SALVATORE BOARDING HOUSE
The next morning, Jeremy walked up the steps and headed for the main bathroom. He had slept over at Damon's in case anything else happened. It was all just a complicated mess and he just wanted to stay in bed and never wake up.
As he walked into the bathroom, he wondered why he was so gloomy. But when he splashed his face with water, he knew the answer already. Alaric walked in.
'Hey,' he greeted. 'You okay.'
'I'm good,' Jeremy said as he cleaned his eyes. The bathroom mirror convinced him otherwise. He saw Jenna's reflection in the mirror looking at him. He spun back and saw her real form smiling at him on the edge of the bathtub. It was a blank unnerving smile and he gripped the counter in shock, his breaths laboured. She was still in the same outfit that she wore last, minus the stake and the spot of blood.
Alaric was concerned. 'Are you okay? You like you've seen a-.'
Alaric caught on to what was happening and he also froze in place. He couldn't see what was happening, but watching Jeremy's eyes, he knew that someone was next to the bathtub.
Jeremy was already edging closer to Alaric at the door. 'Jenna?'
Jenna shrugged. 'In the flesh.'
Ice surged through Alaric's veins when he heard Jeremy say the name. At first he was so pleased, that he almost tried to feel around for her. Then he got back to his senses and knew that something was wrong.
'Be careful, Jeremy,' he warned.
Jenna uncrossed her legs and stood up walking towards the counter, heels clacking on the floor. 'Won't you answer him? Tell him there's nothing to worry about.'
'You're not Jenna!' Jeremy said, jaws set. 'How did you get to Bonnie's phone?'
Jenna picked up a bar of soap and twirled it in her fingers. 'Thanks for the warm welcome, Jeremy, but it IS me. About the phone? I'm a ghost. I've got all sorts of special powers. And it is really me.'
Alaric was dumbfounded as he watched Jeremy talk to the counter. He didn't make a move so 'Jenna' wouldn't do anything crazy.
Jeremy shook his head in disagreement. 'You're nothing like her!'
Jenna's features softened. 'Sorry, Jer. Death isn't exactly sweets and candy floss, you know.'
Jeremy was still apprehensive. 'Why are you here?'
Jenna dropped the bar of soap and peeked at him, through a lock of hair. 'I need your help.'
MONTERREY
Stefan walked through the field. The scents brought back haunting visuals as he remembered every cry, every gunshot, and every snap of the neck. He had been a monster at that time, but he was changed. That was until Klaus had brought him to the crossroads of his fate. If he went on a blood bender again, he wasn't sure he would be able to come back. He thought of Elena. Sweet Elen—
'Well don't leave us here on Earth,' Klaus interrupted his thoughts. 'Focus here. To make a man out of you again, we'll have to take you back to where it all started.'
Klaus pointed south of their position. A dip in the land led to a clearing, where Stefan could see people going about their business. There were a few houses and the settlement was growing by the looks of the new foundations that were being set in.
Klaus took a deep breath in. 'Before midnight, I want the blood to run. Remember our deal.'
Voices were raging in Stefan's head. Ever since he killed that girl savagely, his mind had him wandering whether it would be so bad to go back to the person that he was. Before he could make a decision, he heard laughter and saw two ladies running up from the valley. They seemed to be playing and suddenly one girl lost her footing and fell.
'Are you okay, Adie?' the standing girl asked.
'I'm a bit hurt but I'm fine,' Adie said as she lifted her arm to show a cut.
As soon as Stefan smelled the blood, his mind went crazy as his eyes turned blood red.
Klaus smiled. 'Kill them. Now. No compulsion.'
Adie examined her arm, giggling, still lifting it up to show her companion.
'Now, Mother's going to be m-,'
She was caught short when suddenly a sharp pain ran stabbed at her arm and ran up to her shoulders. Stefan was already at work helping himself to the cut. The other girl squealed and tried to run away but Stefan grabbed her hair and pulled her towards him, helping himself to her neck as well. Within minutes, he was done and the two lifeless bodies slumped limply to the ground.
Klaus walked up and examined the damage. 'Impressive.' He snapped his fingers and two men walked up to drag the bodies away.
'Two down, a whole village to go,' he said, as Stefan walked to the peak of the hill and scanned the town, veins pumping furiously under his eyes as blood trickled down his chin.