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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟖

-ˋˏ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘣 𝘷𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘴  ˎˊ-

˚ 　 ✫ 　　　 ˚ . 　　　 ⋆

. · 　　 +

✧

╰┈˚ · ° .  SHEILA BENNET HAD DIED FOR NOTHING. That was the first thing that I thought after Stefan had called telling us to rush to the Salvatore boarding house that morning. The vampires entombed under Fell's church were out. The magic seal that contained them had not only lowered temporarily to permit the exit of a few, it had completely vanished.

Nights ago, Pearl— Anna's mother, one of the other 25 vampires to escape the tomb— had visited the older Salvatore brother. Peace was her offering, but that didn't end well. Fast forward to only the previous night, the Salvatore brothers had been attacked by a group of tomb vampires in their own home.

A thunderstorm was raging outside when we stepped inside the Salvatore boarding home, Damon, hammer in hand, was nailing wooden boards to the window that the vampires had broken in the fight.

"I say we go to Pearl's and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night." Exclaimed the older sibling to the rest of us.

After last night, I didn't know how he could be so cocky about his actions. We were three— well, three and a half if we count me in because I knew right now I couldn't be of much help— and they were 25 and definitely much older then both Salvatore brothers, meaning, they were stronger.

"Yeah? And then what, turn to the rest of their house of vampires and say, oops, sorry?" Sarcastically asked Stefan, not on board with brother's plan. It was a stupid plan after all.

"It's a shitty plan, Salvatore." Zyran told the raven haired vampire. Arms crossed on his chest. Dealing with Damon Salvatore was not in his plan that morning. Finding out that vampires hell bent on revenge against the council family— which I was part of with my last name— only worsened his mood. "But I am not opposed to you going. Alone, even better. Hopefully you can kill some vampires before you will get slayed."

Placing hand on his heart, Damon smiled a full sarcastic smirk. "No need to care about my well being so much, Zyran. But, maybe, I don't know, you could go all fiery breath on them and permanently cancel our council-blood-yearning vampire problem."

"Maybe once you are dead." deadpanned the dragon shifter.

"I can't believe you made a deal with her." Elena said, eyes glaring at the older Salvatore vampire.

"It's more like a helpful exchange of information. It's not like I got a choice.

She's scary." I just knew that admitting that had been painful for his ego, "Besides, she's gonna help me get Katherine back."

"The girl spent the last century free. She would have find you if she wanted. Are you so desperate for her affection? It's kind of pathetic, don't you think?" I snarked back at the vampire, aware that I had actually hurt his feelings when he vamp-speeded towards me.

I almost didn't make it, but knowing his reaction I had my reflexes ready, and using the enchanted senses and speed I moved out of the way.

"Of course she is." Elena said, referring to Damon's previous statement, making the man turn towards her— of course, not before sending me a last withering glare. "Damon gets what he wants, as usual, no matter who he hurts."

"You don't have to be snarky about it." The vampire commented

"I woke up to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb. I've earned snarky."

"Other than that, Sheila Bennett's death was for nothing." I added. I could only hope that when Bonnie would discover it— the girl now was away to spend time with the rest of her family away from this town— would not take it too hard.

"How long are you gonna blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?" Damon sighed.

"I'm not blaming you, Damon." Elena crossed her arms on her chest, "I've accepted the fact you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities."

"Ouch."

"This isn't being productive." Stefan interrupted them.

"You think?" I couldn't help but let the comment out with as much snarkiness as Elena was having during all the conversation.

"We're gonna figure out a way to deal with Pearl and the vampires."

"Hopefully in a better way then Damon suicide plan." I checked my phone for the time, I was going to be late. "I have to go. I'll see you in a couple of days." I said to my sister as I passed her.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  "Are you going to be fine?" I asked Zyran. We were parked just outside the Grill where I was going to meet Caroline. She had asked me to accompany her to her dad's boyfriend's daughter's birthday. And knowing the strained relationship— the almost non-existent one that she shared with her father— I was more than happy to go with her and support her.

"No." The dragon shifter answered through a groan, hitting his head on the steering wheel.

"It's just two days, Zy." I snickered, amused as much as loving his clinginess.

"Two days too much."

And now he was pouting.

"Stop that." I smiled, covering his mouth with my hand. "You are 253 years old Zyran, you can live a couple of days without seeing me."

"No I can't." He said after moving my hand away so he could reply. I narrowed my eyes playfully at him, a groan passing through his lips. "Alright, alright."

My giggles made his lips twitch into a smile, that he refrained himself to complete.

He shook his head, taking my hand in his, "It's actually a good thing that you are going away. I can take care of the vampires that want you and all the founding families dead."

"I don't want to be a burden, someone that does not know how to defend herself." I confided, brows lowering into frown.

"You will never be a burden, Darlin'. And training your powers will take a lot of time and we do not have much to begin with." He softened his tone, gentle eyes gazing into mine.

"Be safe, alright." I whispered to him, closing the space between us until a single breath divided us.

"Always." he muttered back before connecting our lips.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  "Matt!" I called the guy. He was on his shift at the Grill and I know that Caroline wanted to meet here so she could see her boyfriend one last time before driving away.

"Meda, Care is looking for you." He said while throwing the rug across his shoulder.

"Yeah, I know. I'm a bit late. Do you know where she is?" I asked.

"I think she is waiting outside in her car. Setting up google maps for the drive."

"Thank you, see ya Donovan boy!"

Chuckling, Matt replied with the same enthusiasm, "See ya, Gilbert girl!"

In the rush to get out, with the downpour of rain, thunder booming, I didn't notice the man following out of the Grill until it was too late.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

𝐙𝐲𝐫𝐚𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐯

╰┈˚ · ° .  The vampires from the tomb were a problem. That was a concrete fact.

It was a good thing that Andromeda was out of town for a few days, away from the danger that their revenge brought on the founding families and all the citizens of Mystic Falls.

I could understand their reasons. Passing more than a century, desiccating slowly, veins turning to sandpaper, fangs aching, in pain, starving year after year... I could understand them.

If Andromeda was not a Gilbert— making her the aim of their warpath too— I wasn't sure I would have moved a finger to help.

Mate.

I still couldn't believe that I had found my mate. And she was even more than I could've ever dreamed— wished— before.

Mystic Falls had turned out to be even more supernaturally centered than I had expected. Much more chaotic that's for sure.

With a glance outside the window, I looked at the clock tower when the bell sounded letting me know that midmorning had arrived. The two-bedroom apartment that I had rented was in the town square, it was cozy, with warm woods, and brick walls. The living room was an open space, the kitchen extending from behind the couch. Signs of my mate were everywhere here. From our photos framed on the shelf, to the little polaroids that she decides to leave around for me to find. A couple of her books, the whole Twilight series DVDs, a couple of her sweatshirts and tops, hair ties and even some of her jewelry. Most prominently, her perfume drenched the entire apartment making my head spin and my dragon purr.

Being a dragon shifter meant that I had the compulse of creating treasures, everything that spoke to my dragon was added to the collection. The small storage room that was in the corner of the living room was now converted into to keep all my dragon's belongings.

There was a little jar safely kept between a purple satin cloth. I knew what my dragon wanted. The most treasured thing that he— we will ever own.

I was shuffling through the pages of books that I had acquired in the last month or so about Nymphs, precisely about Nymph Asteriai and their powers. Some books were of myths, others came directly from Nàdar. The thing was that Nymph were rarely seen outside of the forest or their habitat, and preferred to spend their time with nature and the company of their sister nymphs. There wasn't much written down on their powers, how to learn how to use them. But every information was useful.

It was two hours after I had left Andromeda that I checked my phone as I prepared a couple of sandwiches for a quick snack. I sent her a message, 5 minutes passed and no reply came, so I sent another and another. I didn't think much of not getting any answer because she was with Caroline, it was their time.

A call suddenly came, Elena Gilbert the name on the display. Stefan had been kidnapped by the tomb vampires, Andromeda with him.

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  I couldn't remember the last time my dragon was so agitated, out of control. It continued to roar in my mind, I could feel him getting even more restless as each minute ticked by.

I didn't even care about the blue scales that flashed on my skin before disappearing every couple of seconds, or how my eyes glowed blue, pupils slitting into resembling reptilian ones.

I was angry. No, I was furious. Furious with myself. I had not protected my mate and now she was in harm's way.

I remember though confused flashed meeting Damon and Elena. Going to the school and talking with Alaric Saltman, the vampire hunter. I don't know when, but I remember that at one point I had the older Salvatore's brother's neck held in my hand, his skin sizzling as fire lit my palm.

I knew where she was, I didn't need anyone to help me get her.

I run, passing through the forest leaving burn marks on the ground. I ran until I could smell the aphrodisiac scent of dark berries and midnight jasmine that was all Andromeda.

The house that the tomb vampire had chosen was a big one on the outskirts of the town.

The cellar. That was what she and Stefan were kept. Jogging down the stairs I was met with three vampires. They were dead before any of them could scream from the pain of my fire burning through their skin. The metal door felt like simple and delicate china, the lock breaking with the strengths used.

Stefan was there, he had blood coating his skin, vervain drenched ropes keeping him upright even if he couldn't do it himself. A vampire was sitting on a chair before him, stakes stabbed in his legs. They had both been tortured.

I wanted to roar, because I knew it-- I knew it as soon as I stepped into that room, I didn't need to check to be sure, but I still did.

In the corner, attached to a pipe, there was still a rope. Drops of her blood staining the pavement. But Andromeda was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?!" I bellowed to the weak vampire.

"Someone took her. I don't know- I don't-"

My breath picked up, rage coursing through my body tenfolding.

Where was she!

Scales abruptly started to coat my skin coming in blue and turquoise shades. I had only the time to jog up the stairs of the cellar before my dragon brusted from my skin with a roar that made the ground shake.

A beast of blues, sharp teeth and claws with two wings powerful enough to propel into the sky.

The dark berries and midnight jasmine.

That was the only thing that my dragon knew. Find that scent. Her.

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!!

Sooooo. LMAOOOO. OOPS.

Zyran glamorous himself when he shifts, that is how he can actually do it btw.

I have no idea what dark berries and jasmine actually smell like, but yeah, cool ig

Where is Meda? OHH the next chapter!!!

And yes, Zyran left Stefan there, lol. He just wants his gir backl. Who can blame him.

Anyways, thank you for reading this chapter, I'll see you on Saturday!

˚ · ° . 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 . ° · ˚

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾