Chapter Fifty-Four: Surrender the Night

Just another surgery tonight.
Well if you amputate the loneliness, anesthesia dims the lights.
So dream on, and on, and on, and on. So dream on, and on, and
I'll remember your eyes when you're gone
You surrender your heart, I surrender every dream,
Every weapon you've got, every secret that I keep,
You can fight this all you want but tonight belongs to me
~My Chemical Romance

The rest of the night seemed to be going well. Everyone was chatting and smiling, getting caught up with neighbors and gossip. The lanterns had been lit a while ago as the sun set, allowing people to remain outside on the Lockwood's patio, as well as in the house. Even the owners of the house themselves seemed to have been less frantic and were now enjoying a drink with other founding names.

After Nilin and Damon's heated conversation, they found their way back up to the party. Nilly was still outside, standing at a table with Elena, Stefan, Bonnie, Matt, Caroline and Tyler. Shellie and Magnolia had come late. Magnolia had spent most of the time in the parlor with some of her friends. Nilly lost track of Jeremy and Shellie a while ago, but she was pretty sure they were perfectly fine.

Damon had gone off to join the adults once he realized there'd be enough eyes on Nilin. He didn't leave though until he had made her promise she wouldn't get into any trouble. Of course she promised him, but the night was still young.

Most of the older Founders and guest were inside the house where the boozes were. A few still lingered, but that was it. Her group of friends were all talking and joking with each other, when Nilly noticed Tyler disappear off somewhere. Then a moment later, the drab piano lobby music that had been playing changed, cutting to an upbeat pop song that was always on the radio. The girls cheered around her, Caroline dragging Matt to the middle of the patio. Elena tried to get Stefan to come but he shook his head with a lopsided smile on his face, putting a hand up.

Nilly saw Elena pouting and grabbed her arm. "Come on," Nilin smiled, grabbing Bonnie's arm as well. The three girls joined Matt and Caroline, moving and dancing to the beat. They were all smiling, hands in the air. Tyler appeared with another girl and began dancing with her, Nilin sort of recognized her. When a few more kids her age joined them, Nilly realized that she should probably start remember their names. It might be a good idea since there was a chance she'd be sitting in class with them in a few weeks.

Nilin grabbed Elena's hands, holding them between the two and rocked her hips back and forth. The two girls laughed as Elena spun Nilly in a clumsy circle. The song changed into a different one,

"Sometimes I feel like,

Throw my hands up in the air.

I know I can count on you

Sometimes I feel like saying,

Lord I just don't care.

But you got the love I need to see me through

Sometimes it seems the dawn is just too long,

And things go wrong no matter what I do.

Now and then it seems that life is just too much

But you got the love to see me through."

Pulling Elena with her, Nilly danced her way over to Stefan. He had been silent, sitting on the sidelines watching them. Nilly snatched his hand and placed Elena's in it, smiling. "Keep her entertained, I'll be right back," she called over her shoulder to him as she walked through the french glass doors back into the house.

She heard laughter and the clanking of glasses as she walked past the parlor, adults standing around with glass tumblers or martini glasses in their hand. She continued past them, going up the stairs and down the hall again. She was long overdue for a bathroom break. As she continued towards the end of the hall she passed one of the closed doors. Nilin heard movement coming from behind it and stopped.

Getting closer to the door, she pressed her hear up against it and strained her hearing. It sounded like someone was in the room, rustling through something. Nilin opened the door to find a man in the darkened room. She snapped the lights on.

"Oh, woops. Sorry, I thought this was the bathroom," she lied. Wait, she knew the man. "Mr. Saltzman?"

"It's okay, Nilly. I was just-" Alaric stuttered as she walked further into the room, closing the door behind her. Nilly wasn't paying attention to him, her eyes were on the object in his hand. She walked closer as he tried to shove it back into a black bag.

"Is that a stake?" she asked, looking at the social studies teacher. He seemed to stop in his haste, zipping the bag shut.

"No, of course not," he answered, his misty eyes cool and calm. Nilly eyed him, getting closer. Something was off here, she knew it.

"Sure looked like one. Like one used to kill vampires." Nilly said, clasping her hands behind her back. That seemed to get Alaric's attention.

"And what would make you say that?" he questioned, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Why would you be carrying a stake around?" Nilly asked coolly. She grinned slowly. "I was raised in Mystic Falls and I'm a part of a founding family," she explained, giving him enough of an answer. "Why do I have a feeling you're not a normal American History teacher…?" Nilly eyed him.

"What do you know about vampires?" he asked, still keeping a watchful eye on her.

"What are you doing in Mystic Falls?" she countered, standing still now in the center of the room. She realized they were in the makeshift coat room, peoples' jackets and purses hanging all around them.

"Looking for someone," he answered.

"Who?" she pushed, "Or what?" Alaric seemed to let out a long breath, hesitant to answer her. "I swear, Alaric." Nilly threatened. "If you do anything to Jenna I will-"

"What? No, Nilin. I swear I would never do anything to hurt your aunt. I really like her, this doesn't have anything to do with her or your family," he said, raising his hands defensively.

Nilly backed off slightly. "Then what's with the whole vampire slayer act?" she asked.

"I've been looking for one, a- a vampire," he explained slowly. Nilly started to get a nervous feeling.

"Is that vampire here?" she probed. Alaric nodded. Nilly's stomach dropped, there were only two vampires that she knew of here. What were the chances that either weren't the one Alaric was after? "What'd this vampire do to you?" Nilly asked quietly.

"He took something from me," was all he answered said, still watching Nilly.

"What?" she pushed tenderly.

"My wife," he said simply. "A few years back."

"I'm so sorry Alaric, but how do you know it was this vampire? Wouldn't want you going down there and charging after someone because of a misidentification." Nilly continued to ask.

Alaric leaned on the edge of a desk in the room, shaking his head. It was clear to him that Nilly wasn't going anywhere and that she wouldn't let this go, so he answered. "They never found her body, but I saw him with her that night. I've been hunting him ever since," he explained, his voice strained. "God, I need a drink." Alaric said, standing back up.

"That makes two of us," Nilly huffed.

"How do you know about the vampires in this town?" he asked with a new vigor.

Nilly thought carefully. "I've had experience with them," she answered vaguely. Alaric nodded at her, walking closer. "I know some things, that's all," she continued.

"For some reason I have a feeling you're not willing to help me out here," he said.

Nilly kept her eyes on his, not breaking their stare. "It's not my style to provoke them. Wanna know why?"

"Why?" Alaric stopped.

"Because they'll kill you. They'll do it without even thinking twice. That's what they do, and I know if you go after this vampire you'll end up dead. And I was just starting to like you, Mr. Saltzman. It'd be ashamed if you were to die." Nilly said sternly, with a little shrug.

"Thanks Nilin, but I think I can handle this vampire," he defended.

"I don't think you can," Nilly softened her expression. "Listen," she said slowly. "You're a really good guy— you might have some death wish— but you're still a good guy. But if you don't think I'm doing this for your own sake, then I'm doing it for Jenna's." Alaric was silent for a moment. "You were there the night we got the call about my dad, right?" Nilly continued. He nodded. "Do you think she could handle another call like that?"

"I've been looking for this- this monster for years now. I know he's here, how can you not expect me to go after him?" Alaric asked.

Nilly sighed. "I know you'll never listen to me, I know what it's like to search for answers, to want revenge. All that I am asking you is not tonight. If he's here, he's not going anywhere. You'll have another chance… if that's what you really want." Nilly tried to persuade him.

Alaric paused for a second to look at her. He didn't say anything as he passed by her, walking to the door. She turned, still following his movements.

"It'd be wise if you didn't mention any of this to anyone, okay Nilin?" he said, hand on the doorknob.

"I won't. Promise," she nodded, fingers crossed behind her back.

"Thank you," he said, giving her a slight smile before leaving the room. Nilly let out a long breath, running her thumb over the charm on her bracelet. Nilly eyed the black bag on the desk, she walked over to it slowly. Unzipping it, she looked inside.

Nilly pulled out the stake Alaric had been holding. Its tip expertly sharpened to a lethal point. He had several of them in there, along with something else...

Author's Notes:

Happy Monday! How was your weekend? I hope it was fabulous. Here's the next chapter, it's a bit short but I promise Friday's will be longer. It's a little Nilin/Alaric dynamic. I think they could be total BFF's, right?

I want to thank all the new readers, thanks for sticking with me guys. And thank you for all the reviews. I LOVE 'EM! You guys are so amazing and to make things even better this story just flew over 20,000 views. I'm not sure if this is a lot compared to other stories on here but its so much more than I've ever imagined.
Thank you all so much, you've made my days so much better.

Yours truly,
Rori Lee Smith

Featured Song:
You've Got the Love by Florence & the Machine