Pairing: Ric/Stefan (M/m) hand, ruler
Prompt for Jazmine F. ( )
Mystic Falls, Virginia
Mystic Falls High School
Ric's Office
Third Hour
"Ric, what's going on? I was in gym," Stefan said, a little embarrassed that he had to walk to the office in his shorts and t-shirt. "Is everything okay? Is it Damon?"
Ric stood. "Yeah, sorry, buddy. Everyone's okay. I still need to call the school and check up on Damon today...It's, um, Caroline. Elena thinks she compelled the German teacher who is now the new cheer coach..."
"Oh no, that is true?" Stefan said. "I overheard some girls chatting about it. I tried to take Caroline hunting last night and it didn't go well. She just gagged on the blood and then, cried. But then she said it was fine. She seemed good by the time I took her home."
Stefan looked defeated. Ric came over and put a hand on his shoulder.
"She'll get there. But we can't give up on her. I could handle this or-," Ric paused. "You could."
Stefan threw up his hands. "Ric, she's a friend of mine. I know we're both vampires, but I don't know. I mean, I've been trying to think of how my friend Lexi handled me when I was at my lowest. You know, I was a ripper and I turned off my humanity...Oh my God, you don't think."
Ric froze. "Stefan, shit. I didn't even consider it. Go find her now. I think we may have a bigger problem than we thought."
Stefan nodded and went for the door just as the fire alarm sounded. He looked at Ric.
"That's not scheduled," Ric confirmed. "You go find her. Get the other vampires on it. Now, Stefan."
Mystic Falls Commons
Caroline wiped at her mouth. She had fed on three girls from her economics class in the bathroom. One had run out frantically, but Caroline had compelled them before she started to forget all about this. She had compelled one to stand guard at the door and then ordered them all to get out. She didn't really care if they died, but she didn't want to make a huge mess. Plus, then her mom would have to investigate...She may have turned off her pesky humanity, but she wasn't stupid.
The blood flowed through her body making her feel strong, invincible. Then, the fire alarm went off.
The sound blared and Caroline crumpled to the cold tile floor covering her ears. It was so loud she couldn't think. The sound pierced through her skull and felt like an ice pick. Caroline shut her eyes and hummed a tune from the last musical she had been in, when she was human. It seemed so long ago. Minutes passed, she wasn't sure how many, but the sound would not stop.
The door burst open moments later.
Dana, the red haired, former Gemini witch, now Heretic, vamped to her, "Caroline, are you having a panic attack? We've been looking for you. Come on, let's get you out of here."
Dana touched Caroline and felt her magical energy.
Dana saw the blood around Caroline's mouth and the hollow look in her eyes and felt a jolt of fear.
Without thinking about it, Dana siphoned her. Her hands lit up orange from the magic she was sucking from the vampire, but she kept going.
"Get the fuck off me, Freak!" Caroline hissed, but it was too late. Dana took as much as she could to render Caroline immobile. Dana picked her up and carried her into the hallway. Sometimes being a vampire did have its perks. She cast a quick sleeping spell that her sister Jo had taught her...
"Les lames colligo. Ad me gluttuli," Dana whispered. Liquid started to gather from the nearby water fountain and pool in the air.
"Shit," Dana hissed. "Wrong spell...I should pay more attention to Jo."
Dana saw Erik far down the corridor. She'd try the spell again before they left.
"Erik, hey, come help me," Dana yelled over the wailing of the alarm.
"Good, you got her!" Erik said. "Tyler, is waiting with the SUV. I'll get her in the car, you find Ric. Someone has to call our house and let them know she is coming."
"Sucks to be her," Dana noted, thinking about the secure basement cells below the Mikaelson mansion. She was careful not to vamp as humans could be anywhere.
She ran into Stefan near the office.
"Erik has her. She was feeding again," Dana informed him. "Ty's got the car ready. Why don't you go with? Oh crap, tell them to wait. I tried to put her into a deeper sleep, but it, um, didn't work...And shit, my phone is in my purse, in my locker. Why do I even try to follow rules? I'll run back in and call my mom, she should be back by now."
Stefan nodded his thanks and ran to find them going out the exit to get to the student parking lot. He didn't want to do it, but he would have to take a page from Lexi's book. Lexi didn't spare him her hairbrush on his bare behind when he was in one of his ripper phases. It was the only thing that got Stefan back to Stefan.
But by the time Stefan got to the parking lot of the high school, Erik was walking back toward the school.
"Erik, man, did they leave?" Stefan demanded.
"Yeah, Ty said he got this. He's driving her straight to the house. They can get the basement cell ready for her in a few seconds," Erik explained, wondering why Stefan looked so freaked out.
"Call Tyler now," Stefan said. "Caroline's humanity is off! And Dana's sleeping sleep failed."
"What? Oh shit," Erik said, he went to pull out his phone. "My dad took my phone cause I lied to him. Can you call him?"
"I was in gym. Mine is in the locker room," Stefan recalled. "Come on, we can use the phone in the office."
"Okay," Erik said. "You head there. Conner is at vo-tech, but I'll look for Matt or Jer. Maybe they can call and give them a head's up."
"Yeah," Stefan said, heading for the office.
Five Minutes Later
Tyler sped through Elm Street in town and turned onto the road that led to the Mikaelson mansion. Caroline was on the back seat out cold. He had assumed Dana snapped her neck to incapacitate her. It would hurt when she wore up, but she would heal quickly, especially if she just fed.
"Babe, you awake?" Tyler asked, turning slightly. He thought he had heard a groan. He pulled out his cell phone to call the Sheriff. She was probably headed for the school anyway with the fire trucks and other responders.
But before he could complete the call, he felt something behind him.
"Care, babe?" Tyler said, slowing to a stop and pulling over.
"I'm awake now, Tyler," Caroline said in a far off voice. "You all told me not to flip my humanity switch, but it made it all go away. The guilt, the worry, and the caring..."
Tyler went to look at her, but Caroline snapped his neck with a brittle crunch. His world went dark.
"Ah, that's better," Caroline noted, pulling open the back door. She took his cell phone and cracked it in half with almost no effort, tossing it on the road.
"Now, let's see if this hunting trip goes a little better," Caroline said, turning back in the direction of the town of Mystic Falls.
The Grill would be filling up for lunch at this time and Caroline was still hungry.
***
Mikaeson Mansion
Noon
Freya lifted Rosie with a heave and groaned, "Baby girl, you're getting big. Were you a good girl for mama?"
"Yesh," the squirming red head squealed. "But the girls were bad. They putted their dollies all over Awun's woom and he getted so scared."
Freya looked at Keelin for confirmation.
"Yeah, that's about right," Keelin confirmed. "I'll fill you in later. Rosie, go get the cards you made Mommy. Joey, go to the potty. You're going to have another accident."
Joey had been getting so caught up in his playing that he had had a number of accidents this week.
"I don't haffa go," Joey argued, squirming.
Freya smiled, "Just try to go, sweetie. Then, I'll give you the presents I got you on my trip."
Keelin rolled her eyes, "You're getting as bad as Niklaus. How's Hayley? I'll go look in on her in a bit."
"Good," Freya said. "Rebekah got a room ready for her. You know, that big exercise room they have? Marcel said they don't use it anyway."
Keelin heard it first, "Freya, your phone is ringing."
Freya picked up her phone with concern, "It's Dana...Honey, what's wrong?...She what? Okay, let me get Uncle Klaus...We'll be there in a minute...Okay, tell Ric we're heading to town then."
"What happened?" Keelin asked. Her werewolf hearing allowed her to pick up most of the conversation. "Caroline shut off her humanity?"
"Looks like," Freya said. "Um, I'm going to get Niklaus. The stuff for the kids is in my suitcase."
Freya kissed Keelin on the cheek and ran out of the room.
She found Klaus and Elijah in Elijah's study. She explained what happened.
"Tyler was driving her here? Elijah, can you track the SUV? Or Tyler's phone?" Klaus asked.
"I can do both," Elijah said. He pulled out his iPad and tapped on the screen. "The cell phone signal is not showing, but the SUV is near Elm Street. It's not moving."
"Let's go," Freya said. "I'll get some things in case I need to do a locator spell. I have a vial of Caroline's blood in the safe."
Elijah frowned, "She's close to town. I'll send Kol to Main Street to see if he can head her off. For once, his Porsche will come in handy. You two go. I'll alert the others."
Freya and Klaus jumped in the other black SUV and took off.
"Niklaus, how much damage can she do? She's a baby vamp, right? It shouldn't be too bad," Freya hoped.
Klaus patted her hand. "We'll find her quickly. Um, can you do that spell in the car?"
Freya bit her lip. "Won't know until I try. Just go faster!"
"Got it," Klaus said, breaking several traffic laws. He wasn't worried too much about Tyler. As he was a hybrid, sunlight would not burn him. Fire would or getting his heart ripped out...but even in Caroline's state surely she wouldn't go that far. But just in case, he drove even faster.
***
Mystic Grill
Main Street
Sharma took the garbage out back. The new kid Marcel had hired to wash dishes and clean hadn't shown up for work. Typical. He heard something and looked up. A pretty blond girl was approaching.
"The entrance is in the front," Sharma said amicably. "Oh Caroline, what are you doing out of school? Is it a half-day?"
"No, it's not. I just got hungry," Caroline said lightly. She wiped a drop of blood from her mouth.
Sharma backed up, "Your shirt is bloody. Are you hurt?"
Caroline smiled sweetly, she had already drained a passerbyer.
"No, I'm not the one who is hurt...But that old lady I ate is," Caroline said, vamping to him. Her face darkened with hunger and she felt her fangs pop out.
Sharma dropped the garbage bag and started to run. Caroline caught him easily and sunk her fangs into his carotid arteries drinking deeply.
"Ah, Stefan was right, hunting can be fun," Caroline said, before going in again. She listened as his heart slowed and then stopped. She let the body drop and then let herself in the back door of the Grill.
Same Time
Kol sped to the Grill, not stopping at any traffic lights or stop signed. He imagined the worst as he parked haphazardly and leapt out, using his vampire sped. This was no time to play human.
Inside the Grill, he saw a couple slumped over and Caroline draining the cook, Phil.
"Caroline, stop," Kol yelled, vamping to her. She ignored him until he was almost on top of her.
"Back up or I'll finish him off," Caroline said in a polite voice.
"What is wrong with you? You killed that couple," Kol chided. He listened for other heartbeats and didn't hear any other humans in the back.
"Slow day here," Caroline said with distain. "You should really hire a better cook. People are starting to complain about the food. Who fucks up fries?"
"Caroline, I know your switch must be off, but you don't want to do this," Kol warned. "These people you are eating...they don't deserve to die like this."
Caroline laughed out loud, still holding Phil close to her. Her slender hand was around his neck. Kol could hear his heart beating, slowly. He was already near death.
"That's funny coming from you," Caroline giggled. "How many have you killed? Thousands, hundreds of thousands...Why don't I get to have any fun?"
Kol squeezed his eyes shut, thinking about what to do. His Original hearing picked up sounds from out back. If he could just stall Caroline another moment, maybe he could save Phil. He might be a lousy cook, but he was a good guy.
"Aye, Caroline. I have fed from the Kings of Europe, one Pope, and scores of common folk. Yes, the sick and the old, but they taste funny don't they? The young and virile were my favorite to feast off of. I would party with them and then get drunk from the spirits in their blood. I didn't see them as people or care, it made me a monster, a fiend. It tis naught to be proud of," Kol admitted. "I didn't care about the souls I murdered. For centuries, I didn't care about anything. But it's different now, I have learned how to love and care. Now, we can survive off of blood bags. I didn't think I'd ever get used to the plastic taste or the coldness of it, but I did. Leave Phil go. We can make this right."
"No, none of this is right," Caroline said, tightening her hold on the chubby cook. "I should be worried about the decade dance and cheerleading, not these fucking angels and drinking blood! It's not fair!"
Kol stepped closer, if she was feeling anger, maybe he could flip her switch.
"Aye, none of it is fair. I should have been in the ground 900 and some years ago, but here I am. But you have a chance at a normal life. You can still take the cure someday," Kol reasoned. "Your mum is alive. You have friends that love you. Tyler would move Heaven and Earth for you. You made a mistake today, but I can erase that from you mind. Let him go and I'll compel you. Come on, luv."
"No!" Caroline said, about to snap Phil's neck. "I don't need to forget!"
Freya stepped out from the kitchen.
"Corum spiritus prohibera," Freya chanted.
Caroline dropped to the ground and Kol vamped closer to catch Phil. He bit into his own wrist and fed him his blood. The heavy man sputtered out a gasp and his eyes opened wide with horror.
"Shhh, you will be okay," Kol soothed. "Forget this day. Go to sleep."
Freya knelt down by Caroline and spoke another spell.
"Is Tyler alright?" Kol asked, sitting Phil in a chair. He would compel him later more throughly. He vamped to the other couple, but they were already gone.
"Yes, Klaus has him in the car," Freya said. "But the manager is dead."
"Sharma?" Kol asked in horror. "He was my friend...Damn."
Klaus came in carrying the slender Indian man's body.
"Brother, Sister, you have this under control?" Klaus asked. He went to lock the door.
"Aye, but Caroline's switch is off," Kol said numbly. "These people...came here for lunch and work and...now they are dead."
Klaus surveyed the damage, thinking, "We can say it was a gas leak. I'll call Sheriff Forbes. She's over at the High School. It seems that someone escaped Caroline and pulled the alarm. I'm sure the Sheriff can work it all into a convincing cover up."
"Yet another one. Why not make it a bloody animal attack?" Kol snapped.
Kol nodded glumly. Klaus put an arm around him.
"Thank you for getting here so quickly. Come on, let's get Caroline home. I have the basement level ready for something like this," Klaus said.
Kol said, "I'll stay until someone gets here. Sharma deserves that at least. He was sending money to his family."
Klaus picked up Caroline, who was now in a deep magical slumber. "We'll take care of them."
Freya put a hand on Kol's face. "Honey, I've never seen you like this. Are you okay?"
Klaus left with Caroline through the back.
"She asked me how many I have killed," Kol said hollowly. "The truth is that I have no idea. This is the first time I really wondered about it. I'll be okay. Just go with Nik."
Freya nodded, but hugged Kol tightly before she left. "Kol, we've all done terrible things. You know that. I'll see you at the house."
"Welcome home, Sister," Kol said dully. They were Death...every one of us, Kol thought.
Kol went and sat by Sharma and looked through his wallet. He would find the address of his family. They would never need money again...but they had lost a great person. That was little consolation, but it would have to do.
Marcel and Rebekah's House
Hayley's Room
"It's fine," Hayley said to Marcel. "I'm going to rest. Go, if you need to. Really, I'm good."
Marcel nodded, "Okay. I'll bring you some vanilla ice cream later. I'm not sure what happened but I need to get into town. Some first day, huh?"
Hayley smiled, "I wouldn't expect any less. New Orleans, Mystic Falls, never a dull moment."
Hayley heard a baby crying and thought she should help Rebekah, she started to get up.
"Now, we have like three nannies," Marcel explained. "It's fine. Now, rest."
Hayley sunk back into the comfortable bed.
"If you insist," Hayley said.
Rebekah came to the door, holding one of the triplets.
"Sorry to interrupt, but they found them," Rebekah explained. "But there was some trouble at the Grill. You better go."
Marcel vamped out, leaving the woman alone.
"Is the room okay?" Rebekah asked. "We'll get this equipment out tonight."
Hayley smiled, "Actually, if you don't mind, I'll keep the treadmill. I've been walking a couple of miles every evening."
Rebekah smiled, "Of course. Whatever you like. Also, when your door is shut, you'll notice the room are sound proof. We have an intercom system, just hit the button and someone will help you. Unlike the main house, we have plenty of help here."
"They don't have any servant there? It's so big, though," Hayley stated.
"Yeah, but the last few ended up being evil or got eaten, so Elijah put a stop to that. There are gardeners that come and do the grounds, but Nik's sons do most of the mowing and stuff like that. Doris, our housekeeper, does laundry on Tuesdays. Her daughter, Rhea, is one of the nannies. We use an agency so you will see some new faces, but I compel all of them the first time they come. Elijah has all of them fully vetted," Rebekah explained. "Blood tests, the whole nine yards, as they say."
"That's good," Hayley said, feeling her stomach. "With everything going on, I guess we can't be too careful."
"Not at all," Rebekah agreed, smiling down at her baby. "This one is fussy. She cries as soon as I put her down. I have one of those sleep slings, but she hates it. You get some rest. Here's the remote for the t.v. I hope you don't mind but Keelin is coming over to check on you tonight. She's a doctor. We'll go over to the big house tomorrow for a welcome dinner. You can meet the rest of them then. Fair warning, it is loud and hectic over there."
"The babies are beautiful, Rebekah. And I'm used to kids now." Hayley laughed, "It can't be worse than the school on movie night. Like the thought of candy and popcorn gets the kids ultra wound up. But seriously, Rebekah, thanks for doing all this. I-I really appreciate it."
Rebekah leaned over, still cradling a sleeping Annabelle and kissed Hayley on the forehead.
"Don't thank me, you are family," Rebekah said, meaning it. Hayley had lived with them for a time in New Orleans and she thought of her as another daughter. Now, she would protect her, like one of her own.
Salvatore Mansion
Stefan's Room
Attic
Evening
Stefan knocked back another cognac and winced. Unlike Ric, Stefan didn't really enjoy drinking. It curbed some of his ripper cravings at times like this.
Bonnie came in with some a laundry basket.
"What are you doing? I came to get your dirty clothes," Bonnie said, wrinkling her nose at the room. "Did you trash your room?"
"What does it matter?" Stefan fired back. "Four people are dead because of me."
Bonnie put down the laundry basket and went over to sit by Stefan on the bed. She tidied a stack of books that Stefan had knocked to the ground.
"Hey, that's not your fault," Bonnie said firmly. "Caroline has been headed here for weeks now. From what Elena said, you've been trying to help her."
"Trying and failing," Stefan said, slurring. "I should have reached out to Lexi for advice, but I thought I could handle her. I was wrong."
Bonnie sighed, "Stefan, this is on Caroline, not you. And the way Lexi dealt with you may not have been the right approach to deal with Caroline. I mean, she's not a ripper."
"True," Stefan said, his eyes filled with worry. "I saw some danger signs in her that I ignored. She was playing me with a fake smile on her face. It never reached her eyes...I patted myself on the back trying we were making progress. Here, she had flipped her switch."
Bonnie picked up the basket. "Get off your ass and put your dirties in here. I'm going to call Freya and see if we can come up with a spell to reverse this without all the other horseshit. And stop wallowing in your misery, you still have a history paper due Monday."
"So do you, but I actually was in WW 2, unlike anyone else in the school including the teacher," Stefan said, getting up and going over to his hamper. "I've got the laundry. Leave the basket, I'll take it down."
Stefan realized he had dumped out the hamper. He'd get to it later...
"Yeah, but I was absent so I get an extension," Bonnie smirked. "And don't forget about the laundry, if Elena's isn't done...Well, it's your ass on the line. And why don't you get it down in your diary? That always used to help you before, right?"
Bonnie left the basket and headed downstairs. She ran into Ric walking Enzo into his bedroom. Enzo was wearing his pajamas and chatting about a chameleon that someone had brought into school that day for show and tell.
"Wow, buddy, that's sounds great. Maybe we can get one here? Would you like that?" Ric enthused.
Enzo jumped up and down. "Yes! That would be so cool. Bonnie, did you hear that? We can get a lizard that changes colors."
"Yeah, that's great," Bonnie said, giving Ric the "we-need-to-talk" look.
"Go get into bed, Enzo. I think I hear Mom and Damon starting the story," Ric said, leaning down to pat the boy on his head.
"You may his day," Bonnie noted wryly. "But I doubt Jenna will be thrilled."
Ric shrugged, "It's better than the dog they want or a horse. What's up? Are you getting unpacked?"
"Yeah, but um, Stefan, is upstairs," Bonnie started. "Don't get pissed, Ric, but he's drunk and real upset."
Ric nodded, "I thought Elena was with him..."
"No, she is still at the Mikaelsons with Tyler," Bonnie explained. "He's a mess and they have Caroline locked up. I guess she's freaking out still. I'm going to see if Freya and I can come up with a spell, but it's going to take some time. Doing magic on vampires is tricky."
Ric looked at his watch, "It's late, but I guess tomorrow is Saturday. I'll check on Stefan. Don't worry, I won't say that you sent me."
Bonnie smiled, "He'll know, but Ric, I've never seen Stefan like this. Even when Damon turned human. He's beside himself."
"I know," Ric acknowledged. "Damon isn't doing so hot right now. Something is going on at school and he won't talk to anyone. The counselor at school tried today, but I think he really needs his brother..."
"Vice versa," Bonnie said. "Think about what Damon would do right now when Stef is hurting like this. No, never mind, it would probably involve inviting the Tri-delts over for a kegger. Just get up there."
Ric kissed Bonnie on the top of her head, "I'm glad you're back, Bonnie. I do want to hear about the new school soon."
"Yeah, you would have loved it. The library was beautiful, oh, and they have a pool," Bonnie added, walking to her bedroom to call Freya.
"No," Ric said in awe. "My friend Dorian never mentioned that part..."
"I bet there is a lot Dorian failed to mention," Bonnie hinted. "Did he talk about a beautiful witch named Emma?"
"Nope," Ric said. "That sly dog..."
Attic
A few moments later, Ric climbed the attic steps. Stefan was writing furiously in his diary and then flung the book, almost hitting Ric.
"Whoa! Chill there, Stefan, it's just me," Ric said with a hint of humor. He was used to tantrums from the boys and even sometimes Elena, but never Stefan.
"Sorry, Ric," Stefan said. "Writing isn't helping either."
Ric eyed the glass decanter.
"And is the alcohol? I see you broke into Damon's good stuff," Ric commented, sitting down in the chair near Stefan's desk.
"Yeah, it was silly of us to keep that stuff there," Stefan hissed. "I guess until now I was kinda holding out hope that the old Damon would be back. He's gone...just like Caroline."
"Caroline's not gone and neither is Damon. They are just..different for a time. They are the same people. We'll get her back," Ric soothed. "It's going to be a long road. She killed the Martins, an unidentified woman, and the manager of the Grill today."
"I didn't know any of them, but I feel like this is all on me," Stefan confessed. "I've flipped my switch enough that I should have recognized it. Lexi always noticed in me. How did I miss it?"
"You're worried about Damon. You have school work to do," Ric said. "You have other friends, a girl friend. Stefan, you may be a vampire, but that doesn't make you Superman."
Stefan eyed his drink and then looked at Ric.
"I guess it's like if I can't help Caroline, then how can I help myself? Ric, I have the same urges Caroline has, but worse. If it wasn't for you guys and Elena, I'll probably be the Ripper of Mystic Falls by now," Stefan snapped. "Again. I killed Honoria Fell and her husband in 1864...my own father and..." Stefan drifted off in shame. He had never shared the details about how he and Damon were turned. He had assumed Damon had when the two were best friends.
Ric was alarmed, "Is it that bad right now, buddy? Look at me, tell me the truth."
Stefan looked at Ric. "Yeah, it's bad. I tried to call Lexi, but I can't get a hold of her."
"What would Lexi do? Be honest with me," Ric pressed.
A rare flush crept up Stefan's neck, heating his ears and face.
"She'd probably spank my butt with her big wooden hairbrush," Stefan said truthfully. "Lex always says if she can't get through to my mind, she will get through to me through my 'cute behind', as she puts it."
"Okay, that's what we are going to do then," Ric said. "Where's that ruler? The one treated with vervain..."
"No, Ric, that's not what I meant," Stefan gulped. "I mean, Lexi is pretty old and strong. She really lets me have it. It's snapped me out of this state before at times...but not always."
"Stefan, this isn't up for a debate. I ought to whup your backside for dipping into the good cognac, but I'm not. If this Lexi treatment helps, we're going to do it. Now, get out the ruler and the spray. You are going to let go of this guilt and move on. Don't make me tell you again!" Ric declared.
Stefan huffed, "Shit, you don't have to be a dick about it."
Stefan was glad he hadn't told Ric about the times he got locked up in the basement dungeon for days on end until he was almost desiccated.
"That's another long minute over my lap," Ric attested. "You know you need this."
Stefan pulled open his desk drawer and carefully touched the ruler side that was free of vervain so he didn't burn his hand. There was a small spray bottle beside it.
"Whatever," Stefan said glumly. "Sorry for calling you a dick." He realized he never called anyone a dick aside from Damon, the old Damon.
"It's okay, but you've still earned extras," Ric noted, grabbing the hefty old ruler. "This thing is heavy. It may not be Lexi's brush, but it's going to have you dancing over my lap."
"Can't I lean over the bed?" Stefan whined.
"Nope," Ric said. "That's two minutes extra. Pants down and turn around so I can spray your behind. I want you to actually feel this spanking."
Stefan felt tears start to pool in his eyes as he slipped down his sleep pants right below his behind and turned. Ric pulled them down more to his knees as Stefan sucked in his breath. Ric sprayed the vervain mixture liberally on Stefan's bottom and the tops of his thighs. He then grabbed the ruler and made his way over to the bed.
"I want you completely over my lap," Ric said, sitting back with enough room to allow the tall vampire to rest his whole body on the bed. Stefan followed, trying to tug down his t-shirt, but it was pointless. Soon, Ric was going to be seeing his backside, which was now burning from the spray already.
"Ric, please," Stefan tried. "I don't think this will help..."
Stefan hesitated, now wanting to be spanked.
Ric replied, "We shall see. Now, I want you to put your hands back here so I can hold them. You get off my lap and I'm going to take you down to my office for a strapping. It's been a good long while since you had a taste of that strap, but maybe that is what we need to do tonight."
"No! That's not necessary," Stefan exclaimed. "I-I'll cooperative."
Stefan exhaled again loudly and heaved himself over Ric's lap.
Ric patted Stefan's bottom with his bare hand a moment after pulling up Stefan's white t-shirt as far as he could. Stefan felt a cool draft on his bottom and lower back and felt naked. He couldn't believe he was in this position again.
"Good," Ric said adjusting Stefan a bit and bringing down his large hand across both of Stefan's cheeks.
Smack!
Stefan winced and steeled himself for the next flurry of cracks.
"Spread your legs more," Ric ordered. "You are clenching."
Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!
Stefan obeyed and felt several more burning whacks. Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack! Ric was now peppering his whole rear with smacks randomly so Stefan couldn't anticipate the blows.
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
"Ric!" Stefan yelped as his guardian now begun to swat from side to side in a more organized pattern. Ric was watching the clock and made sure to spank for an entire minute. He'd give Stefan the other minute at the end.
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
"Does Lexi spank harder?" Ric asked, pausing to give Stefan a moment to catch his breath.
"Kinda," Stefan admitted. "One time she paddled me in the bathroom through an entire t-track of 'Livin' on a Prayer' when I misbehaved at a Bon Jovi concert! I didn't know she had that stupid brush in her purse."
Ric chuckled, "I like this girl. Now, I'm going to start with the ruler. Why am I spanking your 'cute behind', as Lexi would say?"
Stefan cringed, "I s-should have never s-shared that. Um, because, I..."
Ric tapped the crease area of Stefan's bottom with the heavy ruler.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
"I, um, am blaming myself for Caroline!" Stefan finally called out.
Thwack!
"Right," Ric confirmed. "And it's not your fault. And?"
Thwack!
"I'm feeling like I want to go on a rampage!" Stefan shrieked.
Thwack! Thwack!
Ric was whacking the ruler down firmly, using his wrist to snap it a bit lower each time. Soon, he was paddling Stefan's thighs. Ric shucked off Stefan's pants and underwear with one hand.
"You can kick, but stay on my lap," Ric clarified, he made sure he had a good grip on Stefan's hands.
Thwack! Thwack!
"OWWWWW," Stefan cried and kicked up his feet. He broke into sobs as Ric began to smack the insides of his thighs carefully.
"Feet down or I get the strap," Ric warned. Stefan moved his feet out of the way but still drummed them on the bed.
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
"I know it smarts," Ric said, as he firmly held Stefan's hands. The vampire was bouncing and getting harder to restrain. He looked at the clock and then at Stefan's red bottom and thighs.
"Okay, I'm giving you that last minute. You think of how much we all love you and need you to keep it together," Ric determined. "This is going to be hard."
Stefan sobbed as he felt the ruler swatting his bottom again. He tried to wiggled and squirm, but with ruler holding his hands, he could only yelp and kick.
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
"Ahhh, owwww, stopppp," Stefan wailed.
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
The minute of paddling felt like an eternity to Stefan and he cried until he could barely catch his breath.
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
Thwack! Thwack!
"Okay, buddy, we're done," Ric soothed. "You did real good."
Stefan felt Ric release his hands and tried to push himself up which earned him another hand spanking.
"You stay there, young man," Ric retorted. "We're not done talking."
"Owwww, Ric, please," Stefan begged.
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
Crack! Crack!
"I might not be able to compel you, but I want you to promise to come to me when you feel like this," Ric urged. "I'm not saying that you are always going to get a spanking, but we'll find something to help. You got that?"
Stefan answered, through his sobs, "Y-Yes, Ric. I w-willlll."
"Okay, just calm down. No more spanking," Ric comforted. He rubbed Stefan's back.
Stefan stopped sniffling and let himself calm down.
"There, there, all forgiven," Ric said. "You can get up."
Stefan realized his pants were off, but he didn't care. He almost went to caress his throbbing butt, until Ric reminded him that he was coated in vervain.
Ric said, "Get in bed, bud. You are exhausted. It's been a hell of a long day. You don't need your pants."
Stefan let Ric wipe his face off with a handkerchief and got in bed. Ric leaned over and kissed him on the side of the forehead.
"Feel better?" Ric asked.
"Yeah, I do," Stefan admitted. "Is Elena home yet?"
"I don't think so," Ric said. "Want me to send her up?"
"No, let her get some sleep," Stefan said, yawning.
Ric turned off the overhead light.
"And you are going to clean up this mess tomorrow," Ric stated. "That's when I knew you needed a butt warming. Your brother did the same thing when Jenna sent him to his room."
"But he didn't get spanked," Stefan noted.
"No, we still need to look into that. How about you, Damon, and me do something just the three of us tomorrow?"
"That would be nice," Stefan said. "Just make sure it doesn't involve a lot of sitting."
Ric laughed. "Deal. And I'm taking the cognac. And someday I want to hear more about this Bon Jovi concert. Didn't you hang out with the band after?"
"All night," Stefan recalled. "Thanks, Ric."
"You got it. You stay in bed now and get some sleep, bud. I don't want to hear you up here packing around alnight," Ric warned. "My hand might be worn out, but my belt isn't."
Stefan smiled, "I got it. I am kinda worn out...No belt needed. Night."
