Chapter seventy seven
"Play with fire."
Beatrix was sitting in their room with candles all around her, but as she did, she was back in Stefan's mind as the two were no longer in the Salvatore boarding house, but walking through the woods together "my entire coven is on board with this whole rescue plan. Which means I'm soon gonna have to get out of here again and leave you. So do you mind telling me why you decided to take me on a walk?" Beatrix asked him "because last time you were in my mind, you followed me wherever I went, had no choice to be thrown into my past. And walking with you and knowing that your real and that your out there coming to find me is what's holding me together." Stefan shared.
"But it's a distraction..." Beatrix shared, as she began coughing up water, Stefan's eyes went wide "Beatrix, Beatrix, Beatrix.." he told her, as she soon disappeared.
Beatrix's opened, looking around her she was back in her room, as Joanna, Esme, Flora, Minnie and Laura stood in front of her, she shook her head "he drowned again. I couldn't keep my foothold." she shared "but that's a good thing. He knows were looking that's what matters." Esme shared "which means for right now, all we can do is wait for news from Damon which is why we're gonna move on to the girl from last night, who's murder had been covered up by one Wesley Maxfield who happens to be our applied microbiology professor." Joanna shared, as Beatrix smiled at her "fine." she told her, waving her hand and making the candles go out as she stood up.
Walking into microbiology, there were not a lot of seats left "what do we do if he calls on us for any actual questions?" Minnie asked "we hope for the best. And by best that he doesn't." Flora told her "or one of us will read his mind and give you the answer." Esme shared, making all of them laugh, as they all walked up the steps, all the way to the back row, and when they did, Caroline and Elena walked up to them as they looked at them "Beatrix?" Caroline asked, as Beatrix looked to her right seeing them so did the rest of her new friends.
But before any of them could explain why they were here "good morning, everyone. I'm Dr Maxfield. First name is Wes, but call me Dr Maxfield." the man shared, throwing his bag down, Flora smirked "you forgot to mention that he was hot." she shared "an potentially evil, Flora." Esme told her "so, you're all going to this bonfire tonight. Well, here's a quick history lesson for you. Whittmore was founded as a hospital during the civil war deadliest war in American history over six hundred thousand casualties. Disease was so prevalent that once a week they had to gather all the dead rotting bodies put em in a pile, and light the whole thing on fire. So tonight, when you're getting drunk and partying stop for a second, close your eyes and imagine the rancid smell of a hundred rotting corpses." Dr Maxfield shared.
"Is it just me or does someone seem to know a lot more about burning corpses then just history or even more then his microbiology degree?" Beatrix asked "exactly." Joanna told her "isn't that right, chatty girls in the back?" Dr Maxfield asked, as everyone turned their heads "and what is that bacteria?" he asked "that would be cadaverine or putrescine." Beatrix told him, as everyone looked at her with raised brows including their teacher which made Beatrix smile.
Later on, Beatrix was walking back to campus with all her friends, as her phone rang, Beatrix answered it "hello?" she asked "how's witchy college life?" Damon asked her "fine, we found a teacher who might have to do with what's going on campus." Beatrix shared "and she totally shut him up with her science knowledge!" Joanna voiced through the phone "you didn't?" Damon asked her "he was calling us out. Someone needed to knock him down a peg. And if we get kicked out of his class we can't exactly figure out what he's up too." Beatrix shared "why don't you just wait till after hours and witch nap him and do what you do best and dive into his brain?" Damon asked her.
"Yes, because outing ourselves is exactly what we want to do right now, Damon. Not just like a girl fell through the window with a vampire bite in her neck." Beatrix told him "oh, come on! Your six powerful witches, use torture!" Damon voiced, but as he did, Beatrix's eyes went wide "Stefan?" she asked, seeing him standing in front of her "what?" Damon asked her "Stefan..Stefan's here right now." Beatrix told him, as Stefan stepped towards her, Joanna cleared her throat "we'll leave you two alone." she told her, as she turned walking off the rest followed her "turn off your phone." Stefan told her.
"Beatrix? No, no, that is not Stefan! Remember! Stefan's.." Damon was telling her, as Beatrix hung up on him, Silas's mind controlling taking over her with how much blood he had consumed over the summer "I know, I didn't say goodbye to you before I left so I just wanted to apologize in person." Stefan shared, as Beatrix jumped forward, hugging him and when she did, she stepped back, slapping him "you scared the hell out of me!" she voiced.
"I know and I should've taken you with me. But now I see that you have a whole new group of friends. But I heard Jermey moved into your house thanks to the whole love fest between Elena and Damon although I really wonder what you've been doing with him because he got expelled and then he and Damon got into this whole fight and then Jermey bolted." Stefan shared "Jermey what? Why? Where'd he go?" Beatrix asked him "that's why I'm here. I was hoping maybe you'd know or do a little locator spell." Stefan shared, as Beatrix's eyes went wide.
A while later, Damon had walked on campus and as he did, he made it to the part of campus where Caroline had said she had seen Beatrix walking off with her witch friends toward's but as he got there he didn't see anything, as a blonde women appeared behind him "hi, there!" she voiced, as Damon spun around, the women smiled at him "the Damon Salvatore. Was wondering when I'd actually get to meet you." she shared, as Damon furrowed his brows "you've heard of me?" he asked "well, there's nothing to do in hell but talk and Beatrix's mom and grandma told me all about you! Plus, I have other means of finding things out. I'm Lilith. What can I do for you?" Lilith asked him.
"Where's Beatrix?" Damon asked her "oh, the girls said she was with your brother, Stefan. They wanted to give them a little time to catch up. Which must be such a relief for her because she thought he was in terrible danger, poor thing." Lilith shared "that wasn't Stefan. That was her great grandfather Silas who's consumed so much blood, that he can get into her head now to where he made her forget all about how Stefan was in danger and made her think that he was right in front of her. So gather up your witches, we need to find her." Damon shared, as he turned around walking off, Lilith's eyes went wide as she turned walking back into the forcefield
Walking with Stefan, Beatrix had given him her phone "Jermey's still not answering. I'm gonna hold onto your phone incase he calls back." Stefan shared, as he put it in his pocket "I see that we're back to cleaning up Damon's messes." Beatrix shared "he's Damon. Are you surprised?" Stefan asked her "no! But I just..I thought we all had made it to a good place, you know? No drama. Although I guess that was.." Beatrix was sharing, as she turned around "are you listening?" she asked him "I'm sorry someone just told me that they saw Jermey on route nine. Do yo know where he might be going?" Stefan asked her.
"Route nine? Um..I remember Elena always talking about a campsite but I don't know why Jermey would want to go there when he has a fully stocked mansion to himself." Beatrix shared, as Stefan put his hands on her shoulders, staring into her eyes, he began messing with her mind.
Meanwhile, Damon was walking through campus, as he looked at everything around him of people setting up for the bonfire "hello, brother." Silas told him, as Damon turned walking toward's him "but I suppose I'm not actually related to you by blood am I?" Silas asked, as Damon grabbed him by the throat "where the hell's Beatrix?" he asked him "there's no need for violence, Damon." Silas told him, taking Damon's hand off of him "you'll find her eventually. There you go. Look, I get why you like her. I mean, I have a spot for Black witches, too. What I don't get is why after all the times you've told her that you're not good enough and how you've clearly moved on that your still chasing after her." Silas shared.
"Well, you knew her great grandmother, just love that wicked personality." Damon shared, as Silas chuckled "cockiness masking fear. How transparent." he shared "you expect me to believe you came all this way, to check on your great granddaughter at college?" Damon asked him "no, that doesn't really make much sense does it? But if I told you exactly what I did then it would ruin the fun." Silas shared, as he patted him on the shoulders "enjoy the bonfire, Damon." he told him, as he turned around walking away, leaving Damon standing there with furrowed brows.
That night, at the bonfire, Beatrix was standing around with her witch friends as they all had a red solo cup in they're hands, they were a few drinks in, as Beatrix was trying to refill Minnie's the hose wouldn't work "oh, come on!" Joanna voiced "it's not me, it's the stupid hose!" Beatrix voiced "I told you guys we should've just skipped the whole bonfire and threw ourselves our own party and drank expensive liquor." Esme shared "it's only their second day! The three of them needed a redo of the first." Flora shared, as Beatrix was banging the hose on the keg.
A guy walked up behind her and took it "I got that." he told her, as he refilled Minnie's cup, all six of them looked at each other and downed their cups "whoa, I.." the guy told them "this is cup four." Laura informed him "wow. Partying hard and showing up the professor. Todays your day." the guy shared "what's up with him anyway?" Beatrix asked "Dr Dickfield?" the guy asked "yeah! I like that!" Joanna voiced "tell you what, help me grab some more firewood and I will tell you everything you need to know." the guy shared, as Beatrix nodded "deal." she told him, turning around "keep drinking. I'll catch up." she told them, as she walked off.
The two headed into the shed nearby "I had Dr Maxfield for a few classes last year. He's a jerk, but he's briliant, so I'll give him a pass." the guy shared "so was Dr Frankenstein and yet look what happened." Beatrix shared, as the guy chuckled, holding a stick out toward's her "there's a rumor that he's a part of this secret society on campus." he shared "secret society?" Beatrix asked him, pretending like she didn't know what he was talking about "all I know is that a few times a week they supposedly meet at Whittmore house. But you didn't hear that from me." he shared.
As Damon sped in knocking him out "well your the last person I thought I'd see her." Beatrix shared, as Caroline walked in behind him "seriously? That's Jesse! I kind of liked him." she shared "he's not dead! Now I've gotta go catch up drinking with my witch friends." Beatrix shared, stepping over Jesse, she began walking back out, as Damon turned to her "no, no, no.." he told her, following after her, Caroline looked down at Jesse "what are you supposed to tell your best friend when the guy she loves is still in love with your other best friend?" she asked him, as she crouched down to him.
Having left the bonfire, Beatrix had walked all the way back to the house with Damon following right behind her, as the two made it upstairs and into her room that she shared with Minnie and Laura "would you stop! I thought you said you were gonna go back to drinking with your friends?" Damon asked, motioning to the door, Beatrix locked it, as she turned walking toward's Damon, she brought her hands up and pulled him down to her kissing him, and when she did, Damon even though he was in a relationship with Elena couldn't help but kiss her back, as he began following Beatrix's lead and letting her walk him back toward's her bed.
Where the two then fell onto it "Beatrix..wait. Wait." Damon told her, shoving her off of him, although when he did, he really hated himself for it "as much as I'd love to do this right now." Damon told her, as Beatrix snapped her fingers and his shirt disappeared, Damon leaned his head back "i'm in a relationship. I'm in a relationship." he reminded himself, but as he he heard the sound of fire, he quickly sat up, seeing Beatrix holding a fireball in one hand "Silas got into your head." he told her, as he looked at the rings in her other hand, which were both of their daylight rings "what did Stefan tell you to do?" he asked her.
"He told me that if I saw you, that I should get you alone. Pretend to make out with you. Only to steal your ring and take off my own and that I had two options! Either I set these on fire along with myself or I kill you." Beatrix shared, as Damon's eyes went wide "Beatrix, your in some sort of Silas trance. Your great grandfather is trying to get back at you for betraying him. Your stronger then this." he shared, watching her distinguish the flame and then relight it "you know he isn't Stefan. You've been searching for Stefan all summer. You found out he was drowning the night before you left to come here." he shared, as Beatrix looked from the fire and at him.
"You had gotten into his mind when you were sleeping and you found out he had been drowning all summer, thanks to Silas. And what'd you do when you found that out, you got up and you called me. Where you decided that me, you and even your witch coven were gonna get together and we were all gonna save him. Meanwhile you were gonna figure out what the hell's going on at this school, while I figure out what Silas want's with Katherine." Damon shared, as Beatrix looked from him and to the fire in her hands, dropping the rings on the floor.
Damon knew that was her making her choice between herself or killing him, as he sped over and quickly grabbed them off the floor "Beatrix.." he told her, speeding toward's her, but as he did, Beatrix sped across the room, holding the fire ball out "you don't wanna die. You just made a lot of new friends who would be very upset if they came back and found you did compared to how happy they'll be if you are alive. Which is why you're choosing not to kill because somewhere between all the times that I've hurt you, a part of you still loves me and you'd rather set yourself on fire then deal with that pain of killing me the same way your mom died." he shared.
As Beatrix took a deep breath, remembering that and how she screamed, making the fire around her explode, and Damon could see her faltering "exactly. And I know..the last time someone was trying to have you do this, it was the hunters curse and you fought through it until the last few moments where Stefan came to find you. He tackled you to the ground and saved you from burning up in the sun and right now, he's drowning, Beatrix. He's drowning. Remember what that feels like? The rope around your neck. It's getting tighter. And tighter." Damon shared.
As Beatrix began to not be able to breathe, as she fell to her knees, and as she did, she started choking up water "Beatrix..Beatrix!" Damon yelled, speeding over to her, he remembered the time where her heart stopped beating "Beatrix..Beatrix, I'm right here. I'm right here." he told her, holding her in his arms, Beatrix soon stopped choking up the water, as she was breathing heavy "he got in my head. He got in my head." she said over, as the door to the bedroom opened, as Joanna, Esme, Flora, Minnie and Laura walked in "and it's not gonna happen again." Joanna told her, as Beatrix and Damon turned and looked at them.
The next morning, Beatrix, Laura and Minnie all had their book bags filled with extra clothes as they stood by Damon's car "you three keep us posted from their. We'll keep you posted from here." Joanna shared, as Beatrix raised her brows "you really trust the two to come with me?" she asked, looking at Minnie and Laura "if anyone can give them the true start to what it's like to be one of us, I think wherever you take them shall do the trick. And besides we're seniors if anyones gonna know how to take on Dr Maxfield it's us." Esme shared "what are you gonna do have Flora flirt him into submission?" Laura asked, as Flora gasped "shut up!" she voiced, making them all laugh.
Caroline and Elena walked up to them "so, are you gonna introduce us to your new friends?" she asked "guys, this is Joanna, Esme, Flora." Beatrix shared, as the three raised their hands "they're gonna be staying back and figuring out thing with Dr Maxfield." she shared, as Caroline's eyes went wide "can I join?" she asked "yeah, you can talk with Flora, you two seem to have a lot in common." Joanna shared "which means you guys are coming back with me and Damon?" Elena asked "yep. This is Minnie and Laura." Beatrix introduced them, as the two nodded "guys this is Caroline and Elena, my vampire friends." Beatrix shared "and then there's me." Damon shared, walking up behind the three of them, but as he did, his phone rang, as he pulled it out of his pocket and answered it "yeah?" he asked "we found something." sheriff Forbes told him, as they all turned and looked at him.
As the five of them got into the car, they drove all the way back to mystic falls and to where sheriff Forbes told them to meet her in the woods "we didn't find it in the quarry but a deputy found this a few miles away. We didn't open it." sheriff Forbes shared, as she leaned down, putting her hands on the wheel to open it "Stefan's been in there for three months..chances are he's hungry." she shared, as Beatrix moved Laura and Minnie behind her, Damon leaned down and opened it, but as he did, all that was in there was probably whoever found him, seeing as they had been fed on so much that their entire head fell off of their body.
"Oh my god." Elena said as she turned away from it "that's not Stefan.." she told them "well, you're right. He was hungry." Damon shared "probably still is." Beatrix informed him, as the two looked at each other.