The Salvatore Sister
Chapter Twenty-One – The Ruins
Disclaimer: Don't own.
I hadn't realised how hot a day it actually was until Caroline, Stefan and I stepped into the shelter of the woods – in search of some innocent, little bunnies for Stefan and Caroline to chew on – I had to literally peel my leather jacket off my body, but my skin-tight, dark skinny jeans and the combat boots on my feet didn't really aid in my attempt to cool down. I glanced, wistfully, over at Caroline who was wearing roll-up jeans and a t-shirt – lucky bitch who dresses weather appropriately.
"So what do I do when I see the rabbit?" the girl in question asked, still looking uncomfortable at the thought of tearing into a bunny.
"Chase it, catch it, feed on it," Stefan explained.
"That's disgusting..." I murmured, wrinkling my nose.
"It's funny that you find hunting rabbits disgusting, but you'll hunt a human and not think twice about it," Stefan retorted, a disapproving look on his face.
"Do humans have cute little paws and whiskers and twitchy little noses that just make you go awww?" I asked him quickly in a baby voice, and when he just shook his head I continued, "Didn't think so."
"Isn't killing cute, defenceless animals the first step in becoming a serial killer?" Caroline asked with a slight smirk on her face, and I couldn't help but smirk also.
"Well, you sort of skipped serial killer and went straight to vampire," Stefan replied, and I could swear it almost sounded like he was using a joking tone of voice – weird, right? - "Caroline, if you're not serious about all of this I think you should tell me."
"No, I am," Caroline replied, "Look, I swear that I am okay? But it's just… I haven't been in the sun for days and everyone is at the swim 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, okay?"
Caroline said that all very fast, so I wasn't even surprised when Stefan started laughing – alert the media – and I found myself joining in.
"And now you're laughing at me," Caroline muttered.
"No, no, I'm not laughing," Stefan replied, even though he was obviously laughing through his words.
"Except he is," I said quickly.
"None of this is funny, trust me," Stefan interrupted me, "It's just that..."
When Stefan trailed off both Caroline and I exchanged a confused look before she snapped, "What?"
"When someone becomes a vampire, their natural behaviour gets sort of...amplified," Stefan elaborated but Caroline still looked confused.
"...What do you mean?" she asked slowly as though she was afraid to know the answer.
"I mean, let's take Amelia for example," Stefan began and I threw him a look that screamed 'if you say anything bad I will rip your handsome, little face off', "She was sarcastic, and spoke and acted impulsively. But she was also very loyal to those she cared about, and would protect them no matter what...
"And as a human I cared deeply for people, how they felt," Stefan continued, "If they were hurting I felt their pain and I felt guilty if I was the one who caused it-"
"And also," I interrupted, "He was far, far too serious and angsty to be considered normal for a little boy."
Stefan just rolled his eyes and continued, "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?" Caroline asked and I had to look away to hide the fact I was laughing – didn't want to offend the insecure, neurotic, control freak on crack.
"Well, I wouldn't say it like that but..."
"Yeah, like that," I finished, but smiled to show her I was joking – kinda.
"Hey, listen, let's hunt okay?" Stefan said, throwing me a look, to which I just rolled my eyes, "And then after that we'll go to the swimming hole."
"Yay," I said at the same time Caroline asked: "Really?"
"Yeah," Stefan smiled sincerely, "Matt is the closest connection that you have to your humanity and I think that being around him is a good thing."
"So, Matt's your boyfriend... Is he hot?" I asked, smirking.
"Oh, he's-" Caroline went to say but Stefan cut her off.
"You two can do, whatever girls do, later," Stefan said, "But we're hunting now."
"Okay... bunnies," Caroline murmured to herself as my two companions walked away to begin their 'hunt'.
I was right, them snacking on bunnies was - honest to God – the most disgusting thing I've ever seen in my life – and I watched the JFK assassination on T.V...
When we finally arrived at the 'swimming hole', I was so relieved – that is until Uncle – creep – Mason drove past Caroline, Stefan and I in his stupid ass 4x4. As he passed, he threw us a look of pure venom as his eyes lingered between myself and my little brother – a look which I returned wholeheartedly, Stefan just looked back with a serious expression – nothing's changed there then.
"Why are you looking at him with your serious vampire look?" Caroline asked Stefan and I smirked a little.
"My what?" Stefan asked, seemingly oblivious to the look that was plastered on his face 99.9% of the time, "My 'serious vampire look'?"
"I mean it's different from your worried vampire look," Caroline elaborated in a teasing voice, "Neither of which stray too far from your "hey-it's-Tuesday" look."
I couldn't help myself any longer, I let out a proper bark-like laugh and Stefan looked in between Caroline and I, "I get it, okay. You think I'm... You think I'm too serious."
"I mean, I wasn't gonna say it like that," Caroline retorted, mocking his earlier words.
"But yeah, like that," I said, using my own earlier words, to which Stefan actually smiled.
"There's Matt," Caroline said, looking over at a tall, blonde, muscular guy with a cast on his arm – and I suddenly recognised him as the guy Tyler had been talking to at the parade. He was standing with a small, dark-skinned girl who looked way too flirtatious, "With Aimee-slut-Bradley, great."
With that Caroline took off towards her boyfriend with a determined stride, and I knew she must be pissed, judging by the fact she called Flirty Girl 'Aimee-slut-Bradley'.
"Why are you with Elena when you can have someone like Caroline?" I asked Stefan, "I mean, today's the most happy I've seen you since I got back – well, except when we reunited, but I'm awesome so that doesn't count. But Caroline's hot, and not a slutty, whiny, manip-"
"Don't start with the Elena-hating today, Amelia," Stefan warned me with a sigh.
"Fine, whatever, Stef," I shrugged and looked towards the huge swimming hole, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have fun and cool off."
Without another word from my brother I took off towards the edge of the swimming hole and stood by the edge, ready to jump in.
"You can't go in dressed like that," an unfamiliar human boy commented - on my black vest, skinny jeans and boots - from my side. He was pretty hot, with dark hair and a toned upper body – he didn't have a patch on Tyler, but that wasn't saying much, in my opinion (even though I hated myself for admitting it) not a lot of guys did.
"You're right," I smirked, before I pulled my shirt over my head, leaving me standing in just my black bra; I ripped my boots off my feet and then proceeded to unbutton my jeans and peel them off of my legs.
The unnamed boy beside me whistled lowly then said, "That's much better."
I winked quickly at him before plunging into the thankfully cool water and emerged to see him staring at me – this could be fun, I really hoped he was A positive...
The sky turned dark way sooner than I would've liked – I hated to admit it, but I had a lot of fun at the swimming hole, the guy – who had informed me was called Tristin (to which I had replied "I don't care") was a pretty decent kisser, and his blood – although disappointedly not A positive – had tasted good. After I had compelled him, healed him and sent him on his merry way, I had gotten dressed again and set off to find my brother. When I finally did stumble across him, he was talking on the phone; and when I heard Elena's stupid, whiny voice on the other end I almost turned tail and headed in the other direction, that is until I heard her say:
"According to the legend, a werewolf bite can kill a vampire."
Oh shit.
Stefan was looking around frantically and when he spotted me, relief was evident on his face, but he still looked worried as his eyes darted around the area. Then I realised he must be looking for Caroline. Oh shit.
"Listen, I've got to go," Stefan said down the phone, "I'll see you when you get home, okay?"
"Okay," Elena's muffled voice reached my ears.
As Stefan hung up we exchanged a look and he said, "I'm guessing you heard that."
"Yeah," I murmured.
I walked right up to Stefan and watched as he scrolled down his contact's list until he found the name 'Caroline'. I watched and listened with bated breath as Stefan put his phone to his ear, waiting for Caroline to pick up; only the new sound of a ringtone filled the air, and I quickly followed the sound to a bag, pulling out a phone with 'Stefan calling' written across the screen. Obviously Caroline's phone.
Oh double shit.
Tyler...
People should honestly be more secretive when they're basically dry-humping each other. And yes, when I say that I'm talking about Mia and that stupid douche Tristin – or whatever his name is. To say I was pissed off would be a huge understatement – what did that dick have that I didn't have? The answer to that is probably chlamydia.
But Mia had looked out of this world, smoking hot in just her underwear that I had been obviously turned on – as well as the majority of the guys at the swimming hole - but I wished it was me she had been all over in just her underwear. My plan to make her as jealous – even though I wanted to kick myself in the balls for admitting this – as I felt didn't entirely go to plan either. I had grabbed the first desperate girl I could find, turning out to be Aimee-hot ass-Bradley and lead her away from the party, trying to make sure Amelia was watching us leave. But, with no luck whatsoever being on my side, Mia was nowhere in sight, and didn't see me leave with Aimee – ah well, I was in the mood for it anyway, and even though Aimee was nowhere near a good enough substitute for Mia, she'd have to do for now.
"Not much further, Aimee," I told her as I lead her by the hand through the woods, the creepy ass cellar I had found this morning on the old Lockwood estate being my planned destination.
"Really Tyler?" she asked, "You drove me all the way out here?"
"I had to move the party so I'm moving the party."
"Where are we going?" she whined, and I wanted to tell her to shut up – but I knew that wasn't going to get me any.
"It's right around this tree," I told her, trying to keep my voice sounding patient and free from the irritation I felt.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, come on," I said, refraining from rolling my eyes.
We finally made it to the old ruin, and I prompted her inside as she looked at me with both fear and discomfort on her face.
"What is this place?" she asked, looking around.
"It's a ruin buried underneath my family's old estate," I told her, "No one will know we're down here."
"Is everyone else coming?"
"Yeah," I lied, "Unless you'd rather tell them not to."
"...You're single right?" she asked, out of the blue and with a funny, almost dazed expression on her face.
For a second, Amelia flashed into my mind. But then I shook the thought out of my head, she had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with me, so I answered, "Oh, yeah."
"Let's go," she smirked and walked deeper into the ruin, with me following behind her this time.
Not wasting any time, I began to kiss her roughly and had her respond immediately. I couldn't help but wish that Amelia had responded when I had kissed her last night at the carnival, and I couldn't help but compare Aimee to her. For one, Amelia was taller so I guessed my neck would hurt so much kissing her; and her waist was smaller, and her hair longer. For God's sake, Tyler, don't be such a pussy. But I couldn't help it. The crush I had on Amelia was so weird for me; I had never felt so strongly for a girl I barely knew before. When she had rejected me last night, it had hurt way more than it should have – I seriously just need to grow some balls and man up.
"Wait, wait," Aimee said suddenly, pulling away from me, "No, I'm sorry."
"What's the deal?" I asked impatiently, "Come on."
As I started to kiss her again, she once again pulled away, "No, no. Wait, I can't. I'm not into it."
"Then why did you come with me?" I asked as more irritation rose inside me.
"I don't know," Aimee said simply, "But I'm not even sure I was flirting with you. I like Matt."
Well, that was blunt.
"Ouch," I exclaimed, keeping my tone sarcastic, "Um...okay?"
"I'm gonna go."
"Yeah." That would be smart, bitch.
"Sorry."
I couldn't watch Aimee leave, I just felt stung. But I couldn't help but realise it wasn't because Aimee had rejected me, or because I wasn't getting the sex I had anticipated tonight. I was just reminded of the way Amelia had rejected me – what is wrong with me? Why can't I get this girl out of my head?
Amelia...
Caroline, where the hell are you? Stefan and I were frantically searching the woods for Caroline, and her human boyfriend. But so far, no luck. I couldn't help but feel insanely worried for my new found friend, but also worried for myself and my baby brother. If what Elena had said was true, then both Stef and I were totally screwed, I thought to myself as I glanced up at the full moon that was nearing its apex. My brother and I were walking close to each other, as if the closer we got to one another the safer we would be, as we neared a car abandoned in the middle of the woods – maybe some kid had gotten totally wasted and couldn't drive anymore. But after further inspection, I recognised the 4x4 that was sat in the overgrowth...
"Wait, Stef..." I said in a hushed voice, "That's-"
But I was interrupted by the sound of an animalistic growling and then an eerie silence filling the night air, and I couldn't help but gulp audibly, however the huge lump that had arisen in my throat didn't budge one bit. Stupidly enough, Stefan and I found ourselves advancing slowly towards the car, almost tripping over chains that had been strewn across the forest floor. I couldn't take my eyes off the slightly damaged metal chains as the silence creeped all around us. As my gaze lifted in to the darkness of the car I was expecting to see a face - or something creepy like that – pressed up against the glass, but was met with a foreboding darkness. That is until two great yellow eyes penetrated through the darkness. There was then a smash, my body hit the floor, a warm body covered my own, and then there was silence... "Amelia, are you alright?" Stefan asked from above me, and then I realised Stefan had thrown his form over my own to protect me from whatever the hell had been in that car – and I would bet my life it had been uncle-creep-Mason in doggy form.
"Yeah, I think so..." I muttered as Stefan helped me to my feet, "Where'd it go?"
"It ran off," Stefan murmured back, "I don't know why. But we need to find Caroline."
We took off, at a quicker pace, to find Caroline – and hopefully not find the wolf. As we tore through the woods I couldn't help but have a million and one questions race through my mind. If Mason's a wolf, does that mean Tyler is too? And if what the Katherine-Clone said was true, does that mean the boy I have a crush on could kill me with one bite? My thoughts were interrupted however, when something far more poignant arose. The warm, metallic smell of blood wafted up my nose and I froze where I was.
"Do you smell that?" I asked my little brother who was looking at me with concern.
The nine years of vampire-experience I had on my little brother obviously made my sense of smell quite a bit stronger because at first he just looked at me with confusion, until realisation filled his eyes and I guessed he could smell the alluring stench I could.
"Come on," Stefan said quickly, as he took off, following the scent of the blood; with me on his tail.
"Ah! Caroline! Caroline!"
A voice tore through the air, and it did not sound like sexual name crying – unless Caroline and Matt were into S&M, then again she's a vampire now so maybe... Stop thinking such stupid things, Amelia!
Stefan was off like a shot and once we found Caroline – who was attached to Matt's neck – my little brother had to literally tear Caroline off her boyfriend.
"Stop it!" Stefan commanded, trying to hold blood-thirsty Caroline back, "Stop! Stop!"
I watched on as Caroline became her usual self again and horror flashed across her now normal face as she watched Matt fall to the ground, blood basically pouring out of the gaping wound on his neck, "Oh my god."
"No, no, stop. Listen to me," Stefan demanded, "We need to get out of these woods now. We need to leave."
Smart move, bro, I thought as I heard the rustling of leaves and the padding of footfalls around us, but I couldn't pinpoint where the noises were coming from – it seemed like we were surrounded.
"What was that?" Caroline squeaked out fearfully, and it felt like my stomach was forcing its way up my throat.
"Matt stay down," Stefan commanded to the semi-conscious boy on the forest floor, "Do not move."
The noises were louder and closer now. I waited with bated breath for the wolf to leap out at us again, so taking the initiative I said, "We need to run. It'll chase us; we can lead it away from Matt."
"Did you hear that?" Stefan said softly to a panicking Caroline, "You have to run as fast as you can, okay? Go!"
And then all three of us were tearing through the forest, with me in the lead and Stefan and Caroline right on my tail. I weaved through trees, in a complicated pattern, trying in vain to throw the wolf off our trail.
"Wait!" Caroline yelled, and we all stopped our running beside an old ruin, "What is it?"
"It's a werewolf," I said quickly, eager to get us running again.
"It will try to kill us," Stefan elaborated, with an edge of hysteria to his usually calm voice, "And it can."
"Hey! What are you three doing?" a voice I recognised interrupted.
Just when this night couldn't get any worse. I turned to see Tyler walking out of the ruins with a confused look on his face, his gaze solely on me. Looks like he's not a werewolf after all. But one thing he is; is in danger. If the werewolf – even though it was his uncle – hurt Tyler, I don't know what I would do – and that kinda scared me more than the wolf.
"What are you doing?" Stefan retorted, and I watched Tyler fearfully, whilst trying to keep my senses alert, waiting for a reappearance from uncle-creep-wolf-man-Mason.
And sure enough; there was a scream as the wolf tore onto the scene, leaping and taking Caroline to the floor. Caroline screamed and tried with all her might to push the snarling wolf off her. Before I could react, Stefan lunged and pushed the wolf off of Caroline, and I poised myself in a defensive stance, waiting on its next move. I don't know whether it was because of my defensive stance; or because it could sense I was the oldest and therefore the strongest; or because Mason's human hatred of me was bleeding through; but the wolf then turned on me, baring its saliva covered teeth and snarling. It took a step forward on one large claw covered paw and I braced myself, but a shout echoing through the air distracted both myself and the wolf:
"No!"
We both turned to see Tyler looking both fearful, yet determined as he stared the wolf down. Surprisingly, the wolf took one lasting look at Tyler before it took off, leaving us all standing in a thick silence. Tyler's eyes fell on me and I saw both fear and worry in his dark brown eyes. Julien may have been my first love and all, but he had never saved my life...
AUTHOR'S NOTE.
Hey guys, it's late here so this will be short. Just to let you know the thing I said you guys may like is next chapter, just this was getting too long. I have a 4K word limit. Anyway, next chapter should be up Wednesday-Thursday, 'cause I'm excited to write it.
Thanks for all the reviews, and alerts/favourites, they mean so much.
Thank you, please review?
-Megan