Chp 8

1998

Throughout her existence, Liana has not been contacted by the ancestors. Least of all Emily Bennett. But that all changed a few nights ago when her former friend contacted her in a dream.

Liana went to sleep in her bed in Santa Carla but suddenly sat up in her old bed in Mystic Falls with Emily standing over her, "Come with me." Liana looked down at what she was wearing and noticed it was not the oversized t-shirt and shorts but her overbearing sleepwear from when she was human. Liana followed Emily outside and grew anxious.

Emily was leading Liana to where the witches were being burned at the stake. Liana watched in horror as Emily's real body was being burnt. "What's going on? Why am I here?" Liana asked Emily's ghost. The witch's ghost sighed, "I brought you here to show you what happened after you left. I need you to retrieve my Grimoire from where it is buried with your father. My descendants do not deserve the knowledge it holds. You must retrieve it before they do in the coming years."

"Do you know where it is buried?" Liana couldn't deny her friend. Emily faces her as the last ember dies out, "It is buried with your father."

Liana woke up with a start back in her own bed in Santa Carla. She was packing her bag when Dwayne came into her room, "What are you doing?" She stops packing, "I'm going to visit my birthplace for a couple of days. I won't be gone long. I'm just going to retrieve a few things and then I'll be back." Dwayne was skeptical, "Do you want any of us to come with you?" Liana thought about it, "No, I'll be alright. Just a quick trip. Rob a grave, and then I'm out. Plus, I don't want to risk running into my brothers." Dwayne sighed, "You need anything, you call us. I mean it, princess. Anything at all." Liana smiled, "I know."

Liana loaded her car and drove at law breaking speeds to Mystic Falls, Virginia. Only stopping to refuel and feed. She was determined to get in and get out, not wanting to risk being seen by her brothers. If she did run into them, she wouldn't know what to say. She would possibly just snap their neck and run so they couldn't follow her.

When she came close to the small town, Liana parked her car at a hotel just outside of town and ran. Liana kept her hood up and she surveyed the town. Even though she hasn't been back to Mystic Falls since she 'died' in 1864, doesn't mean she didn't keep tabs. Liana knew the Salvatores built the boarding house after their original home was torn down.

Liana hid on the outskirts of the Salvatore property, making sure her brothers were nowhere to be found before she approached the massive home. She shook her head when she was able to enter without invitation. But she did notice there were guests coming and going throughout the day. Knowing what she was looking for, Liana headed for the library. Scanning the room to make sure nobody was paying attention to her, she held out her hand, calling upon her magic, and 'reached' for her father's personal journals.

She felt the weight of a few journals in her hand. Looking through them quickly, she pockets his final journal and shelves the others. Knowing the location of the Grimoire is written in the journal she now holds; nobody will find it. "Now to dig up dear ole dad and get Emily's grimoire," Liana thinks out loud.

Using magic to lift the dirt from Giuseppe's grave made this much easier, and quicker. Grabbing the book, Liana reburied her father and left the grave site. She was walking through town on her way back to the hotel when she thought she saw Stefan. Liana quickly hid behind a parked car before whooshing out of town. Not wanting to risk being followed, she quickly checked out of her room and sped out of there.

Stefan was driving through town on the way to the Salvatore Boarding House. He was going to check on Zach from afar after what Damon did a few years ago. Stefan will never get over the fact that Damon killed his pregnant niece in retaliation. Stefan was thankful he could save the baby, even if Zach doesn't know.

While he was passing through, Stefan thought he caught a glimpse of a familiar face. The face of someone that should be dead. His twin sister, Liana. He quickly pulled over and sped to where he saw her standing, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. Stefan shook his head, "I could've sworn I just saw…" He sighs then gets back in his car and continues on his way. His mind drifted to memories of better times.

Stefan smiled as he remembered one of the better days of his youth. The sun shining bright, flowers freshly bloomed from spring rains, and the sound of his sister's laughter as she ran from her brothers. The two had teased the girl about her crush on the local Forbes boy and in retaliation Liana threw dirt on their good Sunday clothes. Damon and Stefan chased their sister all the way home, laughing the entire way while saying they would tell father about her crush. It was light teasing they always did, all in harmless fun. Giuseppe didn't see it that way. He felt his little girl shouldn't have a silly crush on the Forbes boy. Nonetheless, it was one of the better days.

Stefan's smile dropped when he remembered later that evening at dinner, Liana was scolded for her unladylike behavior. She was sent to her quarters for the remainder of the evening and the following day without any interactions with her brothers. Stefan felt a bit guilty for the teasing that resulted in his twin being grounded so he snuck a book for her to read while confined to her quarters.

Stefan cleared his head of the memory and continued with his task of checking on Zach. It will be another decade before he realizes he wasn't seeing things. Zach and Stefan had decided to close the boarding house to the public for the foreseeable future.

On a pit stop in Texas, Liana was cornered by the last person she would expect. "What do you want, Katherine?" Liana had just finished paying for gas and getting a snack when she was shoved into the gas station restroom. The vampire doppelganger smirked, "Never thought I would run into you, and yet. Wonder what your brothers would say if they knew you were alive?"

Liana rolled her eyes, "They wouldn't care. They didn't care about me then and they sure as hell won't care about me now." Katherine snickered, "We'll see. I'll send them your love." Katherine went to walk away but Liana used her magic to snap the vampire's neck. Then she dove into Katherine's mind and modified her memory of ever seeing Liana. The Heretic left Katherine in the restroom and sped back to California, leaving an angry Katherine because she has gaps in her memories.

Marko, Paul, and Dwayne were happy to see Liana return safely. David is still bitter about everything. He didn't want to admit things were better now because he liked the way everything was before, him in charge. Since he moved back to the cave, he feels the loneliness seeping in, and it is driving him insane. In his insanity, David devises a plan. He'll put on a sad face and apologize for his behavior all the while plotting to rid his boys of the tramp that stole them away. No matter how long it takes.

AN: Sorry, for taking so long. David is very toxic. He is no longer a love interest. It will be just Dwayne.