Blood Ties (A Jeremy Gilbert FF)

The night air feels thick as we step out of the Salvatore house, the tension hanging between us like a suffocating blanket. Stefan's revelation about Lucien, about my connection to his dark past, has left my mind spinning. I thought i understood the kind of danger i was in, but now it feels like i've barely scratched the surface.

Jeremy walks beside me, quiet but present, his hand brushing against mine as we make our way to the car. I haven't told him yet - about the complicated feelings bubbling up between us, about the way my heart flutters whenever he's near. Now hardly seems like the right time.

"Are you okay?" he asks, his voice low, careful.

I nod, though the weight in my chest tells me i'm far from it. "I'll be fine," I lie, my gaze fixed on the road ahead. "I just didn't expect any of this. I thought Lucien was just another enemy. I didn't know he was tied to me in some way."

Jeremy glances at me, concern etched across his face, but he doesn't push. He knows me well enough by now to understand when i'm not ready to talk. Instead, he turns his attention back to the car as Stefan and Damon load up their weapons in the trunk.

"You two lovebirds ready?" Damon asks, his usual smirk plastered across his face as he checks his jacket for a hidden stake.

I shoot him a glare, too tired for his sarcasm. "This isn't a joke, Damon. We're going after Lucien, and if Stefan's right, he's already ahead of us."

Damon shrugs, unfazed. "Relax, Mills. I know it's not a joke. But i prefer to keep things light before we dive headfirst into whatever mess this is going to be."

Jeremy lets out a quiet sigh but doesn't comment. I can tell he's as anxious as i am, but he's doing his best to hide it. I'm grateful for his calm - it's one of the few things keeping me grounded right now.

Stefan's voice cuts through the tension. "We need to move quickly. Lucien was spotted near the factory earlier tonight. If we wait too long, we could lose him."

I nod in agreement, forcing myself to focus. Lucien. That's what matters right now. Not my complicated feelings for Jeremy, not the unresolved tension with Stefan, and definitely not the fear creeping up my spine.

We climb into the car - me in the passenger seat next to Stefan, Jeremy and Damon in the back. The ride is quiet, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional creak of the leather seats as we shift uncomfortably. The air between Stefan and me is thick with unspoken words, but i can't bring myself to say anything. There's too much history, too much hurt. And right now, i need to be focused on the present - on the danger that's waiting for us.

As we near the outskirts of town, the roads become more desolate, the trees thickening into dark silhouettes against the starless sky. The factory looms ahead, an imposing structure surrounded by a tall chain-link fence, its windows dark and cracked like empty eyes.

Stefan pulls the car to a stop a few yards away, the engine rumbling softly before he cuts it off. We sit in silence for a moment, staring at the building, each of us preparing for whatever waits inside.

"We'll split up," Stefan says, his voice low but firm. "Damon and i will circle around the back. Millie, you and Jeremy take the front."

I meet his gaze, nodding. "If Lucien's in there, we need to make sure he doesn't get away."

Damon grins, clearly enjoying the prospect of a fight. "Oh, don't worry. He's not going anywhere."

We step out of the car, the cool night air brushing against my skin like icy fingers. Jeremy falls into step beside me, his presence steady and reassuring as we make our way towards the factor's entrance. The building looms above us, casting long, jagged shadows that stretch out like claws.