The sun was just starting to come through the window of Kol's room when I woke up. Without opening my eyes, I stretched my toes towards the sun's warmth at the the foot of the bed.
Slowly, I opened my eyes and blinked a few times before they were able to focus. I realized that I was alone. I sat up and curiously glanced around the room; he wasn't there.
I listened carefully and heard two people talking in hushed, stern tones from the hallway. I recognized them to be Kol and Klaus.
As quietly as I could, I scooted to the edge of the bed and stood up. I tiptoed over to the door, which was cracked open by about an inch, and listened.
"Have you tried looking into any places that are closer to town?" Klaus asked.
"No, actually I haven't." Kol spat back sarcastically. "I've been checking every other bloody town in the country except the ones near Mystic Falls!"
"You asked me to help you, brother. I can just as easily ignore the situation and let you carry on as you were, though I doubt you would have any success in finding him." Klaus replied cooly.
That last bit peaked my interest, so I decided to join in on their conversation. I opened the door and leaned against the door frame.
"And who might I ask are you talking about?" I asked, crossing my arms over my chest. "Collin?"
They both turned to face me. Kol didn't seemed phased to learn that I had been listening and Klaus raised an eyebrow at me. "When did you get here?" he asked.
"Last night." I replied simply. Klaus gave me a funny look. I realized how I must have looked coming out of Kol's room early in the morning with messy hair and wearing only a tank top and sleep shorts. I rolled my eyes. "Don't give me that look. I'm not a slag." I snapped. "Now, someone answer the question please."
After a few seconds of silence, Kol reluctantly replied, "Yes, we were."
I looked at him questioningly. "Why did I not know you were looking for him? How long has this been going on?" I asked, gesturing to them.
"I've been trying to track him down since the night he turned you." Kol answered, taking a few steps closer to me. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry." He looked over to Klaus. "Can you give us a minute?"
Klaus nodded and walked downstairs.
I looked back over to Kol. "Look, I get that you want to protect me and everything, but I'm even more worried by having no idea where he is." I said, unfolding my arms and walking over to him. "And I'm sure I can help."
Kol shook his head. "It's not your job to look for him."
"But I want" I started before he cut me off.
"Juliet," he started, looking deep into my eyes. "He hurt you. I want to find him and make him pay for that." I could hear the anger his words.
I shook my head. "I want revenge too, but I can't get it if you won't let me help you find him." I insisted. "Let me help."
He stood quietly, thinking.
"When we find Collin, you can hold him back while I beat the hell out him." I offered cheekily, I put my hands behind my back an grinned up at him.
He chuckled. "Now, how can someone manage to look as adorable as you do while they're talking about beating someone?" he asked rhetorically, shaking his head at me.
"So, is that a yes?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at him.
He sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "As you wish, darling." he replied, smirking.
I managed to sneak back into my room through the window, thinking no one else would be awake yet. I was wrong. When I got into my room, my father was sitting on the edge of my bed with a glass of blood in his hand. He was facing the door. Without turning around to look at me, he took a sip from the glass. "Where were you?" he asked.
I hesitated for a few seconds, trying to think of a lie. For once in a long time, I decided to tell the truth. I didn't exactly know why I wanted to, maybe to spite him. "I was at Kol's." I replied.
He took another sip. I tried not to think about the smell of the blood coming from his glass; I hadn't fed since yesterday afternoon. He turned to face me finally, his eyebrows knit together in concern. "What were you doing there?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes. "Not what you think, I'm guessing." I snapped.
"Has he been taking you to feed?" he asked, standing up and sitting the glass down on my nightstand.
"Excuse me?" I asked, my voice full of surprise.
"Has he been taking you to kill people?" he demanded, his voice was stern this time. I recognized the look of rage bubbling under his surface.
I crossed my arms over my chest. "Does it matter?" I asked, glaring at him
"Of course it matters!" he snapped. "Now answer the question." He tried to keep his voice level, but I knew from past experience that his temper was just as bad as mine and it would be even worse since he was a vampire.
"Yes. I've killed humans before, the first few times he took me to feed." I replied cooly.
He looked absolutely furious. "You've killed people." he said in disbelief.
"Yes, and I'd be a liar if I said that I wouldn't do it again. I'm sure you've killed before too; there isn't a vampire alive who hasn't." I said, glaring at him slightly.
He looked away from me, staring at the floor. "I have, once, but I regret it." he replied in a low voice.
"Right. And I guess I'm some sort of monster since I don't." I scoffed. "There must be something horribly wrong with me because I can kill without feeling bad about it. That's what you're saying, right?" My voice cracked a little. Tears began to well up in my eyes.
"I never said that."
"No, but that's what you're implying. You think that Kol has turned me into some bloodthirsty monster, don't you? Well guess what, if I'm a monster it's not because of him. It's because of you." I spat in a low voice. A tear slid down my cheek.
He looked up to meet my gaze. "Me? How am I the reason for you killing people? He's the one who opened you up to it in the first place, not me." he snapped, trying not to yell.
I scoffed, stepping forward. "Don't you dare pin this on him. Kol hasn't done a damn thing. If anyone is to blame for me being the way I am it's you." I seethed. I took a few steps back, trying to refrain from slapping him.
"That sweet little girl you knew 10 years ago is gone. She left when the first man she ever loved broke her heart, her father." A few more tears slipped down my cheeks. "For years you did nothing but disappoint me because you were never there when I needed you. In a way, I was relieved when you left. At least then I could pretend that you were dead. Sometimes I wished that you really were." I whispered. I stopped talking as the sadness and rage mixed together and began to slowly overwhelm me. Being a vampire, every emotion was stronger.
My father didn't speak; he couldn't figure out what to say. He just stood there with a dumbstruck and heartbroken look on his face. I could've sworn I saw tears in his eyes.
"Just go." I whispered, wiping the tears from my eyes and cheeks.
"Juliet," he began, taking a step forward. "I..."
"Don't." I snapped. "Just go. Leave!" I nearly yelled. But he didn't leave. He was as stubborn as I was and he wouldn't leave until I heard him out.
"Just let me" he began.
"I said leave!" I yelled. Tears continued streaming down my face. I ignored the hurt look in his eyes.
"I'm sorry." he said quietly. With that, he turned around and reluctantly left the room, taking his glass with him.
I took a few deep breaths and tried to calm myself down. I hated crying, it made me feel weak and powerless. I sat sown on the edge of my bed and wiped the tears from my eyes.
My mother came in a few minutes later. She opened the door carefully and eased her way into the room. "Jules, love, are you okay?" she asked. She took a seat next to me.
I shook my head. "No mum. I'm not okay." I said quietly. I looked up at her, trying not to look as pathetic as I felt.
"Is it your father? He's going to stay at hotel, so you don't have to worry about that." she replied, placing one of her hands over mine.
I shook my head. "It's not just that."
She gave me a confused look. "Then what is it?" she asked.
"It's about Collin. He's been manipulating my dream for weeks. He hasn't given up." I said, looking out the window for a moment. "That's why I went to Kol's last night, so I could get away from him." I turned face my mother again.
Her mouth gaped open slightly for a second before she snapped it shut. "How did I not know?" she whispered. She was starting to blame herself, something she tended to do.
I shook my head. "I didn't even realize it until yesterday. There's no way you would've figured it out before I did." I insisted, squeezing her hand comfortingly. "Kol and Klaus have been trying to find him for a while. I'm going to help them."
She shook her head. "I'm the parent. I'm supposed to be looking out for you." she insisted. She ran a hand through her hair. I could sense the anxiety radiating from her.
"I can take care of myself. And I know you don't like him, but Kol won't let anything happen to me. He'll help me find Collin so we can stop him." I said. "Don't worry about me."
She hesitated, but nodded. "Just be safe." she said firmly, looking me in the eyes. She stood up and walked toward the door.
Her hand was on the doorknob when she suddenly turned around to face me. "Your father told me about what you've done. He doesn't think you're a monster." she said simply. I couldn't tell from her tone or expression whether or not she was disappointed and she left before I could ask.
After sitting in silence for a while, I decided to ignore the sadness and I pushed it to the back of my mind. Instead, I focused on another feeling: the hatred I felt for Collin. I felt a new sense of determination and in that moment I decided on what I was going to do. I decided that I was going to kill him.
A.N.- Hopefully that was intense enough for all of my lovely readers. I know I say this in every chapter, but please let me know what you think. I won't bite; I'm not a vampire...or am I? Haha ;) Anyway, thanks a lot for the feedback and support so far. I can't believe I'm already at chapter 19! I'm trying to update twice a week since I'm on Summer Break now, but I'm going on vacation in a little over a week, so I won't be updating then. I'm sorry this chapter was kind of short. :/
Responses to recent reviews:
FanFicChikk: I'm glad you think so! I love cute and romantic things like that :)
Marine76: Thanks for both reviews! I'd love to hear what you think of this chapter as well.
