Chapter 6

It was Saturday. Paige had left earlier to go to the park, to read. How boring! I was going to the public library to research the town's history. I know that probably sounds boring to a lot of people. I love history, though. I want to be a historian. I just find it so interesting. Besides, there's nothing else to do at 2 o'clock on a Saturday.

Anyway, I Google where the library actually is. It's not that far away. It's actually rather close to the park.

I just decide to walk. It's not really that far. If I'm going to be stuck in a library all day, the fresh air will do me good. Besides it was nice out.

I am walking down the road when a gust of wind picks up. It causes my long black hair to swirl around my face. As quickly as it started, the wind dies away. Weird.

When I arrive at the library, I notice it is rather small and as old fashioned as the rest of the town.

I enter, and the door creaks. "Hello?" I call out.

"Can I help you?" the librarian asks from a desk in the corner.

"I was wondering whether you had any information on the history of this town?" I ask. "I just moved here and I love history."

"Yes. We have a few books. Oh, and a file of newspaper clippings," she says. "They are just through that door there."

"Thank you," I tell her and head to where she pointed.

There really weren't many books. One is called Old Towns of Virginia. The other two were focused on Mystic Falls. There was one other book in here it was a logbook, from a ball almost 100 years ago.

I pull out Old Towns of Virginia first. Chapter 7 is Mystic Falls, Virginia. I quickly skim over the chapter. It mostly talks about slavery and the Civil War. Interesting, but not weird. A lot of southern towns were slave centered. This book is of no help to me. I return it to the shelf.

I grab the next one that is titled: Mystic Falls: A Local History.

This book also talks about the town's involvement in the Civil War. It says about how the town was found. Then it has a little paragraph on recent history.

I look at the copyright date of the book: 2011. This book was written just last year. This might be what I am looking for. These friends of mine are teens. Except Damon. Hmm, I never asked how old he is. If I have to guess, probably around my sister's age.

I open the book to that paragraph on recent history. It reads:

While the town seems nice and inviting on the outside, it actually is a dark and dangerous place. Recently, as in just this past year, there have been several animal attacks. These attacks are very uncharacteristic of animal attacks though. Animals don't maul people unless being threatened, or if they have rabies. If this were the case you would be finding several animals dead in the area. Rabies kills quickly. And several different people within the same time frame would not threaten one animal. It's just to organized to be random animal attacks. So, what's really going on in Mystic Falls?

Wow. I don't know what to think. Something weird is going on in Mystic Falls. Now, how does this relate to history? I pulled out the last book, but I realize it wasn't going to be of any help. It was solely on the Civil War, and Mystic Falls' part in it. Not helpful.

I sat thinking for a while before I remember the logbook. It is from a Founder's Day Ball. The guests all wrote comments. I flipped through, until a name caught my eye.

Damon Salvatore

Was this a relative of Damon? I will have to ask. Under his name is the name Stefan Salvatore. I will have to ask about that name, too.

I find the librarian and ask her where the newspaper articles are.

She points me towards the front desk. I take out a few. Ones I think my help my research.

I find a bunch on animal attacks. The librarian only has ones dating back to 1998. So, I can't gather any historical information. That's saddening, but I do have a laptop at home I can use for more research.

I take a few notes on the details of the attacks when my phone rings. I quickly return the articles, grab my notes, and walk outside to answer my phone.

"Hello?" I answer.

"Where are you?" it's my sister.

"At the library. I wanted to do some research on this town," I tell her.

"You could have at least called me and let me know you were leaving. I was worried," she scolds.

"Well, I am fine and I didn't really feel the need to tell, because, after all, I am legal to do what I want," I am starting to get annoyed.

"You're right, but it would just be nice if you let me know," she gives up.

"Is there any other reason you called besides to check up on me?" I ask.

"Actually yes. I wanted to let you know that I am not going to be home for supper so you will need to make something for yourself," she tells me.

"Why won't you be home?" I wonder.

"Because I'm going out," she says.

"With someone?"

"Well, kind of. This guy I had run into the first day we arrived here was at the park and we started talking. He asked if I would like to join him for dinner," she explains.

"And you said yes! Go Paige!" I cheer.

"Yeah," Paige laughs. "I have to get ready. See you when I get home."

"See you," I hang up.

I am a little angry with my sister. She is too much like a mom. I'm 18. She doesn't need to worry so much.

I go back inside the library to see if there is anything else I can find.

After a few hours I decide to make my way home. I am rather hungry, seeing as it is about 6:00.

When I reach home my sister is already gone. I make myself a TV dinner and sit it on the table. I go get my laptop, so I can research while I eat.

I get on Google and type in: Mystic Falls animal attacks.

I get over a billion hits. Apparently this is a major topic.

I click on one website. It's a local new report. It says: "The mysterious deaths of many townspeople are due to animal attacks, according to the local physician. There is no other explanation." Then they have a picture posted. It's a disturbing sight of a victim's neck. It had been ripped apart.

I save the website and click on a new one.

This one is a sort of medical blog type think.

Someone posted about the animal attacks and other physicians or others in the medical field replied.

I read through their replies. Seeing if there is a different theory.

Some say suicide; others say it was some sort of occult sacrifice.

For the week I've been in Mystic Falls, the occult seems unlikely. And about 7 people had been found attacked. That's too many for suicide.

No, these are not likely suggestions.

I continue to scroll down, searching for other suggestions.

I came upon one suggestion that must have been written by a crazy.

It suggests the town is infested with vampires. They are killing innocents for their blood, ripping out their throats. He seems to think it is a very likely possibility.

I roll my eyes and keep scrolling.

Even though I keep looking, my mind can't help but think about vampires.

After that night at The Grill, I came home with a piece of my memory missing. I just had a blank spot and couldn't remember anything during the time. Also, I had a rather gruesome bite mark on my throat.

I thought it was just a love bite Damon had given me during our make out session. Damon! Could vampires exist? Could Damon be one?

Okay. I refused to think about suicide or an occult, but I will entertain the idea of vampires? What is wrong with me?

I decide to do a little research on vampires. I grab a notebook so I can take notes.

I look up everything I can think of in relation to vampires. I want as much information as I can on vampires before I even think about confronting Damon.

Would I confront Damon?

I need more research. So, I continue reading s much as I can find on the Internet.

When I feel my research is complete, I glance over the notes I took.

Vampires

The undead

Affected by sunlight

Compulsion

Verveine (stops compulsion)

Need to be invited in

Live on blood (animal or human; most prefer human)

Sleep (not in coffins)

Can be staked (to kill)

Enemies: werewolves

It isn't much, but it will do. Now, I need to apply this to the people I've met and see if any of them fit the description

As soon as possible, I decide. I don't want to wait.

I am going to wait on telling anyone about this, though. I don't think they'll believe me. Not without proof anyway.

First, though, I need to find verveine. Luckily, my father was a well-known, world wide, herbist. I kept everything he had in a steel box. It had survived the fire. I kept it under my bed, because Paige didn't know I had it.

Now, what does verveine look like?

I Google it, and it is a purple plant when blossomed, or simple green leaves.

I go into my room, rifling through my father's plants before I find two stems of verveine.

Now, how do I apply it?

"Kalinda, I'm home," I hear Paige call.

I'll figure it out another day.

I quickly make my way into the living room, pretending to have been watching TV all along.