Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respectable owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is not associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait between the chapters. All I can offer is that I have been in the middle of a career change and location change and well, life in general. I'm still caught up in it so I can't promise regular updates but I will definitely try not to have such a large gap again.
APOV:
I could feel intense heat on all sides. I realized that my eyes were closed and opened them to see myself surrounded by a ring of fire. I flicked my wrist but there was no wand in my hand after the action. I looked at my arm and felt a part of me chill when I saw no wand holster. Aguamenti was a sixth-year charm but I still tried to cast it wandlessly to no avail.
"It's all nice and well for you that you can do wandless magic now! What about the rest of us?" sneered Colin as he appeared right in front of me.
"I didn't want them! I broke the wand and threw the stone in the forest but they keep on coming back no matter what I do." I tried to plead my case.
"Yes, it is very convenient to have such a noble excuse, isn't it girl-who-lived?" said Colin as he backed into the fire.
"No! Stop! You'll die!" I tried to reach out for him but I was frozen in my spot.
"I'm already dead. All because you were too slow and stupid."
I watched in horror as he turned into ashes. Suddenly something grabbed me from behind and all I got was a glimpse of gold and black before something ripped into my neck.
I sat upright in my bed with sweat drenching my tank top. This has been such a common occurrence now that I merely looked at the time which was surprisingly only 5 am and went straight for a shower. After my morning routine I grabbed my 7th year Potions textbook and went downstairs to study.
My head shot up when I heard footsteps coming downstairs.
"Good morning, Aunt Jenna." I greeted her as she emerged into the living room.
"Good morning, Azalea. You're up early." She said in surprise.
"I've turned into a bit of an early bird. You know, boarding schools." I waved my hand to wave the issue away, not wanting her to know about the nightmares.
"We should have sent your siblings to a boarding school too. Look at you, studying in the early hours of the morning while they… especially Jeremy." Jenna muttered as she settled down next to me on the couch. "What are you studying anyway?"
"Oh, um just some chemistry." I then hurriedly got up and attempted to distract her from the subject by asking, "Do want some breakfast? I'm starving!"
"I should make you breakfast. I'm the legal guardian" Jenna tried to rise but I made her sit down again.
"Don't worry about it Aunt Jenna. It's no hardship and I'm better at it anyway." I teased her.
Jenna huffed but settled down and switched the TV on while I started on the pancake batter. By the time I made four stacks of pancakes and coffee Elena had come down.
"To repeat, the animal terrorizing Mystic Falls has been caught." Said the news reporter as I sat on the dining table with a cup of coffee while Jenna stood up agitatedly and walked to a chair and leaned on it. I gave her a questioning look which she probably didn't see in her heated mutters of "Scum ball. Scum bucket."
"Who are you talking to?" Elena asked as she stood with her own cup of coffee beside Jenna.
"Him!" Jenna snapped as she pointed a finger at the TV.
"The news guy?" Elena and I both said and then grinned at each other. It was good to know that our twin speech was still intact. It would have been inappropriate to smile crazily together with a topic such as the death of an ex-girlfriend yesterday.
"Also known as Logan "Scum" Fell. Did your mom ever tell you why I moved away from Mystic Falls?" Our attention snapped back to Jenna.
"Oh, no way. You and him? He's cute." Elena said as she took another look at the screen.
"He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him." Jenna fumed as she shut off the television.
"Get off and go sit on a chair" Elena shoved at me with one hand before she put a box on my vacated spot on the table.
"Lenaaa" I whined as I shifted to a chair.
"What are you doing with that?" Jenna came over and peered at the box.
"I went yesterday and got it from the safe deposit box. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display." Elena said, as she opened it.
"Ugh, there is a Founder's party coming up?" I scrunched up my nose at that.
"Yes, in fact it's today. You're going." Before I could protest more than a "But-" Elena stream rolled over me, "The last time you attended was the Potluck when you were fourteen. There is a heritage display and you know Mom would have wanted you to go."
I swallowed down the lump in my throat. Mama had always despaired at the many get togethers that I missed due to Hogwarts. She had always been big on community and history. She wanted us, as her daughters, to be a part of it too.
Jenna laid a hand on my shoulder in comfort. She picked up a ring and asked in a fake casual voice "Is that grandma Beth's wedding ring?"
"Originally it was great-great-grandma Mary's wedding ring." I smiled fondly as I remembered liking the emerald stone encased in the ring since it matched my eyes.
Jeremy came downstairs and took the pocket watch Elena was cleaning from her hand. "How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?"
"You're not gonna find out." Elena fired up at once.
"That stuff is mom and dad's. You can't just give it away." Jeremy insisted.
"As if we would give the stupid Founder's Council our parents' stuff, Jerbear. This is ours and it's not going to anyone. We're just loaning it, right Elena?" I placated him and Elena nodded. Jeremy grunted and turned back around and I called out, "Pancakes on the counter!" and he then proceeded to take a plate and go back up.
The doorbell rang and I instantly said, "Not me." Elena rolled her eyes and went to open the door. It was Stefan, which turned Elena into a giggling version of herself as she stood up on her tip toes to kiss him.
"Eww! Get a room, sister and aunt right here." I pointed to Jenna and myself.
I looked on incredulously as they went up and did just that and Jenna didn't say a word to the contrary. Mama, papa and Molly Weasley would have definitely had some words for them. The thought of my parents threatened to pull my mood down.
"Is it just me or was Jeremy a bit moody this morning?" I asked Jenna to distract myself.
"He has not been handling things well since… I took up your guardianship. He's actually been better with you here." Jenna explained.
"Oh." Well there went my distraction. "I should get back to my studying."
This time when the doorbell rang I could not foster opening it on anyone else since no one was downstairs so I did it myself.
"Azalea? Hey, when did you decide to pay us commoners a visit?" Tyler asked as he hugged me.
"You? A commoner? Who are you trying to kid?" I smirked at him, "I'm back for at least the next two years to finish up school here. What are you doing here?"
"That's great! I'm here for my mom. I was supposed to pick up a box of stuff." Tyler explained.
"Oh, right. Hold on a minute." I turned around but Elena was already coming down with the box with Jeremy on her heels.
"No need to hold on. I'm right here. Please be careful." Elena handed Tyler the box.
"Yeah, be careful with it, dick." Jeremy spat venomously.
"Jeremy!" I gasped.
"Hey! Not now, okay, guys? Please?" Elena said to both of them.
"I'm fine. He's just being a punk." Tyler sneered.
"I got your punk." Jeremy retorted.
"Ok, why don't we cool this down? Tyler, thank you for coming to get the box and we'll meet you and your parents at the party." I tried to end this conversation which got heated out of nowhere.
"Hey. Would it make a difference if I told you I actually like Vicki?" Tyler ignored me and asked Jeremy.
"Not even if you meant it." Jeremy then slammed the door.
"Wait, that was all over Vicki? Vicki Donovan, Matt's sister?" I clarified.
"Yes, Jeremy and Tyler have been getting into fights over her all summer." Elena confirmed.
"But wasn't she a druggie? Did she go into rehab?" I asked.
"Oh no. Our brother instead decided to join her in her lifestyle." Elena looked unimpressed which was a feeling that also coursed through me.
"I don't want to hear it." Jeremy snapped and stormed back upstairs.
Bonnie came over in the evening to get ready with us for the Founder's party. Currently she was frowning down at the two nail polishes in her hands. "Delicate flower vs. naughty vixen?"
"Tough call. Can we mix them?" Elena giggled as she sat down on the bed beside us while I picked up the copper nail paint to start applying it on my nails.
"Look at you, getting all pretty for your date. You seem happy-ish." Bonnie said with a smile to Elena.
"I am...ish. Tonight's going to be a good night. But don't let that stop you from telling me whatever it is you wanted to tell me as soon as you walked in the door." Elena shot her an impish smile back.
"What if I tell you in the morning? I don't want to ruin the night." Bonnie sighed.
"Bonnie, out with it." Elena said sternly.
"Okay, but it has to go in the vault, because Caroline will kill me if it gets back to Damon that she squealed. Apparently Stefan has a very interesting back story." Bonnie said.
"Is it? Do tell." I prompted her as I leaned towards her. I wasn't going to pass on knowing more about my sister's boyfriend.
"Do you know what happened with his ex-girlfriend Katherine?" Bonnie quizzed us.
"Stefan and his brother both dated her, right?" I looked at Elena.
Elena nodded. "Which is why they have issues."
"Yeah, they both dated her, only she chose Damon. And that drove Stefan mad, so he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Katherine. He filled her head with all these lies until finally it worked, and she turned against Damon." I pursed my lips at that apparent drama between the brothers.
"That sounds like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's." Elena pointed out.
I nodded, "If you heard this from Caroline, then this came from Damon. Without knowing Stefan's side of the story, we can't pass judgement on either of them." Either Stefan really did do this, and Damon is now taking revenge by coming onto Elena or Damon just has a habit of doing this with his brother's relationships.
"I just wanted you to know." Bonnie shrugged.
"Anyway, his past relationships are none of my business." Elena added.
"Unless he's a calculating, manipulative liar. That is your business." Bonnie replied.
"Stefan is none of those things." Elena said defensively.
"Yeah? How do you know?" Bonnie countered.
Looking at Elena's disturbed face, I soothed her "Look, this is getting us nowhere. At the end of the day, this is like rumors. The only thing you can do Elena is be cautious just like you should be with any other person that you meet. Ok?"
Elena nodded with a tiny smile of gratefulness on her face.
"Good. Now let's start putting make up." I grimaced which caused Bonnie and Elena to start laughing at me.
When we were just about done putting make up on – thank god! – Elena's phone rang which she answered as I checked over if my scar was still covered up. I always covered my lightning bolt scar with foundation and concealer in the muggle world as it was a huge sign to those who knew what to look for that I was the famous Azalea Potter and I didn't need anyone recognizing me in Mystic Falls.
"Hello? Hi, Mrs. Lockwood." Elena began frowning. "What do you mean? It is? Are you sure? 'Cause I saw it. Let me check. Mm-hmm. I will find it and bring it. Ok. Bye." She then stormed off in a spectacular fashion.
"What's wrong?" Bonnie wondered.
"No idea. Excuse me for a few minutes, Bonnie. I'll go find out." I started walking out of the room and heard a faint "Yeah, sure."
"Mrs. Lockwood just called me, freaking out. It was on the list, Jeremy. And she can't find it, and she thinks she's the one who lost it." The fury was palpable in Elena's voice.
"Maybe she did. Maybe Tyler took it." Jeremy attempted to shift the blame just as I walked into his room.
"Don't even play that card. Jeremy, you took it. If I go online, am I going to find it on eBay? Is that how you pay for your pot?" Elena accused him.
"Woah, woah let's just take a deep breath right now, ok?" I tried to calm the situation down. If this was improvement according to Aunt Jenna then things must have been really bad.
"No, screw you." Jeremy got up and took out a pocket watch from what must have been a hiding spot in the shelf. "I would never sell this, ok?"
"Then why did you -?" Elena stressed each word out, but I cut her off with a warning look before she could complete her scathing jab. "Jerbear, we know you wouldn't ever sell our parents' stuff. Elena's just frustrated because we don't understand why you took it. Just tell us why."
"Because it's supposed to be mine. Dad said it goes to the firstborn son. His father gave it to him, and now what?" Jeremy's voice wobbled slightly before he shoved the pocket watch into Elena's hand.
"And he was going to give it to you." Elena and I said softly.
"Yeah." Jeremy muttered.
"Look, Jeremy, it's still yours, okay? Mom promised Mrs. Lockwood. What do you want me to do?" Elena said with a helpless look.
"Just take it and get out." Jeremy said in a defeated tone.
"Or," I said as I took the pocket watch back from Elena, "We can do this instead." I went and stood in front of Jeremy. "Jeremy Gilbert, this heirloom," I held it up, "has been passed down to the descendants of the Gilbert family from our forefathers. Tradition dictates that you are the next in line to inherit this. Treasure and protect it and when the time comes, pass it down to your own progeny."
Tears gleamed in his chocolate brown orbs as he accepted the pocket watch from me. I hugged him, and Elena also joined in embracing us.
"Mrs. Lockwood must have overlooked the pocket watch because I definitely remember putting it." Elena stated when we pulled back from each other.
"Poor Mrs. Lockwood." I said in mock sympathy before we all burst out laughing. This was why I was needed here. They were the only family that I had left, and I was going to take care of it.
I decided to keep my hair open in my natural curls after taming it with some hair spray. Then I donned on my form-fitting chocolate brown pencil dress that came till just below my knees and the copper chunky heels.
I fingered the watch that once belonged to Fabian Prewett and thought of my invisibility cloak. I understood all too well how precious heirlooms were.
"Azalea! You look absolutely gorgeous." Mrs. Lockwood gushed.
"Thank you, Mrs. Lockwood. You look really beautiful yourself." I greeted her.
"Thank you, honey. How long are you staying this time?" She enquired.
"The plan is to finish out my schooling in Mystic Falls." I informed her.
"Oh, that's wonderful news! Your parents would have been happy to see you back in your hometown." Mrs. Lockwood said.
"Yeah." I gave her a fake smile.
"Well, come on in. Your sister is already here." Mrs. Lockwood waved her hand inwards.
I immediately took a champagne glass from one of the waiters. I was going to need it if the continual mention of my parents continued. I had stayed back to play a few rounds of video game with Jeremy which had the wonderful effects of bonding with him and giving me an excuse to come late to this party if Elena or Aunt Jenna asked.
Somebody suddenly breathed down my neck when I was looking over the table to see what to eat. "Aren't you a bit young to be drinking?"
I turned around to see Damon Salvatore looming over me. I put my hand on his chest to push him away, but he just held onto my hand and stayed put. I raised my eyebrow in a silent question but otherwise said, "Somehow you didn't strike me as the type to care about these things. Would you believe me if I said that this would be legal in London?"
I wasn't even lying since I was actually 18 even though my muggle records indicate 17 due to the adoption.
"Nope, it would still be illegal because you are drinking champagne. But I'll let it go if you dance with me." Damon smirked as he turned my hand in his hold.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You think I am going to dance with you after you tried to kiss my sister yesterday even though the both of you are in your own relationships?"
"I already explained myself to Elena. You both can gossip all about it later at home in your sexy pjs. Caroline is completely fine with me dancing with other people. She herself danced with Stefan a while ago." Damon said with an innocent look on his face that I didn't believe for a second.
I hesitated but finally acquiesced when he coaxed me with a, "C'mon! One dance isn't going to kill you."
He leads me onto the dance floor and twirled me into position. "You look stunning, if it isn't obvious."
I smile up at him as we start to sway together, "Thank you."
"So, the room is buzzing with the news that Azalea Gilbert is back. How does it feel to be the center of everyone's attention?" Damon asked.
"An experience I'll pass." I quipped.
Damon scrunched his eyebrows at that. "Really? Most people are thrilled usually."
"Well I'm not most people. Anyway, I had enough of that in my last school." I muttered. I just wanted to live a peaceful normal life.
"Ah, so you were Miss Popular and cheerleader I presume. Just like your twin in that manner then?" Damon asked.
I laughed quietly. "Something along those lines." It was a very loose interpretation but explaining how the wizarding world ping ponged in their opinions of me every alternate year was not what I wanted to discuss at the moment. "What about you? How were you in school?"
"The absolute bane of my teachers." Damon proudly told me which made me laugh.
"Yeah? And what did you end doing after school?" I asked.
"Traveling." Damon then twirled me, and we ended up being closer than before when he pulled me back.
"What's your favorite place then?" I probed, looking up at him.
"Hmm. Italy. We used to live there at one point. My mother really loved it there." There was a soft look in his face and it was the first time since I had met him that he didn't have a mask of smugness.
"You'll have to tell me her favorite spots then." I beamed at him.
He never got to tell me those spots because Elena was suddenly in front of me after having shoved him away.
"There is something seriously wrong with you. You stay away from Caroline or I will go straight to her mother, the sheriff. You got it? Stay away from her. Oh, and don't come near my sister again." With that done, Elena grabbed my wrist and marched away from him.
"Elena! What was that?" But my sister ignored me and continued dragging me outside. I tugged my wrist and folded my hands on my chest. "No, explain first what that was about."
"Just come with me. I need to talk to Stefan about it too."
"Fine, let's go." I gave her a break as I regarded her frazzled appearance and she looked relieved for it.
Elena and I walked up to Stefan and she spoke in an overwrought voice, "I'm sorry. I take it all back. You're completely right about Damon."
Stefan frowned in concern. "What did he do?"
"There are bruises all over Caroline's body. Bite marks, and he has her all confused and messed up in the head." Elena paused and then noted, "You don't look surprised."
"Damon's abusing her?" I said in a hushed tone, horrified.
"Um...I'm handling it." Stefan shifted where he was standing nervously.
"Handling it? Stefan, you should be having him arrested." Elena yelled at him.
"Elena, please. I... I don't expect you to understand." Stefan replied with a conflicted expression.
I huffed, "You're right, she doesn't understand and neither do I, Stefan. How can the abuse of our friend not even be a blip in your radar?" I then turned to look at Elena. "I'm going to look for her."
Who knows what Damon could have done to Caroline after Elena confronted him, was the thought going through my mind as I headed back to the Lockwood Manor. Elena joined me after a few minutes as she jogged to catch up.
"Where's Stefan?" I asked as we speed walked through the front door.
Elena shrugged and answered crisply, "I don't know, he just went off in the middle of the conversation. Whatever, I don't want to talk about him right now."
I didn't bother prodding her further. We searched the whole mansion but there was no sign of Caroline anywhere. We went back outside to the lawn which is where we found a disheveled Caroline sitting on the grass.
"Caroline? There you are. We've been looking everywhere for you. Are you okay?" Elena asked as I helped her back to her feet.
"Yeah. I'm fine" Caroline answered in an unconvincing tone.
"Caroline, what happened?" I asked gently.
"I'm fine." Caroline insisted shakily.
"No. You're shaking. Caroline—What—" Caroline cut Elena off with a shouted, "I'm fine!"
I sighed and shared a look with Elena. We just tugged her into our arms while Elena tried to sooth her. "Caroline, come here, come here."
Caroline started sobbing heavily at that. I stroked her hair and started muttering, "Shh." I pulled back slightly when my hand felt wet. I gasped in shock at what greeted me on her neck when I pushed her hair to the side. Elena gave me a questioning look, but I shook my head at her and mouthed "later."
"C'mon Caroline, we'll drop you off." I started pulling her to the parking lot.
It was only after we supported her to her bed, dressed her wounds and were back in Elena's car that I let go of the breath that I felt like I had been holding since we found Caroline.
I looked at Elena in the driver's seat and saw her regarding me warily. "What is it?"
"That's no ordinary bite mark Elena. Those are vampire bites. Which means that Damon is a vampire." I whispered.
"Does that mean Stefan…?" Elena trailed off and I shook my head. "I don't know for sure Elena but until we do, I want you to stay away from them."
"Actually, I think he is a vampire too. During the football game his hand got slashed by glass, but it healed, and he tried to convince me that it wasn't his blood and that it didn't happen." Elena said quietly.
"We'll figure it out ok? Come here." I pulled her into a hug and squeezed her tighter when my shoulder started to get wet.
I meant it. I will figure out a way to keep what was left of my family safe.
A/N: Please review. Reviews are like chocolate and I absolutely love chocolate.