A/N: Surprised you didn't have to wait another three months for the next update? Me too! I have to admit I'm a little upset that not a lot of people reviewed my last chapter, I'm just joking I'm not that bothered by it, much. But to those who did review thank you! I hope you enjoy this next chapter. Oh, and you guys should check out my Teen Wolf fic, I've been obsessed with the show as of late it is crazy good, if you do watch it who's you're favorite character?
BAD MOON RISING
"Isobel's research here in Mystic Falls is rooted is folklores and legends but at the time I thought much of which was fiction." Alaric said his voice covering Leya's footsteps as she walked into the Salvatore house.
"Like that amazing vampire story." Leya rolled her eyes as she heard Damon's voice say smugly.
"Aside from vampires, what else?" Elena asked interested.
"The lycanthrope." Alaric answered as Leya walked in drawing eyes to her.
"Or in other terms, werewolves." She supplied walking over to one of the chairs sitting down.
"Werewolves?" Damon scoffed. "No way, impossible, way too Lon Chaney."
"It's not impossible actually." Leya said staring at all of them. "Believe me I've seen couple here and there."
"I've been on this planet one hundred and sixty some odd years, never came across one." Damon said to Leya challenging her on the werewolf myth. "If you know they exist then tell me, where the hell are they?"
"Why do even suspect the Lockwood's?" Alaric asked bringing the attention to him.
"Because the vervain didn't affect the mayor at Founder's day but the Gilbert device did and it affected his son Tyler." Damon said convinced.
"And at the school carnival his uncle Mason exhibited inhuman behavior when he fought with one of the carnival workers." Stefan inputted. "It suggested it's some sort of supernatural entity."
"We were hoping that Isobel's research could help us figure out what it is." Elena said looking at Alaric with pleading eyes.
"You don't need help." Leya spoke drawing their attention. "They're werewolves, case closed."
Alaric sighed before turning to Elena. "Well, all her things are still at Duke. I mean her office is still there, she's technically still missing." He said glaring at Damon towards the end of his sentence.
Leya scoffed looking around. She couldn't believe that they had just ignored what she said; she gave them the most important thing they needed to know. Sure the Lockwood's' may be a different species of werewolves that she doesn't know that much about but she was sure she could easily find information with the amount of books Hermione had her bring to Mystic Falls.
"So can we get access to it?" Damon asked inquiring about Isobel's office. Alaric didn't answer. "Rick, we need to know what we're dealing with. If this wolf man thing is true-"
"Which it is." Leya muttered under her breath as she crossed her arms.
Damon continued throwing Leya an annoyed look. "I've seen enough movies to know it's not good. It means Mason Lockwood is a real life Lon Chaney and that little Tyler punk may just very well be Lon Chaney junior which means Bella Lugosi, meaning me, is totally screwed."
Alaric sighed shaking his head, he didn't want to do this but with the prospect of werewolves as a threat they had to know. "You might be able to get in if I go with you."
"Perfect." Damon smiled clapping his hands. "We have a road trip on our hands."
Leya sighed as she walked into the Grill, if she was right Elena, Alaric and Damon should be leaving for Duke right about now to search about werewolves. And it was needless to say that anyone who even glanced at her could tell she was pissed off. Leya didn't understand why they weren't listening to her. Perhaps what Katherine said about them thinking she was weak and couldn't do anything wasn't a lie but the actual truth.
Leya hated being weak.
And she was far from weak.
She alone, single handedly took on the greatest dark wizard of all time. That had to have counted for something. But it wasn't like she could walk up to them and ask (demand if she was being honest) for their trust and respect when it came to her magic, they knew nothing about her past. And although it was extremely nice to not have anyone know that she's the savior of the Wizarding World she didn't like that they downgraded her magic. So when Stefan sat down in the seat across from her at her table she didn't nothing but continue to eat her double cheese hamburger.
"I know you're upset that we didn't listen to you-" Stefan began but was cut off half way as Leya looked up at him with a glare.
"I'm a little more than upset, Stefan." Leya said her voice low as not to draw attention. "I don't understand why you guys wouldn't listen to me. I know you've been alive for a very long time but you haven't seen the things I've seen and I know for a fact that werewolves are real and extremely dangerous."
"I know, that's why Elena, Alaric and Damon are going to Duke." Stefan persisted, his eyes pleading with her.
"And you could easily get that information from me instead of letting your girlfriend go on a road trip with your brother." Leya snapped.
A moment of silence passed as Leya realized what she had said. She closed her eyes and shook her head regret filling her. "Stefan, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"
"It's ok, really. I know you've been going through a hard time lately with Daisy gone and us not listening to you. And you're right we should've come to you." Stefan said forgiving a small understanding smile on his face.
"That doesn't excuse me for what I said." Leya said apologetically.
"Well I've decided it's behind us already and I actually came here to ask you to do something witchy." Stefan said brushing off her apology.
Leya sighed looking down for a moment. She could honestly say that Stefan Salvatore was one of a kind. "What kind of witchy magic are we talking about?"
"I need you to make a daylight ring for Caroline."
Leya groaned looking at Stefan apologetically. "I wish you asked for something I could actually do but I don't know how to make one. It isn't my kind of magic. " Stefan sighed disappointedly leaning back in his chair. "But you and I both know of someone who can."
It didn't take them long to find Bonnie. Leya actually sensed the moment Bonnie walked into the Mystic Grill her magic finding hers easily. That was a strange thing that's been happening to her as of late. Whenever Bonnie was around Leya easily knew where she was since her magic sensed her but Bonnie couldn't do the same with her, it was one-sided. Leya just chalked it up to being the superior witch but who really knew she had a part of Voldemort's soul living in her for seventeen years and no one knew about it, not even her.
Stefan pleaded the same case he made to Leya to Bonnie.
"I don't know how to make a day-walking ring." Bonnie said as soon as Stefan's request left his mouth. Leya gave her a stern look knowing she was lying.
"Emily made mine, she made Damon's too, so the instructions must be in the Grimoire." Stefan advised looking at Bonnie hopefully.
"That doesn't mean I can cast the spell." Bonnie tried again.
"Bonnie, you know how to drop a vampire with a single look." Leya spoke up getting a little frustrated. "And with what you did to Damon the other night I'm pretty sure you can figure a simple day-walking ring spell out."
"Caroline killed someone." Bonnie leaned closer to them her eyes telling them she was fully against it. "I can't make it easier for her to do it again."
"No, we're not making it easier for her; we're just giving her the chance to survive." Stefan insisted. "Listen, every day that she's cut off from her old life: from you, Elena, Matt it'll make it that much harder for her to hold on to her humanity."
"And how do you know she won't hurt anyone else?" Bonnie asked looking between the witch and the vampire.
"We don't. But if we don't do everything we can to help her or at least trust the fact that she can keep it together, we might as well just stake her right now." Stefan said convincing Bonnie with every word he said.
"I don't know if I can trust her, not with this." Bonnie shook her head slightly pained that she didn't know her best friend anymore.
"Then trust me." Leya spoke giving Bonnie a gentle smile.
"So I don't get to choose the ring I have to wear for the rest of my life?" Caroline asked as she examined the blue lapis lazuli stone in the center of the silver embroidered band. It was plain but pretty in its own unique way at least Leya thought so Caroline didn't like it as much.
"Hey, if you don't want it…" Bonnie proposed taking a step forward to take the ring from Caroline.
"No, no, she wants it." Stefan intercepted before Caroline ended up losing the only person who could help her walk in the sun.
"Now what?"
"Now is the part where I explain the rules." Bonnie said turning serious. "The witch who spells the ring has the power to dispel it so if you ever do anything to hurt anyone…"
"I'm not gonna hurt anyone." Caroline expressed sincerely.
"You're a vampire now, Caroline." Bonnie said not believing Caroline. "That means the urge to kill is a part of who you are now and the minute you let it take over, I will stop you."
"Bonnie, you're supposed to be my friend." Caroline was shocked at what Bonnie was saying. It was like Bonnie viewed her as a completely different person, it was like they weren't best friends or didn't grow up together.
"I can't ignore what happened ok? If you want to be friends, you have to prove that the Caroline I remember isn't gone. Now put the ring on the bed."
Caroline followed Bonnie's instructions. She wanted to keep her words down but she never really had control over that so she promptly burst with. "Do you really think I meant to kill that guy at the carnival?"
"He's still dead." Bonnie replied pained as she didn't look up from her Grimoire, the sweet little kiss Carter gave her before he died still fresh in her mind and on her lips. "Now, do you want me to cast the spell or not?"
Bonnie took her silence as a yes so she walked over to the window opening the curtains a smidge allowing the sunlight to hit the ring. Bonnie closes her eyes and with a few simple chants under her breath a new day-walker ring is created.
"All done." Bonnie said picking up the ring and handing it to Caroline who carefully puts it on.
"So that's it?" Caroline doubted looking from Bonnie to Stefan then Leya. "I mean nothing witchy happened. You know, no flickering lights, no gust of wind. Have you even done this before?"
Leya sighed rolling her eyes. She knew that Caroline didn't have that much of a filter especially now that she was a vampire but there were basic rules when it came to other supernatural beings. The main one being: do not doubt a witch's ability. And unfortunately no one really ended up following that rule.
"Caroline…" Stefan warned knowing Bonnie's temper and how quickly she can change her mind.
"I just want to make sure that it worked." Caroline defended looking at all of them.
Fuming Bonnie walked back to the curtains and with a flick of both wrists the curtains flew open dousing the room in light. And it was clear that Caroline's room hadn't seen light in the past few days. "It worked." Bonnie said shrugging her shoulders.
Caroline who had shrieked in fear at almost being burnt alive scurried as far back into the bed as she could. Her efforts were futile but to her surprise she didn't burn like she thought she would. Instead the sun felt warm and beautiful like nothing she felt before then again she has spent the last few days in the shadows as depressing as it was.
So with a shuddering breath Caroline turned to Bonnie. "What if it hadn't, Bonnie?!"
Bonnie rolled her eyes and turned to look at Stefan and Leya. "She's all yours. Good luck."
Bonnie left taking her Grimoire with her leaving Stefan and Leya to help Caroline adjust to her new life. Which might be a little more difficult than they thought as Caroline gazed at her ring looking at it at all angles with a shrug and surprised smile she said. "I think I could get used to the ring even though it is kind of ugly."
"I don't think you should be here for this part, Leya. You might get hurt." Stefan said as they walked through the woods Caroline beside them looking around at everything in a new light.
"I can take of myself just fine, Stefan." Leya replied smiling amusedly as she nudged her shoulder with his.
"So what do I do when I see the rabbit?" Caroline intervened turning to them wide-eyed.
"Chase it, catch it, and feed on it." Stefan replied simply.
"Isn't killing cute defenseless animals the first step in becoming a serial killer?"
Leya snorted and turned to Caroline. "I'm pretty sure you skipped serial killer and went straight to vampire. Caroline, if you're not serious about all of this then I think you should tell us."
"No, I am." Caroline burst pleading. "I swear I am it's just – I haven't been in the sun for days and everyone is at the swimming hole having fun and Matt is there! And he finally told me that he loved me but I have been blowing him off and now you want me to eat bunnies and I'm kind of freaking out ok?!"
Stefan couldn't help himself. He started to laugh.
"And now you're laughing at me." Caroline huffed throwing her arms up.
"No, no, I'm not laughing." He denied but it was pointless. "None of this is funny, trust me. It's just that…"
"What?!"
"When someone becomes a vampire, all of their natural behaviors get sort of amplified." Stefan clumsily explained.
"What do you mean?" Caroline asked stopping them from walking any further.
"I mean… as a human I cared deeply for people, how they felt. If they were hurting I felt their pain and I felt guilty if I was the one who caused it and as a vampire all of that got… magnified."
"So you're saying that now I'm basically an insecure, neurotic, control freak… on crack?"
"No." Leya said the same time Stefan spoke.
"Well, I wasn't gonna say it like that but…"
Leya gave Stefan a look and he cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Hey, listen, let's hunt ok? And then after that we'll go to the swimming hole."
"Really?" Caroline asked hopefully.
"Yeah, Matt is the closest connection that you have to your humanity and I think that being around him is a good thing." Stefan explained.
"Ok." Caroline replied happily grinning. She took a deep breath in and slowly let it out as Stefan and Leya walked away. "I can do this. Bunnies."
Leya slammed the car door shut as she walked around to the back of the car. They had just arrived at the swimming hole where the party was in full swing. And although they only had a few hours of light left but at least Caroline would get to see Matt.
"Hey, I'm gonna go find Matt." Caroline said excitedly as she got out of the car. Stefan and Leya smiled telling her they would join shortly.
Just as Leya opened the boot of the car as a large SUV passed slowly. Inside was Mason, Tyler's uncle and with the window rolled down he and Stefan had a stare off as the car passed.
"You're really looking at him with your serious vampire look right now?" Leya asked as he took out a cooler from the boot.
"I'm sorry, my what?" Stefan's seriousness broke as he looked at Leya amused.
"Hmm hmm." She hummed nodding her head. "I mean it's different from your worried vampire look, neither of which strays too far from your hey-it's-Tuesday! look. "
"Ok, I get it. You think I'm… you think I'm too serious. Is that it?" Stefan asked as Leya picked up the cooler to take to the picnic table that was set up.
"I mean I wasn't gonna say it like that but…" Leya laughed walking away Stefan trailing after shaking his head. Leya puts the cooler down with a grunt as she looked over to see Caroline compel a girl. She scoffed and shook her head walking to Caroline as Matt left.
"Hey, I saw that. You compelled her." Leya said bumping her hip into Caroline's as she joined her.
"Yeah, she deserved it." Caroline replied sour.
"Caroline, nobody deserves to have their mind messed with for shallow reasons." Stefan said walking up to them.
"Why is everyone sticking up for Amy freaking Bradly?" Caroline protested throwing her arms up in frustration.
"No one is sticking up for 'Amy freaking Bradly' you're just letting your jealousy get the best of you." Leya said facing Caroline seriously. "Jealously can destroy a lot of important relationships, Caroline, trust me I've seen it."
"So now I have magnified jealousy issues too. That great." Caroline said sarcastically.
"I told you this wasn't gonna be easy. " Stefan sighed.
"Yeah, well, I might as well have stayed dead. My entire personality is killing me." Caroline said frustrated. Leya couldn't help the smile that crept onto her face and neither could Stefan. "Shut up!"
"Ugh he's mad at me." Caroline said sometime later as she looking Matt way. They were getting ready to leave since the sun was setting and Tyler was telling them to get the hell out of there.
"Go talk to him. We'll wait." Stefan nodded in Matt's direction and with a small grateful smile Caroline walked towards where Matt stood.
Leya huffed as she struggled to put the cooler back into the boot of the car when Stefan walked off to answer a call. She was fine with Stefan answering his call but he could've at least helped her out first. With a groan she pushed the cooler in smiling triumphantly when Stefan came back.
"Hey, did you see where Caroline and Matt went?" Stefan asked worriedly.
"Uh, no. Why? What's wrong?" Leya asked her good mood dwindling as Stefan got more worried.
"Elena called they found information on werewolves. She said that they hunt vampires and their bite is lethal."
"What? Are you serious?" Leya asked rushed as she too now looked around for Caroline.
"Yeah, and if it's true we have to find Caroline and we have to find her fast." Stefan said grabbing Leya's hand as he started to pull her towards the forest.
They ran and ran and at one point in desperation Stefan picked Leya up and started to run at vampire speed in order to find Caroline faster. It was useless they couldn't find her. What they did find however was Mason's SUV parked in the middle of the forest.
There was a low growling and Stefan slowly walked forward. He paused nearby some chains that were on the ground and he glanced back to Leya for a second where she stood near a tree at a safe distance from the car with her wand out. They looked at the car where a pair of yellow glowing eyes stared back at them. Leya heard the window shatter before she saw it, the wolf jumped out knocking both her and Stefan to the ground before disappearing.
"You have to leave." Stefan said grabbing Leya by the shoulders. "You have to leave, Leya, now."
"What?! No, Stefan, I can help." Leya said pulling away from him.
"If that wolf is actually Mason, Leya, then we have a huge problem and did you see how fast it moved. You wouldn't be able to keep up." Stefan said pushing her back slightly. "Go home, I'll find Caroline, I just don't want you to get hurt, Leya."
"Make sure she's safe." Leya whispered referring to Caroline as Stefan rushed off and with sigh and disappeared with a crack.