The Rage of Achilles
THREE: IT'S ONLY BEGINNING

"Impending doom, huh?" questioned Matt, who sat on either side of Achilles and Tyler as their fries began to cool. The three had been lazing at the grill since the night had gotten started, traveling to the topic of the overhead comet. To witches, the ancient comet was a beacon for paranormals and death. It brought great peril, so they said. Achilles nodded, putting his hands on either side of the unlit candle he possessed. He wanted to be open to his friends like Bonnie without spilling the family secret.

Tyler put on an amused, looking between the two skeptically after asking, "Your grams can't be serious, right?" Letting out a small laugh, Achilles shrugged and munched on the fried potato. Then he turned to watch Elena near the table, Caroline Forbes and Bonnie accompanying her. Elena smiled, adjusting her white leather jacket as she stopped in between Tyler and Achilles.

"Hey, guys! Enjoying the night?" Caroline greeted, her eyes dancing from one boy at the table to the others. Achilles opened his mouth to politely respond, but closed it again as Jeremy Gilbert came rushing over to the table, a worried look in his eyes and his hoodie in wrinkles. The witch could sense his urgency, it practically radiated from the Gilbert boy.

"Hey, has anyone seen Vicki?" Jeremy wondered as soon as he met the table of— mostly— friends. Elena looked on at her brother, wondering when his affiliation with Vicki Donovan— an older, drug user— would end. Caroline huffed, annoyed that the subject had been turned off of her and onto another girl— especially one as unimportant Vicki Donovan was to her. The blonde brother of Vicki furrowed his eyebrows, shaking his head at the Gilbert boy.

Tyler, however, hadn't a care about Vicki's whereabouts. Instead, he became more focused on Jeremy's worrying about Vicki's whereabouts. "You're her stalker, you tell us," he quipped, watching as Jeremy dismissed his comment like a gnat.

"I can't find her," Jeremy grumbled, looking daringly into the Lockwood's eyes. Even though the younger Gilbert knew Tyler had anger problems, he was willing to push him until his breaking point. That break from "Cool Tyler" to "Enraged Lockwood" would show Vicki who was better to be with, especially if Tyler dared to lay a hand on Jeremy.

"She probably found somebody else to party with—" Achilles gave Tyler a warning look as he watched Matt— from the corner of his eye— frown angrily. The Lockwood simply ignored his football friends, continuing on, "Sorry, Pill Pusher, I guess you've been replaced." He made a sarcastic sad-face at the boy, who glared angrily.

Achilles sat up in his seat, hoping to get his friend's attention as he warned, "Calm down, Tyler." The mentioned teammate simply ignored  Achilles once again.

Elena turned to Tyler, a look of bewilderment on her face as she quizzed, "What's with the Pill Pusher?"

Tyler, his eyes never leaving Jeremy's, nodded toward Elena's little brother. "Ask him."

"You wanna do this right now?" Jeremy threatened, stepping closer to the table as Tyler hopped off the chair to stand and Elena rounded the table.

"Are you dealing?" Elena interrogated, watching as her brother only glanced for a second her way.

"She's never gonna go for you," Tyler pushed further, ignoring Elena as Jeremy had.

"She already did-" Jeremy smirked, knowing how to ruin Tyler's night, "-Over and over and over again." Achilles glanced worriedly over at Elena, who's eyes were suddenly bigger than Earth and eyebrows were so tightly knit they might as well have been one.

The Lockwood rolled his eyes, scoffing, "Yeah, right."

Caroline's eyes widened, quickly snapping over to Jeremy as she asked, "You slept with Vicki Donovan? I mean, Vicki Donovan slept with you?" Jeremy was far too young to sleep with someone as old as Vicki Donovan and even Caroline knew that.

"There's no way." Tyler shook his head, crossing his arms and glaring at the Gilbert.

Jeremy stepped closer, sneering, "And I didn't even have to force her into it."

Achilles looked over at Tyler and then at Matt, his eyes wide and analyzing. Tyler's jaw clenched as Matt's brows furrowed.

"What the hell is he talking about, Ty?" Matt wondered, pushing the Lockwood's shoulder to catch his attention.

Tyler didn't look towards Matt as he dismissed, "Nothing, man, just ignore him, he's a punk."

Achilles shook his head, knowing a lie when he saw one. He knew all too well. "You know what-" he started, "-how about all of you calm down and help Matt find his sister?"

Bonnie nodded, watching the anger dance in Achilles eyes and the candle in his hands. "We'll check the back." She quickly pulled Caroline away from the commotion.

Matt turned quickly, then snapped his head back to the group and announced, "I'll check the square," as he grabbed his jacket from the high-table chair.

Jeremy watched as Matt quickly made his way around the table before he blurted, "I'll come with you."

"Oh, no, no, no," Elena grasped the sleeve of her brother's hoodie, shaking her head as she scolded, "You are coming with me. So that's your game now, dealing?" Achilles looked between Matt and Elena. The blonde was looking left and right just outside the Mystic Grill while Elena was angrily glaring at her brother. Achilles knew the right decision and he decided on it even as his heart and mind tugged in two directions.

He knew the right decision. Elena wasn't dying; she'd still be there the next morning. On the other hand, no one knew what the hell Vicki could be up to.

"Matt, wait up!" The bell above the door chimed as Achilles exited into the dark night, following behind his friend in need.

Alone on the high table; a lit candle, the flame burning oddly strong.