A/N; I had this chapter planned out weeks ago but it took forever to write. I knew where I wanted to go with this chapter and I did it, I just hope it turned out alright and was worth the usual delay. Everyone in this chapter is basically an emotional mess, it's honestly a rollercoaster, so prepare yourself. I think I'm becoming a little better at writing, or worse, let me know. I'd also love to know if I'm keeping everyone in character. I also apologize in advance for this chapter, tehehe.
Anyway, I love you all for reading and reviewing and following and just - I love you, you crazy kids.
For Nova's style, and face claim and, well, everything, go to my Polyvore, it's in a collection for both of our conveniences; randomfashionxoxo.
Elena called Bonnie two hours into the car ride from hell as Nova so aptly dubbed the spontaneous trip that she regrets even taking.
She'd never thought she'd ever want to throw herself out of a moving vehicle as much as she did in those two hours.
Elena had been immediately put on speaker after they'd invited Caroline in on the call; turns out Elena had gotten tired of Stefan's bullshit reasonings for them not to be together and had seduced Stefan until he gave in to the inevitable of the ship that is Stelena -
Elena hadn't said those exact words but that's what it'd sounded like to Nova's ears - the moment of bliss for the couple was however cut off abruptly when Elena being, well, Elena, started snooping through Stefan's stuff and found an old picture of Katherine Peirce.
And so, the girls had tried to calm Elena down because in the newly discovered doppelganger's hast to get far away from Stefan and the eerie picture of her duplicate, she'd decided to drive herself home while having an existential crisis.
Nova had felt fucking awful during the whole phone call because she'd known about Elena being a doppelganger for years. And although she probably should have told her when she'd found out about the Supernatural or at least gotten Stefan - the total idiot who left the damn picture out in the open on his fucking desk - to tell Elena since it was technically his baggage; but, honestly, she's known about it so long now that it feels like old news to her.
And so, she had mostly stayed quiet, not wanting to make her friend's pain worse by revealing that she, one of Elena's oldest and best friends, knew about her on and off Vampire boyfriend's ex-looking exactly like her, from head to toe.
Staying silent was one of the biggest mistakes she's made so far because, unfortunately, she'd forgotten that the twins had thoroughly explained everything they knew about Seers and even when panicking Elena caught onto Nova's uncharacteristic silence. The conversation had gone a lot like how when Elena had figured out about Vampires; Nova had reluctantly confirmed her suspicions while trying to ignore the eyes on her.
There had been a tense silence on all ends before Elena suddenly ended the call.
They had tried calling back multiple times, but after almost an hour of Elena no doubt, purposely dodging their calls, Caroline had decided to look for her just so they could be reassured she was alive. Damon had stayed suspiciously quiet during the whole debacle, only sending her indiscernible looks every now and then.
Bonnie despite her worry for their best friend, was exhausted and eventually had been lulled to sleep by the quiet that washed over the car after the tense phone call.
Nova, however, more than ever, could not fall asleep even though she felt exhausted. Instead, she watched the night sky through the passenger window, her mind keeping her wide awake as usual. "You can go to sleep, you know? I'm not going to crash into anything out here," Damon told her suddenly, drawing her attention as he briefly waved out at the nearly completely deserted road that was leading them to their destination in emphasis.
Bonnie slept on peacefully in the back, not even twitching at the sound of their voices, she'd gotten their Grams' sleeping habits; meaning it would take them actually crashing for Bonnie to wake up.
"You were suspiciously quiet during that phone call. We didn't even get a callous quip out of you during the whole thing." Nova changed the subject with no subtly, but she didn't want to talk about her shit sleeping habits, so she abandoned subtly for answers.
"I figured out from the moment I met you that you knew more about me than you were letting on. As long as you keep your end of the deal and help me get Katherine, I don't care." Damon responded without taking his eyes off the road, his words were said indifferently but it was also warning for if she'd thought about breaking the deal.
"Of course. I try to always keep my promises," it was the only reply she could find, they exchanged glances before the car grew quiet again, and the only thing heard was the sound of the quiet humming of the vehicle. She could only fall asleep when Caroline texted her almost an hour later, informing her that she'd found Elena. The worry didn't go away completely as she could still sense bad vibes.
But the text calmed her enough for her to slip into a dreamless sleep, she only woke up briefly when she absently noticed Damon stopping at a gas station before falling back asleep.
They arrived at Bree's Bar in the early afternoon, and ignoring Damon's half-hearted calls for them to slow down, the twins hurried out the car and towards the entrance, the Vampire not far behind them.
Nova's bladder was about to implode, despite getting enough hours of sleep she still felt exhausted and her neck felt like she had slept leaning on a car window - oh, wait, she had.
Despite the twins walking in first, the gorgeous bartender and assumed owner only noticed Damon when he strolled in behind them, his patent smirk in place when he caught the older woman's eyes.
"No. No, it can't be. Damon?!" Bree said with a smile, she stopped cleaning the bar, sighing she skillfully slide to the other side, revealing long legs that even Bonnie couldn't help but stare at in awe. "My honey pie." She declared before she walked closer to eat his face - no, seriously - there was no polite way to put this - they just kept making out and making noises that'd be more appropriate in a porno.
'Wow,' Nova mouthed towards her blushing sister, who shrugged helplessly, shifting in place awkwardly. Neither twin wanted to watch - Nova might be sort of a perv but she's not much of a voyeur - but they couldn't, they stood still, watching in a sort of horrified fascination.
"Nova!?"
The twins turned around in unison, sighing in relief, they turned their back towards the couple still eating each other's faces and turned their attention to the person who'd called out for the eldest twin.
"Lexi! Oh thank fuck, I thought I'd be able never to look away," Nova said in relief as they shared a brief hug. Lexi was confused for a moment until she looked behind, she frowned and her face twisted in disgust. "Ugh, get a room. Or better yet Salvatore, paws off her ass, this is a bar, not a brothel."
They slowed down their mouth mating ritual but it looked like it'd take way too long for them to fully pull apart.
"Where's the bathroom?" Bonnie asked suddenly, pulling their returned attention back to more important matters, their blatters.
"Oh, follow me." And so the girls followed Lexi - past the bathroom and into a door that had several locks on it.
They hesitantly followed Lexi down the steps, exchanging dubious looks on the way. Nova idly and humorously questioned to herself if they were going to die because this seemed to be a cliche beginning to a horror story. Well, at least her killer would be giving her an excellent view before death, she mused, staring at Lexi with a small smile on her face that only widened at the scolding elbow nudge her sister gave her as they arrived in the basement.
They looked around the moderately sized basement in interest; the place was crowded with crates of what the twins assumed were filled with alcohol but right in the center of the basement was what appeared to be a makeshift living room with a grey faux-fur rug underneath a round wooden coffee table and a leather pull out couch that looked like it'd seen better days - in the 70's - and as they walked further they could see the telltale signs of a Witch living here.
Meaning, a lot of candles thrown around the room, a whole bucket of incense, a different variety of real crystals hangings from wooden ceiling beams, dry herbs on nearly every surface and old books - a lot of old books.
Lexi led them past the very much lived in space and revealed a door that'd been hidden behind a large empty crate. "Oh, you're here... I thought we were going to go to them?" Vicki looked as startled to see the twins as they were to see her as she exited the bathroom.
"Well, we were in the neighborhood," Nova joked lamely, ignoring the curious look Lexi was suddenly giving her.
Nova let her twin use the bathroom first, waving away Bonnie's concern at leaving her alone with two Vampires, her twin reluctantly went into the bathroom when saw her sister's usual relaxed nature. The three of them settled down on the leather couch once Lexi folded the bed back into a couch - which felt more comfortable than it looked, especially with the colorful throw pillows.
There was an awkward silence for about five seconds before Lexi broke it, playfully smacking Vicki's arm in a silent scolding, "Vicki had something to tell you, go on, tell her."
"I'm, um... I'm sorry for trying to kill you, twice."
Despite how long it took for Vicki to say those words, she did seem genuinely sorry, and while the apology wouldn't ever make the girls best friends forever, it was an apology she didn't expect to get. It made Nova question what the hell did the elder Vampire do to the younger Vampire for her to actually sound and look less murderous and more... functional.
"Lexi told me if it wasn't for you... I'd probably be dead-dead, not just undead. So, sorry, and thanks." Vicki continued awkwardly, going silent again, she sunk into the couch more when Lexi patted her shoulder with a pleased smile.
"It's fine - well, as long you don't do it again we're fine. I don't have much of a kink for choking, that shit burns more than alcohol," Nova accepted the apology and made a dirty joke out of her pain, it was a terrible coping mechanism. "Anyway, I spelled this on our way over. Don't go too wild."
Vicki sent her an incredulous look as she caught the daylight ring Nova had thrown at her casually.
Nova trusts Lexi's judgment when it comes to rehabilitating fucked up Vampires, the only one she could remember ever resisting the blonde's charm was Damon, who had been too caught up in the past to see what he could have had with Lexi - idiot.
"What are you waiting for? You've been complaining about not feeling the sun on your skin for days." Lexi stated with a grin as they watched her speed out the room in the blink of an eye.
Lexi looked like she was going to ask something, but didn't get the chance because when Bonnie walked out the bathroom door, Nova all but raced into the unoccupied bathroom; mostly because she wanted to pee, but also, while she might have a small crush on Lexi, she didn't want to be psychoanalyzed, no matter how well-meaning it may be.
Nova was the no doubt about it, the fashionista of the group with Caroline just seconds behind her. So when she saw the shower in the cubicle like bathroom she nearly moaned at the thought of changing her clothes even if it was just the gym clothes she'd left in her trunk.
When she asked Lexi about the odds of Bree letting her use the shower, the blonde explained that this was more of a place for all of Bree's less than human friends to crash than her home, and even added; "Oh! And if you need clothes, I've got some that just might fit you in one of my suitcases." Lexi spoke absently, pausing in her speedy texting, she waved her hand at the shit ton of luggage piled near the rusty steel staircase that led up to the bar.
Nova nearly drooled when she unzipped the first suitcase, it was filled with a variety of shoes - various types, sizes, colors -, the next one she unzipped was filled with dresses that looked like they'd come from nearly every era - okay, maybe not every era, but there was definitely some stuff that wasn't from this century. She had to calm herself down before she picked out an outfit that would fit her; she went for a burgundy velvet crop top that was little small but would have to do, and since the jeans either didn't fit on her hips or the legs of them were too long - she had to settle for the mini shorts that still had tags on them and paired it with the stockings she was already wearing and some black thigh high lace-up boots.
Once her outfit was chosen she got into the tiny shower, pulling her hair over her shoulder before letting the slowly warming water hit her back.
She let her thoughts wander to what had happened minutes before they'd parked; she had gently shaken Bonnie awake, only to watch in concern as her sister flinched awake, tears in her green eyes. It took mere seconds for her to connect the dots; Bonnie obviously had a nightmare, more than likely about what she'd seen in the warehouse.
She wants nothing more to talk to her sister about it, to comfort her, somehow. But she would have to wait until they got home to talk about it, she knew that Bonnie wouldn't want anyone not family or friends to see her that vulnerable, it was one the many things they had in common. Nova sighed at her thoughts as she got out of the shower and dressed quickly as she could - it felt weird, wearing someone else's clothes, but it all mostly fit. She laced the black thigh high boots before pulling her hair away from her face in one big plait.
Nova gave herself a bright and clearly false smile in the mirror, she kept it up for a while but eventually rolled her eyes with a scoff, dropping the fake smile, she exited the bathroom.
Bonnie relented to her sister's insistence prods, and after getting reassurance from Lexi, she found something to wear for herself and took a shower. Once the twins were dressed, all three women hesitantly went back up the stairs, all hoping that Damon hadn't somehow managed to convince everyone at the bar into an orgy.
There was no orgy. Nova's not sure if she's disappointed or relieved by that fact, it was honestly a toss-up, like everything else in her life. They got there just in time to hear the end of Bree's little speech; "Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined any and all chances of happiness!"
Lexi, after sighing at her friend's toast, excused herself to go find Vicki whilst the twins shared a look, sliding on barstools next to the man in question. The look basically said; 'Damn...', they didn't know how the older woman managed to sound so fucking cheerful while delivering a speech of a scorned lover.
"So, how'd he rope you two in?" Bree questioned the twins, after downing a shot like a pro, she started pouring them both shots.
"Me, and Damon? God, no." Bonnie denied with a vehement shake of her head after surprisingly taking the shot of vodka. Bonnie can hold her alcohol with the best of them but she's not much of a day drinker, like at all. Nova tried to cover up her worried frown by pressing the glass to her mouth, she downed the shot of vodka without pause.
"Ouch, so quick to deny our love affair, Bonnie? That hurts my feelings,"
"You have feelings?" The twins asked in unison, the youngest disbelieving, the eldest teasing, they both snorted at the mock hurt that showed up on Damon's face.
"What about you, honey? Are you roped or are you whipped?" Bree asked the eldest twin with a smile, refilling her shot glass when gestured.
"Mm...I prefer to do the roping," Nova responded, smirking at the unintentional innuendo she had made. Nova ignored her sister's exasperation - honestly, she should be used to her perverted comments by now - she easily swallowed down the vodka before she continued speaking, "So, how did you two meet?"
"College,"
"You went to college?" Bonnie questioned, an incredulous smile in place, she slid her own refilled shot towards her twin, it reassured Nova that she at least hadn't completely fucked up her own sister.
"I've been on a college campus, yes," Damon answered vaguely, grinning wickedly when they both scoffed, 'Of course'. He reached over to steal the shot from Nova's fingertips, ignoring the glare she sent his way.
"About twenty years ago, when I was a sweet, young freshman, I met this beautiful man, and I fell in love," Bree started explaining with a smirk, moving closer to them as she wiped the bar off with a rag. "And then he told me about his little secret, made me love him more. Because - you see, I had a little secret of my own that I was dying to share with somebody."
Nova leaned on the bar counter, bumping shoulders with Damon and Bonnie in the process before she declared with a grin, "You're a witch,"
Bree looked towards Damon in question, probably silently asking if he'd already told them. "Oh, right. How forgetful of me, I never formally introduced you, Bennett twins meet Bree. Bree, meet the Bennett twins. Watch out for them, she's a Seer and this one is a bit of a pyro." Damon introducing them cleared the confusion from Bree's face, her brown eyes took them in interest.
Nova rolled her eyes, she definitely wasn't pouting - okay, maybe a little, but she would never admit it if asked. It was only because she didn't get to introduce herself. Half the fun when meeting other Supernatural species is watching the recognition on their faces when she tells them her last name; Bennett Witches were probably the closest thing to royalty as Witches could get. "We're both pyromaniacs," Nova corrected with no shame, getting amused looks all around.
"Huh, I've never met a Bennett witch before. Nice to meet you both. Now, what is it you want, Damon?" Bree gave them a smile before she turned towards the Vampire with a no-nonsense look on her face. She was no doubt used to being charmed and used by none other than Damon Salvatore.
Nova was saved from having to explain the whole, 'I have a way to open the Tomb without the talisman', by Lexi stealing the twins away to the other side of the bar, no doubt sensing the need for the ex-lovers privacy. "So, how's my best friend?" Lexi wasted no time asking, keeping her eyes on Damon and Bree, more than likely listening in on their conversation.
"Uh..." The twins shared a grimace at the question, their shared hesitance made the blonde Vampire focus her concerned eyes on them.
"What happened?"
"Well... Elena found out she looks like his - and Damon's - ex-girlfriend," Bonnie replied with a sigh, frowning, she checked her phone for what had to be the fifth time in under a minute. Not that Nova can blame her, she'll probably end up doing the same when her phone finished charging.
"After sleeping with him. So, it's probably not going too well for him right about now," Nova added to her sister's explanation with a sarcastic smile, playing with the zipper of the leather jacket she'd found in what she's calling 'Lexi's Outlet'.
"It's always about Katherine Peirce," Lexi complained with a frown, she then slid up on the bar, hopping down on the other side with ease. She grabbed two bottles from underneath the bar, looking at the alcohol in contemplation before tilting it towards them in question. "I swear, that bitch always has a way of ruining Stefan's life without even being there. Vodka or Tequila?"
The twins snorted in unison at the question because, of course, as always; "Vodka," Nova replies for them both, her stomach reminded her that she was starving - hours on the road with only candy you found in your glove compartment will do that to you, so she leaned over to grab a menu and started looking over options with Bonnie.
Damon joined them soon, apparently done with his lover's spat, he ignored the glares he was getting from both Bonnie and Lexi - he had to be a seasoned pro at ignoring glares by now - and settled in on the bar stool next to Nova, deftly snatching the menu from her fingers. "I already ordered for the both of you," he explained while giving Lexi a charming smile, making her scoff and turn back to mixing their drinks.
"Thank you, Damon. I always wanted someone to order food for me like an infant," Nova responded dully, gifting him with her best sarcastic smile, which turned more real at Lexi and Bonnie's snorts of amusement.
The four of them settled in with food and drinks, talking surprisingly civilly despite the fact almost everyone in this bar wants to either fuck or kill - or both - Damon, the absolute man whore, she thought with an odd mix of ire and amusement. "But why does Elena looks like Katherine? I mean - they have to be related, closely related." Bonnie told them, frowning when Nova stopped her from checking her phone, again.
Although it was worrying that they hadn't gotten a text since the last one, hours ago, obsessing over it wouldn't help - she would know, she's great at obsessing over things that are out of her hands, it never helps.
"Katherine got around - a lot. Never met her, but I've heard enough about her from a lot of people she fucked over. She probably got herself knocked up before she turned," Lexi replied, ignoring the mild glare she got from Damon for the not so hidden insult towards his 'eternal love', she instead sipped on her vodka cocktail.
"But, the resemblance is uncanny. Closely related or not, they shouldn't look that much alike," Damon commented, stealing Nova's fries despite how many he had on his own plate, she allowed the theft with a small sigh, having given up on slapping his hand away from her plate on the third fry, stupid Vampire speed.
"...Exactly how uncanny?" Bonnie questioned hesitantly, pausing in taking a bite out of her burger, she moved her eyes between all three of them when no one answered for a long moment.
"Let's just say that Katherine and Elena look more like twins than we do," Nova replied bluntly, shocking her twin sister, she took a bite out of her burger.
Once the sun went down, the twins had to start dodging calls from their dad, only texting him to reassure him they weren't dead in a ditch somewhere - they weren't that cruel and irresponsible. They busied themselves by drinking with little regard to their bladders. Nova's had to pee four times since they started drinking.
Currently, the ones brave enough went against the twins with a little drinking contest to see how many vodka shots they could down all in one go. "Alright, ready? ...Go!" Bree announced and the first ones to finish their round of shots were Lexi and the twins, and Damon, although close behind them, missed the memo of alcohol supposed to go in his mouth and not his chin.
"Aw..does the baby need a bib?" Nova teased with a grin, leaning on the bar, she watched her sister out of the corner of her eye, making sure she made her way safely through the crowd and towards the bathroom. "Sorry, I can't unhinge my jaw like a snake to consume alcohol," Damon replied sardonically, wiping the alcohol from his chin.
"Well, I am a Slytherin," Nova proclaimed with a grin, a little tipsy but not drunk whatsoever.
"Nerd,"
"And proud of it," Nova replied without a beat, she turned from the Vampire to wave her fingers at Bree with a flirty smile, "How about another round, gorgeous?"
"Honey, you should be on the floor!" A woman exclaimed from the other side of the bar, making her snort in amusement.
"I'm just getting starting!"
She wanted to have fun and forget her responsibilities for one night. But, despite the many drinks she's had, she's had a lot of water and food in between to keep herself from getting too drunk. Someone has to sober enough to look after Bonnie, who was going all in with the number of drinks she's had in the past hour, she tried not to worry, but worrying and caring about Bonnie was as easy as breathing; instinctual and something she never wants to stop doing.
Somehow, don't ask either of them how, but Lexi and Nova ended up standing on top of the bar, doing a weird dance that was more of a swaying bear hug while they sang along to 'Born To Be Wild', it had been turned up by Bree at Nova's request;
"Get your motor runnin'!" Nova started enthusiastically, the words coming out in time with the music despite her excitement.
"Head out on the highway!" Lexi picked off with a grin, affectionally squeezing her shoulder as they attracted an amused and equally tipsy people to their little 'concert'.
"And lookin' for adventure, and whatever comes our way!" They sang together, and not didn't sing particularly well, it wasn't terrible, but no one would be buying their album anytime soon - or ever.
When the song was over, and as everyone clapped, all Nova could think was that she might be a little less sober than she'd originally thought because she blurted out, "Marry me,", much to the blonde's amusement.
"Should I be concerned?" A male's voice said from below - and wow, she's glad she's wearing shorts because she's currently not wearing anything underneath this leather. What? She had felt too weird wearing someone else's panties, the only person she's done that with was with her best friends, but when it comes to the four of them, words like privacy or boundaries, don't exist much, or at all.
"Lee!" Lexi greeted with an enthusiastic smile aimed down at the man who'd appeared - she would have probably gotten down from the bar to give him a proper greeting to one's lover, but Nova was feeling super clingy right now - who was also apparently her boyfriend.
"You could join us. We could all elope. Honeymoon in Paris?" Nova asked jokingly, flirty grin in place. She finally let go of Lexi so they could get down before they break their necks - because only Lexi would come back from that.
"Lee this is Nova. Nova this is Lee," Lexi introduced them after giving Lee a big hug and a loving look that made Nova advert her eyes for a moment. "The one who gave us ...?" Lee cut himself off when a pair of drunk women passed by.
"The one and the only," Nova replied to his interrupted question with a nonchalant shrug, she had managed to get her butt down on the bar but couldn't convince herself to jump down the rest of the admittedly, small height, but with alcohol running through her system and not to mention the high heeled boots she was wearing she might just end up faceplanting on the very unsanitary looking floor.
Her thoughts were cut off by Lee unexpectedly gave her a hug - it was surprising because he didn't look like the kind of person to give random hugs to strangers, "Thank you," Lee said after he let her go.
"Uh...no problem," Nova waved it off, though she was startled, she tried not to let it show. After sending them one more grin, she made excuses so they could have a moment to themselves.
Nova, despite her friend's teasings, likes doing things for the people that are precious to her. It's simple, If she cares about you, she'll go to extreme lengths to make you happy, she'll sometimes even do it without even being asked. But most of the time, you forget to thank the person who always helps you; it doesn't bother her, considering even she's guilty of doing it - but it was nice, being thanked for something so genuinely, even though she would do it again without blinking.
Nova was surprised to see Vicki manning the bar instead of Bree, but she quickly recovered from her minor shock to order another cocktail. "...Why don't you like me?" Vicki asked randomly, at least to Nova, she had a hard time swallowing down the free peanuts she had busied herself with snacking on, mostly to avoid talking.
"Why don't you like me?" Nova threw the words back with a raised brow, she leaned closer on the bar to be heard over the noise of the bars other occupants. She's not bothered by people not liking her, that's more of an Elena thing to be worried about. But she is curious if there is a reason for Vicki's bitchitude around her, she knows sometimes there isn't a real reason for people not to liking each other, some people just don't click.
"Everyone back home loves you and your friends, the four of you could do no wrong. I could barely go a day without hearing just how perfect you guys are. " Vicki replied after pausing a moment in making the vodka cocktail, sounding more bitter than Nova excepted her to be, though she scoffed at the words.
"Perfect? Come on - I mean, we are fucking awesome. I can acknowledge that -" Vicki rolled her eyes at that, handing her the vodka cocktail Nova's knows she's going to need to continue this conversation, "But we're not perfect. And everyone at home doesn't love us," she could the skeptical look that was aimed at her and so she explained with a frown, equally bitter as Vicki's.
"Most people think Caroline's a stuck a bitch that talks too much. Elena is, apparently, a cliche goody two shoes with no personality. My sister, Bonnie, is, according to half the school, a boring prude with little sex appeal because she doesn't flash her tits at the first guy to smile at her. And me? I'm not from a fancy founding member, nor am I straight, or white. So no, we aren't perfect in the eyes of Mystic fucking Falls."
Vicki looked like someone had just slapped her - with a fish, or the truth, whatever. Nova prefers the comic relief of the fish, that little speech drained any warmth she had got from the moment she had with Lexi and Lee earlier.
When the elder teen couldn't formulate a response, the younger teen rolled her eyes and got up to leave, taking the drink and the entire bowl peanuts with her, "I called Matt," Vicki blurted out before she could leave to find Bonnie - or Damon, or anyone not looking to talk about things she had wanted to get away from.
When Vicki saw she wasn't running away from the conversation, she whispered so she wouldn't be heard by the humans in the dark that crowded the bar. She started explaining what had happened when the unconscious noob Vampire woke up in the back seat of Lexi's car. It amused Nova, how Vicki tried to attack Lexi while the elder Vampire was driving and Lexi still managed to kick her ass and then give her the worst dressing down she's gotten.
"Lexi really helped me with the cravings, it took less time than I thought it would. And once I could go out at night without attacking anyone, Lexi thought it'd be good to get a cover story for my family and friends back at home."
Nova had hesitantly sat back down during this story, all of the peanuts were eaten and the shells were carelessly scattered around the bar. She had seen Bonnie talking - arguing - with Damon out of the corner of her a couple times during the duration of the story but she wasn't worried, Nature would protect her from Damon's wrath if Bonnie herself couldn't, which was unlikely.
According to Vicki, she had been allowed to call Matt around the same time Lexi had called Nova to tell her about the younger Vampire's progress. They'd both decided to tell only Matt the story, which was that Vicki had gotten scared shitless by a bad trip and checked herself into rehab.
"For what's it's worth, I'm happy that you're not homicidal anymore," Nova said flippantly as she got up, actually getting a laugh from Vicki before she walked away.
Nova found Lee and Lexi after her checking on a thoroughly drunk Bonnie - but, and this might sound crazy, she could swear Lexi was trying to get her drunk with the number of drinks she kept having Lee go get for them, not that she was complaining. After another one of these refills, Lexi eyed her for a moment before speaking. "So, why did you come all this way?" Lexi bluntly asked, leaning her arms on the bar table that was littered with empty glasses.
Nova was going to joke to deflect the question, but paused at the serious look in Lexi's eyes, "I just have so much going on. And... I feel like everything keeps piling up to the point I could barely breathe," Nova was, ironically, compelled to tell the elder Vampire the truth, so she did - though not without eyeing the blonde suspiciously - the blonde had definitely gotten her drunk so she'd open up more. It was devious, also kind of hot, she thought absently while thinking about the shit going on in her life.
The Supernatural drama hadn't even completely started yet and she was feeling pressured; she was learning too many languages to count, she was trying to keep up with school work on top of learning witchcraft under her father's disapproving nose. She's safeguarding universe altering information, and while she knows for certain that Elena loves all of them like sisters, the girl wasn't one to like secrets being withheld from her and was no doubt pissed at her right now. Then, she had to deal with Damon - who had way more than ninety-nine problems - and let's not forget that she took it upon herself to take care of so many people, people who might, you know, die if she isn't careful.
And while she mostly puts herself first in this life, she'd only be fooling herself if she thought she'd completely shedded her selfless ways.
"And so you ran," Lexi concluded, a sad understanding smile in place.
"And so I ran," Nova only got the repeat the words before she was dragged away by a fuming Damon, she waved off Lexi, who had gotten up, no doubt prepared to fight him, which was sweet, but not needed. "It's fine, Lexi, I need to talk to him anyway." Lexi reluctantly sat back down with a frown, watching with narrowed eyes as Damon continued to drag her out the side entrance of the bar.
"What?" Nova snapped at him after a moment of just watching him silently pace in front of her, she had tried to zip the leather jacket up but her fingers fumbled for a moment too long until she had given up and just wrapped her arms around her - winter was on its way and Georgia heat or not, there was a chill in the air at night.
"You're very drunk sister told me about the Grimoire," Damon turned towards her, his facial expression was eerily blank.
"Oh," Nova responded, very eloquently, suddenly wishing she was at least a little sober for this conversation and wow, thanks, Bonnie, she thought with a frown.
"Yeah, 'oh' is right," Damon bit out, still staring at her with his intense blue eyes, he continued mockingly, "What? Nothing else to say?"
She felt irritated at his tone but tried to stay calm in face of his ire, "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry I kept it from you, but it never felt like the right time. I was going to tell you today," Nova replied, pulling her hands from where she'd been holding the jacket closed, she was suddenly wary and wanting her hands free if she had to use her Magic against him.
"Why don't I believe that?" Damon scoffed, rolling his eyes, his body was taut as he tried to keep his anger under control, it didn't seem to be working.
He had a right to scoff at her words if only because she's not sure if she would have told him, "Look - someone stole the talisman, we were more than likely being stalked for fuck's sake. And I had to learn the spell to open the tomb and... dispose of the rest of vampires, safely." Nova rambled, breaking her calm in the desperation for him to just understand where she's coming from.
She's so used to understanding - or at least trying to understand people's motives before she judges them that she forgets that not everyone thinks like she does.
"Why?" Damon questioned suddenly, catching her off guard with his question, he sighed in frustration when she just looked at him with a confused look in her brown eyes.
Nova warily watched him as he came closer to her until he was barely a foot away from her, "Bonnie said you were obsessing over the tomb spell, she was worried about you, that's how I found out. So, what are you so concerned about? Know anything we don't?" Damon continued bitterly, he didn't even blink as he watched her reaction.
"Nothing, I just don't want a bunch of hungry vengeful vampires in my town. One is quite enough, thank you," Nova tried to wave it off, only for him to snatch her hand and pull her closer - the move reminded her of the one he had made the night they'd made the deal; seductive as much as it was dangerous.
"Let's try that again,"
She had to remind herself that Damon probably wouldn't care if Nature killed them both tonight - because if she had ruined his chances of getting Katherine back, the only thing that would sate his anger and sadness would be her death. "I had a vision that my Grams would die from opening the tomb," Nova confessed quietly.
"...And I should care why?" Damon asked callously, sounding genuinely curious, it made her have to swallow down several angry retorts. And, if she'd been sober she would have been able to deal with this as an adult - or at least calmy and rationally, but as always, alcohol made her overemotional, and so the only emotion she could feel at the moment was pure, hot, anger, it felt like a volcano erupted inside her very soul.
"You don't have to! But I'm not letting her nor Bonnie get killed, especially over this," Nova replied harshly, poking him harshly with her finger. Her anger sobering her up better than the cold air that whipped her hair around her face.
"And I'm not going to let Katherine stay in the tomb for another hundred years because you got cold feet over something that might not even happen!" Damon yelled back, she didn't flinch at his anger or at his eyes briefly flashing crimson, too blinded by her own anger to be scared at his own anger.
She's not even in the fucking Tomb you big fucking asshole, she wanted to yell those words, but didn't, instead she laughed mockingly - if he got to be an asshole you can bet everything you own that she'll be a bitch to him in response, "Oh, boohoo, I'm Damon Salvatore and I can't live without the cruel bitch who strung me and my brother along, ruining any chances of having a normal relationship with my brother - or anyone else!" Nova mocked him, glaring when he took her other hand, keeping her from poking him again.
"Big talk for someone just as fucked up as I am - You can barely hold a conversation without lying!"
Unknowingly, her Magic was reacting to in tandem with her anger, causing the winds as sharp as their words, a light bulb that hung in the outdoor light next to the door shattered in the face of the harsh winds. And in response to her Magic, Damon's eyes stayed crimson and his fangs showed as they tore each other apart with vicious words that they'd held back for the sake of whatever parody of a friendship they had - it hurt more than she'd like to admit at the thought that she might not have his friendship after this, but she hid it behind her anger.
"Yes, I am very fucked up and I do lie, I freely admit this - but at least I don't lie to myself like you love to do!"
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"
Nova's scathing answer was cut off from the door slamming and a yell, "Guys!" Bonnie repeated this when they didn't stop glaring at each other, she flinched a little when both of them turned their heads towards her and a wary and concerned Lexi.
"What?!" They yelled in unison, sparing each other another glare before they turned back to Bonnie, who gestured towards their hands in annoyance.
Both Damon and Nova turned their attention towards where Bonnie was gesturing, he had both of her hands in a tight grip and her palms were resting on his chest, but that wasn't what was worrying. No, it was the sickly grey tinge that covered both of their hands. It was only now slowly receding. Nova snatched her hands back, and he let her, too busy observing his own hands, looking at them in pure shock.
Apparently, they were so close to killing each other that Nature thought they needed to be scolded and, of course, Nature's way of scolded her children happened to be the threat of death for almost breaking their deal. Nova gasped as she felt a pressure she hadn't noticed before that slowly started fading from her pounding heart.
"Listen - that," Bonnie spoke up, her voice wavering, she looked near to tears as she gestured towards their hands, "Is not important, not right now. Nova - Grams just called, we've got to get home, right now."
Any anger leftover from the argument slowed in the face of concern for her sister. Nova hurriedly walked up the stairs that led to the small back porch, and when she took a hold of her twin's hand, all of her anger dissolved as abruptly as it had come when she could practically feel Bonnie's anxiousness, "What happened?" Nova forced herself to ask despite dreading the answer.
"It's - it's Elena and Caroline - Grams says they've been missing for as long as we have."