Cherith sat up as soon as she woke up the following morning, glad that she'd been able to heal her sprain over the night.
She still had to pretend a bit though, so as not to heal too quickly and it becomes suspicious.
She'd told Jenna to inform the teachers that she wouldn't be able to go to school for the day, or rather, the rest of the week, so she could heal faster and at least be able to limp with her own leg rather than using those crutches that now laid at the end of her bed.
Magical healing was a wondrous thing.
She also planned to say hi to Bonnie after school, talk to her and catch up on what was going on with her.
It had taken a while for Jenna to accept, thankfully, she knew Bonnie and had her number in case Cherith suddenly 'decided to go hunting again.'
Cherith stood up slightly, feeling some pain in her lap and grudgingly used the crutches to walk out of her room and into the bathroom where Elena was brushing.
She grimaced when she saw her, not wanting to talk to her but she needed to brush.
Elena turned as soon as Cherith entered and her eyes widened.
"Oh my God! H-how are you feeling now? I got home rather late and I didn't see the message until later."
"Oh, wow… glad to see you care."
Cherith sarcastically answered her sister and Elena sighed.
"I was busy Cherith… Stefan—"
Cherith frowned.
"It's really not my business, Elena. Your boyfriend is obviously more important than your sister so, like, whatever."
She finished, moving to grab her tooth brush.
"Please, Cherith. Stefan was in a really bad place—"
"And I was too!"
Cherith spat back at her sister, startling her.
"I was in pain! Granted it was my fault, but I had wondered when my sister would come to see me. But… I'm not worth your time, right Elena? Look… you've known me to have less emotional priorities than the rest of you all, but I do care about my family. But, it would seem that I really should begin to care less. It's better that way…"
She said, looking into the mirror with a blank look and brushing her teeth, ignoring Elena who only stared at her.
"Cherith… Stefan was in pain—"
"Would you shut it about Stefan?!"
Cherith finally snapped, her eyes crimson and red light exploding out of her as the lights flickered in the bathroom and the glass on the wall got a massive crack in it, Elena moving back, slight fear in her eyes.
It should have hurt Cherith that her sister was looking at her that way, but It honestly felt… liberating.
Cherith sighed, flicking her hair out of her face and moving a hand to the crack.
"Elena… you can be all compassionate as you want… but let me reiterate what I've always told you. Stefan and Damon Salvatore could be dying for all I care…"
Red mist poured out of her fingers and into the cracks, fixing it whole and she looked at her sister through the mirror whose eyes widened at the display of magic.
"And I wouldn't shed a tear. Instead, I'd point them the road to hell."
She went back to brushing as Elena slowly walked out Cherith breathed in and out, hands tightening around her brush as she felt betrayal at Elena.
Her sister who had changed oh so much since the Salvatore brothers rolled into town.
And people had died because of them.
Including Vicki Donovan.
Her ex boyfriend's sister. And the funny thing was, she still had the guts to laugh at the boys face, to laugh and be happy with him, when she was involved in a death connected to him.
She could understand that Elena and Jeremy's lives had been in danger… but why a stake to the heart??
Why not a stake to the stomach?
Or a simple neck snap?
Why had it been so important to KILL her??
If it had been Cherith, would she have been killed so easily?
And then buried like she didn't matter in the middle of nowhere because they'd have no explanation on why she had a stake to her chest and grey veiny skin.
There were so many things that didn't make sense anymore.
They thought she was changing… they should also check themselves as well.
"Hey Cherry!"
Jenna called her name.
"Yeah?"
"Will you be okay coming down or should I head on over to your room? We could still order for your car if you want!"
Cherith grinned, her good mood returning as she quickly rinsed her mouth and went down the stairs, as best as she could with her crutches holding her down.
Later that afternoon, Cherith messaged Bonnie on her phone to meet her at the Grill so they could catch up and she could buy Cherith lunch.
Thankfully, a neighbor of theirs had also been heading past the Grill and decided to drop her nicely.
As she got out of the car, waving them off, Damon and Alaric walked over to her and Cherith glared at Damon who smirked.
"I get the feeling you don't want to see me today Cherry Berry."
Cherith continued to glare at him.
"Oh you have no idea how much I want to see you suffer."
Her eyes gained a crimson glow for a second before vanishing and Damon looked at her startled.
Cherith looked away.
All the anger she'd been feeling at the Salvatore brothers in general was honestly getting to her already.
Alaric decided to step in.
"Cherith, I can see you're heading into the Grill. Could you maybe do me a favor by checking on Elena in there?"
Cherith raised an eyebrow, resting on a crutch.
"And you can't do it yourself because…"
"Because his bitch of an ex-wife is in there, so why don't you be a good little sister and stay with Elena."
Cherith snapped her head to Damon, eyes narrowing.
"And you care, why? I mean, aren't you the ass who turned her in the first place?"
Something flashed through his eyes which Cherith couldn't grab fast enough as Alaric spoke up again.
"Please, Cherith… this is really important."
He begged and Cherith rolled her eyes, moving her crutches to turn and walk into the Grill.
"Whatever. I'm here to meet someone so if they're already in there… bad luck for Elena."
She grumbled, still feeling bitter as she entered the Grill.
She saw Stefan a few feet away by the pool tables, pretending woefully to play the game and searched for any sign of Bonnie.
It seemed she hadn't arrived yet.
Bad luck for Cherith then, as she searched her sister out, spotting her with a woman who looked quite like her.
From the same hair color to the eyes and olive skin tone.
With a grunt, she ignored Stefan's alarmed look and moved herself to the two.
Isobel saw her first and a curious glint appeared on her face.
Cherith had planned on asking Elena where Bonnie was as a distraction, but the woman's face just screamed 'I am better than you' and Cherith wanted to punch that away.
She stopped in front of them, looking down at Isobel not impressed.
"You're the Isobel chick."
Was the first thing she said and Elena looked away, not sure what to say as Stefan grinned, listening in on the conversation.
Isobel smirked, looking her up and down.
"So… you must be the youngest Gilbert. Quite ironic, isn't it? Your birth father was the youngest of 3 and you are the youngest of 3 as well."
Cherith faked a happy gasp.
"Wow! Really?! I had no idea! I just came here to say hi to the vampiric mother."
Elena gasped slightly and Isobel's eyes widened a bit.
"Cherry!"
Elena reprimanded but Cherith ignored her.
"Ah… so you know about Vampires… I had wondered. There isn't much I know about you. Except your rather rude attitude and how you stand up to authority. You know… your father was quite like that from what I know… a delectable and good-looking man."
She smirked, trying to make Cherith mad but instead Cherith was amused.
"Yes… I heard. That must be why he wasn't interested in you then… trash and all that stuff."
She waved and a flash of anger appeared in her eyes.
Elena quickly stood up, preparing to go but Isobel held her hand down harshly.
"Sit down."
Isobel told her looking icily at her and Stefan moved.
"And tell your boyfriend to walk away."
She threatened, hand tightening around the hand and Cherith raised an eyebrow, turning to Stefan who looked at her pleadingly and she rolled her eyes.
"I want the invention."
"I don't have it."
Elena whimpered out, looking slightly at Cherith as if asking for help and Cherith sighed.
She might be angry with Elena… in fact, anger was underrated, she was beginning to feel less affection as time went by because Cherith Gilbert had once realized she could easily shed emotional affection for people who made her feel that way.
"I know Damon has it, and if he doesn't give it to me, then the blood will be on your hands."
Cherith sighed.
"Alright. That's it."
She slapped her hand angrily on the hand Isobel was using to hold down Elena, grabbing at her wrist and red mist poured out of it.
Cherith had been practicing ways of inflicting pain on someone without it being too obvious.
No better time than now to practice.
The red mist moved into Isobel's skin and immediately, her hands began greying up like she was dying.
Isobel gasped, letting go of Elena's hand who gasped slightly at what was happening.
Stefan, not too far away stopped in shock as he saw the skin on Isobel's hands go grey and spread under her sleeve.
Isobel gasped as if she had no air in her lungs, moving her other hand to her neck and grasping at it, staring at a stony looking Cherith with absolute fear in her eyes.
"Now that I have your attention. Yes, I am indeed a witch. Yes, I have no qualms against setting you on fire. A lot has been opened to me over the past few weeks. So I'll just make it clear now. If you dare to harm any Innocents in town, leading to any deaths whatsoever. I will hunt you down myself and turn you into an actual living corpse. It wouldn't matter what Elena or Alaric say. How they beg… I would turn my back on them and finish you. Do you perhaps understand me?"
She grinned, teeth out and Isobel, whose neck was now grey and the greyness actively moving to her face, nodded.
Cherith grinned.
"Perfect."
She let go of the hand and dusted her hands against her jean, looking at Elena with a dry look.
"She's a piece of shit."
With that, she moved away from them, acquiring an empty table a bit further from them and turning away from the little drama.
Isobel gasped with relief as air came into her lungs again and her previously grey skin acquired color again and she quickly stood up, clenching and unclenching her hand, giving one last look of fear to where Cherith was and rushing off.
"The invention."
Was all she muttered shakily to Elena as she walked right past her.
Elena stared at her mother as she hurried off, pain mixed with anger in her teary eyes.
Just then, Bonnie walked into the Grill, having almost been walked into by Isobel and saw her best by a table looking teary eyed.
Her heart clenched tightly, slight guilt building up in her as Elena looked up, teary eyed and a pleading look.
As she moved towards Elena, Stefan appeared behind her and Bonnie stopped, guilt washing away and anger clouding her.
She took one icy look at Stefan and turned away, noticing the wave Cherith was giving her.
As soon as she sat down, Cherith motioned to a waiter.
"Bonnie. My love, my dear, my friend… how've you been?"
She said in a thick, muffled accent and Bonnie snorted.
"Are you trying to imitate the godfather?"
Cherith grinned cheekily.
"Well is it working?"
"Eh."
"Fair enough. Anyways, it's good to have you back bon-bon! This way you make it in time for my birthday!"
Bonnie smiled.
"Oh yeah! Are you gonna throw a party then?"
Cherith groaned.
"I tried… I really did, to make Leslie and Caroline see it my way but they're honestly acting so suspiciously I feel they rented the whole Mystic Grill for a party. I don't like it, but what the heck can I do?!"
Bonnie chuckled, shaking her head.
"True. Caroline is an unstoppable mass of energy in human form and Leslie stands her ground just as well too."
Cherith nodded as their food is brought to them.
"So what the hell happened to you! What's with these injuries you're spotting??"
Bonnie looked at Cherith's left wrist and the crutches by her side.
"It's nothing too serious, really. I was just trying my hand at flying."
Bonnie looked at her crazily.
"Um, I might be new to things like this, but I can also assure you that our kind can't fly."
Cherith scoffed, waving her off.
"Please! Tell that to my obviously flying form… well, before I fell tens of feet down and had to go to the hospital."
Bonnie's eyes bulged out.
"Y-you can fly?! Oh wow… I guess Grams really meant it when she said you were built different."
A rather melancholic smile appeared on her face and the two became quiet at the remembrance of the formidable woman.
"So! Talk to me. How've you been? Why have you been avoiding people of… questionable sort?"
Cherith quickly asked Bonnie who sighed.
"Well, I guess you just might be the only one here who understands me huh…"
Cherith nodded.
"Well, I get why you're avoiding the Vampires. Heck, I can't tell you not to, given that I'm really beginning to hate their kind, which isn't nice, given that it's just all the ones I've met that step on my nerves. It's like they actually want me to hate their kind! Every single one of them! Well… except Harper, maybe. He was nice… for a bloodsucking vamp."
Bonnie grinned before frowning.
"Who's Harper?"
Cherith waved the question off.
"Not important. What I'm trying to say is… that I totally get why you're being all shifty with Elena and all that… we're not even in a good place right now, between the two of us. But, I'd like to believe not all Vampires are as messed up as the ones we know. I think Mystic Falls just brings out the worst in people. Just, don't become too bitter bon-bon. It doesn't suit you. You're a powerful, future badass witch, not as powerful as me, mind you…"
She playfully mocked and Bonnie chuckled, rolling her eyes.
"But badass, nonetheless. Remember, your Grams wanted to do the ritual. I'm pretty sure she could have said no if she wanted to and Damon Salvatore wouldn't have been able to do anything about it, but she still did it. Don't let Sheila Bennett's last memory be one that leaves you in anger and bitterness."
Bonnie sighed, looking down, still not so convinced and Cherith decided to add something else.
"Besides! Even if I didn't like it, and even if it gave me nightmares for weeks and I feel cold inside… I should tell you that I killed two of those tomb vampires and I saw it as a way of exacting revenge on behalf of Sheila."
Bonnie's eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
"You what?! When??"
Cherith sighed.
"That, is another super long story bon-bon. And don't worry, Alaric also killed a large number of them too."
Even if Cherith didn't mention Damon also killing others too, as he was an ass, and also he was a vampire that Bonnie currently despised, a small smile filtered across the mocha skinned beauty's face.
"Look at you, being all mature about things."
Cherith smirked before shrugging.
"Well I occasionally give a damn about things."
Bonnie laughed before grinning at Cherith.
"Thanks. For telling me that."
Cherith beamed at her.
"You're welcome. Now! I have something important to ask you."
Cherith looked serious, which in turn made Bonnie lean in.
"This is something that has been plaguing my mind for some time now and I really need to know or I might loose my mind."
"What's that?"
Cherith took a deep breath before answering.
"What were you doing to the baby Salvatore that night during the Miss Mystic Falls pageant?"
Bonnie grinned and let out a scoff, giving her a look.
"I should have expected that…"
"Oh come on Bonnieeeee!"
She whined and Bonnie chuckled.
"I really need to know! It caught my attention that night! He looked like it hurt him a lot! I wanna know how to do that! It could help me in the future!"
Bonnie shook her head before answering her.
"It's pain infliction, basically. Causing blood vessels to pop. An aneurysm of sorts. Witches use it against vampires as they have accelerated healing. It could be used to stun humans too, but we rarely ever use it against them."
Cherith listened attentively, already planning on mastering this as it looked simple enough for her to get and didn't require any words apparently.
"Well thank you Bonnie! I should probably be heading back now before Jenna has her own aneurysm. I'm apparently not to be trusted out and about alone for a long period of time."
She grouched as she stood up, holding onto her crutches and Bonnie smiled, nodding and standing up to.
"I should probably head on home too. Want me to drop you?"
Cherith smiled with relief.
"Please! I'd be honored!"
Next Day.
Cherith smiled as she limped around as the Founder's Day float was being created by volunteers.
She'd finally decided to dump the crutches after healing her wound just a little bit.
It had been difficult as she was only used to healing her bruises and sprains.
It would be a work in progress and it only hurt just a bit now.
She'd also discarded the bandage on her hand as it was getting annoying to leave on.
"Hey! Cherith, hold up!"
She heard her name being called and she turned to see Tyler Lockwood jogging over to her and she groaned.
She hadn't talked to the ass since the incident 2 weeks earlier.
She still wasn't keen on doing that now. Instead, as he stood in front of her, she had this sudden urge to punch him unconscious again.
"Um, hi Cherith… how've you been?"
He asked sheepishly, trying to make conversation and she gave him a look.
"Well, considering I don't have a bruise on my face anymore. I'm good."
"I'm really sorry about that day, Cherith. Really. I have no idea what came over me."
She snorted, crossing her arms and balancing on her good leg.
"Well it's obvious, don't you think? Your anger issues and all."
"I'm really sorry. I swear. I'd never hit a girl. Especially one like you."
Cherith raised an eyebrow at that.
"One like me?"
He shrugged.
"Well, yeah. You're obviously badass. It's sort of an open secret not to mess with you and all."
He then grinned.
"And, I guess you did show me why no one ever messes with you, hunh?"
Cherith looked away, though pride filled her.
"Well I'm not all talk and no action."
"So… are we good?"
He asked hesitantly and Cherith groaned exasperated.
"Yes, yes. Whatever. You're an ass and you do stupid things. I'm over it. Now, scram."
He grinned, back walking away from her and giving her a thumbs up.
"Great! Thanks Cherry, I'll see you around."
As he jogged off, Cherith's eyes popped out.
"Cherry?! It's Cherith to you! Asswipe!
She roared at him, ignoring the looks people were giving her and sighed.
"Cherry!"
"Ugh! What now?"
She mumbled as Elena walked up to her, a slightly angry look on her face.
"You told Jeremy about Vampires??"
She whisper shouted at Cherith.
"Why would you do that? After… after everything I've done to make him separated from this world!"
Cherith glared at her sister, anger clouding her up.
"Excuse me?! Would you shut the fuck up and stop acting like a judgemental bitch for once in your life!"
She spat out, making Elena step back in shock and some people who'd heard Cherith did a double take at that.
"For your information, if I wanted to tell Jeremy about Vampires, I'd have told him a very long time ago. And nothing you say or do would have stopped me from doing that. But I didn't… because you told me not to. What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
She spat out at her sister, frustrated.
"He-he just told me about knowing Vampires exist… how am I supposed to take that?"
She stuttered out.
"I have—"
"Oh shut it! I'm sick and tired of your overzealous attitude! I didn't tell him! If you need answers, look for his Vampire friend! And you, of all people, have no right to tell him what to do. As much as I hate Anna, he must have gotten his stupid ability to be a lovesick puppy from you. Aren't you the one with two vamps on your side?!"
Cherith spat out and Elena swallowed, having never seen her sister like this before.
"Keep your fucking Vampire problems from my doorstep Elena. I already told you I wasn't interested. If you want to live a life that could end as easily as a snap because you want to be with someone who doesn't age, then congratulations! But don't expect me to roll over like a puppy while you play house with dangerous assholes."
Cherith glared at her sister one last time before limping away, anger clouding her very being as she walked further away so as to get rid of it.
Home was a better option now more than ever.
"Well, well… trouble in sibling paradise?"
Elena gasped as she turned to see isobel right in front of her, a smile on her face and Elena swallowed.
"Isobel. What are you doing here?"
Isobel smirked and tilted her head.
"I'm your mother Elena. I'm allowed to partake in your life."
She then looked in the direction Cherith had gone through.
"I'm rather glad she's not here right now. She seems more capable of bursting me into flames, so I'll be staying very far away from her."
"I don't want you in my life."
"I understand."
Isobel shrugged, unconcerned.
"You already have quite a number of people you care about, don't you? Hmm…"
She looked around, making Elena suddenly nervous.
"Let's see if I get this right. Cause I've been studying."
She points at Bonnie.
"There's the witchy BFF, Bonnie Bennett. I'm also gonna stay away from that one too. Wow… two witches practically at your beck and call. Well don't you just have it all?"
Isobel mocked before turning to Jeremy and she pouted playfully.
"Aw. And sad baby brother, Jeremy. Good looking one, don't you think? Practically a copy of Grayson. You know, the eldest and the youngest are so good looking and yummy enough to eat. Wonder what happened to the middle one…"
She chuckled and Elena looked at her, unimpressed.
"Oh fine! Such a bore. Oh!"
She points at Caroline who was sitting on a float and talking to someone.
"And there's Caroline. Obnoxious Caroline. Miss Mystic Falls. Shame on you, by the way. You're so much more good-looking than her and yet you… couldn't even win."
Isobel mocked.
"You know, I got all my information from her. She didn't even know me and yet she prattled on and on and on like we'd been best friends for decades. You should really choose your friends well dear… not the type who'd sell you out without even knowing they were doing so."
"Why are you doing this?"
Elena stuttered out, suddenly feeling nervous but Isobel ignored her, turning to Matt who was by a float.
"Oh, and there's Matt. Friend… ex, Miss Mystic Falls' future ex too. You'll end up sharing something then. Lots of connections there."
"Matts not involved in any of this, Isobel."
"But… he's involved with you, is he not?"
She questioned and Elena looked at her pleadingly.
"You need to leave. You're not welcome here."
"Well I have some friends here too. Look."
She pointed at a tall and handsome blonde haired man by the float Matt currently at.
Matt crouched by the float, his hand directly under as he fixed something in there and Elena suddenly became nervous.
"You see that man over there, standing next to Matt by the Float? His name is Frank, he's very handsome and he's also quite handy and he'd noticed that the axles are a little rusty which is very dangerous. So, all you have to do is apply a little bit of pressure and…"
Elena's eyes widened as she realized what Isobel had planned.
"No!"
She moved to run over but Isobel held her as the man jumped on top of the float and it landed directly on Matt's hand and he let out a scream of pain.
"Guys! Get this trailer off! Help me!"
Matt shouted out in pain and Tyler and some of the football players ran over, trying to lift it.
Stefan quickly joined them as it seemed like the float was too heavy for just humans to carry and with his help, Matt was able to crawl out and hold his hand in pain as Caroline rushed over to him.
"Caroline, quick, call the ambulance!"
Stefan told her and Elena turned to Isobel with a glare.
"Why… why are you doing this?!"
She spat out and Isobel smirked.
"Ah… a little bit of spirit. I had wondered if you had any at all. Too… meek for my taste. Too… Narcissistic. I guess your sister is finally seeing that for herself. Katherine is like that too, you know? Narcissistic?"
She smirked but Elena wouldn't budge.
"Oh fine. I'm showing you how easy it is to hurt the people that you care about."
"And you're doing this just because of Johnathan Gilbert's invention?"
"Hand it over and I'll stop what I'm doing. Easy."
Isobel smirked and Elena shook her head.
"I told you, Damon is not going to give it to me."
Isobel scoffed.
"Oh honey. I think that you underestimate how much Damon cares about you. He'd crawl on his knees and lick dirt for you."
"He'll kill you before he gives it up."
She said matter of fact and Isobel looked her in the eye.
"Is that before or after I kill your brother Jeremy?"
At the mention of Jeremy's name, Elena whipped her head back but couldn't find him.
"Jeremy?!"
She looked around but she couldn't spot him and her heartbeat quickened.
Stefan looked up from where he was, noticing the fear in Elena's eyes.
"Jeremy!!"
Elena turned back to Isobel but she was already gone and she dragged at her hair, not sure what to do.
Isobel's Residence.
"Why did you call me here?"
John asked Isobel as he entered the mansion and they walked into another room.
"Because I have two things to discuss with you. First, since I haven't been given the Gilbert watch yet, I have the next best thing."
As soon as they enter the room, John spots Jeremy sitter on a chair, Cherie and Frank, the two compelled humans Isobel had been using, around him in case he tried to make a run for it.
John turned to Isobel with an exasperated look as Jeremy stared at his uncle, surprised.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Getting what I want."
She shrugged and he walked over to her.
"Yeah but he is my nephew and you're going let him go right this second!"
"Then that gaudy ring on your finger comes off."
"Come on Isobel, I know you okay? It's me John. You can't hurt a kid."
Isobel smirked.
"I'll kill him to prove you wrong."
"Really? Are you that far gone? Look, I know you've changed but the old Isobel is somewhere in there, isn't she? Come on let him go."
Isobel pretended to believe what he was saying and as soon as John sighed, turning to Cherie and Frank, she spoke to them.
"Faites le souffrir."
Cherie immediately grabs a lamp and hits him over the head with it, and he groans, falling to the floor as they both begin to beat him.
After they stop, Isobel sits down, grabbing his hand and removes his ring.
"Nice try. We'll see how you do without this."
Isobel stands up to leave the room when she stopped.
"Oh, and it seems you don't know that Cherith Gilbert is a witch."
John groans in pain.
"Well, not that it matters to me anyways. She's a rather fiery one. Threatened me too."
Jeremy's eyes widened.
"She's a figure to watch out for, no doubt about that. And when she finds out about her dearest brother being missing, she just might come for me. Lucky for me though, I'll be out of town then. Maybe she'd turn her ire on you instead."
She smirked, walking away as Jeremy stared down at his bleeding uncle.
Gilbert Residence.
Cherith sat on her bed, ringing up Jeremy and frowning when he didn't pick up.
She idly wondered if he was still angry with Elena about the whole Vampire issue and she also wondered what the prat had been thinking when he decided to tell Elena he knew about the existence of Vampires.
Oh she was mad at her sister.
Furious even!
How dare she!
After everything, she was suddenly acting like she was the only one who had Jeremy's interest in heart.
For her stinky information, Jeremy was practically a grown ass teenager. He could make decisions for himself and if it ended up bad, he'd bear the brunt of it.
Mistakes were meant to be made!
Elena acted like she didn't make mistakes, but she'd been making a lot of them ever since the Salvatore brothers rolled into town!
If she really cared about family, she'd have dumped their asses a long time ago!
But noooo…
She just had to choose the vampiric brother Stefan and the side piece attraction Damon.
She wanted the best of both worlds, but sadly for her, that could never work.
It just couldn't.
And Cherith was on the verge of exploding out of anger and frustration.
She could basically feel it just beneath her skin. Ready to burst out.
"Hey Cherith! How's it going?"
Jenna poked her head in.
"I thought you were going to stay longer at the school?"
Cherith sighed, resting her back on her bed.
"It got boring. I didn't even see Leslie there at all. She must be busy or something."
Jenna smirked.
"Well, your birthday is in what, four days? You'll be 16. That's something to look forward too hunh?"
Cherith grinned.
It really was.
Her birthday which had seemed too far away was just days away. She couldn't wait for it.
She just hoped there'd be no vampiric drama whatsoever or she'd end up blowing up the town.
"Hey, did Jeremy call you?"
Cherith asked her aunt who shook her head.
"Not at all. And neither has John, for that matter. Not that I even want him to anyways. But maybe they're together, discussing… girls, and the lot."
They both wrinkled their noses and Jenna left the room, leaving Cherith to her thoughts.
Hoping her brother would get over his anger and head home soon so she could discuss with him.
Isobel's Residence.
Evening.
"Here you go."
Jeremy hands John a towel as he walks into the room his uncle is being kept in and sits by his side.
John grabs the towel.
"Thank you."
"What is she after?"
Jeremy questioned his uncle, curious about what was going on and how the woman knew about Cherith's powers.
"Your ancestor invented a weapon, a device that's extremely harmful to vampires and we've been trying to get it."
"Why?"
John sighed.
"Because… there's a group of vampires from a long time ago that wants revenge on this town."
"But why would a vampire help you kill other vampires?"
Jeremy questioned John, not believing it was as easy as it seemed.
No one ever acted like that except they would end up getting something in return.
"She has her own reasons for wanting them dead."
John turns to his nephew, looking him in the eye.
"Jeremy, no one ever thought vampires would return to this town. Not in modern times, but they have and we have to destroy them."
"All of them?"
Jeremy questioned. Not liking where their conversation was leading to.
"No, there are some good ones out there."
John scoffed.
"There's no such things. This is real life, not… that twilight nonsense."
Jeremy shook his head.
"I don't believe that."
"Well, your dad did. And as his son that should mean something to you."
"How did my father even know about all this in the first place?"
John gave him a side glance.
"Who do you think told me about the family history?"
Jeremy looked away, not sure how to continue anymore.
All he knew was that he had to help Anna. One way or the other.
Gilbert Residence.
Cherith went down the stairs as soon as she heard the door to the house open and close and Jeremy's voice filter through.
"Jeremy?!"
She called out with a grunt as she struggled to jump down the last step.
"In the kitchen!"
He called back and she stumbled into the kitchen where Jenna was grinning at John who had an injury on his head as he slumped into a chair and Jeremy rested on a counter.
They looked up as she walked in and John seemed to be staring at her with new eyes, like he was just seeing her for the first time and it troubled her slightly as she looked at Jeremy, exchanging a look with him.
"Hey, was wondering when you'd be home. What happened to John?"
She gestured to his head and Jenna chortled as she opened the medic kit and brought out some wool.
"You should know something about John, Cherith. He's sort of a klutz."
Cherith rolled her eyes, amused, still looking at Jeremy who had a frown on his face.
Just then, the his phone rang and he picked.
"Hello?"
He said into the phone and some seconds passed before he answered again.
"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Um, uncle John uh, hit his head. It was an accident."
"And we're all laughing."
Jenna added and Cherith scoffed a bit.
He said something into the phone again before cutting it and exchanging a look with John which Cherith caught.
Okay.
She really needed to know what was up.
"Hey, Jeremy. Can I… see you upstairs for a minute?"
She called to him and he nodded.
"Um, sure."
As they moved to leave, John called out to Cherith.
"Cherry."
She turned back.
"Yeah?"
"Sometime when you're free, you and I have a lot, to discuss."
He gave her a meaningful look which startled her and also made her even more wary as she frowned, holding on to Jeremy's bicep as she nodded again.
"Yeah. Whatever."
The two trudged up the stairs.
Town Square.
Elena cut the call and looked at Isobel.
"You were never gonna hurt him."
A small smile appeared on Isobel's lips but it was gone in an instant.
"No, but I was going to kill him."
Elena frowned and her vampire mother shook her head at her, disappointed.
"Don't look for any redeeming qualities in me. I don't have any."
"But you took a risk with Damon."
Elena prodded.
"How did you know that he was gonna give it to me?"
Isobel smirked.
"Isn't it obvious? Because he's in love with you."
Damon looks at Stefan, uncomfortably, not sure how to face his brother and Stefan looked away, upset at what he'd just heard.
Elena stares at her birth mother one more time, a frown in her face, before she gives the device to Isobel who smirks.
As Elena hands it to her, she nods.
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being such a monumental disappointment. It keeps the memory of my real mother perfectly intact."
Isobel smirks before answering softly.
"Goodbye, Elena. But, before I leave, I suppose I should give you some valuable advice as your mother."
She began, looking at Elena seriously.
"As long as you have a Salvatore on each arm, you're doomed. Katherine was smart. She got out. But we all know that you're not Katherine. Then again, you have a very brilliant sister who doesn't seem to be a fan of either of the Salvatore brothers."
She grins, turning back to stare at the brothers before looking back at Elena.
"If I were you, I'd stick to her. That girl… she has… something, within her. Good or bad, I don't know, but she's going to be a force to be reckoned with. She carries no fear within her. And if, and when, she sheds all human connection, lord knows what she'd be capable of. Then again…"
She smiles.
"You're already helping her shed them, are you not? Less familial feelings for someone, makes it easy to dump them when the time comes. I know I did. Goodbye Elena."
She takes one look at her daughter in distaste and blurs away.
As soon as she leaves, Stefan moves to embrace her and over his shoulder, she looks at Damon who looks down and walks away, slight pain in his eyes.
Stefan turns and watches his brother leave with mixed feelings.
Gilbert Residence.
"So, tell me the truth, Jeremy. What happened? And why did Elena suddenly confront me about you knowing about the existence of Vampires?"
Cherith questioned her brother as soon as she walked into his room and he closed the door.
He turned to her, slightly exasperated.
"She confronted you??"
Cherith nods and he scoffs.
"Of course she'd do that. But that's not important now. John knows about Vampires."
Cherith's eyes widened slightly.
"Really? How the hell does he know about Vampires?? What the hell is going on here?!"
"Apparently Dad taught him all there was to know about them, so that means there was a possibility your birth dad also knew too."
Cherith's eyebrow raised at that as she crossed her arms.
"How did all this come out in the first place?"
"Isobel… Elena's, vampire mother… she sort of kidnapped me."
Cherith's eyes glowed crimson before returning to their amethyst color.
"She what?! How did I not know this?!"
Jeremy shrugged.
"Easy. Elena didn't tell you. She has this thing going on in her head that she's the one with the right to know everything that's going on and the rest of us aren't strong enough to handle it."
Cherith breathed in and out, trying to fight the anger building up in her as red misty like lightning began flowing out of her body and the lights began flickering.
Jeremy noticed and quickly rushed to her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Hey… hey, look. I'm fine. Nothing happened to me. If anything, it's John you should feel bad for. He got his ass beat."
Jeremy joked and Cherith scoffed, her anger dissipating slightly as she held the bridge of her nose, breathing in and out.
"Well yeah, the ass deserves it and more."
"Well, he also knows about your abilities."
Cherith's eyes widened.
"What?! How?? Did you tattle tell on me?!"
She narrowed her eyes at him and he raised his hands up.
"Hey! I had nothing to do with this! Also, Isobel told him."
Cherith sighed.
"Isobel, Isobel, Isobel… I swear I've heard her name too much. Where is she? I have a thing or two to say to her."
Jeremy shrugged.
"I don't know. Probably already left town. She was packing up where she was staying at."
"Elena has a lot to explain, I can guarantee…"
"Oh you have no idea…"
Jeremy grunted, fury flying around in his eyes.
"Honestly, this is why I'm not regretting my decision to leave the country."
Jeremy turned to her, confused.
"Leave? Where are you going?"
Cherith sighed, moving to sit on Jeremy's bed, patting the side next to her and he joined her.
"Well, it was bound to come out one way or the other. This is a better way anyway. So… as you know, I'm graduating soon… and I plan on—"
"Schooling in the UK?"
Jeremy cut in and she held up a hand, not hearing what he had said.
"Hey, let me finish, like I said I plan on—"
She stopped when she finally reasoned what he'd said and looked up at his smirking face.
"Wait… how did you…"
"How did I know? You didn't exactly hide it as much as possible Cherry. You've always made it known how you are tired of being cooped up in a small town. Whitmore isn't that far from Mystic Falls itself and so it's understandable you don't want to go there. And with the things that have been going on… I guess, it's understandable why you'd want to leave. I'd leave if I could. It's just, sad that my favorite sister is leaving me, you know?"
Cherith smiled, a bit teary eyed which she blinked away.
"Sheesh… where did all that dust come from?"
She mumbled and he snorted.
"But really though Jemmie… I'm not exactly leaving."
He frowned, confused.
"I mean… I am going to school in Oxford, but not full time there. It's more of an online schooling I'll be doing, but I'll be going there every once in a while since it's where my birth mother was born and her family came from. I want to know more about her. About where my magic comes from and why it's so… different. I'll still be in Mystic Falls, it's just months in between months, you get?"
He nodded.
"That's cool. Now I don't feel too bad about you moving across the ocean. But I understand your reasoning though. Good for you."
Cherith beamed at her brother.
"Thanks big bro. You know… I just realized how intertwined all our ages are."
"What do you mean?"
"Well… I'll be turning 16 in days… you turned 17 September last year, being your emo self and not wanting any celebration whatsoever."
She playfully sneered at him and he rolled his eyes.
"And she who must not be named is turning 18 in some months… 16,17 and 18. Intertwined."
Jeremy rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, whatever. Leave. I want to… be all emo on my own now."
She scoffs with a smile, standing up to leave the room.
"I'm really glad you're at least open with me, Cherith. Makes me know I can trust in you."
Cherith smiled at him.
"Right back at you bro."
She closed the room door, entering her room but not before watching Elena walk towards Jeremy's room.
Cherith put some pressure on her stitched leg, looking at it getting almost healed up with magic.
She grinned.
"Oh I love magic."
Just then, there was a knock on her door.
"Cherith, can we… can we talk? Please?"
Elena begged over the door and Cherith sighed, not in the mood for anymore bullshit.
"What do you want?"
The door opened slowly and Elena walked in.
"Cherry… I—"
Cherith sighed, holding her hand up.
"Okay, let me just stop you there. You have no excuses to give. At the end of the day you're just gonna say 'I did it for you' and… you want to hear the truth? You have no right to make any decisions for anybody. I heard about Vicki Donovan's death, you know?"
Elena swallowed.
"Then you'd understand why she had to die. She was going to kill me. Kill Jeremy."
Cherith scoffed, dry amusement in her eyes.
"Oh? And Stefan had no other way to stop her but say… stake her? He couldn't snap her neck? He couldn't stab her else where? He just HAD to go for her chest? And that's just that one. I heard Jeremy was kidnapped by Isobel today, and you didn't tell me?"
Elena walked closer to her sister so as to validate herself.
"I didn't want to include you in this Cherith. We were going to take care of it."
"Jeremy's my brother! You ass!"
She spat out, surprising Elena.
Cherith was absolutely made beyond rage as she paced around, red mist pouring out of her.
"The day Stefan was kidnapped, you didn't fight as much for me to stay at home when Damon called on me for assistance. And I'm not even a fan of Stefan Salvatore! Why is it that… it's when our brother gets kidnapped, that you suddenly gained this… protective feeling for me?"
Guilt appeared on Elena's face at that.
"Cherry—"
"Vicki Donovan was Matt's sister, in case you'd already forgotten. How can you stand Damon and Stefan's presence when all that happened, was because of them? And you keep trying to justify her death! Matt has no one by his side now. We grew up with Vicki. You know how fucked up she is!"
"I tried to help her Cherry! We did!"
"Stop with the we!!! Why are you allowing the Salvatore brothers make decisions for you?!"
Cherith sighed. Standing and looking at her sister.
"You know, I just might understand if Vicki was not someone we knew. I'd understand if this was a strange vampire who tried to attack you and Jeremy. But she's your ex boyfriend's sister. A childhood friend's sister! His only real family left, cause let's face it, his mother is just trash. And then you went and took Jeremy's memory away, which wasn't for a good reason as you'd like yourself to believe. You only did it because it wouldn't make you feel bad or guilty about what happened. You did it just so you can sleep at night and say 'one less reason to worry.' Am I right?"
Elena looked away, not sure what to say anymore and Cherith felt justified at that.
Let her stew.
Let her sit down and think about all the decisions she was making.
"The more you let things like this go… it makes me wonder just what you're capable of Elena. It makes me wonder if I should be even more worse than you are."
Elena looked up, slight panic in her eyes as she remembered what Isobel had said about her sister's powers.
"Just leave my room. You should check your moral compass if it's still working or not. Especially now that you've been hanging out with Vampires."
She quietly told her sister who looked at her pleadingly and walked out when Cherith's eyes shined a crimson red.
Cherith groaned as her door was shut and she fell on her bed, hoping her birthday really wouldn't be ruined by anyone or any Vampire.
Jeremy walks into his room from the bathroom when Anna blurs into his room from the window, tears streaming down her face.
"Anna? What are you doing here? Why are you crying??"
"My mother. She's dead!"
She cried out and Jeremy's jaw dropped.
"What?"
He rushed towards her, holding her shoulders as it shook.
"S-She was killed."
"Oh, my god, Anna. Hey, I'm so sorry."
He told her, looking at her warmly.
"I know I'm not supposed to be here but I don't have anywhere else to go."
Jeremy said nothing, bringing her to him and embracing her as she hugged him back just as tightly.
"It's okay."
Hi guys!
"AND THEN SUDDENLY, SHE TURNED HER EMOTIONS OFF"
I think that's the best way to explain what is slowly beginning to happen to our dearest Cherith!
I hope it doesn't get too bad though. It's not a bad thing to turn off your emotions especially when they're giving you pain.
Next Chapter will be her birthday and it's crazy!!!
Elena is getting on my nerves even more, don't you think??
But you know what they say, don't tickle a sleeping dragon. Cherith will be worse than that after all.
Please comment and like!!!!
