Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Sienna Salvatore – Danielle Campbell.
River Fell – Meaghan Martin.
Luna Lockwood – Isabeli Fontana.
Stone Fell – Alexander Ludwig.
Chapter 6:
Sienna sat in the living room of the Boarding House, her eyes staring at the embers dancing merrily in the fireplace. Luna sat beside her, unwilling to leave her best friend's after they found her uncle Zachary Salvatore dead with a broken neck down in the basement.
Luna was also extremely impatient; she knew that Sienna was keeping a secret from her … a big one, and she had a feeling it had to do with the real reason Zach died. But right now, Luna couldn't be the curious girl she wanted to be; instead she had to be the supportive best friend.
Luna was very worried for Sienna. Ever since she kicked Elena out and Stefan followed her, she hadn't said another word, except when Sheriff Forbes arrived with her deputies.
"Sienna, sweetie," Liz walked over to Sienna and engulfed her in a hug. "The funeral will be in two days. If you need anything! Anything at all, don't be shy. Luna, take care of her," Liz squeezed Sienna and Luna's shoulder and then left with Zach's body.
Sienna stood as still as a statue, her olive green orbs glued to the front door. Uncle Zach was gone … he was never coming back … he was rolled out in a body bag right out the front door … Uncle Zach was gone … he was never coming back … he was rolled out in a body bag right out the front door … Uncle Zach was gone … he was never coming back …
Sienna repeated that mantra over and over and over again, her eyes glued to the door, her body standing still right in front of the fireplace. She forgot that Luna was with her, her surroundings were blurred, and she had eyes on nothing but the front door.
Unknown to Sienna, Luna had been calling her name and shaking her for over five minutes with no response, and Luna was getting scared. Sienna was pregnant, stress wasn't good for her or the babies, and she was really beginning to fear for her best friend's sanity. Grief does strange things to people, and she hoped Sienna would snap out of it.
Luna did the only thing she could think of at this moment, she picked up Sienna's phone and dialed Stefan's number. It rang twice before Stefan answered, "Sienna?"
"Stefan, its Luna. Look you need to get your ass back to the Boarding house pronto, because Sienna's losing it."
"Why? What's wrong with her?" Stefan's voice was all panicky.
"She's not responding to anything. Not touch or sound. She can't even hear me, all she's doing is staring out the front door where Sheriff Forbes just left with Zach's body," Luna's voice shook.
"I'm here," Stefan just opened the front door and Luna whirled around, looking at Stefan suspiciously.
"How did you get here so fast?"
Stefan had a puzzled frown on his forehead, "Sienna didn't tell you yet?"
Luna lifted her hands exasperatedly into the heavens and cried out, "No, Stefan. In case you haven't noticed, your cousin turned into a freaking statue!"
Stefan looked at Sienna for the first time since entering the Boarding House and saw that Luna wasn't over exaggerating. He strode over to Sienna, placed his hands on both sides of her face and tilted her head to look into his forest green eyes. Speaking softly he said, "Sienna. Come on, come back to us. Your friend is worried. I'm worried. Zach wouldn't want you to do this."
Upon hearing Zach's name, a little life returned into Sienna's olive eyes. Stefan breathed out in relief and continued, "You can grieve for him Sienna, but not at the expense of your babies. Zach would be torn if you lost your babies because he died … don't let Damon win, Sienna!"
Sienna sucked in a deep breath; her eyelids blinked and flickered back to life, "Stefan? Stefan!" she began sobbing and Stefan engulfed her in a hug, moving her body closer to the fire and Luna breathed out a sigh of relief.
The Boarding house was filled with the ringing tone of Stefan's phone, and the two girls stared at him as his face turned stony hard upon looking at the Caller I.D. He gave Sienna over to Luna, who substituted Stefan's arms, and drew her into a hug, Sienna's body leaning into Luna's chest as soft sobs escaped her mouth.
Stefan answered the phone, not straying far from Sienna's side. "Hello?"
Damon's angry voice came out, "I want my ring."
"Where are you?" asked Stefan at once.
"I'm at the sizzler. I had the buffet," Damon was being glib, before his voice darkened, "Where's my ring?"
"I don't have it. Where are you? What have you done?" Stefan's voice turned frantic, and both girls looked up at him questioningly.
"No, what have you done?" Damon snapped his voice borderline growling. "You're the one that locked me in the basement and starved me, so whatever I've done; whoever I've sucked dry is on you, buddy."
Stefan shook his head, his eyes turning angry, "You're being careless. How many more animal attacks is this town gonna believe, huh?" Luna's grey orbs bored into Stefan's skull; what the hell was happening?
"I know how to cover my tracks, Stefan. Where's my ring?" Damon repeated.
Stefan turned apologetic eyes to Sienna as he said, "I gave it to Zach to hide. Probably shouldn't have killed him." A sob escaped Sienna, and Luna gasped.
Damon didn't speak for a few seconds, before his voice turned taunting, "Ah, you almost got me. Where is it?"
"I'll get it back, but I need time," Stefan needed to stall Damon for the time being; he knew that Sienna was safe since Damon wasn't invited in anymore.
"What, did you FedEx it to Rome?!" Damon snapped angrily, "Where is it? I want my ring, Stefan, or my next stop's Elena's."
Stefan growled loudly, making Luna jump slightly, "I already want you dead. Don't give me another reason to make it happen."
"Don't give me another reason to rip you apart," Damon rebutted.
"Yeah? Is that gonna be before or after you get your ring back?" Stefan taunted slightly, "Did you even think about Sienna at all when you made your grand escape?"
There was silence on the other end for a minute before Damon snapped harshly, "Just get my ring," and he closed the line on Stefan's face. Stefan sighed and threw his phone onto the couch. He sat down and took Sienna's hand in his.
"What the hell is going on Stefan? Damon killed …" Luna looked worriedly at Sienna, worried that she'd breakdown again, but Sienna paid her best friend no heed as olive green orbs stared hard into forest green ones.
"Don't give him back his ring, Stefan."
Stefan sighed, his tone took a pleading note, "I have to Sienna. I can only stall him for now and delay giving it back. But you know as well as I do, that if I don't give his ring back he'll just keep killing and killing until I do."
"He threatened Elena didn't he?" Stefan nodded. "And he's been invited in … Go. I know you want to protect her house in case he stops over," said Sienna dismissively. Elena would always come first and she knew that. There's no reason for Stefan to grieve prissy Elena for her sake.
Stefan hesitated then shook his head, "You're family. I need to look out for you."
Sienna stared hard at Stefan, "We both know that you won't be able to relax not knowing she's safe. Just go. Luna's with me and Damon can't come in. Besides it seems like your girlfriend," she sneered, "Found out the family secret. You need to do some damage control to make sure she won't squeal."
Stefan regarded Sienna carefully, "I thought you wouldn't care anymore after what Damon did…" They both seemed to have either forgotten, or didn't care that Luna was with them staring at the two Salvatores in bewilderment.
Sienna shrugged, "It's been a family secret for years. Uncle … Uncle Zach isn't the first one to have died for it, and he probably won't be the last."
Stefan snarled, "No! I promise you Sienna. I won't let anything happen to you, or your babies. I promise."
"Thanks. That is the reason why I will keep your secret safe … I can't let anything happen to you. Now go, Luna will stay with me."
Stefan stood up and studied Luna for a while, making her fidget nervously … Stefan's eyes spoke volumes. "Luna, please take care of Sienna. I have to do something, but I'll be back when the sun comes up. If anything, anything happens, call me immediately and I'll be back in an instant." Luna nodded, and Stefan ran out the front door before flashing over to the Gilbert Residence to keep watch in case Damon decided to carry out his threat.
There was silence between the girls for a few minutes before Sienna took a deep breath and faced Luna, "What I'm about to tell you, will change your whole perspective. All your beliefs and even your life will change. Four months ago, when Uncle Zach let me in on the Salvatore secret, my life changed. So, do you want to know … or would you prefer to be blissfully ignorant?"
Luna regarded her best friend, and had to admit that she was scared. It took a lot to scare Luna Lockwood, she was usually fearless and composed, but right now, at this moment, Sienna's words and the way she was looking at her, scared the crap out of her, "Sienna, you're scaring me."
Sienna nodded, "You should be scared. What I'm about to tell you isn't puppies and rainbows and all that. So, what will it be?"
Luna hesitated before her eyes hardened and she readied herself. "Tell me."
"This town harbors a dark secret, a secret that was known only by the Founding Families and it all began in 1864. Vampires, Luna," Luna's eyebrows rose in disbelief, but Sienna ploughed on, "The casualties of the Battle of Willow Creek was all a cover, Lu. In 1864, they rounded a large group of vampires that were living right under their nose. Ever since then, the Town's Council had been keeping their eyes out for any vampires."
"Sienna, look I think that Zach's death is turning you insane. Maybe you should sleep it off," Luna was worried for her friend's sanity.
Sienna laughed, "When Uncle Zach told me, I thought the same thing. Your parents know of their existence just like Uncle Zach did. River's parents know and I'm pretty sure Logan does, as well and Sheriff Forbes."
Luna shook her head in disbelief, her eyes round, "Sienna this isn't funny anymore. Stop it!"
"Damon and Stefan aren't my cousins," Sienna continued, ignoring her friend's protests. "They're my great-great-and so on, uncles. In fact, they were around in 1864 which was the year they were turned."
"Yeah right," scoffed Luna.
"Why do you think I warned Caroline not to date Damon? Damon was feeding and compelling Care. That's why she was acting so weird," Sienna explained.
"And why you got angry and left," Luna whispered, thinking back to that day in the grill; she noticed Caroline wasn't acting like herself … and then in the party at her place, when they found a hysterical Caroline by her lawn.
"There's a plant called vervain. My Uncle Zach grows them down in the basement, and every month he would give them to the Founder's Council to protect themselves and their families in case vampires decided to return. I was planning on giving you, River and Caroline some vervain in your morning coffee, but Damon beat me to it and compelled Caroline."
"Compel … compel, what do you mean compel?" asked Luna.
"Vampires have this thing where they look at you in the eyes and can compel you to do whatever they want; they can compel you to forget anything. It's a form of mind control," said Sienna slowly; she needed her friend to understand.
"That's disgusting," Luna looked horrified.
Sienna nodded, "It is. Vervain is a vampire's greatest weakness. You can digest it and wear it in a piece of jewelry and you're safe. A vampire wouldn't be able to compel you. Uncle Zach had me do both; I wear vervain in my necklace and I drink it with my morning tea. If a vampire tries feeding from you, it'll weaken them and give you a chance to escape. Vervain is toxic to a vampire."
"Please tell me all this is a joke S," Luna pleaded her friend; it can't be possible. This was stories, only seen in movies, it can't be real.
Sienna looked sad, "I wish it was. The town covers all vampire attacks from the civilians by saying it was an animal attack. All those people … they were killed by Damon. Stefan doesn't like to take human's life. He drinks from animals only, but Damon … due to that he's faster and stronger than Stefan, which makes him more volatile."
"The party by the woods. Vicki Donovan was attacked, you're telling me that was Damon?" said a shocked Luna.
"Yes. I told Damon to leave my friends alone. But he didn't listen, he went after Caroline. So Stefan and I came up with a plan. We knew it was only a matter of time before he feeds from Caroline, so we laced her with a high dose of vervain and during the party when Damon took Care outside and drank from her; he dropped down and became weak. Stefan grabbed him and locked him down in the cellar to protect everyone."
Sienna paused as tears fell down her face. She didn't want to speak of Uncle Zach's last moments, but she needed to tell her friend everything. "Stefan and I were clueless as to how strong Damon actually was even with all the vervain in his system. He managed to send Caroline in a trance and free him from the cellar."
"When we couldn't find her at the sexy suds car wash …" Luna trailed off, her face frozen in horror.
"She was here. Uncle Zach must have tried to stop her, but Damon's compulsion was too strong. She escaped and Damon snapped his neck."
"So this is real?" was all Luna could dumbly say.
Sienna nodded, "They have sharp senses, incredible eyesight and hearing, and their freakishly fast. They wear rings to protect themselves from the sunlight, so no one would expect them as vampires because they would be looking for someone that turns up only at night. That was what the party at your place was for."
"But … they saw Stefan and Damon at the party, and eliminated them as vampires," Luna gasped in comprehension.
"Yup. A vampire needs to be invited in-"
Luna cut Sienna off, "They were both invited into my house Sienna! What the hell! Why don't you tell the council about them?" Luna was mad now. She finally believed her friend, and she was ticked off because she kept it a secret and was endangering the town.
"Stefan is innocent in all this Lu! He's my family, and no matter how much I hate Damon, so is he! My family has been keeping this secret for 150 years! My family is dropping dead like flies because of Damon. Something you need to understand Luna, if Damon feels threatened that we're gonna squeal, he'll kill us," she snapped her fingers, "Just like that."
There was a knock on the door, and Sienna jumped in fright. Stefan would have just walked in, and she knew that Sheriff Forbes wouldn't have announced Uncle Zach's death till the morning, so that only left …
"I need you to stay here," Sienna whispered pleadingly to Luna.
"What do you-"Luna wasn't able to finish her sentence as the person knocking yelled out, "I can hear you dear niece of mine. Open the door!"
Luna's face morphed into anger and fear, and she shook her head at her best friend. No matter how pissed off she was, Sienna was her sister. "I'm not leaving you alone."
Sienna stormed over to the front door with Luna by her side, and yanked open the front door to see a smug looking Damon, "Invite me in Sienna. Now!" he said dangerously.
"Go to hell! You killed Uncle Zach. He was my only family; he raised me since I was a baby!" Sienna cried out, tears escaping her eyes as she stared at her Uncle's killer.
Damon rolled his eyes, "He was collateral damage," his eyes roamed over to Luna, "So … you squealed huh?"
"Fuck you!" spat Luna. Damon looked amused.
"Did you honestly think that after killing Uncle Zach, I would invite you in? You're delusional. Have fun in the front porch. The sun's coming out soon," and with that Sienna slammed the door in Damon's face.
"Fine! I'll be in the garage … I can wait all day, and all week until you finally cave."
"Bastard!" Luna hissed. She looked at Sienna solemnly, her face one of determination, "I'll keep your secret. You're my best friend, and I won't endanger you or Stefan."
Sienna gave her friend a watery smile, "Thank you. What about River and Caroline, do we tell them?"
Luna shook her head, "I think we should stay quiet for now. Maybe later on."
Luna slept over at Sienna's; Luna didn't want to leave Sienna alone, but also, they deemed it safer to leave the house in the morning since Damon was outside waiting for them to leave, and he would stay hidden under the sun.
The next day however, Zach's death spread around the town, and everyone began cooking casseroles and deserts for poor Sienna Salvatore who had lost her guardian.
Stone and River received quite a shock when they saw their parents waiting for them to come down for breakfast; usually Mark and Rhonda Fell left the house early. The last time they sat down for breakfast as a family or saw their children before school was five years ago.
"This is a surprise. What are you still doing here?" asked Stone suspiciously.
River saw the grief and sorrow on her parents face, and felt like she was doused in ice water, "What is it? Did something happen?" she asked urgently.
"Sweetheart," Mark sighed sitting down on the table, his eyes on River only. "Something happened last night."
"It's Sienna, sweetie," Rhonda blurted out, her eyes slightly watering.
"What?" gasped Sienna, griping her brother's hand in fear.
Stone felt fear grip his heart. He looked between his parents, "What happened to her? Is she okay?"
"Physically she's fine. Last night, there was an accident. Zach died … the funeral is tomorrow," said Mark sorrowfully.
"Oh my god," River cried, her hand covering her mouth, "He was all she had left."
Rhonda bobbed her head sadly, "We already called the school, and we told them you won't be making it. We assumed you'd want to be with your best friend."
Stone dropped River off at the Salvatore Boarding and made his way over to school; he knew that he was the last person Sienna would want to see and his heart clenched. He missed Sienna, and he knew that he had made the biggest mistake of his life when he dumped her and said those crude words.
When River walked in, she saw that Sienna was in the kitchen with Luna, and Caroline was making her famous pancakes to try and cheer their mourning friend. She ran over and engulfed her pregnant friend in a hug.
"What happened?" asked River sadly.
"He fell down the stairs … Sheriff Forbes said that someone must have broken in and pushed him down the stairs since his neck was brutally snapped," Luna answered for her friend.
"I told you many times that you two should lock the front door at all times," Caroline sniffed, wiping tears from her eyes. Luna and Sienna were glad that Caroline didn't seem to remember being in the Boarding House last night; they knew she would feel guilty for Zach's death, when it wasn't her fault. It was Damon's.
"When's the funeral?" River's voice was soft as she stared at her pregnant friend in pity.
"Tomorrow," Sienna was trying her hardest not to fall apart. She groaned, "The vultures will be arriving soon dropping off casseroles and the likes. Giving out condolences like they actually care."
"Zach was well liked in this town S," Caroline rebutted, placing four plates of pancakes in front of the girls and they began to dig in.
"He was a hermit. Barely went out much. I was the only one that he socialized with," snapped Sienna.
"What about your – did you, um … Did you tell your parents yet?" River looked tentatively at her friend. She knew that Giuseppe and Aurelia Salvatore was a sore subject and was practically a taboo to speak of.
Sienna stilled, her fork halted in midair before she shrugged, "Liz said she would inform them. I doubt they would come," her voice sounded bitter. "Giuseppe cut ties with this town completely. He'd probably send flowers and that's it."
The three girls didn't say anything; they just nodded and hastened to change the subject.
By nighttime, River and Caroline said their goodbyes. Tomorrow was going to be an emotional day with the funeral, and they knew Sienna needed her sleep especially for the babies. Luna called her mom and told her that she was sleeping over at Sienna's since she didn't want to leave her alone.
Unfortunately, the surprises weren't over for Sienna Salvatore.
"Oh my god! Stefan! What the hell happened to you? Is that blood?" Sienna rambled, running over to Stefan and examining him.
"I've got some bad news Sienna," Stefan sighed sadly; he didn't know how Sienna would take another death close to her so soon after Zach, but he couldn't lie to her.
Luna walked over and sat beside Sienna, her eyes hardening when she looked at Stefan, "Look, Sienna told me everything. I won't spill the beans because S is my sister and we protect each other, but also because I can see that you're a good guy. But Damon is another story completely; you keep him away from us."
"Thank you, Luna. I really appreciate it, and I promise I'll keep Sienna and you, River and Caroline safe to the best of my abilities," said Stefan gratefully.
"What is it Stefan? You're face has bad news written all over it," Sienna stared Stefan straight in the face wanting the truth.
"Last night, Damon stayed in the garage with Vicki Donovan. He turned her into a vampire," Stefan grimaced.
"What!" yelled Sienna.
"How-How does he do that?" Luna was freaking out; she completely spaced on how someone could get turned into a vampire.
"You have to die with vampire blood in your system. You then have 24 hours to feed on human blood otherwise you fade away," Stefan informed her. "I went looking for her when she was in transition and found her by the woods … she began remembering everything she was compelled to forget, when Logan Fell began shooting at me with wooden bullets and he was about to stake me when Damon killed him. Vicki then drank from him and is now a vampire."
"What? Logan is dead!" Sienna gasped, tears falling from her eyes. "Are you kidding me? So now two of my uncles are dead."
"What the fuck is wrong with your brother Stefan!? He couldn't have just knocked him out instead of killing him!?" Luna growled.
"No, I could not," Damon smirked at them from outside the door with Vicki by his side. "Now be a good little niece and invite us in."
"Hell no!" spat Luna, her eyes burning into Damon's with rage.
"I wasn't talking to you Lockwood," Damon sneered.
"Well she's right. Neither of you are allowed in. This isn't some vampire bed and breakfast," snapped Sienna.
"Sienna, I need to teach Vicki how to live as a vampire," Stefan looked pleadingly at her.
Sienna shook her head, "And I respect that Stefan. I get where you're coming from and that you want to help. But in a day, Damon killed off two of my uncles, two people that cared for me and helped raise me. River's uncle is dead!"
"Oh come on, it's the circle of life. Bad things happen, whatever move on," scoffed Damon.
"Dude, there is something seriously wrong with you," Luna sneered at him in disgust.
"See Damon. Am I going to be collateral damage to you as well?" shouted Sienna.
"God, you people are so dramatic. Look just let me in, I need a bed," whined Vicki.
"Oh, bitch please," Luna glared at Donovan; she hated her guts completely especially since she was playing her brother and little Gilbert.
"You, Vicki Donovan are definitely not getting in. You're a freaking drug addict! You have absolutely no control and no willpower! How do I know you won't suck me dry in my sleep," she looked at Stefan, "I say you do the inevitable and kill her now. She's going to cause problems in the town, believe me."
"I have to at least try Sienna. She didn't ask for this life," said Stefan softly.
"Yeah, well. I've got two little lives growing inside of me. I won't live in fear in my house. Damon and Vicki can get the hell out, find a motel or something. I have a funeral to go to tomorrow, and River is going to need me when she finds out that Logan is dead."
And with that Sienna stormed up to her room with Luna right behind her.
"Stefan. You better convince Sienna to invite me in!" Damon threatened him.
Stefan sighed, "Vicki sleep in the garage for now before the sun comes out." Vicki rolled her eyes and obediently went to said garage mumbling about dramatic Salvatores and pregnant women.
"Damon, in the span of a day you killed two people Sienna cared about. If you keep this up, she'll never let you back in," Stefan stared accusingly at Damon.
"Whatever, I'll get a motel for now. But you better convince out little niece to let me in or I'll get angry … and you know what happens when I get angry," Damon glared before flashing away.
A/N: So Luna knows now. Things are going to start getting interesting soon!
R&R.