After staying up all night reading different journals I found out that their weakness is a plant called vervain, they can be killed using wooden stakes and that sunlight burns them, which is confusing but not my main concern.
I know Zach Salvatore grows vervain since mom had sent me a few times to get it for her, she would drink vervain tea regularly now I know why. I have to figure out how to get it from Zach since I can't actually tell him I want it is for protection even if he does know about vampires. Apparently, there is also a council that kills vampires and covers up supernatural activities. After a lot of thinking and just sitting around, I decided to get ready for the day.
As I walk downstairs I hear Elena and Aunt Jenna talking about the news guy. "Oh, no way. You and him? He's cute." Elena exclaims and I groan in disgust. And think no he's not Elena. "He is not cute. There's nothing cute about him. What are you doing with that?" Jenna exclaims. I see Elena polishing our family heirlooms. "I went yesterday and got it from the safe deposit box. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood, she would loan it to the founder's council for their heritage display." Elena informs Jenna. Right founder's party. Wait that means the boarding house will be empty since everyone will be at the party, it's a great opportunity to get vervain. "How much do you think this stuff is worth? You know, like on eBay?" Jeremy asks as he walks in."You're not gonna find out." Elena says sternly. Ugh, seriously he's just joking, hopefully. "That stuff is mom and dads. You can't just give it away." Jer retorts. While I think; I need a plan. Maybe I can wait outside the Salvatore house around 8 and wait till everyone leaves and then search around the house. Okay, I should probably get some wooden stakes, just in case. Where can I find them, I obviously can't carve one and I highly doubt people sell stakes. Mom and dad could have had some, seeing as they a part of the council.
I reach my parent's room, it's odd I haven't been in here since their death. Okay focusing on the matter at hand, where would someone hide stakes? Probably a hidden compartment, after checking the drawers and finding no such thing I sit down thinking where else I should look, it clicks that I didn't look in the closet.
I am shocked even though I was looking for this exactly. I grab two stakes and stash them in my bag. It is afterward that I realize I don't know how to protect myself let alone use a stake. I decided to look around town for some sort of classes for defense or to help me build my strength. I first have to do something else though, I go to Elena's room and find the heirloom box and take the pocket watch, it is supposed to belong to Jer as he is the firstborn son. As I am preparing to leave I hear the doorbell and see Jer answer the door and soon Elena joins and hands over the box.
I leave the house and start walking around town and finally after an hour finds a self-defense class and sign up. Since the class was about to begin I stay and observe while practicing a bit. After that, I go to an arena of sorts where I have seen people shoot guns and even bow and arrows since there is a compressed bow in the compartment I thought I should at least try to learn. I inquire a bit and find out people can learn to shoot with a compressed bow there and quickly join the class.
After this, I go to The Grill for some food and see Jer there. "Hey", I greet him as I sit down opposite him. "Hey, where were you?" He asks while smiling a bit. "Just around town I was bored," I reply and he laughs at my answer as he knows it was very common for me to walk around town. "What's wrong?" I ask as he seems a little upset. "It's Elena she accused me of not only stealing the pocket watch but also trying to sell it for pot. And Vicki, she's pushing me away now that Tyler's paying attention to her." Jer tells me with a sad undertone. "Just ignore Elena, you know how she is. And don't worry about Vicki, it's not like you need her when you have such an amazing sister." I tell him and he just laughs again and I order food for both of us. "So are you going to the Founder's Party today?" He asks me. "Really? Do you know me at all? Besides I'm just going to find a quiet place and sketch or something." I tell him before handing him the watch. He smiles at me gratefully. Our food arrives and we eat quietly before we both go our separate ways.
I'm seriously reconsidering, I forgot how big it was. Okay well I know it's somewhere in the basement since that's where Zach always went while I waited in the living room. Since it was only around 7:30, I go to the side of the house and find a place to hide. I put the gloves I had bought on, I don't think vampires would look for fingerprints but better safe than sorry. After waiting for about nearly an hour all three Salvatore's finally left. I head silently to the basement and start looking, I don't have time to waste since I can't risk getting caught. I open the first door and am shocked to see a cell of sorts. Okay, creepy.
Moving ahead to the next door I find the plant growing in abundance under bright light and pluck a few and put them in the box I had bought with me.
I then quickly close the door and move up the stairs and then start heading out. I mentally start cheering and almost run into Zach. Oh shit! is the only thing running through my head as I search for a valid reason for being here. "Arielle, what are you doing here?" Zach asks me with suspicion. Come on, come on. "Oh hey Zach, I was looking for Stefan. I needed to talk to him about an assignment we have together. And the door was open so.... sorry?" I tell him while smiling apologetically. I do have an assignment with Stefan so it was true and that means no loopholes, that is if he believes me. "Oh he isn't here, he's at the Founder's Party," Zach answers with the littlest of smiles. Yay, he believes me. "Oh right, I forget that people do go to these things. Sorry for coming in unannounced. I'll leave now, can you just tell him to call or something?" I ask with a smile that was somewhere in between nervous and awkward. "Yeah, of course, and it's alright I guess I should remember locking the door." He replies. His answer was odd and he was standing stiffly. "Right, bye Zach and sorry again." I apologize and start towards the door quickly. "Be careful, bye," Zach says. Oh my god, that was close.
As soon as I get home I change before finding accessories for the vervain. Since I like trying DIY I already have a lot of handmade accessories, a bracelet for Jeremy, an anklet for Aunt Jenna, two more bracelets for Matt and Tyler and two different necklaces for Elena and I. I simply put vervain inside mine and Elena's necklace. And dipped the bracelets and anklet in concentrated vervain and let them dry. I put them all in my bag and go to sleep since I have to wake up early to start jogging and then go for the self-defense class.
For Matt and Tyler
For Jeremy
For Jenna
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Thanks for reading.