"Thanks for coming, Ric." Damon stated, watching Ric walk in the house before he shut the door behind him. "Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, bourbon? Bourbon in your coffee?" He asked in amusement as they both walked into the living room.
"Elena mentioned you need my help." Alaric stated, ignoring the question as he sat on the couch across from Stefan and Elena while I sat on the leg of the couch.
"Yeah. We were hoping you could help shed some light on the Lockwood family." Stefan answered with a nod, making me raise an eyebrow at him.
"Why would I know anything about the Lockwood family?" Alaric countered, looking between Stefan and Damon curiously.
"Well, you wouldn't but your deadânot dead vampire wife might." Damon stated, sitting down in the chair beside Stefan and Alaric looked down uncomfortably.
"Isobel's research, from when you guys were at Duke together." Elena clarified with a soft nod as she rose an eyebrow at him also.
"You said that she had spent years researching this town?" Stefan asked, tilting his head and Alaric sighed.
"Isobel's research hereâMystic Fallsâwas rooted in folklore and legend. At the time, I thought most of which was fiction." Alaric pointed out in defeat and Damon rose an eyebrow.
"Like that amazing vampire story." Damon added with a sarcastic smirk and Alaric looked at him in amusement.
"Aside from vampires.. What else?" I asked, ignoring Damon and looking at Alaric expectantly.
"The lycanthrope." Ric answered emotionlessly, making all of us furrow our eyebrows at him.
"Wait.. Like werewolves?" Elena asked, tilting her head at him in curiosity.
"No, way.. Impossible. Way too Lon Chaney." Damon countered in protest as he sat up in his chair, making me roll my eyes at him.
"Is it?" Stefan asked, tilting his head at Damon who rolled his eyes.
"I've been on this earth 160-some odd years. Never come across one." Damon answered in annoyance before looking back at Ric. "If werewolves exist, where the hell are they?" He added with a slight shrug.
"Why do you suspect the Lockwood's?" Ric asked in confusion as he looked between Stefan and Damon.
"Because vervain didn't affect the Mayor on Founder's day but the Gilbert device did." Damon pointed out in a matter of fact tone. "And it affected Mariana's little boyfriend, Tyler." He added, looking at me in annoyance and I rolled my eyes again.
"And at the school carnival, his Uncle Mason exhibited inhuman behavior when he fought one of the carnival workers." Stefan pointed out as he rested his elbows in his knees. "It suggested some sort of supernatural entity." He added with a shrug and Alaric slowly nodded at the thought.
"We were hoping that Isobel's research could help us figure out what it is." Elena stated, sitting up from the couch to put her coffee mug in the table in front of her.
"Well, all of her things are still at Duke." Alaric replied and I rose my eyebrow as he cleared his throat. "I mean, her office is still there. She's technically still missing." He informed and looked at Damon.
"So could we get access to it?" Damon asked, raising an eyebrow but Alaric sighed and looked away from him. "Ric, we need to know what we're dealing with. If this wolf-man thing is real, I've seen enough movies to know it's not good." He pressed in warning. "It means Mason Lockwood is a real-life Lon Chaney and that little Tyler punk, may just very well be Lon Chaney Jr." Damon added, looking at me in defeat and I sighed deeply before looking away from him in annoyance.
"If this is true, then we may or may not be totally screwed." I stated, tilting my head at him in defeat while Alaric narrowed his eyes at all of us.
~~~
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Stefan asked with uncertainty as we stood in Elena's room.
"Which part? Going through my birth mother's life workâ" She started but I cut her off.
"Or going to Duke with Damon?" I added in annoyance and looked at Stefan from where I sat on the bed.
"Either. Both." He answered with a small chuckle and watched her continue to pack her duffle bag.
"Well, I'm sure about the first part. But then again, Ric is a good buffer." Elena stated and looked at me in amusement. "I still don't understand why you don't want to come, Mariana. It's a chance to see what Isobel was like as a human." She added in defeat but I quickly looked away from her and shrugged.
"I just have stuff to do here.. I can help Stefan with Caroline, you know? I mean, looking through Isobel's things doesn't sound pleasing to me.. Birth mother or not." I pointed out and cleared my throat as I lied to her.. But what could I say? 'I found out who my real mother isâsurprise, it's the bitch who is toying with us all?' "Besides, you and Alaric can bond in your anti-Damon solidarity." I added, changing the subject and shaking my head in amusement.
"I wish you were coming, though. Both of you." Elena pointed out with a small smile and Stefan sighed, nodding back at her.
"You know what, maybe we should wait a couple days, huh? Until Caroline's less of a danger, and then I can go with you." Stefan suggested but Elena furrowed her eyebrows.
"It's okay that I'm going, right? And if not, then I can just stay here and I can help take care of Caroline." Elena stated in confusion. I rose an eyebrow at Stefan who turned to Elena and quickly got up from the bed before standing in front of her.
"No, listen. I want you to go, okay? I do. You have questions about your lineage and about Katherine. Look, I'm not gonna let the fact that Damon is going, keep you from an opportunity to get some answers." Stefan stated in reassurance and I nodded in agreement.
"You hate it, though." Elena replied with a smirk and he smiled back at her.
"I hate it." Stefan agreed with a small chuckle before he sighed. "But I love you." He added softly and I smiled at them.
"I love you, too." Elena replied before she pulled his face to hers and kissed him.
"Elena, you coming?" Jenna's voice yelled from downstairs. I sighed deeply and looked at Elena who slowly nodded and grabbed her bag. The three of us walked downstairs just as Alaric walked out of the door. I rose an eyebrow at Jenna who watched him walk out of his car in silence, thinking to herself.
"Hey, you okay?" I asked her as Elena and Stefan walked past us and out the house also.
"Yeah. Just men and their baggage." Jenna answered with an awkward chuckle. I slowly sighed and looked at Ric in defeat before I walked out to the car.
"Sorry you can't come, Stefan. Mariana." Damon stated with a pout toward us as he leant against the side of the car while Elena threw her stuff into the back seat.
"Call us if you need anything." Stefan nodded and looked at Elena while I gave her a small smile.
"Oh, I'll take really good care of her." Damon reassured in amusement and I rolled my eyes at him. Elena looked away from Damon in disgust and grabbed Stefan by the back of his neck, pulling him to her and kissing him tenderly. I watched the scene awkwardly before looking away while Damon sighed in annoyance at the two. "Ok. Time to go." Damon stated, obviously uncomfortable as he got in the front passenger seat. I chucked a bit and shook my head, hugging Elena before she got in the car and Ric started the engine.
"Ten bucks says Elena calls in less than an hour to vent about how much Damon's already being an ass." I stated, crossing my arms over my chest as Stefan and I watched the car drive down the street.
"I'll bet twenty." He answered in amusement, making me chuckle and shake my head before we both walked back inside.
~~~
"I don't know how to make a day-walking ring." Bonnie stated in some disinterest as her, Stefan and I sat at a table inside of the Grill.
"Emily made mine. She made Damon's, too. The instructions must be in the grimoire." Stefan pointed out with a shrug.
"That doesn't mean I can cast a spell." Bonnie protested, obviously getting annoyed now.
"Bonnie." I pressed, clearing my throat and leaning forward in my chair. "You know how to drop vampires with a single look, okay? I think you can figure it out." I stated in amusement but she sighed in response.
"Caroline killed someone, Mariana. I can't make it easier for her to do it again." Bonnie informed in disappointment and I furrowed my eyebrows at her.
"No. We're not making it easier for her. We're just giving her the chance to survive." Stefan countered. Bonnie looked between us unconvinced and I sighed deeply.
"Listen, everyday that she's cut off from her old lifeâfrom me, from you, from Elena, from Mattâit'll make it that much harder for her to hold on to her humanity." I warned, tilting my head at her to see her eyebrows furrow.
"And how do you know she won't hurt anyone else?" Bonnie countered skeptically but I looked at Stefan in uncertainty.
"We don't. But if we don't do everything that we can to help herâor at least trust the fact that she can keep it together.." Stefan answered, leading off with a sigh. "We might as well just stake her right now." He added in defeat and I looked back at Bonnie to see her waver a bit.
"I don't know if I can trust her. Not with this." She stated, looking between Stefan and I again. I slowly nodded in some understanding before I took her hand in mine, squeezing it gently.
"But you can trust us." I informed in a serious tone. "Trust me." I added with a short nod. Bonnie stared back at me, trying to think it over before she sighed and sat back in her chair.
~~~
"So I don't get to choose the ring I have to wear for the rest of my life?" Caroline asked skeptically as she looked down at the ring Bonnie had given her while she sat on her bed.
"Hey, if you don't want itâ" Bonnie started in protest but I cut her quickly.
"Noâshe wants it." I stated in a stern voice toward Caroline from where I sat beside Stefan, in between the bed and the window which had curtains covering it.
"Now what?" Caroline asked quietly, fiddling with the ring in her hands and Bonnie looked down at Emily's spell book.
"Now's the part where I explain the rules." Bonnie informed before looking back at Caroline. "The witch who spells the ring has the power to de-spell it.. So, if you ever do anything to hurt anyoneâ" She started but Caroline cut her off.
"I'm not going to hurt anyone." Caroline countered in both hurt and anger as she looked back at Bonnie in disbelief.
"You're a vampire." Bonnie pointed out in disgust and I furrowed my eyebrows at her. "That means the urge to kill is a part of who you are." She added and I looked at Stefan who looked down at the floor uncomfortably but didn't disagree with her. "The minute you let it take over, I will stop you." Bonnie warned, making me let out a small sigh as she stared down at Caroline expectantly.
"Bonnie, you're supposed to be my friend." Caroline stated in defeat.
"I can't ignore what happened, okay? If you want to be friends, you're going to have to prove that the Caroline I remember, isn't gone." Bonnie snapped back at her, making me look away in annoyance. I shook my head silently and exchanged a look with Stefan who was also staring between the two of them quietly, not wanting to intervene. "Now, put the ring on the bed." She added sternly and Caroline did as told, putting the ring down in front of her.
"Do you really think that I meant to kill that guy at the carnival?" Caroline asked in defeat as Bonnie walked over to the curtains beside Stefan and I.
"He's still dead. Now do you want us to cast the spell or not?" She answered emotionlessly, making Caroline look down in silence. Bonnie pulled the curtain back the tiniest bit, to let the sun from the window, fall down on the ring. Caroline gasped and quickly pulled her knees to her chest and closed her eyes tightly, careful not to touch the sunlight. Bonnie walked in front of the ring and stared down at it before quietly chanting to herself as she closed her eyes. Stefan sat forwards in the chair, watching her and the ring in wonder and curiosity. After a few seconds, Bonnie opened her eyes again and arched her eyebrow. She grabbed the ring off of the bed and gestured it to Caroline. "All done." Bonnie stated with a sigh. Caroline looked at her in confusion before holding out her arm, letting Bonnie drop the ring in her palm. Caroline looked between Stefan and I skeptically but we just shrugged back at her as she slid the ring onto her pointer finger.
"So that's it?" Caroline asked, looking between the three of us and I watched as Bonnie tilted her head at her, clearly getting annoyed. "I mean, nothing witchy happened. You know, no flickering lights, no gusts of wind. Have you even done this before?" She added in skepticism toward Bonnie, making me run my hand over my forehead in frustration.
"Caroline." Stefan pressed from beside her in warning as he looked down in annoyance while Bonnie walked back over to the window.
"Well, I just wanted to make sure that it worked!" Caroline pointed out with a scoff before Bonnie pulled the curtains back, making Caroline scream and look away from the sunlight as she clenched her eyes shut.
"It worked." I stated in observation as I looked over her non-burning skin. I looked back at Bonnie who narrowed her eyes at Caroline in annoyance while Stefan's eyes wandered around the room awkwardly.
"What if it hadn't, Bonnie!" Caroline snapped and looked back at Bonnie in disbelief.
"She's all yours." Bonnie stated with a sigh toward Stefan and I before she walked out of the room. Caroline sighed in annoyance as she left before she looked at the window and raised an eyebrow, holding up her hand and looking at the ring in amusement. I looked at Stefan who sighed deeply from beside me, clearly already wondering if not going with Elena was the right call.
~~~
"So what do I do when I see the rabbit?" Caroline asked, looking at Stefan expectantly as the three of us walked through the woods.
"Chase it, catch it, feed on it." Stefan answered with a soft sigh and I rolled my eyes as I stepped over a branch.
"Is killing cute, defenseless animals the first step in becoming a serial killer?" Caroline asked in a serious tone, making me smirk and look over at her.
"Well, you sort of skipped serial killer and went straight to vampire." I answered sarcastically and watched her roll her eyes. "Caroline, if you're not serious about all of this, I think you should tell us." I added, sighing in some defeat as we stopped walking.
"No, I am." Caroline answered quickly, annoyance clearly in her voice. Stefan rose an eyebrow at her and folded his arms over his chest in doubt. "Look, I swear that I am, okay! But it's justâI haven't been in the sun in days and everyone's at the watering hole having fun and Matt is there, and he finally told me that he loved me. But I've been blowing him off and now you want me to eat bunnies and I'm kinda freaking out, okay?" Caroline snapped in anger toward us. I rose an eyebrow and exchanged an amused look with Stefan before chuckling, making her take a deep breath and put her hands on her hips. "And now you're laughing at me." She added in annoyance toward us.
"No, no, we're not laughing. None of this is funny, trust me." Stefan replied in protest as he smiled at her. "It's just thatâuh.." He added leading off awkwardly and Caroline narrowed her eyes.
"What?" Caroline snapped, glaring at him and folding her arms over her chest.
"When someone becomes a vampire, all their natural behaviors get sort of.. amplified." Stefan pointed out, gesturing at her and she furrowed her eyebrows.
"What do you mean?" She asked, tilting her head at him.
"I mean, as a human I cared deeply for people and how they felt. If they were hurting, I felt their pain. And I felt guilty if I was the one who caused it. And uh, as a vampire, all that got.. magnified." Stefan clarified as Caroline looked at him intently.
"As a witch, we have to have control of our emotions too, you know? People could get hurt. Like catch on fireâhurt." I added in an awkward tone and tilted my head at her while she slowly nodded at us.
"So you're saying that now I'm basically an insecure, neurotic, control freak on crack." Caroline stated in annoyance. I rose my eyebrow and bit my lip before I looked at Stefan who rose an eyebrow also.
"Well, I wasn't gonna say it like that. But..." Stefan answered sarcastically and Caroline slowly sighed before looking away from us in defeat. "Hey, listen. Let's hunt, okay? And then after that, we'll go to the swimming hole." He added with a smile and Caroline's face beamed.
"Really!?" She asked in excitement and I laughed as Stefan nodded in agreement.
"Yeah. Matt is the closest connection you have to your humanity, and I think that being around him is a good thing." Stefan replied reassuringly and I smiled at her.
"Ok." Caroline nodded in agreement before before she started walking around cheerfully, whispering 'bunnies' to herself.
~~~~
Stefan, Caroline and I got out of the car and opened up Care's trunk go grab the things we brought. I rose my eyebrow and looked up at the Ford truck that drove by us and I realized it was Mason. I smiled at him and gave a small wave, watching him mimic my actions he before narrowing his eyes at Stefan, giving him a short nod. "Why are you looking at him with your serious vampire look?" Caroline asked, noticing the tension between the two as she CT grabbed her bag.
"My whatâMy 'serious vampire look'? Really?" Stefan asked in amusement and I smirked a bit.
"Mhm. I mean, it's different from your 'worried' vampire look." I agreed, looking at Caroline who chuckled while Stefan furrowed his eyebrows. "Neither of which stray too far from your 'hey, it's Tuesday' look." I added before closing the trunk.
"Oh, I get it. You think I'm, uhâYou think I'm too serious. Is that it?" Stefan asked, looking between us and we exchanged a knowing look.
"I mean, I wasn't gonna say it like that. But.." Caroline replied, quoting Stefan from earlier. I chuckled as I walked away from them and over to Matt and Tyler who were hanging out by the kegs that sat in the bed of Matt's truck.
"Is it just me, or did Amy Bradley's ass get hot?" Tyler asked in amusement toward Matt who chuckled and looked away from him.
"It's just you." I pointed out with a sigh as I walked over, watching them both turn to me. "Beer?" I asked, raising an eyebrow to see Matt smirk and start to fill up a cup for me.
"I'm sorry. Did I make you jealous?" Ty asked, turning his attention on me now. I rose an eyebrow and smirked a bit, noticing Amy's eyes scanning Tyler from behind him.
"Come on, Tyler. We both know there's no competition between me and Amy." I answered with a slight shrug. And as if in cue, Amy's friends walked away from her before she came over to the three of us.
"Hey, Amy." Matt greeted, nodding at her with a smile and she smiled back.
"Hey." She replied, nodding at Tyler and I in acknowledgment before Matt gave her a full cup of beer and took her empty one. "Thanks." Amy smiled before looking at the watering hole her. "You know, you're missing all the fun in the water." She informed flirtatiously toward Matt and I rose my eyebrow at her.
"Eh, Not waterproof." Matt pointed out as he held up his cast that was around his arm.
"That's too bad." Amy replied, tilting her head at him in advance. "So uh, there's a full moon tonight. We gonna light a fire? Tell ghost stories?" She asked with a smirk.
"Uh, I don't know." Matt replied with a small laugh, making her chuckle before Caroline came over also.
"Matt." Caroline stated with a smile as she stood in-between him and Amy.
"What the hell? I've been calling you." Matt pointed out as he looked her over, seeing her alive and well.
"I know, I got held up. But I'm here now." Caroline stated in reassurance before turning to Amy who smiled.
"Hey, Caroline." Amy greeted, trying to hide the fact that she was flirting with her boyfriend.
"Go find somebody single to stalk, Amy." Caroline stated, compelling her and I furrowed my eyebrows and watched Amy walk away quickly.
"Seriously?" Matt asked, furrowing his eyebrows at Caroline in disbelief while Tyler cleared his throat awkwardly. Matt looked between Tyler and I before he walked away from us. I narrowed my eyes at Caroline who sighed back at me before following after Matt.
"Well.. I'm glad to know I'm not going to be part of that conversation." Tyler stated in some relief and I rose an eyebrow at him.
"Amy was flirting with him." I pointed out in annoyance and watched him look at me skeptically. "What?" I added with a shrug, making roll his eyes.
"You girls are all the same. We can't even have chick friends. I mean, come on." Tyler countered in defense and I folded my arms over my chest.
"Yeah, you can. Preferably girls who remained seated in the friend section." I stated, shaking my head back in annoyance while he tilted his head. Tyler and I stared at each other for a few seconds before he smiled a bit and looked away. "Now, What?" I asked with a sigh as he looked back at me.
"Nothing. Just thinking about how much fun we use to have together." Tyler admitted as he looked me over slowly and I rose an eyebrow.
"Well? We're together now, aren't we?" I asked with a smile and gently nudged him with my shoulder.
"What'd you have in mind?" He asked with a small smirk. I took off my shirt to reveal the swimsuit underneath it.
"I remember how much fun we had here." I stated and looked out over the watering hole as I unbuttoned my shorts. Tyler took off the shirt he wore also and I felt my eyes slowly scan his abs before I quickly looked away, realizing I basically checked him out. I looked back up at him in embarrassment at myself and he chuckled knowingly, making me roll my eyes.
"Most of those memories involved not having on clothes." Tyler pointed out and I rose an eyebrow as we both stood in our swimming suits.
"So? Who says we can't have fun with clothes on?" I asked, smirking at him challengingly before I ran toward the water and heard him run after me. I felt arms wrap around my waist before Tyler picked me up and I screamed, laughing as he took us down into the water.
~~~
"Well, you can add this to the list of memories, Ty." I stated with a smile as everyone started leaving the waterhole, now that it was getting dark.
"Thanks for coming out today." Tyler replied quietly and I rose an eyebrow at the sad look on his face. "Ever since my dad died, I've just got all this anger, you know?" He asked, looking at me in some defeat. "It was nice just to let go for a day. You know, with friends." He added with a shrug and I chuckled dryly.
"Ooh, friend zoned." I stated, shaking my head at him and looked down while he rose an eyebrow.
"What, you don't wanna be 'just friends'?" Ty asked softly, making me look back at him. My eyes looked past him to see Amy who was picking up her bag and sweatshirt from the ground, about to leave before she set eyes on Tyler.
"Careful, Ty. Amy Bradley with the hot ass is looking over here." I stated and looked away from her before my eyes fell back on Tyler's.
"I thought you weren't jealous?" He asked in some amusement as he stared down at me and I tilted my head.
"Were you hoping I was?" I countered, raising my eyebrow and watched him shrug back at me.
"Like you said.. There's no competition when it comes to you and Amy." Tyler answered, staring between my eyes and my lips. I rose an eyebrow, about to reply before he grabbed my face in his hands and kissed me. I was taken aback but I didn't push him away. I kissed Tyler back and watched as he pulled away from me before staring down at me with a small smile, probably seeing my reaction.
"Do you do that with all the girls you friend zone?" I asked sarcastically. I watched him roll his eyes but I kissed him again gently and smiled against him.
"Mariana." Stefan stated, coming over to us and I pulled away from Tyler. "Where's Caroline?" He asked, furrowing his eyebrows and I looked around in confusion and realized that I haven't seen her or Matt in hours.
"Hey, um.. I'll call you later, okay?" I asked, looking back at Tyler who furrowed his eyebrows as I walked away from him. I followed Stefan into the woods and watched the look of concern flood over his features. "Stefan, what's going on?" I asked, trying to keep up with his quick pace.
"Elena just called me. Apparently, werewolves are very much real. And very deadly to vampires." Stefan answered in warning and I furrowed my eyebrows at him as I walked over a few tree branches.
"And you think Tyler and Mason are werewolves?" I asked again, shaking my head at the thought.
"There's only one way to find out, Mariana. And tonight is the night that I really wouldn't like to." He stated in worry and I nodded in agreement as we walked faster before he stopped in his tracks and turned to me. "I don't want you out here, okay? Go to the Boarding house. It's directly across from us at this point. Caroline and I will meet you there." Stefan reassured as he put his hands on my shoulders.
"But what aboutâ" I started but he vamped away from me, not hearing me out.
~~~~
I stood in the backyard of the Salvatore house, seeing no sign of Stefan or Caroline so far. It's almost been an hour, maybe more. I paced back and forth in defeat before I heard the sound of a branch snap from around me. I furrowed my eyebrows and scanned the woods around me before two dark figures started coming toward me, making me sigh in relief. "Are you okay?" I asked, looking Caroline and Stefan over.
"I-Iâ" Caroline started, shaken up and confused and I looked at Stefan who sighed deeply.
"I found Caroline and Matt were in the woods.. She started to feed on him but I got there soon enoughâhe's okay.." Stefan informed in reassurance. I furrowed my eyebrows and sighed in defeat as I looked back at Caroline. "There's another thing.." He added, making me furrow my eyebrows. "Mason shifted into a wolf and chased Caroline and I over to the old Lockwood cellar. Tyler was there and he saw Mason attack us.." Stefan stated and I ran my hands through my hair slowly, taking the information in.
"Is heâ" I started in some worry but Stefan cut me off.
"I took care of Tyler and Caroline took care of Matt." Stefan reassured me with a nod and I turned back to Caroline who shook her head in defeat.
"I can't believe I hurt him." She whispered, angry at herself as she looked down at the ground.
"I know." I reassured and put a hand in her shoulder, squeezing it gently before she folded her arms over her chest.
"Matt is the one person on this whole planet that I never wanted to hurt." Caroline pointed out, her eyes glazing over as she looked between Stefan and I.
"It's not going to get any easier." Stefan informed with a soft nod. "You're just going to have to work that much harder." He added and Caroline sighed deeply.
"I shouldn't be with him, should I?" She asked, looking between us again but I grabbed her hands and tilted my head.
"We are the last people you need to be asking to make that decision for you.. If Stefan took his advice, he would have walked away with Elena a long time ago." I answered and looked at Stefan who put his hands in his pant pockets in agreement.
"You ever think you should of?" Caroline asked looking at him also, making him sigh and looked down in thought.
"I know I should of.. I just can't." He answered with a slight shrug.
"We sacrifice everything for the people we love.. Even if we know that we shouldn't." I informed quietly and softly moved a piece of hair from her face before she slowly nodded and looked away again.