Iris groaned and rolled over blindly reaching out for her ringing phone
"What?" she croaked and cleared her throat, she heard laughter on the other end "Elena what is it?"
"Come to the grill in an hour, I've got some news about Stefan"
"Fine" she grunted and hanged up, she frowned when she realised that Rebekah hadn't barged into her bedroom like she did yesterday
Iris rolled out of bed and padded barefooted down the hallway, she knocked on the guest bedroom and pushed it open when she got no reply
"Rebekah? Merlin" she gawped at the state of the girl's room "bloody vampire hasn't even been out of her damn coffin for a month yet she still can make so much mess" she muttered under her breath and entered the room and saw a note on the dresser
"Gone shopping out of town,
this place is far too boring, bring you back something nice,
love Rebekah"
"Of course she's gone shopping" the raven head muttered under her breath, she hurriedly got dressed and slipped on a pair of denim shorts and a deep blue cap sleeve top, Iris pulled her curls into a high pony tail. She slipped on a pair of converses and plucked up her cell, she glanced at the time and saw that she had more than enough time to go and visit Damon, since she hadn't spoken to him since last night.
Iris grabbed her keys and pressed her foot down and pulled out of the driveway. It wasn't long till she pulled up to the Salvatore boarding house, the raven head slammed the rusty blue ford's car door shut and made her way up to the grand looking door, she wasn't at all surprised when the door was unlocked
"Merlin, are you guys ever going to learn to lock your doors?" Iris called "Damon?" she walked into the parlour and gasped at the sight; "Shit" she ran forward and lightly slapped Damon's cheeks
"Iris?" he groaned
"What the hell happened?" she asked seeing a poker sticking out of his chest
"My lovely younger brother" he said through gritted teeth
"Stef did this?" Iris asked her eyes darting down to his chained wrists, she looked around feeling another's presence but to the naked eye there was nothing there.
"In case you haven't notice flower, Stefan's gone loopy"
Iris thumped the back of his head "Alright no need to be an arse"
"Iris would you-"
"Gladly" and without further ado she placed her hand on the metal rod and wrenched it out of his chest, earning a cry of pain from Damon
"Could have done it gently-"
"Honey there was no gentle way" Iris cut him off and threw the metal rod aside, she spotted his day light ring on the floor, and she picked it up from the ground "Damon?"
"Low blow Stefan, low blow"
Before Iris could say anything there was a chuckle from the doorway, she looked over her shoulder and saw Stefan smirking
"What the hell happened to you?" the vampire asked
"You apparently" Iris uttered.
"Yeah whatever twisted ripper game this is, leave me out of it" Damon uttered tiredly
"I didn't do this" Stefan said walking forward so he was next to Iris
"You didn't?" the raven head cocked an eyebrow
"He's screwing around" Damon groaned
"Nope I didn't do this" Stefan said, Iris frowned wondering if he didn't then who did? It couldn't have been Rebekah as the Original was with her throughout the night and had left probably early morning
"It's pretty messed up though right?" Stefan frowned glancing over to his brother
"Understatement" Iris muttered watching as the vampire reached down and merely broke one cuff of and then walked out
"Oh that's helpful Stef" Iris yelled rolling her eyes
"Should I just untangle myself then?" Damon shouted
"Is that a rhetorical question? So that means I can go-"
"Iris" he snapped
"Kidding, kidding" Iris lips twitched in amusement seeing how annoyed the vampire was, she reached out and tugged the chains on his chest "merlin whoever did this welded these things on"
"No kidding" Damon scoffed "You haven't got a-ARGH" he screamed Iris shielded her eyes as the curtains were throw apart bringing sunlight into the room
"Damon" Iris gasped seeing the vampire was burning; she grabbed his hand and shoved the ring on to his finger instantly shutting him up.
"Iris what-"
"Not me" Iris shook her head "how do we get you out of this, since Stefan's being too much of a dick to help out"
Damon snorted "Understatement" he uttered, Iris laughed and canted her head to the side "Let me see" she closed her eyes and concentrated pulling up that familiar tingle of magic from the pit of her stomach, her eyes snapped opened revealing bright gold eyes,
Damon watched silently smelling that the raven head's scent ripening, with a snap the chains broke
"Voila and you're free" she grinned
"Getting better control I see" Damon commented standing up
"So you've got any idea-"
"Yep, come on flower" he grabbed her hand leading her out of the boarding house, he saw her from the corner of her eye pulling out the keys to her rusty blue ford
"Hey" she yelled as he snatched her keys away "What are you-"
"If we're going to go out in public together, we're taking my car" he smirked at her, she glared and stormed over to his car and slammed the door hard
"Hey" Damon yelled "not the car. No anger towards the car" he climbed in besides her
"Fine" and with that she poked him hard in his side making him groan.
Iris looked around as they pulled up to the town's square and saw all the lanterns being put up
"Oh it's the night of thingy isn't it?" she asked
"Illumination flower" Damon provided and slowed down the car seeing Bonnie and Caroline
"Whatever" she muttered "Bonnie, Caroline" she called seeing them
"Hey Iris-"
"Blondie, Witchy-"
"Real original names Damon" Iris drawled causing the pair of girls to laugh
"Anyway, I think you've got your voodoo wires crossed when you've got rid of Vicki Donavan-"
"Vicki?" Iris frowned
"Oh right, flower here went missing at the party-"
"Where did you go Iris?" Caroline asked remembering she hadn't seen the raven head after she disappeared from the log
"Trying to avoid being crushed by the bloody trees"
"Huh?"
"What happened?" Damon eyes narrowed in on her
"No clue, I felt there was something funny going on branches started falling down. Would've been crushed if Rebekah hadn't saved me"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Damon scowled at her, Iris glared back
"Erm because I'm pretty sure you were busy with Elena" she retorted
Damon frowned not really knowing what to say.
"So what do you mean? Vicki?" Bonnie asked getting back onto topic
"Because I'm pretty sure I got spit roasted by Mason Lockwood" Damon announced, Iris eyes widened at that Mason Lockwood? He's dead for sure though, but then again Jeremy did say he could see Anna.
Caroline asked Iris unasked question "Why would you think that?"
"Because he chained me to a chair and stabbed a poker through my chest" he replied
"Something you did to him?" Iris murmured "but ghost can't physically interact with people"
"Right they can't" Bonnie nodded
"I don't have time for a vengeful Lockwood, when I kill someone they're supposed to stay dead" Iris frowned at him and jumped out of the car "where are-"
"Don't want to be in the same car as you" the raven head drawled, Damon rolled his eyes and looked over to Bonnie "whatever you screwed up, fix it" he then drove off
"Ergh I sometimes forget how much of an arse he can be" she murmured, and glanced down at her watch "Holy crap I'm late" she uttered realising the time,
"Iris-"
"Bye" Iris called over her shoulder and ran over to the grill.
She slowed down seeing that her ford was parked there already "Damon" she muttered and spotted Alaric, Jeremy and Elena sitting at a table.
"Iris" Alaric smiled and pushed his glass of water over to her seeing her flushed face
"Thanks Ric" she dropped down in the seat beside him and sipped the water.
"So what's up?" Jeremy asked when she had settled down
"And are those journals?" Iris gestured towards the books that Elena was pulling out of her bag
"I'm just looking through Stefan's old journals, his best friend Lexi was always the one to bring him back-"
"Elena, Stefan isn't off the rails. Klaus has compelled him to turn his humanity off" Iris told her
"But there's a possibility we could get him back Iris" Iris could see the desperation in Elena's eyes so sighed and nodded "fine, so where is this Lexi?"
"Dead, Damon killed her" Elena replied
Iris rolled her eyes "nothing can ever be easy for us" she muttered under her breath. She looked over to Jeremy realising why the younger Gilbert was there, he also came to the same conclusion
"You want me to reach her don't you?" Jeremy asked
"I thought if I knew how Lexi did it, then she could try and help me" Elena answered, Iris frowned and looked down biting her bottom lip
"I don't even know she's on the other side"
"You alright Iris?" Alaric asked seeing the look on the raven head's face
"Oh, yeah I'm fine" she forced a smile on to her face "I was just wondering….do you only see people from here…not from…erm like England?"
Jeremy's brows furrowed "No I just Anna and Vicky"
"Oh" Iris muttered looking away,
"Who would-"
"My parents, I just you know…" she trailed off "sorry"
"It's alright Iris" Alaric squeezed her shoulder.
"I know, erm so it's called the other side then?" she asked, Jeremy gave her a small smile
"Well that's what Anna calls it, there's not an official brochure" he said causing Iris to smile in amusement
"So what is then? Some supernatural purgatory?" Alaric asked
"Anna said it's like being here but only we can't see or hear her" Jeremy replied "She can't interact with anyone, she's all alone"
Iris brows furrowed "huh? That's curious" she uttered
"What?" Elena asked
"Well when Klaus drained every drop of blood from my body-"
"Where did you go?" Alaric asked curious as they actually never heard what happened to her.
"Well, it was like a dream but real, I was greeted by my godfather and surrogate uncle, as well as a professor from my old boarding school, so I wasn't alone like Anna, has she told you why she hasn't moved on?" Iris asked and tucked in a stray curl leaning back in her seat.
"No that she's just alone, and can't interact with anyone" Jeremy uttered.
"Well Vicky could interact she blew up my car" Alaric stated, Iris bit her bottom lip wondering how did the Donavan girl managed that as ghost definitely couldn't interact with anything. She must've had help Iris concluded.
"Did she have help?" Iris asked
"Yes, she did-"
"How-"
"Guess" Iris cut the brunette girl off, "So is Anna on her own then?"
"Yeah, and I think we can learn not summon anymore dead people" Jeremy said
"Hmm, there's always going be consequences for that type of magic" Iris muttered
"Can't we summon Lexi?" Elena asked, the raven head could see that she was desperate
"I don't know" Jeremy sighed "I didn't have an emotional connection to her, I never even met her"
Now that Iris thought definitely ruled out the chance of seeing her parents. She looked up when she felt someone squeezing her knee,
"Sorry Iris, I would've wanted to meet your parents" Alaric murmured to her
She smiled "It's fine Ric, I reckon you would've gotten on with my dad" she said quietly so only he could hear her.
"Maybe we should just drop it, we got enough to be worrying about" Alaric exclaimed
"I can't just drop it Ric" Elena snapped "I don't know what else to do"
"Just leave it Elena" Iris shot back startling the brunette "Even if you manage to get this Lexi what is she going to do huh? Stefan has been compelled by a hybrid, In case you've forgotten, a ghost has no chance against that"
"You may have given up on Stef-"
"I haven't" Iris hissed glowering at her "This isn't just affecting you, you do know that. Damon is losing the brother he once knew have you even thought about him?"
"Why would I be thinking about Damon? I want Stefan back!" Elena glared at her, Alaric and Jeremy was watching the scene wide eye
"So what? Just because Stef came back to town Damon's vanished from your mind. Pick one brother don't string Damon along he is too good for-"
Elena snorted at that "Damon? Good-"
Iris narrowed her eyes "Yes he is. He was the one that got you out of the hospital and he was the one that fixed you up after that car explosion. In case you haven't noticed Elena, Damon had been there for you"
"You don't think I know that, I appreciate Damon I do but-"
"He isn't Stefan and you won't be able to mould him" Iris murmured softly.
"I know that" Elena hissed
"Fine make sure you do" Iris told her and noticed that Jeremy was staring at an empty table
"Jeremy is Anna here?" the raven head asked softly causing the younger teen to jump
"No, I have to go check on my work schedule" Jeremy pushed himself away from the table and headed inside to the grill "and Alaric and Damon been saying that I'm a crappy liar"
Alaric snorted at that.
"Is he still seeing her?" Elena asked Iris
"What? How would-"
"Well you've kept secrets before"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Iris asked frowning at her
"Well you didn't mention that Rebekah was staying with you and-"
"And it's none of your business" Iris was getting fed up of the teenage girl's so called drama "As is this is Jeremy's business, keep out of it Elena"
"So this isn't Bonnie's business?" Elena asked, Iris sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose "It's theirs Elena, not yours not mine, let them deal with this, so try and not to mouth off to Bonnie, the girl deserves to be told by him not you"
"You don't understand" Elena snapped, Iris scowled
"What? What don't I understand?" she snapped "I know that you and her are best friends and that I am literally a nobody-"
"Iris you're not" Alaric frowned at her
"I am Ric; you've guys got this great friendship Elena but if you don't want to ruin it let Jeremy be the one to tell her. You have no right to. This is Jeremy's life"
Elena frowned and shook her head not wanting to listen to the raven head.
"And you're forgetting Iris, that I and Bonnie knew each other our whole lives, so you don't really get a say about this" Elena told her. The petite teen remained silent and looked away
Alaric pushed his plate of fries over to the saddened raven head that sent him a shaky smile; he could see that Elena's words had cut her deep. Iris pushed the food away not at all hungry.
"Hey guys" Stefan smirked taking Jeremy's empty seat
Iris sighed and rolled her eyes not in the mood to deal with him at the moment.
"Problem between the friends?" Stefan asked
"Butt out Stefan, it's nothing to do with you" Iris frowned at him.
The brooding vampire merely chuckled and picked up one of the journals from the table and flicked through them
"Wow all these words, I forgot how much I use to care" Stefan grinned mockingly at them
"You still do feel something Stefan" Iris murmured
"I didn't forget how much you use to care" Elena uttered, sadness coming off of her in waves.
"You know Elena, it's best if you don't torture yourself with the memories of the past, its best we just accept things the way they are" he dropped the book back on to the table. "And you Iris I'm pretty sure you'll be moving on soon, with Klaus-"
"What?" Elena asked startled "you and Klaus-"
"There is no me and Klaus" Iris said quickly, Stefan chuckled
"Oh there definitely is, she's just in denial, did you know that they kissed in Chicago and they even shared a bedroom, who know what could have been going on there" he wagged his eyebrows up and down, Iris glared at him and grabbed the glass of water and threw it over the vampire
"Go to hell. Nothing happened-"
Stefan snarled causing Alaric to tense "It's only a matter of time Iris, before you go running into his arms, that's your thing isn't it, Iris, running. Same thing you did to get away from England-"Iris paled he wouldn't bring that up would he? She thought "from your family, you know the uncle who locked you in the cupboard the same man who use to beat you- do you get nightmares Iris? Do you get scared?-"
"Stop it" Iris whispered tears welling up,
"Stefan-"Alaric warned feeling like he got punch in the gut, why hadn't she confided in him?
"How about your aunt Iris? She use to stand back and watch right? You reminded her of your dead mother her sister- how does it feel being that unlovable-"
"Stop it" the raven head shook her head
"Only one person can love you Iris, a monster- even your friends turn their back on you-"
Iris bowed her head
"You want to know what's so mysterious about Iris? She isn't who you think she is" Stefan said cruelly "Iris is a murderer-"
"No-"she sobbed tears rolling down her face
"You know why only a monster like Klaus could love you because you're one as well" Iris abruptly stood up and slapped Stefan across the face, he growled and grabbed her hand
"It's true and you know it, the only people who care for you are the Originals, Damon says he does but he doesn't- you're just a puzzle and once he solves you, there you go, you mean nothing to him"
"Stefan back off" Alaric scowled as the raven head took a step back
"Iris you murdered-"Elena looked at her wide eye, the petite teen didn't answer instead she ran into the grill.
Iris just made it to the hallway of the toilets but was immediately pulled back
"Iris?" Elena stated. "You killed someone?"
"I didn't want to" she cried out wiping her tears by the back of her hand "but they made me"
"Iris-" Elena placed a hand on the distraught girl's shoulder "why?"
"Why did I kill someone? Because there was no other way, he was a wizard and was bad, evil a person who sought to destroy anything good-"
"Then you know-"
Iris frowned "What?"
"Klaus-"
"Klaus is nothing like Tom" she snapped harshly
"Iris-"
"Please I don't want to talk about it" she quickly said
"Ok, ok" Elena soothed her rubbing her hand up and down her back realisation hit her "that monster you mentioned it was your uncle?"
Iris gave her a small shaky smile "Yes, I'm going to go get cleaned up"
"Ok"
Iris pushed the bathroom door open and was startled at the sight Jeremy was kissing a dark haired girl
"We are in the right bathroom right?" Iris asked and quickly glanced at the sign on the door "yep this is the boys bathroom and I just walked- oh hello" Iris uttered seeing that Jeremy wasn't alone he was with a girl with long brown hair
"What the hell is going on here?" Elena asked
"Wait Anna?" Iris eyes widened recognising the vampire "you're not dead, no wait you was already but-ghost you're a ghost, holy Merlin we can see you"
"Finally got there Iris?" Jeremy drawled
"No need to be an arse" she pouted at the male her eyes travelled back over to Anna "erm nice to see you again?" she waved weakly
"Don't need to be so friendly" Elena hissed at her, whilst Anna laughed at the petite raven head's antics
"You need to disappear or evaporate or whatever you do" Elena scowled at the ghost
"Ghost don't evaporate" Iris rolled her eyes "How can we see you? Jere was the only one earlier, this is fascinating does that mean you can touch- wait-" she grabbed Anna's hand and gasped when her skin made contact with hers "wow" she then poked her hard in the arm "amazing so how can we see you?"
"We don't know" Jeremy frowned
"Hmm well-"
"I've just walked in on Jeremy kissing Bonnie-"Iris frowned in confusion and saw Elena was on the phone "Damon's got the necklace"
"What, Elena do you not understand the term 'butt out'?" she questioned stunned that the brunette had pulled that
"I told Caroline, and Bonnie is my best friend she has a righ-"
"You have no right to tell her, it's Jeremy's bloody life not yours, you can't control it Elena" she glared at her
"I told Caroline-"
"Right you told the vampire who loves to gossip" Iris snorted "you really are dense aren't you"
Elena scowled at her "Yeah well its rich coming from the girl who hides everything-"
"So what if I don't share every aspect of my life with you" Iris spat "who the hell are you to me?"
"Your friend-"
Iris scoffed "Now I'm your friend? Make up your mind love. One day you don't want me anywhere near you because I happened to like Rebekah and then the next day you call me to what? Get Stef on your side" she clenched her fists and took in a deep breath.
"Iris you are my friend like Bonnie-"
"I'm nothing like Bonnie to you, you're going to hurt her. Do not tell her about this"
"Please Elena don't tell her" Jeremy pleaded
"Listen to him" Iris uttered luckily no one had wondered into the toilet yet
"Why are you taking his side?" Elena yelled at her
"Why aren't you?" she shouted at her back "He is your brother or have you forgotten that?"
"Please Elena" Jeremy stepped in seeing things were getting heated and didn't fail to notice the mirrors on the wall shaking, literally as if they were going to shatter any minute.
"Iris this is family business so get lost" Elena spat. Iris gritted her teeth and without another word she stormed out
"Sorry Jeremy that your sister is such an A-hole, which stands for arsehole" Iris yelled over her shoulder walking down to the end of the hallway, she was worked up and failed to notice a blond woman was in front of her
"Sorry" Iris uttered bumping into her
"Iris?" the raven head frowned not recognising her
"I'm sorry do I know you?" she asked the pretty blond
"No we haven't officially met, but I've heard about you" the blond smiled
"Well-"
"Lexi" Elena stated appearing behind her
"You're the famous Lexi" Iris smiled "nice to meet you but what are you doing here?"
"Ripper Detox" the blond replied smiling at her, Elena grabbed her hand and dragged the vampire away.
Iris stepped into the main room of the grill and spotted Damon and Alaric at the bar, she slowly approached the duo
"Hey" Iris smiled tiredly and hopped onto the stool
"What's got you down flower?" Damon asked ordering a drink for her, she sighed tasting the fizzy bubbles on the tip of her tongue
"Nothing" she uttered
"Iris" Damon said seriously pulling her drink off of her
"Fine, Stefan announced that I'm a monster-"
"My brother is crazy at the moment, don't take his words to heart" he ruffled her hair "and-"
"And Iris, you are far from being a monster" Alaric assured her
"So Damon-"
"Told me, what went down in England" he smiled at her, Iris returned the gesture it felt like the weight had been lifted off her shoulder
"So now can I have my drink back? Or you can get me a new one" she grinned at the dark haired vampire, Iris felt someone sitting down on the vacant stool next to her
"A whisky and a soda please" she heard from the other side of her
"What's wrong?" the raven head asked seeing their faces "You know I met Lexi today, she seems nice and your looking weird why are you looking weird?"
"Here you go doll" the man next to her slid her the glass of soda over to her
"Thanks-holy Merlin on a cracker" Iris gasped seeing who was there "Mason?"
"Iris lovely to see you again" the deceased werewolf murmured to her "Damon. Alaric" he greeted the other two men. They all watched as he downed his drink "man have I missed whisky or not"
"Rhetorical question right?" Iris asked
"I see you're getting the hang of that" Mason smirked and then much to her and Alaric's surprised he smash it on the vampire's head
"Whoa" Iris whistled but Damon made no move to retaliate but instead he let out a loud groan
"One of you two can pay for that right?" he asked
The vampire hissed when Iris prodded the already healing head wound
"So Iris see that you're still in Salvatore's grasp word is that the hybrid is-"
Damon scowled and pushed the petite raven head behind him "Skip to it, no playing games, I killed you and you want revenge. Get in line"
Iris slapped his arm "be nice"
"To the guy who was threatening you?" Damon cocked an eyebrow
"Shut up and listen to what he has to say" Iris muttered
"Iris is right, so I want an apology" Mason said surprising them in a second both Iris and Alaric burst out laughing
"Sorry but that's funny" Iris giggled wiping away a stray tear.
"Good luck with that" Alaric grinned, Damon sent them both a glare.
"Well I'm really sorry about your death Mason, you was just trying to help and-"
"It's fine Iris, I know that you didn't have anything to do with it" Mason smiled at her, "but that's why I'm here, to help Tyler"
"How would-"
"Sorry to break it to you dude, but Tyler can't be helped. At least not whilst Klaus is alive…" Iris felt her heart beat faster, they wanted to kill Klaus? She looked away and dropped her glass causing it to shatter; she saw a flash of fire engine red hair and bright green emerald eyes
"Whoa Iris-"Alaric abruptly stood up not wanting to get wet
Iris jumped and looked back over to the group of men "You ok?" Damon asked seeing her face
"Yes" she looked back over to the spot and saw no one there "I thought I saw someone I knew"
"OK" Damon eyed her he could that something was wrong but at the moment there was more important matters to deal with "Klaus can't be killed"
Mason shook his head a knowing smirk appearing onto his face "Not unless you found a weapon that can kill him"
"There's no weapon…" Damon paused and looked up at Mason "What do you know?"
"Maybe we shouldn't Klaus will-"Iris bit her bottom lip hard
"Iris he has to be stopped that freak is a psychopath-"
"He isn't a freak" Iris snapped glaring at him
"So you have a grown a soft spot for him" Damon frowned at her
"I need to go-"she went to move pass him but the vampire grabbed her by her upper arm and slammed her against the bar
"Damon what the hell?" Alaric hissed grabbing the vampire's arm but he was shoved away
"Listen Iris, Klaus is the enemy you need to get that through your thick skull. You are nothing but a blood bag to him" Iris winced at the tightness of his grip "he doesn't care about you" she looked away but he grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him "do you understand?"
"He does care" she whispered
Damon could see he wasn't getting anywhere with her "yeah he cares so much he ran off didn't he?"
"Careful Damon, Iris has people watching over her" Mason uttered, Iris shoved the vampire away
"Iris-"
"I don't want to talk to you right now, you're just going to be like everyone else and tell me what to do" Iris hissed
"I'm only telling you because-"
"What because you care" she snorted "that is a load of shit, you're scared that Klaus would come and take your precious Elena away"
Damon growled and went to grab her but Mason stood in front of her.
"I want my apology Damon"
"Fine, I didn't have to kill you, I do a lot of things that I don't have to do" Damon uttered, and glanced over to Iris and saw that the petite teen was already having bruises forming where he had gripped her chin.
"I do a lot of things I've regret" he murmured the last part catching Iris's emerald eyes with his sky blue ones.
"Ok" she uttered softly
"That's good enough meet me at the old Lockwood cellar" Mason looked over to Iris and Alaric "come alone and bring a shovel" he instructed
"What are you going to do? Bury me alive?" Damon asked
"Please do" Iris muttered causing Mason to snort
"Don't tempt me" Mason grinned and walked out of the grill.
"Merlin there's ghosts running around, and you did kill a lot of people Damon, ergo there are going to be a lot of vengeful ghosts gunning for you" Iris rand her hand through her hair
"I know so you stay here" Damon downed the rest of his drink "watch her" he instructed Alaric and then followed after Mason.
"So what' up?" Alaric asked the raven head who opened her mouth "and before you say 'it's nothing' it's obviously something"
Iris smiled the hunter knew her more than she realised "Hmm, it's just me and Elena walked in on Jeremy kissing Anna, and now Elena wants to tell Bonnie"
"She should know" Alaric commented sipping his drink
"Hmm, but it's none of her business" Iris took in a deep breath "I'm going home-"
"Iris, let me drop you off" Alaric went to pull his jacket on but Iris shook her head
"No you stay here, I know how to get home Alaric" the raven head assured him
"You sure?" he asked as she stretched her arms above her head
"Yep" she smiled and bod him goodbye.
Iris exited the grill and rummaged through her pockets pulling out her keys but frowned when they weren't there
"What the-" her eyes widened when she saw that instead of her rusty blue ford there it was Rebekah's flashy car. Iris spotted an envelope on the windscreen; she tore it open and saw neat cursive writing
"Your car is far too ugly to be seen in public, use this
Love Rebekah
P.S: your old car is in the garage, so don't have a panic attack"
"You've got to be kidding me" Iris muttered under her breath and pulled out a set of keys from the envelope "least she didn't chuck it" Iris unlocked the car door as she was about to climb in she paused feeling as if someone was watching her. Iris looked around and saw two figures at the end of the road, she blinked and they were gone
"I'm going crazy" she sighed and slammed the door shut and buckled herself in.
Iris was driving down the road the dark road and jumped out of her skin when there was a loud beep, she looked in the side mirror and saw a truck pretty close to the bumper of the car, she saw the man and gestured for him to go around her
"Go around" Iris yelled but the man merely just beeped again, she swore when he slammed his truck against the back of the car jolting the car "Fuck" Iris gripped her hands onto the steering wheel, Iris glanced back at the truck her eyes widened seeing the man's face she vaguely recognised him from the tomb "shit" she mumbled and sped up.
There was another loud beep Iris saw that another truck on the side of the car. "Back off" she screamed when they slammed into the car
"We got a message" the vampire yelled "you're-"
But Iris sped up. She groaned when she was slammed again forward, they were speeding towards Wickery Bridge
"STOP" Iris screamed they were approaching it at break neck speed panic and fear was coursing through her
"You're not meant to be here" the vampire yelled.
Iris shrieked when a pair of headlights shone in front of her, whoever was in that car was speeding towards her Iris swerved the car as the trucked slammed into the side of the flashy car, sending her and the car crashing through the barricade of the bridge. A scream was torn from her throat as she was sent plunging into the ice cold water and blacked out.
Iris groaned she was throbbing everywhere; she coughed and felt a dribble of blood coming out of her mouth it felt like her insides were on fire.
It took her a moment to realise that she was still in the car and that it quickly sinking into the depths of the river, her ears perked up when she heard a crack, panic grew even more when she saw that the windows of the car were cracking.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck" she muttered and shakily grabbed the seatbelt buckle; she gasped when the car jolted and sunk even far and the windows further cracked. Iris gripped onto the buckle and moaned when it wouldn't unleash her
"No, no, no, please" she whispered sweat, tears and blood marring her face, she looked up when there was a screeching sound from the windows her eyes caught sight of herself in the rear-view mirror and saw that there was a large gash on her temple.
"Come on-"she tugged frantically on the buckle "please, please, please" she pleaded getting even more frantic if possible. Her emeralds orbs widened when the glass splintered she took in a huge breath as the windows shattered; Iris protected her face and felt the water shooting through her. She couldn't help but gasp when the ice cold water hit her full force. Water was quickly rising up. Iris groaned as she stretched up to keep her head above the water
"Come on" she blindly groped the belt buckle and whimpered "please JUST OPEN" she screamed her eyes flash gold and her buckle snapped. Iris waited a few moments and pressed her face against the roof of the car catching a few pained intakes of breath.
She took in one last breath and dove under the water, and cringed in pain as her whole body shook. Her eyes was stinging she grabbed the door handle but it wouldn't open.
Iris shot back to the ceiling of the car grabbing a few more gulps of air, she panted and closed her eyes with another huge intake of breath Iris plunge back into the water and slipped through the car window, she felt the salty water hit her cuts and gashes they sting madly.
Iris swam out and looked up she could see that the car had sunk further than she had thought, she kicked her feet and managed to break the surface,
"Help-"she was cut off feeling something grabbing her legs and pulled her back into the depths of the deep river, Iris kicked hitting something solid, she looked down and saw that a pair vampires were holding on to her feet, water was flooding her lungs, Iris once again blindly kicked out hitting one in the face and knocking the other vampire aside.
Iris shot back upwards to the surface and broke it, her vision was getting hazy and she was growing so tired. Iris saw a pair of figures approaching her
"He- ARGH" she screamed as she was pulled back she screamed only bubbles coming out as she felt hands wrap around her throat, Iris saw the fuzzy outline of one of the tomb vampires. Her fighting was growing weak and the edge of her visions were blacking at the edges.
But then all of a sudden his grip was gone, she felt an arm around her waist and was being tugged upwards.
"Breath baby girl" she heard a deep voice. Her eyes drifted shut.
"She looks just like you" her ears twitched up at the sound
"She's got your hair-"
"The famous Potter hair" Iris was slowing coming to, she shot up and was coughing
"On your side, sweetie" a feminine voice and lightly pushed Iris on to her side as she vomited up water and blood. "there, get it all out-"
"Really Lily flower, what's she doing keeping it all in"
"Shut up James" Iris eyes widened and she spun around seeing who was exactly aiding her
"Oh this is fucked up" she gawped at the pair
"Language" the red haired woman scolded her
"Swear all you want-"
"Mum? Dad?" she whispered as they knelt down beside her, she literally shaking with the cold
"Hello my beautiful Iris" Lily Potter whispered, Iris gasped quietly as her mother caressed her cheek
"I can feel you" she uttered grabbing on to her mother's hand
"As can I" she smiled gently at her daughter
"Am I dead?" she asked and saw that they were in the woods nothing like the place she had visited before where Sirius, Remus and Snape were.
"No-"
"But you're dead" she frowned "I am dead then"
"Honestly Iris, don't be dramatic" James rolled his eyes, but stopped when he saw the matching glares coming from his wife and daughter
"Then how are you here?" she winced as Lily helped her into a sitting position,
"There are ghosts running riot here, and we thought-"
"You need us Iris" Lily cut him off
"Lily love I was-"
"Not enough time James, listen to me Iris" she held Iris's cheeks "The Original witch has sent the ghosts of Mystic Falls to kill the doppelganger and you, but you cannot die as you're a creature of magic-"
"I know" Iris whispered
"Lily, I feel it we're-"
"Please don't go" Iris cried out tears cascaded down her face, James placed his hands on her hips and pulled the raven head on to his lap
"We've got time Iris" he smoothed down her hair "come you need to catch your breath" he laid her down, Iris felt for once in her life, protected and love, her head rested on her mother's shoulder whilst her father placed his arm around the two most important women in his existence, there was a moment of complete content, the Potters were watching the starry sky,
"A shooting star Iris, make a wish" James whispered into her ear, Iris smiled lightly and closed her eyes not entirely sure what to wish for. She was utterly happy and content for the first time in a long time.
"Look there's the dog star Sirius" Lily murmured running her fingers through the raven head's matted curls, not caring that it was wet amd bloody
"I can't see it" Iris muttered feeling tired her body was trembling but she didn't care, she just wanted to stay in this moment forever "Here" James picked up her hand and traced the star in the sky
"My beautiful baby girl" Lily whispered "We are so proud of you"
"How could you be, I'm a monster-"
"No you're not" James Potter said sternly, Iris shook her head and pulled herself away from her parents so she could clearly look at them, she ignored the burning pain all over body
"Yes I am-"
"No Iris, you are far from a monster, believe me" Lily sat up they both knelt in front of their trembling daughter
"I am" Iris cried "they hate me, I care for Klaus, but after everything he's done? I- there's something wrong with me" she sobbed
"You do not care for Niklaus-" Iris eyes snapped up to meet a matching sets of eyes "You love him-"
"NO" Iris shouted backing away.
"Yes you do Iris, and it's ok" James grabbed her small form "It's ok" he held on to her, she buried her face into his chest
"No it's not" Iris huffed. Lily crouched down beside her and hugged her
"Yes it is, Iris everyone does deserve to be love-"
"No one loves me, Stefan's right I'm unlovable" she shouted. Both Lily and James shared saddened looks, their daughter had been through so much and now their little girl was losing something else, her hope.
"No you are not Iris, Niklaus and the Originals love you, perhaps even more than us" Lily stroked her hair; she nodded to James who pulled back and slowly let her go. Iris wiped her tears away and looked up confused
"What's- you're leaving me aren't you?" she whispered brokenly seeing their faces.
"Iris listen to me" Lily said sternly crouching in front of and cupped her chin forcing her to look at her "We are always here for you, right here" she placed her hand on Iris's beating heart
"We are baby girl, we are" James held out his hand to Lily who took it. They took a step back
"Please don't go" the raven head called out "please don't"
"Iris you can love him, like you did once before, Niklaus is who you belong with" Lily smiled reassuringly at her
"But I can't-"
"Yes you can Iris, you can and let nobody ever tell you-"
"Just take me with you" she shouted looking up at them "please"
"Iris you don't belong with us, you won't be happy-"
"But I'm unhappy here" Iris managed to get on her knees "I'm all alone"
"You never have to be Iris, just follow your heart" James Potter smiled at her
"Goodbye Iris, we love you, you made us so, so proud by the woman who you've grown into" Lily Potter called out and right before Iris's eyes her parents vanished.
Iris gasped and dropped to the ground feeling a hole in her heart, there words ringing around her head
"Follow your heart" she muttered, and with a deep breath she stumbled into her feet. Iris used the trees to stumble her way through the woods.
Reality had now set in, Iris was freezing and in pain, unimaginable pain. she took in an unsteady breath and cried out and fell to her knees clutching her ribs
"Ergh" she dug her fingers into the dirt trying to ease the ache
Iris stumbled onto the road, completely breathless she shielded her eyes when there was a blinding light, it took her a moment to realise that it was headlights; she heard the car screeching to a halt.
"Iris" she heard a familiar voice
"Rebekah?" the blond gripped her chin
"Your lips are literally blue" the Original took in her state and growled "What happened?" she asked seeing the gashes and cuts
Iris fell forward into her arms "vampires in the tomb" she managed to get out. Rebekah bit down on her wrist and pressed it against Iris's chapped lips, the raven head took intakes of the thick rich liquid and immediately felt better.
"Let's get you home" Rebekah hauled her to her feet and felt the small raven head shaking, she needed to hurry, and the blond deposited her in the back of the car and ordered the compelled human to drive.
Rebekah glanced at the raven head and could see that something was seriously wrong, she looked mournful and saddened.
Iris groaned her eyes slowly opened
"You're finally awake" she turned her head and saw Rebekah lying down next to her
"What happened?" Iris asked groggily she looked down at herself and saw that she was in a pair of shorts and a camisole "did you change me?" she asked
Rebekah smirked "You was filthy" there was also numerous quilts over her
"Thank you" she uttered sincerely
"You're welcome" Rebekah murmured "so what happened?"
"Nothing" she looked away
"Iris, you can tell me" Rebekah said
"Those vampires from the tomb came after me, they ran me off the road" she told her
"What?" Rebekah growled
"Hmm, but my mum and dad saved me, well their ghosts if you know what I mean" Iris muttered
"Iris-"
"I miss them" she cut her off, tears rolling down her face "Is that odd? Missing people that you've never actually spent time with?"
Rebekah sighed and laid down beside the petite raven head and tugged her towards her
"Iris it's not odd at all, they were your parents and now they're gone. But we care for you"
"I know but sometimes I feel…." She trailed off
"Alone?" the blonde murmured and lightly ran her fingers through the matted curls, just like Lily Potter had done only a few hours ago
"You are never alone Iris and now that I am back in the picture you never have to be"
Iris smiled softly at the Original "Thank you Rebekah, it's been a while since I have been in the company of someone who literally cares for me"
"We look after family Iris, and you are part of ours" Rebekah uttered causing the petite teen to look at her, she was surprised when Iris hugged her tight
"Thank you" Iris whispered into her ear, Rebekah hugged her back
"You're welcome" she smiled as Iris pulled back
"Can you stay please I just don't want to be alone" Iris muttered blushing embarrassed
Rebekah chuckled at her "And you never have to be" she watched as the petite teen's eyes drifted shut it wasn't long till Rebekah had followed her off to slumber land.
AN: Thanks for the reviews i do appreciate them
So a lot went down in this chap, Alaric found out about Iris's past from Damon. Iris and Elena are clashing and she saw her mum and dad who gave her some advice
Next Chap: Rebekah tells her story, and Iris makes a discovery so stay tuned
and please REVIEW