We had been back to Alaric's place, and we were looking at the pictures on his desk, while Damon tried to help Elena with her combat training.
Which let me just say, did not seem like the most successful session so far.
But who am I to judge?
"These images tell a story..." I'm pulled out of my train of entitled thoughts as Alaric starts talking, "to learn the story, you have to decipher these images."
I nod, "Yeah, I mean they seem to be pretty universal symbols. Reminds me of when I spent some years learning insibidi in the Congo back in the day."
Alaric gave me a look, as if betrayed to not have known this information before. I chuckled, I guess as a historian he'd have liked to know.
Before he could ponder further, Damon's mocking voice broke through the air, "Sloppy!"
Elena grabs the stake in frustration, "Shut up! I'm new at this."
"And you're a centurion vampire with super strength and speed powers, Icy eyes, so maybe chill a bit with the girl."
You don't have to wonder much who that comment came from.
Damon rolls his orbs, "Ghost of Christmas Past" Mason Lockwood set up the cave and led us to a weapon that can kill Klaus."
Elena rebuttals, "Yeah, but doesn't Mikael have a weapon?"
"Yes." Damon nods. "Which probably means the wall will lead us to Mikael, who we have already found...and lost." I cross my arms as he overwhelms Elena again. "Bang! You're dead!"
He goes in to nibble on Elena's neck and she pushes him away playfully.
I pretend to gag making vomit gestures to Alaric, who just rolls his eyes at me. Elena finally decides play time is over and walks over to Alaric and I at the desk.
.
•THIRD POV•
At the Mystic Falls High School, Rebekah is with the rest of the cheerleading squad at practice, doing a series of gymnastic moves, when Elena walks up to her.
Rebekah fakes enthusiasm at the brunette, "You! Goody."
Elena fakes a smile, "I was hoping we could talk."
"About what? Stefan? Don't worry, I'm off him until he starts treating me better. In fact, you should probably take a page out of my book, if I'm being honest."
Elena grits her teeth. She absolutely hated the idea that the person she loves could have once been with a person she so detests, "Actually, I'd rather talk about this."
She holds up a photo of Rebekah's name written in Runic on the cave wall.
Elena sounds smug as she says, "I'm curious why you and Klaus have spent a thousand years running from your father."
Rebekah gulps nervously, not knowing how to comeback these accusations, "I should get back to the girls. Homecoming's right around the corner."
She turns to leave, but Elena's words make her halt in place, "Well then, maybe I'll ask Mikael when we wake him."
Rebekah turns around swiftly, giving Elena the reaction she'd wanted to see, "You're bluffing! You don't know where he is. No one does."
Elena smirks, "So, then who's rotting in that old cemetery in Charlotte?"
Rebekah looks genuinely worried, "If you wake Mikael, we are all doomed!"
She doesn't entirely believe that. But she is worried particularly about one of her siblings.
Elena persists, "So then, tell me."
Rebekah huffs, "Why do you want to know?"
Elena bites back, "Why don't you want me to wake him?"
"I need to get back to the girls." The blonde vampire turns and walks back towards the squad, shaken by what she's heard and ready to make a call.
.
•AELLA POV•
"Hello, friend!" A chirpy voice calls out as I open my phone.
"Hey, Bekah. What's up?" I say, knowing that something must be tied to the call.
"The doppelgänger came by earlier today during my cheer practice and threatened me."
I nod, realizing she can't see me, "Expected."
She is so manipulative, even for a doppelgänger.
"Aella!" Rebekah groans from the other end, "You know who my father's awakening would affect most, right?"
I chuckle, "I'm not gonna let anything happen to him. I'm trying to play nice on all teams, so the least amount of people get hurt."
"Do they know this?" I can almost see the blonde Original's anxiety through the phone.
"Obviously not. I'm sure Damon suspects me, Alaric too. But that's only because they know my character and what my actual existence is based around."
I brush a hand through my unruly blonde curls. I'm hoping they know this by now.
"Ooh," I hear Rebekah's usual voice back, "double agent, seems like a train I could hop into. I like the sound of that from my sister in law."
I gasp at her, "Beks, we aren't even official, stop talking like that."
I hear her sultry chuckle, "that's not what he tells me when he calls."
I huff, "Then I guess we'll be having a conversation when he's back."
I hear commotion in Al's apartment, and sigh, "Anyway, I gotta go."
"Alright!" She finally chirps from the other side before cutting the call, "Let's hang soon, I miss talking to one of my besties, especially if they are my brother's girl."
I almost facepalm. This girl has no filter.
I open the door to the apartment and walk inside. I take in the mess of all the hundreds of pictures as Elena talks to someone on the phone. Alaric is looking at the photos.
"She's going to tell me. She's scared of him, Damon. I saw her face. I just have to engage in a little "mean girl" power struggle first."
I roll my eyes as she continues, "I've got this, Damon. If we can figure out a way to kill Klaus, Stefan will be free of his compulsion. So...how does he look?"
I tune out of the rest of that soppy conversation, walking up to Alaric.
"That's a Lot of good work, buddy." I say to him, noticing all the labels on images, and seeing how a story could be told from them.
"Yea, you know this is the only thing my mind has been on the whole day. What do you think this is?"
"Hmm," I bite my lip looking at the shape's details. "The sun?"
"Rebekah will come around." Elena says as she steps up next to us.
Alaric turns to her, "You're sure about that? I mean a thousand-year-old vampire, I'm sure, has learned the art of patience."
While he speaks, Elena receives a text message as her phone makes a ping sound.
"She's a thousand-year-old vampire, who's joined the cheerleader squad...There is a whole different set of rules that play here, Ric. I got this." She holds up the phone to show him the text, which is that of Bekah inciting her over to talk.
.
•THIRD POV•
Elena enters the Salvatore's house and hears music, while Rebekah walks into the foyer with champagne glasses.
Rebekah is cheerful, "Hey! What's up?"
Elena looks at her expectantly, "You invited me over? To talk?"
Rebekah ignores the inquiry, "All right girls, have at it!"
Six girls in various jewel-toned colored homecoming dresses walk in the room.
"Okay, now twirl please." Rebekah demands, and the girls do as told, showing off the dresses.
"You compelled your own private runway show?" The doppelgänger says in distaste.
Rebekah defends herself, "I need a Homecomings dress. So, what do you think?" She gestured to the girls in formation, "Pick one."
Elena rolls her eyes, "I'm not here to help you shop. I'm here to talk about why you don't want me to wake up Mikael."
Rebekah rushes to one of the girls, grabs her neck and vamps out. She says in a menacing voice, "I said "pick one", Elena."
Elena panics, "The...red one."
Rebekah's grip softens on the girl, "There. It wasn't so hard, was it?" She then looks over to the girls. "Go away. Remember nothing."
The girls leave and she picks up her champagne glass and walks to Elena.
"You do not threaten me. You'll learn what I allow you to learn. Is that clear?"
Elena nods, not liking being put in a position that is not of power. Rebekah walks past her and Elena turns and watches her.
.
•AELLA POV•
There's a knock on Alaric's front door as we continued discussing symbols from the cave. I get up and open it.
Bonnie enters, "Hey there!"
"Long time no see," I say.
Alaric smiles, "Bonnie! Come on in!"
Bonnie nods, making her way over, "Got your message."
Alaric smiles, "Yeah, great! Uh, I'm sorry the place is such a mess."
I nod, "He's kinda obsessed..."
Bonnie holds up the necklace the younger Salvatore had given Elena, "I brought you the necklace that wouldn't die."
"Ahh, that's great."
I see Bonnie's face, which seems stuck on a grimace, "You okay?"
"Been better..." She says, if a little bitter.
Alaric replies, "Listen, Jeremy is an idiot. And I know this with certainty, because I was once a Jeremy. Trust me, we learn...eventually..."
Now it's my turn to look at him wide eyed, "You weren't like that in college."
"I changed early on," he holds up one of the photos, "So, I've been staring at this image all day, wondering why it looked so familiar, he then holds up the necklace, whose charm is the same shape as the drawing, "I was right."
I gulp. This is deeper than I even thought would be.
He holds up the necklace pendant next to the photo.
"It's the same design." Bonnie sees.
"So, your grandmother said this necklace belonged to the witch that put the hybrid curse on Klaus, right? Well, this symbol is repeated all across the wall. I've been trying to figure out what it meant. And now I know..." Alaric breaks off.
He writes something on a post-it, sticks it to the photo and shows Bonnie and I.
The post-it says "witch."
I know who that is.
.....................................
Hey, all!
I'm very sorry for spacing out on these updates.
My university is officially online only for the foreseeable future.
What's new with you guys?
I hope you're all safe wherever you find yourselves. This virus is really blowing up all over and obviously some unnecessary panic is ensuing.
Keep up basic hygiene, have some food for a few weeks at home, and keep your meds and documents close by—best advice really so far.
Anywho. I'm kinda glad (in a selfish way) my school shut down. I had a midterm I was def not prepared for.
Please please vote and comment, because it would really help and MAKE my day!
I love hearing your thoughts the most! Tell me how you think (or want) the story to play out!
I believe we hit 79 thousand views, again, thank you!
Much love for all!
word count: 1825!
PS: JUST MADE A NEW STORY FOR US TO CHAT AND SHOW OFF WHAT IM TRYING TO LEARN IN MAKEUP. LET'S TALK ABOUT LIFE, COMPLAIN, and GET THRU THIS QUARANTINE (plays antisocial by Ed Sheeran hahah)! Go on my page to find the story 😅💕