XXII - 𝔫𝔞𝔫𝔠𝔶 𝔡𝔯𝔢𝔴 & 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔶 𝔟𝔬𝔶𝔰

(edited) 🌟 check out the prequel Mayera!

"LOVE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Lilura threw her polaroid photos in the air, startled.

"Klaus!" She laughed, picking them back up, "Stop scaring me like that."

"Terribly sorry, but are those pictures of Kol's arse?"

"It's only one," she rolled her eyes. "He was being immature and stole my camera."

Klaus examined the pictures scattered on her bed and the string of them on the wall which were was half finished, dangling about.

There were many of the other originals, but most were of Klaus.

"When did you take these?" He asked, examining one with him sleeping, a snore escaping his lips.

"When you got piss drunk in Connecticut," She answered. "Speaking of, Sirius peed in your hangover smoothie."

"I knew it tasted weird," The original sighed, staring at Sirius' napping on Lilura's bed.

"We have a problem," Klaus sat down, hesitantly fiddling with the dog's ears.

"Yes?" Lilura hummed, standing on her tiptoes to continue hanging her pictures.

"Rebekah discovered a White Oak sapling. We plan to squash it. Care to join?"

Lilura's phone rang.

Casting a perplexed look to Klaus she answered.

"Hello?"

"When did you get my number?" The Siren asked, recognizing her son's simple baritone quite quickly.

"Nicked it, but I'm afraid I have to be the bearer of bad news. Ric's been incarcerated and Damon is trying to kill Meredith Fell."

"Typical," The siren rolled her eyes. "I'll be right there."

She grinned at Klaus, "Try to have fun without me."

"I always do."

---- Δ ----

"I called Lilura," Judas shoved his phone into his leather jacket. "Hopefully she can help fix this mess."

"Thanks," Elena smiled weakly, crossing her arms and looking everywhere but him.

"What's wrong?" Judas asked.

"Nothing's wrong."

"That frown says otherwise," He poked at her cheek. "C'mon! Smile."

When Elena stubbornly continued to pout, Judas resorted to poking her sides in an attempt to tickle her.

"Stop!" She giggled, batting Judas' fingers away from tickling her body. "Stop!"

"Am I interrupting something?"

The two teenagers sprang apart, Judas like he had been electrocuted, and Elena blushing crazily.

Damon had never glared at Judas so icily.

"Were you just..?" Elena coughed.

"Ric's fine. Sheriff wants me to stay out of it," He replied.

"But you're not going to. Are you?" Judas smirked.

Damon stared blankly, "Seems just as good a plan as any."

"What about the bro-code? Your friend's in jail for murder, dude. You have to do something!" Another voice joined the conversation, fashionably late.

"Who invited you?" He snarked once he saw Lilura.

"Put the animosities aside, D. We have a mutual interest."

"You hate Meredith Fell, too? Well, I guess we could rip out Dr. False Accusation's throat. Maybe her tongue. You know, I could chew it up into little tiny pieces and feed it to the squirrels," Damon snickered, wiggling his eyebrows.

"First of all, no." Lilura held a finger. "Second of all, I don't hate Meredith. I think she's quite sweet."

"Except she put Ric in jail."

"Oh," She mumbled. "That changes things."

Lilura patted her jean pockets. "Where's my knife?" She hummed.

"Ok. Stop it," Elena waved her hands. "This was your brilliant plan? Get the two most rash people to help Ric?"

Judas shrugged. "They seem to fair just fine under pressure."

"Guess me staying out of it suddenly sounds like a good idea, doesn't it?" Damon piped in. "I saved your life last night, Elena. You're welcome."

"You know, you could show a little compassion about Bonnie," The doppelganger replied.

And even though the remark was not meant for Lilura or Judas, they both cringed at the cold retort.

"I know, you're right, she and her mom must be really hurting right now. Should I send lasagna?"

"Okay, now you're just being mean."

Damon's mouth turned down, "I'm mean, you hate me. The Earth is back on its axis."

"Judas? Would you like to get some coffee?" Elena asked instead of answering.

"Uh..." He looked around awkwardly. "Sure?"

"Great!" Elena beamed. "We can take my car."

Judas took the lead to Elena's car. eager to escape the tense arguement. The girl was about to follow, but apparently, she had to get in the last word.

"You know if you keep pushing people away, you're gonna end up alone."

Damon and Lilura exchanged a glance when she turned around and sashayed away.

---- Δ ----

"I never thought I'd be here again."

Damon whipped his head around, almost falling off the staircase in the process. "You've been to Stefan's room?"

"Only because he has nice button-ups!" The enchantress said, quickly barricading Damon from making any perverted joke. "I haven't deflowered him if that's where you're going."

Damon shrugged, "Honestly, who would? All my brother does is sit and think about his grievances."

"Dear diary," Lilura began, leaning against the door frame of Stefan Salvatore's room. The blond didn't bother to turn around, though he did wave his pen in greeting.

"Today, a chipmunk asked me my name. I told him it was Joe. That lie will haunt me forever," Damon continued.

Stefan shut his book and put it back. "It's like my nightmares have manifested. What do you two want?"

"I was hoping we could hang. You know a little brother bonding. I know we don't actually "hang out". We team up, we join forces, we activate our wonder twin powers," Damon stuck his ring-clad hand and pumped it unenthusiastically.

"What are you doing?" Stefan asked when Damon began rummaging through his notebooks.

"Digging up clues. Most of the Originals are gone, but now we have a whodunnit in town. Hey, do you remember when we came back for Zachariah's funeral?"

"Vaguely. Why?"

"If memory serves, he wasn't the first Founders' Council member killed that year or even that month."

Lilura stifled her yawn. She didn't see where Damon was going. "Your point being?"

"Hey! No yawning," Damon pointed a journal at her face. To Stefan he clicked his fingers, "I'm trying to remember what year it was."

"1912."

Lilura chuckled, "So much for vaguely."

Damon threw the book to Stefan. It hit his chest and fell down.

"1912. Or as I like to call it: last time Mystic Fall's had a serial killer on its hands," Damon sung.

Stefan mulled over his words, reading the entry as he did so.

"What do you say, brother? You wanna go get drunk?"

"Ahhh, I get it, I get it," Stefan chuckled. "You're bored! Your best friend's in jail and you don't have anything better to do with yourself. You've come to this point - fraternizing with the enemy." Stefan gestured to the enchantress.

Lilura blinked, "Put your prejudices aside. Today we're a team Stef. A team of detectives!"

He raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"We were hoping you could help us solve a murder and get Saltz out of jail. "

---- Δ ----

"What do you think they're talking about?" Elena said, looking at Judas who was half-submerged in his fries. She had been straining her ears to hear what Rebekah and Mayor Lockwood could possibly be discussing.

"I don't know," He swung his green eyes to hers. "And I don't really care."

"Ok," The doppelganger replied.

"Let's talk about you and Damon and that pitiful excuse of a conversation instead."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know," Judas set his elbows on the table and leaned over, crooked smirk painted on that beautiful face. "If you keep pushing people away, you'll end up alone Damon."

He had imitated her falsetto perfectly.

She groaned, "You heard that?"

"Darling, everyone in the parking lot heard it. You're loud when you're mad."

"I am not!" She insisted, clamping a hand on her mouth right after.

"Oh my god, I am," Elena squeaked.

"It's cute," Judas tapped Elena's nose before returning to his seat.

A commotion at the doors of the Mystic Grill stole their attention, and Lilura, Stefan, and Damon squeezed their way in at the same time.

"That was not a good idea."

"No. No. It was a genius idea," Damon retorted. "Just poorly executed."

"It was bad and now my boobs hurt. I'm suing," Lilura whined, tenderly touching her chest which had slammed into the door frame.

"That's my cue," Elena practically threw money on Judas' face. "My treat."

"In a hurry to get away from me?" Damon drawled, looking Elena up and down.

"Yes," She pushed past him.

Judas hid his smile with the back of his hand.

"Oh, She-Devil at nine o'clock," The Salvatore shot Rebekah a sneer. He caught sight of Judas. "A-ha! Here's the spawn of Satan."

Damon swooped in and stole a French fry. "Pop quiz! So what does a medical examiner, Bill Forbes, and Alaric Saltzman have in common?"

Stefan derailed Judas and Lilira's train of thought by tapping his ring on the tabletop.

"What's up with you?" Lilura asked Stefan. He didn't answer.

"You know, quitting blood cold turkey after a ripper binge might not be the best approach. Every time you play that all-or-nothing game, you eventually leave a trail of bodies. So, I'm thinking, now is a good time to pay our old friend moderation a visit," Damon said smartly.

Stefan gifted them all the stink eye before answering. "They were all on the Founders' Council, Damon. That's what they all have in common."

"But why them? Huh? Brian Walters and Alaric weren't from founding families. I mean, hey, if you're gonna slaughter council members, go A-list. At least in 1912, they killed a Salvatore," The raven-haired vampire smirked.

Rebekah sauntered over. "Which Salvatore would that be?"

"Zach," Stefan drunk his whiskey.

"An illegitimate one of our clan, but I suppose father wanted some sort of relief."

"So, Zachariah Salvatore was your nephew?"

"Well, our father knocked up one of the maids during the Civil War, she had a son. But as far as everyone else knew, Stefan and I were dead. Family name had to go somewhere."

Rebekah's inquisitive tone never faltered, "And, uh, your family owned the logging mills back then?"

"You're full of a lot of questions," Damon mused while Lilura quickly jerked a hand across her neck in an abort mission! fashion. She knew Rebekah was fishing for information about the white-oak stakes. If the Salvatores caught on, they were dead meat.

"I'm just researching the town history. I grew up here after all," She justified evenly, not missing a beat.

Damon's eyes twinkled. "You know you don't have to disguise your true motives Blondie-Bex, if you want more sex, just ask for it."

"Not enough liquor in the world," Rebekah said, pouring a drink.

"Oh, come on, it was too good for you to be this hostile."

"Or maybe it was so bad she got war flashbacks," Lilura crossed her arms. "Who knows?"

"Very funny," The Salvatore mocked.

"So, did they ever catch the killer?" Judas asked, resting his face on his palm.

"Nope. Wrote it all off on vampires," Damon answered.

Rebekah nodded thoughtfully, "Maybe it was a vampire."

"Yeah, yeah, maybe it was a vampire, Damon," said Stefan.

"Don't think for a second you didn't cross my mind too, brother. But these murders weren't your style, were they? Plus there were no other vampires circulating then."

"Well, there was one other vampire. Remember Sage?" Stefan grumbled her name.

"Ohh, right, Sage. Speaking of great sex. Ooh!" Damon stole Stefan's drink and took a long sip.

"I knew a Sage once. Trashy little thing," Rebekah picked at her nails.

"You really think it was Sage who was killing all those Founders back then?" Damon hummed.

Stefan shrugged carelessly, "Town questioned every grown man in Mystic Falls. Probably never occurred to them that a woman could have done it."

Rebekah slurped her drink, "So, uh, tell me more about your old relatives. I heard they tore down half the woods to build this town."

At Rebekah's little beckon, the bartender slid her a new bottle of whiskey.

"Easy there, lushy pants," Damon said, grabbing the drink before it could get to her. "It's been a hoot and a half but it's boy's night and you weren't invited."

"She can replace me," Judas sighed tiredly, rubbing his shadow-casted eyes. "I mean, you definitely resemble the part."

Rebekah flicked Judas' forehead with her painted nails. "Watch what you say, nephew."

"See ya, Auntie Bex!" He called, never once looking behind him.

"Well, I guess this little party just turned into a double date," Rebekah turned her nose up and picked a seat to sit on, conveniently next to Lilura, "Come join us."

---- Δ ----

Damon grabbed the darts and toyed with them, eyebrows scrunched at all the possibilities.

"So, let's just say Sage was killing everyone in 1912. Who the hell is doing it now? It's not that psycho, Dr. Fell. She's a woman. There's no way she could stab three grown men."

Damon threw his dart, but Rebekah caught it before it could hit the bull's-eye.

"That's a bit sexist," She grinned, crushing the dart in her hands.

"Right, a woman could easily kill a man with the right motivation," Lilura nodded.

"You just, uh, don't give up, do you, Rebekah?" Stefan croaked.

The aforementioned woman spun in his direction and crossed her arms. "Why are you so grumpy?"

"He's on a "juice" cleanse. Trying to be a better man and all," Lilura said.

"You know, you were a lot more fun in the '20s," Rebekah pouted.

"Don't rile him up," Damon said, shaking his head. "He's testy when he's being self-righteous."

"I'm not being self-righteous, Damon. I'm just not interested in slaughtering innocent human beings anymore."

"Oh, okay, fair enough. My mistake," The older Salvatore brought out Stefan's journal. "You used to be self-righteous."

He chuckled, "Lily, take a look at this."

The enchantress seized the book and imitated Stefan's slow monotonous voice. "Dear diary, Damon has lost his way, though I have pulled my own life together he continues to waste his."

"Ouch," Rebekah said. "His bitterness consumes him. He is nothing but blackness and vile."

"A wee judgy, are we?" Lilura chortled.

"Well, this is fun," the victim answered.

"You know, if I'm being honest, you didn't seem like much fun either, Damon," said Rebekah.

His blue eyes hardened. "I wasn't. The woman I was in love with was stuck in a tomb and she wasn't getting out for a hundred years. I wasn't having any fun at all."

"This is a field day for Rebekah and me," said Lilura. "Please, continue. I want to hear more of Stefan's tortured thoughts."

———— Δ ————

"So you're the designated creep around here."

Elena jumped and clamped a hand to her racing heart.

"Judas!"

"Elena!" He mocked, studying her tense posture. "Are you waiting for someone?"

A car pulled up beside them and out stepped a woman in her early thirties, a pristine doctor's coat hanging off her small shoulders.

"I'm due in surgery. Whatever case you're gonna make against Alaric, make it quick," She said, no-nonsense.

"I don't have to make a case, he didn't do anything," Elena said adamantly.

She turned around. "How do you know? Sure you live with him, he takes care of you, but do you really know anything about him?"

"We know enough," Judas cut in smoothly. "I believe we haven't been acquainted, Doctor."

"Meredith," She said, staring skeptically at the young man. "Do I know you?"

"You might," Judas replied. "Alaric is my mentor."

"I see," Meredith Fell said shortly. "I'm sorry, but he's not who you think he is."

"And why is that?" Judas prompted patiently.

"Let me tell you what I know. He was arrested for fighting four times before the age of 21. When he was at Duke, his future wife, Isobel, filed a restraining order against him. Twice. Although then she married him, so I guess that says more about her."

Elena looked on, appalled, "Okay, you're making all of this up."

"Am I? How would you know? You took pity on a borderline alcoholic vampire hunter and you never even thought to look any deeper."

"How could you do this to him? He didn't kill anyone and you know it," The Gilbert insisted.

"You date vampires, Elena. It shouldn't come as a shock to learn that your guardian is a murderer."

And with that blunt statement, Dr. Fell left the two teenagers standing outside the hospital.

———— Δ ————

"When I said I wanted to hear more of Stefan's torture thoughts, I didn't mean recreate them!" The Siren hissed, stomping her foot childishly. "What do you hope to achieve, anyway?"

They were, once again, hiding behind some wall, waiting for Stefan to exit the Grill with Rebekah.

"Walk the line of moderation, as the Buddhists say," Damon grinned. "My little brother needs a wake-up call."

"By force-feeding him human blood when he clearly would eat shït instead? Smart move, Damon."

"What? He needs to take control of his fear, and I'm going to help."

They settled into silence until Stefan graced the scene, utterly unaware but a tad suspicious.

Damon, being the rash git he was, compelled a woman and began feeding on her.

"Damon, stop!" Stefan yelled.

"Sorry brother. It's dinner time. Have a bite."

Stefan breathed raggedly, nostrils flaring at the scene. "What are you doing?"

"Tough love, Stefan. You're not gonna survive this cold turkey thing, you never do. It's time to get that monkey off your back."

"No. No."

"Feed or I'll let Rebekah have her way with her. You know she'll kill her," Damon said.

"You know I will."

Again, Stefan shook his head. "No."

Damon shrugged indifferently, "Then her blood will be on your hands. Or you could just have a little drink, save her life. Come on, Stefan. You were the one that said you didn't want any more innocent lives slaughtered. Save her. Go on, have a bite. I snatched, you eat, I'll erase. Hell, I'll even heal her for you."

"Why are you doing this? You know what blood does to me," Stefan cried.

"Because you let it control you," Lilura said from afar, plugging her nose at the smell of the Grill's rubbish cans.

"Yes," Damon said. "I'm just here to help you learn how to fight it."

"This is rubbish," Rebekah drawled. She then extended her fangs and punctured the woman's neck, blood dripping profusely.

"I got it from here. Go ahead," Damon looked to Rebekah and Lilura.

"But the night's just getting started," Rebekah whined.

"Scram. No one likes a lurker."

"You're a real arse, you know?" Rebekah spat, making the siren chuckle.

"So I'm told," Damon grinned.

———— Δ ————

"Mystic Fall's golden boy knows how to pick a lock," Judas crowed, leaning against the door frame. "Never would have seen it coming."

"Nice job," Elena grinned.

"All that breaking and entering adds to the list of life favors you owe me," Matt Donovan said, straining a bit as he hit a tough bump.

Then it clicked.

"Okay, look, we don't know how much longer Meredith is gonna be in surgery, so let's see what we can find," Elena said, entering the apartment.

"Don't you think the police already combed through this place? She handed over everything she had," Matt said, looking at the walls.

"Yeah, but we're looking for the evidence that she didn't hand over," Judas replied, coming to a stop at Meredith Fell's desk.

"And you two are sure it's her we should be investigating?" Matt asked.

"We've got a lot of faith in Alaric," Judas said, rummaging through files. "At least I do. He's a good man. Always has been."

"Did you know Isobel?" Elena inquired suddenly, glancing over bookshelves to Judas.

"Yeah," He answered, meeting her inquisitive gaze. "She's your mother, isn't she?"

Instead of letting a bewildered expression find its way to her face, the doppelganger simply nodded.

He held her gaze, violent green eyes against hers. "She was a good woman too...before the whole vampire thing, of course."

"Alaric's innocent," Elena said, hiding a small smile. "And I know that Meredith's a Fell, founding family, which means..."

"Skeletons in the closet. Just like a true founder," Judas smirked, taking out the papers.

"Brian Walters. Bill Forbes," Elena squinted, unable to make out the last one.

Matt stills, "Alaric Saltzman."

A rumbling chuckle started from Judas, "What a tease you are, Dr. Fell."

"Let's reconsider who exactly is the tease, Mr. Mikaelson," A familiar voice said smugly.

They all turned around.

"Hello, kids."

"Shit," Elena hissed.

Meredith Fell held up a revolver and pointed it at all three of them.