Book: Gilbert Twins
Chapter 20: Do Not Go Gentle
Word Count: 2465
No one's POV
Caroline and Ariana were walking through the gym hall which was being decorated for the 20s Decade Dance. Caroline had a clipboard and was in charge of the preparations.
"So, Alaric is trying to pull himself together, why is that a bad thing?" Caroline shrugged.
"I just... I wish there was something I could do." Ariana sighed, picking up a chandelier. "Where do you want me to hang this thing?"
"You know what, if Rebekah wanted to hang this monstrosity, she should have shown up to do it herself!" Caroline groaned, handing the chandelier to a passingby student. "Just no!" Caroline then saw Matt and Jeremy sticking stars to the ceiling. "What are you doing? You can't just hang them! They're supposed to trickle down."
"Trickle, duh!" Matt exclaimed to Jeremy. Caroline turned back to Ariana.
"Look at them all bromancy."
"Yeah. Matt got him his old job back at the Grill." Ariana smiled. Caroline smiled back.
"That was nice of him."
"Jeremy has got a lot on his mind. The whole thing with Alaric has got him really stressed out." Ariana mentioned, causing Caroline to give her a look.
"You sure it has nothing to do with witnessing you and Damon getting hot and heavy in a skeevy motel?"
"I didn't tell you that so you could torture me with it." Ariana muttered, surprised that Caroline had found out so soon.
"Aww, what are best friends for?" Caroline grinned. "So, who are you bringing to the dance?"
Ariana wrapped a feather boa around her neck.
"Um, well, I'm kind of wanting to stay in a 'no boy zone' until I figure things out with Damon." She mumbled. "So... um, I know that Elena is going with Nathan, and you are going with Tyler... oh, I'm glad that he's back in town, by the way... but, uh, I guess I could just go with Bonnie."
"Hm, Bonnie has a date." Caroline replied, and Ariana was definitely surprised. But, she still grinned excitedly.
"I'm so happy for her! She has been sort of avoiding guys altogether since... Jeremy. But it's great that she's getting back out there! Who is she taking?"
"Jamie called and wanted to see her, so she asked him." Caroline informed. "So here's a thought, why don't you ask Klaus? I mean, I personally hate his guts because I believe he's a vengeful demon, but I know that he is somehow all 'sunshine and rainbows' around you! So, how about it, Ari? Klaus is available, and I know that he is just waiting for you to ask him!"
"I can't ask him on a date." Ariana frowned. "I've kind of been avoiding him..."
"Why?" Caroline wondered.
"Well, what did you expect me to do? I feel like I betrayed him! I knew of his feelings, and I still went and made out with Damon! And, remember how I told you that Klaus asked me to leave town with him, and I agreed? Well, if I see him, I'm going to have to tell him that I can't leave with him."
"Why is that such a bad thing?" Caroline scoffed, quickly looking down to check things off on her clipboard.
"What am I supposed to say? 'Hi, Nik. Sorry that I've been avoiding you, I just couldn't bring myself to face you because I'm worried that I broke your heart for making out with your enemy! But, listen, I can't leave town with you after all because I need to stay and figure out my feelings for Damon, as well as my feelings for you, but my love for Damon could be the real thing. Sorry, bye-bye!!'" Ariana mimicked herself. But Caroline stared at her in shock. "What? What did I say?"
"You love Damon?" Caroline gasped.
"I..." Ariana didn't really know what to say at that point. "I don't know, okay? That's what I'm trying to figure out, remember? But, enough about that, please. Let's just... let's get back to preparing for the dance."
"Okay." Caroline chuckled as the two of them got back to preparing. "But, hey, if you don't grab yourself a date by tonight, you are always welcome to tag along with Tyler and I, Ari! The three of us would be such a power couple." She joked, causing both of them to laugh.
"Thanks, C. I'll think about it." Ariana smiled. Caroline smiled back. The former then gestured to all of the decorations beside them. Ariana held up some pretty fairy lights. "So, where do these go, boss?"
---
Bestie💜xxx
Yeah, it's a date. You, me, and Tyler. Such a power couple 😉😘🤤💕xx
Bestie❤️xxx
Wow, I'm happy to be bringing the hottest date in the universe 😘💘
Do you want me and Tyler to pick you up?? Xx
Bestie💜xxx
No way, if there's going to be a hottest date, it's you.
And it's fine, I'll meet you guys there!! 🥰xx
Bestie❤️xxx
I'm flattered 🥺💖
Suit yourself! I'll see you soon ❤️❤️❤️
Bestie💜xxx
Soon ❤️❤️❤️
Ariana then turned her phone off and stared at her own reflection in the mirror.
She was dressed in her 1920s dark green dress that was absolutely stunning, with her hair perfectly styled to go with her flowery black headband, and her matching black heels.
Then, she grabbed her purse, sliding her phone and lipstick into it, and left.
---
The party was in full swing in the gym hall with lots of students dancing to the music, including Bonnie and Jamie. Caroline walked up to Matt, who was restocking the drinks table with ice.
"Have I told you how amazingly awesome you are?"
"Yeah, I'm one of the good ones, I know." Matt chuckled. "So, did you bring a date?"
"Yep. Two! Tyler and Ari." Caroline grinned.
"Tyler and Ari, huh? All three? Power couple." Matt joked.
"That's what I said!" Caroline exclaimed, laughing as she did so.
"Uh, do you want a drink?" Matt offered. Caroline smiled and nodded. "Good, I'll be right back."
"C!" A sudden voice squealed. Caroline grinned widely and span around, seeing Ariana, who rushed up to her and hugged her tightly. "Oh my gosh, C, you look stunning!"
"I could say the same thing to you, Ari!"
"So, where's Tyler?" Ariana asked.
"He'll be arriving soon." Caroline replied. "But, while we wait, would my very hot date like to dance with me to his incredible jazz music?"
"I would love a dance with my 'very hot date'." Ariana giggled. Caroline grabbed her hand and rushed over to the dance floor. The two of them grinned and laughed, dancing together, while they waited for Tyler to arrive.
---
Ariana was by the drinks tables when she saw Jeremy heading to exit the school. Very confused, Ariana put down her drink and hurried to follow him.
"Jer? Jeremy, what's going on?"
"Did you know?" Jeremy demanded, turning to face her.
"Know what, Jer?" Ariana wondered, confused. Jeremy just glared down at her.
"Those three vampire brothers, and even our vampire sister, are planning to put Alaric out of his evil misery by killing him!"
"What?" Ariana was definitely shocked. "I swear, I had no idea, Jeremy. I'll... I'll talk to them, okay? Try and make them see reason. They can't... kill Alaric. We won't let them, right?"
"It seems that their minds are perfectly made up." Jeremy snapped, and turned to leave again.
"Jer--"
"Ariana!" A voice suddenly cut Ariana off. Both her and Jeremy looked over and saw none other than Esther Mikaelson stood there. "If you wish to help your friend Alaric, I suggest you come with me."
"Jeremy, go inside and get Stefan and Damon, now!" Ariana instructed. Jeremy ran inside.
"I mean you no harm. But willingly or not, you will come." Esther said.
So, quite hesitantly, Ariana followed Esther.
---
Ariana and Esther were walking towards the Salvatore tomb.
"You'll forgive me for taking you from the dance this evening." Esther began. "That's the burden of being the human doppelgänger, I'm afraid. Your blood is a potent binding agent for a witch's spell. Your sister is... let's just say, she is useless now that she is a vampire, turned by my own son."
"Just please don't hurt Alaric." Ariana pleaded.
"She's not hurting me." A voice spoke up. Ariana turned and saw Alaric stood there.
"Ric!" She moved towards him, but stopped when she sensed something was different about him, turning back to Esther. "What's going on? What are you doing with him?"
"I'm going to remake him." Esther told the young doppelgänger.
"Remake him?" Ariana was confused.
"Make him strong, fast, like my children. Indestructible. For one final time, I'm going to tap into the dark magic I used a thousand years ago. Like my husband, Mikael, before him, I will make Alaric into a true hunter, a vampire to end all vampires. He has embraced his darkest aspect. His hatred for them will become more pure and uncompromising. In death, that hatred will be magnified. And each time he died with that ring, during his brief journey into death, I was there on The Other Side. I spoke to him, I nurtured him, knowing that every death brought him closer to his true self. Vampires took everything from him. Now... he's getting his vengeance." Esther finished.
---
Esther was lighting candles inside the Salvatore tomb and preparing for a spell. She then turned to Ariana.
"When you are ready."
"And what if I refuse?" Ariana snapped, glaring furiously at the Mikaelson witch.
"I could always force you to do whatever I desire." Esther smirked. "Willingly or not, you will do as I say. What'll it be?"
So, very reluctantly, Ariana grabbed the knife that Esther offered to her and used it to slice her palm open through the center, only deep enough so that it'd drip blood, but not deep enough that it'd leave a scar.
Then, Esther grabbed Ariana's wrist and brought it over so that the palm of her hand would hover face-down above the bowl, and the blood poured into it.
"Drink. And let it be done." Esther instructed Alaric. And before Ariana could intervene in any way, Alaric drank the blood in the bowl and put it down.
"Is it finished?" He asked.
"Not just yet." After uttering those words, Esther staked Alaric with the indestructible white oak stake. Ariana gasped in shock.
"No!"
---
Alaric was lying on the floor of the Salvatore tomb. Ariana pulled the indestructible white oak stake out of Alaric.
"He'll wake soon." Esther said. "When he does, he may for a time be his old self. If so, you can say your goodbyes before his transition is complete."
"You said you wanted to undo the evil that you created, but this... this is just as evil!" Ariana yelled.
"Alaric will never be what my children became. I have granted him enough power to complete his task. Then when the time is right, he will die." Esther stated. Ariana furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.
"How, if he's immortal?"
"All you need to know is that, when this is over, we will have rid the earth of vampires once and for all." Esther announced proudly. It made Ariana disgusted.
"Yeah, but you'll be killing the good along with the bad!"
"I desire a world where you and your loved ones will not suffer at the hands of vampires. You may draw comfort knowing that your aunt is not in the place that I was. She doesn't know the torment of The Other Side. Though made a vampire, she remained pure. She knows peace. Which is all any of us can hope for." Esther explained. She heard a noise and walked outside. Matt and Jeremy were there, pointing a rifle and a crossbow at Esther.
"Don't move!"
"Where's my sister?!"
Ariana then came out.
"Jeremy!"
"Let her go." Jeremy snapped furiously at Esther.
"How foolish of you, to risk your lives in defense of those who will kill you. But if that is your choice." Esther used her powers and made Jeremy and Matt turn their hands and point their weapons at each other.
"Matt! Matt, drop your gun!"
"I can't! I'm not controlling it!"
"Esther, stop it!"
Alaric then came up and stabbed Esther from behind. He was temporarily his old self.
"Oh my god. Where's my ring? Tell me what happened..."
---
Inside the Salvatore tomb, Ariana and Alaric were talking. Ariana was hugging Alaric tightly.
"Ric, this isn't your fault..."
"Please, let's not make this any harder than it already is." Alaric chuckled weakly. "You should go. Damon's here. He'll make sure it'll all go down the right way."
"I... I don't wanna lose you..." Ariana began tearing up. "You were the best father figure I could've ever hoped for... and whether you like it or not, I will always consider you my dad. Lucky me, now I had three."
They both chuckled. Alaric pulled Ariana in for another hug.
"Taking care of you, Elena, and Jeremy has been... has been the closest I've ever come to the life I always wanted." He whispered. Ariana tried her hardest not to cry, but it was becoming increasingly harder. "You should go."
So, as Ariana wiped her wet eyes, she reluctantly stood up and turned to leave.
"Hey..." Alaric called softly. Ariana turned back towards him. "I love you... my daughter."
"I love you, too... dad." Ariana sobbed. As she and Alaric shared their last hug, he kissed her forehead gently before Ariana turned and left, not turning back in fear that she wouldn't be able to bring herself to leave if she did.
And as Ariana walked away from the tomb... she knew that, even if her and Alaric never shared the same blood, and he only remained her step-father after marrying Isobel... he would still always be considered her father.
He treated her like his own daughter. He looked after Ariana and Jeremy when Elena was off with Nathan and Klaus. He always looked out for her safety, and protected her above all else.
Alaric Saltzman was 100%... Ariana Gilbert's dad. Whether it was through blood or not, he was her dad.
---
Please don't forget to leave your opinions, tips/advice and all that stuff in the comments, I'll definitely take tips and advice into consideration!
Damiana? Stariana? Nathiana? Others?
Does anyone ship Ariana with KLAUS?
What about Elena ships? Any favourites?
Delena? Stelena? Nelena? Others?
Does anyone ship Elena with REBEKAH?
Caroline ships, anyone?
Steroline? Daroline? Natholine? Others?
Does anyone ship Caroline with KLAUS OR REBEKAH?
Don't forget to vote, share and comment please! Xxxxx
Love you guys!
-L
Next chapter: Alaric takes Caroline hostage...