Chapter Text
"Stefan, if this is you, you'll be okay."
"I love you, Stefan. Hold on to that. Never let that go."
The line is still silent for a minute before cutting out. Elena smiled, feeling a little better about today's events. There was hope after all. She would get Stefan back. Klaus be dammed.
Her joy was soon cut short but a knock at the front door. She makes her way downstairs, Jeremy joining her.
"Who do you think it is?"
"Maybe, it's Ric."
The younger gilbert shook his head at the idea, a sad smile gracing his face. "Keep hoping, Lena."
The doppelganger reaches the door and opens it, Jeremy waiting on the steps behind her.
On their front porch, was a girl. She looked quite young, with long wavy chocolate hair and matching eyes. She was wearing a simple black turtleneck, with jeans and small heels. Both Elena and Jeremy paused in their shocked, both recognizing the girl in front of them.
"Well, aren't you going to invite me in, little sister."
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The words broke the younger Gilberts out of their shocked. Elena looked like she was probably going to start yelling but Jeremy beat her to the punch, immediately moving to hug Valerie.
"Val!" Jeremy whisper-yelled, holding onto her like a lifeline, and Val returned it just as hard. It was times like this that remind Valerie just how young he was. She hugged him even tighter.
She missed him. She had missed him so much.
"Jer-bear! God, you got tall. So not fair." Val observed, moving into the house while reluctantly unravelling herself from her brother. Elena moved as she did, making sure there were a few feet of space between the two sisters.
Val turn to her, her smile becoming a little more forced. "Elena."
"What the hell are you doing here, Valerie?" She questioned immediately, not even bothering to pretend. Val pouted in response, ignoring the way her body stiffened.
"Come on, Lena, not even a little happy to see me?" She teased, the air becoming tense between them. Jeremy released Val a bit, but still didn't move away from her. Val felt her heart break a little at the action, but she couldn't blame him.
She did run away, leaving him. Leaving them both.
Granted she and her friends were being hunted by their own parents at the time. Unknowingly, of course but still. But it's not like she could say that.
"I'd be a lot happier if you weren't gone for the past couple of years." Elena spat, arms crossing her chest. Jeremy slightly tense at her words but still didn't move away.
Val remembered all the times Jeremy would get caught between her and Elena's arguing, always unwilling to pick a side. She let out a small sigh and proceeded to semi-drag Jeremy to the living room, sitting down on the couch. If this conversation was going in many of the directions she thought it would, they would need to be sitting. Elena followed behind her, staying standing.
Val took a moment to go over the carefully practised words, before addressing her siblings.
"You're not going to accepted any excuses I give to you, and you guys deserve the truth. But unfortunately I can't give that to you just yet." Val spoke quietly. "So, I'm sorry for running away. For not being here when you needed it. It's obviously been a bit of a hard year for you guys."
Elena huffed at her words. But Jeremy smiled at her.
"It's alright. You were dealing too."
Val didn't return it. "Still not a great excuse. I'm your older sister. I should've been there for you and ... I intend to do so now." Val promised, making sure to look both siblings in the eye as she did. She then let out a small smile.
"Speaking of." From out of nowhere she produce a small wrapped box. Year of arguments and emotions rushed through Val but she held it out to Elena. "Happy Birthday. Sorry I couldn't make the party."
Elena hesitantly took the small box after her shock wore off. She opened it to find a beautiful bracelet, with a golden chain with a simple rose stone. On the stone, there was a white letter carved into it, the letter G. Jeremy stood up to look at it while Valerie explained, her hands rubbing the back of her neck.
"Mom sorta started the tradition when gifting a similiar one to Aunt Jenna. Aunt Jenna, never one to turn down a challenge, gifted one to me. As the next female Gilbert, I figured it was your turn."
"Jenna had one?" Elena whispered, her eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"Yeah, she gifted me mine." Val held out her arm, a silver chain with a black stone decorated her wrist. A green G was carved into it. "Pretty sure she had a silver chain with a blue stone. I can't remember what colour the S was."
Val smiled at the memory, before glancing at her siblings. "Where is she anyway?"
Silence.
Elena held the bracelet tighter, more tears threatening to fall. Jeremy looked not far off himself. He moved to hold Elena's hand, turnign to Val. The reaction set off a bunch of warning signs in her head, her eyes narrowing.
"Val, while you were gone..."
She instantly froze at his words, turning to look at him. Jeremy couldn't look her in the eye.
"Jeremy, what happened?"
The urgency in her words gave away her worry. Elena refused to look at her, holding the bracelet in her hands like a lifeline. Val felt her heart drop in her chest as her youngest brother refused to meet her eye.
"What. Happened?" .
"Val, Jenna… she's gone. She died a few months ago."
The youngest's voice broke at the admission. Val's eyes started to water at that, her body not moving as she processed the words. She barely noticed Jeremy sitting next to her, melting into her as he pulled her closer.
Jenna Sommers. Aunt Jenna who was always there for her when the arguments got too much. Who never once cared that she was adopted. Who would take one look at Val and help decide whether she needed a girl's day or help revenge pranking when the bullying got too far.
Who was one of the only people who noticed during the worst time of her life.
Aunt Jenna, who was dead.
And Val didn't even know.
"Why didn't anyone tell me?" Val said aloud, not thinking before speaking, too caught up in her emotions. But she didn't miss the way both Elena and Jeremy froze at the question.
"It's …there was a lot going on." Elena weakly provided, her hands grasping Jeremy's. And Val felt her emotions shift to anger, every plan for this evening going out the window.
"Our aunt died and neither of you bothered to call." Val's voice was quiet but full of anger. Both of her siblings flinched at the tone.
"We ... You weren't here." Elena said, her voice was back to being accusatory
And fuck that. Elena doesn't get to use that tone. Not now.
Val resisted the urge to smash her little sister's head into the wall, trying to control her breathing. She shouldn't have come, she should have known it would end like this. Even after all this time, Elena still didn't see her as family. Didn't care enough to call.
The only thing keeping her sane at the moment was Jeremy melted into her side. If she dug her fingers into him a bit too hard, he didn't say anything.
They sat in silence for a bit, before Valerie couldn't take the silence anymore.
"You could have told me." She chastised, not willing to let this go. "It's getting pretty late. Are you guys doing anything tomorrow?"
"You're not staying?" Jeremy asked, looking hurt. Val held her tongue on the insult, mentally counting backwards.
"The others and I have a new house, I had promised to not let them do all the work moving in. I'll text you the address so you have it in future." Val explained, standing swiftly. Before she said something she would regret.
"Well, I have work tomorrow but I could use a lift?" Jeremy asked, eyes wide with guilt. Val's softened at it. She could never stay mad at Jeremy for long.
"Sounds like a plan. You in, Lena?" Val asked out of politeness, but her eyes held no kindness, just daring Elena to accept.
"Sorry, I have plans tomorrow. When you meant the others?" Elena redirected, obviously grasping for more information.
"Oh, just Grace and Arthur. The other are coming later." Val responded, enjoying not giving her little sister all the info. She stood up, giving Jeremy one last hug. She turned to Elena but she took a step back. Val gives a small smile, before saying goodbye before leaving the house, closing the door behind her.
She takes a moment to breath, her hands clenching at her side, unconsciously fidgeting with her own bracelet. In the low lighting of the front porch, the black veins running down her face are impossible to see.
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"Morning Jer-bear. Is Elena in?" Val asks, walking into the house. It felt weird, having not been in the house for a while. She leaned against the door, glancing around the front of it.
She refused to look upstairs. To her old room.
"Nah, she had somewhere to be." Jeremy replied easily, grabbing his stuff. He wondered into the kitchen to grab a snack, Val following.
The eldest Gilbert was bursting with questions, her hands tapping on the bench. She was attempting to be civil, to wait. Elena would throw a bitch fit if she wasn't included in this conversation and probably try to avoid telling her. Val wasn't sure if Jeremy would answer either, he had changed a bit.
"Just ask, Val."
Jeremy was leaning against the counter, just waiting. Val had almost forgotten he knew her just as well as she knew him.
"I would but Elena would be a little pissed about not being in this conversation. And no offense, not dealing with that." She responded, looking over the living room once more. She frowned as she noticed a couple photos of her were missing. Actually, all the photos of her were missing.
It's like she never existed.
"Yeah that's fair. But you also deserve to know." Jeremy countered, moving to the front door. Val couldn't help but notice how much more mature he had gotten. She wasn't sure if she liked it or not.
"In that case, how did it happen?" Valerie didn't bother specifying as she watched Jeremy lock it. The younger gilbert looked up.
"Head injury." He responded, lying.
Val frowned for a second, before opening her car door. Jeremy mirrored her, both getting ready for the drive in silence. As Val was turning on the car, she forced a thousand thought out of her head, all theorises on why Jeremy would lie to her.
He hadn't ever before.
Jeremy turned to her with a bit of a grimace. "We're … I'm sorry. For not telling you. I can't say anything better than there was a lot going on." Val didn't say anything, so he continued on.
"A lot had happened the last year. There was... Do you remember Vicki Donavon." Jeremy asked, trying to keep his voice steady. Val already didn't like where this was going.
"The one you had a massive crush on that I continue to say is a bit too old for you." Val replied easily, her eyes rolling at the memory of the older Donavon. She was about a year younger than Val, but still about way older than Jeremy.
None of her friends had liked her, much to her dismay.
"She died." Jeremy blunt reply came. Val was very glad she was still parked in the driveway cause she definitely would have crashed. Way to speak ill of the dead.
She opened her mouth to reply but Jeremy kept going.
"And, after a bit. I meet this girl Anna. She was amazing but she ... she also… uh… died."
Val could feel her mouth drop open. She grabbed her brother's shoulder and pulled him into a hug, one that he quickly melted into.
Val had never personally fallen in love, but she believed in the concept. Falling in love was a beautiful thing. And knowing Jeremy, he had loved them both with his whole heart.
Fuck, why couldn't the universe give him a break.
"God, Jer. I'm so sorry. You lost... Jesus kid."
"It's okay. I've ... I think I'm okay." Jeremy said, forcing the smile a bit before a genuine one graced his face. "I'm actually kinda with Bonnie at the moment."
"You and the little Bennet? No way." Val exclaimed, kind of shocked at the idea.
Bonnie was well, Bonnie. She definitely wasn't the worst option but still. Jeremy smiled in reply, a blush forming on his cheeks. The change in topic kept her from asking more questions but she didn't really mind. Jeremy looked like he could use a smile.
"Come one, I got to get to work." Jeremy says, trying to deflect the situation.
"Okay, Mr Player." Val quipped, quickly reversing out the drive way. "Anything else I should know." She asked, quietly hoping that this was the majority of the news.
"Elena had a boyfriend, Stefan. Pretty serious too."
"I heard past tense. What happened?." She asks, smiling at the gossip she was getting from her brother. She took note of the name, where had she heard it before?
"He …uh had to leave. Not what he or Elena wanted him to." Jeremy sounded a bit bitter at this. But it seemed to be at the mention of the boyfriend himself rather than Elena's relationship.
"Ahh, lovers forced apart, wondering if they'll survive the separation." Val joked, making Jeremy laugh a lot.
She missed this, missed Jeremy. She forgot the number of times they would just drive around to get away from the craziness of Mystic Falls, just gossiping about who knows what. Seems like Jeremy missed it too.
"Anything else, maybe something especially juicy?"
"Yeah. Tyler started dating Caroline. Well, they say they're just friends but.. Careful!"
Val nearly swerved on oncoming traffic, quickly avoiding a crash before turning her attention back to the topic brought up.
"Tyler Lockwood and Caroline Forbes!! What!? Has the world turned upside down?"
Jeremy laughed at that. "For this past year, definetly."
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"Oh, and Caroline, she's not a prostitute."
"God I should hope not. Can you imagine what she would charge?"
Tyler turned at the unexpected voice. Standing in the hallway, was a young women. She has golden hair, chocolate brown eyes and a teasing smile on her face. She was wearing a zipline up hoodie and small jean shorts, with worn out white sneakers finishing the look.
Neither Carol nor Tyler replied, their mouths open in shock. Grace smiled at the reaction, taking a couple more steps forwards as she spoke.
"I'm gone for a couple of years and you're dating the Caroline Forbes. Congrats on improving your taste in girlfriends, Ty. I am not saving you from Arthur's shovel talk."
"Grace!" Tyler finally snapped out of it, running and hugging his older sister. She returned it just as hard, letting her little brother bury his head under her neck.
God, she has missed him. Due to the tension and frankly toxic upbringing, Grace never thought of them being that close, but she still had missed him. The moment broke when a cough interrupted them.
Carol Lockwood was across the room, the now empty glass on the table behind her, staring at the both of them. Grace felt Tyler slowly unwind from her embrace, but she didn't move her eyes from her mother. She smiled, unbothered by the disapproval plastered all over the mayor's face.
Last time Grace actually talked to Carol, it was when she had kicked her out of the house. She would have been about 16 at time.
"Carol. I would say it's good to see you but I don't think lying will help this situation." Grace said easily enough, satisfaction running through her as her mother flinched at her words. The elder Lockwood recovered quickly though.
"You aren't welcome here, Grace." Grace pretended the words didn't sting, even if only a little.
"Oh don't worry. I'm staying elsewhere. Just figure I'd catch up with Ty. Where're you headed?" She asks, focusing back on her brother. He looks a little uncomfortable with the entire situation and bounces at the opportunity to leave, opening his mouth to speak.
"The Grill, I have to meet Elena about something."
"Easy. I can drive if you want."
"Sounds great."
Grace smiled as they both exit, Tyler already catching Grace up on the latest. As the door closed behind them, Carol can be heard scrambling to pick up the phone.
Grace gave herself a moment to pause before turning to Tyler. She had mentally prepared for this conversation in her head but now, words failed her. The time away from her toxic cesspool of a family had done her a world of good but even now she struggled. She let out a small sigh before speaking.
"Look, Ty. About dad's.." She started, but is quickly interrupted.
"Hey, you don't have to apologies for that. I mean, with everything mom and he did, I would have been shocked you came."
"No, Ty. I'm not sorry at all about missing his funeral. At all. I'm sorry for … you know, not being there for you."
Ty froze at her words, clearly not expecting the apology. He opened his mouth, closed it. He let out a small laugh, smiling at Grace.
"Thanks. That … means a lot." The conversation reached a stopping point. Grace couldn't help laughing, Ty quickly joining in. They smiled at each other, hopping in the car. Tyler turned to her as she was reversing out.
"So there no chance at all you can help with …"
"I'm not saving you from Arthur."
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Val was at the Grill, having just dropped off Jeremy for work. She watched everyone go around. Just a few years ago, it was her group of friends that would come here and drink and talk. Just having fun.
God, the things they had gotten up to since then.
A notification from her phone distracted her from the growing feeling of nostalgia, thankfully. But before she could even look at it, she saw Elena. Who was talking to some drunk at the bar. Val felt herself listen in to the conversation.
"You want to hunt down a pack of werewolves on the full moon?"
"We'll be out of there before the moon in full."
Val almost choked on her hot chocolate. Quickly covering herself, she continued to listen in. The drunk and Elena were still discussing her idiotic plan, and her mind began to race.
If they were both in the know about the supernatural world, it would explain why they were acting so shifty around her. And why Jeremy lied about Jenna's death.
Val felt her hands tighten around the coffee cup. If they were in the know, if Jenna's...
She quickly set down the cup as she try to keep her face under control. She watched as Elena and whoever this was, leave the Grill, talking about supplies they would need.
Val rubbed a hand down her face, pulling out her phone and texting a certain group chat. She was willing to bet that most of their siblings were in the know. Be that as it may, it looked like she has a trip to the Smokey Mountains to go on. Someone had to help her little sister with her almost certain death-by-werewolf trip.
And if she got a few answers out of it, well that was her bonus.
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"Is this like the kind of thing you need another person for?"
"I can handle it, but thanks." Tyler raised the coffee cup to his lips but was stopped by another voice.
"Just who I wanted to see. Hello, little Lockwood. Donovan." Both turned. Around the edge of the pool table was a young man, about six feet tall, with golden hair and blue eyes. His button up was rumpled and perfectly complimented the dashing smile he had on.
"Arthur Forbes, in the flesh. What the hell are you doing here man?" Matt asked, moving to greet the eldest Forbes. Arthur returned the greeting, enjoying how Tyler's heartrate doubled.
"Well, I'm trying to get a hold of Caroline but she doesn't seemed to be anywhere. So I figured I ask the person whose bedroom she was apparently caught sneaking out of last night." His tone turned the slightest bit sharp as his gaze narrowed at the youngest Lockwood. Matt whirled around in response. Eyebrows sky high that the new information.
Arthur Forbes was nothing if not a protective brother. Did the idea of his little sister dating Elena's ex or Tyler of all people make him want to puke. Absolutely. But he knew she could handle herself.
Didn't mean he wouldn't mess with them a bit. Arthur watched with amusement, stealing a cup of coffee to sip as Tyler tried to stumble any sort of excuse out of his mouth. And immediately spat it back out.
The burning of vervain was always an awful feeling but especially so when it wasn't expected. He managed to keep his reaction under control as he struggled not to panic. But it still was notice by the two before him. Matt looked a few seconds from running away, Tyler wasn't much better.
Well, that answered the question whether they knew or not.
Deciding to act quickly, he took a hold of both of their arms, dragging them into another room before turning to face them both. Arthur stood in front of the door in order to make sure they didn't run. A silent standoff happened for the next few minutes, both parties unwilling to break first.
Matt was the first to recover.
"You're a vampire?"
"And apparently both of you know about the supernatural." Arthur stepped back, letting them have their space. He figured they weren't going to say much more so he keep talking. "I was turned a little more than two years ago. But I've known since about 13. When did you guys find out?"
They seemed to relax at his words, realising that they weren't in any danger from him. Matt still seemed weary.
"About last year. Have come you've known for ages?" Tyler asked, leaning forward in curiosity. Arthur smirked at the question, the memories easily flooding through his head at the day.
"We figured out through Willow accidentally doing magic. Although Enid had known for years before she came to town but that a whole different story."
"Willow's a witch, like Bonnie?"
"Yep. Sounds like it. If little Bennet is anything like Willow, she'll be a heck of one too." Arthur replied, before becoming a bit more serious. "Although, if Mom's putting vervain in the coffee, it means vampires are back in town."
Arthur fought back the memories of the last vampire in Mystic Falls.
The wince from Matt was enough to confirm it but his expression made Arthur hesitate. He has seen that enough times to know what was going on.
He continued on, watching the younger Donovan carefully. "Given that reaction, who got turned?"
"Caroline."
That made him freeze, heart stopping as the world around seem to fizzle out.
Care was the one who was turned. Caroline, his little sister. Who had died.
That wasn't the plan. The plan was that they'd leave Mystic Falls and their siblings get protected. They got to live in blissful ignorance for at least another few years.
Caroline wasn't meant to die.
Both Matt and Tyler took a step back at his expression. He took another step towards Tyler, semi aware of how hard their heart were beating at the sight of him.
"You okay man?" Tyler spoke again, making sure to keep Matt between him and Arthur. The vampire manage to straighten himself up a bit, reining in his emotions and such.
"Perfectly fine. Where's Caroline?" Arthur redirected. He had to make sure she was okay. God, he remember the nightmare that was his own death and the weeks following. He wasn't even sure what her reaction would have been. Caroline was incredible at adapting but being a vampire?
Maybe if he hadn't have left...
"I haven't seen her since last night." Tyler reply came easily, blocking his chain of thoughts. Arthur nodded, his mind becoming sharply focused on the problem at hand.
Another thought nagged at his head. "Does my mum know about her?"
"Yeah, she's aware." The answer caught him off guard a bit but he quickly recovered. He shouldn't be surprised. It was a pain to keep her from noticing Valerie being turned at first.
He nodded at the both of them before swiftly exiting. If he concentrated, he could here Tyler asking about the vervain, but he ignored them, phone already out.
Looks like he was meeting his mum a little earlier than planned.
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"Okay. Okay! But we are out of here before the moon is full. And I'm werewolf bait."
"I promise."
Val didn't bother listening into the rest of the conversation, already not liking this vampire. If Enid's research was correct, this would be Damon Salvatore. She had heard some stuff about him, but her sister did seem to have him wrapped around her finger. Typical.
She heard the drunk, Alaric his name was, beside her. He hadn't noticed she was there yet, probably still a bit hung over if the smell was anything to go by.
Val decided to make herself known, just as her sister was getting out of the water.
"You know, that lover's quarrel was painful to watch." The instance she spoke, the alcoholic had a crossbow shooting at her while Damon flashed between her and Elena. She caught the arrow easily, holding it out just in front of her.
"Not bad reflexes, for an ex-hunter at least."
"Valerie?!"
"Hey, Lena! Missed you this morning. Do you often go on supernatural suicide missions or is this a one-time thing?" Val asked in rapid fire, holding the arrow to admire it. She turned towards Alaric and gently tossed the arrow at his feet. It would have been a bit of a waste otherwise.
"You know her, Elena?" Damon asked as he relaxed his stance, barely. Valerie could feel his eyes looking her up and down, making her skin crawl, but she showed no reaction. She could take him if needed.
Elena marched out in front of him, still dripping wet from the water. She headed straight for her, eyes furious.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Overheard about your death wish to get mauled by werewolves. Figured I'd perform my sisterly duties and join you." Val teased, making Elena scowl more.
The younger Gilbert folded her arms across her chest, and was about to respond when the other vampire interrupted.
"You've had a sister this entire time, Elena?" Damon said, as he walked closer, the hunter following his example.
Val's anger grew at his words, turning back to Elena with her eyebrows raised.
"Aww, did you not tell them about me? In that case," Val turned her attention to the two behind her. "Valerie Gilbert, the runaway sister and pretty decent vampire, at your service."
Elena paled when she heard vampire but Damo stepped forward and reach a hand out. "Damon Salvatore." Val smile turned cold and she made no attempts to move.
He stepped forward and reached a handout. He was probably flirting but honestly, he was coming off a bit creepy. Plus, she had heard about this guy, mainly from Enid's research about Mystic Falls. Just a straight up dick.
"Supposed to be charmed, I'm sure. And you're Alaric, right. The guy that's been looking after them?" He was a little startled at the mention of his name but nodded as well. Val smiled soften a touch, nodding her head. As much as she didn't like the idea of an alcoholic looking after them, someone was better than no one.
"Thank you." Alaric said in response, looking a bit sheepish and really confused.
"How long have you been a vampire?" Elena asked, the accusatory tone in her voice not hard to hear.
"How long have you known about the supernatural?" Val shot back, not willing to back down. Neither one of them spoke, before Val reluctantly sigh. It was clear Elena wouldn't budge until she did. Her sister could be pretty stubborn at times.
"I was turned at 17, I'm surprise you didn't notice. I was terrible at hiding it."
Elena's eyes widened in realisation. "The first time you guys ran away."
"Spent that week trying not to rip everyone's head off." That was more of a test than anything. To see just how desensitized Elena had become to the supernatural world. The fact her sister only took a partial step back and didn't back down said a lot.
But now really wasn't the time for this.
"I'll happily do a Q & A with everyone, as soon we get off this mountain. You know, way from murder happy puppies?"
"No, we're not going home. We have to find Stefan."
Stefan Salvatore. Infamous ripper of Monterey yet somehow the better brother. Seriously, what did she see in them? At least Matt had a heart of gold.
"No offense Elena, but I've seen werewolves on a full moon and no amount of misplaced optimism is going to help you. This definitely isn't worth whoever you're trying to find."
Damon at that point, decided to interrupt. "No offense, secret sister but we already agreed to try and find my brother.
Val scoffed. "You mean my sister battered her big doe eyes at you and you jumped on board." She smiled, enjoying the way Damon's eyes darkened at her words. "Talk about weak willed."
"Okay, enough Valerie." Elena interrupted, taking another step forward. "You don't get to come in here and make decisions when you've been away for a bit. Damon and Stefan have been there for me when you weren't."
Val felt another sharp flare of anger but this time did nothing to control herself. "You mean when we had to leave before the towns council members succeeded in wiping us out."
Elena's face twitched at that but Val continued. "We were moments away from being discovered, Elena, we were nearly killed." She stalked forward, voice raising. "You think we wanted to leave. Our own parents were hunting us, we didn't have a choice!"
There was a tense silence for a bit, and Val realized just how close she was to Elena now. She glanced at the others and tried not to let her fangs drop.
She was glad she remembered to have an actual drink before this, otherwise she would have actually torn Damon's head off. He looked like he would do the same to her for daring to shout at Elena. Val took another breath, somewhat aware Alaric had the crossbow loaded up, ready to shoot at her again.
It seemed Elena still had the entire town wrapped around her finger.
It was always easy, getting into argument with Elena. Mainly because she had such a closed off world view. In her head, the only things that matter on this mountain was her boyfriend, the two others with her and herself. She wouldn't take into account the actual werewolves and other potential dangers until they were right in front of her. Val on the other hand, had always boarded on paranoid despite her apparently childish personality. She let out a sigh, knowing the only way to deal with Elena.
Compromising.
"Okay. So I can't convince you to leave the obvious suicide mission. Fine. Guess, we're finding your boyfriend or whatever he is to you."
Elena gaped at her words, before a smile graced her features, one full of approval now that Val had done what she wanted. She stepped forward, but before she could say anything Val continued on.
"However, I need a full recount of everything that's happened since I've left. Got it?" Elena's smile instantly and Damon scoffed at that, making Val raise her eyes at him.
"It's a long story, feisty. You sure you want to hear it."
"After this conversation, definetly."
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"You have to get it over with, Arthur."
The blond vampire was started out of his trance by Grace. She was standing beside him as he stared at the police station. He ignored her words, focusing in on his mother's voice across the street.
"Earth to Arthur Forbes. Seriously, Arty, she'll be ecstatic to see you." Grace argued, gently knocking her elbow into the vampire's ribs. He didn't take his eyes off the police station door.
"See me as a vampire?" He countered.
While she hadn't known it was them, his mom was a major part of the council when they were hunting them down. She was a vampire hunter, through and through. Just like his dad was. Just like the Gilbert's were. Back then, they couldn't risk that their parent's love for them was enough to overlook their values.
Grace stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the police precinct.
"Look. If what the little Donovan is saying was true, then she won't care. You have been in control of the urges for a while now. You are not going to hurt her."
Arthur sighed at that, before nodding. Grace had a couple of wonderful points he couldn't argue against. She smiled at her win, grabbing the other's arm and pulling them across the street. She paused at the doorway, turning to push Arthur inside.
He made his way inside, glancing around for the Sheriff. He felt more nervous than he had been for a while. He found her pretty quick, talking to another cop with her back turned to her. He walked up to her, his words failing as he tried to talk, to greet her.
It wasn't necessary however, as she turned around before he could grab her attention. He smiled at he made eye contact with her, feeling himself tearing up.
"Hey, Mom."
That was all he got out before Arthur was crushed in a hug, Liz pulling him down so she wrapped around his shoulder. He grabbed onto her just as tight, leaning into her as the hug continued. If he felt moisture on his shoulder, he didn't say anything, just hugged her tighter.
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Elena and Damon continued to bicker as they walked up the mountain. Valerie had long since blocked them out, electing to keep an ear out for any soon to be wolves coming their way.
While Elena did have a point about there not being wolves for a bit, Val could vouch that it still was awful to fight wolves of any form on the full moon night. And so decided to keep an eye out. Something the vampire centuries older than her should have been doing.
She felt her mind go over the information she got out of Elena. Who was apparently one of the doppelgangers, something Enid would be ecstatic about. Stefan and Damon had met and both dated the previous one, a red flag if she ever saw one.
Stefan was now in the service of Klaus, the Original Vampire turned Original Immortal hybrid. Who had killed Aunt Jenna and Elena in the ritual to do so. While Uncle John gave his life for Elena to live.
Because of course Elena was the one who got a free pass.
Oh, and Elena was adopted. Unsurprising, it was that bit of information that Val was stuck on.
And she thought her friends had a lot going on.
Val tried to block it from her mind, deciding she needed alcohol or fresh blood or both to deal with all of it. Definitely both. She tried not to think about the fact they were most likely on the same mountain top as Klaus. She had heard enough stories, and she did not want to find out if they were true.
She was glad when she heard unknown footsteps made their way towards them. She quickly changed her position, making Damon listen to their surroundings as well, instead of, you know, flirting with his brother's girlfriend.
He seemed like the exact person Elena would hate, so Val had no idea why she was even tolerating him.
Out of the bushes, came what looked like a typical camper, covered in blood. Valerie screwed up her nose at the smell of it. Werewolf blood was disgusting in general, but the blood smelled like it was rotting.
She didn't get any time to say anything before the bloody camper flashed straight into attacking Damon. The two wrestled for a bit, the seemingly super strong werewolf getting the upper hand at he pushed Damon into the tree.
Alaric was the first to react, shooting an arrow into his back.
Val narrowed her eyes at the fact it did nothing, like he couldn't feel it at all. And at the fact the werewolf was beating a 200-year-old vampire.
She finally reacted when the werewolf got a bit too close to Damon's neck. Flashing over, she grabbed on handful of the curly hair, the other twisting the arrow in his back to pull him slightly off Damon.
With a hand free, Damon grabbed a glass Elena threw at him. And it exploded right into the werewolf face. Val, stepped back as the werewolf fell to the floor screaming, quickly breaking his neck before he could recover.
"What, too good to help me?" Damon spat, glaring at Val. The younger vampire didn't even lift her head at his words.
"No, just thought you would have had a regular werewolf handled."
"I don't think it's just a werewolf." Alaric said.
Val glanced at the unconscious figure, frowning slightly.
"That's a hybrid?" Weren't hybrids meant to be really powerful, not a rotting zombie?
"We should tie him up, to make sure he doesn't get out again." Elena's voice spoke out.
Elena started to grab a lot of rope out of her bag, distracting Val from observing the apparently superior race. Alaric grabbing some water bottles. Val was a little in shock for a second before recovering.
"What are you doing, we should kill him before anything happens."
"He might have information on Stefan." Elena said, turning to glare at her older sister. Val wasn't fazed in the slightest at it, more shocked at their stupidity.
"Even if he does, do you actually think that going to hold him?"
No one answered her as they tied a ridiculous amount of vervain and wolfsbane soaked rope around the hybrid. Val knew from experience that it took at least thick chain to hold a werewolf down. So, these were definitely not holding a hybrid of all things. Even one that look as sick as he did.
Val took to observing the hybrid again. She could see that majority of the blood seemed to be leaking out of his eyes, like they were melting or something just as horrific.
She wished Enid was here for a second. She was much better at the supernatural theory stuff.
Alaric's voice brought her back, mentioning something about having no more vervain left.
"If we can get him to talk, we don't have to."
"Elena, I can't believe I have to say this but please don't wake up the sleeping hybrid." Val pleaded, slowly making her way to the hybrid's side as Elena approached it from the front.
Elena reached out a hand to wake him. Just as Val was wondering just how Elena got this far with no survival instincts, the hybrid woke up himself. There were a few tense minutes of silence before the breaking of bones was heard alongside the hybrid's screams.
Val knew the sound of a wolf turning. She took a couple of steps back, grabbing Elena's arm.
"He's turning, we have to get out of here."
"That's impossible, it's still daylight."
"I don't think he's screaming for nothing, Elena!"
Val heard a couple ropes break in between the screams, and moved quickly, pinning one side of the hybrid back to the tree. Damon copied her on the other side.
"Damon we got to get out of here. Now!" At Elena's words, he backed off the hybrid. Val following.
The group turned and ran, continuing to hear the screams of the hybrid as they did.
The daylight faded fast as they backtracked down the mountain. As a vampire, Valerie had no problem hopping over the raised roots and fallen branches but the same could not be said for Elena.
Val was behind Elena when she tripped. She went to go help her up but Damon's words made her pause.
Just in front of her little sister was a fully transformed werewolf, eyes like glowsticks, fangs sharp as ever.
Val didn't move, but she could feel the wolf's... hybrid's eye on her. She faintly remembered the last time she saw a fully transformed wolf ready to attack. At least that one had been her friend and wasn't trained on her.
Val went to move; to distract it from its gaze on Elena but Damon beat her to the punch, speeding out of there. The wolf followed, at a speed it shouldn't be able to reach.
She breathed a sigh of relief, helping Elena to her feet. She should have grabbed Elena the second she got out of lake. She began to pull her along, but Elena pulled back. She tried to follow the hybrid. Valerie stopped her short.
"We can't leave Damon! "
"He can handle himself. Let's move." At least the semi-competent hunter was agreeing with her. Elena pushed herself out of her grasp. Val allowed it, but blocked her path to Damon.
"No, we can't leave him! I'm the reason he's out here." Elena's voice became desperate.
"No, I am."
Val face palmed. Jesus fucking Christ, how had Elena not died yet?
"Enough! I'll go after him. Go with Alaric to the car, stay there." Val countered, knowing it was the only way she was getting Elena out of the werewolf infested forest. She didn't wait for a response before she sped off, flashing through the forest.
She paused for a second, before hearing the sounds of fighting. She followed that, silently hoping that Damon had taken care of the hybrid. She really didn't like fighting werewolves.
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Grace was just putting the last of her chains on when the cellar door opened. Arthur who was finishing with the chains on the back wall, flashed over to the entrance. They both paused when they saw who it was.
Grace felt her heart break when Tyler walked through the cell door, pausing at her appearance. She vaguely notice her mom behind her but she couldn't be bothered to acknowledge her.
It was always a possibility to her that Tyler would break the curse, after all they both inherited their father's anger. She just didn’t think he would be so young when he did so.
"Shit, Ty. Wasn't expecting to see you down here." She joked, hoping to air out the already charged tension. Both of the siblings stared at each other for a few seconds, Tyler breaking the silence.
"Grace, you..."
"Yeah. I'll tell you after we're done breaking all our bones."
Like a trigger, the familiar sound echoed through the cellar, both werewolves wincing from it. Tyler, kneeled over from the pain, having just enough awareness to look for extra chains.
Grace wasn't in any position to help but Arthur grabbed the spare ones from the far wall, half dragging Tyler to the other side as he chained his waist. Tyler tried to get him away but he once again kneeled over from pain. Arthur just smiled sadly at him, talking to help distract him as the sound of cracking bones filled the air.
"Trust me. Been through these a lot with your sister. Let me help."
At that Tyler looked over to Grace. Who was sitting peacefully with the chains on. The sound of her bones breaking echoed through the room. But she wasn't in any real pain. Just mild discomfort. The full moons had gotten a lot better over the years.
Tyler went to ask another question, but his own body was responding to the full moon, wincing and flailing. Arthur finished up with the chains as best he can. He quickly grabbed Carol and locked them both inside the cell.
At this point, Tyler is rolling on the ground in pain. Grace, eyes already black and yellow, made sure her back was facing her mother. She knew in her mind that the mayor will take the news better if she saw Tyler transforming first. Tyler made another pathetic sound and Grace found herself muttering encouragements as more and more of their bones reshaped themselves. As their hindbrains took over.
"You got this, Ty. Just accepted it, you got it." She whispered, feeling her body shifted. In the corner, she could hear mother scream in terror with Arthur trying to explain.
Out of the two position they found themselves in, Grace pitied her friend.
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Val followed the sounds but was beginning to doubt it was Damon and the hybrid. She slowed down as the sounds became louder. She'd been a vampire long enough to recognize the sound of a heart being torn from a chest or a neck being torn in two.
She paused at the sight of tents and backpacks, realising she stumbled across the werewolf meeting place or pack den or whatever they call it.
Creeping past more camping equipment, some instinct deep inside her told her to freeze. She didn't make a sound, not barely to even breathe. She hoped her heart wasn't too loud in her chest.
Something she had realized a while ago, was that even though vampires were a predatory species, they had this great sense of danger. As if they could recognise creatures more dangerous than themselves. At the moment, that particular sense was in overdrive.
Val once again heard the sound of flesh tearing, somewhere a lot closer to her.
She peered around the tree she ended up leaning against. Just about 10 meters away was a hybrid. With yellow eyes and veins down his cheeks, she could tell this one wasn't sick like the other. Not when he easily torn the heart out of another camper.
This had to be Klaus.
Val watched as he held the heart in his hands, squeezing it tight. He threw it away, turning his back to her. Just in front of him, she could see other people, with blood dripping down their eyes. They looked as sick as Ray did, maybe worse. The Original hybrid seemed to be ready for an attack.
But they all just kneeled over. One by one, as their hearts gave out.
She watched as Klaus, after a few minutes, sat down on a nearby log, grabbing an abandoned beer bottle. He didn't yell or even react. Val couldn't help but stare. Ever since she heard about the evil vampire, she couldn't help think of something like the bogeyman. A terrifying entity in his own right. But right now.
He looked human.
Val wanted to leave, already feeling uncomfortable. Despite his appearance, this was the man that kill Aunt Jenna, one of the few good adults left in Mystic Falls. At that thought, Val felt the familiar urge for revenge, to get even in some way. But she knew that Jenna would have just wanted her to stay safe. And trying to get revenge on the supposedly immortal hybrid was the first of many bad ideas.
She had all of eternity. She could wait.
A sound somewhere to the right of her nearly made her flash away. In the darkness, a vampire was carrying a familiar body. Val watched as the vampire dumped the first hybrid's body in front of the other. She didn't even realise Klaus was talking until she heard the sound of screaming and a bottle breaking.
Another scream followed it, although Val thought it sounded more like a wounded howl than a scream. She listened to Klaus rant about the ritual. She considered taking the opportunity to flash away, not liking being this close to the immortal when she heard it.
"I killed the doppelganger."
Oh.
At his words, Val realised about the situation she found herself in. Klaus' failure at turning the werewolves into hybrid's was because of Elena's survival.
And she had honestly no idea how to feel about that.
Elena and her hadn't had the best relationship. She would have been six when Valerie was official adopted at nine into the Gilbert family. It was a known fact in their house hold, in the town itself. Selfless Miranda and Greyson opening their homes to poor, disabled Valerie Hawthorne. It didn't bother Jeremy at all but there was always some underlying tension between her and Elena.
When she had left Mystic Falls, Val had convinced herself Elena did love her. Now she wasn't sure.
Val focused in on the conversation again, trying to find the right opportunity to flash away.
"I failed you. I'm sorry. Do what you have to do."
Val knew ass kissing when she heard it. Her guess, this was Stefan. Who was forced to spend the summer with the hybrid.
"It should have worked." Klaus' words were followed by the sound of teeth tearing flesh. With no screams of pain following, Val was confused by the situation. She once again peered around the tree to see Klaus letting his blood drip into a bottle. She also spotted a rather massive werewolf bite on Stefan arms. Which should have been fatally.
Val watched as Stefan drank from the bottle, the bite on his arm healing almost instantly. She does however notice that the bottle remained almost a quarter way full when Stefan tossed it aside.
Val waited a full minute before stepping quietly towards the campsite, grabbing the bottle before flashing away. She had enough sense to text Elena that she was on her own way home. Although in her heart she doubted that she was actually waiting for her.
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Grace heard Tyler wake up as she was getting dressed. He must not have been a werewolf long to still be unconscious for this long after the transformation. She grabbed some clothes from the bag she packed the night before, pulling on a hoodie.
She ignores the pounding in her head as she walked over to Tyler. She helped him sit up, giving him one of her oversized t-shirts to cover up as she got the chains off his wrists.
Full moon hangovers, as Enid loved to call it, meant that that they would spend the whole day a bit dazed and out of it, especially after spending it in a cellar instead of running like usual. Probably wasn't the best day to talk about how they triggered the curse. Especially with their mother hovering as she always did when Tyler got injured.
At least it was guaranteed she wouldn't go running to the council now.
Speaking of, the cell Arthur had put the both of them into for the night was unlocked but Carol hadn't moved. She was watching Tyler as he put on the shirt. Arthur walked around him, grabbing the chains to put away. He knew what to do, having done this the most since the first time she felt her bones break on their own. Grace felt her heart swell in gratitude.
Grace turned back to face Tyler, who was looking at her with a mixture of thankfulness and pity. He probably was glad that he wasn't the only werewolf anymore. Grace couldn't blame him. She would have loved to have another wolf to help her when she was going through it.
"Look Tyler. I know we need to talk about this and trust me, we will." Grace started, "But we both just spent the night as rabid hungry beasts." At her words she could Carol audibly whimpered. She pretended she couldn't hear it.
"I'm need to get some breakfast and coffee. You're welcome to join me but otherwise I'll meet you somewhere after we recovered." Tyler nodded at her words, quickly putting on the t-shirt and tracksuit pants Arthur handed to him.
Grace stood up, a bit too quick if the stumble was anything to say. Arthur quickly stabilised her, letting her lean against his body.
She held out a hand for Tyler, who grabbed at it. She began to walk out, but stopped when she realized Tyler wasn't following. She felt Arthur shift to better hear the whispered conversation between her mother and brother.
She didn't catch most of it but Arthur definitely did, if the way his shoulder tensed said anything. Arthur immediately dropped the bag and stalk over to the mayor, looking every bit the predator that he was.
"What did you do?"
Each word came out with conviction, Arthur struggling to control his anger. Grace watched as the mayor stuttered a bit, a sinking feeling in her stomach as she realised what was going on. She walked towards the others, Carol still not giving an actual answer. Tyler looked to her for help, but Grace kept her gaze on her mother.
Finally, Carol seemed to realise they was no way around this. She set her shoulder straight but the supernaturals in the room could hear her nervous heartbeat.
"I didn't know what to do, I mean it's Caroline." She spoke slowly. "So I called the only person I thought would be able to handle this." At her words, Arthur's body tensed slightly, before taking another step forward. His voice was like ice and Grace was willing to bet that his eyes was just as cold.
"Who did you call?" Each came out slowly but with conviction. As if he already knew the answer. Grace was certain she did too.
"I called your dad."
Grace blinked. "Fuck."
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On the highway, a few miles outside of Mystic Falls, a dodge charger speeds it way down a highway. The driver of the black car had black braids, dark bronze skin and hazel eyes, all complimenting the lady's choice of car. On the passenger side, the young lady had dark almost brown, red hair with contrasting emerald eyes. A phone call came through, interrupting the song of choice.
"Hey, Val. You all good? I thought you were on some mountain somewhere."
A laugh could be heard on the other end, making both driver and passenger smile.
"When are you arriving, Bennet?" The statement made the driver raise an eyebrow, curiosity beginning to stir within her.
"Not even five minutes out."
"Well, might want to speed things along. Turns out we choose a pretty interesting time to come back into town."