Chapter 25: House of Memories


Mystic Falls, January 2001

I shivered as I held onto my blanket tightly and kept my head down. I glanced at the seat next to me where my older brother was sitting and eyed the sharp wooden object in his hand with concern.

Without warning, I reached for it and tried to make a grab for it. But my brother was faster and pulled away from my grip. "Dan, you're not supposed to have those yet." I reminded him, glaring at the object in his hands.

My older brother laughed and stuck out his tongue at me. I glared at him. "You're just jealous, you don't have one."

"I didn't want one in the first place." I looked away and puffed up my cheeks. "Dad's not gonna be happy when finds out." My brother didn't care as he played around with the object. "Come on, put it back."

He stared at me and shook his head. "No. I'm not putting back the stake besides I've been learning how to use it for a year now—bet you're jealous about that."

But I wasn't jealous at all. Another year, another birthday and I'd start learning how to use a stake too. I didn't want to. I'd seen first hand how terrifying those vampires could be.

My dad had taken me on one of his hunts along with aunt Evie and uncle Nate a few months after my eighth birthday to show me what it could be like.

It was the worst day I ever had.

Those vampires were terrifying and the moment I saw their bloody faces and darkened eyes, I cried. My aunt Evie chastised and told me off for attracting too much attention but my dad was more understanding. I hated this and after that day, I stopped looking forward to my birthdays and months that would follow after.

"I'm not jealous…" I mumbled under my breath.

Daniel, noticing his little sister trembling, put the stake to the side. He frowned before he reached over to grab my hand into his, giving it a little squeeze to remind him he was still there. He felt bad for teasing his sister earlier.

"It's okay." He said, looking at me who was still unconvinced. "Hey, if those vampires come around, I'll protect you."

I looked at my brother and smiled. "I wanna go home, Dan."

"Soon, Rosy. Just wait a little."

I puffed up my cheeks and blew out some air before taking my hand away. I wrapped her arms around myself and looked out at the darkened road which was flanked by thick layers of trees.

My teeth chattered as I pressed my face into the glass. "Why does this always have to be at night?" I complained.

"Because vampires can't walk around in the day, duh?" My cousin, Christian responded from the front seat. He let out a yawn and covered his mouth. "Were you not paying attention to aunt Diana's classes? Or were you doodling again?"

I looked at him and ignored his questions. "What if vampires could walk in the daylight?" I questioned instead.

My brother laughed in disbelief, clutching his stomach like I had said the funniest joke she could think of. My cousin mimicked my brother. Neither of the boys took me seriously.

I glared at the two, and sat back into my seat, looking away from the two.

"Y'know it's hilarious, you'd even think that." Christian commented, looking around for anyone. "It's not possible."

"You don't know that."

"Neither do you."

"Maybe you should pay attention to what aunt Diana and your dad says more and daydream less."

"Well my dreams are more useful than you."

"Nobody cares."

I scowled and looked away. "I wanna go home."

Christian rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to say something but Daniel beat him to it. "We will." He patted my shoulder. "Right after this."

"What if one of us gets hurt?"

My brother patted my head and smiled. "That's not gonna happen, dad's gonna make sure of it."

Christian coughed loudly. "My mom's out there too." He pointed to a tall thin woman outside. She wore a stylish black trench coat and carried a shotgun filled with magical wooden bullets.

Evelyn Fitzroy was distracted and looked back at her brother's car. She waved at it with a stiff and awkward smile. Christian brightened up seeing his mother, waving back.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back, throwing my head back. My eyes felt heavy and I wanted to go home and sleep. I'd rather be at home with her mother and grandma than be here.

"Where's uncle Laurence?" Daniel questioned, looking around.

I moved out of the way as he pressed his face to the glass. He squinted his eyes while in the front passenger seat, Christian mimicked his cousin. I looked straight ahead, tired. My eyes drooped down and I forced them to open once again.

Tuck.

"Um. You guys." I called out to my brother and cousin.

Tuck. Tuck.

"Did you guys hear that?" I asked.

Daniel peeled himself away from the window and paused to listen to the sound. Tuck. There it was again. The two siblings shared a look and turned around slowly.

Tuck.

"Chris, do you hear that?" Daniel asked, looking at his cousin. Christian looked away and shrugged. I narrowed my eyes at him and he flinched under my gaze. It was like I was seeing right through him.

Tuck.

That sound was heard again followed by some cries.

"I think there's something in the trunk." I stated.

Without waiting for an answer from Christian, I freed myself from the seatbelts and opened the door to my side. Carefully, I looked to the sides before running out of the car.

My brother hurried to unclasp his seatbelts before following me. Not wanting to be left behind, Christian did the same. "Ava, what are you…" But Daniel's words died in his throat when I reached for the trunk and forced it open, I struggled a little and Daniel had to help out.

The trunk of the car opened and inside lay a little boy. He hugged his knees while trying to stay quiet as tears slid down his face.

"Chriss, I'm scared…" The little boy who was only four cried out.

I stared at the boy in horror. I glanced at my brother who mirrored my look. "Flynn." Daniel icily greeted his younger cousin. "What are you doing in there?" The ten year old folded his arms around himself. His eyes narrowed on Flynn and he looked intimidating to me.

I held out my hand and helped Flynn out of the trunk as he sniffed helplessly. "I…I wanted to see what you were all doing." He forced himself out.

"So you snuck into the trunk?" Daniel pressed on while glancing at Christian who had himself small.

Flynn said nothing but glanced at his older brother with wide eyes. "Seriously? Chris!" I hissed out, turning around to punch my cousin in the shoulder. "What were you thinking? He's four!"

"Well, I…" Christian froze. He looked around, his cousins and his little brother all froze. Flynn cried out.

"Chrish, I don't feel so good." Flynn cried, rubbing his eyes.

I glanced at my brother and grabbed Flynn, closing the trunk but not before grabbing a few crossbows that I barely knew how to use. My brother and cousin were better at it. I passed them one each and got inside the car with Flynn.

Daniel was the last to get in. "Lock the doors now." He commanded.

Christian locked the front doors while I and Daniel locked the passenger doors. "What's happening?" Flynn slurred.

I held a finger to my lips and shushed my cousin. "Chris…radio." I whispered. Christian nodded and turned on the radio before he slipped onto the floor of his seat like his cousins.

The four quietly waited while holding their breaths for it to pass. Flynn covered his mouth and stared up at the window before I pulled my blanket over him and my brother.

I could hear the sounds of gravel crunching outside as the cold death-like feeling wrapped around, suffocating me. I knew it was worse for Flynn who shivered violently in my arms.

Through the thin blanket I could see the moonlight leaking through the window, allowing me to vaguely see the outside.

There was someone walking around the car. That person peered into the car, pressing their face to the car's window. I stiffened in fear and almost let out a sound but Daniel quietly reached for my hand. He looked at me and tried to help me calm down.

When I looked back that person was gone. But they didn't relax. Flynn tried to move but Daniel and I held onto him tight. They could still feel it.

I could feel my heart pounding against my ribcage as I held onto Flynn and my brother. I glanced at the window and found a dark shadow looming close by.

Wind screeched and howled before a loud thud echoed through the empty road.

A man pressed his face to the window and hissed violently against the glass. His eyes were pitch glass and there were dark veins under his eyes. His mouth was covered in blood.

I could smell the strong metallic scent of blood from where I sat. It made my stomach turn in disgust and I felt like throwing up.

'Don't move.' My brother mouthed to me.

I stayed still and waited for the vampire to pass. The vampire waited for a few seconds before punching through the car's window. Still nobody dared to move.

He looked down at us and grinned. He must've seen the three children through the blanket but before he could reach out to them.

Christian got out of his hiding spot and aimed his crossbow at him. While the vampire was distracted by the sound of music and on the blanket, Christian shot the vampire straight in the shoulders.

It hissed and screeched loudly before pulling out the vervain soaked arrow from his back.

"Christian. You idiot." Daniel hissed out before throwing the blanket off of him and opening the car door, taking the vampire out by surprise. It fell to the floor as I pulled Flynn to the other side and got out of the car but not before grabbing a few vervain glass bottles.

"Dan!" Dad screamed out at Daniel before he aimed his gun at the vampire but the vampire was quick but not quick enough for uncle Nate who followed his older brother.

Christian hobbled over to his brother and quietly covered Flynn's eyes.

Uncle Nate chanted under his breath as he walked closer to the vampire. The vampire fell to his knees in pain, grasping his head and groaning. Dad pushed Daniel to the side and took out an axe. He brought it down and the vampire's head went flying.

Dad took out a stake, for good measure, he staked its heart as aunt Evelyn hurried over to her brothers with aunt Diana and Grandpa Charles on her heels. The vampire's headless body turned gray before aunt Diana held out her hand and muttered a quick spell.

It combusted as I let out a gasp.

"Don't look away." Aunt Evelyn quietly warned the three behind her youngest. She wasn't happy at all that Flynn was there.

I curled up my fists, my nails digging into my flesh. I almost looked away but when I met the gazes of my aunts and my dad, I couldn't look away. I had to watch as the headless body of the vampire withered in the flames.


"Jenna's having a barbecue." Uncle Nate frowned looking down at his phone. He leaned on the kitchen island, his phone in one hand and a glass of mango and papaya smoothie in the other.

I nodded and opened the fridge to grab a cold water bottle. I was running late for school. My alarm didn't go off for some reason and now I was late. I didn't really have time to think about what he was saying.

"Jenna's having a barbecue." He repeated, falling down onto a chair near the kitchen counter. He was being dramatic.

Pausing, I turned to look at the time and at him. "You've repeated that twice now. What's wrong?"

"Jenna is having a barbecue."

I groaned and slammed the fridge door shut. I wanted an answer, I didn't ask him to repeat what he said.

"Great, I'm running late for school so I'm gonna—"

Uncle Nate followed me to the foyer. "Ava," I looked at him, my hand on the door. "Jenna can't cook."

"Oh-kay. I don't think there's a person in town who doesn't know." I rolled my eyes and left the kitchen.

"You don't understand."

"Oh. I do. Health and safety, food poisoning etcetera." I hurried to the foyer, picked up my car keys and grabbed my coat. "Look I have to—ugh fine, I'll give you a minute."

"Damon asked Ric to ask Jenna to host a barbecue."

"Damon did?" He nodded. "I'm guessing you're pissed."

He stared blankly at me. "What do you think? One of the reasons I said I'll help your little gang of misfits was to protect Jenna and Mason. Damon is going to try to provoke Mason and put Jenna in danger."

"Okay. Tell Jenna to call it off."

"She's not listening."

"Then what do you want me to do? I'm not forcing her to—"

"I wasn't asking you."

"Then what?" I looked at the time. I had half an hour left till class started. "What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know."

"Let me know if you figure it out." I tried to open the door but he closed it. "What?"

He stared at me with an uncomfortable look. "I think you should stay home for the week."

"Excuse me? You want me to skip school?"

He sighed and closed the door properly before standing in front of it. "Your aunt Evelyn and I had a talk along with your dad. They think you should stay home for the time being since not only Katherine Pierce is back but…"

"You might be a threat."

I gasped and took a step back. "You think I'm a threat!"

"No!" He denied it and tried to grab my arm but I pulled back. "Ava, listen to me—"

"I did. I heard you loud and clear! You and this family think I'm a threat because of the possibility that I might not be completely human!"

"Let's not fight."

"Too late." I crossed my arms and looked at him. I was disappointed at him but most importantly I was disappointed in my dad and this family who I willingly gave up my childhood for just so I would fit in. "Does…dad know about this or was this his idea?"

"Ava."

"So it was his idea."

"He just wants to protect you but it wasn't completely his idea."

"Aunt Evelyn?" He nodded and I scoffed. Of course, it was her. "She needs to get over herself. Her failures have nothing to do with me."

He shook his head. "Look, she's trying to protect the family."

"Yeah, the family, not me. She doesn't care about me. She resents me for getting involved in this town's mess just because I wanted to protect my friends." I exhaled loudly and trembled in anger.

Yeah, I screwed a lot but at least I was trying. I wasn't the one who ran away for years after getting people killed.

"Let's not forget she wants everything to be perfect and everyone to be like her. Don't act like she doesn't treat you and aunt Diana different because you two are witches like grandma Janine—"

"She doesn't."

"She does. She's even ignoring the fact that Lauren might be just like you, aunt Di and gran—"

"That's enough!" He shouted. His eyes red and his cheeks with anger. When he noticed what he had done. He quickly calmed down. "Ava, I'm—"

"I'll skip school." He sighed in relief. "But I'm not staying here."

"Ava, come on, we're just worried."

"Don't worry, I won't get anyone killed. Caroline was a fluke."

"Ava, that's not what I meant." He tried to grab me to stop me but I pulled away and glared at him. "Caroline wasn't your fault."

"Right. Maybe it was the mayor's death, that was my fault."

"Neither Caroline or Richard's death was your fault." He seemed annoyed by my remarks. I mean I could've listened to his thoughts but at that point I was too angry to try.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's what aunt Evelyn thinks too." I sarcastically drawled out, hurrying to my car. "Oh and I wonder what she's gonna think about you getting involved in this town's mess for your friends." I smiled sarcastically as his face paled. "Don't worry I won't tell her but Mason's your problem not mine."

His grip on the car door slackened and I used the opportunity to pry his hands off. "By the way, I already made it clear to Damon that I wasn't getting involved anymore but you guys just had to go and…"

"You're overreacting."

"No, I'm underreacting."

"Stop acting like a child!" He banged on the car window and I glared up at him.

I laughed when he said that. A child. I was acting like a child. God, after everything I did for them. Their stupid plan to help John for some reason was why the mayor and Caroline died. I mean it saved the town but Caroline was a vampire and I hated myself.

"I wouldn't know how to act like one even if I tried thanks to some people."

He flinched when I said that, lost for words. Opening and closing his mouth, he tried to think of something to say to me but he couldn't. I knew what I said was a little harsh but lately I've been resentful of them like what was the point of having everything if I never got the chance to act like my age or do things most girls my age did.

I was starting to resent my friends like Elena who had the choice of walking away before but she stuck around. I didn't have that choice I was born into this stupid lifestyle and now I was turning into something I didn't know. I'm scared but I couldn't afford to be.


Sitting down on the floor of one of the eight private study rooms in the town library I booked for the day, I placed down the stack of old books next to the pile of finished homework.

I ended up skipping school, not once but three times. I even ended up avoiding my uncle. He actually made an effort to find me. I was lucky that the manor was big enough that he couldn't find me. He even waited at school so I skipped school.

I don't know if I did it out of spite or just because I wanted to but I liked being alone these days. No family, no friends and most of all no vampires.

This was peaceful.

I glanced at the old books and picked up a random one. They were mostly about werewolves or fairies. The one I picked up was about werewolves. I skimmed the pages and skimmed back to the front in frustration.

It was all the same.

Every single book I've read so far was the same. All of them were the same.

Lycanthropy. Shapeshifters. Skinwalkers.

All of them were the same and it annoyed me because the only thing shapeshifters and skinwalkers had in common with werewolves was that they could change their form.

Annoyed, I felt like ripping out the pages of the book. I glared at the first page of the book, it spelled out the title in faded black cursive just like on the cover but on the bottom was a paper stapled onto the page with a list of names who borrowed the book in the past.

Last time it was taken out was in the 70s. God I can imagine why. It was completely usele—

'Teddy Lockwood'

Oh.

Wait.

I snatched the book from the floor and held it up to the light.

'Teddy Lockwood'

It was a little faded and the page was yellowed but it was there. Teddy was Theodore Lockwood, father of Richard and Mason Lockwood. This was interesting. I finally got something. I put that book down and grabbed the other ones about werewolves, flicking through them to see if it was borrowed by any Lockwoods.

Sure enough it was.

I found another Lockwood in the 1950s who borrowed it once but returned it in a day. Now why would Lockwoods, a founding family so dedicated to hunting vampires that they even led the charge against them in the 1800s, want books on werewolves?

Well, there were three possible answers.

One, they encountered werewolves.

Two, they wanted to know about werewolves.

Three, they were werewolves.

I opted for the third one.

Mason and Katherine were working together, that much I knew from my short run in with Mason at the carnival. Katherine wouldn't just work with a random human without any benefits on her side. I didn't think she would.

Under my jacket, my phone buzzed quietly. I sighed and moved my jacket to check my phone.

16 missed calls. 5 voicemails. 35 new messages.

Most of them were from uncle Nate. I really didn't want to deal with him right now but I still decided to listen to his messages.

'Hey, it's me. Can you please stop avoiding me? It's been three days, Ava. Come on.'

'Hey, I'm worried about you. Can you call me or text at least?'

'Look, I'm not sorry for wanting you to stay at home, I was looking out for you so please stop avoiding me.'

'Hey, Jenna's barbecue is tonight, I was hoping you'd show up since Damon's clearly using this to set a trap for Mason.'

'Hey, I'm at the Gilbert house, I'm helping Jenna cook for the barbecue and I'm waiting for you so please show up, at least for Elena? Come on. I'm getting tired of this.'

That was the last of the voice messages. I didn't want to go to the barbecue. He could deal with Damon and Mason. I had better stuff to do.


Mystic Falls, January 2001

"Laurie hasn't been back." Aunt Evelyn said as the family gathered around for dinner that night.

A maid placed down the last dish before hurrying out of the main dining room. She closed the door on her way out as Charles Fitzroy closely watched the maid leave. He waited until everyone was seated before beginning.

"Janine." Grandpa Charles reached out for his wife and held her hand in his. "Can you do a tracking spell after dinner?" He asked.

Grandma Janine nodded. "I'm sure Laurence 's fine, Eve. Don't worry too much." She tried to comfort her eldest daughter as best as she could. "Ava." She turned to her only granddaughter and stared at her.

I plastered on a smile and looked up. "Yes."

"Did you…have a dream?"

I looked at the faces around the table who looked at me with hope in their eyes. I didn't want to disappoint, I could lie and say what they wanted to hear but it would only come back to bite me back later. I bit my lips and shook my head. Aunt Evelyn took a sharp breath before letting it out.

Dad nodded at me with a sad smile before turning to his older sister. "Just because Ava hasn't had a dream, it doesn't mean anything, Eve."

"You don't know that." Aunt Evelyn looked at me with a desperate look but I looked away.

"I think we should discuss this later." Grandpa Charles stated, looking sternly at his eldest daughter.

From the corner of his eyes, his oldest son made a gesture and he nodded in agreement. They would need a search party for Laurence Novak later.


The Grill was packed when I walked in. I struggled to find a seat and had to squeeze through the crowd to find a corner table near the back. I was lucky that it was starting to empty a little.

Matt noticed me walking in and waved at me before making a beeline for me. His cast was still on but he was at work. I guess he just couldn't do any heavy-lifting or anything.

"Hey, I'm surprised to see you here."

I smiled awkwardly and shrugged. I know my mom would kill me for not having a home cooked meal but since I was avoiding uncle Nate and by extension the rest of my family, I was forced to eat out or eat later or earlier than my uncle.

I gestured to him to come closer before quietly answering. "It's my cheat day."

He let out a laugh, shaking his head. "Yeah, I believe that."

I turned over a glass and poured myself a glass of water. "It really is. I'm not lying." I took a sip of the water, looking down at the menu.

"So what would you like?"

Just as I was about to answer, my phone went off. Elena texted me asking me where I was and why I was not at her house. Oh boy. I bit my lips and stared at the phone in front of me.

Matt waited for a second before calling me. "Ava? Is everything okay?" He asked, looking around as the Grill started to empty a little but lunch time wasn't over yet.

"Nothing. It's just Elena." I closed my phone and put it on the table. Placing my head between my hands, I looked up at Matt. "She keeps inviting me over to hers to help for Jenna's barbecue."

He made a face, shaking his head. "Sounds like a safety hazard."

"Oh. Jenna's not cooking." I answered, turning my phone over to text Elena back when another message came through from her.

"So who's cooking? Elena? That's another safety hazard, no offense."

"None taken. Actually…my uncle's the one cooking. He volunteered." I looked up at him and showed him Elena's new message. "Caroline's also gonna be there."

His face dropped and he moved away from my phone, shifting on his feet while looking around at anything but my phone.

Noticing the change in him, I couldn't help but frown. "What's wrong?" I questioned.

"Well…" He looked away.

"When's your break?"

"It's fine. It's nothing." He brushed me off but I wasn't budging at all. I crossed my arms and leaned back into my seat. "Don't you have to go to Elena's."

"I never said I would and besides there's still time left. So tell me, what's up?"

"Ah. I'm doing shorter shifts anyways." I heard him mumble before he sat down across from me. "I broke up with Caroline."

Oh.

My mouth hung open and my eyes widened. I knew this would happen now that Caroline was a vampire but I didn't expect it to happen so soon. Not only that but Caroline never mentioned it when we last spoke. All she said was that she and Matt had an argument and that was it.

"What happened?"

He sighed and slumped into the chair. "I don't know if it was the accident or something but since that day, she's been a little different."

"So she broke up with you?"

"I broke up with her." He corrected. "I was talking to Aimee and Caroline started acting all possessive saying Aimee was flirting with me even though she ignored me for weeks."

I pursed my lips. "Matt. You know Aimee has a crush on you."

Matt scoffed in disbelief. "No she doesn't. She was just being nice."

Oh boy. I threw my head back and looked at him. "Are you actually serious right now?" He stared blankly at me. "Aimee has been crushing on you for a while now. If you and Caroline weren't a thing she was gonna ask you out. I heard her talk to Dana about you once or twice."

His face dropped as he finally realized that maybe Caroline was right. "But it doesn't change that she was being a little…too much after ignoring me."

"She was in an accident." I pointed out, reminding him like it was the obvious thing in the world. "Don't make that face." He slumped further into his chair. I tiredly breathed out and unbraided my hair in annoyance. "Okay." I clapped my hands together. "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing."

"I broke up with Caroline even though she was right about Aimee."

She was also a vampire that could kill you. But I didn't say that out loud.

"Maybe this is a good thing. Give each other some space for now."

He didn't agree with what I was saying. I didn't agree with what I was saying either but it was not like I had a choice. Caroline was still a little unstable.

Reluctantly he nodded and I reached over for his hand. He reached over and I grabbed his hand, giving it a squeeze to comfort him. I let go and started to get up.

"Leaving?" I nodded.

"Elena's gonna keep blowing up my phone if I don't show up."

He bobbed his head and looked down. I wish there was something I could do for him but there was nothing I could do that would help him


"Hey," Elena opened the door and engulfed me in a hug. "Thanks for showing up." She let go and ushered me inside the house.

Jenna passed by, she stopped to wave at me before stopping again. "Hey, your uncle's out back. If you want…"

We awkwardly stared at each other and I didn't know what to say. All I could do was silently curse my uncle for telling Jenna. She looked at me with wide eyes, hoping that I would take the first step. Not this time I wouldn't. I was tired of always giving way to my family.

"Thanks, but I'm just gonna help Elena in the kitchen." I brushed past her and went into the kitchen.

Elena followed me without a word. The two of us came to stop near the kitchen counters and I scanned the counters. Snacks for the barbecue were scattered on the counter along with the drinks.

"Is everything okay?" She asked with her hands behind her back.

"Everything's fine." I answered, going over to the sink to wash my hands before grabbing a cutting board. "I'm making the salad. Is that fine?"

"That's fine." I nodded and grabbed a few tomatoes and cucumbers along with some lettuce. "So…are you gonna tell me what happened?"

"Nothing." I doubled down on my answer as I sliced the cucumbers and added them to the bowl.

She rolled her eyes. "Somehow I don't believe that."

"There's nothing I can do about that."

Jenna walked into the kitchen and peered over my shoulder. "Oh, you're making the salad? Thank god. I was worried I'd have to do it."

I laughed and then pursed my lips. "Please tell me you can at least make a salad."

"Your optimism never seizes to surprise me."

"Okay. Wow." I put the knife down and turned to look at Jenna. "You're worse than Elena."

Unashamed of her lack of cooking skills, she threw her hands in the air. Her smile faded before she looked at me with a difficult look on her face. Oh god. Not now. "I know this is probably gonna kill the mood but Nate's really sorry Ava."

I smiled blankly and nodded. "Well, he can say that to me."

Elena looked between me and her aunt and then folded her arms around her. "Did you and your uncle have a fight?"

"More like me and my entire family. Maybe except my parents."

"Ava." Jenna started. "Look I don't know the whole story but your uncle is trying his best with you and…you know, he's always been there for you so maybe—"

"Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do but maybe leave the apologies to my uncle." I finished tossing the salad and moved to take it to the dining room.

Jenna followed me. Her thoughts were still full of what my uncle had told her sprinkled in with some disdain for Damon for crashing her barbecue.

Elena noticed the tense look between us, quickly changed the topic. "Thanks for letting me invite Caroline." She grabbed a bag of chips and started to put them into a bowl. "She could use a day of distraction."

"Well, she's not the plus one I'm worried about." Jenna placed some plates onto the table before standing between me and Elena. "Why is Damon coming?"

Elena sighed and looked at me for support. Oh, no. This was on her. I was just here to watch Caroline and help prep for the barbecue. "Because Alaric is a pity taker." She answered. "Come on Jenna, be nice."

Leaning against the dining table, I took out my phone. Matt had asked about Caroline again. She still wasn't here. "She doesn't have to be, if she doesn't want to." I boredly stated while typing a reply to Matt's text.

"Thank you." Jenna grabbed some more plates and put them on the table. "I'll be nice when Damon learns to keep his paws off you two." She glanced at Elena before giving me a suggestive look.

I scrunched up my face in disgust. "No. We're not having 'that' conversation either."

"So there's going on between you two."

The only way anything would happen between me and Damon was if he was on his deathbed and I miraculously realized I was in love with him or something. That was just not gonna happen. I was not that kind of person.

Elena curiously glanced at me and I rolled my eyes. "Probably a restraining order." I commented lowly under my breath. "I'm in high school, Jenna. I'm not gonna date a guy who's waay older than me." He was over a hundred years old to be exact.

"Caroline did."

"And he treated her like shit."

"Everyone but you can see he treats you differently."

Unfortunately. I could no longer deny that he actually did in fact treat me very differently from Caroline and sometimes even Elena. I knew there might be some truth to all these rumors but I'd rather pretend I didn't know or understand him than face the truth.

Maybe he did care unconditionally, no strings attached, not because I was Katherine or Lydia but because I was me. Maybe that was the truth but I'd rather not believe that.

"He's a Salvatore."

"So Mason's a Lockwood and your uncle is best friends with him."

"That's…uncle Nate, not me."

"I found the shot glasses."

"Speak of the devil and he'll walk in. Hey Mason." Mason waved at me and then I returned the same greeting. He looked a little more tense than last time. Though, Jenna didn't notice. "That's my cue to leave."

"Take me with you." Elena followed me out onto the porch and took out her phone. "Hey, have you heard from Stefan."

I leaned against the wall and shrugged. I hadn't heard from in a while. "Did you even invite him?" I asked, taking out my phone to send a quick text to Stefan.

"I did but he's no show."

"Probably busy." I answered back.

Elena was upset and decided to call him while I waited for a reply to my text. She got no reply and decided to leave a voice message just as Caroline walked in.

Unlike before, I didn't hug her or go close to her. There was still some awkwardness left between us even though we tried our best to mend fences, it was hard knowing that we both tried to kill each other.

Caroline held up a bowl of chips and offered it to me. I shook my head and waved her off. She shrugged with a smile and continued to munch on the chips. "Was that Stefan?" She asked, taking a seat next to Elena.

Elena pursed her lips and then nodded. She was worrying again. Lately that was all she did and she wasn't the only one. "Yeah, he hasn't called me back. I'm trying to decide if I should be worried."

"Try a few more times and then leave it at that." I suggested while scrolling through my texts and sent another text to Stefan, still waiting for his reply.

Where the hell was he?

Caroline looked up at me. Her hands shook a little as she gripped the bowl tightly against her chest. "I'm sure he's fine." She took a chip and ate it while glancing at me and Elena.

"God! I cannot stop eating. Stefan says it's a great way to sublimate the cravings. It's horrible just fighting the urge for blood every minute of every day." I recoiled a little in disgust but tried my best to mask it. It was still uncomfortable to think that Caroline was a vampire but I was trying my best.

Elena seemed to share my thoughts. She pulled at her sleeve and nodded. "I know that Stefan really hates that part of himself." I silently agreed.

"Yeah and he hates that you're a constant temptation."

I frowned and tilted my head to get a look at Caroline. She avoided my gaze as Elena sat up, looking hurt and a little worried. "He said that?"

"Doesn't sound like something Stefan would say." I commented. "Maybe Damon but not Stefan." I added in, trying to ease the tension between my two friends before giving Caroline a pointed look. I don't know what she was doing but she needed to back off.

She ignored the two of us and carried on. "The desire to rip out your jugular every time he's with you?" She smiled at Elena but her eyes were hollow. Her hands shook a little. "Trust me, it's there. That's why I had to break up with Matt."

That was weird. Something was not adding up. Matt wasn't the type to lie about these things and he had nothing to gain by lying. My eyes wandered to Caroline who still avoided my gaze like I could hear her thoughts or something.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Weird. Matt said he's the one who broke up with you."

Caroline looked up at me with wide eyes. "You and Matt talked…" Her face crumbling as Elena glanced between me and her, she was about to say something when the door opened and Alaric came in, announcing the food was ready.

"Finally, I'm starving." Caroline rushed out while I watched her leave.

My phone went off then. Stefan finally replied. "I don't think he's coming." I said to Elena.

She looked down in disappointment before following Caroline in just as another message from Stefan came through.

'Katherine's at the Boarding House'

- Stef

This wasn't gonna be good. Not good at all.


Mystic Falls, January 2001

"Flynn, go to bed." Christian hissed under his breath while trying to separate his brother from him.

The halls were quiet now. Lights were slowly being turned off as the children walked through the empty halls. Almost all the staff had gone home or gone to bed. The elders in the family were having a meeting.

That left the Fitzroy children to their own devices. Christian being the oldest naturally took charge. He suggested that they watch a movie at the family theater room before bed.

At first, I didn't agree. I liked the idea but I didn't agree with Christian's choice of movie. I thought it was too boring and I'd fall asleep ten minutes in. Daniel decided to offer an alternative.

Daniel gave Christian a look of sympathy before following I to the theater room. "Hey, Ava and I are gonna get the movie started. Be there in ten?"

Christian nodded before glancing at Flynn who didn't let go. "Can I just bring Flynn with me?"

"Ugh. Do you have to?"

"He's not letting go."

"Dan, it's fine." I said, smiling at Flynn who sniffed quietly.

The four of us walked through the dark corridors and went up a set of stairs in the east wing, passing a hall. The hall was one of the few to have floor length windows in the manor. The windows faced the gardens which were usually illuminated but now were dark.

Flynn jumped as the wind howled loudly. A snowstorm was brewing outside as the dead branches of trees swung wildly against the windows.

"Chris, I'm scared." Flynn cried out quietly.

"Stop being a baby." Christian snapped.

I let out a quiet laugh and tugged at my brother's sleeve. I froze, stopping in front of one of the tall windows.

Bitter and the cold death-like chill wrapped around my neck, squeezing the air out of her lungs as she folded her fists in. Daniel and Christian all did the same. The trio looked at each other terrified and hurried to grab Flynn.

"Flynn?" I called out to her younger cousin but paused. There was someone outside. Someone was standing on one of the branches of the tree, looking in but she couldn't make out his face.

Flynn stared out the window in a trance. "Dad—da…"

"Flynn, it's me." Laurence Novak called out to his youngest son. His voice filled with desperation. "Let me in, Flynn."

Daniel rushed forward and pulled him away from the windows before turning and throwing him to his older brother. He rushed to the nearest wall and pulled off one of the light fixtures, revealing a lever.

Without hesitation, he pulled the lever.

A loud siren echoed through the house as uncle Laurence clutched his head in pain and fell to his knees.

"Dan, come on." I ran to my brother and pulled him with her. I led the three boys to the old master bedroom in the east wing.

Daniel took the lead there and led the others through dust covered furniture to the back of the room and to the corner. He turned to me and Christian, gesturing for us to help him. Christian moved quickly and unlocked the door to one of the passageways through the house.

"Where to?" Christian asked.

"Library." Daniel and I said at the same time before I grabbed Flynn and started running towards the library. Flynn started crying again. "This is just a game, Flynn. Come on, don't cry." I looked back at the boys and gave them a look to play along.

"Yeah, it's a game." Daniel chimed in, taking the lead again.

Christian was the one who led them to the library. The door to the library opened with a quiet screech and the four stepped out with some hesitation.

"Daniel?" Mom carefully approached the passageway. "Ava?" She called out to her children while holding a crossbow in front of her.

"Mom!" I let go of Flynn and ran into the arms of my mother who engulfed us into her embrace. "Uncle Laurence…" I breathed out.

"You saw Laurie?" Aunt Evelyn jumped forward, moving past her children and her brothers to get to me. "Where is he?"

Daniel shook his head. "Aunt Eve…" He had a grim look on his face. A look that should've been foreign to a child his age.

"No…no. No!" Aunt Evelyn fell to the floor and started sobbing. "This can't be happening…not Laurie." She cried out.

"Mommy?" Flynn tried to grab his mother for comfort but aunt Evelyn shoved his hands away. There was a crazed look in her eyes.

Grandpa Charles hurried to where they were all gathered and grabbed his daughter. "Evelyn, don't." Dad warned her quietly. "Don't do anything stupid."

Grandma Janine came forward and looked towards the windows. "We need to close the windows and bar the doors." She turned to aunt Diana and uncle Nate, nodding at them.

"Does it matter?" Aunt Evelyn countered. "It's not like he can get in."

"Doesn't mean he won't try."

Aunt Evelyn shook her head in disbelief. "This is ridiculous. Why are we acting like this? This Laurie, we're talking about. He wouldn't hurt anyone."

"He's a vampire now, Eve." Grandpa Charles reminded her.

"What's a vampire?" Flynn asked, only to be ignored.

"He is my husband! The father of my children!" Aunt Evelyn countered.

"And he's dead." Dad stated. "I'm sorry Eve but it's too late for him."

Tears welled up in her eyes as she let out a sob. "No. You don't know that."

Dad shook his head as grandpa Charles hobbled over his daughter's side. "I'm sorry Eve, he's gone. Hey. Hey, it's gonna be okay. We're here."

Christian seeing the exchange, fell to his knees with his head in-between his hands. He cried out for the first time in years. "Dad…no. No!" He cried out.

Daniel reached out and engulfed him into a hug but Christian didn't care as he started sobbing. I reached out for Flynn and kept him close-by.

"...What do we do now?" I looked up at my dad and asked. Dad let out a sigh and shook his head.

"Christian, Ava and Daniel." Grandpa Charles called out to us. "I'm sorry but now's not the time to cry. I need you three to stay strong and arm yourselves."

"It's just one vampire, dad." Uncle Nate walked up to his father and folded his arm.

Grandpa Charles disagreed.

I looked outside, eyes unfocused. Mom noticed something, she stared at me, not daring to take her eyes off me. She reached out for me and grabbed onto me tight. Flynn looked at the two of us confused.

"There's not just one." I quietly murmured under my breath.

"What did you just say?" Aunt Diana asked.

"She said there's not just one." Mom repeated. "Evelyn!" She shouted all of a sudden, running towards aunt Evelyn who had found herself near a window. "Don't!"

"Laila! Take the kids and run to the Fort." Dad shouted out as aunt Evelyn invited uncle Laurence inside the house.


"Do I have to do this?" I stared blankly at the small slip paper in my hand and then looked up at the blank flip chart.

Jenna giggled before covering up her face with her hand. "Everyone has to take part, come on, Ava." She handed me a black marker and returned to her seat. "Come on, play along."

"Yeah, Ava." Damon chimed in.

I glared openly at him and sighed. My uncle met my gaze and tried to help me but I turned to the board, bringing the marker on the paper.

"She's just being shy." Damon commented as my grip on the marker tightened. I should have just stayed with Matt at the Grill. "She's actually pretty good at drawing."

"We know." Mason cut him off with an awkward laugh.

This was a bad idea.

Sighing, I started to draw a varsity jacket on the whiteboard.

"Oh! Jock. Obviously." Jenna answered.

I made a sound. "Nope." Uncle Nate squinted at the chart and let out a loud sigh. "Nate, you know what it is?"

"Not a clue, Jen." Uncle Nate lied, looking away. Mason stared at him. He didn't believe his friend but he didn't want to start an argument.

"Quarterback!" Caroline guessed and I shook my head.

"Varsity Blues?" Alaric guessed.

"Nope." I went back to the chart and started adding more details. I added a pair of hands and a very realistic wolf head.

Mason chuckled quietly before answering. "Lemme guess, Teen Wolf." He glanced at me and then at Damon before leaning back.

"Katherine was right."

I tried not to flinch hearing his thoughts but instead plastered a smile on my face. I clicked my fingers and pointed at him. "Mason wins."

Damon clapped lazily before taking the marker pen from me. "My turn." He grinned at me and I pulled away after handing him the marker.

He turned his back to us and started to sketch out a dress or a tutu.

"Dress! Ballerina!" Jenna tried to guess again.

He switched pens and started to add a dog.

I'm sorry but he sucked at drawing. If he wasn't trying to provoke Mason, I would actually be making fun of his lack of artistic talents.

Caroline clapped her hands together and balled up her fists, bringing it to her mouth. "Puppy! Puppy with a tutu!" She guessed.

Damon shot them both down. "No, no."

"Lady from Lady and the Tramp?" Uncle Nate guessed.

"Nope."

Jenna deflated and looked at me for a hint. I knew the answer but I'd rather not tell. "A dog! Hound-dog!" She tried again.

I watched Mason. His eyes focused on Damon. "Dances with Wolves"

"Mason wins...again."

"How is that a wolf?" Jenna complained.

"You should take art classes from Ava."

"Funny Care." I kept my gaze on her for a second longer than I wanted to but then got up. "I'm gonna go help Elena in the kitchen."

I walked into the kitchen and turned the tap on along with the timer for the oven. "What are you doing?" Elena asked, standing in the middle of the kitchen.

"Have you noticed something about Caroline?" I questioned, looking at the entrance of the kitchen and checking for a sign of Caroline of Damon.

Her face scrunched up into a frown before she nodded. "She's being pushy…more than usual."

I nodded. "Something's up with her." Elena sighed and shook her head in disbelief.

"Nothing's up with her, she's just on the edge. She got turned into a vampire and then Matt broke up with her." She was in denial.

I looked around the kitchen and walked around the island counters, standing in front of her. "Exactly." I snapped my fingers. "Matt broke up with her. Caroline said she broke up with him."

"She's going through something."

I slumped and let out a tired sigh. I was so sick and tired of Elena always pretending that everything's fine when it's not. "Why do you always do that?" I had to call her out.

"Do what?" She turned to the fridge and opened it, taking out two boxes. One from the local bakery and the other looked homemade. I recognized the homemade. Uncle Nate must've asked the chef to make dessert for the barbecue.

There she goes on, pretending everything is fine. "Deny. You're always in denial over everything."

"And you overthink." She countered with a blank look, putting the two boxes onto the counter. She slid one over to me and I started to unpack the box.

"I'm just watching out for you." I took out the pie from the box and placed it on a plate. "Don't you think it's weird that Caroline would mention all of this out of the blue."

She clicked her tongue in annoyance. It was clear that Elena didn't want to think anything bad about Caroline and neither did I but there were clear warning signs right there.

"She just became a vampire, Ava." Elena pointed out. "Her emotions are heightened."

"I get that. I do. I'm not saying she's doing fine when she's not but don't you think it's a little weird…" Considering Katherine. Oh. I dropped the paper box back onto the counter as a thought occurred to me. No. It couldn't be. Not Caroline.

"What?" Elena asked, looking up at me curiously.

"Nothing. It's dumb." I brushed her off and picked up the box again before folding it neatly then tossing it to the recycling. "And no, I'm not gonna drop the fact that Caroline is being weird."

I shivered a little and pulled at my sleeve just as Damon walked into the kitchen. "Am I interrupting something?" He asked, glancing at me and then Elena.

We both looked at each other before turning to Damon to shake our heads. Damon noticed the running tap and loud oven timer. He came over and stood next to me. "What's up with the set-up?" He asked quietly, just so only I could hear him.

"Nothing that concerns you." I retorted, trading places with Elena and grabbing a knife. I started slicing the cake that our chef made into slices that would be enough for everyone but left the pie untouched.

Damon watched me cut the cake but said nothing. Elena was still worried and in denial, her thoughts invading my mind, causing my head to ache.

"Well, Aunt Jenna is getting tipsy." He said after a moment, leaving the tap running and re-starting the timer.

Elena sighed, taking the knife from and then ran it under the tap before washing it off. "Will you stop supplying her with alcohol?"

"I want her to like me."

I placed the cake on a cake stand. "Yeah, that's never gonna happen." I retorted, wiping my hands down on a towel.

Elena looked between me and Damon, coming between us before we both started bickering again. She was getting tired of us. "How is Operation Lockwood?" She asked instead.

"He's my new BFF." Damon grinned, taking a maraschino cherry from the cake.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Try not to provoke him. He's more likely to be a werewolf."

"So?"

"Werewolves can kill vampires, Damon." I tiredly reminded him.

"I'm starting to think you care."

"I'm starting to think I should've staked you months ago."

Elena clapped her hands together, grabbing our attention. "Can you two behave? Just for one day."

Damon pointed at me. "She started it."

"I'm sorry that you can't handle my honesty." I smiled sarcastically and flicked my hair back.

Uncle Nate and Jenna walked in. The two deep in a conversation and stopped in the kitchen. Uncle Nate's face twisted when he noticed me. His sudden change did not go unnoticed by Elena or Damon. Jenna looked between us, a little uncomfortable.

Jenna quickly moved to ease the tension. "So is everyone having fun?" She asked, looking at my uncle for some support.

"Yeah." He simply said.

"Can we talk?"

I narrowed my eyes at him and shook my head. Seriously? I needed space. I didn't want to talk.

"I know you can hear me, Ava."

"Nate?" Jenna touched his arm and he jumped a little. "Woah. You okay?"

"Just thinking…about how fun this is."

I rolled my eyes and took a few steps back, distancing myself from the crowd. I moved closer to Elena and tried my best to ignore Damon and my uncle.

Damon took that as his cue to step in. "It is, isn't it?" He chimed in as my uncle's eyes narrowed on him and his jaws clenched. He still didn't like Damon. I don't know if he ever would. "Thank you so much for inviting me."

Jenna pursed her lips and threw a look at Elena who looked helplessly at the scene in front of us. "Did I have a choice?" She countered.

I glanced at my childhood best friend and shook my head at her. God, she could be such a pushover sometimes. Her and Alaric were pushovers in front of Damon.

"I know what you must think about me…" He trailed off just as I got a message.

Stefan texted back. I moved to the side of the kitchen and took out my phone.

'Katherine knows about the Lockwoods'

- Stef

'Does she know about them being werewolves?'

- Rosy

I looked up to see my uncle watching me closely while Damon was hunched over a case of cutlery. "These are fancy." He commented, looking at them.

"Thanks. My mother's silver set." Jenna said, without looking at Damon with her back to him. She leaned over the counter and took out some napkins.

Uncle Nate and I shared a look when we heard Jenna. Elena looked at us and then glanced suspiciously at Damon as he took out a silver knife.

'Katherine confirmed, Lockwoods are werewolves'

- Stef


I didn't like where this was going. It was clear that Damon had a plan. A terrible plan to prove something. Something that I already knew thanks to Stefan. I needed to tell him to stop this before Mason targeted him or worse Caroline.

Ugh.

I almost groaned when I remembered Caroline was still in the house. Not only was she in the house, acting strange but she was also a vampire now, one that was turned by Damon and now associated with the Salvatore brothers. If Mason went after Damon, Stefan would also be in danger and by extension Caroline would be at risk.

This was getting messy.

I was trying so hard to stay out of this but here Damon went actively looking for trouble. This was getting annoying. I also had to worry about Katherine later. Stefan would not be able to keep her down in the cellar chained to a chair forever.

"You look like you've got a lot on your mind." Uncle Nate casually walked up to me and held out a glass of lemonade for me. He looked away from me while trying his best to be nice.

Not wanting to make a scene, I took the cup from him and went back to the kitchen. He followed me quietly, making sure nobody noticed.

"I'd apologize first but I don't think you care right now."

"I don't." I answered honestly.

Mason was a werewolf or most likely one. Stereotypically werewolves had a temper. If Damon exposed him with the silver knife, would he retaliate on the spot?

I took a sip of the lemonade and looked at my uncle. Fine, I'll bite the bullet and put aside my anger temporarily. I was still mad at my family and that included him as well.

"You know Mason, right?" I quietly asked.

He perked up and shifted closer. "I'd like to think so, yeah."

"Great. Um. Does Mason have a temper? Like is he a vengeful person?"

He frowned and looked at the entrance of the kitchen then back at me. "Why would you ask that?"

"Just answer me."

"He's a chill guy. You know Mason."

"Not as well as you know him."

"Is Damon planning something?"

I handed the empty glass to him and let out a sigh. "Is it that obvious?"

"A little." He took the glass over to the sink and rinsed it under the water before washing it. "Mason's not a werewolf, I would know."

"Would you?" I countered. We could only sense vampires, not werewolves and in some rare cases, witches too but werewolves were unknown for us. I let out a tired breath and took out my phone, reading Stefan's texts again. "The Lockwoods are werewolves." I revealed.

He was left at a loss of words, looking at me, trying to find the right words but they never came. "Says who?" He finally bit out.

"Katherine Pierce."

Turning the tap off, he looked at me in disbelief. "Katherine Pierce? The same Katherine who is infamous for lying?"

"Well, she's also far older than we know." I stated, my hand under my chin, trying to think as I started to pace.

Uncle Nate watched me while keeping a look-out for anyone else. He was in turmoil over my outburst and he knew I was right. Everyone in this family were being hypocrites, aunt Evelyn especially. Nobody forgot what she did. Nobody.

"Ava, I—"

"Whatever message you have from aunt Eve, I don't want to hear anything from someone who got their own father killed." I cut him off and took out my phone from my jacket.

His eyes hardened as he looked away. I touched a nerve. Grandpa Charles' death was still a touchy topic and I know bringing him up was a bitch move but I just wanted to be left alone.

"Hey," Jenna poked her head into the kitchen. "We're having a dessert now. Come on." She announced.

I left the kitchen but lingered nearby. Uncle Nate and Jenna didn't leave the kitchen. The two seemed to stay there for a while. I know I shouldn't be wandering around or eavesdropping but I couldn't help it.

"So did you and Ava talk?" I heard Jenna ask followed by the sound of running water.

"I tried and…well, it went exactly as I thought it would." Uncle Nate sighed and I heard some shuffling of chairs.

"She's just going through her rebellious phase." I made a face at Jenna's response. I was not going through a phase. I was pissed, there was a difference. "She'll grow out of it soon. Trust me, Ava being rebellious is nothing compared to Jeremy. She's a saint compared to him. I know I shouldn't be really comparing—"

"Jeremy was sweet before his parents died and then Vicki…" I flinched at the mention of her name. "Yeah, poor kid's been grieving all this time."

"So is Ava."

"Jeremy lost his parents Jenna."

"And Ava went through something traumatic too. Her spring break was a nightmare. I can't imagine being in her place—her ex tried to kill her and did kill a bunch of her friends."

I dug my nails in the palm of my hands to stop myself from going out and interrupting them. Isaac and the whole situation that happened last spring was still a sour topic for me. I hated to think or even talk about it. It didn't help that I had huge gaps in my memory.

"It's not like she remembers much of it."

"That's a response to trauma." Jenna responded. "Psyche major." She added.

"Still not the same."

"It's worse. She witnessed something traumatic and then forgot about it. It's not the same and we shouldn't even be comparing."

"Still."

"Cut her some slack, she's been a model niece, daughter and student since she...forever. It's okay for someone like her to act up."

"I told her to stay home for a week which—honestly I meant a day or two. She actually skipped the whole week."

"Maybe you should've been clear from the start—this parenting stuff is hard."

He sighed loudly. "Tell me about it, at least Dan's in college now so I don't have to worry about him."

"Sometimes, I forget that you've been looking out for those two longer than I could remember."

"Yeah, well, Laila and Gabe have always been busy. It only got worse after my old man died, and I almost had to take a year off from college for them."

"I feel bad for them. At least Miranda and Grayson tried their best to make time for Elena and Jeremy but Gabe and Laila were always so busy."

"You can't blame them. They both have stressful jobs."

"Here I was complaining about Jeremy when you've been doing this for years—still Daniel and Ava are a walk in the park compared to Elena and Jeremy."

"They are." Uncle Nate agreed. "You know what you're right. I should be glad Ava hasn't done anything too out there yet."

"I'd keep an eye on Damon Salvatore though."

"Please don't say what I think you're gonna say."

Jenna chuckled. "You know exactly what I'm gonna say."

Uncle Nate groaned and he got up. "Yeah, I'm not too worried about Ava. She's still not over from what happened with...that boy."

"Oh. Right. I forgot." I heard the sound of ceramic plates clagging against each other and I moved a little away. "What was his name again? Isaiah?"

"Isaac. And try not to mention him around Ava."

My hands trembled as I rushed to get away from the kitchen. I needed some air. Everyone was walking around eggshells around me when it came to that incident. I didn't want sympathy, I wanted answers. Nobody would ever tell me what happened that night. I hated this. I felt like I couldn't breathe.


Mystic Falls, January 2001

The Fort was cold but it was getting warmer a little as January was almost towards its end. I don't know how long we'd been there, two weeks or three. I didn't know. Time had passed in a blink of an eye when we started to stay here.

My eyes wandered out the window. Frost covered the windows and the one in my room was no exception.

Carefully, I reached out to touch the cold window pane. My hands almost froze when I touched it. It felt too cold to touch but somehow I liked touching the cool window pane. It felt nice.

"—Didn't tell us!" The loud and brash voice of grandpa Charles echoed from his makeshift study to the library.

I poked my head out from between the shelves and snuck a glance at the door.

"How was I supposed to know?" I heard aunt Evelyn cry out. "—wasn't supposed to be this way—took precautions against this."

I went back to my spot and pulled the blanket over my lap. A few feet away from me, Flynn and Christian were slumped over one another while Daniel sat staring out the window. His fists were balled up and his eyes were dark.

The light in my brother's eyes had faded.

A couple of nights ago, he finally did it. He killed his first vampire.

"Dan." I reached out for him and he immediately stood up. "You okay?" I asked when he noticed it was just me.

Tiredly, he rubbed his eyes and nodded before taking his seat again. He didn't say anything after that but simply stared out the window, watching the snow fall.

"—secrets kill, Eve."

I got up with a sigh, telling my brother I was heading to bed. I didn't like this. I didn't hate the fort but I missed home even more. Dad said we couldn't go home until uncle Laurence was gone. I didn't want him to go but I wanted to go home more.


"Hey, where'd you run off to?" I bumped into Jenna when I came back inside.

I smiled stiffly and looked around. "Getting some air."

"We're having the cake and pie now." She clasped her hands in front of her and smiled brightly at me before ushering me where the others were.

Caroline and Elena were missing. I tried to catch Damon's gaze to ask him where either of my friends were but he was too busy looking at Mason.

"Did you use your hands or something?" I asked, looking at the pie in disgust.

"He did." My uncle answered. He sounded tired already. "Just turn the pie over and…"

"It's fine I can do it myself." I grabbed a plate and the cake knife pie dish. Carefully, I cut myself a slice before plating it.

The knife was in my hands when I started to feel an itch. Pain shot through my left hand, numbing me for a second before I felt a burn. "Ah!" My hands started to burn and hurt.

In panic, I dropped the plate. Before it hit the floor, Damon caught it and looked at me. I gripped my hand in pain. Quickly he put the plate on the table and grabbed my hand hastily. I hissed in pain as his hand tightened around my wrist. He loosened his group and stared hard down at my wound.

The silver knife was on the floor now.

"Oh, my god!" Jenna leapt out of her seat and rushed towards me as I struggled to breathe a little. "What happened?"

"Allergic reaction." Uncle Nate answered after a second. "Yeah, Ava's allergic."

"To silver?" Mason carefully asked.

My uncle nodded, grabbing my hand out of Damon's grip who reluctantly let go. It hurt to move my hand. My hand was pink and a bright angry red mark appeared where the knife had touched my skin.

Mason looked at my hand uncertain of what uncle Nate had said and got up to reach over but Damon moved faster. He stood in front of me, slowly pushing me back towards the counters.

"Well, it happens." Alaric laughed nervously. "You know there's people out there who are allergic to specific types of metal or plastic."

"Or water." Jenna chimed in, coming back with a first aid kit. "I didn't anything for an allergic reaction, I just bought what I found."

"I'm fine." I breathed out. I hissed quietly. The pain from the silver knife was slowly fading but it was there.

"Clearly, you're not." Damon bit out. His eyes had darkened and he would look at the wound at my hand then glare openly at Mason when Mason wasn't looking.

I sighed and gave Damon a look, this wasn't Mason's fault. This was his. He wanted to provoke Mason or prove something and now I found out silver was bad for me. This day was going great.

Damon looked at me and gave me another look, signaling that we'd talk later. I shook my head. I didn't want to talk about this at all. I'd ignore it if I could. "I'm fine." I repeated.

Uncle Nate glared at me and gestured to Jenna for something. He held my hand with one hand and tried to disinfect the wound with the other.

"I got it." Jenna jumped in to help him. She carefully used a cotton ball to disinfect the wound before wrapping it up in a bandage. "There. Done." She smiled brightly.

But I couldn't return it. I stared at my bandaged hand with furrowed brows. "Kinda feels like old times." Mason said, sitting up in his seat.

"Ah, except back then it was Daniel who'd be the one getting hurt all the time." Jenna chimed as she started to put away the first aid kit.

"Whose Daniel?" Damon and Alaric asked at the same time.

"My brother." I answered, not taking my eyes off the silver knife on the floor.

Jenna picked up the knife from the floor, breaking my line of sight. She took it to the sink and dropped it in there before returning.

"Oh, I didn't know Ava had a brother." Damon said, sitting down on his seat.

"He's in college, isn't he?" Mason asked, looking over at me and my uncle.

"Freshman." Uncle Nate distractedly answered. He was still worried about my hand. "He's in California."

"Nice. I went down there a few times."

"Really?"

"Hmm. Y'know to surf and stuff…"

"Oh okay." Uncle Nate lightly punched him as he laughed. But his laughter felt forced. I should probably leave. "You met your girl in L.A?"

Mason stiffened a little but shook his head. "Nah, Florida."

"Right. What was her name again? Um. Kitty? Kat?"

"Kathy." Mason corrected as Jenna perked up, coming back from the sink and taking a seat opposite me.

Damon leaned forward, interested. He met my gaze but I looked away first. I did tell him before. "So this 'Kathy' how'd you two meet?"

"It just happened. She was there, sitting looking pretty and I was taken…off guard."

"Sounds romantic." Jenna was into the whole thing. I didn't know how I felt. Mason clearly loved Katherine but I had seen enough of her from the memories of Lydia to know she was not a good person.

Alaric glanced between my uncle, Jenna and Mason. "So…" He began. "How did the three of you become friends? I thought Lockwoods and Fitzroys hated each other."

Mason and my uncle looked at each other before laughing at the same time. "Oh we do." The two said at the same time, leaving Alaric confused. "My brother used to despise Nate's family and so did my old man." Mason started.

"Don't get me started on my brothers. I swear Gabe hated Richard with every fibre of his being." Uncle Nate added in.

"Brothers?" Alaric and Damon questioned at the same time. My uncle froze as Jenna gave him a sympathetic look. Uncle Eric was a touchy subject and we never mentioned him though uncle Nate and occasionally dad or aunt Diana had a slip of the tongue moments where they'd accidentally mention him. This was just one of those moments. "I thought you only had one brother." Alaric said.

"I do."

Mason noticed the change in my uncle's mood, narrowed his eyes on Alaric and Damon before leaning forward. "Hey, remember our sophomore homecoming?" He changed the topic quickly as uncle Nate groaned.

My uncle looked down. Oh, he remembered but it was like he wished he could forget. "Why'd you have to bring that up?"

"Why not? It was fun."

"For you. I hated it."

"Only cause Mason dared you to take Cassie Brown as your date." Jenna chimed in with a mischievous grin. "I mean I don't wanna say I told you so but I did tell you—"

"And you guys are still holding that over me to this day."

"Come on. It was funny." Mason picked up a steel fork and took a bite of his pie.

"Listen, I felt bad for Cassie for the rest of the year."

"No, you didn't." Jenna shot him down.

Alaric stared at the trio in front of him while I nursed my wound. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was a little jealous. "You guys are close." He commented quietly.

"Not all." Jenna denied. "I'm only friends with this dork." She stood behind my uncle and messed up his hair before grinning then walking away.

"Who says 'dork' nowadays?" Uncle Nate looked at Jenna, momentarily forgetting that I was still here.

"I do." Jenna flicked his head and placed a plate with a slice of pie in front of him. "Nate and I've been friends since kindergarten. Mason and I are not that close, he's closer to Nate."

"A little hurt but true. Nate and I've been friends since middle school." Mason filled in the gaps. "Before that, the two of us, like the rest of our families, hated each other."

"What happened in middle school?" Alaric asked.

Both Mason and uncle Nate ignored Alaric, continuing to talk. Jenna didn't bother to fill in the gaps for Alaric. "Anyways, I saw Cassie in Florida. She's married now, dropped out of college and had a kid and everything."

"So Mason, you and Jenna never dated?" Alaric asked out of nowhere, ignoring whatever Mason was saying.

I took that as my cue to leave. I knew what the follow-up question would be and I didn't want to stick around for that.

Without a word, I left the kitchen.

'I'm going home first. Don't follow me.'

- Rosy

I sent a text to uncle Nate and went to grab my things from the living room. He replied immediately.

'You're hurt. I can drive you.'

- Nate

'I'll walk.'

- Rosy

"Hey, where are you going?" Elena asked, putting down the flipchart in her hand.

Caroline put down the markers and glanced at me. "Lemme you're bailing on me ag—What happened to your hand?" She grabbed my bandaged hand and examined it.

Elena came over and touched my bandaged hand. I hissed quietly under my breath and she let go.

"Damn. I was gonna ask Ava to drive me to Stefan's."

"Allergic reaction." I answered, grabbing my bag from behind the couch. "Nothing too serious."

"Your hand is bandaged." Caroline said with a deadpan look. "Looks pretty serious to me."

"I'm fine. It'll get better soon."

"You sure?" Elena asked, hugging herself. She looked unsurely at my wounded hand. I smiled and nodded. She let out a sigh and clasped her hands in front of her. "This blows."

"I'm sure you can make your own way there." I answered for her, walking to the door.

She let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Still not used to the whole thing you have going on."

"You and me both."

Caroline looked between the two of us and threw her hands in the air. "I feel like I'm missing out on something." She turned her back to me and stared at Elena. "Again."

"Oh, it's just Ava—" For some reason, I didn't want Caroline to know that I could hear thoughts. I don't know, call it my crazy intuition but I didn't want her to know yet. She was acting weird all day.

I turned to Elena and gestured wildly with my hands telling her to shut up but she didn't take the hint.

"She can hear thoughts." Elena finished, frowning.

Caroline turned on her feet and looked at me. Her face visibly paled and her eyes trembled. She tried to force herself to smile but it was clear to me that she was forcing herself.

"You…can hear thoughts." She stated. Her eyes were unfocused and she looked like she might cry. "Oh, my god." I heard her mutter under her breath.

"I can't control it." I don't know why I said that but I did. Caroline looked at me. "I can't control anything I have." I added. It was true. My magic was out of control especially when I was emotional.

"Ava—" Elena took a step towards me to comfort me. I wasn't in the mood. I wanted to go home.

"I'm gonna go. I'll see you guys around." I put my embroidered jean jacket on and opened the door.

I know I said I was going to walk but I didn't feel like walking. I glanced at my car and looked around for the keys in my pocket. The keys stuck out to me and I traced its shape. The cool steel keys didn't burn my hands but I was still careful taking them out.


Mystic Falls, Early February 2001

Light violin music filled the room. I stood over a music stand and turned over a sheet before continuing to play. I scrunched up my brows in concentration while my grandmother, Janine, sat in a corner of the room.

Grandma Janine watched her granddaughter closely, scrutinizing every note she played as the bow of the violin glided against the strings.

Next to her was her daughter-in-law, my mother who for once had taken some time off to watch her daughter practice. This was rare even for my mom who was known to be a workaholic just like her husband.

"Wait." Grandma Janine shut her binder with a loud bang. "Play that line again."

I nodded and carefully brought the violin back to its position and put the bow against the strings. My eyes on the sheet music as I re-played the line my grandma wanted.

"Too slow." She sighed. "You need to play that part faster." She got up and took out her own violin. She picked the violin up and went over to the music stand. She only glanced at the sheet once before she started to play the piece. "See, it's like this. Now, you try it."

I nodded again, picking up my violin. She took a deep breath before starting the piece again but I never got to the part I was struggling with as the door to the music room opened with a loud bang.

"Evelyn!" Grandma Janine called out. Her eyes were dark and her voice was stern. She glared at her daughter for barging in before she softened, remembering how hard she was struggling the past month. "What is it?" She asked.

But Evelyn ignored her and marched straight towards me. She breathed heavily out in anger as she stood over her niece.

Alarmed, mom stood up and walked over to us. "You…why didn't you tell us?" Aunt Evelyn grabbed my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin. "Why? Why didn't you warn us?!" She shouted, shaking me.

"Aunt Eve, you're hurting me." I cried out.

Mom grabbed her hands and tried to pry them off of me but aunt Evelyn held on tight. "Evelyn, what's this about?" Grandma Janine dropped her violin and hurried over to us.

Aunt Evelyn let go and then she started sobbing. Tears rolled down her face as she covered her face with her hands and hunched down while sobbing. "Why?" She cried out. "Why?"

"Eve." Mom took a step towards aunt Evelyn. "You're scaring Ava."

Then she stopped crying. Aunt Evelyn looked up and smiled. No, she forced a smile onto her face. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was red. "You…you knew." I frowned and shook my head. I didn't know what she was talking about. "Don't lie. You knew. You always do—your cursed dreams and nightmares. You knew! You knew that Laurie was going to die!"

"Eve. That wasn't her fault."

"I didn't say it was. I said 'she knew' and she did nothing. She didn't tell us or anything. I lost my husband because of you."

I shook my head vigorously while hugging myself. "...I didn't. I really didn't." I cried out. I didn't. I could hardly control the dreams.

"But you didn't even try." Aunt Evelyn sobbed. "Did you try?"

"Eve." Grandma Janine muttered something under her breath and aunt Evelyn became as still as a board. "I'm sorry I had to do this but you know, it was too late for Laurence."

Aunt Evelyn's body shook violently as she started to laugh hysterically. "You don't actually believe that, do you? Come on. You know I'm right."

"No, you're not. She's a child. She can hardly control it."

"You're all making excuses for her. It's her fault—all her fault. She didn't warn us. She should've warned us—Laurie…Dad…they'd both be alive. Why didn't you warn us."

My head and heart felt heavy as I swayed on my feet. What? Grandpa Charles. Not him. No. It couldn't be.

"No." Grandma Janine gasped, covering her face with her hands. "No. No." She started to cry. "What did you do, Evelyn?" She cried out.

"Me? I didn't—"

"It was uncle Laurence." I said without meaning to as the last memories of my grandfather flashed through my mind. I recoiled and swayed on my feet, my mom hurrying over to my side to steady me.

Tears fell down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. I couldn't stop myself, I could feel his last moments as he desperately tried his best to save aunt Evelyn.

Grandma Janine looked at me and then aunt Evelyn. When she didn't react, grandma Janine covered her face and started to sob too. Aunt Evelyn tried to make excuses but it was too late.


A sketchpad lay in front of me, opened on a random page. Pens and brushes were scattered on the metal and glass table as I sat on my balcony overlooking the garden, aimlessly drawing.

I paused to look at my hands. The bandage was still there, I hadn't removed it though I was tempted to but I didn't. The pain had lessened but it still stung a little whenever I placed a little pressure on it.

Carefully, I started to unwrap the bandage. The wound on my hand had healed significantly in just a few hours but the damage from the knife was still there. There was a faint reddish-pink indentation of where I had touched the knife embedded into my skin but the burn-like marks had faded.

I went back inside and brought a first aid kit outside. I cleaned the wound again but this time keeping it unwrapped for a few minutes. The wound started to heal faster before I wrapped it up in fresh bandages. I knew it would be gone by morning, I didn't want Jenna or Mason to question me about it later.

Putting away the first aid kit, I gathered up the pens and brushes, tidying them up before returning to the balcony. I stopped when I felt the unfortunately familiar chill.

"Not today Dam—" My eyes widened and I scrambled back to my room.

Katherine smirked as she strode towards me. Katherine Pierce was here. She was here on my balcony.

"Sorry, were you expecting someone else?" She grinned. "So you and Damon—a little unexpected but then again he always had a soft spot for your family or maybe you're an exception."

"Elena," I forced myself to smile and stood up. "How—what are you doing here?"

She chuckled humorlessly, shaking her head. "You can stop pretending, I read Stefan's journal. I know you know…quite a lot."

My smile dropped and I narrowed my eyes at her, glaring holes into her head. "So," I took a few more steps back as Katherine took another few towards me. "Katherine Pierce, previously known as Katarina Petrova—" Katherine flinched when I called her by her birth name. "What do you want?"

"Stefan didn't lie. You know your stuff."

"You're not here to compliment me and I don't care anyways so let's cut the act and get to the point—what do you want?"

"Touchy." She walked around the balcony and leaned back on the rails. "I've always wondered what the inside of this house was like, your family always had the nicest things."

"I'm not inviting you in." I snapped.

"No you're not stupid enough." She agreed. "I like that about you. You're not just a pretty face, you're smart."

I blinked and she was standing right in front of my bedroom.

"You're not here to compliment me or have a chat, are you?"

"Observant too."

I sighed and looked away. Someone screwed up again. "So who screwed up?"

Katherine raised her brows and stared at me, tilting her head to the side. It was strange how eerily she and Elena looked at each other but the more I looked at Katherine, the more I could tell it wasn't my best friend.

In the dim light, I could tell that Katherine's eyes were darker, her hair was curlier and her face was slightly slimmer. Physically there were differences, they weren't as clear as most would think but they were there. Otherwise they were identical.

"Who screwed up?" I repeated. That's how it went. Someone screwed up and another person paid the price. "Stefan? Or was it Damon? Or maybe Elena? or…"

Screw it.

"Was it Mason?" I asked.

She smiled. "Well, this is interesting."

"So 'Kathy'," I began taking a step back. "How'd you meet Mason Lockwood?"

Katherine chuckled. "You live up to the expectations."

I rolled my eyes. Damon and Katherine had a lot in common. The two knew how to dodge my questions.

"Florida. I'm sure you already knew that."

"I guessed."

"Right, so there he was struggling after the death of a friend and I just happened to be there."

"Did you by any chance kill that friend of his."

She looked up before looking at me. The corners of her lips turned up. "...No, Mason did."

"But you had a hand in it."

"Maybe. Nothing you can't prove."

I shrugged. "Don't worry it'll come to me."

Katherine leaned over to me, her eyes sharply following me. "Your psychic dreams right?"

I shrugged again. Katherine definitely had a hand in Mason killing his friend. But why?

"Why? Why'd you do it? Why Mason Lockwood?"

"I'm sure you know the answer to that."

"Because he's a werewolf." I guessed.

She beamed and clicked her fingers. "Bingo." Moving away from my room, she took a few steps back. "You're really good."

I ignored her and pulled up a chair. Katherine mimicked me, taking one of the metal chairs from the balcony and placing it in front of my seat. The two of us faced each other, I was inside in the safety of my home while she was outside.

"So how'd Mason screw up?" I asked again.

She shook her head. "Close but no. Mason didn't do anything. In fact, he's been great." I looked at her in disgust. She found my reaction amusing as that annoying smirk on her face stayed.

"So who actually screwed up?" I tried again but Katherine dodged the question again. I sighed and tried again. "Was it one of the Salvatore brothers?"

"Nope but I'll give you a hint—it has something to do with them."

Something to do with them. What does that even mean…

Wait.

I thought back to my entire day. The barbecue. Stefan's texts and how Damon tried to provoke Mason and lastly Caroline…

Caroline.

Oh my god. How did I forget how strangely she'd been behaving. She was being more pushy than usual, not to mention she lied about her breakup which was not Caroline-like at all.

"Oh, my god. It was Caroline. You," I pushed myself off my seat and glared at her. "Did something to Caroline. Was killing her not enough?"

"I gave her meaningless life a purpose."

"Right, because the only way to find a purpose is to die." I bit back, not caring anymore that she was a threat. "I bet that's what you said to yourself when Damon and Stefan turned."

She laughed softly but her eyes were hollow. "I did, actually. I know Damon would be lost without this."

I shook my head in disbelief. "Unbelievable."

Pushing her chair away, she paced around a bit. "Hey, it was either you or her. I was going for you at first but then you just had to run." I looked away. Guilt gnawing at me, eating me away. "You being dead might've been convenient for me in the long run but I'd be incredibly bored."

"Excuse me?"

"You know at first, I thought you were just like the witch—Bonnie but I've been watching you. Student body president, member of the yearbook committee, art, debate club etcetera. You, you're different from your friends. You actually have a picture perfect life—if I kill you, you'd be the perfect victim. There's not one person in this town who doesn't care about you."

"You know you talk an awful lot for someone trying to kill another person." I commented, already tired of her. I have no idea why Damon loved her but I did see why Stefan stopped loving her. Katherine Pierce was kind of a narcissist who loved to hear herself talk.

She smiled brightly and turned to face me. "Well, that's because I'm not here to kill you. I'm not stupid, Ava. Just because you'd be a perfect victim doesn't mean I'm gonna kill you. I kill you and I'd have your entire family hunting me down."

The lights in my room started to flicker as I held out my uninjured hand behind my back. I didn't trust her at all. I felt my right hand getting warmer as dusts of light swarmed around me.

Katherine looked up as the dusts of light floated around her, ready to strike. I thought she'd be afraid or nervous but instead she let a soft gasp as her eyes twinkled in wonder.

"Now this, I haven't seen in a while." I ignored what she said and held out my uninjured hand in front of me. She turned to look at me. "Thanks for confirming something."

"Confirming what?"

She didn't answer. "You'll know soon." She said instead. "Let me give you a word of advice."

"I don't want anything from you let alone your advice." The lights flickered wildly around me. My injured hand burned as my head felt light. "Leave."

Katherine smiled. "Oh but you're gonna need it." I folded my hand in and the lights disappeared. "Get out of this town while you still can."

"Excuse me?"

"Oh and if I were you—I'd cut Stefan and Caroline out of my life too. Anyone whose a vampire, really."

"Okay. Why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, you'll end up dead."

"Right, I'm gonna take advice from someone who planned to kill me."

"Between you and me, it wasn't personal."

I nodded with a sarcastic grin. "Damon and Stefan got in your way so I'd have to pay the price right?"

"It was more to do with Damon actually." She corrected me. I was so tired of her. I just needed her to go. "His little obsession with me was so inconvenient for me."

"You and me both." I agreed with that one. Katherine found it funny that I actually agreed with her on something. That would probably be the only thing I ever agreed with her on. "So are you still planning to kill me because of Damon and now…Caroline."

"Not really and no, your family isn't the only reason why."

I raised my brow and folded my arms against my chest, I didn't believe a thing she was saying. "What's the other reason?"

"Let's just say you remind me of someone I knew, someone who I owed."

I neither cared or believed what she was saying. "Why are you back in town? I mean you spent over a hundred years pretending to be dead and now…"

"I'm here." She finished for me. "You're asking the important questions. You and Stefan have a lot in common."

"I know. Why now? Why are you here now? Don't say it's because of Stefan, because if it was for him, you'd let him know you were watching him."

Her eyes widened as she turned to stare at me. Her mouth agape, she took a step back. "You know."

Of course I knew, great-aunt Penelope saw and talked to her and I witnessed her memories. Obviously I didn't say that to her.

I ignored her again and carried on. "If it's not Stefan, definitely not Damon." She nodded her head along to that. I sighed. "Then it must be because of…Elena. You're here because of Elena but why? Why her? Is it because she's your doppelganger?"

"I'd stop now if I were you." She warned quietly. "I respect you, you're smart but you should know ignorance is bliss."

"Not if it hurts the people I care about."

"And if it kills you?"

I clenched my jaws and glared at her. She was right and I hated it. "Leave this town and do as I say. Though Damon might be a problem." She muttered the last part.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Why does everyone think he gives a damn about me? He doesn't. It's guilt. Nothing more and I'm not taking advice from you so leave!"

"Oh but he does care." She retorted with a soft laugh that sounded so much like Elena's but at the same time nothing like her. "Take it from someone who was the object of his obsession—get out while you still can."

"I don't even care about him."

"Not in the way he does but it's there. Even if you don't care—he'll hunt you down if you won't leave before it's too late. He might be the death of you—well, him, Caroline, Stefan—pretty much any vampire."

"Vampires are bad. Got it. If you have nothing else to say, I'd like to go to bed or do something productive." I reached for the balcony doors and pulled them to shut them on her face.

She walked straight in front of my bedroom but did not cross the threshold to get in. It's not like she could. "You don't believe a thing I'm saying, I can't really blame you but you'll believe me soon."

"What?"

"Damon's gonna be here."

I sighed. I should actually shoot down my pride and ask uncle Nate and aunt Diana to put up the shield grandma Janine used to have on the house because I was tired. My balcony was becoming a meeting spot for vampires when that was my favorite spot to paint.

"No. He's not." I tiredly breathed out.

"But he will. I know him just as much as I know Stefan."

"Goodbye Katherine." I was about to shut the doors on her face but when I looked up she was gone.

I waited for a few minutes, lingering near the door to make sure she was really gone. I couldn't feel her at all but I still didn't want to take the risk.

She was gone. Really gone.

I let out a breath of relief and went out to get my sketchpad from the balcony. Katherine's visit left me confused and more unsure of myself. What was she doing in Mystic Falls and why now?

I know I was on the right track when I mentioned Elena. If I was thinking this straight then John and Isobel were working together, Isobel was working with Katherine and somehow Elena was the reason why. Mason and werewolves fit into this somehow.

Oh. This was a mess.

My head was hurting from that little thing I did earlier and the wound of my other hand was acting up again.

Sighing, I turned back to look over the railing that overlooked the garden just as I did, my sketchpad fell from my hands and almost landed on the floor when someone caught it.

Please, god no.

Don't let Katherine Pierce be right.

Slowly, I looked up and like Katherine said, Damon was here. I blinked a few times to check if it was him before taking a few steps back.

"What's wrong?" He asked, holding my sketchpad forward for me to take.

I took it from him and held it close to my chest. Katherine did know him more than he knew. How much Katherine knew about people scared me.

"Ava?" Damon called out, leaning down to meet my gaze. I looked away and hastily went back into my room. "Did something happen?"

"Nothing." I lied. For some reason, I felt like telling him about Katherine would somehow make things worse. "Nothing." I repeated, taking a few steps back.

Damon frowned and looked at me, unconvinced by my simple lie. "How's your hand?" He changed the topic.

I brought my injured hand up and unwrapped the bandages. It was still red but the red-ness had gone down, the burn was almost healed.

Damon clasped his hands together and looked up at me. "This wasn't part of my plan."

I sighed. "Your plans always end up hurting people, most of the time it's me. At this point I should start preparing for the worse."

"Ava—"

I didn't want to hear it. Katherine's words swam in my head and I hated that I didn't take the shot to kill.

"Look Damon, I'm tired. I'm hurt. I've had a long day. Whatever you have to tell me, can it wait?" I said but I didn't expect an answer as I turned away and went straight into my room.

"I saw Katherine." He spoke up, stopping me in my tracks.

My hands gripped the handle of one of the double doors tightly. I plastered a plastic smile on my face and turned on my feet but I didn't know what to say, instead I just tiredly nodded.

"Something happened." He stated, taking a few steps forward towards my room. "Ava?"

Distractedly, I looked away. "I'm tired, Damon." I really was. Katherine Pierce knew how to leave an impression.

I didn't wait for him to leave before I shut the door on his face. Pulling the curtains in front of the double doors, I moved to turn the light switch off. The room was bathed in darkness and in the dark, I got dressed before throwing myself into my bed.

The bitter deathly chill was still there and that meant one thing. Damon was still out there but I didn't move from my bed. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts.


Author's note: Fitzroy family looked too peaceful and perfect for a family of vampire hunters. They're not. Everyone in Ava's family is a different brand of mess who just have a therapist on the side, Ava included.

Also Ava finally met Katherine, probably one of my favorite characters in both show and books.