A/N: It's been ages since I've uploaded and for that, I'm sorry, but I have at least two more ready to go; including the chapter with Elijah. But for now, here is a large chapter centered around vampire Caroline. I hope you enjoy! The rest will be up either tonight or tomorrow. FYI: I haven't been idle during my absence, my Beta and I have been fixing up this story. We have up to chapter 17 done and they are really good. Some things have been changed up a bit, so if you'd like, go reread and tell me what ya think.
Bright, colorful lights flashed all around me, and I squinted my eyes against the harsh onslaught. I could see the Ferris wheel and a few other rides shining in the distance as I scanned my surroundings. Music blared from the speakers in the game booths and, mixed with the loud voices from the gathering crowd, it was enough to make my eardrums pound along in an angry rhythm.
I stood beside Elena and Bonnie, glancing down at my cell — my foot tapping against the pavement in agitation. I asked Caroline to call me when she was released from the hospital but had yet to receive anything. I had wanted to join Liz when she went to pick her up, but Caroline had laughed my offer away. She claimed she would rather I help Bonnie and Elena with the carnival set-up. Everyone knew how much putting this carnival together meant to Caroline, and because of that, I had made sure to arrive hours early to help the crew put it all together. I had promised Caroline that everything would be up to her very high standards.
Edging onto my tiptoes, I stretched out my neck, looking over the large crowd. I hoped to see a bouncing head of blonde hair owned by an overly bubbly Caroline Forbes. Elena chuckled softly, catching a glimpse of my nervous form out of the corner of her eye. She shook her head before returning to the list she held in her hand.
"She will be here soon, Elara. You know Care would never bail on one of her school functions," Elena said, scanning her list, brows scrunched up in concentration.
I ignored her. Instead, I focused on my phone, and once again dialed Caroline's number. Placing my cell against my ear, I folded my arms, tapping my fingers against my elbow as I waited for her to answer. When her voicemail greeted me instead, my stomach knotted with stress. I nibbled on my lower lip. My traitorous anxiety-ridden brain couldn't stop itself from drawing forth the image of the mysterious text I had received the night before.
Could Katherine have had something to do with it?
I had not immediately thought of her. Usually, she would have taken credit. Mysterious just wasn't Katherine's kinda thing, or so I thought. Now, I was starting to think that maybe she had gone that route to throw me off.
I tucked away my phone and tried to stay calm. Jumping to conclusions would help no one. Maybe Liz had decided to take Caroline to dinner, and she had forgotten to call and tell me they would be late? I nodded my head, nibbling on my already almost non-existent thumbnail.
Yeah, that could be what happened…
I stepped beside Bonnie and continued to nervously chew on my thumbnail, smiling weakly when she bumped my shoulder, flashing me a playful wink. I looked over Elena's shoulder, eyeing the list of supplies as she flipped through the pages.
"The ring toss is out of Bart and Homer dolls, and Team Jacob T's,"
Bonnie said, grinning as she threw a few empty plastic bags in the trash can beside her.
Elena nodded and lowered the clipboard to her side. "Ok, I can grab some from the science club. Also, we lost a speaker in the karaoke room."
Elena rolled her eyes in exasperation. Bonnie smiled brightly and patted Elena on the arm, then gestured out at the bustling festival.
"Hey, it's all good, Elena, take a beat, look around. This is a huge success..."
Elena grinned, wrapping an arm around my neck. "You mean we can do more than just reek vampire havoc?" she asked, widening her eyes comically and pointing her thumb between us.
Bonnie laughed, her hair swaying as she chucked shoulders with Elena. I fell to the side, weakly smiling at their comradery. I didn't want to rain on their parade, but I was still worried about Caroline. I could feel a lead weight in the pit of my stomach at her absence.
"Go figure," Bonnie said.
I crossed my arms, rubbing my elbows uneasily. Elena rolled her eyes at my silence and grabbed my arm, leading me forward. I sighed, following behind them as they headed toward the middle of the carnival where a guy was bent down on his knees, repairing one of the stands. Elena stopped beside him with a smile plastered on her perfect face.
"Hey, Carter, right? You're with the carnival?" she asked.
I stepped off to the side, my eyes once again scanning the people filling in around us. I just wished I could escape for a bit so I could go find Caroline.
"That'll be me," Carter said, standing to his feet with a nod and attention firmly fixed on Bonnie.
He tilted his head and ran his eyes over her shy form. My formerly spotty attention was immediately captured, and I snapped my head toward my sister and her friend, brows arched.
Well, well, it seemed Carter here had the hots for our very own Miss Bennett.
Bonnie blushed, nervously kicking the dirt about with her feet. Elena's eyes dashed between the two, her teeth running across her bottom lip to hide the smile she was fighting.
"Okay, great," she said, looking at her feet and brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
Elena stepped closer to Bonnie, nudging her with her elbow to catch her attention. She glanced at Carter and then back, casually raising her brows with a sly edging of her lips. Carter quickly scanned Bonnie again, smiling at her as he placed a hand in the back pocket of his blue jeans.
"What do you need, beautiful?" he asked.
Bonnie's cheeks darkened to a lovely shade of raspberry, and I covered my mouth with my hand, hiding a smile. Elena caught my attention, and we shared a conspiratorial grin as we observed the two.
"W-what do you know about karaoke speakers?" Bonnie asked.
Carter pulled his hand from his back pocket and stepped closer to her, running his palm down the back of his neck. "Why don't you show me the problem?"
Elena turned toward Bonnie, motioning encouragingly with her eyes.
"Yeah, Bonnie, show him the problem," she said.
Bonnie let out a quiet sigh and turned around, smiling weakly at Carter; her face remained an attractive dark pink. "Okay, come on," she said, motioning for him to follow her.
Carter grinned, the lights from the nearby rides bouncing off his white teeth. He turned on his heel, walking backward as he sent Elena and me a thumbs up before following Bonnie away. I let out a loud giggle as soon as Bonnie was out of earshot, and Elena swiftly followed, leaning on my shoulder.
"Oh, my Gods! Did you see how pink her face got? It was so cute!" I squealed, my hands fisted in front of me.
Elena nodded in excitement, eyes shining as she stood up straight and tossed her hair off her shoulder. "Yes! I think she really liked him. I'm so happy she found someone to crush on!"
I leaned my head on my sister's shoulder with a sigh. I had missed talking to her without it turning into a battle. Since the Salvatore's had come back to town, our relationship seemed to be shifting so quickly, it was enough to make my head spin. Though no matter what happened between us in the future, she would always be my sister, and I would always want her in my life.
I felt my phone buzz and hurriedly stepped away from Elena, yanking it from my back pocket. She watched me with an amused expression on her face. My finger flashed across the screen, and I felt my face scrunch up in annoyance when I saw Tyler's name instead of Caroline's. I grumbled in exasperation as I tapped on the text. I read through it quickly, my eyes narrowing into a squint with each new sentence.
Elara - I just thought I'd fill you in on a few things… since ya know… we're partners in crime( insert terrible southern accent here) Can't stop, won't stop! But for real though — your vamp pal Damon Salvatore decided to visit my mom today. I think he was there to feel Mason out; get a little info on him. He was asking all kinds of questions. I guess whatever he heard from us(vampire eavesdropping is a real pain in the ass, btw), and mom made him a bit suspicious. Cause while he was inside — Mason was grilling me in the same way the vamp was mom. He was asking me all about my anger issues and exactly when they were at their worst… ya know… around the full moon. So just a heads up, I think your pals are going to be watching Uncle Mason. We are heading to the Carnival now, so we'll probably see ya soon. - Tyler.
I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, white spots appearing in the darkness that clouded my vision. I released a long breath through my nose.
Damn.
I had hoped Damon and Stefan would at least be in the dark until I helped Tyler activate his curse. Curious vampires were becoming the bane of my existence.
"Everything ok, El?" Elena asked, placing her hand on my arm.
I raised my head, meeting her gaze as I placed my phone back in my pocket. "Yeah, of course. Just Ty. He asked for some help with something, and it's becoming taxing," I smiled, rolling my eyes good-naturedly.
Elena opened her mouth to question me, but I sped away, thankfully noticing a distraction in the form of Jeremy buying popcorn at a nearby cart.
"Look, it's Jer. I'm going to steal his food. It smells heavenly," I moaned over my shoulder. I hopped away in his direction, and Elena laughed, running behind me to keep up. I jumped up behind our brother, snatching the cardboard box of popcorn from his grasp and stepping away. I inhaled the mouth-watering, buttery scent, humming in satisfaction. I winked at my brother, ignoring his shocked protests, and took a small handful, tossing the fluffy bits of perfection into my mouth. Jeremy stood where I had left him, money still in his outstretched hand, and glared dangerously in my direction. I stuck out my bottom lip and took one piece of popcorn from the top of the stack. I slowly offered it to him with a bowed head.
"Would you like some, Jer?" I submissively asked, widening my eyes like a puppy.
I could hear Elena giggling from somewhere beside us, but ignored her in favor of batting my eyelashes at our little brother. Jeremy released an exaggerated huff and reached out for the box of popcorn, his fingers gesturing for its return. I stuck my bottom lip out further, making sure my pout was in full pitiful puppy mode. I brought my hand back toward the box of popcorn and very slowly took another piece from the pile - a loud sigh of suffering escaping my lips. I extended my hand toward my brother, my eyes wide and watery. I offered him the two small pieces but made sure to appear as if the very act was an extreme burden.
As I wobbled my chin dramatically, Jeremy caved. A loud laugh escaped his tight-lipped frown, and I fist-pumped the air in triumph.
"Fine, you can have it, Ellie. I was going to buy you some fair food anyways. It's a tradition. Mom and dad always let you pig out at these events. It was the one thing you always wanted to do," he said, paying for the popcorn.
His smile faded slightly as he turned back toward me. I looked down at the popcorn, my mouth suddenly dry. Elena came up beside us, her smile less light then it had been moments before. She met Jeremy's gaze, and their eyes filled with shared memories. For a brief period, we all stood there in our small circle, allowing ourselves a trip down memory lane. It wasn't always easy to journey into the past, to allow ourselves these tiny moments to remember our parents. Still, right now, in this place where we had shared so many beautiful memories together, we could allow it. We could suffer a small measure of grief to share all of the beautiful moments that had come before.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Elena grinned, wrapping her arm around me. She pulled me against her side, and I didn't notice her reaching over and filling her hand with popcorn until I saw her tossing the handful in her mouth.
I gasped in disbelief at her betrayal, my buttery palm coming up to cover my mouth in shock. She had stolen my cherished snack!
"You're right, Jer. It is a tradition. One we absolutely have to keep. I think El gains like ten pounds when we have a carnival," Elena said.
I slapped her hand and growled at my sister. "I do not! It's more like four, and it's all gone in a week, thank you very much. And the fried food is well worth it!" I said, filling my mouth with buttery goodness.
Jeremy smiled at my enthusiasm, and I was glad he was finally happy. For him, it was a rare occurrence, and I hoped all that was finally over. I enjoyed the glow he carried as we walked around and ate my popcorn until I noticed the hint of darkness that started to cloud his expression.
His eyes hardened, and I could see his aura flex in anger around him. I blinked in confusion until I heard the familiar, and at the moment, unwelcome voice that came from behind me.
"Jeremy, it's so good to see you alive," Damon said.
I stepped forward, joining my siblings, and turned around, greeting Damon with a steely gaze. He held his hands out beside him, a cocky smile on his face. His blue eyes focused on me for a moment, but I kept my expression hard and unforgiving. I wasn't ready to just forget what he had done to my brother. Jeremy sneered at him, crossing his arms as he stepped closer to me.
"Aren't you a little old for a high school carnival?" Jeremy asked.
Damon chuckled, observing Jeremy as he all but stood in front of me. I huffed, grabbing Jeremy's shoulder and pushing him away. Damon walked toward us, smiling down at me as he took a handful of my popcorn.
"A hundred and fifty years too old," he said, tossing the popcorn into his mouth.
I rolled my eyes and threw the remainder of the popcorn into the nearby trash can. Damon eyed me warily, and I crossed my arms with a shake of my head, eyes sad. Jeremy stood closer to Damon, an obvious threat in the way he held his back straight, handheld high to show off the Gilbert ring.
"You're pretty funny cracking jokes when I could, I don't know… blow the lid off this thing by telling someone what you really are," Jeremy said.
I could feel my face pale as Elena flew forward, putting herself between Jeremy and Damon.
"Jeremy, back down!" she warned, pushing him away.
I quickly held out my hand, helping her push him away from a fuming Damon, my magic pulsating around the struggling Jeremy. Damon smiled sinisterly, his eyes dark.
"It would be best for you to not walk around like you're invincible, little Gilbert,"
Damon held up his thumb and forefinger, showing Jeremy a minuscule distance between the two fingers.
"It would be this easy for me… or anyone really… to end you. If you want to tell people who I really am, go ahead and try. I'll shove that ring so far up your ass, you'll really have something to choke on."
I jerked back in shock, my hands shaking. Elena gasped, her hand coming to cover her mouth. Damon glared at her, a weak smile building on his lips.
"Damon…" I started, unsure what I wanted to say to him.
He turned his glare on me, and I saw a hint of unease in his deep blue eyes before he headed back into the crowd, disappearing completely. I stepped forward, scanning where he vanished, eyes wide. What had just happened? Damon had never acted that way toward me before, let alone Elena. Never had I been afraid of Damon Salvatore, but now, I had indeed seen him as inhuman. He was the kind of vampire that would kill in an instant for no other reason than boredom.
"Elara!" Jeremy said, pulling my arm toward him. "Let's go."
I struggled briefly as he yanked me backward, leading me away. I wasn't sure why I was struggling at all, but for some reason, there was a part of me that wanted to go after Damon. If I was honest with myself, there was always a part of me that yearned to follow him. It was there, reminding me that he needed someone, that he needed me. Yet, as my brother led me further away, I shook it off. I chose instead to remind myself of what Damon had done to my brother; my family. He had tried to kill him. I couldn't act like that never happened, no matter the reason behind it. Jeremy let go of my hand and headed into the crowd. I tried to follow him but got caught behind a large group of people who pushed in front of me, obstructing my view. I let out an annoyed huff and started forward, hopping onto the tips of my toes, hoping to see where he or Elena had gotten off to.
When I found neither of my siblings, I ground my teeth together in frustration. Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to avoid the many elbows that jabbed into my side as I focused on making my way out of the crowd. I glanced around me, praying I could find a small empty area near the walkway. Luckily, I found an empty corner near a food stand. I worked my way to the side of the crowd and placed my hands on my hips, balancing on my tiptoes as I glanced from side to side. I let out a startled yelp when I felt someone grab my elbow. I fell forward, my balance jumbled as I tried to level myself, the toes of my shoes scraped across the pavement as I was yanked to the left. I was swiftly led toward the school, whoever had grabbed me was utterly uncaring of the fact that I was barely keeping on my feet. My neck jerked to the side, and my eyes narrowed as they finally focused — the raven hair of Damon Salvatore, the first thing coming into view.
"Hello, Ellie bean. Wanna help me identify a supernatural creature? I hear discovering something new together can be quite the bonding experience," Damon said, his patented cocky grin plastered on his face.
I yanked my hand from his grasp and stepped away from him, scanning the area with a sigh of annoyance. He had led me into the school where they had set up the feat of strength competition. I stepped off to the side, finding an empty spot near the back of the room and sighed. As I expected, I spotted Mason Lockwood coaching Tyler in an arm-wrestling competition a few feet away. Crossing my arms, I turned back to Damon, brow cocked.
"I'm not interested in discovering anything with you," I said, shooting him my best glare.
Damon jutted out his bottom lip, his shoulders lowering in a faux display of defeat. "Ouch, now see, that hurts," he pouted sarcastically.
I rolled my eyes hard, turning away from him and focusing on Mason and Tyler. A small wooden table had been set up in front of a crudely painted banner. A young man was leaning down opposite Tyler, his hand outstretched in front of him. Mason was whispering advice in the soon-to-be werewolf's ear. I felt someone join Damon and myself and turned my head to greet Stefan with a smile. Damon shot his brother a glare and came to stand between us, crossing his arms. I silently chuckled, continuing to watch the arm-wrestling match, which, of course, was going to Tyler. The human man was no match for the untriggered werewolf.
"You're lurking," Stefan said, curiously watching Tyler celebrate his win with Mason.
Damon shook his head, blue eyes narrowing. "I'm observing," he said.
I bit my tongue, inwardly laughing at both clueless vamps. This was actually kinda fun, as long as they kept away from the wolves.
"More like obsessing," Stefan said, laughing lightly.
Damon turned toward his brother — head jerking in Tyler's direction.
"He's got strength," Damon stated.
Stefan rolled his hazel eyes, his head tilting to the side in his exasperation. "He's a triple letter varsity athlete, of course he has strength. You're reaching."
I placed a hand on my forehead and smiled, shaking my head as I watched Mason clap his hands together, stepping around the table. "I bet I can take you," Mason said, laughing at Tyler — eyes shining.
Oh no. He just had to show off his strength, stupid alpha tendencies.
I glanced at Damon out of the corner of my eye. He was focusing on Mason intently, arms still crossed. I knew his heightened senses would be able to pick up on all of Mason's supernatural abilities with ease.
"Enter the uncle," Damon said, clicking his tongue.
Stefan huffed, shaking his head in denial. "That's ridiculous."
Mason bent down in front of his nephew, a bright smile appearing on his face as they locked hands. For a few moments, it looked like they were at a stalemate, until I noticed Tyler's face starting to pale and then slowly redden as Mason sat unmoved. Tyler's chest heaved as he put as much effort into the match as he could, yet still, Mason's arm didn't move. I watched Tyler struggle against his uncle, his face now a dark crimson, forehead glistening. The veins in his neck were straining against his skin as he tried to apply as much pressure against Mason's hand as possible. Mason watched Tyler's struggle with amusement. It looked as if the effort Tyler was putting forth was nothing more than a minor annoyance to him, which to an actual werewolf, I was sure it was.
Finally, Mason tired of the display and decided to grant Tyler mercy. He roughly slammed Tyler's hand against the wood of the table, laughing merrily. Tyler rolled his eyes in annoyance as he rubbed at his shoulder, looking into the cheering crowd.
"Ok, he's the champ, who wants to go next?" Tyler asked.
My breathing hitched at the awakening of my senses. I knew this wasn't going to be good. A voice to my right brought a small growl to my lips.
"Stefan wants to go," Damon hollered, his thumb pointing in his shocked brother's direction.
Tyler's gaze shot to mine, and I casually shook my head, hoping he knew to keep his mouth shut and just go along with Damon's stupid idea. I had this under control, even if Damon was getting in the way. Mason stood taller, but his expression remained neutral. Tyler waved Stefan over, walking beside the table and pulling his sleeves up over his elbows.
"Yeah, sure, I'll… give it a shot," Stefan said.
He shared an exasperated look with me as he passed by, heading into the small crowd and toward the table. Mason was patiently standing at his end, the picture of ease, his jacket slung over his shoulder. Damon joined me where I stood, his arms crossed as he grinned.
"Get him, Stef!" he shouted, rocking back and forth on his heels.
I chuckled at the way he was pitting his brother against an unknown entity. Damon smiled down at me, misinterpreting my laughter, and I looked away, focusing on Stefan and Mason. Out of the corner of my eye, I could just make out the way Damon's lips turned down, his smile dying.
"Aren't you going to cheer for poor Stefan? I thought you and he were close; siblings almost," Damon said, a sickly sweet edge to his voice.
I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the cold stone behind me. "Damon, you brought me here. This is your game. I have no interest in the Lockwoods hidden talents," I lied.
When I received no answer from Damon, I glanced up at him, tilting my head in confusion. He was grinning down at me, a glint in his cerulean eyes.
"You know exactly what they are, don't you?" he asked, raising a brow.
My jaw tightened, and I stepped away from him, thankful that the crowd was cheering loudly for Mason. Apparently, Stefan had lost their match. Damon grabbed my shoulder as I tried to move further away, and I took hold of his hand, channeling my magic into my fingertips. I sent a small jolt of my magical signature toward him, his skin sizzling at the contact. Damon ripped his hand from mine, and I sneered at his shocked gasp of pain.
"Do not grab me again, Salvatore," I snapped.
I heard footsteps behind me and turned around, grateful to find Stefan. He glanced between Damon and me, and his eyes narrowed in on Damon's right hand — hazel orbs flashing. Damon scowled at me, ignoring his brother as he clutched his sore hand against his chest. I brushed a stray piece of hair behind my ear and nodded in the direction of the Lockwoods.
"Well? Is he some big bad monster; should we alert the villagers?" I gasped, placing a hand on my chest.
Damon grumbled behind me and yanked a strand of my hair as he came to stand next to his brother. I winced, rubbing my scalp with an angry scowl.
"Zip it, witchy," he quipped, then turned to Stefan. "Did you put in any effort at all?"
Stefan glanced around us before stepping closer, pulling me with him. "Yeah, actually I did,"
I bit my cheek, making sure my expression gave nothing away. Damon was already too close to an answer. I wasn't ready for them to know yet. Damon wouldn't take the reveal very well, and I wouldn't allow either Lockwood to be hurt. They deserved better than that. Just like Damon, they hadn't asked to be what they are. Mason suffers enough during every full moon. At least Damon only has to endure immortality and the thirst — Mason is forced to rip himself apart. Damon took my elbow, his brows arched in surprise.
"Come with me,"
Damon pulled me down the hall with a tight grip on my shoulder. I turned toward Stefan, my hair flying around me, eyes wide. I raised my other hand in outrage, motioning toward Damon and back. When all I received from Stefan was a bright smile, I scrunched up my nose in annoyance. Stefan laughed at my misfortune, as he slowly followed us down the hall, hands in his pockets.
"Day, I asked you to stop grabbing me! Don't make me zap you again," I barked.
Damon ignored my protests, pulling me to a stop a few feet away from the carnival worker Elena, Bonnie, and I had spoken to earlier. Damon released me from his tight grasp, and I rubbed at my arm, shooting him a solid glare. Carter was utterly absorbed in his task and had yet to notice us hovering nearby. He was repairing some sort of electrical equipment. I looked around, expecting to find Bonnie, but was surprised to see him alone. I inwardly shrugged, turning back to Stefan and Damon, who were now talking in hushed tones.
"What is up with that family? They're not vampires, what the hell are they?" Damon said.
Stefan looked at his feet, a serious expression on his face. "Ooh, ah, maybe they're, um, ninja turtles!" he jokingly said, a smile turning up his lips.
Damon shook his head, glancing at me and then back at his brother. "You're not funny."
I giggled softly, enjoying Stefan's sense of humor. It was rare that he was the one joking around, usually that was Damon's forte. Bouncing onto the tips of my toes, I clapped my hands together.
"Ooh, I got it! Maybe their shapeshifters like in Twilight! I wonder what they turn into?!" I said, enjoying the glare I received from Damon.
Stefan laughed, coming to stand beside me. "Hmm? Maybe they turn into overgrown poodles? Or no, maybe they are zombies or werewolves!" he said.
My laughter died off as soon as he correctly identified them, and I avoided looking at Damon.
"No comedic timing at all," Damon said.
He turned his head, noticing Carter standing behind him, and I felt my heart skip a beat as I saw an idea flicker in his eyes. Stefan, knowing his brother almost as well as I did, noticed the same flash of an idea and stepped forward, jutting his chin out in his brother's direction.
"What? What are you up to?" he asked.
"This is reality, and there are no such things as werewolves or… combat turtles," Damon said, heading toward Carter.
"I said ninja turtles, actually," Stefan mumbled.
I turned away from Stefan with an agonized moan, my head falling forward in exhaustion. I raised my hand, ready to give Damon the answers he so needed… or more like wanted…but he was faster.
"Hey, you!" Damon hollered.
Carter lifted his head, lowering a piece of stereo equipment. "I have a name," he said, turning toward me with a small smile.
"Hey, Elara, right?" he asked.
I walked forward, joining Damon — and nodded with a wave. Bonnie must have told him our names.
"Yeah, and you're Carter," I said.
Carter lowered his arm onto the stereo and nodded. "Yeah. That's me. Do you need something?" he asked, gaze firmly set on me.
Damon let out a loud huff and stepped in front of Carter, taking his shoulder and turning him away from me. Their eyes met, and Damon's voice changed, taking on that soothing tone it always did when he was compelling someone.
"Don't look at her. I don't care what your name is. I need you to pick a fight with someone, a kid named Tyler Lockwood," Damon said.
I reached out, taking hold of Damon's shoulder, my fingers digging into the leather of his jacket. "Don't do this, please..."
Carter seemed like a good guy, and I didn't want Tyler to kill someone like him, that wasn't the plan. Stefan came up beside me and shook his head, glancing at Carter with regretful unease.
"Damon... don't…" he begged.
Damon motioned our protests away with a brushing of his fingers. He rubbed Carter's shoulders as if he were a boxer and continued to stare deeply into his eyes. "It's just an experiment. Get him mad. Don't back down no matter what he does, okay?"
"I won't back down," Carter said, his tone empty and robotic.
Damon smiled wickedly. "I know you won't," he said, releasing him with a pat on the back.
Carter brushed past me, his gaze never leaving the floor. I closed my eyes, trying my best to control my disappointment and anger.
"You do realize someone is going to get hurt, right?" Stefan asked.
I released a disbelieving chuckle, rolling my eyes and lifting my head toward the ceiling.
"As if he cares, Stef," I said.
Damon crossed his arms and stood in front of his brother, raising his eyebrows, not a care in the world.
"No, someone is going to get mad, as in rage," Damon said.
Stefan turned his head toward where Carter had just disappeared. "What's that going to accomplish?"
Damon widened his eyes, watching me fumble for my cell with a small frown on his face. "That Tyler kid is incapable of walking away from a fight. Let's see who intervenes; maybe it's the ambiguous, supernatural mystery uncle."
I shot him a glare and dialed Tyler's number, heading outside and into the crowd, hoping their noise would drown out my conversation with Tyler. The ringing buzzed in my ear for a couple of minutes, and I tapped my fingernail on the back of the phone, nerves bubbling just below the surface. Finally, I heard a click, and Tyler's voice answered on the other end.
"Hey partner," he said, an annoying country accent coloring his tone.
"Listen, Ty, we have a problem!" I quickly said, scanning the area for signs of Damon or Stefan.
When I was sure that they had not followed me, I continued. "Damon compelled someone to start a fight with you. He wants to know what Mason is. I know how hard this is going to be for you, but you have to fight it, Ty. This kid isn't who you wanna break your curse on."
I heard a sharp intake of breath and waited for Tyler to calm himself.
"Okay, Ellie. I will stay with Mason. At least then I will have someone there to make sure I keep myself in check. We can't keep doing this, though, it's going to have to be soon."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and let out a sigh. "Agreed, partner," I said, smiling weakly.
"I'll text you after. I'll be fine, El. See ya soon,"
I ended the call, sliding my cell into my pocket and headed back into the school. As I turned a corner, I collided with Elena and Damon.
"Ah, perfect, just who I was looking for. You need to come with us," Damon said, taking my hand and leading me down the hall.
I looked behind me at Elena, who was silently following us — a concerning light in her eyes.
"What's going on, Lena?" I asked.
Elena shrugged, glancing up at Damon. "I don't know? He just told me he needed me to come with him. Same as you."
Opening the door to a nearby classroom, Damon shoved me inside, Elena quickly following. A sense of dread slid down my spine when I saw Stefan standing by one of the desks on the other side of the room.
"Okay, what is going on? The last time our Scooby-Doo gang had a conference like this, we had vampire mama drama," I said.
Damon laughed uneasily, pointing his finger at me. "You're half right, Elandra. We do have a vampire situation. It's just not a relative this time,"
I lowered myself into one of the desks, my head falling into my hands. This couldn't be happening. My instincts kicked into overdrive, and I felt panic welling up. I placed a hand on my throat and ran my fingers across the skin, trying in vain to rub away the sudden thick feeling as my eyes started burning.
"No, no, no. She didn't..."
It was all starting to make sense. Her lack of phone calls, the refusal to see me. That must have been what the threatening text message the night before had meant. It had to be Caroline. Katherine must have gotten to her.
Oh, poor Caroline, she must be so frightened.
She won't even be able to get into her own home anymore. Elena's head jerked between Damon and me — her face scrunched up in confusion.
"What's going on? Who is the vampire?" Elena asked.
I kept my eyes on the blackboard in front of me, unable to answer just yet. Damon stepped beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
"Caroline," he simply said.
Stefan leaned against the wall, his head falling forward. "How did this happen?" he asked.
Damon's chest rose, his hand squeezing my shoulder in support. "Well, I fed her my blood, and Katherine obviously killed her. A plus B equals….," he trailed off.
I smacked his hand roughly in annoyance. Now was not the time for his cocky attitude. Shaking out his hand, Damon glanced at a shocked Elena.
"But why?" she asked.
Damon sat down beside me and reached out with a sigh of indifference, taking a strand of my hair. "Because Katherine is a manipulative, nasty, little slut," he said frankly.
My mouth fell open, and I took my hair from his hand. "Wow, that's harsh. I mean, manipulative yes, but you knew what type of woman she was when you slept with her. You can't start throwing around such horrible terminology now, Mr. Salvatore."
I hated words like that. The way men labeled free-spirited women. I understood why he was angry with Katherine and did not agree with what she had done to the Salvatores, just as I did not agree with what her ancestors had done. Still, I would never label them in such a way. Damon's eyes widened, and a smirk grew across his lips.
"Okay, my feisty little feminist," he said.
I rolled my eyes and reached into my back pocket, pulling out my cell. Pressing the button on the side, I scanned through my messages until I found the one I was looking for. With a hollow expression, I showed them the threatening text I had gotten the night before.
"She said, 'Game on'? What does that even mean?" Stefan asked, stepping away and turning toward Damon.
I allowed the screen to go black and let out a huff of breath. "She wanted me to know that she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Whatever that may be."
I still refused to fill them in on all of the details. There was no way I was going to be playing the villain this early in the game.
"Exactly, she is playing dirty, and she wants us to know it," Damon said.
Elena came to stand in front of me, placing her palms flat on the desk. She leaned down, her breath fanning against my face, eyes wide with worry.
"But why, Caroline?" she asked, shaking her head.
Damon shrugged, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms. I sat back, moving away from my sister's close proximity, my hair falling over the back of my seat.
"Katherine knows what Caroline means to me, Elena, and this is war. I stood in her way, and now… Caroline is paying the price," I said, exhaustion creeping into my tone.
Stefan placed a comforting hand on Elena's back and pulled her away from the desk. His pale face was lined with stress and worry.
"Caroline must be terrified. She only has limited knowledge of our kind and didn't even know she had blood in her system. Not to mention the fact that the person who killed her looks exactly like Elena," Stefan said.
Elena grimaced, her hands coming up to cover her face.
"It's not your fault, Lena," I said gently.
Elena glared at me, shaking her head. "I know that, Elara. It doesn't negate the fact that someone who looks exactly like me is out there right now, doing God only knows what," she said, her brown eyes flashing with anger.
I winced, standing and running my fingers through my hair.
"We have to find her," Stefan said.
I let out a relieved breath, nodding in agreement. "Exactly, we need to get out there, find her, and bring her somewhere safe. Somewhere she can learn to handle what she has become."
Damon swiftly stood, stepping in front of me. "Like hell, we do. We need to find her and kill her. Do you honestly think I'm going to allow you or Elena to be around a baby vamp?"
A low chuckle rumbled from deep within my chest, and Damon glared at me.
"Do you honestly think that I would let you lay a single fang on my best friend?" I pointed my finger at his chest. "Neither my sister nor I, am your responsibility, Damon."
Damon's chest heaved in agitation as he stepped closer to me, leaning into my personal bubble. "She knows who we are. She's officially a liability, and we've got to get rid of her," he said, motioning toward his brother and himself.
I laughed hatefully, my red hair falling into my eyes. I angrily tossed it out of my face. "You won't get within an inch of her. I will fry your ass, Day! Don't tempt me."
I could feel my eyes glowing and knew I must look every part the terrifying witch. Damon grinned, his face alight with mischief. Stefan very slowly stepped between our mini-battle, his hands held out beside him.
"No one is killing Caroline, and no one is frying Damon. Okay?" Stefan said, turning his head to look at Damon and then me.
I narrowed my eyes on Damon and watched him stare me down, his own eyes filled with calculation.
"Need I remind you all of the tragic little stories of a girl named Vicki Donovan? Caroline, of all people, will not make it as a vampire. Her mother is a vampire hunter. Guys come on, we all know how this story will end, just flip to the last chapter and…"
I swiftly pointed my index finger at him, and then ran my fingers across my lips, miming a zipping motion. Elena came to stand beside me, crossing her arms with a stern expression.
"It's not an option, Damon," she said.
Damon turned to his brother, a smirk appearing on his lips. "No? Your silence is deafening, Stefan. Wait, wasn't there a school carnival the night you staked Vicki? I never heard of a town where history repeats itself. You know I'm right."
I took a step back, my mind falling blank for a moment in shock. I couldn't believe his continued tactless behavior. Tilting my head, I felt my eyes start filling with hot tears.
"You like history repeating itself, Damon? I mean, it seems like your all about the inevitable. Well then, maybe this time, you can be there when my curse activates,"
Damon reared back as if I had slapped him, but I didn't care. I brushed past him, quickly leaving the room. Maybe I was too sensitive, but what he said had rubbed me the wrong way. I sped through the school and back out into the carnival, hoping to find Caroline before she did anything she would genuinely regret. This was never the life Caroline would have chosen for herself. If I was honest, there wasn't much about her that suggested she would be able to survive immortality, but I knew she was strong enough. I just had to make sure I was there to help her see it for herself. She would need someone she could trust, and that understood her personality. Caroline couldn't go through this alone, she wouldn't survive, she would need help coming to terms with the knowledge that the life she had before, is now gone.
The first year of a vampire's life is always the hardest. Caroline would discover so many new and scary things about herself. Her new vampiric nature would amplify every human personality trait she had possessed; good and bad. I knew once she found out that she would either have to tell her mom what she had become, which would be a terrible idea, or find a way to compel her way back inside her house, she would freak out. It would be hard for her to accept the fact that she would have to find a new home.
I hated it, but there was no way I could keep her at my house, not with a buffet of humans to tempt her. That only left one place for her to stay; the Boarding House. It wasn't exactly ideal, but it would have to do. She would need to learn control anyways, and who better to teach her than two 150-year-old vampires? I just hoped at least one of their diets would work for her. Stefans wasn't for everyone, and no matter how hard he tried to persuade others, there really wasn't a whole lot of people with his level of control. So, like most of the vampire population, she just might have to learn to feed the old fashion way. Sadly for her, that would require working with Damon. I could help her to an extent, but not while she was still so new. Being too close to a new vampire while she was hunting would be a terrible idea.
I headed past a few food and game stands, trying to avoid the people still enjoying the carnival. My eyes were peeled for Caroline. I prayed I would find her somewhere on the edge of the crowd, even though I knew that would be far too easy. My senses were on high alert, as the training I had received so very long ago started to come to the forefront of my mind. Once again, I mentally thanked Kol, reminding myself to thank him in person when I finally undaggered him; or rather convinced Niklaus to. I was aware of the fact that I was not the only person searching for Caroline, or sadly, hunting her.
I needed to reach her before Damon did. I knew that even if Stefan got to her before his brother, that it didn't mean she would be safe. Stefan choosing the diet that he did meant he was weaker, and that gave Damon the advantage. I just hoped, if I were too late, and Damon got there first, he would rethink what he had planned, or at least allow Elena to be his conscience for him. I couldn't help but hope that maybe, just this once, he would think about what his actions would do to those he cared about.
Not seeing Caroline anywhere, I let out an aggravated sigh and made my way toward the rides, the main focus of the carnival. I side-stepped into the slow-moving group of people still milling about, pushing and prodding my way through the thick crowds. My forehead was wet with perspiration as I tried to find a way through. A small group of annoyingly laughing teens pushed and shoved into me, allowing little space to maneuver past them. I was no longer able to distinguish exactly where I was anymore, as I was herded deeper into the carnival. The laughing blonde beside me plodded on my foot, and I winced, lifting it from the ground as I tried to follow the crowd instead of a drop to the ground below it. The annoying chit ran her fingers under her boyfriend's shirt as she shoved me to the side, her elbow greeting my ribcage, and I finally had enough. One can only be elbowed in the side so many times, before deciding retaliation is the way to go.
I shoved past the blonde and her mindless boyfriend, jamming my own elbows into anyone who came near me. I ignored their hollered protest of anger as I fought my way out of the insane mob. When I finally reached a relatively sparse area, I leaned over, grasping my knees. I inhaled the unstifled air, letting out a groan of exhaustion. This was precisely why I hated going out and being 'a part of things.' I much preferred the company of books, and a few select people, to large groups; I was introverted for a reason.
I had noticed, through my centuries of living, that the more humans you brought together, the more moronic they became. I straightened up and glared at the crowd one last time, before jogging off toward the back of the carnival, where I thought I might find Caroline. As a new vampire, I was placing my bet that the lights and noise would deter her from joining the main attractions. That's why I had been looking along the outskirts of the carnival. I was avoiding the line for the Ferris Wheel when a chill froze me in place. The small hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I could feel something different in the air…death.
My blood ran cold as I lifted my face into the breeze, closing my eyes. The unsettling feeling of death blanketed me, momentarily stealing the air from my lungs, and I snapped my eyes open, following its path. When it was still fresh, death left an imprint. One that was extremely easy to follow; if you only know how. I stumbled toward the parking lot, the cold feeling never once leaving my bones. My muscles felt tight, and I rubbed my upper arms roughly, the goosebumps covering my flesh further proof that something terrible had happened.
I took in a deep, ragged breath, and silently prayed that Caroline was okay. I followed the hollow feeling of emptiness that still permeated the air, and found it leading me to the storage building that sat on the school parking lot. My breathing hitched when I saw a small flatbed truck parked beside the building, a crying Caroline perched on its edge. I stopped in my tracks as my eyes racked her over. Her face was covered in thick crimson blood, as were the edges of her hair, the normally soft blonde locks matted with dark red. Her hands were placed beside her as she leaned forward, tears falling heavily. Her entire body was made of defeat, heavy sobs wracking her weak form.
My gaze roamed Caroline's surroundings and came upon a body lying behind her. My throat swelled with pity, and I swallowed deeply. This wasn't the time to break down. Caroline would need my strength. She would need someone to remind her that this wasn't her fault.
I released a shaky breath as I forced my stiff legs to move forward. A few stray strands of hair stuck to my damp neck as I inched my way toward my best friend. I lifted my twitching hands to my waist, reminding myself that she was a newly minted vampire. I could feel the pounding of my heart in my neck as I brushed the strands of hair away. It wasn't that I was afraid of her, but of what she may force me to do. I didn't want to hurt Caroline, but if I was forced to choose my life or hers, I wasn't sure which I would ultimately choose; survival was something minted into human beings after all.
"Hey, Care Bear," I said, my voice cracking.
Caroline lifted her face to greet me, her blue eyes were red-rimmed, lashes wet. I took one small step closer to her, my palms outstretched in front of me. Caroline jerked backward, the bed of the truck squeaking beneath her. My arms stiffened, and my heart stuttered, a startled breath left my lungs in a burning rush. I came to an abrupt stop a few feet away from her as she held out her crimson palms. She quickly scooted backward, moving further up the truck.
"E-Ellie, please don't come near me. I don't know what's happening to me."
Caroline hiccuped softly as she sat back, pulling her knees to her chest. Her stained hands left streaks of red on her jeans, and I turned my head away slightly, holding back a grimace. She tilted her chin towards the body behind her, and let out a pained sob of horror and sadness.
"He's dead," she moaned.
I nodded in understanding and felt my chest tighten as I fought back the tears. "Oh, sweety… I know. It's not your fault though, you didn't mean to, Caroline."
Caroline laid her cheek on her knee, her bloody face scrunching up in anger. "Not my fault? I killed him, Elara! I don't know why, but I did. I… I ate him!" she gasped, fingers reaching up to grasp the matted strands of her hair in shock.
I raised my hands in supplication and stepped closer, ignoring her frightened expression. I grabbed the side of the truck and used it to pull myself up. I reached forward and took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently.
"I know, but that's because you are a vampire now. Deep down, you know that. You just need to take a breath and remember everything. Think, Caroline."
Squeezing her eyes shut, Caroline looked away, her face a mixture of shock and reluctant acceptance. She lowered her forehead to her knees, shoulders trembling. I scooted next to her and removed my jacket. My arms brushed against hers as I took hold of the end, a warm smile on my lips. I slowly brought the jacket toward her face, and when she didn't pull away, I started to clean the drying blood from around her mouth.
Caroline's chest shook as tears began to fall from her swollen eyes. Her head slumped forward, and her long blonde hair fell into her face, effectively shielding her from my sight. I brushed the hair over her shoulder, and she looked away, the small act of kindness too much for her to bear. I wiped away the crimson tracks that had been left by her tears and felt my own burning at the corners of my eyes. The wind shifted, and I could smell a change in the air; bourbon and mint. My arm stiffened, and I clamped my hand closed tightly around the cotton of my jacket.
"Step away from her, Elandra."
My back arched in response to the familiar voice that spoke softly behind me. Caroline looked over my shoulder, her body stiffening again. Fear flashed across her face, which only ignited my anger. I shakily stood to my feet, blocking Caroline from his view. I smiled down at her reassuringly before I spoke.
"Hello, Damon. I have everything under control. So you can leave now," I said, turning toward him, gaze hard.
Damon chuckled darkly, tilting his body so that he could see behind me. He rose a brow at the bloody mess that was Caroline and her victim.
"Oh yeah. Looks like everything here is just peachy, El. I mean, I found you sitting an inch away from a new vampire who could drain you dry in seconds, but yeah, you have everything under control," he said, waving his hand in a circular motion.
I huffed, crossing my arms in annoyance. "I am a grown witch, Damon. I can handle a new vampire. She is fine, and when we are ready, we will find Stefan. Who I am sure will be more than willing to show her what I cannot," I said, eyes narrowed in a challenge.
Damon stepped closer to the truck, and I raised a finger in warning.
"Damon!" I harshly said, hopping off the truck.
I could hear the truck rattling behind me as Caroline moved off the bed, but kept my focus on the raven-haired menace in front of me. His cerulean eyes were trained on me, jaw tight as he tried to keep himself in check. Damon moved his gaze from me as I felt Caroline come up behind me.
"The only way anyone can help you now is by putting you out of your misery. Do you honestly think you'll survive an eternity of this," Damon said, gesturing toward the truck.
I squeezed my hand into a fist, my teeth grinding together. I turned toward Caroline and took her arm, pulling her into my side. Her stained, ashen face looked at me in agony. I couldn't believe Damon had decided to use her first kill against her. I understood he thought he was doing what was best, but that was low.
"Caroline, you can't listen to him. Yes, you killed someone, and that isn't something you can just wash away, but as a vampire, it is something that happens. It doesn't mean you deserve to die. You, nor any other predator, can help what you are. Yes, it will now be in your nature to kill, but that doesn't mean you have to. You can learn to feed without killing. You can live a happy life like this,"
I motioned to her newly immortal body. I watched as her chin started to tremble. She fell against me, her shoulders shaking. I wrapped my arms around her and glared in Damon's direction.
"I understand that you think you are doing what is best, Damon. But that was so far from okay," I said, pulling Caroline away from him.
I turned my jacket inside out and wrapped it around her shoulders. My car was parked in front of the carnival, and I knew there was no way I could get her past the nosey occupants of Mystic Falls. At least not without a mountain of questions and dramatic screams of fear, so walking it was. If it came down to it, I could cast something on her until we got to my house, where she could stay, at least for the night. I took Caroline's hand with a reassuring smile, pulling her past Damon and toward the darkness in front of us. Before I could get more than a few feet, Elena and Stefan showed up.
Elena took a step toward Caroline, her chest rising as she pulled in a startled breath. "Oh God! What happened?" she bluntly asked, her hand covering her mouth in horror.
Caroline let go of my hand, stepping away in utter fear and anger.
"Get away from me! You killed me!" she yelled.
I turned toward her, my hands raised. "No, no, remember, Caroline. Remember that things aren't always what they seem," I said, following her retreating form.
Elena was close on my heels, her fingers running through her dark hair. "No, no, no, no, Caroline. That wasn't me. You know that. That was Katherine."
I stuck out my right arm behind me, pushing out my glowing palm to prevent her procession forward. Elena stopped suddenly, her body jerking back as it connected with a shimmery blue barrier. She reached out in front of her, face scrunched up in confusion — hands hovering over thin air. I glanced at her over my shoulder, brows raised, my eyes moving from her to Caroline, begging for understanding. Taking a quick step back, she nodded, her fingers grasping at strands of her hair in desperation. When I knew my sister wasn't pushing her luck and frightening a new and on edge vampire, I continued forward, my head tilted to the side.
"Care, you know Elena could never murder anyone. Remember the crazy look alike ex of the Salvatores? Well, she is kinda pissed off at not only them but me. You got caught in the middle."
I turned away. I couldn't look at her, couldn't see the anger and betrayal swimming in her eyes. This was all my fault. My arms fell to my side, and I released a rattled breath.
"This is all my fault, Caroline. If it wasn't for Katherine's anger at me, then you would have never been changed. I am so very sorry."
My voice was thick with unshed tears. I kept my eyes on my feet as I heard Caroline shuffling in front of me, small pebbles and clumps of dirt scattering as her black shoes came into view. I squeezed my eyes closed tightly when I felt her cold hand connecting with my skin. Her fingers rubbed my chin gently as she lifted my face to greet hers. I reluctantly opened my eyes, shocked to find that Caroline's were not what I expected at all. Instead of the hard, cold steel that I had imagined, they were soft and warm. I didn't deserve her warmth. I tried to look away, to turn from her understanding, but her new strength held me firm in her grasp.
"Elara Gilbert! This is not your fault. What that vampire did to me might have been because of you-"
She was cut off as I let out a gasp, hot tears finally traveling down my face. Caroline smiled, wiping them away.
"As I was saying… it might have been because of you, but it was not your doing. She chose me because I am your friend, and that is not something I would ever change or regret. I don't hate you."
She pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms tightly around her, reveling in her familiar strawberry scent, only slightly tainted by the coppery hint of blood. I felt Caroline's chest rumble as she chuckled beneath me, her head gently shaking.
"For someone so old, you tend to need a lot of reassurance. God, needy much," she said, stepping away.
I scoffed, my mouth falling open. I wiped away the cold wetness from my eyes and playfully swatted her arm. I prepared myself for whatever would come next.
I turned around, removing the barrier I had put up to protect Elena from herself. Elena casually stepped forward, her hands twirling around one another. I smiled at her fidgeting, it was a tell we both shared.
"I am sorry, Caroline. None of us meant for this to happen to you," she whispered.
Caroline stepped up behind me, staying as close as she comfortably could. "I get that," Caroline simply said, biting the corner of her lip.
I could sense that she was becoming uneasy and needed to get out of here, she was probably hungry as well, and being around two humans wasn't helping. I lifted my gaze to Stefan, hoping to convey what I didn't want to say out loud, and released a near-silent, grateful breath when he met my searching gaze. With a nod of his head, I knew he had understood, and I sent him a bright smile, one that had Damon glaring at us both with malice.
"Everything is going to be alright now, Caroline. You can come with us, and I will give you a place to stay," Stefan said, holding out his hand.
Caroline glanced at his welcoming gesture, her uncertainty clear as crystal, and I sent her a wink, taking her hand and leading her toward Stefan.
"You can trust him, I promise. He can help you through this. He has plenty of experience," I assured her.
Stefan tilted his head and chuckled. "I've been doing this for a while."
I weakly smiled and gestured for Caroline to take his hand.
"He will take you to the Boarding house," I said. Caroline's eyes widened, and I lifted my hand. "I will be by tomorrow, I swear. I will be around so much you'll be sick of me. There's a lot I can help you with too. But for now, I need to go home. There is a certain piece of jewelry I need to find and remember how to charm."
A small laugh left my lips and Caroline's brow lifted, her lips pursed as if to question me, but Damon cut her off, a loud scoff reaching our ears. I had hoped he would just give it up, allowing her to live without poking away at what he thought was the next big bad. I turned around, a tired expression covering my features. Damon stood, leaning against the side of the truck, his dark hair ruffled. His blue eyes held a dangerous and angry light. He turned his head in my direction, eyes locking with mine.
"She will die, it's only a matter of time," he resolutely said.
Stefan stepped up beside me and shook his head. "Yeah, maybe so, but it's not gonna happen tonight."
I watched Damon closely as a grimace of a smile passed over his lips. Standing, he inched closer to us, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. Caroline and Elena came to stand behind Stefan, but my attention stayed firmly on Damon. Something wasn't right, he had a plan forming in his eyes. I noticed his right arm placed behind his back and felt my stomach drop.
"Oh, yeah, it is," Damon said, flashing away at vamp speed.
I inhaled sharply as my hair fluttered around me. I spun on my heels and tossed myself beside Elena, who had thrown herself in front of Caroline. I blinked rapidly, my vision trying to focus as Damon came into view. He was standing in front of Elena, a wooden stake grasped tightly in his hand. Breathing heavily, he held the stake above Elena, the sharp tip pointed exactly where Caroline's heart would have been moments before. My lungs were burning as I gasped for air. Elena's brown orbs glanced at the sharp edge of the wood before fluttering to meet Damon's gaze.
"Damon, she's our friend. Shes El-Elandra's best friend,"
I blinked in shock as she said my real name for the first time. Obviously, hoping to use it as a way to plead with Damon. Caroline grasped my shoulder tightly, I could feel her chest trembling against my back as she sobbed, her warm tears falling onto my neck.
"Damon!" Stefan warned.
Damon refused to look at anyone, but Elena, who I was proud to find, held his gaze unflinchingly. His jaw ticked as he ground his teeth together, finally turning away from my sister. His blue eyes found mine, and I stood taller, my magic pulsing in the palm of my hands, aching to be released.
"Whatever happens is on the both of you," he said, glaring at Caroline over my shoulder.
I kept my expression firm, making sure my face held no doubt.
"Nothing will happen, Day," I said.
Damon shook his head, stepping away from us and dropping the stake to the ground. I closed my eyes briefly as I heard it hit the pavement, the quick clattering of the wood almost matched my rapid heartbeat. Elena wrapped an arm around Caroline and led her toward Stefan, her chin rested on her shoulder. I ran a hand over my face and started to follow after them, my whole body aching. I could feel Damon following behind me, but chose to ignore him. I was grateful that the night seemed to be over until I heard a new voice.
"Caroline?" Bonnie asked.
My stomach dropped, and I let out an audible grunt of annoyance.
Could this night get any worse?
I looked up to find Bonnie stepping in front of an obviously terrified Caroline, her face a mixture of disgust and disbelief. Stefan moved Caroline away from Bonnie, it wasn't hard to tell that he felt terrible for my friend. He had been through this before.
"It's okay, come on," he said, taking Caroline's hand.
Bonnie pushed Stefan away and looked Caroline over, eyes roaming her bloodied face and hands.
"No, you're not; you can't be," Bonnie said.
I quickly walked over to my friend, taking my place beside her. I put a hand on her arm as a sign of support. Bonnie glared at me, her dark eyes harsh, and reached out, placing her fingertips on Caroline's arm. Horror covered her features as her magic confirmed what Caroline had become.
"Bonnie?" Caroline whispered, her voice raw.
My grip on Caroline's arm tightened; I knew that she would need me when the witch inevitably freaked out and left her side. As a witch of nature, it was a lot harder for Bonnie to overcome her prejudice against vampires. I just hoped that she could. Bonnie ignored her, instead, heading toward the truck where she found Caroline's victim. I had been avoiding identifying who it was. I found it was a lot easier to cope if they remained faceless. Still, at Bonnie's horrified sob, I turned, discovering Bonnie hunched over the body of the boy she had come to like, Carter. I spun back around, my hand hovering in front of my throat, trembling slightly. Poor Bonnie.
Caroline gripped onto me tightly, as if I was the only thing holding her steady. I shook off my devastation. I could sense my reaction had scared her. I had to remind myself that Caroline was what was important right now. I patted her hand and whispered reassuring words in her ear.
"It's okay, it's okay. It's not your fault, Caroline," I reminded her.
Caroline let go of me and shakily started toward Bonnie — Elena following her.
"Bonnie…"
Bonnie ignored Caroline, her eyes never leaving Carter's body. She was softly caressing his cheek, silent tears falling onto his still form. Stefan walked past me and took Caroline's arm, pulling her away with a sad shake of his head. They started heading away from the devastating scene, before Stefan stopped for a second, motioning toward the bathroom at the edge of the lot.
"I'm going to stay," I said, sensing the heaviness in the air.
Stefan nodded, taking Caroline to the bathroom to clean her up. I watched them until they were safely inside the building, then headed over to stand next to my sister — who was quietly crying behind her best friend.
"I can't believe this is happening," Bonnie said.
I shook my head, my mind spinning with all the things I wanted to say to her. I had warned her that something like this would happen. She had interfered when I had told her not to. She had been the one to ask Damon to heal Caroline; it was because of her that Caroline had vampire blood in her system when she died. I was just as grateful as I was angry. I decided to keep my mouth shut. I heard a shuffling behind us and slowly turned, lifting my head to the sky when I saw Damon with a shovel slung over his shoulder.
"Come on, don't pout about it. I got a body to bury," he said, tossing the shovel beside the truck.
I placed a hand on my face when I saw the pure, unrestrained anger on Bonnie's face. This was not going to be good. I was not looking forward to being in the middle of it. This generation of Bennett witches was a pain in the ass; I couldn't help but love them for it. I always had a bit of a weakness for strong women. I just wish they would stop pissing me off.
Bonnie took one last look at Carter, her eyes closing for a moment as she took a deep breath. When she opened them again, there was nothing but a cool emptiness left. She steadily walked toward Damon, her hair fluttering in the gentle night breeze. Standing in front of him, she lifted her head, her forest-green eyes sealed on his form. I let out an annoyed huff as Damon screamed, clutching his head in agony. He fell to the ground, curling into a ball.
I tapped my foot in agitation as I watched Bonnie glance toward the building next to us, her eyes narrowing in on the faucet. She lifted her hand, and with a flick of her wrist, she turned it on. The attached hose twirled around, water shooting out of the end and wetting the pavement. She was going to set him on fire; how predictable. Her tearstained face was hard as she sniffled, staring Damon down. Her cold voice echoed around us as she spoke, condemning Damon to death for something she had asked him to do.
"I told you what would happen if anyone else got hurt," Bonnie said.
Damon writhed on the ground, his fists clenched against the pain. "I didn't do this!" he shouted.
Elena looked at me in pure shock, surprised that I had yet to step in. Turning to Bonnie, her eyes wide, she tried to reach her distraught friend.
"Bonnie, it wasn't his fault," she said.
Bonnie's eyes turned to the water, and a bright flame danced across the pavement, the water turning to white-hot fire. I raised a brow, slightly impressed that she had developed her magic to this extent. It wasn't exactly a hard spell, but I was under the impression that she hadn't been keeping up with her studies. Guess I was wrong, she had been training.
The bright flame inched its way toward Damon, and I could see his blue eyes reaching for mine, real fear present in their depths. He, like my sister, was wondering, at what he assumed, was my abandonment of him.
"Bonnie, stop it!" Elena shouted, stepping toward her friend.
The fire rose up to block her path, flickering menacingly. Elena shielded her face and stepped away, glancing around for help. Bonnie was beyond reason at this point, and I stood by, watching as the fire crawled on. Finally, it reached Damon, his legs lighting up in flames. He screamed in horror, my name leaving his lips more than once. He patted at his legs in a vain attempt to put out the flames.
"Bonnie! Bonnie, stop it! Elara, what are you doing? Do something!" Elena shouted.
With a roll of my eyes, I stepped closer to the flames. I waved my hand in front of the wall of fire. The fire parted for me like the Red Sea, and I slowly stepped through, brushing off my shoulder. I made my way to the angry, volatile witch, ignoring Damons screams. I stood beside her, never once gaining her attention as she stared Damon down with pure hate. Lifting my hand, I slapped her across the face, my palm smarting at the harsh contact.
Bonnie reared back, her hand coming up to cover her pink cheek, my handprint was clearly visible. Her emerald eyes were wide with shock.
"Why...why did you stop me?!" she shouted, glaring at Damon over my shoulder.
I rolled my eyes, my head shaking in disbelief. "As if I would allow you to kill Damon. I just needed to make a point, Bonnie. You gave me the perfect opportunity to do that,"
Elena choked out a gasp as she came up beside us, and I chuckled. "He needed to be taught a small lesson, he pissed me off, and now I can let it go — so thank you," I said, a smile on my lips.
I could hear Damon breathing heavily, still lying on the pavement, his skin slowly healing.
"What?" Bonnie asked in confusion.
I tilted my head and sighed. "Bonnie, what happened to Caroline is just as much your fault as Damons. You asked him for his blood. You can't start acting all high and mighty now that the unthinkable happened. Katherine killed her, and that sucks, but you're going to have to deal with it."
Bonnie turned away, shaking her head. Elena stepped in front of me, brows furrowed in confusion.
"You good, El?" she whispered.
"He hurt our brother," I said.
Elena's doe eyes were large as she took in a sharp breath. I knew my expression was cold, and I couldn't care less. I wouldn't have let Damon die, but he had hurt my brother and deserved the small amount of pain that had been given to him. That may make me vindictive, but so be it.
Elena put her arm around Bonnie and whispered something in her ear, leading her away from the awful night we had all been subjected to. I turned around and walked over to Damon. He was sitting on his knees, his clothes a tattered mess.
"You okay?" I asked.
His cold eyes glanced up at me, a small sneer turning up his lips. "Do you care, Elandra?" he snarled.
I bit my bottom lip, kicking a few pebbles around. "I do, but I can't allow you to hurt my family, Damon, and I think you understand that now."
I lowered myself to my knees next to him, placing a cool hand on his forehead. I closed my eyes and felt my magic flickering beneath my fingertips. Damon let out a thankful, relieved rush of air, and I opened my eyes.
His skin was completely healed now. I looked down at his clothes and noticed the bare bits of flesh that could be seen. With a slight burning of my cheeks, I snapped my fingers, making sure to fix the tattered mess that had been his clothes. I dropped the smile that had been starting to grow and stared him down.
"Don't you ever touch my family again, Damon, and that goes for my friends as well," I said, my voice tight.
I stood, leaving him without waiting for a response. I didn't need one; I knew he had gotten the point.