Hey guys! Sorry its taken so long! I got the job and training has been ugh! I hurt! More than that, I totally had a panic attack there the other day and have only just resurrected myself. I died of embarrassment briefly, but I expect to make a full recovery. I hate myself often, especially when I can't human right. Mashyy is a sad Panda right now. I don't want to go back on Monday! Uuuuugh.

Anyway, sorry I've been slightly MIA. I feel like I need to read my story again to see where I'm at (lol!) but I'm just gonna wing it. I'm pretty sure I'm not overlapping… If I fuck up or if you have anything you wanna suggest, totally swing it my way!

I've also finished planning the next chapter, too. It should be a hell of a lot longer than this one so bear with me! It should be interesting! Well, I hope all my story is interesting, but, you know, this chapter will look like a filler in comparison lol!

Also, I'm thinking I may have most of the pairings down right now. Maybe. We shall see if it plays out how I expect…

Enjoy!

Chapter 24

"Oh, my God," Caroline gripped Lia's arm, barging in between her and Jeremy as they walked down the hall at school. "Did you see the new history teacher? Talk about hot."

Jeremy smirked, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. "Did you see his ring? Talk about in the know; Gilbert edition."

Lia giggled as Caroline growled, throwing her hands in the air. "Seriously?!" the blonde demanded. "Does every hot person have some kind of foothold in the supernatural world?!"

"No. I mean, no offense, Mimi, but your uncle isn't exactly winning any beauty pageants. Or personality contests," Lia grimaced at the thought. "If that ring was a Gilbert keepsake, though, it begs the question; how'd Mr Newbee get it?"

"I have no guesses," Jeremy's face pinched in thought. "I know John is wearing dad's, so somehow this new teacher either knows John or was somewhere John's been?" Jeremy shrugged. "We'll only know if we ask him."

"Or John," Caroline threw out.

"Ugh," Lia grimaced. "Does anyone actually want to speak to that man?"

"Maybe in another state?" Caroline offered unsurely, earning a snort from the Gilbert.

"Anyway," Lia bounced slightly as she clapped once. "Full moon rises on Tuesday night and I still haven't seen our Original Hybrid-to-be."

Caroline flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Uh, excuse me? You completely skipped over this weekend and I refuse to allow you to make supernatural things a priority until it's over. I've got our costumes sorted and everything."

Lia blinked. "Wait, what's this weekend? Where was I when the decision to dress me was made?"

"The Halloween party, duh. I'm dressing you as a porcelain doll. I need to see you with a large petticoat and ribbons and lace at least once in my life."

"Ooh," Lia smiled cheekily. "I'm going to look adorable."

"And creepy," Jeremy admitted, shrugging at Lia's pout. "What? You can't judge me for finding a living doll disturbing; they've starred in many horror flicks. You'll probably give half the student body nightmares."

"And the other half wet dreams," Caroline threw in slyly with a giggle, surprising a laugh out of her two friends.

"Will you be featuring in any dreams, Miss Forbes?" Lia asked slyly.

"Of course," Caroline rolled her eyes. "I'm going to be a Queen."

"From Alice in Wonderland?" Lia smiled seductively. "You'll have men lining up, willing to march to their deaths for just a glimpse of your beauty."

"They don't call me Queen of Hearts for nothing," Caroline's eyes gleamed as the girls shared a cocky smirk.

"Oh, before I forget, we're going to the boarding house after school," Lia told Care as they stopped outside of her first history class. "Damon and Katerina will be waiting for us."

"I'm so not ready to see that particular visitor," Jeremy muttered before giving both girls a quick hug and running off to his own class.

"I'll text Mum," Caroline rolled her eyes. "Though she won't care; she loves Damon."

Lia giggled as she watched the blonde leave before going to take a seat, noticing that the new teacher was paying extra attention to her. She sighed internally; perfection was a burden, indeed.

Just as the bell rang, Elena and Stefan rushed into the room; the vampire immediately honing in on the seat next to the mermaid, much to her confused surprise.

"Alaric Saltzman," the teacher introduced himself, going on about his origins and such and, well, overall giving a pretty good first impression in Lia's book, though she was slightly distracted by the looks she was receiving from the younger Salvatore.

Stefan knew Lia was confused by his sudden interest and he couldn't blame her. He'd gone from practically ignoring her when she lived at the boarding house to accusing her of being the villain in cahoots with his brother. Judging by her apparent supernatural status, the dead tomb vampires and the odd warmth he felt stronger than ever since the day of the tea party, Stefan had decided to actually get to know Kaliope Athánatos.

It was odd, really. It had all truly started with the sight of the tomb vampires. The fact that his vampire had been so close to the surface, so hungry, had not worried him. And that worried him. So he'd searched; trying to find a reason as to why he felt so calm about the situation he was finding himself in. The more he pondered, the more he searched his soul for answers, the more he was sure the answer was somehow Lia.

So, here he was, in a high school history class, shooting nervous yet determined looks at the woman he wanted to speak to but was trying to figure out how.

Elena, on the other hand, was anything but happy. She'd been stood up at the Grill only to be called by Stefan an hour later and told that something had come up and that he'd speak to her at school. Then, come morning, she'd been told that Katherine had arrived – the vampire that had sired the Salvatores - and that he was breaking up with her because he needed time to sort himself out and he couldn't have a meaningful relationship until he fixed his problems. She'd fumed all day, not believing that it was as simple as that, and not believing that their epic romance was finished. They'd barely had a chapter together and he wanted to call the book finished?

She wasn't giving up on him that easily.

She was worried about the looks he kept sending Kaliope's way. She didn't like or trust the unknown creature and already hated how deeply her claws were sunk into her brother. She just couldn't get the destroyed bodies of the tomb vampires out of her mind. Those people, vampires or otherwise, didn't deserve to be so brutally killed, at least, not in her opinion.

An opinion that Stefan did not share.

She couldn't stop the glare directed at the teen vampire as she watched his soulful eyes constantly looking at Lia, his expression one of resolve and uncertainty. These days, she almost wished she had never met Stefan, but she couldn't; not really.

She could wish there was no such thing as the supernatural, though.

Lia huffed silently as she watched the weird looks being thrown around by the doppelgangers. She closed her eyes, covering them with her hands briefly to hide the hardening veins that surrounded them as she delved deep into her being, finding the connection she had to the vampire race. It was definitely easier to locate Stefan, with him being so close.

Didn't make the findings any easier to swallow, though.

She'd fucked up.

This was probably very not good.

Fuuuuuck.

How could she have forgotten about the brand?!

The brand had been calmed with the completion of his own song and the removal of memories involving her and the boys. His inner turmoil, however, was sending his psyche digging for answers.

He'd unintentionally reawakened her mark on his soul.

He was leading himself back to her.

And now she didn't have a siren's ability to fix it!

If he managed to fully awaken the brand bond, he'd essentially sire himself to her. The difference was, this kind of sirebond wasn't as easy to break. There would be no telling him to simply vamoose. This wasn't a bond of blood magic, but of being. It was the kind that inspired such devotion, faith and trust, that he wouldn't even question torturing Elena and his brotherfor the next century if it put a smile on Lia's face. It wasn't just gratefulness or love or loyalty; it was freakin' Twilight imprinting; nothing else would tie him to the planet except her if she let it develop too much. But what could she possibly do now!?

She'd fucked up!

Lia stared at the front of the room, eyes wide and unseeing as her hands covering her nose and mouth.

Could she compel him? Probably not. Compulsion affected the mind, not the soul. She'd have to test what she could do and what effect it had on a vampire, but how? She didn't want to experiment on Damon's brother and no one else had her brand! Ugh, why were things so difficult?

She'd just have to accept her new little ducky. Apparently. Better to accept him into the fold now before he could dig deeper and connect harder to the brand that should have been hidden away.

God, how did Damon put up with this guy?! She barely knew him and already she knew that he was the kind to stick his thumb into everyone's pie like an asshole! It was just like that boarding house morning when he thought he had a right to have a say in her business!

Lia was snapped out of her thoughts by her phone's vibrations against her thigh. She dug deep and grabbed the device, looking at the photo Enzo had sent her.

The entire class turned their attention to the heavy thud and the loud groan that escaped the mermaid's throat just as the bell rang.

*TVDM*

Enzo tucked his phone away after sending Lia the photo of the Martin patriarch and the Bennett matriarch having lunch in the Grill, a wicked grin on his face as he threw his arm back around Jenna. He had decided to take his lady out for a bite to eat before they left for the movie they'd planned to see when they'd come across the suspicious scene.

"You've probably just ruined Lia's day," Jenna commented dryly as she reached for another chip.

"I know," Enzo chortled into her strawberry blonde hair.

"Can you hear anything?" Jenna asked curiously, tilting her head back against his shoulder with an expression so adorable that he couldn't help raising his free hand to stroke the soft apple of her cheek.

"Course, I can, gorgeous," he smiled fondly. "They're not taking any precautions at all. It's nothing new, though; all about how evil vampires are, how Greta must have been bewitched somehow, how dangerous Klaus is and their plans to visit the old witches house that they apparently now know the location of," Enzo sighed as the wiccan pair finished their meals and immediately left for the exit. "All a bit boring, really."

"Lucky they're not our source of entertainment today," Jenna grinned, jumping out of the bench seat and holding out her hand for her boyfriend. "We have a movie to see and a crowd to beat for the best seats; I'm not exactly dressed for fisty-cuffs."

Enzo ran an appreciative eye over her flowing blouse, tight jeans and brown leather jacket as he came to his feet, tugging her hand to bring her flush against him. "Indeed, whose idea was it to leave the house, again? The more I look at you, the more I think being out in public is a terrible idea."

Jenna laughed, rolling her eyes and wrapping her arms around the vampire's waist. "We have to show the town that we're a cute couple that does cute things all in the name of rubbing it in," Jenna winked as she pulled the grinning vampire toward the exit. "I can't have any women thinking they have a chance with my eye candy, can I?"

"Oh, gorgeous," Enzo pulled Jenna's hand through his arm, pulling her closer to murmur in her ear. "If any man here so much as asks for your number, I'd prove just how murderous I can truly be. I hope you know what you've signed on for; I don't share and I hold on quite tightly to those I cherish."

Jenna had to close her eyes against the warm tingles that travelled from her fingers to her toes, swallowing against the urge to demand Enzo take her home. "Stop trying to seduce me. I want my movie date."

"As my lady commands," Enzo dropped a kiss on her temple before leading the way to his car.

As Jenna and Enzo were arriving at the cinema, Sheila and Jonas were pulling up to the location of the dead witches. They slowly climbed out of the car in silence, both lost in thought as they walked through the trees in the direction they believed the house to be.

"My God," Sheila whispered as the halt slowed to a halt.

The pair had dreaded what they expected to discover, but they never thought it would be this.

The landscape was flat; nothing but soot left of what was once the most haunted spot in the town of Mystic Falls. Magically, there was nothing phenomenal about the area; it felt like there never had been.

"It's worse than I thought," Jonas muttered grimly, looking around. "If this is what this unknown woman is capable of, I don't know what we'll be able to do against her."

Sheila said nothing as she closed her eyes, her thoughts flitting through her mind at light speed.

"I must tell Elijah," Jonas continued. "He spoke of the creature doing something, but I truly did not believe she could best a hundred witch spirits."

Sheila released a shuddering sigh as she met the doctor's eye, her expression grave yet determined.

"I believe I may know someone who can help."

*TVDM*

Marcel waited for his men to escort his guests through the house and into the formal lounge he was currently in. He looked over his city; watching the way the sun of the new day danced across buildings and roads. He could have kicked himself for not thinking of Slater as soon as he'd heard about this supposed 'God,' but no matter. He'd get his answers today, if the vampire had any to offer.

"Slater, thank you for coming to see me on such short notice," Marcel shook the vampire's hand, his charming smile softening as he looked at the southern belle next to him. "Susie, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Mr Gerard, thank you so much for welcomin' us into your home," the blonde vampire's sunshine smile lit her face and melted the ruler's heart.

"Just Marcel. It's my pleasure," he swept his hand toward the couch. "Please, sit. We have much to discuss."

"Tell me about it," Slater scoffed in incredulity as he took Susie's hand, waiting for her to sit before dropping next to her. "I've found out a lot of new info. Ask your questions, man. I'll fill you in on the rest once we're done."

Marcel's eyes tightened slightly in worry, hoping that the information the intelligent vampire had wasn't of the bad variety.

"There's apparently a new player in town," Marcel started, his elbows dropping on his knees and his fists resting under his chin. "The witches are concerned, and furious. They say there's a threat to their magic and their traditions. They're calling whoever it is a 'false God.'"

"Her," Slater immediately corrected, interrupting whatever Marcel was about to say. "I mean- sorry, uh, yeah. It's a she." Slater awkwardly cleared his throat before motioning for Marcel to continue.

"So, it's true?" Marcel's heart jumped into his throat. "There's a God among us?"

"Well, not really?" Slater scratched the back of his neck, glancing at Susie who gave him an encouraging smile. Slater returned the grin with a sappy one of his own before turning to Marcel and launching into a brief yet detailed explanation as to who Lia was; revealing her connection to the earth, the damage the witches had caused, some of the abilities Lia had and some of what she'd discovered so far.

All Lia-approved, of course.

"So, you're telling me, this woman is a mermaid from another planet, has somehow organised for dead witches to return their magic to the earth and is now the anchor of the vampire race?"

"She's also, like, my best friend," Slater shrugs, not able to completely hide his smug grin, earning himself a tongue cluck and a reprimanding tap from Susie as she rolled her eyes.

"You know where she is?" Marcel was on the edge of his seat. To know that this powerful being was already on the vampire's side, that she didn't respect witches at all, made this particular news all the sweeter.

"Of course," Slater frowned. "She's at home."

"And home is…?"

"Mystic Falls."

Marcel's breath caught.

"You mean, your home?"

"Hers, actually, but yeah; we live with her and Enzo."

The three vampires spoke some more before Slater decided to take his lady out for some food. The pair strolled through town, once again checking out the sights and getting a glimpse of the chaos that Marcel had been talking about in relation to the witches. They finally rolled around to a nice little place that promised gumbo and only hosted a single customer in the corner, tapping away on an outdated model laptop.

"I truly love New Orleans," Susie sighed as she thanked the waitress for depositing their food on the table, enjoying the hearty scent from the dish. "I am surprised that news of Lia has already made it here, though," she bit her lip in concern, pushing her food around with her cutlery. "You don't think the witches will cause problems for her, right?"

Slater smiled warmly at his beloved, besotted by her kindness once again. "Of course, not. What could they do, anyway? She could literally wipe the floor with anyone who even tried."

Susie giggled, her shoulders relaxing as her mind eased.

"I wonder if they'll start a religion in her name?" Susie asked in amusement.

Slater groaned good-naturedly. "I hope not. Can you imagine the size of her ego once she found out?"

The pair laughed as they enjoyed their meal, moving on to lighter topics, like Slater's craigslist business and how well his information selling was going.

Unbeknownst to them, the blonde untriggered werewolf in the corner was looking up craigslist as they spoke, her heart racing and her breathing hitched.

*TVDM*

"I mean, I know you said they're the same, but God! They're the same!"

Lia rolled her eyes fondly at the flabbergasted blonde, watching as she came to a slow stop in front of Katerina Petrova. They'd dropped Jeremy off at his house; he'd not wanted to see the vampire that was supposed to be the spitting image of his sister quite yet, plus, he wanted to get started on the extra credit project the new history teacher assigned him. Stefan, on the other hand, had been hauled away by Elena for another heart-to-heart. He'd only left with her after Lia had promised to find him the next day at school so they could truly talk. That left Caroline, Lia and Damon to visit the doppel-pire by themselves.

The vampire looked awful. She was chained to a wall, her arms covered in her own blood. Her skin was tinged grey and her hair looked in need of a brush. What made the image better still was the sunken wide-eyed stare, unseeing and filled with horror due to whatever was flitting through her mind right now. The chains would rattle, her head would viciously shake side-to-side, her breath would catch and she'd mumble voicelessly as she was forced to live scene after scene in her mind.

It had been Damon's idea to drain her in order to speed up the desiccation process.

"I'm thinking roleplay," Damon had grinned wickedly at the doppelganger who had still been impaled with the fire poker. "Katherina can be the pitiful vampire who'll be starved for 145 years, and I'll be the valiant vampire that waited 145 years to save her. I feel like I should apologise now, you know, in case I forget where I left you," Damon had leaned toward the hissing brunette with an overly apologetic smile on his face. "145 years is a long time; I might be late, sorry."

Lia's idea of torture had been another matter entirely.

"What did you do, Lia?" Caroline asked, disturbed by the soundless muttering and terrified gaze of the Elena-look-alike that didn't even acknowledge they were there.

"I compelled her," Lia offered an impish grin with a shrug. "She's currently reliving every naughty thing she's done as if she were on the receiving end," Lia tilted her head as she pondered. "I wonder what year she's up to now."

"Knowing Katherine, she's probably still in her first century," Damon sent a scathing look toward the vampire before turning back to the girls. "As fun as it is seeing her here, I was thinking of throwing her in the tomb; for authenticity's sake."

Lia giggled at Damon's innocent grin. "Of course. I'll spell it; wouldn't want her cheating if I compelled her to stay there."

"How would she cheat if you compel her?" Caroline asked, eyebrow raised.

"She could have friends," Lia shrugged. "And while she wouldn't be able to leave, they could carry her out, or if I compel her another way, another loophole may be found. Better to kill two birds with one stone by simply setting up a magical wall, you know?"

Caroline nodded easily. "So, are you going to ask her your questions now, or are you going to let her continue reliving her dastardly deeds?"

"To be completely honest, I didn't think it would take this long," Lia grimaced as she looked at the time. It was nearing hour 22 of Katherine being stuck in her mind. Really, what a busy bee. "She can continue her walk down memory lane after we know what we want to know."

Lia gabbed Katherine's face, making sure she had eye contact before her eyes flashed, immediately drawing the doppelganger out of her mind and into the present. "You are going to answer every question asked of you until I say otherwise."

"Why are you here?" Damon kicked off immediately, staring down at his sire with eyes hard as steel.

"Because my doppelganger is here," Katherine replied in a monotone, her eyes fearful and wild.

"Tell us everything," Lia demanded firmly, and Katherine did.

She told the trio of her past, of the birth of her child and her being moved to England and meeting the Mikaelson brothers at a party. Of Elijah and Klaus and Trevor and her killing herself and why she had arrived.

"I hoped that, with the moonstone, the doppelganger, a werewolf and a vampire, I could buy my freedom," Katerina's eyes were fierce, her survivor's heart not allowing her to give up hope in the hopeless situation. "I don't want to run anymore. It's exhausting."

"I can imagine," Caroline hummed her agreement. "If you were on the run all this time, though, why bother with the Salvatore brothers?"

"I was lonely and felt a connection to Stefan," Katherine admitted through gritted teeth. "Damon was terribly infatuated with me, and I saw no reason not to indulge."

"Of course, you didn't, you selfish bitch."

Damon was in front of Lia immediately, his hackles raised at the new voice in the small room. Caroline squeaked in surprise, while Lia jumped on Damon's back for a better view.

"Tessa!" the mermaid beamed, hopping off her perch to give the dead witch a hug. "It's been too long! How are you? How's tricks?"

"If by 'tricks' you mean 'the hunting of dead witches and stripping them of magic,' then tricks are slow, steady and extremely entertaining," Tessa grinned wryly at the raven-haired woman.

"You're doing a good job; I can feel it," Lia nodded, her eyes flashing with pride and triumph. "You've definitely been busy."

Qetsiyah sighed as her arms loosely crossed her chest. "I need a better system; especially since the witches are now aware and are starting to spread the word and run. I didn't realise how many layers there were to my dimension. I decided to take a break, drop in, maybe help torture a pretty face."

"Yeah… can someone introduce me now?" Damon snarked with a raised eyebrow. "I generally like to know who's in my house, popping in for a visit. Without an invite, might I add." The vampire turned toward the new face while clucking his tongue. "Must say; as far as first impressions go? Not good."

Lia laughed, skipping over to link her arm with Damon's. "Damon Salvatore, may I introduce Qetsiyah; creator of the Other Side."

Damon blinked.

"The Other Side? As in, the place where supes go to rest their dead heads?" Damon raised a brow. "Get bored of your own playground?"

Tessa shrugged with a small but wicked grin. "What can I say? You looked like you were having a lot more fun than I," Tessa turned toward Katherine again with a grin and bright eyes. "You know, I've never tried to torture a doppelganger before; might be cathartic."

"Tessa has a little something against their faces," Lia shrugged innocently, an angelic smile directed toward Damon. "It might be wise to keep your brother far away."

Taking turns, Lia and Tessa gave Damon the basic run down of doppelgangers and their reason for existing. Damon was staring at Katherine with a clenched jaw and taut fists by the end of it.

"So, you're essentially telling me that Katherine is a selfish bitch that wouldn't have even bothered with us if it weren't for the doppel-pull that she felt?"

"I don't know if she would have left you alone; you have pretty blue eyes," Tessa smirked before she shrugged, glaring down at the sickly vampire. "But, yes, it was no doubt the draw to Stefan that, at least, made her turn you both."

Damon's nostrils flared in his aggravation before he turned to Tessa with an overly pleasant smile. "The bitch is all yours. Only rule; don't kill her. She has a destiny waiting for her in an underground tunnel."

"It's not even my birthday," Tessa grinned wickedly as she pulled out a gun from a holster that was hidden by her shirt. "Now, be a dear and show me how to use this. I've always wanted to try it out but I've never had a good target to practice on."

"And, on that note," Caroline offered her infamous Barbie smile as her eyes darted between the dead witch and the undead soldier, taking in the way they appraised each other. "I'm going home. Lia?"

"Yeah; drop me at the tomb so I can spell it. We'll leave the psychopaths to flirt over doppelganger mutilation," Lia smiled politely as she, too, noticed the lusty gleam in their eyes as they assessed each other. She turned to Katherine and compelled her to continue reliving her past deeds as if she'd done them to herself once the codeword was said; Damon's choice was 'Slutpire.'

Classy.

As soon as Damon stepped up behind Tessa, his hands skimming down her arms until they came to rest on the gun as he whispered directions and advice in her ear, the girls bolted.

Once seated in the car, they stared out the windscreen, Lia the only one able to hear the agonising screams of Katerina and the cackles of Qetsiyah.

"You know, in a weird way, I'm happy Damon's found another someone who gets him," Caroline frowned, head tilted as if confused with her own thought process.

"I totally get what you mean," Lia nodded emphatically. "Like, it's a really weird thing to bond over, but at least someone gets what he's going through because that face has done just as much damage to his heart as it has Tessa's."

"Totally."

The girls sat for a little longer before a scream loud enough for Caroline to hear pierced the air.

"Time to go?"

"Time to go."

The car peeled down the drive.

*TVDM*

"And you're sure this will not harm the girl?"

Elijah's face was unreadable as he straightened his cuffs, his eyes bouncing between the Martin warlock and the Bennett witch who were sat across from him, a coffee table separating the magic wielders from the Original vampire.

"Yes."

Elijah thought. He'd found himself on the losing side; a side he did not take kindly to. He usually was able to deal with those who got in his way easily, whether that was by death or deal. Kaliope, however, proved to be a troublesome creature. She was not only unkillable, but unbeatable. He wanted his brother to pay for his crimes against his family, but this woman was stepping in his way even before he took his next step.

Niklaus needed to die, and thus, Kaliope needed to be gone.

"Proceed as you have planned."

Sheila was already up, reaching for her phone, hoping the phone number she intended to call hadn't changed after all these years.

*TVDM*

Alaric sighed as he stepped through the door of his apartment just as the sun was setting. He dropped his keys on the closest counter and made straight for the bourbon he had stashed in one of the kitchen cupboards. He couldn't get his mind off of Stefan Salvatore. Brother of the vampire that killed his wife. Was he a vampire, too? Either that, or the poor kid was compelled to believe he was Damon's brother, maybe to be a believable cover?

Alaric scrubbed his free hand down his face before refilling his glass in frustration. Just as he raised it to his lips, there was a knock at the door. He paused, frowning slightly at the unexpected house caller, before setting the glass down on the bench and strolling over to the door.

A stoic man and a grinning woman were waiting for him on the other side.

"Can I help you?" Alaric asked, trying not to sound paranoid but unable to stop his eyes from squinting in suspicion.

"Oh, yes," the woman's grin turned sharp. "Yes, you most certainly can."

Alaric fell to darkness before he could do anything more than take a step back.

*TVDM*

Tyler ate his food quietly, his eyes unable to stop flickering between his father and uncle. The tension was heavy, their shoulders tense and their backs stiff. Hell, Tyler was surprised they could even chew with how tight their jaws were clenched.

"So, how was your day at school, Tyler?" his mother asked, her politician's smile plastered across her face.

"Fine," Tyler shrugged, briefly looking her way before turning back to his food. "The Halloween party at school is this weekend. You still chaperoning?"

"Oh, yes, isn't that right, Richard?" Carol smiled at her husband who met her gaze for a few seconds before nodding his confirmation and returning to his meal. "I have our costumes selected. I'm looking forward to seeing how well Caroline Forbes organises the event. She's a little much, but she certainly has potential in the area of event planning."

Tyler snorted. "She's about as over the top as you. She demands perfection and usually gets it cause she's so damn scary."

"Watch how you talk to your mother," Richard snapped, the tendons in his neck straining as he glared at his son.

"Don't be like that, Dick," Mason's smile was anything but nice. "Kid didn't mean anything by it."

"Of course, he didn't," Carol smiled as warmly as she could at her son. "He was complimenting his classmate and her ability to get the job done."

Tyler nodded, not wanting to say anything that could set his father off even more.

Richard glared at his son for a while longer, his grip on his cutlery so tight it was turning his knuckles white. Finally, his stare let up as he raised his knife to point at the teenager.

"I catch you insulting your mother, you'll earn a hell of a lot more than a look. Get out of my sight."

Tyler wanted to scoff, to mention the women his father slept with and the fact that his mother knew about them. He wanted to tell him to stick his threat up his ass and do them all a favour and leave.

Instead, he nodded again, heading for his room immediately and ignoring the staff that passed him to clear his plate.

He headed straight for his shower, hoping to wash away at least a fraction of the rage that was stirring in his gut at his father's behaviour. He growled, slamming the side of his fist against the tiles before pushing away, focussing on nothing but the water that ran over his head and down his back.

Feeling marginally calmer, Tyler turned off the water and stepped out, enjoying the way the steam cloyed around the room and fogged the mirror. He dried off slowly, taking the time to make sure each section of skin was dry before moving on. Finally done, he wrapped his towel around his waist and stepped back into his bedroom.

His uncle was waiting for him on the edge of his bed.

"Hey man, how you doing?" His uncle asked softly, face pinched in frustrated concern.

Tyler scoffed, rolling his eyes as he headed for his drawers. "It's nothing new, so it's nothing to worry about."

"He didn't used to be like that," Mason sighed, his gaze dropping to the football he held between his hands. "He used to be a happy kid, aggressive, sure; but quick to apologise for his temper, you know?"

Tyler raised a disbelieving eyebrow. "Whoever you're talking about isn't my dad. What do you want, Mason? Really?"

Mason frowned. "What makes you think I want anything?"

Tyler scoffed once more. "Don't give me that; you can try to play the caring uncle all you want, but you're not fooling me. If you cared, you would have called at least once during the, what, 6 years you've been gone?"

Mason couldn't hide his wince. "OK, I deserve that."

"No, you deserve a foot up your ass for putting dad so on-edge. He's quicker than usual to resort to his fists, thanks to you. Now, what do you want?"

Mason huffed a breath as he rubbed his hands through his hair. He was aggravated, but knew that Tyler was the only other person it could possibly have been.

"Do you know the combination to your dad's safes?" Mason asked instead, earning a roll of the eyes from Tyler before the teen frowned.

"Dad's hiding something from you?"

"Tyler," Mason's eyes darkened at the attempted diversion.

"Fine, yeah, I know it," Tyler nearly snapped. "You want it?"

Mason's shoulders slumped in relieved defeat. "No, Ty, I just want the moonstone that was in there. Your dad's been upset because it's missing. If you have it, now would definitely be the time to hand it over."

Tyler offered his uncle an uncomprehending look. "What stone?"

"White and long like a bar of soap?" Mason's words were tinged in desperation.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Tyler raised his eyebrow in frustrated confusion. "Why would a missing rock upset dad so much?"

Mason's stomach turned to lead.

The moonstone was not in Lockwood possession.

He had to tell Katherine.