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Chapter 19 - Marionette Doll

~X~

Harper was waiting for Matt to turn up after his shift at the grill. It was late, and she had been at the library for hours trying to finish her homework. It had been a slow and painful process to try and get that stupid english paper done, but she had done it. Now the only thing she wanted was a hot dinner and some sleep.

Lately her visions had been few and far inbetween. She tried her best to not touch anyone, and her visions over major events seemed to have gone away for the time being. The only thing she could think about, and what she dreamt about every single night. Was Stefan Salvatore, tearing her throat out with his fangs. She saw his gruesome face everywhere, even though he had seemed to disappear from school yet again. Good, now she only needed to think about sending Damon to hell.

She was deep in thought as a woman came up to her, dressed to the finest in a black dress with her hair and makeup done. She looked familiar, but Harper couldn't really connect the dots as it was very dark outside.

"Are you Harper? Harper Bellrose?" The woman asked, smiling at the teenager. It was a creepy smile, a smile of a predator. Harper got a bad feeling from her, and started to back away. She glanced down at her phone, Matt was still a minute or so away with the car.

"Yeah?" Harper said, her pulse quickened as the woman smirked, her face morphing into something that of a nightmare. A vampire's face.

"Good, just the girl I was looking for" The woman charged towards Harper with her supernatural speed, and everything went black for Harper.

~X~

As Harper came too, she noticed that the sun was shining in her face. She was lying on a sofa, in a house she didn't recognize.

"Good, you are finally up" Harper twisted around to see her kidnapper standing a few feet away from her, smiling as if she wasn't a horrible monster.

"Who are you? W-where am I?" Harper rasped out, gasping a little as she felt the back of her head still bleeding sore from where she had hit the pavement.

"My name is Isobel, and this is my home.. well, for now at least" She stated and flashed to sit at the end of the couch by Harper's legs.

"Why did you take me?" Harper whispered, tears in her eyes. She was so sick and tired of her bad luck. Over and over again, she kept being screwed over by vampires. She hated them, all of them, except for William. No other vampire had a kind heart within them.

"You my dear, are way more important than you think. A Bellrose, alive and kicking. You know, your kind dies off super fast. I hear you are even more rare than werewolves these days" Isobel picked her perfect nails while Harper kept crying silently.

"What do you mean? I can't do anything.. I'm not a witch" Harper stated.

"No, you are so much more than a silly nature witch. You are a psychic.. or clairvoyant or seer.. whatever you people decide to call yourselves. I need you to look into the future for me" Isobel said and reached out her hand towards Harper.

"I-I can't, my powers.. they are gone" Harper swallowed as Isobel's eyes turned from nonchalant to ice cold.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I was attacked.. a week or so ago. My powers are gone" Harper stated and gasped as Isobel groaned and stood up in front of Harper.

"Attacked? By who?"

"Stefan Salvatore, he is-"

"A vampire, I know.. and you can't see anything?" Isobel forcefully took Harper's hand to force Harper's powers to surge. But only murky distorted pictures flashed. The teenager couldn't make out anything.

"No.. only small glimpses at best, I can't make out a-anything from this" Harper cried out as Isobel tightened her grip on Harper's hand until a small crack was heard.

"You know I am a graceful lady, a kind woman that enjoys the pleasures of life. And you, Harper, are trying to keep me away from enjoying them" Isobel snarled and let the girl go, Harper's body fell to the ground hard with a groan.

"Fine, we just have to do this the hard way"

Isobel flashed them to a pretty plain bedroom further into the house and threw Harper's body against the bathroom door.

"Get used to this room sweety, you will be here for a while. And please drink a lot of water, if you know what's best for you" Isobel ordered a very sad and crying Harper. The girl now understood what the vampire wanted her to do, she needed to get the vervain in her system out as soon as possible so that she could compel the future out of her.

~X~

Meanwhile in Mystic Falls High School

"Have you guys seen Harper around?" Tyler asked Caroline, Matt and Bonnie, sitting at their own table in the cafeteria to plan the floats for the parade.

"No we haven't, we just discussed that both her and Elena are gone today." Caroline said with a sad voice, "Elena I would suspect ditching, it's a part of her 'new Elena act' she has going on with her perfect boyfriend-"

"Caroline," Bonnie said with a disappointed look.

"Sorry, but who is having a fight with her right now? Not me.. anyways, Harper hasn't said anything to me, no texts, no call. She usually calls me every night to check in. But she didn't yesterday" Caroline said and looked at Matt.

"She didn't come home last night," Tyler stated.

"She was at the library but when I was about to pick her up, she wasn't there anymore. I figured she might stay with one of you girls" Matt groaned and facepalmed himself. Of course she wasn't at any of her friends' houses. He was the worst fucking kinda boyfriend ever. Of course she would text or call him about it. He should've called the police right away last night.

"We will help you look-"

"No! No just be careful okay. I will check in with my parents and they will take care of this, something is super wrong about this mess" Tyler said and walked away. Leaving the three of them alone to a serious silence. Bonnie felt like someone had punched her stomach, one of her friends is gone, most likely by a local vampire. She felt pure rage flow through her, she was going to find Harper. Matt sighed before standing up, it was almost time for another shift at his stupid, life ruining job.

"I need to go, call me as soon as you hear anything. Care, please call your mom" Matt said and stood up from the table, phone in hand, to check if Harper had written anything with any signs of distress last night.

"So what do we do?" Caroline asked as Matt left, already seeing a plan forge in Bonnie's head.

"We go to Elena"

~X~

Day 2 of captivity

It had officially been more than 36 hours away from home. Harper had crusty eyes from all the tears that she had shed, her clothes smelled nasty from fever sweats and her hair was a mess. Even if she took a shower, the only clothes she had were the ones on her body, it wouldn't do any good. And besides, Isobel had a special ability to come into her room at any moment, to force more liquid down Harper's throat. She hadn't been given any real food, as Isobel stated that 'she wasn't the housewife type' and therefore would give her nothing for the time being.

Harper felt exhausted, her whole body light and heard music through the thin walls, as well as moans and groans from the parties that Isobel had going on. She realized that she wasn't the only one here against her will, more people were compelled to be her little dolls and could do nothing about it.

Suddenly a car was heard, pulling up towards the house. Harper stumbled closer to the locked window, and spotted none other than John Gilbert walking into the house like he owned it. She heard his fast footsteps outside her door, heading towards Isobel's location.

With headaches flooding her head, it was hard to try to listen in. But Harper needed to know his role in this. But all she could hear was mumble, even after the music was turned off.

A slap was heard, and a body stumbled into the joint wall between the rooms. Harper took a chance, a small innocent chance and banged on that wall. It got quiet, before the door to her room was opened by John.

"Isobel! Why on earth is she here?!" He roared, not caring that the woman could probably kill him in less than a second.

"None of your business John, just go-"

"None of my business?! that girl-"

"Is nobody, I'm just playing around with her like the rest of them. She is Elena's friend after all" Isobel tried to argue, but John knew better than to believe that bullshit.

"Harper is not a friend of Elena, she is not even mixed into this mess that we are a part of. Answer me Isobel! Why? Is. She. Here?!" John shouted, closing in towards Harper to help her out of this house.

"You leave her right there you little insect, she is mine. And she is going nowhere. Unlike you" Isobel rushed to take John by a chokehold, lifting the 30 something man off the ground. Before dropping him at her feet with a smile.

"Go" Isobel said to the man, and John stumbled quickly to leave with his life intact. Harper looked at her kidnapper with horrifying eyes. Scared to see what was going to happen to her.

"You still have a few hours left before you are useful. I'm going out, try not to kill yourself while I'm gone" Isobel rolled her eyes, before shutting and locking the door to Harper's room after her. Harper sank down on her knees. Defeated once again.

~X~

Later that afternoon

"I'm back!" Isobel said out loud as she took off her coat and gloves.

"You are packing, that's a good sign" John stated and looked at her bags with a satisfying smile. Love is blind they said, yet John had really started to see his ex's true colors these last few days working together. She really wasn't human anymore.

"Won't be long now" Isobel stated and started to walk towards a smaller sitting room.

"Did you get the missing piece?" John asked as he followed her.

"I don't have it yet," She admitted.

"Then why did you call me here?" He asked with an irritated look on his face.

"'cause I have the next best thing" She said as they walked into the room where Jeremy and Harper were being kept. The poor girl had finally gotten some food in her belly, but she still felt nauseous after the small bites of sandwich she had taken.

"Sit down" The compelled guy muttered as Jeremy tried to stand up with his uncle.

"What the hell are you doing?" John shouted and turned to Isobel.

"Getting what I want" Isobel shrugged and looked at Harper. "Which reminds me"

"Well he's my nephew, she's just a teenage girl.. and you are gonna let them go right this second" John argued as Isobel walked up to Harper. Still looking like a mess, the teenager was terrified of her kidnapper, making John restrain himself so hard to not protect her.

"Not until I have some answers. Right Harper?" Isobel purred sweetly and took a firm grip of Harper's head to make her look into her eyes.

"I-I can't… please" Harper whispered out, exhausted from the draining hours that she had experienced. She was standing on shaky legs, ready to give up any second.

"Oh you will tell me everything about my future, now!" Isobel compelled Harper with a true shot in the dark. The woman had no idea what was about to happen, or if compelling the seer would even work in the first place. But she had to try, she had to take the risk, the opportunity, now that she was within her grasp.

Harper groaned and doubled over, holding her head that was screaming with voices once again. They felt louder, like it was more of them there than before. Harper started to mumble before her head shot up to lock eyes with Isobel once again. This time her eyes were milky white, glowing in the mellow darkness of the room. Her voice was not her own, but one of many. As they all predicted her future to her kidnapper, just like she had asked.

"You will die.. sooner than you think.. You will cry.. You will cry.. You will burn.. You will regret everything you have ever done in your life.. You will be miserable until you meet your final passing.. Empty.. Empty.. there is nothing you can do to stop it" A twisted smile was upon Harper's face, like she reveled in the feeling of delivering the prospect of death to the immortal woman. Harper repeated her words, over and over until something snapped within isobel.

"Enough!" She roared, and slapped Harper so hard that she fell back onto her armchair unconscious.

"That's what you wanted? To see your fucking future?! You miserable bitch, I could've told you that and I'm not even a seer.. Your behavior will lead you to what Harper just told you" John roared at Isobel, who looked shocked and disturbed by the feeling of being told her future. This was not what she had wanted, this was not what she had planned. Giving a look to her minion, the guy promptly attacked John, punching him hard down to the ground. Then continued to kick him in the stomach.

"Stop it!" Jeremy yelled out in fear, he had a hard time to process what had just happened. Harper had been a normal girl up until now. A kind girl that wanted to hurt no one, and saw the good in everyone. Even Tyler freaking Lockwood.

"That fancy ring will do you nothing.. have fun" Isobel huffed and slipped the ring off of John's finger. Before leaving them alone with the compelled guard. The guy seemed done with his tasks, and remained in the same spot for a long time before John decided to haul himself up onto the sofa. Jeremy noticed that the guard was unmoving, and passed the guy in hopes of finding medical supplies in the house. When he returned to the room, Harper was waking up.

"Here you go" Jeremy muttered to his uncle and handed him a towel with an ice pack. The only things he could find.

"Thanks" John said and looked at the girl, Harper had a nasty bruise on her left side of her cheek.

"I'm sorry I couldn't-" John started to apologize, but Harper was having none of it.

"Don't be" She snapped and closed her eyes, just wishing that all of this would be over soon.

"What is she after, really?" Jeremy sighed and looked between John and Harper, ready for some answers.

"Your ancestors invented a weapon, a device that is extremely harmful to vampires" John explained. "We've been trying to get it"

"Why?" Harper jumped into the conversation, ready to learn more about this supposed weapon.

"Because there's a group of vampires from a long time ago that wants revenge on this town" The man said and pressed the ice pack onto his head lightly, hissing in discomfort.

"But why would a vampire help kill other vampires?" Jeremy asked.

"She has her own reasons," John said cryptically, making Harper start to doubt him once again. "Look guys, no one really thought vampires would return in this time, not in modern times. But they have, and we need to destroy them"

"All of them? No, some of them have a good heart" Jeremy argued, looking at Harper who nodded slowly as well. Even if she didn't want to admit it, William was not a monster like the rest. And sure he had killed someone, but it was out of pure survival. Harper thought to herself and reflected on her own actions, and if she could, she would've killed Isobel today. Did that make her a monster as well?

"That's impossible," John huffed.

"No it's not" Harper said and looked at Jeremy, and nodded slowly with a small smile. He wasn't alone in all of this. John wanted to discuss more of this, when suddenly the front door of the house was slammed out of its hinges down the hall from them.

"Harper!" Harper almost cried in relief, which she couldn't do with her dehydration. William was here, he was here to finally take her home.

~X~

Lockwood Manor

"Harper! William!" Tyler stood up from his place at the front porch steps as William helped Harper out of his car. He had been an official member of the search party out for Harper, outside the house were several civilian and cop cars parked, all there to help find Harper. Soon after Tyler came Carol, running as fast as she could in her heels.

"Oh darling.. oh my baby" She cried out and hugged Harper as the girl was passed from William to her waiting arms. Harper found the energy to hug her back, realizing how she had felt the fear of losing Carol and now she was there, with her again.

Behind them Lizzy Forbes and Richard came, as well as one or two officers. The blonde quickly looked at the broken and beaten girl, and realized she had to be careful when speaking to Harper. "Where have you been Ms. Lockwood?"

"Carol.. I just want to sleep" Harper didn't look up from Carol's ambrace. She felt like a child yes, but she needed to just be alone for a while, to recover.

"You darling you will, let's go inside" Carol nodded and started to walk inside with her. She held Harper's hand, while the other rested on her back, pushing her lightly forward.

"I need to ask her some questions Carol-" Lizzy stated, but Carol sent her a really nasty look, as if to say 'try me'.

"She can wait, let's just wait until tomorrow" Carol's tone was rock solid, no one could argue with her now.

"Okay.. I'll wait" Lizzy's shoulders fell in defeat, but she knew this was a special case for all of them. She needed to take a step back from this one.

"Thanks Lizzy" Richard put his hand on the blonde's shoulder with a tired smile. He had been going at this for way longer than what he thought. And a small part of him had been worried about the girl.

"What happened Harper?" Carol asked gently as they placed Harper down onto her own bed. She pushed some sweaty, crusty hair away from her face and cupped her bruised cheek.

"Vampires.. vampires" Harper muttered, both Carol and Richard stared at each other in shock. Some monster had gone after their family member, and she now knew what was supposed to be passed down to her on her 18th birthday. The days away had scarred Harper more and the Lockwood's had no idea how they should handle this situation.

After a few muted hours, everyone had gone home and Harper had been helped with a shower and medical attention. A story was forged, with an accident happening, leading Harper so far out of town that she had to walk all the way home. It had been pure luck that William had found her by the side of the road. Amazingly, no one seemed to question it.

"Oh my god, are you okay?" Harper was sitting on her bed again, in fresh new pajamas and wet braided hair. She smiled at the sound of Bonnie's voice on the phone and hugged a pillow close to her for more support.

"I'm fine now, just glad to be home" Harper rasped and closed her eyes. Everything was really starting to sink in, and her life just seemed to become more and more messy with each day that went by.

"And it was Isobel all along?" Bonnie asked in disgust.

"Yeah, she wanted me to look into my future.. I f-feel violated, Bon" Harper muttered and tried to blink away new tears that were forming. Out of all the people in this universe, Bonnie would understand her better than noone.

"It will be okay, me and Caroline are on our way over to you right now" Bonnie encouraged gently, she was sitting in her car with snacks and drinks, ready to pick up Caroline before heading to the Lockwoods.

"Good, I'm glad," Harper said and tried to smile. It was the only small hope she had of surviving, Bonnie and the rest of her friends there to support her.

"And Harper?"

"Yes?" Harper snapped out of her train of thought.

"You won't be having this problem anymore.. soon everything will be over'' Bonnie stated with a hard tone, and Harper blinked a few times. Not really understanding what she meant.

"Why do you say that?" Harper asked, wondering what Bonnie had done.

"It's just a promise, from me to you"