Chapter Info
Title: The Night of the Comet
Number: 2/?
Warnings: Language, angst, blood
Author's Note: Thanks everyone for reading! Comments are love!
DarkShipsSailHere: Thanks so much for reading and commenting! I'm so sorry, not sure what you mean by her family... Do you mean that she knew Katherine? All will be revealed in time, but I will say that he does know she knew Katherine, that's how they met. :) But thanks again, I'm really glad you like it because I'm very excited to write it!
Abi's morning actually started about noon and, though she probably could've slept for another two hours or, you know, forty years, she dragged herself out of her new and extremely comfortable bed. She had to find Damon—who she knew was in the house somewhere—as well as drag in her bags from the car. If she did so after she showered, she would be running around naked or in a towel. Damon had seen her naked plenty of times before, purely by accident of course, and always acted as if he caught his grandma naked so she tried not to do that too often. Gave a girl a complex. Plus she didn't want to give anyone else a show. So she tugged her hoodie and sandals back on and slouched downstairs to the Camaro, luckily still parked out front, to pull her three bags from the trunk. It wasn't for the first time she was glad for her vampire strength because it allowed her to get all three bags inside without sweating or asking for help or breaking a nail.
Her bags were shoved against the wall as she locked the bedroom door, leaving the bathroom door open so the steam could get out. Since she had awhile before Stefan would be home and she would be forced to play mediator between the brothers, she decided age would take a nice bath. It had been awhile since she had one, a couple weeks before they began their trip from Illinois to Virginia, and she needed the relaxation time. Quick shower in grungy motel bathrooms just didn't cut it. And she was glad she packed her different products as she dumped in some bath salts and bubble bath, turned on some classical music through her phone, shed her clothes and tied her hair back, and laid back against the porcelain with a small smile on her face.
At least it was relaxing for a few moments, because soon after she hears the lock being licked open and she groaned. "Go away, Damon," she called, not opening her eyes or moving her body. He didn't answer other than to walk into the bathroom, boots louder against the tiles than the carpet of the bedroom, and she opened her eyes with a glare covering her features. "Unless you're going to join me, get out."
"Don't tempt me." She rolled her eyes because she knew he never would, it's why she was so comforted laying there under his watchful, icy gaze.
"What do you want, Salvatore?"
"Besides a peep show?" Her glare got even more intense and he chuckled, sitting down on the toilet lid. "Stefan's in school, Zach is at work, figured you'd like a tour."
Abi brightened, sitting up, the bath water sloshing around her and slightly onto the floor. She was glad she put so much bubbles in it because it covered all the intimate parts that he so gentlemanly wanted a peep of. She didn't see the way his eyes flickered down, though, as if he was expecting just that. Reaching up, she pushed tendrils of hair behind her ears and nodded quickly, a happy grin forming on her previously glaring face. He matched her grin and slid off to sit next to the tub on the floor while she leaned over, her arms crossed over the porcelain and her chin resting on them.
"This place is amazing. So much better than the motels."
"Remember the one in Lexington?"
Abi groaned and squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. "You just had to bring that one up. I bet they hadn't washed those sheets in months. It was so gross, Damon."
"At least I didn't sleep on them."
"Yeah, you didn't." She scrunched up her nose and moved to sink more into the water so just her eyes stuck out, holding her breath and glad once again that breathing wasn't as necessary for her as it was for someone like Zach or every other human in Mystic Falls. She glared again as Damon laughed and splashed some water into her face before leaning against the edge of the tub with his back.
"Well don't worry, you won't have to do that again. If things go my way, I plan on staying here awhile."
She frowned. "Does Stefan know this? Is he okay with it?"
Damon groaned. "Really, Abs? Why do you care so much what Stefan thinks?"
"This is his home, Damon."
"Yeah, and it's mine, too. Like I told you, it's the Salvatore Boarding House, not the Stefan Boarding House."
Abigail sighed. "Fine, fine. But you know I'm going to just get pulled into the middle of your fights, so just make sure that I'm not the next one to go out the window."
Damon turned to look at her as he reached over and cupped her cheek softly. "If he ever thought about touching you or hurting you, I would rip him to shreds." He gave her a smile before jumping up, his back to her again so he didn't see the redness of her cheeks, her whole body tingling. "Now." He clapped his hands and spun back around. "Hurry up, Ariel, and let's go."
Abi rolled her eyes. "Did Damon Salvatore just make a Little Mermaid reference?"
Damon just smirked and headed out, leaving the door open just like she had it and soon the bedroom door was shut and locked again as well. She sighed and sunk under the water, pulling her hair from its tie as she did so, popping back out and grabbing for her shampoo and conditioner that she had set in the edge. She quickly washed her hair and body so she was positively swimming in nice scents before getting out to dry off. She realized then she didn't know where her hairdryer was and knew that meant she had to dig for it, so she pulled up her first bag after she knotted the towel around her chest.
Finally she found it in the second bag and plugged it in along with her curling iron, dried her body, and started on getting her hair done as she found the clothes she wanted: a tight peach off the shoulder crop top, a black pleated skirt, and black flats. She put on some matching bracelets, fitted her sunglasses over her hair, and dusted on her normal nude eyeshadow and mascara with some lip gloss. She had no plans on going anywhere, but she liked dressing nice, something she never got to do growing up so as a vampire, whenever she got the chance to get nice clothes, she jumped at the chance, which is why she had so much more than Damon. He called her a hoarder, she just thought herself smart.
Finally she finished up and headed out to find Damon only to see him coming out the door down the hall. She grinned at him, crossing her arms as she leaned against the wall by the stairs. "Do lead the way, Mr. Tour Guide." He smirked and held out his arm for her, which she gratefully accepted, and then they began their tour around the large house. The kitchen matched in colors of wood, and had marble counters, a large stone fireplace, and an even larger dark wood table. It was beautiful and Abi got excited to start cooking in a real kitchen again. Most of the house Damon said was closed off, but he also showed her the library and living room along with Stefan's bedroom, and finally his own.
"And this is where all the magic happens," he said with a smirk after he had opened the door. She resisted the jealous feeling as that "magic" she would never be apart of and would have to hear if he brought a girl home, but leaned easily against the wall as she rolled her eyes.
"I think I'd ask for a refund," she said dryly.
"Ha ha," he said sarcastically and she gave him a smirk before winking at him. "You know, your words? They hurt."
"Thought you didn't have the humanity to hurt."
"Only for you, sugar."
"Never call me that again."
Damon laughed and walked over to put an arm around her shoulders. "C'mon, I know you're dying to use that kitchen."
Abi's face lit up and she eagerly followed him downstairs. Her style of cooking definitely wasn't modern, but that's probably because she learned to cook in the sixteenth century. She still had all of her mother's old recipes memorized, even if some of the ingredients were hard to come by; she could easily substitute them for something else. Still, she missed cooking with just fire and a kettle, so she set on cooking some nice beef and vegetable stew in a large pot, making a mental note to look for the supplies she could use to actually cook over the fire place. By the age of the house, she was sure that's what it was originally meant for, so she wanted to be the one to bring that back.
Damon hang around most of the day, at least until they heard a knock on the door. Abi frowned and set the pot on to a low simmer to get ready for when Stefan got home—unlike Damon, she held no ill will towards the man—and watched Damon as he quietly sped for the front door. There was nobody she knew of that would've knocked; Stefan and Zach obviously lived there, and as far as she knew, Damon hadn't been out enough to make any "friends" yet. And Will didn't know where she lived, so she was confused until she heard a voice.
"Stefan?" The voice was oddly loud, even by vampire standards, as if inside now. And for some reason the alarm bells of recognition rang in her head, but she didn't know why. It's like the voice was familiar, too familiar, even though she was sure she hadn't heard it before.
Wiping her hands on a towel, she slowly moved for the the foyer, just as she heard Damon begin to speak.
"You must be Elena. I'm Damon, Stefan's brother."
"He didn't tell me he had a brother."
"Well, Stefan's not one to brag." Abi rolled her eyes as she worked through the hallways and entered the living room quietly to stand by the opposite wall, wondering if she should barge in or just go back to the kitchen. "Please, come. I'm sure Stefan will be along any second."
"Wow, this is your living room?"
"Living room, parlor, Sotheby's auction. It's a little kitschy for my taste." Stepping around the wall, Abi decided if this girl knew Stefan, if he liked her, she might as well introduce herself. According to Damon, they would be there for awhile, so she would be seeing this Elena again. "I see why my brother's so smitten. It's about time. For a while there, I never thought he'd get over the last one. Nearly destroyed him."
Abi was about to scold him when she stopped dead in her tracks, breath in her throat as she felt like she was choking. No, this is impossible... Katherine is dead, she can't be here. She understood then why the voice sounded familiar, and yet didn't. This girl saw a dead ringer for Katherine, down to a T, and Abi could say for sure since she spent much longer with her than the Salvatores did. Her eyes flickered helplessly from Damon to the girl and back, and by the look on his face, he knew something more than she did. And she knew that he heard her enter, but didn't say anything.
"Yeah. Katherine, his girlfriend?" Silence. "Oh, you two haven't had the awkward exes conversation yet." Abi rolled her eyes. Geez, Damon, she thought.
"Nope."
"Oops. Well, I'm sure it'll come up now. Or maybe he didn't want to tell you because he didn't want you to think he was on the rebound. We all know how those relationships end."
"You say it like every relationship is doomed to end."
"I'm a fatalist. Hello, Stefan. Abi, why don't you join us, too."
Abi gritted her teeth, huffed, and stepped into view, the girl's head whipping her way and back to Stefan. For a moment Abi just stared at her and a moment later, her body thawed as she realized this wasn't Katherine, it couldn't be. This girl was human, innocently so, unaware of the danger she was in with three vampires now lurking around her. Stefan stood behind her, glaring at Damon in a way that told Abi that the younger Salvatore wished he was the sun to burst Damon into flames.
"Hi, I'm Abigail Madison." Abigail broke the silence and stepped forward, giving her a polite smile and holding out her hand. "Elena, right?"
"Yeah..." The girl looked a bit winded, but shook her hand nonetheless.
Abi nodded. "Pleasure to meet you."
"You, too." Elena finally gave her a smile before looking back at Stefan, who hadn't unthawed as his icy glare still settled on Damon.
"Nice of you to drop by, Elena," he said coldly and Abi frowned. Taking lessons from Damon now? she wanted to ask, but held her tongue as Elena looked more than a bit uncomfortable.
"Yeah, I'm sorry, I should've called..."
"Oh, don't be silly. You're welcome any time," Damon said. "Isn't she, Stefan? You know, I should break out the family photo albums or some home movies. But... I have to warn you. He wasn't always such a looker."
"Yeah he was," Abi muttered earning a warning glare from Damon which just made her smirk.
"Thank you for stopping by, Elena. Nice to see you."
"Yeah, I should probably go," Elena said. "It was nice to meet you, Damon. And you, Abigail."
"Great meeting you, too, Elena." Damon gave her that charming grin that Abi has seen, but never directed at her as it was reserved for the women who he wanted to take home. She rolled her eyes and nudged his shoulder, to which he ignored.
Lucky for them all, Elena didn't seem to notice it as she nodded and slid around Stefan to head out the door, the click of the lock following soon after. Damon chuckled and went right for the bourbon as Abi's smile faded and she put her hands on her hips, twirling to her best friend.
"What was that, Damon Salvatore?"
Damon smirked at Abi and winked, making her huff. "Great gal. Whoo. She's got spunk. You, on the other hand," His attention directed to Stefan, "look pooped. Did you over-exert yourself today? Let me guess... Hospital."
"Someone had to clean up your mess."
Abi frowned. "What did you do, Damon?" Once again, she was ignored and she growled in frustration.
"Well, were you successful? Did the powers of persuasion work? Remember, if you don't feed properly, none of those little tricks work right."
"How long was Elena here?"
"Were you worried, Stefan? Scared we may be doomed to repeat the past? Isn't that why you play your little game, 'I'm a high school human'?"
"I'm not playing any game."
"Of course you are. We both know the closest you'll ever get to humanity is when you rip it open and feed on it."
"What kind of game are you playing, Damon?"
"Guess you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" Damon gave him another smirk, kissed Abi's forehead, and left the room with his glass of bourbon.
Abi sighed and scrubbed a hand down her face, turning slowly back to Stefan who still glared in the direction Damon disappeared in. She hated when Damon kept secrets from her because usually that meant he was going to do something stupid that could get him or someone else hurt. She knew that he wouldn't do anything that would hurt her—at least physically as he was unaware that just being around him hurt her—but that didn't mean she wanted him running off and being stupid.
"I'll find out what he's up to," she promised.
"If anyone's going to get it out of him, I suppose you are," Stefan said with a sigh, putting his hands on his hips. As he looked back at her, his glare had faded and he smiled at her apologetically. "But you don't have to do anything that will make you get involved in his plans."
"I've been with that idiot for awhile. All I am is involved."
He chuckled lightly. "I guess you're right. Just don't get yourself hurt."
"You think Damon will let that happen?"
"No," he sighed. "You're the only person that can bring out Damon's humanity. You're the only one he cares about." He looked a little put off by that, but she didn't blame him. After all, even though she knew Stefan didn't want him there, they were still brothers. It should be Stefan in her shoes, the one to bring out his brother's humanity. They were family. And yet it was towards Stefan that Damon showed the least of it.
"He thinks it's gone, and yet all he does is protect me." She shook her head. "He's exasperating and pigheaded."
"I can imagine."
Abi chuckled. She was sure he could. Shaking her head, she went to him and put her arm around his, tugging him in the direction of the kitchen. "Come, I've made some stew. Figured you'd be hungry after school." She smiled as he seemed to brighten and quickly took the lead, making her giggle. "I was thinking I could find one of those arms to go over the fire. You know, how cooking used to work? Things taste so much better over an open flame like that."
Once they arrived, he eagerly went to get a bowl and the ladle, heaping the steaming concoction into the porcelain. "There's an antique shop in the next town. We can go there tomorrow before the comet if you want."
"Oh wow, that's back? I remember being here last time it was visible." With a quick little jump, she sat up on the island next to where he stood, feet swinging back and forth lightly as he leaned next to her and ate.
"Yep, and they still have a party for it."
Abi snorted. "If I remember, they have a party for everything."
Stefan chuckled. "Well, you're not wrong."
Abi grinned, but it faded as she heard a throat being cleared from the doorway. She raised an eyebrow and looked over at Damon who stood there with his arms crossed, leaning against the dark wood and smirking.
"Abs, don't you know not to fraternize with the enemy?"
She rolled her eyes and jumped down. "He's only the enemy because you're making him that way. Besides, he might be yours, but he's not mine. Don't be a dick."
He sighed. "Whatever you say. Now c'mon, we weren't finished."
"With what?" she asked, confused.
"Just come on." Abi huffed and rolled her eyes, shot Stefan a small smile and earning herself a nod, before she jumped down and followed the exasperating man through the door.
She easily caught up with Damon who was making his way down some stairs. She frowned as she looked around, seeing it was much less finished and ornate down here. Plain wooden walls and stairs, the floor also wood but lighter and very scuffed. Faintly she remembered him saying there were cells down here, but she had forgotten that until just then.
"You didn't bring me here just to lock me up and torture me, did you?" she asked dryly, earning herself a look.
"Yeah, I mean I'll kill anyone else who does it, but I don't mind doing it myself," he said sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes. "Then why are you showing me the dungeon?"
"Because you need to see everything. This house is owned by Zach now so he has to invite people in, but shit happens. If someone ever gets in and I'm not here or something happens to me, I want you come down here and lock yourself in. There's a lock on both sides for that reason. It's built to keep people in, but also keep people out. I'd rather have you down here desecrating where I can find you and wake you up rather than upstairs with your heart ripped out." He paused and looked at her and, for the first time that day, he looked serious.
"Damon, this isn't necessary. I'm a vampire, too. I'm older than you. I can take care of myself."
"Promise me, Abs." He put his hands on her shoulders. "We're not leaving until you promise me. I won't risk your life for anything."
Abi sighed and gave him a soft smile, reaching up to pat his cheek. "I promise."
"If something happens, you'll come down here."
"If something happens, I'll come down here," she repeated, nose wrinkling as it was almost like she was being compelled. And maybe she was, but that's only because Damon had such a hold over her. She was in love with him and wanted to give him everything, no matter if it hurt her own emotions or not. Even if she didn't love him, even if she just felt friendship for him, she would still want that. Because he meant more to her than anything, was the most important person in her life, and she would die before she let anyone get near him. So if it meant she had to promise to run rather than fight, she would, even if she wasn't exactly sure she could keep it. It wasn't in her nature to run.
Damon's eyes flickered over her face and she supposed he was satisfied with what he saw because he gave her a smile and leaned up to kiss her forehead. "Good. Now that that's settled, I think we should drink."
Abi snorted and rolled her eyes, but took his offered arm and followed him upstairs to his room and the bottle of bourbon that had moved up from the living room. She let herself lean against his headboard, kicking off her flats and making sure her skirt lag nicely across her lap. She took a glass from him and took a sip, tilting her head to the side as he leaned an arm against the mantle of the fireplace.
"So..." she started. "What's the story with Elena? I mean... Not a lot of things shock me, but she sure as hell did." Out if all of them, Abi had spent the most time with Katherine, and if she was fooled she was sure they had been when they first saw her.
Damon snorted. "Damned if I know. Stefan told me about her last night. Didn't believe him until today. She's a dead ringer for Katherine."
Abi nodded and took another sip of alcohol. "Thought I jumped back into 1864," she said with a chuckle. Damon grinned and walked over to sit next to her. "I'm assuming she doesn't know."
"You assume right. She didn't even know about Katherine." Abi nodded and took a sip of bourbon.
"I heard. Well, I want to be a fly on the walk when Stefan says, 'Oh, by the way, you're identical to my ex.'"
Damon laughed. "You and me both, Abs."
.x.x.x.x.
The next day, Abi decided to head down to the festivities earlier and avoid whatever was going to happen between Damon and Stefan; she knew something was going to happen. Part of her figured she should stay and play referee, but she also decided that she woke up without the patience for that and didn't want to have the regret of killing one of them. So she woke up, showered, and dressed in a black and white checked, off the shoulder dress that ended about mid-thigh. She paired it with strappy black and white striped sandals, her regular rose colored sunglasses, and a black shoulder bag with her essentials. Nude eyeshadow, mascara, and lip gloss went on before she left, her heels clicking against the dark wood floors. For a moment she almost took Damon's keys to take the Camaro, but knew that if he wanted to go somewhere, he would be a bit annoyed at having to walk. So she did, her heels clicking as she went back into town, making a mental note along the way to find a dealership and get herself a car. She was sort of surprised Stefan didn't have one, and she couldn't very well picture him riding a bus. The image actually made her giggle.
It was early afternoon, but already things were in full swing by the time she arrived in the square. Vendors sat all over the place with food and other odds and ends to buy. Chairs were set up all over along with some blankets on the ground and even some tents. It looked like this place would be rather busy and part of her wished she drank something earlier—blood wise, not the bourbon Damon seemed to drink like water—but she would have to wait. It's not as if she could compel someone in a crowd like this. She wondered if she could easily get into the hospital for a bag. She hated doing it that way, but it would be easier than trying to lure someone off alone. Though, by some of the glances she was getting, she was sure a man or two wouldn't mind following her behind the Grill for a quick snack.
But she wouldn't, at least not that day, so she ignored the hunger as she did every day since 1555 and strolled easily through the group of people. She said hello along the way to a couple of them who caught her attention, introduced herself to a couple others who gave her the cliche, "You're new around here" line, and avoided Will Tanner who was prowling along the outskirts of the festival with a beer bottle in hand. Normally she didn't take conquests like that in towns so small, very easy to run into them again, but she would have to deal with it if they were going to stay like Damon wanted them to.
Nobody else stood out to her, at least not until she noticed a familiar face in the crowd and had to stop in her tracks. Katherine? she thought for a slight second before remembering the day before and Stefan's new..."friend." Elena, she remembered, the face oh so familiar that it took a moment for her to start moving again. The girl with her wasn't someone she saw before, but she and Elena were deep in conversation. For a moment she thought about focusing in, but she faintly heard "...Stefan..." and realized she didn't want to know. That wasn't any of her business. But she did know that Stefan was intrigued by her, and she was glad that he didn't let Katherine effect him now.
Unlike Damon.
"Elena? Hi!" Abi called, stepping around a couple making out on a blanket at her feet. She heard the conversation with Elena and the other girl stop and Elena looked surprised at the sound of her name before she caught sight of Abi clicking towards them. Abi had decided after her conversation with Damon that she would find out more about the girl, and not just because she looked like her dead friend and she missed her, despite her cruel and selfish acts. (Must be a theme with me, she thought wryly considering her two best friends were Katherine and Damon.) But she was genuinely intrigued, and she knew being friends with Elena would make life much easier on her with living with three guys.
"Hey. Abigail, right?" Elena asked, looking a bit apprehensive, but she smiled slightly nonetheless.
Abi smiled. "Right. But you can call me Abi."
"Right." Elena smiled wider. "Abi, this is my best friend, Bonnie Bennett. Bonnie, this is Stefan's friend, Abi." Abi didn't correct her of the fact she was actually more Damon's friend because she was suddenly struggling not to make a huge deal out of meeting another Bennett witch. Well, she assumed she was a Bennett witch, the whole family was. She knew Emily very well, and had met a couple others through her travels with Katherine before Mystic Falls. They were very nice people, and very powerful. It was Emily's magic that made her daylight ring work. But of course she didn't say anything, just greeted the girl same as she would've anyone else, not missing the flash of something that crossed Bonnie's face when they shook hands, or the polite smile that didn't quite reach her eyes afterwards.
"Nice to meet you!" Abi said brightly.
"You, too," Bonnie agreed.
"Staying for the comet?" Elena asked, pausing to hand a program to a couple walking by them.
Abi nodded. "Sure am. Need help with those?" she wondered, gesturing to the papers Elena and Bonnie held.
Elena gave her a grateful smile and handed over part of her stack. "Yes, thank you, you're a life saver."
Abi chuckled. "No problem." She started by kneeling down next to the couple making our and putting one on the back of the girl, who was on top. The other two laughed as they moved on, ignoring the glare sent their way, stepping around them to a grouping of chairs clustered under one of the trees. A couple of the people took them and on they moved.
"Can I ask you a question?" Elena wondered, dark eyes flickering over to Abi. Abi's eyebrows rose, but she gave her a confirming nod. "If Stefan had my number... Do you think he'd want to text me?"
Abi was a bit surprised, but she grinned. "Definitely. You can tell him I said that, too. I'll give you his."
Elena quickly got out her phone and Abi rattled off the numbers to her. "Thank you," she said gratefully.
Abi chuckled. "You're welcome. I'm glad that you guys are becoming friends. He deserves it. He needs more people in his life. More good people."
"Damon isn't good?"
Abi hesitated as she handed out another program. "Damon is... Damon." She gave her a pressed smile. "I've known them both for a very long time and Damon is my best friend, but I know what type of man he is. Don't get me wrong, he's my best friend, but he's a dick, to put it nicely. I don't know why he's not to me, I've never figured that out. But I know that if it came down to it, me versus Stefan, he would choose me." Elena looked troubled and Abi stopped, putting a hand on her arm. "Which is why I'm glad Stefan found you. I think you'll be good for him."
"Where do you stand on Damon versus Stefan?"
Abi's pause was long enough that it told Elena what she needed to know and the brunette looked away. "Look, I love Stefan, he's an amazing person. But I've been with Damon longer, and through more shit than Stefan could ever understand. Like I said, Damon's my friend, dick status aside. I owe my life to Damon; he's the reason I'm still here, and the reason I can wake up with a smile." Elena frowned, her eyes almost calculating.
"You and Damon—"
"—are just friends," Abi interrupted before Elena could go on. But they exchanged a look which made Elena nod in understanding; they were just friends, but that didn't mean Abi wasn't in love with him.
"Does he know?" Elena asked quietly.
"No," Abi whispered. "And, please, he never will." Elena hesitated, but nodded. "Enough about Damon and I." She smiled. "I'll make sure Stefan expects your call. Or text." She still wasn't used to the new technology. It was so fascinating to her. "I think he'll be here tonight if you want to meet up with him. I left before I had to play referee between them so I haven't asked when, but I'll make sure he's here."
"You don't have to. I'm sure he has more important things to do." Abi and Elena handed out their last program while Bonnie—who had been quiet this whole time—still had five or ten left.
"Not tonight he doesn't. He'll be here. I promise." Abi grinned and was happy when Elena gave her an answering smile. She grabbed a program from Bonnie to make sure she had the right times and folded it up to put in her bag. "I'll probably be around, too, so I'll see you then?"
"Definitely!" Elena exclaimed and Abi grinned wider.
She decided she really liked Elena. The girl had a good head on her shoulders and a nice strength about her even after losing her parents. Abi had heard all about it, of course, the whole town had. But she had spoken with Stefan the night before and he gave her more details—like the fact he's the reason Elena's still alive. But she seemed to be holding it together, and Abi was glad for her. Nobody deserved to lose family like that, and she had to resist the pain that swelled in her own heart when she thought of her siblings, Johnny and Victoria, and later her beloved father, who all succumbed to sickness while she was still human. It took a lot of time and effort, but with Katherine and later Damon's help, she was able to move on. She never let herself think about the fact that her mother, her other siblings, and her nieces and nephews were dead now as well.
"See you then. Nice meeting you, Bonnie." Bonnie gave her another smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, but she filed it away for later. She gave them a quick wave and headed in the opposite direction, heading for the Grill, when an arm went around her waist and a hand over her mouth, tugging her into an alley.
She gasped and struggled, realizing a second later that the laugh in her ear was as familiar as the chest her back was (deliciously) pressed against. She broke free of Damon's grip and spun to smack him across the chest, chocolate eyes flashing with fury.
"Damon Salvatore! That's not very nice. What if it wasn't me?"
He shrugged. "Then I'd just have a snack."
She rolled her eyes. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the house."
"I was until I realized that someone was missing." His playful face fell into a glare. "You left without telling me. Don't do that again, Abi."
She huffed. "Need I remind you for the millionth time that I'm stronger than you and can take care of myself? Besides, you need to spend time with your brother and play nice without me interfering."
"When have I ever played nice?"
"When you don't want a stake through your heart," she said kindly with a sickly sweet smile.
Damon scoffed and turned, throwing his arm around her as he exited the alley and went for his Camaro she hadn't seen parked on the street before.
"You don't scare me, little girl," he said as he helped her in the passenger seat and went around to his own side.
"I should," she grumbled. "Fucking fear me." He laughed all the way home to the boarding house.
.x.x.x.x.
When nighttime hit, Abi made her way back to the square. It was even more busy than before and so she stuck to the sidelines as her eyes searched out Stefan and Elena, or even Bonnie. Stefan had left a few minutes before her as she had been trying to call Damon, but has no luck. He disappeared again as soon as he dropped her off at home and she was more than a little bit angry at her friend.
"If you don't want me being alone, what makes you think I want you alone? Call me!" she had yelled into his voicemail, and normally that got her at least a quick text, but nothing, as if he had some type of plan.
Finally she found Elena, only she was walking away from Stefan who had a deep frown on his face. Abi sighed, seeing Elena had made a decision from their earlier conversation—albeit not the right decision—and made a beeline for Stefan who looked more than a little dejected. She put a hand on his shoulder and he didn't turn, but he did allow his shoulders to slump a little bit more. Apparently she had that way with the Salvatore brothers; they hid their feelings extremely well, except for when she was there. She never quite understood why, but she was glad she could be there for them; the boys needed someone.
"I should go talk to her," she said softly, moving so she stood in front of Stefan to look up into his troubled eyes. "I tried talking to her a bit earlier, but it didn't go how I planned."
Stefan slowly shook his head. "No, no don't talk to her. She's right to walk away from me. With Damon here now, and I'm a vampire... It's complicated. She already has enough to deal with."
Abi sighed and rolled her eyes. "You Salvatores and your 'poor me, my life sucks, boo hoo' crap. You know how long Damon's been pulling that shit on me?" She shook her head. "Do what your brother doesn't and go for what's difficult because that'll make everything much more worth it."
"So Damon still doesn't know that—"
"This isn't about me and Damon," she hissed immediately, stopping his words and feeling her face change, surprising him, but she quickly got herself under control. Her self-control was her most prized possession and she would be damned if her unrequited feelings of love for her best friend would get the better of her. Part of her was kind of surprised Stefan knew, but then again, she knew him just as long as Damon. And even Elena had figured it out. Was she really that bad at hiding it? No, it couldn't be that, after all she's been with Damon for a hundred and forty-five years; he surely would've noticed by now. Then what was it? Did she wear her heart on her sleeve for everybody except him? That was all kinds of screwed up, if that were the case. She should be able to tell him anything, and yet everybody but him knew that she loved him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, starting to apologize, and she quickly shook her head.
"No no, don't apologize," she said quickly, putting a hand on his arm. "I shouldn't have snapped, I'm sorry. I just didn't realize you knew. And I don't like talking about it. Or even thinking about it." She took a shaky breath. "Besides, this is about you and Elena. You like her, right?" He slowly nodded as he shoved his hands in his pockets. "Then go for it. Don't give up just because you're a vampire and things are 'complicated.'" She paused. "At least you'll know her feelings if you talk to her. If you want to think of me as an example, go for it. Don't spend a hundred and forty-five years pining over someone who doesn't know your true feelings and never be able to have any other real relationships because you're too chicken to tell them." She gave him a self-depreciating smile. "Now's your chance to fess up to your feelings and find out where she's at."
"She says it's too complicated to date."
"But that doesn't mean she doesn't want to."
Stefan sighed, running a hand through his hair, before a noise drifted through the breeze and tingled both of their vampiric hearing. Nobody else around heard it, clearly, because they didn't react, but Abi and Stefan were immediately moving towards the sound of the noise. It sounded like a scuffle, like an attack. The panicked sounds of human fear, scuffing footsteps as they tried to get away, the loud beat of a racing heart.
"Where—"
"Up there," Abi said, pointing up at the top of a building and slowly her eyes narrowed. "Is that Damon?! Who's that girl he's with?"
"Vicki Donovan," Stefan said gravely as they moved closer, getting into a stance to leap up.
"Who?" she asked, confused.
"Never mind."
Abi frowned—clearly Damon had been keeping more shit from her than she realized and she intended on finding out exactly what later on—and together they jumped up, landing swiftly on the top of the building in front of Damon and a girl Abi had never seen before. She had a bandage on her neck and one quick inhale told the blonde that the girl was recently injured and starting to bleed again. Her lip curved up as the scent had her eyes changing, her fangs elongating, but she shook it away as she glared at her best friend who at least had the decency to give her a guilty look even if the one he sent to Stefan was mocking.
"You really have to stop screaming," Damon taunted
"No, please, stop. Don't..." the girl pleaded.
"Shh. I got you..."
"Excuse me," Stefan interrupted.
"No! No!" Vicki screamed as she struggled, clearly in no state of mind to comprehend the real danger she was under as she was far too close to the ledge for anyone's liking. Well, except maybe Damon's. Abi glowered at him, putting her hands on her hips as her lips curved up into a snarl.
"Shh, I'm not gonna drop you." He smirked at Stefan. "Not bad. Have you been eating bunnies?"
"Damon, stop being a dick and let her go," Abi snapped.
"Shh. Really? Okay." Damon pulls Vicki to the edge of the roof and the girl screamed.
"No, no, no!" Stefan said.
"Damon, stop!" Abi yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Damon rolled his eyes and tossed the girl over to Stefan who easily caught her.
"Ugh! Both of you, relax."
"What's happening?" the girl asked, dazed and confused and panicked.
"I don't need her to be dead, but...you might." He grinned and then asked Vicki, "What attacked you the other night?"
"I don't know. An animal."
This is what Stefan had done at the hospital, Abi realized as she remembered the conversation from the other day. Damon had attacked Vicki and Stefan went to compel her to forget, but seeing as he wasn't as strong as most vampires, Damon was undoing what he had done. Yeah, Abi definitely had to have a talk with Damon later that night.
"Are you sure about that? Think. Think about it. Think really hard. What attacked you?" Damon demanded.
"A vampire."
"Who did this to you?" Damon demanded again.
"You did!"
Abi's eyes went wide. "You?!" she sputtered at Damon.
"Wrong!"
"Don't," Stefan pleaded.
"It was Stefan."
"Damon!" Abi yelled.
"Don't!"
"Come here. Stefan Salvatore did this to you," Damon compelled.
"Stefan Salvatore did this to me."
"He's a vampire. A vicious, murderous vampire."
"Please, Damon. Please don't do this," Abi said, the pleading note in her voice now.
"If you couldn't fix it before, I don't know what you can do now." Damon pulled the bandage off her throat and tossed her to Stefan again, making her scream. Stefan's eyes changed in an instant and Abi could see the struggle, the fight in him and she's never been as angry at Damon as she was right then. Hands on her hips, she quickly went over and took Vicki from him and helped her softly to the ground where she cried and Stefan nodded in silent thanks.
"Ugh! Your choice of lifestyle has made you weak. A couple of vampire parlor tricks is nothing compared to the power that you could have, that you now need. But you can change that. Human blood gives you that."
"No!"
"You have two choices. You can feed and make her forget. Or you can let her run, screaming 'vampire' through the town square."
"That's what this is about?" Stefan said. "You want to expose me?"
"No! I want you to remember who you are!"
"Why? So what, so I'll feed? So I'll kill? So I'll remember what it's like to be brothers again? You know what, let her go. Let her tell everyone that vampires have returned to Mystic Falls. Let them chain me up, and let them drive a stake through my heart, because at least I'll be free of you."
Abi winced.
"Huh. Huh. Wow. Come here, sweetheart."
"No!"
"It's okay." Damon whispers to her and suddenly she calmed down, just like that. Damon spent decades perfecting his compelling; he was damned good at it, almost as good as Abi. But he also drank more blood than she did as he didn't mind tapping a vein and killing—clearly—while she preferred to go for other resources instead, like blood bags from a hospital. Truthfully she's never tried animal blood, couldn't stomach the thought, but deep down she's still that quiet farm girl that wouldn't hurt a fly and prefers not to take a vein if she doesn't have to.
"What happened? Where am I? Oh, I ripped my stitches open. Ugh..."
"You okay?" Stefan asked quietly.
"I took some pills, man. I'm good." She smirked, swaying a little, and on tippy high heels she leaves, leaving the three vampires alone on the roof top.
"It's good to be home. Think I might stay a while. This town could use a bit of a wake-up call, don't you think?"
"What are you up to, Damon?" Stefan snarled.
"That's for me to know and for you to...dot dot dot. Give Elena my best." And then he was gone, run before even Abi could say another word.
The two vampires stayed quiet for a couple moments before Abi finally turned to Stefan. The look on her face was one of sorrow and she took a step closer, pulling him down into a tight hug and allowing herself to comfort him. He needed it more than anyone right then; more than her, and more than the dickhead vampire she would be berating when she got back to the boarding house.
"I'm so sorry," she said sorrowfully and pulled back to cup his cheeks. "I know that doesn't help. But I swear I didn't know what he's up to. I don't know his plan, I tried talking to him, but he shut me out. He's never done that before, so that tells me it's something big, something he knows I'll stop him from doing if he tells me. But I'll keep digging and I'll try to stop him. I'll keep him in line and try and stop him from doing something like this again. If I had known this was his plan, I never would've let him come back here. So I'm so sorry, Stefan."
"You're his friend, not his keeper, Abi. You couldn't have known."
"Yeah, but I should've. Because I'm his friend." She sighed softly and patted his cheek. "Come on, we should get back. You should go talk to Elena." He didn't look convinced, but he nodded, taking her hand and together they jumped off the roof back onto the sidewalk below.
.x.x.x.x.
Damon wasn't at the boarding house when she and Stefan got home. He hadn't been able to get ahold of Elena so they opted to head home and find something to do, like a movie or reading. She still hadn't gotten a new television, but she found an old one (and by old, she meant ancient, as it was a black and white television from the sixties) in the basement storage room. She also brought up a bottle of red wine that she found, seeing that it was a good vintage and not caring if anyone had plans for it. She changed quickly into some pajamas to get herself comfortable: her favorite boot slippers, a white t-shirt that read Play With Fairies, Ride a Unicorn, Swim With Mermaids, Fly to the Moon, and some floral pajama shorts. She poured out two glasses of the wine and sent another text to Damon to answer her "or else," and then padded downstairs to the living room where she first Stefan would be waiting.
Only at the bottom of the stairs, she paused as she heard voices at the front door and frowned, finally picking up on the soft lilt of Elena's voice. She grinned, nearly bouncing in happiness for Stefan as slowly she padded her way back upstairs and into her bedroom. She downed one glass of wine and started on the other, getting herself comfortable to watch Casablanca like she had planned with Stefan. But she was more than happy to spend the night alone if that meant her friend would be happy.
She just wished that Damon would answer her. She always worried about him, but it seemed to be choking her right then as the unknown crippled her. He was going off the deep end; this revenge shit would get him hurt, or even worse, killed. Abi knew she couldn't survive if she lost him, and so she knew that she was doing this for him, so he didn't lose himself and the man he was, but she also knew that part of her reasoning for wanting him to answer her was for purely selfish reasons. It's why she made a mental note to snoop around his room the next morning before he got home, because she came to the conclusion that he was out with some female conquest that she didn't want to think about lest she do something she would regret later on.
But she worried and worried until the movie was over, the wine was gone, and she was left with troubled dreams of watching her best friend lose the small bit of humanity he had left, and not being able to do a thing as she lost him forever.
Author's Note: Don't forget to go to Polyvore and view my profile under alysalvatore to see Abi's outfits from this chapter!