpose of destroying you." Stefan declared with such ferocity that Damon actually hesitated at the genuine honesty that twinged his Younger Brother's voice.
"I want my Daylight Ring by Sunset tomorrow, Stefan." Damon demanded with finality before snapping the inexpensive Flip Phone closed with an audible sigh of frustration.
As the Ravenette Vampire momentarily notices the unresponsive body of the Donovan Daughter towards the edge of the Salvatore Family Plot, Damon makes his way towards the Teenage Girl with the unidentifiable Alcohol Bottle grasped in his hand. However, as the Elder Salvatore Brother carelessly poured the contents across his unmoving Human Victim, she emits an audible grain of agony as the liquid substance jolts her from her unconsciousness, causing Damon to kneel on the ground beside her with an innocent tilt of his head in curiosity.
"How is it you're still breathing...? Hmm?" Damon rhetorically questioned with an apparent thoughtful tone of voice as he examines the weakened Human Teenager.
After momentarily hesitating, the Blue Eyed Vampire gathered the Donovan Girl into his arms as she was lulled into unconsciousness once more before standing from the ground without exhibiting an ounce of difficulty in response to the dead weight of the unresponsive Teenage Girl as he disappeared into the surrounding darkness at Vampire Speed.
~Mystic Grill~
The following Morning, the Younger Salvatore Brother and Younger Gilbert Daughter were seated on the Dining Patio of the Mystic Grill with the Elder Gilbert Daughter after having been contacted earlier that Morning by the Human Doppelganger as she demanded an impromptu meeting in an evidently public setting.
"You said you would explain everything. That's why I asked you to meet me here..." Elena admitted with an expression of feigned confidence that caused Amaya to arch her brow at her Elder Twin Sister's behavior. "When you Google Vampire... You get a world of fiction... What's the reality?"
"We've agreed to explain anything that you may ask... As long as we believe that it does not pose an immediate threat to either of us." Stefan admitted with an unyielding tone of voice as he nodded his head towards Elena in reassurance.
"I know that you eat Garlic..." Elena commented with an expression of uncertainty as she glanced between he and her Younger Twin Sister.
"Yes." Amaya and Stefan responded in tandem with one another before briefly exchanging amused glances between themselves despite the situation.
"And somehow Sunlight's not an issue..." Elena rhetorically questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she struggled to maintain her calm facade with the increasing suspicions that both the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae were inevitably aware of her nervousness.
The conversation momentarily pauses as the Human Waitress that had been tending to the Salvatore Son and Gilbert Twins approaches with the ceramic mugs of steaming coffee that had been ordered upon their individual arrivals.
"Here are your drinks." The Waitress announces as she gently places each individual mug of coffee onto the Patio Table before the group of teenagers.
"Thank you." Amaya responds with an elegant smile as she grasps the Coffee Mug between her hands before bringing the steaming beverage to her mouth as she sipped leisurely, the Waitress smiling politely towards her Young Patrons before taking her leave to attend to her remaining customers.
"Crucifixes?"
"Decorative."
"Holy water?"
"Drinkable."
"Mirrors?"
"Myth."
"You said you don't kill to survive...?" Elena rhetorically questioned with furrowed brows of uncertainty, causing Stefan and Amaya to briefly exchange glances between themselves before focusing their attention onto the Elder Gilbert Sister once more.
"For rather personal reasons, I refrain from consuming Human Blood... Doing so allows me to survive but keeps me considerably weaker than Damon. He can be very compelling." Stefan admitted with an audible sigh of resignation as he and Amaya had agreed that the most efficient method of maintaining the peace is to ensure that Elena remain ignorant of the fact that the Green Eyed Vampire had been granted permission to Feed directly from the Doe Eyed Fae with the imminent threat that his Elder Brother posed.
"And yet you let him get involved with Amelia." Elena declared with an expression of accusatory resentment as she glowered between Stefan and Amaya.
"Hindering Damon would have been much more detrimental to Amelia than allowing him to continue with his intentions... Believe me." Stefan admitted with an expression of genuine honesty as he reclined further into the Patio Chair with his arms crossed before his broad chest.
"He was hurting her!" Elena exclaimed with narrowed eyes as she glowered at Stefan from across the Patio Table.
"He was Feeding from her..." Amaya declared with an expression of annoyance etched across her features as she leaned forward until her forearms rested against the surface of the table at the realization that Elena immediately believed that the Monroe Girl had suffered solely because the Ravenette Vampire had been Feeding from her. "And whether you acknowledge it or not... There is an actual difference."
"Damon was able to repress Amelia's memories of having been bitten using an obscure form of Mind Control... She never knew what was happening to her... And if Damon had truly wanted to kill her... He would have." Stefan continued as he grasped onto his agitated Fae Girlfriend's thigh in an effort to distract Amaya from her displeasure with Elena's inability to be openminded.
"Is that supposed to make it okay?" Elena questioned with an incredulous tone of voice while momentarily glaring towards the Salvatore Son's hand that was gently grasping onto her Younger Twin Sister's thigh.
"Elena... You need to understand that Vampires cannot control their desire for blood anymore than Humans can control their need for water..." Amaya interjected with narrowed eyes as she continued to glower at her Elder Twin Sister in response to Elena's blatant disregard for the Basic Nature of the Vampire Species. "Otherwise, you are no better than the bigoted Human Beings that have hunted Supernatural Creatures solely because they are of an Unnatural Species."
As silence descended between the trio of Supernatural Beings, Elena could not refrain from staring at her Younger Twin Sister with widened eyes of disbelief as she had not expected for Amaya to exhibit such an apparent defensive reaction while Stefan merely remained silent as he gazed at his Fae Girlfriend with blatant pride glimmering within his Forest Green Eyes.
"Are there any others...? Aside from you and Damon?" Elena questioned with an expression of hesitancy as she attempted to divert the attention from her apparent bigotry.
"Not in Mystic Falls... Not anymore." Stefan admitted with an obvious grimace as his thoughts flickered towards his Human Life when Mystic Falls had been considered home to an abundance of Vampires.
"Not anymore...?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she glanced from the Green Eyed Vampire towards the eerily silent Doe Eyed Fae.
"Long ago... There had been an admittedly brief time when this town was very much aware of Vampires... And it hadn't ended well for anyone involved... Which is precisely the reason why you cannot speak of what you know with anyone that does not have vindication to know." Amaya declared with finality as she narrowed her eyes onto her Elder Twin Sister with an expression of severity.
"I can't promise that..." Elena denied with uncertainty as she crossed her arms before her chest with feigned confidence, causing Stefan and Amaya to exchange knowing glances between themselves before focusing their attention onto the Human Doppelganger once more.
"Elena..." Amaya paused as she leaned forward in the Patio Chair until her forearms rested against the surface of the Patio Table with narrowed eyes directed towards her Elder Twin Sister. "You need to understand the irreparable damage that you would inevitably cause if you were to thoughtlessly expose the Supernatural Residents of Mystic Falls to select individuals... You would not only be threatening the very existence of the Salvatore Brothers by making such an irredeemable mistake... You would also be solely responsible for endangering the Lockwood and Bennett Families as well... Not to mention myself."
"You?" Elena questioned with an expression of horrified disbelief as she unknowingly flinched away from her Younger Twin Sister as if Amaya were an immediate threat to her safety.
"I'm not Human, Elena..." Amaya admitted with an arched brow directed towards her Elder Twin Sister as Elena had momentarily stiffened in the Patio Chair at the mere admission. "I'm of the Fae Species... Ethereal Beings born of Significant Events throughout Mortal and Supernatural History... Such as the Birth of the Petrova Doppelgängers..." Amaya continued with an affirmative nod of her head towards Elena at the mention of Mortal Shadowselves. "You may be Human, Elena... But you're classified as an obscure Supernatural Being."
As silence descended amongst the trio of Supernatural Creatures, the Elder Gilbert Daughter could not refrain from staring at her Younger Twin Sister with widened eyes of blatant disbelief at the mere notion that she would be considered as an Unnatural Entity. And while the Human Doppelganger seemed to process the information that she had been provided, Amaya reclined further into her Patio Chair as Stefan wrapped his arm leisurely around her shoulders until she was leaning comfortably against his broad chest.
~Original Salvatore Estate~
Later that Afternoon, the Elder Gilbert Daughter was seated in the backseat of the Pristine White Chevy Camaro belonging to her Younger Twin Sister as the Doe Eyed Fae effortlessly navigated the overgrown Dirt Road as the Green Eyed Vampire uttered directions for his Girlfriend as they neared the ruins of the Original Salvatore Estate. The Human Doppelganger having long since been consumed within her own thoughts as she continued to consider the information that she had discovered earlier that Afternoon.
"Stop here..." Stefan instructed with an absentminded tone of voice as he glanced towards his Fae Girlfriend as the vehicle approached the collapsed ruins that had long since been overtaken by Mother Nature.
"What are we doing here?" Elena questioned with an expression of hesitancy as she surveyed her surroundings after immediately having noticed the lack of civilization.
Without bothering to respond to the Elder Gilbert Daughter, the Green Eyed Vampire emerged from the Passenger Side of the vehicle as he promptly makes his way towards the Driver's Side before opening the door as he offered his hand to the Doe Eyed Fae. Once the Supernatural Couple had emerged from the vehicle, Elena eventually decided to follow their lead as she emerged from the backseat while Stefan and Amaya continued to venture towards the ruins.
"I've been meaning to bring you here, Amaya... I had wanted you to know of the history here... This is not only where my Human Life began... But my Eternal Afterlife as well." Stefan admitted as he affectionately gazed down upon his Fae Girlfriend while Amaya merely smiled beautifully towards her Vampire Boyfriend.
"In the middle of nowhere...?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she followed Stefan and Amaya further into the woodary.
"This had not always been nowhere, Elena..." Amaya retorted as she glanced over her shoulder towards her unimpressed Elder Twin Sister before directing her undivided attention towards Stefan as he guided her through the foliage with his arm wrapped around her slender waist.
"This was once my home..." Stefan admitted with an apparent tone of remembrance as he examined the ruins that remained of his Childhood Home.
"It looks so..." Elena paused with an expression of hesitancy as she scrutinized the scattered debris with genuine curiosity.
"Aged...?" Amaya suggested with an amused smirk as she and Stefan paused in their exploratory journey to focus their attention onto Elena. "That would be because they are."
"Wait... How long have you..." Elena hesitated once more as she directed her gaze towards Stefan while silently considering the correct terminology to describe the Salvatore Brothers.
"I've been 17 years old... Since 1864." Stefan admitted with an affirmative nod of his head as he tightened his arm around his Fae Girlfriend's slender waist.
"Oh my God." Elena muttered with an expression of unbridled horror as she realized that she had been lusting after Vampire Brothers that had technically been undead for nearly 150 years.
"You claimed to have wanted to know the truth, Elena..." Amaya interjected without an ounce of remorse as she glanced towards her Elder Twin Sister with an arched brow. "We don't intend to withhold anything."
"Approximately 50 years before the Boarding House had even been commissioned... This had been my Family's Original Residence..." Stefan explained with an absentminded tone of voice as he averted his gaze towards the overgrown Ruins with an expression of reminiscence. "Damon and I... We were both born here... The Salvatore Brothers. Best of Friends."
~Flashback~
~Original Salvatore Estate~1864~
On an especially beautiful Afternoon in Mystic Falls, the Salvatore Brothers come barreling from within the Salvatore Manor whilst playfully quarreling with one another as they hurriedly descend the Porch Steps before parting towards opposite sides of the Front Lawn as the Elder Salvatore Brother promptly explains the concept of the Athletic Game that he had learned while enlisted in the Confederate Army.
"Wait. Where did you learn this game?" Stefan Salvatore questioned with an apparent humorous laugh as he followed his Elder Brother onto the Front Lawn.
"Camp outside Atlanta... One of the Officers learned it while at Harvard..." Damon Salvatore admitted with an honest smile as he grasped the Football in his hand while addressing his Younger Brother. "Catch."
Without further instruction, the Elder Salvatore Son throws the Football towards his Younger Brother before unexpectedly printing at his unexpected opponent. As the Blue Eyed Brother attempts to tackle the Green Eyed Brother to the ground, Stefan manages to have narrowly caught the Football before dodging Damon's unexpected advances while struggling to contain his laughter the whole time.
"Wait! Wait! What are the rules?! What are the rules?!" Stefan questioned with an uncontrollable bout of laughter as he continues to dodge Damon's attempts at tackling.
"Who needs rules?" Katherine Pierce rhetorically questions as she emerges from within the Salvatore Manor with her Handmaiden following behind her with an assortment of beverages on an expensive Silver Tray. "Mind if I join you?"
"Oh. Well... You could be harmed. My Brother likes to play rough." Stefan comments with an apologetic smile directed towards the Pierce Girl while Damon wrapped his arm around his Younger Brother's shoulders.
"Somehow, I think that you play rougher..." Katherine taunts with an apparent flirtatious smirk before unexpectedly snatching the Football from the Green Eyed Man as she whirled around to sprint into the Estate Garden, causing the Salvatore Brothers to momentarily pause as they become ensnared within the melodious sound of the Pierce Girl's laughter.
"Well...? What are you waiting for? She clearly wants to be chased..." Damon comments as he glanced towards his Younger Brother with an amused smile while Stefan remained consumed in his reverie. "If you won't do it, I will."
With an apparent teasing smirk as he playfully shoves his Younger Brother, the Elder Salvatore Son sprinted through the Front Lawn in pursuit of the laughing Pierce Daughter as she weaved through the Garden Shrubbery, causing Stefan to briefly stumble from his Elder Brother's nudge before beginning to follow after Damon in their mischievous game of chase.
~Original Salvatore Estate~Present Day~
"You knew Katherine in 1864...?" Elena questioned with an expression of disbelief as she could remember the stories that Amelia had heard from Damon. "Damon made it seem-"
"Damon had sought to make Amaya think that I had never overcome my grief for Katherine... He'd seen that I had found peace with Amaya. And he wanted to destroy that..." Stefan explained as he glanced down upon his Fae Girlfriend with an expression of unconditional adoration, causing Amaya to place her dainty hand against her Vampire Boyfriend's cheek as she leaned forward to brush an affectionate kiss to his lips.
"All because you loved the same girl 145 years ago...?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she attempted to refrain from scowling in annoyance at Stefan and Amaya's constant displays of affection.
"She was more than just some girl, Elena..." Stefan retorted with an expression of discontent as he briefly glanced towards the Elder Gilbert Daughter before focusing his gaze onto her Younger Twin Sister once more.
~Flashback~
~Original Salvatore Estate~1864~
In the Estate Garden of the Salvatore Manor, the Younger Salvatore Brother could be seen chasing after the Pierce Lady as she weaved through the meticulous maze of shrubbery as she sprinted towards the Garden Statue that had been deemed the Safe Zone, joyous laughter filtering through the otherwise silent Estate Grounds as the seemingly Human Teenage Girl whirled around to direct her attention towards the Green Eyed Human Boy that was leisurely approaching her with an amused smile.
"Ha! I win. What's my prize?" Katherine Pierce questioned with an apparent flirtatious tone of voice as she stepped closer towards the Chestnut Haired Young Man.
"What would you like it to be?" Damon Salvatore interjected with an apparent smirk from his perch on the Garden Bench that overlooked the Estate Garden.
"They extended your Leave...?" Stefan Salvatore questioned with an expression of pleasant surprise as he approached his Elder Brother.
"I was merely enjoying my Liberty too much to return to battle..." Damon admitted with an absentminded shrug of his shoulders as he stands from the Garden Bench with an apparent teasing smile.
"Your commitment to the Confederacy is inspiring..." Stefan retorts with an amused tone of voice as he embraces his Elder Brother while he and Damon chuckle along with one another.
"Well... This will be wonderful for me..." Katherine comments with an uneasy smile as she approaches the Salvatore Brothers, having not appreciated being neglected for that brief moment while Stefan and Damon reunited with one another after mere days apart.
"How is that, Miss Katherine?" Damon questioned with an arched brow as he and Stefan directed their attention towards the Pierce Girl while their arms remained wrapped around one another's shoulders.
"Now, I'll have both of you to keep me entertained... First and foremost, I'll need someone to escort me to the Founders Ball..." Katherine comments with an absentminded tone of voice before whirling around as though to make her way towards the Salvatore Manor.
"I would be honoured..." Damon and Stefan responded in tandem with one another as they simultaneously bowed respectfully towards the Pierce Girl, causing Katherine to glance over her shoulder towards them as they paused momentarily to exchange glances between themselves.
"Both of the polite and chivalrous Salvatore Brothers coming to my rescue... How will I ever choose?" Katherine muttered with feigned thoughtfulness tinting her tone of voice before twirling around with an accomplished smirk etched across her lips.
With an exaggerated flourish of her Mahogany Brown Ringlet Curls, Katherine commenced her leisurely journey through the Estate Garden once more with her hands folded behind her back as an expression of thinly veiled arrogant gratification etched across her features while Stefan and Damon silently observe her retreating figure with rapt fascination.
~Original Salvatore Estate~Present Day~
"She chose me... I escorted her to the Founders Ball at the Original Lockwood Estate..." Stefan admitted with an absentminded tone of voice as he gently threaded his fingers through Amaya's Mahogany Brown Waves while Elena merely continued to explore the ruins that surrounded her while simultaneously listening to the recounting of the Salvatore Brother's history with their Ex-Lover/Vampire Sire.
"The first Founders Party..." Elena interjected as she paused in her previous journey to focus her attention on Stefan with widened eyes of sudden realization. "Where you signed the Registry."
"It hadn't mattered that I had obtained what my Elder Brother had wanted... It hadn't even mattered if it caused him harm... All that mattered was that I wanted her..." Stefan explained with an expression of genuine remorse written across his features as he reminisced on the dejected glimmer in his Elder Brother's eyes when Katherine had chosen him instead of Damon, causing Amaya to avert his attention onto herself as she pressed an affectionate kiss to his lips to arouse him from his reverie.
"So, he was upset..." Elena surmised as she settled onto the Garden Bench that had somehow managed to survive Mother Nature having reclaimed the land.
"What you need to understand about Damon... Is that even when he was Human... Damon very seldom ever expressed his emotions in the natural manner... And at certain moments, he would sometimes forget to communicate his displeasure... Instead, he merely retaliated in whichever manner he deemed appropriate..." Stefan explained with furrowed brows of consideration as his thoughts shifted towards the less than traditional Coping Methods that Damon had adapted to after the unfortunate death of their Mother to handle the sudden responsibility that he felt to protect his Younger Brother against their abusive Father. "What I hadn't known at the time is that... The Night of the Founders Ball...? Katherine had been with him as well."
"So, he stole her from you...? Not the other way around...?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she remembered the version that Amelia had heard from Damon had made him seem like the victim.
"To be completely honest... I've long since come to recognize that she was never ours to begin with." Stefan admitted with an audible sigh of resignation as he glanced towards Amaya once more, having noticed that she had been rather silent for the duration of their discussion of the final months of he and Damon's Human Life.
The Doe Eyed Fae allowed an encouraging smile to appear across her features as she silently provided the Green Eyed Vampire with the comfort and support that he truly needed in that particular moment. However, Amaya could not ignore the discomfort that discussing his Vampire Sire induced not only for herself but for Stefan as well, especially with the knowledge of the Bloodline Connection between she and the illustrious Katerina Petrova.
~Flashback~
~Original Salvatore Estate~1846~
In an Upstairs Bedroom of the Salvatore Manor, the Green Eyed Salvatore Son braced his weight against the palms of his hands with the Brown Eyed Pierce Daughter straddling his waist as they shared an arduous moment of passion amongst themselves. And as the moment between the Salvatore Son and Pierce Daughter continued, the seemingly Human Girl threaded her fingers through his tousled Chestnut Brown Hair as his gentle kisses lowered from her jawline to her neck.
"I will love you... Forever." Stefan Salvatore passionately muttered with an unfocused gaze as his Forest Green Eyes connected with her own Dark Brown Eyes.
"Forever is a very long time, you know..." Katherine Pierce whispered with an apparent breathless tone of voice as Stefan resumed his earlier ministrations while being particularly attentive to the soft skin of her slender neck.
"Not long enough..." Stefan retorted with unintentional sincerity as he continued to brush gentle kisses from Katherine's neckline towards her collarbone.
As the intensity of the moment between she and the Younger Salvatore Brother continued to intensify, the breathless pants that filtered through the otherwise silent Upstairs Bedroom increased as her lust for Stefan steadily heightened until her Enhanced Emotions caused her Human Facade to slowly morph as the moment escalated. And as his Forest Green Eyes connected with her Demonic Features, Katherine suddenly grasped his Chestnut Brown Hair in her hand as she roughly tilted his head enough to embed her Elongated Fangs deep within the tender skin of his neck.
The following Morning, the Pierce Vampire could be seen standing before the Full Length Mirror as she gripped onto the edges of the Wooden Frame to brace herself as her Maidservant dutifully tightens the strings of her corset. However, as the Younger Salvatore Brother's Forest Green Eyes fluttered open, Stefan suddenly remembers the events of the previous night before an audible gasp of alarm escapes his lips as he bolts upright on the Four Poster Bed while gently brushing his fingers against the wound on his neck.
"Good Morning..." Katherine greets the obviously startled Green Eyed Human as she smiled flirtatiously towards Stefan through the reflection of the Full Length Mirror. "Clear the room, please..." Katherine requested with an even tone of voice as she addressed her Handmaiden, causing the Bennett Woman to curtsy respectfully before taking her leave. "You're upset."
"Your face... It was that of a Demon..." Stefan muttered with furrowed brows of confusion as Katherine silently made her way towards the Four Poster Bed with an apparent smirk etched across her lips.
"But you're not afraid..." Katherine urged as she approached the Younger Salvatore Brother while her Dark Brown Eyes searched for contact with his Forest Green Eyes in an effort to Compel him to her own desire.
"Stay away from me..." Stefan demanded with an urgent tone of voice as he scooted across the mattress as Katherine continued to calmly approach his position. "Stay away-"
"It doesn't change the way you feel about me..." Katherine conveys as her Dark Brown Eyes connect with his Forest Green Eyes, causing her pupils to dilate as she Compels Stefan to her heart's content. "You will not tell anyone..." Katherine continues with an accomplished smirk before shushing the Salvatore Son when he begun to repeat her command as was natural with Compulsion. "We will continue just as we have."
"Yes..." Stefan whispered with an apparent monotonous tone of voice as his Forest Green Eyes remained entranced with her own Dark Brown Eyes.
"You have no idea of the future I have planned for us, Stefan... You, me, and Damon... No rules." Katherine commented with an expression of absolute delight as she perches herself onto the Four Poster Bed beside Stefan with an excitable smile on her lips.
~Original Salvatore Estate~Present Day~
"She could control both of our minds... She compelled each of us to maintain the secret of our affair from the other. She had wanted us to be together... Forever... May not have ended the way she had intended. But..." Stefan paused as he begrudgingly removed his arm from around Amaya's shoulders as he lowered himself towards the ground before retrieving something wrapped in cloth that had been hidden away in the hollow of an idling log. "Damon and I... Seems we have nothing from our Human Life besides one another... Whether we accept it or not."
With an audible sigh of resignation, the Green Eyed Vampire straightens his posture from his kneeling position before gently unraveling the bundle of cloth to reveal the Blue Eyed Vampire's Daylight Ring in the palm of his hand, causing the Brown Eyed Doppelganger to glance between he and her Younger Twin Sister with an expression of uncertainty.
"Is that Damon's ring...?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of confusion as she eventually remembered where she had seen the familiar piece of jewelry before.
"Mhm... After the Founders Council Celebration, I had removed it as insurance should he manage to escape... But I have no choice but to return it to him." Stefan explained with an audible sigh of resignation as he briefly glanced towards the Elder Gilbert Twin before directing his gaze towards Amaya as she smiled reassuringly at him.
"No! Don't, Stefan..." Elena pleaded with widened eyes of urgency as she stepped closer to the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae. "Keep it hidden."
"Elena, if he doesn't have his Daylight Ring by Sunset tonight... He'll retaliate by the only means he knows will warrant the ultimate reaction from me..." Stefan explained with an apparent solemn tone of voice as he glanced towards his Fae Girlfriend, causing Amaya to grasp his hand within her own in an effort to alleviate his blatant worries for her safety.
"And how is that?" Elena questioned with an expression of exasperation as she glowered at Stefan for even considering returning the Daylight Ring to the Ravenette Vampire.
"By causing harm to Amaya." Stefan admitted as he glanced down upon his Fae Girlfriend once more while Amaya merely continued to smile towards her Vampire Boyfriend in reassurance.
At the unexpected admission, the Elder Gilbert Daughter had immediately fallen silent as she glanced towards her Younger Twin Sister with an expression of concern etched across her features while the Younger Gilbert Daughter merely focused her attention onto the Salvatore Son that had been presented with the ultimate decision between neutralizing the threat that the Blue Eyed Vampire posed by resigning him to darkness without his Daylight Ring or protecting the Doe Eyed Fae from his Elder Brother by adhering to his demand.
~Gilbert Residence~
Later that Evening, the Vampire/Fae Couple had made the brief detour to the Mystic Grill to allow the Elder Gilbert Daughter to collect her own vehicle before meeting her Younger Twin Sister and the Younger Salvatore Brother at the Gilbert Household as the Doe Eyed Fae needed to gather her necessities for another Slumber Party at the Forbes Residence since the Younger Gilbert Daughter would not be entirely protected while the Elder Salvatore Brother was on his warpath due to his having been invited inside.
However, as the Salvatore/Gilbert Duo stepped through the Front Door into the Downstairs Entryway of the Gilbert Residence, Amaya could immediately feel an eerie Sense of Darkness emanating from the Dining Room. And upon having entered the Open Concept Kitchen, Amaya had been understandably alarmed to discover the origin of such darkness had been the Donovan Girl as she argued endlessly with her Younger Brother as the Elder Gilbert Daughter and Gilbert Son silently observed.
As the Green Eyed Vampire momentarily noticed the stiffened posture of the Doe Eyed Fae, the Younger Gilbert Daughter focused her attention solely onto the Donovan Daughter with an expression of both horrified disbelief and resentment. Within mere seconds of having entered the Kitchen, Amaya had been startled when her Gift of Infinite Knowledge suddenly activated to inform her that another of her Fae Abilities had been activated in the presence of an evidently Transitioning Vampire.
"Stefan..." Amaya whispered ever so gently as she leaned towards the Green Eyed Vampire while her Navy Blue Eyes remained focused on the Donovan Girl. "Vicki's in Transition."
At the whispered admission from his Fae Girlfriend, the Salvatore Son's posture immediately stiffened as he directed his undivided attention towards the obviously agitated Transitioning Vampire, his Enhanced Hearing confirming that the Donovan Daughter had an inconsistent heartbeat that was accustomed to the Vampire Species which inevitably confirmed that the Doe Eyed Fae had been accurate in her unexpected declaration.
"Elena, come here..." Amaya demanded as she grasped onto her Elder Twin SIster's forearm before pulling her away from the Transitioning Vampire.
"Vicki... Listen to me... Focus. You'll be fine. Everything will be fine..." Stefan assured as he diverted the Donovan Girl's attention from her Heightened Senses which were causing her emotions to escalate before glancing towards the Donovan and Gilbert Sons. "Bring her upstairs... Lay her down and close the blinds... She'll be alright."
With identical expressions of confusion written across their features, the Gilbert Son gestured for the Donovan Siblings to follow him towards his Upstairs Bedroom which inevitably allowed the Salvatore Son and Gilbert Twins the privacy needed for the impending discussion.
"You know what's wrong with her?" Elena questioned with furrowed brows of concern as she glanced between the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae.
"Yes." Stefan answered with an absentminded tone of voice as he approached Amaya as she slouched against the Kitchen Island.
"What is it?" Elena questioned with an expression of hesitancy as she observed Stefan as he seemed to comfort her Younger Twin Sister.
"She's in Transition..." Amaya responded with an audible sigh of resignation as she threaded her fingers through her Mahogany Brown Hair as she glanced towards her Elder Twin Sister.
"Transition into what...?" Elena retorted with an expression of caution as she glanced between Stefan and Amaya with narrowed eyes of suspicion.
"Vampire." Stefan and Amaya responded in unison with complete honesty etched across their features, causing Elena to waver on her feet at the confirmation of what she had feared their resounding answer may have been.
"She must have been with Damon until rather recently... She's Newly Awakened... She hasn't even completed her Transition as of yet..." Stefan muttered with an expression of concern as he wrapped his arms around Amaya while threading his fingers through her Mahogany Brown Hair to ease the oncoming headache that had appeared as an aftereffect of the activation of another of her Fae Abilities since the Mortal Fae was inevitably adjusting to her Mystical Heritage meant she would retain consciousness as her gifts continued to emerge.
"H-How does she do that?" Elena questioned with an expression of uncertainty as the subject of the Transitioning Process had not been discussed as of yet.
"She has to Feed on Human Blood." Stefan admitted with an expression of severity as he continued to attend to Amaya without bothering to glance towards her Elder Twin Sister.
"And if she doesn't...?" Elena retorted with an apparent hesitancy lilting her tone of voice as she considered whether she truly wanted to know or not.
"She won't survive." Amaya answered with an audible sigh of relief as the massive headache eventually begun to ease.
"She may only have hours..." Stefan muttered thoughtfully as he glanced down towards Amaya with furrowed brows of consideration, causing Amaya to nod her head in affirmation of his subtle warning.
"She's upstairs with Jeremy and Matt right now..." Elena interjected with an alarmed tone of voice as she had begun pacing across the Dining Room Floor.
"She's currently unaware of what is happening to her at the moment..." Stefan commented with complete certainty as he briefly glanced towards Elena at the sound of her hysteric tone of voice.
"So, when is she gonna know...?" Elena questioned with an exasperated shake of her head as she threaded her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"At the moment, she doesn't remember anything due to part of herself having retained her Humanity... But the deeper into the Transition she progresses, the memories that she's been made to forget will begin to resurface... And she'll know that she has to make the choice," Stefan explained with an even tone of voice as he continued to caress Amaya's Mahogany Brown Hair while waiting for Elena to comprehend the severity of the situation.
"You mean, the same choice you made?" Elena questioned with an obvious judgmental glimmer within her Dark Brown Eyes, causing Amaya to immediately stiffen in response to the insensitive comment.
"Elena." Amaya sneered with an expression of unadulterated resentment as she leaned away from Stefan's embrace to glower at her Elder Twin Sister.
"It's fine, Amaya..." Stefan assured with an endearing smile as he glanced down upon his Fae Girlfriend before diverting his attention towards the Human Doppelganger as his expression darkened considerably. "Damon and I were murdered in Cold Blood by our own Father on the night that Fell's Church burned during the Battle of Willow Creek. I do not speak for my Elder Brother... But I had been completely unaware that Katherine had been compelling me to consume Vampire Blood for several weeks... Including the Morning that we were killed while attempting to rescue her from the Founders Council before she perished."
"Oh my God..." Elena muttered with an expression of horrified realization as Amaya leaned further against Stefan's broad chest to provide him with comfort since she knew the inner turmoil that discussing such matters caused the Green Eyed Vampire.
As silence descended amongst the occupants of the Gilbert Family Kitchen, Stefan grasped either of his Fae Girlfriend's delicate cheeks between his palms as his thumbs gently caressed the flushed skin of her cheekbones, causing Amaya to immediately soften further against her Vampire Boyfriend's broad chest as they allowed themselves to enjoy their brief moment of affection while they could.
"Vicki?!" Jeremy Gilbert exclaimed with an obviously confused tone of voice from the Upstairs Landing, causing the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae to separate from their embrace at the sound of hurried footsteps on the staircase alerted them to an unexpected issue.
"Vicki!" Matt Donovan shouted as he descended the staircase as swiftly as he possibly could before sprinting onto the Front Porch through the Entry Door that the Donovan Girl had disappeared through mere seconds earlier.
After having exchanged brief glances with one another, the Green Eyed Vampire and Doe Eyed Fae emerged from the Gilbert Household onto the Front Porch where they immediately noticed the Donovan Son standing on the Front Lawn as he surveyed his surrounding in search of his Elder Sister, the Elder Gilbert Twin and Gilbert Brother appearing through the Front Door with furrowed brows of concern written across their features.
"She was fine one minute and then she just... She just freaked out." Jeremy explained with an expression of confusion as he glanced towards his Elder Sister, causing Amaya to smile reassuringly towards her Younger Brother to ease his obvious worry for his Transitioning Vampire Girlfriend.
"I'm gonna go look for her. Call me if you hear anything." Matt declares as he briefly glances at the Gilbert Siblings and Salvatore Son on the Front Porch before sprinting towards his Pickup Truck.
"I've discerned her scent from that of our own... It would be none too difficult for me to follow her." Stefan whispered as he and his Fae Girlfriend continued to survey their surroundings before Amaya glanced towards her Vampire Boyfriend with an affirmative nod of her head in acquiescence of his implied suggestion.
Without further indication, the Green Eyed Vampire brushed an affectionate kiss to the Doe Eyed Fae's forehead before hastily descending the Porch Steps as he allowed his Enhanced Senses to navigate him in the direction that the frightened Donovan Girl had been subconsciously guided by her Heightened Emotions while in her moment of weakness.
However, at the precise moment that the Younger Salvatore Brother had disappeared from her eyesight, the Younger Gilbert Daughter had immediately been immersed within her Gift of Foresight as an event of imminent approach filtered through her mind while her Navy Blue Eyes were overshadowed within an iridescent Pure White Whirlpool.
~Vision~
In the Mystic Falls Cemetery, the Younger Salvatore Brother approached the trembling Donovan Daughter as she sobbed uncontrollably on the Front Steps of the Salvatore Family Crypt where her newly recovered memories reminded her of the massacre that she had been the sole survivor of after having been attacked by the Elder Salvatore Brother in an apparent Feeding Frenzy.
"Vicki...?" Stefan Salvatore whispered as he approached the Transitioning Vampire with tentative footsteps before kneeling on the Stone Steps beside the emotional Teenage Girl.
"I'm starting to remember things... What he is. What he said. I remember you... At the Hospital. On the rooftop... It's all coming back." Vicki Donovan muttered with an expression of absolute terror etched across her features as she glanced towards the Salvatore Son through the tearful haze.
"I am so sorry... Damon had absolutely no right to have done this to you..." Stefan commented with an honestly remorseful tone of voice as his thoughts whirled with guilt for not having been able to prevent his Elder Brother from forcing the Donovan Girl into the Transitioning Process.
"He said that I need to feed... What will happen if I don't?" Vicki interjected with an expression of dread as she directed her attention towards the Green Eyed Vampire.
"The further into the Transition you progress... The stronger the urge will become until... You either Feed to complete the Transformation or... The weaker you'll become until you've faded into oblivion." Stefan explained ever so gently with an expression of genuine sorrow written across his feature, understanding well enough the weight of the decision that Vicki was faced with in this particular moment.
"So, I'll be dead." Vicki surmised with an anguished tone of voice as her entire form was wracked with heartwrenching sobs once more with the comprehension of the choices available to her in this situation as she could either complete the Transition or allow herself to defer to Death. "I don't want this..."
"I know..." Stefan muttered with an apologetic tone of voice as he had ascertained that the Donovan Daughter would prefer to succumb to Death while Human rather than Transition into that of the unknown that was Vampirism. "It is ultimately your decision to make... And either choice you decide upon... I'll do everything in my power to help you, Vicki... You have my word."
"Is it better...?" Vicki interjected with an apparent tone of desperation tinting her tone of voice as she stared into his Forest Green Eyes, causing Stefan to pause with an expression of uncertainty as he hesitated to answer as he feared his response would negatively influence her decision on the matter. "Is it better...? Will I be better...?" Vicki pleaded as the hopeful expression on her features dulled even further when Stefan gently bowed his head as an indication of denial to her urgent inquiries, causing the uncontrollable sobs from moments earlier to resurface with an apparent vengeance as her remaining semblance of hope was destroyed. "I wanna go home... Will you take me home?"
"Of course." Stefan agreed with an ever so gentle tone of voice as he stood from the Stone Steps before extending his hand towards the hysterical Teenage Girl.
However, mere seconds before the Transitioning Donovan Vampire had the chance to accept the Salvatore Vampire's proffered hand, the deafening sound of gunshots echoed through the otherwise silent cemetery. With an audible grunt of pained suffering as he clutched onto the wound in his abdomen, Stefan collapses to the ground as unadulterated agony coursed through his entire form as his body spasmed with the effort of his Enhanced Healing attempting to forcefully extract the Wooden Bullet embedded in his torso.
At the unexpected disturbance, the Donovan Daughter was momentarily distracted from her warranted hysteria as her attention is immediately diverted towards the admittedly familiar person responsible as none other than the Lead Anchorman for the Local News Station, Logan Fell, approached the collapsed Younger Salvatore Brother with the weapon in his hand aimed directly at the Green Eyed Vampire. And as the Founding Family Member lowered himself to the ground beside the incapacitated Vampire, the Fell Man retrieves the Wooden Stake that had been hidden on his person while applying unnecessary pressure to the wound of the Salvatore Son that he had noticed with his Ex-Girlfriend's Younger Niece.
"No!" Vicki exclaims with an expression of horrified panic as she lurches from the Stone Steps towards the News Reporter as the Fell Man raises the Wooden Stake above Stefan's heart with dark determination glinting in his eyes.
~Gilbert Residence~
With an audible gasp of frightened horror as she was released from the undeniably alarming Vision, the Gilbert Girl threaded her fingers through her Mahogany Brown Hair with an expression of apprehension as her other hand proceeds to caress the tender skin above her own heart as she attempts to alleviate the sudden ache that the vision had caused. However, while the mere event that she had been made an unfortunate witness to had caused her immense concern for her Vampire Boyfriend, the Doe Eyed Fae undoubtedly knew that the Ravenette Vampire would never allow his Younger Brother to be seriously injured despite what either of the Salvatore Brothers may claim.
With an audible sigh of resignation, the Younger Gilbert Daughter reluctantly entered the Gilbert Household once more with the troublesome thought that she would continue to be of no benefit to the Younger Salvatore Son until her remaining Fae Abilities had been activated in preparation of her Eighteenth Birthday, at which point her Awakening would be complete with the activation of her Immortality.
"Maybe we should check in with Matt..." Jeremy suggested with an expression of concern as Amaya entered the Kitchen where he and Elena were cleaning the mess that Vicki had made.
"He'll call when he finds her." Elena retorted with an unconvincing smile directed towards Jeremy before averting her attention to absentmindedly loading the Dishwasher.
"Well, what are we supposed to do?" Jeremy interjected with an annoyed tone of voice as he stepped closer toward his Eldest Sister as she continued to occupy herself with cleaning.
"We wait... We're supposed to wait." Elena muttered with an audible sigh of resignation as she briefly glanced towards her Younger Brother before resuming her previous task as she attempted to distract herself from the current situation.
"I don't know what's wrong with her..." Jeremy admitted with an expression of sorrow as he observed Elena with furrowed brows of confusion for her blatant disregard for his concerns.
"She'll be fine, Jeremy... She's not alone in this matter... There are those of us that want nothing more than to help her... And I am certain that she is very much aware of that. Perhaps she just needed to be alone for the moment..." Amaya declared with an expression of sincerity as she approached her Younger Brother, causing Jeremy to divert his attention from the suspiciously tense Elder Gilbert Twin towards her admirably calm Younger Twin Sister. "We just need to be patient..."
The conversation between the Gilbert Siblings was unexpectedly interrupted by the echoing of the doorbell throughout the Gilbert Household, causing the Sibling Trio to exchange brief glances amongst one another before making their way towards the Front Door. However, as the Elder Gilbert Daughter opened the Wooden Door to reveal the Elder Salvatore Son standing on their Front Porch, she immediately attempted to close it with every ounce of strength she had, only for the Ravenette Vampire to effortlessly cease her efforts with his Enhanced Strength.
"Upstairs, Jeremy... Please." Amaya urged with an encouraging smile directed towards her obviously hesitant Younger Brother, causing Jeremy to briefly glance between his Elder Sisters and the Elder Salvatore Brother before nodding his head in acceptance of the demand as he made his way to his Upstairs Bedroom.
"You're afraid of me..." Damon surmised with narrowed eyes directed towards the Elder Gilbert Twin before an apparent smirk appeared across his lips. "Allow me to hazard a guess... Stefan eventually admitted the truth... I'll admit I hadn't been expecting that."
"If I may..." Amaya interjected with an arched brow as she crossed her arms before her chest with an innocent tilt of her head as she leveled the Ravenette Vampire with an unimpressed glimmer within her Navy Blue Eyes. "I've known about he and yourself since before the Comet Festivities... Which Stefan has been very much aware of for several weeks now. Alas... Elena has just learned the truth rather recently, Damon... Neither of which had been due to Stefan nor yourself."
"Stay away from me." Elena sneered with an accusatory glare directed towards the Ravenette Vampire despite his attention having been focused solely onto her Younger Twin Sister.
"No need to be impolite... I'm merely looking for Stefan. May I come in...? Wait. Of course I can... You were kind enough to invite me inside the night we met, Elena..." Damon taunted with an arched brow as he stepped across the threshold with an apparent smirk directed towards the Elder Gilbert Twin before glancing briefly towards her Younger Twin Sister. "We can avoid the suspension if that were to make you more cooperative... I have no intention of killing you at the moment... That wouldn't serve my greater agenda..." Damon continued as he directed his gaze towards the tense Human Doppelganger before examining his surroundings with interest as he noticed the immaculate Framed Photographs that had been dispersed around the Downstairs Entryway. "Now... Where's Stefan?"
"He's searching for Vicki." Amaya responded with an arched brow as she leveled Damon with an apparent glimmer of disapproval lurking within her Navy Blue Eyes for the Ravenette Vampire's impulsive decision to force the Donovan Daughter into the Transitioning Process while Elena merely glowered at the Elder Salvatore Brother with resentment.
"Mmm... Don't glower at me with those judgmental eyes of yours..." Damon retorted as he glanced towards Elena with an unimpressed scowl for her incessant glaring before averting his attention towards his surroundings once more. "She'll eventually come to appreciate what I did... And I'll wager that she'll even thank me before the end of this century."
"Did you thank Katherine?" Elena rhetorically questioned with an accusatory scowl as she crossed her arms before her chest, causing Amaya to stiffen at her Elder Twin Sister's audacious comment towards the impulsive Ravenette Vampire.
"Mmm..." Damon hummed with an infuriated glimmer beneath his Icy Blue Eyes as he glanced towards Elena with pure animosity. "You seem rather confident in yourself for someone that doesn't know the entire story..."
"I know enough." Elena retorted with a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders as her posture seemed to straighten with the sudden confidence she had against the Ravenette Vampire.
"I sincerely doubt that..." Damon commented as he made his way towards the Front Door while glancing towards the Younger Gilbert Daughter with an apparent smirk before pausing at the threshold as he directed his gaze towards her Elder Twin Sister. "Word of warning... Might I suggest being more careful with who you invite into the house... May very well save your lives."
Without further comment from the Elder Gilbert Daughter, Elena disappeared into the Kitchen to continue her previous task of cleaning before their Aunt/Legal Guardian had returned home while Amaya crossed the threshold onto the Front Porch before pausing as she focused her attention onto Damon as he made his way across the Front Lawn.
"Damon..." Amaya voiced with an expression of genuine concern etched across her features as she stepped closer to the Porch Steps as though she were about to follow the Elder Salvatore Son, causing Damon to pause as he glanced over his shoulder towards the Younger Gilbert Daughter with an arched brow as he had not been expecting her to follow him. "The Salvatore Family Crypt at the Mystic Falls Cemetery... The Founders Council are in possession of an artifact created by Jonathan Gilbert in 1864 to locate Vampires that will guide Logan Fell to Stefan and Vicki."
"And how could you possibly know that...?" Damon retorted with furrowed brows of confusion as to how the Younger Gilbert Daughter would know of something that has yet to happen.
"I'm of the Fae Species, Damon... We are capable of more than you could ever fathom." Amaya responded with an honest tone of voice as she clasped her hands before her abdomen, causing the expression on Damon's features to morph into that of unabashed astonishment at the Doe Eyed Fae's admission. "I sincerely hope you can recognize the significance of my entrusting you with this information, Damon... Please, do not make me regret having made this decision."
"You need not worry, Amaya... I'll protect him... You have my word." Damon assured as he nodded his head towards the Younger Gilbert Daughter in acknowledgement, his heartbeat increasing at the Doe Eyed Fae's unforeseen faith in his character.
Without further indication from the Ravenette Vampire, Damon disappeared into the darkness that had long since descended across Mystic Falls as he made his way towards the Salvatore Family Crypt while his mind whirled with thoughts of his Younger Brother's Fae Girlfriend. Meanwhile, Amaya heaved an audible sigh of relief with the knowledge that Damon would ensure Stefan's survival despite the Elder Salvatore Son having claimed to despise his Younger Brother.
Later that Evening, the Doe Eyed Fae had long since perched herself on the Porch Swing of the Gilbert Residence as she awaited the return of her Vampire Boyfriend. And as the Green Eyed Man appeared on the Front Lawn as he approached his Fae Girlfriend, Amaya lurched from the cushioned seating as she immediately burrowed herself into his broad chest while Stefan merely wrapped his arms around her petite figure.
"Are you alright...?" Amaya questioned as she brushed the tips of her fingers against the prominent bloodstains on the fabric of Stefan's shirt before glancing upwards to gauge whether he were sensing any discomfort from the wound. "I was so worried about you."
At the sound of his Fae Girlfriend's trembling tone of voice as she uttered the admission, Stefan tightened his arms around his Doe Eyed Fae's dainty form before proceeding to gently thread his fingers through her Mahogany Brown Hair, causing Amaya to immediately heave an audible sigh of contentment as she wrapped her arms around her Green Eyed Vampire's abdomen while inhaling his masculine scent that permeated his clothing due to the lingering of his own blood.
"I failed to prevent her from feeding... She completed the Transition even though that had not been her initial choice on the matter..." Stefan muttered with an apparent tone of remorse lilting his tone of voice as he burrowed his nose into the silken softness of Amaya's Mahogany Brown Hair. "I had been so distracted by the attack that... I hadn't thought of how enticing exposed Human Blood could be for someone in Transition... I should have known-"
"Everything will be alright, Stefan..." Amaya interjected as she withdrew from Stefan's broad chest with an enchanting smile on her lips that seemed to ease his worries in an instant. "I am certain that you're more than capable of guiding her through the Transition from Human to Vampire... You may not have appreciated the Bloodlust that you were plagued with... But your history with Blood Addiction could be the very aspect of your character that Vicki will relate to the most due to her own Addiction Problems while she had been Human... Whether you believe this or not, Stefan... You are probably the only person that Vicki would listen to when it comes to her newly acquired urges."
"I love you..." Stefan whispered with an expression of unconditional adoration as he grasped either of Amaya's delicate cheeks between his palms. "I love you so damn much, Amaya."
"And I love you, Stefan..." Amaya muttered with an enchanting smile as she leaned forward to brush her lips against his own, causing the smile on Stefan's features to brighten considerably as he bowed his head slightly until his lips connected with her own in another passionate kiss.
And as the Doe Eyed Fae allowed herself to become ensnared by the sensual moment between she and the Green Eyed Vampire, an audible sigh of contentment filtered through the otherwise silent night to intermingle with an animalistic growl as the Salvatore Son tightened his arms around the Gilbert Daughter once more until she was practically burrowed against his broad chest as their loving embrace continued well into the starry night...