They were finally back at the boarding house, Iris sat outside of one of the rooms in the boarding house with Caroline the raven head wrapped an arm around the tearful vampire.
"It'll be ok" she muttered to her, the bedroom door was slightly parted allowing them to hear what Damon was saying to Liz
"I'm going to talk to her"
Iris nodded and stood up following after her
"Keep Caroline away from me" they could hear her say, Iris gently grabbed Caroline's hand the poor vampire was shaking "I don't want to see her"
"She's your daughter Liz" Damon said back, Iris looked at Caroline from the corner of her eye and saw the blond shaking her head
"Not anymore, my daughter is gone"
Iris felt blood rush through her system, her cheeks flushed in anger she didn't blame Caroline from walking away knowing the blond probably wanted to be left alone.
Iris squared her shoulders and walked into the cell
"You know Sheriff Forbes, you're a foolish woman" Iris said calmly her emerald orbs boring into the older woman, Damon remained silent and was leaning against the wall "your daughter isn't gone, she still the same chatty, bratty wonderful girl you raised, are you really going to turn your back on her for something that's not her fault" she moved closer to her
"I remembered Elena telling me how upset you was when you thought she was going to die, and now she's here and you won't even hear her out?" she paused "my mother sacrificed herself to save me, and I was barely 18 months old, you've were lucky enough to watch Caroline grow up" she sighed and ran her fingers through her hair "my mother didn't get that chance, you disgust me" she spat the last couple of words out venomously "don't take too long trying to get your head together, otherwise you will lose her, she is the same person Liz"
With that Iris left the room leaving behind a stunned Sheriff
"She's right you know" Damon murmured and went to follow after her.
Iris was in the drawing room and saw Stefan and Elena sitting on the couch
"I'm going to go home" Iris said,
"You ok?" Elena asked
"I think I should be asking Stefan that" she smiled
"I'm fine" he assured her "thanks for coming to the rescue by the way"
Iris laughed "hardly rescuing when I just knocked one person out, where's Caroline?"
"She'll be staying here tonight" Elena said "so will I, you can take the SUV"
Iris smiled and took the keys off of her "thanks, see yah" she headed out towards the front door
"Iris" Damon called, she turned around and saw him watching her with an odd look on his face
"Yes?" she asked frowning slightly
"About your mother and-"
Iris shook her head "It happened a long time ago" she sighed "it's just this whole thing Liz treating Caroline that way it pushed my buttons"
Damon nodded "I understand, but if you want to vent to anything, you can come to me" she smiled softly at him and raised her hand to his cheek
"I know" she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek "you're a good person Damon and you was sweet with Liz with the 'you're my friend' don't let anyone change you"
He smiled and kissed her temple "ok" he murmured against her skin "drive home safely" he ordered and watched her walk out towards Elena's car
"Sir yes sir" she mocked saluted causing him to roll his eyes
"Cheeky brat" he said, she'd just unlocked the vehicle
"I heard that" she yelled back getting into the car
"You was meant to" she giggled quietly and slammed the door shut, she buckled herself in and waved goodbye to him, he raised his hand and watched her drive off.
Iris sighed she pulled up to the Gilbert driveway and parked the car, she knocked on their front door and push the keys through the letter box when she got no answer. Iris hummed under her breath and unlocked her front door, she entered the kitchen and glanced at the time it was eight in the evening, she yawned and walked over to the fridge seeing what she could fix for dinner.
"Can't be bothered to cook" she muttered and slammed the fridge door shut, Iris grabbed her jacket and decided to head to the grill since she had completed all of her assigned work. She rummaged through her small dish bowl looking for her car keys and was growing frustrated when she couldn't find them
"Come on" she muttered thinking where the hell were they, her eyes widened in realisation she opened the fridge door again and spied her shiny keys sitting on the shelf. She wondered how on earth how'd they got there, she was truly a scatter brain at times. Iris grabbed the keys and locked the house up behind her.
Iris arrived at the grill and saw that there was a few empty booths, she looked around and spotted Jenna and Alaric
"Iris" Jenna called her over, the raven head smiled and approached the pair
"Hi" Iris smiled and much to Alaric's digression she slid in besides Jenna "how are you? Mind if I join you?" oblivious to the uncomfortable looks both adults shared
"Not at all" Jenna smiled at her, Alaric resisted the urge to groan he liked Iris sure but this was a date between him and Jenna
"So what are you doing here anyway? Don't you have that essay I gave you due in?" Alaric asked discreetly making a hint. But the petite girl smiled brightly
"Nope" she said popping the 'p' "I did the essay and actually I wondered if-"
"Iris" Matt appeared
"Hey Matt" she smiled
"Your table is ready" Matt said
Iris gave him a confused look "What? I-"
"Come on" he didn't give her time to answer and dragged her off, she looked over her shoulder and saw the relieved looks on Jenna and Alaric faces.
"You really are clueless aren't you?" he asked leading her to a booth
"Huh?" Iris slid in looking at him, she could tell he wasn't being malicious but teasing her slightly
"You, gate-crashing Jenna's and Alaric's date" Matt said pulling out the small note pad
"Merlin" Iris muttered her cheeks heating up, she was mortified
"You seriously didn't know?" Matt asked amusement splashed across his face, she sent him a glare
"If I did, do you think I would deliberately just dive in like that?" she pressed the heels of her hands against her temple. "I'm such a moron" she muttered
"Relax, by the looks of it there getting back into the swing of things" Matt soothed her "anyway you want your usual?"
"Yes please" Iris smiled nodding he smiled back at her and walked off to get her order.
Iris placed one of her fries and chewed it slowly, she sighed and looked over to the grill everyone was with someone she found, making her feel more lonely then she had in a while. She felt a shadow cast over her causing her to look up, she swallowed down the fry
"Bonnie?" she said frowning she hadn't spoken to the witch properly since the night of the carnival
"Iris, mind if I join you?" she asked she'd been feeling guilty ever since that night,
"Free country" she shrugged her shoulders and stared off towards the window, Bonnie didn't blame her for her cold attitude
"Iris, look I didn't even mean a word of what I said the other night" she pleaded "I really am sorry"
"If you didn't mean it why would you say it?" she asked breaking the tense silence looking at the witch
"I was just so angry" she admitted "and I took it out on you, I regret what I said"
Iris sighed she wasn't one to hold grudges "It's fine, people make mistakes when they're angry" she then smiled at the dark skin girl "you can buy me another soda"
Bonnie was surprised at the teenager, she was seriously thinking that she would have to grovel at the raven head's feet after the way she had spoken to her beforehand.
"That's it?"
Iris cocked an eyebrow "Err yes…seriously Bonnie I don't do the whole holding a grudge thing, totally not my style"
Bonnie shook her head she shouldn't have been surprised at the English girl, Iris went against the norm.
Iris arrived home and was stuffed full of food, she headed upstairs and went to change, she stripped out of her clothes and turned the shower faucet on. She stepped under the hot water and felt her muscles relax when she felt the water on her skin, she quickly showered and washed her hair. Iris towel dried her hair and slipped on a pair of loose shorts and a tank top.
She slid into bed and turned the light's off, she sighed and rolled over sleep was not finding her.
She huffed and sat up letting the sheets pool around her waist Iris glanced over to the time and saw that it was half two in the morning.
She swung her legs out of the bed and padded barefooted downstairs into the kitchen, she looked through her cupboards and settled on the idea of baking, since cooking was one of the things that soothed her. She grabbed a bowl and started to work, once the cake was in the oven Iris sat on her stool and decided to eat the mixture, she looked through the cupboards to find a spoon she grinned in triumph when she found one but the smile slid on her face when she found something else, Iris plucked up the picture of her, Hermonie and Ron all at King's cross.
It wasn't the wizarding type of picture where the people in the photo moved, no it was a muggle one her spoon clattered to the ground as she traced the picture with the pads of her fingers, she'd missed them truly missed them. Iris felt a sudden burst of anger from her and tore the picture to shreds, she didn't want to be reminded of them, not when they turned their backs on her, no they weren't part of her life anymore and that she was glad of.
Iris settled back down on the stool and started to lick the bowl clean, she was definitely glad of being here starting afresh with new friends.
She was brought out of her musings when the oven timer went off, Iris grabbed the oven mitts and pulled the cake out of the oven, she looked down at it and sighed thinking was she serious? Baking won't help she dumped it in the bin and headed upstairs feeling depressed as she laid down on her large empty double bed.
Her eyes lid shut as she drifted off to sleep.
Iris woke up the next morning and rolled over to her side and looked at the time, she saw that it was nine in the morning. She got out of bed and changed into a buttoned down cotton dress that ended at her knees, she brushed her hair and tied it up into a pony tail. Iris hurried downstairs hearing a knock on the door, she pulled it opened and smiled seeing Jenna
"Jenna?" Iris smiled at her "sorry about last night I didn't-"
"No, it's fine" Jenna grinned, Iris noticed a large white box in the woman's hands, Jenna seeing where the raven head's attention was cleared her throat
"I'm guessing you're curious?"
"Yep, so what's that for?"
"It's for Carole Lockwood, I actually wanted to ask you a favour I'm going to be late to work so I was hoping you could drop this off at the Lockwood Manor?"
Iris smiled and nodded, she had nothing better to do "Sure"
"Thank you" Jenna handed her the box, Iris stumbled under the weight
"Damn what's in it? Bricks?" she asked
Jenna laughed "No, just some treats thanks Iris"
"No problem" Iris kicked the door shut behind and placed the box full of food on her coffee table. She quickly headed upstairs and looked through closet intent on finding some shoes, she located the pair of flats. Iris grabbed her sweater and pulled it on.
Iris headed out but in a second she ran back in having forgotten the main reason why she was going to the Lockwood manor in the first place. She grabbed the box of treats and headed back out.
Iris pulled up to the Lockwood manor and saw there were several cars and vans dotted around, she grabbed the box and walked up the steps and rang the bell
"Yes?" she turned around and faced the new mayor
"Hey Mrs Lockwood" Iris smiled politely
"Well hello dear, do come in" she stepped aside allowing her in, Iris entered the large manor and saw several workers hurrying around they seemed to be decorating the place
"So what can I do for you?" she asked
"Oh" Iris blushed and brought her attention back to the mayor "Jenna sent me to deliver this for you"
Carole saw the girl was staring at the decorations that were being put up; she waved a worker over who took the box off of Iris
"Is there a party going on?" she asked
Carole smiled "Yes and you're invited"
"What? No I-"
"You're coming, practically the whole town has been invited plus think of it as your first formal event at Mystic Falls" Carole smiled at the teenager who was blushing madly
"Thank you" she smiled "I should go find a dress then" she was excited about this
"Oh Iris" Carole called "It's a masquerade ball"
Iris nodded and left, she just exited the manor when she bumped into Elena
"Iris" Elena grinned at her "what are you doing here?"
"I came here to drop something off for Jenna, you?" she asked tucking in a stray curl
"I volunteered to help out" Elena nodded "I should get back to work, see you later"
Iris hummed and watched her walk away she spotted Stefan by some crates; she made her way towards the vampire
"Stefan" she smiled "Hey"
"Hello Iris" he said "how are you?"
"I'm good" Stefan answered
"So how's Caroline?" she asked peeking through the boxes and saw wine glasses
"She's holding up, we're waiting for the vervaine in Liz's system to flush itself out and-"
"-then you'll compel her to forget?" Iris finished off "she's going to find out eventually"
"I know, but for now it's the best thing we can do" Stefan murmured looking at her
She sighed and nodded and noticed him tense, she frowned and turned around seeing Mason approach them
"Iris, hi"
Iris looked away not comfortable with the man, who could blame her their last encounter he threatened to snap her neck
"Not talking to me now?" he sneered,
Stefan held in a growl and stepped in front of her protectively
"Hey Mason" Stefan snapped taking the werewolf's attention away from petite raven head.
"What have you done with the sheriff?" Mason demanded
"Oh she's fine, next time you should do your own dirty work" Stefan glared,
"Don't worry I will" Mason sneered "see you around Iris"
"Do you think he-"
"He won't hurt you" Stefan assured her patting her on the shoulder "I'll got to get back to work, I'll see you later"
Iris nodded and watched as Stefan left, he bumped into Bonnie who was passing she saw the witch frown and Iris shrugged it off since she wasn't entirely sure if Bonnie and the vampires got along.
Iris headed off towards her blue ford and climbed in and looked at the side mirror and saw the bruise that Mason had left her with the collar of her dress covered it up, so she wasn't questioned about it.
Iris looked through some of the wracks in one of the boutiques in town, she blanched at the sight of a horrendous orange piece and shoved it back into the wrack, she sighed and looked around the store was empty, Iris headed towards the back and lazily looked through another wrack, she pulled out a grey silvery coloured dress, now this was more like it she thought, the dress was a strapless number and the bodice was corset like with the skirt flaring out she estimated it would just reach below her knees, it had beading and sparkles.
"That colour would look lovely on you" she jumped and whirled around
"What are you doing here?" she questioned taking a step back
"Me? Well I was just strolling by and saw you, thought I'd come and say hello" Mason grinned darkly
"Well hi" Iris stammered out when he took another step forward and inwardly cringed when he leant in close to her so that his lips were by her ear
"You see the thing about werewolves dear, is that like vampires we've got heightened senses so I know you're different" he muttered she felt his hot breath against the shell of her ear
Iris felt her back hit the clothes wrack
"Go away" she said quietly but he ignored her and caged her between his arms
"Katherine told me about you, and let me tell you she's very pleased you're here"
Iris ducked under one of his arm and quickly left the cash on the counter and ran out of the store, she looked over her shoulder to see if he was following and was relieved when she didn't saw him. She smashed into someone and fell back but was caught in time
"Iris?" Damon frowned seeing her face "What's wrong?" she looked panic stricken
"Damon" she breathed "It's Mason, he, he's with Katherine he cornered me"
"Damn this dog needs to be putdown-"
"Damon" he grabbed her hand and dragged her towards his car "You can't"
"Shut up Iris, he's threatening you and he knows why Katherine is here, now buckle up" he ordered she did as she was told
"Where are we going?" she asked as he pulled out onto to the road
"Back to Lockwood manor, where Stefan can keep an eye on you" he said casting a look over to her and noted that the bruise was healing faster then he'd expected
"Why?"
He sighed "Because I care for you, and this whole Mason thing is getting out of control" he muttered "plus you usually get into the thick of things somehow"
They arrived back at Lockwood manor; Iris's brows furrowed seeing Mason there with Bonne
"What the-"her eyes widened when she saw Mason fall to the ground clutching his head in pain, Damon was out of the car the next second, Iris gasped when Damon kneed the man in the face knocking him out. Iris ran out of the car towards the scene but Damon was suddenly in front of her
"Damon you can't kill him just-"
"Something needs to be done, stay out of this Iris" he said sternly and looked over her shoulder
"Stefan keep her here" he muttered Iris frowned and felt firm hands on her shoulder
"Damon-"
"NO, he has to die" Damon snapped and then climbed into truck where Bonnie was waiting as well as Jeremy, Iris hadn't seen Stefan placed Mason in the back
"Stefan-"
He turned her around and tilted her chin up "I'm sorry Iris, but this is the only way" he said softly
"Fine" she reluctantly nodded her head "Is it wise for Jeremy-"
"Damon will take care of him"
Iris gave the vampire a disbelieving look but admitted defeat knowing that the older Salvatore cared for Elena so wouldn't dare hurt Jeremy.
"Come on, you can help unpack some of the food" Stefan gently grabbed her dainty wrist
"Oh the sheer joy" she drawled sarcastically causing the vampire to snort.
Iris scowled and threw the fairy light down on to the ground luckily Stefan managed to catch them
"Iris maybe I should-"
"No, give me those freaking damn fairy lights, I'll try again" she muttered, Stefan shook his head and held them back out to her "Who wants bloody fairy lights anyway, they're stupid" Elena had witnessed the scene along with Matt and couldn't help but laugh
"What's so funny?" Jenna asked entering the room, she'd managed to get out of work early so thought she'd come and help
"Iris waging war on the fairy lights" Matt chuckled
"Lucky Stefan's there to hold the ladder" Elena muttered as the raven head leant far too back causing her to wobble, Stefan swiftly reached up and placed his hand on her back forcing her to stay out
"And voila fairy lights are done" Iris grinned, Stefan smiled and helped her down, Iris grinned and placed her hand on her hips proud of her work
"Who should tell her?" Tyler asked from behind Elena seeing what they were all looking at
"You" Matt said knowing that the raven head's temper was unforeseeable
"Ergh" Tyler groaned
"So what do you guys think?" Iris asked smiling at the group
"Erm…the thing is Iris, fairy lights are supposed to situated over there" Tyler pointed to the other side of the room when he saw her pouting lips and big glassy eyes he inwardly groaned "But they look good there"
"Nice save" Matt muttered seeing the bright smile return on to her face
"Shut up, you're on fairy light duty" Tyler punched him in the arm, causing Matt to wince.
Iris went over to Elena who she noted was watching Stefan carefully
"What's up?" Iris asked the brunette, Elena placed her finger on her lips silently telling her to be quiet and nodded her head towards Stefan who had just received a text and left causing both teens to frown
"What was that about?" she asked standing up smoothing down her dress
"No clue, but we're going to find out" Elena said Iris eyebrows shot to her hairline
"We're going to spy on-"
"Yes now come on, unless you want to stay here and-"
"No freaking way I'm coming with you, I don't think I can have another insightful conversation with Mrs Lockwood" she said the last part sarcastically and dragged her out of the room after Stefan.
AN: Thanks for the reviews, btw i do appreciate long ones. So Iris has been invited to the Masquerade ball which in turns leads to one of my all time fave vamp episode...Mason showing a bit of his dark side here...Katherine will soon make an appearance so stay tune
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