Chapter 6

When Meredith announced that she wanted to take a year off before starting University, her parents weren't exactly thrilled. Backpacking through Europe wasn't the sort of education Henry Sulez had imagined for his "little girl". Meredith took an immense amount of satisfaction from not doing what was expected of her for once.

Keep the family secrets, don't even speak of them unless absolutely necessary—she was so sick and tired of it all. Not to mention that it still stung knowing that no one had told her she'd been deathly ill as a child.

It took the rest of the summer for Meredith to develop her plan. While she hadn't missed the sense of urgency in her grandfather's words when he'd spoken through Bonnie, she wasn't about to go charging into the midst of a group of vampires without doing her homework.

The biggest obstacle—besides finding a way to obliterate a swarm of undead—was simply being who she was. Meredith knew to barge in and advertise she was the granddaughter of John Forsythe would be an automatic death sentence. Why not just paint a bulls-eye on her forehead?

Even as she did her best to act care-free and enjoy her time with her friends, the Dark Veritas were rarely far from her mind. It was infuriating to realize they had been solely responsible for all of the loss and pain she'd ever experienced. They'd been controlling her life before she'd even been born.

It was time to take that control back.

Meredith knew that what she was about to undertake went entirely against her nature. Elena and Bonnie gravitated towards danger and excitement; Meredith avoided both at all costs. It wasn't cowardice so much as an inbred sense towards self-preservation. She figured having her grandfather try to kill her when she was five awoke that instinct in her earlier than most people.

Contemplating her nature one day was what led Meredith to the solution to her main problem. To be able to completely throw caution to the wind while in Rome, being herself would not work—she needed to be someone else entirely.

Thanks to modern technology it was relatively easy to forge a new identity. After doing some research on the internet, Meredith discovered it was simpler than she'd imagined. It also didn't hurt that she had her grandfather's old friend assisting her. George had initially balked at her idea at first, but he quickly got on board when she explained what the alternative was. With his help in slipping through a lot of the legal loopholes, Meredith's alter ego came swiftly to life.

The first step was selecting a new name: she chose "Madeline" after her favorite fictional character as a child and since it was near enough to her own name that she'd at least react to it. She also chose French as her new nationality since she spoke it and Spanish fluently. If anyone were to question her lack of an accent she'd blame it on all the traveling she'd done with her ship merchant father.

As a model for her new personality she chose Scarlett O'Hara; a rich, spoiled heiress who wanted exactly what she couldn't have. In this particular instance, it wasn't the love of the dashing Ashley Wilkes she was after, but fun and excitement.

After being cloistered in a boarding school for her formative years, Madeline was finally done with her education and ready to burn through her trust fund. Her lofty ambition in life was to attend as many parties as she could manage and to meet all kinds of people—preferably of the power and influential sort.

On the day she was to depart, Meredith went to George Watkins office for what would prove to be the last time. Using the key he'd given her she slipped through the back door; they'd both decided it was best not to alert her parents to how often she came to see him. Fell's Church was gossip central and her parents would definitely determine there was something suspicious about her seeking out the company of a lawyer in her spare time.

It was a Saturday so the office was technically closed, but that didn't mean George wouldn't be there. During the last couple of months Meredith had discovered he was quite the workaholic. She'd often dropped in on him at unusual hours and he'd always been there.

That was why it struck her as off when she slipped through the door and found the lights off. The possibility that he'd decided to sleep in on a Saturday fleetingly crossed Meredith's mind—only to be dismissed just as quickly. George was always there.

The feeling of wrongness was confirmed when she flicked on the lights in George's office and found it not only deserted, but cleaned out. A quick search of the filing cabinets and desk found that the only items that had been left behind were a few random office supplies. All other documents had been taken.

It puzzled and bothered Meredith to think that George had disappeared seemingly over night. Just in case he might have left something behind for her to indicate why or where he might have gone, she performed a more thorough search.

A brown envelope with her name scrawled on it had been left in the middle drawer of his desk.

Tearing it open, she dumped out the contents on to the desk. There was a passport, birth certificate, and social insurance card in the name of her alias. Along with these items were a silver ring and a note attached to a file folder. Ignoring the other items momentarily, Meredith quickly scanned the note.

Dear Meredith,

By now you have figured out that I am nothing more than a coward. I meant to tell you long ago that I intended to leave, but every time I tried to the words were never there. Basically it comes down to being afraid for myself. A completely selfish and awful reason I know.

The nightmares began around the time you came to talk to me about your grandfather. Every night I saw the Dark Veritas coming to kill me for helping you. I'd wake up screaming and covered in cold sweat. What a terrible justification for running away. What are a few nightmares compared to what you are about to go bravely do?

While I still wish I could talk you out of this whole foolish endeavor, I have to come to know enough of your character to realize you won't back down from this. I have had only a partial glimpse into the lion's den and tremble in fear. You, on the other hand, hold your head high and march directly in to face the beast. You have my deepest respect and admiration.

I hope the documents I was able to obtain for you will be useful. I've also included any and all information I was able to dig up on the Dark Veritas. It's not much, but it's a start. The ring belonged to your grandfather, of course. I was reluctant to give it you at first because it's a dangerous possession to have, but I'm glad to part with it if it means it will help you in your quest.

I'm not entirely certain what it is you're seeking by doing this. All I can say is be careful and best of luck to you. It has been an honor getting to know the granddaughter of a dear friend. The same strength that ran through his blood clearly runs through your veins as well.

Yours Sincerely,

George Watkins

Meredith re-read the brief note twice more thoughtfully. It struck her as a bad omen that George would decide to leave town on the exact same day she was planning to depart for Rome. All she could do was hope he was alright and that she hadn't put him in any immediate danger.

Convincing herself that he was fine, she picked up the ring from the desk. It was made of high quality silver, barely faded by time. Intricately carved into the ring was a symbol of a raven in profile against a sliver of a moon. A single blood red garnet served as the eye of the raven; an ominous crimson speck that sparkled darkly in the light. The clarity of the etching proved the artistry and care that had gone into the ring's creation.

It was both beautiful and frightening.

Meredith suppressed a shudder as she thought of the heavy price her grandfather had paid for the tiny circlet resting on her palm. It was a miniscule icon for all that had been lost: precious years spent in fear, his daughter's life, and even his sanity. Even after all that his debt still wasn't paid.

Oddly enough it didn't feel like a burden that this responsibility had been left to her. All her life she'd done nothing but watch. It was easier to let the adults take charge. Meredith simply had to remain silent and not ask any questions. It had all seemed so easy and uncomplicated as a child.

Now, though, she could look back and see how much adopting this lifestyle had cost her. It had permeated her being until watching in silence had become a key part of her nature.

So it felt good to finally act; to do something instead of simply watching. Even if that something was incredibly dangerous and potentially deadly.

Tucking the ring into her pocket, Meredith sat down in the chair and flipped through the file George had left behind. There wasn't much, but it was more than she'd had to go on before. The folder included an approximate—and highly theorized George stressed several times in the margins—history of the Dark Veritas, places in the world they were thought to reside, and how they were thought to view the human race.

Meredith read through the latter category with chills creeping up her spine. Humans were considered an inferior species to the Dark Veritas, useful only for food, slavery, or entertainment. She shuddered to think of what "entertainment" might encompass.

Time slipped by quickly as she poured over everything and when she glanced at her watch she saw it was only an hour and a half until her flight left. Dumping everything back into the envelope, she hurried out to her car. She'd told her parents that she had some last minute errands to run during the morning so she'd meet them at the airport to say their goodbyes. Bonnie, Matt, and Caroline had thrown her a bon voyage party the night before.

Meredith just managed to make it to the airport on time. Both her parents had tears in their eyes as they said their farewells at the gate. All her misgivings towards her father melted away as she realized this might very well be the last time she ever saw him again. Instead of anger, what she mostly felt was guilt.

With her grandfather gone, Meredith was the only family her father had left. If anything were to happen to her she knew her father would be devastated. Unfortunately the Dark Veritas hadn't left her much choice in the matter.

"I love you," she whispered as she hugged her father tightly. There was surprise written clearly on his face as he stepped back. In all the years he'd known his daughter she'd never been overly forthcoming with displays or statements of affection.

"I love you too, Sweetheart." Henry swept his daughter into one last hug, the smell of his aftershave and wool sweater instantly making her homesick before she'd even left Fell's Church. "Give us a call as soon as you arrive."

"I will," Meredith promised, hitching her carry-on bag higher on her shoulder. After handing over her boarding pass to the flight attendant, she turned and waved. Then she was entering the ramp-way that connected to the plane and her parents disappeared from sight.

She was truly on her own now.