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𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏

 -ˋˏ 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘋𝘢𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘺 ˎˊ-

˚ 　 ✫ 　　　 ˚ . 　　　 ⋆

. · 　　 +

✧

╰┈˚ · ° .  A FEW DAYS HAD PASSED from the day both Stefan and I were kidnapped by the tomb's vampire— fortunately, the youngest Salvatore had been saved later on by his brother, Alaric Saltzman and Elena.

While driving through the forest, Caroline had also discovered Vicki Donovan's body. The coroner reports showing the cause of death being overdose. Vicky was a vampire though, and she had not died because of an overdose— the town council of Mystic Falls was the real reason why her death certificate had been altered. They covered up her death and the newly found presence of the vampire in their town.

That day also marked the first time I met Radan, and also the last. He had disappeared leaving behind Bastet. That was the only thing that assured my unexpected and sudden fear of him actually leaving.

That, though, gave space for another emotion to surface. Anger and annoyance— perhaps to cover up the hurt maybe.

The difference of the bonds between my mates was stark. Each had a different feeling, color, and emotion tighten to it.

Zyran was a continuing flame burning across a stream of stars. Emotionally, it felt warm, safe with that little mirth and cheerfulness that never passed unobserved.

Raden was the second to lighten the mate bond. A nylon black rope intertwined with a silky one of lavender color. Two different textures, so different but matched so well. It was playful and more feral— predatory.

The delicate lace flower pattern of my black dress gave me a soft vintage look. With a corset-style bodice and a collar A-line square neck. Bell sleeves and a flowing skirt. I paired the dress with black tights and heels, lavender hair styled into delicate waves and makeup in warm tones.

I felt pretty.

The Founders Day Anniversary party was held at the Founder's Hall. From The Gilbert residence, it wasn't just Elena, Jenna, Jeremy and I that left for the party, no, John Gilbert had decided to show up just that morning and declare his the only spare room available in the house for a few days. If there was something that my entire family could agree on, it was our shared dislikeness for John.

The Lockwood mansion was already filled with people when we arrived, looking around the various rooms I knew that Zyran was nowhere to be found yet. The messages sent still had no answer.

"Jenna and Alaric. They do kind of look good together." I said as I stepped next to my sister on the side of the room watching the two dance together a few feets away.

"They do." Elena's smile reached her eyes before melting to ashes when she turned towards me, "No Zyran?" She asked, the pissed off tone making me barely contain an annoyed breath.

"No Salvatore brother?"

To say that she was pissed about discovering that the male that saved me left behind his boyfriend, and later on Zyran doing the same, was an understatement. I couldn't fault her for that, but taking it up with me when I had nothing to do with it was surprisingly a very much Elena-move to do. And I was kidnapped too— not that she seemed to remember that anyways.

"I had to feed Stefan my blood." She said letting out a sigh of disappointment directed at me, "Now he is fighting against his hunger."

"He is a vampire, he is always going to thirst for human blood."

"Yes, but he is different." She insisted, "He fed on animal blood before and he was totally okay."

"Stefan is an addict." I explained to her in a much quicker and simple way, "Don't take it up on me since you were the one that fed him your blood." I shook my head, this was not why I was here for. "I heard Jeremy talk with Sheriff Forbes. He thinks that the council is trying to cover up her murder— which they are. And since you are the one that commanded Damon to compel his memories away, you will go talk to him about it. Better yet, don't. Let him find out the truth."

That was the only thing I had to tell her at that moment, and by continuing to stay there, I was sure that more arguments would come up, that's why I walked away, preferring to stay in the corner of the room alone. No Caroline, No Zyran. I felt myself having a deja-vu of the previous years parties.

"Are you going to stay in this corner for the rest of the night, Princess?"

Raden.

I glanced his way only for a second before looking away. He was wearing a suit all in black, his curls shining and his skin tone warming even more underneath the light of the flame candles. It would have been a much more elegant look if his dress shirt was buttoned up to the top— not leaving the skin of tattooed chest for everyone to see. Not that I was complaining.

"Are you really not going to say a word to me?"

"Where have you been in the last few days?" I asked. I couldn't contain the annoyance from slipping into the tone.

But Raden was cocky enough to widen his smirk, "Why? Missed me?"

I scoffed in outrage, deciding to just leave him there, but I had not even done more than a single step before he grabbed my hand, stopping me from moving any further. He towered behind me, his chest at my back, "I had to find the closest portal so I could talk with my father and tell him that I found my mate." The words were whispered against my ear as he softly trailed his fingers down my neck.

I guess that was a good enough explanation.

"Zyran is not here because I asked him to leave tonight for me." He continued.

I turned around to look at him, "You could have said that before disappearing." The bond had just activated, it needed more time to settle. It had been quite frightening the sudden feeling of what I could only call abandonment.

"Next time I disappear for a couple of days I will make sure to tell you." he said returning to his cocky smirk that I would have loved to punch away.

"Funny." I deadpanned sarcastically.

"Hi, Meda." It was Tyler Lockwood, another person that I actually very disliked in this town.

"Yes?"

"Your boyfriend is not here, uh?" He asked while placing his hands in his pocket, eyes moving down my body. "Oh, sorry, and you are?" He asked a second later, the question directed at Raden— and suddenly, he was puffing up chest.

The following words that left the Púca's lips, left me open-mouthed with surprise, "Her boyfriend."

"My what?" I gaped.

"I thought you were with Zyran?" Confusion was clearly shown across the boy's face with his furrowed eyebrows and puzzled expression.

"Yes, I am."

"And him?"

"He is not my boyfriend." I told the boy, but my words meant nothing when Raden spoke at the same time as me saying the exact contrary.

"Yes, I am." Raden said otherwise.

"Well she isn't saying that, soo..." Tayler laughed, "Would you like to dance, Andromeda?"

"She really doesn't." Snorted the curly haired male eyeing the Lockwood teen with amusement and hint of malice.

He was right. I really didn't want to. So I stayed with my mouth shut.

The playfulness faded from across Tyler's features as he turned towards Raden, "I think she can answer for herself, man."

"Alright then." Chuckling like he already knew the answer, Raden motioned for me to speak.

As much as I would have liked to dance with Tyler just in spite of Raden's words— well, I really didn't want to dance with Tyler and his wandering hands. Plus, there was the little detail about me recoiling from anyone's touch that wasn't the one of my mates.

"Yeah, no." I told the boy, "But thank you, I guess."

Scoffing, taking offense at my denial of his offer, Tyler said, "Whatever." before walking away.

"Take that smirk off your face before I shoot a literal star at your face." I told the Púca. I didn't even have to turn my head to look at him to know that he was feeling very proud of himself right now.

"You can do that?" He asked, more curious than anything else.

Yes, but not at this stage. I could barely keep the stars-light up to light the wick of a candle.

The answer was probably on my face from the way he snickered, earning a hard slap on his shoulder.

"So violent." He said through a grin.

"You think?" I raised a challenging eyebrow.

He pressed his tongue on the inside of his mouth, smiling with a little too ferality to mistake the multiple animal spirits in him to anything but predators. "You really are a brat, aren't you?" He didn't even give me the time to be offended, because he started talking again, "Dance with me."

"And if I don't want to?"

"Then you will not hear me telling you how gorgeous you look tonight."

"You just told me that."

"Yes, but it's different when I'm whispering it into your ear."

My lips twitched into the beginning of a smile, "You really can't stop flirting for more than a minute, do you?"

"With you? Definitely not."

───── ⋆˖⁺‧ ☽◯☾ ‧⁺˖⋆ ─────

╰┈˚ · ° .  Bonnie Bennett was back, and from the look on my sister's face, she had no idea.

As soon as the bell rang, Caroline was waiting outside the classroom door. She had kind of forgiven me since the Miss Mystic falls pageant was close and she needed all the support that she could. I knew how worried she was about competing against Elena.

The blonde-haired girl was a bubble of excitement, the announcement for the Pageant had been before the lessons started and since then, she had never stopped once thinking about it. "Tomorrow, for the interview, I'm thinking of wearing the green dress but I think it's a bit too informal, or the beige one with the bell sleeves."

Having in mind both dresses, I thought about it for a second before shaking my head,"Agree about the green one and the beige dress, I don't like how it clashes with your skin tone. What about the blue one? The one with the draping fabric on the side? You brought it a couple of months ago when you were whining about not having enough formal wear."

Caroline gasped, "That was not whining. I was just stating facts."

"Sure." I laughed, "Rehearsals are tomorrow afternoon too, right?"

"Yes, not like I need to practice since I know the choreography since I was 10."

The blonde then gasped, pointing at Bennett girl who was in the front courtyard of the school talking with Elena. Beaming brightly, Caroline stole my hand dragging me along with her towards the duo.

"Bonnie. Bonnie, thank God you're home." The preppy girl wrapped the witch in a tight hug, I know we talked every day. I missed you."

As Caroline spoke, it was clear how uncomfortable Elena was while watching the girl interact with her best friend. It had always been Elena and Bonnie the closer one of the trio, and suddenly, it was Caroline that spoke with the Bennett girl everyday while she barely answered the text that my sister was sending. It was clear that Elena was hurt but I understood Bonnie. She had just her grandmother because of the supernatural mess that Elena was in the middle of. I would have felt the same.

"Hi Bonnie." I gave the girl a genuine smile that she returned

"How are you doing?"

Answering the question of the blonde, the Bennett witch said, "Better. It's better, you know? Glad to be back. And I'm trying to keep myself busy."

"Well, I can help with that. Major wardrobe confab needed, ASAP. You need to help me pick the perfect dress for the Founder's Court."

"The Founder's Court?" Elena asked confused, "Did I miss something?"

"The Founder's Court. You know, Miss Mystic Falls. They announced it today. And you and I are both on it."

"Oh, my God, we signed up for that so long ago. I completely forgot." Elena said, slightly shaking her head.

"So are you dropping out, then?" It was unmistakable the hope that the Forbse girl held as she asked that question but I know that Elena would never do that— which I found out I was correct when she spoke next.

"I can't." My sister answered, grief crossing over her features for a split of a second.

"No?"

I pursed my lips as I replied, "Our mom is the one who wanted her to enter."

Bonnie and Elena left soon after the end of that conversation but it was clear that Caroline wasn't feeling the greatest.

"What is it?" I asked her.

The blonde hesitated for a second, sighing a breath before speaking, "I will never win."

"Caroline, of course you will. The Fell cousin's don't have a shot. Amber Bridely is only on the court so the pageant doesn't look like it's Founding Families only— which it totally is. And-"

"And Elena will have the vote of sympathy because her parents are dead. And apart from that, everyone likes Elena better. I can't compete with that."

"Okay first, wow, very sensitive." I said even if I wasn't offended in the slightest by her 'dead parents' comment. It was refreshing Caroline's lack of filters and total honesty.

The girl knew me enough to know that I did not mind that, though, so she just rolled her eyes.

"And yeah, Elena might be the favorite, but she did nothing for our town in the last year. You are on the MF beautification committee, you volunteer at the center's soup kitchen. You implemented this year's Go Green Campaign at school. Worked with the recycling program, and you were in charge of the Yearly Raffle. All of these are the things that they are going to look at."

Insisting on her point, Caroline said, "The sob story is going to her the votes, I know it."

"Care..."

"My grandmother was Miss Mystic and both of my aunts. My mom is the only one who didn't get the gene, and I want this."

"And you will. You deserve to win."

✎

˗ˏˋ 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞 ˊˎ˗

Hello everyone!!

I really want to know what you guys think about Raden, and well, of Meda and Raden together. There is spice between them, you can definitely see it.

(I really want to write smut for these two because I know It's gonna be hot, but ... there is someone else that will take the crown i think)

Mada is such a great friend, omg. I want her.

What do you think about Elena? In the future what would you like their relationship to be?

Thank you for reading this chapter, I'll see you on Wednesday!

˚ · ° . 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐞 . ° · ˚

𝐖𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞!

– 𝐋𝐨𝐥𝐚 ☾