Summary: After Damon and Stefan rescue Elena from Elijah, they forget to also rescue Maddison Bennett, also known as Maddie. Elijah ends up finding her and as time passes they grown an instant connection with one another. Maddie knows that it's wrong and she ultimately shouldn't be with Elijah, but she doesn't care. This is her story.
RESPONSES TO CHAPTER 23 REVIEWS
Spencebox- Thank you so much for reviewing, I hope you enjoy this chapter! :)
LadyScatty- Teenagers can be so ... annoying, I can think of some more words but they aren't appropriate lol. Yes, you are right he does scare her to an extent and they aren't friends yet, she just knowns not to cross him. Glad you loved the moment with her and Damon, there is another one at the end of this chapter! :) Thank you so much for all of your constant reviewing!
NicoleR85- Thank you for being a constant reviewer, I hope that you enjoy this chapter! :)
Guest- I will hopefully have Elijah back in around Halloween time, no promises but that's what I am aiming for. Thank you so much for reviewing, I hope that you enjoy this chapter! :)
Lady Wesker- Thank you for constantly reviewing! Some Maddie and Rebekah in the next chapter! :)
Caladhiel999- Thank you so very much for reviewing, as always! I hope that you enjoy this chapter, let me know what you think! :)
soraya1995- I hope you have a wonderful 2017 as well! :) I hope to update twice a month, I know I can get it at least once but I'm really trying for twice a month with the updates! Thank you so much for reviewing and following this story, I hope that you enjoy this chapter!
Thornsilverfox- Glad you love Maddie, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I tried to give her a little softer side, as you will read lol :) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Before the Sun Sets
CHAPTER 24 ~ Ghosts
I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES
"What do you mean my plan didn't work?" Maddie hissed into her cell phone.
Damon sighed. "Stefan's still around, you know bothering people."
"And why is he not in the Forbes cellar?"
"You can blame Matt Donovan for that."
Matt? Maddie felt her brows farrowing, "Matt? What did he do?"
"It's a long story. Are you home?" Maddie sighed. She in fact was home and there was no school today so she was pretty happy. The Founder's council had something, and a lot of the community was helping out, therefore school had the day off.
"Yeah, I am."
"I'll be there in ten minutes. Be ready."
"What if I have to shower?" Maddie wondered, rolling her eyes.
"Shower quick. Is your dad home?"
"No."
"Then I'll let myself in." With that he hung up on her, causing her to chuckle a tad. There was no way he was going to openly walk into her house if her dad was home. He'd probably shoot him with a vervain dart, or throw a wooden stake at him. Or he would just glare.
Maddie, who had been lounging on the couch in sweatpants ran upstairs to change. She had already taken a shower earlier that morning but just slipped into sweats. Since they had the school day off, she didn't think anything would be on her itinerary except for Netflix. She slipped into a plan white shirt, blue jeans and her converse shoes before heading back downstairs. Her phone and keys were down there so she was pretty much good to go. She heard Damon honk the horn when he got there. She grabbed her things, making sure to lock the door as she left the house.
"Where are we going?" She wondered, getting into the car.
"Around Mystic Falls."
"Am I gonna need my wallet?"
Damon threw a her a look. "No. I'm loaded."
This caused her to roll her eyes. In a joking matter she commented, "I would be too if I've lived for over a hundred years."
"Ha ha."
"So," she began seriously as they headed out of her neighborhood. "Why did my plan, which I have to say was absolutely amazing, not work?"
"You can blame Matt Donovan. He somehow conjured up his dead sister, who in turn tried to kill Elena. In the end Stefan is still walking around, giving us all trouble." He sighed before adding in, "No to mention there are ghosts roaming around Mystic Falls now."
"Ghosts?" Her tone was sarcastic.
"Yeah, ghosts." Damon growled. "Mason Lockwood payed me a visit."
"And you're still breathing?" She wondered, amazed. "Wow."
"What do you mean wow?"
"Well to be fair, you did torture the living shit out of him before killing him."
"Yeah, yeah," Damon spoke in an uncaring matter. "If he's back, I'm sure others are back too."
Maddie felt herself suddenly get the shivers. She moved her head slightly. It was scary to her. The fact that others could be back, wanting revenge. Especially considering this was Mystic Falls and a lot of supernatural acts had gone by. They could want to get back at the Founding Families for all of the shit they had pulled in the past. And currently.
"Do you think that they're going after the founding families?" She wondered.
Damon sighed. "I'm not sure, but no one is going to harm you." Maddie gave him a warm smile before texting her mom and informing her that she had left the house.
Maddie- Went out with Damon.
Mom- Okay, have fun sweetie!
Maddie, who had found herself texting various people finally looked up at the road a little while later. They were clearly now in town and there were people all around. Damon began to pull over, "Oh look, there's your cousin and barbie." Maddie felt uncomfortable as Damon pulled up by them. She jerked slightly with the car as he stopped, glaring at the side of his face. "Greetings blondie, witchy. Think you got your voodoo wires all crossed when you got rid of Vicki Donovan."
"What do you mean, why?" Bonnie asked, concern suddenly crossing through her features.
"Because I'm pretty sure I just got spit roasted by Mason Lockwood's ghost."
"What?"
"And why would you think that?" Caroline wondered, as if the whole thing sounded unreal. And it did, however this was Mystic Falls, where the Supernatural world seemed to go.
"Maybe because he chained me to a chair and shoved a hot poker in my chest," Damon shrugged and spoke with an attitude. It was obvious that he was annoyed. "Let's just say I'm having deja vu." Maddie couldn't help crack a small smile, that was such a Damon comment.
Caroline looked at Bonnie. "I thought you said that ghosts couldn't physically interact with people."
"They can't!" Bonnie snapped, shrugging. She obviously had no solution.
"Yeah well I don't have time for vengeful Lockwood. When I kill someone they're supposed to stay dead." He looked from Bonnie to Caroline. "Whatever you screwed up, fix it!" And with that he drove off.
"Well," Maddie spoke after a few seconds went by, "that was pleasant."
"She better fix it."
"You can't kill her."
"Like you care," Damon glanced her way. "I saw the way you looked at her."
"Let's just say Bonnie and I don't see eye to eye right now." She spoke, looking down at her lap.
Damon shrugged, "Whatever. I'm team Maddie all day, everyday."
She couldn't help but crack a smile. "Shut up, and where are we going?"
"The Grill. I need a drink and I'm sure you could use some food in your system."
"Well I didn't bring my wallet."
Damon gave her a pointed look, "You don't need your wallet. Now hush." She could only smirk.
"So since Stefan isn't in the Forbes cellar how have things with him been?" She wondered.
"Same old, same old. I can't believe I'm saying this but I miss brooding Stefan."
She chuckled, "Well they're were less dead bodies to count."
"Is it so?" He wondered shocked, "Maddison Bennett cracking a joke about dead bodies."
"It's been known to happen from time to time."
Getting out of the car she and Damon headed inside, she kept pace, walking behind him. She briefly saw Elena and Ric talking, before Elena kept going in a straight direction and Ric had turned in time to see her and Damon. He looked irritated the moment he saw Damon's face. Maddie understood. If Damon had did to her what he did to Ric she wouldn't want to be all buddy buddy with him either.
"You know," Ric put his hand up, stopping in tracks, "I've had enough vampires today, thanks."
"Oh c'mon," Damon spoke, following Ric as he began to walk again, "have a drink with me, we've got trouble."
Ric immediately snapped, "No you've got trouble! See we're not a team. You tried to kill me, alright. We're not friends, I don't like you anymore."
"Ah, but remember back when you liked me and we conspired to kill uncle werewolf Mason Lockwood?"
"Yeah and?"
"I think he's still a little pissed."
"Understatement," muttered Maddie. Ric looked at her confused. "To cut things short, something went wrong when Vicki was sent back and now it seems that Mason is back and causing hell for our dear, well my dear, your not so dear friend Damon over here." Ric stood there with his mouth open. "Maybe we should sit."
Ric nodded slightly, "Yes, I need a drink."
The three walked over to the bar, Damon and Ric ordering drinks and Maddie ordering a soda. She was sitting in between the two, mostly to keep the peace. When they received their drinks, Maddie put her straw inside of hers and wasn't paying attention to anything or anyone until Ric spoke.
"Mason!" Ric spoke shocked, causing Maddie to turn her head sharply.
"Mason?" She spoke, backing up in her seat a tad.
He gave her a look, "Maddie." He then grabbed Damon's drink, "God I miss whiskey." Within moments he then took the glass and smashed it against Damon's head. Maddie felt herself jump out of her seat and her mouth open, out of the corner of her eye she could see Ric had slightly jumped but he was still sitting.
"What the fuck Mason!" She hissed.
"AH!" Damon groaned.
Maddie put her hand on his shoulder, "Are you alright?"
He nodded at her before looking at Ric, "Told ya."
Maddie felt her phone buzz on the counter, it was a message from Caroline.
Caroline- Are you still with Damon.
Maddie- Yeah, why?
Caroline- Elena said he has the necklace. We need it to break the foothold that the ghosts have to the real world.
Maddie sighed, showing her phone to him. Damon read the messages and afterwords gave her the phone back saying, "I am never gonna hear the end of that damn necklace."
Mason held up a shot, "One of you are going to pay for this right?" He asked with a smile. Damon, Maddie and Ric all just stared at him. "Cheers," Mason said taking a shot.
"Shouldn't you be with Tyler?" Maddie wondered. "I mean I'm sure you've been following everything's that going on. Aren't you concerned about him?"
Mason rolled his eyes, "Don't act like you care Maddie. We all know you don't like Tyler."
She shrugged, "Oh, I'm not gonna waste time and pretend that I like him. But if I were you I would get my priorities straight."
"Girls got a point," she heard Ric mutter. Damon was throwing victory glances her way, which she ignored.
"So run along, go find Tyler. Help him out through his time of need."
"You know you're kind of a bitch." Mason said. "But your cute."
"Watch it!" Damon snapped, "Skip to it. I killed you, you want revenge. Get in line!"
"Actually," Mason leaned in, "I want an apology."
Ric and Maddie both chuckled at the same time. Ric muttering, "Good luck with that," and Maddie just taking a sip of her coke, still chuckling.
"Don't you have family to haunt? As Maddie pointed out your nephew has turned into a mindless hybrid minion."
"That's why I'm here." Mason stated.
Maddie looked around, "I don't see Tyler anywhere in the vicinity."
"I want to help Tyler." He stated looking her way.
Damon snorted, "Well, sorry to break it to you buddy but Tyler can't be helped. At least not while Klaus is alive. Which is like always."
Mason shook his head slightly, "Not necessarily. Not if you found a weapon that could kill him."
"There is no weapon that-," Damon stopped short. Mason was giving him a look. Ric and Maddie looked over as well. At the moment she felt very uncomfortable. Lines were about to be crossed and she didn't really want to be in the middle, but she felt something coming in that split second. Especially when a smirk crossed Damon's face, "what do you know?"
"I know you need to apologize."
"You've gotta be kidding me."
"Are you incapable of remorse? Just apologize!" Snapped Ric.
Maddie looked at Ric, "This is Damon we're talking about, of course he's incapable of remorse."
"You and him made up."
"It took awhile." She noted, "A long while." She recalled thinking about the amount of time they didn't speak to one another and then thinking about how the summer had still been tense between the two of them.
Damon squeezed his eyes shut and took in a breath, "You're right. I didn't have to kill you. I do a lot of things I don't have to do."
Mason laughed aloud, "That's good enough." He stood, "Meet me at the old Lockwood cellar, bring a shovel." He looked from Ric to Maddie, "Come alone."
"Are you gonna bury me alive?" Damon wondered.
"Don't tempt me," Mason spoke as he wandered off.
"Well that was," Maddie paused slightly for a moment, "interesting."
"I'll say," Ric muttered next to her.
"Are you actually gonna go?"
Damon looked at her, "Yeah, why not. But not until I get a drink and you eat a burger."
She ignored his comment about her eating a burger, "Are you serious? He's probably going to kill you or something."
"Is that such a bad thing?" Ric wondered aloud, Damon slightly glared. "What? Did you not hear me when I said we're no longer friends."
Maddie chuckled, "Damon I think you owe someone else another apology."
"Forget it," Damon spoke. "He'll get over it." He caught the attention of a bartender walking by, "Yes, I need a bourbon and she," he gestured to Maddie with hand, "will take a cheeseburger, done well with pickles and french fries on the side." The bartender nodded and walked off the kitchen to put in the order. "Don't pout Mads, what would your mother say if she found out I didn't feed you?"
Maddie was actually worried.
She just couldn't shake the feeling that Mason was not to be trusted. And while Damon was a constant pain in the ass, she didn't want a call saying that he was dead. She kept pacing the kitchen, debating on whether or not to go to the old Lockwood cellar herself. She had been pacing for about ten minutes before her cell phone, which she carelessly threw on the counter began buzzing. She rushed over to it.
Damon- At the cellar. Don't worry.
Maddie- I'm pacing! Beyond worried! :(
Damon- Good to know you still care.
She rolled her eyes and typed him an annoyed response. After five minutes of a no answer she guessed he wouldn't be getting back to her anytime soon. She could only hope for the best. She walked over to one of the cabinets and grabbed a glass before going into the fridge and finding a carton of juice. She could tell that she and her mom would need to go grocery shopping soon. They were running low. Besides, she enjoyed irritating her mom when shopping. She poured herself a tall glass before putting what little was left of the juice back. She smirked, knowing her mom would be pissed that she didn't finish it. Grabbing her glass off the counter she stood in the center of the kitchen. She looked up and as she did so, she felt her hands fall to her sides, her glass slipping from her hands and shattering across the floor. "Grams?"
Sheila Bennett smiled at her grand baby. Whether it was by blood or not that would always be here baby. Her sweet Maddison. "Hi baby," she murmured, a smile resting on her face. Maddie felt her feet moving and before she could stop, her hands encircled around her grandma. Before she could even begin to control herself tears were slurring out of her eyes. "Sh," Maddie felt her grams rubbing her back and trying to sooth her.
She moved her head away, rubbing her eyes. She could see traces of mascara on her fingers but couldn't bring herself to care. "Are you really here?"
"For now."
Maddie nodded, "Right, the whole ghost thing."
Grams chuckled, "Mhm, the whole ghost thing. The balance of nature has been upset and it needs to be set right."
Maddie frowned, "So you're leaving?"
"My place is no longer on this earth Maddie, you know that."
It was later when Sheila and Maddie were both sitting on the couch. Maddie had cleaned up the glass before they went to the living room. It was quiet for a little, just mother and granddaughter sitting next to one another in silence.
"Are you mad at me?" Maddie suddenly asked. She knew that she needed to explain what she was talking about. Grams would know.
Sheila looked over her grandma. "I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not thrilled about your choice of relationship. He's dangerous."
"He's a good person."
Sheila gave her a look that said she didn't care. "He is a vampire. And Damon, well you already know how I feel about him."
"I know," Maddie spoke frowning.
"But if I know you, which I do, your still going to pursue Elijah and you'll still continue your friendship with Damon. Your independent and strong, the way your parents raised you to be."
Maddie gave her a sad smile. It wasn't a shock for her to hear what grams had to say about her relationships, she had made it clear she didn't like her building friendship with Damon before she had died but Maddie did what she wanted to do, which her grams also knew.
"How long will you be here?" Maddie wondered, trying to change the subject.
"Until Bonnie and I destroy the necklace."
Maddie frowned. Not surprised that Elena's necklace was causing all sorts of trouble. "Right. And when will that be?"
"When it's found."
"Found?"
"It seems to be missing," grams said giving her a look.
"I don't know where it is."
"I know you don't, but someone does. It's their foothold to this world."
"Well," Maddie shrugged, "I understand why they would want to stay. I mean the other side can't be as much fun as the real world."
"It doesn't matter. The balance needs to be restored. The ghosts need to go back to the other side, I," she emphasized, "need to go back to the other side."
"I know," Maddie spoke looking down.
Sheila gave her a smile and they sat there in a comfortable silence.
As night time approached Maddie sighed walking around her house. More like pacing. Her grams had left awhile ago, stating that she needed to do some things before she left for good. Maddie nodded and offered to drive her somewhere but she had stated that she needed to do some things alone. Maddie didn't really know what that meant but she reluctantly let her go. Now she was home and bored out of her mind. She could hear her phone chiming but ignored it. That was until it kept going. It was on the in table just making noise.
Getting irritated, Maddie walked over and snatched the device. She could see two missed calls and texts from Cordelia. She went to call her back but Cordelia beat her too it.
"Hey, sorry I was … pacing." Yeah pacing, that sounded right.
"Right."
Maddie frowned. She wasn't sure what it was but she could hear it. "What's wrong? You sound off."
Cordelia snorted, "Yeah. Are you by yourself?"
Maddie nodded, as if her sister could actually see her, before she finally answered. "Yes."
"I saw grams."
Maddie didn't say anything at first. Her mouth kept opening and closing. "I saw her too," she finally got out.
"I figured."
There was a moment of silence. In the background Maddie could hear sniffling, it was light but she still heard it. "Are you crying?"
"Course not."
"Right." Pause. "It's okay to miss her."
"I know." Another short pause. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah I'm fine." Maddie knew that even though it would be hard on her, it would be worse for Cordelia. She was the first grandchild after all.
"You sure?"
"Yeah." It was a silence that fell over the two of them. They didn't say anything, just held the phone to their ears, knowing that if they needed anything someone was on the other line.
"What's going on Care?" Maddie wondered answering her cell phone, which had been going off non stop.
"Got the necklace."
Maddie, who had been sitting on her bed sat up straighter. "Where was it?"
"Anna stole it."
Maddie rolled her eyes, "Of course she did."
"You don't sound surprised."
"I think I'm learning not to get surprised anymore by anything that happens in this town," she said honestly. "Where are you?"
"Bonnie and I are on our way to the old witches house." Caroline explained, "Can you meet us here?"
"Um … sure." She figured if she got lucky she would be able to see grams one last time before she and all the others ghosts left, for good.
Maddie jumped off of her bed, grabbing her car keys and leaving her room. She found her mom downstairs in the kitchen.
"Going out?" Janette wondered.
"I'm going to meet up with Caroline and Bonnie."
This caused Janette to turn around, "Bonnie? How is she?"
"She's alright."
"I haven't seen her in so long, tell her to stop being a stranger and come by sometime."
Maddie nodded, "I will, I'll see you later mom."
"Bye, be safe."
"Of course."
By the time Maddie got there, it was awkward. She watched Bonnie snatch the necklace from Jeremy, who looked guilty before walking over to the fire place and throwing it to the flames. She watched as Bonnie began chanting in Latin. She stood quietly, watching. A smile came to her face when she saw grams grab Bonnie's hand. They began to chanting together.
"You are stronger than all of this," she heard grams say to Bonnie. "I'm so proud of you," She looked at Maddie who felt tears pooling in her eyes, "both of you." Maddie then felt a light kiss being planted on her cheek before she was left standing there. A slightly cold wisp of her left in her wake. She felt the tears rushing down her face.
Bonnie turned and looked at her. "She's gone." Maddie could only nod.
"Bonnie," Jeremy called out.
"Just go away Jeremy," Bonnie spoke, not even bothering to look at him. Maddie felt out of place being here at the moment, she wasn't really trying to witness the showdown, if there was going to be one, between Bonnie and Jeremy, however she didn't want to just up and leave. She could feel her phone buzzing against her butt, since it was in her back pocket.
Come to the Lockwood cellar.
Maddie frowned, looking at the unknown number. She responded with a "who is this" and got back Ric. She told him she would be there as soon as she could, but she didn't really feel right just up and leaving Bonnie with Jeremy, when it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with him.
"Okay," she heard Jeremy say, "I owe you an explanation."
Maddie frowned, hoping Bonnie wasn't going to fall for his shit. Whether they got along or not she didn't want to see Bonnie hurt.
Bonnie looked at Jeremy and began walking over to him, "Matt let go of his sister, before you let go of Anna. His sister, Jeremy. You know what you owe me? The respect of not making me listen to you explain yourself."
"I am sorry Bonnie."
"You need to go."Jeremy went to speak but she cut him off quickly, "just go Jeremy."
With a sigh of defeat Jeremy left. And there stood two Bennett cousins. "Are you alright?" Maddie asked awkwardly.
Bonnie wiped her cheek, "I'm fine."
"Do you want me to stay?"
"No." Bonnie stated fiercely, "I just," her voice softened a bit, "I would just really like to be alone."
Maddie nodded, "Okay. If you need me, you can always text me, or call me, even swing by. My mom would love to see you."
"I'll think about it."
Maddie just nodded slightly. "I'll see you later." She gave her cousin one last look before making her way out. Once inside the car, she sat there, feeling tears begin to pool in her eyes. It was like loosing grams all over again, even though she knew that she wouldn't be here for good, it hurt just the same as loosing her the first time. She took her time getting to the Lockwood cellar. She could see Ric's car and she parked next to it. Not really knowing where she was going, she called his number but got no response. Sucking it up, she got out of her car and made her way to what she figured was some kind of an entrance, and it was. She felt weird, being in the tunnels of Tyler's ancestors but nonetheless she walked through the grounds until she could hear the voices of Damon and Ric.
"Do you hear that?" She could hear Ric ask.
"It's just me," she called out, walking faster to the sounds of their voices. "Just me."
"About time you showed up," Damon commented rolling his eyes. She gave him a small smile and looked away when she noticed him analyzing her, "What's wrong?"
She tried to joke, "Are my eyes still puffy and red?"
Damon was in front of her within seconds, "What happened?"
"Nothing Damon."
"No you were crying, which means that I obviously have to kill someone."
She chuckled lightly, "I saw grams." Damon nodded in understanding. "And … I don't know why but for some reason, I thought maybe she wouldn't have to go back. I didn't want her to go back," she could feel her eyes beginning to pool with fresh tears. "And … I just …," she felt tears spilling along her face as Damon pulled her into a hug.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault." She said into his shirt. She wasn't sure how long she stayed, silently crying into his shirt before she snapped out of it. She pulled away wiping her face, "Sorry about your shirt."
"You should feel honored you know, I don't let people cry on me, much less touch me."
She snorted, grateful that Damon knew how to make her smile. "Ha ha. So what are we doing here?"
"Well Mason apparently found something in there," he gestured to where Ric stood awkwardly, "but I can't get in, which is why I called Ric and Ric called you."
"I'm flattered." She stepped away from Damon walking towards Ric. "Found anything intereting?"
"Not yet, I'm not even sure if anythings down here."
"You think Mason was screwing with him?"
"Well he did murder the guy."
"Right." She sighed looking around.
It was quiet, while she and Ric analayzed, trying to find something. "Can I see that?" She wondered, gesturing to the flashlight. He handed it over. She walked a tad deeper into the caves.
"Damon, where was Mason standing when he found something?"
"Around where you are now."
Maddie said nothing only nodded. She moved the light around carefully and tried to make sure that her eyes saw every spot. She didn't want to miss anything. She could see some white on the walls at one point and bit her lip, "Ric?" He came over and she gave him the flashlight.
"Was Mason screwing with me?" Damon called out. "Or is something in there?" Ric moved the flashlight around, "Ric? Maddie? Am I talking to myself or something?"
Maddie looked at Damon giving in an annoyed smile, "We're looking."
"Well look harder."
"He's such an ass," she muttered causing Ric to smirk a tad.
"I can still hear you."
Ric took a few steps, moving the flashlight. Maddie walked with him, looking over the wall at where the light was shinning. "Ric? Ric? Ric?" Called Damon.
"I found something."
"What is it?" Damon asked.
"I have no idea."
Maddie's mouth opened slightly as she looked over the ancient drawings, having no idea what any of it meant but guessing they would soon figure it out.
Thank you all so very much for reading this story! I appreciate it! Also thank you all for the reviews, favorites and follows/alerts!
In this chapter ... Damon tells Maddie her brilliant plan didn't work. While at the grill Mason shows up. Maddie gets a surprise visitor. Damon comforts Maddie while she was crying.
Next Chapter ... Maddie finds out about Mikael.