Chapter 9
'Cause every night, I lie in bed
The brightest colors fill my head
A million dreams are keeping me awake
I think of what the world could be
A vision of the one I see
A million dreams is all it's gonna take
Oh, a million dreams for the world we're gonna make
A Million Dreams – P!nk
A couple of days after my fathers wake Bonnie, Elena, and I find ourselves helping out Caroline by organizing the Mystic Falls High School Carnival.
"Katherine looked just like you, it was freakish." Announces Bonnie as I nod in agreement.
"She is my ancestor. Hey, I moved the student booth into the cafeteria." Responds Elena in earnest.
"Your vampire ancestor and she didn't just resemble you like a family member would. She was you." Presses Bonnie.
Quickly I add on "The biggest give away was when she hugged me. It was weird. Cold passed through my spine and felt like I would never be warm again." As I speak, I add a dramatic shiver to get my point across.
Looking at both Bonnie and I in exasperation Elena notes "I don't know, I can't explain it. It's creepy, that's all I got."
"How do you know she's not still out there pretending to be you?" asks Bonnie.
Glancing at me in annoyance Elena grabs a box from the booth beside her and states "I don't but I could sit here and be tortured by the not-knowing or I could get these prizes to the ring toss."
Trying not to laugh at Elena, we continue walking to deliver the prizes to another booth when Bonnie asks "Have you talk to Damon since he killed Jeremy or tried to kill Jeremy?" jumping in I quickly ask "Wait. What? Damon killed Jeremy? Didn't I see Jeremy this morning?" /
Nodding towards me Elena informs Bonnie and I "No Bonnie, I haven't and I won't and I don't want to talk about Damon or anything else that's vampire related, okay? Annie, Jeremy was wearing his ring and came back to life."
Quickly handing a bag of stuffed animals to Bonnie she adds, "I'm human. And I have to do human stuff. Otherwise, I'm going to go crazy."
"Okay, I'm sorry, I'll focus. We have to make Caroline proud or she will kill us. I don't know how she does all of this."
Glancing at Bonnie I proudly announce "well clearly she isn't' human!"
Both Bonnie and Elena give me a quick look of annoyance before laughter overcomes the three of us.
"Come on let's get this done so we can enjoy it later." Suggests Elena, to which Bonnie and I both agree.
So much for enjoying the carnival, I think to myself as Bonnie, Elena, and I wander around helping out.
"The ring toss is out of Bart and Homer dolls and Team Jacob T's." shares Bonnie,
"Okay, I can grab some from the science club. Also we lost a speaker in the karaoke room." Adds Elena.
Taking a moment, I stop them both from walking and say "Hey. You two look around. This is a huge success."
After a moment of silence Elena responds "You mean I can do more than just freak vampire havoc?" at the same time Bonnie says "go figure" I say "imagine that."
As we all laugh Elena is the first to stop and calls over to one of the carnival workers "Hey, Carter, right? You're with the carnival."
As Elena speaks with Carter, I notice Bonnie's face starting to flush which only worsens when carter speaks to her "Wow, what do you need beautiful?"
Seeming to get her feet under her Bonnie responds "What do you know about karaoke speakers?"
Looking her up and down carter tells her "Why don't you show me the problem?"
Trying not to laugh I look from Elena to Bonnie and say "Yeah Bonnie why don't you show him the problem."
Not so subtly I grab Elena and pull her away from the two. "Bonnie is going to kill us!" Laughs Elena as we continue on our way.
Later in the night I meet up with Tyler and Mason who made their way to the carnival's arm-wrestling booth.
Standing off to the side Mason and I are cheering Tyler on as he beats yet another challenger.
Without warning Mason walks towards Tyler "I bet I can take you."
As they look at each other with matching grins the bell dings for them to start. Seeing the look of struggle clear on Tyler's face I can't help but think Tyler is going to be pissed if Mason beats him.
In that same moment Mason pins Tyler's arm and I can't help but jump up and cheer for Mason's win.
"Okay, he's the champ, who wants to go next?"
"Stefan wants to go."
Turning to the voice I locate Damon and Stefan standing behind me. What is he thinking?
"Yeah, sure, I'll...give it a shot." Announces Stefan as he makes his way towards Mason.
As everyone turns to watch I keep my eyes on Damon for a second longer as he gives me his signature grin and eyebrow raise.
Shaking my head I turn to watch Mason and Stefan start their match. In a matter of seconds Mason has Stefan pinned.
As Stefan joins Damon I hear Damon angrily whisper "You didn't put in any effort at all."
Turning back to face them I ask "What the hell are you two doing. Why would Stefan try to beat Mason?"
As Stefan looks at me with a look of guilt Damon sneers "none of your business little Lockwood."
He then pulls Stefan away and they walk off.
WTF, what did they think was going to happen and what are they planning?
After spending some time at the carnival Tyler heads to the car leaving me with Mason. As we are talking, we are interrupted by yelling.
Rushing over to the sounds I see the guy from earlier, Carter, being punched in the face by Tyler.
Mason quickly jumps between them and asks "Hey Tyler! Tyler! What the hell man?"
From behind Mason, Carter tries to push past him and Mason turns to him to hold him back.
Suddenly Carter punches Mason and pushes him backwards over a car. Tyler then charges Carter only to be thrown to the ground. As I look around trying to figure out how to help without magic, I see Mason jump over Carters head.
What the hell, his eyes?
Once he lands, he turns back to Carter and with one punch knocks him out.
"What just happened" I yell out as Mason helps Tyler up.
Coming towards me Mason tells me to forget what happened ad return to the carnival.
Grabbing his arm I ask "Mason, what happened to your eyes?" quick to respond he says "I don't know what you are talking about Annie, just go back to the carnival and don't tell anyone what happened."
As I nod Mason turns back to Tyler and they run to the car to leave. After a moment I turn to leave, however I see Stefan rush towards Carter and ask if he is okay.
Seeing them busy talking I quickly turn and rush back to the carnival o find Elena and Bonnie.
Looking around the gym I see Bonnie walk outside and follow her.
Outside she stops and I hear her say "No, you're not; you can't be."
Upon closer inspection I see her holding Caroline's arm with Stefan and Elena on either side.
"What is going on Bonnie" I ask as I make my way closer to the group. As I do I see blood coating Caroline's face.
"Bonnie?" Asks Caroline as Bonnie backs away form her with horror on her face.
As I reach Bonnies side, I see a body on the ground covered in blood "is that a body?" I ask the group. "
Oh god" responds Bonnie as she turns into me.
Elena quickly pushes Caroline towards Stefan who takes Caroline away. As Elena approaches Bonnie and I, still in out hug, I tell Elena to give Bonnie a minute. Nodding Elena backs off with a look of guilt on her face.
Turning towards Elena Bonnies announces "I can't believe this is happening."
As I go to agree Damon shows up with a shovel and states "Come on, don't pout about it. I got a body to bury."
As Bonnie and I both look at Damon in shock and anger he approaches Elena "I thought you were calling the shots. No? Hm, it sucks to be you, buddy."
Damon starts to walk away from Elena but quickly falls to his knees in pain as Bonnie intensely stares at him.
Behind us water spouts from a hose and Bonnie tells Damon "I told you what would happen if anyone else got hurt."
Crying out in pain he responds "I didn't do this!"
After Elena agrees with Damon's statement Bonnie says "Everything that happens is his fault, Elena."
With clear malice in her voice. Suddenly flame burst forward from the water on the ground and heads towards Damon, still in pain on the ground. As the fire reaches Damon, Elena begins pleading Bonnie to stop.
This isn't right.
I rush forward as grab Bonnie's shoulder and pull with my magic. As the fire dies so do Damon's and Elena's screams.
Angerly turning around Bonnie pushes my hands of her shoulders "Why did you stop me!" looking her in the eyes I simply state "Because this is not the right thing to do Bonnie."
From behind Bonnie Elena approaches and adds "This isn't us. Bonnie, this can't be us…"
Gently Elena wraps her arms around Bonnie and I's shoulders and guides us away from Damon.
That night after we got home, I called Bonnie to check in.
"Bonnie I am so sorry, but I couldn't let you kill him."
"I know Annie, I know. I hate him but thank you for stopping me."
Smiling to myself I say "I will stop you from going over then edge whenever I can Bonnie. However, I would like to learn that neat pain trick."
Laughing Bonnie agrees to teach me. We spend the night talking about spells and practicing spells until we fall sleep.
As I fall asleep, I wonder what memory or dream will come to me tonight...
Wandering around a funeral at 12 is not a fun experience, especially when people keep looking at you with pity.
Sighing I walk outside to hopefully be alone for a while.
Once outside on the back porch I lean my forearms against the railing and just stare into the distance.
I am broken out of my thoughts by a hand resting on my shoulder. Turning my head toward the arm attached to the hand I notice Ms. Shelia standing behind me.
"I am so sorry for your loss child."
"Thanks Ms. Shelia." With a deep sigh she asks me to go for a walk with her and I agree. Anything to get out of here for a while.
As we walk she leads me into the forest behind my mom's house down and old worn path.
Suddenly stopping she turns to me "I know one day you will understand why I had to do this. But no one can find out and your mother cannot protect you anymore."
"What are you talking about Ms. Shelia?" as she gives me a look of guilt she whispers "Dedisco." Then everything turns black.
Coming to, I wake on the ground in the woods alone. Standing I recognize where I am but I can't remember how I got here. I should go back to the house; I say to myself.
As I make my way back to the funeral, I can't shake the feeling that something is missing.