"What is taking them so long?" Caroline grumbled slightly irritated by the previous events.
"I have no idea," Bonnie said looking at the car clock. "Let's give them five minutes then we'll go, " She proposes.
The girls were entering the mall once more being that the five-minute mark had long passed. They began in a department store's front entrance, which is where the boys should have long ago strolled through.
"Zdraztvuytye, darlings. Back so soon? "
The girls turn to see the familiar old woman.
"Privyet, Vera, " Caroline smiles.
"Privyet," Bonnie greets the woman. "Did you happened to see the two men we were with the other day?" She asked.
"Yes, I believe I saw them talking with a woman at the clearance cologne counter, " Vera explains with a point.
They thank Vera for her help and walked to the cologne section.
Bonnie was running her fingers over the colognes on display when she stopped at one in particular.
"Perfume?" she says
Caroline turned towards her.
"Why would there be perfume at the cologne counter,"
"I don't even think they sell that brand here, " Caroline said. She continued looking for more clues.
Bonnie began picking at the cover surrounding the glass bottle and it peeled off revealing a white sticker with words scribbled on it.
"What does it say?" Caroline asked from her side of the store looking for more clues,
"Sodium pentathol. Isn't that a -"
Caroline whipped her head around "Intravenous drug for anesthesia, "
They exchange worried looks until a faint sound in the far corner grabs their attention. There stood two of the spies they spotted earlier trying their best to discreetly enter a door at the far end of the store.
"They look like they don't want to be followed," Bonnie whispered.
Caroline slipped one of her new throwing knives from her ankle holster and aimed at said door. It struck the lock right before the door fully closed.
"Nice throw, " Bonnie complemented as they speed-walked towards the door.
"Thanks," Caroline said removing the knife from the lock and pushing in the door revealing a dimly lit staircase.
They took their time going down the stairs. When nearing the first flight they saw a man guarding the door.
"Wanna do the honors?" Caroline offers
Bonnie nodded and made her way down the remaining stairs.
"Sorry pretty lady you can't be down here, " The guard said.
"Aw, I didn't know, " she fake pouted before launching a punch to his throat. The guard reached for his throat and gasped for air. But didn't get a chance when Bonnie banged his head against the wall knocking him unconscious.
She then reached down to grab a set of keys that fell out of his pocket and used it to open the stairwell door. Caroline soon following behind her walked down the hall and stopped in front of another door.
Peeking through the small door window they saw both Damon and Stefan bound to a set of chairs with rope. Across from them stood a dark-haired middle-aged woman, and behind her one of the spies, they recognized. They saw the mouth of the women moving, but couldn't particularly make out many sounds. Their guess was an interrogation.
But why kidnap Damon and Stefan? Did someone spot them with the Salvatores and decided to use them for bait? If so how'd they even know Deux Lamort was in New York, to begin with?
-
"Where are they?" the brunette woman repeated once more.
Damon rolled his eyes, "We didn't answer you the first hundred times makes you think-"
The woman struck the side of his face with the back of her gun, bruising his lip.
"We don't know," Stefan said.
The woman narrowed her eyes, "I will get answers one way or another. You," She pointed to the guard. "Get your partner in here. These boys need some extra persuasion,"
The man nodded and exited the room. Upon his departure, the sound of a gun filled the air. She hastily entered the hallway and to her right saw a blonde woman checking the pockets of the knocked out the guard.
The brunette woman reached for the gun in her holster but froze when she felt a cold metal pressed against the back of her head.
"Move and I'll blow your head off,"
-
Caroline entered the room and saw Stefan and Damon in their spots fastened to metal chairs.
"Looks like you guys could use a little help," She said as she began to free them from the rope.
Bonnie entered a minute later with the brunette woman. She led the woman to one of the chairs and she and Caroline restrained her using one of the ropes.
Bonnie turns towards Damon and Stefan, "Can you guys stand guard,"
"We need to go now," Stefan replied.
"Just give us 10 minutes," Bonnie pleaded.
"Just ten,"
"The famous Deux Lamort," The woman began "Not gonna ask if I want the hard way or the easy way?"
"We don't go easy," Bonnie smiled.
"So here's how this works," Caroline begins. Bonnie and Caroline's simultaneously put two guns on the table. A red Glock and a silver revolver.
"Russian Roulette or Lady red?" Caroline asked.
The women looked confused.
"Or we'll pick for you,"
"I'll take my chances with the roulette," The woman said. The girls exchanged knowing glances.
"Rule is simple. Answer the following questions truthfully and you might not die. Who do you work for?" Caroline began.
"My boss," The woman replied.
"Don't be a smartass, who sent you?" Caroline repeated.
"You know I can't tell you that."
Pop
"Aggh!" She shrieked in pain as blood ooze out of the fresh wound in her left foot.
"I'm just a bounty hunter. I got a call including a job offer," She explained through gritted teeth.
"What offer?" Bonnie asked.
"To... find you... two" The woman said through heavy breaths. The pain in her foot began shooting through her body.
"Do you work for Elegen? Caroline asked.
"I wish..," the woman began. "Wait you're the one... they want," She said with a wide smile of realization.
The girls stayed silent.
"Why does Elegen want Deux Lamort?" She thought aloud.
"I think someone is coming," Stefan said peering his head in the room,"
"Multiple someone's," Damon added. The girls gave nods.
"How did you find us?" Caroline asked.
"We have ears every-"
Her answer was cut off by a bullet being delivered to her lower abdomen. She released a shrill scream and clenched her teeth in pain.
"Answer the damn question," Caroline pressed.
"There are multiple bullets?" The woman said with a whimper.
"You didn't think it'll be actual roulette," Bonnie quipped.
"We have to go now we are severely outnumbered," Damon said entering the room.
"Okay," Caroline agreed.
Bonnie nodded as they moved to the exit.
The woman spoke once more making them turn around, "Deux Lamort, We have eyes everywhere,"
"Come on let's go," Caroline said taking Bonnie's hand in hers.
Bonnie gave the woman one last glance before leaving the room.
Once outside they saw Damon and Stefan fighting off a few guards.
"Guys come on," Caroline said motioning them to follow.
Damon and Stefan followed Bonnie and Caroline through the way they arrived and out of the mall. The group ran straight to the car with guards hot on their tails.
A heated car chase transpired as Damon drove, doing his best to avoid the tailing cars and police cruisers. Basic driving laws long ago went out the window.
As they got closer to Salvatore Manor they managed to lose both parties.
Once at the front gate Damon told the Guard a 'Code 12' then continued to the garage.
"Eight minutes." He asserted firmly as everyone got out of the car. "Not a minute less. Only take what you need,"
Both Caroline and Bonnie nodded as everyone went their way.
With time to spare the group met again in the garage.
"I said take what you need," Damon stated as he helped load Bonnie and Caroline's bags into the car.
"Sorry, we don't wear dark t-shirts jeans, and leather jackets every day," Bonnie said making a poke at his traditional wardrobe.
"Mabey you could try being a little inconspicuous sometimes," he returned.
"Mhm maybe," she hummed.
They were all seated ready to go in a different car than before. Stefan in the driver's seat this time they pulled out of the garage.
"Where are we going?" Caroline asked.
"A safe house in the city,"
Both Caroline and Bonnie smiled at each other. They were going to the city. The Big Apple. The great Manhattan. Where buildings touched the clouds and lights shone as bright as st-
"And no. You can't go shopping," Damon said shutting down their plans.
"One way on another you know I'm making it on 5th avenue," Bonnie said.
"We'll see about that," Damon returned.
Due to the traffic, they made it on the island much later in the evening than planned. Caroline and Bonnie stared out the windows in awe at the bustling city. The sounds of engines and car horns filled the already noisy chatter in the air. The passing buildings were so tall you had to strain your neck to view the top. Colorful billboards were plastered all around promoting the new play on Broadway or a celebrity-endorsed product. Pictures and tv screens could not compare to the real thing. It was all one could imagine and more.
After what felt like forever they arrived at an apartment in the East Village.
"There are four bedrooms pick whichever ones," Stefan said upon their entrance of the penthouse suite.
"Except the one at the end of the hall," Damon added but they were already up the stairs.
"You took the room at the end of the hall, "
"Oops"
Damon let out a chuckle. "You just like provoking me,"
Bonnie was sitting crisscrossed on the bed working intensively on some gadget. She looked up.
"I find some amusement in it, "
"What's all that nerd crap?" he gestured toward the electronics on the bed.
"This nerd crap is reprogramming the phones, to prevent us from getting tracked,"
"How?" He queried
She patted the empty space beside her and he took a seat ok the edge of the bed.
"You can easily trace locations through cellphones. Either by phone numbers, intercepting the calls using cell towers or through phone fingerprints" She began.
Damon nodded following along.
"One of which is how I believe we were found. Care and I developed these SIM cards, " She held up the tiny device and began its insertion into the cell phone. "In the simplest form, it will prevent any numbers, not in our contacts from reaching us and block any outside signals from trying to intercept the device,"
"What about the fingerprint scan?" Damon challenged.
Bonnie picked up a sharp tool. "Just break it, " she said making an incision on the side of the fingerprint-scan.
Damon observed as she repeated the same process with a second phone. "That's pretty impressive, "
"Thanks, "
She reached towards a clear container with two phones in it and handed it to him. "For you and Stefan. You need to transfer any important contacts then dispose of your current phones, "
Damon nodded.
"If they find you they find us vice-verse, " She added.
"So no one can trace our phones even if they have our numbers, "
"Yes. The number comes up unreadable. We usually change our phones more often. But we hadn't gotten a chance, " She trailed off on that last part.
"It must be hard, "
She looked up at him catching his blue eyes.
"Always being on the run. Constantly looking over your shoulder, " He continued.
It has been hard. It's been hell. But... "We have no choice, " she murmured.
"You always have a choice, "
She let out a sigh "Not exactly in our case, "
-
Caroline stood on the terrace penthouse admiring the gorgeous city before her. There was no way to describe the way the lights of the city illuminated the night sky.
"It's beautiful isn't it?" She said turning to face the sudden intruder.
"Gorgeous, " Stefan said giving her the once-over.
She fought the red itching to tint her cheeks.
He took stance besides her placing his forearms on the railing. "Listen about earlier today, "
"No, I get it, " she cuts him off.
"You do?" Caroline thought Stefan looked taken back by her answer but she didn't think too much of it.
"Yeah, it's your 'job' to keep us alive, " she said with hand quotes, "We shouldn't have left again. There's no need for us not to cooperate. It's just... were used to it being the two of us ya know, "
"Right. I get it. But believe it not I genuinely want to help you, "
"I understand, "
They stood in their silence for a moment. Looking at the flashing lights in the city below them.
"I'm gonna get ready for bed, " Caroline said turning towards the door "Goodnight, "
" 'Night Caroline, "
She gave him one last glance before retiring to her bedroom.
-
Stefan Salvatore always had a great deal on his mind. But one thought always remained constant. Family. Specifically his bothers. Yes, brothers as in plural.
Zach Salvatore was the youngest Salvatore brother. The young boy always wore a bright smile and his dark brown hair would usually be tousled and messy. Zach adored sports and spend most of his time outside or watching his favorite teams on the television.
One cold September night Stefan and Zach were returning from a quite exhilarating Dodgers game that he treated to his little brother for his birthday. But things took a turn.
The prevailing outcome was a bloodied-faced Stefan and a missing Zach. The culprit pretty obvious. The Salvatore family received a package the following week. The brown mailing box contained a human ear and a letter.
'Next time don't be so hard of hearing'
It's been three years but still feels like yesterday. Stefan still could not forgive himself the incident. He swore he'd never be caught off guard again, that he'd be more careful. Yesterday was a major setback. He and his brother could have been killed.
It was now seven and he could see the sunlight pour in the living room of the apartment. He continued his way to the kitchen for his morningly fix of coffee when he heard a soft clash. Quickly grabbing his gun he went in the kitchen to see a gun pointed his way.
He let out a breath and lowered the weapon.
"What are you doing up so early?" He asked.
"Making breakfast, " Bonnie replied picking up the utensils she accidentally dropped. "You always carry a gun on your way to the kitchen?"
"No, we keep these around the apartment in case emergencies. You?" He directed the question back.
"I realized so," Bonnie replied as she put the gun back in its place under the kitchen island.
"Should you be in the kitchen unsupervised," Stefan said as he made his way towards the coffee maker.
"Ha ha, very funny, "
"I'm just making some toast and coffee,"
Bing the toaster shot up and out came two pieces of blackened toast
Bonnie cringed at the sight.
"You burned toast?" Stefan started, not aware of the possibility to possess such horrible kitchen skills.
"I- um..."
"Why did you have it on 10 mins, " Stefan said looking at the toaster dial.
"Minutes? I thought that was the level of 'toastyness' or something," Bonnie mumbled that last part disposing of the bad toast.
"The what?"
"Uh nothing, " She quickly said.
Stefan had a look on his face a cross between confusion and amusement.
"Don't give me that look I can level a city in twenty-four hours. Toast is the least of my priorities, " She began placing new slices of bread in the toaster.
"Just, " Stefan motioned for her to move away from the kitchen appliance.
"Four mins is fine, " He explained turning the toaster dial.
"Right. So what are the details on the tech exhibit, "
"We were able to get some tickets, I'm gonna pick them up today along with the rest of supplies,"
"Supplies?"
"Yeah we -Please be careful the coffee maker, " he said quickly once he saw her messing with the controls.
"You can't burn coffee, " She looked back at the coffee pot and mumbled, "At least I don't thi-"
"No you can't burn the coffee, " She reassured both Stefan and herself.
"Anyways we need some basic supplies to help with the mission. So I have to go right now," He glanced at his watch. "Can you make sure Damon gets this as soon as possible,"
"Uh sure, " Bonnie said taking the envelope from his stretched-out hand.
"And thank you for the phones, " Stefan said on his way out of the kitchen, with his coffee in a to-go cup.
Bing the toaster rang again. This time revealing two slices of golden bread.
She put the envelope in her pajama pants pocket and quickly spread some butter on her bread. Sandwich in one hand coffee in the other she proceeded to Damon's room to give him the letter.
Once facing the room door she used her hand holding the mug to knock. After two knocks and no answer she balanced the cup in her opposite arm and pushed open the door.
She looked around and saw no sign of him.
Just from the look Stefan's face she could tell the letter was important. She wondered what was in it. People rarely use letters as a means to communicate anymore.
Pulling back in the door she sighed then proceeded on her quest. After checking all the rooms on the second floor she proceeded to the first floor. Who knew a penthouse could be so spacious. After a few more rooms and her breakfast sandwich finished, she faced yet another door. But there happened to be music playing behind this one. She knocked on the wood getting no answer she let herself in.
Peering in at first it looked like a gym. There were two treadmills an elliptical some weights on a rack and few other pieces of gun equipment. She looked to the right, where the music was coming from to see Damon.
He was in a pair of red shorts, wife-beater and sneakers. Preparation covered his body as he curled a set of barbells.
Bonnie assumed he didn't hear her enter because he was still focused on his weights.
"Damon, " she called from her place near the door. Receiving no response she moved further into the room and called his name again up an active.
"Yeah, " he replied loudly.
Bonnie moved to the side of the room where he stood. "Stefan wanted me to give you this, " she held up the envelope.
"What... is it?" He said between breaths still continuing the workout.
"A letter, " she replied trying her best not to pay attention to how his biceps flexed with each rep.
"No, I mean... who's... it from, "
"Guissepe Salva-"
Before she could even finish the sound of the barbells hitting the floor startled her and the letter fled from her hands.
Damon quickly ripped open the envelope. He swore under his breath upon seeing the contents of the letter.
As good as she was at reading people Bonnie wasn't sure she was right this time. Sketched across his face were worry and fear. What could Damon Salvatore possibly be afraid of?
"You alright?" Bonnie spoke up after a minute of silence.
Damon looks at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. He quickly shook his head as if clearing away a thought. Then his face became neutral. "Yeah, I'm good. Did Stefan leave yet?"
"Yes, "
"Okay. I'm gonna step out for a moment. Don't leave and do not answer the door. Anyone who should be here has keys,"
With that he was gone.
-
A/N: Sorry for the long wait, I blame school and my bad procrastination. I'm already working on the next chapter and expect some updates this upcoming winter break.
Recap: This chapter we got a look inside Stefan's head as to why he's so overprotective. We also got a lot of Steroline and even some friendly Stefonnie action. We also got to see the girls in action. Again! Soon we'll see how they'll work with the guys on their upcoming mission. But the real question is, what was that letter about?
As always thank you for reading. Thank you for the reviews and favorites and follows. You guys inspire me to keep writing so thank you so much. 'Till next time.