Disclaimers: Elena Gilbert, Stefan Salvatore and friends, along with the Vampire Diaries I - IV belong to L.J. Smith. Everything else belongs to me. No harm intended or money made from this fic.
Notes:
~ Chapter ~
::Thoughts or telepathy::
_emphasis or italics_
Date posted: 12 December 2002
~ Twenty Five ~
So they were well and truly stuck.
Samar frowned reflexively, not liking that fact any more than Tristan. But the truth of the matter was that they had no way of getting out. The one exit was irrevocably closed to them and from the way they could chip a hole in the wall with tools but not put their hands in the hole, the ward extended to the entire structure.
Unsurprisingly, her lapis amulet had been taken too. On the bright side, she was actually _in_ on what the boys were up to this time. They couldn't exclude her. Samar felt a tiny glow of satisfaction at that.
She had been convinced that she would expire within the first day of captivity without television or her music. But here she was, forty-something hours later, according to the clock that hung high over the door like a bad omen, undead and well.
The five vampires occupied various seats in the 'main room' where the door was. At the moment, each was lost in silent brooding, although Samar thought it was likely that Leon was actually asleep. They were spaced out as evenly as possible, with Leon sprawled on the other end of couch beside her, Tristan seated opposite them and eyeing her belligerently. He was still sore about losing to her in that last fight. Makoe had a loveseat to himself and Stefan was perched on a bar stool, slightly removed from their immediate quasi-circle.
Samar's thoughts wheeled like a wild horse rearing on hind legs when they lighted on the new guy. She had barely seen him in the past day or so; he kept mostly to his own room, or was with Leon poking through the 'library' where all the books were. But the few times she had seen him, her heart rate doubled and her mouth went dry. She knew her reaction was, but he was _gorgeous_ and, and...
Her mind blanked and Samar felt herself blitz out. Oh, phooey. Keep your wits about you, girl. That one has probably had plenty of women fall mindlessly at his feet. There's nothing worse you can do but to succumb to him without a word. It must be the lack of blood, she convinced herself. She wondered if they were being left to starve and kill each other in mad blood lust.
No one speculated much on why they were being held, except Tristan, who was convinced from one hour to the next that they were being held for torture, experimentation, brainwashing to be sent back as spies or because Elena was having a temper tantrum.
"Elena?" she had asked, when the name came up. Tristan had filled her in with what Samar guessed was 90% wild opinion and embellishment and 10% fact. Leon, who apparently was awake after all, and Makoe interjected corrections or sarcastic observations to temper his account. Stefan was absolutely still.
Samar determinedly squashed her disappointment that he was already attached and said with characteristic force, "Let me see if I got it: you heard a rumor about a girl who will exterminate all vampires like so many bugs and attack a bunch of vampire hunters to kill her. Not only is she not killed, she takes out a very Powerful vampire. It turns out the girl is Stefan's human girlfriend. You guys bring him here – why? – and get caught."
"That's about covers it," Leon agreed. She must have kept quiet for an expectant while before Leon cracked open an eye and prodded her with a finger. "What?"
To tell or not to tell? Samar mused briefly.
"I heard a girl talking to Jerrick when they first caught me," she related, "I didn't see her, but she told him that she'd sent someone away because she couldn't let him stay and be in danger. Then she asked if 'they' had gotten away and Jerrick – I'm guessing he's talking about you guys – said that the hunters hadn't caught you," Samar said, watching Stefan's reaction out of the periphery of her vision. He was looking straight at her, making her swallow at the intensity in his beautiful eyes.
"Well, then, assuming that the girl is Elena and they were referring to us," drawled Leon, looking sleepy-eyed at Tristan, "that eliminates the theory that Elena ordered our capture 'cause we got her mad. Sounds like she doesn't even know we're here."
Samar thought Stefan relaxed slightly and his features softened. They were all distracted then by the sound of movement beyond the door. When it opened, the human was confronted by a ring of vampires, alert and dangerous.
Tristan, the idiot, tried the opening again. Predictably, he bounced off the ward, although not with as much force as before since he had not charged forward at full speed.
When Tristan was done playing chicken with the invisible wall, the human set the cardboard tray he was carrying on the floor and pushed it across the threshold. Expressionlessly, he shut the door in their faces.
They all looked at the delivery. Five familiar red and yellow carton boxes sat on the floor.
Happy Meals. Jerrick had sent them Happy Meals.
The vampires stared in amazement. Eventually, Leon bent down and picked one up. Samar saw the names written neatly on one side of the box. The phlegmatic vampire opened the box and pulled out a bag filled with red liquid. And a straw.
Samar met the brown eyes and felt her lips twitch involuntarily.
"Liquid McHuman, anyone? It's still warm," Leon said blandly. He handed Samar another box before jabbing his straw in and taking an urbane sip.
Makoe's eyes were glittering suspiciously although his face was as implacable as ever as he retrieved his own box.
Tristan grabbed his and stormed off to his own room. Samar caught a muttered, "I can't _believe_ this. We're prisoners and this is _not_ funny..." as he retreated.
Stefan slowly picked up the last box there, with guardedly. What might have been dread melted away when he held his meal in his hand. Samar puzzled over the reaction when Makoe observed coldly, "I think Stefan's is a Essence-O-Cat."
He watched Samar's reaction to that maliciously but she didn't notice. Gorgeous guy or no...
"You drink animal blood?" she asked, handing her bag to Leon, who took it with a worried look, before advancing on Stefan. The Italian vampire tensed but did not move back. "Yes."
She swung at him, a backhanded blow with her fist snapping his head to the side. She got in another two hits to his solar plexus and neck before he recovered enough to catch her wrist. She saw a glimmer of anger amid the surprise. He gave her a look that asked what this was all about.
In answer, she gripped his hand, twisted and threw him over her shoulder. He emitted an 'oof' when he landed. She leaned over him with one knee on his chest. "I don't like vampires who slaughter defenseless animals. They're more innocent that humans can ever be and they don't deserve to die," she said sweetly around her elongated fangs, leaning close until she felt his breath on her face. Her knee bore down on him pitilessly.
She felt hands grab her waist and lift her away. "Leave it, Samar. It's his choice. He's not condemning you for living off humanity, you don't beat him up for drinking animal blood," Leon said firmly.
She turned to fix him in a poisonous look but he didn't back down. The deadly look swung to the vampire still on the floor. He didn't look at all gorgeous now. The cold, silent one standing to one side with a half-empty back of blood returned her gaze expressionless.
Lips twisting in disgust, Samar grabbed her blood bag back from Leon and left the room. Stefan slowly got to his feet, the contents of his bag cooling in his hand.
Makoe, who had started the entire fiasco, finished his meal leisurely, ignoring the accusing look Leon fixed on him. He tossed the depleted bag into a trash bin, shot Stefan a sardonic look and followed Samar, leaving the duo standing awkwardly behind him.
Notes:
~ Chapter ~
::Thoughts or telepathy::
_emphasis or italics_
Date posted: 12 December 2002
~ Twenty Five ~
So they were well and truly stuck.
Samar frowned reflexively, not liking that fact any more than Tristan. But the truth of the matter was that they had no way of getting out. The one exit was irrevocably closed to them and from the way they could chip a hole in the wall with tools but not put their hands in the hole, the ward extended to the entire structure.
Unsurprisingly, her lapis amulet had been taken too. On the bright side, she was actually _in_ on what the boys were up to this time. They couldn't exclude her. Samar felt a tiny glow of satisfaction at that.
She had been convinced that she would expire within the first day of captivity without television or her music. But here she was, forty-something hours later, according to the clock that hung high over the door like a bad omen, undead and well.
The five vampires occupied various seats in the 'main room' where the door was. At the moment, each was lost in silent brooding, although Samar thought it was likely that Leon was actually asleep. They were spaced out as evenly as possible, with Leon sprawled on the other end of couch beside her, Tristan seated opposite them and eyeing her belligerently. He was still sore about losing to her in that last fight. Makoe had a loveseat to himself and Stefan was perched on a bar stool, slightly removed from their immediate quasi-circle.
Samar's thoughts wheeled like a wild horse rearing on hind legs when they lighted on the new guy. She had barely seen him in the past day or so; he kept mostly to his own room, or was with Leon poking through the 'library' where all the books were. But the few times she had seen him, her heart rate doubled and her mouth went dry. She knew her reaction was, but he was _gorgeous_ and, and...
Her mind blanked and Samar felt herself blitz out. Oh, phooey. Keep your wits about you, girl. That one has probably had plenty of women fall mindlessly at his feet. There's nothing worse you can do but to succumb to him without a word. It must be the lack of blood, she convinced herself. She wondered if they were being left to starve and kill each other in mad blood lust.
No one speculated much on why they were being held, except Tristan, who was convinced from one hour to the next that they were being held for torture, experimentation, brainwashing to be sent back as spies or because Elena was having a temper tantrum.
"Elena?" she had asked, when the name came up. Tristan had filled her in with what Samar guessed was 90% wild opinion and embellishment and 10% fact. Leon, who apparently was awake after all, and Makoe interjected corrections or sarcastic observations to temper his account. Stefan was absolutely still.
Samar determinedly squashed her disappointment that he was already attached and said with characteristic force, "Let me see if I got it: you heard a rumor about a girl who will exterminate all vampires like so many bugs and attack a bunch of vampire hunters to kill her. Not only is she not killed, she takes out a very Powerful vampire. It turns out the girl is Stefan's human girlfriend. You guys bring him here – why? – and get caught."
"That's about covers it," Leon agreed. She must have kept quiet for an expectant while before Leon cracked open an eye and prodded her with a finger. "What?"
To tell or not to tell? Samar mused briefly.
"I heard a girl talking to Jerrick when they first caught me," she related, "I didn't see her, but she told him that she'd sent someone away because she couldn't let him stay and be in danger. Then she asked if 'they' had gotten away and Jerrick – I'm guessing he's talking about you guys – said that the hunters hadn't caught you," Samar said, watching Stefan's reaction out of the periphery of her vision. He was looking straight at her, making her swallow at the intensity in his beautiful eyes.
"Well, then, assuming that the girl is Elena and they were referring to us," drawled Leon, looking sleepy-eyed at Tristan, "that eliminates the theory that Elena ordered our capture 'cause we got her mad. Sounds like she doesn't even know we're here."
Samar thought Stefan relaxed slightly and his features softened. They were all distracted then by the sound of movement beyond the door. When it opened, the human was confronted by a ring of vampires, alert and dangerous.
Tristan, the idiot, tried the opening again. Predictably, he bounced off the ward, although not with as much force as before since he had not charged forward at full speed.
When Tristan was done playing chicken with the invisible wall, the human set the cardboard tray he was carrying on the floor and pushed it across the threshold. Expressionlessly, he shut the door in their faces.
They all looked at the delivery. Five familiar red and yellow carton boxes sat on the floor.
Happy Meals. Jerrick had sent them Happy Meals.
The vampires stared in amazement. Eventually, Leon bent down and picked one up. Samar saw the names written neatly on one side of the box. The phlegmatic vampire opened the box and pulled out a bag filled with red liquid. And a straw.
Samar met the brown eyes and felt her lips twitch involuntarily.
"Liquid McHuman, anyone? It's still warm," Leon said blandly. He handed Samar another box before jabbing his straw in and taking an urbane sip.
Makoe's eyes were glittering suspiciously although his face was as implacable as ever as he retrieved his own box.
Tristan grabbed his and stormed off to his own room. Samar caught a muttered, "I can't _believe_ this. We're prisoners and this is _not_ funny..." as he retreated.
Stefan slowly picked up the last box there, with guardedly. What might have been dread melted away when he held his meal in his hand. Samar puzzled over the reaction when Makoe observed coldly, "I think Stefan's is a Essence-O-Cat."
He watched Samar's reaction to that maliciously but she didn't notice. Gorgeous guy or no...
"You drink animal blood?" she asked, handing her bag to Leon, who took it with a worried look, before advancing on Stefan. The Italian vampire tensed but did not move back. "Yes."
She swung at him, a backhanded blow with her fist snapping his head to the side. She got in another two hits to his solar plexus and neck before he recovered enough to catch her wrist. She saw a glimmer of anger amid the surprise. He gave her a look that asked what this was all about.
In answer, she gripped his hand, twisted and threw him over her shoulder. He emitted an 'oof' when he landed. She leaned over him with one knee on his chest. "I don't like vampires who slaughter defenseless animals. They're more innocent that humans can ever be and they don't deserve to die," she said sweetly around her elongated fangs, leaning close until she felt his breath on her face. Her knee bore down on him pitilessly.
She felt hands grab her waist and lift her away. "Leave it, Samar. It's his choice. He's not condemning you for living off humanity, you don't beat him up for drinking animal blood," Leon said firmly.
She turned to fix him in a poisonous look but he didn't back down. The deadly look swung to the vampire still on the floor. He didn't look at all gorgeous now. The cold, silent one standing to one side with a half-empty back of blood returned her gaze expressionless.
Lips twisting in disgust, Samar grabbed her blood bag back from Leon and left the room. Stefan slowly got to his feet, the contents of his bag cooling in his hand.
Makoe, who had started the entire fiasco, finished his meal leisurely, ignoring the accusing look Leon fixed on him. He tossed the depleted bag into a trash bin, shot Stefan a sardonic look and followed Samar, leaving the duo standing awkwardly behind him.