Silence erupted between Buffy and Stefan as they stared at each other.
Both of them reflected two drastically different emotions.
Stefan was distraught as he stared at the girl who currently had a crossbow aimed at his heart.
Buffy, on the other hand, was filled with rage. Angry at herself, angry at Stefan, and angry at the world.
How the hell had she let herself get involved with another vampire? It had to be some sort of karmic retribution for falling for one the first time around.
Forcing herself not to wallow in the hurt in her heart as she stared into his eyes, Buffy forced a harsh laugh from her lips "So...vampire huh. That was a fun realization for me. I thought I was going crazy, you're not supposed to be able to walk in the sun. Nice trick."
Stefan felt his heart lurch as he spotted the pure hatred in her eyes as she glared down at him. Her grip not once loosening on the crossbow still aimed at him. He hated this whole situation. This was not the way she was supposed to find out.
How did she find out?
"You know."
Buffy rolled her eyes "I'll admit your breed is a lot harder to spot. You really had me going. Thinking you cared about me."
Her statement left him feeling ready to drown. Not only did her words confirm that she had known about demonic vampires before they had met, which was something he had suspected for a while but...she thought he was using her.
"Buffy..." He tried to stand only for her to reload the crossbow, her finger hovering over the trigger.
"You even flinch and I shoot you again. Your shoulder was a warning."
The vervain-soaked arrow was still embedded in his shoulder, right above his collarbone.
Blood dripped heavily from the wound and the vervain had left the skin charred and burned around the hole in his flesh.
Despite how much it hurt whenever he moved, he raised his hands in surrender "Buffy, I swear I wanted to tell you. I care about you. None of that is a lie. You wouldn't be here if you-"
She didn't let him finish his sentence "I get it, I get it your trying to defend yourself. Do we have to chat about it all day?"
Groaning in annoyance, Buffy clicked her jaw slightly before finally lowering the crossbow and stepping back. Keeping as much distance from him as possible. Her hand purposely hovering over the blade rested on her hip, ready to throw it if he made any move to attack.
He watched her intently, following her lead. Sighing in annoyance she nodded sharply, gesturing for him to get back to his feet. He stumbled up, clutching onto the wall for balance before he turned back toward her only to freeze as he spotted the look on her face.
Utter heartbreak and hurt that was covered every inch of her face. The water that had begun to pool in her eyes caused his breath to hitch as he stared at her, guilt flooding his entire system.
"What was I? Just a game? Get close to me? Make me care about you then kill me?" She had been in this story before and she hated it. She had literally been in this exact spot when she found out about Angel all those years ago "Does that get you bragging rights in your kind?"
Stefan's heart broke at the betrayed expression on her face.
He had broken her.
Pulling the bolt out of his arm, the vervain burning the flesh around his palm, he exhaled in slight relief before he focused back on her. He could truly see it now, she thought she was nothing more than a game to him.
He had hurt her and that was something he never wanted.
However, one thing about what she had said did make him frown in confusion. What was so different about her that would make her think that he was hunting her for bragging rights?
There was something he was missing about her.
"Buffy...please...I can explain. There are things you don't know...about the supernatural, things that were hidden."
Her knowing about him could get her killed. It was too dangerous for her to be involved in this.
Buffy just rolled her eyes, he was a vampire and had known she lived in Sunnydale! Did he think that she was so stupid that she would never figure it out "I am aware of that. Do you know how much effort it took to get the demon I questioned to turn into a chatty Cathy? I had blue demon blood on my favorite pink blouse for two days!"
That effectively left him speechless. All Stefan could do was stare at her with wide horrified eyes. Buffy had willingly gone into a demon den to get information?
Why would she ever risk doing that?
How the hell did she know about the demon bar just outside of town?
"A demon." He sputtered staring at her in disbelief, a mixture of anger and concern forming in his gut "You went to question a demon? Buffy, why would you risk that, he would have killed you!"
Despite not wanting to, Buffy flinched as Stefan raised his voice and took two steps closer to her.
The action caused him to automatically freeze.
Buffy gulped nervously trying to force the memories of the physical and verbal blows being thrown at her by her last vampire boyfriend.
Okay, she might be a bit more traumatized about that whole situation than she was willing to admit.
"Yeah, big woop." She replied dryly refusing to let herself appear weak in front of the vampire in front of her "I've both been there and done that."
Before Stefan even had a second to process what her slip-up meant, Buffy, inhaled tightly as she watched him. She needed to know what he wanted.
She had let him in and now here she was. Right back where she started.
Yaya big woop. I've both been there and done that.
She needed time to think and process. She had not stopped since the second she left the car wash. She had gone straight home, gathered her weapons tracked down some vervain from a flower store outside of town then came straight here.
Clearly, she was not as ready for this confrontation as she thought she was.
Slowly a way to buy herself some time to think without those haunting green eyes of him watching her with some much guilt and what almost seemed like love popped into her mind.
She tilted her head at him curiously before slowly starting to approach him "If I snap your neck will you die permanently?"
Stefan frowned in confusion "No, what are you-"
A snap of a bone.
Darkness.
Buffy sighed as she glared down at Stefan's body, completely conflicted "Now what am I supposed to do?"
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
A human 17-year-old Stefan Salvatore stepped out onto the porch just as a horse-drawn carriage approached his home.
Walking down the steps as the carriage came to a halt he placed a smile on his face as he approached, ready to greet the new houseguest that would be staying with them for the next few weeks.
The driver offered the teenager a small nod as he moved to place a step in front of the carriage door.
Opening the door; the driver offered his hand to the first woman as she exited.
Smiling at the first woman kindly he found himself frozen as his eyes fell on the young lady that exited the carriage right after her. She was stunning that was obvious enough, with smooth olive skin and curly brunette locks that fell loosely around her sweet face.
When the young lady spotted Stefan she smiled slightly.
Stefan was almost positive his heart skipped a beat at the sight of her smile.
"You must be Miss Pierce."
The dark-haired beauty grinned brightly and held out her hand toward Stefan "Please, call me Katherine."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
Music blasted off the walls of the Boarding house, finally stirring Stefan from his forced nap curiosity of a neck snap from Buffy Summers.
Speaking of, Buffy sat on the leather couch across from him, a large art history book in her rested on her lap as she scanned closely.
That was when it clicked in Stefan's mind. He was tied to a wooden chair opposite her. He certainly hadn't expected the evening to go in this direction. Then again he had not ever thought Buffy would shoot him with a vervain-tainted arrow and then snap his neck.
The fact that she had managed to snap his neck with her bare hand was the most confusing thing out of everything though.
"How did you..." He trailed off staring at her in a state of disbelief. Human strength should not have allowed her to do that.
"Goody, your awake." Buffy cheered as she swung her legs off the couch and moved to sit up properly as she faced him "That took longer than expected. Or not as long. Still fuzzy on the healing differences with you guys. So before you start with the how did you snap my neck skinny armed blonde, my questions first."
If he didn't know she was The Slayer there was a chance he may turn around and attack her the second he found out.
Placing the book she had stolen into her bag, Buffy crossed her legs under her and clasped her hands together. She had spent the past two hours calming herself down and was now ready to continue with their little chat "So, I was originally gonna leave. But again, healing confusion. Didn't want to risk you going to my house until I was sure you weren't going to kill them as a way to get back at me. By the way, I forgot how horrible that sound is."
The crunch and snapping of bones when you snapped someone's neck sent disturbed shivers down her spine every time she heard it. It was beyond icky.
"Back to my point. You've been invited in, around my family. So here I am."
Her sudden shift in demeanor and her upbeat attitude to this whole situation left Stefan staring at her completely dazed.
She had stayed in a home with a vampire she clearly didn't trust and had literally shot.
He truly had no idea how to process this. She just seemed so unfazed by the fact. If anything she looked bored, like this was a regular thing for her.
"Buffy. Just untie me and I will explain." Buffy snorted only for Stefan to sigh and offer her a pleading look "Buffy, I would never hurt you. Deep down you know that."
Surprisingly she did believe him. The fact of the matter was, that he had previously had plenty of chances to hurt or kill her.
He could have killed her the second he woke up after she snapped his neck. She doubted given what the demon had told her that the rope would actually keep him bound to the chair.
Clenching her jaw tightly, she exhaled in annoyance before jumping up to her feet. Approaching his chair, she pulled out the stake from her back pocket, purposely pressing the tip against his heart in warning "One wrong move."
Despite the fact she literally had a stake ready to go, deep down as much as she wanted to think she could kill him if she had to...her hand was quivering.
"You are safe with me." He whispered looking straight into her eyes, praying for her to trust his word.
Holding his gaze, Buffy let out a shaky breath before reluctantly she used the stake to cut through the ropes, releasing him from the binds.
The moment the pressure was released from his wrists and the ropes started tumbling to the ground, Buffy pushed herself away from him.
She needed to be as far away from him as possible.
Moving to sit back down on the ridiculously comfortable couch that she was seriously contemplating stealing, Buffy barked out a harsh laugh at his statement "Vicki wasn't safe." She said pointedly causing him to flinch "Neither was Caroline. The vampire I attacked, was Damon."
Damon had literally disappeared after The Founder's party and then suddenly there had been no more attacks.
"The animal attacks, the ones in 1953? 1994? Those him too?"
Stefan was surprised. Clearly, she had been putting things together for a while now.
He hesitated slightly before nodding "Buffy, I'm not Damon. I don't drink human blood. That's not how I choose to survive, but he does."
Clenching her jaw the blonde held back her tears as she stared at him, she just couldn't believe this was happening to her again "You know I've heard that before... It didn't end well."
Everyone slipped up no matter how hard they tried. Especially when it came to vampires claiming to be good.
Stefan sighed and moved to crouch down in front of her only to flinch in hurt as she purposely moved away from him.
It was like a kick in the gut.
"Buffy, I promise you I will explain everything to you. But I beg you, Buffy. Tell me you did not tell anyone."
"Not yet. Still to be decided." Truthfully she was planning to call Giles and Willow the second she was done here.
They needed to be warned to start drinking vervain and she would need their help working out a way to retract a vampire's invitation to her house.
She had no idea if the one Willow and Giles had originally found to keep Angel out would work on this new species.
"Buffy, you knowing about this is dangerous. For so many reasons. There is a reason no one knows about my kind, it's because anyone who finds out is killed. You can hate me, but I need you to trust me."
Buffy clenched her jaw tightly before jumping up from the couch, shaking her head in disbelief.
She couldn't do this again.
She wouldn't do this again. Falling for a vampire had led her down a bad road before and she couldn't face it again, no matter how much she cared for Stefan...she just couldn't.
"Not gonna happen." She snapped before waving her hand between the two of them "Now here is what is going to happen. You are going to tell me everything or...given this town's history of covering up for you Salvatores...I want you to leave. You don't come near me or mine again.
Stefan faltered at the two options.
He could tell her everything or leave and never see her again.
"I never wanted this."
Neither did she.
"I need to know Stefan. Not just about you...my friend was hurt, my family is at risk, and my cousin's girlfriend was attacked. Because of your brother."
Too much had happened for her not to know. She needed to know as much as possible to keep as many people as possible safe. She needed to know how to fight a creature who was possibly stronger and faster than her, which meant she needed to know more than just vervain.
Stefan was conflicted, to say the least. She was involved in this world now and there might be no changing that, especially with Damon now free and desperate for revenge.
Plus, she clearly had been involved with this world longer than he would have ever expected.
"What do you already know?" He didn't want to repeat information she already knew.
"A lot." She kept her answer vague not wanting to spill too much until she could trust anything he said to be the truth.
Stefan nodded and moved to ask another question only for a smell to waft up from the cellar. Reminding him of a corpse currently still laid out downstairs starting to rot.
"Okay, I had Damon locked up, starved of blood. But he killed Zac tonight."
Buffy's mouth hung up in shock "Oh my god. Where the hell is Damon?" An angry blood starved vampire would not be good for this town or anyone in it.
"He got out from the cellar."
Without hesitation, Buffy grabbed her things and moved to rush out and track him down. In no way could she just leave Damon out of the streets. He would tear his way through this town till blood rained through the streets.
Stefan was in front of her before she could even blink causing her to jump.
Staring at him with wide eyes, she leaped back away from him her hand reaching for her weapon out of instinct.
He was fast. Insanely fast!
Not good!
Bad news for her.
"Buffy, he will be feeding. He will be stronger and faster."
She gulped nervously at his words truly processing what that meant. All it would take was for Damon to rush her and snap her neck like a twig.
Inhaling tightly, Buffy nodded reluctantly. As much as she wanted to argue she had to admit he was right. She had no idea what she was up against yet with Damon.
If she went in unprepared, she would be dead...again.
Slowly though, panic started to settle in at the thought of Damon "Elena, and Jeremy. Damon was invited into my house, Stefan."
"Look tomorrow meet me at The Grill."
Ideally, she had intended not to see him for at least a few days till she could figure out how she moved forward from here.
"Why would-"
"I will tell you everything, Buffy." He promised.
It was Elena and Jeremy.
Protect them or stay and talk to Stefan.
Or she could go home and meet him tomorrow.
Ugh! Life sucked!
"One chance." She hissed before moving to leave yet she found herself frozen just before she exited the house.
Reluctantly she glanced back at Stefan. For the first time since she had shown up this evening, she allowed her eyes to soften as she watched him "I'm sorry about Zac."
With that, she was out the door rushing straight toward her car.
Taking off down the road, she wiped at the tears threatening to spill and tried to focus on what she had to do next.
Pulling out her beeper from her bag she got started on phase one of her plan.
WILLOW - 911 INVITATION SPELL
**
Buffy was seriously regretting agreeing to this meeting.
Stefan had ordered them both drinks and was patiently watching her as she shifted in her seat.
Actually being faced with him in public and surrounded by sunlight was freaking her out.
Taking a sip of her drink, she finally summoned her courage "You said you would explain everything. So let's get this over with." Inhaling tightly, she forced herself to focus on his face "So, from what I managed to get out of Chuck..."
Stefan just stared at her in confusion "Chuck?"
"Ignes demon I tortured for information. Big on historical facts."
That had him sputtering slightly, she was surprising him more and more by the second. There was a difference between knowing about demons to knowing their names, species, and being willing to torture one.
Who was this woman?
"A fire lava demon? Don't they live in volcanos?"
"Only during the winter." She answered with a shrug.
They were not here to converse and have a light conversation about the different kinds of demons "Back to the point. So I know about the whole, resistance to garlic, holy water, and crosses. Your ring is spelled by a witch which allows you to walk in the sun."
Stefan stared at her with wide eyes. He had been expecting to explain all of that to her today, yet she was clearly ready for this chat of theirs "And you used vervain on me last night. You tried to sneak me some at the dinner the other night too."
"Yeah, sneaky switching our glasses like that. Very 007 of you."
He laughed.
Leaning her weight against the table she grabbed her hot chocolate before gesturing to his face "Compulsion. Do you just need eye contact?"
"Typically yes." Stefan admitted, allowing the warmth from his coffee mug to warm his hands "The stronger the vampire the more sway they have. Vervain can prevent that."
Slowly her hand moved to the necklace currently resting around her neck. The beautiful necklace he had given her.
She hated this whole situation. It was like relearning about vampires when she was 15 all over again. She was at a complete disadvantage.
Damon and Stefan were already faster than her. She was pretty sure she might be stronger than them given her confrontations with Damon where he had actually struggled against her.
But speed was a killer when used correctly.
"Vervain is not easy to get." She complained thinking back to the limited supply that she had managed to gather from the flower shop yesterday.
Never mind, she would figure it out eventually.
"I have more. I can get some for you. For your family, your friends. Make sure they are either wearing it like in a necklace." He gestured to the locket around her neck.
Buffy gulped nervously before quirking a curious brow "Did you or Damon try and get into my head."
"I never would...but I know Damon tried. He couldn't get in, that was before I gave you the locket. Want to explain that?"
That had her grinning as he tried to get her to spill her little secret.
Nope was not happening yet. Once she had her answers and was convinced he wouldn't try to kill her she would reveal the truth.
Hopefully, the revelation that she was The Slayer would send Damon running with his tail tucked between his legs.
Although, it was nice to know that she had some Slayer mental protection from creepy vampires. She never wanted to think about Damon sneaking into her house to try and go into her head.
What a creep!
"I will be giving Caroline vervain." She stated strongly "I don't know if messing with her is okay with you but it's not with me."
"It is not okay with me." He quickly reassured her trying to think of the best way to phrase this "Buffy, in reality, I am not as strong as Damon. Animal blood keeps me alive but weak. Damon...he can be very powerful."
That was not something she wanted to hear.
Then again, could Damon be as powerful as someone like the Master or did he act like he was more powerful than everyone in order to scare people?
Buffy wasn't too sure that Damon was as powerful as Stefan thought he was.
Arrogance could get you killed just as quickly as being weak.
"I know about the church in 1864." Again Stefan stared at her in astonishment but Buffy just waved off the curious look "Again history obsessed demon. Not the point. 26 vampires then sprinkles of attacks over the decades. What happened to the vampire hub?"
Stefan sighed, he wanted to ask her the most obvious question right now and that was what she was but it was very clear she wasn't going to say anything, at least not yet "It's just Damon and me now. In 1864, this town was...very much aware of vampires. They locked them in the church and burned them alive. That's why it's important that you don't tell anyone."
Buffy couldn't help but frown at that. Chuck had been terrified at the mention of Stefan's kind and Giles had confirmed there hadn't been a demonic sighting in over 200 years "Why are there none of the demonic kind here?"
"My kind and the demonic ones have a huge rivalry..." He explained "We're stronger and faster despite the fact they came first. So the others tend to avoid us. Buffy... look I will tell you the whole story and I can answer any questions that you have and when it's over, you can decide what you want to do with what you know. It'll be your choice."
**
"Stop here."
Following Stefan's instruction, Buffy pulled the jeep over right next to the half-destroyed home in the middle of the woods.
The fact that he had dragged her into the corner of the woods had her skin itching.
Massive red vampire flag!
"If you try and kill me I will stake you." She warned as she climbed out of the car not hearing Stefan's small chuckle at her threat.
The vampire followed her out of the car and moved to stand beside her, leading them through what was his once home.
"What are we doing here?" She asked as she looked around the ruined estate they were moving toward. This place was ancient, and kind of gross.
"I want to show you something."
Buffy merely arched a curious brow at him "In the middle of nowhere? Have you lost your mind, old man?"
"This didn't use to be nowhere. Used to be my home." Stefan explained as the pair walked around the ruins of his old home.
Dragging her finger along one of the dusty broken down walls, Buffy let out a loud whistle "Talk about letting a house go to waste. I bet it was pretty when you were human."
"It was." He admitted before nervously turning to face her, worried about how she would react to his next reveal "I've been 17 years old since 1864."
Trying to gauge Buffy's reaction, Stefan frowned in confusion as he watched the lack of reaction on her face. He had expected a look of shock or horror yet if anything she seemed amused "I'm not gonna hold anything back."
"Wow..." She laughed, stunning him to silence "You're practically a baby vamp."
He wasn't even two hundred.
He was barely twenty years older than Spike!
"Dude, come on I am not that blonde. You and Damon literally had your names written down on the first Founders Party invite." Elena had filled her in on that piece of information "Plus, Damon kept going on and on about the church fire later that year. I assume Katherine or Mary turned you."
Slowly a small impressed smile covered Stefan's lips "Great deduction."
"You are not so great at covering your tracks. I am actually annoyed it took me as long as it did. Stupid daylight rings threw me off my game. Sent it to Japan on maternity leave!"
If it hadn't been for the whole daylight thing she would have figured it out weeks ago!
Would have saved her all of the emotional mess.
Stefan exhaled in amusement at her words, she was shocking him more and more by the second.
Moving through the estate Buffy spun around, trying to form a picture of what it must have been like in 1864 "So, go on tell me more."
"Half a century before the boarding house was even built, this was my family's home. Damon and I...we were both born here. The Salvatore brothers' best of friends."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
Stefan couldn't help but laugh as he ran after his brother into the garden of their home.
A football was quickly launched through the air by the elder of the pair, Stefan catching it with ease "Wait. Where did you learn this game?"
"Camp outside Atlanta." Damon explained as he caught the ball and tossed it between his palms "One of the officers picked it up at Harvard. Catch."
Catching the ball again Stefan laughed as Damon ran towards him, trying to tackle him to the ground.
This game made no sense!
"Wait a minute. Wait a minute. What are the rules? What are the rules?"
Before Damon had a chance to answer a new sweet voice interrupted.
"Who needs rules?"
Both boys paused turning toward the house only to spot the stunning Katherine Pierce walking out onto the porch with a playful smirk on her face.
The brunette beauty smiled as she lifted her skirt, beginning her descent down the steps toward the two brothers "Mind if I join you? My friend Mary will not be here for a few more days and I'm finding myself in need of some entertainment."
Stefan couldn't help but smile at the sight of the brunette "Uh, well, you could, uh—you could get hurt. My brother likes to play rough."
Katherine giggled as she stepped up to the younger of the two "Somehow, I think that you play rougher." She whispered before she snatched the ball from his hands laughing loudly as she ran off with it.
Damon and Stefan watched the girl run before Damon turned to his brother with a teasing smile "Why are you just standing there? That is a girl who clearly wants to be chased. If you don't do it, I will."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
"Katherine was the one that turned us." Stefan explained as he leaned against the rotted brick wall opposite the blonde who was now positioned in a cross-legged position on a nearby tree stump "She and Mary loved to play with people, it was some weird game of theirs. See how much chaos they could cause."
Buffy couldn't help but frown, if it had been nothing but a game why was Damon so hung up on it?
He was clearly still torn up about their deaths, unlike Stefan.
"So what's the damage?"
"It wasn't a game to Damon." Stefan explained "At the time neither of us knew that. We didn't know we were just two pawns for their entertainment."
The explanation had Buffy groaning. She had been right the first time, this weird foursome was too twisted and she really didn't want to know.
But now she had to.
"So whatever twisted foursome is the reason Damon is well...more or less the American version of Spike."
At the familiar name, Stefan's eyes widened. Familiarity filled his features. He knew that name.
"Spike? That blonde guy that showed up at your house?" Digging through his brain he couldn't help but curse himself for his own stupidity.
How he hadn't realized it sooner?
Thinking back now it had been so obvious.
"William the Bloody."
Why was William the Bloody of all people showing up looking for Buffy like they were old friends?
Her mystery was growing more confusing by the second, yet it was almost like the answer was on the tip of his tongue.
Buffy nodded "Yep. Look, I will tell you my story but first, you gotta finish yours. Why is Damon so pissed about two girls from 145 years ago?"
"Because Mary and Katherine... they weren't just any girls."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
Katherine giggled loudly as Stefan continued to chase her around the gardens but before he could catch her she reached the statue.
Securing her victory.
Smirking the brunette beauty spun around to face the human boy "Ha! I win. What's my prize?"
Before Stefan could answer a voice from behind them answered for him "What would you like it to be?"
At the familiar voice, Stefan's eyes widened gleefully as he turned and there, sure enough, was his elder brother, smirking at the couple.
"They extended your leave?" He questioned beyond thrilled to have his big brother home again.
"I was simply having too much fun to return to battle."
"Your commitment to the Confederacy is inspiring." Stefan teased before he pulled Damon into a tight hug. To two holding onto each other tightly.
"Well, this works out wonderfully for me." Katherine pipped up from behind the boys causing them to pull apart from their embrace.
"How's that, Miss Katherine?" Damon asked the brunette who merely smirked in response as she gestured between the two handsome brothers.
The game was getting better by the second.
"Now I'll have both of you here to keep me entertained. At the very least until Mary arrives. Now first and foremost, I'll need someone to escort me to the Founder's ball."
"With pleasure."
"I would be honored."
Katherine smirked again at the two responses. Gleefully excited.
Both of them were falling at her feet and she couldn't help but enjoy every second of it "The smart and kind Salvatore brothers both coming to my rescue. How will I ever choose?"
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
"She chose me. I escorted her to the ball. At the original Lockwood mansion." Stefan continued as he and Buffy walked further along the estate side by side.
Buffy just nodded. She was still a little confused. So far there had not been a single mention of Mary other than Katherine's random mentions of her.
How the hell was she involved in this?
Wasn't a love triangle including two brothers complicated enough?
"If you and Damon were falling at Katherine's feet...then what's the deal with Mary?"
That was a complicated question, to say the least.
Stefan sighed as he thought back to that night at the Lockwood Mansion "Mary came to the ball. She was discussing business with our father most of the night...but it didn't take Damon more than a minute of knowing her to become completely infatuated with her."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
Forced to watch Stefan and Katherine dance around the ballroom like the perfect couple, Damon found himself itching for a drink in order to distract himself from the heartbreak starting to form.
Tearing his eyes from the torturous sight the raven-haired young man made his way through the crowd, intent on getting himself a drink to try and drown away his sorrows.
However, as he walked past the entrance he couldn't but freeze as he spotted a new face now entering the estate.
She was wearing a pink and silver gown, her long black curls going all the way down her back falling down her entire back and coming to a halt at her hips.
She was around 5 foot 7 with pale smooth skin.
Contrasted against the darkness of her hair.
Making her seem like Snow White from the Grimm Brothers story he had read as a child.
The most intriguing thing about her though was her eyes. Those bright dazzling green forest eyes.
She was positively stunning and carried a wave of strength and genius with every step she took.
Without even realizing it Damon had somehow found himself approaching the raven-haired beauty.
Suddenly, he was brought back to reality as the young woman crashed right into his chest causing him to panic in embarrassment.
"Pardon me."
The young woman looked up offering him a heart-fluttering smile as she caught his eye "Oh, my..." She gasped placing a hand on her chest before letting out a small giggle revealing her thick English accent "I'm so sorry. I'm rather clumsy, you could say that I have two left feet."
Her accent just drew him in more.
Damon laughed lightly, his cheeks burning a light red at the sight of her smiling up at him "I am sure that's not true"
Holding out a hand toward the young woman he couldn't help but forget all about Katherine's existence as he focused on the Snow White figure in front of him.
"I don't believe I have had the pleasure..."
"Mary." She answered with a grin offering his hand, intent on shaking it much to his shock "My name is Mary."
Despite the fact it wasn't proper to shake a lady's hand, Mary seemed not to be bothered and just grinned mischievously "I was raised with five brothers. Being ladylike was not an option in such a household."
Damon chuckled lightly very much impressed with her bold statement, yet he still wanted to kiss her palm. He turned the hand he had shaken over and brought it to his lips "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mary."
"And you as well, Mr..."
"Salvatore. Damon Salvatore."
Mary's eyes widened in realization "Salvatore? You must be one of the brothers, Kat cannot stop speaking about in her letters."
At the mention of Katherine, Damon's face faltered, making Mary's eyes widen. Moving to walk beside him as he leads her through the party suddenly very quiet, she quickly spotted her friend dancing with the younger Salvatore.
Shaking her head she let out a harsh chuckle as she turned back to Damon "Let me guess... you fell for her the moment you saw her. You're not the first, men seem to react that way around Katherine at least for as long as I have known her."
Katherine Pierce played men like a fiddle.
She used them for information, Katherine, however, loved having them worship her like a goddess.
Damon finally tore his gaze off Katherine, choosing to focus on the intelligent woman beside him.
She spoke like someone far beyond her years.
"So how long have you known Katherine?" He couldn't help but ask, Katherine herself had always been so vague when it came to questions about Mary.
It seemed though that Mary was just as vague as she merely waved him off with a small smile "Too many years to count."
"Is she your sister?"
Mary laughed like the idea was pure insanity "No. My sister and I have not been on speaking terms for a long time." She answered before taking two glasses of champagne off a nearby tray and handing one to Damon, keeping one for herself.
"No. Katherine and her family took me in when I came to Atlanta after my father passed."
Damon's eyes widened at her words and he offered her a small smile "I'm sorry."
"It was many years ago." Mary assured him before taking a sip of her drink.
"What about your mother?"
"She died long ago" Mary explained "With her gone and my brothers all off in different corners of the world it's just me. It's why I'm so thankful for Katherine."
Every answer was vague, not truly revealing anything real about herself. Perfectly rehearsed to perfection.
"So why Mystic Falls of all places?" He asked curiously.
If she had brothers why not go be with them?
Why come here with Katherine after leaving Atlanta?
"My family business was left to me, it's rather tedious work, and...my brothers are quite...impatient." The young woman explained with a small laugh "I'm here for business Katherine was nice enough to offer to set up our living situation while I tied up a few loose ends back in Atlanta."
A woman in the 1800s being chosen by her father over her brothers to run the family business.
It was unheard of.
Damon had never met a woman like her. Most women in this day and age were so focused on marriage and children yet here was Mary. A woman who had lost everything yet still powered through to prove that the trust her father had put in her was worth it.
He couldn't even begin to imagine what it must have been like...to have one's father see your potential rather than your failures.
Opening his mouth in hopes of continuing with their conversation he sighed as his father walked over interrupting their moment.
"Damon, who is this lovely girl?"
"This is Mary." Damon explained forcing a smile on his face as he turned to his normally cold father who smiled down at the young beauty "The friend Katherine has been speaking of."
Giuseppe Salvatore's eyes widened and he quickly turned to the young woman, urgency flashing through his eyes "Mary. Myself and Mayor Lockwood have been waiting for you. I believe we have some business to discuss."
Mary nodded in understanding before glancing over at Damon apologetically "Thank you, for keeping me company, Mr. Salvatore."
With that, the raven-haired beauty leaned up kissing Damon on the cheek before taking his father's arm and letting him lead her away.
Damon's hand grazed over the spot where Mary had kissed him before watching her figure as she moved away, a small smile grazing his lips.
Never once noticing the cold almost jealous look on Katherine's face as she watched them from afar.
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
"So Mary was the 1800s version of Erin Brockovich?" Buffy asked.
Leaning against one of the trees surrounding them, Stefan felt his back pressing into the bark almost painfully "That's what we thought. It was a lie, she used the promise of providing vervain to gain favor with the Founding families."
Rubbing a hand across his jaw he crossed his arms over his chest having to force himself to continue the story as Buffy waited "Our father adored her. So for once actually approved of something Damon had shown interest in. He wanted them married so he could have access to Mary's fortune. Damon was completely enamored with her...and Katherine if there was anything she cared about more than herself...it was Mary. Katherine didn't like Damon's interest in Mary so she tried to compel him to forget about her...it didn't work."
Buffy couldn't help but frown at that, Katherine was just sounding crazier and crazier by the second, clearly, she was way too obsessed with Mary.
Was she the only way that thought maybe the whole reason that Katherine had messed with Damon and Stefan was to make Mary jealous?
This love story was getting more twisted by the second.
"So how did you meet her?"
"That same night." The vampire explained, "After I dropped Katherine off at her room I went to see my father and he was speaking to Mary."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
Approaching his father's office, Stefan raised his hand to knock only to be halted by the echo of voices inside.
His fathers and a female voice he didn't recognize.
Realizing the door was slightly ajar he allowed his curiosity to get the better of him, scared that his father was trying to arrange a marriage for him or Damon...again.
He quickly spotted his father standing behind his desk, speaking to a dark-haired figure he was unable to see clearly.
"Now, Miss. Prince..." Guiseppe continued having not noticed his son's presence "From what I hear you took over your father's side business. Now, I'm curious did your father ever come across a herb, it's rather rare it's called Verv—"
At that moment Giuseppe quickly cut their conversation short as he spotted the lingering figure of his youngest son standing in the doorway "Stefan son, please do come in."
Panicked at being caught, Stefan stepped into the room nervously just as Mary stood from her seat and turned to face him.
At the sight of those green eyes, Stefan froze unable to tear his gaze from the beautiful woman in front of him.
He was completely mesmerized.
Stefan jumped as he felt his father place a hand on his shoulder "Son, this is Mary Prince. She is a friend of Miss Pierce.
Mary smiled brightly as she stepped towards Stefan "It's lovely to meet you, Stefan."
Stefan couldn't help but smile back at her. There was this bright aura around her that he just couldn't resist "It's wonderful to meet you as well, Miss Prince."
"Stefan." His father piped up drawing his attention off the Prince girl. His sons messing with Miss Prince would not be useful. While a marriage would be ideal given her connections, both of them feuding over her would risk their arrangement "Could you please show Mary the library? She has been looking for some volumes for her work that I believe we have."
"Of course father, this way Miss Prince." Stefan gestured to the door.
With that, Mary shared a brief nod with his father before following the youngest Salvatore out of the office. As she moved to walk by his side her eyes filled with glee as they come to a halt outside of two large doors.
"The library is right through here Miss Prince."
"Thank you. And please, I prefer Mary."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
"So Damon lost Katherine then Mary?" Buffy asked curiously before shaking her head. Their weird love square or hexagon, whatever the hell it was it was making her head hurt.
She was going to need an aspirin at this rate.
That was a simple way of putting it "That's the thing about Damon. He doesn't get mad. He just gets even. What Damon wants Damon usually gets. I didn't know it at the time, but...turns out that night Katherine was supposed to be with him too only he forgot her after meeting Mary. And Katherine didn't like anyone touching what was hers. And in her mind...Mary was off-limits. Hers alone."
That pretty much confirmed in Buffy's mind that Katherine Periece had been straight up in love with Mary, not the Salvatore brothers.
**
MYSTIC FALLS: 1864
Stefan gasped loudly as he shot up in bed flashes of last night filling his brain.
He had spent the evening with Mary in the library, and then Katherine had appeared asking to speak to him.
But her eyes...they were something of a demon.
Wincing as he feels a shooting pain up his neck, he brought his hand up to his neck only to gasp as he felt blood covering the entirety of his neck.
Gapping in terror at the sight of the blood now covering his fingertips he was growing panicked.
Looking around the room in a terror he couldn't help but gulp nervously as his eyes landed on Katherine who was standing by the mirror while her handmaiden helped her with her corset.
"Good morning." Katherine said cheerfully as she noticed Stefan now awake sitting up in bed.
Smiling brightly she turned to her handmaiden "Clear the room, please." She told the maid before turning her focus back to Stefan "You're upset."
Stefan watched Katherine fearfully as she moved towards him "Your face, it was like a demon."
"But you're not afraid."
As she moved closer to him Stefan stumbled back trying to get away from her "Get away from me. Get away."
Katherine sighed in annoyance before looking into his eyes "It doesn't change the way you feel about me. You will not tell anyone." She compelled him, watching with a smile as he nodded, completely under her control now.
Stefan unable to fight against the compulsion merely watched her as she continued "We will go on exactly as we have."
"Yes. We will go on."
Now satisfied, her smile faltered and she narrowed her gaze at the human boy in front of her.
A glint of jealousy flashed through her eyes "Now when it comes to my dear Mary...you don't lay a hand on her."
"I will not."
Katherine giggled happily "You have no idea of the future I have planned for us, Stefan—all of us, the four of us... No rules."
**
MYSTIC FALLS: PRESENT DAY
"She could control my mind and Damon's. She compelled each of us to keep the secret from the other. And to ignore anything we may have felt for Mary. She wanted all of us to be together forever. Didn't work out that way, but...Damon and I... looks like we're stuck with each other. Like it or not."
Buffy groaned rubbing her forehead as she walked behind him, this was a lot of complications for her brain. If she drank more than for a fun night out...she would so need a drink right now.
Moving her hair behind her ear she couldn't help but question how weird Katherine's behavior was. Stefan seemed to be so sure that Katherine's obsession with Mary wasn't love.
Something she didn't quite buy.
But still, why else would she be so intent to keep her close?
"Why was Katherine so obsessed with keeping you and Damon away from Mary?"
"Mary was a very powerful witch..." The vampire revealed glancing back over his shoulder at the still-confused blonde "...Katherine wanted Mary to focus on protecting their secret. But Mary was obsessed with information and she was also extremely paranoid. She didn't trust Katherine so she manipulated our emotions. Used magic to strip us of our compulsion so she could find out everything that we knew. Had both of us working as spies for any hint that Katherine would betray her."
Definitely paranoid.
Being willing to manipulate two innocent human men just because you were scarred your supposed best friend was going to betray you was all kinds of messed up.
Stefan halted in his steps and reached into a small hole under a piece of debris.
Buffy eyed the small wrapped item he had pulled from the ground carefully.
Panic quickly settled in as she spotted Damon's ring in Stefan's hand. The object that was probably the only thing keeping Damon from slaughtering every person in Mystic Falls right now.
"Damon's ring."
Stefan nodded in confirmation as he stood back up and turned to face her"I took it from him, but I have to give it back."
Bad idea.
A very bad idea!
He couldn't give that back to Damon. Damon was a crazed hungry vampire, if he was free to roam in the sun they were screwed "You cannot be serious. You can't give that to him. You need to keep it hidden or destroy it."
"Buffy, if I don't give it to him, he'll retaliate in the only way he knows he can hurt me."
"And how is that?"
Stefan inhaled tightly before meeting her eyes with a look that had her gulping down the lump in her throat "By hurting you."
Despite his reassurance that he hadn't been manipulating her or messing with her, truthfully, Buffy had been so focused on finding out about his kind that she hadn't for a second thought that what they had between them might actually be real.
How the hell was she supposed to deal with that reveal?
Despite the fact that her expression did soften she merely shook her head and glared down at the ring, tempted to launch it into the river.
Never to be found again.
"I can take care of myself. Other people can't...the people who will get hurt if Damon gets that ring."
"Buffy, more people will die if I don't give it to him."
Buffy sighed in annoyance, as much as she normally would suggest just killing him she had to remind herself that this wasn't just any vampire to Stefan...it was his brother.
"And you can't kill him. Because he's your brother." She whispered "Trust me...I get it. Killing someone you love...it's messy."
As the image of the sword she had driven through Angel's heart filled her brain the blonde gulped, there was one question she had been dreading to ask him but now...she couldn't hold herself back.
"Stefan, you're kind...do you have souls?"
Stefan smiled slightly. Maybe this was a sign of hope that he hadn't lost her for good "Yes. It's the main difference between us and the others. Demonic vampires are just that. Demons with a tiny percentage of human heritage due to their ancestors crossbreeding. It's why they still carry the memories of their hosts. We feel everything, and our emotions are heightened. But we also have the option to turn off our humanity, which makes us more like them."
His explanation effectively caused her knees to buckle.
Leaning back against her car, Buffy stared off into the distance trying to process what his words actually meant.
It was like her Slayer mind was being torn into two. Trying to recalibrate to these new vampires. While the human part of her was trying to work out how her morals fit into the new world she had just been exposed to.
It was certainly more complicated than her daily routine.
Slayers had literally been created to kill vampires and the forces of darkness. Soulless vampires who were just demons to be specific.
Yet this kind still carried the person they were with them into their new immortal lives.
It wasn't like Spike still having a personality, this was entirely more complex.
At the end of the day, demonic vampires had no souls. They killed with no remorse, tortured, and caused chaos.
While Damon seemed to be very similar, given the Stefan of it all it meant that they were a lot more like humans than she had realized.
They were all flawed and running off heightened emotions.
Even humans were sometimes killers.
Was this kind just heightened, humans? Blood being a natural part of their diet, an addiction for some and easy for others?
With demonic vampires it was simple.
Angel had been the one exception due to the curse forcing his humanity back into him. Allowing him control over the body that a demon had been running around in for 200 years.
Would killing one of them be like killing a human?
No...they still had an unfair advantage but ugh!
This whole newfound situation hurt. She was literally having to recalibrate how her brain worked.
Even though they had extra strength and speed, Buffy never wanted to hurt anyone innocent.
As a werewolf, Oz had the extras but she had never imagined killing him.
This was complicated!
With regular vamps it was easy.
It was a demon taking over an already dead body using the previous owner's body to its advantage.
Vampires she knew had no souls. The human died the day they were turned, their body becoming a toy for the demon to use.
These vampires were different. Everything, their heart, and soul were still intact?
How the fuck was she supposed to deal with that?
Spotting Stefan now crouched down in front of her, looking extremely stressed as he was forced to watch her silently monologue and debate in her own head.
"Sorry, I had to kind of figure out how this affects my job in the long run." She admitted before sighing.
This was it.
He had told her everything she wanted to know, which meant it was her turn.
She could see it all over his face, it was killing him not knowing a thing "Ok, you told me your story. So go ahead ask me mine."
"What are you?"
Not the most subtle approach.
Buffy raised her eyebrows at his instant question "Capricorn on the Cusp of Aquarius. You?" She answered sarcastically.
"I'm sorry." Stefan winced before sighing, it just didn't make sense, she was faster and stronger than a regular human.
If she wasn't a witch then what was she?
"It's just you're human, but you're stronger than a vampire, it doesn't make sense."
Honestly, for someone who was 164 years old, she was surprised he had never come across a Slayer before "I thought a 100-year-old vampire like yourself would have figured it out by now."
With that, she inhaled tightly before looking him dead in the eye "I'm the Slayer."
Stefan merely stared at her in silence.
Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes, did he really have no idea what a Slayer was?
"Slayer? Chosen one? She who hangs out a lot in cemeteries." When there was still not even a glimmer of a reaction from the vampire Buffy threw up her arms in frustration "You're kidding me! Ask around. Look it up. Slayer, comma, The."
Stefan still in a state of shock, exhaled deeply as he stared at the woman he cared for.
How did a girl like Buffy end up as the powerful Slayer?
"You're The Slayer? I thought it was a myth."
"Well, you were myth-taken."
Stefan sighed as he rubbed his hands together still trying to process everything. Inhaling tightly he tried to wrap his brain around all the information he knew about Slayers.
"When were you called?"
"Right after I turned 15."
Her answer left him feeling sick to his stomach. His jaw clenched tightly as he stared down at her. While he had read that Slayers were called young, her being called at 15, was terrifying to think about.
However, that's when it clicked.
She would have been called right before she was kicked out of her first high school "That's why you set the fire...at Hemery."
Buffy winced thinking back to that day, prior to herself dying, killing Angel, and finding her mother's body, that had been her worst day as the Slayer.
"Yep." She breathed "A very old vampire killed my first watcher in front of me then tried to kill everyone at the homecoming dance. So I lit the place up with a friend of mine."
Taking a seat on the tree stump beside her, Stefan rested his arms on his knees as he took in all this new information.
While yes, now thinking back Buffy being the Slayer made perfect sense...he still felt like he was missing something "How did you get expelled from Sunnydale?"
She should have expected that topic to come up. Didn't mean the question didn't horrify her.
Looking down at the ground unable to hold his gaze water started to fill her eyes "I was accused of murdering a friend of mine. Her name was Kendra she was a Slayer. That mixed with all the fights, skipping class, and the fact the principal kind of hated me."
That made no sense to Stefan.
The legend of the defender of the people stated that there was one in every generation.
How could these be two Slayers at once?
Unless... she had made a comment last night about dying and he hadn't been able to question her about it.
"I thought there was only one at a time. Slayers are only called when the previous one..."
"Dies." Buffy finished.
Horror spread across Stefan's now distraught face.
"Well, I did die. There was a prophecy saying that the Master was going to kill me, but I couldn't let him kill anyone so I went down to the cave where he was to face him. He drank from me then dropped me in a puddle of water where I drowned. I was only gone for like a minute but Xander saved me. He brings it up constantly to win arguments. Way annoying."
Despite her attempt at humor Stefan couldn't help but stare at her. Worry filled his every nerve ending.
He couldn't believe all of this had been forced on her, all the pain she had been through because of vampires.
The thought of her hate for vampires, caused something else to fit together in his brain. The idea hit him like a freight train.
"Angel...an Irish ring, you said he lost his soul...Angelus. The Scourge of Europe?"
Buffy tensed at the name leaving his lips, the action pretty much confirming his theories "You've heard of him."
"Not in a long time, disappeared off the planet after he was cursed. Last I heard he was working with a Slayer. You?"
"Yeah."
A vampire in love with the Slayer.
Buffy couldn't help but wince, this was about to get a little awkward "Stefan I killed him." Silence spread between the pair as Stefan merely gestured for her to continue, not wanting to interrupt her as she struggled to get through this.
"Angel was the worst of the worst... well technically Angelus was the worst of the worst. He lost his soul and tried to end the world so I killed him. Pretty simple ending to this story."
Suddenly, everything about their relationship and her fear of getting close to him became unbelievably clear to Stefan.
As much as he hated it, the fact was she had every reason not to want to be with a vampire.
They might actually be doomed.
**
After Jeremy had started panic texting her, Buffy and Stefan had rushed back to the Summers / Gilbert home.
Pushing into her house, dread instantly filled Buffy at the echo of yelling coming from the kitchen.
Sharing a quick glance with Stefan, Buffy rushed into the kitchen where Elena, Jeremy, Matt, and Vicki were.
Instantly, her eyes were drawn to Vicki.
A sinking feeling formed in her stomach as her Slayer senses started to go crazy.
Now that she actually knew about the new kind of vampire it was like her instinct had zeroed in on the danger wavelength.
Not good.
"Jer?"
Too focused on his panicking frantic girlfriend to hear her, Buffy turned to Matt who sighed in relief at the sight of her.
"Something is wrong. She's really messed up."
Honestly, Vicki looked completely drugged up.
Stefan frowned before he quickly moved over to Vicki who was now standing by Elena. Placing a hand on Elena's arm he pulled her away from the frazzled blonde "Elena, back up."
Moving in front of Vicki, Stefan took her face in his hands examining her eyes closely "Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's going be fine."
The shake in his voice caused bile to rise up Buffy's throat.
Everything was definitely not okay.
Stefan turned to look at the concerned group "Guys, take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be ok. Come on."
As Elena, Jeremy, and Matt followed Stefan's instruction, Buffy clenched her jaw tightly.
"Please tell me what I think is happening is not happening."
Stefan groaned rubbing the back of his neck nervously, this was bad "She's transitioning."
Yep, today somehow had gotten worse.
"You mean.."
"Yes. A vampire. Damon must have gotten to her. She's new. She hasn't completed the transformation yet. The transformation for my kind is different we need to feed on human blood in order to fully turn."
"And what if she doesn't?"
"She'll die."
All Buffy could think about at that moment was Jeremy. This could not be happening right now. What the hell was she supposed to do?
"She may only have a few hours." Stefan explained, knowing they were on a short time limit with their options.
"She is upstairs with them all right now."
"It's ok. She doesn't know what's happening to her yet."
"So when is she going to know?"
"Right now, she doesn't remember anything. A part of her is still human, but slowly, the deeper she gets into the transition, the memories will start to come back, and then she'll know she has to make the choice."
Buffy sighed as she started pacing back and forth, it was bad enough knowing about Stefan and Damon but she was already worried about what she would have to do if either of them messed up.
But, Vicki....as a human she was already a mess.
As a vampire...she could be extremely dangerous.
"Stefan, she is not the only one who now has to make a choice. I'm The Slayer, my brain is literally trying to rewire itself to figure out how my mission works when it comes to your kind. But if she does this, she is going to be unpredictable and if she hurts someone I won't have a choice. I don't want to, Jeremy loves her, and I—"
Her frustration was understandable.
Being the Slayer was supposed to be simple. The mission itself was simple, yet the reveal about his kind had flipped everything she knew for a loop.
He was asking her to go against her nature and everything she had ever trained for.
And now, it was only getting more complicated.
Wanting to comfort her but unsure if he should step closer, he was luckily distracted by the sound of Matt yelling.
Spinning around both Stefan and Buffy froze in panic as Vicki bolted out of the front door, Matt and Elena chasing after her.
Buffy clenched her jaw and quickly grabbed Jeremy before he could run after them "Matt and Elena will find her. Why don't you go call her friends to let them know to keep a lookout for her?"
Jeremy nodded but not before throwing another worried glance at the doorway where Vicki had escaped. With a huff, he ran back upstairs.
The second he was out of sight Stefan turned to the blonde "I can track her."
"Go. I can handle her if she shows up. Just find her."
**
"Maybe we should check in with Matt." A worried Jeremy suggested to Buffy as he sits on the couch not noticing the fact that she was watching out the window with her hands hovering over her stake.
Buffy sighed at his words.
It had been hours and Stefan hadn't found her yet, and neither had Elena or Matt. While Matt was still out searching, Elena was currently upstairs trying to get ahold of some of Vicki's co-workers to find out if they had spotted her.
Turning away from the window Buffy moved over to her younger cousin, sitting on the table in front of him she took his hand squeezing it softly "I know it sucks..." She whispered causing him to catch her eye "...not knowing, what's wrong with her, but when she's ready she'll come back."
Instead of answering, Jeremy sniffled slightly before allowing his elder cousin to pull him into a tight hug.
When it came to Buffy he had always been able to open up to her a lot more. They had both been the troubled kids, both been the ones constantly in trouble...Elena had always been the perfect daughter, the perfect student.
Opening up to Buffy had always been easier than it was with Elena, Buffy never judged him or expected more of him. She accepted him, that's why they had stayed in contact when she and Elena had struggled too. Hell, he had even gone to visit her in L.A. the year before he started high school.
"I'm glad you're here Buff." He whispered hugging her tightly, hiding his face in the crook of her neck.
Buffy smiled sadly as she stroked her younger cousin's head before freezing as she heard the doorbell ring.
Without hesitation, Jeremy rushed over to the door in hopes of news on Vicki.
Buffy beat him to the door though.
Her spidey sense was tingling.
Pushing him back behind her slightly the blonde opened the door only to clench her jaw as she spotted a smug Damon standing on her porch.
When he smirked and wiggled his fingers at her the blonde clenched her jaw and slams the door in his face ignoring his hiss of pain as she slammed the door on his fingers when he tried to keep it open.
Turning to Jeremy she gives him a pointed look "Go help Elena upstairs...don't ask."
Jeremy watched her carefully and opened his mouth to speak but when she merely shook her head at him he quickly winced. That was Buffy's serious face... the last time he saw that she had almost run a guy over with Uncle Hank's car.
Without another word, he disappeared upstairs.
The moment he was out of sight the blonde yanked open the front door and before Damon had a chance to step inside she shoved him backward a few steps, shutting the front door behind her.
Damon stumbled a few steps before staring at the blonde in confusion, however, slowly he spotted the furious look on her face and he couldn't help but smirk "By the anger in your eyes I'm gonna go on a limb and guess. Stefan finally fessed up. Yet you're not afraid of me...are you really that stupid?"
As he moved to take a step toward him Buffy punched him across the face sending him sprawling to the floor.
She had faced Angelus and The Master!
Damon Salvatore would not scare her!
Yanking the stake out of her back pocket she stepped forward and placed her foot on his chest, forcing him back down to the floor as he tried to stand "You know I've killed a lot of vampires...I've never hated one before."
Damon winced slightly as he felt the heel of her boot digging into his chest, almost drawing blood.
He had to admit...he hadn't expected that.
Who the hell was this woman?
Clearly, the mystery of Buffy Summers was going to continue.
"Geez super blonde, I'm just looking for Stefan."
Buffy scoffed before lifting her boot off his chest. He was back on his feet in a second but before he could even try and throw a snarky comment in her direction she was moving again.
Raising her foot she kicked him right in the chest with all of her strength sending him flying off her porch.
"That was your one warning. You come near my friends or my family again and I will end you." She hissed clutching the stake tightly in her hands.
Despite having the wind knocked out of him Damon chuckled as he pulled himself back up to his feet.
Eyeing the blonde like a piece of meat he smirked "Damn you've got fire, I like that. Are you sure you wanna date my brother? I think you're too much fire for his innocent little self?"
Talk about ew.
Buffy rolled her eyes groaning in disgust at his flirty smile, she may just kill him for the fun of it at this rate "He's not here and I'm sure as hell not helping you. If you need help to a belated grave though...give me a call."
"Ooh." Damon chuckled "Did you finally spill all your little secrets to my little bro?" Pausing he tilted his head eyeing the ring currently resting on the chain around her neck "I'm not just talking about the crazy super strength. Which is rather sexy by the way."
She was so done with this flirty messed-up situation, she was about five seconds away from kicking his ass right now.
"Damon, I suggest you stay away from me 'cause currently...I'm about five seconds from kicking your ass."
With that, she walked back up the porch and straight over the barrier.
Sure enough, not liking the fact that she had turned her back on him after threatening him, Damon sped up to the door only to be shocked as he slammed into an invisible barrier.
Buffy smirked at the shocked expression on her face "Problem?"
A murderous glint filled his eyes as he glared at the doorway almost tempted to start tearing the house to pieces to figure out what the hell she had done.
It made no sense.
Once invited in, that was the end of it.
Open invitation for eternity.
"That's not possible."
"How is it possible we had no knowledge of this?" Giles breathed through Buffy's phone in utter astonishment. He just couldn't believe it, an entirely different kind of vampire.
How had the history books missed it?
"Compulsion. Some wiggy mind tricks they do." Buffy explained as she continued to lay out all the ingredients that Giles and Willow had told her she would need for the new re-written retraction ritual.
Replacing the original cross on the wall with a wooden spiral covered in vervain and mandrake root.
Willow and Giles were awesome.
They had gotten straight to work and had already put in an order for more vervain from The Magic Box. Making sure to send a shipment of the herb to her as well so she could start loading up her friends with the protection.
"Mind manipulation?" He was cleaning his glasses and pouring a glass of scotch she was sure of it.
It was how Giles dealt with astonishing brand-new supernatural discoveries.
"Fascinating. Buffy are you sure we should not-"
"Absolutely not." She in no way wanted them anywhere near Mystic Falls. Honestly, if it was up to her she would get everyone out of this town and burn the whole place to the ground.
Mystic Falls was clearly a bad omen, summoning vampires to it like a moth to a flame.
"As long as they don't know you know you stay off their radar and can keep researching."
Buffy grinned at the fury quickly spreading across Damon's face. She had momentarily shaken up that smug ego of his.
He had been planning to use the fact he was invited in to taunt and frighten her, yet she had screwed with his plans.
"Sorry, Damon. Changed the locks."
Then she slammed the door in his face, leaving him seething on the porch.
**
Buffy Summers had never been a patient woman, so after hours of waiting the blonde had resorted to pacing back and forth on the porch as she waited to hear from Stefan.
After what felt like an eternity she couldn't help but sigh in relief as she spotted the man in question approaching the porch. Taking a step toward him she finally took in the sight before her.
Stefan was covered in blood.
"You're bleeding."
"No, it's ok." He assured her shaking his head "I'm ok. I couldn't stop her. I tried."
At his words, Buffy's eyes widened and she couldn't help but begin her pacing again, this had officially become the worst-case scenario possible "She turned."
He nodded in confirmation before inhaling tightly knowing that what he was going to tell her next wasn't going to go well "And then I lost her."
"What?!" Buffy exclaimed as panic started to fill her, this was worse than she could have possibly imagined "She's new, she won't have any control, I need to go find her before she hurts someone--"
She moved to go find Vicki but Stefan quickly placed his hands on her shoulders halting her movements, he didn't want to risk her getting hurt.
With Vicki this new, she wouldn't be able to keep herself from attacking Buffy.
"Buffy, I'll find her...if you show up she'll freak and attack you. I will show her that she can live as I do, I will make sure she doesn't hurt anybody, I promise."
Buffy couldn't help but clench her jaw, she didn't want to hurt Vicki, Jeremy loved her and she didn't want to put him through that pain...but she also couldn't let an out-of-control vampire loose on Mystic Falls.
"Stefan...if she hurts someone...I'll have to--"
"I know." He whispered sadly. He hated that he had put her in this position.
He just wanted her to be happy and safe...so he would do whatever he could to make sure that happened.
"But for now, let me try. We just need to come up with a story. To explain everything."
"More lying." Buffy couldn't help but scoff at that, she had been so sure life was going to be different in Mystic Falls but it was just the same as it had always been.
There was no escape from vampires. And with that, came the inevitable lying to one's friends and family.
What sucked is she was pretty much an expert now when it came to keeping secrets.
"I'm already lying to my friends and family about who I really am now I have to pile more lies in."
"I'm so sorry."
She needed to adjust to her new reality, Buffy knew that. And ironically, she would need a vampire's help to do that.
Stefan's help.
But she also knew, she needed to create some boundaries now.
So forcing back her emotions she focused on the handsome face that had forced her to open up to the possibility of falling in love again.
The truth was though as much as she loved how Stefan made her feel...this whole situation was too messy and she couldn't do messy again.
She just couldn't be with another vampire.
"I had to tell my Watcher about you."
"What?!"
Buffy sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Her body was dripping in stress right now and she felt ready to break at any second "Damon can't enter the house anymore. He and a witch re-wrote a ritual for me to keep Damon out."
That certainly gave Stefan pause. If there was a good reason to reveal the truth then that was one of the best he had ever heard.
The realization that Damon could no longer access her home filled him with such relief.
"I need your help." She announced suddenly causing him to freeze, but before he could ask for an explanation she closed her eyes tightly and raised her hand. She needed to get through this before she started crying "I can't be with you. After our conversation, you know that. I won't repeat history, Stefan."
She had liked Stefan so much and she could have really fallen for him but...she just couldn't go through all of it again.
She wouldn't.
He looked like he wanted to argue his case but thought better of it.
Now was not the time to try and convince her to give this a chance.
With the hard part over, she pushed forward to her request for help "You are faster than me." She put it bluntly "I need to adjust my fighting style to that speed."
A Giles suggestion.
Though he had been a little unsure about her working with the apparently nice vampire.
She had kept her word and kept Stefan's name out of it though. Not wanting to risk it ending up in some Watcher's journal being passed on for the next few centuries.
Trying not to seem too excited by the prospect that she wasn't completely cutting him out of her life, Stefan nodded "What are you saying?"
"You and me tomorrow at your place. We are going to hit each other with sticks."
With that, she turned on her heels and headed back into the house leaving a flabbergasted Stefan on the porch staring at the front door "Wait what?!"