I wanted to thank ShyxSkater for the review! I also want to thank you for the suggestion as I shall definitely try to keep that in mind as I write, it made my day to see that lovely review. :) I also would like to thank everyone who has Favorited and followed my story so far! I hope you continue to enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it!
Anyways, on with the story!
Word count: 1,571
Lydia's P.O.V.
Some crazy things have been happening these past few days. So, at the Founders Ball Elena and I found that Caroline was being abused by Damon- she had bite marks on her neck. Thankfully she seems okay for now but she won't listen to either of us about staying away from him. We went to the archives to look up the video report that the old man told us about and saw Stefan, looking the exact same. ' I knew something was odd about him and his brother! Guess that explains the bites on Caroline too.'
This leads to where we are now, Stefan staring at us shocked as Elena asked, " What are you?" He looks at us both in shock as I clutch onto Elena from behind her. He looked, almost sad at us figuring out what he is. " I am a vampire, Elena, Lydia."
Elena runs off as I stare at Stefan for a few seconds before following after her. We get home to see that Stefan is there. She got him to leave and she ended up having me stay with her as we slept. We didn't know it but Stefan was watching over us as we slept, protecting us from his brother. The next day, we met with stefan at the Grill. While they talked I sat by them, munching on french fries.
"You said you would explain everything. That's why I asked you to meet me here. When you Google "vampire" you get a world of fiction. What's the reality?"
"I can tell you whatever you wanna know."
"I know you eat garlic."
"Yes."
"And somehow, sunlight's not an issue."
"We have rings that protect us."
"Crucifixes?"
" Decorative."
"Holy water?"
"Drinkable."
"Mirrors?"
"Myth."
"You said you don't kill to survive."
"Animal blood keeps me alive, but not as strong as Damon. He can be very powerful."
"And yet you let him get involved with Caroline?"
"Forcing Damon not to do something is much more dangerous, believe me."
"He was hurting her!"
"He was feeding on her. He was able to take away her memories of being bitten using a form of mind compulsion. She never knew what was happening to her. If he wanted to kill her, he would have."
"Is that supposed to make it ok?"
"No. No, none of this is ok, Elena. I know that."
"Are there any others, aside from you and Damon?"
"Not in Mystic Falls; not anymore."
"Not anymore?"
"There was a time when this town was...very much aware of vampires, and it didn't end well for anybody. That's why it's important that neither of you tell anyone."
"I can't promise that. And I won't make Lydia promise that either."
"Elena, Lydia...Give me today. I will answer any questions that you have, and when it's over, you can decide for yourself what you wanna do with what you know. It'll be your choice."
About halfway through their conversation, I had finished my fries and we left, Stefan saying he wanted to show us something. We rode in Elena's car and we stopped in the woods. I looked around confused as he brought us to some ruins." What is this place Stefan?" Stefan turned to face me, " the original Salvatore house."
"Wait. How long have you…"
"I've been 17 years old since 1864."
"Oh, my god."
"You said you wanted to know. I'm not gonna hold anything back. Half a century before the boarding house was even built, this was my family's home. Damon and I...We were both born here. The Salvatore brothers, best friends."
He started to tell us of Katherine. I frowned, it was easy to see she had played them both and I felt for him. I really did, she played them like fiddles and it was clear that Stefan was heartbroken by her- but more so with himself for falling for her. "She could control my mind; and Damon's. She compelled each of us to keep the secret from the other. She wanted all of us to be together. Forever. Didn't work out that way, but...Damon and I, looks like we're stuck with each other...Like it or not." I frowned, he was definitely hurting. He pulled out a ring and both Elena and I blinked shocked, " Is that Damn's ring?"
"I took it from him, but I have to give it back."
"No, don't, Stefan. Keep it hidden."
"Elena, if I don't give it to him, he'll retaliate in the only way that he knows he can hurt me."
"And how is that?"
"By hurting you. Either one of you."
I frowned, ' Man I feel like us gaining knowledge of the Supernatural will only end in more loss for us.' I nodded in response to what Stefan was saying, I got the vibe that Damon threw temper tantrums quite a bit. "The mind control...You said Katherine used. Do you ever do that to me or Lydia?"
"No. That necklace I gave you Elena, it contains an herb called vervain. It protects you from being compelled. I wanted to protect you from Damon's influence. But I also wanted to...Protect you from me. Elena, you should never take that necklace off...Because no matter what happens after today, no matter how you feel about me...You'll know that you were free to make your own choice." Stefan held out a small box to me. " Which is why I also have this for you Lydia. It was spelled to repel compulsion."
I opened it and gasped. Inside the box was a beautiful ring. It was crafted of black gold with a deep blue gem in the center. It had smaller blur gems encrusted along the band as well. I slipped it onto my left middle finger and looked to Stefan. " Thank you, Stefan. This means alot to me." He nodded and gave me a small smile, " I never want you to not have a choice. Either of you." We left to head back to our house. When we walked in Matt and Jeremy were downstairs.
"What's going on?"
"She's really messed up."
"Elena, Lydia, back up. Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine. Guys, take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be ok. Come on. Come on." Matt and Jeremy took her upstairs and Elena rounded on Stefan.
"You know what's wrong with her?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
"She's transitioning."
"Transitioning to what?"
"A vampire."
"What?"
"Damon must have gotten to her. She's new. She hasn't completed her transformation yet."
"H-how does she do that?"
"She has to feed on human blood."
"And what if she doesn't?"
"She'll die. She may only have a few hours."
"She's upstairs with him right now."
"It's ok. She doesn't know what's happening to her yet."
"So when is she gonna know?"
"Right now, she doesn't remember anything. A part of her is still human, but slowly, the deeper she gets into the transition, the memories will start to come back, and then she'll know she has to make the choice."
"The same choice you made?" I flinched at the jab she made at Stefan. Vicki ran off and Matt came running down. " She was fine then ran off. I am going to go look for her." He ran out and we both looked to Stefan shocked and fearful. He looked at us both, " I can track her." Elena nodded, " go." He disappeared from our sights and I turned to look at my big sister. " Do you think she will be okay, sis?" Elena shook her head, " I have no idea, Grace." She wrapped her arms around me as we hugged. When Stefan returned, I could tell it was not with good news due to the grave look in his eyes. "I couldn't stop her. I tried."
"What does that mean?"
"She fed, and then I lost her."
"Oh, my god."
"I'll take care of it. I'll find her, and I will show her that she can live like I do. I will make sure that she does not hurt anybody, Elena. I promise you."
"What do I tell my brother and...and Matt?"
"We'll come up with a story."
"You mean we'll come up with a lie."
"I'm so sorry."
"I gave you today just like you asked. And I understand that you would never do anything to hurt me, and I promise I will keep your secret, but...I can't be with you, Stefan. I'm sorry. I...I just can't…"
Elena walked inside with tears in her eyes as Stefan stood there with heartbreak clearly on his face. I looked to him sadly as I stood on our porch. " you're good Stefan. Give her some time, she will come around, just trust in her. Let her get her mind around it all." He nodded, " y-you aren't afraid of me, Lydia?" I shook my head, " No. You have not shown me any reason to be afraid. In fact, you don't even drink from humans. The way I see it, you act like a vegetarian." he cracked a grin as I said that. " I'll see ya around Stefan."
I headed back into the house and went straight to Elena's room. She was sitting on her bed, looking lost and heartbroken. I sat beside my big sister and hugged her as she cried herself to sleep.