29 Chapter 1.28
What do you mean she's a vampire?" Bonnie exclaimed, her voice ringing out loudly.
Orion shushed her, glancing around the dimly lit room. "Sheesh, quiet down; it's 3 a.m.," he reprimanded.
Reluctantly lowering her voice, Bonnie implored, "Orion, tell me what happened."
Orion proceeded to explain the unsettling events that had unfolded with Caroline, including the smothering attempt that had led to her transformation.
Bonnie's eyes widened with a mix of shock and concern. "Who would do something like that?" she wondered aloud, her grip on Caroline's hand tightening.
"So, what do we do now?" she asked, her gaze shifting between Orion and the unconscious Caroline. "Well, we'll have to wait until she wakes up. I'm not sure when that'll be," Orion replied thoughtfully. "And then, we'll need to make her a daylight ring. After that, we'll have to figure it out as we go."
Just as Orion mentioned their plans, Caroline suddenly gasped dramatically, her eyes snapping open. She quickly scanned her surroundings, her gaze landing on Bonnie and Orion. A mixture of confusion and realization washed over her, and she turned to Orion with a deep sense of regret, apologizing for her earlier attempt to attack him.
Orion, however, waved it off with a reassuring smile. "No problem," he replied calmly.
With Caroline now fully awake, Orion began to explain the nature of her new existence as a vampire. He detailed how her senses were now heightened, the necessity of blood to sustain her, and the inevitable bloodlust that came with her new life. Orion concluded by informing her that she would forever remain frozen at 17.
Caroline's tears flowed freely as she struggled to understand her sudden emotional outburst. "Why am I crying like this?" she wondered aloud.
Orion offered a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay," he reassured her. "Emotions are heightened for vampires. Anger becomes fury, sadness becomes depression, and everything gets intensified."
He then added a crucial piece of information. "Another big thing you must know is that the sun is your enemy now. Without a daylight ring or necklace, you'll burn up and die if exposed to sunlight."
Caroline absorbed this information with a mix of apprehension and curiosity. "So, what do I do now?" she asked.
Orion offered a reassuring smile. "I have someone who can explain everything to you in detail and teach you the ropes. I'll call him and ask him to help you navigate this new life."
With that settled, Orion handed over the task of filling Caroline in on the rest of the details to Bonnie, allowing her to share the happenings around town and the ins and outs of the supernatural world.
"Slater, I need a favor," Orion began, his tone serious. "I've got a new vamp on my hands, and I need you to send someone down here to help teach her the ropes."
"You got it, boss," Slater replied with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. "And where's this new vamp of yours located?"
Orion answered, "She's in Mystic Falls, Virginia, and her name is Caroline Forbes. I want the person who will teach her to be here by tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow morning, huh?" Slater mused as if calculating the logistics on his end. "Alright, I'll send someone to Mystic Falls to help out your fledgling vamp. Anything else I should know?"
Orion briefly considered, then added, "Just make sure they're experienced and can handle the intricacies of teaching a new vampire the ropes."
With that, Slater acknowledged the request and assured Orion that he would arrange for a suitable mentor to be in Mystic Falls by the requested time.
After ending the call with Slater, Orion returned to the living room, where Caroline was waiting. She suddenly burst into a whisper-yell, "You're both witches!"
Yep," Orion confirmed with an agreeable grin. He cast the "Ad Sonum" spell without further ado, causing Caroline to drift into a peaceful slumber.
Bonnie looked at him with a surprised expression and asked, "Why did you do that?"
Orion replied, "Because it's 3 a.m., and I want to sleep." With that, he carefully lifted Caroline and placed her in the guest room, closing all the curtains and providing her with some of his clothes as Bonnie's wouldn't fit her.
With that, Orion went to bed.
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A frantic knocking at the door abruptly awakened Orion. Groggily, he stumbled out of bed and opened the door, only to find Caroline standing there with a furious expression.
"Why do you keep doing that to me? It was twice in one night!" Caroline exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice and the look on her face.
Caroline continued, her tone a mix of irritation and restlessness, "I also want to go out. I feel cramped here, and no offense, but your clothes are too baggy for me. Plus, I have a carnival to run, and I can't stay cooped up because I got barbecued when I tried to leave."
Understanding Caroline's need to protect herself from the sun, Orion retrieved a collection of daylight rings from under his bed and laid them out for her to choose from. Once she had selected, he took the chosen ring from her and opened the window.
Caroline reacted swiftly, using her vampiric speed to evade the sun's rays as they streamed into the room. She shot him a pointed look and said, "Give me a warning next time."
Orion nodded, acknowledging her request. He then cast the protective spell, "Custodire eam illuc," over the ring and tossed it over to Caroline. As she placed it on her finger, she questioned him directly, leaving no room for ambiguity, "Anything else? No more 'witchy woo' going on around here?"
Orion, feeling the fatigue from the late-night activities, decided to demonstrate. He used his magic to draw Caroline toward him.
As he did so, Caroline reacted with alarm, but to her surprise, nothing happened.
"See," Orion said wearily, "all done."
With Caroline's daylight ring issue resolved, Orion made his way downstairs. He began concocting a potion designed to help curb Caroline's bloodlust, fully aware of her challenges as a new vampire. He also insisted that Bonnie accompany her if anything unexpected happened.
With the preparations and concerns addressed, Orion finally returned to his much-needed rest, hoping for a peaceful sleep.
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(Later that night At the Carnival)
As Orion meandered through the vibrant carnival grounds, savoring the buttery crunch of popcorn and immersing himself in the lively festivities, he inadvertently eavesdropped on a heated exchange unfolding nearby.
As Damon casually strolled down the dimly lit hallway, his evening took an unexpected turn. He felt the unmistakable presence of Caroline drawing nearer. It was like a prelude to a storm, with her aura signaling her arrival even before she came into view. Damon, in his usual nonchalant manner, halted and turned to face her.
"Hey, Blondie. They let you out?" Damon's voice, dripping with a hint of sarcasm, broke the silence.
Caroline's countenance swiftly transformed, a complex mosaic of emotions painting her face as their eyes locked. A deluge of memories from their turbulent past rushed back into her consciousness.
"I remember," Caroline replied, her voice carrying the weight of history.
Damon, taken aback by her candid response, tried to maintain his nonchalance facade. "What do you remember?" he inquired, his tone laced with curiosity.
However, Caroline wasn't inclined to remain silent any longer about the shared history that had bound them together, often against her will.
"I remember how you manipulated me," Caroline began, her words laced with the bitterness of recollection. "How you pushed me around, abused me, erased my memories, and fed on me."
Damon, ready to launch into a counterargument, was interrupted by another voice that materialized seemingly out of thin air. Orion stepped into the hallway with a presence that instantaneously commanded their attention.
"Why bother lying, Damon, when she remembers it so vividly?" Orion declared calmly,
Caroline's voice quivered as she admitted, "Memories have been coming back in pieces."
Though unsettled by her revelation, Damon responded with disbelief, "You can't remember. It's impossible, I mean, unless you're becoming a..."
Caroline's smile cut him off mid-sentence. "I have a message from Katherine," she declared, her tone laced with a hint of mischief. "She said, 'Game on.'"
In a swift and agreeable move, Orion used his magic to snap Damon's neck, rendering him unconscious. Damon's body slumped to the floor.
As a finishing touch, Orion decided to drag Damon's unconscious form to a nearby custodial room, surrounded by mops and buckets. To add a touch of humiliation, he drenched Damon's clothes with dirty mop water, leaving him undignified.
Caroline watched the unfolding scene with an amused and satisfied grin, relishing the unexpected twist of events. Orion remained at her side, and they both shared a giggle of exhilaration.
Later, Orion casually led Caroline to the Mystic Grill. Inside, they met Lilli, a 400-year-old vampire seasoned in the arts of self-control, combat, and self-defense. Lilli's confident demeanor instantly put Caroline at ease.
"This is where we part ways, Caroline. See you tomorrow," Orion remarked, casting a brief glance toward Lilli. "Make sure to teach her well, Lilli," he added before walking away.
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As Orion made his way home, an uncanny feeling crept over him, a sense that someone was tailing him, lurking in the shadows. The faint sound of cautious footsteps grew increasingly pronounced, raising his unease. Unable to resist the urge to confront this unseen follower, he taunted them.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.
With a sudden and surprising burst of speed, someone rushed towards him, propelling Orion against the nearest wall. The ambush caught him off guard, but he responded swiftly, clutching their arm and siphoning their power. A painful cry erupted from their lips as Orion absorbed their magic.
Once the ordeal was over, Orion regarded his attacker, only to be surprised to see Katherine standing there. He greeted her with a casual, albeit mischievous, smile.
"Hello, Katherine," he remarked casually before swiftly snapping her neck, rendering her unconscious. As he looked down at her, "Goodbye, Katherine."
Orion recognized the rare opportunity before him and approached Katherine with meticulous care. He expertly drew a vial of her blood; a sly smirk curled on his lips as he stashed her unconscious body among the concealing bushes. With a satisfied grin, he turned on his heel and returned home, the vial of Katherine's blood safely in his possession.
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VOTE and COMMENT: The more comments I see, The more comments I get and read, the more I feel like writing extra chapters, you know?
Would you rather be part of the Gemini Coven or one of the nine covens of New Orleans?
- Personally, Gemini Coven, for me, there's an Odd chance I'd become a siphoner, and I can't give that up. Plus, I don't want my magic to be all connected to my ancestors, pulling my strings whenever they feel like it. And If a New Orleans witch decided to hit the road, they'd pretty much be underpowered/weak in the magic department because they're all about that ancestral magic stuff. They're chained to where their ancestors are buried, with no room for adventure.
