The only sound that met my straining ears was my own echoing footsteps. I shivered violently trying to make sense of where I was. I didn't know where I was. I reached out my hand to feel my way and couldn't even see it in front of my face.
Blindly, I stumbled into the cave-like place, falling hard on the unforgiving stone floor with a loud thud.
With as much strength I could summon, I pushed myself off the ground and sat up. I breathed in and out, trying to catch my breath.
I closed my eyes, trying to envision my surroundings but nothing came to me. I opened them again. The darkness was the only thing I could see with my eyes open or closed. I breathed out in frustration and groaned, picking myself off the ground. I tried to feel the rough jagged stone walls to move around.
Unfortunately, I didn't get far enough.
Small, loose stones littered across the stony floor caused me to trip again. In frustration, I tried to will my hand to glow up but it failed.
All of a sudden, flaming torches sparked to life, lighting up the tunnel ahead and bathing the entire cavern in a flickering orange glow.
The cave-like building was old and abandoned so long ago that ivy had started growing on the crumbling walls while spiders made homes in each corner. The walls were crumbling, stone bricks looked on the verge of falling down while the iron gates looked rusted.
I gasped when I noticed them. All around me there were bodies. Some slumped over each other, some standing but not moving and some laying on the cold floor. I don't know if they were dead or not.
They seemed alive but at the same time, they were not. Swallowing my fears, I moved closer to examine the bodies. Their skin was gray and cracking. Eyes, hollow and vacant. I gasped and pushed myself back when I noticed their eyes moving. They were alive. But why were they...
My blood ran cold when I realized what they were. These were not humans. They were vampires. My eyes widened in horror and shock as I tried to run to the exit of the abandoned building.
But I couldn't.
At every turn, I was met with more and more bodies, each staring at me in rabid hunger like I was their prey. I needed to get out.
The lights flickered, casting an ominous glow throughout the site, causing shivers to ripple across my body. But I kept running, trying to get away and get out. I felt the cold hard ground again when I tripped. I tried to push myself off the ground again only to let out a scream when I realized what I had tripped over. It was one of the vampires.
Her skin, gray like the others. Her eyes vacant with a tiny shred of light in them and her mouth dry. She looked pitiful. I could barely make out her face in the flickering lights but I could tell that underneath it all, she was pretty. She seemed to look east asian but I wasn't too sure.
Suddenly she sprang to life and grabbed my wrists. Her cold dead hands gripped my wrists tightly in a vice-like grip as she slowly inched forward. I watched in silent horror as she opened her mouth with much difficulty.
"Help...me...." She croaked. "Please...my daught—"
I woke up with a gasp and threw my covers off me. I hugged myself, trying to shake off the nightmare that I just had. In and out. I breathed, trying to calm myself. It wasn't real. It was just a dream. Just a dream. "Huh." I breathed out weakly.
Dreams.
You never just have dreams, Ava. I thought to myself. When was the last time, I had a normal dream. I couldn't remember.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
"Remember—"
"—No use of powers. No talking to vampires. Avoid talking about supernatural stuff all together, if possible. Stay safe. Stay alive." I recited obediently, unclipping my seat-belt and getting out of the car. Making sure to grab my bag as I did so. "I remember. You guys practically drilled it into my head over the holidays."
Uncle Nate laughed. "And whose fault is it anyway."
I pouted. "...Damon Salvatore." I said quietly under my breath, standing outside the car.
"No!" He handed me my denim jacket from the backseat and lightly punched me. "It's yours for trying to be a martyr. Our family doesn't make sacrifices."
I opened my mouth to argue and bring up Grandma Janine and Grampa Charles but stopped. They were the whole reason my family stopped caring. Bringing them up would not help my argument.
"Next time, you're in that situation. You. Walk. Away. What did your mom say?"
I looked away annoyed. "...Don't blame other people for my own actions. Don't get involved in other people's mess."
"Exactly." He sat back in his seat and pulled the passenger door to shut it. He rolled down the windows. "Have a nice day. I'll be home a little late, have to swing by the library." He said before he drove off, leaving me standing in the school parking lot alone but surrounded by familiar and unfamiliar faces.
I huffed and stomped over to where Elena and Caroline stood watching me from a distance. "Hey." Elena greeted me, the minute I walked over to her. She looked better than last time I had seen her. "How are you?" She asked quietly while Caroline fussed over something on the side.
"Better. But I can't talk about it too much." I replied, putting on my jacket.
I remembered the family rules. No talking about supernatural stuff. That night fell under that category. Elena nodded unconvinced and stared at me in concern.
"Don't worry 'bout it. It all worked out in the end. Right?" I tried to reassure her.
"Right." She picked up her pace and decided to change the subject. Turning to Caroline, she opened her mouth and went back to the previous conversation. "Have you even talked to Bonnie?"
"No, I'm mad at her. She needs to make the first move." Caroline retorted.
"Be the bigger person."
"Impossible in her presence."
Elena paused near the school building. "Why are you so pissed at her anyway?"
"She's a thief, that's why. I gave her my necklace, and she refuses to give it back. It's a matter of principle."
I scoffed. "Seriously?"
"Seriously." Caroline repeated.
"Caroline. You were complaining about that ugly thing like a few weeks back when you actually had it."
She flipped her sunshine blonde hair behind her shoulders and narrowed her eyes at me. "Yeah...well. It's mine and I want it back...even if it's ugly."
"It's not even yours in the first place."
"Look I don't wanna fight with you as well."
Elena let an audible sigh. "I tried. I'm officially out of it." She put her hands up and turned her back towards us. "And so is Ava." I tried to argue, only to stop when Elena gave me a stern look.
"Good. Your turn, 'Lena. Where's Stefan? Have you talked to him?" Caroline replied, obviously pleased that the subject of that ugly talisman-thing was dropped.
"He's avoiding me." My eyes met hers as she gave me a tired smile.
"Why?"
We stopped. I stared at Elena in concern. She looked uncertain and hesitated to answer as she tried to think of what she could say. Opening and closing her mouth a few times in an effort to get something out.
" ...It's complicated." She finally breathed out, giving me a look that meant she wanted to talk to me alone about this.
Just as Caroline was about to reply, the school bell rang loudly. I covered my ears to mute it out a little while Caroline smirked. She nodded, signaling the ringing was over. Carefully, I removed my hands from my ears.
"I'll see you later, Care." Elena made an excuse and tried to leave. She stopped and turned to look at me. "Ava." She gestured silently for me to follow her.
"Bye." Caroline waved at us, thinking I was going to follow Elena.
"I'll see you in history in a bit." I said carefully. Elena nodded before turning her back and walking away.
Caroline turned to look at me in surprise. "Alright. What's up?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to check in with you." I replied, grabbing her arms and walking ahead. "How are you after..."
"That night? Yeah. I'm better. But wow. My mom saw me drunk, so that was that. It was not pretty. And then Matt took me home where we...slept together."
"You. Slept. With. Matt." I muttered, shocked.
"Not in 'that' way! More like cuddled to sleep. Why? Do you still have that crush on him?"
"No. I was like 10. That doesn't count." I rebutted her claims, still trying to wrap my head around Matt and Caroline. I mean they'd be a cute couple. Barbie and Ken. They both were royally screwed over Damon. They both deserved to be happy. "You guys would be a cute couple. Go for it."
"I would, if he didn't totally pull a disappearing act on me. I just have such shitty luck with guys. Y'know." Caroline blushed furiously. "Oh!" She grabbed my arm. "...That reminds me. Is everything okay with you and Matt? You guys seemed really close when you came back and ever since Vicki's run off, you've been kinda distant and—"
I breathed out, tiredly. I knew I couldn't outrun these questions, no matter what I did.
"Matt tell you that." I asked quietly, fidgeting with the strap of my bag. She nodded. I sighed. I shouldn't be so surprised. Matt was hurt. If Vicki's 'death covered up as her disappearance' hurt, I could imagine how much me flaking him off hurt.
Caroline opened her mouth but quickly closed it when a boy walked past us. It was Matt. I turned away to give Caroline my undivided attention just before I left for class. She stared at the blond boy in hope for him to notice. Much to her disappointment, Matt brushed past her. She deflated and stared at me, pouting.
"Ava. Hey." Matt called out from behind me. Caroline glanced at me in slight jealousy. Seriously. I was trying to avoid him. I didn't say anything and just shrugged.
I closed my eyes and breathed out. Opening them, I turned around. "Hey...Matt." I greeted him awkwardly before turning back to Caroline. "I have to go. I'm gonna be late for History." Before Caroline or Matt could say anything, I had walked away. Today was not my day.
I quickly glanced at the watch on my wrist. I had five minutes till class started. I did not want to be late to my first class back from the break. Not to mention, I have never been late before. Today was not a good day to be late.
Tanner's replacement was supposed to start today. Ugh, being late on the first day of the new teacher was not a good sign. I didn't want to get on the wrong side of the new history teacher.
I made it just in time and quickly took my seat. Elena had already taken her seat. I did a quick scan of the room from my seat at the back. Bonnie was here but she looked out of it. I made a quick mental note to remember to ask her about it later.
Stefan wasn't here. I sighed as I took out my books and stationary. Stefan was still avoiding Elena and by proxy me. It didn't bother me as much that he was avoiding me, we weren't that close. Not to mention, he probably felt guilty facing me.
I did put my life at risk for his best friend. It wasn't his fault but Stefan was the type to take the blame for the mistakes of others.
Elena turned to look at Bonnie and asked her if she was okay. Bonnie just shrugged. She looked tired. Her eyes were red and puffed up. Dark circles underneath her eyes were very prominent.
It was a familiar sight. Not on her. But on me. I would usually look like that on my worst days when I would be kept awake by haunting visions. This made me wonder.
"Good morning everyone." A man walked up to the front of the classroom greeting us awkwardly. His eyes gave a quick scan to the half-filled classroom in front of him as he picked up a piece of chalk. "Alrighty."
I watched bored as he wrote his name on the chalkboard. 'Alaric Saltzman'. I pursed my lips and flipped my notebook open, ready to focus on the lesson when I felt someone sit next to me. I didn't have to turn to look at the person next to me.
It was Matt, I knew it was. I almost groaned out-loud but stopped myself. I really forgot that he was in the same history class as me.
I could feel his burning gaze on me as I pretended to actually write something in my notebook before dropping my pen on the table and focusing my attention on Mr Saltzman.
"—Alaric Saltzman. It's a mouthful, I know. Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. Saltzman is of German origins." Mr Saltzman put down the chalk on Tanner's table and carried on. "My family emigrated here in 1755 to Texas. I, however, was born and raised in Boston."
He clasped his hands together as the last of the late-comers rushed in to take their seats. "Now the name Alaric belongs to a very dead great-grandfather I will never be able to thank enough. You'll probably want to pronounce "Al-a-ric" but it's "Ala-ric," okay? So, you can call me Rick. I'm your new history teacher." He finished with a smile.
From a glance, I could tell he cared about the subject and would probably be a good history teacher. I sighed in relief. I was not gonna fail history after all.
But the nagging feeling at the back of my head stopped me from being too relieved. There was something off about the new history teacher. But he seemed good, maybe too good to be true.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
"—And then, I ended up at the remains of the old Fell's church before I woke up back in the woods." Bonnie stated as she, Elena and I sat down together for lunch. Caroline was still avoiding Bonnie.
"And you always see your ancestor Emily?" Elena asked, leaning forward and giving me a look.
"Mhm. Do you guys believe in ghosts?"
"Yes." I said immediately after taking a bite of my apple. If witches, vampires and whatever I was were real, who knew what was out there.
Elena pursed her lips and looked lost. "Two weeks ago I'd say no, but now..."
"—Because I think I'm being haunted."
"I don't get it. Why Emily?" Elena asked.
"Grams said she was a powerful witch back in the Civil War days, and that this medallion was hers. A witch's talisman."
"And it all started when you got the necklace?" Elena asked. Bonnie nodded nervously as she pursed her lips.
I leaned forward on the table and took out an apple from my bag. "I'm not saying it's cursed but it's probably cursed. Maybe try not wearing it around your neck all the time. Leave it at home or at your Grams'."
"Grams won't let me. I think she's using it to communicate with me." Bonnie replied, clasping her hands.
"A-plus communication skills right there. " I retorted sarcastically.
Elena gave me a look telling me to be nice. She turned to Bonnie with a look of concern. "Okay, what does Grams say about it?"
"I can't call her. She's gonna tell me to embrace it. I don't want to embrace it, I want it to stop."
"So just get rid of it and don't tell your Grams. No more nightmares." I pointed out, discarding the apple core.
Bonnie looked deep in her thoughts as she considered what I just said while Elena nodded in agreement. But I really didn't mean what I said. For all I knew, it could've been important. Important enough for the dead to haunt her. But that's none of my business.
I got up remembering the family intervention and nodded at Elena and Bonnie before making way to the art classrooms. As much as I loved my friends, I couldn't get involved in their messes. Not anymore.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
I stood outside in the field, with an easel in front of me while a palette of paint in one hand and a paintbrush in the other. I tilted my head and tried to look at my half-painted canvas, hoping for a spark of imagination but nothing.
I dropped my hands, putting the paintbrush aside and looked around me. I wasn't alone. All around me were members of the art club, each with their own easels in front of them, lost in their own worlds as they worked on their art pieces a good distance away from me.
"Stuck?" Mrs Saunders asked as she craned her head at my work. I shrugged in response as she inspected the work carefully. "Not a bad start. Keep going."
Before I could reply she walked away with Rei on her tail. I sighed as I picked up the paintbrush and tried to muster up something to paint. This was supposed to be an outlet for stress not stress-inducing. Ugh. I wasn't getting anywhere at this rate. My head was empty.
I might as well start packing up. I put back the unused paint brushes away in a little bag I carried with me and gathered all the paint-stained equipment.
"Don't you look happy?" A smug voice interrupted my actions. I paused and huffed. I was so not in the mood for this.
I clenched my jaws and looked around. Everyone was still busy. "What do you want, Damon?"
"Just getting my daily dose of sunshine. You?" I started coughing violently when he said that. "Woah, you 'kay there?" He asked with a feigned innocent smile.
"I so don't have time for this." I said between coughs. I composed myself. "Yeah. I really don't have time for you. Not today. Not ever." I retorted, picking up my stuff and taking it over to the cleanup point where I dumped my paint-stained stuff before grabbing my bag and pushing past Damon to get away.
Damon followed me, catching up quickly. "But we were getting along so well..." He smirked as he walked beside me.
I snorted. "Would a deer be stupid enough to befriend a lion? Yes or no."
"If the deer is nice enough. Then yes."
I rolled my eyes and picked up my pace. Unfortunately, Damon decided then to flash in front of my path in the near empty parking lot. I groaned as he stood facing me. Did this guy not know how to take a hint or what?
"Alright. Say whatever you have to say so I can quickly shoot you down and go on my merry way."
"That's cute." He smiled. I mimicked him before scowling. "Alright. So y'know Bonnie. Caroline gave her something of mine that she shouldn't have—"
"—Which caused you to harass and demean her until she had a breakdown at a party—"
"—Which wouldn't have happened if she didn't give away my stuff to other people like Bonnie."
"—Bonnie's the original owner. It's her family heirloom. So your point is void." I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes, staring hatefully at him.
He clenched his jaws before forcing a smile on his face to be civil. "Right. Anyways, I tried to get it back. Multiple times. It failed. Caroline couldn't get it away from the witch. And scaring and threatening the witch didn't work either. So I need your—"
"—You threatened Bonnie?" I questioned, looking around the parking lot as I crept closer to Damon. "What the hell!"
I pushed him with my glowing hands before the glow disappeared. He hissed a little before he grabbed my arms. I drew my hands back in shock. I groaned mentally. Great, I broke one of the rules already.
"How 'bout you stop doing that? Would hate to see you drain yourself like that night." He paused as he looked away. "Though, I wouldn't mind you ending up in my bed ag—"
Thwack.
I slapped Damon with all my strength. He made my skin crawl sometimes with the way he acts and speaks. I shuddered as one of my hands went to my necklace.
"Ouch. That hurt."
"Good."
"You are a violent person."
"On the contrary. I'm actually a pacifist."
"So you're saying, I bring out your wi—" He cut himself off when he noticed how pissed I looked. "Never mind." He put his hands up in defense. "I just wanted to ask if you could get my thing back. I'll be off your back if you do. In fact, I'll even leave town once I have all that I want. Great deal, huh." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively as he looked at me in hope.
"Pass." I replied, bored. I pushed past him to get to Bonnie's car.
"Wait. Wait. Wait. What do you mean 'pass'? I'm giving you what you want. Me out of this town. Out of everyone's life. Or do you not want me to leave? I mean I know I'm attractive but damn—"
"I'm gonna stop you right there before you make me flare up again." I stopped in my tracks and turned around to face him.
"What I'm trying to say is. I'm passing on helping you. In fact, I refuse to get involved with any of you or your brother's messes or any supernatural stuff all together. So good luck with whatever you're looking for...But if you threaten one of my friends or family again—You can be sure, you'll find the council on your doorstep." I finished with a smile, turning around.
"Also, for the record, I definitely want you out of this town. And there are other ways to get rid of you than giving you what you want." I added as I walked over to the side where Bonnie's car was parked.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
Bonnie sat in the driver's seat complaining about Damon while Elena sat in the passenger seat agreeing with whatever she was saying. Now and then I would chime in adding my part from the backseat. I mean none of this was news to me. I knew Damon was dangerous from the start.
"He's bad news. He really scared me." Bonnie confessed, gripping the steering wheel tight.
"Don't we know it." I silently muttered while Elena looked at me incredulously. "It's not breaking news, 'Lena." I shrugged.
I was kind of getting numb to all that Damon did. We knew he was a terrible person, what else was new. It didn't help that he would come and tell me what he had done. Did he think that I was his conscience? Like his own personal 'Jiminy Cricket'. I blanched at that thought. The last thing I wanted was to be a psychotic vampire's conscience.
It didn't help now I owed him one for saving me. God why did it have to be him.
Elena huffed and took her eyes off me to look at Bonnie. "You need to stay as far away from Damon as possible." She said with a serious tone. "Especially you Ava."
"I'm trying!" Bonnie defended herself.
I scoffed. "I know you are, Bonbon. And Elena, you're acting like I go out of my way to find him or something. I don't. He just turns up wherever and whenever."
"Exactly. He just keeps showing up."
Gripping the passenger seat and the driver's seat, I leaned forward to look at Elena. "He doesn't know what boundaries are or when to take a hint. He could drive straight through a boundary and crash into it and he still wouldn't know what a boundary is."
Bonnie smiled for a second before going back to frowning while Elena looked at us in concern. She sighed. "I don't want you guys to be alone." She stated out loud, turning back in her seat. "You're sleeping at my place tonight, Bonnie. Ava's gonna join us as well."
"I am?" I asked, confused. I didn't sign up for an impromptu sleepover.
"You are." Elena confirmed, turning to look at the back seat. "We can make a whole night out of it." She added, looking forward.
We didn't say anything for a few moments. Bonnie continued driving. I saw her grip the steering wheel tightly before making a turn into a grassy field. She pulled over and we watched as she wordlessly got out of the car.
Determined, She ripped out her necklace and let it swing in her hand as she walked over to the grassy field.
"Whoa! Where are you going?" Elena asked Bonnie, only to be ignored. "What is she doing?" She turned around and questioned me.
I shrugged and leaned forward to get a better look at Bonnie. Elena and I both stared at Bonnie as she stomped over to the field and threw her necklace.
"She's getting rid of it." I muttered.
"Seriously?"
"No ugly necklace. No ghosts."
Bonnie walked over to the car and got in. She breathed out a sigh in relief. "Are you okay?" Elena stared at Bonnie, shocked.
"Now I am. All my problems were because of that thing. Ava was right, I needed to get rid of that thing. I can't believe I didn't do that sooner."
"What's your Grams gonna say?"
"Grams isn't the one being haunted by a hundred and fifty-year-old ghost, is she?"
I laughed. "She has a point, 'Lena."
"Okay, then." Elena sighed and looked out the window, ending the conversation.
We rolled up to the Gilbert house driveway in awkward silence. Bonnie killed the engine after she parked her car. Wordlessly, we all got out, our moods were still dampened.
Damon really had a talent of ruining moods without even being there. I walked behind my two best friends as I followed them into Elena's house. Bonnie headed straight to the kitchen while Elena lingered behind in the foyer.
"Jenna and Jeremy not home?" I asked, crossing the threshold of the Gilbert house.
Elena nodded, pacing back and forth the foyer, in deep thought. I pursed my lips and chose not to comment on her behavior. I was about to follow Bonnie when Elena stopped and grabbed my arm.
"Can I talk to you?" She asked quietly. I raised my eyebrows in confusion as Elena craned her head to look into the kitchen. "Alone." I nodded weakly and followed her to stand in front of the staircase.
She breathed out nervously and fidgeted around with her locket. The one that was given to her none other than Stefan. I smiled internally. She still cared about him.
"It's about Damon...and Bonnie." She carefully said, making sure Bonnie was not listening.
"What about them?" I asked, tilting my head.
Elena licked her lips, trying to prepare her next words carefully. "I'm worried—"
"—You're always worried about something lately. What else is new?" I cut her off as I rolled my eyes and leaned against a wall at the foot of the staircase with my arms crossed.
"He threatened her!"
"I know. I was there when Bonnie told us."
"Exactly, we need to do something. Maybe call Stefan or we could—"
I got off the wall and placed my hands on Elena's shoulders.
"One, I'm not getting involved in anything Damon related and you shouldn't either. And two, we don't need to do anything. Technically, it's not our problem anymore. That ugly thing is looong gone. Unless it magically pops out of somewhere. It's gone." I breathed out, turning my head away from her and removing my hands off her shoulders.
"But call Stefan. Damon is his problem anyways."
"I...Fine. I'll call Stefan. But I wanna help Bonnie. I understand you can't get involved for whatever reason but this is Bonnie."
"And I care 'bout Bonnie as well but my hands are tied." I took a step back and folded my arms around me. "I nearly died the last time I got involved in Damon's mess, 'Lena."
"Hey..." Bonnie's small voice made me jump in surprise as her head poked out from the living room. "Woah, did I scare you, Ava."
I shook my head, breathing out.
"You're lying." She said in a sing-song voice before she turned to look at Elena.
Her face dropped as she remembered that she accidentally interrupted our conversation. "Right. Um. I was just gonna ask if Ava was gonna cook tonight or are we getting take out?"
"Take out." "Take out." Elena and I answered at the same time. We shared a look before smiling.
"Take out, it is. I'll go scour through the menus." She replied before heading back to the kitchen.
"Wait. Actually." I changed my mind and stopped Bonnie. "I'll ask Caroline to pick up something from the grill." Bonnie stopped and nodded, disappearing into the kitchen.
I watched Bonnie leave and an idea popped into my head. "Hope you don't mind. I'm gonna invite Caroline over."
"To smooth things over with her and Bonnie?" Elena asked. I simply nodded. "Good idea. I'll go call Stefan." She stated quietly, leaving to make a call.
I nodded and pulled out my phone. "Ava?" Caroline's tired voice answered within a few seconds of the phone ringing.
"Who else? You free tonight?"
"Ugh. Unless you count overthinking about Matt then yes."
"Great! Stop overthinking and come over to Elena's. Girls' night."
"Is Bonnie gonna be there?"
"Uhhhh...Come on. You can't be mad at her forever over an ugly necklace."
Caroline groaned a little before she answered. "Fine. You're lucky I have nothing else planned. Want me to swing by the grill and grab something for the night."
"Took the words right out of my mouth. Do you mind?"
"Not at all. I'll see you guys in a bit."
I ended the call, leaning back against the wall and stared at the ceiling. My thoughts wandered to Bonnie and her witchy problems. This was hard, not getting involved.
The feeling of guilt was strong every time I told myself I wouldn't get involved. It was only a matter of time before I was dragged back in.
I sighed. I needed a better way to protect myself. I couldn't rely on these untrained abilities forever if I wanted to stay and graduate in Mystic Falls.
I had two options, one, I trained myself to use them. Downside, I could push myself too hard and die. Dying was not an option. Two, I try to convince my dad or uncle or someone from the Fitzroy family to teach me to defend myself. That would mean I would be showing interest in the family business.
I groaned. My mom would never allow me to get involved in the family business.
Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.
Quiet knocks interrupted my thoughts as I snapped my head to glare at the door. It was so quiet that if I wasn't so close to the door, I would almost miss it. Stefan was here, I thought.
Just as I was about to react, Elena ran down the stairs. I moved aside and let her through. She smiled gratefully as she stood outside the door. She quickly fixed her hair before she opened the door to greet Stefan.
I snorted, she really wanted to get back with him. It was cute but at the same time, hypocritical. Like she's not the one breaking up with him over anything.
"I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important." Elena began, gesturing to me to follow her outside to the porch.
"I know that." Stefan replied, taking a few steps back to make room for me and Elena.
Elena stepped onto the porch as I followed her, making sure to pull the door closed behind me. "He threatened her, Stefan." She ran her hands through her hair as she spoke.
"What would Damon want with Bonnie?"
I folded my arms and raised my eyebrows. "I thought you would know...I mean you're his brother."
"I don't. If I did, I would stop him before anyone got hurt."
I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Yeah, I know you would." I smiled sadly.
Elena looked between me and Stefan. "She has this necklace." She blurted out while giving me a look to behave. "Caroline got it from Damon, and she gave it to Bonnie, and now Damon wants it back. He's tormenting her."
"Over a necklace?" Stefan asked, looking confused or he was faking it. I don't know.
"It's not just any necklace. It has to do with Bonnie's heritage. It belonged to one of her ancestors who lived here during the Civil War.." Elena trailed off.
I bit my lips as I stared at Elena. She was really standing here and telling Stefan, Bonnie's whole history without even asking Bonnie for permission.
Elena's eyes widened as she stared at Stefan. "—When you and Damon lived here..."
"Her name was Emily. She was Katherine's handmaiden, and a witch."
"You know? About Bonnie?"
"The first night that you invited me over for dinner, I made the connection."
"And now Damon knows, and for some reason he wants that necklace."
"What does it look like?
"It's an antique iron setting with a—"
" —with an amber crystal. I know it. It belonged to Katherine. Emily gave it to her, which means that..."
"So you know about the necklace and why Damon wants it?" I spoke out after just listening to the two.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find it out. Let me talk to Damon."
"Will he tell you?" Elena asked.
"I'll get it out of him."
"Yeah. And then what?" I asked, walking towards the door but stopping to turn and look at Stefan. "Look, we may be friends now in some weird way but I have a hard time trusting you when it comes to Damon. So what are you gonna do about it?"
"I'll stop him if I have to." He retorted without a hesitation.
"And that's worked out so well so far. Hmm."
"I'm sorry that you had to put your life on the line for Lexi because of Damon." I turned around to face him. He walked towards me. "I appreciate what you did. More than you ever know." He said as he looked at me sincerely.
"You said that 'that night'." I pointed out
"And I still mean it." Stefan replied. I could tell that he too was suffering because of Damon. All of sudden I started feeling guilty for judging him too harshly.
I didn't say anything for a moment. I breathed out tiredly. I was so torn between my family's belief and my own that I didn't know what to do. Finally, I decided to break my silence.
"Well, I can't get involved anymore so please just make sure he doesn't hurt anyone. Elena, I'm going back inside. Call me if you need me."
I left Elena and Stefan standing on the porch and closed the door behind me. I leaned against the door and breathed out. Damon may be the least of my problems after all. The secret of Emily's necklace was what was worrying me now.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
I flicked through my sketchbook as Bonnie, Caroline, and Elena were preparing dinner. I took my eyes off the book to look at my friends only to catch Elena give Caroline a look. Caroline sighed and rolled her eyes before turning to Bonnie.
"I'm sorry. There. I said it. If you want the ugly-ass necklace, keep it. It's yours." Caroline reluctantly apologized as she took out a container from the paper bag in the middle of the counter.
"Finally." I said in a sing-song voice as Caroline scowled at me.
Bonnie pulled at her sleeves and stared at Caroline with a guilty look. "Will you hate me if I tell you I threw it away?
"You threw it away?" Caroline gaped at Bonnie.
"I know it sounds crazy, but the necklace was giving me nightmares. I had to get rid of it."
"You could have just given it back to me."
I silently watched Elena clench her jaws and move towards Caroline. "Why? So you could give it back to Damon?" She interrupted the two.
"Oh my god. Elena. I thought we agreed to not bring him up. He's a dick and that's all we need to know about him." I retorted, folding my arms.
"Ava's right. Screw Damon. Are we doing manicures or what? Who has their kit?" Caroline smiled, putting down a container of food down on the counter.
"Mine's in my bag." Bonnie replied tiredly.
Caroline nodded at Bonnie with a smile and hopped to go get the kit. "So, Elena...how long do you think this fight with Stefan's gonna last? Is it...like a permanent thing?" She asked as she rifled through Bonnie's purse for the kit.
"I don't know, Caroline." Elena replied tiredly, waving her hand.
Caroline didn't reply to Elena. Instead she went silent for a moment before she scoffed and picked up something from Bonnie's purse. Gone was the joy from her face. It was replaced with anger. "Why are you such a little liar, Bonnie?" She questioned with a tone of betrayal.
Bonnie got up from her seat and turned towards Caroline. "What?"
"Caroline!" "Not again. Caroline!" Elena and I spoke at the same time, shocked that Caroline was back to picking a fight with Bonnie.
Caroline rolled her eyes and held a chain. We all gasped in shock. It was Emily's crystal. It was back in Bonnie's bag. But how? We saw Bonnie throw it into a field. Then how did it end up in Bonnie's purse?
I leaned towards Elena and dropped my voice. "What do y'know it did magically pop up." I commented quietly so only Elena would be able to hear me. She turned to give me a look to stop and I shrugged.
"I'm not lying to you, Caroline. I swear." Bonnie defended herself.
"It's true. We watched her throw it into a field!" Elena jumped to Bonnie's defense in an instant. I nodded fiercely at Elena's statement.
The blonde waved the necklace in front of us all. "Then explain it."
We all stared at each other in shock while Caroline looked angry. Elena opened and closed her mouth, trying to find an explanation that wouldn't freak Caroline out. "Emily." Bonnie muttered.
"Who's Emily?"
"The ghost."
"Oh, the ghost has a name now?" She replied sarcastically as she put her hands on her hips.
"Caroline, please." Elena tried to calm Caroline down only for her to get more angry.
"I wonder why she won't leave me alone." Bonnie ignored Caroline as she glanced at me and Elena with a scared look on her face.
"What is going on? Why am I not a part of this conversation? You guys do this to me all the time. And now you have Ava being involved in this too."
"That's not true." Elena replied quietly.
I got up from my seat, closed my sketchbook and tried to get everyone to calm down before a full-blown fight took place. "Guys, let's calm down—"
"Yes it is. I can't talk to you. You don't listen." Bonnie ignored me and cut me off as she stared down at Caroline.
"That's not true." Caroline retorted.
"I'm a witch."
"And don't we all know it?"
"See? That's what I'm talking about. I'm trying to tell you something. You don't even listen." Bonnie sighed and walked off, leaving me and Elena alone with Caroline.
Caroline scoffed and held a hand to her chest, looking offended. She turned to look at me and Elena "I listen. When do I not listen?" She asked, staring at both of us in an effort to get some support.
"All the freaking time." I stated, tiredly. I gently pushed past her to go after Bonnie.
Bonnie sat in the living room, all alone. Her head on the arms of a couch while she stared aimlessly in the space in front of her. Her head snapped to look at me when she heard me coming. She gave me a small smile and gestured for me to take a seat beside her.
"Did I overreact back then?" She asked, turning away to stare at the Gilbert family fireplace.
I sighed and took a seat beside her. "Yes and no."
"It's just Emily. I don't know what she wants with me. I can't even ask Grams without her telling me to embrace it. I don't wanna embrace it."
I laughed a little and clasped my hands in front of me. "I thought you wanted to learn the witchy stuff. I mean, I remember you complaining every time I went over to your Grams to practice how I was far ahead of you."
"Lemme rephrase that. I meant I wanted to learn witchcraft, not get haunted by an ancestor of mine through a stupid medallion-thing."
"Well when life gives you lemons..."
Bonnie took her head off from the arm of the couch and stared at me. "I'm just so tired and scared. I just want Emily to leave me alone. I thought getting rid of that thing like you said would get rid of her." She grabbed my hands and pouted.
The moment I touched Bonnie, I was pulled blindly into a dark forest by her.
The canopy let little star light filter through, there was a faint sound of disagreements and chanting. As I walked under the dark tresses of the trees my feet caressed the damp flesh of the forest ground.
All of a sudden the smell of smoke had me moving right away, no time to gather my thoughts, I sprinted towards the scent. I reached a clearing that was lit up. Amber flames flickered and danced madly with no thought of the oxygen or the fuel they consumed.
In the center of the flames, stood a girl. Her head was turned downwards towards the dirt floor while her brunette hair cascaded down the sides of her face. She looked to be in deep thought.
Dead autumn leaves scrunched under my feet, almost startling me. I squinted my eyes to stare at the person in the center of the fiery circle. It was hard to see. The heat from the fire almost blinded my senses.
"Bonnie!"
Bonnie threw something in the air. The object she threw sparked and fizzed before it exploded in the air into million pieces. Sparks flew everywhere, showering us in its bright glow.
Then the fires slowly died, they danced no more.
I rushed to Bonnie's side, only for my hands to go right through her. She swayed a little on her feet, when the fires disappeared completely, giving me a complete look of my surroundings.
Elena was being held back by Stefan on the other side while Damon looked on in heartbreak and anger at Bonnie. "No!" Damon screamed out before lunging at Bonnie's neck.
"Bonnie! No!" I tried to pry Damon off Bonnie but to no avail. My hands kept going through her. Come on, move. He didn't budge one bit. He came up for air. His face was bloody and monstrous while Bonnie's screams filled the now darkened forest.
Then I was back in Elena's living room. Bonnie eyes on me, concerned.
Breathing in and out. I tried to tell myself it wasn't real. It wasn't real. Not yet, it wasn't. The small voice on the back of my head whispered. I scowled at that thought. I was going to be damned before I let anything happen to Bonnie.
"Am I interrupting something?" Caroline asked behind me.
I blinked twice to get rid of the images in my head and shook my head. Mindlessly, I got up and started heading to the kitchen, only to be stopped by Elena. She grabbed my arm and pulled me behind the wall she was hiding.
Before I could protest, she put her hand over my mouth and gestured for me to stay quiet. She wanted us to eavesdrop on their conversation. I stared at Elena bored and gave her a look. She shrugged and pointed at the living room.
"Bonnie. Look, it's just not me. I don't believe in the...'woo woo'." Caroline paused.
"But, if you do, then...okay. I'm in. That's all it takes for me to jump on board, because I consider you to be my best friend. And I'm saying this, knowing that Elena and Ava are in the kitchen listening to my every word. Look, I didn't know how real this was for you, but I'm listening now. Okay?" She finished her apology. "You guys can come in now. We're done."
Elena let go of me and shyly walked up to Caroline and Bonnie while I followed her with a pout. I can't believe she dragged me into eavesdropping on our friends. "There is just way too much drama in this room." Caroline stated.
Elena crashed on to the arm of the couch where Caroline and Bonnie sat on while I walked to stand behind the couch, leaning forward and spreading my arms on top of the couch.
"So, what do you guys wanna do? I have an idea. Why don't we have a séance?" She suggested with a devious grin.
"I don't think that's a good idea." Bonnie nervously replied looking at me and Elena for support.
Elena didn't say anything, instead she looked at me for help. I rolled my eyes and glanced at Caroline. "Bonnie's right. Séances during a sleep-over spell the beginning of a horror movie."
"God. You're so over-dramatic." Caroline craned her head to stare at me. "Come on. Let's summon some spirits. This Emily chick has some serious explaining to do." She said getting up.
Elena shrugged and followed after Caroline to gather the supplies for séance while Bonnie and I helped find candles and other materials. After gathering the supplies, we headed up the stairs, arms full of materials for the séance.
Caroline pushed open Elena's bedroom door and dumped the candles on to a side while Elena and I got to work moving around her furniture and rug to make space for the séance. This was a bad idea. I could feel it in my bones. I sighed so much for not doing anything supernatural.
Rug and furniture moved, Caroline moved the candles to the center of Elena's room. She carefully placed the candles in a small circle, putting the tallest pillar candle in the center and shortest ones beside it.
Bonnie nervously brought forward a lit matchstick and carefully lit the candles. She threw me a nervous look as she lit the final candle. She too didn't want this séance to happen. Who could blame her? There were so many things that could go wrong.
Bonnie, Elena and Caroline sat in a circle around the lit candles, all holding hands. Caroline left me a space next to her and Bonnie as I went off to the light switch.
"This is a bad idea." I commented out-loud while I turned off the lights and joined the circle.
Darkness plunged the room while some light from the candles illuminated the faces of my friends. I shivered a little watching the flames flicker and dance. The image of the fiery circle with Bonnie in the center etched in my mind.
"I know right?" Bonnie replied quietly as I sat down. "What are we doing?"
"I don't know." Elena answered.
"Be quiet and concentrate." Caroline snapped, grabbing my hands. "Close your eyes. Now take a deep breath. Bonnie. Call out to her."
I heard Bonnie take a deep audible breath before she prepared to speak. "Emily, you there?"
I snorted while Caroline huffed loudly. "Really? 'Emily, you there?' That's all you got? Come on."
"Caroline. Be nice." I chastised Caroline while she scowled.
Caroline rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying Bonnie could do a better job of this. She's not taking this seriously. None of you are."
"Fine, geez. I'll take this seriously." Bonnie retorted. "Emily. I call on you. I know you have a message. I'm here to listen."
I shivered a little as a chill passed through me. The candles flickered a little before they flared up violently. The flames grew high before it deflated and went back to its original shape. We all let go and stared at each other in shock and horror.
"Did that just..." Elena breathed out.
"Yeah, it just happened." Caroline commented.
"I'm telling you guys, this is a bad idea." I added in, repeating what I had said for god knows what time.
Caroline gasped and hugged herself as she shivered a little. "It's just the air conditioning." Bonnie tried to reassure us.
"Ask her to show you a sign." Caroline sucked in a breath and stared at Bonnie. When Bonnie didn't reply, she looked annoyed. "
Ask her." She tried again to make Bonnie ask Emily more than what she wanted her to ask. Only for Bonnie to ignore her again out of fear.
In annoyance, Caroline took the matters in her own hands. "Emily, if you're among us, show us another sign."
We all waited with bated breaths for something to happen. Flames growing higher. Wind howling or the air thickening. But nothing. Nothing happened. Elena and I sighed in relief while Caroline looked disappointed and Bonnie looked nervous. This was gonna be a long night.
After a period of silence, Bonnie decided to break it. "See? It's not working."
Just as she said this, the windows burst open, scaring us. Wind howled as the air got colder. The flames grew to almost our height. Bonnie let go of mine and Elena's hands in fear as she got up.
"I can't, I'm done." Distraught, she put her hands up to tell us it was over before it went up to her neck. She ripped the necklace off of her neck and threw it on the ground next to the candles.
The moment the necklace landed next to the candles, the candlelights flickered and burned out, plunging the room back in darkness.
"Get the light. Please, get the light!" She begged as she sounded close to crying.
Across from me Elena scrambled to get up. "Hold on. I got it." She said as she ran to get the lights. She flicked the lights on.
I blinked, trying to get used to the light again. I looked around. Caroline got up from the floor and stared at Bonnie in apprehension and disbelief while Elena looked concerned.
"You guys, the necklace. It's gone." Bonnie spoke out first, pointing at the floor where the necklace was thrown to.
I craned my head to get a good look at the floor near Bonnie, moving my hair out of the way.
I turned away to share a look with Elena. "Okay, fun's over, Caroline. You made a point, and I get it. Now give it back."
This was so not what I was trying to tell her. I sighed loudly and stepped forward. "Elena, come on. Caroline, wouldn't do that and y'know it."
"Thank you. At least, someone here believes me. I'm not a thief. I didn't take it." Caroline retorted but Elena's focus was elsewhere. She jumped a little. "What? What happened?" Caroline asked, turning around behind her to look at the dark hallway.
"I don't know." Elena didn't bother apologizing and answered.
Her eyes wandered to the doorway as she focused on something. She gasped. We all stared at her confused. "Nothing. Jeremy, are you home?" She walked into the hall to check for her brother. While the rest of us split up to find that stupid necklace.
I went over to the windowsill to look for the necklace while Caroline looked elsewhere. Bonnie went to the bathroom.
"Guys..." Bonnie called out from in front of the bathroom.
I turned on my feet to face her and look at her. She held up the necklace. I watched it swing from her hands. Before I could react, the door slammed shut as soon as she was inside the room. I ran to the door, trying to pull the door open.
"You guys open the door! Help me!" Bonnie begged as she pounded on the door.
"Caroline! Elena! Help!" I called out as I tried to pry open the door.
"Bonnie! Bonnie! What's going on, Bonnie?" Elena ran towards me and the door. She stared at me and then tried to pull open the door. "What happened?!"
"I didn't do anything! The door just closed on its own!" I replied, pounding on the door.
"Bonnie!" Caroline shouted as she joined us.
We all pounded on the door to let Bonnie out but the door would not budge. Bonnie's screams rang out throughout the house as we pounded on the door.
Elena slowly backed off and turned to Caroline. "Try the other door. I'll check the hallway." Before Caroline or I could reply she was gone.
"Bonnie! Bonnie! Unlock the door!" Caroline slammed the door with her hands, shouting. Tears of concern were streaming down her face.
"Come on, Bon! Open the Door!" I called out, slamming my body on the door. I winced as I pulled back.
On the other side, Elena pounded on the door. That door was also locked. "Bonnie! Bonnie! Bonnie! Open the door!" Elena pounded on the other side a few times before running back to join us.
I turned to stare at her as I panted and tried to catch my breath from slamming my body on the door. Elena clutched her head and Caroline continued pounding on the door. I looked up when the lights started flickering violently.
Slowly, Bonnie's screams died out.
We all stared at each other in horror for a few seconds when the door opened on its own. Bonnie stood on the other side. Her hair disheveled as she stood with her head in her hands. She stood there for a few moments unmoving and eerily silent.
Elena was the first to react as she crept closer to Bonnie and put her hand on her shoulders. "What happened? Are you okay?"
For a moment, Bonnie didn't react. Then she threw back her hair and stood up a little straighter than she usually did. "I'm fine." She replied with a serene smile on her face that looked too foreign to be her own.
Caroline gasped. "Unbelievable. You were totally faking it."
"Caroline, come on." Elena tried to calm Caroline down.
"No!" Caroline pushed Elena's hands off of her and turned to glare at Bonnie. "You scared the hell out of me." She turned away from us.
"She didn't do it on purpose, I'm sure of it." I immediately started defending Bonnie.
I knew it must have been Emily who did that because Bonnie was not that type of person.
"Bonnie?" I called out. Bonnie didn't budge or react in any way.
Elena stared at Bonnie in concern as she stood still. Her only actions were of her putting on that cursed necklace. "Bonnie?" She repeated.
"I'm fine. Everything's fine." Bonnie replied the same thing with that creepy serene smile. Her eyes unfocused as she walked past us, marching down the stairs.
We all shared a look with each other before we followed her. Elena, Caroline and I stopped at the landing. "I can't believe I fell for it." Caroline commented, annoyed as we walked down the hallway.
Elena ignored Caroline and stared at Bonnie. "Are you okay?" She called out.
"I must go." Bonnie replied instead of answering Elena's question, pushing past us to walk down the stairs.
I tilted my head in confusion before I followed her down. I grabbed her arm before she made it down. "What do you mean you 'must go', go where?" I asked, taking a step closer to Bonnie.
"I must go back." She said, pushing me aside.
Caroline huffed audibly. "She's leaving. I'm leaving."
I took my eyes off Bonnie for a second to take a glance at the blonde. "Caroline..." I began.
"I'm too freaked out to stay. I'm sorry Ava." Caroline apologized.
"You guys can't leave." Elena tried to stop Bonnie and Caroline from leaving.
Caroline shook off Elena's attempts. "I can. I've had enough freaky fake witch stuff for one night." She retorted.
"Thank you for having me. I'll take it from here." Bonnie stated. Her voice, still eerily calm while her eyes were still blank as she shook off my grip and continued to march down the stairs.
"Where are you going?" Elena asked.
"Back to where it all began."
I tilted my head. "Back to where it all began?" I repeated quietly.
My eyes widened with realization. This wasn't Bonnie. I ran down and sprang into action as I grabbed hold of Bonnie's arm again, stopping her at the threshold of Elena's house.
"I can't let you leave, Emily. This isn't right. Bonnie doesn't deserve to be involved." I quietly muttered, trying to convince Emily to leave Bonnie alone. The image of the fire-y circle in the middle of the forest flashed into my mind.
Her head snapped to look at me. She smiled. It was calm, composed and creepy. "You're right, she doesn't." I stared at her with wide eyes, my grips loosened. "But this must be done. I can't let them out."
"Let who out? Emily—"
I was cut off as I felt the air being knocked out of my lungs when I was pushed onto the floor by an unseen and violent force. I landed on my back. My eyes staring up on the ceiling. I coughed and groaned, trying to make sense of what just happened.
"To save her. I had to save them all. I can't let them out." Emily numbly stated. A hint of desperation filled her tone.
I gasped in pain, trying to get up. I managed to barely sit up. My eyes met Bonnie's dull lifeless one. Her eyes darted to the stone around my neck and she gave a small smile before turning away.
"Bonnie! Bonnie!" Elena's voice rang through the house as she rushed to the stairs.
I pushed myself off the floor, groaning in pain as I did so while Emily stared at me apologetically before turning away and walking out the door.
"Oh My God!" Elena shouted from the top of the staircase.
"That's not Bonnie." I said loudly in pain. "That's—"
"Emily!" Elena shouted out.
Emily stopped on the porch. Her mouth twisted into an ugly sneer. "I won't let him have it. It must be destroyed." With that, the door shut on her face.
"Wait!" "Emily!" Elena and I shouted at the same time but to no avail. Elena ran down the stairs to the front door. She pounded on the door and gripped the handle, pulling and pushing it, trying to get it to open.
"What's happening?" Caroline asked with fear.
"I don't know. The door, it's not..." Elena struggled with the door, pounding it once more.
I leaned against the wall, already healing but still in pain. "The door won't open until she wants it too. Emily must have done something."
The girls' heads snapped to stare at me. Elena looked at me incredulously. I shrugged and tried to help them open the door. It didn't budge. I tried again. Didn't budge again.
Just as we were about to give up. The door opened. Elena and Caroline screamed in fear as I flinched. Jeremy was on the other side instead of Emily. I put my hands to my ears to block out the screams
Jeremy stared at us confused as the girls continued screaming. "What the hell?" He asked, pushing past us.
"I'm outta here." Caroline threw her hands in the air and walked out the door. No one tried to stop her this time.
I breathed out, trying to calm myself as I paced back and forth, biting my lips before my head snapped to look at Elena. I couldn't just sit still knowing that Emily was going to put Bonnie's life in danger. "Call Stefan." I commanded her as I swung open the door. "Tell him Bonnie is headed to the woods." I paused, trying to rack my head for an exact location. "Fell's Church."
"What about 'Fell's Church'?" Elena asked, panting, trying to catch her breath.
"Emily's headed to the ruins of Fell's Church where it all began." I said, realizing the true meaning of Bonnie's dreams and Emily's words. "Bonnie's dreams, remember?"
Elena nodded as she finally caught on to what I was trying to say. I nodded and picked up my bag from the living room before walking out the door. I made it to the driveway before Elena realized I was leaving.
"Where are you going?" She called out from the front of the door.
"Home." I called back out, hugging my jacket around me.
"You're leaving! What about Bonnie?"
"I need to pick something up. Call Stefan." I said, turning around and running in the direction of the Fitzroy estate. I had made up my mind. I was gonna save Bonnie but I couldn't go empty handed. If I couldn't use my abilities without hurting myself, there were other ways of doing it.
Dead autumn leaves scrunched beneath my feet as I walked through the forest. Cold late autumn wind howled quietly, swaying the branches above me. I pulled my denim jacket tighter around me with my free hand and continued onwards. I needed to pick up my pace and find the stupid ruins before it was too late.
It was harder to find the ruins in the cover of night than it was in the day. There were no sounds or any trails to lead me to Bonnie's whereabouts. I huffed and closed my eyes. I know I wasn't supposed to use my powers but I had no choice.
I tried to focus on Bonnie and her thoughts. Nothing. Nothing came to me. Only my thoughts floated in my head as I stomped through the woods. I huffed loudly about cursing out loud when I stopped.
The smell of smoke hit my senses, numbing me for a second before I sprinted towards the scent. I was too late. I pushed past the tall imposing trees, almost tripping on some roots before catching myself before I reached the clearing from my vision.
Just like my vision it was lit up in a circle. But what my vision didn't show me was that it wasn't a circle of fire that entrapped Bonnie. No, it was a different shape. It was a pentagram.
The ominously bright amber flames flickered and danced around the pentagram while Emily stood in the center of the flames. Her head was turned downwards towards the dirt floor while her brunette hair cascaded down the sides of her face. She looked to be in deep thought.
I crept forward and squinted my eyes to get a better view of Bonnie. It was hard to see past the dancing flames. The heat almost blinded my senses.
"Emily!" I shouted, trying to catch her attention.
Her head snapped to look at me as she clutched her amulet in Bonnie's hand. Damon and Stefan from the other side of the flames also stared at me in shock, realizing that I was there.
"I can't let them out." She repeated, anger clear in her voice.
I opened my mouth, ready to retort but Elena beat me to it. Her voice rang out through the woods as she screamed out Bonnie's name, breaking through the clearing on the other side. Stefan grabbed her and stopped her from jumping into the flames.
Emily gave me one last look as she threw the crystal in the air. She muttered something too quiet for me to hear before the crystal sparked and shattered in the air into a million pieces. Sparks flew everywhere, showering us in its bright glow.
The fires swayed and flickered before they disappeared all together. Bonnie swayed, a little before quickly catching herself before she hit the ground.
Hesitantly, I took a step towards her. "Bonnie?" I called, trying to grab her attention and check if Emily had left.
Bonnie gasped and groaned, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She looked around the ruins to get a sense of her whereabouts. She stopped and turned to look at me. "Ava?" She breathed out, confused. I sighed in relief. Bonnie was back. "What's going on? Wher—"
"No!" Before anyone could react, Damon cut her off by lunging at her.
"Damon! Get away!" I tried to grab his attention but he didn't budge one bit.
"I just wanted her back." He came up for air. His face caked with blood while some stray tears slid down his face. Bonnie's screams echoed throughout the dark forest.
All the while Stefan held Elena back. "Do something, Stefan!" Elena begged Stefan as he cradled her body in his arms, stopping her from doing anything stupid.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped back into the darkness of the woods and loaded up the crossbow in my hand. I pulled a notch to unfold it while I took out some wooden arrows. Notched the string and placed the arrows in and aimed for Damon.
I knew I couldn't kill him with these and I couldn't use my abilities without hurting myself either but this was enough to buy Stefan some time. My hands shook as I tried to aim but adrenaline pushed me on.
Closing one eye to aim, I shot Damon once. He flinched back and howled in pain. He looked around the dark woods for the assailant while I reloaded the crossbow. I shot him again, recoiling a little from the force of the weapon.
"Stefan!" I called out from my hiding place.
Stefan took the hint as he pounced on Damon, letting Elena go to tend Bonnie. He pulled his brother away from Bonnie who lay on the floor bleeding. I quickly put down the crossbow, shoved it into my bag and ran out of my hiding space to sit down on the forest floor to check up on Bonnie while Elena stood next to me.
Stefan flashed towards us and felt around for her pulse. Elena looked at him to ask him if Bonnie was alive.
"She's alive, but barely. I can save her." He remarked, feeling her pulse. I sagged in relief. Bonnie was alive. But barely. I stared at my hands and contemplated healing her. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to think quick.
"Do it." I said with no hesitation.
Stefan nodded while Elena looked between me and him confused. Her mouth opened and closed, unable to comprehend what was happening. Then he bit into his wrist and placed it over Bonnie's mouth.
Bonnie's eyes snapped open as she awoke with a gasp. She struggled to breathe and talk but her eyes darted around the surroundings.
"Her neck, it's healing." Elena quietly remarked.
I closed my eyes and stood up, carefully lifting Bonnie up with me. While Elena was still lost, she had enough sense to help me and Stefan pick Bonnie off the ground.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
"I don't understand, what happened to me? He attacked me, and his face was like..." Bonnie stood up on her own. She still swayed now and then so one of her arms was on my shoulders for support.
Elena and I shared a look. We needed to tell Bonnie the truth soon. "How do you feel? Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm fine. It's just this blood. I don't..." Bonnie trailed off when she noticed Stefan approaching us. She started shaking a little and limped to hide behind me in fear.
"I'm not gonna hurt you." Stefan said quietly, putting his hands up to show his was telling the truth.
"Trust him." I breathed out. "He's the good one." I commented, defending Stefan. He did save Bonnie. And I guess I was being a little too harsh on him. Stefan smiled gratefully at me while I bit my cheek.
Bonnie gasped. "Trust him?" She repeated, confused. "Guys, what's going on?"
"We'll explain everything, Bonnie. Okay?" Elena gently grabbed Bonnie and tried to calm her down. "Let's just get out of here." She pulled Bonnie towards her car.
But Bonnie didn't budge, her arm still over my shoulders as she stared deeply into Stefan's eyes, still trying to make sense of what was going on.
Elena huffed and gave me a look to help her. "Bonnie. Bonnie, look at me. Trust me. Trust Ava. He's not going to hurt you. Come on. Come on." She turned to look at me. "A little help." I nodded and carefully helped lead Bonnie to Elena's car.
"Can you take over from here? I'm gonna—"
"It's fine. Go. I got Bonnie." I lightly shoved Elena towards Stefan and went to help Bonnie into the car. Bonnie got into the back seat and lay down sideways on the seat.
She clutched her head. "My head hurts." She complained a little.
I turned away from her and went to replace my crossbow with my first aid kit. I placed it on the floor of the car and took out some rubbing alcohol and cotton balls.
Bonnie turned in her seat to stare at me. "Huh. I finally get why you carry that thing around." I shrugged tiredly.
Carefully, I started tending to any leftover wounds and bruises while also making sure to wipe the blood of her neck. My hands shook a little while I did so.
"Is the crossbow also part of the first aid kit? Hmm. God—Elena's in an on-again-off-again relationship with a vampire while you're Buffy with the ability to summon sunlight." Bonnie joked quietly with a sad smile.
I discarded the bloody cotton balls into a small plastic bag in my bag and started putting away the kit. "I'm not Buffy." I retorted. I wasn't. I barely knew what I was doing.
"And I don't believe you. You saved my life by shooting Damon with a freakin' crossbow. Ava." She clasped her hands together and stretched a little. "What happened? You left six years ago and now you're back with all these..."
I grabbed her hands and rubbed them soothingly. "I swear, I'll explain everything I know to you and Elena but not here, not now." I flipped open the kit again and took out some painkillers. I handed her a water bottle and the painkillers. "Here. Vampire blood doesn't heal everything." Bonnie nodded and grabbed the things out of my hand.
Leaving Bonnie alone for a while, I stomped over to the ruins. I left my bag with her but made sure to grab the crossbow.
Quietly, I pulled the notch to unfold it and loaded it. Notched the string and shut one eye as I aimed at the back of the man hunched over. I pressed the trigger and let the arrows fly.
Unlike before, they never hit him. Damon caught the arrows and flashed in front of me. He stared at me as he crushed them and tossed them aside.
"That trick won't work twice." He commented with a somber look. "Work on your stealth, firefly." He patted my shoulders and started to walk away.
I put down the crossbow and shook his hands off me. "It was supposed to be a warning shot, asshole."
"Really?" He turned on his feet to look at me. "Didn't feel like it. Felt like you aimed for the kill."
I looked away and scoffed. "I don't kill. I'm not you." I blurted out. "But that doesn't mean—"
"You're gonna turn me in to the Council. Don't bother." He bent down to examine the discarded arrows. "These are well made. I see your family is still in the vampire hunting business." He twirled a piece of the broken arrow before discarding it again. "Anyways. I'm giving you what you want."
"What I want?"
He smiled sadly. "You want me out of this town. I'm getting out your hair and leaving."
I took a step back, almost dropping the crossbow in shock. I caught it before it fell and stood up straighter, trying to look intimidating. "You're leaving?"
"Yep. Go celebrate or something."
But I held my ground. "That's it! You attack Bonnie and now you're trying to leave with no consequences."
"Oh!" He flashed to stand in front of me. "I'm facing the consequences alright! I just lost the chance to be reunited with the love of my life while your friend lives."
I clenched my jaws. "Katherine."
"Mm-hmm." He made a noise but clearly upset over the outcome of things as he turned away again.
"You did all of this for Katherine. Made Stefan's life hell. Turned Vicki, forcing Stefan to kill her. Made Jeremy and Matt's life miserable. Harassed Elena. Tried to kill Bonnie. All for Katherine." I said to myself. "I don't even know her but I already hate this bitch." I muttered under my breath.
Damon hissed as he flashed towards me and pushed me towards a wall. "Don't." He threatened me, pushing a few stray strands of my hair out of my face. "I don't want to hurt you."
I pushed him off of me and got away from him. "That's rich, coming from someone who just tried to rip my best friend's throat out." I picked up the crossbow and aimed it at him before putting it down.
"She's alive."
"Thanks to Stefan." I spat out. "Y'know, I don't know what kinda girl this Katherine is but from what I'm finding out. She doesn't seem all that." I paused. "Turning you and your brother against each other, turning you into a monster but you're right I don't know anything. So goodbye. I hope I never see you ever again." I said quietly, turning away and leaving.
I don't know why I was bothering. He was leaving so why provoke him. I groaned. Seeing Damon always made my common sense go out the window. He was that annoying but right now a part of me pitied him. Katherine played with him. That was obvious.
What scared me was the possibility of Katherine coming back. I still didn't know for sure if I really saw Lydia's memories at that week of the Founder's Ball but regardless I had a feeling that this Katherine was dangerous and another vampire for me to worry about.
─────⋇⋆✦⋆⋇─────
𝟑𝟎𝒕𝒉 𝑵𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟗,
𝑰'𝒎 𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒓𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑰'𝒎 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆. 𝑰 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝑮𝒊𝒍𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒕'𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆.
𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆.
𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆.
𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒔 𝒑𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝒐𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒃𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔, 𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒅. 𝑯𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔.
𝑨 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓. 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝑩𝒆𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒕𝒕, 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒅, 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒍. 𝒀𝒆𝒔, 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏. 𝑺𝒉𝒆'𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒊𝒈𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚.
𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒔. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚. 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍. 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒍𝒍.
𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒍. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑬𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒃 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒎𝒃. 𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒑𝒊𝒅 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒊𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕.
𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒕. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏'𝒕, 𝒊𝒇 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆.
𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚. 𝑻𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑰 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝑰'𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎. 𝑼𝒔𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒔𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐.
𝑨𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒐 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝑰𝒇 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚. 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒂 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆. 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝑴𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝑰 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒊𝒕'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆.
𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔, 𝒅𝒐 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔?
- 𝑨𝒗𝒂 𝑹. 𝑭𝒊𝒕𝒛𝒓𝒐𝒚
I shut my journal and stared at the ceiling. Upstairs, Bonnie and Elena were having a heart to heart conversation about Stefan and vampires. I had already confessed to them both a little about my family history but not too much.
I left them to talk about their own experiences while I decided to get some space to clear my head. Sighing, I walked over to the Gilbert kitchen and took out a tub of ice cream from the fridge.
Tub of ice cream in one hand while some spoons in the other and my journal underneath my arm with a pen tucked inside the journal. I carefully tread to the foyer to go up the stairs.
I stopped as a bitter chill took over me, making me shiver a little. It was probably the ice cream tub, I thought mindlessly.
My eyes wandered to the door where Jenna stood, talking to someone.
"—Aren't you gonna invite me in?" Someone asked from the other side.
I narrowed my eyes at those words and slowly turned towards Jenna. She looked conflicted and looked side to side, trying to find an excuse to not let him in.
"Jenna?" I called out, grabbing her attention. "Is everything okay?" I asked from the foot of the stairs.
"Ava." She breathed out in relief as she turned to look at me. "It's nothing. Just an annoying bug." She replied, not taking her eyes off the person on the other-side.
I chose not to comment and gestured to the tub in my hand. "Wanna join us for girls' night?" I asked.
"I'll join you guys in a bit." Jenna replied with a smile. I smiled back and went up the stairs with the tub of ice cream out of my hands to Elena's room. But I stopped at the landing and stared down the stairs at the door.
My gaze lingered on the doorway for a few seconds before I shivered again. It was probably the weather. Winter was getting closer.
Maybe I should start wearing warmer clothes, I thought as I walked down the hallways, leaving my worries at the foyer.