Ch. 22

October 27, 2009

I smile as I look at the three Bennett witches, "Now then, are there any questions regarding the plan?"

Bonnie is the first one to respond, her tone sullen, "Yes, why do I have to be the damsel in distress? I've got years of magical experience under my belt now! I could probably open the tomb myself with Emily's talisman!"

I roll my eyes, "Because Bonnie, we don't want Damon to know how useful you are for magic. You really want him bothering you whenever he needs a spell because he thinks you're easier to coerce than your mother or grandmother? The longer you hide your skill, the safer you are."

Abby is nodding with me, agreeing wholeheartedly. Sheila is the next to speak, her tone frosty. I haven't really grown on her since I arrived in Mystic Falls, "Again, why do we need to open this tomb in the first place? The one Damon Salvatore seeks isn't even in there given what you've told us. What's the point?"

I sigh, "Because Sheila, there are still over twenty vampires in that tomb, and the whole thing is a ticking time bomb. If it isn't opened now, it can be opened later and those vampires can be released. This way, we open it, Damon finds out Katherine isn't in there, and my vampires come in after and stake the ones in there before they can get blood."

Sheila just scowls, but has nothing more to say. I look at Abby and Bonnie and smile, "So, are you two clear on what's going to happen?"

They nod, Abby reciting the plan, "Damon will come to me on Halloween, with you at his side holding Bonnie hostage. He'll offer me the talisman and Bonnie's life in exchange for opening the tomb, and I'll accept. Your witches will allow me to channel them to make sure we have all the power needed for the spell. After everything is over, you will make sure the talisman stays in Bennett hands, Bonnie will be safe, and you'll handle Damon."

I grin, "Very good. We're all on the same page. I'll see you on Halloween then. Bonnie, be ready after school, that's when I'll come for you."

One last round of nods and I stand up and leave, knowing the witches prefer me gone from their home as soon as possible.

XxScenebreakxX

October 31, 2009

I pick Bonnie up as planned and bring her to Damon. The biggest problem we run into at first is Bonnie's complete inability to be afraid of Damon. I constantly have to pinch her when I see her having to hold back laughter as he explains in detail his plans for her and her mother.

Eventually we're at the Bennett house and Abby answers the door, eyes flickering between Damon, Bonnie, and me. She's a bit of a better actress than Bonnie as she clenches her jaw and folds her arms, looking at Damon, "What is this supposed to be vampire?"

Damon just grins in his cocky way and gestures at Bonnie and I, "Come now witch, no need to take that tone. I come bearing gifts." With that he takes Emily's talisman from his pocket and holds it up, "I bring you a family heirloom… and your daughter's life!"

Abby frowns severely, "Damon Salvatore, are you threatening my daughter's life? Do you forget you swore to protect Emily's line on her behalf?"

He narrows his eyes in response, "I haven't forgotten. I swore that on the condition that she'd save Katherine. Well now it's time for you to finish what you started. We're opening the tomb tonight, and you're going to do it, or I'll consider my oath null and void and have my friend here kill your daughter."

Abby's eyes meet mine for a moment and I just grin wickedly, looking to everyone else world like a threatening predator, but she seemed to find strength in my gaze. Turning back to Damon she nodded, "Very well, you leave me little choice. Allow me to prepare, and I will meet you at the tomb after sunset."

Damon shrugs, "Fine by me, but you aren't getting the talisman or your daughter if you don't show."

With that he turned and began to walk away. I gave Abby a wink and she gave me a nod in response before I pulled Bonnie with me to follow.

XxScenebreakxX

Abby showed up of course, and after a few more minutes of banter I spoke up, acting the part of impatient baby vampire to perfection, "Can we just get on with this. Would you really rather argue with a witch instead of hold Katherine in your arms Damon?"

He blinked at that before nodding, stepping to the side so Abby could take her place before the large ensorcelled tomb. Holding Emily's talisman as well as secretly being connected to the totems of five other witches that all worked for me, she began to chant. Damon paced back and forth impatiently and Bonnie watched with rapt attention as I stood by her side, a hand on her shoulder.

Eventually the large stone broke violently down the middle, as the recharged talisman's power undid the magic of over a hundred years ago. As soon as it was open Damon flashed inside and I followed, knowing that Abby's oath to me would have kept her from doing anything less than I asked of her.

I watched as Damon searched, my own eyes moving over the dessicated forms of the vampires trapped in the tomb. As Damon kept looking to no avail I moved to where I saw Harper laying and smiled, bending down and drawing a red X on his forehead. This is something Pearl had asked of me long ago, she felt badly, given that she'd turned the poor man only a week before the vampires were rounded up. He was a loyal sort and he'd never truly got a chance to live. I knew he'd be fine with my own vampires when they arrived later.

I stood and went to find Damon, watching as he grew angrier and angrier over the fact that he couldn't find Katherine amongst the dessicated bodies. I flashed over and caught the blood bag as he threw it at the wall in a rage, tucking it away so we could avoid any possible mishaps. He turned to me and roared, "Where is she Vali?! She should be here! This doesn't make sense!"

I look at him with faked sadness on his behalf and shake my head, "I'm sorry Damon. She either never made it into the tomb… or she used you man."

He shakes his head, "No, no. She loved me. She would never betray me like this. If she's not here, she's dead."

He looked ready to break down. It was priceless, exactly what I was hoping for. The worst part was I knew how much he wanted to go on a massacre now, but my compulsion was keeping him from doing so. I sighed and stepped forward, clasping him on the shoulder, "Come on let's get you a drink. Time to mourn my friend, mourn her death but celebrate her life and the time you got to spend with her."

He was so busy with his inner conflict that he let me lead him out of the tomb with no protest. The Bennetts were already gone of course, and as I led Damon to the Grill in town for a drink, I knew my own vampires were arriving behind me. Harper would be allowed to live, and every other vampire would be staked. I could have just compelled them all to serve me, but I really wasn't inclined to care. I had enough playthings for the moment.

Soon enough we were seated and I had a bottle of whiskey brought down for both of us. We drank in silence for several minutes before he finally spoke quietly, "I… I don't know what's going on Vali. I want nothing more than to slaughter everyone in here and then do the same with this town. But whenever I think about doing it, something tells me I have to lay low. But I don't have to lay low anymore, Katherine is dead and there's no point in avoiding attracting attention!"

I raise an eyebrow as I watch him slowly tear apart because of my compulsion. This was more amusing than I thought possible. Reaching over, I clasp him on the back of the neck, "Alright alright, you can remember our first encounter." He immediately freezes up at that, going into "standby" as I'd order.

I grin as I watch him for a moment before speaking, "You may talk, but do so quietly Damon."

He hissed lowly, unable to do anything but talk at this point, "You're the reason I haven't killed anyone. You had me thinking we were friends you bastard."

I grinned, "I did, and after this conversation we'll go back to that. It was necessary Damon Salvatore. I either need to keep you under control, or kill you. You're far too volatile to risk letting loose on this town with no restrictions."

He growled low in his throat at that, "You promised you would reunite me with Katherine in exchange for my service. But Katherine is dead and there's no way for you reunite us without killing me to. So either do it or let me go. I'll leave this stupid shithole of a town if that's what you want, but our deal is clearly off."

I chuckle, "Oh but Damon, that's where you're wrong. Katherine is still alive. She did betray you and she's been out of that tomb for the past a hundred and forty five years. She hasn't come looking for you even once."

I don't let him respond, instead pulling his head around and forcing him to look into my eyes before initiating compulsion, "You're not going to remember this conversation. You're going to go back to thinking you sired me. You don't feel any animosity towards the town over losing Katherine. In fact, you'll mourn but eventually move on. Perhaps spend your time messing with Stefan and trying to seduce Elena. You'll continue to lay low for a while more."

As I let him go and the compulsion took hold he took a long swig of his whiskey and shook his head, "Ya know what Vali, I spent over a hundred years waiting for a woman who was already dead. Meanwhile, my brother has moved on to a seventeen year old girl who wears her face. We Salvatores are really fucked up."

I just grin and clink my glass against his, "Dude, don't even get me started. You Salvatore brothers have nothing on my family."

As we bantered and exchanged embarrassing family stories deep into the morning, I actually allowed myself to enjoy Damon's company a bit. The guy was fantastic when he was mind controlled to believe you to be his best friend.

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