Chapter 22: The Black Parade
"Do you believe in vampires, Matt?"
I could see it in his eyes that the memory of the night with Vicki at the hospital was floating in his mind.
The night Damon attacked her and she woke up for a moment to exclaim 'vampire' before giving into her exhaustion.
"What if I told you that Vicki was murdered and then turned into a vampire."
"Stop." He held out his hand in front of him and stopped me.
"She was murdered Ma—"
"Vampires are real?" He stated out loud, trying to sound out the truth. "Then so are werewolves, fairies, ghosts and demons." He answered with a sarcastic grin.
"I'm being serious." I took a step forward and grabbed his arm. He jumped back at the sudden spark that caused me to draw back.
"Ava. It's okay." Matt patted my back with his free hand and smiled sadly. "We're both grieving and it's screwing with our heads. You weren't there when Vicki died. No one was."
"Matt, that's not tru—"
"That's enough. Let's just drop it." Matt snapped then his face softened as he tilted his head to the side. "Have you been skipping your therapy?"
"Maybe."
"Don't. Go to your sessions and stop beating yourself up over Vick. It's not your fault and vampires aren't real, Ava."
"The founding families believed—"
"They also believed that the Earth was flat."
"Well, actually they—"
"I don't wanna hear it. Just let it go."
The loud sound of the door opening broke through our small conversation as Matt tilted his head to check who it was.
"I'm here and I brought dessert." Caroline yelled out into the house as she skipped to the living room.
"I got chocolate cake, our favorite." She added, placing the cake onto the small dining table and engulfing me into a hug. She let go first and went over to do the same to her boyfriend.
"You swung by Marlo's?" Matt asked, pointing at the bag.
"Yeah, I thought we all needed a little something." She answered with a bright smile.
I took out the cake from the packet and placed the box onto the counter. "Perfect, that will go well with the ice cream."
"I heard ice cream. Also don't forget to lock the door, Care. I had to do it instead." Bonnie appeared, removing her coat and placing it in the coat hanger near the door. She held out her arm for Caroline who had forgotten to remove her coat.
Caroline took off her coat and scarf, handing it to Bonnie before helping Matt take out the food from the Grill. "Ooh is that from Marlo's Bakery."
Caroline nodded as Bonnie hugged her from behind. I took out the plates and passed them to Bonnie, who took them and started setting them on the table while Caroline started the food. We chatted quietly while Matt questioned if Elena was going to show up.
Bonnie and I had to let him know that she wouldn't. Jeremy was back home and those two needed a long talk before things would be fine. Of course, I didn't tell Matt and Caroline the last part. I just told them she needed some much needed rest.
Matt was somewhat disappointed but Caroline was a little happy. I rolled my eyes at her response as did Bonnie. Could she at least pretend to be upset?
"Are we expecting anyone?" Matt questioned looking at us. Caroline shrugged while Bonnie looked confused.
"Maybe it's your mom." I joked staring at Caroline who glared at me as she jokingly slapped my arm. I laughed and went to open the door. My smile dimmed when I noticed the boy at the door.
"Tyler?"
Tyler stood at the door, looking lost. His eyes wandered around behind me before he flashed an awkward smile at me. I heard some sound of footsteps before Matt came out. He and I shared a look then turned to stare at Tyler.
"Hey, I just came to check up on Matt." Tyler started.
"You saw me. I'm fine. You can leave." Matt retorted, reaching for the door and pushing me aside.
Tyler moved quicker as he placed himself on the threshold of the doorway, using his body to stop Matt from closing the door. He flinched when the door hit his shoulder and backed off for a second before using his hand to hold the door open.
Caroline appeared, standing next to me. "Tyler, what are you doing here?"
"Came to check on Matt."
I noticed then that Tyler kept touching his left arm or moving it away from the door. He was being careful with that arm. Maybe I was overthinking but maybe. The music in the background stopped.
From the living room, Bonnie shouted that the movie was set and the food was getting cold.
Caroline and Matt shared a look, trying to decide what to do next without being overly rude or anything. But knowing either, they'd let their heart decide and it would not end well.
Matt was still very much pissed off at Tyler and Caroline lacked filter, well, so did I but I was more logical. If either of them were left to make the next move, Tyler would get even more hurt than he already was. I could imagine his injury was not a simple coincidence.
"You guys, I might have ordered too much and I don't think there's gonna be enough space for you to keep the rest as leftovers." It was an excuse and I hoped it would work but much to my dismay Matt moved forward and nudged Caroline. "Just maybe, it would be nice to have an extra person in..."
"Fine. This doesn't change anything." He said, moving to the kitchen to grab his share of the meal before moving to the living room.
Caroline silently followed, leaving me and Tyler in the small foyer at the foot of the stairs.
"Thanks." Tyler said, coming in. He took off his coat and hung it up.
"Don't mention it." I walked to the kitchen and Tyler followed me. I grabbed another plate and started plating his share before passing it to him. He took it with his right arm, thanking me as he did so.
I walked up to him, grabbing my plate on the way and standing right in front of him. "Did your—um—dad—do something again?"
"Sometimes, I hate how observant you are." Tyler remarked, checking if we were alone.
"So that's a yes."
"He's still not over the fact that I embarrassed him and the Lockwood name like I know I screwed up but it's one thing for Matt to be pissed off at me cause I did screw up. I admit. Matt has every right to hate me and if it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be standing in his kitchen. But there's another thing for my dad to act this way. Why can't he just be like most dads. You know say he's disappointed and move on but nope. Though now I should be used to it."
"Tyler..."
"Don't look at me like that. I know. This is my life and this will be life as long as my old man is alive."
"What if he wasn't." I questioned, stabbing at a piece of chicken on my plate. Tyler froze looking at me. "I'm. Kidding. Obviously." I slipped a few strands of my hair behind my hair and looked away..
Tyler nodded but his eyes looked distant. "I considered it. Him being dead." He admitted. His gaze darkened and he stared out the kitchen window, lost in his thoughts. That scared me. "I also considered running away like uncle Mason."
"Your uncle ran away?" I wandered.
I thought Mason just up and left.
From what everyone in town knew, Mason and the mayor had a decent relationship but it was no secret it wasn't as tight as my dad and my uncle's or the Gilberts. I heard they used to be close but that was before something happened.
Whether it was an argument or Mr Lockwood becoming the mayor, nobody knew and nobody questioned it.
"No. He just left. Though sometimes, it does feel like he ran and I don't blame him."
In the background, I could hear the movie going on with soft sounds of laughter echoing off the walls.
I tugged at Tyler, snapping him out of his daze and gestured to the living room. "Come on."
Reluctantly Tyler followed me to the living room. Matt and Caroline took up the couch, seeing us walk in, Caroline moved up to make space. Bonnie took that space while I gestured Tyler to take the armchair and I sat on the floor. Matt wasn't happy about it but I didn't mind.
The movie resumed and the mindless chatter resumed with Matt sticking to small talk with Tyler and Caroline going over the plan for the Founders Parade.
I tugged at the short maroon skirt with the black and white border at the bottom. It was more of a combination of shorts and skirt. The matching top was easier to deal with than the skirt. I was not happy with my current predicament and could only silently curse Caroline for this.
Sighing, I picked up the discarded pom poms on the floor and dragged myself over to the picnic bunch where the rest of my stuff was while taking the hood of my oversized jacket down.
"Go Timberwolves!"
Some cheerleaders yelled out as I passed by and I half-heartedly raised the pom poms and cheered along before my face soured.
I hated the fact I was wasting my time doing some cheerleading stunts. It's not that I hated cheerleaders or the sport itself, I just didn't have the energy to match the sport and instead I was too serious. That's why I stuck to gymnastics and dance.
Somewhere out there June was making fun of me. When I mentioned to her during our last call that my childhood best friend had roped me in to fill in for one of the cheerleaders on her squad, she had to hold in her laughter after she made me promise to send her a picture of me in the uniform.
"Go Timberwolves!" I heard a sarcastic cheer as I turned around, coming face to face with none other than Damon.
After the whole thing with Isobel, he may or may not have resorted to avoiding me whenever possible. I wouldn't lie and say I wasn't a little annoyed by it. Usually it was me doing the avoiding and to be on the end of the stick, sucked.
"Damon." I breathed out, crossing my arms around me and then uncrossing them when I realized it was making my cleavage stand out. Ugh. Whoever designed this outfit clearly did not take everyone into account. "What do you want?"
"Nothing, just passing by." He looked around and I followed his gaze before he stopped.
He looked back at me, taking his time and really staring at me like he had never seen me before.
"Since when are you a cheerleader? I mean I'm not complaining. You look good. Then again you look good either way."
"I'm just gonna pretend I didn't hear the last bit and move on." Nervously pulling at my sleeve, I put the pom poms down and took out a water bottle. "I promised Caroline a favor once and she wanted to call it in so I'm a cheerleader for the day."
"Aw and here I thought you were going to be a permanent cheerleader."
"You mean, you just missed the opportunity to call me Buffy."
"You know me too well."
"Unfortunately. And unfortunately, not a blonde."
"Well it's a good thing you're not because blondes are not my type."
"You dated Caroline."
"And we all know how that went—I prefer brunettes or whatever shade your hair is."
"If only I cared." I looked away. Damon's gaze followed mine and I could feel his eyes trace me.
"Just take a picture, it'll last longer." I turned my head towards him and grinned. His staring was something I was getting used to since that's all he did lately whenever he saw me. Whether it was at the Grill or town's square. I barely went over to the boarding house, too busy memorizing the cheer choreography that Caroline had asked me to do last minute.
"Are you giving me permission?"
"What do you think?" I sarcastically asked, pushing my hair back.
If there was one thing I sucked at, it would be this, using a ribbon as a hair tie. I just couldn't do it. No matter how hard I tried.
Annoyed, I took out the maroon ribbon from my bag and tightly gathered my loose curls into my fist. With the other hand I attempted to tie the ribbon.
Only to fail. I tried again and this time, it held its shape. Willing it to stay in shape, I moved my hands away.
The moment I drew my hands back, it untied itself and my ponytail collapsed into a mass of curls.
Groaning, I sucked in a breath and tried to grab onto the ribbon quickly before it flew away. I tried to grab onto it as it fluttered on the soft breeze but another hand caught it.
Damon held the maroon ribbon in his hand, holding it up. "Looks like you need some help."
"Unfortunately." I gritted my teeth and put aside my pride, turning around to let him tie the ribbon in my hair.
I felt him move closer and stand behind me as a shiver went down my back. The death-like chill with the silent urge to kill never completely went away. I didn't think it would.
I just hoped it would never take a turn for the worse like Penelope's.
Damon gathered my hair in his fists, his cold fingers brushing up against the back of my neck as he tied my hair up. I held my breath as he did so. I didn't know if it was fear or something else but there was this odd feeling in the pit of my stomach that made me freeze.
"Done?"
"Almost."
Time seemed to have slowed down as I counted down the seconds before he would let go. The more seconds passed, the harder it was getting for me to breathe.
"...You can breathe, I'm not going to eat you…unless you want me to." Damon whispered in my ears before he let go of the ribbon.
Finally being able to breathe, I gasped out a breath and turned around. My cheeks were warm and flushed. "You're not funny." I walked over to my stuff and took out a compact mirror to check my hair.
Surprisingly, the bow Damon tied in my hair actually looked good and very textbook cheerleader-like. I was slightly impressed though I would never admit it. "Thanks."
"You're welcome." He grinned. "Also I wanted to say thank you."
"For?"
"Convincing Bonnie to do what she did. She hates me and she would never have done it if you didn't talk to her."
"Elena also talked to her."
"I know a part of her still blames Elena for what happened to her Grams and unlike Elena, you were pretty vocal about being against Sheila opening the tomb."
"For a good reason."
He rolled his eyes. "What I'm trying to say is, I know Elena alone didn't convince Bonnie."
"Believe what you will." I breathed out and put some distance between us. I was dodging answering his questions and I would rather be anywhere but here. "Look, it wasn't a big deal. I did it for Elena and so did Bonnie. We're best friends and friends look out for each other. I'm sure you would know."
Damon's face darkened and his fists clenched before he relaxed. That was a landmine. I forgot how his friendship with my ancestors ended. "I did." He answered quietly. "...I could also use a friend now."
"Okay…"
"I'm talking about you."
"The most I can give you is acquaintance-ship. No more than that."
"Seriously?"
I nodded. "Take it or leave it, Salvatore."
"You know this was easier with Elena."
"Wow it's almost like we're two different people. Shocking."
Damon rolled his eyes and looked away. This was for the best. Choosing to be his friend would make me regret even more than I already did. It would be unfair to him, to offer him friendship and then stab him in the back when the device was eventually activated.
Even I was not as cruel to stab someone in the back.
I would rather keep my distance. Though, I do need to tell Stefan. I know Stefan would be a little upset but unlike Damon, he would understand.
He tilted his head to look behind me. I followed his gaze and turned around to find Stefan. He looked at me with wide surprised eyes and opened his mouth to speak before I cut him off.
"Stefan. I know. I know. I look ridiculous." I pushed past him and walked over to my stuff, putting away the compact mirror and taking out my phone.
"No. You look great"
"You don't have to lie." I took out a metal water bottle and tossed it to him. Stefan caught it with ease. "Deer again." I muttered under my breath just so only he and Damon could hear. "Will that be enough or…"
Stefan cracked open the bottle and finished it before passing it back to me. "I think it'll be more than enough. Thanks." I took the bottle from him and slipped it back into my bag.
"You sure? I have an extra one."
"Keep it for emergencies."
I nodded.
Damon glanced from me to Stefan, confused. "Since when is this—" He gestured to my bag and then Stefan. "—a thing." He crossed his arms and kept his gaze on his younger brother as if he was disappointed over something.
"Since my relapse." Stefan was the one who decided to answer while I finished touching up my makeup.
I really didn't care about Damon's sudden interest in my relationships and what I did. I took a strand of my hair and curled it around my finger before letting it frame the left side of my face.
"—so she offered and you accepted." I heard Damon say just as I was done.
"Yes and what?" I answered.
"What happened to the whole 'you hate what we are', did that just disappear?"
In the background, the cheerleaders started moving towards the main street. Dana gave a weird look to the Salvatore brothers before she gestured to me to follow the cheerleaders while I held my hand up telling her to give me five more minutes. She reluctantly nodded before hurrying off.
Rei seemed to be in charge of the photos today as she held up a DSLR camera in her hand and skipped after the cheerleaders. I wished that was me.
"For the record, I 'fear' what you both are and I find you tolerable at best and Stefan is my friend, so of course I offered him some help. He needed it and it's not hurting anyone."
"Stefan's your friend and I'm tolerable at best." Damon repeated.
"That's all you took from what I said."
"Because that's what you said."
"Okay, you're making this a bigger deal than this needs to be and I don't have the time for this." I ended the oncoming argument before it began.
My phone just went off mid-conversation and I took it out to see a text from Bonnie asking me where I was and that Caroline and Matt were looking for me. I sighed and turned the screen off, slipping my phone back into my jacket.
"She has a point." Stefan quietly chimed in.
I turned around and smiled. "Thank you." I said, grabbing my leather messenger bag. "And I have to go."
The crowd near the main street was slowly filling up, I pushed through the people and weaved through packs of people. All the while, I kept my eyes out for any sign of two familiar blondes.
Matt and Caroline were somewhere in the crowd, so was Bonnie. The problem was I was too short and the people really didn't want to move whenever I said 'excuse me' or 'coming through', I hated this part about the Founders' Day celebrations.
Finally, I spotted them at a distance right near the edge of the main road. Caroline dressed in a sunshine yellow period hoop ball gown with her golden blonde hair curled up and Matt dressed in 1800s men's formal wear along with his cast.
Caroline beamed as she spotted me. She waved me over with a bright smile and a laugh. I ran into her arms engulfing her in a hug.
"Ball gown. Ball gown." Caroline reminded me as I let go. "Don't want any creases on this." She gestured to the ball gown. I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Look at you in your little cheerleader uniform. You look so good. Maybe you should become a permanent member, now that Elena's off the team."
"Not gonna happen, Carebear. Consider this a one time favor." Reminding her that this was not my own will and I was only doing this because of her. I liked all the extra-curriculum stuff I already did. Even then it was a little too much for me and I'd rather stick to what I had then add on the cheerleader stuff on top.
"She's right. The cheerleaders' uniform really suits you." Bonnie chimed in, folding her arms. She wore plain jeans and a bop underneath a polyester jacket despite being a cheerleader she was not part of the parade.
I raised my brows and she gave me a sad look. It was then I remembered that Bonnie was taking a break from cheerleading to mourn her grams and she was still on her break. I quickly apologized and hugged her.
"Well, I agree with Care and Bonbon. You look great." Matt added in, trying to shift the mood back. A bright smile on his face despite the white cast on his arm. He didn't let it bother him.
I wished I had time that night at his house to heal him but I know if I did end up healing him, there would be a lot of questions and eyes on him from the council. The council left us alone so far and now that John had the device they didn't need us anymore.
Caroline glanced at her boyfriend and then at me. She pouted, tugging at Matt's sleeve. "What about me?" She tugged at my skirt as well. "How do I look?"
Matt let out a small laugh at the childish gestures of his girlfriend and wrapped his free warm around her waist, pulling her closer while Bonnie and I cracked a smile.
"I think you look amazing. It's very Scarlett O'Hara and those curls—" Pointing at her blonde curls, I drew my hand back. "—they look like you took some time on them. That whole look is ten out of ten and screams that you're the best Miss Mystic Falls we've had." I finished.
"Well you heard it from the fashion police. Caroline is not a hot mess. She's just hot." Bonnie commented, letting out a laugh just as Matt did. She pulled out a camera that Caroline might have given her before and stood back to take some pictures.
"Wait. I want to take one with Ava before Matt and I do"
Caroline grabbed me and pulled me to her side. She hugged while smiling brightly. I mimicked her pose as Bonnie held up a camera. The flash went off and then another as the two of us changed our poses. I placed the pompoms above her head as Bonnie a few more pictures.
Caroline, Bonnie and Matt are taking pics.
"You know you two look like the stars of those cheesy tween movies." Matt joked.
Bonnie nodded. "Right? 'The Southern Bell and The Cheerleader'. It's a working title." She said with a grin.
I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "I hate the fact that I know exactly what you mean."
Caroline giggled and shook her head. "Don't act like you didn't secretly love those cheesy movies."
"...Still do." I replied, unashamed.
Matt shook his head laughing as Caroline stood in front of him posing. She lightly complained about his cast before she gently pushed him to her right side. He moved to her right and put his arms around her waist, hiding his cast behind Caroline's big skirt.
The two brightly smiled as Bonnie took the pictures and I leaned back, watching them. When they were done, I offered to take a few of her and Bonnie's.
Bonnie wordlessly passed the camera to me before walking off to Caroline's side. Matt joined me at my side as I held the camera up in front of my face.
Snap.
Bonnie and Caroline hugged each other, smiling brightly as I took another picture.
Snap.
Then they pulled away changing poses before bringing the camera up to my eye. The shutter opened and closed as I pressed the button to take the last few pictures.
"Time for group pics!" Caroline exclaimed, clapping her hands together. Matt, Bonnie and I groaned.
Matt tried to make an excuse and slip away only to be pulled back by his girlfriend who had a small playful grin on her face.
"But whose gonna take the pics?" I jumped in to save Matt much to Caroline's annoyance. Matt gave me a grateful look while Caroline and Bonnie looked around for anyone free nearby.
"I can do that. If you'd like." Tyler said from behind Bonnie and me. Matt glared at Tyler before saying that he was fine with not being in the picture before leaving and that he would be on the float.
"I said I was sorry!" Tyler called out after Matt, only to be ignored.
Bonnie avoided his eyes while Caroline looked back at Matt before turning back to Tyler. "You made out with his mother and then you beat him to a pulp. You're gonna have to do a little bit better than sorry." She left, following Matt. Bonnie took that time to slip away, leaving me and Tyler alone.
"I thought things would be better now." Tyler began walking up to.
I held out one of the pompoms in front of me and pushed him back with it. "Well you thought wrong. A dinner doesn't change what you did." I reminded him.
"Look, I'm trying. I'm doing my best to undo what I did." He said, looking for Matt again.
Letting out a sigh, I shook my head. He was trying, I could see that. Still it didn't matter, the damage was worse than before and compared to his past screw-ups, this was one of the absolute worsts.
"And I can see that but you need to understand that your constant screw-ups can't always be forgiven." I said, folding my arms. "Matt's a saint for forgiving you for what you put Vicki through, you know." I added in.
Matt did forgive him for too much. He would do it every single time Tyler screwed up, no matter how big or small the mistake was. He respected Tyler's opinions and always heard him out, despite all that Tyler still screwed up.
"I was sorry about that as well. I know I was horrible to Vick—"
"You hooked up with her mom while Matt was still grieving so imagine how shitty Matt must have felt, Ty. Finding out his best friend was a shit boyfriend to his sister and almost hooked up with his mom after his sister died—and if that wasn't enough you were wasted and you picked a fight with Matt for being rightfully angry that night."
The founders' day kick-off party that was ruined partially was still fresh in everyone's mind. Who could forget the scandalous mayor's son who made out with the mother of his dead ex-girlfriend. No one. It was so bad that it was plastered all over the town's newspapers. His dad to pay the Smallwoods to cover it up, but it still didn't go away.
Matt would still get looks of pity every now and then from the people who were there that night.
"Okay. I get it."
"No. You don't. I gave you a shot last night, thinking you'd be able to patch things up and apologize like really apologize like you mean it but you didn't. You just let the night go by and not even bring up what you did in private."
"I didn't want to ruin the night."
"You could've done it in private."
"You're right I messed up but if you just give me another—"
"I can't. I can't keep making excuses for you, not when you're not even admitting how badly you screwed up. You keep saying you're sorry. Great!" I clapped the pompoms together faux enthusiastically before the sarcastic smile was replaced by a frown. "But what are you really sorry for? Hmm. Do me a huge favor and next time actually tell him how you screwed up and why you deserve to be forgiven."
"I'm sorry."
"Yeah. I'm sure you are."
I patted Tyler's shoulder before he was called to take his place and I had to move to mine. He tried to catch Matt's eye but he failed as Matt and Caroline were too busy in conversation to even look at him. Behind the Barbie and Ken couple, Elena and Stefan were getting on the float. The two waved at me when they spotted me staring in the crowd. I waved back before running off to take my place.
"Can I just say I am so glad that's over." I said, wrapping my arms around me.
The cheerleader uniform was gone and I had returned it to its rightful owner. Instead changing into a lavender dress with some black tights and knee high brown heeled boots along with a navy leather oversized blazer. My hair was let down in loose curls. I didn't bother to take off my makeup since the Founders celebration was not over yet.
Stefan smiled at my comments as he held the door open for me. He too had traded his period 1860s outfit for a modern look. "That was exhausting. Even for me." He admitted lightly. I walked into the Grill, making a beeline for the pool table while Stefan followed.
I let out a laugh and glanced at Stefan. He really did not like the 1860s at all. I could imagine why. "And here I thought you would have liked the dress-up part, given that you are from…"
"Not really. I don't miss it." He replied. "What about you? You looked like you were enjoying the whole cheerleader thing."
I made a gagging sound and rolled my eyes. Maybe I should have picked up acting as an extracurricular activity if I was that good at fooling people. I hated every minute of it. It didn't help that I could read people's minds so I knew exactly what they were thinking.
"Really? You couldn't tell but I really wanted the earth to swallow me up right then and there."
"Well, fortunately it didn't."
"Unfortunately." I corrected him.
Jeremy just walked in, he looked lonely and a little conflicted. He waved at me with an awkward look on his face as I waved back. Somehow he had forgiven me while still holding a grudge against his own sister. I didn't know why.
Stefan started setting up the pool table. A sudden chill passed through me. Damon was here. Damon. Thinking about him was annoying. Damon was complicated, confusing and unpredictable to me, someone with the gift or for a better word a curse to see both the past and future if I tried hard enough.
Despite not finding Katherine, he stuck around and had even started reforming for better, constantly trying to save me or Elena or Stefan, even becoming a part of the council. At first, it was all an act but as more days passed and more updates I got from my uncle, he was playing his role on the council a little too well.
It was like he was genuinely trying to fix his past screw ups. I still had my reservations about him.
Discreetly I turned to Stefan and mouthed. 'Damon's here.' He nodded and took the stick from me, acting as if he was playing.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see him staring at the two of us. The first thing he did before he approached Elena was scan the room. His gaze lingered on me before moving towards Stefan.
Boredly, I took out my phone and started randomly going through my contacts list.
"Remind me what he's still doing here." I said, sparing a glance at Damon.
"I would tell you if I knew. But according to him, he and Elena are friends—"
"—That's super sketchy. Clearly," I cut Stefan off, taking the pool stick off his hands and getting ready for my turn. "he's not over Katherine and he's clearly projecting his unresolved feelings for Katherine."
"That's what I was thinking."
"I'm worried that you two are going to create another 1864 situation and I'm worried that Elena might be the victim this time." I confessed, looking around once again as Elena came in then. "Speaking of Elena, she's here."
Stefan simply nodded in greeting towards his girlfriend but made no move to go to her. Shrugging, I leaned over the table with the cue stick. I brought the pool cue down with me and aimed it at a colored ball before shooting it.
The moment I made my shot, I stood up, ready to pass it back to Stefan. I was still awkward around him but I was slowly getting back to the place we used to be at before.
Damon and Elena were talking in the distance while Stefan looked on. "Oh I saw that look. Stefan's jealous." I playfully teased him.
Stefan looked up at me in sudden surprise and shook his head in denial. He was jealous of his own brother. I couldn't blame him. After the mess that he went through with Katherine. Who wouldn't be on their guard.
"Can you blame me?" He retorted quietly with a pained smile. I patted his shoulder in comfort before passing the cue stick to him. "This is Damon, we're talking about."
"No. But Elena is loyal and kind." I defended, circling around the board. "At least I remember her to be so you have nothing to be worried about."
"I'm not worried about Elena."
"You're worried about your brother." I nodded in understanding. "Understandable but from my observations of Damon, I can tell you that the more annoyed you are by his actions, the more he'll continue to do it."
"I hate that you're right."
"I'm always right so don't be jealous of Damon and Elena's friendship. It's like Elena being jealous of you and me being friends which is so not happening."
"Well, at least I'm not the only one who is jealous." Stefan joked back.
"I told you Elena's not the jealous type."
"I wasn't talking about Elena." He retorted with a small grin before making his shot.
I turned around and followed his gaze to see his brother staring at me and him. Damon had narrowed his eyes at Stefan while Elena had gone off to talk to Jeremy. His face morphed to a friendly smile when he noticed my eyes on him. That was weird.
"Whatever." I complained. "You're buying me dinner for this."
Damon looked away from me and turned to walk towards us. "You two look like you're having fun." He greeted, taking the pool cue stick off my hands while it was my turn. Without a word, he made my shot and passed it to his brother.
"That was Ava's turn." Stefan pointed out, giving the cue stick back to me.
"It's fine. I'm suddenly not in the mood to play." I handed it back to Stefan and stood back, watching the two. "You were eavesdropping." I stated, gripping the pool table and staring up at Damon with an accusatory look.
"I couldn't help it. You two were having an interesting conversation."
"Hardly. But since you were listening, why are you being so friendly with Elena all of sudden."
"Because of your constant rejection of my offer of friendship and in case it wasn't clear enough, I need friends, I have none right now."
Stefan glanced at me and his brother before meeting my eye again. He gave me a look, reminding me he was there if I needed him to jump in.
I blinked in response and turned back to Damon. "Like I believe that—and this isn't about me. This is about you and…your unresolved issues."
"I do not have any unresolved issues."
"Thank you for your honesty, Damon. Wow." I turned to look at Stefan who had stopped playing and was standing at a side, with the pool stick in his hand. "Would you look at that Stefan? Damon's being honest, said no one ever."
"Okay. Laugh it off. Fine. I admit I have issues but I swear I don't have any plans to make Elena, Katherine two-point-O. Got it."
"And I won't let you." Stefan retorted, coming to stand right in front of his brother. The two faced off against each other with an unreadable look on their faces. God, I needed a drink to deal with this. "Elena's not Katherine and I hope you remember that and that she's my girlfriend."
"Wow. Someone's getting a little possessive." Damon commented, searching my eyes. I didn't find that funny at all.
Would it kill them to be nice and civil towards each other?
Stefan actually had a right to be wary of him. He is Elena's boyfriend, after all.
Oh god.
I rolled my eyes and walked over to the two before they attracted too much attention and started a fight in the middle of the Grill. I pried the two off each other, muttering to Stefan to calm down before turning to give Damon a look, to remind the two we were in public. I didn't care if the brothers fought but I cared if they did it in public and got someone hurt.
"Look. Let me give you two, a great piece of advice; the past is a great teacher but a bad friend, so stop holding onto your shared pasts and move on. It's been over a hundred years give or take and you're both still fighting over a girl who never looked out for you instead of fixing your stupid relationship. You're both family. Act like it. Don't let Katherine or even Elena come between you two."
"Wise words." Damon and Stefan chimed in at the same time.
"I'm being serious—family is important. Just remember what I said."
"Don't worry we will." Damon grinned but his eyes said otherwise.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Elena as she and Jeremy quietly chatted. I couldn't hear it at first but it seemed Damon and Stefan could. The crystal, I remembered. I could use it now but I decided against it. Their conversation had nothing to do with me and I didn't feel like getting involved in all of Elena's problems, especially her family ones.
"You sure you don't want to play?" Stefan questioned, holding out the stick to me.
I smiled and shook my head before the thoughts about the device came to me. The device. I sighed lightly when I remembered about it. I meant to tell them and I guess now was better than ever. I glanced at Stefan and Damon, both of whom had gone back to playing.
"Actually, I need to tell you guys something." I started, grabbing their attention. Damon looked up first and crossed his arms. "It's about—" The familiar jingle of my ringtone cut me off. "One second."
Annoyed at being interrupted, I took out my phone from my pocket and turned the screen on. Just as I did so, August's name flashed on my screen. Oh-kay. This was weird. He never called out of the blue.
The 'August' I knew had a habit of texting before calling. It was usually me calling before texting. I turned the screen off again and looked back at the two to tell them about the device before Bonnie found out.
I felt guilty about going behind Bonnie's back but Damon had saved my life once already and I didn't want to owe him anymore and Stefan was my sort of friend.
But the moment I turned away from my phone, it rang again.
"That sounds important." Stefan commented, making his shot and handing off the stick to Damon. "Is it your family?"
"Not exactly." I muttered, taking out my phone again. August's name kept flashing on my screen. Maybe this was important.
"Boyfriend?" Damon joked.
Warmth flooded to my cheeks as I looked at him and back at my phone before puffing my cheeks, debating if I wanted him to know. "Not yet."
I flicked through my phone and pulled up August's texts. I was still getting used to my new phone, preferring my old flip-phone over this 'smartphone'. Still this was more convenient.
All of August's messages asking me to call him back. This was not like him at all. He seemed almost worried about something with the way some of his messages read.
Silence ensued after my words. Neither Damon or Stefan said a word until I looked up. Damon seemed to have his eyes trained on me. I gave him a questioning glance and he shook his head before taking the pool stick from his brother. He leaned over the table, closing one eye and aiming for his target but instead of a colored ball, I could see that he was instead staring at me.
"Is your not-boyfriend okay?" Stefan queried. Despite talking to me, he seemed to have his eye on his brother. That was weird, I didn't bring it up. Instead I simply shrugged.
"I don't know." I answered. "Sorry. I'm gonna have to call him back." I said, finishing reading August's messages. Stefan nodded. "I'll be back."
I ran out the front door of the grill and walked over to somewhere quiet where no one would interrupt me. Outside, the air was cool, not cold or chilly as it had been in the past but still I was grateful that I dressed somewhat warmly. I walked further into the parking lot over to my car.
Taking out my phone, I scrolled through my contacts list. I didn't have to go far since he was in the 'A' section towards the end. Pressing his name, I waited. Hearing the phone ring, there was this ball of anxiety at the pit of my stomach. I didn't know why he was acting so strangely today.
"Ava?" August's familiar voice called out. I could hear the slight worry in his tone when he called out my name. I frowned. Why was he worried?
Despite finding comfort in his distant presence, there was something unsettling about his sudden explosion of calls and texts. "Is everything okay?" I asked without beating around the bush.
"Sorry for all the texts and calls. Everything's fine but I was worried about you." He was relieved at my voice and his ever joyful pitch in his voice returned that made the corners of my lips turn upwards into a small shy smile. "How are you?"
"How am I? Really? Are we really going for something that basic?"
He let out a small boyish laugh followed by some incoherent stuttered words that I couldn't quite make out. "Well, are you okay?"
"I feel pretty good even though I felt like shit earlier today." I admitted, kicking some dust. "What's this about?"
"Nothing." A quick denial. He was hiding something. He always did that when he was hiding something. "Nothing. I missed you."
I giggled. "We talked last night. I'm coming back in the next two weeks, remember?" I reminded him of her long phone call which started with just the two of us before his twin hijacked the call. June then went on to add Devin and Max to the call. It then ended up taking six hours for us to decide what we were going to do next time I was in town.
Paintballing won, with only Devin wanting to do this puzzle type thing. Apparently it starts in one locked room with various puzzles needed to get to the next room and on until the players manage to escape the place.
At first it seemed fun until Max pointed out that he still had nightmares of that night and the 'escape room', as Devin had called it, would only exacerbate his condition.
"No. I didn't forget. I was just…"
"You were just?"
"Wondering if you wanted to do something just the two of us."
"Oh." I quietly said with a big smile on my face. "Like a date?" I bit my lips and twirled my hair around my fingers.
"Maybe. I mean you don't have to if you don't to, considering—"
"Sure...I guess."
"Really?"
"Mmm. You wanna pick the place?" I glanced at the Grill again, checking to see if I was still alone. I was still alone, thankfully. No sign of Caroline, Bonnie or Elena.
"Great. I was thinking maybe the pottery café that opened on Mayfair Avenue."
The pottery café. My smile faltered at its mention. It was a place I really wanted to go before Spring Break especially with Isaac but after our break up, I never bothered to pass by the café. I remembered taking detours just to avoid going near that place in fear of remembering him. "Or we could go to the Smithsonian in DC and make it a museum date. Your choice."
I couldn't avoid the pottery café forever in fear of his memories coming back to haunt me. The best thing I could do is rewrite those memories.
"Museum date is more like a second or third date."
"Pottery café, it is."
"Great but something is still bugging you so what's up?"
"Nothing."
"Liar." I said in a sing-song voice. "Come on. You can tell me. Oh my god." I cupped my mouth with my hand.
June the traitor.
She must've shown him the picture I sent her. How could she? That was the only logical thing I could think of. "...Did June show you the pic I sent her?"
"No…" He slowly replied.
"Liar." I retorted. "She did. Didn't she?"
August let out an awkward laugh. "Okay. Yes but you looked great as a cheerleader. Almost made me wish you were out there cheering for me."
"Cute. Still I told your sister not to show you and that reminds me, aren't you supposed to be at some football training camp right now?"
"I am, I just missed you and prioritized you."
"Right…" I pursed my lips and lightly hummed under my breath, debating if I should ask him again if everything was really okay.
But before I could ask him anything, he spoke up. "By the way, how's the Founders' stuff going on in Mystic Falls?"
"It's almost over. There's just the mayor's speech and then fireworks."
"Are you going to stick around for the whole thing?"
I let out a small confused laugh and threw the strands of hair I was playing with behind my back. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know, I was just asking."
"Right. Well. I did plan to grab something to eat with a couple of my friends in town."
"Do it another time." He replied, not even wasting a second. "It's getting pretty late and I think you should go home before the fireworks start."
"Excuse me."
"I mean. I'm sure you're tired from everything so go home and get some rest."
"Okay. You're being a little persistent. Is everything okay?" I asked again. Something was
There was a small period of silence before I heard August grunt and mumble something under his breath. I couldn't hear it too well. "...Everything is fine." There was a quiet soothing tone in his voice that felt familiar. "You should go home after this."
"I should…I should um…"
I felt my mind go hazy for a second as his words repeated in my mind. My chest felt heavy and suddenly I couldn't breathe. I could hear his words echo in my mind like he was in my head. I swayed on my feet and moved to grab something to hold onto before I fell.
I grabbed onto my car as my mind spun, catching a glimpse of myself in one of the exterior. My eyes were flickering between amberish-gold and silver-violet shade, every time August's voice repeated in my mind.
My phone fell from my hands and landed on the asphalt floor with a light clang and I tried to swallow the feeling of falling. I held on as long as I could before I gasped. My eyes glowed an amberish-gold shade before returning to their usual caramel shade.
What the hell was that?
I looked back at my phone on the floor. August was still on the line and calling out my name. Gingerly, I bent down and picked it up. I was still very apprehensive about this whole thing.
I held up the phone to my ears and said. "I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll ca—no—I'll text you later."
Before he could say anything else. I hung up. But I could still feel something scraping against my mind, digging into my thoughts, telling me to go back home. I blinked and tried to push out that parasitic feeling out of my head.
There was this buzzing sound and then it was gone. I was left alone in the quiet car park. I clenched my head before letting go, breathing in and out. I made a note in my head to question August or his sister about it later. Knowing them I was not going to get any answers but still it was worth a try.
The possibility of him and June being anything but human scared me and I would hate for it to be true.
When my headache subsided, I went back inside. The Grill was busier than it had been before. I saw Caroline and Matt sat at a booth together while Tyler hovered nearby.
Caroline brightened up when she saw me. She gestured at me with her head to come over while I acted as if I did not see that.
As much as I loved my friends, I was not in the mood to play buffer between Matt and Tyler for the rest of the evening. I actually wanted time for myself.
I looked at the pool table and Stefan was still playing pool when I came back. Damon was missing and Elena was sitting where Jeremy was sat. Guess her and Jeremy's conversation did not go well. I couldn't blame him, Elena did have a tendency to come on too strong sometimes.
I decided to go back to the pool table instead of going to Elena. It seemed Stefan was giving Elena some space. Good choice. "You're back." Stefan greeted with a nod. "Is everything okay?" He asked, taking one look at me. He was more observant than I gave him credit for.
I looked at him for a while and tried to find the words to speak, but I couldn't. I gave him a tight smile and looked down at the board. "...Well I got a date." I decided to settle for some small talk instead, choosing to ignore the big red flag August was waving right now.
He smiled before he clapped teasingly. "Congrats."
I couldn't bring myself to be happy about this. A few weeks ago, I would've been overjoyed and happy that I had a distraction from all of this mess in town but now I think this might be a bigger mess that I didn't want to touch.
"Thanks. I don't know if I want to go. Maybe I'll stand him up."
"Why would you do that?"
"I don't know, I just have a feeling."
He looked at me and came closer. "Is it—" I nodded before he could finish. "You've never been wrong so far so if I were you I'd trust myself."
"I know I should but it's just—this person, I know him or at least I thought I did."
"You said it yourself; people change and they can surprise you in ways you can't imagine."
I groaned. "God. I hate it when I'm right."
"Most people would be happy about being right."
"Yeah, well, I don't know how I can be happy about this." He paused and leaned on the table, looking at me to carry on. "Something weird happened." I decided I might as well tell him. It was kind of nice telling someone what was on my mind.
He listened quietly and motioned me to continue. "I think someone just tried to compel me—" August's words echoed in my mind. The nauseous feeling felt familiar. Too familiar. August wasn't a vampire though. "—which is supposed to be impossible."
"Tomb vampires?" Stefan queried.
"No and it's not Damon either. You know it doesn't make sense, I've never been compelled in my life."
Thinking back to the night when Isaac crashed our spring back plans, he tried to compel me then to let him into the lakehouse. It didn't work then and it didn't work when Damon did it either.
It didn't make sense.
It wasn't even supposed to be possible to compel someone from a distance. Vampires needed eye contact. But I didn't need eye contact to compel people.
Maybe there was a small chance that I wasn't the only one out there.
"Never?" Stefan repeated. He stopped playing and stared at me. He was worried. "Are you sure?"
"Yea—"
"Ava." An unfamiliar voice whispered as he held my head in his right hand while his left hand was pressing something down into the palm of my hand. It burnt into my skin as I struggled to breathe and choked on air.
I shifted my gaze from my hand to the person in front of me. I couldn't make anything out but his eyes. His dark blue-green eyes bore into mine as he slowly brushed away stray pieces of my disheveled and rain-soaked hair out of my face. He never let go of my hand all the while.
"I need you to calm down, love."
"Ava—" Forest green eyes peered into mine as I blinked rapidly trying to focus on reality. What just happened. I didn't know. I didn't remember that. "Are you—"
"I don't know." I answered without letting him finish. "Um. Where's Damon?" I suddenly changed the subject, not wanting to talk about what just happened.
Stefan gave me an incredulous look and shook his head. He knew I was clearly avoiding the topic at hand. "I don't know." He pulled away and started looking around. "I saw him follow Jeremy."
"And you didn't stop him." I looked around again.
Great.
Jeremy was just starting to come around as well.
Knowing Elena, her conversation with her brother did not go well and knowing Damon, he must have jumped in, wanting to prove something to Elena.
I walked up to Stefan and grabbed his arm. "Stefan. Jeremy knows. He knows everything. He read Elena's journal." I looked around again. Stefan didn't waste a moment before he was gone out the door.
Stefan disappeared after Jeremy, Damon was already gone and so was Elena, I didn't stick around even though Caroline begged me to hang out.
I felt like I should go home.
Still I didn't go home.
I resisted the urge and hung around. I did bump into my uncle, Jenna and Alaric. They looked like they were having some fun. John was nowhere to be seen. Maybe it was better than way. I know Jenna and my uncle wouldn't have it any other way.
I wandered around the square looking for Bonnie or anyone really. If I went back to the Grill, I'd be stuck between Matt and Tyler's mess with Caroline making me act as the buffer. I had enough of being the buffer. I just wanted to just enjoy my day without any conflict or anything really, was that too much to ask?
Probably.
I hated to admit but my friends had issues and so did I. Now I had another problem to think about which was whether August was human or not. I mean I knew him since middle school, at least I thought I knew him.
Letting out a deep breath, I wrapped my arms around myself and walked into the square to watch the fireworks. There was a crowd forming around the propped up stage where the mayor was about to go on. I found Bonnie in the crowd and naturally went to her.
Seeing her reminded me that I failed to let the Salvatore brothers know about the device. I sighed and hoped that the device wouldn't be a problem just yet.
Bonnie waved me over to her as I weaved through the crowd and made my way to her. We stood side by side, silently watching the mayor make his final speech of the night before the fireworks commencing.
The moment he finished, he was off the stage like he was in a hurry to get away. I didn't think too much of it and neither did Bonnie. She and I shared a glance before I shrugged and looked at where the mayor was going. He grabbed his wife's hand and the two made their way to the Grill. Tyler was there too.
Maybe they were going to have a family dinner.
I turned back to Bonnie and opened my mouth to say something when my phone went off. I frowned and took it out. I could've sworn I put my phone on silent before.
Maybe I forgot or I didn't remember. I took out my phone and turned on the screen. June. August's sister and my friend. It wasn't strange at all. Not like her brother's calls.
At least that's what I thought before she too started sending me the exact same messages that her brother sen, asking if I was home or I should go home.
Those three messages kept repeating themselves over and over again. I could've sworn August's messages were the exact same. I closed her messages and opened her brother's messages and sure enough they were almost the same.
There were a few grammatical differences and June's messages said she missed me and wanted to talk to me but otherwise it was the exact same message, asking me if I was safe or if I was home.
It was unsettling.
"Hey, you don't look so good." Bonnie commented, staring at me with her green eyes.
I forced a smile onto my face and blinked twice. "I'm fine." I lied. I was not fine. I was confused. I was very confused and terrified for once.
My friends were hiding something from me. The friends who were supposed to be my normalcy away from the mess that was Mystic Falls. I didn't think it was the right time to tell Bonnie about this. I know I confided a little in Stefan but telling Bonnie would be burdening her too much. She just found about all of this and I didn't want to pile more on top.
It would be unfair.
I didn't want that for her.
Though, it wouldn't hurt to have her expertise on this. She had been studying lately from her grams' books and notes, maybe she knew something. There was a small possibility that confiding in her would help me.
I debated this in my head while looking around. It was still pretty crowded and it seemed like the longer the night went on, the more people seemed to fill the square.
My phone started ringing again just as I was about to tell her about my suspicions about my friends being like me. June's name flashed on my screen. My grip on my phone tightened as I stared at the screen with a conflicted look.
I should pick up but at the same time, I was afraid of going through a repeat of what had happened earlier with August. Against my better judgements, I told Bonnie I'd be right back and left the crowd to go talk to the call.
The phone rang again for the seventh time as I walked into a nearby street. It was dimly lit but still close enough to the town square. There were barely any people nearby. I was almost alone.
"June, hi." I was still apprehensive about both her brother and her. A part of me was scared of that strange feeling and the unknown idea that they may be something else.
"Ava. Oh my god. I've been trying to reach you since forever." Her voice was still the same with the same pitch and attitude to it. My guard lowered for a bit. It was unconscious that I didn't even notice until she spoke again. "So I heard my brother asked you on a date."
I narrowed my eyes. "Seriously?" I asked, a little annoyed she called just for that. Of all the things she could have called for, she called to ask me about a date and she didn't even call once.
In under an hour I had about seven missed calls from her while my phone was silent, three more when it was off silent. That was just the calls, I had many more unread messages piling up from her and her brother.
"I mean yeah. Did you just call for that? No offense."
"Yeah. Is there a problem?" She sounded a little on edge for a short moment before she masked with faux concern mixed with her usual perkiness.
She was acting.
I knew that tone too well. That was the tone she used on stage or when she was about to prepare for an audition tape. I had seen her practice enough times to know when she meant what she said.
"I just wanted to know the details…"
Her and her brother's messages were freaking me out, not to mention what had happened before at the Mystic Grill parking lot. My eyes flashed silver-violet and they had never done that before.
I could vaguely remember that both twins had blue-indigo eyes that often appeared violet in certain lighting. Now I was starting to think there was something 'off' about the two of them. I didn't want to suspect them but I had to know.
"The messages…" I trailed off, kicking some gravel underneath my feet. "Yours and August's."
"What about them?" She asked innocently.
"They were almost the same."
She let out a soft musical laugh. "We're twins Ava." She reminded me. "Obviously we're gonna have some similarities."
If August wanted to say something he would never say it over text instead he would send a short 'call me' text before leaving it at that.
The two were not similar at all.
"Yeah, like how you both suck at lying. Look if this is some kind of prank you two are pulling on me, I'd like it if you could stop because it's not funny. If anything I was scared."
"You were scared?"
Fidgeting with the strap of my bag, I tightened my grip on it. She was being weird or maybe I was overthinking and overanalyzing everything lately. "Well, wouldn't you be if I and Dan started sending you creepy messages insisting you go home or stay home." I pointed out, not wanting to consider the other possibility anymore.
I wanted to trust them at least. I know it was a dumb move but I just wanted this to stay the way it had been.
"It's a little terrifying."
June didn't say anything. I heard her sigh and some rustling in the background. The phone on the other side crackled like it was losing signal before I heard another voice in the background, August's. The two seemed to be in a heated conversation.
August seemed angry at June for whatever reason. At least I managed to figure out that it was June who was behind all of this mess. I rolled my eyes and kept a hand on my head.
"...I'm sorry. I was worried about you." She admitted after a while. "I—"
I zoned out for a second as the familiar cold deathly chill crawled up my spine and wrapped its arms around my neck. I froze. It wasn't Damon or Stefan. I knew that. I was used to their presence by now.
"Get out! Go home!" I heard June and August both shout from the other side just as I turned around.
If I had more time, I would've dug a little deeper but I didn't.
Behind me were three vampires. All of whom I didn't recognize. On the other side of my call, the distorted voices of August and June could be heard pleading for me to run or go home.
Without thinking I hung up and glanced at three people in front of me. Two men and a woman.
Three vampires.
Carefully, I tried to back away and leave.
Whoosh.
I heard the sound of the wind slicing in the air. One of the men in front of me disappeared. I didn't even have to turn around to know there was one behind me.
There were two vampires in front of me and one behind me.
Three vampires in total.
In the background I could hear the sound of fireworks still going off. Damn it. Nobody would hear my screams or cry for help. I had no choice but to fight.
"Hi, can I help you all or something?" I greeted with a small awkward laugh trying to buy some time while my eyes wandered around for anyone else watching. I couldn't reach for the dagger in my bag and this was the only thing I could do.
The woman let out an eerie laugh and took a step forward. "You're a Fitzroy, am I correct?" I heard the crunching of gravel underneath their feet as they walked closer.
I took a step back.
Why were they asking about my family?
I didn't know but what I did know was this was bad. I needed to get myself out of here. They must be tomb vampires and I took a few more steps back.
Looking around in the dimly lit street, I tried to see if there were only three or maybe more were hiding in the darkness. I didn't see any. "...Maybe." I carefully replied.
"So you are." One of the men answered.
"This isn't anything personal." The woman started as she tried to attack me.
Before she could, I drew my hands back. A quiet musical hum echoed in the air as the wind picked up, blowing my hair in the air. There was a buzz of power in the air and warmth flowed underneath my skin, I could feel it.
The dimly illuminated street lit up as flecks of pale gold, sky blue and lavender danced at my fingertips. Lights over head flickered once or twice. More dusts of light appeared at my hands as I waved my hands in front of me.
The light sliced at the woman as the two men jumped back in surprise. She shrieked in horror and pain as her skin sizzled and burned while the putrid smell of burning flesh filled the air. She and her partners hissed at me and the one vampire behind me tried to grab my hands, only to burn his own.
I willed the dusts of light to form tiny orbs of light with a flourish of my hands before kicking the vampire behind me and putting him and other three in front of me.
I drew my left hand forward and held it out forward. The orbs of light charged towards them, shattering on impact.
Above me, the lights in the streets flickered wildly as the orbs kept on forming and reforming as the onslaught of my attack continued on the three vampires.
I felt myself getting tired and decided it was enough. Opening my left hand up, I stopped the orbs mid-attack before focusing it on their heart.
"Nothing personal." I grinned weakly, echoing their words back at them before I closed my fist and the orbs went flying towards the three.
One of them flashed out of the way. The two others weren't so lucky. The orbs of golden sunshine shot straight at their hearts, piercing it through, leaving a large gaping hole where their hearts should've been.
In silent awe, I looked down at my hands and weakly tried to draw back the light. My hands were still glowing and the street lights were still flickering. The two vampires in front of me crumpled to their knees with their mouth agape as their entire body turned the same pale ashy gray before they both turned to piles of gray dust in front of me.
Last thing I remembered seeing of them was the looks of horror and fear as they disappeared into the air.
I swayed a little on my side, almost forgetting about the other vampire that had gotten away.
"Ava! Ava! Aveline!" I heard Damon shout through the desolate streets. I gritted my teeth in annoyance at the mention of my legal name. I hated it when people called me that. God, why did Isobel had to reveal my full name like that?
"Over her—"
The other vampire jumped out of the shadows and threw me to the ground. The man's arms wrapped around mine as I choked on air. I tried to grab his wrists and summoned the light again. His hands started to burn and fester as I held on tight. He tried to shake me off but I tightened my grip. His grip on my throat also tightened.
Dark spots danced in my vision as the airflow to my lungs was being cut shorter and shorter. I didn't know how much longer I could hold on. Maybe if I just. I wondered if I could use the force of the light to push him off of me but that would take too much of me.
I let one of his wrists go and used the newly freed hand to try and scratch at his face. He hissed in pain as his fangs came out. He muttered that he should have ripped me apart before he dove into my neck.
I braced myself for the pain but I never felt it. The vampire was thrown off of me and now he was on the floor on the opposite side of the street. Between us stood another vampire.
"...Damon?" I weakly asked, grabbing my throat in pain. It was slowly healing.
Damon, hearing me call out, turned around. He flashed in front of me and crouched down. I sat up with his help. He reached for my neck. His cold hands brushed aside my hair to gently touch my bruised neck.
"You're late." I plainly stated, gesturing to the two piles of dust.
He let out a laugh of disbelief and shook his head before helping me up. He disappeared from my view. The other vampire was trying to recover and get up. His wrists were blackened and charred along with his face where I had scratched.
Glancing up, he tried to attack me again but this time he didn't manage. Damon got the upper hand and ripped his heart out in front of me. I got up and walked over to the dead vampire, placing my hands over his body. My hands hovered above as flecks of light instantly appeared around my fingertips, wanting to burn and turn this vampire into ash as well, I willed the light to go downwards.
Light ate away at the flesh and skin of the vampire, charring it's skin. The skin sizzled and burned as I emotionally stared at the body. This felt familiar. Oddly familiar. Back then I was trying to heal the already dead and now I was erasing another. It was almost tragic how quickly I changed from then.
I heard footsteps and from the corner of my eyes I could see Bonnie. By the time she came closer, the last vampire that had attacked me was now also another pile of dust. I was slightly tired but not as exhausted as my previous times using magic. She glanced at me and Damon and back at the piles of dust.
"What happened?" Bonnie questioned. Her eyes wide in shock.
"Funny that's what I was going to say." I dusted my hands off and grabbed my messenger bag off the floor. Taking out a small silk scarf, I wrapped it around my neck in an attempt to hide the fading bruise on my neck. Last thing I wanted was attention from the injury. I looked at Damon and gave him a look to explain.
"Anna told me the tomb vampires were planning to attack the founders." He breathed out, looking around. "And I guess they got to you before I did."
"Great. Just great." I remarked as I finished tying up the scarf. Damon offered to help but I swatted away his hands. Bonnie looked scared and angry about all of this. "So what's the plan?"
"The plan?" Bonnie remarked. She was not happy.
"Yeah, the plan. We need to do something about this."
Damon rolled his eyes. "The plan is that you go home and I'll handle it." I glanced up at him and opened my mouth to protest. "Don't fight me on this firefly, I know you can handle yourself but even you have your limit."
"Fine." I agreed. "But first I have to tell you something." I needed to tell him about the device. Bonnie shared an alarm look with me and shook her head.
"Whatever it is. It can wait." He brushed me off and started to leave. "Witchy, take Ava home and make sure she stays there."
Bonnie nodded, reaching for me and trying to pull me away from there.
"Listen, I need to tell you something."
"Not now, Ava. Right now, you need to go home and stay there."
"No. No. You need to go home as well and take Stefan with you."
"I can't do that."
He was not listening to me at all. I needed him and Stefan away from this. It only occurred to me then that John being away from all of this was not good. He was up to something especially now that he had the device.
Damn it. Just listen to me for once.
"Damon, no. You need to hear me out. Please. I—"
"We don't have time for this. Bonnie, take her home."
"No, listen—"
Bonnie shook her head and grabbed me by the arm, pulling me away. I blinked and Damon was gone. I let out a groan in frustration and pulled at my hair. This was so frustrating.
This was the second time I tried to tell him.
The first time I was interrupted and now he didn't want to listen. I was starting to think something was against me.
Bonnie, on the other hand, probably didn't care. In fact, she had probably justified it in her head. She didn't care if either Stefan or Damon saved her. Unlike me, she didn't have an overbearing pride that would consume her if she let herself be in someone's debt but I did and I hated myself for it.
"This is for the best." She quietly muttered to me.
I freed myself from Bonnie and quickly threw in a sorry before sprinting to find Elena and Stefan. I needed to tell them before something really bad happened.
Luckily it didn't take me long to find Stefan and Elena in the crowd. I ran over to them, my heeled boots hitting the asphalt ground with loud clicks as I made a beeline for the two.
"Stefan…" I panted, stopping in front of Elena and him. "I need to tell you something."
"Ava, what—" Elena was cut off just as I heard a quiet screech in the distance. "Your eyes…." She gasped out as I lost myself in a trance.
Lights around me started flickering wildly as the two looked around. Car alarms went off and blared loudly as some light bulbs shattered above, causing Stefan to pull Elena into his arms. He tried to reach towards me but drew his hands back quickly. He burned the moment he touched me.
It wasn't as noticeable.
Though unfortunately, people were starting to notice the flickering lights as panic and distress was starting to set in. They ran inside, trying to dodge the glass shards falling.
I tried to shake it off and escape the trance.
Stefan tried to approach me again when he fell to his knees and grabbed his head in pain. Elena panicked. She kept glancing back and forth before she fell down to the floor with her boyfriend. I wanted to help them but I couldn't move.
In distress, I clenched my fists tight and shut my eyes tight, trying to break off the trance.
I gasped out loudly and blinked rapidly just as a deputy spotted us. He ran towards Stefan, only to be stopped by Alaric a short distance from me. Alaric grabbed onto the guy and tried to convince him to go the other way.
At first he looked unsure and looked to grab his walkie talkie when I had no choice. I placed a hand behind me and willed the light to come out, I could hear his signal get scrambled instantly as he scrunched his face in confusion.
Uncle Nate ran in behind the deputy and grabbed onto him.
"What are you doing here?" He hissed at the deputy whose face drained off color. "There's more on that side and you're wasting time here!" He carried on, trying to shove the deputy off in that direction just as another came up behind me. I could hear his thoughts before he came.
"And you!" Uncle Nate tried to stop that deputy too. "Go with that one." The other deputy narrowed his eyes at my uncle before my uncle glared at him. "Don't you know who I am?! I'm a Fitzroy, I can have your paycheck halved for going against my words." Alaric gave a look to my uncle who swiftly ignored it and started stomping towards the other deputy.
The deputy did not budge. I threw a quick glance at Stefan and the other deputy who had ignored my uncle. "Stop!" I commanded.
He stopped immediately. I heard Elena gasp. I don't know why she did that because this was not the first time she had seen me do this.
"You never saw this." I carried on as the other deputy nodded. He turned around and started leaving, along with the first deputy.
When I turned around to face my uncle and Alaric, it was then that I realized what I had done. Everyone in that area, their eyes flickered to a pale gold as they all nodded numbly before they went back to watching the fireworks.
Alaric was shocked. His eyes wide as he threw a questioning glance at my uncle who in turn gave me a 'we'll talk' look and rushed in towards Stefan. The two men placed Stefan's arms under their shoulders and quickly moved to take him to a safer spot as Elena and I trailed behind.
The dull headache and the quiet ringing in my ears returned as I forced myself to bury those down and quietly follow them. The two men let Stefan down on the steps while uncle Nate reassured Elena and Alaric that I had unknowingly bought more time.
Stefan took a seat near the bottom of the steps with Elena moving to support her boyfriend. Alaric left along with my uncle to talk to some deputies and gather more information while I took a seat at one of the steps.
The two men came back and revealed their findings while I tried to figure out why I was in that trance. Did the device work on me as well? I didn't know. Maybe. Maybe it affected me differently since I wasn't a vampire.
At the same time, I was affected before the device went off so maybe I was empathizing? Was that a thing? I didn't know anything anymore. I didn't want to think about it.
What I did know was it affected me as well, something I didn't take into account when Bonnie and I were making our plans. That was my problem and I admit I was a little too confident thinking I would be fine but I wasn't.
On the flip side, maybe keeping the device as it was, was a good thing, I tried to justify.
"The device, it has to be." Stefan breathed out, interrupting my thoughts.
Elena's eyes went wide as she looked up from her boyfriend and stared at me in confusion. "That can't be right." She stated. She shook her in disbelief. "Maybe it was something else. Maybe…No. Bonnie unspelled the device and Ava helped her."
She couldn't believe it that her friends could lie to her. She was stupidly naive at times and I worried about her sometimes.
Despite my guilt over my lies, I had to take some time to notice how much Elena trusted people and how little I trusted. It was funny, really. She was setting herself for disappointment.
Her boyfriend glanced at me. He understood what had happened. "No, think about it, Bonnie unspelled the device so that we could protect vampires and Ava agreed…" He glanced at me, finally realizing.
"To protect you." Elena naively answered.
I wish I was that naïve.
"And Damon. Vampires."
She glanced at me again. There was a desperate plea in her stare begging me to admit that she was right and what Stefan was saying was wrong.
I sighed audibly and shook my head. "I'm sorry." I quietly apologized, ignoring Elena's betrayed gaze and staring at Stefan again. "Actually I am and I'm not." I quickly added in.
I was not sorry at all. I had a plan. Plan was to tell the Salvatore brothers and let John handle the rest of the vampires.
How was I supposed to know that Damon was going to play hero all of a sudden? My visions were erratic and came at uncertain times, I couldn't control it. It wasn't entirely my fault here.
If the device was actually unspelled, we would be more screwed than ever. Tomb vampires were attacking founders' descendants and if the device didn't work, a lot of people would be dead. Elena didn't know that and even if she did, I knew she would put the people she knew and loved over the many that she didn't know. I had to make a choice even if it was a tough choice.
"I did what I had to but I tried—"
"To warn me." Stefan cut me off. He didn't move away his gaze but instead he got up. "The whole day, you've been trying to tell me something and I kept brushing you off. This is what you wanted to tell me?" I nodded and he closed his eyes, sighing. "I understand."
At least he understood. It was funny really, the vampire that hardly knew me understood where I was coming from while my own best friend felt betrayed by my choices.
Of course, he understood, he saw me have a near mental breakdown while coming to the simple choice between deactivating the device and leaving the device as it was. I chose the latter to save as many as I could even if it meant hurting those that I cared about. It was a tough choice but the right one.
"I was going to tell you so you and Damon would be better prepared."
"But I didn't listen."
"It's not—"
"It's fine. I understand."
Elena got up, furious. She shook her head and looked at Alaric to back her up but my history teacher avoided her gaze as did my uncle. They understood me like Stefan did. Heck, my uncle would never agree with Elena considering that he was partly behind this.
"It's not fine, Stefan. You could've died." She snapped her head towards me and glared at me. "How could you?"
I scoffed. How could she take that tone with me when I told her, no, I warned from the beginning that I was always going to pick the choice that saved many people even if it hurt some. I told her repeatedly what my family stood for and what I was taught. I just thought she would try to understand me. She didn't.
I opened my mouth to say something but closed it in disappointment. I couldn't say anything because nothing I tried to say would get through to her. All she could think about was Stefan, not about the fact that hundreds of humans could've died including her and Jeremy if Bonnie and I actually did go through with her stupid plan.
Sometimes, I wished I was as naïve and innocent as her but I didn't want to be as stupid either.
"I think that's enough." Uncle Nate walked up a few steps and stood in front of me. "You have no right to talk to her like this, not after everything she has done for you."
Elena tried to protest but my uncle was quicker. "I get it, you love your boyfriend and everything but look at the bigger picture. Around fifteen or so tomb vampires remained in this town and all of them planned to attack the founders' descendants. Yeah, Stefan might have died but if the device was really disabled then you, Ava, Jeremy and any other founders' descendants would be dead!" He hissed.
My uncle said everything I wanted to say but I couldn't, not without ruining my friendship with Elena.
Uncle Nate turned away for a moment before he shook his head in anger, his fists clenched and face red. He turned back around to glare at Elena. "Let me just point out that there's at least thirty or so descendants currently in town while hundreds scattered elsewhere and knowing these vampires, they will hunt the rest down and kill them. So a couple of dead vampires is nothing compared to what they were going to do! But yeah, Stefan could have died…"
Alaric looked alarmed by his friend's sudden outburst and reached out to calm him, only for my uncle to shake him off. "Honestly, Elena, this wouldn't even have happened if the tomb was never opened. Let's not forget who was one of the people to convince Sheila to do that spell. Ava and Bonnie might give you a pass but…"
"That's enough." I snapped.
A quiet hum of power echoed quietly as dusts of light escaped from my grasp. Immediately they disappeared when I saw them. Uncle Nate turned to give me a look while I silently told him, this wasn't the time. I pursed my lips and folded my arms. I did agree with my uncle. He was right, I was giving Elena too many passes.
"...I'm sorry." Stefan apologized while Elena was left speechless.
I groaned and shook my head. Stefan had a terrible habit for apologizing for other people's mistakes. He needs to outgrow that. "No. No. Don't do that. Don't apologize for others. I know you were against it."
"But it's also my responsibility."
"I agree but it's not your fault."
Uncle Nate huffed out and unclenched his fists. He was still angry but even then he couldn't bring himself to be angry at Stefan. I knew why he was really angry at Elena except there wasn't just anger in him. He was disappointed. I could tell from the way his eyes were downcast and they trembled every time he looked away from Elena. He was disappointed.
He wasn't the only one.
A part of me never really forgave Elena for Sheila and neither did Bonnie. However, my uncle was disappointed for a different reason. He was disappointed that someone as smart as her would be as blind and dense, refusing to see the bigger picture and putting innocents at risk just so she could save her own boyfriend. It was sad and disappointing.
Elena didn't say anything after that. She kept her eyes trained on the ground while Uncle Nate and Alaric took off to talk to some deputies again.
Off to the side, I slipped Stefan another bottle of blood that I kept in case Stefan needed it for emergencies. Elena was not happy about that and she wanted to say something but she didn't voice her thoughts, seeing Stefan. She didn't have to. I could read her thoughts and her question was exactly the same as Damon's.
I wondered if Stefan would bother to explain things out like he did with Damon but he never did. Instead, he drained the bottle of animal blood, passing the bottle back to me.
"...I'm sorry." Elena quietly mumbled an apology while looking away. "I should've…"
"It doesn't matter anymore." No matter what she said, it wouldn't matter anymore. I already knew what kind of person she was becoming.
I didn't feel like arguing with her today, not now at least. It did hurt that Elena didn't even bother to see things from my point of view. I was already feeling guilty as it is and I still did even though I had a few attempts on my life already by a couple of tomb vampires.
But all Elena was thinking about was herself.
I couldn't lie and I say it didn't hurt.
At least, Stefan understood even though he knew me for less than a year.
God, this was a little sad.
It took only a few minutes for Alaric and Uncle Nate to come back. Alaric signaled to Stefan, indicating that it was calming down but it was still chaotic while my uncle stood off to the side. "Where's Damon?" He questioned. He glanced at Alaric then me, Elena following his gaze in confusion.
"I don't know." Alaric answered first. "I haven't seen him since this started." Then he glanced at me just like Stefan.
"I saw him when I was attacked by a couple of tomb vampires, he saved my life and before I could ask him anything, he disappeared." The dull ache in my head was still there and it was making me tired.
"You were attacked!" Elena and my uncle exclaimed at the same time.
I nodded, but not going into details at that moment and looked back at Stefan. He also looked concerned as did Alaric. But the blank and tired look on my face caused them to not ask anymore questions in case I accidentally lost control again.
Elena breathed out audibly, keeping a hand on one of Stefan's shoulders as she looked up at our history teacher. "Can you get my brother? Take him home?" Her eyes met mine as she made that request.
"Of course." Alaric agreed.
Elena and I shared a look before she helped Stefan up. I passed my bag to my uncle, moving to help Elena despite my complicated feelings towards her. "Let's go." She said to Stefan and me but also my uncle.
Uncle Nate took out his phone and turned it back on. He scrolled through it for a few seconds before turning the screen off. "Actually, I'm gonna check on Liz. She hasn't been picking up my calls or answering my texts. I think she's missing."
"What?" Alaric stopped. "Liz is missing but her deputies—"
"I know."
"John." Stefan and I said at the same time. We shared a mutual look of doom and shook our heads.
Uncle Nate nodded along and patted my head before mumbling 'stay safe and stay alive' and running off to find Caroline's mom.
I had a small feeling that the Sheriff was not the one calling the shots. John and the mayor were. The Lockwoods had a special hatred for vampires, more so than John or Logan or any other vampire hunter in this town. They took every vampire kill personally. It was odd and nobody ever questioned it, most chalking it up to their ancestral problems with the tomb vampires from the 1860s.
I grabbed Elena's hand as we both followed Stefan through the crowds of people. The chattering of their voices and their thoughts echoed in my ears but I tried to push them off. Stefan halted in front of a road.
Across the road was Grayson Gilbert's old clinic which seemed to be lightly guarded with John Gilbert standing in front of the entrance. The windows and front doors were barred while deputies hovered around the clinic.
It was strange to see the clinic like this. I remembered it always having lights on and the doors being open while Elena's dad worked day and night treating patients with a smile, now it was just a ghost of its former self. Tragic, really.
Stefan stopped at the edge of the road, across the clinic. "I can hear it." He said, looking around. "The building it's on fire."
"What?" Elena couldn't hear him properly through the loud chatter of the nearby crowd but I could. This wasn't good.
"The building's on fire." Stefan repeated as he ran across the street.
I could briefly pick up some thoughts from the nearby deputies who were all thinking about the fire as Elena and I followed him. The fire was in the basement.
If I remembered the basement was used as storage, it had a separate ventilation system that prevented the main clinic from being harmed.
John had thought this through. I had to give him credit for where credit was due.
I could guess that he and the council planned to cover it up as faulty wiring or something along those lines when it came to the news. The local journalists would never question or dig into it. They'd simply report it as it was given to them.
I sauntered over to Elena's biological father. His mind was a little hard to read but I got the same information as before. "John." I greeted, taking the lead with a polite smile.
"Ava, come to do what your family wouldn't?" I could feel the intense loathing he felt for my family. He was jealous for a lack of a better word. We were biologically more apt than him along with being owners of various devices and weapons all for the purpose of killing vampires yet we had not used any of that for almost a decade now. He hated it almost but not as much as he hated seeing the daughter he gave up to his brother with a vampire.
It was really funny. If he didn't want her to end up this way then maybe he should have told her the truth back when I was also told the truth.
His words almost got a reaction out of me before Elena pushed through. She didn't have any time or patience for her biological father. In fact, she couldn't wait to get out of his face but he was doing all of this for her.
I turned to John and tried to focus on him again but unfortunately that thought was gone.
"Where is Damon?" Stefan asked.
"With the rest of them where he should be." John glanced at me and shook his head in disappointment. He clicked his tongue as he did so. "I'm disappointed in you."
I didn't have to read his mind to know that he actually thought I was going to be different. That and he used to think Elena and I were alike.
"Like I give a damn. Now move. We both know you might have more experience but I'm still stronger and faster than you." I lightly threatened, reminding him of what I was capable of.
"You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
Stefan and Elena glanced back and forth between the two of us. "Doesn't matter. It's over for Damon." John bit out. He glared at Stefan while now ignoring me, he knew better not to push me.
Unlike my family, I was far more reckless and I didn't make empty threats. His gaze would soften everytime he looked at Elena. He loved her. He really loved his daughter. It was a sweet action, if only he wasn't an overbearing dick who thought he deserved to run his daughter's life despite never wanting her to know her true parentage.
The three of us stared at each other before Stefan ran past him to the back exit. I gave John a two-finger wave before running after Stefan. I ran through to the back of the old Gilbert clinic, trying to find the utility door.
Instead, I found Bonnie who seemed to hover around the door. Noticing me, she blocked my way and narrowed her eyes at me
"Don't tell me you're going in there." Bonnie grabbed my arms and pulled me back. She glanced at the red utility door and back at me. Her eyes flashed with concern and her grip on my arm tightened.
I let out a deep sigh and tried to pry her hands off of me. She held on and her grip tightened. "Look, I owe Damon." I liked this as much as she did, I had no choice. My pride would never let me live if I continued to owe Damon. "He saved my life twice. You know I don't like owing people."
"You could die, Ava." She countered, not wanting to let go.
There was something desperate about the way she held on. I realized why she didn't want me to go. She was afraid. That fear of losing someone else was clear in her eyes but I couldn't stand back this time. It would be unfair to Stefan who was also a friend.
"I won't." I said with a bright convincing smile.
Her grip on my arm loosened but she still frowned. She didn't want to let go at all. In the end, I gently took off her hands and held them in mine.
"Trust me. I'll be fine." I gave her hands a small squeeze before letting go. She closed her eyes and nodded before breathing out.
"I'll do what I can and try to make it safer for you." I nodded in thanks and started to make a run for it again before Bonnie pulled at my sleeve again. "Just come back in one piece."
I sighed and bobbed my head. "I will."
"Promise?"
"Promise." She let go and stood back, breathing out tiredly while muttering something under her breath. I flashed her a fleeting smile before starting to run again as I pushed the red door to the clinic open with my body and ran inside.
I ran through the unburnt halls and finally reached Stefan in front of a door. He motioned me to take a step back as he tried to pull open the door to the basement, only to flinch back in pain. He hissed and clenched his hand as blisters from the heated door knob started to heal.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I owe Damon. I hate owing people." I simply replied.
He nodded and made no comment about it. I think at this point, he was getting used to my little quirks. "It's too dangerous." He pointed out the door and the heated door knob.
I rolled my eyes and ran closer to him, my heeled boots clicking against the hard concrete floor. "Move." I walked over to Stefan, gently pushing him out of the way. I had an idea. I didn't know if it was going to work or not but I needed to try. "Take a few steps back." I said, taking a few steps back. Behind me, Stefan did the same.
"What are you doing?"
I breathed out, holding my hands out towards the door. I remembered the training sessions during the holidays. My uncle had made me use the orbs of light to blow out and even burn some of the wooden targets. I wondered. I wondered if it would work on the door.
"Just trust me on this." I added in as I focused on my hands.
Dusts of light instantly and furiously gathered at my fingertips. The flecks of shimmering pale gold, amber and lavender appeared more and more. They focused on the palms of my hands before I pushed the beam of light into the door.
Stefan shrunk back and covered his eyes just as I shut mine.
Light covered the entire room as the lightbulb above us exploded. Shards of glass rained down on us.
The door flew off with the wooden frame turning completely into ash. Stefan looked at me in shock before he nodded and passed through the door. He and I didn't have time to marvel at my work.
Stefan and I paused. The door was gone but now we had a bigger problem. The stairs were on fire. "Got any other ideas?" He and I shared a look as the flames raged on.
"Bonnie…" I breathed out, remembering that she promised to make it easier for me. "She said she'll do something."
Stefan started to say something but his words were snuffed out as the flames on the concrete stairs started to dance weakly, dying as they swayed before they all but disappeared.
"Thank you, Bonnie." I muttered under my breath. "Go." I hissed at Stefan who looked around for a second. He nodded once before taking the lead.
The fire was raging and it surrounded me.
Like my nightmares, there were people on the floor, some passed out due to the fire or some unknown cause. Some were groaning in pain as fire ate away at their flesh. The screams of anguish rang through the air intertwining with the smoke from the fire.
I frowned and tilted my head. It was like I had been here before. But how?
Looking around at the burnt bodies, it felt more and more familiar. My dreams. I thought. This was exactly like my dreams. I swallowed thickly as the deathlike chill became more prominent. The heat from the flames felt suffocating. This was real.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
I tried to focus on my surroundings but the heat from the fire and cold from being around so many vampires at once was suffocating me. I needed to focus.
Fortunately, Stefan kept me behind him while he looked through the bodies for a sign of Damon.
"Damon. Come on hurry up." He grabbed Damon who looked like he had seen better days.
Damon saw me and mumbled the same thing Stefan had said behind the door as I rolled my eyes. I paused when something familiar caught my eyes. I squinted and through the flames I could see a familiar face.
I gasped and covered my mouth in shock. "Ava, what are you—"
"Mayor Lockwood…" I pointed at the corpse of the mayor.
His neck bent at an odd angle while his upper body leaned against a concrete pillar. Eyes shut and his lower half were already engulfed in flames. His exposed hands were burnt.
I could see from where I stood, through the haze of heat and smoke that he was slowly burning. There was a large wooden beam that had fallen on top of the mayor's stomach, trapping him in place.
My eyes trembled as I let out a small cry. Oh my god. I never liked him but I never wished him dead like this. I watched in horror as the fire ate away at his flesh, exposing some bone near the lower half of his body.
Would I even be able to heal him? Maybe. It was very unlikely.
There was a feeling of dread at the bottom of my stomach. I knew he was going to die. I might have inevitably predicted this that night at Matt's. I didn't mean to. I knew the mayor was a terrible person. A terrible husband. A terrible dad. But I never wished him dead.
I know I joked about it but I would honestly rather see him behind the bars than dead because now Tyler and Carol would be forced to mourn him even though they were wronged by him.
Before I could go towards him, Damon weakly grabbed my wrist. "He's…dead. He's been dead…for a while. Don't bother." He gasped out between breaths.
I took back my hand and turned around as Stefan put an arm around Damon's shoulder and the other around my waist. I blinked as he ran out of there before the place was consumed in flames.
Stefan stopped at the head of the stairs and slowed his pace. He let go of me. This time I took the lead. I felt a little light-headed and tired, still I pressed on, leading the two to the utility door.
I pushed open the door to come face to face with Elena and Bonnie. I paused to look behind me just as Stefan and Damon came through.
Ignoring the two, Bonnie ran towards me and engulfed me into a hug in relief that I was fine. I was not fine. My mind was slightly cloudy and the dull ache had only gotten worse from the smoke.
I walked to my car alone.
Stefan and Elena were at the Grill while Bonnie had to leave early and my uncle was trying to calm a distressed Carol Lockwood.
Here I was alone.
I got rid of the tomb vampires like I wanted to but I didn't know if it was worth it anymore.
Anna was an unfortunate casualty too.
Jeremy's last call was on my mind. I could still hear his sobs on the other end. He sounded so hopeless and it was like the night Vicki died all over again. He joked between his cries if I was going to send Damon over to compel him or if I was coming over myself.
I had to stop myself from using my abilities and calming him down. I had nothing to tell him but empty words that I couldn't even remember now.
His call was painful reminder that this plan may have succeeded in keeping the town safe but it dealt a blow to us all in ways we could have never imagined
Elena, confronting her biological father.
Jeremy losing Anna.
Damon and Stefan, almost dying.
Mayor Lockwood dead.
Almost every single one of my friends were affected negatively by this plan. Except me. But I was a Fitzroy. We always got away. No matter the cost. No matter what. I sucked in a deep breath and my grip around my car keys tightened.
Was this worth it? I wondered.
The greater good was the reason behind everything my family ever did. It was the one thing that had been drilled in my head since I was young but was it worth it?
"Ava."
I turned on my feet to gaze at Damon with trembling eyes. I did what I had to. If I didn't, more people would have died. "I won't apologize for what I did. Bonnie and I did what we had to." I started without letting him get a word in.
"I get it."
Wait what?
Shouldn't he be mad at me?
I lied to him like Elena and Stefan did but here he was giving me a pass. I paused and tilted my head to the side in confusion.
"You...do?"
He nodded and took a step forward towards me. "If you didn't, more people would've died." It was like he was reading my mind.
"What? Wait. I'm confused. I lied to you."
"You also tried to warn me." I did but only because he saved me. I could care less if he died. At least, that's what I had been telling myself.
"And Stefan." I reminded him.
Back at the Grill, I should've told them then and there instead of taking August's call. August. Him and June was a topic I planned not to touch for a while.
If only, I prioritized the Salvatore brothers over August. Maybe this whole thing would have been prevented. No. Mayor Lockwood would still have died, I reminded myself.
He shook his head and took a step forward. "I brushed you off."
He always did. He had been doing it since he came to town. All my warnings always fell on deaf ears, no matter what I did.
"Wasn't the first time you ignored my warnings. I warned you about the tomb as well."
"And I didn't listen then either. I'm the one who should be sorry so I'm sorry."
I scoffed. "And...you think an apology for your reckless obsession is gonna make things better."
"No, but—"
"Save it. It's nice to see you try to change but after everything that you did, it's gonna take me a while to come around."
"I know. I also know you care about me enough to come back for me."
"That's not it. You saved my life twice and I didn't want to owe you."
"I'm trying."
"I can see that. Unfortunately it's not good enough, whether you like it or not the damage is already done and your sudden change of heart can only fix some things but at all—at least you can give me some space to mourn."
"Ava…"
Everything that I had been holding in got out that moment. I couldn't keep this to myself anymore. I felt useless and seeing him play hero didn't help. I sighed loudly and brushed away stray tears from my face as grandma Janine's memories floated in my mind.
"Do you know how my grandmother died?" I asked out of nowhere.
"No? Exhaustion caused due to magic. She was a witch just like Sheila Bennett. She put up a barrier on this town to keep vampires out after my grandfather died. With every passing year, her magic ate away at her life. I couldn't even say goodbye to her. The moment she died. The barrier fell apart and then everything happened. It's like her sacrifice didn't matter at all. She died for no reason."
"That's not true."
"Well it sure feels like it. I don't hate you. I'm not blaming you for her death because you had nothing to do with it. If that makes you feel any better. But I just feel so helpless whenever I see you and remember what you did."
"I'm sorry."
"Sto—"
Cough. Cough. Cough.
I started coughing loudly all of a sudden.
With my free hand, I cupped my mouth and tried to stop myself but the coughing only got worse. Damon tried to approach me but I lightly glared at him to stay back. I coughed again and the familiar scent of iron hit my senses.
Drawing back my right hand, I squinted my eyes to stare at the small drops of blood in my hand. The smoke from the fire had done some damage after all and I guess I didn't heal this time.
"Smoke must've damaged your lungs." I heard Damon mutter as he flashed towards me and bit into his wrist, offering me his blood. I pushed his hand away and tried to move away from him but the dizziness overtook me, causing me to almost fall.
"Move." I heard my uncle say to Damon. He rushed over to me and pushed Damon to the side. "You need to go to the hospital." He muttered to me as he helped me up. He glared at Damon and was ready to argue with him before he looked down at me just as I broke into another coughing fit.
With my free hand, I cupped my mouth and coughed into it, spitting out blood. He frowned and muttered something incomprehensible under his breath.
"Keys?" He asked, now completely ignoring Damon.
Damon "Let me—"
"I think you've done enough, Damon." Uncle Nate cut him off.
"...In my bag." I croaked out, sparing a glance at the two as I hobbled over to the back seat.
My uncle unlocked the car and opened the door for me. He got in the front and waited until I was in the back before driving to the hospital.
It was an almost silent drive if not for my uncle interrogating me about the vampires that attacked me with my parents and brother on the line.
My mom was regretful that she couldn't take time off from work to take care of me as was dad. Dan also had classes. That left me and uncle Nate. I didn't mind.
They were, however, proud that I managed to take out two vampires on my own. Being praised by my dad felt good and it did help suppress the nauseous feeling I had before. He no longer cared if I was friends with one, as long as I kept myself alive. That felt even better.
My parents were okay with my choices and that's what I wanted to hear. Who cares if Elena felt betrayed by one of my choices?
I did.
But I saved a lot of lives, even if it was at the expense of the mayor.
I coughed loudly as the doctor checked me. Uncle Nate along with Jenna stood off to the side, looking at me with a lot of concern as I breathed in and out painfully.
The doctor pulled the stethoscope out of his ears and shook his head. He went over to my uncle and pulled him in to say something before writing down something on his board then leaving.
My uncle and Jenna were the only ones in that room along with me. The two stared at me in deep concern as Jenna squeezed my uncle's arm, saying something to him and only him.
I pulled at the IV drip needle attached to my arm, trying to remove it but my uncle hurried over to my side and quickly reattached it. Behind him, Jenna's phone had gone off. She glanced at her phone once. Then she went off to the side to answer it. She seemed to be busy talking to someone on the other side.
Alaric was noticeably missing from the line-up. I guess he had gone home after tonight's disaster. I too would be at home if I didn't stupidly start coughing up blood.
"Look, I'm fine. I feel fine. Just let me—" I tried to remove the needle again. My uncle stopped me again.
Jenna let out a laugh in the background after hanging up. "Not according to the doctor you're not. Acute carbon monoxide poisoning, Ava. That's serious." She pointed out as her face hardened.
"I don't know how that happened but you didn't hear or see how worried your uncle was. I've never heard him that anxious in my life and you're supposed to be the responsible one in your little group." Her eyes wide and her lips were pursed. She shook her head in disappointment before turning away
"Don't forget exhaustion." Uncle Nate chimed in, pushing the needle back in. "You're lucky you didn't sustain any burns."
He gave me a stern look and pulled his phone out before scrolling through it. He gestured to my mom's name. I stopped fumbling with the IV drip and left it alone much to his relief.
"I don't know what's going on anymore, the mayor's dead, you managed to get acute carbon monoxide poisoning and Caroline's also in the hospital."
"Caroline's here?" Uncle Nate and I both said at the same time. I got up in surprise, only to be pushed back down to sit by Jenna.
"What happened?" My uncle asked.
"Tyler apparently crashed his car and Caroline fainted after the paramedics arrived on scene, Liz just called to let me know." Jenna answered.
I looked between the two with wide eyes. "Can I go visit her?" I asked, looking at the two with wide eyes. "Please. It's Caroline."
I would never forgive myself if something happened to her because of me. It was partly my fault why Tyler crashed his car because somehow, he and his dad were affected by the device and now as a result Caroline was in the hospital.
My uncle and Jenna looked at each other. Jenna's face softened as the two silently made gestures at each other before my uncle let out a sigh. Times like this, I was glad my uncle's best friend was Jenna. She was easier to convince than my uncle and in turn she was also good at convincing him.
"Fine." My uncle bit out before he threw me my leather blazer and left the room. He said he was going to talk to Caroline's mom. Jenna followed after him.
I only took a few steps outside before I met Bonnie and Elena who were standing in the hospital hallway. Nearby a nurse kept watch over me, no doubt on my uncle's orders. I nodded at her that I was fine before she turned away and carried on with her task.
"What happened?" Elena and Bonnie asked. Both of them had wide eyes as they took in the IV drip attached to me.
I sighed and let go of the stand. "According to the doctor, I have acute carbon monoxide poisoning but I'll be fine, I just need to sleep it off." I grabbed the stand again and gently leaned on it.
"Hey." Elena breathed out as she clasped her hands together. "I'm sorry, I blew up on you that time. I didn't know about the tomb vampires."
"What's done is done. Just try not to be so narrow-minded next time, no offense."
Elena didn't say anything, she was silent. She nodded at my words but my words did hurt her a little. I didn't care. It was getting a little annoying how she always put her boyfriend above everything and always ran into danger even if she couldn't defend herself. Then she'd use me as an excuse for her actions.
I'm sorry but it didn't work that way.
I could defend myself. I was constantly training to get better every other day.
It was incomparable.
I didn't run into danger without a plan. I always and a plan or tried to make one on the go. I wanted to tell her all of this. If I did, an argument would break out right now so for now I kept it in like I always did.
"Caroline's also here." Bonnie said, trying to break tension.
I glanced at Bonnie and smiled, knowing what she was trying. I gave in. "I heard. Is she okay?"
"I don't know." She said with a frown. "It's not looking so good."
That was not what I wanted to hear. I was hoping it was a minor injury. Elena and I shared an anxious glance as the grip on my IV stand tightened. She took a step towards Bonnie and leaned towards her. "Is there anything you can do like a spell or something?" Elena asked, looking at Bonnie and me.
My witch best friend and I glanced at each other as a complicated look was etched onto her face. She sighed.
"She doesn't know how." Damon declared from somewhere. "Do you?" He asked Bonnie who looked down in helplessness.
I turned to look around at Damon whose eyes caught mine. He scanned my appearance before his face flashed with a concerned look. I didn't feel like arguing so I just mouthed that I was fine.
"No. I don't." Bonnie answered.
"No. You don't." Damon walked out and stood next to me. "Because it took Emily years to learn a spell like that."
"Yeah, well, I can take down a vampire. That spell was easy to learn."
I puffed up my cheeks and looked at the IV drip attached to me. Then I looked back at the two of my friends, ignoring Damon again. "No need for a spell. I can heal Caroline." I offered.
Bonnie's eyes widened with disbelief as Elena shook her head. "You have an IV drip attached to you and you're barely holding on." Damon cut in, shooting me down. "Not to mention, you won't even take my blood."
"Because I don't need it." I answered, glaring at him. I turned away as another dizzy spell hit me. I held onto the stand in support.
"Of course you don't." Damon stated, shaking his head. "Go back to your room, sunshine before you faint."
"Not before I see Caroline." I pushed his hands away and started walking towards her room, only for Bonnie to block my way.
"We'll take care of Caroline, get some rest." Elena said, looking back at Damon. "We don't know what will happen to you if you try to heal her."
The older Salvatore brother narrowed his eyes down at me and stared at me down. "Well, I do." He said, not taking his eyes off. "First she'll start coughing up blood, then crying blood and finally she'll fall into a coma, depending on how much energy she wasted, she'll be in a coma for half a day to maybe a week. That's not counting the potential chance of…death."
"I'll…be fine." I slowly bit back. He shook his head in disbelief.
Bonnie stared at me and Damon with wide eyes. "How do you know that?"
"Because it already happened once."
"When?"
Elena sucked in a breath and let it go. "Stefan's birthday." She answered grimly. The night I saved Lexi, I could barely control my magic. That was different. "I think Damon's right. You need to get some rest."
Seeing that look on her face, I didn't bother to argue back and instead swallowed down my complaints. I nodded reluctantly and sighed. "Fine. Just make sure you don't give her too much." I said, glancing at Damon. I didn't bother to say 'vampire blood' out loud since the nurse that was watching me had returned and was now back to observing me, who knew if she was listening in or not.
Unfortunately, I felt too tired to read her mind. I gave another stern look to Damon and grabbed his sleeve. 'Please' I mouthed to him. I didn't want another 'Vicki' situation to happen again, especially not to Caroline. Damon nodded and I let go.
Bonnie and Elena smiled and promised but somehow I couldn't be so sure. I knew where this was going. The only other way to heal Caroline was Damon's or Stefan's blood. I had no choice but to leave things in their hands.
Damon held out his hand, offering to escort me back to my room and I simply said I was okay. I was not, I was barely holding on.
Exhaustion was creeping up on me and I felt like I would faint any moment now. I don't know how I managed to drag myself back to my room but I did. The moment my head hit the pillow I blacked out.
"Hello?" My hoarse voice echoed through the empty hospital room as I weakly sat up in my bed. It was hard moving in the hospital robes but somehow I managed.
The aftermath of the fire was still felt in my bones even if it had been nights since then. As a result of my overbearing pride and recklessness, I had been confined to the hospital bed for days.
The exhaustion from that night still had traces of me. I admit I did overuse my magic a little too much and did things I had only imagined previously with little to no extra training, this was on me. I landed myself in the hospital but I wasn't alone.
Caroline was here as well. I went to see her earlier in the day and we even had lunch together, joking that we were copying each other.
The downside was that I missed mayor Lockwood's wake and because of my recklessness my parents were called in. They were not happy as always but they had to leave soon enough.
Whoosh.
I sat up a bit more and looked around, squinting my eyes in the darkness. It was late. My uncle had already left for the day and so had any visitors that included Bonnie, Elena, Stefan and even Tyler who seemed inconsolable but better than I had seen him.
Despite being sad about his dad's passing, he seemed a little lighter and there was an air of peace around him. Maybe it was better this way. I hadn't seen Damon since that night. Still, he wouldn't show up now.
Would he?
Visiting hours were long over.
I looked at the time on the clock nearby and frowned.
3:37 AM
It was late for any visitors, even Damon and Stefan. Lexi wouldn't drop by without calling, I knew that. I warned her too. I had constantly reminded her that I may accidentally hurt her if she surprised me and she did take it to heart. So who…
Whoosh.
I got up and frantically started looking around.
The air tonight felt damp and suffocating. I felt cold like someone had just dumped icy water on me, I started shivering violently.
There was a vampire here.
ear suffocated me, constricting my airways, making it harder and harder to breathe.
I cursed under my breath and looked at my bag which was on a chair nearby. It was too far. I glanced down at my hand and tried to use magic.
Much to my disappointment and fear, darkness still enveloped them. I was still too weak from before.
I attempted to reach for the button to call a nurse.
Whoosh.
It was getting closer. I changed my position and shifted to now get to my phone next to the bedside table. My heart hammered against my chest.
Blood rushed to my ears as I stretched hard to reach my phone. It was within my reach when a cold hand grabbed it away from me.
Slowly, I turned to stare at the intruder with fear and apprehension. The darkness blurred any and all features except one.
My intruder was a woman. She was familiar but at the same time she wasn't. Her face was covered under the veil of darkness but I could tell she wasn't human.
That cold death-like chill now gripped me by the throat as the silent urge to kill screamed out at me to attack. I couldn't. I didn't have the means to.
I pulled back and tried to push myself into a far corner of the hospital bed in an attempt to get away. My hands quickly touched my neck, fumbling around to find the bloodstone around my neck.
To my dismay, it wasn't there. The hospital staff must have removed it or I must have lost it. I didn't know. Fear made it harder for me to breathe as I choked on it and coughed.
"Huh." The intruder breathed out. I could tell she was enjoying my fear.
All of sudden her hands were on my neck and I was pushed onto the bed. My body sunk into the hard mattress. She wrapped her hands around my delicate neck and squeezed. I felt my airways constrict.
Black spots danced in my vision as my eyes felt heavy due to a lack of oxygen. Oh god, I was going to die. No. I started squirming and struggling around her group, using whatever energy and strength I had left to fight against her.
"Stop fighting." She muttered lowly under her breath. Her voice. It was familiar like I had heard it before.
"No!" I breathed out, trying to push her off me. I didn't want to die.
With all my strength, I grabbed her hands and twisted one then and used my other hand to shove her off me. She landed a few feet away from the foot of the hospital bed with a sickening crack.
Crack. Crack. Crack.
Audible sounds of her bones being healed chilled me to my soul. I bought myself some time but what was I gonna do with that time. She was lying in front of the only exit. I took my eyes off her for a second to glance behind me.
A window. I could use it to escape.
Before I could even move, she pounced on me, trapping me between her arms. This time she grabbed my hands and with a sickening crack she broke my wrist.
The pain was unbearable. I cried out, only to be hushed with a hand on my mouth. I didn't buy myself some time, I only managed to piss her off.
"Y'know this wasn't personal at first but you—" Her hands wrapped my neck, ready to squeeze my life out of me once more. "—just made it personal." She finished, tilting her head.
Her dark hair spilled over her sides, cascading down on both of my sides like a deadly curtain as she squeezed my neck. She took one hand away from my neck and caressed my face.
"You have such pretty eyes. Tsk." Shivers ran down my back at her touch. "No hard feelings, I'm just paying back what your family put me through—all those years ago." She whispered in a feigned soft and comforting tone.
"Wha— " I breathed out. "That's not my fault." I tried to fight back again but she anticipated it this time and grabbed my wrist. She twisted it and I felt the bones in my left hand crack.
I gasped and cried out in pain as tears formed in my eyes. Teardrops slid down my voice as I bit into my lips to stop myself from crying out.
She chuckled menacingly. "Oh. I know."
Nothing I did worked. My magic was not working. I had no weapons on me and now some crazy vampire was about to kill me because my ancestors screwed with her.
"This is actually more of a message."
"A message?"
The stranger nodded. "To the Salvatore brothers." What did she say? I frowned and squinted my eyes at her, trying to get a better look at her.
Was she another one of those tomb vampires? Someone from Damon and Stefan's past. I didn't know.
I…I couldn't think straight.
It was getting harder and harder to breathe, to think. I felt myself getting weaker and weaker. I tried so hard to hold on. My airways constricted as black spots danced in my vision. My eyes felt heavy due to a lack of oxygen.
Before I knew it the darkness from the room slowly crept over me until it completely consumed me. My world, fading to deadly black.
Gasp.
I woke up back in a hospital room, clutching my throat. I was alive. I was alive and safe. I was here. That dream felt so real, it was terrifying. I shivered, pulling the covers around me.
Breathing in and out, trying to gasp for air and reaching for the glass of water next to my bedside table. I drank it all and sat up straight. I grabbed my phone and turned the screen on, ignoring all the missed calls from August and June, I called my uncle.
Riiing. Riiing.
The phone kept ringing while I looked around for any disturbances. I had time but I don't know how long I had. If my dreams were anything to go by, that was going to happen soon.
Come on, uncle Nate. Pick up. Pick up. I need you.
I pressed the phone hard into my ears and bit my lips, nearly drawing up blood.
Anxiety and fear bubbled in my chest as my eyes darted around the room. My other ear was focused outside, listening to any odd sounds. I glanced at the clock nearby.
2:54 AM
I had around less than an hour left. I needed to hurry up and leave.
"...Ava." Uncle Nate's groggy and tired voice made me sag in relief. "You're up. Thank...yawn…god. I was so worried—"
"—Yeah. I know. I know. I fainted at the hospital after the whole thing. I need you to come get me right now. As fast you can." I quickly rushed out, moving to press the button to call a nurse.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
"Where's the fire, Rosy? You fainted from exhaustion. Doc said you should be kept over for a night or two, maybe for at least three nigh—"
I sat up on the bed, starting to get up and quickly get changed into a new and fresh outfit. "Uncle Nate, I may not survive another night." I rushed out as I buttoned up a mint green shirt dress while grabbing my shoes at the same time.
The hospital gown lay discarded on the floor.
Quickly, I fixed my outfit and slipped on my brown boots, then threw on the navy leather blazer and straightened up.
There was a silence on Uncle Nate's end before sounds moving and shuffling filled the void. He was rushing to get ready. I sighed in relief at that thought. I heard a jingle of keys on the other side, a few doors closing and opening.
"I'm on my way. Stay on the line. Don't end this call no matter what happens." He commanded me as I stood in the center of the hospital room. "I'm in my car, out of the driveway." I could hear the wind howling through his open window.
"Well...I'll be right here." I breathed out, looking around the room for any signs of an intruder. "Not like I could just leave on my own." I walked over to the light switch and turned it on.
Light flooded the room, feeling me with a sense of security. It was silly but at least now I'd be able to see the intruder.
Turning to glance at my bedside table, I picked up my bloodstone necklace and carefully wrapped it around my neck. I patted it against my neck in relief, I'll be safe. I carefully took out the syringe connected to the IV. I wasn't stupid enough to rip it. I wanted to survive the night.
Whoosh.
I froze when I heard that sound. I started shivering violently. There was a vampire around. It wasn't Damon or Stefan, I just knew it wasn't.
Click.
The door opened with a click as the lights in the room flickered for a few seconds. I glanced at the clock again.
3:01 AM
"Oh!" A blonde nurse stood on the other side of the door. She stared at me in shock. "Why are you dressed?"
Her eyes narrowed when she spotted the IV syringe just hanging haphazardly. "No! Oh No! You're not leaving. The doctor specifically asked for you to stay the night. Acute carbon monoxide poisoning, exhaustion and dehydration are not something you can walk off." She fumbled around the syringe, gently pushing me back on the bed as she did so.
"The last thing we want is your family to defund our hospital because we neglected you." I heard her mutter under her breath as she tried to reinsert the syringe.
I pushed her away gently. "I'm fine. Really."
The syringe was knocked out of her hand and fell to the floor with a small audible sound. The nurse looked at the fallen syringe and clicked her tongue in distaste.
"Don't worry 'bout my family. They won't stop their funding because of me." I tried again. "I'd like to be discharged."
Pushing myself off the hospital bed, I tried to get past her. Only for her to grab my arm.
"Just because you made an astonishingly fast recovery does not mean that I'll let you get discharged."
For some reason, she wasn't staring at me. Her eyes were faced onto the pristin white tiles floor.
I tilted my head to get a look at her face. It was blank. Her eyes were unfocused. Like her body was here but her mind was elsewhere. It was almost as if she was being…
Suddenly her head snapped to look at me. A large painted smile on her face. It looked horrifying. Her mouth stretched ear to ear while her eyes were hollow.
"I'm sorry I can't let you be discharged." She repeated. "I need to take care of you."
My heart hammered in my chest as I struggled to free myself from her grip. She held on tightly, blankly picking up the syringe from the ground without even looking.
The door opened with a loud bang. "Oh a nurse is already here!" Uncle Nate stood at the doorway with a doctor next to him.
The doctor looked busy as he shuffled some papers while uncle Nate walked right into the hospital room. He saw the nurse still trying to put the IV syringe in and raised his eyebrows. He clicked his tongue and gently pushed the nurse's hand away from me.
"Paperwork is done, Miss Fitzroy has made a surprisingly fast recovery. Though, I would like to run some blood tests on you..." The old doctor's voice trailed off when uncle Nate gave him a look.
He handed over some papers to him before he turned to me. "Make sure to not overwork yourself and try to keep hydrated. Don't wanna end up here every other day. Do you?" He stated with a smile as his aged gaze shifted towards the nurse. His eyes squinted
"Katie? What are you doing here? Thought you went home. Didn't you say your little Timmy is home alone since your husband's on the night shift."
Nurse Katie glanced up at the old doctor blindly. Her eyes focused and unfocused. It looked like she was struggling to remember what exactly she was doing here. "I—" She began looking around. "—I don't know. I thought I was going home but I—"
Uncle Nate and I shared a knowing look before I threw a reassuring smile at the nurse as I grabbed my bag and waited outside the hospital room.
"It's fine. Thanks for taking care of Ava." Uncle Nate quickly smoothed over the situation before glancing at me and nodding. "Also thank you, Dr Danvers, for all you've done. I hope you come over to say hello to your cousin now and then." He thanked the doctor and was out of the door before the old doctor could get word in and ushered me out after gathering my things.
Uncle Nate tapped my shoulder as we walked through the dimly lit hospital hallways. "Mind telling me what the hell is going on?" He whispered.
"Later." I mumbled out, picking up my pace. I just wanted to get out of here and go home.
All of sudden, I stopped. I stared at a half-closed door.
Glancing at the number of the room, I realized this was Caroline's room. A shiver passed through my spine as I stared hard at her room.
Should I take Caroline with me? I asked myself, my eyes wandering around the empty hallways. I couldn't. Her mother would not be happy, the logical part of me pointed out. But she could be in the same danger I might've been, the paranoid part of me argued back.
I glanced at uncle Nate and tugged at his sleeve. He looked at me questioningly. I breathed out as I gave another glance around the desolate corridor. "Did you bring any…" Stakes. I tilted my head a little. "...Or any other…" Weapons. I asked without mentioning what I actually meant.
Uncle Nate knew exactly what I meant. "No, I was too busy worrying 'bout you. I might have some emergency ones in the car. Why?"
I shrugged, choosing not to comment as I stared hard at Caroline's half-opened door. "Excuse me." Another nurse interrupted us. "Visiting hours are now over. Please come back tomorrow." She tried to get us to leave.
"It's fine. She just got discharged. We're just leaving." Uncle Nate said in a mock cheerful voice as he grabbed my hand and carefully dragged me away. I let him take me away.
All the while my eyes stayed on Caroline's door as I walked away. I turned away from her door and the hallway to stare at my uncle. He came unarmed. I didn't know if I had enough in me to use my magic.
I couldn't take that risk.
I glanced around and there were a couple of deputies patrolling the area, one of them stopped outside of Caroline's room and nodded a greeting to my uncle.
Caroline would be safe. I tried to believe that. I knew I was going to regret this, almost as much I regret letting Damon give her his blood but my family came first.
I couldn't lose another member of my family.
This is for the best, I thought as I leaned against the cold window of uncle Nate's car, staring at the shrinking form of the hospital. I closed my eyes and fell into a deep guilt-filled slumber.
