I looked into Elena's room as she put her earrings in, staring in the mirror at the black dress that she was wearing . "Hey." I stated quietly and watched her turn to me and nod.
"I'm almost ready." She stated and I shrugged, walking over to her.
"Take your time." I replied with a small smile and she slowly nodded, looking away from me. "IâUh, I wanted to tell you something that I think you should know." I stated, smoothing down the dress I wore nervously and Elena looked at me from the mirror reflection. "I was willing to give up my life to save youâBut John stopped me." I informed and watched her brows furrow before she looked at the unopened letter and Gilbert ring from where they sat on her dresser. "I know that John was a really terrible person, that I could say I generally dislikedâBut at the end of the day, you were the one thing he loved and cared for.. No matter what." I pointed out quietly and Elena's eyes glazed over.
"Thank you, Mariana." Elena whispered with a small nod and I gave her a small smile.
"I'm gonna go finish getting ready." I replied before walking back to my room. I walked over to my bed and sat on it as I put on my high heels before I got up and walked over to my dresser to fix a few curls that were getting in my face. I felt my gaze drift over to the letter that sat on the corner of my dresser also before I grabbed it hesitantly. I stared down at it in uncertainty but took a deep breath before I opened it and started reading.
'Mariana..
It's no easy task being an ordinary parent to an ordinary child. I failed in that task. And because of my prejudices, I failed Elena. I'm haunted by how things might have played out differently if I had just heard her side of things.. For me, it's the end. For her, a chance to grow old and someday do better with her own child than I did with mine. And for you, Mariana, I do not ask for your forgiveness, or for you to forget. But I ask for you to believe this.. whether you are reading this as a human or a vampire, I love you and Elena all the same. As I've always loved you and always will. So I thank you, Mariana. For making me realize that love should not have such boundaries or barriers. Thank you for showing me that no matter who leaves Elena's life, youâher sister, never will. One day, the love and protection you feel for Elena and Jeremy, will be for a child. A child that you will want to protect from all of the evil things that you have now been accustomed to. A child that will be shown the love and compassion from their mother, that you were not able to be shown with your own.. I promise you, Mariana.. your compassion, is a gift to all who have come across it. Never lose it.
Always,
John.'
~~~~
We walked through the cemetery slowly before we all stopped in front of the Gilbert family plots. Elena handed me two of the three roses she held in her hand before she stepped forward and placed the one remaining rose, onto John's grave. I looked beside the grave over to our parents' and I felt my eyes glaze over slightly. I walked over to them before I placed the other two roses on the ground in front of the headstones. I looked over at Jeremy who stood silently beside Jenna and Alaric, looking over the three graves quietly. "Then there was four." Jeremy stated quietly and I scoffed lightly, nodding in agreement at Elena, Jeremy, Jenna and I.
"They're still here." I replied with a small nod as I looked over the graves slowly.
"Where, Mariana?" Jenna asked in defeat and I looked at her as her eyes glazed over also. "There is already so much that I am trying to wrap my head around. Thisâthis is just too much." She added in defeat and I slowly nodded in agreement.
"It's never going to get easier." I pointed out and she furrowed her eyebrows at me as I looked over Stefan, Alaric, Bonnie, Caroline and Damon who all stared back at me from where they stood. "If anything, we take the losses and pray to god that we can take a few more." I added, looking back at Elena and Jeremy. "It's never going to be the way things used to be. But we make it bearableâOne day at a time." I stated and Jeremy looked down quietly while Elena slowly nodded in agreement with me. I looked back at Damon who slowly walked away from the crowd and I followed after him. "Caroline told me what you did." I stated, stopping him in his tracks as he put his hands in his pockets. "About how you saved her and Tyler from being apart of Klaus' sacrifice." I added, tilting my head at him as he turned to me and I noticed how pale he had gotten.. How exhausted he looked.
"Like I said.. You deserve someone great, Mariana. Even if it is, Wolfboy." Damon replied solemnly and I slowly nodded, staring at him for a few seconds and he cleared his throat. "So, What now? The curse is broken. How does one go about killing an all powerful wolf vamp and his two-faced older brother?" He added jokingly and I folded my arms over my chest.
"Jeremy and Elena can't lose anyone else." I replied in defeat and Damon furrowed his eyebrows at me. "And I don't know what I would have done if I lost her.. But I know that I can't afford to lose anyone either so for now.." I started, leading off. "We do nothing." I admitted, looking away from Damon who looked down without argument which was strange. "Anyway, we're all going to go back to the house. I'll see you later?" I asked, leaving the conversation there with a soft smile and Damon gave a small one in return before I walked away from him.
~~~~
"You brought me to see a girl movie." Jeremy stated in annoyance as him, Elena and I walked through towns square where a 'Gone With The Wind' festival and movie screening was going on.
"We needed to get out of the house, Jer. This is our three hour distraction from reality." Elena pointed out and I rolled my eyes a bit.
"Is that what we're doing? Pretending that in the last week, our lives haven't been emotionally and physically screwed?" I asked in some amusement and Elena sighed at me as we stopped after we found a clearing.
"We need to do this, okay? Breathe, eat, sleep, wake up and do it all over again, until one day it's not as hard anymore." Elena replied as we started to unfold the blanket she brought before we put it on the ground and sat on it.
"Hey! There you guys are. Who's hungry?" Caroline asked, coming over to us excitedly as she carried a picnic basket as well as a bag full of her necessities.
"Are we really doing this?" Jeremy asked, still standing and looking over the three of us.
"Yes, we are really doing this. We are going to take a page from Scarlett. We made it through the war. You guys have been through a roller coaster from hell. My mom as well as Matt knows that I am a vampire." Caroline stated with a sigh as she sat down beside Elena and I. "So basically, it's like Atlanta has burned. And yet, in spite of everything, we persevere." She added, throwing a fist into the air and I smirked a bit as Elena smiled and took out food from the basket. I looked up at Jeremy who slowly nodded and gave me a small smile.
"Alright." Jeremy agreed before he sat down on the blanket as well. "What are we eating?" He asked as Elena tossed him a water and he caught it.
"Something good." Caroline stated grabbing the basket and I took a deep breath, looking through all of the people around us.
~~~
Elena, Caroline and I talked while we ate before we saw Stefan come over to us and we smiled at him. "Hey." Stefan said looking over the three of us before finally resting his eyes on Elena.
"Hey. Look who couldn't resist an epic romance." Elena joked up at him from where she sat and he smiled at her before he knelt down in front of us.
"Will you come take a walk with me?" Stefan asked looking at her as his smile faded. "Both of you." He added, gesturing at me and I rose an eyebrow before Elena and I stood, walking away from Caroline.
"You're breaking the rules, you know. Movie night's supposed to be a distraction. Tomorrow we can return to our regularly scheduled drama." Elena stated jokingly as the three of us slowly walked through the crowd, towards the edge of town square before we stopped under a tree.
"I know, I wish this could wait.. But it can't." Stefan stated and Elena slowly nodded and looked down. "Listen um, the other night when Damon was helping Tyler, something happened." Stefan stated and I furrowed my eyebrows at him. "Tyler was starting to transform due to the full moon and Damon was bitten." He added and I folded my arms over my chest.
"What?" Elena asked furrowing her eyebrows and looking at me.
"Is itâis he gonnaâ" I started, cutting myself off and Stefan, looked away from me slowly.
"Yeah." Stefan agreed emotionlessly and I shook my head as Elena took a deep breath.
"Oh, my god." Elena stated in concern as she thought it all over in her head.
"He told me not to tell either of you but if you want to talk to him, IâI wouldn't wait." Stefan warned as he looked between Elena and I.
"Stefanâ" Elena started before Stefan cut her off, sighing.
"It's not over. There might be a cure. But I have to find Klaus to get it." Stefan pointed out and Elena quickly shook her head.
"Oh, noâHe's going to kill you." Elena protested quickly, narrowing her eyes in warning at him.
"No, he had the chance to kill me night's ago. But he didn't." Stefan countered and I furrowed my eyebrows. "Whatever Damon's done, whatever has led him hereâI'm the one that made him become a vampire in the first place, so if there's a cure, I owe it to him to find it." He added and I slowly nodded in agreement.
"I'll go with you." I agreed and Stefan opened his mouth to protest but I cut him off. "I'm Katherine's daughter. I'm sure Klaus would love to get to know that since she is still alive and under his wing." I pointed out and Stefan stared at me quietly. "Plus.. It's Damon." I added, looking at Elena who slowly nodded back at me.
~~
I slowly opened the door to Alaric's apartment and walked in as Stefan walked in as well and closed the door behind me. I looked around and saw Katherine sitting on the bed, clearly irritated and I nodded at her. "Hello, Katherine." I stated with a sigh and she scoffed.
"Two days I have been waiting. I'm supposed to be free of Klaus' compulsion by now. He's supposed to be dead." Katherine stated angrily as she got up from the bed and walked over to Stefan and I.
"We ran into complications." Stefan replied, looking away from her and she furrowed her eyebrows.
"Complications?" Katherine asked, tilting her head at us.
"Doesn't really matter, we just need to find him." I pointed out in annoyance at her.
"Do you have any idea where he might be?" Stefan asked, shaking his head at Katherine before she grabbed both of us by the neck and vamped us towards the wall, holding us there. I groaned, putting a hand around her wrist that held me as the apartment door opened.
"Klaus, you're back." Katherine greeted sweetly, letting Stefan and I go. "Look who decided to come for a visit." She stated as Stefan and I looked at the door to see Klaus and Elijah walk in and close the door behind them.
"You just keep popping up, don't you?" Klaus asked, smirking at Stefan and I.
"I need your help.. for my brother." Stefan stated quietly, walking over to him and Klaus sighed.
"Well, Whatever it is, he's going to have to wait a tick. You see, I have an obligation to my brother that requires my immediate attention." Klaus countered, looking at Stefan in amusement before he walked past the three of us and into the kitchen.
"You understand how important family is or you wouldn't be here." Elijah stated, stepping towards Stefan and I narrowed my eyes at him. "My brother has guaranteed me that he would reunite me with my own." He added with a short nod before Klaus appeared behind him.
"And so I shall." Klaus reassured and Elijah turned toward him before yelling out loudly as Klaus shoved a dagger into his heart. I furrowed my eyebrows, taken aback as Elijah tried to get the dagger, grabbing onto Klaus' neck as he desiccated. "Sh." Klaus added quietly down to his brother before Elijah fell on the floor in front of him. Klaus looked back at Stefan before he quickly pushed him against a wall, holding him there. "Now, what am I going to do with you?" He asked quietly, looking over Stefan who couldn't move from under Klaus' grip. Klaus let Stefan go and I sighed in relief. He took off his jacket and went into the kitchen again. Stefan nodded reassuringly at me before Klaus vamped over to him, shoving a stake into his stomach and I gasped. "Do you feel that?" Klaus asked quietly as Stefan hunched over in pain. "It's scraping against your heartâThe slightest movement and you're dead." He added, shoving it in more.
"He's just trying to save his brother." I stated shaking my head in disbelief and Klaus looked at me from over his shoulder. "The witches said you had a cure." I added, looking over Stefan worriedly.
"Make me a deal. Just give me the cure and I'll do whatever you want." Stefan stated, groaning from the pressure as he clutched onto Klaus. Klaus narrowed his eyes down at Stefan before he pulled the stake out and I rushed toward Stefan, catching him before he fell to the floor. Stefan groaned loudly from in my arms before I knelt on the floor and narrowed my eyes up at Klaus who poured a blood bag into a glass.
"Trouble is, I don't know if you'd be any good to me the way you are now." Klaus stated with a sigh of defeat. "You're just shy of useless." He added, smirking as he sipped the glass and Stefan looked back at him, breathing heavily. Klaus walked over to us and I stood, backing up and Katherine put a hand on my arm reassuringly but I pulled myself away as Klaus knelt beside Stefan. "I heard about this one vampireâCrazy bloke, always on and off the wagon for decades. When he was off, he was magnificent." He added, gesturing the blood toward Stefan who looked away from it and Klaus stood. "1917, he went into Monterey and wiped out an entire migrant village... A true ripper." Klaus stated in awe down at Stefan and I furrowed my eyebrows as did Katherine. "Sound familiar?" He asked with a smirk, drinking from the glass again and Stefan looked down.
"I haven't been that way in a very long time." Stefan replied emotionlessly, slowly standing up again.
"Well, that's the vampire I can make a deal with. That is the kind of talent that I can use when I leave this town." Klaus pointed out and I slowly shook my head at Stefan who looked past Klaus and at me. "Katerina, come here." Klaus stated, gesturing Katherine forth. I rose an eyebrow as Katherine did as told, putting her hand in his. Klaus shifted into amber eyes and canine fangs before he bit Katherine's wrist, making her she gasp and groan loudly in pain before pulling away from him.
"NoâNo." Katherine muttered in disbelief down at the bite mark left on her skin and I widened my eyes at the scene. Klaus smirked at Stefan before he bit his own wrist and fed it to Katherine who refused it for a few seconds before she gave in. Katherine wiped her mouth and furrowed her eyebrows as the bite mark on her wrist healed.
"Your blood is the cure." I whispered, looking away from Katherine's wrist and at Klaus who smirked back at me.
"Got to love Mother Nature." Klaus countered in amusement. He put a hand on Stefan's shoulder and led him over to the island counter. "Now, let's talk, you and I." He added and I looked at Katherine who couldn't stop staring at her wrist and I rolled my eyes in annoyance.
~~~
Klaus cut his hand and dropped his blood into a vile before the wound healed and he sighed, looking down at the now blood filled bottle. "There it is." He stated from where he sat at the counter. I looked at Stefan who stood across from him, narrowing his eyes. "You want to save your brother? How about a decade long bender?" He added in amusement. "You know, I have big plans for you when we leave this town." Klaus whispered looking at Stefan and I scoffed.
"He's not like that anymore." I pointed out in defense and Klaus looked at me from where I leant on the wall beside the door.
"Well, that's too bad. He would have made a hell of a wingman." Klaus replied as he started to pour some of the blood down the sink and I narrowed my eyes.
"Take me instead." I countered and Klaus stopped pouring the blood and looked up at me curiously. Stefan and Katherine widened their eyes and looked back at Klaus to see his reaction. "I'm Katherine's daughter, her blood and a replica doppelgänger, if you please. I'm sure you can see a much better use for me." I pointed out and Klaus smirked.
"It is rather intriguing.." Klaus admitted, tilting his head at me as he thought about it and I slowly walked over to him. "A daughter Katherine had whilst a vampire.. How interesting." He added, tilting his head in amusement. "Looks like Katherine, definitely talks like Katherine. A witchâNot like Katherine." He stated, looking at Katherine and chuckling at her clenched jaw.
"Mariana, No." Stefan argued but I put my hand up towards him, silencing him as I focused my attention on Klaus.
"You can even turn me." I suggested and watched the smile on Klaus' face grow before he gently ran his hand over my cheek as I stood in front of him.
"Katerina, how did it work?" Klaus asked, his eyes staying fixated on me and I heard Katherine clear her throat.
"I had a powerful witch, that it took me years to find, cast a spell. It ended up killing him after he did it. He knew it would but he said it would be his 'greatest accomplishment' for his family legacy." Katherine answered and I looked back at her with furrowed brows. "I did it to save myself. I knew you would come looking for me. But I never suspected to have a doppelgänger of this generation." She informed honestly and I looked away from her and back at Klaus.
"I'll do it." Stefan spoke up from behind me and Klaus turned his attention toward him again and rose an eyebrow.
"That's more like it.. I want you to join me for a drink." Klaus stated, sliding a blood bag down the table toward Stefan and he caught it in his hand, silently staring at it. Klaus smirked and held up his glass of blood and Stefan ripped off the top of the blood bag. I narrowed my eyes at Stefan who looked up at Klaus as he tilted his glass in cheers. Stefan lifted the blood bag to his lips before he started drinking it. I looked at Katherine who folded her arms over her chest intriguingly. Stefan took the bag from his lips and Klaus narrowed his eyes at him. "Finish it. All of it." Klaus warned and I looked at Stefan who clenched his jaw. Klaus sighed and put his glass down in front of him on the counter. "You do everything I say, and I save your brother. That's the deal." He added, not looking at Stefan and back at me with a smile. I clenched my jaw as Stefan put the blood bag to his lips again and started drinking it, more rushed this time. More hungry for the taste. Klaus rose an eyebrow at Stefan in amazement while he grunted from the rush of blood going through him. In a matter of seconds, Stefan took the now empty blood bag from his mouth and clenched it in his hand before throwing it to the side of him. Klaus grabbed another blood bag from beside him and slid it over to Stefan as Katherine sat on the bed across from us in anticipation. "Again." Klaus ordered, picking up his glass again as Stefan ripped off the top of the blood bag, bringing it to his lips and drinking. "I'm sure you can leave now, love.. I've got it from here." Klaus stated as he looked at me. I stared at Stefan in disbelief for a few seconds before I slowly walked towards the door. "And Marianaâ" Klaus started and I looked back at him as he smirked. "I'll be in touch." He added with a nod before I walked out of the apartment.
~~~
I walked up to Damon's doorway and saw him laying in bed as sweat drenched his pale skin. Elena sat beside him, holding a wet cloth to his forehead. "Elena." I whispered and she looked over her shoulder toward me. "I've got it from here." I reassured her and she slowly nodded as I walked in and handed me the cloth. It was wet and cold to the touch.
"I'll be in Stefan's room." Elena replied quietly and I slowly nodded at her. She walked out and I looked down at Damon who weakly opened his eyes to look up at me.
"Mariana.." He whispered weakly and I smiled down at him, wiping his forehead with the cloth. "Mariana, get out of here. I could hurt you." He warned in a heavy breath.
"No, you won't.. I'm not leaving you." I replied reassuringly and he groaned, clutching his arm where he had gotten bit.
"Get out of hereâ" Damon started before he groaned louder and rolled over in pain toward me, coughing and clutching his chest.
"Hey, hey. Hang on." I whispered down at him. I sat him up and got into the bed beneath him and put his head on my chest as he breathed heavy and jagged breaths. "Sh, it's okay. It's okay." I reassured, placing my chin on his head gently.
"It's not okayâIt's not okay." Damon replied weakly and I dabbed his forehead gently. "All those years, I've blamed Stefan." He stated in pants and I furrowed my eyebrows. "No one forced me to love her. It was my own choice." He stated and I knew he was talking about Katherine compelling him before he was turned.
"Sh.." I replied quietly, putting a hand on top of his hand that lay on his chest.
"I made the wrong choice." Damon stated, panting heavy and deep breaths. I looked down at him and rubbed a hand over the button up he wore as he looked up at me. "Tell Stefan I'm sorry." He added in defeat and I felt my eyes glaze over as I stared at him. "Ok?" He asked quietly and I slowly nodded in agreement.
"I will." I reassured him, resting my chin on his head again as I fought back tears that threatened to spill.
"This is even more painful than I thought." Damon stated quietly and I sighed deeply, clutching onto him.
"There's still hope." I replied, closing my eyes as I felt his jagged breaths from under my hand. Silence moved its way around us before Damon sighed up at me.
"I've made a lot of choices that have gotten me here.. I deserve this. I deserve to die." Damon whispered quietly.
"No." I argued, gently moving myself out from under him before I lay beside him. "You don't." I stated and he gave me a weak smile as his eyes dropped.
"I do, Mariana.. and it's okay." Damon reassured and I looked at my hand that still held onto his chest. "Because if I had chosen differently, I wouldn't have met you." He added and I furrowed my eyebrows at him as he stared at me. "I'm so sorry.. I've done so many things to hurt you." He whispered apologetically and I slowly nodded at him.
"It's okay.. I forgive you." I whispered back and watched as he stared at me weakly. Becoming more pale than before.
"I know you love Tyler." Damon stated, looking over my face as he said it. I looked away from him and put my head under his chin, laying on his chest and rubbing my hand over his gently. "But I love you." He whispered and I felt myself fall apart as a few tears escaped my eyes. "You should know that." Damon added quietly and I slowly nodded.
"I do." I replied quietly, fiddling with the tips of his fingers with my own and I felt him smile.
"You should have met me in 1864. You would have liked me." Damon stated in a jagged breath and I rose an eyebrow at him as I pulled away from his chest and stared at his face.
"I like you now." I replied, shaking my head and a few more tears fell as Damon stared at me. "Just the way you are." I added, looking away from him. After a minute I looked back at him to see his eyes closed, he almost looked at peace, even in the state he was in. "I love you just the way you are." I whispered and slowly leant forwards. I felt my lips touch his softly before I pulled away and his eyes opened again.
"Thank you.." Damon whispered groggily and I gave him a small smile.
"You're welcome." I replied quietly and watched his eyes close again and I slowly ran a finger across his bottom lip gently.
"Well, it's me you should be thanking." A voice stated, bringing my attention away from him. I quickly sat up to see Katherine standing in the doorway as she watched Damon and I. "I mean, I'm the one who brought the cure." She added, holding up the vile of blood that Klaus had earlier and I quickly got off of the bed. "I thought Elena was dead." Katherine stated in disgust as she gestured her head down the hall and I furrowed my eyebrows as she walked over to Damon who stared at her silently.
"She was." I answered, watching Katherine sit beside Damon, who looked up at her curiously.
"You got free." Damon stated weakly and she sighed, nodding as she took the cap off the vile and put it his mouth.
"Yep. Finally." Katherine replied before putting the lid back on the vile while Damon swallowed the blood.
"And you came here?" Damon countered in disbelief before Katherine put a hand on his cheek.
"I owed you one." She pointed out and he gave her a weak smile before she stood and faced me. "Well, here's to us." She sighed, tossing me the vile with the rest of the blood before she walked over to the door.
"So that's it? You come, you save, you leave?" I asked, tilting my head at her and she rose an eyebrow in return. "You know, don't do the superhero thing. It doesn't suit you." I added in amusement and she smirked at me.
"See you around, Maria Petrova." Katherine replied and I furrowed my eyebrows at her. She vamped away and I looked back at Damon who now sat up on his elbows with furrowed brows.
"Mariana!" Elena yelled in panic as she came into the room and looked around frantically. She looked at Damon who was still healing before she looked back at me. "Where is Stefan? I saw Katherine butâ" Elena started but I cut her off.
"Stefan and Klaus made a deal, Elena." I answered, looking at her and Damon who both furrowed their eyebrows in concern. "Klaus would heal Damon in exchange for Stefan.." I stated and Elena slowly shook her head at me.
"What do you mean in exchange for him?" Elena asked, breathing heavily in worry and panic and I slowly walked over to her.
"Klaus wanted Stefan to leave town with him, Elena." I answered and Elena's eyes glazed over at what I just said. "IâI don't think he's coming back." I whispered as tears started falling from her eyes before I looked at Damon who remained emotionless.. I don't think anything could have prepared him for that.
-Months Later-
I opened Jeremy's curtains before he groaned from inside of his bedsheets. "Ughâearly. Bad." Jeremy stated groggily and I rolled my eyes.
"It's not early. You're late for work. Matt just called." I pointed out as I pulled the sheets from off of him and I walked over to his door while he grabbed his watch from the nightstand beside him.
"Well, maybe they'll fire me." Jeremy suggested with a sigh and I scoffed in amusement at him.
"Aim high." I stated, shaking my head as a smile spread across my face and I made my way downstairs and into the kitchen.
"âAnd you're sure it was a vampire?" Elena asked into her phone once I walked into the kitchen. I saw her start the coffee maker for Alaric who was in his boxers and a T-shirt. "Doesn't mean it's not. I'll call her." She added into the phone and I rose an eyebrow at Alaric who shrugged back at me. "Tell her thank you for her help and Carolineâkeep tonight small. Please." Elena sighed in annoyance before she hung up. I grabbed an apple from the middle of the island counter.
"Caroline's still planning a birthday party?" I asked and Elena nodded in agreement as she put her phone in her back pocket.
"And was that uh, Stefan news?" Alaric asked, leaning his back against the counter as he waited for the coffee to finish brewing.
"Could be more Klaus victims." Elena pointed out in a hopeful tone as she grabbed a mug from the cupboard above her.
"You're certain Stefan's with him?" I asked, folding my arms over my chest as I still held the apple in my hand.
"Easy to be certain when the alternative is that he's dead." Elena countered bluntly and I slowly nodded in agreement as she poured coffee and I looked at Alaric who was still waiting for coffee.. in his underwear.
"Look, RicâI'm glad that you and Jenna are doing great enough that you've slept here for half of the summer.. But if you two need your own space, it really would be okay if you just went and stayed at your apartment. You know, now that there's no original invading it." I stated in amusement and Alaric chuckled at me before Elena handed him a cup of coffee.
"Well, Jenna needs to be here and so do I. You guys have been through a lot." He replied with a small smile and I slowly nodded at him and bit into my apple. "Hey." He added, looking between Elena and I. "Happy birthday." Alaric stated with a smile and I returned it before looking at Elena and chucked, shaking my head and taking another bite of the apple.
~~~
I closed the Boarding house door behind me and walked into the living room, throwing my purse down on the couch beside me. "Mornin'." Damon's voice said from behind me and I nodded at him and turned around.
"Hey, I was gonnaâ" I started before I cut myself off. There he stood in front of me, completely butt ass naked, as bubbles surrounded his body from him clearly not drying off. Damon smirked and placed his hands on his hips before I quickly turned around in complete annoyance. "You heard meâYou knew that I was here." I scoffed at him as I folded my arms over my chest.
"You know, you should learn to knock." Damon replied sarcastically and I rolled my eyes at him. "What if I was.. indecent?" He added with a chuckle and I sighed deeply, grabbing the blanket from off of the chair beside me and chucking it in Damon's direction. I turned around once he secured himself and folded my arms over my chest.
"Sheriff Forbes gave Elena another location to check." I stated before I pulled out the piece of paper from my purse that Elena had given to me. "Memphis." I added, holding it out towards him.
"Another dead end, you mean?" Damon asked in annoyance and walked over to me and I rolled my eyes.
"You don't know that." I countered but he sighed, taking the paper from my hand.
"You're right, Mariana. This could be the oneâYep. After almost two months, this could be the clue to tell us that Stefan's alive and well, and living in Graceland." Damon joked, standing directly in front of me as he looked down at the piece of paper.
"Fine. If you're so sure, I'll go by myself. If Elena goes, Klaus will find out she's tracking him and he thinks she's dead. I'd like to keep it that way." I stated, walking away from him before he vamped in front of me, blocking my way back to the door. "It's a new lead, Damon. We haven't had one in awhile." I informed and he sighed down at me.
"Okay, I'll check it out. If I find anything, I'll call you." Damon reassured as he placed his hands gently on my shoulders and I slowly nodded at him in agreement before he walked away.
~~~
"Somethings up with your mother." I stated, sitting across the table from Tyler as we sat outside of the Grill.
"Like what?" Ty asked with furrowed brows, looking at me from over his menu and I rolled my eyes and sipped my tea.
"I don't know. When I was over yesterday, she just kept eyeing me." I pointed out with a shrug. Jeremy came over to us, wearing his work T-shirt and holding a coffee dispenser in his hand.
"Hey, guys." He said, smiling down at us and I rose an eyebrow at him. "Matt went on break." He informed and I slowly nodded at him. "I didn't know you two were back together." Jer added with a smile before he walked over to another table. I furrowed my eyebrows at him and looked back at Tyler who gave me a small chuckle.
"My mom thinks we're dating again, too." Tyler admitted. I slowly shook my head as I looked down at the menu in front of me, avoiding eye contact.
"We're together all of the time. It's not a leap." I agreed with an awkward sigh as I looked over the sandwich options. "What are you getting?" I asked, changing the subject and looking back up at Tyler who looked down at his menu, trying to make it seem like he wasn't staring at me the entire time and I chuckled, shaking my head.
"No idea." Tyler answered, clearing his throat and I smirked a bit but hid behind my menu.
~~~
"I feel like I have to fight Damon every time we get a lead on Stefan." Elena stated in annoyance as Caroline handed some party napkins to her to put on the table in the dinning room.
"I feel like I have to fight him, period." I agreed with a small sigh as I placed some chips on the table also.
"Maybe he doesn't want to find him." Tyler suggested as he grabbed more chip bags. I narrowed my eyes at him as Elena furrowed her eyebrows.
"Ty." I warned and he shrugged, walking over to me and handing me the bags. "The only reason Stefan left with Klaus was to save Damon's life. Trust meâDamon wants to find him." I stated, putting the other chips on the table as Tyler walked towards the beer.
"Mariana, you kissed him. I mean, he probably figures the longer he puts it off, the longer he has with you by his side, helping him try to figure it out." Tyler suggested as he grabbed a case of beer.
"You told him?" Elena asked in confusion as she looked between Tyler and I, obviously thinking what everyone else seems to be.
"Was it a secret?" Caroline countered, not grasping what Elena was thinking or why it was a big deal.
"I thought he was dying." I stated in defense. I looked down at the ballon in my hand, replaying what Damon and I had said to each other that night. I tilted my head back, bringing myself back to reality as I looked at Tyler who shrugged and put the beer down. Elena's phone rang and she grabbed it but ended up missing the call.
"It was Bonnie." Elena informed, looking down at her phone in defeat and I furrowed my eyebrows. "I'll be right back." She added, gesturing for Caroline to follow before they both walked out of the room and I turned back to Tyler who put his hands on his hips.
"Just because I tell you things doesn't mean I want you to use them against me just because you can." I stated in annoyance at him as I grabbed plastic cups from a box.
"I'm sorry." Tyler replied and I rolled my eyes at him as he sighed. "I've got to run if I'm going to change and pick up Sophie in time." He added, looking down at his watch before he started walking away and I rose an eyebrow.
"Wait, you're bringing a date? Sophie? As in one date is all it takes, Sophie?" I asked, chuckling a bit and he sighed deeply, turning back to me.
"Hey, it's been kind of slow in that department." Tyler pointed out and I rolled my eyes in amusement. "And.. I am horny all the time now." He added in annoyance, making me scoff in agreement.
"Tell me about it. Sometimes I feel like my body itself can set my house on fire." I pointed out with a sigh and Tyler rose an eyebrow at me, slowly walking back over to me. "You know, being a witch and all? I get too angry, I set things on fire. My magic is tethered to my emotions. Therefore, witch thing." I added with a nod. Tyler tilted his head at me and put his hands in his short pockets.
"It's a werewolf thing, too. It's like I can't turn it off." He stated, staring at me intently. I slowly nodded as I looked him over, feeling the space between us shift before I cleared my throat quickly.
"Well, I hope your date with Sophie goes well then." I stated with a smile and Tyler chuckled at me and shook his head.
"I'll see you later." He replied, walking away from me and I sighed after him before I grabbed more cups and put them on the table.
~~~
I looked myself over as I stood in front of the mirror in Damon's bathroom and let out a small sigh. I looked in the reflection as he came into the room and my gaze shifted over to him. He wore dark navy blue button up that revealed most of his chest as well as a pair of dark jeans and his boots. His hair had grown out and it was long, almost down to his shoulders. "I hope you don't mind. Elena is in Stefan's room and I didn't want to interrupt her." I informed, making myself known but he probably knew I was in there before I had to tell him.
"I don't mind. It's your party, do what you want to." He replied, coming into the bathroom and sitting on the edge of the bathtub behind me. "Red suits you." He stated, nodding approvingly at the dark wine red dress that I wore. It fell above the knee and had a heart shaped neckline. I paired it with a pair of black heels.
"So how are things with Andie?" I asked, turning around to face him properly and he sighed, folding his arms over his chest.
"They're thriving." Damon answered sarcastically and I rolled my eyes in amusement. "How about wolf-boy?" He countered and I chuckled, tilting my head at him.
"Well, he brought a date tonight." I informed with a small shrug and Damon slowly nodded at me. He stated at me and I folded my arms over my chest and looked away from him.
"Well, just know that she's not as beautiful or as great as you." Damon reassured as he stood up in front of me, causing me to look back at him. "Trust me. He'll have no idea until the girl he wants is gone." He added quietly and I stared at him for a few seconds before I cleared my throat. "Shall we?" He asked with a small smile and held out his arm from me and I chuckled, taking it.