Mystic Falls High.
November 30th.
"Have you even talked to Bonnie?"
Elena asked Caroline as the 2 including Cherith, walked to school that morning, Cherith bopping to a music on her phone with her earpiece.
"No way. I'm mad… no, pissed at her. She needs to make the first move."
"Why are you so pissed at her anyways?"
Elena asked, exasperatedly and Cherith removed her earpiece as they got to the school, looking around for any sign of Leslie.
"She's a thief, that's why. I have her my necklace and now she won't give it back to me!"
She sounded frustrated and Cherith looked at Caroline.
"You're still on about that tacky piece of jewelry from what's his face?"
Caroline huffed.
"Well if no one wants it, then I do! She should give it back to me, while groveling of course. And maybe I'll decide to just forgive her. Period! It's a matter of principle."
Elena sighed, shaking her head.
"All right. Well I tried. I'm officially out of it."
Just then, Cherith spotted Leslie and turned to the 2 friends.
"Alright. This is my cue to leave. See you losers later!"
She skipped away from them, rushing to Leslie who'd just gotten out of her car.
"Hey Les!"
Leslie grinned as she spotted Cherith walking over to her.
"Hey Cherry! How's it going?"
Cherith shrugged as she walked with Leslie who was waving to one of the guys in their classes.
"Good. Good."
"Oh! Before I forget, did you bring your $1,500 dollars for the seniors trip being planned?"
Leslie asked excitedly and Cherith looked at her exasperatedly.
"Leslie! In case you've already forgotten, seniors trip is still next year! And months away!"
Leslie waved her off as they got to their class sitting side by side.
"It's still good to plan ahead! And as part of the student council, I have a duty to keep reminding every senior to pay up!"
Cherith rolled her eyes before nodding.
"Fine. I'll send the money to the account by weekend. Just send me the account details."
Before everyone turned at attention when their teacher walked into class.
The bell rang and soon it was lunch.
Cherith stood up, stretching and hearing a crack or two before groaning as she grabbed her bag.
"You know, there's no way I'm going to miss boring old high school."
Leslie chuckled.
"That's what you think until you walk into college and begin the daily grind. Or at least that's what my mum says. Me, on the other hand, I'm going to have as much fun as I can possibly have while at it."
Cherith chuckled as they walked out of the class.
"Oh?"
"Yes oh. I am going to party, date different boys and make mistakes so I don't regret it in my adulthood."
Cherith snickered before spotting Chad Davis a few feet away talking to some of his fellow football players.
"And what about Chad Davis?"
She said, pointing at him and Leslie gasped, stopping Cherith as she watched him and suddenly turned to Cherith who looked at her amused.
"You know, I heard he hasn't been spotted with Mallory for a while now. They had this pretty huge fight or something and now he's been avoiding her. Do you think they broke up?"
Cherith shrugged.
"I dunno. Why not go ask him or something."
Leslie gave her a look.
"Sometimes I question whether your consciousness is in this world or not."
"My consciousness revolves around my IQ, AP classes, making money and what to eat."
Leslie sighed before she brightened up, suddenly getting an idea.
"Hey! How about you go ask him for me!"
Cherith looked at her weirdly.
"What? There's no way—"
"Just go! You did a project with him for class Junior year so he knows you already!"
Cherith gave Leslie a look but she gave her a pleading look before pushing her towards his destination.
Cherith sighed, turning to glare at Leslie once more before slowly walking up to Chad as his friends walked away and he opened his locker.
Cherith decided to play pretend and looked behind her as if she was staring at something and walked into his back, letting out a small 'oof'.
Chad turned slightly startled and Cherith stepped back, feigning a smile.
"Oh! Hey… Chad. Didn't see you there"
She faked an awkward laugh and he grinned when he saw her.
He always was one of the nicer ones anyways.
"Oh. Hi Cherith! It's been a while. Last time I really saw you except for class was during the Halloween party and when you were cheerleading for Stefan Salvatore to 'kick our sorry asses'."
Cherith remembered and grinned, looking unapologetic.
"Yeah… yeah I remember that. I don't feel bad though. Sorry."
He waved her off.
"Its okay."
"So! How've you been?"
She winced at the poor conversation starter and internally cussed at Leslie for the dilemma she was in.
As Chad answered her, she suddenly pondered on how to ask him about Mallory Bradley.
It wouldn't be an easy fit after all.
She suddenly wished she could access his thoughts.
After all, if only she could read mind, it would all be easier for her.
Just immediately, there was a slight tingle at the front of her head which she ignored.
"It's been good."
He answered.
'I mean, all things concluded.'
"What?"
Cherith frowned, looking at Chad.
"What? Oh I said things have been good. Regardless of the things that have been happening around town for a while."
He suddenly looked at his watch.
'Oh shit. I'm late for the meeting.'
Cherith blinked rapidly as she stared at his unmoving lips, looking slightly freaked.
"Wha—"
"Uh, listen Cherith. I have to go. I'm late for something. Maybe we'll talk later, yeah?"
He backed away before rushing off.
Cherith stared off, looking confused and wondering if she'd finally lost her mind.
"So?! What did he say?!"
Leslie asked excitedly as soon as she got to Cherith who finally snapped out of her musings, looking at Cherith oddly.
"Do you think reading minds is possible?"
She suddenly asked Leslie who frowned, confused.
"Um…"
Cherith sighed.
"You know what? Forget I even said that in the first place. What were you saying again?"
Leslie breathed out through her nose.
"I was asking if you talked to Chad?"
"Oh. No I didn't ask him."
"What? Why not?"
She pouted and Cherith shrugged.
"He was late for something I guess."
Leslie sighed before perking up.
"Oh! While you were with Chad, I saw the new history teacher in his classroom. And let me tell you! Ooh! He's hot!"
She gushed and Cherith sighed.
"Weren't we just talking about Chad again?"
"Well Chad is Chad… but this is a new face! And he's pretty young too. Probably in his early 30s or something."
Cherith sighed before dragging Leslie off by her elbow.
"Let's just go"
As they went for lunch though, Cherith couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong somewhere, either that or she actually was going mad.
"And then, I ended up at the remains of the old Fell's church before I woke up back in the woods."
Bonnie said, looking tired and having bags under her eyes while Elena looked concerned.
"And you always see your ancestor, Emily?"
Bonnie nodded.
"Do you believe in ghosts?"
Elena sighed, looking at Bonnie seriously.
"You know, two weeks ago I'd say no, but…"
"Because I think I'm being haunted."
She said, looking freaked out.
"But I don't get it. Why Emily though?"
"Grams said she was a very powerful witch back in the civil war days. And that this was her medallion."
She gestured to the necklace around her neck that had once been in the hands of Caroline.
"It's called a witch's talisman."
"And it all started when you got the necklace?"
Elena questioned and she nodded.
"I think she's using it to communicate with me."
"And what does Grams say?"
"I can't call her. She's gonna tell me to embrace it. I don't want to embrace it, I want it to stop."
Bonnie said, tired and Elena sighed, not sure what to say or do.
Mystic Grill.
After school.
Evening.
Jeremy and Jenna sat by a booth while Cherith excused herself to the bathroom.
"I like a man who can dine alone. A quiet strength."
Jenna said as she stared at the new history teacher who sat a few feet away, going through a book and Jeremy smirked from where he was writing opposite her.
"I thought you were still in that whole Logan-depression thing."
Jenna shrugged, smiling.
"I've sworn off men forever, but it doesn't mean I can't observe them from a safe distance."
"Well, I can introduce you."
Jeremy added and Jenna turned to stare at him as Cherith came back to sit down, taking a fry and putting it in her mouth.
Jenna turned back, smiling, shaking her head a negative.
She didn't think she was ready for a relationship yet.
"So! Have you picked a topic yet?"
She asked, curiously and Jeremy sighed, slapping Cherith's hand away from his half eaten burger.
"No. Not yet. It has to be local and non-internet research."
"Well that's easy. You have all your dad's stuff."
Jenna shrugged, slapping Cherith's hand from her own burger and Cherith sighed, turning from the two and sinking down in the seat, ignoring their conversation.
A moment later, Alaric approached the trio, making Jenna and Jeremy turn to him.
"Mr. Saltzman!"
"Jeremy! What's up man?"
He greeted, the two exchanging a unique handshake, and Cherith looked at him slightly and remembered he was the new history teacher though she hadn't been in his class yet.
"Hello, Mr. History teacher."
She groused and Jenna turned to her exasperatedly while Jeremy covered his grin.
"Cherith Gilbert!"
Alaric smiled, waving Jenna's concerns away.
"It's okay. The teachers have told me all about her. Apparently, with your high level of IQ, your humor moved to the more… sadistic side."
He ended and Cherith thought about it before nodding.
"Yeahhh… that's probably it."
Jenna sighed.
"I am so sorry about her. I'm Jenna, Jeremy's aunt."
She used the opportunity to introduce herself.
"Nice to meet you. Please, call me Alaric Saltzman."
They shook hands and suddenly, Cherith felt like she could smell love in the air.
She shuddered lightly at the thought of her history teacher and Jenna getting it on.
Her face turned green.
"Yeah I'm gonna be sick."
She muttered, sitting up and Jeremy gave her a look.
"Jeremy was just telling me about his paper. Thanks for giving him another chance."
"Please. It was my first day. I wanted to make a good impression."
About an hour later…
Jeremy and Cherith decided to head on home, Cherith deciding to head on home with him as it seemed her aunt seemingly had eyes for the new history teacher.
"Hey, wait up! You walk too fast!"
Cherith grouched at Jeremy who walked faster than her, and he ignored her.
"You catch up. I'm not slowing down for you."
Cherith scoffed, jogging over to him and hitting him with her elbow and he let out a 'oof'.
"Jeez… your bony hands really are a weapon."
He mocked her and she scoffed.
"Tiny brain."
Mystic Falls High.
The brothers stopped playing their two man game of football when Damon turned to walk away, suspecting that Stefan wanted something from him, or wanted to know something.
"What do you want with Katherine's crystal?"
Damon stopped in his tracks, turning to Stefan in slight surprise.
"How do you know about that?"
Stefan scoffed.
"Come on. You knew Elena would tell me about it. Especially when you've been harassing her best friend."
"How do you know it was Katherine's? Emily gave it to her on her last night. I was with her, and you weren't."
He said, eyes narrowing at his brother.
"I was the last one to see her, Damon. Now, what do you want with Katherine's crystal?"
"She didn't tell you?"
He mocked Stefan, trying to rile him up but Stefan gave a small smirk back.
"Well, We had other things on our mind."
He said, implying other things and Damon stared at his brother icily before blurring to him, grabbing his jacket.
"I could rip your heart out and not think twice about it."
He threatened but Stefan smiled.
"I've heard that before."
Damon looked him in the eyes, before dropping his hands, turning away from Stefan, knowing he was trying to rile him up, before giving his brother a side smile.
"I have a bigger surprise, Stefan."
He said as he backed away, slowly. A rather victorious grin on his face.
"I'm gonna bring her back."
With Jeremy and Cherith…
As they got closer to their house, Cherith sighed with relief, jogging.
"Finally! Exercising is hard!"
She whined, leaving Jeremy behind and he chuckled, shaking his head at her.
As she walked towards the door, Bonnie walked out, slamming the door shut, rushing down the few steps and Cherith greeted her.
"Hey Bonnie. You look pretty harried. Going somewhere?"
She greeted the girl who stared at her, face slightly blank and Bonnie turned to Cherith, looking at her rather intently before… bowing?
"Uhhh…"
Cherith drawled, confused.
"I mean you and yours no harm, harbinger of chaos."
With that, she rushed away, leaving Cherith staring confused at whatever the hell that was.
Before she could call out the girl, she heard Elena's voice by the front door, the knob shaking as if someone was trying to force the door open.
Jeremy got to her in that time and they walked towards the door.
As Jeremy yanked the door open, entering inside, Elena and Caroline screamed at the top of their voices, startling Cherith and Jeremy.
"What the hell?!"
Jeremy shouted out, startled and Caroline sighed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, no. I'm outta here!"
She grabbed her bag and rushed out, looking slightly freaked out.
Jeremy went up the stairs, ignoring them and Cherith looked at her sister.
"What happened?"
She asked, curious but Elena shook her head, grabbing her phone and walking out, making a phone call.
Cherith sighed, rolling her eyes, wondering exactly why she tried to even find out things from Elena.
Giving a shrug, she went up the stairs, heading to her room.
Mystic Falls High.
Stefan stared at his brother, confused.
"Bring Katherine back? How can you bring Katherine back. She's dead."
Damon scoffed.
"Before Katherine and the others were killed in the church, you remember what it was like in this town?"
Stefan nodded, suddenly attentive.
"I remember the fear and the hysteria."
"Townspeople were killing vampires one by one. When they came for Katherine, I went straight to Emily, said 'I'll do anything. Name your price. Just protect her'. And guess what? She did."
He grinned at his brother who kept staring at his brother with trepidation in his eyes.
"How?"
He whispered, not sure he even wanted to know.
"She did some kind of spell with the crystal. And while the church was burning, and we thought Katherine was burning in it, she wasn't."
"But, I saw her go inside…"
Damon smirked.
"There's a tomb underneath the church. The spell sealed Katherine in that tomb, protecting her."
"If that's what you wanna call it."
He scoffed, pacing from one point to another.
"She's been trapped in a mystical holding cell for the last century and a half, but you're an expert on starving a vampire, so how do you think she's doing, Stefan?"
He said dryly, looking at his brother who kept staring at him.
"Did you know that witches can use celestial events to draw energy into their magic? Me either. But in order to give the crystal its power, Emily used the comet that was passing overhead. And, in order for that crystal to work again..."
"The comet had to return."
Stefan completed for him and Damon nodded as Stefan followed his conversation.
"The downside though? Long time in between comets. And, a couple of hiccups along the way with the crystal, but the comet passed, and I got the crystal. And then Caroline got the crystal, and now Bonnie has the crystal, and here we are."
He finished, slight frustrated at having everything he once needed in his hand but having it slip away after waiting for more than a century.
"Why would Emily… why would she do this for you?"
Stefan asked, wondering exactly what moved Emily to make such a powerful decision for him.
"Because she knew they were gonna come for her, too, and she made me promise that her lineage would survive."
Damon said, shrugging and Stefan nodded.
"I remember. You saved her children."
He nodded.
"It's the only thing keeping me from ripping that little Bonnie girl's throat out to get my crystal back."
He gritted angrily before sighing.
"Oh well, a deal's a deal. So...you wanna go throw some more?"
He gestured to the ball in his hands.
Gilbert Residence.
Cherith jogged down just in time to see her aunt close the door and she smirked.
"How was your date?"
Jenna gave her a look.
"Cheeky brat. And it wasn't a date."
She turned to see Jeremy going through some boxes on the dining and walked over to him, Cherith following as she looked at the boxes, curious about what was in it.
"So you found the boxes!"
Jenna said as she reached him and Jeremy grinned, grabbing a photograph and handing it to her.
"I also found this too."
Cherith peeked over her aunt's shoulder to see a picture of a younger Jenna and Logan, smiling and actually looking happy.
She fake barfed and Jenna sighed.
"Me and Logan. That's just cruel."
She said, moving to the kitchen island and Jeremy chuckled.
"Cruel is dating our history teacher."
He said, gesturing to himself and Chelsea who was staring at the journal in Jeremy's hand.
"I'm not dating him. Yet."
She added with a smirk and Jeremy snickered as he opened the journal which read that it belonged to Johnathan Gilbert.
"Well this might be good for us, Jemmie. If they start dating she can always use her female parts to control him into giving us good grades."
The 2 turned to her, disgusted but Cherith just shrugged, grabbing the journal from Jeremy's hand and leafing through the book, stopping at a rather gory drawing of a creature with fangs, like a vampire.
"It's not like you need any help with history, or any class in general. You have all A pluses in all your grades every single time, including the AP classes."
Jeremy added and Jenna nodded.
"Exactly, now stop being disgusting."
Jeremy then brought out some other dusty items from the box which were super dusty and he blew on it, directly at Cherith's direction and she dropped the journal on the table, wrinkling her nose and she turned, letting out a loud sneeze.
"ACHOOOO!"
Shatter*
The sound of some bulbs exploding into a million bits resonated around the kitchen and living room and Cherith's eyes widened in shock as Jenna and Jeremy stared around.
"What the hell??"
Jeremy mumbled before snorting.
"Damn! Your sneeze must be so monstrous as to destroy glass. Must be what happened to your room."
He said, dropping the things he held and moving around to check the bulbs that blew up while Jenna sighed.
"It's my fault. They've been getting pretty old and fragile and I haven't changed them in… months!"
She grabbed the sweeper broom and moved to the places the sound of bulbs shattering came from.
Cherith though, was still in shock.
She couldn't believe it was a coincidence.
Not anymore.
As much as she didn't believe in… things like this, there were just too many things that had happened to and around her that she just couldn't ignore anymore.
Shakily, she walked towards the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
Jeremy asked and she shakily replied him.
"Sorry, it's just… the dust… it's irritating my nose. I need to… I need fresh air."
She feigned and rushed up and into her room, resting on the door and frowning as she slid to the ground, recounting the odd things that had happened.
The glass breaking… 3 times!
It just couldn't have been a coincidence.
Maybe the first time, yes.
Maybe even the second time if she wanted to stretch it. But… now?
And almost every bulb in the house??
She shook her head desperately.
"No… Cherith Gilbert!"
She scoffed, slapping her head.
"Come on girl. You've got an high level of IQ! What are you thinking—No, what are you trying to imply?! That… that…"
She couldn't even say it.
She sighed, standing up.
It just couldn't be.
"It can't be real…"
She said, trying to convince herself.
But… what of that time at school she'd been talking to Chad Davis??
Why had it seemed like she'd read his mouth??
His mouth hadn't even moved those times, and she'd been looking at him!
Or the time she woke up and saw her room all trashed up.
Was it… was it connected?!
She sighed, frustrated. Dragging at her hair and walking from one place to the other.
It just… it couldn't be…
She shook her head, her inner turmoil causing a slight wind in her room which she didn't even notice.
She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts when her eyes caught something at the top of her wardrobe, making her stop.
It was her guitar case, or rather yet, her birth father's guitar case with his guitar inside.
Her adoptive father had gifted it to her on her 15th birthday and she'd immediately decided that, for her to feel closer to Christian Gilbert, she had to at least learn something he was apparently rather interested in. Music.
She smiled, remembering the weeks that followed how she'd rigorously searched through YouTube on how to learn the basics.
It had taken her quite a while as she'd been a procrastinating little shit but she finally did learn the basics and even picked up a couple of songs on the way. But after her adoptive parents died, she'd just… stopped playing. She hadn't felt inspired anymore and she'd felt ashamed just looking at it like she was failing her birth father at something, and so, she kept it away.
Moving to her wardrobe, she stretched up to grab the case but suddenly realized just how tall the wardrobe top was.
She growled angrily, moving to grab a small luggage from inside the wardrobe and set it down, standing on it and gaining some height.
She then stretched for it, her fingers grazing the case when the side of the luggage squished and with a help, she fell backwards and would have landed badly when her whole body suddenly got encased in a reddish gold must, her hands were stretched out, as if beckoning something to her, glowed brightly and the case floated from up where it was and halfway to the ground.
"HOLY SHIT!"
Cherith screamed out in shock and slight panic and immediately, it was like someone put a switch off as the red mist vanished and she fell to the ground, the case landing on her and she let out a groan at the pain she was currently feeling on her butt.
She sat up, pushing the guitar case off of her body and stood up, rubbing her butt and whimpering slightly in pain when her mind suddenly caught up to what she'd just experienced.
At the sudden realization, her eyes widened and she dashed out of her room and down the stairs to where Jenna and Jeremy were.
"Oh my God! You two!"
She shouted out.
"You will not believe what just happened! I—"
And then she stopped, wondering exactly what she was doing.
What exactly did she plan on telling them??
'hey! I uh suddenly realized I had powers! Ah! Magical freaking powers! You believe me, right?!'
Just so she could be chucked into the loony bin?!
Yeah. No.
Not before she knew what she was capable of, that is.
"You know what? Never mind. I just thought I saw something weird."
She lied and Jenna gave her a look.
"It must be last your usual sleeping time or something… you're not making any sense Cherry."
Cherry forced a laugh before rushing up the stairs.
"See you!"
She ran back into her room again, sighing as she closed the door in relief.
"Whoo! That was a close one!"
She muttered, laying on her bed.
She idly wondered what the red like mist was. It hadn't appeared when she destroyed those bulbs, thank God for that.
She sat up, suddenly wondering if those fairy tale stories were real and which one was accurate.
Was it Cinderella? Like the fairy godmother?
She looked serious for a minute before sitting straight, clearing her throat and raising a hand.
"Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo!"
She chanted, expected something… anything, to happen, but only the sound of the AC working in her room cut through the silence and she sighed.
"Ugh! Fine. I suppose fairy godmothers don't exist. Hmm… what else…"
She pondered, pacing slowly from one side to the other, trying to remember fairytale books she'd read when she suddenly brightened up, clapping in excitement.
"Oh yes! Harry Potter!"
She cleared her throat again, staring at the book that was on her desk and stretched her hand again.
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
She screamed out again and nothing happened. Not even a small movement.
"What the fuck are you doing in your room!"
Jeremy shouted as he headed to his own room and a frustrated Cherith turned to her door, shouting out.
"Shut up Jeremy Gilbert!"
She didn't notice the slight movement of air around her again.
Turning back she sighed.
"Okay. So, Harry Potter incantations are also useless. Maybe it's because I don't have a wand… do magic people use wands?"
She mumbled before shaking her head.
"Okay! Hmmm… oh! How about Naruto then!"
She grinned excitedly, before settling on the shadow clone jutsu, her hands forming the style and looking super serious.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
She shouted, and like before… nothing.
Cherith then groaned, raising her hands up in submission.
"Ugh! I give up! This is just not my thing! Maybe it was just a one time thing."
She grouched, sitting on the floor of her room, ignoring the sound of Elena's room opening and closing.
She was probably back already from wherever she'd gone.
Something immediately stuck in her head though.
Meditation.
After all, she'd seen most magical people take meditation pretty seriously in movies.
Maybe if she just tried it.
Sitting Buddha style in her room, she closed her eyes, humming a traditional like sound she'd just made up, trying to see if there would be any difference and the door to her room opened.
"Really Cherith, what exactly are you doing? I'm trying to focus in my room and you're being as loud as a bunch of hyenas."
Cherith ignored him.
"I'm trying to gain access to something in me. Kindly get out"
She said to Jeremy who's scoffed, closing her door slowly.
"Whatever. It's not like you're doing it right anyways."
Cherith groaned pitifully, laying on the ground as she internally agreed with Jeremy albeit grudgingly.
"It's not like I know anyone who knows about these things!"
She sighed, staring up at her ceiling.
"I mean, this is Mystic Falls! A very small, boring town. Who here would be a professional in all things magic and out of the ordinary?? Who would I know that seems to believe in things like this?? Who—"
She suddenly stopped, sitting up in shock as she made a startling realization.
"Sheila Bennett. Occult studies Professor."
She whispered before a grin appeared on her face.
Of course! Why hadn't she thought about it!
The whole of Mystic Falls basically referred to the woman as a witch! And it's not like she did anything to disclaim it.
Of course, she might not even be one, but she might have an idea… or even have run into something, out of the ordinary and she seemed like someone who knew everything!
Cherith smirked as she stood up.
"Well… it seems like I have to pay someone a visit tomorrow."
Elena meanwhile, sat in her room with her best friend as she explained everything to Bonnie, all the secrets she'd been keeping, and just how Damon had bitten her neck, and the two cried together in each others' arms.
Some minutes later, Cherith left her room, heading down the stairs and into the kitchen, her aunt still around as she moved to grab a glass of water.
Just then, the doorbell rang and Jenna went to get it.
As she opened the front door, her eyes widened in shock at just who she saw there.
"Hello, Jenna."
He smirked at her.
"Logan!"
Jenna spat out and he grinned as he rested on the threshold.
"Aren't you gonna invite me in?"
Hi guys!
Please let me know what you think about this chapter and how the story is going so far!
Thank you!!!!!!
