09. History Repeating

Elena, Aria and Caroline walked to school together.

"Have you even talked to Bonnie?" Elena asked Caroline, knowing the two girls were currently at odds with each other.

At the founder's party, Caroline had found a pendant, and not thinking much of she picked it and gave it to Bonnie as part of her halloween party, but once Damon saw it, he told Caroline that was his and he needed it back, but when Caroline asked Bonnie for it, she refused to return causing tension between the two girls.

"No, I'm mad at her" Caroline replied, "She needs to make the first move".

"Be the bigger person" Elena suggested.

"Ugh, impossible in her presence" Caroline stated.

"Why are you both fighting again?" Aria asked, Caroline not having told her that the necklace was Damon's.

"She's a thief, that's why" Caroline replied, "I gave her my necklace and she refuses to give it back, it's a matter of principle".

"Okay we tried, me and Aria are officially out of it" Elena said.

"Good, your turn, where's Stefan? Have you talked to him?" a curious Caroline asked Elena.

"He's avoiding me" Elena informed.

"Us" Aria said, "He's avoiding us".

"Why?" a confused Caroline asked.

"It's complicated" Elena simply said.

Suddenly the bell rang, both Aria and Elena turned to Caroline, "We will see you late Care Bear" Aria said, hugging Caroline.

"Bye" Caroline said, waving at Elena and Aria as they walked away to their shared class.

***

Aria and Elena walked to their class and both frowned seeing Stefan's seat empty, Aria sighed and quietly went and sat in her seat and pulled out her textbook from her bag, suddenly a note fell from her textbook, Aria frowned not remembering leaving any note in her book, picking it up and opening it, a small smile formed on Aria's smile.

Good Morning Aria, I left because I didn't want Jeremy or Elena to find me in your bed and bombard you with their useless questions.

p.s I am really sorry for making you cry last night, making you upset was never my intention.

xoxo Damon

Aria smiled and placed the note back in her textbook, last night Damon had stayed with Aria because of how upset she was, even if she wanted to for some odd reason Aria couldn't stay mad at Damon, and when she woke up without Damon by her side, Aria won't lie, she left bad, she thought he left without saying goodbye, but he didn't, and that thought made Aria happy.

"Good morning everyone" The teacher said, breaking Aria's chain of thoughts, "Alrighty, Alaric Saltzman" The new teacher pointed to his name on the board, "It's a mouthful, I know, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, Saltzman is of German origins, my family immigrated here in 1755 to Texas, I however, was born and raised in Boston, now the name Alaric belongs to a very dead great-grandfather I will never be able to thank enough, you'll probably wanna pronounce it 'Ala Ric' but it's Alaric okay? So you can call me Ric, I'm your new history teacher".

Aria smiled, she already like the new teacher better than Mr Tanner, to be honest any teacher would be better than Mr Tanner but Aria had a feeling Mr Saltzman was about to become her new favorite teacher.

***

"Rise and shine!" Damon yelled, startling a sleeping Stefan awake, "Gonna be late for school".

"What are you doing?" a confused Stefan asked, wondering what his brother wanted from him now.

"Peace offering" Damon said, forwarding Stefan a cup of blood, who ignored him and just got out of bed, "Come on, you need it for blood circulation" Damon said, blocking Stefan's way, "Does dead flesh good, plus if your going to be helping me protect Aria, I'm going to need you at your best", Stefan stayed quiet causing Damon to let out a sigh, "All right, I'm sorry".

"Step aside, please" Stefan said, walking around Damon, and into his bathroom.

"I got the town off our back, it was for the greater good, but I'm sorry" Damon said, "And to prove it, I'm not gonna feed on a human for at least a week, I'll adopt the Stefan diet, only nothing with feathers".

"Because I realise that killing your closest and oldest friend is beyond evil and yet somehow it's worthy of humor" Stefan said, stepping out of the bathroom and grabbing a shirt from his wardrobe.

"Are you mimicking me?" an amused Damon asked.

"Yes, Stefan" Stefan replied, buttoning up his shirt, "Now that the secret society of vampire-haters is off our back I can go back to my routine of how can I destroy Stefan's life this week?".

"And I can go back to sulking and Elena longing and forehead brooding" Damon said, mimicking Stefan, "This is fun, I like this".

"And I will finally reveal the ulterior motive behind my evil and diabolical return to Mystic Falls" Stefan said.

"Yeah, I'm done" Damon said, walking away, he turned to face his brother one last time, "This is so like you Damon, always have to have the last word".

***

At lunch, Elena and Aria sat outside with Bonnie.

"And then I ended up at the remains of old Fell's Church before I woke up back in the woods" Bonnie explained to the two girls.

"And you always see you ancestor Emily?" Elena asked.

Bonnie nodded her head in confirmation, "Do you believe in ghosts?".

"Yes" Aria replied.

"Two weeks ago, I'd say no, but now--" Elena trailed off, remembering the fact that the boy she was so interested in was a vampire.

"I think I'm being haunted" Bonnie said.

"I mean it might explain why you keep seeing your dead ancestor" Aria said.

"I don't get it, why Emily?" a confused Elena asked.

"Grams said she was a powerful witch in the Civil War days, and that this medallion was hers, it's a witch's talisman" Bonnie explained.

"And it all started when you got the necklace?" Elena asked.

"Maybe she's using it to send you some type of message" Aria suggested.

"Okay what does Grams say about this?" Elena asked.

"I can't call her" Bonnie said, "She's gonna tell me to embrace it, I don't wanna embrace it, I want it to stop".

"Hey Bonnie, can I see the medallion?" Aria asked, wondering if there was something on the medallion that might explain this mystery.

Bonnie nodded, she took the medallion off and handed it to Aria.

As soon as Aria touched the medallion, she saw herself at the old Fell's church, the same one Bonnie was talking about, Aria looked around confused wondering how did she end up here when suddenly Emily appeared next to her, startling Aria.

Emily looked at the remains of the old Fell's church, "This is where it started, and this is where it has to end".

"You're not real" Aria said, shaking her head, "I'm not really here".

Aria turned to leave only for Emily to appear infront of her, she turned around again and Emily once again appeared infront of her, "Help me Aria".

Aria gasped and threw the medallion on the floor, causing Elena and Bonnie to look at her in confusion, wondering what happened.

"Aria, what's wrong?" a concerned Elena asked, seeing the panicked look Aria's face.

Aria turned to Bonnie, "Bonnie, when I touched the medallion I saw her".

"Who?" a confused Elena asked.

"Emily" Aria revealed, "I was somehow at the Fell's church Bonnie was talking about, and Emily came and she said that this is where it started and--"

"This is where it has to end" Bonnie finished, "She said the same thing to me".

The three girls looked at each other in worry, they then looked at the medallion that was lying on the floor, wondering what the hell do with it.

***

After the whole creepy vision thing, Elena and Aria decided to make their way home, while leaving school, both their eyes landed on Stefan who was sitting on a table, waiting for the two girls.

"Stefan!" Aria yelled, running up to him and hugging him, "Where the hell were you, I was so worried".

Stefan broke the hug and looked at Aria and Elena, who had also joined the two, "Yeah I got both your messages and I'm sorry I didn't get back to any of you but what I wanna say shouldn't be said over the phone".

"A simple, I didn't kill my brother, text would have sufficed" Elena said, slightly angry at Stefan fo disappearing like that.

"I didn't kill my brother" Stefan told more so Aria then Elena, knowing for some stupid reason a part of Aria really cared for his brother, "As much as he deserved it, he has you to thank for that Aria".

Aria stopped herself from telling Stefan that she already knew he didn't kill Damon, if she told him that then he will wonder how she knew, and she was in no mood to tell Elena and Stefan that Damon had spent the night with her making sure she was okay.

"So what did you wanna tell us?" a curious Elena asked.

"I won't be coming to school anymore" Stefan revealed, shocking both the girls.

"Excuse me?" Aria asked, really hoping she heard Stefan wrong.

"I'm gonna back off and keep my distance" Stefan said, "It's the right thing to do".

"Back off from school, or back from me and Elena?" a hurt Aria asked.

"Aria--"

"Don't" Aria said, stepping away from Stefan, "Do whatever you want to do Stefan, I won't stop you because clearly it doesn't matter what I want".

Without listening to Stefan's explanation, Aria turned around and left, leaving Stefan and Elena alone.

"Elena, it's better this way" Stefan said, guilt rising in his heart for hurting Aria.

"Yep, I got it" Elena said nodding, also upset with Stefan's decision.

"You and Aria are angry, that's good, be easier if you both hate me" Stefan said, walking away from Elena.

***

"He's bad news guys, he really scared me" Bonnie told Elena and Aria, while driving them home.

"You need to stay as far away from Damon as possible" Elena said.

"I'm trying, he just keeps showing up" Bonnie defended.

"All that for that crystal?" Aria asked, Bonnie nodded.

Aria frowned, she knew Damon had something going on in his complicated head, but what Aria didn't know, and why did Damon even want the crystal, something didn't add up here and Aria needed to know what.

"I don't want you to be alone, you're sleeping at my place tonight" Elena told Bonnie, "We can make a whole night out of it".

"Ooo sleepover, am I invited?" Aria joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"No" Elena joked.

"Ouch" Aria said, bringing her hand to her heart, "That hurt Lena".

Elena laughed at Aria's antics, while Bonnie looked down at the medallion around her neck, she suddenly swerved the car to the side and stopped.

"Whoa" a startled Elena said, neither her or Aria expecting Bonnie to stop the car inn the middle of nowhere.

"Bon, where are you going?" a confused Aria asked, seeing Bonnie run out the car.

Both Aria and Elena watched as Bonnie threw the medallion into the empty field, she stomped back to the car and got back into the driver's seat.

"Are you okay?" a worried Elena asked.

"Now I am" Bonnie replied, "All my problems are because of that thing, can't believe I didn't do that sooner".

"What about your grams?" Aria asked, knowing Bonnie's grams told her to cherish the medallion.

"Grams isn't the one being haunted by a 150-year-old ghost, is she?" Bonnie asked.

"No she is not" Aria confirmed.

"Okay then" an amused Elena said.

***

Elena opened her front door and saw Stefan standing infront of her, "Hey" she greeted, her and Aria stepping out of the Gilbert house to talk to the youngest Salvatore, "Thanks for coming, I wouldn't have called if it wasn't important".

"I know that" Stefan assured.

"He threatened her Stefan" Elena said, pacing up and down the porch, while Aria sat on the bench.

"What would Damon want with Bonnie?" Stefan asked, after Elena and Aria finished telling him what Bonnie told them.

"Bonnie has this necklace, Caroline found it at the founder's party and gave it to Bonnie, when Damon saw it on Bonnie, he informed Caroline that it was his and he needs it from something important" Aria explained, Caroline finally having told her.

"He's tormenting her" Elena informed.

"Over a necklace?" a confused Stefan asked, wondering why was a necklace so important to his brother.

"It's not an ordinary necklace Stefan, it has to do with Bonnie's heritage, it belonged to her ancestor, who lived here in Mystic Falls during the Civil War, around the time you and Damon lived here" Aria said.

"Her name was Emily" Stefan revealed, "She was Katherine's handmaid, and a witch".

"You know?" Elena asked shocked, "About Bonnie? About Aria?".

"The first night that you invited me over for dinner, I made the connection between Bonnie and Emily" Stefan said.

"And I revealed myself to him by accidentally using magic to save his life" Aria said, not knowing that Stefan has known she is a witch since he came into town.

"Save his life?" a confused Elena asked. 

"Long story" Aria mumbled, not comfortable with telling Elena about her accidental magic incident.

"Okay anyways, now Damon knows about Aria and Bonnie--".

"Damon has always known about me Elena" Aria interrupted.

"You told him?" a shocked Elena asked.

"Nope" Aria replied simply.

"Then how did Damon know about you?" a confused Elena asked.

"Like Stefan made the connection between Bonnie and Emily, Damon made the connection between me and Natalie, Natalie Connor, Aria Connor" Aria said, hoping Elena will catch on.

"Right" Elena said, suddenly remembering Stefan mentioning the fact that Natalie was Aria's ancestor and was a witch.

"Anyways back to the topic of interest, Damon wants the necklace" Aria said, "But the question is why?".

"Damon hasn't told you?" Elena asked Aria, looking at her with suspicious eyes.

"Why the hell will Damon tell me?" a confused Aria asked.

"Well you and Damon seem pretty close to me, he told you about him being a vampire, he trusts you, so are you sure Damon didn't tell you anything about the necklace?" Elena asked again.

"Are you serious right now?" an angry Aria asked, not liking being accused of something she had no involvement in, "Elena, Damon never told me anything about Bonnie's stupid necklace okay, he only told me about him being a vampire because him and I--".

"Him and you what?" Stefan asked, looking at Aria suspiciously, wondering why did she stop mid-sentence.

Aria had to stop herself from blurting out the fact that her and Damon were connected, she didn't know if Damon wanted Stefan to know and she couldn't tell Stefan without talking to Damon first, as this wasn't just her secret, it was theirs.

"Nothing" Aria quickly said.

"Aria" Elena said, realising something was wrong here, "What are you hiding?".

"I said nothing Elena" Aria snapped.

"What does the necklace look like?" Stefan asked the girls, not wanting the two best friends to get into an argument over whatever Aria was hiding, because that much was confirmed to Stefan, he knew Aria was hiding something and that something was somehow connected to Damon, but what is it is the real question.

"It's, um, an antique iron setting with--" Elena started.

"With an amber crystal" Stefan finished, "I know it, it belonged to Katherine, Emily gave it to her which means that--".

"Which means what?" Aria asked confused.

"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out, let me talk to Damon" Stefan said.

"Will he tell you?" Elena asked.

"I'll get it out of him" Stefan assured, to which Elena nodded.

Stefan gave the two girls one last glance before leaving.

 Aria sat on the bench, confused, she was wondering what would Damon want with something that belonged to Katherine, especially when he told Aria he wasn't ever in love with her.

"What are you up to Damon?" Aria whispered.

***

Elena and Aria placed the napkins on the counter while Caroline pulled out their dinner from the bag, Bonnie came up to the three girls, both Caroline and Bonnie glanced at each other awkwardly, Aria gestured to Caroline to talk to Bonnie.

Caroline sighed before turning to Bonnie, "I'm sorry, there, I said it, if you want the ugly-ass necklace, keep it, it's yours".

Aria looked at Caroline with a proud expression on her face, when she wanted to Caroline could be a really nice person, blunt but nice.

"Will you hate me if I tell you I threw it away?" a sheepish Bonnie asked.

"You threw it away?!" a shocked Caroline asked.

"I know it sounds crazy, but the necklace was giving me nightmares" Bonnie defended.

"You could have just given it back to me" Caroline retorted.

"Why? So you could give it back to Damon?" Elena asked.

"Okay" Aria said, slamming the napkins on to the counter, "Any of you mention Damon again, and I swear to god I will leave, I'm here to have fun not talk about Damon".

"Aria's right, screw Damon, are we doing manicures or what? Who has their kit?" Caroline asked.

"Mine's in my bag" Bonnie replied.

"So, Elena, how long do you think this fight with Stefan's gonna last?" Caroline asked, while looking through Bonnie's bag, "Is it like a permanent thing?".

"I don't know, Caroline" Elena replied, eating a fry.

"Why are you such a little liar, Bonnie?" Caroline said suddenly.

"What?" Bonnie asked.

"Caroline" Elena said, while Aria looked at Caroline in confusion.

Caroline turned around with Emily's medallion in her hand, the three girls looked at in shock.

***

"I'm not lying to you Caroline, I swear" Bonnie said, the medallion now placed on the counter.

"It's true" Elena said, "Me and Aria watched her throw it into a field".

Caroline looked at Aria, she didn't trust Elena to tell her the truth but she knew Aria would never lie to her, Aria nodded her head in confirmation.

"Well then explain it" Caroline demanded.

"Emily?" Bonnie asked Aria and Elena.

"Who's Emily?" a confused Caroline asked.

"She's a ghost and she's also Bonnie's ancestor" Aria replied honestly, realising she completely forgot to tell Caroline about her.

"Oh, the ghost has a name now?" Caroline taunted.

"Caroline, please" Elena said, Aria frowned not liking the fact Elena was leaving Caroline out.

"I wonder why she won't leave me alone" Bonnie told Elena.

"Okay, what is going on? Why am I not a part of this conversation?" Caroline snapped, "You guys do this to me all the time".

"That's not true" Elena defended.

"Yes it is" Caroline snapped, "If it wasn't for Aria then I wouldn't know half of the things you guys talk about".

Elena looked at Aria, expecting her to defend them but Aria avoided eye contact and simply ate her fries, she knew Caroline was right, everyone knew that Bonnie and Elena were one team, while Caroline and Aria were another.

"I can't talk to you, you don't listen" Bonnie snapped.

"That's not true" Caroline defended.

"Me and Aria are witches" Bonnie informed.

"And don't we all know it" Caroline said, truth is, Caroline already knew about Aria being a witch, after discovering how to make feathers fly, Aria had run to Caroline's house to show her, knowing she would love it and she was right, Caroline was in awe, plus she could never hide something like that from Caroline, and Caroline promised Aria to never tell anyone, and Caroline could do a lot of things but she will never break a promise to Aria.

"See? That's what I'm talking about, I'm trying to tell you something, you don't even hear it" Bonnie snapped, walking away from Caroline.

"I listen, when do I not listen?" Caroline asked Aria and Elena, "I always listen to you, Aria".

"That is true" Aria told Elena, who in return just let out a frustrated sigh.

***

After cooling down and letting Bonnie cool down as well, Caroline walked into the living room where an upset Bonnie was seated, "Bonnie?", Bonnie looked at Caroline, "Look, it's just not me, okay? I don't believe in the woo, woo, I didn't even believe Aria until she showed me".

"Wait Aria showed you?" Bonnie asked, not expecting the Connor witch to have done that, but then again she shouldn't be surprised, there was nothing in this world that Aria would hide from Caroline, especially not the fact that she has magic.

"Yeah few days ago" Caroline said, "And obviously she will, hello best friend right here", Bonnie gave Caroline a small smile, causing to let out a sigh, "Look if you believe in all that, then okay, I'm in, that's all it takes for me to jump onboard, because I consider you to be my best friend, well after Aria of course", Bonnie let out a small laugh, everyone knew that, for Aria and Caroline, the other will come before anyone in this world, "And I'm saying this knowing that Elena and Aria are in the kitchen listening to my every word", Caroline sat next to Bonnie, "Look, I didn't know how real this was for you, but I'm listening now" Caroline placed the medallion in Bonnie's hand, "Okay?".

"Okay" Bonnie said.

"Elena, Aria, you can come in now, we're done!" Caroline yelled.

Aria ran into the room and jumped into Caroline's lap, making her and Bonnie laugh.

"Well, there is just way too much drama in this room" Caroline said, after Aria placed her head on Caroline's lap and her legs on Elena's, who had also sat down "So, what do you guys wanna do?" when no one came up with an idea, Caroline suddenly got an idea, "Huh!" she yelled, pushing Aria to the ground.

"Hey!" Aria complained.

"I have an idea" Caroline said excitedly, ignoring her best friend's complaint, knowing she wasn't actually hurt, "Why don't we have a seance?".

"Nope" Aria denied quickly, talking about ghosts was one thing but actually talking to them is a whole different thing that Aria didn't want to get involved in.

"I don't think that's a good idea" Bonnie said, agreeing with Aria.

"Come on" Caroline said, standing up and helping Aria up, "Let's summon some spirits, this Emily chick has some serious explaining to do".

***

All four girls were now in Elena's room, Caroline having dragged the other three along, currently they were sitting in a circle, holding hands, the room was fully dark with only some candles lit in the middle of the four girls.

"What are we doing?" a confused Bonnie asked.

"I don't know" Elena replied, equally as confused.

"Shh!" Caroline said, "Be quiet and concentrate".

"On what?" Aria said.

"Shh!" Caroline told Aria who just rolled her eyes, "Okay, close your eyes", the other three girls obeyed and closed their eyes, "Okay, now take a deep breathe", the girls followed, "Bonnie, call to her".

"Emily" Bonnie called, "You there?".

"Seriously?" Aria asked, opening her eyes along with the other two girls.

"Really? Emily, you there? That's all you got?" Caroline asked, "Come on".

"Fine, jeez" Bonnie took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "Emily, I call on you, I know you have a message, I'm here to listen".

As soon as Bonnie finished talking, the flames on the candles got higher, shocking the four girls.

"Did that just--?" a shocked Elena asked.

"Yeah, it just happened" Caroline replied.

Both Caroline and Aria gasped when they felt cold chills run down their spine, Bonnie and Elena looked at the two girls in uncertainty, "It's just the air conditioning" Caroline assured, refusing to believe it was something else.

The flames on the candles went higher this time, making the girls gasp in fear.

"Ask her to show you a sign" Caroline said, Bonnie shook her head, "Ask her, Emily if you're among us, show us another sign".

"This is a bad idea" Aria mumbled.

The girls waited for a moment but nothing happened.

"See, it's not working" Bonnie said, when suddenly the windows slammed opened, making the four girls yell and fall backwards.

"No, I can't, I'm done" Bonnie said, standing up and throwing the necklace on the floor, when suddenly all the candles blew off, "Get the light, please, get the light on".

"Hold on, I got it" Elena said, running to the light switch and turning it on.

"You guys, the necklace, it's gone" Bonnie said, looking down at where she dropped the necklace.

The four girls looked down at the place in shock, wondering how could a necklace just disappear like that.

***

"Okay, fun is over, Caroline" Elena said, looking at the Forbes girl, "You made a point and I get it, now give it back".

"What? Well, I didn't take it" Caroline defended.

"She's right, she has been by my side this whole time, there's no way she took it" Aria said.

Elena sighed, suddenly she saw a shadow walk behind Caroline and Aria.

"What happened?" Aria asked, seeing Elena's expression.

"I don't know, nothing, Jeremy, are you home?" Elena asked, walking out her room.

"Um--"Bonnie started, looking in the bathroom, Aria followed her gaze to see the necklace in the middle of the bathroom, "Guys?".

"Oh no" Aria mumbled, as Bonnie went into the bathroom, something told her this wasn't going to end well.

Bonnie picked up the necklace and suddenly the door slammed shut and the girls heard Bonnie's screams, the three girls ran to the door and started pounding on it.

"Oh my god!" Caroline yelled, pounding on the door.

"Bonnie!" Aria yelled.

"You guys, open the door!" Bonnie yelled.

"Bonnie? Bonnie!" Elena yelled.

"What's going on?" Caroline asked.

"Bonnie!" Aria yelled.

"Try the other door!" Elena yelled, "I'll check the hallway".

"Okay".

"Bonnie, open the door!" Aria yelled.

"Please open the door!" Bonnie yelled, when suddenly all the lights started to flicker.

Having enough, Aria turned to Caroline, "Caroline, step behind me".

Caroline looked at Aria in confusion but nonetheless did as she was told.

Aria took a deep breath, she extended her arms, and started focusing on the door, Caroline and Elena, who had come back into the room, watched Aria in fascination.

After a few seconds, Aria managed to break the door using her magic, the three girls stepped in to see Bonnie standing in the middle of the bathroom, her face hidden with her hands.

"What happened? Are you okay?" a concerned Elena asked her best friend.

Bonnie removed her hands from her face and looked at the three girls, "I'm fine".

"Unbelievable, you were totally faking it" Caroline said, "Aria broke the door for you and you were just faking it!".

"Caroline come on" Elena said, while Aria looked at Bonnie in suspicion, for some reason Bonnie seemed odd to her.

"No, you scared the hell out of me" Caroline snapped, walking away.

"Bonnie?" Aria called out.

"I'm fine" Bonnie assured, "Everything's fine".

***

"I can't believe I fell for it" an angry Caroline said, walking after Bonnie.

"Are you okay?" Elena asked Bonnie.

"I must go" Bonnie informed.

"If she's leaving, I'm leaving" Caroline stated.

"You guys can't leave" Elena protested.

"I can" Caroline said, "I've had enough fake witch stuff for one night".

"Thank you for having me" Bonnie said, standing on top of the stairs, "I'll take it from here".

"Where are you going?" a confused Aria asked.

"Back to where it all began" Bonnie replied, walking downstairs, while Aria stood there, wondering why did her words sound so familiar.

"Bonnie" Elena called out, but she didn't stop, "Bonnie?".

"Oh my god" Aria said, suddenly realising why those words were so familiar, "Emily!".

Bonnie turned to Aria, "I won't let him have it, it must be destroyed".

Aria and Elena ran downstairs, "Wait!" Caroline yelled, quickly rushing after her friends.

Just as the two girls reached downstairs, Emily walked out the door and closed it, Aria and Elena tried to open it but it wouldn't budge. 

"What's happening?" a confused Caroline asked, as she reached the two girls.

"I don't know, the door, it's not--" Elena rapidly tried to open the door along with Aria, but both the girls failed when suddenly the door flew open, making the three girls scream in fright.

"What the hell?" a confused Jeremy asked, wondering why did the girls scream looking at him, thinking they were playing some stupid game, the Gilbert boy walked into the kitchen.

"I'm out of here" Caroline said, quickly running out the door.

Aria grabbed her phone and dialed Stefan, "Aria, what's wrong?" Stefan asked, knowing Aria wouldn't call him right now if it was urgent.

"Stefan, it's Bonnie" Aria informed, in a panicked voice that alerted Damon who was currently with Stefan.

"What happened?" a worried Stefan asked.

"Emily is possessing her and she said something to me" Aria revealed.

"What did she say?" a curious Stefan asked.

"She said, I won't let him have it, it must be destroyed, Stefan I think she doesn't want Damon to have the crystal and now she's going to destroy it" Aria informed.

"Okay, where do you think she went?" Stefan asked.

"She went to the old Fell's church, by the old cemetery" Aria replied, remembering Emily told her that's where it all started, "Emily said she's going where it all started and that's the Fell's church, we have to help her Stefan".

"All right, just stay there, I'm gonna go find her" Stefan said, hanging up the phone.

Aria turned to Elena, "We are not staying here".

And with that both the girls ran out of the door to go to the Fell's church to save their best friend.

***

"Bonnie!" Aria yelled, her and Elena running to the old church to see Bonnie surrounded by a ring of fire, Stefan quickly grabbed the two girls and stopped them from going near the fire.

Emily lifted the crystal into the air, destroying it, "No!" Damon yelled.

The fire went away and with the fire Emily also left Bonnie, Damon ran to Bonnie, however before he could bite into Bonnie's neck, Aria used her magic to give him an aneurism, she grabbed a shocked Bonnie's wrist and quickly shoved her in the direction Stefan and Elena were standing. 

Once she knew Bonnie was near Stefan, Aria stopped her magic on Damon and kneeled infront of him, "I'm sorry Damon, but I couldn't let you hurt her".

"It's over" a devastated Damon whispered to Aria, "It's all over Aria, I'm never going to be able to punish her killer".

While Aria looked at Damon in concern, Stefan looked at him in both confusion and suspicion, what did he mean by punish her killer?

***

Aria walked up to Damon who was sitting on a rock, staring at nothing, Elena had left with Bonnie, but Aria refused to leave Damon alone, after much arguing Elena left with Bonnie, not happy with leaving Damon with Aria, when Stefan offered to come with her Aria refused, she needed to talk to Damon alone.

Aria went and quietly sat next to Damon, "I failed her Aria, I failed her" Damon whispered.

"Failed who Damon?" Aria asked confused, "Katherine?".

"Not, Katherine" Damon said, "Natalie".

"Damon, what does Natalie have to do with the tomb?" Aria asked, Stefan having filled her and Elena in, "I thought she was dead".

"She is dead" Damon confirmed, "And the reason as to why she's dead is lying in that damn tomb".

Aria looked at Damon in confusion, not knowing what he was on about when suddenly realization drew on her, "Wait, Katherine?!" a shocked Aria asked, "Katherine is the reason as to why Natalie's dead?".

"Did you know vampires can't compel other supernatural beings, but there is one supernatural beings who we can compel" Damon informed.

"Who?" a confused Aria asked.

"Connor witches" Damon revealed.

"I can be compelled?" a shocked Aria asked, Damon nodded his head in confirmation, "And Katherine compelled Natalie?".

Damon once again nodded his head, "She compelled Natalie to protect Stefan no matter what happens to her, and in doing so Natalie ended up giving her life, she died right in my arms".

"But I thought Natalie and Katherine were connected, weren't they supposed to protect each other, why would Katherine put Natalie in dangers way?" a confused Aria asked.

Damon scoffed, "Kathrine never cared about anyone, not even Natalie, she just used her for her own selfish reasons".

"How did you find out about what Katherine did to Natalie?" a curious Aria asked.

"After my transition, Emily told me, she also told me that she managed to save Katherine" Damon informed.

"And that's when you decided you wanted revenge" Aria realised.

"Stefan thinks I want to open the tomb because I love Katherine and want to be with her, but that's not the truth, the truth is I wanted to open the tomb and drive a stake through Katherine's heart for what she did to Natalie, but I failed her" Damon said, a few tears slipping down his face.

"Hey, hey, hey" Aria said, cupping Damon's face in her hands, and wiping his tears, "You didn't fail Natalie Damon, I bet you wherever she is, she is beyond proud of you, Natalie is a very lucky girl you know, not everyone has someone who loves them so much".

Damon looked at Aria, the next thing he was about to say was going to be hard on both of them, but he knew he had to say it, "I'm leaving Aria".

Aria looked at Damon in shock, "What?".

"I can't stay here Aria" Damon said, "I can't stay in the place where I failed Natalie".

Aria sighed, honestly she was surprised, she had a feeling that this was what Damon was going to do, and she had no right to stop him, "I understand, can I at least spend this last night with you?" an emotional Aria asked, not knowing why her heart hurt so much.

"I wouldn't have it any other way" Damon whispered.

Damon and Aria laid down on the rocks and stared at the stars in the night sky, both enjoying each others presence, both unknown to the fact that a certain Salvatore had heard everything and was shocked finding out about his brother's true reason to open the tomb, he was also shocked seeing how open he was with Aria, that's when he came to the realisation of what Aria was hiding from him.

***

Presenting 1x09 of Cold Hearted!

How was the chapter?

Thoughts on Damon's note to Aria?

Thoughts on Aria, Caroline, Elena and Bonnie doing a seance to summon Emily?

Thoughts on Aria stopping Damon from attacking Bonnie?

Thoughts on Damon revealing to Aria his true reason for opening the tomb and Stefan hearing them?

Published: 11th September 2020
Edited: 11th April 2024