Author's Note
There's quite a few line breaks in this chapter which I know can get annoying lmao. Also mouthy Elowen but nothing too drastic :)
Needless to say, last night's incident was…. Odd. Elowen was hoping it was a one time thing as she walked into class that morning.
She was hardly paying attention to what the teacher was saying. In fact, she was getting ready to nod off until something caught her eye in the hallway. Glancing around, it seemed like nobody was paying attention, so, she stood from her desk and left the room.
She wandered down the hallway until she met up with Esperanza at the double doors.
"What is it?" She asked. Esperanza gave no reply and instead exited through the open doors. Elowen followed her and was suddenly transported back into the woods. "Not again…" she mumbled. She only took a few steps and was in front of the church ruins.
"Please, help us."
There was something extra creepy about how Esperanza said this. There were extra whispers surrounding her that made it sound like more than one voice. She could actually pinpoint a voice that didn't sound familiar at all.
"Us?" She questioned confusedly.
"Emily and I," came her wispy answer. Was the extra voice Emily's? "We need your help."
"I can't help you if I don't know what the problem is!" Elowen raised her voice in frustration. Everything she was saying was so cryptic and made it harder and harder for her to understand what was going on.
Esperanza turned to face the church and looked around at the ruins. "This is where it started. And this is where it has to end."
"Where what has to end?"
Esperanza turned back around and in the blink of an eye, appeared directly in front of Elowen. "You have to help us."
Elowen woke up to the sight of the sky greeting her. She sat up and found that she was back at the ruins. Like last time, Bonnie laid a couple of feet away from her. The two of them made eye contact, wearing the same exasperated look.
'You're kidding, right?'
Elowen and Bonnie hastily ran into the school building and hoped to god they weren't late. Elowen almost didn't have time to notice that Stefan wasn't present today. She tried reaching out to him, but he still seemed upset about how everything went down and gave her a bunch of vague responses. He was shutting her out. Elowen was trying her best not to be offended by it.
It was a surprise when a different teacher walked into class that wasn't their usual sub. He greeted the class and began writing his name on the board. Elowen refrained from yawning, however she did stretch in her seat. Sleeping on the ground in the forest wasn't exactly the most ideal bed.
"Alaric Saltzman. It's a mouthful, I know. Doesn't really roll off the tongue," the teacher started. "Saltzman is of German origins. My family emigrated here in 1775 to Texas. I, however, was born and raised in Boston. Now, the name Alaric belongs to a very dead great-grandfather I will never be able to thank enough." At the small sarcastic joke hidden in plain sight, Elowen cracked a smile. Alaric seemed to notice because the corners of his lips quirked up a bit. "You'll probably want to pronounce it Ala-ric, but it's A-lar-ic, okay? So you can all call me Ric. I'm your new history teacher."
"Shouldn't we be calling you Mr. Saltzman, Ric?" Elowen stressed the nickname, keeping her face as neutral as possible to make him think she was serious.
"Don't mind her. She just likes to give teachers a hard time," a student piped up.
"What can I say?" She shrugged. "Someone's gotta do it around here."
Alaric chuckled. "I'll think of it as a right of passage. Now, how about we start today's lesson?"
Outside, Bonnie, Elena and Elowen sat at a bench, discussing the weird dreams they've been having. Actually, it had originally just been Bonnie and Elowen, but Elena inserted herself into the conversation halfway through.
"So, lemme get this straight. You two keep seeing your ancestors and then wake up at the remains of the old Fell's church?" Elena asked. She was trying her best to keep up with the details but was having a little trouble.
"Yeah," Elowen confirmed. "I've never been contacted like this before."
"I think we're being haunted," Bonnie stated.
"I don't think that's too farfetched to think, but…." Elowen sighed loudly. "They're trying to communicate to us for a reason. You can't just ignore it."
"But I don't want to be communicated with!" Bonnie declared loudly. "I want it to stop."
"Bonnie." Elowen shifted in her seat to face her friend. "I'm sorry, but it doesn't work that way. You can't just…. Erase your witch heritage. If you want this to stop, you have to see this through. That's the only way."
"Well, what does your Grams say? Or… your mom," Elena added as an awkward afterthought.
"Mom says she's almost positive it has something to do with this." Elowen lifted her necklace. Something about it made her not want to take it off. She barely managed to put it away after Halloween, but now? Now she didn't want to part with it.
"And you said it all started once you got it?" Again, Elena was trying her hardest to keep up. This was new to her, like it was new to Bonnie, and she wasn't quite sure she understood yet.
"It's what they're using to get ahold of us," Elowen explained. "Each of these talismans once belonged to Emily and Esperanza, respectively."
"Well, I still don't want anything to do with it," Bonnie defiantly stated. "I don't care what you say. I want Emily gone."
Later on, after Elowen parted from Elena and Bonnie, she found Stefan sitting on one of the picnic tables as she made her way to Josiah's classroom.
"Hey," she greeted as she slowly stopped in front of him. "How are you doing?"
He shrugged. "Better. Lexi and Vicki left late last night. Not exactly how I wanted my 162nd birthday to go."
"You didn't even want it to happen in the first place," she reminded.
Stefan cracked a small smile at this. His smile disappeared and he sighed. "I didn't kill Damon," he told her. "Lexi was right. I still, uh, had some colorful words I had to say to him."
"You mean you attacked him," Elowen deadpanned.
He laughed, hanging his head a bit. "I forgot. It's difficult to lie to you."
"Don't try to get used to doing that." She climbed on top of the table to sit next to him.
"I won't." There was a small pause before he said anything else. "Sorry I wasn't at school today. I just… needed some alone time."
"You don't have to apologize. I understand." She decided to move on to a different topic. Stefan probably didn't want to dwell on this. "We finally have a new history to replace Tanner. His name's Ric."
Stefan seemed grateful for the change of subject. He got off the table and they started walking in the direction of Josiah's last period class. Elowen's phone buzzed.
"It's a text from Josiah. Guess he's gonna hang with Jeremy at The Grill for awhile."
"Ah. Looks like we can have some time to ourselves." Stefan leaned down and gave Elowen a long kiss. Her phone went off again. She had to pull away to check it. Stefan grumbled in annoyance.
"Orrrr not. Apparently the girls are having some kind of sleepover tonight and I'm invited."
Another text came in.
"And….. so are you?"
Jeremy and Josiah sat in The Grill, discussing topics for his report in History class. Jenna and Esmeralda were seated across from them.
"I like a man who can dine alone. A quiet strength," Jenna observed. Esmeralda peered over at Alaric from over Jenna's head.
"It's a plus that he's attractive," she added. Josiah and Jeremy gave identical grossed out looks.
"Can you not oogle at our new history teacher?" Josiah asked. "It's weird."
"Oh, don't worry," Esmeralda reassured. "All we're doing is looking. We won't touch. Promise."
Elowen and Stefan arrived at Elena's house and knocked on the door. Elena opened it and stepped outside when she saw who it was.
"Thanks for coming." She looked back in the house and gently closed the front door. "He threatened her, Stefan."
"What would Damon want with Bonnie?" He asked, face contorted.
"I know why," Elowen groaned. "Bonnie has this necklace. It's a sister amulet to this one." She pulled her crystal out of her shirt to show Stefan. "It used to belong to our ancestors back in the Civil War. He asked me to get it back from her and I said no."
"... Weren't you and Damon here during the Civil War?" Elena asked after a moment of thinking. Stefan grew a bit uncomfortable.
"Her name was Emily," he responded after an awkward pause. He glanced at Elowen. "And her name was Esperanza. They were Katherine's handmaidens, and witches."
"You know? About Bonnie?" Elena asked, her eyes wide. Then she looked between Elowen and Stefan and sighed. "Of course you do. Look, can you please figure out what he wants with this necklace? I want him to leave Bonnie alone."
"I'll try," Stefan promised. "In the meantime, try not to think about it."
Stefan left, leaving Elowen and Elena on the porch. She nodded her head towards the door. "C'mon. We invited Caroline, too."
"Where's your necklace?" Elowen asked when she spotted Bonnie, noticing there was no chain around her neck.
"Oh, you're right, it's gone," Caroline noted. "Good. That thing was ugly."
Elowen lightly smacked Caroline's arm. "It wasn't that bad."
"Uh, don't get mad, but I…. sorta threw it away," Bonnie admitted meekly.
"What?" Elowen sort of understood why she would do that, but she was still upset about it. She told Bonnie that it was important. How hard was it to understand that? "Bonnie, why did you do that?"
"Ooookaaaay." Caroline broke in and put her hands up. "I don't know what's going on here, but we're doing manicures. Who has their kit?"
"Mine's in my bag," Bonnie immediately replied, probably not wanting to discuss this with her in the room. Or didn't want to discuss it at all. Caroline walked off to her bag and sifted through it for a moment. There was a moment of silence as Elowen stared Bonnie down, who shifted uncomfortably under her gaze.
"God, why can't you ever just tell the truth, Bonnie?" Caroline suddenly snapped.
"Caroline!" Yelled Elena in astonishment. Even Elowen was a bit taken off guard from her tone. Caroline turned, showing everyone the necklace dangling from her hand. Elena and Bonnie looked at each other, wide eyed.
"You said you threw it away." It seemed like Caroline was coming to Elowen's defense somehow. Considering she was dating her brother, it wasn't much of a surprise.
"I did!" Bonnie defended. "I'm not lying, I swear."
"It's true." Elena tried to back her up. "I watched her throw it in a field!"
"Then explain it!"
"Caroline," Elowen gently cut in. While she appreciated the gesture, there was no need for taking sides.
"Emily," Bonnie muttered. "It had to have been her."
"Emily? Who the hell is Emily?" Caroline asked, clueless.
"I told you there's no way to stop this," Elowen replied.
"What's going on? Why am I not apart of this conversation?" Caroline asked with displeasure. "I expect this from Elena and Bonnie, but not you, Elle."
"That's not true!" Elena tried to deny, but Elowen shook her head.
"Yes, it is. I've witnessed it myself," Elowen cut in. "Bonnie literally told you and never said anything to Caroline."
"Tell me what?!"
"I'm a witch!" Bonnie interrupted, raising her voice so the attention was on her. "Everything my Grams said was true."
Caroline crossed her arms, a hurt expression crossing her face. "I can't believe you. I'm trying my best to take this seriously and you're telling jokes. Whatever." She shook her head and stormed off.
"See? I try to tell her something and she doesn't listen!" Bonnie yelled, frustrated.
"You're kidding, right?" Elowen bit out, turning on Bonnie. "Remember how skeptical you were when your Grams first told you you're a witch? You still don't want to accept it and you just expect Caroline to believe you like that?" She shook her head in disbelief. "That's unfair, Bonnie." Elowen turned and followed Caroline up the stairs, leaving Elena and Bonnie in the kitchen. She found Caroline in the bathroom, sniffling with tears in her eyes. When she realized Elowen was outside the door, she quickly tried to wipe them away.
"I'm not crying. It's allergies."
Elowen offered a small smile, stepped in the bathroom and closed the door. "I never said you were."
"It's just, ever since we were little, Elena and Bonnie have always excluded me, whether they meant to or not," Caroline quietly mumbled with a hint of insecurity. "They say we're all best friends, but I always feel like an outsider no matter how hard I try. And then Bonnie makes fun of me when I try to listen? I'm sick and tired of this!"
"Caroline." Elowen put a hand on her shoulder, getting her attention. They stared at each other through the mirror. "She wasn't making fun of you."
Caroline snorted. "Riiiight."
"No, seriously. Caroline, listen to me. Bonnie is a witch. So am I…. and so is Josiah."
"What? Elle, stop, this is ridiculous." Caroline brushed her hand off her shoulder and headed for the door.
"You've always felt like you were in a competition with Elena," Elowen spouted in order to gain back her attention. "Every guy you liked always liked Elena better. You're jealous of her, but you'd never tell her that."
Caroline stopped with her hand on the doorknob. She slowly turned back to face Elowen, who continued listing random facts she knew Caroline had never told her.
"Your dad divorced your mom because he figured out he was gay. He's living with his boyfriend named Steven," she went on. "You're incredibly smitten with my brother because he's one of the only people who's ever liked you for you, and because whenever he's with you, his attention is solely on you and nobody else. You kind of thrive on that."
"You're serious about this, aren't you?" She asked after a long pause.
"Yeah. I am."
Caroline removed her hand from the doorknob and crossed her arms. "So… why didn't Josiah tell me himself?"
"He was going to, when the time was right. If we tell people what we are when we first meet them, chances are they're gonna think we're nuts and never speak to us again. Not exactly ideal when trying to have a love life."
Caroline bit her lips, trying her best to not smile. "This is for real, then? You're not trying to screw with my head?"
"This is for real," Elowen confirmed. "No head screwing involved."
"Pinky swear?" Caroline lifted her hand, pinky finger extended. Elowen smiled at her, wrapping her pinky around Caroline's.
"Pinky swear."
Esmeralda sighed loudly as she approached Alaric at his table. He'd come to introduce himself earlier, so she felt comfortable enough despite the fact he was now her kids' teacher. "I was ditched," she announced. "Mind if I sit with you?"
Alaric shrugged, gesturing to the empty seat. "Go right ahead. Where'd everyone go?"
"Jenna went to the library because she has a paper to write and the boys…. I'm honestly not sure. I think they're walking back to Jeremy's house."
"Don't you have another kid? Elowen, right?"
Esmeralda grimaced. "It's not very reassuring to know that you already know her name when it's only been your first day."
Alaric laughed, shaking his head. "Don't worry, she hasn't done anything bad, if that's what you mean. She's a bit mouthy, though. But in a good way."
Esmeralda scrunched her face, nodding. "Yup, that's her, alright. Let me know if she ever gives you a hard time."
"Oh, she already has. I feel right at home."
Both of them laughed.
"So, are you from here? Are you a townie?" Alaric asked.
"Nope. I grew up in Atlanta and lived there until about a year ago."
"Atlanta, huh? What made you leave the big city and move here?"
"Divorced my husband and wanted something new," Esmeralda told him.
"I can relate. My wife…. She passed away. I wanted a change of pace, new scenery. I like it here so far. It's got a rich history."
Esmeralda gave him a look of sympathy. She felt his emotions when he mentioned his wife. "I'm sorry about your wife. That's got to be rough."
"Yeah, well," Alaric shrugged. "What's in the past is in the past. I'm here to start a new chapter in my life."
"I can help with that. I'm an author. Just tell me what to write."
Alaric laughed again. "I might take you up on that offer."
Caroline and Bonnie were in the living room by themselves. Bonnie was sitting on the couch and Caroline was standing in front of her.
"Look, it's just not me. I don't believe in the…" Caroline wiggled around a little, making ghost sounds. "Or at least, not yet. Elowen made some…. Promising statements. And this seems to be real to you. That's all it takes for me to jump on board, because I consider you to be my best friend. I'm saying this knowing that both Elena and Elowen are listening to my every word. I'm sorry if it seemed like I never listened before, but I'm listening now, okay?" Caroline leaned her head back slightly, yelling out to the other room. "You guys can come out now!"
Elowen and Elena peered out from behind the wall and creeped into the room. Caroline threw herself on the couch next to Bonnie.
"There is way too much drama in this room. So, what do you guys wanna do?" Caroline suddenly sat up, gasping loudly. "Oh, I have an idea! Why don't we do a seance?"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Bonnie immediately shut it down.
"Come on! Let's summon some spirits. Emily has a lot of explaining to do."
Elowen had backed Bonnie's statement, but Caroline wouldn't give in. They ended up in Elena's room. Elowen had gathered the appropriate items (rather reluctantly) and set the candles on the floor. She lit them and had Elena shut the lights off.
"Have you ever done this before?" Bonnie asked, her eyes nervous.
"Honestly? No. But I do the most important rule is that we don't break the circle, alright? No matter what happens, don't let go. Let's join hands." Elowen stuck out her hands. Bonnie took her left while Caroline took her right. Elena was in between Caroline and Bonnie, the candles in the middle of their conjoined hands.
"Now what?" Caroline asked.
"Close your eyes," Elowen instructed. "Emily….. Esperanza," she blurted before she had the chance to think through calling both of them. Caroline had made a slight face. She knew who Emily was, but who was Esperanza? "We call on you. We know you have a message. We're here to listen."
Not even a second later, the candles flared stronger and brighter. Elowen felt Bonnie and Caroline try to pull away, but she quickly tightened her grip on their hands. However, it didn't help that Elena broke away, severing the circle.
"No!" Elowen exclaimed. "We weren't supposed to break the circle until we said goodbye! It's no longer in our control."
A cold breeze spread through the room. Caroline shivered, rubbing her arms.
"It's just the AC," Bonnie tried to rationalize. Elowen was worried now, but for different reasons the others were. She had no idea if they what was here was actually Emily and Esperanza. It could easily be someone else and she no longer had control over the seance.
"Ask her to show you a sign," Caroline suggested.
"Emily, Esperanza, if you're among us, show us another sign," Elowen called out, her voice as authoritative as she could make it. They waited a moment, but nothing happened.
"See? It's not working," Bonnie attempted to convince them (and herself). It seemed that the spirits didn't like that, because the windows burst open. This time, when the girls jumped apart, Elowen followed their example. "I can't do this. I'm done." Bonnie ripped the amulet off and threw it on the ground. The candles blew out at this. "Get the light. Please, get the light!"
"Hold on. I got it." Elena made it to the switch and flipped the lights on. Bonnie glanced down at the candles and realized the crystal was gone.
"You guys, the necklace. It's gone."
Elowen's hand went to her neck. She didn't feel her own amulet and patted around her clothes to see if she could find it. When she didn't, she wildly glanced around the room.
"Mine's missing, too."
Stefan and Damon lay on the grass of the football, looking up at the sky.
"I'm impressed. Fun with booze and darts, sentimental with football, and now? Starry night." Damon sat up, looking down at his little brother. "What do you want, Stefan?"
Stefan sat up as well. "It wasn't real, Damon," he tentatively started to say. "Our love for Katherine. She compelled us. We didn't have a choice. Took me years to sort that out, to truly understand what she did to us."
"Oh, no, Stefan," Damon got up off the ground. "We are not takin' that on tonight."
"What do you want with Katherine's necklaces, Damon?"
Damon, who was now a few feet away, stopped in his tracks. "How do you know about that?"
"Elowen's my girlfriend, remember?"
"How do you know they were Katherine's? Emily and Esperanza gave them to her on her last night. I was with her and you weren't."
"I was the last one to see her, Damon," Stefan revealed. "Now, what do you want with Katherine's crystals?"
"She didn't tell you?"
"We had other things on our minds," Stefan replied, insinuating what they were doing. Damon vamp sped over to Stefan, getting inches away from his face.
"I could rip your heart out and not think twice about it."
Stefan smirked. "I've heard that one before," he challenged.
"I have a bigger surprise, Stefan." Damon began to back away. "I'm gonna bring her back. And your witchy little girlfriend is going to help me do it."