This chapter was surprisingly hard to write. It's basically a bunch of conversations that had to happen before we could move on, and I think the idea of them being left over subconsciously turned me off? Idk, my brain is weird, it turned out fine in the end.

Thank you so much for your support!


CHAPTER 18

SLIP

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Pearl was still occupied with Richard and couldn't attend the meeting, which was the only reason Sheila agreed to come along. Any other time, Angela would have found Pearl's excuse perfectly acceptable. Now, she wondered if she was fine with staying home because she could watch them from a safe distance.

The Bennetts refused their offer of a carpool. Rather, Sheila did. She made Bonnie drive her in her own car, so they could easily escape if need be. Bonnie called her a paranoid old bat when she was out of earshot, but obliged nonetheless. It wasn't like she had much choice.

The twins led the way to the boarding house, and Angela watched how Bonnie admired the architecture in the rear-view mirror. Once everyone was in place, Elena rang the doorbell. They didn't have to wait long. Stefan opened the door, scanning all four of them.

"Hey," he said. "Zach's not here and the others haven't arrived yet. Make yourselves at home." They followed him into the main sitting area of the house, which was so beautiful it was impossible to make yourself at home.

"Wow," Bonnie breathed, looking around. "You live here? And here I thought I had a nice house."

"There are some downsides," Stefan said lightheartedly. "It's a real pain to clean." That made Bonnie smile. "It's nice to see you again, Bonnie."

"You too. Especially in here. Won't have to watch what we say for once."

"What, you mean…" He leaned in conspiratorially. "The fact that you're a witch and I'm a vampire?"

Bonnie's eyes became impossibly large. "Wait." Fear colored her voice. "You're a vampire?"

Stefan looked caught somewhere between shock and confusion. "Uh."

"I'm joking."

"Oh." He let out a stuttering breath. "Right."

"And what about me?" Sheila was almost playful in her inflection. "Is it nice to see me too?"

"Always," Stefan said with no small dose of respect.

Sheila noticed how Bonnie looked between the two of them. "He attended one of my anti-war sit-ins when I was a girl," she explained. "We didn't talk much, but when we did, he was ever the gentleman."

"Huh." Bonnie seemed impressed. "Interesting."

"I've heard you're a professor now," Stefan said. "I'm sure your students love you. I remember, whenever you spoke, people were captivated."

"Including you?" Sheila said.

He smiled warmly, as if still speaking to the little girl she used to be. "Including me."

With the added knowledge that Sheila used to have a pretty big crush on him, Angela barely held back her laughter.

"How wholesome," Elena said by Angela's side, visibly perturbed by how friendly Sheila was being towards a species she hated.

"You again." Damon descended the stairs and came into full view.

Sheila stepped forward, shielding Bonnie from his presence. "Vampire," she hissed, all coquettishness gone.

"There it is," Elena sighed.

"I suggest you don't try anything clever," Sheila continued, "or else you'll know what it means to draw the wrath of a Bennett."

"Witch," Damon said with a hint of careless scorn. He threw himself onto one of the loveseats. "Get over yourself."

The doorbell rang. Stefan gave Damon a wary look, then spoke to the others. "Please, sit. I'll be back in a second."

Angela took a look around, counting the number of empty seats. The Bennetts occupied a loveseat together, Elena sat on her own in an armchair, Damon took up half of another loveseat that she wasn't touching with a ten-foot pole, and there was a completely empty couch that she automatically assigned to Anna and Harper, making it off-limits.

She chose to sit on the armrest of Elena's burgundy chair, propping an elbow on the top to keep her balance. Elena laid a warm hand on her knee, letting her know the company was appreciated.

The silence that followed was painfully long. Bonnie tapped her fingers against her legs, Sheila glared at Damon, Damon smirked at Sheila, and Elena looked torn between being nervous and being strong for everyone involved. Finally, Stefan returned, flanked by the other two. Anna was wearing the same casual outfit that she had been in school, but Harper's coach uniform was replaced by a beige turtleneck layered beneath a dark plum coat. Strange to think that he already had a nice sense of fashion when he was so new to the time period.

Anna immediately picked Sheila out, moving to stand before her. She spoke as if addressing an elder, despite being about seven times her age. "Sheila Bennett. It's a pleasure to meet you again. We didn't get to speak much last time. I can never thank you enough for–"

Sheila held up a hand, stopping Anna in her tracks. "Do your people intend on harming anyone in this town?"

Anna seemed taken aback. She glanced at Harper, who shook his head. "Only if it's in self-defense."

Sheila analyzed her for a long time. Anna remained steady in her composure, waiting to see how Sheila would respond. She didn't, directly. She simply looked at Angela. "May we begin?"

As expected, Harper and Anna sat on the unoccupied couch while Stefan joined Damon, who didn't move an inch to accommodate his presence.

Angela cleared her throat. "Yes." Then she told them everything about her little adventure. Well, not everything. She omitted all the embarrassing bits, like drawing a dick on the wall and making herself seem like a madwoman.

"So he just slept in a vent all day?" Bonnie looked disgusted.

"I still don't get it," Elena said. "It makes no sense."

Stefan's fingers were intertwined. "Not necessarily," he said. "Anna and I couldn't find him, right? That's because we looked at all the obvious places. For all the mistakes he made, he did one thing right. He hid in the one place we wouldn't look. The walls."

Harper looked distraught. "May I confess something? I feel responsible for him. I'm the one that… removed him from our service." He said that last bit hesitantly, like it was the most polite way he could phrase it. "He disrespected me."

Sheila raised an eyebrow. "What did he do?"

Harper glanced at Anna, Bonnie, and the twins. "It's too impolite to repeat in front of ladies."

Sheila looked curious, but didn't press it further. "I see. Though in my eyes, he's the responsibility of his maker. He was with you last, Anna, was he not?"

Anna sunk into the couch. "He seemed like a decent option at the time."

"How do you think that worked out?" Damon said. "Now he needs to be put down."

The blood vanished from Bonnie's face. "Wait. We're actually going to kill him? He went to high school with us."

"And how he's a murderer," Damon replied. "God bless the American education system."

"I think it's our only choice," Stefan said apologetically.

"Is it?" Elena asked. "Is there nothing we can do? Does someone have to die again?"

"The boys are right," Anna said. "It wasn't as prominent when he was human, but vampirism has made him cocky; impulsive; violent. I was able to use him because he idolized my powers, but now that we cut ties with him, I doubt he'll be keen on being used again."

"Great," Angela said, staring at Damon. "Just what I need. Another cocky, impulsive, violent vampire to fuck up my life."

Damon smiled with his teeth. "I think he's perfectly lovely. But seriously, Ben needs to die. Let me handle it. Glinda finds him, I stake him, everyone claps."

"I'm not doing anything for you," Bonnie blurted out.

"Oh really? Because last I heard, Glinda's grandma wasn't doing magic, so you're kind of our only choice." At that, Sheila narrowed her eyes, silently warning him to behave.

"You don't have to do anything you don't want to," Stefan told Bonnie. "We can find someone else. Bree's a practicing witch, isn't she?"

"Bree's in Atlanta," Damon said. "Getting her all the way here would be a huge waste of time when we already have a witch in our arsenal."

"You don't have anything," Angela said coldly. "Bonnie has to decide on her own."

"Are we forgetting something?" Anna piped up. "Mother has a witch too. We can just use him."

"That's right," Elena said. "What was his name again?"

"Felix McCullough," Harper said. "I must admit, I'm not terribly fond of him, but he is powerful. He would be able to track down Ben with ease."

"McCullough," Sheila mused. "You wouldn't mean those druids that settled not too far from here, would you?"

"The very same."

"Strange…"

"I'll do it." Bonnie looked nervous, but her voice was strong. "Not because Damon wants me to, but for the innocent people that live in this town. And for my family. Our family." She punctuated the statement by gesturing at both Sheila and the twins.

"Careful now," Sheila warned. "I agree with your drive to protect our home, but don't let this be a gateway into vampire business."

Bonnie smiled coyly. "No one in our family is a vampire." The 'yet' was silent.

"Well, I guess that's settled." Angela withdrew the lock of hair she had stuffed into her back pocket and handed it to Bonnie. "Sorry for the blood near the bottom." Thoroughly repulsed, Bonnie went digging through her messenger bag for Emily's grimoire.

Stefan cleared his throat. "I'm afraid I've been a bad host. Would you like anything to drink?"

"B negative," Anna said, only half-joking.

"From a blood bag?" Damon stared Elena down. "I prefer it straight from the source."

Angela rolled her eyes. "And I prefer it when you shut up, but we don't always get what we want, do we?"

"Not always," Anna said tersely. "But you can get what you want right now."

Damon smirked. "I'd like to see you try."

"No, actually," Anna said. "You wouldn't."

"A glass of water would be nice." Elena's voice was quiet. "If it's not much trouble."

Stefan looked at her kindly. "Not at all."

Angela felt confident in everyone's ability to keep each other safe, so when Stefan got up to head to the kitchen, she did too. "Mind if I join you?" Pleasantly surprised, he let her follow.

The small apartment they called a kitchen contained a long, L-shaped counter, an island with a built-in stove, a six-seater dining table, and a beautifully engraved fireplace. Windows lined the walls, letting her see into the back garden and the forest beyond the property. There were a few stars in the sky, and the sun had barely set.

"Just checking," Angela said. "Am I moving in today or tomorrow?"

Stefan got a tall, spotless glass from one of the cupboards. It looked finely made, with carved-in leaves climbing up the base. "I take it that means you approve?"

Angela leaned against the island and crossed her arms. "I'm sorry, have I never told you how much I love your house? Because I love your house."

"You don't think it's a little much?"

"Why? Do you?"

Stefan shook his head. "Damon. He prefers modern decor."

"Damon can suck it. I think this place is beautiful, like a time capsule or a museum."

A faint smile appeared on his face. "I'm glad you think so. A lot of the pieces have been here since 1914, when the house was built. Without them, it wouldn't feel like home anymore." He looked at the glass in his hand, suddenly troubled. "I forgot to ask what temperature she wants it."

"Probably cold," Angela said. "Even during the winter, she likes cold water and ice cream. We have that in common."

Stefan retrieved a pitcher from the refrigerator and looked at her thoughtfully. "I'll keep that in mind."

There was a moment of silence before Angela spoke again. "There's a reason I wanted you alone." She walked to the sink and turned the faucet all the way up, ensuring no one outside could hear. "We need to talk about Tyler."

Stefan finished filling the glass and placed it on the counter, coming to stand beside her.

"First of all," she said, "I want to apologize for his behavior. It was inexcusable, no matter what he thinks of you. I taught him better than to–"

"No, it's okay," Stefan cut her off. "I know how boys his age can be."

Boys his age. How strange that someone who looked seventeen would utter those words. She couldn't help herself. "Always disrespecting their elders, am I right?"

Stefan, predictably, took the jab in stride. "Right."

She got back on topic. "He's suspicious of you. Really suspicious. I'm afraid he'll do something drastic to prove what you are. I had to practically gaslight him in order to keep your secret. I hate that. I don't want to make it a habit. Especially when it comes to the kids."

"I know."

"And I don't want to force you into a tough spot, but I didn't watch over them for years just so I could betray their trust for someone I've only known for months. They'll accept you, I'm sure of it. They accepted me and Bonnie, and the others out there. And they'll be safer if they know how old you and Damon really are. How old the people associated with you really are."

"I know," he repeated regretfully. "I was planning on telling them once I built some rapport so it doesn't cause a rift when they realize you've been my accomplice, but I guess it's causing a rift regardless. I'll tell them soon, I promise."

Angela nodded curtly. "Thank you. How's that going, by the way? You building rapport. I mean, I know how it's going with Tyler, but…"

"Caroline's easy to talk to, when she's not being the way she was earlier today."

"I want to apologize for her behavior, too. I swear I raised her better."

Stefan let out an amused breath. "You're not their mother, you know."

"Yeah, well, in this crazy world we live in, I may never experience true motherhood, so why not get the bootleg version while I can?"

She said it as a joke, but Stefan suddenly turned serious. "Are you worried you might become like me?"

"What? No, not particularly. If it happens, it happens. Besides, once Anna and I become closer, I plan on getting her to compel the people at the nearest fertility clinic to freeze my… reproductive material in case I do become like you. Just not because I want to become a mother."

"Then why?"

Good question. How was she supposed to explain that it was an insurance policy in case Klaus needed more hybrids centuries from now? "Because Elena might become like you. And she might want children. She and I are as genetically close as you can get. I'm planning on asking her if she wants to do the same thing, though she probably won't. Something she's talked about is possibly becoming a foster parent. She knows how many of them are terrible. She'd like to give unwanted children the love they deserve."

"That's very kind of her."

Angela felt a hint of pride. "That's the kind of person she is."

"If it's okay to ask, why are you waiting for Anna to compel the clinic?"

"All the places I've checked say that you need your guardian's permission to do it if you're under eighteen. My parents refused when they were alive, and Jenna refused when I asked her."

"That's not what I mean."

"Oh. Well, it'd be kind of embarrassing if I asked Anna now. She doesn't want to feel used, so I can only ask for things that benefit everyone. It would be hard to explain how this is in everyone's best interests."

"No, Angie, I–" Stefan cleared his throat. "I mean, if you want me to, I could do it myself."

It took her a good few seconds for his words to sink in. "Excuse me?"

"I can't guarantee that the compulsion will last if they try to remember what really happened, but it's worth a shot. Because by the time Anna wants to help, something could happen to destroy your chance."

Angela could barely pay attention to what he was saying. Warmth rapidly rose to the surface of her skin. She tried speaking a couple times, but failed miserably. "You– Um. Would you be fine doing that? You and I going to a fertility clinic together… People could get the wrong impression, if you catch my drift."

His laugh was small and bashful. "They'll forget about it anyway."

"Right…"

"Only if you want to," he hurried to say. "I completely understand if you wouldn't be comfortable."

"No!" Her voice came out a touch too loud. "No, I– I appreciate the offer. Besides, it would be the perfect motivation to get started on your blood training, right? The sooner you learn to control yourself, the sooner you can drink human blood, the sooner you can compel people when I ask you to. You did say, 'anything for you, Angie,' did you not? Guess you have to let me help you now. The travesty."

He shook his head like a disappointed father, but she saw that smile on his face. "You're so cruel."

Angela let out a mildly frantic laugh. "Sure am!" She turned off the sink and sped out of the kitchen, not waiting to see if he would follow. If she thought about his proposal for too long, she would burst into flames.

She found the others in the dining room rather than the parlor, hunched over the table, staring at something she couldn't see. Stepping through the archway, she came to stand between Harper and Damon; the former of which she graced with a smile and the latter of which she barely acknowledged.

"Miss Bennett is attempting to locate Ben," Harper explained.

Damon was visibly bored. "It's not working."

Stefan arrived, handing Elena her glass of water. She whispered her thanks, then elaborated further. "This is her first time trying this kind of spell. I'm sure she's doing great."

Angela looked at the map of Mystic Falls that lay on the table. "Sheila?"

Sheila was the only one sitting in a heavy, high-back chair, presumably from lack of physical strength. "She's not ready."

Bonnie continued glaring a hole into the map. "Can you not?"

Anna raised her hand like a student. "My offer still stands. I have his number."

"I can do this," Bonnie snapped. "Okay? Just… everyone needs to stop judging me for a minute."

"About that," Damon drawled. "You've had over five."

Bonnie scowled at him. "You try it then, if it's so easy."

"Don't be a child, Glinda."

"You're one to talk. You're the oldest child I know. Dracula." She tacked on the name as a petty afterthought.

"You don't know me yet."

"You don't know me yet," Bonnie repeated in a Transylvanian accent. He looked unamused.

"What about Ben's number?" Angela asked Anna. "Do you have that too?"

"Yes," Anna replied. "But like I said, he won't listen to me. Any respect he had for me is gone."

"We don't need him to respect you. We just need him to meet you somewhere. Then we proceed as planned. You distract him, we incapacitate him and go for the kill. I agree with Damon. It should be him, carrying out a covert mission so no alarm bells get raised. Everyone else needs to protect each other and any humans that get caught up in the crossfire."

Stefan snorted. "Because when I think 'covert' I think of Damon."

Angela tried to hide her smile. "Just trust me on this."

"Can you–" Bonnie made a noise of frustration. "Give me tonight. And if I still can't do it, we'll move on to plan B."

"We may not have tonight," Elena said gently. "He could be killing someone as we speak."

Bonnie's face went lax, as if she had forgotten that innocent lives were at stake. "Oh."

"So…" Anna glanced between them all. "What are we doing?"

Bonnie was completely torn. Finally, slowly, silently, she took the map and began folding it up. "Plan B."

Anna clicked her tongue. "Awesome. Only one problem. I don't have anything he wants."

"Yes, you do," Angela said. She pointed at Anna's daylight ring. "Tell him you want to give him one of those. He'd be a fool to listen, but he can't risk missing the opportunity."

"He'll want proof. And I don't think you have any lapis lazuli rings to spare." Nobody answered, confirming Anna's suspicions.

"So we'll buy one," Elena said. "How hard could it be? The stores aren't closed yet."

"Not in this town, you won't," Sheila cut in. "There aren't many of us in the know, true, but you can never be too careful. Assuming you want to keep some secrets to yourselves, that is."

"Of course," Stefan said. "Thank you. I'll go look up the nearest town that carries lapis. Anna, tell him to meet you at midnight. We'll have the ring by then." Anna nodded.

"May I join you?" Harper piped up. "I believe you mean to use a… what was it, personal computer? I need to learn more about this machinery."

Stefan's lips curved upward at the endearing choice of words. "Your company would be very welcome." They ascended to the second floor together, leaving the rest of them to sulk.

Anna pulled out her cell phone, scowling at it like it killed her mother. "What do I even say? 'Hey, sorry for kicking you out, here's this thing you want super bad'? Not very convincing."

Bonnie slumped into one of the dining chairs. "Why don't you ask Angie?" she grumbled. "Apparently she has the solution to everything."

"Hey," Angela said. "Don't get bratty with me. And actually, Anna, that's exactly what you'll say. You'll offer the ring as a peace offering, wishing him the very best as long as he leaves this town alone. Make him believe that you care about him. That you could kill him if you wanted to, but hold pride in him being your creation. Make this your final act of mercy before setting him free. I think that sounds pretty convincing."

Anna bit her lip, thinking it over. "Yeah. Cool. I'm going to go in there," she gestured towards the library, "and I'm going to make the call. After practicing my lines a thousand times."

Elena gave her an encouraging smile. "If you want, I could be your emotional support."

Anna looked like a weight was lifted off her shoulders. "Please." They left in a pair as well.

Damon wouldn't stop staring at Angela. She hated when he did that. "What?" she finally snapped.

"Hm? Oh, nothing. I'll be upstairs, writing in my diary about the latest squirrel I befriended or… whatever the kids are into these days." He left as well, leaving only her and the Bennetts behind.

"I don't want to be rude, Bon-Bon, but is it okay if I steal your grams away for a sec?"

Bonnie was still pouty. "She's her own woman."

Sheila pinched Bonnie's cheek. "Mind your manners." She pushed herself up and took Angela's arm for support. "Let's go into the room with the fireplace. I've been eyeing it since we got here."

Angela chuckled. "You mean you've been eyeing the large tray of alcohol inside."

Sheila waved a hand. "Semantics."

Angela guided Sheila there, and let her sit directly opposite the fireplace. She closed the sliding, wooden doors before going for the booze. "Bourbon?" she asked.

Before Sheila could respond, a loud, familiar voice rang out from the floor above them. "ABSOLUTELY NOT."

A devious smirk crawled across Sheila's lips. "Rum, please." Contradicting her own words, she pointed straight at Damon's precious whiskey.

Even though Sheila was unwilling to cast spells, Angela was still more afraid of her than she was of Damon, so she carefully poured the bourbon into a glass.

"Thank you, pumpkin," Sheila mumbled, taking a sip. She welcomed Angela when she sat down beside her.

"This may be a stupid question," Angela said, "but you wouldn't happen to have brought any sage, would you?"

"What do you take me for?" Sheila pulled a small bundle of it from her purse, along with a lighter. "Get the four walls, then let it burn in the ashtray."

After the short ritual–during which she felt incredibly silly–Angela sat back down. "Are we safe?"

Sheila nodded. "I feel the magic at work."

"Good. Because I think I have a problem."

"Don't you always?" Angela gave her a look. Sheila took a sip of whiskey. "Go on."

"Do you remember what you told Anna the first time we met? That prophecy thing you talked about?"

"That's what you're worried about? The man who penned it was insane."

"But what if he wasn't?"

"He was."

"I'm not so sure. I went through your private study at home–"

"You what?"

"–and I found the book talking about him. He was clever and methodical, and clearly a talented practitioner if he was able to raise the dead the way he did."

"Angela," Sheila cut her off. "That man was evil. My own ancestor stripped him of his magic. By agreeing with him you risk following in his footsteps."

"A man can be evil and intelligent at the same time. You can't dismiss everything someone says just because you dislike their morality. There are good things to be taken from bad people and vice versa. Balance, right? Nature. Unless, since losing your magic, that's no longer what you stand for."

Sheila grew terribly cold, and Angela immediately knew that she fucked up. "How dare you speak to me as if I know nothing?"

The shame Angela felt took on a magic of its own. "I'm sorry." She averted her eyes. "I didn't mean to. But you don't understand. I think he's right. I've been seeing changes in myself. I want blood. King's blood. Vampire's blood. Even now, it's in the back of my mind, like an itch I have to scratch. It's addictive."

That overbearing wave of shame emanating from Sheila eased, and when Angela glanced at her, she looked slightly calmer. "Their blood has been known to possess addictive qualities," Sheila said. "How often have you been drinking it?"

"Every day. Pearl filled a blood bag for me as part of a deal we made. But that's not all. The taste of it was different for every vampire I drank from. Pearl. Anna. Stefan. And recently, whenever I have some, if I concentrate hard enough, I can feel things. Emotions. I think I'm feeling theirs, at the moment their blood was taken. And I can't stop drinking it. I tried, three times, and either they made me stop, or I ran out of blood to drink. I need to ask Pearl for more tomorrow. I can't risk dying now."

As she continued, Sheila grew visibly worried. "I see. I can't say I've ever heard of that before."

Angela's shoulders sagged. "Thank you anyway."

"I'll conduct some research. In the meantime, try abstaining from their blood for a while. It could be making things worse."

"Did you miss the part where I said I could die?"

Sheila motioned towards her still weak legs. "You're telling this to me?"

Angela huffed. "I'd mourn you every day, but with all due respect, the world isn't at risk of imploding if you're the one that dies."

The sound of Anna's voice outside the room made Angela slide open the doors. She heard Sheila putting out the sage behind her, saving what still remained of the herb. Bonnie had relocated to the couch. Elena looked upset.

"What happened?" Angela asked the girls.

Bonnie smiled awkwardly. "Do you want the good news or the bad news?"

"He's willing to meet her," Elena said. "But not tonight. He said that since you knocked him out, he won't be strong enough to defend himself if she attacks."

"Not that he'll ever be strong enough against me," Anna cut in.

"He wants to meet her somewhere public," Elena continued. "Somewhere she can't hurt him without inflicting casualties. He suggested the Halloween party at school tomorrow. She agreed."

"Really?" Angela mused. "How pleasantly predictable."

Bonnie addressed Anna. "Should I do anything special for tomorrow? Maybe a protection spell or something to trap him in a classroom?"

"A sealing spell would be nice," Anna said. "If it's no trouble."

Bonnie shook her head. "To be honest, I'm just happy to be useful. I have his DNA. That'll make it easier to trap him and him only."

"I'll help you study," Sheila said, slowly getting up. Angela rushed to support her, but Sheila refused, leaning against the furniture on her way out. "I have a spell that's perfect for your level."

"Great!" Bonnie chirped. She grabbed her things. "We should probably get going so we have enough time to prepare."

"Of course." Elena brought her into a hug. "Just don't stay up all night, or I'll turn Caroline against you too."

After exchanging goodnights, the Bennetts left. Anna looked up at the ceiling. "The boys are still jewelry shopping. I don't want to leave without Harper."

"We could watch a movie," Elena suggested. "Do they even have movies over here?"

Anna looked mischievous. "I'm sure we could raid their things until we find some."

Elena's jaw dropped in fake admonishment. "Are you asking me to snoop?"

"I don't know," Anna drawled. "Am I?"

The sound of Anna and Elena's conspiratory whispering faded into the background as Angela climbed the stairs, headed in the direction of where she wagered she would find a certain Salvatore. She nearly walked right in before remembering the lesson she had oh-so-painfully learned. She knocked instead, like she should have done last time. "Come in," he called out, sounding a safe distance away. Slowly, Angela twisted the doorknob and opened the door a crack. She saw nothing but a dimly-lit room, so she opened it the rest of the way.

Damon lay with his shirt unbuttoned on his bed, reading a book. He didn't so much as glance at her. "Don't be scared," he taunted. "I won't bite. Unless–"

"No."

He sighed and turned the page. "You're such a buzzkill."

"Hardly." She closed the door and approached his bed. "Were you listening? You have one day. One day to do anything you want; eat anyone you want. Then, whenever you want to feed or those murderous impulses of yours kick in, you do whatever you need to do outside this town. No exceptions."

"You say this like I want to get caught."

"Sometimes, I think you do."

He finally looked at her. "What do you know about the things I want?"

"You realize who you're talking to, right?"

"Are you so sure I'm the same person you grew used to seeing in your past life?"

"No. The details are slightly different, even without my interference, but the basic principles are the same. Your wants. Your fears. Your infuriating impulsivity. I will say, you do speak more like someone from the nineteenth century, which is kind of nice."

"Yes, I know how much you love reminding me of everything that's wrong with me." Damon closed the book and set it down on his bedside table. "But believe it or not, talking isn't my only strong suit. Another is my ability to study my enemy. Or, potential enemy."

"Are you about to go on a villain monologue?"

Damon smiled. "I'll cut to the chase. I know how to work around a witch's silencing spell. As soon as you mentioned sage, I activated this neat little enchantment I got back in the day. All you have to do is press a button and poof! Kind of like your ancestor, Johnathan's, gadgets. Super boring guy, by the way. Worse than my brother. Why that look on your face? Did granny witch not teach you about counterspells? Tsk. That wasn't very smart of her."

Angela was nearly shaking from anger. "You've made your point. Why are you telling me this?"

"Where's your sense of curiosity? You've had my brother's blood, but you haven't had mine. Don't you want to know what it feels like? How it tastes?"

"Are you offering me your blood?"

"Bingo."

"Why? What do you stand to gain?"

Damon shrugged. "Call it my own sense of curiosity. I've never heard of someone like you. I want a new experience."

"You're lying. You know it's addictive. You want to get me hooked on your blood, then use it against me to keep me in check or make me do things I wouldn't otherwise."

Damon feigned sadness. "So paranoid. It's easy to find out the truth." He rolled up his sleeve. "Take a sip. See if I'm lying."

For a moment, she truly considered it. But then… "No."

"Oh well. Suit yourself."

The world spun. She found herself on the bed, pinned beneath Damon. She nearly screamed before remembering that he couldn't hurt her. He couldn't do a thing. Three vampires would come running instantly. Her scream died before it could form.

She glared at him. "Let me go."

"Why should I? This is for your own benefit."

"Is this meant to be some sort of twisted apology? 'Sorry for repeatedly assaulting you, let me force my blood down your throat?' Go to therapy."

"An apology," he echoed with a small laugh. "What would be the point in that? I already apologized. Remind me again, how did you react? Oh. Right. You hit me." He tapped her cheek in the same exact spot. She flinched away, refusing to look at him. "Right here. No, Angela. You won't be getting any more apologies from me."

Angela clenched her jaw. "I thought the only reason you try to make me uncomfortable is to get at Stefan."

"It is. But right now, I'm not trying to make you uncomfortable. I'm trying to make you drink. This is a side effect of you not listening."

Angela let out a harsh breath that was almost a laugh. "I'm sure that'll hold up in court."

There was a sigh. "Would you look at me already?"

Against her better judgment, she did. He looked like he was on the brink of frustration, yet she found something oddly sincere in his gaze. It made her wish that he was angry instead, because at least she was used to seeing him that way.

"There are good things to be taken from bad people," he said pointedly, using her own argument against her, calling her a hypocrite without so many words. It made her blood boil.

Blood.

She shoved harshly at his chest. He let her, sitting up. She sat up as well, pressing her back flat against the headboard and bracing herself to leave. But she didn't. One second passed. Two. Ten. There was a triumphant note to the twist of his mouth. Still, it wasn't malicious. He raised a wrist to his lips. With a suddenness only something inhuman could possess, he clamped down, then let the blood hover beside her head.

"Drink."

The blood didn't gush out of the wound like it would have on a human. It stayed there, dead, gently floating beneath his skin. The area around it began to close, healing him, robbing her of the opportunity. She grabbed him by the forearm, blocking the healing process with her own canines and sucking the blood into her mouth. It was as if their roles had suddenly reversed; as if she were undead and he were alive.

It took her a moment to pin down the basic taste of him. It was rich and earthy. Bittersweet. Nutmeg. Not what she was expecting, but what was she expecting, truly? She continued, digging deeper, tasting more. At some point she felt him lay a hand on her head, running it through her waves, loosening their pattern. "There you go," she heard him say. "Take as much as you need." She was half-tempted to glare up at him and demand that he never say that to her again.

She focused on the blood instead, sinking further in until she tasted her first emotion. Pride. He was proud of himself, the fucker; proud of what he made her do. She pushed past it, lest her own anger cloud the taste. Next was a hint of annoyance, likely due to her repeated refusal of him. That one she enjoyed. She found lingering betrayal; not at her, but at someone else. Rage. Mercy. Then she found something that was directed at her. Something confusing. Kinship. Familiarity. Affection. She found no falsehood. She pulled away, wiping the excess blood away from her lips.

"So," Damon said, a bit pale from the blood loss. "Was I lying?"

Angela shook her head. "You like me."

He pulled a face. "I think 'like' is a strong word. I enjoy some things about you. You have this… fire inside. This way of handling things. It reminds me of someone."

"Who?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

Angela scoffed, but she found that the sound wasn't as hostile as before. "You suck."

His wound had healed by now, and he used both hands to pin her to the bed. There was a wicked look on his face. "I could."

She didn't know what was wrong with her. Any other day she would have scowled at him; felt her mind flood with anger. But now, she only felt amused. "Let me go."

He examined her, his eyes flicking between her own. Finally, he rolled onto his back, and she was free to move.

She stood from the bed, smoothing anything on her that was out of place. "I'm sure my newfound leniency towards you will fade with time. Remember what I said. You have one day. Then no more. Oh, and another thing. As part of a deal I made, Vicki Donovan will try to seduce you. I don't really care what happens as a result. However, if you harm a single hair on her body before I give you permission, I'll cut your tongue out and force it down your throat. Okay?"

Damon let out a quiet laugh. "Cute. Yeah, sure, whatever."

"I'm serious."

He picked his book back up. "Mhm."

Angela stared at him for a moment longer before rolling her eyes and walking away. Maybe she didn't currently hate him, but she sure as hell still found him annoying.

When she got downstairs, Anna and Harper were preparing to leave. The boys had found a place nearby that carried lapis lazuli, and Harper said he would buy it himself, using his own ring as a size reference.

Elena offered to escort the Zhus to their car, and Angela told her to take her time out there. There was someone she wanted to talk to herself.

"So," Angela dragged out the word. "Made a new friend?"

Stefan's gaze lingered in Harper's direction. "I think so. He's refreshingly sweet."

"Refreshingly? Is that your way of saying I'm not sweet?"

There was something heavy in how he looked at her. "You are very sweet."

Angela definitely did not blush at the deliberate way he said that. Never. That would be pathetic. "I had a feeling you two would get along," she said. "You both have this old, Southern gentleman air about you. Oh, I don't mean to keep calling you old–"

"No, you do."

"Yeah, who am I kidding, of course I do." They shared a small, comfortable laugh before he escorted her to the front door.

"I wanted to apologize," he said softly. "For my actions earlier today."

"What do you mean?"

"At school. In the closet. When I grabbed your arm. I saw how you froze. I wasn't thinking, and your history with Damon was the last thing on my mind. That wasn't very gentlemanly of me."

"Oh," she said simply, unsure how to respond. "I didn't freeze out of fear. I just… wasn't expecting it. That's all."

He nodded, lower-energy now.

Angela bit her lip. "Stefan." She hesitated, but decided she owed him this much. "There are things about this world–things about its people–that make it difficult for me to get… overly attached to some of them. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"Yes."

"And it's not because I don't want to or because they did something wrong. It's because I'm selfish and don't want to get my heart broken again. So much heartbreak in only one year. I'm not strong enough to take any more."

His Adam's apple bobbed. "I understand."

She took a step closer. "But I have markers in place. Seeing Vicki Donovan today brought a memory hurtling back. If things don't go the way they did last time, I'll feel safe. As safe as one can feel in a world filled with vampires and witches, I suppose. I don't want to risk it before then. I can't. If I do and I'm proven right, I– I don't know what I'd do. The harm would be irreversible. I would lose my mind; my soul; my self. Even now, thinking of the possibility, it feels like there's a vice grip around my heart, squeezing the life out of me. I love– I–" She cut herself off, but it was too late.

"I know," he said before she could spiral over her slip-up. His palm was warm against her cheek. "I'm willing to wait. Even if I have to wait a century. As long as it takes." She could probably cry over how sweet he was.

She breathed in and out, trying to calm her racing heart. "Not long now." She forced a smile. "If things go well, that is."

"All things considered, I think we've been pretty lucky so far."

"Have we?"

"Yes."

She nodded, raising a hand to lay it over his own, still cradling her cheek. "Just… do me a favor? If Vicki Donovan gets caught up in tomorrow's events, please make sure she doesn't die? I know she's a reckless idiot and very few people would mourn her absence, least of all me, but–"

"I promise."

"Thank you." She used their point of contact as a gateway to bring him into a hug, automatically nestling her head beneath his chin. He tucked her in close, playing with the ends of her hair, careful not to ruin its pattern. She could feel his heartbeat, slightly elevated, like hers. If she tried, perhaps she could make them beat in sync. She scowled. What a painfully frivolous thought.

She pulled away before she could get any other bright ideas. "I'll see you tomorrow. And remember, we still have to go costume shopping. I'm not letting you off the hook just because Caroline was weird about it."

"I'm warning you now…" He opened the door. "I'm not much of a shopper."

"Oh, don't worry. I'll be doing all the shopping. Sleep well. You and your hero hair. I have plans for you both."

All she had to do was find some glitter.


KISS HIM ALREADY, YOU ABSOLUTE CABBAGE.

I love the idea of Sheila having that universal older woman superpower of making you feel incredibly guilty with a single look. She totally would, you know it.