Lost Girls 1x6
"Your problem is how you are going to spend this one and precious life you have been issued. Whether you're going to spend it trying to look good and creating the illusion that you have power over circumstances, or whether you are going to taste it, enjoy it and find out the truth about who you are." -Anne Lamott
FLASHBACK Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864. Stefan waiting on the doorstep. A carriage arrives. Katherine goes down.
"You must be Miss Pierce." Stefan said flashing a bright smile at the beautiful brunette stranger. He was simply memorized by her.
"Please, call me Katherine." Katherine asked demurely. This was certainly looking to be an exciting prospect. Surely, the Salvatores would make interesting playthings during her detour to Mystic Falls, and hopefully a certain original wouldn't think to check here.
[Salvatore's House. Stefan, Claire and Elena.]
Elena still looked shocked. "What are you? What are you?" Claire was worried that the other brunette would hyperventilate herself into a full blown panic episode.
"Easy, Elena. Breathe. In and out. You can trust us. We will keep you safe." Said Claire in a calm voice. She placed her hand on Elena's shoulder, trying to reassure the brunette of their good intentions.
"You know what we are." Stefan said. His voice quite too intense for Claire's comfort. She shot him a look that said "knock it down a level or two." Her brother could be too over dramatic, intense and melancholic for his own good.
"No, I don't." She replied continuing to panic. Vampires couldn't be real, right? They were simply stories told to scare children at night.
Stefan shook his head, "Yes, you do, or you wouldn't be here." He desperately wanted to get ahead of this, before he knew that Claire would step in, compel and force him to leave Elena. There was something about her that made him feel alive and human again, and he couldn't and wouldn't lose that.
"It's not possible. It can't be." Elena protested. Claire rolled her eyes. Her sympathy was starting to wear thin. She didn't have time for this. They were risking everything because of Elena. She needed to grow some backbone and get on board with the idea. Volatile vampire brothers were her specialty, not frightened humans.
"Everything you know... And everything you believe that you have is about to change. Are you ready for that? Claire said kindly.
"What are you?" Elena asked looking to Claire first, and then shifting her eyes back to her boyfriend.
"I'm a vampire. Claire, Damon and I are vampires." Stefan replied, leaving the door opne for his sister to correct him. She hated when he explain her situation for her.
Claire shook her head, "That's not technically true in my case, I'm part vampire. It's a long and complicated story." Claire wasn't kidding, her gifts were not something even she completely understood, even after all this time and research.
" I shouldn't have come." Elena said spooked as she braced to leave.
"No. Please." Stefan begged, flashing in front of the brunette to stop her from leaving. Claire still held herself back, even though she itched to move, there was nothing she wanted more than to quickly remove the locket from Elena's neck and compel her to forget. It would certainly be the easiest of solutions.
Elena was petrified at the display of power and looked back at Claire who hadn't even flinched. "No. No. How did you do that?"
"Please don't be afraid of me." Stefan pled trying to get his girlfriends emptions back under control.
Claire snorted "because telling someone not to be afraid always assuages their fear." Stefan glared at Claire, her flippant and sarcastic attitude reminded him of Damon.
"Let me go." Elena said trying to get back the blonde haired Salvatore. "Claire, can you give me a little help here?" She asked, her frustration finally over coming her fear.
Claire stood watching the two struggle annoyed. She was ready to step in if Stefan couldn't handle this. She worried about Elena being able to keep their secrets, but something told her that this particular Petrova descendant had a strong sense of loyalty to her family and friends unlike Kat. She worried about her twin being able to handle constant contact with the doppelgänger and control his blood lust. This situation was a tangle of worry for her, her loyalties felt continually more divided as she formed connections and made new friends. She had not made a permanent friend outside of the Bennett clan since her human days for a good reason. Humans were fragile and her brothers lack of respect for human life and tendencies to go on murderous rampages made making human friends a risk.
"No. Elena, there's things that you have to know and understand." Stefan said moving closer and closer to the Gilbert girl.
"Let me go!" Elena cried in desperation.
"Elena, please." Stefan said.
Claire could sense the situation becoming more volatile. She placed herself in between the doppelgänger and Stefan, and said, "Everybody chill. Elena, let's go to your house, we'll explain everything on your turf so that you feel safe."
[Elena's house.]
"Elena. We would never hurt you. You're safe with us." Stefan promised. Claire grimaced inwardly at Stefan's. In her eyes, Stefan's blood issues were a bigger threat to Elena and the community at large than any of Damon's rampages.
"All those animal attacks, those people who died—" Elena said panic still lacing her tone.
"That wasn't us Elena." Claire quipped.
Stefan nodded his head, agreeing with Claire, "No. That was Damon."
"Damon?" Elena asked.
"Yes. I don't drink human blood. That's not how I choose to survive, but Damon does. I'll explain everything to you, but I beg you, Elena, do not tell anybody." Stefan said.
Claire winced at the smugness in his tone, feeling the judgement. Stefan hated the fact that she could control herself enough to drink human blood. He resented her for it.
"How can you ask me that?" Elena said shocked that the pair could expect her to keep this a secret, especially if it threatened her family and friends.
"Because you knowing this is dangerous for so many reasons." Claire said sharply. She had to convey why this knowledge was so essential to remain a tightly held secret.
"You can hate me, but I need you to trust us." Stefan added.
"Just go. Just go, please. Go. If you mean me no harm, then just go." Elena pled.
"Stefan, we need to give her some time and space to think. She is still clearly scared to death. El, we will see you later. I mean what I said, I will explain everything." Claire said calming, yanking her brother's arm so that he was pulled away from Elena's personal space.
"I never wanted this." Stefan said to Elena as he and Claire walked away.
[At the cemetery, Damon burns the bodies.] Cell phone rings.
"Hello." Stefan said. He mouthed to Claire letting her know that Damon was on the other end.
"I want my ring." Damon ground out.
"Where are you?" Stefan asked.
"I'm at the sizzler. I had the buffet. Where's my ring?" Damon asked again, growing more and more impatient. He started to fantasize about ripping Elena's throat out.
"I don't have it. Where are you? What have you done?" Stefan asked concerned that Damon might have gone on a rampage and killed more helpless town's folk.
Damon shook his head, "No, what have you done? You're the one that locked me in the basement and starved me, so whatever I've done, whoever I've sucked dry is on you and Claire, buddy. "
Stefan scoffed, "You're being careless. How many more animal attacks is this town gonna believe, huh?"
"I know how to cover my tracks, Stefan. Where's my ring?" Damon said, his tone laced with great anger and frustration. Stefan was really throwing a wrench into his master plan.
"Claire gave it to Zach to hide. Probably shouldn't have killed him." Stefan added to nettle his brother.
"Ah, you almost got me. Where is it?" Damon growled. "Put Clarissa on the phone."
"Hello darling brother, slaughter any villagers lately?" Claire sneered irritated at Damon's constant antics.
"I'll make it a few more if I don't get back what belongs to me." Damon retorted hatefully.
"I'll get it back, but I need time." Claire assured, hoping to stall and buy them some time to form a better plan.
Damon growled, "What, did you fedex it to Rome? Where is it? I want my ring, Clairissa, or my next stop's Elena's."
Stefan yanked the phone back from Claire, "I already want you dead. Don't give me another reason to make it happen. "
"Great, Stefan way to escalate the situation. I had it under control." Stefan growled at her fury.
"Trouble in paradise? Don't give me another reason to rip you apart." Damon threatened
"Yeah? Is that gonna be before or after you get your ring back?" Stefan quipped, tired of Damon's antics interfering with his relationship with Elena and his day to day living.
"Just get it." Damon said sharply.
Claire who had overheard the phone conversation between her brothers, turned to Stefan and said, "Do I need to track him down and handle this?"
"No, I've got this." Stefan said firmly "You will let me handle this, Claire." He was frustrated with his sister, his perfect, always in control sister. He didn't trust her to handle Damon objectively. He knew she would hesitate due to her once close relationship with Damon, and many, many people would die because of her failure. He would have Elena die because of Claire's failure to stop Damon.
"Or else what, Stefan? I forget you do such a bang up job, in the first place. All hail Saint Stefan." Claire said matching Stefan's sudden hostility blow for blow. This was partially Stefan's fault for dragging them back to Mystic Falls, for his continual obsession with Petrovas, and his unrelenting lack of control of his blood lust which forced her to sacrifice living her life to be his full time babysitter. Yet, he had the lack to distrust her. "Go to hell jackass." She murmured under her breath.
[Coffee place. Elena joined Stefan and Claire.]
Elena looked at the pair grimly, "You just don't wanna die, do you? You said you would explain everything. That's why I asked you to meet me here. When you google "vampire," you get a world of fiction. What's the reality?"
Claire smiled reassuringly, "We can tell you whatever you want to know" She knew that giving Elena time and space to calm down and do her research had been a risky gamble, but she had been right that it was the best option for the scenario that they were stuck in.
"I know you eat garlic." She had seen Claire cook enough with it, that it could not be poisonous to vamps.
Claire chuckled, "Of course we eat garlic Elena, we're Italian. It would be a cardinal sin to not eat garlic. My ancestors would roll in their graves and damn me to the depths of Tartarus."
Stefan glared at his sister for teasing Elena, "Yes, Elena garlic is harmless to vampires."
"Yup, that particular weakness is a total farce made up by popular literature." Claire joked.
"And somehow, sunlight's not an issue." She said hesitantly, waiting for the twins to elaborate on their relationship with the sun.
"Here's your drinks." The waitress said. Claire took a big gulp and downed her shot of whiskey. The burning sensation helped her find a small bit of comfort and control. She passed Elena her ice tea.
"Thank you." Elena said smiling lightly at Claire.
Claire held up her hand and pointed to her Salvatore ring, "This quite solves the sunlight problem. Not just a tacky heirloom indeed."
"We have rings that protect us, the lapis lazuli stone is spelled by a witch to protect the wearer from sunlight." Stefan chimed in.
"Crucifixes?" Elena asked.
"Decorative." Stefan said.
"And largely tacky. I haven't had a human try to attack me with a crucifix in years." Claire quipped.
Elena continued, "Holy water?"
"Drinkable, and delicious." Claire smarted back. She often found the rumors about their life quite entertaining.
"Mirrors?" Elena continued her interrogation.
Stefan cracked a smile, "Myth."
"You said you don't kill to survive." Elena said curiously.
Stefan nodded, "Animal blood keeps me alive, but not as strong as Damon. It can be very powerful."
She looked towards Claire as if to ask her as well. Claire shook her head, "Killing is not my method either. I do not snack on bunnies though because I have moral issues with killing cute little rabbits. I keep a consistent diet of blood bags and donations from willing parties who go home alive and oblivious." Stefan at her words looked away. Claire's lack of blood issues and diet were a consistent problem between the twins.
Elena glared at the twins, "And yet you two let him get involved with Caroline?"
Claire scoffed, "Like we didn't try to stop him, we just let Caroline walk into danger while we sat around and ate popcorn." She muttered sarcastically.
Stefan shot a warning glare at his sister, "Not helpful Claire," He said to her tensely before turning his focus back on to Elena, "Forcing Damon not to do something is much more dangerous, believe me." He told her. He knew his sister's notorious temper had limits and would not tolerate even the slightest threat to Elena's welfare.
Elena shook her head still aghast, "He was hurting her."
"He was feeding on her, El. He was able to take away her memories of being bitten using a form of mind compulsion. She never knew what was happening to her. If he wanted to kill her, he would have." Claire responded. She knew that she had to get it through Elena's head that interfering with Damon's plans usually led to much more bloodshed.
Elena looked at the brunette aghast at her words, "Is that supposed to make it ok?". She couldn't believe that Claire could be so cavalier with talking about Caroline's pain and abuse.
Stefan shook his head, annoyed at his sister's commentary. She always seemed to excuse Damon's behavior. "No. no, none of this is ok, Elena. I know that."
"Given that Damon typically murders his feeding partners, Caroline walked away extremely lucky, El." Claire said in a serious tone. Claire did not want to scare Elena, but she knew that she had to get it into the Gilbert girl's head exactly how dangerous the forces that she was messing with were.
Elena looked at the pair, "Are there any others, aside from you and Damon?"
"Not in Mystic falls, not anymore." Stefan said shaking his head. Mystic Falls had an eerily long supernatural past, and while the Salvatore's were the only current supernatural residents, both of the siblings doubted that would continue.
"Not anymore?" Elena asked curiously. Her parents had kept her blissfully unaware of supernatural presence her entire life, and now her questions had questions.
Stefan shook his head, "There was a time when this town was... Very much aware of vampires, and it didn't end well for anybody. That's why it's important that you don't tell anyone."
"I can't promise that." Elena said. She couldn't promise to protect the siblings if they were a danger to the people that she loved.
"Elena, you have to promise to keep this secret. Other people knowing could lead to our deaths." Claire said earnestly. She shot Stefan a frustrated look. She would compel Elena to forget them if need be. She wouldn't make the same mistake she had, a hundred years ago. Family would come before protecting the Petrova clan.
Stefan shot Claire a look that told her to chill. He knew as well as Claire did that anyone knowing their secret could lead to their untimely doom, but he trusted that he could persuade Elena to accept his nature. "Elena... Give me today. I will answer any questions that you have, and when it's over, you can decide for yourself what you wanna do with what you know. It'll be your choice."
"Claire, are you sticking around?" Elena asked curiously wanting to know her perspective on what Stefan was bound to share.
Claire shook her head, "I can't, I promised I would meet Jenna for lunch. She's having me take over some of Zach's historical society duties. Lucky me, right?" Claire said sarcastically, the last thing she wanted was to more high profile within the town.
Elena grimaced disappointed that the brunette wouldn't be present. Elena considered her a good friend, even in spite of her recently revealed vampire status.
Claire leaned forward, laying a hand on Elena's arm patiently saying, "But I can stop by your house later. We can talk, you can ask questions, or even if you just need someone to rant to about all of these bombshells. I'll be there for you."
Elena smiled, "I'd like that." With that Claire left the couple to discuss their recent revelations. She did need to meet with Jenna, after she managed to track down her recently freed homicidal elder brother who was probably binging on the locals and sucking their blood like a juice box.
[At the cemetery.]
"Never smelled one this bad before." Logan said surveying the burnt corpses at the cemetery.
Sheriff said grimly, "It tried to cover its tracks." She was tired of seeing body after body left in the wake of the creature's murderous impulses. Something had to be done and soon.
Logan glanced at Sheriff Forbes, "Are you sure?" he asked curiously.
She nodded, "I'm positive. You only burn a corpse to try to hide cause of death, and there are no shell casings."
"We know who they are?" He asked.
"Doc'll have to check their dental records." She replied.
"What story should i run?" he asked curious as to what the cover story would be this time.
"Drug deal gone bad. It's not too big a stretch." She said knowing that all of the victims were most likely part of the notorious druggie crowd.
Logan smiled, "I got the Gilbert watch."
She nodded, "Good."
"Found this in the brush about 10 yards away. He handed her an ID." One of her policemen said.
"Vicki Donovan." The sheriff said in a clipped tone.
Logan looked surprised, "You know her?" he asked.
She grimaced, "I went to high school with her mother."
"Think she's one of these?" Logan asked looking closer at the ID.
Sheriff shook her head, "I hope not."
[At the Salvatore's House. Vicki is on a sofa.]
"Where are you, Stefan? I'm trapped at the house, and I'm getting really bored and really impatient, and I don't do bored and impatient. Bring me my ring." Damon yelled angrily into his phone. He was tired of Stefan and Claire's interference. Claire, at least could be managed if he could get her to realize that Stefan was a ticking time bomb of epic proportions. Maybe after, Stefan snapped and murdered all of Claire's new friends, his sister would come to her senses. Damon looked at Vicki who was stirring, her wounds were quite deep after Damon's attack
"Damn it. Aw, don't get blood on the couch. Please. I got you good, didn't i? Well, you're not gonna be any fun today. I'm so gonna regret this. Drink up. Drink it up. Don't drip. There you go. Good girl. That's it." He said forcing Vicki to drink his blood in order to heal. Vicki continued to sleep. Damon decided he would call Claire next. His sister could convince Stefan to see reason or else.
[Elena's car.]
"Stop here." Stefan said pointing to the field. He could see the ruins of their former home. He could picture the walls, the memories and the life that he once had, a life that he desperately missed.
"What are we doing here?" Elena asked still skeptically of the while situation.
"I want to show you something." Stefan replied.
Elena looked doubtful, "In the middle of nowhere?" she asked unable to see why they would be in the middle of no where.
Stefan gestured to the ruins around them, "This... Didn't used to be nowhere. Used to be my home."
"It looks so... " She said trailing off.
Stefan lightly smiled, "Old? It's because they are."
"Wait. How long have you..." she asked
"Claire and I have been 17 years old since 1864." Stefan said.
Elena exclaimed, "Oh, my god."
"You said you wanted to know. I'm not gonna hold anything back. Half century before the boardinghouse was even built, this was my family's home. Damon, Claire, and I... We were both born here. The Salvatore siblings, best of friends." Stefan said recounting the old days before as Claire would say, it all went to hell in a handbasket.
FLASHBACK Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864.
Stefan smiled, competing fiercely with his brother, "Wait. Where did you learn this game?" Claire laughed at their antics genuinely.
Damon returned the smile, before tossing his brother the ball. "Camp outside Atlanta. One of the officers picked it up at Harvard. Catch."
"Wait a minute. Wait a minute. What are the rules? What are the rules?" he said struggling to keep up with Damon's pace.
"Who needs rules? Mind if Clarissa and I join you?" Katherine asked gesturing to the ornately dressed Salvatore sister. Claire smiled brightly with delight, not waiting for her brother's permission and swiped the ball swiftly from her brother's grasp.
Damon laughed, "Quite a natural Claire". He was so proud of his sister no matter what she did, even when she acted less than lady like.
Stefan stuttered, "Uh, well, you could, uh- you could get hurt. My brother likes to play rough. "
At this she cast him a coy smile, "Somehow, I think that you play rougher." She fascination with the younger Salvatore brother was becoming more and more pronounced.
"Come on Kat, let's show them how it's done." Claire said before the pair ran off with the ball.
Damon laughed at his brother before running after the girls, "Why are you just standing there? That is a girl who clearly wants to be chased. If you don't do it, I will. "
[The old Salvatore's field.]
"You knew Katherine in 1864? Damon made it seem like... "Elena said confused. The way that Damon talked about their ex, you would think that she had died yesterday, and not over a hundred years ago.
Stefan shook his head at Damon's antics. It was just like him to leave Stefan with a mess, "Damon was trying to make you think that... I was still heartbroken. He saw that I was happy with you, and he wanted to ruin it."
"All because you loved the same girl 145 years ago?" Elena asked still missing the depth of the brother's issues with one another. How could their feud have lasted this long?
"She wasn't just any girl." Stefan said shaking his head.
FLASHBACK Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864.
Katherine giggled, "Ha! I win. What's my prize?" she said coyly batting her eyes at Damon. Claire looked on with discomfort. She was ill at ease with the way her new friend seemed to flirt with both of her brothers.
"What would you like it to be?" Damon retorted hoping to receive some sign of affection from the Pierce girl.
"They extended your leave?" Stefan asked curiously, but also wanting to know when his brother would leave so that he could resume trying to court Katherine without Damon's interference.
Damon laughed, "I was simply having too much fun to return to battle."
"Damon, your commitment to the confederacy is inspiring." Claire said with her usual sharp sarcastic wit. Then a thought occurred to her, her father's reaction. Giuseppe Salvatore was known for being unyielding and highly valuing family prestige. "What on earth will father say? You know he won't like this one bit." Claire asked worriedly. Their father stressed family honor and stature in the community above all else, to say that Giuseppe Salvatore would not approve of Damon deserting the Confederate army was the understatement of the century, father would be murderous when he heard the news.
Damon shrugged, "Does it matter?"
"Have you taken leave of your senses? Father will you before he allows you to bring dishonor to his reputation. Damon, you could be shot as a deserter." Anger filled Claire's body. This wasn't her brother that stood before her. Her brother often sought to please their father above all else, they all did to no avail. Her instincts told her that something foreboding was coming to hit her family, and she worried that it would never be the same.
Katherine smiled, "Easy Clarissa, your brother will be fine." Turning to Damon, she said "Well, this works out wonderfully for me."
Damon shot Katherine a sweet smile, "How's that, Miss Katherine?"
"Now I'll have both of you here to keep Claire and I entertained. First and foremost, I'll need someone to escort me to the founder's ball." Katherine said with a beautiful smile that didn't quite meet her eyes.
"With pleasure. I would be honored." Both of the brothers answered much to Claire's chagrin. She loathed when her brothers fought because they always put her in the middle of their squabbles.
"The smart and kind Salvatore brothers both coming to my rescue. How will I ever choose?" Katherine said looking at both of them. She felt a twinge of guilt when she saw the look in Claire's eyes. Her sweet friend reminded her so much of her sister, Elisaveta. For the first time in centuries, she finally had a real friend again, a sister.
Claire frowned at her friends words sensing the tension between her brothers and the joy that it seemed to bring her friend. She hoped her brothers would be sensible enough not to let a girl come in between them. After all romance was fleeting, but family was forever. It was their promise to one another that they would always look out for one another.
[The old Salvatore's field.]
"She chose me. I escorted her to the ball at the original Lockwood mansion." Stefan said recounting his version of the details.
Elena's lit up as she put together the pieces, "The first founder's party... Where you guys signed the registry."
Stefan nodded, voice slightly dripped with guilt as he remember just how much Katherine manipulated him. "I didn't care that I had gotten something that my brother wanted. I didn't even care if it hurt him. I only knew that I wanted her."
"And Claire?" Elena asked knowing the tension that seemed to exist between Damon and Claire, and recounting Claire's story about how they once had been so close.
Stefan looked down ashamed, "It both enraged and broke her heart. Like Damon and I, she was never the same again."
Elena nodded understanding how that pain could provoke such extreme reactions in her friend, "So Damon was upset." Elena asked trying to get Stefan to continue the story.
Stefan shook his head, "That's the thing about Damon. He doesn't get mad. He just gets even."
[Mystic Grill]
Claire smiles as she heads over to the table that Jenna is sitting at, "Hey, sorry I'm late. I was hanging out with Elena and Stefan. They needed a third wheel."
Jenna laughed, "Yeah, they have been a little tense as of late, but I am glad that they are working things out. Elena seems happier around him."
"Likewise. I haven't seen Stefan smile this much ever. I though his face was going to break." Claire smiled
Jenna laughed, "So how did you end up in Mystic Falls?"
"I moved back to help Stefan adjust after our parents deaths." Claire said trying to sound sad. Her parents deaths were long ago, and yet she had a responsibility to feign emotion well enough to protect herself and her brothers.
[At the Salvatore's house.]
Vicki bounced downstairs hair still wet from her shower, "Oh, man. That shower was so great. What did you give me?"
"Some blood. You loved it." Damon said wickedly.
Vicki raised an eyebrow and asked, "I did? Wait. I'm confused. How did we get here?" The last twenty hour hours felt like a haze, like she was just coming off a bad trip.
Damon looked deeply in her eyes, compelling her as he said, "We was in the woods. You were drunk. I attacked you. Then I killed all of your friends and brought you here, gave you same blood. You loved it. And now we're gonna party till the sun goes down."
Vicki smiled, "Ok. Um, but first, can i have another hit? That blood was so good. "she said almost moaning at the thought of receiving some more blood.
Damon smirked, "Only if I can."
[The old Salvatore's field.]
Stefan continued his tale of woe, "What Damon wants, Damon usually gets. I didn't know it at the time, but... Turns out that night... Katherine was with him, too. "
"So he stole her from you, not the other way around?" Elena asked disgusted at the other woman's selfish actions.
Stefan grimaced, "Turns out she wasn't ours to steal."
FLASHBACK Mystic Falls, Virginia, 1864. Stefan in Katherine's bedroom.
"I will love you forever." He said gazing into the brunette's eyes. He simply couldn't imagine his life without her. She completed him, allured him and challenged him.
Katherine smiled hesitantly "Forever is a very long time, you know." She stroked his hair back from his face.
Stefan shook his head, "Not long enough." She bits him. He later passed out due to blood loss.
Stefan begins to come to, the events of last night flash back to him.
"Good morning." Katherine said smiling at Stefan. She waves the servant off, "Clear the room, please." Drawing closer to the waking Salvatore, "You're upset."
Stefan look at her with a mixture of horror and fear, "Your face, it was like a demon."
Katherine assumes a calm and walks toward him. "But you're not afraid."
Stefan tries to push her away, "Get away from me. Get away. " In this moment, he is afraid for his safety and that of his siblings, now that this monster is dwelling inside their home.
Katherine advances, "It doesn't change the way you feel about me. You will not tell anyone." She says pulling his face closer to hers.
"I—" Stefan stammers afraid and confused at the turn of events.
Katherine makes direct eye contact with him and begins to compel him, "Shh. We will go on exactly as we have. "Her secret must be kept at all costs. She was having too much fun to abandon this little pony town.
Stefan nodded, "Yes. We will go on." He replied in monotone.
"You have no idea of the future I have planned for us, Stefan- You, me, and Damon. Claire can come with us, see the world. No rules." Katherine said smiling brightly
[The old Salvatore's field.] "She could control my mind and Damon's. She compelled each of us to keep the secret from the other. She wanted all of us to be together forever. Didn't work out that way, but... Damon, Claire and I, looks like we're stuck with each other... Like it or not. "Stefan said grimly. It was painful for him to recount his past.
Elena gestured to the object Stefan had retrieved from the ruins of the house, "Is that Damon's ring?"
Stefan nodded, "I took it from him, but I have to give it back."
Elena shook her head, "No. don't, Stefan. Keep it hidden."
Stefan grimaced, "Elena, if I don't give it to him, he'll retaliate in the only way that he knows he can hurt me. "
Elena looked puzzled, "And how is that?"
"By hurting you." Stefan said gently.
[Lockwood's house.]
"We're working on the burn bodies." Sheriff Forbes said, hoping to reassure the mayor that the situation was being handled.
"Doc i.d. the bodies?" the mayor asked seriously.
She nodded, "A few townies. Notorious druggies."
"I suppose that'll make it easy for people to buy the story. And Vicki Donovan?" He replied. Knowing Tyler's on and off relationship with the Donovan sister, he wanted to make sure his family was kept out of any scandal.
The sheriff nodded, "She's not one of the deceased."
"Where the hell is she?" he asked.
She shrugged, "I wish I knew."
"Sorry I'm late." Logan said as he rushed into the Mayor's study. Logan hands the pair the gilbert watch.
[The Salvatore's house.]
Damon started to call his sister once again for the twentieth time, "Clarissa Salvatore you bring me my ring within the next three hours or I'll rip your friends from limb to limb. Also answer your damn phone." He then threw the phone on the ground.
"I am so over Tyler, so over him. Plus I'm pretty sure Ty is hooking up with your sister." Vicki said to Damon as she swayed and gyrated to the music. Damon pretended to dry heave at the mention of his sister's potential sex life.
"I knew from the beginning that i was only a piece of ass to him, but i thought maybe if he got to know me better, he might see something more. But no. Now, Jeremy, on the other hand, that's all he's ever seen in me is something more, and i like that." Vicki continued to tell Damon as he nodded and skim listened.
Damon perked up at the mention of the Gilbert, "Jeremy, huh? Elena's brother?"
Vicki nodded and smiles brightly as if talking about Jeremy brings her great joy. "Yeah. yeah. So, Elena used to date my brother, and they were always together, so Jeremy would always be hanging around and crushing on me and- Hey, why don't you have a girlfriend? You're, like, totally cool and so hot. "
Damon smirked, "I know. "
"Don't you want to be in love?" she asked.
Damon shook his head, "I've been in love. It's painful and pointless and overrated. Except when it isn't. No more talking. Let's dance."
Vicki continues with her sad life story as they dance, "My mom spends most of her time in Virginia beach with Pete. He drives trucks. I don't remember my dad, but from what i gather, he's not worth remembering. "
"Your life is so pathetic." Damon replies.
She nods, "Yeah. I mean, I'm the screwed-up one. Matt's got it so easy. He's the golden boy. I mean, he's gonna get a football scholarship and marry Elena and have a lawn mower and some babies, and when i think of my future, i just come up blank."
"You are so damaged." He quips.
"Yep." Vicki replies
Damon laughs, "I mean, you don't have one hint of self-esteem."
"Nope, none." She said shaking her head.
"I think I know what can help you." Damon exclaims with glee, a plan popping into his head.
Vicki looks confused, "So what's that?" she said.
"Death." Damon said shortly before snapping her neck, killing her instantaneously.
After few minutes, Vicki wakes up. "What happened?" she asks dazed after just coming to.
Damon smiles wickedly, "We were dancing, and then- then I killed you."
"What?" she says in disbelief.
Damon nods, "You're dead."
"I'm dead?" she says.
Damon chuckles, "Yeah, well, let's not make a big deal out of it. Drank my blood, i killed you, and now you have to feed in order to complete the process. You're wasted. You don't wanna be out there all alone. You're about to get really freaky."
"Ok, I had a really good time. I just wanna go home." She starts to head out from the house.
Damon moves to prevent her from leaving, "You're gonna start craving blood, and until you get it, you're gonna feel very out of it. You have to be careful."
Vicki tries to get past him, "Come on, move."
"See? you're already starting to fall apart." He says.
"And i'm going home now." She replies
Damon moves to let her by, adding "Ok, fine. I'm just warning you. Actually, you know what? You should go. In fact, if i were you, I would stop by your boyfriend Jeremy's house."
Vicki flips him off, "Yeah, whatever. "she says unconcerned.
Damon waved, "Bye. Tell Elena I said hi. And if you see Stefan or Claire, tell them to call me."
Not a half of a second later, Claire walked into the Salvatore house, she could smell the blood and booze before she even opened the door. "Damon, Damon, Damon." She yelled as she walked through her house.
Damon flashed in front of her, "Baby sister, and here I thought that you and Stefan had decided to ignore me for the rest of our immortal existence."
Claire rolled her eyes, "Don't try to be cute Damon."
"I don't have to try Claire. So what should I thank for the honor of your attention?" Damon said smirking.
"The dozens of phone calls, and just so you know, one voicemail is just as effective as fifty, Damon. Also Al Capone called, and even he agrees that your intimidation skills are lame. It was really a poor showing on your part using the usual threats." Claire retorted back.
"My ring, Clarissa. You will give me my ring." Damon said throwing her against the wall in anger. His ring was his ticket to his freedom. His assurance that he could stay anonymous within the town.
"Will I, now?" She said coyly. Claire pushed back, concentrating and beginning the brain aneurysm spell, "Really Damon, you thought you could take on me. " The spell shoved Damon to the ground writhing in pain. "Back off I don't have your ring." She eased up the spell momentarily, just enough to keep Damon still immobile, and said, "If you ever threaten my friends again, this will seem like a little headache, in comparison. Even at full strength old brother, you can't match me. "
Damon grimaced, "Is that a threat, Claire?" He knew his sister couldn't kill him. It wasn't in her nature to harm her family. She was loyal to a fault, often to her detriment. Despite her remarkable gifts, she still had the most accurate moral compass of the siblings. He wanted her on his side, and not as his enemy.
Claire shook her head, "No, I don't make idle threats, it's a promise. Go on Damon test me, I dare you." She said. Her tone was eerily calm yet laced with violence as if her maelstrom of a temper had returned to simmer just beneath the surface again.
"Point made, Clarissa." Damon said gritting his teeth as she had ceased the spell. His sister had limits to her loyalty and capacity for grace. He knew in order to get Claire to turn against Stefan, he would have to ease up and quit threating his sister and her friends.
"Now what the hell have you done now?" Claire asked, the scent of blood and death still lingering in the air of the house. She had a sinking feeling that Damon may have done something rash to get back at her and Stefan, this was Damon. His MO was often rash and entirely irrational behavior when provoked.
"You have a new problem that trumps lil ol' me, Clary Fairy." Damon teased.
"You didn't." Claire stated
"What, turn a new brethren? Why yes, there is a new vampire among our ranks." Damon retorted.
"Did you get dropped on your head as a child or were you just born stupid Damon? We are in the midst of a town patrolled by an extremely paranoid vampire hunting counsel, and you decided to turn a newborn." She said unamused at her eldest brother's continuing pattern of reckless and idiotic life choices.
"New blood." Damon smirked.
"Yes, because a blood crazed newborn is exactly what we need right now. Who?" She asked.
"Vicki Donovan." Damon retorted back.
"You're going to get the lot of us killed by the trigger happy, stake wielding counsel. You turned the town druggie with serious impulse and control issues. Have you lost your damn mind?" Claire yelled fury filling her voice. Her magic surging because of her heightened emotions.
"One bad turn deserves another, besides this will keep you and Stefan from getting bored and staying out of my business in the interim. Oh and by the way, I may have suggested she go visit her star-crossed lover that happens to bear the last name of Gilbert." Damon retorted proudly.
"This conversation is not over." She said before turning and immediately leaving the house in a haste. On her way out to her car, she pulled out her phone calling Stefan saying. "Stef, its Claire. Damon turned Vicki Donovan. You need to get to the Gilbert house. I'm on my way."
[In the wood.]
"I got Stanley on the Moore street entrance. The rest of us'll cover other access points. Call him or call me if that thing goes off. Don't use the radio. Cellphones only." Sheriff Forbes said, turning to Logan. She wanted to make sure he was prepared for this.
"Got it." He nodded
"You've got 8 rounds. Remember, wood bullets won't kill him, but it'll wound him enough for you to get close and stake him. You sure you can handle this?" she asks one last time.
Logan shakes his head in affirmation, "Of course I can."
"You ever staked a vampire before?" She questions.
He retorts back, "Have you?"
[Elena's House.] Doorbell ringing.
"Coming! "Jeremy yells as a he raced down to open the door. Vicki brushes past him and into the house.
"Hey. The sun is killing me. My eyes are on fire." She said in clipped tones.
"Where have you been?" he asks confused as to her sudden arrival.
Vicki smirks, "It's good. Everything's good."
Jeremy is not satisfied, "Did something happen?"
Vicki ignores his questioning and brushes past him, heading to the kitchen. "I'm hungry. What do you got to eat?"
Jeremy concerned asked "You're high? Vicki, it's the middle of the day."
Vicki grimaced in irritation, "Could you just not talk so loud? My head, it hurts. I need quiet."
[Old Salvatore's field.]
Elena looked at him curiously concerned, "The mind control... You said Katherine used. Do you ever do that to me?" she asked.
Stefan shook his head, "No. That necklace, it contains an herb called vervain. It protects you from being compelled. I wanted to protect you from Damon's influence. But I also wanted to... Protect you from me and Claire. Should either of us step outside of line. All right, and you should never take that necklace off... Because no matter what happens after today, no matter how you feel about me... You'll know that you were free to make your own choice."
[Elena's house.]
Claire met Matt outside of the Gilbert House, "Matt," she said "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for Vick." He said, "She never came home last night."
"Me too. I think she might have had a run in with my brother Damon, and I want to make sure she's okay." She said.
"Where is she?" Matt said as he and Claire walked into Elena's house.
Jeremy motioned to them, "Come this way."
"What's she on?: Matt said confused and concerned.
" -I don't know." Jeremy said. Claire begins to try and position herself between Vicki and the vulnerable humans
Matt pushes past Claire, and next to Vicki, "Hey, Vic. How you doin'?" He asks tenderly.
Claire winces, hoping that the tenderness will stave off the mood swings for even just a little bit. She doesn't like the fact that Vicki is so close to Matt right now, and in her current state, she's a ticking time bomb. She continues to dial Stefan again and again, while cursing Damon under her breath. Once again one of her brothers' selfish actions has put her into trouble, at least she did not die this time.
"Not good, Mattie. I hurt." She said weakly.
Matt petted her hair softly, "Ok, where's it hurt?"
"Good job, Matt. Make that personal and calming connection with her." Claire thought to her self as she continued to edge closer to Vicki.
"My gums. My jaw hurts. My gum-there's something in my gums, and it hurts. "Vicki cried.
"Ok, well—" Frustration leaked into Matt's tone.
Vicki swatted him away, "No. Just leave me alone."
Matt tried o pull her closer, "Come on, Vic. Don't be like that. Let's get you home."
Vicki placed her hands over her ears, "Just turn it off!" she yelled in pain.
"Turn what off?" Jeremy asked confused.
"The talking, the chatter, just turn it off. TV sound is inaudible." Vicki yells. At this point, Claire's worst fears are confirmed. Vicki is in transition and seconds away from going nuclear around a bunch of humans she loves dearly.
" ...horribly. 3 bodies were found dead in what is believed to be a drug deal gone awry. The bodies have yet to be identified. They were discovered earlier today over at the old Mystic Falls cemetery." The television recounts in the background.
Shock filled Jeremy as Claire winced into expectation of this getting incredibly bloody fast, "That's where we were last night. " Jeremy said the obvious question in his tone
"What happened, Vic?"
The voice from the television continued, " ..Homicide, and are fast under way looking for suspects. They're asking anyone with information... "
Matt said, "I'm calling the cops." He goes to pull out his phone, but Vicki yanks his arm away.
"No. Don't." She pled.
Jeremy asks, "What happened after I left last night, Vick?" He moved toward her, but she shoves him back into the dresser. Claire rushes over helping him up, and standing between him and Vicki.
"Dude, are you ok?" Matt asks
Jeremy waves him off, "I'm fine. I'm fine."
Matt surveys the damage, "Damn, Vick."
"What's going on?" As she pokes her head into the room. She immediately see's the stricken and slightly panicked look on Claire's face and starts to worry.
Matt shrugged, "She's really messed up."
Claire motions for Elena and Stefan to stand their ground. "Elena, back up" Claire yells motioning for the brunette to keep her distance. The more humans within the newborn vamp's vicinity meant a great possibility for casualties.
"Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine. Guys, take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be ok. Come on. Come on." Claire said in a gentle voice knowing the newbie vampires were easily set off because of their heightened emotional states. She knew that if Vicki attacked one of the boys, she could intervene fast enough. She pulls the blinds shut and motions for Elena and Stefan to follow her downstairs.
Elena looks over to Claire as Stefan stands behind her, "You know what's wrong with her?"
Stefan and Claire both nodded, "Yeah." She said, turning to her brother and whacking him sharply, "That's for not answering your phone. I must have called you ten times."
Elena looked concerned, "What is it?"
"She's transitioning." Claire said grimly.
"Transitioning to what?" she asks.
Stefan replied in a clipped tone, "A vampire."
"What?" Elena asked in disbelief.
Claire said, "I talked to Damon, he got to her. It's some twisted form of payback for us stealing his ring. She's new. She hasn't completed her transformation yet."
"H-how does she do that?" She asks in almost terror.
Stefan gives her a serious look, "She has to feed on human blood."
"One drop will do, it doesn't have to be much, but if there isn't someone there to help her control it with her issues, it could get bad." Claire said much to Stefan's dismay. He wanted to keep her from the ugly parts of their lifestyle, to protect her from that fear and darkness. Claire had no such qualms, she wanted her friend to make an informed choice, to know exactly what she was getting into. She trusted that Elena could handle the darker details of their secret.
"And what if she doesn't?" Elena questions.
"She'll die. She may only have a few hours."
"She could hurt Jeremy or Matt." Elena said worried.
Stefan said reassuringly, "its ok. She doesn't know what's happening to her yet." The first few hours of vampiric life has often hazy.
"And I'm close enough to step in if necessary, and that will become necessary sooner rather than later as the transition continues." Claire added. Newbie vampires were especially dangerous to any and all humans, but especially those who they shared strong emotional feelings toward.
"So when is she going to know?" Elena asked partly curious and partly terrified.
Stefan looked serious, "Right now, she doesn't remember anything. A part of her is still human, but slowly, the deeper she gets into the transition, the memories will start to come back, and then she'll know she has to make the choice."
"The irritability and blood list will also continue as well, increasing until she makes her choice." Claire said flatly.
"The same choice you both made?" Elena asked flatly.
[In the bedroom.]
Vicki sobbed, "I'm sorry I'm so much trouble."
Jeremy ran his fingers through her hair, hoping to provide some vestige of comfort, "Aw, you just-you need to sleep it off, ok?"
Vicki said shaking her head, "No." She then flashed down the stairs and out of the house.
Matt ran after her, "Vick. Vick!" His cries alerted the attention of Claire, Stefan and Elena who rushed to the boys' side.
Jeremy looked at the trio with shock, "She was fine, and then she just- she just freaked out. "
"I'm gonna go look for her. Call me if you hear anything." Matt said.
Stefan nodded, "I can track her."
"You will need my help, Stefan. You were always a dreadful tracker on the bunny diet." Claire said. She wasn't wrong. The bunny diet hindered many of Stefan's ability including that of his ability to track.
"Go. I'll stay here with Jeremy. I'll call you if she heads back here." Elena promised.
[In the wood.]
Cellphone rings. "Yeah." The sheriff said gruffly.
Logan replied back, "I think I got something. It's pointing towards the old cemetery."
"Headed your way." She said
[Elena's house.]
"Maybe we should check in with Matt.: Jeremy suggested concerned over Vicki's strange behavior.
"He'll call when he finds her. " Elena said reassuringly.
Jeremy looked unfazed, "Well, what are we supposed to do?"
"We wait. We're supposed to wait." She replied unsure of what exactly the right next step was.
Jeremy looked down, overwhelmed with concern and worry, "I don't know what's wrong with her."
Elena placed a comforting arm on her brother's shoulder, "She'll be fine. It'll all be fine." Doorbell rings. Elena head to the door, only to open it and see that it's Damon.
Elena barked, "Jeremy, go upstairs."
Damon grinned wickedly, "You're afraid of me. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess. The dynamic duo finally fessed up."
"Stay away from me." Elena warned.
Damon chuckled, "Hey, there's no need to be rude. I'm just looking for Stefan. May I come in? Oh, wait. Of course I can. I've been invited. We can cut to the chase if you want. I'm not gonna kill you right now. That wouldn't serve my greater agenda. So... Where's Stefan and Claire?"
Elena retorted back, "He and Claire are out looking for Vicki."
"Don't look at me with those judgey little eyes. Girl's gonna thank me for what I did to her. " Damon replied.
Elena scoffed, "Did you thank Katherine?"
"Mmm. Got the whole life story, huh?" he asked
She nodded, "I got enough."
Damon chuckled, "Oh, I doubt that. Tell my siblings, that I'm looking for them. Oh, tip for later, be careful who you invite in the house."
[At the cemetery.]
"Vicki." Claire said calmly, " Do you remember me from earlier? At the school and at the Grill."
Vicki nodded, "I'm starting to remember things, what he is, what he said. I remember you and your brother. The hospital, the-the rooftop, it's all coming back. "
From her peripheral she could see Stefan approaching, she shot him a look that said to approach quietly and carefully. She edged closer to the new born treating her like a skittish colt, "I'm so sorry. Damon had no right to do this to you. It's going to be okay."
"He said that I need to feed. What will happen if i don't?" Vicki said anxiously as more and more memories washed over her. She was so confused and terrified.
"You'll fade quickly... And then it'll all just be over." Stefan said calmly.
Vicki replies, "I'll be dead. I don't want this."
Stefan smiles, "I know. It'll be ok. You're gonna be ok. I can help you."
Vicki casts a weak smile, "Is it better? Is it better? Will I be better? I wanna go home. Will you take me home?"
"Okay, I'll take you. I'll explain everything." Claire said calmly, using her magic to send feelings of reassurance to the new born.
Gunshots. Claire falls to the ground, and Stefan rushes toward her, only to be shot himself.
"Ahh!" Stefan screams.
Claire grimaces feeling her body heal and expel the wood. "Oh no!" she thought. Wood bullets were never a good sign. The human life of her brothers had ended with a gunshot wound due to a wooden bullet. Hers had ended a bit more bloody.
"No!" Vicki screamed seeing the siblings fall and writhe in pain. The shock and emotion over powered Claire's magical control.
Damon bits Logan. "It's wood. They know. If anyone's gonna kill you, it's gonna be me. Now give me my ring."
Claire reaches down and unclasping the chain of her locket which reads always and forever, she slides Damon's ring off. Stefan had slipped it to her while they were at Elena's house.
Smelling the tempting allure of Logan's fresh injuries. Vicki flashes over to Logan's body and begins to start drinking Logan's blood.
"No! No! Vicki!" Stefan yells as Vicki drains Logan dry.
Vicki turns back and locks eyes with Claire and Stefan, "I'm sorry." She says before flashing off.
Damon shrugs "Oops." The trio quickly vacate the scene, leaving Logan's body for dead.
Moments later, Sheriff Forbes finds Logan. "My god... The watch. Find the watch." She says to her officers. She later grabs a shovel and buries him.
[Front of Elena's house.]
Elena looks at Stefan, "You're bleeding."
Stefan, "No, it's ok. It's ok. I'm ok." He said waving her off. His injuries would heal soon enough. "I couldn't stop her. I tried." He said defeated. Damon had gotten the upper hand once again and ruined somebody else's life again.
"What does that mean?" Elena asked concerned.
Stefan looked grim. "She fed, and then I lost her."
"Oh, my god." She replied.
"I'll take care of it. I'll find her, and i will show her that she can live like I do. I will make sure that she does not hurt anybody, Elena. I promise you." Stefan said desperately trying to reassure her.
"What do i tell my brother and- and Matt?" she asked deeply hurt for those she loved.
"We'll come up with a story." He volunteered.
Elena scoffed, "You mean we'll come up with a lie."
"I'm so sorry." He offered.
"I gave you today just like you asked. And I understand that you would never do anything to hurt me, and I promise I will keep your secret, but... I can't be with you, Stefan. I'm sorry. I- I just can't... " She enters in her house. She begins to sob violently.
[Claire's room]
She pulls off her locket and opens it again. Inside is a photograph of 1920's style Claire dressed as a flapper with a handsome man in a white suit. On the other side is flapper style Claire again posed with a stunning blonde woman who's also dressed for the era. Claire has stared at these photos numerous times over the years, and yet the details remain lost to her. She could sense that these people had been dearly important to her, but not why or how. On the back of the photo of the two woman simply read the caption: partners in crime. On the backside of other photo: I will always find you.