The Ocean Always Lies Chapter 8, a vampire diaries fanfic

Chapter Eight: Wow, You Guys Need a Better Doorbell

This is gonna be a long one! Buckle up, my friends :)

Also, PSA, this is set in between 2x02 and 2x03. So the brothers Salvatore are starting to get suspicious that *gasp* werewolves might be a real thing. Literal babies, you guys. Honestly.

So have you guys ever thought about the fact that you're taking time out of your day to read my story? Because I do, like a lot. I honestly can't believe it. You! Yes, you reading this- you are amazing, special, and worthy of all the love. You make me want to make this world come alive. I mean, it always has been for me, but I want you guys to love it as much as I do. Anyway, give me some good vampire book or movie recs down in the comments. I haven't been able to find anything since TVD and TO went off the air. Love you guys!

Songs for this chapter:

Storm Comin' by the Wailin' Jennys

Every Little Thing by the Black Keys

Evalia by Audiomachine, Paul Dinletir, and Uyanga Bold

"I don't remember this being in any of the books you guys have around the house," Sabrina said, shifting in her chair, as Miriam took the cuff and attached it to her wrist.

"This isn't the type of book you leave lying around on the coffee table," she said with a wry twist of her mouth.

"No," Sabrina considered. "No, I guess not,"

The cuff did not feel like the freedom Miriam promised. It weighed like a chain against her dry skin.

Tim spoke up, pointing at Reyna, "Are we sure that having Little-Miss-I-Have-No-Impulse-Control should be in here?"

Reyna's retort was quick while staring down pointedly at his jeans, "I will cut it off, Timothy,"

"So what happens first?" Sabrina asked, the pain of her second shifting still fresh in her mind. Her sweaty palms gripped her knees.

"Before or after the golem rises." Miriam's cheeky smile gave her away. "Just kidding," she said taking up the canister of Morton's iodized salt, dumping half the salt into the water bowl. White smoke poured over the edges. Sabrina caught the last of Miriam's murmuring:

"Ahd mayim…"

"Miriam?" Sabrina whispered. Miriam turned her head. The lines around her mouth softened when she answered.

"Yes? What's wrong?"

"Why is this happening to me?" she glanced at Caroline. "To us. We were supposed to be the normal ones,"

Miriam rubbed her back, "The Ocean chose you for a reason, Sabrina Forbes. I could tell from the moment I saw you that you were never going to stay human forever. Your life strand was always bright and shining." Then she repeated nearly to herself. "No, not human. Not in this life, not in this world."

Sabrina gave a mirthless smile. "Do I have to pay extra for the life coaching?"

"Not this time." Miriam patted her shoulder. "That was a freebie."

Miriam enclosed her hands over the bowl, slowly raising them, humming lowly. Her hands moved slowly until they didn't. Her palms crashed down, clapping against the table on either side of the bowl. She blew a harsh breath against the water in the bowl. The white smoke drew into the ripples, disappearing into the movement. She cupped her hands in the water. Sabrina closed her eyes, forming a premature wince. Miriam flicked the water against Sabrina's forearms before smearing against the green gemstone. Miriam looked at her expectantly. Expecting what, Sabrina didn't know.

Sabrina let out a nervous chuckle. "That's it? No fire or blood sacrifices?" She said in a raspy voice. "I was expecting more of a—!"

Sabrina jerked back in her chair, back arching as her arms wound around herself. Reyna jumped away from the couch, brushing past Caroline. Reyna barely caught the back of Sabrina's head before it cracked against the back of the metal chair. A jumbled cacophony of voices reverberated through Sabrina's skull. The ceiling circled above her while her stomach rolled painfully. Her sightline blurred before the abrupt pain ended. A crushing weight lifted from her chest and shoulders. A soothing coolness cascaded over her. Waves relieved the tightness from her skin. She gasped for a full breath, gulping down greedy breaths. The air reached the bottom of her lungs for the first time since emerging from the water last night.

The blurred edges around her vision cleared, and Reyna came into view. She saw her friend's mouth moving, lips forming her name. Then, Caroline appeared, and Sabrina definitely heard when her cousin called her name. Reyna handed Caroline a cloth which she used to wipe underneath Sabrina's nose. She realized her nose had started bleeding. Caroline pulled the rag away, tossing into onto the table.

Caroline bared her teeth at Miriam, squaring her shoulders. "What did you do to her?"

Miriam instead asked Sabrina, "How do you feel?"

A jumbled cacophony of voices reverberated through Sabrina's skull. The ceiling circled above her while her stomach rolled painfully. Her sightline blurred before the abrupt pain ended. A crushing weight lifted from her chest and shoulders. A soothing coolness cascaded over her. Waves relieved the tightness from her skin. She gasped for a full breath, gulping down greedy breaths. The air reached the bottom of her lungs for the first time since emerging from the water last night.

Caroline bared her teeth at Miriam, squaring her shoulders. "What did you do to her?"

Miriam instead asked Sabrina, "How do you feel?"

Caroline bared her teeth at Miriam, squaring her shoulders. "What did you do to her?"

Miriam instead asked Sabrina, "How do you feel?"

Sabrina's smile came easily with breathy relief. "I feel better." She took another deep-reaching breath. She realized the voice quieted, was muted by the contentment the cuff offered. "I can breath,"

Caroline's head swiveled. "What?"

"I can breathe, Care," she looked at Miriam. "What did you do to me?"

"I figured that old desert water torture might be a grace instead of its original purpose. You'll have to shift every few days, but.."

"I wouldn't be permanently stuck in the bath,"

"I was going to say you would look less like.." In a sudden wave of sensitivity, Miriam hesitated.

Reyna didn't possess the same hesitation. "Like the Grunge,"

"The homeless man the next town over?" Caroline offered.

Tim grinned. "Me without coffee?"

"Wow, thanks." Sabrina noticed harshly ingrained dark circles underneath Miriam's eyes which hadn't been there a couple of hours earlier. Though even Sabrina admitted those hours had been long. Her limbs grew heavier, and she could just go to sleep if…

Caroline's eyebrows rose. "So you didn't even know if that would work? That totally could have killed her,"

"Not now, Caroline," Sabrina murmured. Her brow furrowed as her thought wandered. Her fingers pressed against her neck. "Still have a pulse though. Am I dead, like in all technicality? This is a serious question," she said as Miriam chuckled.

Caroline frowned before subtly pressing her fingers against her own neck. "Well, I don't have one so I guess not,"

Tim latched onto the opportunity for conversation with Caroline. Sabrina smiled, reaching out for Reyna who dutifully helped her to her feet. She leaned against her with her gaze lingering on Reyna's hair. She trailed her fingers down the shaved portion of her head.

"I really do like the new hair, y'know,"

Reyna turned, pleased and mildly amused. "Really?"

Sabrina nodded. "Badass, man,"

Reyna snorted. "I'll admit, you took it better than Ma did,"

"I take everything that you do better than your mother,"

"Sabrina," Miriam said. "I'll need to show you how to recharge the cuff,"

"Will it always be that dramatic?"

"No. Not every time. It's just the first transition that seems the worst,"

Sabrina grinned, "You've used ancient water torture often then?"

Miriam opened her mouth, and Sabrina knew she had an argument at the ready. She shrugged when Reyna looked at her with interest. She waved them off, sighing. "I don't want to get into that right now,"

The doorbell rang.

"Sorry, mom." Tim moved toward the stairs. "I told Josh that he could make a copy of my algebra notes for tomorrow,"

Miriam flopped onto the couch, rubbing her eyes. "Ask him if he wants some breakfast. We can heat it up in the microwave if he does,"

He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time, yelling back, "Ok,"

Sabrina glanced at Reyna, "I want to sleep for three days,"

"Hate to break it to you, man, but you start at the library at 9 am,"

Sabrina groaned into her shoulder. "Since when are you responsibility's biggest advocate?"

"Oh, don't even. You haven't shut up about digging into the library's secret stash of documents for six weeks," Reyna bumped her hip against Sabrina who smothered a smile.

A comfortable silence lulled that not even Caroline felt the need to fill. Reyna took most of Sabrina's weight but still found the reach to grab a muffin off the table. The quiet, aside from Reyna's munching, made it easier to hear Tim unlatch the door and begin to say his friend's name before he stopped. Sabrina's head lifted from Reyna's shoulder.

Reyna asked, "What is it? What's wrong?"

Sabrina caught Caroline's gaze as her cousin tilted her head, straining to hear. Tim's next question had both Sabrina and Caroline racing up the stairs with Reyna close at their heels.

"Elena? What are you doing here?"

-O-

Adrenaline flushed through Sabrina's system, drying out any sense of tiredness. Sabrina couldn't move as fast as Caroline, but she was damn close. Caroline stopped just out of sight of the door, and Sabrina moved in front of her. Reyna stomped up the stairs.

"Not everyone has preternatural senses, you know!" She sniped. Miriam slowly trailed behind her. Sabrina shushed her. Reyna slapped at her hands. "Don't you shush me, what—?"

Sabrina grabbed her arm, tugging her back. Reyna's back straightened when Tim's voice and demeanor tensed. Reyna reached into her pants pocket, retrieving the curved knife Sabrina had seen Miriam use, turning the blade outward, gripping it by the onyx handle. Miriam kept walking, stopping behind Tim, laying a hand on his shoulder. Miriam's tone stayed even as she said,

"Elena, good morning. Are you doing alright?"

The innocent doe voice set Sabrina's teeth on edge. "Fine, Mrs. Goldberg. Sorry to bother you on a Sunday. I know it's a little early,"

"Is there something we can help you with? Who's this with you?"

"Oh," The pitch in Elena's voice rose, surprised at the question. "This is my boyfriend, Stefan. He's just here to…"

Sabrina didn't hear the rest of what Elena said as every noise in the house was drowned out by her heart thundering in her ears.

The voice in Sabrina's chest stirred, bucking against the cuff's controls, snarling sharp teeth.

'Mine, mine, mine,' it chanted.

Her hands shook at her sides, clenching into white-knuckled fists. A fine sheen of sweat broke out across her forehead. Panic finely cut across anger, creating an indiscernible boundary, each merging into the other. She forced her hands to relax. Long white claws extended from her nails. Her fangs pierced her lower lip.

"Shit, Sabrina," Reyna hissed. Her eyes traveled up and down her friend. "You ok?"

Elena said from around the corner, "We're actually here looking for Caroline. Her mom said she might be here,"

A growl ripped itself from Sabrina's throat. Her feet propelled her into motion. Reyna swore bitterly before following her. She motioned for Caroline to follow. "This is going to end badly," she grumbled.

Elena's brow furrowed when she first saw Sabrina before her features softened in recognition. "Sabrina, hey," she smiled. "I didn't know you were back from school,"

Tim and Miriam stepped to the side. Sabrina's smile stretched across her mouth, uncomfortable and unnatural. "Yeah, I just got back last night. I was able to take on some extra hours and graduate a semester early,"

Sabrina's eyes cut across to Stefan, who regarded her just as carefully. She wanted to snarl at the creature infringing on her territory. Instead, Sabrina stuck out her hand, barely reaching over the door's threshold, smiling.

"Hi, Sabrina Forbes." She jerked her head in Caroline's direction. "I'm Caroline's first cousin,"

The muscles around Stefan's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "Stefan Salvatore,"

She pulled her hand back, shoving them into her sweatshirt pockets, curling her fingers into fists. "I know," she said. "Caroline's told me about you. You guys have had an interesting few weeks, huh,"

Sabrina enjoyed the way Elena's head jerked up in alarm.

"Oh, well, we were—," Elena's eyes then lit up. She began to step forward before Stefan caught her around the waist.

"Caroline," Elena exclaimed. Sabrina's head twisted. Caroline stood behind her with her arms crossed over her chest, but her face drew closer to hope than despair. "We've been looking for you everywhere,"

Caroline's voice rose in disbelief. "You have?"

"Yeah," Elena's mouth puckered in sympathy. "Yes, of course, we have. I freaked out when we couldn't find you at your house or your grandma's old house or at Bonnie's or the Grill," she listed off with a nervous chuckle.

"So how did you find me?"

Sabrina stayed silent, looking between them curiously. Caroline had actually asked a relevant question for once.

Stefan answered for her, "Jeremy called. She wanted to snarl at the creature infringing on her territory. Instead, Sabrina stuck out her hand, barely reaching over the door's threshold, smiling.

"Hi, Sabrina Forbes." She jerked her head in Caroline's direction. "I'm Caroline's first cousin,"

The muscles around Stefan's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "Stefan Salvatore,"

Sabrina enjoyed the way Elena's head jerked up in alarm.

"Oh, well, we were—,"

Elena's eyes then lit up. She began to step forward before Stefan caught her around the waist.

Caroline's voice rose in disbelief. "You have?"

"So how did you find me?"

Sabrina stayed silent, looking between them curiously. Caroline had actually asked a relevant question for once.

Stefan answered for her, "Jeremy called She wanted to snarl at the creature infringing on her territory. Instead, Sabrina stuck out her hand, barely reaching over the door's threshold, smiling.

"Hi, Sabrina Forbes." She jerked her head in Caroline's direction. "I'm Caroline's first cousin,"

The muscles around Stefan's mouth twitched into a faint smile. "Stefan Salvatore,"

Sabrina enjoyed the way Elena's head jerked up in alarm.

"Oh, well, we were—,"

Elena's eyes then lit up. She began to step forward before Stefan caught her around the waist.

Caroline's voice rose in disbelief. "You have?"

"Yeah," Elena's mouth puckered in sympathy. "Yes, of course, we have. I freaked out when we couldn't find you at your house or your grandma's old house or at Bonnie's or The Grill," she listed off with a nervous chuckle.

"So how did you find me?"

Sabrina stayed silent, looking between them curiously. Caroline had actually asked a relevant question for once.

Stefan answered for her, "Jeremy called. He must have seen you get on a motorcycle with someone last night,"

"Reyna's the only other person I know that you would leave with when you were feeling…"

"Dead?" Reyna offered, taking a bite out of her muffin. She shrugged when Caroline glowered. "What? I heard my name." She nodded at Elena and Stefan. "What's up, Gilbert and significant other?"

Stefan quirked a brow while Elena floundered.

Stefan said. "About the phone call you made to Damon last night, Caroline—," he motioned toward the house. "I don't think we should talk about this here. Would it be alright if we came in and talked?"

Sabrina and Reyna's answer came simultaneously. "No!" With Sabrina's coming more violently than Reyna's.

Caroline's grip around herself tightened, drawing Stefan's attention to the new silver ring on her right hand. His mouth dropped slightly. Caroline followed his gaze and tucked her hands in her jeans pockets. Stefan became more suspicious, his eyes trailing warily over the people inside the door.

"Caroline," he said in a pacifying tone that offended Sabrina, "you should really come with us,"

Elena nodded. "Yeah, the Katherine thing is freaking everyone out,"

Sabrina's reply was biting, wet anger unfurling in her chest. "And the fact that her turning Caroline as a way lay to get to you didn't?"

Sabrina's heart thundered in her chest, but not in fear. No, not fear. She was tired of being afraid. Her expression must have scared Stefan because he suddenly stood in front of Elena with a ridiculous type of male posturing that Sabrina found laughable.

Stefan took a deep, measured breath. Dark veins glimmered just underneath his skin. "Not vampire or witch. What the hell are you?"

Caroline stepped in between them. Former timidness melted into annoyance.

"Back off! Both of you." She looked at Sabrina. "Seriously? I don't need this from you too. It's bad enough that I get this from my mother—," then she said to herself, "who I still need to call… great." She shook her head, leveling herself again before glaring at Stefan with a painfully pinched brow. "And you, Stefan Salvatore!" She jabbed a brightly manicured into his chest. Her frustration was cartoonish as a deep red flush heated her chest and neck. "So help me, I will… I will bite you!" She narrowed her eyes while a shocked Elena looked over Stefan's shoulder.

The threat had the opposite of its intended effect on the youngest Salvatore. His shoulders drooped, untensing, while his lips uptick in what Sabrina dared to call fondness. Sabrina scowled. She didn't like that at all. But she had always been the jealous type.

Stefan leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms. He inclined his head. "Sorry,"

"Thank you." Caroline nodded before looking at Sabrina expectantly. When her cousin still stared petulantly down at her feet, Caroline smacked her forearm, barely missing the edge of the cuff.

"Ouch! What?"

She pointed at Stefan whose expression curved saccharinely.

Did she really—?

Caroline raised her hand to slap her again. Sabrina flinched away.

"Fine. Fine." She forced her expression into neutrality. "I'm sorry for being rude,"

Caroline clapped her hands together, smiling brightly. "Great. Now that's over,"

"Well," Stefan drawled. "Since everyone seems to know what's going on in this town, I'll be direct,"

Tim scoffed. "Please. Do,"

Stefan ignored him. "Katherine's back. And I think we would all agree," he glanced at Sabrina before focusing on Caroline, "that it would work better if we were allies rather than enemies,"

Before that moment, Sabrina had stupidly concluded that Katherine possessed no other ulterior motive for turning Caroline other than getting to Elena. Hell if she knew any other pertinent facts about Katherine other than the fact she was Elena's doppelgänger. But the fact Katherine still stayed in Mystic Falls alluded to something other than her wanting to embrace the small-town life.

Crud. They were actually going to have to be on neutral terms, weren't they?

Caroline bobbed her head, nodding, "Definitely,"

"Come with us, Care, to stay at the boarding house for a little while," Elena pleaded. "Stefan can show you how to transition without hurting anyone,"

"Like I," Caroline began. "Elena, I just… I don't know if I can…"

Stefan finally nodded in understanding. "Damon," he said.

The name made Sabrina nauseous.

"Yeah. Damon," Reyna pushed in between Sabrina and Caroline. "You ever consider chaining and muzzling your brother, Salvatore?"

He grimaced, "It has crossed my mind, yes,"

Reyna turned to Elena, "Y'know, we're having an intro self-defense class on Thursday. You should think about coming. Keeps the creeps away,"

Elena blinked, "Thank you? I'll think about it,"

Stefan spoke again, "Look, I can make sure that Damon won't be on the property if you decide to come by." He offered a pleading, meaningful stare. Sabrina supposed he had that look trademarked. "And I do think it's a good idea, Caroline,"

Caroline chewed on her lip. "So like, vegan vampire 101 class?" She asked, and he nodded. "And you're sure Damon wouldn't be there?"

"Promise," Elena nodded, looping her arm through Stefan's. "Right, Stefan?"

In the reflection of the window near the door, Sabrina saw Miriam frowning. She glanced over her shoulder. Tim stood partially in front of his mother while Miriam's hand remained steadfastly on his shoulder. She offered a wan smile to Miriam.

"Right. Damon won't be a problem you have to worry about,"

"We could meet up after school?" Elena offered. "Tomorrow?"

Sabrina turned her head, staring at Caroline's back, pleading with her silently to reject the offer.

We don't need them, she thought. We don't.

Caroline looked back at Sabrina with wide eyes, pleading.

You'll drive her away, Sabrina told herself. If you tell her no, you'll drive her away.

A pain formed behind her eyes. She was going to need a Coke after this.

"Sabrina?" She said.

She shook her head, giving a tired smile. "Up to you, babe,"

She ignored Reyna huffing behind her.

"But," Sabrina said, visibly brightening. "If you can wait until after I get off work tomorrow, I'll drive you,"

The stars freaking aligned when Caroline nodded. "Sure." She offered a tiny grateful smile before turning back to Elena with a toothy grin. "How does that sound?"

Elena deflated with relief. "Amazing,"

Stefan was already retreating away from the door, linking hands with Elena. He offered Caroline a crooked grin. "Bring your vegan shoes,"

Caroline snorted. "Whatever." She waved as she closed the door. She stopped abruptly when she turned around and saw everyone staring at her. She crossed her arms, defensively demanding, "What?"

Reyna pushed the last of her muffin into her mouth. "Lucy, you got some splainin' t'do,"