Chapter 8
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be – The Beatles
"Mommy! Look at this trick Ms. Shelia taught me! Look, LOOK!" I yell as I run around our back garden in search of my mom. Finding her by our small pond tending to the plants, I stop. Is she crying? I ask myself "Mommy? Are you okay" In one movement she turns towards me and wipes under her eyes while planting a smile on her face. "Of course, honey. What is it you want to show me?" Renewed excitement flows through me at the thought of showing her my new trick. Raising my right palm up towards the sky I recite "Post tenebras spero lucem." Suddenly a small ball of light emerges and forms in my palm. Lowering my hand, I bring it in front of me to show my mom. "Look what I can do mommy!" I state with excitement clear in my voice. Sending me a large smile she stands and walks towards me. Slowly, she kneels down in front of me and places her hands on mine around the ball of light. "You are wonderful my daughter, simply amazing!" she tells me before leaning forward and placing a kiss on my forehead.
I find myself gently stirring in bed as the memory comes to a close. Slowly I sit up in bed and wonder, can I still do that? Turning my right palm up I slightly raise it in front of me and repeat "Post tenebras spero lucem." Light, bright light, erupts from my hand in the form of a ball. Slowly a large smile covers my face and a laugh follows. No more being afraid of my magic.
Later that morning I get a call from Bonnie who had just visited Caroline at the hospital. "She is doing okay, as good as one can after surgery." Bonnie tells me. "I'm glad she is doing better!" "Can I ask you a question Annie?" I letting out a quick sound of agreement and she asks "What happened that night? The compass was supposed to affect vampires but I know for a fact neither you or Tyler are vampires. Or your dad for that matter!" sighing I respond "Honestly Bonnie, I don't know. All I know is that Tyler and I both heard this ringing and then passed out. I wish I knew why. What I do know is that it didn't affect you so it obviously does not impact witches and Tyler has a different mom. So, it must be something with our dad but what that is, I have no idea." Gently I raise my right hand and use it to massage my brow. "I am sorry for the role I played in this whole situation Annie. I didn't want you or Caroline to get hurt." "I know Bonnie, I just wish you told me. I would have supported you no matter what." I respond. "It was just too hard to admit I was purposely hurting Elena even though I was trying to protect her. I still did it knowing she would be hurt." Bonnie says with clear guilt in her voice. "Bonnie, I am not going to tell you that you did wrong or right. You did what you felt you needed to do and, in the end, you helped Damon and Stefan. I get feeling guilty but don't beat yourself up over this. Please." I tell her with earnest in my voice. "Thank you, Annie." she says before ending the call by telling me she will see me at my fathers wake later in the day.
Standing at the front steps with Tyler greeting guests, I can't help but think about the production Carol has put on for our father's wake. My thoughts are interrupted by Tyler announcing "So the black sheep returns." Looking towards him I see our uncle Mason coming up the steps towards us. With a look of confusion on his face he asks "Tyler? Annie?" nodding my head I respond "Hey uncle Mason" "What happened to the two of you? In my mind you're both twelve years old." In response Tyler states "Then that's two years older than the last time you saw us, Uncle Mason." Laughing Mason grabs the both of us and gives us a hug. "Good to see you again." He declares. At the same time Tyler and I respond "It's good to see you too." And "Come on inside."
A while after Mason's entrance, Tyler and I are still standing on the steps when Elena approaches. "Elena! Thanks for coming how are you?" I ask before reaching for a hug. As I hug her cold runs down my spine and realization flashes across my mind. This is not Elena... Katherine. Breaking me out of my thoughts and the embrace Tylers addresses her "Hey Elena, thanks for coming. Come on in." Nodding and thanking us she quickly enters our home. Shit. I need to text Elena. Pulling out my phone I quickly shoot Elena a text telling her the same before putting my phone away in hopes Carol didn't catch me on my phone.
After being released from greeting duty I wander around looking for Bonnie to tell her about Katherine. Looking in one of the studies I notice Bonnie talking to Elena. Not Elena. Katherine. Quickly, I make my way over to them as I hear Katherine state "We haven't officially met. I'm Katherine." Making my presence known to the pair I state "We know who you are Katherine" looking at Bonnie and I with distain Katheirne announces "Of course you do. You're the best friends, right? I've been putting all the pieces of Elena's life together. Isobel told me it was a bit of a puzzle. I do know who Jenna and Jeremy are and I met that delicious ex-boyfriend Matt, who's sweet on Caroline, the little Lockwood Anastacia, sorry Annie, and then there's you, the vampire-hating Bennett witch. Did I do good?" reaching forward I attempt to grab Bonnie's arm to pull her away to the door back into the wake when Katherine speeds towards us blocking the door. Suddenly Katherine grabs her head in pain then laughs "I've been around a long time Bonnie; you're gonna have to do better than that." Katherine uses her speed again and pins Bonnie to the wall with a hand around her throat. The door, I think to myself. Pulling magic from my amulet I quickly push the door beside Bonnie open to see Stefan standing there. "Katherine" he mater of factly states. Once Katherine release Bonnie at Stefans request, I rush towards Bonnie and check her throat for makes. "Are you okay Bonnie?" I ask with a rushed voice. "I am okay Annie startled but okay" nodding and pulling away from her I quickly say "I don't know what trick you tried to pull on her but I want to learn it" Letting out a short laugh Bonnie agrees before we both exit the office and re-enter the wake.
Shorty after Bonnie and I went back into the wake we see the real Elena talking with Damon. Bonnie and I share a look before rushing over to her. Coming up behind Damon, Elena sees us and asks "What happened to the two of you?" As Bonnie stares at her in silence I respond with three simple words "Katherine is here."
Once the wake ended without anymore drama, at least no other Katherine related drama. Tyler and I find ourselves in our father's office looking around and talking. As I approach a bookcase, I notice Tyler walking up to our father's desk. When suddenly I hear a smash and the sound of glass breaking. Turning around in shock I see Tyler smashed a family photo and is currently breaking everything else on the desk. Rushing towards him I yell "What are you doing Tyler?" At the same time carol runs in asking the same thing. Looking towards his mom Tyler declares "I hate him." Gently trying to comfort him Carol states "Oh, don't say that, honey." As she put her hand on his should Tyler flips out and pushes her onto the couch as he yells "LET GO OF ME!" Stepping forward to try and help calm him down I am beat by Mason running into the room and tackling Tyler to the floor. On the floor Tyler begins yelling again "Get off of me!" As they continue to struggle Mason says to Tyler "Look at me. Look at me. Calm down. Settle down." Slowly Tyler starts to calm down and from the couch I hear Carol mutter to herself "Oh, God." In the moment all I can think is, What the hell just happened and how did Mason get in the room so quickly?
Carol was quick to excuse herself from the room with tears in her eyes. After she left Tyler and I made our way to sit on the couch Carol previously occupied while Mason sat on the coffee table in front of us. Tyler is quick to tell Mason "I didn't mean to freak her out. I don't know why I get like this." "It's the curse of being a Lockwood" responds Mason. Nodding my head in agreement I ask "so how did you get the chill gene then?" giving us both a soft smile Mason says "I didn't. I've just learned how to manage it." Softly elbowing Tyler, I tell him "See there is hope for you yet" giving me a glance I can't help but notice the look of defeat on Tylers face before he looks at Mason and says "I don't want to be like this anymore." Shaking his head Mason announces "None of us do. That's why it's a curse, Tyler." Tyler slowly sits back in the couch and lets out a deep sigh. And here I thought the drama was done for the day.
That night I am plagued by dreams not memories but dreams.
Darkness. A room full of darkness. A familiar dream and a familiar room. I look around knowing that an unknown man will appear shortly covered in blood and laying on the ground in clear pain. As though reading my thoughts a young man appears across from me laying on the floor covered in blood. But this time he looks different… More modern. And as I try to reach him the scene shifts. No longer is he covered in blood and injured but is standing erased of all blood. Reaching his hand out towards me he says "Hello love. It is almost time." "Time for what?" I quickly ask. Giving me a slow smirk he responds "You will see. Wait for me, Love." As he finishes speaking his form begins to fade into the darkness and I am once again left alone. The last thing I hear before I wake is his echoing voice "I will see you soon, Love."