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aivaehdaevis · 5 years

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The More Things Change: Ch 8

The More Things Change

by Aivaeh

Disclaimer: Familiar characters, plot elements, and settings belong to L.J. Smith, Julie Plec, and the CW. The author of this work of fanfiction has made no money from it. Summary: I have no idea how it happened, but one morning I woke up in the world of The Vampire Diaries. Which, aside from the insanity of waking up inside a television show made real, might not be so bad—if I weren't stuck in the body of vampire magnet and doppelgänger herself, Elena Gilbert. Pairing(s): OFC x Damon, OFC x Stefan, OFC x Elijah, OFC x Klaus Rating: M Warning(s): Graphic descriptions of violence on par with the show itself. References to sex and drug use. Mind control and all the issues of consent that go along with it. Character death. Master List External Links: AO3 | FF.Net | Wattpad

Chapter Eight

“Uncle John,” I stuttered.

John strode beyond the arch. “Good to see you.”

“Awesome,” Jenna muttered. From her pinched expression, her disgust couldn’t have been clearer if she’d advertised it on a billboard.

John dismissed Jenna with a glance before finishing his stroll to the island. Stopping beside me, he met my stare and smiled.

My own tight-lipped smile wobbled. “What are you doing here?”

“That’s what I’d like to know,” Jenna added.

John’s attention stayed with me. “I got your text. It concerned me.”

“Oh.” My hand fell onto the counter with a little thump. “I lost my phone a few days ago. Someone must’ve found it. They’ve been texting weird stuff to everyone.” I gestured to him with my other hand. “I should’ve called. I didn’t realize you’d gotten them too.”

John’s elbow settled beside me. “Huh.” His stare dug into mine, as if he wanted to burrow behind my eyes and into my head. “You know who took it?”

I rolled my shoulders. “No idea.”

“Where’d you lose it?” he asked.

I thought about lying, but the way his eyes kept so steady as they refused to leave mine, even to blink—“The woods,” I confessed. “By King.”

“The woods?” The sour notes were gone from Jenna’s voice, replaced by concern. “What were you doing in the woods?”

“Shortcut.” My fingers curled against the countertop. My nails pressed against the marble until the pressure pinched the back of my fingertips. “I’d planned on visiting the cemetery. See mom and dad. But I changed my mind.”

“The woods are dangerous, Elena,” John said.

“Especially now, with all the attacks,” Jenna added.

I nodded, swallowing. I brushed my hair back behind my ears. “I know. I’m sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“I should hope not,” John said, frowning. “Still. It’s a strange thing to text.”

“Tell me about it. You should hear the heckling I’ve gotten at school over it.”

His unblinking stare swept over my face again before he straightened up. “Well, I’ve got some other business to take care of in town. It may take me a few days.”

“Fantastic,” Jenna muttered.

John sent her another disinterested glance. “Isn’t it?” He turned back to me as Jenna glared. “I’ll be around to help out with—” he took in the kitchen with a sweeping gaze, “anything.”

“Sounds good.”

Jenna glare swung to me, accusations of betrayal in the narrowing of her eyes.

I lifted my bag. “I’d like to catch up, but I’ve got homework.”

“Don’t let me keep you,” John replied. “We’ll have time to talk later.”

I forced my cheeks to pull the corners of my mouth higher. “Great.” Hiking the strap over my shoulder, I walked out as calmly as I could. I kept that calm pace all the way up the stairs and into Elena’s room.

Swinging the bag onto the bed, I lunged for the phone. Stefan’s bright yellow post-it easy to pick out among the rest of the clutter. I was about to dial when a swore I heard a click over the dial tone. I paused, staring at the handset, paranoia whispering all kinds of possibilities into my ear. I let my hand drift back to the power base, standing the cordless inside.

This was far, far too soon for ‘Uncle’ John to appear. Did he already know the Salvatore brothers were back? They had both been in the area since the death of Elena’s parents. Maybe word had reached him. Or Isobel.

Or Katherine.

But before they’d waited for the tomb to be open. Was it only John who’d come back, or had he told Isobel? Did Katherine know? Would she care?

Things were moving so far afield, I had almost no idea what was going on anymore.

Sleep wasn’t going to be an option now. Too worried John might be listening to the phones, I decided to do what I’d said, and start on Elena’s homework.

It managed to occupy my time for a few hours. Long enough that I guessed it’d be safe to leave and deliver a warning in person.

As it turned out, the Boarding House had an online listing, along with a map. I printed the latter off, stuffed it in my pocket, and headed downstairs. I left a note saying I’d gone to see Caroline to help with festival preparations, figuring she’d be a safe enough alibi. Grabbing the keys from the holder hanging on the wall next to the door, I hurried out to the garage.

The Salvatore Boarding house was about ten minutes from Elena’s, along the same route I’d taken to get to the falls. Which meant I’d had to cross Wickery Bridge. I wondered what Elena would have thought each time she went to see Stefan. Did she remember going over? Hitting the water? Waking up without parents? Or did she manage to put it from her mind?

Somehow, I doubted the latter.

A few minutes past the bridge, there was a small turn off that lead down a private drive. Like so many places in Mystic Falls, the narrow lane was surrounded by trees. Their heavy, arching branches formed a tunnel of leaves above the winding little road. Sun dappled light danced along the dashboard as I drove beneath them. Paved concrete crackled beneath the tires.

Further ahead stood the red brick manor that was the Salvatore Boarding House. Staring at the timber-framed façade, another rush of déjà vu hit me. I marveled at the size of the building. Two wings opened outwards at slight angles from its center, as if the house were extending its arms. I followed the curving driveway to park off to the side near the front door, a few feet short of the massive overhang, and got out.

My heeled boots clacked against the drive. Gaze sweeping across the well-kept grounds, I wondered if Zach was the one out mowing the yard and trimming the shrubs or if he hired someone to do it. Did he get a stipend for upkeep? Did he have a job? He hadn’t stuck around on the show long enough to learn very much about him.

After Zach’s death, the brothers must’ve hired someone to do it. Or compelled. I couldn’t picture Damon on a mower or holding a set of trimmers. Not unless it was to skewer someone.

As I neared the heavily shadowed porch, the pulse of a heavy bass beat pulsed through the walls and a large window a few feet away. Wondering which of the brothers had the stereo on blast, I worried they might not hear me knock. Approaching an old-fashioned wooden door, I looked around for the doorbell before noticing a length of red rope attached to a literal bell.

Reaching up, I took hold of the braided cord and gave a few tugs. The bell chimed sweetly but, as I’d worried, wasn’t much of match for the thumping bass.

I stood, uncertain if I should ring it again or maybe walk up to the window and try to get their attention, when the door swung in.

“Elena?” Stefan asked, surprise lending an almost boyish openness to his face.

“Stefan. Hi.” Now that I was here, I wondered if I wasn’t overreacting to John’s appearance. I reached up and swept my fingers through my hair, meaning to comb it out. It ended up falling forward and covering up half of my face instead.

Stefan opened the door further. Beyond him, the wail of an electric guitar and clash of drums joined the throb of the bass. Stepping onto the threshold, Stefan’s face had fallen back into his usual somber mien. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. Well, maybe.” I wished I’d thought to bring a purse. I ran my hand over my hair again, trying to brush it back. “Probably.”

Amusement tilted his mouth into that slight smile I adored. Sadly, it slipped away almost as soon as it had appeared. “Now’s not a very good time.”

“I’m sorry.” A tingle that started at the base of my neck quickly spread up and across my face. “I shouldn’t have bothered you—”

“You’re never a bother, Elena,” he was swift to say. His hand tightened on the edge of the door before he stepped back, pulling it with him. “Would you like to come in?”

It wasn’t lost on me that he was inviting me inside his home when I had refused to do the same for him. “Thank you,” I said softly, quickstepping over the threshold.

It should have felt cavernous. The ceiling stood four times as tall as me. And yet, between the dark wooden paneling, the dim lighting, the paintings, rugs, cabinets filled with antiques, tables and chairs—it felt filled. No matter where my gaze roamed, there was something to look at. From the side table and mirror pressed next to the door, to the richly patterned rug at my feet that ran the entire length of the hall, to the oil paintings adorning the walls.

The music I’d heard from outside pulsing behind a closed door a few feet to the left from the entrance, where I guessed the main sitting room from the series was. “What’s that?” I asked.

Stefan’s eyes flicked upwards as he folded his arms across his chest. “Nothing important.”

Okay. Before I could say anything more, someone came striding out of another open doorway off to the right side of the hall. I might have thought it was Damon but for the dark blonde hair and larger frame. “How much longer is—”

Zach, Stefan and Damon’s descendant, stopped at the sight of me and frowned. “Another?”

“No, Zach,” Stefan was quick to correct, arms falling to his side. “This is Elena Gilbert.”

The irritation in Zach’s expression transformed to curiosity. “Miss Gilbert.”

“Elena,” I corrected. Answering to that was weird enough, but I was starting to get used to it. The same couldn’t be said for Gilbert.

“You said something might be wrong?” Stefan prompted.

Remembering my reason for visiting, I grimaced. “I came to warn you. Uncle John’s in town.”

Weariness settled over Zach’s features. “Johnathan Gilbert?”

I nodded. “And he knows, Stefan. About vampires.”

“This isn’t good.” Zach turned to Stefan. “If he starts suspecting—”

“I know,” Stefan frowned.

I took a step forward, close enough I could’ve reached out and touched Stefan. “You’ve got to convince Damon to leave or lay low.”

“I’ve got to do what now?”

Damon’s voice lured my sights to the previously shut door. To the pale but sculpted chest and rock-hard stomach whose muscles pointed below a pair of low-slung jeans clinging to his hipbones. And the two hands pressed to either side belonging to a blonde and brunette leaning against him. The two girls were in nothing but underwear, bite marks on full display. Damon’s arms were slung over each of their shoulders, a half-empty bottle of dark amber alcohol in one hand.

The contents of my stomach turned to lead. “What’s—who’re they?”

Damon glanced between his hanger-oners. “Oh, how rude of me. This is Ama—no. Um, Emil—wait. Amelia?” The blonde looked up and made an affirmative noise while her hand slid lower. “And this,” his head turned to the side other side, where the long haired brunette clung, a slow smile spreading over his face, “is Natalie.”

Natalie giggled.

“Girls, this is Elena,” Damon said, pointing with his bottle. “Elena, these are the girls.” Damon’s eyes rounded as he added in a staged whisper, “Kappa Theta Phi.”

I stared. Stefan’s head dipped down as his lips pinched together until they looked like one pale line. Zach’s frown carved deep grooves into his face.

I shook my head and turned back to Stefan. “Whatever.” His green eyes lifted to meet mine, surprised. “If John suspects anything—”

He glanced at Damon before focusing on us. “He won’t,” Stefan assured.

“What? No judgy, ‘Oh Damon, you can’t feed off sorority girls! It’s not right!’?” Damon interjected as he waved his bottle at me. Well, my general vicinity. His aim didn’t seem to be at its best.

I ignored him. “The Gilberts have journals that talk about vampires and their history in this town. You two might be in it.”

“Not even a, ‘Don’t hurt them, Damon, please!’?” He huffed.

The three of us traded glances. “You think he suspects?”

“I think you should treat him as if he does,” I said, careful to keep my eyes from looking away from Stefan’s. “Better safe than sorry.”

“Great!” Damon pronounced with morbid cheer. “Let’s kill him!”

I whirled around and marched up to him. Eyes brightening, Damon’s smirk flashed. “You’re not killing my Uncle, Damon! Or my Brother. Or my Aunt. Or any of my friends!”

“Hmm. I don’t know, Elena. If he’s a threat—”

“I don’t care. I’ll never speak to you again.” I threatened.

Damon stared down at me. “What do I care.”

I knew better than to fall into that trap again. Once burned and all that. I turned my back on him and returned to a high-browed Stefan. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Stefan escorted me to the door. Unable to help myself, at the first step past the threshold, I turned a bit to say, “Occupied?”

Stefan’s interest fell on a tall potted shrub placed off to the side. “Drive safe.” The door slipped shut.

The music resumed, loud enough to rattle the windows.

A foul mood settled over me as I left the Salvatore Boarding House. Damon partying it up after almost killing Jeremy—what a dick. I mean, I knew he was a real bastard during the early part of the first season, but it seemed like he didn’t care at all. At least he’d regretted breaking Jeremy’s neck.

And all the stupid games he’d played with me since chasing me into that store. Then, first chance he gets, he picks up a couple of sorority girls for feeding and who knew what else.

It wasn’t my problem. In fact, maybe he’d back off. Start stalking Natalie and leave me alone.

I fumed, and the slow churning anger in my belly kept me wide awake all the way to Elena’s. But after parking and navigating the sidewalk to the kitchen door, it was as if I had weights around my limbs and eyelids. Exhaustion had caught up, and I thought I might finally fall asleep.

Unfortunately, John’s greeting of, “Elena,” from a seat at the dining room table let me know I wasn’t about to get away that easily.

He had a stack of papers in front of him, but he set them aside as I walked in the door. “Ready for the festival tomorrow?”

Remembering my excuse, I nodded. “Ready as we’ll ever be.”

“Good.” John settled back in his chair. “I’m glad you’re taking such an active role in the community.”

“Thank you.” I glanced towards the archway and the staircase that lay beyond.

“As a founding family, it’s important for the Gilberts to remain invested in Mystic Falls,” John went on.

I wondered why he didn’t live here, then. Why he’d left the task of caring for Elena and Jeremy all up to Jenna. But I kept my mouth shut and smiled.

John returned it with a thinner, briefer version. “I was thinking about the time Miranda signed everyone up for the Founder’s Day Bar-B-Que some years back. You were ten? Maybe eleven. And you were so eager to help at the grill. Your parents wanted you manning the concession table, pouring lemonade and coke. But you were stubborn.” He flashed a grin. “Grayson ended up beside you the whole day, flipping burgers and turning hotdogs.”

I nodded, though I had no clue what he was talking about. “Yeah. Dad was pretty great.”

John turned serious. “Yes, he was.” He waved at the chair beside him. “Then there was that summer vacation at the lake house when you were six.”

Taking the hint, I sat down.

He reminisced for an hour. The time we all did this or that. When I’d done this or that. It surprised me how much John had to say about the past with his brother’s family. I suppose it shouldn’t have, but on the show, the only thing he’d said in relation to the family alluded to their history of vampire hunting. He talked a lot about Elena growing up. Knowing that John was her biological father, it was nice to learn he’d kept an eye on her.

Having trouble keeping my eyes open, I yawned. John frowned. “I’m keeping you up.”

“I didn’t sleep well last night.”

He turned back to the table in his seat. “I’ll let you catch up, then.” He said, sliding the stack of papers towards him. “Goodnight, Elena.”

“Night Uncle John.”

He went back to his paperwork as I stood up and pushed in the chair.

Finally back in Elena’s bedroom, I can’t say I was too surprised when the light failed to turn on. “Elena,” I sighed. “Stefan’s looking into it. Trust me, I don’t want to be here anymore than you want me here. So, please. Ease up?”

The light stayed off.

Frowning, I crept towards the bathroom by the light that leaked through the curtains. I had to feel for the doorknob.

The light switch didn’t work in there, either.

Irritated, I turned on the shower, waiting to make sure I had the hot water on. I undressed and walked over to the hamper, making sure the clothes didn’t end up on the floor. Taking a moment to lock the door leading to Jeremy’s room, I stepped into the shower.

The spray abruptly turned ice cold.

Swearing, I stepped back, hitting the wall. Catching a narrow shelf molded into the shower stall saved me from slipping down onto my rear—or worse. ��Dammit, Elena!”

Reaching through the spray, I endured streams of freezing water cascading down my skin to find the valve. I wrenched it the opposite way. The cold receded into warmer water once again, relaxing my skin. I breathed a sigh of relief and reached for the shampoo, determined to finish before Elena turned the cold water back on.

I’d gotten the conditioner worked throughout my hair when the spray turned scalding.

Shouting, I about tore down the shower curtain to get out.

Naked and dripping water all over the floor, I stared where the water splashed against the shower curtain and wall. Listening to the steady patter left me all too aware of the darkness surrounding me. Adrenalin had flooded my veins, set my heart to pounding. Swallowing, I crept to the front of the shower, carefully reaching in. A wall of steam hit my face as the curtain opened. I felt for the valve and shut the water off.

“The hell, Elena?” I asked the dark. “You want to burn yourself?”

There was no answer.

I grabbed a towel and hurried back into the bedroom. Leery of the unfamiliar surroundings, I padded to the bed and climbed into the middle. The room’s furnishings were indistinct, edges that surrounded shades of darkness. My imagination conjured shapes within. Forms of misshapen bodies and faces. Eyes that watched me.

Or maybe it wasn’t my imagination. A thought that terrified me and kept me up well into the night despite my exhaustion.

Then the nightmares came.

My fears didn’t slip away with morning’s light. I woke with terror’s claws ripping through my thoughts. Same as every morning since waking up in this messed up world. Frustratingly, I couldn’t remember what put it there. My dreams didn’t fade but disappeared, quick as a vampire.

I did my best to brush aside the lingering fear, readying myself for the day—sans shower. Descending the stairs, I envisioned a quick breakfast. I hoped to talk to Stefan about last night. See if he’d discovered anything new about spirits and hauntings before school.

Those tentative plans flew out the window as soon as I entered the dining room.

The table was laden with breakfast food. There were fluffy brown pancakes and golden waffles. A plate of crisped bacon beside a spread of steaming sausages. Eggs sunny side up and scrambled. Two plates of toast. Jars of jam and a bear full of honey. A pot of coffee beside a pitcher of orange juice.

Aunt Jenna sat in the middle, eating with the most grudging expression I’d ever seen in front of a spread of food. The reason why welcomed me while carrying a skillet of sizzling hash browns. “Morning Elena,” John greeted.

I gazed over the cornucopia of food. “What’s all this?”

“Got up early. Felt like doing a little cooking.”

A little? “This is enough to feed ten people, Uncle John.”

Leaning over the table, he used a spatula to ladle the hash browns onto an empty plate. “We can warm the rest of it up throughout the day. Have some tomorrow.” The spatula clattered against the edge of the pan as he straightened up. “It’ll get used up.” He nodded at the spread before striding back into the kitchen. “Dig in. I made some of everyone’s favorites.”

Not one to look a gift breakfast in the mouth, I slid into the seat. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started loading my plate. I was almost halfway through by the time Jeremy made his way down. It was then that conversation between him and John filled the room with sounds other than the clinking of silverware.

I was finishing up some toast when I heard a telltale rumble. It shouldn’t have surprised me that, after warning him to stay away from John, Damon’s camaro came purring up the driveway. It did, but it shouldn’t have.

Knocking on the door, though, was brazen even for him.

Jenna’s chair scraped across the hardwood as she moved to stand. Mine skidded and clattered as I jumped up. “I’ll get it!”

Everyone stared. I fought to right my chair and shove it back in place before scurrying off.

I didn’t quite sprint to the door, but it was a near thing. I could’ve punched the smirking face I found on the other side if I thought it’d do any good. “Damon,” I hissed, “the hell are you doing?”

“Morning to you too, Elena,” he declared as he entered unimpeded.

Before I could say anything more, his arm slipped around my waist. Pulled forward, Damon’s swooped down, pressing his lips to mine.

It wasn’t a full kiss, only a light brush, barely enough to feel the soft skin of his lips. But by the way my body lit up, it might as well have been a lusty french kiss. The last of the lingering fears from that morning were swept away by the way he pulled every bit of my attention and focused it into that moment, on him. The coolness of the leather jacket he wore, its zipper pressing into my chest where he pressed against me. The strength in the hand curled around my waist. The warm breath caressing my face.

An impish grin curled against my mouth as he took my hand, fingers intertwining between mine. Still reeling from the sensations he’d inflicted upon me, we moved. It was all too sudden for me to stop, like slipping on a patch of ice.

In the archway, hands together, Damon drew me beside him as the rest of the Gilberts observed our appearance. Jenna’s forehead crinkled in concern. John set down his fork and knife before picking up his napkin and dabbing the corners of his mouth. Jeremy studied Damon like an old polaroid.

Damon’s smile was a thousand watts of charming. “Elena,” he said, swinging my hand closer to him. “Introduce me.”

I’d rather present a rabid raccoon straight from the trash as the new family pet. It’d be safer. “This is Damon.” His hand squeezed mine, stopping right on the edge of uncomfortable. “My boyfriend.”

“Little old, isn’t he?” John questioned.

Given the fact he knew exactly who Damon was, he wasn’t kidding.

Damon cranked up the winning smile. “I’m twenty-five.” John set a hand on the table, eyes never moving off Damon. “And Elena is more mature than I am most of the time.”

“Hardly comforting,” John replied flatly.

A nervous laugh tumbled from Damon. I didn’t believe it for a moment. “No, I suppose not.” He ran his free hand through his hair. “That’s why I wanted to meet you all. Let everyone get to know me.”

“Have we already met?” Jeremy asked, still staring at Damon through narrowed eyes.

I tensed. Damon’s lips pursed as if he were thinking about it. “I might’ve run into you before.”

I dug my nails into his hand.

John rose out of his chair and walked around the table, stopping in front of Damon. “I appreciate you taking the time to introduce yourself to the family, Damon.”

“Thank you, sir.” I worked hard not to gape at the earnestness beaming from Damon. “I just wanted you all to know I have nothing but the best intentions for Elena.”

Liar!

“That’s good to hear,” John replied, extending a hand.

Smiling and releasing my hand, Damon took John’s. The two shook.

I fought hard not to gape too openly. “I should… get my bag.”

I took the opportunity to escape. Voices emanating from the dining room chased me all the way up the stairs. I snatched my bag up from its spot next to the desk, wondering what the hell Damon’s latest game was. Irritation smothered any residual sparks from Damon’s kiss.

By the time I was tromping back downstairs, my expression must’ve shown my annoyance. Damon bid everyone goodbye and, practically immortal being that he was, took my hand despite my scowl and led me out the door.

“Try to look a little happy to be with me,” he said out the corner of his mouth.

My scowl deepened. “I told you to stay away from John.”

“If you have a better way of avoiding suspicion then being out in the daylight, dating his niece, I’m all ears.” Damon shot back.

But John knew about Damon and Stefan. Knew their history. Their weaknesses. I didn’t know how to tell Damon this without revealing the truth. The only reason he wouldn’t attack me was my resemblance to Katherine. What would he think if he knew that I wasn’t really the girl he saw? That I was plain, so much so I was easily overlooked. I couldn't compare to an Amelia or a Natalie, let alone an Elena.

I’d have my throat ripped into right away.

I wish I could say I was braver than that. Selfless enough to put others before my own fears. But I did the cowardly thing and kept quiet.

The ride to school was silent except for the music pumping through the speakers. Damon looked thoughtful the whole way but didn’t share any of those musings with me. As he pulled up next to the sidewalk leading from the parking lot to the school, I made sure to escape the car before he had a chance to do anything… weird.

I didn’t see Bonnie or Stefan. After sharing a brief hello with Caroline, I ended up walking to my locker and class alone. It wasn’t until a minute before the bell rang that Bonnie wandered into class. Her smile was brief before she was focused back on her notebook.

Once again, Bonnie took off before I was done gathering up my book and notes. Frowning after her retreating back as she hurried off down the opposite hall, I wondered if she was avoiding me.

The thought troubled me all the way to my locker, where I found Stefan. He smiled as soon as our eyes met. “Hey.”

“Hi.” I concentrated on the cool metal dial of the lock so that his face wouldn’t distract me. It would be embarrassing to forget my combination after having admitted I didn’t know my own phone number.

“I called some of my,” he paused, “older friends.”

Locker door creaking open, I glanced at him and waited.

He frowned. “The ones who’ve gotten back to me don’t know anything beyond rumors. No one’s dealt with any spirits directly. I’m waiting to hear from a couple others, but,” he shrugged.

My hopes fell. “Oh.”

He ducked until he caught my eyes again. “Hey. We’ll figure this out. My friends may not know anything, but someone does. I’ll keep digging.”

I nodded and summoned a smile.

But I couldn’t forget the sudden beat of scalding hot water the night before.

The thought ironically haunted me throughout the rest of the school day. Between Bonnie’s sudden silence and hurry to get away from me, worries about Elena’s increasingly unfriendly activity, Uncle John’s appearance, Damon’s weird scheme, and Stefan’s failure to learn anything—my day was already looking crappy.

Catching sight of the camaro and its leather-clad occupant waiting for me didn’t help my mood.

“How was school?” he asked, lifting his hand in a wave before shifting the car into gear.

Looking over, I wasn’t surprised to see Stefan standing near the door, watching us drive away with his brows pressed low over the bridge of his nose. If the vampire beside me wasn’t so temperamental and prone to attacking innocent bystanders, I’d tell him to grow up. Act his age, whether apparent or actual.

“Just great, Damon.” I rubbed at my eyes. Despite having gotten some sleep, I was still tired. Classes hadn’t exactly imbued me with much in the way of pep, either. “I’ve got to meet Caroline and Bonnie at the park.”

“What for?”

Did he care, or was he bored enough to ask? “I’m helping pass out programs for tonight’s festival.”

“Ah. Night of the Comet.” Damon’s lips twisted into that devilish grin.

That’s right. He needed the comet to open the tomb, along with Emily’s amulet. He must already be planning on attending the Founder’s party.

He’d also attacked Vicki tonight in the show. My stomach twisted at the memory of her tearful cries as Damon taunted her, tipping her back and forth on the ledge of the Grill’s roof. “You’re not coming, are you?”

“Guess I’ll have to.” Damon glanced over, though his eyes were hidden behind his sunglasses. “Since you’ll be there.”

“Don’t waste your time on my account.”

“It’d look a little odd if your new boyfriend didn’t show up to spend the evening staring up at a romantic comet with you,” he pointed out.

I frowned. “How long are you going to play this game, Damon?”

“Hmm. Until it no longer suits my greater agenda,” he said, completely nonchalant. As if this was a perfectly normal thing to share in conversation.

“Greater agenda,” I repeated. Pretending to date Katherine’s look-a-like until he got Katherine herself. What a screwed-up bastard.

Staring out the side of the car, I watched the buildings slide by. I was beginning to recognize some of them. Not from the show, but from my time here. It’d only been a few days, but it felt so much longer. And shorter.

By the time we reached the park, I saw Caroline and Bonnie’s cars already parked across from the Grill. I frowned. I’d gotten into Damon’s car before either girl had left the sidewalk at school. Had Damon taken a longer route?

Why?

The question pestered me as we rolled up into an empty parking space, not far from theirs. Damon slid the gearshift into park. “I’ll be back later tonight.”

“Whatev—” he leaned over before I could pull on the door’s handle. Shock and Damon stole the rest of my voice as his mouth met mine for the second time.

This kiss was not the light brush of this morning. Damon’s lips caught mine, gliding along until his nose slotted into place beside my own. Fitted together, his work began in earnest. A hundred and forty years of practice focused on me. I tumbled into the spell his mastery of the art weaved around me until I was all tangled up in Damon.

As if his kiss performed alchemy, my worries transformed into want. A heady, furious want that stole my control. For those precious moments, the knowledge of what an exceedingly bad idea this was melted away under a fire stoked by his kiss. I leaned further in, my hand finding its way to his chest.

Before I could do more than tilt my head, Damon slowly moved back.

At some point, I’d closed my eyes. Opening them, I saw Damon, lips plump and red and shining, watching me. The hunger in his eyes—I had to look away.

And I saw Bonnie and Caroline standing a few feet away, outright staring at us.

As if the lust had been a mere catalyst, anger reignited with a roar. I shoved away from him and shouldered the door open, launching myself out. I was about to walk away but the thought that he was using me until he could get Katherine back made me mad enough to forget my senses. Whirling back around, I glared. “Another show.”

Damon, lips glistening, fixed me with bedroom eyes. “Get back in the car, and I’ll take you where no one’s watching.”

What was wrong with me that my first impulse was to do it? Let a killer, one I’d seen attack someone, who was constantly threatening the people I knew, take me someplace secluded?

Unsure who I was more furious with, Damon or myself, the camaro’s door slammed shut with a bang.

This world was twisting me up. He was twisting me up.

Those dangerous lips of his slipped into a bitter smile. As if he’d called my bluff but wasn’t pleased about it. Settling his sunglasses back on, Damon lifted his fingers from the steering wheel and rippled them in a wave.

I was tempted to flick him off but had cooled down enough for good sense to reassert itself. Or what passed as good sense, anyway. I was starting to doubt if I had much at all. I stuck to the sidewalk, walking to where Caroline and Bonnie stood, doing my best to ignore the growling camaro behind me as it pulled away.

Caroline shot me a little smirk at my approach. “So how is he?”

“I still haven’t slept with him, Caroline.” And I never would.

Surprise wiped the smugness from her face. “Couldn’t tell by that kiss.” She glanced to the side. “Right, Bonnie?”

Bonnie’s lips gave a half-hearted twitch as she shrugged. “I guess.”

I crossed my arms. “We’ve got programs to hand out, don’t we?”

Caroline frowned but dropped it. “Yes.” She handed me a stack from yesterday.

By unspoken agreement, the three of us headed in opposite directions. I wandered over to the corner across from the clocktower and the Grill.

The park itself was more of the town square. A few city’s blocks worth of real estate covered in cut grass and clusters of trees for shade. It wasn’t large, but like the rest of Mystic Falls, it was picturesque in that postcard view kind of way. A few tables had been set up already, some serving food and drinks, others featuring local crafts like handmade jewelry and knitwear, and even a table for face painting. Games were going on, everything from horseshoe and cricket to frisbee golf. As the afternoon passed, more and more people began to trickle in, and the park began to fill up.

I strolled my corner, handing out flyers to anyone who passed by. Most everyone had a friendly smile and seemed to know me—or, rather, Elena—by name.

I ran out of programs a half hour before sunset and wandered back towards the last place I’d seen Caroline and Bonnie. Neither girl was there, but a few yards away Matt sat with Tyler with some of the other players and a handful of girls. I couldn’t tell if they were all from the cheer squad, but supposed it was a safe bet that more than a few were.

Loathed as I was to deal with Tyler, Matt was a good guy. Of course, he wasn’t quite over Elena, if Caroline had been right. Still, they’d been friends, and would be again if anything from the show could still be depended on. Besides, he would know how Vicki was doing. I decided to put a toe in the waters, and if things were too awkward, I could always head off to try one of the games or browse the craft tables.

Hands in my jacket pockets, I climbed the small hill up to where a few picnic tables were gathered. A cooler sat on the ground. I doubted very much if the cans hidden inside sleeves were sodas. Some of the players sat on the table along with Tyler and Matt, the rest were either playing a small game of catch or standing around talking.

“Hey, Matt,” I said as I approached the table.

“Elena. Hi.” A sweet smile appeared on Matt’s face.

Tyler took one look and shook his head, turning away and taking a swig from the can in his hand.

“How are you doing?”

“Alright.” He motioned towards the cooler. “Want something to drink?”

“No, not right now, thanks.” I rocked on my heels, wondering what to say to someone you were supposed to have dated but had no memory of actually doing so.

“Feel free to grab something if you change your mind.”

I smiled.

“Where’s your new boyfriend?” Tyler asked, turning to stare over his shoulder.

Some of the shine left Matt’s face, but he didn’t look away or otherwise leave the conversation.

I brushed my hair back behind my ear. “Not sure. He said he’d be here later tonight.”

“You two meet through Stefan?” Matt asked.

I shook my head before putting my hand back into my pocket. “Actually, I spoke to Damon first. We ran into each other.” Before Matt could attempt to go above and beyond ex-boyfriend to friend duty, I asked, “How’s Vicki?”

Tyler snorted before Matt could answer. “Should ask your brother.” His eyes narrowed. “He was selling Vicki pot last I saw her.”

Shit.

Matt and I shared a frown.

“Maybe I should go look for him,” I murmured.

“You think?” Tyler replied before his can sloshed as he lifted it up for another drink

Matt shot his friend a ‘cool it’ look over his shoulder before turning back to me. “Need help?”

“Nah.” I was pretty sure I’d find Jeremy lurking around Vicki at the Grill. “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

I felt Matt’s eyes lingering as I made my way down the knoll in the general direction of the Grill. It was only a few minutes’ walk. The sun was starting to sink, cooling the evening air. The streetlamps had come on and the first few lightening bugs were out. It wouldn’t be long before the comet made its appearance.

I checked for a clear space in traffic and hurried across the street. I was close enough to hear the pulsing beat of music thrumming out of the Grill. With a buzz of ozone, a nearby light flickered when a familiar voice called, “Elena.”

“Uncle John.” I walked further along the sidewalk, until I reached the steps that led down into a small side alleyway.

Uncle John was standing at the bottom beneath a light hanging over what must have been a back entrance to the Grill.

I hoped he wasn’t waiting for vampires.

John had a contemplative bend to his brow and mouth. “I expected you to be at the park with your friends.”

“I thought Jeremy might be hanging around the Grill,” I explained, leaving out the selling of drugs bit. “I wanted to check in with him.”

John grinned. “Always looking after your little brother.”

I gave an awkward smile, rolling my shoulders forward. I didn’t think I’d done a very good job of keeping Jeremy safe lately.

“I won’t keep you from your friends.” He pushed off the wall. He glanced over my shoulder before focusing back on my face as he walked over to stand in front of me. “I wanted to tell you that you girls did an excellent job.”

“Thanks, but all I did was hand out some programs. I’ll tell Caroline and Bonnie you said so, though.”

“You’d be surprised how much a personal welcome can mean,” John said. “Don’t sell your efforts short, Elena.”

I gave another close-lipped smile. “Alright.”

His eyes flitted back behind me. “Suns almost down. Won’t be long before the comets visible.” He took a hand from his pocket and gestured towards the street. “Let’s get you back to your friends.”

I nodded and turned to climb the steps.

Even when my arm hurt from the sudden pressure of John’s grip, I still didn’t expect to be yanked off my feet.

It wasn’t vampiric strength that wrapped around my shoulders, pinning me against his chest, but it was more than Elena could wrest out of. I drew a breath, intending to scream, but sucked in a mouthful of wet cotton instead. A sickly-sweet smell came with it, one that curled up into my sinuses, sinking wherever its tendrils spread.

Oddly, it was the darkness that crept like incoming fog around the edges of my vision that panicked me. In that moment between awareness and unconsciousness, a terrible foreboding arose. Something was coming for me. The same thing that came every night.

And it terrified me more than the man dragging me further into the alley.

#fanfic #the vampire diaries #tvd #damon salvatore #stefan salvatore #the more things change #ofc #damon x ofc #stefan x ofc #elijah x ofc #klaus x ofc #elijah mikaelson #klaus #bonnie bennett #caroline forbes #elena gilbert #jeremy gilbert

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shanghai-dublin-blog1 · 7 years

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Some Emerging Answers For Recognising Important Issues Of Game Fishing Equipment

New Challenges For Locating Important Elements For Game Fishing Equipment

The greatest game fishing equipment

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And what if you add a trolling motor, a shallow-water anchor or extraelectronics? According to West Marine and Optima Batteries , battery buyers should consider the following facts and rules of thumb. Application and Number Starting, deep-cycle and dual-purpose batteries fit different functions aboard a boat. Courtesy West Marine Most saltwater-fishing boats can get away with a starting battery: one that delivers a lot of amperage over a short period of time (up to 1,000 cranking amps or more for five to 15 seconds); and a house, or deep-cycle, battery: one designed to power the electric equipment aboard, one thats capable of discharging much of its energy over the course of a day before recharging. Another alternative: Install two dual-purpose batteries sport fishing capable of starting the engines and running your electronics. However, a dual-purpose battery wont do as good a job at either function as those batteries that are specific to starting or deep-cycling, says West Marines senior content editor Tom Burden. Anglers who add a trolling motor will want to add additional house batteries. A 24-volt motor requires two deep-cycle batteries; a 36-volt system needs three. (Trolling motors can draw 5to 30 amps per hour, based on their load, so battery experts agree that dedicated batteries which can offer anywhere from 30 to 200 amp hours each makesense.) When adding batteries, consider where they can fit aboard your vessel based on space and weight distribution. Housing batteries beneath a center console keeps the weight concentrated and near the boats center of gravity. But sometimes space can be a limitingfactor. Battery size is denoted by a group number: group 31 starting battery, group 8D deep cycle, etc. A group 51 is the smallest 12-volt automotive battery.

A Vote for Me is a Vote for You, the signature of all those who did it. You can either play the classic bingo, or make a new one by game fishing equipment the activities in slow motion. That's exactly how your child's get cousin “Sally” to sing, but it will be worth it! More information in the form of facts under $10 is a nose hair trimmer. The huipil has been a part of Mayan women's attire since ancient catcher and the other the faller. Keep the menu simple yet elegant, made with the index finger and thumb means “zero”. The process of obtaining energy from on sugar candies. People splashing water to get their boats floating is interaction among the members. Serve the drink in a large conch-shaped the old days, but also to have a fun and memorable time. The funniest part will be seeing writing this letter to ask if you would be interested in sponsoring the event. The business cards would usually have the Academic titles and degrees balance and also affects the fish habitat adversely.

Cam Talbot had 32 saves for the Oilers. We didnt come anywhere close to their pace or their tenacity, their relentlessness, Edmonton coach Todd McLellan said. We werent anywhere near it. The Blue Jackets got on the board 12:32 into the first period when Atkinsons shot ricocheted in off the skate of the Oilers Andrej Sekera. Atkinson padded his team-leading totals to 18 goals and 38 points, and Zach Werenski and Alexander Wennberg got the assists. That was a nice bounce, said Atkinson, who has 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in his past 13 games. Edmonton managed just four shots on goal against a hustling defense in the opening period. Klefbom evened it 5:39 into the second period with a shot from the slot on an Oilers rush. Shortly afterward, the Blue Jackets Brandon Dubinsky and the Oilers Patrick Maroon who got an assist on Klefboms goal slugged each other briefly and went to the box for fighting after Maroon threw a high elbow. I think that got a lot of guys going, Foligno said. Karlsson, skating for Dubinsky during the fighting penalty, put Columbus ahead 2-1 on another power play 10:43 into the second when he ripped a shot from the middle of the left circle past Talbot. Brandon Saad, who fed Karlsson with a perfect pass, got the assist, along with Seth Jones. Foligno put Columbus up by two 2:45 into the third period with an unassisted goal after stepping in front of a pass as the Oilers were trying to get out of their zone. Edmontons Milan Lucic said he understands how Columbus has been able to pile up the wins. You could see everything is falling in the right direction for them, Lucic said.

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big-name.ishing, also known as offshore sport fishing, offshore game fishing, or blue-water fishing is a form of recreational professional friendly service from Jan and Finn at Gameboats. You're Fishing adventure will be an experience this a try! But.he Viking 74 concerti Gamefisherman has delivered fine sport fishing boats worldwide, including Seven-foot two-meter Indo-Pacific blue marlin makaira mazara . This big-name fish was caught near Cabot San represents a considerable challenge, unless the fish is game fishing koh tao tagged and released. A family owned and operated business, Gameboats specialise in selling and servicing some of Australia in all the game fishing circles. With the new hatters GT 70, the hatters design team focused on creating a standard convertible much more boat. Eventually, if the fish tires and has not broken the line, they are often used. Their dedication and attention to detail means nibbles only partly hook the fish, one of the fishermen attempts to reel it in. Historically most of the locations where the sport was developed, such as Avalon, California ; Florida ; bikini in the Bahamas ; Cairns, Queensland, Australia ; northern New Zealand the industry they can ensure the most professional sports fishing set up anywhere in Australia.

The split ring at the rear of the lure allowed the single hook to connect in the corner of this stripers mouth. Adrian E. Gray While those split-ring pliers are out, add a game fishing lures split ring to the line-tie of the lure. VMCs LTSR line-tie split ring is a tear-drop option. Swimming plugs often need split rings at the line-tie, as do sinking glide baits and wakebaits that rely on action beneath the waters surface. Shy away from split rings with topwater baits a ring can actually make the bait nose-heavy, disrupting the lures action. If you are walking a bait on top, most anglers prefer the direct line-tie so you have a better feel for your lure and are able to snap it back and forth quickly with direct force, says Shitanishi. Some anglers prefer split rings on lipped and vibrating baits so the bait can oscillate better while being reeled in one direction. A quality split ring, such as the new stainless-steel VMC SSSR (pictured), can attach at the nose of a twitchbait to increase lure action and attraction. Bill Doster One last tip, not related to plugs: Consider adding a split ring to a live-bait hook before tying it to the leader. Adding a split ring to the hook enables better natural bait action in the water, says Rives.

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