DISCLAIMER: I do not own the songs written here, I only changed a few words
for my purposes.
"Now what?!" Joan cried.
"First we talk to Florence." Stefan replied, as everyone stood up then headed for the door. "Then we look for Robert."
The journey to Joan's was made quickly in silence. Upon arriving, Florence ran to greet us.
"That snake boy was here and told me what's going on." She cried hugging me to her. "What are we to do?"
"Do you know where Robert would go or might be?" Madelyn asked firmly as I jerked myself free of my aunt's arms.
Aunt Florence shook her head, "Most likely looking for Branton and Angela or their old house."
Something hit me about my hideout and I tugged on Damon's silky shirt.
Dad was at my old house, I revealed, I smelled him.
"Angel says she smelled Robert at the house." He told everyone then turned toward me, "Did you ever see him or him you?"
I shook my head.
Julian sighed, "Too bad I don't have Fenris anymore, he could have tracked him."
Stefan and Elena turned to each other with the same idea.
"You may not have Fenris.." Elena began.
"But you have Damon." Stefan finished.
Julian spun to the man in question, "That's right, you can turn into a wolf!"
"No way." Damon said with a shake of his head, "I am *not* you personal blood hound."
"Come on Damon, "Joan pleaded. "Angel and one of our lives is on the line."
Damon groaned as I gave him my best innocent puppy dog look.
"All right." He finally said and we cheered. "But in the morning."
I shrugged and danced to my room.
That night I had the most disturbing dream I ever had in my entire life. It was a dream of what ifs.
"Good morning sweetie." A familiar yet unfamiliar voice greeted me as I opened my eyes.
I opened my eyes and sat up quickly taking in everything. The room had white lacy curtains over the windows. My beat up white dresser sat in one corner while a white computer desk sat in another next to a pale cinnamon bookcase full of books.
I lay in a bed exactly like the one at Joan's and before me stood—my mother.
She wore a white summer dress and slippers of the same color. Her smile was kind and her scent was a mixture between lilies and roses, a perfume I only smelled once in my entire life.
You're alive, I thought as tears filled my eyes and flowed down my cheeks.
My mother laughed, "Of course I'm alive. I've been alive for thirty- nine years."
I hugged her tightly against me. I had such a bad dream, I told her. That a vampire attacked you and Daddy hung himself and Branton and …
My mother smoothed my hair back absently humming a familiar lullaby. I followed along with the words I heard my mother sing once long ago.
When shadows of darkness fall,
Through the night, through the night;
My arms wrap around us all,
We're safe tonight.
The light may seem to fade;
Shadows creep,
The shadows creep,
Still I watch over thee,
I watch over thee.
Sleep!
Do not fear;
Sleep,
I am near
"Daddy and your brother are alright." She told me. "Branton is coming over with his family, the Claudines. Your father is waiting for his little angel to give him a kiss before he goes to work."
I raced through the hallway of my hide way, taking in the familiar surroundings as I went. My parents' bedroom was exactly as it was sixteen years ago and recent pictures of my brother and I sat on the nightstand inside.
In the hallway nearest to the dining room, school pictures of Branton and myself hung alongside older photos of my parents as children.
I raced past the living room and found him. By the front door stood my father, waiting for his farewell kiss from me, his little angel.
He knelt down and I rushed into his arms.
"Hey, what's all this for?" Daddy demanded, prying me loose to face him.
"She had a bad dream, that's all." My mother quietly replied, coming up behind me.
Daddy chuckled as I gave him a hug and a kiss. "Everything all right, my sweet little angel." Then he rose to his feet and walked out the door.
"Today is a very special day Angel." My mother told me suddenly. "Do you know what day it is?"
I turned towards her and thought for a moment, the answer eluding me. What is today?
"A birthday of, someone you father took away long ago." My mother responded sadly.
Why did Daddy take them?
Tears gently fell down my mother's face, "Because, Angel. Just because."
I reached out for her and I saw my hand go straight through her. I gasped and drew my hand back seeing everything except my mother fade away.
The pictures, the house, everything went away like dreams.
What's going on? I cried.
"You're waking up and I can not hold you here any longer." Momma replied as she too began to fade. As the last of her began to disappear I heard her say, "Remember your father's final words, my angel. Remember!"
And then she was gone and I opened my eyes and cried.
In the morning I chose to stay at Joan's while everyone else searched for my father. Joan and Madelyn checked my old house while Elena, Aunt Florence and Stefan searched Branton's. Julian and Damon split up and searched the city and cemetery.
I silently ate breakfast attended by the house staff. As I munched on soggy corn flakes I wondered how Joan could stand staying in the big empty house. Didn't it get lonely?
As explored the house, I began thinking of Joan as a princess in an Ivory Tower. She had everything life could give and yet--. This house seemed so hollow and bare.
That afternoon the phone rang only a few times. The first call was from Joan informing me that Madelyn and her found nothing. Then relayed a message from the others saying that they, too, didn't find Daddy. But the search would continue, since Damon picked up his scent leading from the house.
The other phone call was from Joan's parents.
"Piper, this is Mummy and Daddy." Mrs. Riley said, "I'm truly sorry that we can't come to your graduation but, as I explained before, your father and I are *needed* for this business arrangement."
Mrs. Riley sighed and Mr. Riley was suddenly on the phone.
"Piper Joan, I know you're there listening to us. Pick up that phone this instant." I could hear Mrs. Riley saying something then her husband continued. "Alright dear, she might not be there. We did see she had company."
"When you get this message, *call* please?" he said with a sigh and hung up.
So Joan goes by her middle name huh, I thought to myself and smiled. Piper Riley, neat name.
Everyone came back around noon for lunch and I informed Damon of "Piper's" call.
"Why didn't you tell us you were going by your middle name?" Madelyn inquired after the message played. "Or the fact your parent's wouldn't be coming for grad?"
Joan shrugged, "Because it didn't matter."
Her parents not coming does, I told Damon. I saw her face after they called.
Damon nodded absently as the servants came in with two trays of sandwiches.
"So what do we call you?" Julian inquired helping himself to a tray before it was even sat down.
"Call me Joan or Piper, I'll reply to either." She answered.
Everyone stuck with Joan.
After sandwiches were eaten and blood was drunk, everyone headed out once more to find my father. Again I was alone. Or thought I was.
"Time is ticking away." Keegan said behind me. I spun and faced him in surprise.
He led the way to the living room and collapsed on the couch.
"You're never going to find Robert in time, you know that don't you." He told me bluntly.
I shrugged and replied I've nothing to live for.
"Not even Damon?"
Now that was a very good question. What about Damon? He really wasn't my friend, yet he wasn't my enemy.
Again I shrugged. We like the challenge we presented each other, I said.
Keegan smirked, "Uh-huh."
Abruptly he changed the subject, "Maybe you can win without Robert."
I glanced at him then sat on the floor across from him. Do you *want* me to win? I asked.
He avoided my intense gaze, "What would you say if I told you yes?"
I would say you're lying, I replied.
He turned and faced me, "Then you have you're answer."
My mom played a Game with the Shadow men and lost right, I asked.
He nodded so I continued.
She had a relationship with them and received the ring.
Keegan nodded again.
I thought back to my dream and took a guess.
Dad took someone from Mom and that's why she was running from him that night. Why Daddy always blamed himself for killing her.
I watched Keegan's face become dark and unreadable as he looked away.
Am I right? I asked.
"You are." And suddenly he vanished.
I raced to the phone and then mentally slapped myself. I walked back to the couch, sat down, shut my eyes and reached out for Damon's mind.
Yes, my little angel? He purred inside my mind.
Check and see if by chance Taliesin or Wilburn is listed in the birth records for this day around sixteen to seventeen years ago. Then I added, I have a bad feeling.
I'll call Bonnie at Madelyn's, He replied. She will probably know where to look.
I opened my eyes and sighed. I hope this girl does, I told him. Because if not, two lives are on her head.
I heard Damon chuckle as I broke off our communication.
This quick enough for everyone?
"Now what?!" Joan cried.
"First we talk to Florence." Stefan replied, as everyone stood up then headed for the door. "Then we look for Robert."
The journey to Joan's was made quickly in silence. Upon arriving, Florence ran to greet us.
"That snake boy was here and told me what's going on." She cried hugging me to her. "What are we to do?"
"Do you know where Robert would go or might be?" Madelyn asked firmly as I jerked myself free of my aunt's arms.
Aunt Florence shook her head, "Most likely looking for Branton and Angela or their old house."
Something hit me about my hideout and I tugged on Damon's silky shirt.
Dad was at my old house, I revealed, I smelled him.
"Angel says she smelled Robert at the house." He told everyone then turned toward me, "Did you ever see him or him you?"
I shook my head.
Julian sighed, "Too bad I don't have Fenris anymore, he could have tracked him."
Stefan and Elena turned to each other with the same idea.
"You may not have Fenris.." Elena began.
"But you have Damon." Stefan finished.
Julian spun to the man in question, "That's right, you can turn into a wolf!"
"No way." Damon said with a shake of his head, "I am *not* you personal blood hound."
"Come on Damon, "Joan pleaded. "Angel and one of our lives is on the line."
Damon groaned as I gave him my best innocent puppy dog look.
"All right." He finally said and we cheered. "But in the morning."
I shrugged and danced to my room.
That night I had the most disturbing dream I ever had in my entire life. It was a dream of what ifs.
"Good morning sweetie." A familiar yet unfamiliar voice greeted me as I opened my eyes.
I opened my eyes and sat up quickly taking in everything. The room had white lacy curtains over the windows. My beat up white dresser sat in one corner while a white computer desk sat in another next to a pale cinnamon bookcase full of books.
I lay in a bed exactly like the one at Joan's and before me stood—my mother.
She wore a white summer dress and slippers of the same color. Her smile was kind and her scent was a mixture between lilies and roses, a perfume I only smelled once in my entire life.
You're alive, I thought as tears filled my eyes and flowed down my cheeks.
My mother laughed, "Of course I'm alive. I've been alive for thirty- nine years."
I hugged her tightly against me. I had such a bad dream, I told her. That a vampire attacked you and Daddy hung himself and Branton and …
My mother smoothed my hair back absently humming a familiar lullaby. I followed along with the words I heard my mother sing once long ago.
When shadows of darkness fall,
Through the night, through the night;
My arms wrap around us all,
We're safe tonight.
The light may seem to fade;
Shadows creep,
The shadows creep,
Still I watch over thee,
I watch over thee.
Sleep!
Do not fear;
Sleep,
I am near
"Daddy and your brother are alright." She told me. "Branton is coming over with his family, the Claudines. Your father is waiting for his little angel to give him a kiss before he goes to work."
I raced through the hallway of my hide way, taking in the familiar surroundings as I went. My parents' bedroom was exactly as it was sixteen years ago and recent pictures of my brother and I sat on the nightstand inside.
In the hallway nearest to the dining room, school pictures of Branton and myself hung alongside older photos of my parents as children.
I raced past the living room and found him. By the front door stood my father, waiting for his farewell kiss from me, his little angel.
He knelt down and I rushed into his arms.
"Hey, what's all this for?" Daddy demanded, prying me loose to face him.
"She had a bad dream, that's all." My mother quietly replied, coming up behind me.
Daddy chuckled as I gave him a hug and a kiss. "Everything all right, my sweet little angel." Then he rose to his feet and walked out the door.
"Today is a very special day Angel." My mother told me suddenly. "Do you know what day it is?"
I turned towards her and thought for a moment, the answer eluding me. What is today?
"A birthday of, someone you father took away long ago." My mother responded sadly.
Why did Daddy take them?
Tears gently fell down my mother's face, "Because, Angel. Just because."
I reached out for her and I saw my hand go straight through her. I gasped and drew my hand back seeing everything except my mother fade away.
The pictures, the house, everything went away like dreams.
What's going on? I cried.
"You're waking up and I can not hold you here any longer." Momma replied as she too began to fade. As the last of her began to disappear I heard her say, "Remember your father's final words, my angel. Remember!"
And then she was gone and I opened my eyes and cried.
In the morning I chose to stay at Joan's while everyone else searched for my father. Joan and Madelyn checked my old house while Elena, Aunt Florence and Stefan searched Branton's. Julian and Damon split up and searched the city and cemetery.
I silently ate breakfast attended by the house staff. As I munched on soggy corn flakes I wondered how Joan could stand staying in the big empty house. Didn't it get lonely?
As explored the house, I began thinking of Joan as a princess in an Ivory Tower. She had everything life could give and yet--. This house seemed so hollow and bare.
That afternoon the phone rang only a few times. The first call was from Joan informing me that Madelyn and her found nothing. Then relayed a message from the others saying that they, too, didn't find Daddy. But the search would continue, since Damon picked up his scent leading from the house.
The other phone call was from Joan's parents.
"Piper, this is Mummy and Daddy." Mrs. Riley said, "I'm truly sorry that we can't come to your graduation but, as I explained before, your father and I are *needed* for this business arrangement."
Mrs. Riley sighed and Mr. Riley was suddenly on the phone.
"Piper Joan, I know you're there listening to us. Pick up that phone this instant." I could hear Mrs. Riley saying something then her husband continued. "Alright dear, she might not be there. We did see she had company."
"When you get this message, *call* please?" he said with a sigh and hung up.
So Joan goes by her middle name huh, I thought to myself and smiled. Piper Riley, neat name.
Everyone came back around noon for lunch and I informed Damon of "Piper's" call.
"Why didn't you tell us you were going by your middle name?" Madelyn inquired after the message played. "Or the fact your parent's wouldn't be coming for grad?"
Joan shrugged, "Because it didn't matter."
Her parents not coming does, I told Damon. I saw her face after they called.
Damon nodded absently as the servants came in with two trays of sandwiches.
"So what do we call you?" Julian inquired helping himself to a tray before it was even sat down.
"Call me Joan or Piper, I'll reply to either." She answered.
Everyone stuck with Joan.
After sandwiches were eaten and blood was drunk, everyone headed out once more to find my father. Again I was alone. Or thought I was.
"Time is ticking away." Keegan said behind me. I spun and faced him in surprise.
He led the way to the living room and collapsed on the couch.
"You're never going to find Robert in time, you know that don't you." He told me bluntly.
I shrugged and replied I've nothing to live for.
"Not even Damon?"
Now that was a very good question. What about Damon? He really wasn't my friend, yet he wasn't my enemy.
Again I shrugged. We like the challenge we presented each other, I said.
Keegan smirked, "Uh-huh."
Abruptly he changed the subject, "Maybe you can win without Robert."
I glanced at him then sat on the floor across from him. Do you *want* me to win? I asked.
He avoided my intense gaze, "What would you say if I told you yes?"
I would say you're lying, I replied.
He turned and faced me, "Then you have you're answer."
My mom played a Game with the Shadow men and lost right, I asked.
He nodded so I continued.
She had a relationship with them and received the ring.
Keegan nodded again.
I thought back to my dream and took a guess.
Dad took someone from Mom and that's why she was running from him that night. Why Daddy always blamed himself for killing her.
I watched Keegan's face become dark and unreadable as he looked away.
Am I right? I asked.
"You are." And suddenly he vanished.
I raced to the phone and then mentally slapped myself. I walked back to the couch, sat down, shut my eyes and reached out for Damon's mind.
Yes, my little angel? He purred inside my mind.
Check and see if by chance Taliesin or Wilburn is listed in the birth records for this day around sixteen to seventeen years ago. Then I added, I have a bad feeling.
I'll call Bonnie at Madelyn's, He replied. She will probably know where to look.
I opened my eyes and sighed. I hope this girl does, I told him. Because if not, two lives are on her head.
I heard Damon chuckle as I broke off our communication.
This quick enough for everyone?