『4』

Matt left the study and headed to Sheila's living room. There, he opened the grimoire and started flipping through its pages. Surprisingly, he could somehow understand it even though it was in Latin. He skimmed through the grimoire until he found the section about Incubi.

Matt read through the Grimoire and found the passage by Evie Bennett,

"During my time with the Incubus, the experience was nothing short of enthralling. He was a passionate and skilled lover with many abilities, some of which he shared with me while others remained hidden. From what I had seen him do and what he has shown me.

Suctioning the Chi: His remarkable power allowed him to draw the life force from another through a passionate kiss, a seductive act that unveiled luminous blue eyes.

Accelerated Healing: Through intimate encounters, he had the ability to feed through kisses or absorb energy, granting him the extraordinary gift of accelerated healing, allowing him to replenish and rejuvenate at a remarkable pace.

Draining Multiple Beings: Beyond the boundaries of a single soul, the Incubus could simultaneously drain the vitality of multiple individuals. This feat defied the ordinary and hinted at his otherworldly nature.

Temporary Enthrallment: The mere touch of an Incubus wielded the power to enthrall and control another briefly, an ability that held an allure like no other.

Lust Detection: Incubi possessed an uncanny talent for gauging the depth of a person's desire by glimpsing the colors of their aura. This skill added to their mystique and enigmatic charm.

In Evie's account, she continued to describe the unique magic possessed by her Incubus lover, which she found both enchanting and baffling:

"He also possessed a unique form of magic, separate from the witchcraft we're accustomed to. It was a different kind of magic, more potent. I witnessed him harness this power in ways that defied explanation. The illusions he cast were nothing short of marvelous and lifelike, so vivid that they blurred the lines between reality and fantasy.

The man was Augustus Maxwell, and he had a wanderer's spirit. He never stayed in one place for too long, a trait that piqued my curiosity. During our time together, he revealed something truly astounding: he claimed to have lived for hundreds of years. That he had lived for hundreds of years left me utterly surprised, for he was neither a vampire nor possessed immortality.

Naturally.

I inquired how he endured such a remarkable period. His answer was as mystifying as the revelation itself. Augustus explained that Incubi like him were indeed rare, and they hailed from the Maxwell bloodline. Only one Incubus appeared in their lineage occasionally, and when they did. He further disclosed that when such an Incubus did appear, they inherited the powers of their predecessors, who were also part of their bloodline. However, he remained tight-lipped about the events or circumstances that triggered."

Matt couldn't help but be taken aback by the fact that there were Incubi before him in his bloodline, but he reminded himself that now wasn't the time to be shocked. He continued to read, and, in the grimoire, he came across the weaknesses of Incubi. Just like many supernatural creatures, Incubi had a standard vulnerability to magic. However, what piqued Evie's curiosity was that the Incubus she encountered wouldn't spill the beans about its true, concealed weakness.

After reading about Evie's encounter with the Incubus, Matt closed the grimoire Sheila had lent him, tucked it under his arm, and left her house.

—-------------

As the beginning of his junior year approached, Matt decided to make some significant changes in his life. He chose to step away from football, Instead, he enrolled in self-defense classes during the summer to learn how to protect himself.

Throughout the summer, Matt dedicated his time to experimenting with his newfound abilities. His regular visits to Grams provided valuable insights, and after listening to her drunken ramblings numerous times, he began to develop some magical prowess. However, the magic he initially managed to perform leaned more towards the sensual and intimate side, a facet of his abilities he was only beginning to grasp. With a simple touch, he could delve into a person's innermost desires, using a form of magic that was often unconventional yet undeniably effective to get what he wanted.

Matt soon discovered a crucial aspect of his Incubus nature. If he didn't feed, he gradually grew weaker. He decided to test the limits, seeing how long his body could endure without sustenance. He pushed himself to last an entire week, but the weakness grew more pronounced as the days went by. Finally, the excruciating pain pushed him to his limits.

With no other option, Matt reached out to Alexandre. After about an hour, with Alexandre's help, he was back on his feet, his strength replenished.

Matt also made friends with Caroline, who had a bubbly and honest personality that he found refreshing. During one of their candid conversations, she let slip a rather bold statement: "You know, ever since your breakup with Elena, you've become way hotter." Matt couldn't help but be taken aback by her comment.

He let out a hearty laugh while Caroline's face turned beet red. She stammered, "I didn't mean it like that," flustered by her comment. Matt, still chuckling, replied, "Don't worry about it. I know what you meant."

From then on, Caroline remained by Matt's side for the rest of the summer. Their friendship deepened.

—----------------

As Matt arrived at school and headed to his locker, he noticed Elena waving to him, but he chose to ignore her, when someone playfully covered his eyes with their hands and said, "Guess who?", Matt couldn't help but smirk.

"Let me guess," he replied, "Caroline, the one whose fingers always smell like oranges."

"Boo, you always know it's me," Caroline teased with a grin.

Matt followed her gaze to the office and saw the new kid. "Who's that?" he asked.

Caroline responded, "The new kid, his name is Stefan Salvatore, and as head chairperson of student integration, I'm going to help him get acquainted with the school." She looped her arm through Matt's and playfully dragged him along, saying, "And you're coming with me."

Caroline led Matt towards the school office, and as they reached Stefan Salvatore, introductions flowed smoothly.

Caroline beamed and introduced Matt first, saying, "Stefan, this is my good friend, Matt Donovan. Matt, meet Stefan Salvatore, our new addition to the school."

Matt extended his hand, offering a friendly smile. "Hey, Stefan. Nice to meet you. Welcome to our charming little corner of the world."

Stefan shook Matt's hand with a polite nod. "Thanks, Matt. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone here."

Caroline said, "I'll make sure Stefan settles in just fine, but for now, I've got to drag Matt off for our next adventure."

With laughter and friendly introductions complete, Caroline enthusiastically steered Matt away. "Come on, Matt, our next adventure awaits," she said.

As they walked down the school hallway, Matt glanced at Caroline. "You always manage to make things interesting, don't you?"

Caroline flashed a mischievous grin. "Well, life's too short to be boring, don't you think?"

Matt couldn't help but smile. "You've got a point there, Caroline."

--------------------- 

1200 words 

VOTE,COMMENT,FOLLOW

What celestial event does Bonnie plan to draw on in order to send herself and Damon home?