I walked into the backyard of the Lockwood mansion and over to Bonnie so we could help set up for the Masquerade Ball tomorrow night. "You're here." I pointed out once I reached her and the box of candle sticks she had in front of her.
"I'm here." She agreed with a short nod before she started looking around us, obviously in search of someone.
"Caroline's not coming." I informed and grabbed a candle stick from the box before putting it on the table in front of us. "I told you." I added with a sigh as she looked back at me.
"Just making sure." Bonnie pointed out in defeat, making me slightly shake my head at her attitude.
"You know, eventually, you're going to have to talk to her." I stated in an annoyance as I rose my eyebrow at her.
"Could you make it a little less obvious you're on her side?" Bonnie countered in defense and I rolled my eyes.
"There are no sides, Bonnie." I protested but she only sighed back at me.
"Oh, come on. Since Caroline became a vampire, we barely see each other. Losing Caroline was bad enough, I didn't think I'd lose you or Elena, too." She stated in disappointment. I tilted my head at her as she looked away from me, obviously hurt. I sighed deeply and started to walk away, gesturing for her to follow.
"Come with me." I stated, walking in the direction of the pond that was across the lawn.
"Where?" Bonnie asked in confusion as she turned toward me but I shrugged.
"Someplace quiet.. We need to talk." I answered reassuringly and held out a hand for her to take. Bonnie looked down at it skeptically before she smiled a bit and took it, letting me lead us away.
~~~
"I can't believe this." Bonnie stated as we walked beside the pond, after digesting and talking about everything that had happened over the past few days.
"It's a lot.. I know. Katherine is doing everything in her power to ruin the lives of everyone I care about. Elena, Stefan, and now Caroline." I stated in defeat as the two of us sat in a bench beside the pond. "Everyone keeps getting dragged into it." I added and watched Bonnie slowly shake her head.
"It's not that it's a lot, Mariana.. It's that I feel like I am the last one to know about Katherine being your mother." Bonnie stated in defeat, making me sigh deeply.
"Bonnie, I didn't mean to keep it from you. I had trouble telling everyone.. And talking to you about my birth mother who happens to be a vampire and a villain that we all hate? That's not something I want to talk to you about because I know where you stand on the entire vampire thing." I informed with a shrug, which made Bonnie furrow her eyebrows.
"So that makes me the odd man out." She stated in disappointment before looking away from me.
"No. Bonnie, no. Of course not." I reassured as I put a hand on her shoulder.
"You know where I stand, Mariana.. And I know where you stand. But where do we stand?" Bonnie asked, looking back at me in confusion and I tilted my head. I let my hand fall as I thought everything over and looked down in defeat.
"You're my best friend, Bonnie.. I didn't mean to let this craziness with Katherine get in the way of that.. but after what she did to Caroline?âAnd what Caroline is going through with her mom.. she needs you, too." I pointed out with a soft shrug.
"Not yet, I just.. She's a vampire." Bonnie countered quietly. "I can't." She added in defeat and I slowly nodded in some understanding. "I think we should get back." Bonnie stated with a short nod as she looked at the Lockwood house in the distance. I nodded in some agreement and we both stood, leaving the conversation there.
~~~
"Okay. What's this about?" I asked in some annoyance as I walked over to Damon and Stefan, after getting a text that told me to meet them.
"It's about mother dearest, apparently." Damon answered sarcastically as the three of us stood under one of the canopies for the Ball. I looked at him in confusion but he scoffed lightly and gestured at Stefan who rolled his eyes and put his hands in his hips, readying himself for the explanation.
"Earlier Bonnie touched Mason and had a vision. She claimed to see you, plain and clear, onlyâyou were kissing Mason." Stefan pointed out softly, unsure of how I would react. I rose an eyebrow at him and looked back at Damon, seeing the expectant expression that they both wore, which made me scoff loudly.
"Alright, just to clarify, Mason threatened to snap my neck. He nearly killed me, so I know I am not the one that Bonnie saw. No way in hell." I stated in annoyance. Damon nodded quickly and gave his brother an 'I told you so' glance, only to look back at me in confusion.
"Waitâhe what?" Damon snapped, furrowing his eyebrows as he went over my answer just to realize what I had said.
"So do you think Katherine and Mason are seeing each other then?" I asked, ignoring Damon and looking at Stefan who was thinking it over amongst himself.
"We missed it, but it makes sense. He got into town right after she did." Stefan informed with a nod but Damon scoffed.
"It does make sense, but Mason Lockwood?" Damon asked in some annoyance, making me raise an eyebrow. "Werewolf thing aside, the guy's a surfer." He stated in disgust and I rolled my eyes. "She's gotta be using him. She has to be." He added, shaking his head at the possibility.
"Using him for what?" I asked sarcastically, which made Damon sigh loudly.
"Mason Lockwood's looking for a moonstone that allegedly can break the full-moon werewolf curse." He pointed out as he started pacing in front of us, obviously thinking it over.
"Maybe Katherine wants it as well." I suggested and looked at Stefan who folded his arms over his chest.
"Why?" He asked, tilting his head at the thought as he looked between us.
"Well.. no idea. That's the beauty of Katherine. She's always up to somethingâTake notes, Mariana." Damon stated sarcastically, making me scoff lightly at his nonchalant joke.
"So how are we going to find this moonstone?" Stefan asked, raising an eyebrow between us.
"Jeremy's getting it from Tyler." Damon answered and I quickly scoffed at him in both anger and annoyance.
"Why would you involve Jeremy, Damon!" I asked in disbelief as I started to shake my head.
"He's playing Indiana Jones. He involved himself." He protested with a shrug, making me roll my eyes.
"Okay, well make sure he un-involves himself. I don't want him anywhere near this, especially when it involves Katherine." I stated in warning and Damon nodded in agreement as he stopped in front of me.
"I totally agree. Gilbert's don't have a very good track record of staying alive when they keep finding trouble to get into." Damon replied in some amusement, making me roll my eyes and look back at Stefan who was texting someone.
"So do you guys have a plan or what?" I asked, getting very much annoyed now. Stefan looked up from his phone as it started ringing and he sighed, shaking his head.
"I have to fill Elena in. Do you think you can play nice and try and fill her in on a decent plan? Please?" Stefan asked in some annoyance toward Damon before he walked away, making me smirk a bit.
"You? Play nice?" I asked sarcastically, making Damon narrow his eyes at me playfully.
"Cute." He stated with a sigh before folding his arms over his chest. "Do you think you can touch Mason Lockwood? See if you have a vision of him giving Katherine the moonstone?" He asked and I slowly shook my head.
"Not all witches have that ability. And even if I did, the visions don't work like that. We don't get to ask questions." I answered with a shrug and heard him scoff as he looked away from me, going back into thought.
"How inconvenient." He countered and I narrowed my eyes at his poor attitude before he rose an eyebrow, clearly having an idea pop into his head. "How about that witchy ju ju thing that Bonnie loves to do. You know, the one where my brain bursts into flames? What is that?" He asked, clearly not amused by the subject, which only made me love it all the more.
"That's called an aneurysm. Your blood vessels go pop but since vampires heal quickly, witches have to repeatedly do it." I informed as I folded my arms over my chest also.
"Is it vampire specific?" Damon asked, a small smirk playing on his lips and I shrugged.
"It'd work on anyone with a supernatural healing ability." I answered and watched him closely, realizing where this was going. "Damon, I'm not going to help you hurt him." I stated in defense and watched him roll his eyes.
"Mason Lockwood is a werewolf. Katherine is evilâthey're the bad guys. Really, you're going to play morality police with me right now?" He asked in disbelief, which made me sigh deeply and look away from him.
"Mason is Tyler's uncle and Katherine is my birth mother. It's only convenient for you, Damon." I stated in protest as I looked back at him and saw his eyes practically burning into my soul.
"They're a threat to both you and Elenaâbut more importantly you. Mason already proved that." Damon stated as he narrowed his eyes down at me. "I don't really care if you are the one to help or not, just know that I will make sure it gets done. With or without you." He added emotionlessly, letting silence fall between us.
"Yeah, he meant to add that he has complete understanding to your reasoning. And then also wanted to add a very nice please at the end of that." Stefan stated sarcastically as he cane back over to us, once he finally got off the phone. I narrowed my eyes between the two and looked away as I thought it over in my head.
"Fine." I informed emotionlessly. I looked back at them and saw Damon's eyebrows furrow while Stefan smirked a bit at his brother. "But this is the only part I help in.. I want no other part in it." I stated as I looked between the two of them.
~~~
I walked outside of the Lockwood mansion and saw Mason walking over to his truck. "Hey, Mas." I stated loudly after him and watched as he turned around to look at me. His eyes narrowed for a second, obviously trying to decide if I was a threat or not.
"Mariana.. Tyler's inside." He informed and walked over to his truck again but I quickly made my way down the steps.
"Actually, I wanted to speak to you." I countered, finding some pleasure in the fact that he was practically running away from me. "Oh, come on, Mason. You might as well face me after threatening to kill me." I stated in some amusement and watched him turn to me, obviously angered at my forwardness.
"Keep your voice down." Mason stated in annoyance and I chuckled a bit.
"Why? Afraid Tyler might hear us?" I asked threateningly, trying to bait him now.. but I was also having fun.
"Does Tyler know that you know about vampires? About us? What do you think would happen if I told him?" Mason asked, tilting his head at me and I rose an eyebrow. "Do you think he would trust you again? That he wouldn't look at you and see a liar?" He asked with a chuckle. I narrowed my eyes and walked forward, not missing a step before I stood directly in front of him.
"Tell me.. did my mother happen to mention me in any of the past weeks that you've been with her?" I asked, smirking a bit at my words as I saw the mixed emotions set across his face. "Well.. it looks like between Katherine and I, my lies aren't the ones catching up to me." I stated before I quickly narrowed my eyes at him. Mason furrowed his eyebrows and started groaning in pain as he clutched his head. I watched his face and neck start to turn red as blood rushed to his head, making him fall to his knees. Damon came up from the other side of the truck and kneed Mason in the face, knocking him out. He looked at me with uncertainty but I gave him a reassuring nod. I watched Damon open the back of Mason's truck before he threw Mason over his shoulder and put him into it. I turned and started walking up the steps toward the front door of the mansion, but Damon stopped me.
"Hey." He stated, making me turn back to him as he opened up the driver's side door. "Thank you." He said with a soft nod and I rose an eyebrow.
"It was bitter sweet revenge." I admitted with a small smirk, making him chuckle. "But you're welcome." I added sweetly before walking inside.
~~~
"So where's Caroline? This is like, her thing. I can't believe she's not here." Matt stated as the two of us rummaged through boxes full of masquerade masks from the downstairs living room.
"She had something else to do." I replied dismissively. Matt rose an eyebrow at me as I started to look through a box full of feather boas.
"Is sheâIs she seeing someone?" He asked, making me furrow my eyebrows and look up at him.
"Matt, come on." I countered with a chuckle, only to see the serious look on his face. "No, she's not." I reassured with a short nod before Stefan came over to us and put another box of decorations on the table.
"Anyone seen Mason?" Tyler asked as he came into the room. I exchanged a knowing glance with Stefan who cleared his throat and quickly looked over at him.
"He uh, he left. Said he wasn't sure when he'd be back." Stefan answered with a nod, making Tyler sigh.
"So weird." Tyler replied in defeat before he walked away. I rose an eyebrow and walked after him, leaving Matt and Stefan alone.
"Hey." I stated in reassurance to see Tyler turn to me and let out a small sigh. "You okay?" I asked, gently running my hands over his shoulders.
"Yeah.. I just needed to talk to Mason." Tyler replied with a slight but unconvincing smile. He gave me a quick kiss and walked away, clearly flustered over something.
~~~
I walked into the dinning room to see Alaric placing a salad on the dinner table while Elena helped him set the table. "Where's Jeremy?" I asked, looking around the dining room and the kitchen where Jenna was talking on the phone.
"He said he wasn't hungry?" Alaric answered with a slight shrug.
"Who is she talking to?" I asked, gesturing at Jenna who seemed to be having a deep conversation.
"No idea. Everything go okay today?" Alaric answered as he put his hands on his hips and looked between Elena and I. I rose an eyebrow and exchanged a knowing glaze with Elena who let out a small sigh.
"There were a few hiccupsâBut yeah." Elena answered with a quick nod and I smiled in agreement.
"Of course, I understand." Jenna stated softly from across from us as she walked over from the kitchen island. "Elena, it's for you." She added and handed her the phone.
"Who is it?" Elena asked in confusion as she took it and put the phone to her ear. "Hello?" She asked into the phone and I rose an eyebrow and looked at Alaric in question as Jenna went back over the the kitchen island. Elena's expression went completely serious as she looked between Alaric and I in worry. She moved away from us and toward the living room where she spoke indistinctly on the phone. I slowly shook my head and moved over to Jenna as she started cutting pieces of bread with a knife. I looked back over at Elena questioningly but she rose her hand at me, listening closely to the conversation. I rolled my eyes and turned back to Jenna only to gasp as she plunged the knife into her stomach.
"Jenna, no!" I screamed and watched her fall back onto the kitchen floor. Alaric wizened his eyes and ran over to her as Elena dropped the phone and ran into the kitchen also.
"Jenna." Alaric stated, trying to maintain a calm voice as he put her head in his lap while I put my hands over her stomach, trying to control the blood flow.
-Time Skip-
I sat in the lobby of the hospital with Jeremy as Elena came from the E.R, making the two of us quickly stand from our seats. "How is she? Is she okay?" Jeremy asked quickly in concern.
"The doctors told Alaric that Jenna got lucky." Elena stated through tearful eyes and I shook my head, looking away from them. "She's gonna make it. She's gonna he okay." She added and Jeremy sighed in some relief.
"Does she remember what happened?" Jeremy asked, tilting his head down at Elena.
"No. Nothing. It's all part of Katherine's mind compulsion." Elena admitted in defeat and I folded my arms over my chest.
"Why would Katherine hurt Jenna?" Jeremy asked, shaking his head in confusion as he looked between us.
"Because she's trying to send a message." Elena answered in a guilty voice and I furrowed my eyebrows. "She can get to anyone.." She whispered, her eyes glazing over and I quickly hugged her.
"This wasn't because of you and Stefan." I stated, shaking my head in defeat. "This isn't your fault." I whispered, listening to her cry in my arms.
-Time Skip-
"Here." Damon stated as he handed Caroline a glass of blood and she took it gladly.
"I'm still shaking." She pointed out with a nervous and awkward chuckle before Stefan walked into the library to see us.
"What happened?" He asked in a stern tone and I folded my arms over my chest.
"Go ahead, tell him. You're gonna love this." Damon pointed out in amusement from beside me as I stood behind the chair that Caroline sat in.
"I saw Katherine today." Caroline informed after she drank from her glass.
"Where?" Stefan asked in a rushed manner before folding his arms over his chest also.
"At the GrillâI just stopped by to gawk and semi-stalk Matt." Caroline pointed out in defeat, making me sigh a bit.
"Skip the teen drama and get to it." Damon stated in annoyance and I rolled my eyes at him.
"Then I had to pretend to use the bathroom even though I really didn't have to go, 'cause I'm a dufus who told Matt that's the only reason I was there. Well, Katherine was in the bathroom and pretended to be Marianaâbut I'm starting to see the difference." Care quickly stayed in reassurance toward me and I rose an eyebrow. "Long story short, Katherine wanted me to deliver a message." She stated and looked at Stefan uneasily.
"What was the message?" Stefan asked, looking down at her expectantly.
"She wanted me to tell you that she wants the moonstone.. Or she will rip this town apart until it rains blood." Caroline answered in warning. Stefan rose an eyebrow and looked between Damon and I uncertain.
"Tell him the rest of it." I gestured reassuringly toward her and Caroline sighed.
"Tonight.. At the masquerade ball." She added quietly, making Stefan shake his head.
"She wants to do it in public. Killing Mason threw her off guard." Stefan pointed out as he started to pace back and forth in front of us.
"She's running scared. What she did to Jenna was desperate. She's out of tricks." Damon added in boredom and I sighed at the two while Caroline remained silent, looking between all of us in confusion.
"We can't underestimate her, Damon." I warned in annoyance before I looked at Stefan who nodded in agreement.
"We have to play this smarter than her." Stefan stated before Caroline sighed loudly.
"Can't we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave?" Caroline asked with a a raised eyebrow and I furrowed my eyebrows in response.
"No. Katherine's not getting dick. I've had it. I'm gonna go to the masquerade ball, and I'm going to kill her. Tonight." Damon countered as he walked out from behind Caroline and over to Stefan who rolled his eyes.
"You're not going to kill her." I replied in annoyance and Damon rose an eyebrow at me challengingly.
"Oh, don't give me any of that goody-goody crap." Damon stated as he gestured at me, making Stefan sigh.
"You're not going to kill her." Stefan added, backing me up which made me furrow my eyebrows.
"Oh. Really?" Damon countered in annoyance as he turned fully toward his brother who smirked and nodded in agreement.
"Because I am." Stefan informed, tilting his head at Damon who slowly smirked.
~~~
I opened up the Salvatore door and watched Bonnie come in, holding her grimoire. "Hey, I got Stefan's message." Bonnie stated as she walked in and I closed the door behind her.
"Hey, you brought the grimoire. Thank you." Stefan stated as he greeted her from the entryway of the living room. Bonnie looked across from him and saw Alaric and Damon talking indistinctly to each other as they looked over Alaric's weapons that were all sprawled out on the table in front of them.
"What's going on?" Bonnie asked, furrowing her eyebrows as Caroline and Jeremy came down the hall as well.
"We're gonna kill Katherine." Jeremy answered with a nod as he walked into the living room and over to the boys. Bonnie furrowed her eyebrows and looked expectantly between Stefan and I.
"I can explain." Stefan reassured as he held up a finger toward her and she tilted her head.
"Please." Bonnie countered in confusion and he slowly sighed, thinking of the words before he shrugged.
"..We're gonna kill Katherine." Stefan pointed out, making me roll my eyes and gesture her to follow me into the living room. I walked over to the weapons while Alaric was showing Jeremy the two crossbows he had.
"Now, this works with compressed air. The trigger mechanism is here and I've got two of these in a different size." Alaric stated as he gave Jeremy the smaller crossbow. "Now, for you I recommend this." He added, gesturing at Stefan who came over also. Alaric put a sleeve over his forearm, which contained two small stakes. "It fits nicely under a jacket sleeve. Here's the trigger when you're ready." He added, pushing down on one of the levers that held the stake before it flew out from the sleeve and he caught it in his hand before plunging it into the air, metaphorically staking the non existent vampire in front of him. Caroline, Stefan and Damon all rose their eyebrows at him, clearly becoming uneasy. "You wanted me to show you how to kill vampires." Alaric pointed out and Damon shrugged in agreement.
~~~
"Are you sure you guys don't want me there tonight?" Alaric asked in uncertainty as we all stood together in the living room after coming up with a decent plan.
"No. I need you to stay with Elena and Jenna at the house. Have Elena help you take care of Jenna. I don't want her knowing about any this." I answered one warning and he nodded in agreement.
"Okay. Well, I'll make sure that she doesn't leave my sight." Alaric replied as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Alright, If anyone wants to back out, I'll understand." Stefan stated as he looked over Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy and I.
"YeahâCold feet speak now, I don't want this going wrong because someone chickens out." Damon added in agreement as he looked over all of us also. "Caroline?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at her.
"I won't. Look, she killed me. Fairs fair." Caroline protested quickly. "As long as there are no werewolves running around." She added uneasily and Damon nodded in agreement.
"Oh, I took care of Mason." Damon reassured her with a smirk, making me roll my eyes.
"As long as Tyler doesn't kill anyoneâhe won't turn." Jeremy stated with a brief nod.
"Jeremy, I'll watch him. I need you to stay by Bonnie. The only reason I let you in on this, wasn't for you to get hurt." I stated in warning. Jer slowly nodded in agreement before I looked over at Bonnie. "Bon?" I asked, looking at her with uncertainty of what she was thinking.
"As long as no one gets hurt." Bonnie answered and I gave her a small smile.
"Except Katherine. Tonight, Katherine gets a stake through her heart." Damon replied emotionlessly as he looked over everyone gratefully.
-The Masquerade Ball-
I walked outside of the Lockwood house where people were drinking and conversations amongst themselves and friends. I looked over the party curiously, keeping watch for any sign of an evil looking version of myself. "Do you see her?" Damon asked as he and Stefan came over to me. I rose and eyebrow and looked over the two carefully, examining their tuxes and the masks they wore.
"No." I answered in some defeat while Damon carelessly swayed to the soft music around us.
"Are you sure you can do this?" Stefan asked, raising an eyebrow at his brother through his mask and Damon scoffed lightly.
"Who are you talking to?" Damon countered sarcastically and Stefan shrugged.
"I had the chance to kill her, and I hesitated." Stefan pointed out in some warning as I folded my arms over my chest and listened to them.
"Well, that is the fork in the road between you and me, my friend. I don't hesitate." He replied in annoyance and I smirked a bit.
"Well, you spent one hundred and forty-five years loving her, so it could happen." I informed in amusement and watched Damon narrow his eyes back at me.
"I won't hesitate." Damon stated in a serious tone. The two of us maintained eye contact for a few seconds before I looked away and shrugged.
"Okay." I stated as I scanned the party around us, this time in search of Tyler.
~~~
"I put the body in the trunk for now." Stefan stated as he came into one of the upstairs rooms that Damon and I were in.
"Well, we will dump her when we get back." Damon stated in a dismissive tone, making me furrow my eyebrows at his carelessness.
"This is exactly what I didn't want, Damon." Stefan stated in urgency toward him while I paced beside the two.
"Stefan, it's collateral damage." He countered in reassurance and I quickly turned on my hell toward him.
"Katherine killed Amy Bradley, Damon. We need to call this off." I stated in warning and expectancy, which made him furrow his eyebrows back at me.
"What? Who's hesitating now?" Damon asked in disappointment but I looked away from him and so did Stefan. "Hey, don't do this to me." He added, moving in front of Stefan who put his hands on his hips in defeat. "This woman ruined our livesâshe destroyed us.. Tonight it ends." Damon stated as he put a hand on Stefan's shoulder. "We can do it together. I got your back." He added in reassurance. I furrowed my eyebrows pleadingly at Stefan who let out a small sigh and looked back at Damon.
"Alright." Stefan agreed softly and I scoffed lightly. I shook my head in disbelief before I turned and walked away from them. I made my way down the stairs and into one of the halls to see Tyler, Matt and a girl named Sarah, I think, walk into the late Mayor's study. I rose an eyebrow and followed after them, hearing their laughs echo from the doorway.
"Am I too late to the party?" I asked gently from where I stood in the doorway. Tyler turned toward me and I noticed the bottle of vodka that was in hand.
"Mar?" Ty asked with a small smirk before I took off my mask, revealing the smile I wore. "You've never been late to a party." He reassured and I walked over to him as he put the bottle on his father's desk behind him.
"Hi, I'm Sarah." The girl who was standing beside Matt stated, introducing herself. "I promise that I wasn't trying to make a move on Tyler or anythingâI-I had my friend Amy here, but I don't know where she went." Sarah slurred, obviously somewhat tipsy from what I could tell.
"Amy Bradley?" I asked, looking between all three of them in a curious manner.
"We were all just hanging out. I didn't know if you were coming or not, Mar. You haven't been answering my texts." Tyler pointed out in some disappointment before he wrapped an arm around my waist. I opened my mouth to reply but Matt grabbed the glass of vodka from the desk.
"Who's ready to get drunk?" Matt asked sighing heavily as he changed the subject and we all looked at him.
"Yeah, sure." Tyler nodded in agreement and kissed my cheek gently, making me smile.
"What about you, Mar? You want a shot?" Matt asked with a wide grin as he started pouring shots.
"I don't see why not. It's a party after all, right?" I asked in some amusement and Tyler chuckle, nodding in agreement.
~~~
I observed in silence as a now drunk Matt poured vodka into Sarah's lemonade. "So, what happened to Amy?" Sarah asked in confusion as she looked around us while Matt drank from the bottle.
"I don't know, she disappeared." He answered before looking at Tyler.
"She's probably drunk somewhere." Tyler replied, pulling me closer to him from where we sat on the couch and Sarah chuckled.
"Like me." Matt pointed out in amusement before purposefully pouring vodka on the floor in front of him.
"WhoaâDon't do that." Tyler protested as he furrowed his eyebrows at Matt's behavior.
"What, man? It's a party." Matt countered reassuringly before he looked over at the desk and picked up a picture of Carol and Mr. Lockwood that sat there. "Right, Dad?" He added, laughing down at it and I felt Tyler tense up from beside me. "You know? Looks like your dad wants a drink." Matt stated in amusement before poring the vodka on the picture and Tyler immediately got up.
"Hey. That's not cool." Tyler warned as he shook his head disapprovingly at Matt who furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong with you?" He added, making Matt shrug.
"What? The guy was a dick." Matt chuckled as he put the bottle down on the desk beside the two and I scoffed.
"Matt." I warned, feeling as though my gut instinct was telling me something about his behavior was off.
"Come on, you're being mean." Sarah added from the chair across from me. "His dad's dead." She pointed out in defeat.
"Give me the picture." Tyler stated as he went to grab it but Matt pulled it out of his reach.
"Whoa!" Matt stated jokingly with a smile, making Tyler sigh deeply. "Remember how your dad used to slap you around?" He asked before slapping Tyler's face and I widened my eyes.
"Are you kidding me, Matt?" I asked in disbelief as I now stood up from the couch.
"Come on, Mar. I'm just having fun." Matt countered with a smirk. He looked back at Tyler who stepped closer to him, trying to get the picture again.
"Put the picture down, man." Tyler stated calmly, gesturing for Matt to put it back down on the desk. But in one swift motion, Matt smashed the picture on the side of the desk. I widened my eyes as glass shattered and fell to the floor around us.
"Okay, you need to calm your drunk ass down right now." Tyler warned, putting his hands on Matt's shoulders to restrain him but Matt pushed him back aggressively.
"Do something about it." Matt challenged, still finding hilarity in his actions.
"Ty." I stated in a cautious tone. Tyler looked at me and slowly nodded in reassurance before back at Matt.
"I'm not going to fight you." Tyler protested, not feeding into whatever game Matt was playing. I saw Sarah get up from the chair as Matt walked over to Tyler slowly, trying to decide which angle to choose before he tackled him to the ground.
"Matt!" I yelled out angrily as he hovered over Tyler, repeatedly punching him in the face.
"Get off me!" Tyler yelled from below him before he finally managed to push him off. They both quickly stood up from the floor before Tyler punched Matt in the face and I widened my eyes as they started to wrestle each other.
"What is going on!" A voice asked in confusion before I saw Caroline run into the room, making me sigh in relief. "Stop!" Caroline yelled in annoyance before pulling Matt off of Tyler and I watched as he flew back onto the floor. Tyler furrowed his eyebrows at Caroline, obviously confused at how she managed to do that. Matt quickly got up from the floor and ran at Tyler again but Caroline stood in between them, blocking him easily. "Stop!" She stated in urgency toward him as he glared angrily at Tyler who I pulled beside me.
"I can't! Let me go. I have to finish this!" Matt yelled angrily at Caroline as he tried to free himself from her grasp.
"What the hell's wrong with you?" Tyler asked in disappointment towards Matt who groaned in response as Caroline easily held him back with one of her hands.
"Let me go!" Matt yelled in frustration at Care and I slowly felt my eyes narrow at him as I came to realization.. He's been compelled.
"Caroline." I stated in a stern voice toward her and she looked back at me with furrowed brows. I gestured my head at Matt and she rose an eyebrow before looking back at him and coming to realization also. I watched as Caroline took her hand away from his chest before quickly elbowing him in the face and knocking him out. I sighed in some relief as Matt fell to the floor unconscious before I turned to look over Tyler and check him for injuries.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concern washing over me. Tyler slowly nodded and looked down at Matt as Caroline quickly knelt beside him, lightly shaking him.
"Matt?" Caroline asked in some defeat as she looked at the bloody nose that she had given him. "Matt?" She repeated, trying to wake him up.
"How did youâ" Tyler started in confusion as he looked over her but he cut himself off.
"Matt failed.. If Matt fails, I can't." Sarah's voice stated from behind Tyler and I. I furrowed my eyebrows and turned to see her to quickly move over to Tyler with a letter opener in hand.
"Tyler, look out!" I yelled in warning. Tyler turned to look at Sarah before she jammed the letter opener into his shoulder, making him yell out in pain. Tyler grunted and angrily pushed Sarah off of him. Sarah tripped on the carpet behind her and I watched as she hit her head on the corner on the desk before she fell to the floor. I looked at Tyler in concern as he bled heavily from his shoulder before my eyes fell on Sarah who remained still and unmoving.
"No, no, no. Come on, wake up." Tyler pleases as he quickly moved over to her and I put a hand over my mouth in shock. "Sarah! Sarah, wake up!" He stated, his voice raising in frustration as he tried to shake her. "Sarah! Open your eyes!" He added, shaking his head frantically. I knelt beside them and gently put my fingers to her neck to feel a pulse.. but there wasn't one. "This can't happen.. this can't happen." Tyler whispered in fear as she started shaking his head. "This can't be happening. Sarah! Sarah, get up." Ty pleaded as his eyes started to glaze over. "Sarah! Open your eyes!" Tyler yelled down at her, shaking her more aggressively and I watched in silence, unable and unsure of what to do or say. Tyler quickly got up and started pacing back and forth in front of me.
"Mariana?" Caroline asked from behind me. I looked back at her as she gestured down at Sarah but I slowly shook my head, answering her question.
"Oh, god." Tyler whispered, bringing my attention back over to him as he started groaning in pain. I widened my eyes and quickly stood from the floor, not understanding what was happening.
"Tyler?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows as he fell to his knees in front of me before he angrily punched the floor below him.
"Tyler?" Caroline asked as she stepped closer to him in uncertainty while I moved forward.
"Tyler, what's happening?" I asked, wanting to reassure him and comfort him but he only shook his head in response.
"Get away." Tyler warned, a light growl escaping him and I furrowed my eyebrows as he backed away from Caroline and I. "Get away, Mariana!" He added in a louder tone and I widened my eyes.
"What's happening!" I yelled and watched him look back up at me, making me gasp as his chocolate brown eyes shifted into a golden amber color.
~~~
I walked up the stairs of the Lockwood house and in the direction of the room that we had bound Katherine into with Stefan and Damon. "Are you happy?" I asked, standing in the doorway to see the three of them standing inside the room, their own argument dying out at the sound of my voice.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Katherine answered with a smirk but I scoffed and walked into the room, making her raise an eyebrow at me. "Brave, Mariana.. Very brave." She stated in some approval but I placed myself right in front of her, unwaveringly.
"Mariana." Damon started in warning from across me but I ignored him.
"Are you really that desperate that you needed to link yourself to Elena?" I asked in disappointment, only to be given a smirk back. "And desperate enough to compel Matt to go after Tyler until he snaps and kills him, causing him to trigger his werewolf curse?" I added, folding my arms over my chest.
"I take it that my plan went as it should then." Katherine replied in amusement and without realizing I was going to do it, I slapped her.
"Mariana.. Go." Stefan stated in a serious tone of voice as he quickly stepped in between us but I scoffed and easily moved out from behind him.
"I'm not afraid of you." IÂ admitted and watched Katherine narrow her eyes at me. "You're not going to hurt me.. And do you wanna know why?" I asked, tilting my head at her in annoyance. "Because you need me for whoever the hell is after you." I informed emotionlessly. Silence fell between us before the sound of footsteps took me from my thoughts.
"Katherine.." A voice stated from behind me and we all looked toward the entrance of the room to see a woman staring at Katherine as she held a white stone in her hand. "The spell in this room has been broken.. You're free to leave." She stated with a smile before walking into the room.
"Thank god." Katherine stated in annoyance as she met the woman halfway. I narrowed my eyes at the woman, feeling some sort of trust toward her and I realized she too, was a witch.
"When I hand this over, my debt to you is over." The witch stated, hovering the stone over Katherine's hand.
"Done." Katherine agreed, waiting for the stone to fall into her hands.
"I owe you nothing." The witch added, tilting her head at the conditions while Katherine rolled her eyes.
"I said done. Give it." Katherine stated impatiently and the witch narrowed her eyes.
"I wouldn't do it." Damon protested from behind Katherine but the witch paid him no attention. The witch narrowed her eyes at Katherine before she set the moonstone in her hand. Katherine smirked in thanks at the woman before she closed her hand around the stone. In a matter of seconds, Katherine's smirk disappeared and she started gasping as she choked on the air around her.
"You should have told me more than one witch was involved." The woman warned in anger as she stared emotionlessly at Katherine who grabbed her throat, trying to get air to breathe. "A Bennett witch KatherineâAnd your own daughter!" The witch exclaimed in disbelief, making me raise an eyebrow.
"Wait, Elenaâ" Stefan started in worry as Katherine fell to the floor in front of us.
"Elena's fine. The spell is broken. She'll heal quickly, Bonnie's with her." The witch stated in reassurance as Katherine fell on her back and looked up at all of us before the stone dropped from her hand. I slowly knelt beside her and observing her in silence. "I'm sorry that she's your mother." The witch stated from above me and I looked at her from over my shoulder. "Also for my involvement." She added with a soft nod before walking away. I looked at Stefan and Damon in confusion but they shrugged back in amusement. I sighed deeply and looked back down at Katherine who was fully passed out now.
"You know.. From this angle, you never would've guessed she was a manipulative bitch at all." I stated sarcastically before I rolled my eyes and stood up.
~~~
I walked into Tyler's room to see him still dressed in his tux while he stared at the floor in front of him. "I just gave Caroline's mom my statement. Matt is in Caroline's car sleeping it off.. She'll deal with him, we don't want him involved in any of this." I informed quietly and watched him look over at me. He put his hands in his pant pockets and slowly walked over to me.
"What are you doing?" Tyler asked, furrowing his eyebrows at me and I rose an eyebrow.
"I'm helping to fix a very bad situation." I answered with a shrug but he scoffed lightly.
"Why? I did this. I killed her." Tyler stated and I moved over to him.
"No, you didn't mean to." I reassured as I grabbed one of his hands in mine. "I think it's best for everyoneâ" I started but he cut me off and pulled his hand away from me.
"But she's dead. You don't know what that means." He countered in defeat. I stared at him in silence before I let out a soft sigh.
"Actually, Ty.. I think I do." I replied quietly but he scoffed lightly and slowly shook his head.
"No you don't, Mar." He stated and I looked at his shoulder where Sarah had stabbed him earlier.
"Has your wound healed?" I asked, gesturing my head at it. Tyler furrowed his eyebrows and looked down at it before unbuttoning his shirt and revealing his unscathed shoulder. He slowly rubbed his fingers over the skin before he looked back at me in confusion.
"How did youâ" Tyler started, cutting himself off as silence formed between us.