[Episode 17 - Let the Right One In - 1]

"I say we go to Pearl's" Damon plans proudly "-bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night-" 

I snort at that foolhardy plan as Stefan sasses "Yeah. And then what? We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say, Oops. Sorry? "

Elena shakes her head, pacing the room with a frown "I can't believe you made a deal with her..." Damon looks to my sister and to me. I saw what Pearl did to Damon and Damon, for some reason, is desperate to get to the vampire-bitch-ex. I raise my eyebrows to see what kind of explanation he'll give to my sister.

"It was more like a... Helpful exchange of information. And it's not like I had a choice. She's...scary" he raises his eyebrows, making his fear seem like nothing "Besides, she's gonna help me get Katherine back-" Elena looks at him as if he's lost his marbles. 

I don't blame her.

"Of course she is. Damon gets what he wants, as usual. No matter who he hurts in the process..."

Damon frowns as he dusts his fingers off "You don't have to be snarky about it..." 

I see that he's hurt by what Elena said, but she's cranky because she doesn't exactly believe Stefan and I can save her and still stay safe ourselves. I intervene before Damon gets upset, or worse - angry "She woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb. She's kinda earned snarky" I point out.

"How long are you gonna blame me to turn your birth mother into a vampire?" He asks us both in general. 

I answer truthfully "I'm not blaming, I got over it". 

And really, I am not angry at him for that. He turned Isobel because she begged him to, what I cannot understand is, why she would wish that on herself. And she cheated on Alaric, who still might or might not be my father. 

Am I upset? Yes. 

Am I blaming him for that? Not anymore. 

And it's very weird to know that your birth mother slept with your frenemy.

But, Elena goes the low way "I'm not blaming you, Damon. I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities..."

Damon gives me an eyebrow-raise as he leaves the room. Stefan gets up and hugs Elena, holding her head close to his heart as she murmurs over his clavicle "I'm sorry. He just makes me so cranky..."

"He makes everybody cranky... It's okay"

"So, what are we going to do?" I get down to business. Stefan and Elena sit on the couch together as if to say 'couple goals on d-day' 

"Damon and I are gonna handle everything, I promise

"Well, what about me?" I frown.

"You are staying home, with your very concerned siste-"

"A sister who will well be in the safe confines of her house, or Caroline's. I'm a Guardian. It's my job to kill such vindictive assholes. So, either, we three go, or I go alone and get shit done" I state firmly. Stefan sighs and finally gives in with his hands raised.

"What about me? I can't just sit here and do nothing..."

"That's exactly what you're gonna do, because that's what going to keep you safe." I scold.

"Which means nothing if you're not safe, too!"

"What do you mean? We'll be perfectly safe. We have Damon, the self-serving psychopath on our side!" I mock and Elena's lips purse "Well, that's comforting..."

▹▹▹

I make Elena drop me off at the edge of the forest near my treehouse. It was something my uncle, my dad and I built it when I was small. They thought it would be better for me to come to this place instead of locking myself in at home whenever I was upset or needed to think.

It's drizzling by the time I get into it and soon. it starts raining cats and dogs. I sigh and take out the sketchbook and some pencils. I'm not in a mood for colours because of the weather. But before the lead of the pencil can touch the paper, I'm overwhelmed by uneasiness.

Isobel was my mother.

But more than that, she was Alaric's wife and he loved her. He lost her and that's what has put him in such a dangerous town full of vampires and witches and Guardians. I push my sketchbook aside and tear off a new paper from a book nearby. My hand shakes at first but then I take a deep breath to compose myself.

Dear Mr. Saltzman,

I would understand if you never wanted to see me, if I would remind too much of the life you had before anything to do with wooden crossbows. But just know that, though I've never been closer to Isobel than those days she gave birth to me and Elena, I miss her.

I miss the idea of her. I'm still wrapping my head around the fact that she chose to be a vampire. It becomes hard when I'm supposed to kill them. I know that you think I'm a vampire. I'm not.

If you're willing to give me a chance, I can explain.

Katherine Gilbert

I take a breath and fold it, placing it in my jeans pocket. If I don't have it on me, I'll be too much of a wuss to give it later.

Just as I'm taking my sketches out, I hear someone shout from below "Hello! Anyone up there!"

I hold one of the pencils in my right hand and go towards the window. I don't see anyone so I open the door and step outside onto the small wooden plank that stands as a mini-terrace. I see a hooded man and the grip on my pencil becomes harder, blood flow probably cut off. "Who is it?"

"Viv?" I hear the voice and I let out a breath in relief and surprise "Stefan?" He lets out a laugh as he points to the tree "W-what? What is this?" I smile, relaxing and motioning him up "My safe haven" I shout over the rain.

I let him up and in and he looks around "Safe haven huh? Cute little treehouse" I chuckle and pace around, arms around myself.

Stefan just observes the place in a full circle. Many portraits hang off it and so do some shelves. I made the portraits while Jeremy made the little wooden carvings and shelves back when he still used to.

"You wanted to talk..." he mentions and I close my eyes, gathering some of the things I want to say.

"Your watch" is the first thing that comes out of my wonderful mouth. I open my purse and hand him the watch and he takes it a bit too eagerly. He fastens it on his wrist and smiles at me "Felt bare without it".

There is an awkward pause.

"Vivi... Talk to me..." he pushes and I relent.

"Why did you become my friend? Was it because of Katherine?"

"No! God no, Viv, i-it's not because of that, I promise you"

Awkward silence follows and I sigh "Please pose for me"

"No"

"Please?"

"Pose" - "No"

"Pose" - "No"

"Pose" - "No"

"Pose" - "No"

"Don't pose" - "No"

He gets his mistake just as he utters the word. I pump my hand in victory. 

He smiles "See? That's what you do to me..."

"What?"

"Make me feel human every once in a while..." He smiles. 

And I don't like it. Not one bit. He's Elena's boyfriend. He's my best friend. Elena's supposed to make him feel human.

My brows furrow and I get up "It's uh, time to go..." I murmur and start gathering my things. 

I feel Stefan come behind me and he kneels "Viv... What's wrong?" I take a deep breath while shaking my head, I answer him, but divert the topic.

"I wrote Alaric a letter"

"Okay... What did he say?"

"I didn't give it to him yet. It's in my pocket, I'll be a wuss to give it to him... So..." I clear my throat.

"So?"

"Will you make sure I don't chicken out?" 

He sighs and places his hands on my shoulders with a smile "I'll make sure..."

I smile back and it feels like a magical trap. Everything is so beautiful around me and it makes me breath every time, when I remember that there is a person for whom I'm just a girl who can be scared of handing out a letter, a girl who keeps herself strong for the ones around her, who feels crushed under the responsibility of protecting her sister.

All this bring up tears and my vision blurs. I lift my head up and let the salty water stand at the precipice of my eyes. There's a gentle thump on my cheek and I hear Stefan "It's not okay..." he whispers my words back to me.

I shake my head, not able to take the guilt of my feelings anymore. I get up and I rush out to leave. The rain pellets onto me, making my clothes stick to my skin. My vision is still half-blurred by tears and cascading rain. I hear Stefan shout behind me and I try to find footing in the mud faster.

I hear another shout and feel a sharp pain in my knee. I fall down, my knee scraping the thorns and wet rocks. I hear another shout and someone pulls me up by my hair before I can turn. 

Yesterday's tomb vampire smiles in front of me as he holds Stefan up.

"Vervain! Works well doesn't it!" he shouts over the rain. I pull against the hands holding me back. Stefan too shouts and struggles but he's very weak considering he's been vervained. 

"Leave him alone!" I shout out, never giving up on pulling.

"Or what Katherine? You'll get me locked in the tomb again?" 

He stabs Stefan with a wooden stake and I screech as my best friend falls down to the ground. 

A hot surge of anger goes through me and I remove the piece of wood from the back of my knee and shove it into the vampire holding me. He screams in shock and I'm freed from his hold.

I get up and go to Stefan. "Run" he meekly whimpers and I sigh.

Pointing to my angry jade eyes with gritted teeth, I command him "Look at me"

I grab Frederick with power that shocks him and twist his arm. He yelps at first but it slows into a mocking laugh. 

Then I understand why. Surrounding us, are many more vampires. One of them pulls Stefan up and just as I let go of Frederick, everything goes black.