Chapter 37: The Last Dance
Scarlett could feel her stomach doing summersaults as she exited Damon's car. Her whole body was uneasy, her inner wolf trying to run but unable to as her body propelled itself forward, following Damon and Sarah as they walked through the school parking lot. All around them were other students dressed up in Sixties outfits – some more convincing than others it must be said.
In spite of this, it didn't put Scarlett anymore at ease. She still felt like an idiot in her bright pink and black chequered style outfit – and matching hat – but that wasn't the cause of her restlessness. It wasn't even the deadly ancient vampire that was lying in wait for them, who could probably kill them all whenever he wanted. What she was in fact truly scared of, what was giving her cold feet and making her want to run home – was Jeremy.
She could see him up ahead, with Bonnie, talking about something. She was consciously choosing not to eavesdrop on him. She didn't feel she had that right anymore – assuming she ever did – to listen in on his private conversations. He would almost certainly agree, assuming he would even talk to her.
And with that depressing thought, Scarlett came to a stop, thinking of what it would be like to never hear Jeremy's voice again. His sweet loving voice.
Sarah and Damon took a few more steps, before stopping too, as they both looked back at their little wolf.
"Everything all right there, Daphne. Or are you still scared to go near Freddy since you came clean about your love affair with Uncle Werewolf?" Damon asked, with his usual level of subtlety.
He'd already made plenty of Scooby Doo jokes back at the house and on the way over. But even if Scarlett hadn't been numb to them by this point, and she'd felt like in acting what she'd described to Sarah and Elena back in the bedroom – she couldn't take her eyes off Jeremy. Nightmares flashing through her mind of how he'd react to her being here, to her being near him for the first time since…
"Hey," Sarah said, stepping towards her and pulling her ward from her thoughts. What Scarlett looked up to was a supportive, and understanding face. While she herself could only grimace in shame. They weren't even inside the school yet and already she was making things more difficult for them all.
"I know you promised, Elena you'd look after him, but if you don't want to go near him I can handle that for you," Sarah offered.
Scarlett smiled appreciatively, but found herself declining the offer. "No. Even if he's mad at me I still want to protect him. Not just because Elena asked me to, but because I don't want to see him hurt anymore than he already is." Sarah offered her another soft smile, before giving her one more hug.
"Besides, I don't necessarily need to be near him to protect him, right?" Sarah chuckled at that, before looking down at her ward and then guiding them both over to the others.
Damon was already with Jeremy and Bonnie, exchanging hellos, but left to go inside before Sarah and Scarlett arrived. Thankfully not all the attention was on them, as Stefan and Elena joined the group at the same time, each of them dressed up in a stylish way representative of the Sixties. They all said their hellos, complimenting each others outfit before Bonnie and Elena shared a hug.
Then Scarlett realised that all eyes where shifting between her and Jeremy, the latter of whom was yet to look her in the eye – or even say hello to her. So, trying her best to be brave, she kept her gaze low and said, "Hey," to Jeremy.
"Yeah, hey," Jeremy replied dismissively, still not glancing at Scarlett. Elena shot her brother a warning look but he ignored that too. Scarlett didn't blame him. He was here for his sister after all, to help her, not make amends with his cheating ex-girlfriend. But if Scarlett could help Elena and Jeremy she would, just like she'd done before. Maybe that was why Jeremy was tolerating her presence at the moment, because he knew she wouldn't let anything happen to him or his sister. Not without a fight at least.
When the awkward silence that followed got to be too much, Stefan said, "You all ready to do this?" They all nodded, and then made their way inside and towards the gym, where the dance was being held. Scarlett had to admit, the decoration committee – or whoever organised these things – had done a really good job. The room was so bold and colourful, with cardboard slabs hanging from every wall. Showcasing groovy flowers, wavy colour palettes and peace symbols. The overhead projector was showing iconic clips from Sixties news and TV on the only bare wall, and they'd even decorated a van. Turning it into what Scarlett assumed to be the classic hippie van that she'd heard people mentioning in the run up to the dance.
And the whole room was packed. Everyone swaying to the ending slow song, as one student took to the stage at the front of the room. "Thanks for being here, everybody!" she called out into the provided microphone, as the DJ turned down the music for her. Everybody cheered and clapped in response, as the tightly huddled group of supernaturals entered the room, eyes all peeled for Klaus and whatever tricks he might have install for them.
"We have a special shout-out tonight," continued to the girl on stage, as the supernatural group reached the centre of the room, having formed a protective circle around Elena without realising it. But that circle couldn't protect her from what was said next.
"This is for Elena," the girl said with a smile, as one by one, the group around Elena looked to the stage. All knowing what was about to follow. "From Klaus."
Naturally the crowd cheered, but those with Elena remained vigilant. All knowing what the request really meant. It was a warning, telling them all that Klaus was here and ready to make a move against them.
Scarlett's nose flared, searching for any scent that she might be able to recognise or which might lead her to Klaus. But having just entered the party, her nose was overcome with the scents of everyone around her, making it hard even to pick out her friends, the ones who's scents she knew of by heart. It would get easier the longer they were here, as her nose acclimatised to the mass of scents, but the ultimate problem still remained, she didn't know Klaus' scent, giving him a huge advantage over her and by extension the group.
"That was a lame, cheap shot," scoffed Damon as if unimpressed, while the requested song by Klaus started to play – 'Dedicated to the one I love' by the Mamas and Papas. "He's just trying to bait us," Damon added casually, though he was still searching the crowd along with the rest of them. Looking for someone who stood out, or was out of place.
"I know everyone here," Elena said, looking around and seeing nothing but familiar faces.
"What about you, you smell anything?" Sarah asked Scarlett who shook her head.
"Already tried. There's too much for me to pick anything out at the moment," Scarlett explained.
"Maybe he's not here. Maybe he just wants us to believe that he is," pointed out Stefan. Though he was remaining extremely close to Elena's side, showcasing that he wasn't overly confident in what he was suggesting.
"It's a party, people. Blend. Let him come to us," Damon said, still unfazed and confident as he tried to get the others to move on, rather than stand huddled together like the easy prey they were.
"I'm going to go and get a drink," Jeremy said, hands shoved in his pockets as he made his way through the crowd towards the food and drinks tables lining the back wall.
"That's the spirit. See even mopey's getting with the programme," Damon said enthusiastically, earning a glare from his two siblings. While that was going on, Elena looked to Scarlett with plea in her eyes. Scarlett quickly got the message, and nodded before going after Jeremy.
She made sure to keep him in sight the whole time, although she also made sure to give them plenty of distance between each other. A strategy that worked up until Jeremy reached the punch bowl table, and Scarlett found herself beside him, wishing she'd remained hidden in the crowd of dancing couples. It would have still been awkward, but maybe less awkward than standing with her ex, whom she'd cheated on.
When Jeremy noticed her presence, he let out a groan before filling up his plastic cup with punch. He quickly downed it, and Scarlett had an idea why. Though she decided it was probably best not to tell him that it hadn't been spiked yet.
"What do you want?" Jeremy groaned, refilling his cup once he'd finished swallowing.
"Elena asked me to keep and eye on you tonight," Scarlett answered, keeping it simple and brief.
"I don't need protecting, and I especially don't need you hanging around me," he replied spitefully, taking another swing at his punch and hoping Scarlett would be gone by the time he finished. She was not.
"Can't you just…" he then trailed off, sighing as he put down his cup, leaning down with both hands on the table. The frustration radiating of him.
Scarlett wanted to comfort him, to say something to make him feel better. But she was well aware anything she said would most likely only make Jeremy even madder. She couldn't support him the way she once could, and it wasn't helping knowing that she was the cause of all his pent up aggression. So she silently stood a meter or so away, her arms folded as if to protect herself, while her eyes remained on her ex's feet because she dear not look up and risk locking eyes with him if he turned around.
"Why Scarlett?" he said quietly, but Scarlett heard the whisper like voice, even through the music. "Why'd you have to do this to me?"
"I never meant to," Scarlett replied just as quietly, almost certain he hadn't heard her.
Whether he did or not, his reply was, "I loved you," his back still to her. "And what's worse is I still love you, despite what you did." Scarlett's eyes widened with surprise and longing all in one second, only to be snuffed out in the very next. "I hate that I still love you, but it's the truth. Only now, every time I think about us being together, I can't stop thinking about you and Mason," explained Jeremy, turning back around to finally look Scarlett in the eye. As if automatic and knowing, she too lifted her gaze to meet his, finding tears in his eyes.
"So why? Why did you have to ruin what we had?" he demanded, stepping towards her.
"Jeremy…" Scarlett said, before taking a second to compose herself, before she could descend into hysteria. "Like I told you, I didn't understand what was happening at the time. I was confused, and I was…and I was in a rush from finding another person like me, and it all happened so fast." Seeing that he was getting more frustrated – about ready to blow once more after hearing a repeat he did not need to hear again – Scarlett quickly moved on, grabbing his arms and forcing him to hear her out. "But now I understand it. And I can make sure it never happens again. I promise you Jeremy, it was just an accident, nothing more. And I can only guess at how hurt you're feeling right now, but I love you, Jeremy. I love you so much. And I want nothing more than to make this right, so that we can get back to where we were before."
"I think I want that to, Scarlett," admitted Jeremy through his slowly dripping tears. Scarlett's hold on his arms falling away at the sign of just a little hope in the darkness. "But I…I just don't know how I'm going to get past this," he explained tearfully.
"I know. I know and I get that," Scarlett said as Jeremy wiped away his tears with his shirt sleeve. "And I'll wait, Jeremy. I'll wait until–" Scarlett froze all of a sudden in mid speech. Completely froze as her nose picked up a familiar scent. One she'd not learnt about until a couple days ago.
"Scarlett?" Jeremy asked, frowning at her as she slowly turned, wide alert eyes following her nose, as she looked across the gym, through the crowd and towards one of the doors leading out into the hallways. And there, she saw Leiah. Appropriately dressed up in a worn with time poncho and jeans covered in hippie's idea of graffitied jeans. With the same smile she'd had on that day she visited the Salvatore house.
"Go on," Leiah said, as Scarlett watched her lips move from across the room, but her voice sounding as if she was right there in front of her. "Keep apologising to your boyfriend there. I'm rather enjoying the show," she said with a giggle.
"Jeremy, get the others," Scarlett ordered, as she quickly began making her way through the crowd. No suspiring though, by the time she'd reached the door, Leiah had already retreated into the hallways and was no where in sight when Scarlett stepped through.
Her trail was obvious though, and Scarlett was about to run after it when Jeremy came through the door behind her. "I told you to get the others," she repeated to him.
"What's going on?" Jeremy demanded, the door slamming shut behind him and leaving them alone in the hallways.
"Some vampire who came by the house a couple of days ago is here and I'm guessing that's not a coincidence. Now, please go and get the others," Scarlett pleaded, but it was clear from his determined gaze that Jeremy had no intention of doing that.
"No, I'm not going to leave you alone. Not if this vampire's working with Klaus, you could be walking right into a trap," argued Jeremy.
"Smart boy," came Leiah's voice, making both Scarlett and Jeremy jump back around, to find her behind them and leaning against the door they'd just come through. An incredibly satisfied smirk upon her freckled face. "Shame he's a little too slow to put that brain of his to use," she added mockingly. "Honestly, I think you can do better."
"Jeremy," Scarlett growled, her glowing eyes locked on Leiah as her canines quickly formed. "Run!"
But before she could make a move, or Jeremy could attempt to flee, they were jumped from behind. Three students grabbing Jeremy and one Scarlett.
The three on Jeremy got him good, two holding an arm each while another grabbed him in a headlock, already dragging him away as Scarlett flung her head back and caught the one who'd grabbed from behind on the nose. The distinct smell of blood filled the air, before Scarlett flew around and landed a solid kick to his chest sending the boy to the ground.
But in doing that she'd turned her back to the real threat, Leiah. Who was on her faster than anything Scarlett had ever experienced.
All of a sudden her arms were beneath Scarlett's, wrapping themselves around her like two agile snakes. Holding her in place while simultaneously granting her an excellent chance to snatch her necklace. Scarlett gasped, feeling her strength drop to an all time low, as she watched her necklace vanish along with Leiah's arms.
She turned on the spot, ready to confront Leiah and take back her necklace only to find her gone.
"I was looking forward to spending more time with you, Cutie," came Leiah's voice from right next to Scarlett's ear, making her jump back as she realised Leiah had been right beside her – having remained perfectly in her shadow as she'd turned around.
Once she'd recovered, Scarlett went to lunge again. But before she could get off the ground she was once again grabbed from behind. Her arms being yanked back by a superior force. The strength of a vampire.
Normally she could have put up a fight. But with her werewolf abilities dampened by the loss of her necklace, and without a full moon, she was no match for a vampire in a physical confrontation.
"And now it looks like I'm about to get my wish," said a gleeful Leiah, before nodding to the vampire that had a hold of her. He dragged her off after Jeremy and the others, and Leiah followed while admiring the necklace she'd just stolen off of Scarlett.
After her brother's demand for them to blend in more, they all broke off into pairs. Scarlett went after Jeremy, keeping an eye on him per Elena's request. Damon went to check in with Alaric and Stefan offered Elena a dance, which she sheepishly accepted. Which then left Sarah and Bonnie, who found themselves dancing for a short while with a group of other singles, before they made their way over to a table. They'd come to the decision dancing wasn't as fun without a partner, and while their friendship was improving, they weren't at dance partner stage yet.
"You think they'll be okay?" Bonnie asked suddenly, grabbing Sarah's attention as she turned from a far off stare.
"Hmm?" Sarah asked, not understanding and only just having heard her over the music.
"Scarlett and Jeremy," Bonnie clarified. "Do you think they'll get back together?"
Sarah's look wasn't very optimistic. "I'm hopeful for Scarlett's sake. But having been in the position Jeremy's in… It's hard to see them coming back from that. Even if it was all one big misunderstanding," Sarah said remorsefully, before taking a drink of her punch.
"Do you think they should get back together?" Bonnie asked, a more knowledgeable look on her face for a girl of seventeen.
Sarah thought for a moment, before shaking her head. "No," Sarah answered honestly. "I've seen people work it out before, but those people weren't as deeply involved or in love as those two. That kind of betrayal leaves a mark, and not one that goes away. And the stronger the connection, the worse the scar. If they got back together, I couldn't see it lasting. The best thing for them both would be to move on."
"Why don't you tell Scarlett that then?" asked Bonnie curiously.
A sad smile touched Sarah's lip, eyes briefly looking off in thought before returning to Bonnie's. "Because she's not ready to let go yet. Neither of them are. First loves are hard like that." She went back to looking out across the dance floor, leaning back against her plastic chair. "I'm still getting over mine."
Just then, Sarah caught sight of Stefan and Elena dancing in the centre of the crowd. They'd been talking about something and looked worried. Sarah was about to start listening in when she saw that Stefan was motioning her over, to takeover from him and keep an eye on Elena.
"Excuse me," Sarah said to Bonnie as she got up. "I'm being asked to switch partners with Stefan." And with that she was then behind Elena, deeply embedded in the crowd without any of them noticing. Seeing she was ready, Stefan twirled Elena around before stretching out his arm. Elena did the same, mirroring his move, only to then find him letting go and stepping away. She'd been about to follow when Sarah grabbed her other hand and spun her into her. "Hello there," Sarah said with a smirk, surprising Elena as she found herself smiling.
Then releasing Elena from her hold, the two began to dance opposite each other in simple hip swaying dance move. "You doing okay?" Sarah asked, more energetic in her dancing than Elena as the girl craned her neck to look past and try and spot Stefan.
"Freaking out a bit," Elena said with a touch of misery as she scratched her neck. "You?" Sarah shrugged, trying to play it off as casual, while the song playing died down and something much faster in pace started to play. Truth was she was a little tense, but that came with the territory as of late. And with the song change, she was almost grateful to feel that tension lift, as he body moved to a recognisable beat in a way it hadn't done so in years.
Then came Elena's laughter as she stood back, hands covering her face as she tried to stop herself. "What?" Sarah asked as if not realising how ridicules she was looking while doing the swim. A ludicrous dance move that involved her pretending to swim while also wobbling her limbs so that she might try and pass it off as dancing.
"What is that?" chortled Elena, trying to hold down her laughter.
"You mean you haven't heard of the Swim?" asked Sarah sarcastically, before pretending to go under water as she held her nose, waving to Elena as the girl let it all out.
"You look ridicules," laughed Elena gleefully, unable to dance with her sides aching.
"Remember what I told, Scarlett?" Sarah pointed out. "That was the whole point of the Sixties. To look like an idiot cause everyone else was too. Now come on," Sarah insisted, succeeding in distracting Elena as she took her hands and tried to get her to copy her moves.
Having not actually been there to learn them as they were invented, Elena, it had to be said, wasn't very good. But the smile on her face clearly showed that she was having fun, as she moved her limbs in such a foolish manner along with Sarah. "You know, I think this is the first time we've dance together since the Founder's Day Kick party," pointed out Elena suddenly, a thoughtful expression on her face as she went back to swaying her hips instead of trying – and falling – to imitate Sarah's nostalgic dance moves.
"Obviously," Sarah said with a smirk. "I can't dance with you all the time, otherwise I'd up stage Stefy."
"With dance moves like that? I don't think so," teased Elena with a smirk of her own, to which Sarah cocked a challenging eyebrow at the girl.
"Not impressed?" Elena shrugged back, only to then move without her control as Sarah grabbed her arm and pulled her. One second their faces were right against each other. Elena breathless from the surprise while Sarah grinned confidently back. Then Elena was twirling away, threatening to keep going until she hit something, when Sarah's hold on her stopped her.
Sarah then pulled her back in, Elena now twirling the opposite way. Skilfully Sarah switched hands, continuing Elena's momentum the other was before stopping her just as she had before. Only rather than pull her in again and risk making Elena any more dizzy, Sarah twirled towards her, her back against Elena's front.
She then spun again, catching Elena's arm with her twirl and sending her spiralling out of control before Sarah caught her in a dip with her outstretched hand. She smiled down at the still shocked Elena, pulling her back up before centring her. She then opened up her hips, grabbed Elena's waist and lifted her up into the air.
With a shriek, Elena went up, only for Sarah to then pull her back down and throw her between her legs. And then she went back up, feeling the extra vampire strength in the action, before Sarah let go and sent her up into the air by a few inches. The shriek this time was twice as loud, before Sarah caught her and threw her between her legs again.
Elena prepared her lungs, ready to go through the motion again, when Sarah brought her up more gentle and set her down on her feet. "Impressed now?" asked Sarah cockily, to which Elena laughed with a wide smile, feeling her pulse racing all of a sudden.
She was still a little dizzy though, so she held onto Sarah's supportive arms for a moment longer. Feeling the warmth and safety of her touch through the material of her dress – until she noticed Bonnie and Damon dancing not too far away from them. "Now there's something I never thought I'd see," Elena said with a concerned frown, before Sarah followed her eye to her brother and the witch.
Turning back to Elena, Sarah brushed back her now wild hair. Specifically moving it back behind her right ear, so that she could listen in on whatever Damon and Bonnie were talking about.
"I didn't want anyone to worry. So, yeah, I lied to him so he'd keep quiet," Bonnie was explaining in a serious tone. The only kind she ever really used when Damon was involved in the conversation.
"What are they talking about?" Elena asked, to which Sarah motioned her to keep quiet for a moment, while the continued to casually sway to the music.
"So you'd lay it all out on the line fore Elena, no matter what? Even if using this magic kills you" Damon asked curiously. The casualness to his own dance moves stopping as he stepped closer to Bonnie, looking down at her as they both came to a halt.
"No matter what," agreed Bonnie, before they slowly began to move to the beat of the song once more.
"Good," Damon said simply, as Sarah broke off her eavesdropping and turned to Elena with a mournful look.
"What is it?" Elena asked worriedly.
"It's Bonnie…" Sarah said slowly. "If she tries to use her magic against Klaus…it'll kill her."
A look of horrific heartbreak came over Elena's face, tears almost coming to her eyes until she realised that she could stop this. Like she'd said before, she wasn't letting anyone die for her, least of all one of her best friends. She'd been fine with this when Bonnie was able to use the magic, but if using it was going to kill her then it wasn't an option anymore.
"I–I need to talk to her," Elena said quickly, to which Sarah nodded.
"Go and get her away from Damon. I'm going to grab Stefan and then we're going to have a little family talk," Sarah replied, before they spit lit up. Sarah did watch Elena however, until she reached Bonnie and Damon. Making sure no one grabbed her at the last second, before she began searching for Stefan.
She found him leaving Caroline and Matt behind when she stepped into his path. Her concern must have been showing on her face – even if it was mild – because Stefan instantly began to frown and asked, "What's wrong?"
"We need to talk to Damon. Now," Sarah stressed before leading them back through the crowd towards him.
"Why, what's he done?"
"Nothing. But he know something about Bonnie that he didn't care to share with the rest of us," explained Sarah with an air of annoyance to her voice. Just once, she'd appreciate it if Damon stuck to the rules and the plan. Just once.
"What's wrong with Bonnie, then?" Stefan asked pulling his sister to a halt and forcing her to turn round and tell him.
With an exhale of breath, Sarah then told him, "If Bonnie takes on Klaus with her magic it's going to kill her."
"What?" exclaimed Stefan, a sudden rush of anger filling him.
"Me and Elena just found out," Sarah said, before Stefan was suddenly striding past her towards Damon, with her now in toe behind him.
Over by the tables, Sarah caught sight of Elena talking with Bonnie, before they broke through the crowd to find Damon dancing with two girls on either side of him, doing some kind of train dance to the music. "Hey, come here. Come here," Stefan said as he grabbed Damon, puling him away from the dancing girls to stand in a small familial huddle with his brother and sister. "Please tell me you didn't know that Bonnie was on a suicide mission."
"Oh, great," Damon groaned arrogantly. "Let me guess, Jeremy told you."
"No, I overheard you," corrected Sarah, arms folded and a none too pleased look on her face.
Overall she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about Bonnie sacrificing herself for Elena. Did she even really care at all? She wondered briefly, thinking about how she felt about Bonnie. What came back wasn't all that clear. But what she was annoyed about, was Damon breaking his promise to Elena, as well as everyone else. "You promised you were going to do things Elena's way," Sarah argued with Stefan backing her up.
"Well, I changed my mind," Damon shot back smugly, before switching back to his own annoyed persona. "I mean come on. We're dealing with an Original here, one worse than Elijah or Amelia, and you want to leave all our plans in the hands of a teenager?"
"It's her choice, Damon," Stefan replied as he squared up to Damon.
"Well, it's a stupid choice," Damon growled back, returning Stefan's angry glare with his own.
"If you don't have to be involved in any of this you know," pointed out Sarah.
"Of course I have to be involved," Damon snapped, before wisely holding his tongue. In case he said something he'd regret. And Sarah knew this, because it was her pointed and knowing stare that reminded him of what his feelings towards Elena should be.
"Eh, hey," came a sheepish voice from next to Sarah, before all three Salvatores turned to face freckly teenager in a bad Sixties outfit.
"What do you want?" snapped Damon. He was probably ready to start attacking the kid for interrupting their awkward silence, until Stefan's hand fell against his chest, pushing him back a few steps.
"I was told to tell you that Klaus has, Scarlett and Jeremy in Alaric's classroom," explained the boy, during which it became clear that he was compelled.
"Thanks," Stefan said slowly, all three frowning as the boy nodded before then wondering off unknowingly into the crowd.
"Looks like Daphne and Shaggy have done it again," grumbled Damon before he began to march off through the crowd.
"Where are you going?" Sarah called after him.
"To get your stupid mutt and he chew toy back," Damon shouted back over his shoulder, leaving Sarah and Stefan to sigh.
"Why can't he ever think this stuff through," groaned Sarah, clenching her jaw.
"Come on, we'd better go after him," Stefan said with a nod, before they both began pushing their way through the crowd after Damon.
They managed to catch up to him at the edge of the crowd, before the three ran to Alaric's classroom together, coming to a stop outside. There, they gave a quick listen in, only hearing the calm breathing of several people, before they slowly opened the door. Damon went in first, seeing a group of students gathered at the back of the classroom, the desks having pushed off to the side.
To the right of the group, was Jeremy, arms held by one students each. Keeping him in place despite his struggles. Scarlett was to the left, held by one lone student. Her arms tightly held behind her back as the one holding her leaned rather closely towards her exposed neck. A neck that didn't have its usual necklace on, Sarah noted, having followed Damon into the room with Stefan behind her. What she also noted, was that all of the students not holding Scarlett and Jeremy, had vampire killing weapons in hand. Whether it be a stake, a crossbow or a modified gun.
"Don't you just love compulsion?"
At the voice, the three Salvatores sharply swung around, noticing for the first time that there was someone sat at Alaric's desk. Instantly Sarah pegged her as the girl who'd sat in front of her during history class that day. The blonde hair, the freckles, those blue eyes…it was definitely her. Now sat back, reclined in Alaric's seat with her feet propped up on his desk, a folded poncho beneath them. Dressed in a simple black t-shirt and jeans with hippy smily faces, love hearts and flowers all over the denim material.
"I think it's the best part about being a vampire to be honest," said the short blonde with a smug grin as she eyed the three Salvatores. Specifically the sister more so than the brothers. "Making people do whatever you want. That rush of power. And it's not just controlling them, it's getting inside their heads. Playing with their thoughts, their feelings…their memories."
She paused for a second, the corn of her lips turning up in a knowing manner. "Still, it has its problems," she shrugged regretfully from her comfortable position. "Like when you remove someone's memories. Only the vampire that removes them can bring them back."
"What the hell are you talking about?" snapped Damon suddenly, face screwing up at the entitled girl who looked no more than sixteen.
The girl glared at him for a split second, before screwing her own face up to hide it, as she shrugged. "It's not important," she said dismissively, glancing down at her phone before looking back up with a smile once more. "What is important, is that I've got Cutie and her ex-boyfriend there, as hostages," she said with a clear amount of glee.
"Cutie?" scoffed Sarah with a frown.
"Easy, Hot Stuff," the girl quickly said with a smirk to Sarah. "I haven't forgotten about you." It was the same remark she'd used to describe Sarah before during class. What is with this girl? Sarah thought to herself, still frowning along with her brothers, as the blonde continued on.
"Now, just so you don't think of trying anything. I know about Ex-boyfriend's ring, that's why they'll be killing him," the girl said, pointing a finger to the group of students at the back, all looking hungry for a kill. She'd obviously done a real number on them, Sarah thought, as she looked back to the freckled face with the blue eyes. "Also, that one holding Cuite. He's a vampire, made himself. Now normally as we all know, Cuite could kill him with just one bite. But as long as I have this," the girl said, holding up Scarlett's necklace with a smug smile. "I don't think that's going to be a problem.
"So what, you just turned a random kid into a vampire and now he does whatever you tell him?" Stefan asked skeptically.
"Like I said, compulsion, gotta love it."
"But vampire's can't…" Stefan began, before it stuck him, as well as Sarah and Damon.
"You're an Original," Sarah said slowly.
"One of the better ones too. Call me, Leiah," she said pointedly to Sarah, with a familiar flame in her blue eyes. A look Sarah vividly managed to connect to Katherine. "Oh, and by the way… Duck." Leiah then snapped her fingers and Sarah knew what was coming next.
She did as Leiah advised and ducked, right as a shot stake zipped by over head and continued on towards Leiah. Who caught it without even flinching. "Come on, you idiots," Leiah called out over the growing commotion. "Hit them not me," she ordered as she discarded the stake to watch the show.
The majority of the students ran towards the Salvatore like a mad tidal wave descending onto a beach. Weapons poised in the air, ready to attack, as several fired off wooden bullets at them. The three siblings dove off in different directions before reappearing in front of the students. Stefan yanked a rifle away from one, butted him on the head with it, then used it to deflect two boys wielding stakes, knocking them out. Sarah meanwhile knocked aside one stake before kicking its wielder's legs out from under him. A second came at her and she side stepped while simultaneously kicking the downed one in the head, sending him into unconsciousness. A third near the back, fired a stake heading right for her, but she ducked and caught it before it could go through the second's head.
Damon however, had just grabbed himself a girl, and was about ready to snap her head until Stefan and Sarah shouted at him. "Don't kill any of them, their compelled remember!" Stefan shouted before knocking out one as Sarah sent her his way. Damon made something similar to a growl, before throwing the girl back at the crowd and then lunging into it himself. Through a series of fast punches and kicks, in between dodging flying stakes and rather pathetic stabs, the Salvatores soon had most of the kids taken care off, until the last five where at the back with Scarlett and Jeremy.
"You realise this is most likely a diversion," sighed Damon as they stared down the last of the compelled kids.
"Yeah," acknowledged Stefan with a sigh of his.
"Go find Elena and Bonnie, I can finish up here," Sarah said, to which her two brothers nodded before leaving the room at vamp speed.
The two students still holding weapons charged at Sarah screaming, one with a stake and the other with a crossbow. It went the same as the other. A quick jab to the one with the stake had him on the floor clutching his now bleed nose. And after catching the wooden crossbow bolt, Sarah dashed forward and slammed the other's head off the back wall.
Then, using her foot, she flicked the empty crossbow on the floor, up into her hand, were she then threw it precisely at one of the boy's holding Jeremy. It knocked him clean out as he dropped to the floor, giving Jeremy a chance to swing his fist at the other one. Getting into a momentary tussle until he won out and got himself free.
Sarah then turned to the newbie vampire Leiah had created, who was still holding Scarlett. He hissed at her, exposing his fangs – as if that would be enough to scare her – and Sarah frowned in response. Before he could then blink, Sarah had thrown the stake in her hand like a knife, which hit the vampire square in the head before he dropped down from behind Scarlett.
"Thanks," Scarlett said, rubbing at her neck as she stepped away from the vampire, allowing Sarah to finish him off with a stake to the heart. They didn't have time to take newbie vampire under their wing, not with Klaus around. This was best for the kid and everyone else. Even if it sucked for a little while.
"No problem, although clearly we need to go over how to protect your necklace," Sarah said as she stood back up with a critical look to her ward. Ever since the full moon when she'd been forced to change because she didn't have it, Sarah had made it a point to teach Scarlett how to defend her necklace from being snatched. For one, Scarlett had made it pretty clear she never wanted to change like that again. Secondly, because it was the source of her power outside a full moon, that made it a target for her opponents during a fight. Obviously the lessons hadn't completely sunk in yet.
"Well, I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised," huffed Leiah, still sat at Alaric's desk as Sarah and Scarlett swung around to face her. Honestly, Sarah had thought she'd have gone after Damon and Stefan – to slow them down before they got to Elena and give Klaus more time. "They were hardly viking warriors after all," Leiah continued, mostly to herself before smiling across at the three still standing up ahead. "Still. It means I now get some hands on time with you myself."
"Do you ever stop with innuendos," groaned Scarlett.
"Not really, Cutie. It's kinda my thing," Leiah said with a feisty grin before Sarah charged at her. Then all of a suddenly Leiah sprung into action. Her feet left the desk and with a powerful kick, sent the thing skidding across the floor towards Sarah. She managed to vault it and continue on but as she went to punch Leiah, the girl grabbed her first – with a surprising amount of strength and threw her towards the blackboard.
But Sarah was back up fast, jabbing away with her fist but never actually connecting. That was until her hand went below Leiah's arm, as the Original grabbed her throat, forcing her back against the wall. "Come on, Honey. I'm an Original," Leiah declared, tightening her grip around Sarah's throat and making her squirm. "What did you really think you were going to do against me?"
"Not much," admitted Sarah through a hoarse and tight voice. "But then again, I wasn't really trying to hit you." It clicked for Leiah as soon as Sarah pointed it out. And when she looked back, she saw Scarlett had her necklace back on – Sarah having thrown it to her when Leiah grabbed her. Now the werewolf's eyes were glowing, and her canines were growing, as an animal like growl came from deep within her chest.
But rather than the fear they'd all be expecting, Leiah's smile only grew. "Oh, I'm so glad your here," Leiah said as her feisty blue eyes locked with Scarlett's. Only to then swing back to Sarah, the same look in her eye. "Both of you."
But then suddenly she then turned back around, hand reaching out and catching a crossbow bolt fired by Jeremy. "You not so much," scowled Leiah as Jeremy threw the weapon aside and reached for another. "How about you wait outside," Leiah suggested not so kindly, as she threw Sarah back against the wall and darted towards Jeremy, only to have Scarlett tackle her before she could get close enough.
They rolled around on the floor for a moment, ultimately ending up with Leiah on top and Scarlett's arms pinned down next to her head. Snapping her canines, Scarlett tried to reach up to bite Leiah's neck. But the Original pulled back, looming over the werewolf as her golden blonde hair cascaded down one side of her head. "Not exactly what I thought we'd be doing the first time we got into this position, but you know, I can work with this," giggled Leiah, to which Scarlett snapped her canines again, trying to put the Original off her teasing, but only making her laugh instead.
Then suddenly her face was gone, covered by the worn poncho she'd originally been wearing. Sarah had grabbed it, and now wrapped it around Leiah's head, pulling her back and giving Scarlett enough room to get her feet under before kicking her off. Then with the moment of Scarlett's kick, Sarah pulled and let the poncho fly with Leiah, sending her into the corner.
"Jeremy!" Sarah shouted, and he threw her the one shot rifle he'd grabbed. Taking aim, Sarah then fired right at Leiah's stomach, only to have her move at the last second. Running around the room, Sarah's eyes followed Leiah all the way around, trying to work out her next move before suddenly she was behind Jeremy. Scarlett cried out, and Sarah ran forward but it was too late, as Leiah sank her fangs into Jeremy neck, ripping his throat wide open before throwing him to the floor.
Sarah then tried to stop her momentum, but Leiah was ready and grabbed a hold before using Sarah's momentum against her as she threw her into the wall. Then she was on Scarlett, lifting her up onto Alaric's desk – now in the middle of the room, and slamming her down onto it with enough force to make the wood crack and Scarlett cough up a little blood.
Momentarily stunned, Scarlett tried to catch her breath, before she felt Leiah's finger running over her lips. She frowned, looking over to the Original, as she stuck the bloodied finger in her mouth and hummed in delight. "Tasty and Cute," Leiah said cheerfully as she smiled. "You'd make a great date," she added, before abruptly swing her elbow back and catching Sarah who'd been about to pounce from behind. "Excuse me one moment," Leiah said casually to Scarlett, before slamming her back against the desk once more, making sure she'd stay downed for a few more seconds.
Leiah then turned her attention towards Sarah, who was on her hands and knees about to get up, before Leiah did the job for her. However, she then followed the helpful gesture up, by ramming a stake through Sarah's chest, allowing her to drop back down to her knees as she groaned in searing pain.
"You know, this isn't how I wanted this to go," Leiah said calmly, as she sauntered across the room to collect her discarded poncho from the floor, all while Sarah followed her with suspicious eyes.
Pulling on the old poncho, Leiah gave it a loving dust before then walking back over to stand in front of Sarah. "I actually came by to see you earlier," Leiah pointed out.
"Scarlett, told me," heaved Sarah as she tried to remove the stake, only to have Leiah bend down and hold it in place. Giving it a twist when Sarah refused to give up. "Who are you?" Sarah asked as her hands lost the strength to hold the stake.
"I told you. I'm Leiah, the Original vampire," declared the freckled face girl with a perky smile.
Sarah closed her eyes, deciding it best to do so rather than roll them. "Who are you, to me? How do you know me?"
Leiah gave a sympathetic look. A genuine one. Which only confused Sarah all the more. Especially when she suddenly ran an affectionate hand down her cheek. "I'm sorry to say, you won't remember," Leiah said, before patting the spot on Sarah's cheek she'd just rubbed. Sarah could only stare back in complete bewilderment, until Leiah's ringtone broke the silence.
"Oh, that'll be me," she said, standing up and pulling out her phone. She smiled at the text she'd received, before yanking out the piece of wood form inside Sarah, the movement of which caused her to fall face down on the floor, cringing as she hit the ground with her exposed wound. "Looks like that's all we've got time for today," Leiah announced as she looked between Sarah and Scarlett, both groaning from their downed positions. "But we should definitely do this again," she said eagerly, before screwing her face up as she pointed towards the dead Jeremy. "Just don't bring him next time." And with that, she vanished from the room in a blur of blackness.
Still recovering from the pain, Sarah tried to get up to follow, but only succeeded in collapsing back onto her knees. It was another few minutes before Scarlett recovered herself and was at Sarah's side helping her up. A few sort seconds passed, then Jeremy was back too, which was fortunate because Scarlett had already said she wasn't leaving Jeremy, and Sarah wasn't ready to move on her own.
So, with Jeremy now taking Sarah's other arm, the three made their way out, using Scarlett's nose to follow Leiah's scent all the way to the cafeteria. Only it seemed they were too late. Whatever had happened had happened. Klaus – if he'd ever been there – was gone, and so was Leiah. Leaving a dead Bonnie on the floor, a hysteric Elena by her side and Stefan with a stoic expression on his face.
By this point, Sarah was now able to stand on her own. Stepping forward to stand alongside Damon, while Scarlett and Jeremy shared shocked and saddened looks with each other. None of them had seen this coming.
"What happened?" Sarah asked Damon quietly, while Stefan tried to calm Elena down as she begged him to do something for the already dead witch.
"Klaus took over Ric's body somehow," Damon began, Sarah turning to him sharply with widely shocked eyes. "He knew the whole time what we were planning. And who to hit in order to stop us," Damon explained grimly, eyes solely on Bonnie.
There was a moment of silence between them, before Sarah then said, "Scarlett's got Leiah's scent. She probably got Klaus – Alaric out of here, since he wouldn't exactly be fast on his own."
Damon nodded at this, before replying, "Take her and see if you can find where they went." Sarah was about to get going, when Damon's hand grabbed her arm. "Try not to get caught," he cautioned, and she silently promised him she wouldn't.
She then nodded for Scarlett to follow and they continued on through the cafeteria and out the door. It was only then Sarah realised that Jeremy was following them. She didn't stop him however. She had a feeling Klaus and Leiah had anticipated this move too, and sure enough they had. The scent ended abruptly two blocks over from the school. They'd been ready all right, and had used the same spell as before to mask their scents. Just like the had with Katherine.
Sarah and the others had lost this one. All they could do was go home now, and mourn the loss of Bonnie, as well as their only chance at saving Elena.
Just another happy decade dance. Sarah thought bitterly to herself, as they made their way back towards the school.
After it was all over, Scarlett found herself sat on one of the couches in the living room of the Salvatore house. Opposite her sat Elena, trembling from head to toe. Tears continued to streamline down her face, and harsh broken breaths parted through lips that would not close. She was in shock, had been ever since Stefan and Sarah had managed to strong arm her into his car. When they got home however, she was too lost to move, so Stefan guided her from the car and sat her down in the living room.
While Sarah then went to get her some tea, Stefan held Elena's hand tightly, and Jeremy sat on her other side, deciding he couldn't leave his sister like this. No matter what his feelings were towards the girl sitting opposite him.
Scarlett didn't say much. In fact, she didn't think she'd said a word since they got back to the school. She figured her words of sympathy would only make things worse, at least were Jeremy was concerned. She wouldn't have been entirely surprised if she said sorry to Elena and he bit her head off for it – and she didn't want a fight starting, not when Elena needed the support of those closest to her, including her brother. So Scarlett opted to sit silently along with everyone else, until Sarah returned with a couple of tea in hand.
"Here, drink this," she said, bending down and holding the cup out to Elena.
Despite her tremble, it was clear she'd shook her head. "I can't," she said through a choked up voice, trying desperately to hold herself together. And if this was her holding it together, Scarlett didn't think she'd be able to stand seeing her when she fell apart.
"Yeah. Yeah, you can," Stefan said softly, as he took the cup from Sarah, now holding it for her so she could sit down next to Scarlett. "Please, drink it. It'll help," he said feebly, knowing it wouldn't be true. Nothing was going to help with this, least of all a hot drink. Bonnie was gone, and Elena was doing what many people like her had done before, including Scarlett. She was blaming herself.
Although she did take the drink from Stefan eventually. But when she held it to her lips, she almost broke as she started crying. Unable to even take a sip from the cup. "This was my fault," she said through uncontrollable breaths, as her hold around the cup tightened as she began to cry harder, the tears coming faster now.
"No, no, no, no," Stefan quickly said in a hushed tone, trying to sooth her as his grip on her hand tightened. "This was Klaus. Listen to me. Klaus did this."
"He's right, Elena," agreed Jeremy softly from her side. "Klaus was the one who forced her to use her magic, not you."
"But she wouldn't have done it…" Elena couldn't finish her sentence, breaking apart as she almost dropped the cup of tea until Stefan skilfully caught it and sat it down on the coffee table. Elena then turned into him, clinging on tightly as he wrapped his arms around her, whisper softly to her.
Scarlett could only watch on awkwardly, looking to Sarah who had the same apologetic look on her face. Almost guilty over not being more broken up over Bonnie's death. It was sad to think they would never see her again, that she was just…gone. But then Scarlett hadn't been all that close with Bonnie. They'd helped each other out but they'd never been more than that, had they? It was only then she realised that she'd never know. What ever their friendship had been, it was over now. And that was when Scarlett finally felt a slither of what Elena was feeling. Probably the same as what Sarah was feeling, judging by their similar expressions.
Then the whole room turned, as the door opened and closed, and they saw Damon entering the house. A duffle bag in hand.
Elena was the first up, the sadness in her eyes suddenly turning to fire – a fire of blame which was aimed solely at Damon. "What did you do with her?" Elena demanded, tears still flying as everyone else followed her and stood up,. But only she was striding forward to meet Damon as he walked into the room.
"Will you please calm her down?" Damon said casually to Stefan.
"Don't talk like I'm not standing right in front of you," said Elena, her anger only masked by her grief struck tremble, and tear consumed face.
"Please, calm down," Damon said, looking directly at Elena now stood in front of him, giving her what she wanted.
"You knew!" she then snapped accusingly, as everyone else grimaced uncomfortably, knowing what was about to follow. "Didn't you? You knew that if she harnessed all that power, that she would die, didn't you?"
"Yes," Damon said bluntly, right before Elena slapped him. Hard.
He turned back like it was nothing. Stoney expression still in place despite the wide eyed stares he was getting from Scarlett and Jeremy. Stefan and Sarah meanwhile were sighing silently at their inconsiderate brother, while Elena was still glaring very clear daggers at him.
"Great, now that that's over with–" Damon said coldly, turning to Scarlett before Elena, in pure outrage, went to slap him again. Only this time Damon didn't let her, catching her wrist and holding it when she tried to pull it back. "Calm down," he repeated, putting emphasis on his words before he finally let her go.
Still glaring at him, Elena stepped back towards Stefan and her brother, taking shelter in her boyfriend's embrace as Damon turned back towards Scarlett. "Scrappy, you're going to need this," he declared, through the apparently empty bag to Scarlett who caught it with a frown.
"Why?" she asked.
"'Cause I've got a job for you and him," Damon answered back, nodding to Jeremy before two very uncomfortable sets of eyes looked to one another.
"Damon, I don't know–" Sarah began to object, before her brother cut her off.
"You're right, you don't know, so how about you let me explain," Damon said cooly, before looking back to Elena and stepping towards her. "Bonnie had to die," he said bluntly again.
"How dare you–!" Elena snapped only for Damon to cut her off too before she could slap him again.
"Listen to me!" Damon said, voice rising to overpower hers before it settled down back to its cool calm tone. "Bonnie had to die. Klaus using Alaric's body was a total surprise. And the fact that he had another Original with him, was also a shock to all of us. Bonnie wasn't prepared for Klaus, and we weren't prepared to take on another Original. And in case it wasn't abundantly obvious to you, Elena, Klaus wasn't going to stop until Bonnie was dead. That was why he was there tonight, not for you, for Bonnie. We weren't going to beat him or Leiah. So we had to give them what they wanted. They had to believe Bonnie was dead." And it was only then they all heard the meaning of his words, their expressions all sliding to awe as Damon stared right into Elena's eyes.
"She cast a spell," he then said at last, after what felt like the longest pause. "Bonnie's okay."
Then with an abrupt whistle, Damon turned away and said, "Scooby, Shaggy, follow me." Knowing who he was talking to, Scarlett and Jeremy followed Damon as he lead them out of the living room and through into the kitchen. By the time they'd caught up to him and his purposeful strides, he was already in the kitchen with the cupboards open. "Start packing some of this, your going to be needing it," he ordered, placing several cans of food down on the table before going back for more.
"Why?" asked Scarlett again, still not understanding what he had planned for her.
"'Cause as of right now, you are Bonnie's new guard dog," Damon explained, setting down another load of canned food, before taking the bag from Scarlett and beginning to pack. Seeing as how she was still frozen to the spot trying to process everything Damon was dropping on her.
"Which means," Damon then continued as he packed. "That you and your ex-boyfriend there, are going to be staying with her until this is all over."
"And where is she?" Scarlett asked.
"A house haunted by witches," Damon answered casually. Only looking up to add, "Don't worry, Jeremy can show you where it is. But since a group of dead witches don't have much need for food, you're going to need some supplies." He then finished packing the canned food, before heading to the fridge and pulling out some bottles of water, throwing them in the bag too.
So apparently while Scarlett had been lying around moping, getting assaulted by Leiah and outsmarted by Katherine, Jeremy had been off helping Damon and Bonnie with their witchy business. Well, it certainly explained a few things, though Scarlett still had several more follow up questions. But the one at the forefront of her mind she didn't feel she could ask just yet.
"Jeremy, there's some lanterns and matches downstairs. Go and grab them for me," Damon ordered, to which Jeremy nodded contently before heading out and towards the basement staircase. "You, go and pack some cloths," Damon said, holding out the now partially full duffle bag for Scarlett. "When you're done take Jeremy and swing by his place so he can grab some supplies too. Then head straight to the house and wait there with Bonnie. You are not to leave the house unless I tell you so, got it. Now get up stairs and get packs."
He was then about to leave Scarlett, duffle bag held in both hands, when she turned to follow him and said after him, "Why are you making Jeremy come with me?"
He stopped in the doorway, seemed to consider her question for a moment. Then his shoulders slouched and he turned back around with an exhausted face and for once, Scarlett thought she might have seen his actual age in his tired blue eyes. "I have my reasons."
"Which are?" Scarlett asked quickly before he could get away.
Another sigh from the blue eyed vampire. "Look…maybe, possibly, though in a very unlikely way, this is m way of trying to help. With you and him." He might have struggled to get it out, even looked disgusted while he said it, but there was no denying he had in fact said it, as Scarlett stared back with wide eyes at the man who claimed to care about nothing other than himself half the time. "Maybe, I figured if you and he were stuck in a haunted house together for a few days you'd talk and maybe…work something out."
"But…Bonnie's going to be there too," Scarlett pointed out, before she then saw the, 'Damon,' part of his good deed, as he began to grin.
"I know," he said cockily, imagining just how awkward this was going to be for all three of them.
However, in spite of his attempts to hide it, this was coming from a place of love. He wasn't doing it to make her life, or Bonnie's life or even Jeremy's life harder. He really was trying to help in his own, very strange, way. And again Scarlett found herself softly smiling at his thoughtfulness, as he uncomfortably frowned back at her.
"Do you really think it'll work?" asked Scarlett skeptically, thinking of just how badly this plan of Damon's could go.
He shrugged in response. "Call me crazy," he said, a sweet smile growing on his lips. And before he could hide it away or cover it up with an insult, Scarlett quickly stepped forward and gently pecked him on the cheek.
"I prefer, Twilight," she said with a grin, before stepping past him and heading for her room.
"I hope you end up killing each other!" Damon called spitefully after her, but it was too late, the damage to his rep had been done. He cared, no matter how much he tried to hide it. And as she walked up the stairs, Scarlett knew that when he'd called her a Salvatore at the dinner party, he'd really meant it. He now saw her as part of his family. Despite the fact she was a werewolf.
Who would have seen that coming?
After five minutes of randomly throwing cloths into the duffle, Scarlett was ready to go. Then, with a degree of awkwardness, she got in the car with Jeremy, as he drove them back to his. The ride was silent, and very uncomfortable, but at least they weren't arguing and he wasn't glaring at her. In fact, he seemed pretty determined with their task, which Scarlett viewed as better than him hating her.
When they reached Jeremy's he went in and was back in the car with her after fifteen minutes, his own bag packed. Another twenty minute drive and a walk through the suddenly creepy woods later, and they were at the aforementioned haunted house. He lead her in without a word, torch in hand, and Scarlett suddenly wished they were on better terms, just so she could hold his hand.
He let her get away with sticking right behind him though, as they then entered the spook basement to find Bonnie sitting alone in the dark. The whites of her eyes the only thing visible, as if she were a sulking cat. "You guys took long enough."
"Sorry," Jeremy said sheepishly, shining the torch on her before he and Scarlett dropped their duffles.
"Hungry?" Scarlett offered, and at Bonnie's desperate nod, Scarlett handed her an opened can of beans which the witch quickly began to devour faster than even Scarlett would. Obviously using all that magic against Klaus – even if it wasn't the full blast, had taken a lot out of her. Combined that with the whole fake death thing, and Scarlett guessed she'd be pretty hungry too.
While Bonnie then ate, Scarlett and Jeremy set to work unpacking and trying to make the dusty old basement as liveable as possible. They threw down their sleeping bags and Scarlett set up all the lanterns, while Jeremy turned on his portable WiFi. He then sat himself down next to Bonnie, his legs crossed and his laptop resting between his level knees.
"You sure it's safe here?" Jeremy asked uneasily as he looked around the dimly lit room – Scarlett was still lighting the lanterns.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Bonnie said confidently, apparently feeling more comfortable than either Jeremy or Scarlett. "There's no chance of Klaus finding us here, the witches won't allow him to." She then paused, seeing Jeremy playing with something before he put it down – his portable WiFi. "What's that?" she asked.
"It's MiFi," Jeremy answered with a grin as he set down the box and started to type on his laptop. "I figured if we're going to be stuck down here, then we might as well have internet.
"Oh, and by the way… Someone would like to say, 'Hi,'" Jeremy said, pausing before turning the laptop around to reveal Elena in a Skype call window.
"Bonnie!" Elena gasped for joy, seeing her friend through the screen.
"Elena? Elena, I'm so sorry," Bonnie cried, before they both descended into tears for one another, but ultimately both happy the other wasn't mad and that they were both alive for now.
And while the two talked, Jeremy got up after handing Bonnie the laptop and moved over to help Scarlett unpack the last of their supplies. "That was really sweet. What you did for Bonnie and your sister," Scarlett said quietly as they worked, deliberately not looking him in the eye as she spoke.
"Well, I love her. I wanted to make sure she could see Bonnie with her own eyes and know she's okay," Jeremy explained, also not looking Scarlett in the eye as they worked. But that only last a few more seconds, before all the food was unpacked and neatly pilled on a box next to their sleeping bags. After that, they both had no choice but to look at each other. Jeremy crouched with bent knees and Scarlett knelt across from him. Both looking away nervously the second their eyes connected, as Scarlett brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You…You did good in that fight against Leiah," Scarlett said, trying to spark up a conversation, but Jeremy only snorted.
"No I didn't," he sighed, deliberately falling on his backside. "I had no idea what I was doing. I was useless in there with you and Sarah. I only ended up getting myself killed." Scarlett resisted the urge to say she'd told him so, since at last they were speaking again without full on fighting.
And then, a thought occurred to her. "You know. Since we're going to be stuck down here with Bonnie for a while… Maybe I could teach you how to defend yourself a little better," Scarlett offered, nervously looking down to play with her hands as Jeremy's gaze fell upon her.
"Seriously?" Jeremy's asked, a little amazed.
"It would just be some basics," she said quickly, not wanting to get his hopes up. "Just so you'd at least know something. And I could give you some tips on how to handle vampires. Some stuff Sarah taught me during my training with her."
"Yeah. Yeah, I'd appreciate at that," Jeremy said in the most upbeat voice he'd used since their break-up.
Then their eyes met, and Scarlett began to think, maybe Damon's plan might just work out after all.
Discarding her bloody cloths into a pile by her bathroom door, Sarah decided she'd deal with them in the morning. It had been a long night after all, and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for some – Elena in particular. Thankfully, she was up stairs with Stefan and already asleep, after she and Damon apologised to one another. In fact, Sarah was pretty sure she was the only one still up, having called Scarlett after Elena to make sure she was doing okay with Jeremy. Although to her surprise things seemed to have improved and she and Jeremy were even talking again. However, Sarah couldn't help but worry over the hopeful tone in Scarlett's voice as she talked. She just hoped the girl wouldn't get hurt too badly in the end.
Alas, it was a probably for another day, so after she was satisfied that Scarlett and the others were safe and semi-cosy, she signed off. She'd then tossed her cloths and gone into the bathroom to clean herself before bed. But as she stood before the mirror, which ran the length of her wall, she found her eyes going to the spot where Leiah had stabbed her. There had been something about that Original, something different to Amelia and Elijah…something she just couldn't grasp…
Footsteps from outside her room suddenly caught her attention, her head turning towards her open bathroom door. She looked through to her closed bedroom door, and waited for the person on the other side. Silence. Then the recession of footsteps, whoever it was changing their mind, as they made their way down the stairs.
With a frown, Sarah quickly grabbed a t-shirt and pulled it on over her naked self, before stepping out into the hallway. She could still hear the footsteps, making their way down into the basement. She followed them down without making a sound, moving as fast as she could in order to catch up, before she caught the culprit at the cellar door. It was Elena.
She'd just opened the door and had stepped into the cellar. Sarah silently sped to the door, staying behind the wall for cover. She then peered in to see Elena bent over the two daggered Originals, eyeing them with intense thought.
When Elena suddenly look backed, Sarah vanished behind cover before she could be seen, thinking it better to keep the element of surprise. But why was she keeping it? This was Elena. Surely she could just ask her what she was doing down here. After all, there could only be so many reasons…
Sarah's eyes widened, as she suddenly realised what Elena was doing downstairs in the dead of night with the two Originals. She turned back in towards the room, about ready to call to Elena, before she saw the brunette pull the dagger from Amelia's chest.
Sarah could only stare, as she then watched Elena do the same with Elijah. Holding both daggers firmly as she sat down against the wall, and waited. Completely unaware that Sarah had just seen her, and was on the other side of the wall cringing to herself.
She only had two options now. Confront Elena and find out what she was playing at before re-daggering the Originals. Or let her play it out and keep an eye on her from a distance. And perhaps against her better judgement, she chose the latter.