Chapter Twenty: Phoenix Grey

Three and a half years ago

Mystic Falls, VA

New Year's Day, 10:30am

Phoenix waited nervously inside his house for Damon to arrive. His parents had finally gone out, meaning he could now wait downstairs with the drapes drawn. It wasn't much fun closing them while trying to avoid getting burnt by the daylight coming through the windows, but after much screaming, he'd finally achieved it. He just had to hope the neighbours hadn't heard and called the police.

Damon had told Phoenix that his priority that morning was to get Stef a new phone, so that's what he was doing. He probably shouldn't nitpick since he broke her original one, but personally he felt that getting a daylight ring was a much bigger necessity. Of course, he couldn't tell Damon that his daughter also needed a ring. As far as Phoenix was aware, she was still keeping that very hush-hush.

Phoenix's phone started ringing. It was a number he didn't recognize. He answered the call.

"Phoenix," Stef gasped on the other end. "I've been so worried about you."

Phoenix was so relieved to hear from her. Ever since Adam had contacted him early that morning, telling him everything that had happened, he'd been waiting for her call. There was, naturally, a small, selfish part of him that was dying to talk to someone who had also transitioned into a vampire, since there wasn't exactly a support group for this kind of thing. But mostly he just needed to hear from his best friend.

Phoenix ran a hand through his hair. "Holy shit, Stef, I'm so glad you called. This shit is crazy. How are you coping? Have you told your parents yet?"

"No, and I don't plan on telling them," she confirmed. "I have a few months left before I leave for college and then I'll just have to... figure this all out."

"Aren't they going to suspect something though?" Phoenix asked. "I mean, how did you get permission to enter your house this morning? Surely that was a giveaway."

"I didn't need to ask for permission," Stef explained. "When my dad brought me home after dropping you off, I faked a dizzy spell. He carried me inside."

"Wow, lucky loophole," Phoenix said. "You know how I had to get inside this morning? Faked being drunk. Had to howl outside like a dog for a while, until finally my dad came down, opened the door for me and told me to get my 'useless ass inside'. The howls were genuine too – it was nearly sunrise. Your dad dumped me outside with a broken neck. By the time I came to, I was on the clock."

Stef laughed. "So Dad is going to take you to Bonnie to get a daylight ring today?"

"Yeah, I don't know how he's going to get me there though," Phoenix said, observing the light peaking around the edges of the drapes. "Is he going to bundle me in the back of a truck or something?"

"He knows a vampire he can borrow a car from with UV-filtering windows, so hopefully it won't come to that. You'll probably meet him at some point. His name's Gabe. He might even take you under his wing. Show you the ropes."

"Here I was thinking your dad had already explained everything to me. I didn't know being a vampire was going to require an internship," Phoenix said. "How are you going to get a daylight ring?"

"That's the thing, Phoenix, I need you to do something for me," Stef said. "When Bonnie does the spell, do you think you can secretly voice record it? I think I could make a ring for myself, but I don't know how."

"Sure thing. I'll come over to yours later. We can enjoy a blood bag together. Get your mom to invite me in because your dad certainly won't."

Stef groaned. "I forgot about the blood."

"How can you forget about the blood? Isn't that all you're thinking about?"

"I don't think my cravings are as intense as yours. I probably don't need blood as often." Stef paused. Was she going to tell him? Yes, she was going to tell him. "Besides, I had enough blood last night." Damn, this was going to sound awful after everything Raid had done for her. "I kind of fed on Raid."

"Whoa, straight from the vein on the first night. Living the dream!"

"That's not all," Stef continued. "It felt different. My parents have always been open with me about their past and, of course, I was interested enough to ask questions, but this was nothing like they described."

"What did it feel like?"

There was no other way to describe it; she just had to come straight out with it. "I orgasmed. Hard."

Phoenix's eyebrows shot up. "Ok-ay," he said. "I may need to visit Raid for a little snack later."

"No, I don't think it works the same way for you," Stef said, then suddenly covered her face with her hand, reliving the memory. "Damn it, Phoenix, it was so embarrassing. I can't ever look him in the eyes again."

"I guess with him being a witch, it's not like you can just look him in the eyes and compel him to forget everything." Phoenix heard a car pull up outside.

"Actually, I think I can compel witches," Stef said before hastily adding, "Not that I'm going to compel him. I just have to accept this has happened and move on from it. I really hope he can do the same."

"Talking of moving on, my ride's here. Don't worry, girl, everyone makes mistakes. At least yours was enjoyable. I'll catch you later." With that, Phoenix hung up.

Phoenix was under the assumption that, after the broken neck last night, Damon was no longer going to torment him. He was very wrong. Damon did arrive with a car with UV-filtering windows, but he also deliberately parked it across the street, forcing Phoenix to use his vampire speed to run to the car, collecting severe burns in the process. Luckily he healed quickly. When they reached Bonnie's house, Damon left Phoenix waiting in the car while he went and spoke to her. After a few minutes of talking, Damon finally returned.

"Okay, so she's not letting a vampire into the house, and I don't blame her, not now she has a young daughter," Damon told him. He then pointed towards her detached garage. "There's a room above there that she's willing to use. Just wait for her to reach the door to invite you in, and then run on over."

After a moment, Phoenix saw Bonnie walking towards the garage's side door, a small child in her arms, no older than eighteen months. She unlocked the door, pushed it open, and then yelled out towards them, "You can come in, Phoenix."

Phoenix grimaced, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt back over his head and his sleeves over his hands. There was nothing to protect his face but at least this was a shorter run than when he left his house. It was still going to hurt. He sped out of the car, charging through the side door until he was halfway up the unlit stairs. He collapsed there for a moment, waiting as the burns healed.

When Damon approached outside, Bonnie said to him. "You could have driven closer."

"Oh, I know," Damon replied casually. "I've got to have my fun somehow."

Now fully healed, Phoenix made his way upstairs to the room above the garage, with Damon and Bonnie following. The near side was exactly as Phoenix expected a room belonging to a witch to look like. There were ancient spell books, maps, unlit candles, jarred herbs, and various stones and minerals. The far end of the room was just regular storage space, filled with regular clutter. Luckily, part of that clutter was a round breakfast table with four chairs, which at least gave Phoenix somewhere to sit. Or at least it would do if it weren't for a small, angled skylight letting through a beam of sunshine that spread across the table. He manoeuvred under the ray of light, pulled back one of the chairs so it was in the shadows, then sat down on it.

"Don't move the table," Bonnie instructed. "We need the light for the spell." She handed her daughter over to Damon to hold, then made her way to a bookcase, picking up a small decorative storage chest that she lifted open to remove a silver ring. Pinching the ring between her thumb and forefinger, she turned back to Damon. "Now let's discuss payment."

Damon scrunched up his face. "You making daylight rings a profitable business now?"

"I'm doing you a favor, now I want you to do a favor for me," she stated, confident that she would get what she wanted. "Actually, three favors. There's two dates coming up: Eric's birthday and my birthday. There's also Valentine's Day, but since that's your day with Elena, I am willing to accept the day before. I need you to babysit Renata for me on those dates."

Damon felt extremely put out, gesturing towards Phoenix. "I've got to babysit because this twerp broke into my bar and got himself killed?"

Bonnie crossed her arms. "Yes, and Renata likes princess tea parties, so you also have to dress up and wear a tiara."

Damon shook his head and chuckled. "Look, I'm not against wearing a tiara, but don't you think Elena would be better for this? I'm not exactly princess material."

"With Eric's shifts at the fire department and Elena's shifts at the hospital, it wouldn't work, now do you want this ring or not?"

Phoenix held his hand up, reminding Damon nervously, "I want this ring."

Damon whipped his head towards him in irritation. "Shut up." He looked down at Renata, smiling away in his arms as she reached up and touched the stubble on his chin, captivated by the texture. She looked like a good kid, he could do this. He had to remind himself he was doing this for Stefanie anyway, not for Phoenix. "Fine, I'll do it."

"Great," Bonnie said, walking towards the table and placing the ring down in the sunlight. "Just to warn you, she screams bloody murder when I'm not around, so good luck."

"You couldn't have mentioned that earlier?" Damon complained.

"That's not how you strike a babysitting deal, Damon," Bonnie replied. "Now be quiet so I can concentrate."

Phoenix pulled out his phone just in time, recording Bonnie as a voice message to Stef while she performed the incantation. As soon as it was finished, the message shot over to Stef and she instantly replied with a love heart emoji.

Bonnie passed the ring over to Phoenix. "There you go, all done."

Phoenix slipped on the signet-style ring with its oval lapis lazuli centerpiece, then cast his hand into the sunlight. It didn't burn. He jumped up in elation, thanking Bonnie and heading towards her for a hug.

Smiling awkwardly at his excitement, Bonnie stepped back, palms out, in refusal. "No hugs necessary, Phoenix. I don't really know you that well, and you're still a new vampire, no offense."

Phoenix backed away, bowing his head in understanding. He hadn't been up close with anyone since the transformation and, quite frankly, he wouldn't have trusted himself either in her shoes. He waited until Damon handed Renata back to Bonnie, and then he went up to him, all fired up with joy, playfully jabbing at the air in front of him. "Haven't got anything against me now, have you Mr Salvatore?" he teased. "No more frying me in the sun."

Damon looked at him, unimpressed. "You've got a lot of energy there, Phoenix."

"You bet I have," Phoenix declared, feeling on top of the world.

"Great, you can put it to good use," Damon decided, heading towards the stairs. "I'm taking the car. You're walking back."

"You've got to be kidding!" Phoenix groaned, his shoulders slumping as he followed Damon down the steps.

He'd gone too far. He should have known better.