CHAPTER TEN: The Girl Under the Street Light
WARNING: blood, murder, explicit language, guns

ATHENA STANDS ACROSS FROM AVERY and Luna. They are both silent as they stand in the library. Athena had closed the doors and put up a locking and silencing spell placed on the room so her brothers didn't try to eavesdrop.

Damon and Stefan were probably too busy packing to care much anyway. They were leaving, she was staying. There was too much here for her to just up and leave.

"You weren't supposed to meet again..." Luna began, her voice hesitant.

Athena scoffed out a bitter laugh. She was exhausted. Last night was terrible—Well, the part that didn't include Caroline. Her feet ached and the worst part, when she woke up, her feet... they looked desiccated. She really didn't have the energy for this but Avery had showed up on her doorstep and Luna had flipped.

"Funny thing... that word: again," she drawled, shaking her head with a roll of her eyes.

"Look, Atty, we cannot do this right now," Luna breathed, her fingers wrapping tightly around her arms, "you're mind—it can't handle all of the things we can tell you. Not right now. You're gonna seriously damage yourself if we..." She trailed off, releasing a breath through her nose, "if we tell you about what happened in the last 17 years."

"Well, I've obviously been missing something," Athena said, throwing her hands in the air, "something important! This woman—Cassidy—I obviously felt something for her. We're in photos together and I've drawn her multiple times." Athena grabbed the table, her knuckles turning white as she closed her eyes.

Avery shifted uncomfortably, "you loved each other," she sighed. Luna whipped her head around to face the redhead with a what the actual fuck?! look. She ignored the brunette and slowly walked towards Athena, "that one night stand wasn't a... one night stand. You met her in New Jersey—"

"Averianna!" Luna shrieked, grasping her arm gently and tugging her away from Athena, "stop, please!" She pleaded.

"No, continue!" Athena argued.

Luna spun on her, shoving her back. Athena went flying into the bookshelf. "No! I won't watch this happen—not again," her breathing began to grow frantic, eyes wide and glazed over as if she was remembering something, "I can't—I can't do that again."

Athena stayed on the ground for a second, stunned. What the hell was Luna talking about? When has something like this happened? Athena was in front of Luna a second later, wrapping her arms around her and pulling her best friend close. "Shh, it's okay. We won't continue this conversation—we'll save it for another time. Just breathe please," Athena whispered, running on one of her hands in Luna's hair while the other stroked her spine.

Avery watched silently, looking pained. They'd have to have this conversation another time. Without Luna. Avery gave her a nod and then left the room. Luna clutched onto Athena, not letting her go and refusing to move away.

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STEFAN WALKS TO the front door as the doorbell rings. He gives his brother a look before opening it up revealing the sheriff. "I'm here to see Athena," Liz told Stefan.

He furrows his brows and nods, "uh, sure. Okay. Um, Atty!" He calls into the house. Athena appears in the hallway and walks over.

"What's up—oh, sheriff." Damon walks over as well but Liz only really looks at Athena. "What a surprise."

"Sorry to bother you, but we need to talk," Liz said, eyeing Stefan and Damon warily.

Athena nodded, "come in." She gave her brothers a look. Stefan walked away as Damon shut the door behind them. The redheaded woman guides the sheriff outside in the backyard, "I hope you understand the secrecy. Stefan's young and I don't want him involved and Damon... Well, he's Damon."

"Of course Kids are too young to be brought into this," Liz agrees, "which also extends to my daughter." She levels Athena with a look and the woman smiles at her.

"What do you need, sheriff?" Athena asked, leaning against the railing.

Liz sighed and turned to face her, "there's been another attack—" Athena's face drops from its small smile, "A female victim, her throat torn out, completely drained of blood. It fits the pattern."

Athena frowned, confused, "I don't understand. I thought we caught the... animal that did this." She swallowed roughly at the thought of Lexi. "I thought we solved that problem when Damon, uh... staked the blonde one."

"I'm thinking she must have turned someone," Liz sighed, "or multiple someones. I don't know." Athena leans back and rubs her neck. "The story for the town is another animal attack, but I'm not sure how long we can keep lying to them." Athena nodded in agreement. "The council's in an uproar. We thought we were past this."

Athena glanced away, "what do we do?"

"You and Damon are the only ones who's ever taken on a vampire," Liz replied, "we were hoping you could tell us."

Athena licked her lips.

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"ARE YOU SURE you should be at school so soon? I mean, you have a concussion," Caroline said as she walked with Braxton towards their third period. Caroline has made it her job to find Braxton after every class and walk him to his periods just to make sure Chris didn't try to pummel him but also because she liked talking to him.

"I'm fine, promise," Braxton grinned, poking his head, "this isn't gonna stop me. Sure didn't stop my parents."

Caroline frowned, "the couple times I've met your parents for, like, school affairs, they've been complete a-holes. No offense."

Braxton shrugged his shoulders, "none taken. They are complete and utter dickheads. Once I'm 18, I'm out of here. I'm gonna go to college and maybe go live with my grandma in New Jersey. My cousin lives there, and I haven't seen her in a while."

Caroline smiles, "it's good you have a plan in mind. I have... I have no idea what I'm gonna do. I'm hoping the career fair tonight will help a bit. You come?"

He nods and bumps his hip with hers, "I'll see you there, sunshine." He threw his arm around her shoulder and guided her into the class, "but first we need to get through Math," he groaned. Caroline laughed.

From afar, Bonnie and Elena had been watching the two interact. They've only met Braxton Turner once since he had come to their table to ask Caroline for the notes in Algebra or something the day he was gone. Caroline had actually been nice for once and smiled. It was weird.

"Did I miss something?" Elena asked, frowning in confusion.

"They've been hanging out," Bonnie replied but looked just as confused, "apparently Caroline had visited him in the hospital. At least that's what the rumor is."

"Kind of weird, don't you think?" Elena inquired, glancing at Bonnie.

Bonnie shrugged, "she needs someone nice like him, as opposed to two homicidal vampires like Athena and Damon." Flashbacks of what happened that night go through her mind.

"Yeah. How are you doing with all that?"

"I'm freaked out. Damon attacked me. I could be dead right now," she sighed, "but I'm also grateful." Elena lifted an eyebrow. "To Stefan. He saved my life, and... was there when Athena wasn't. Have you seen him?"

"Not since he told me he was leaving. For all I know he's already gone."

Bonnie gives her friend a look as Elena stuffs things into her locker, "he wouldn't leave without saying good-bye."

"Yes, he would. And maybe it is for the best. He's blinded by Athena's—whatever. He defended her the other night even though she didn't help you and ran."

"Love blinds everyone—especially family," Bonnie argues gently even though she doesn't agree with Stefan's motives.

Elena shrugged, "he thinks he's protecting me by leaving but Athena will still be here. I'm safest when I'm with him. Clean break and all that."

"So what are you gonna do?"

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"THANK YOU FOR stopping by, Liz," Athena said as she opened the front door.

"Let me know what you come up with," she said, squeezing Athena's arm. The redhead nodded and then closed the door. She turned around only to be trapped against the door by Stefan.

"What is wrong with you? You killed somebody?" He demanded.

Athena shoved him off easily, brushing her clothes off, "get off of me. A: don't touch me." She brushes past him, knocking their shoulders together, "b: if I had, I wouldn't have been so obvious about it. C: there's another vamp in town."

"Is it Luna?" Damon asked from his place on the couch, "because I have a stake with her name on it—"

"You so much as come near her, I will actually kill you. I don't care, brother or not, Luna has been more my family for the past century than you two have in two decades," she said, glaring harshly at Damon, "she doesn't care what I am—" she gives a pointed look at Stefan who hangs his head "—and she doesn't care who I am." She glares back at Damon. "Grow up, not everything is my fault. Just pack your goddamn bags and leave. Nobody wants you here."

She walks up the stairs and goes to her bedroom, leaving her two brothers in slight shock.

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"DID YOU SEE Turner hanging out with Forbes?" Tyler asked as he dribbled the basketball while looking at Matt.

"I did," Matt said.

"They were acting quite close in the hall today," Tyler kept taunting, smirking the whole time. Matt rolled his eyes. "Don't even try and deny it, bro. Caroline is moving on from you."

"Shut up, man. She just needs a little time to realize Athena is crazy and then she'll come running back to me," Matt said.

Tyler scoffed, "I wouldn't be surprised if both Turner and Salvatore were tapping that."

"Nah, man, it isn't like that," a voice cut in. They both turned towards the hoop where Braxton was standing. He ran a hand through his hair. "Care and I are just friends."

"Never is till you become 'we people'," Tyler said with a smirk, tossing the ball into the hoop.

Braxton shook his head, "boys and girls can be friends in a platonic way, Lockwood, but you wouldn't know that since you're only friends are filled to the brim with testosterone and the girls only want to shag you instead of date you because they know you are not relationship material," he said with an innocent smile.

Tyler's face dropped as Matt snorted.

"Hey, don't get me started on you, Matt," Braxton drawled, leaning against the post, "Caroline won't be the one running to you, you're the one running to her. It's pathetic really."

"You better shut your mouth, Turner, or you're going back into the hospital bed," Tyler threatened, stepping forward.

Braxton wasn't phased at all. "Listen, dude, she's just not into," he said to Matt with a mock apologetic smile, "now back the fuck off or what happened to Chris is gonna become your permanent look."

Matt glared at Braxton and moved to step forward when Caroline came over, "oh, my God, you were right, he is good looking!" She gushed, grabbing his wrist.

For a second, Braxton looked confused before something clicked, "wait—you saw him?" He quickly looked around and saw Ace walking to his car with his electric keyboard case in hand. "Ah, shit. We're leaving."

"What, why—woah!"

Braxton quickly pulled her out of view of the pianist as Ryker and Leonardo made their way over. Tyler and Matt shared a look before continuing their game.

"I swear I just saw Turner," Leo said, staring in the direction Braxton and Caroline had rushed off in. Ace turned his head, looking hopeful to catch at least a sight of him. He made a mistake the other day when he broke up with Braxton and he had tried to visit him in the hospital but Caroline had been there.

Ryker clapped his friend's shoulder, squeezing it, "you'll get to speak with him soon. I think he said that he was coming to the career fair tonight. We should go."

"Yeah..." Ace sighed, closing the trunk after Leo put his guitar inside.

Caroline and Braxton looked around the corner of the school where the three boys were getting into the car. Braxton was leaning above Caroline who was a bit hunched over. Both were watching the scene intensely, each with totally different opinions.

When the car pulled out and drove away, Caroline looked up at Braxton, "that was sad," she said.

He made an offended noise, straightening up and giving her a look while crossing his arms, "you try seeing your ex after he dumped you because you can't come out to your parents," he snapped.

Caroline leaned against the wall, holding her books to her chest, "your aunt seems pretty cool," she argued, tilting her head a bit.

Braxton leaned against the wall next to her with a sigh, "she's my best friend and has always been there for me. My parents? They couldn't care less. As long as I'm getting A's and I'm not getting arrested, I stay out of the spotlight."

Caroline frowned, "you know, if you ever need to get away, even for a little while, you can always come to my place. My mom isn't really home anyway and it's usually just me."

Braxton stared at her for a moment before a small smile found its way onto his face, "people have always said you were the 'Queen Bee', nothing but a cold-hearted bitch," Caroline's frown deepened and she looked down. His smile widened as he bumped their shoulders, "I happen to think you have the biggest heart of them all."

Caroline looked up at him through her lashes, her eyes searching his face to see if he was telling the truth or not. When all she found was sincerity, her eyes watered a bit as she breathed out a small giggle. "And people have always called you a nerd," she said, picking her head up so he could get a better look at her face.

When she didn't continue, he raised an eyebrow, "and now?"

"Oh, no, you're still a nerd," she smirked teasingly, "but I like that about you." Braxton smiled, rolling his eyes.

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ATHENA EYED LUNA carefully. The brunette was sitting on the couch with a glass of A-positive blood. She had finished getting ready for the career fair and was going to leave but her best friend has been acting very weird since their conversation earlier.

"I'm going to try and find a safe way to bring my memories back," Athena spoke up and Luna froze, "whatever you think is going to happen—I'm not going to leave you. We made a pact with each other."

"Not everything can be controlled," Luna murmured before throwing back the glass of blood.

Athena stared intensely at the back of her friend's head, "Luna, what aren't you telling me?" She asked.

"You can't trust Damon and Stefan. You can't trust Elijah. You can't trust Rebekah. You can't trust Kol or Finn... You can only trust Nik. Only Nik," Luna said instead.

Athena winced as a sharp pain erupted in her head.

"We can't let them know of their existence, Athena."

"I know we can't, Cassidy. I'm not putting their lives in their hands. Not again."

"I'll keep them away, Luvs. I promise, Kol, Rebekah, Finn, and Elijah will not know of their existence—at least until they can defend themselves."

Athena raised her hand to her temple, rubbing it. It was like deja vu. "Why can't I trust them, Luna? Why can't I trust our family?" Athena demands, walking towards her.

Luna looks up at her, "you'll remember."

The Heretic stared at her for another long moment, hoping she'd say more, but Luna just goes back to staring at the table. She releases a heavy sigh and heads for the door. She told her girlfriend she'd be at the career fair, there wasn't any way she was going to upset her.

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"THANK YOU, MS. Salvatore," one of the people manning the author's booth said once Athena handed over a couple scrapped books she had worked on a while ago. She nodded to them and let her eyes roam over the other drafts created by students.

"Ooh, Ms. Salvatore, I've heard some very interesting things about you." Athena turned her head to the side. A man—maybe 30 or a little older—was standing a couple of feet away with a smile. His black hair was slicked back and his eyes were a dark brown. He was wearing a blue flannel jacket and jeans.

"I'd like to say the same but I have absolutely no idea who you are nor do I care," Athena smiles sarcastically and gives the booth a wave before walking away. Sadly, the man follows her.

"I wouldn't expect you to. I'm Tony Cordellius. I'm the manager of Burgers 'N Better," he explains. Athena doesn't respond, searching for her girlfriend in hopes to get away from this conversation. "Look, I've been thinking—"

"Did it hurt?" Athena interrupted, stopping her stride and turning to face him with a bored expression, "because it seems to have caused some brain damage if you think you can talk to me."

Tony smirked, "I like a woman who plays hard-to-get, but how about we cut it short and head to my place?" He wiggles his eyebrows.

Athena stares at him blankly for a second before her eyes flick over to a young girl who was watching them with a sad and upset look in her eyes. Athena looks back at the man, "you're here with your daughter and instead of walking around with her and learning what she wants to do when she gets out of this hell-hole called High School, you're here trying to pick up a taken woman." She steps forward, looking him directly in the eye, "stop sleeping around and try and find the 'one' for you while being a great father to your daughter. She deserves that."

His face softens significantly as he nods his head in the direction of his daughter, "that's my little girl, Sarah. She's the light of my life."

Athena gives him a small smile, her chest tightening, "she's beautiful," she says. Tony grins, gives her a nod, and heads back to his daughter. Sarah looks surprised and her eyes begin to water after hearing what he said. Athena watches silently before turning away.

Caroline almost collides into her, not expecting Athena to turn, "oh jeez!" The blonde laughed and the redhead smiled.

"Hey, honey," Athena said, leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to Caroline's lips, "how was school?"

The blonde wrapped her arm around her girlfriends as they began to walk through the fair, "it was okay—another school day," she shrugs. She waves to a couple of people and greets some others before turning her attention back to Athena. "I hung out with Braxton for the most part, then I saved his ass from being beaten up by Matt and Tyler—"

"What?"

"He was defending me and telling Matt to back off and you know, boys and their testosterone felt attacked. It was all good and Brax should be here soon," Caroline explained, leaning up and pecking Athena's cheek.

Athena hummed, not looking at her and seemingly deep in thought. Caroline was afraid that her girlfriend was silently planning out the two boys murders—or at least Matts.

"Hey," Caroline murmured soothingly, gripping Athena's hand tighter until the Heretic was looking at her, "I'm okay. Promise."

Athena nodded, relaxing, "I know." She stopped them and turned towards the blonde, caressing her face softly. She leaned in, pressing their lips together in a soft kiss, filled with love. It made Caroline's knees buckle a bit.

"Oh, God," a voice groaned, "can you two go anywhere without having your lips locked?" They pulled away and turned to face a grossed-out Braxton. Athena gave him a dry look while Caroline blushed. "Alright, I'm here," he sighed, crossing his arms, "what are we gonna do?"

Caroline beamed and grabbed his arm, "we're gonna go find that hotty and sort this gay shit out," she said, dragging him toward the entrance. Braxton's eyes widened and he looked back at Athena in search of some help. The redhead shook her head, giving him a two fingered salute.

"Good luck, soldier," she called after him and he flipped her off. Athena smiled, turned on her heel, and went to look at every booth.

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"I WANTED TO apologize," Stefan said to Athena after he dragged her away from prying eyes, "I was a huge fucking dick—"

"Yep," Athena agreed, leaning against the row of lockers behind her.

"And that Goddamn word—I'm so sorry. I don't think of you like that. You're incredibly powerful and so, so smart. You are not and never will be a—a... that word. I broke our promise but it won't happen again," Stefan said, taking her hands in his, "you're my best friend and my sister. Nothing will change that."

Little did Stefan know, that promise will be broken as well.

Athena smiled slightly, "you suck, Stefan," she groaned, wrapping her arms around him. He grinned into her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist and spinning her around. Athena laughed and kissed his head when he set her down. "Come on. Let's go see if we can find Jenna and Elena."

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"HIDE ME," JENNA pleads, grasping Athena's hand and huddling close to her friend.

Athena frowned, concerned, "what's going on, darling?" She asked, squeezing her hand gently.

Jenna scrunched her nose, digging her face in Athena's shoulder, "the scum Fell has landed," she grumbled.

Athena tenses, sharing a panicked look with Stefan. Elena sighs, "Logan's here," she said.

Stefan and Athena share a meaningful look before Stefan looks at Elena, "wait. Logan Fell?" Jenna nodded with a heavy sigh, pulling away from Athena.

The two Salvatore's, once again met eyes, sharing a heated, protective gaze and quickly walked, determined in each step. They look up and down the hall, Athena stepping a little further out from her brother who keeps his body blocking the doorway.

Their eyes locked onto the culprit and he looked over at them, his eyes lighting up. He raised his hand and waved at them coyly.

Stefan grabs Athena's arm, holding it tightly to keep her under control and give her a sense of comfort. Elena and Jenna walked out of the classroom, confused about the Salvatore's behavior.

"Stefan, what's going on?" Elena asked as Logan waltzed over.

Stefan grabbed her hand, interlocking their fingers and keeping her slightly behind him. "Kill him when you get the chance," he breathes into Athena's ear as she brushes past him. Her eyes darken significantly and she nods curtly before wrapping an arm snugly around Jenna's waist and pulling her into the Heretic's side.

"Jenna, are you dodging me?" Logan asked with a disgusting, "charming" smirk.

The human purses her lips, not liking the sudden change in demeanor that Athena was sporting. "It's a form of self-preservation," she clips, tilting her head up and crossing her arms, leaning further into Athena's side.

Before the conversation can continue anymore, Stefan quickly jumps in, "um, Elena, why don't you and Jenna go somewhere else," he says, turning his head towards the two women and giving the girl he was falling in love with a meaningful look.

Elena picks up on it, turning to Athena who nods slowly, her gaze still locked on Logan to make sure he didn't try anything. "Let's go," she says, grabbing Jenna's arm.

"What's going on?"

Stefan goes rigid as Athena's eyes flick to her girlfriend and Braxton who looks confused. Caroline was staring at the side of Fell's head curiously, a frown on her lips. Logan turns to face the two teens, a fake smile plastered on his face. Caroline picks up on it, years of doing the same thing to people she didn't want to speak to.

Logan opens his mouth to speak but Stefan's arm reaches out, tugging Caroline firmly into his chest. She stumbles a bit, letting out a noise of surprise. His chin rests snugly on the top of her head, his height coming in handy on this occasion as he envelops the young woman with his body while glowering at Logan. It's a territorial move, something Athena has only seen in wolves and packs.

He was protecting his Alpha's mate—at least that's what it looks like. Stefan lets go of Elena's hand and reaches out, tugging Braxton behind him. He could pick up Athena's scent from anywhere, he was someone who was to be protected.

Elena's eyes flash with hurt and jealousy, her eyes jumping back and forth between Caroline and Stefan's firm grip on the girl who merely hugs him back, hiding her face in his neck.

Logan cocks an eyebrow and Jenna looks pleasantly surprised. She looks up at Athena to gauge her reaction and is even more surprised to see her gaze still locked firmly on Logan.

"Obviously, you aren't wanted," Athena says to the Fell man, her voice lower than usual. Stefan's grip on Braxton's forearm tightens slightly, hearing the authoritative lit of his sister's voice. He really needs to find out what Athena did all that time away from him and Damon. "So I suggest you leave. Before I do something you regret," Athena drawls, pulling her arm back.

Elena, not wanting to be around anymore to watch Stefan be overprotective over Caroline, grabbed Jenna's arm and brushed past Logan, pulling her away. Stefan nudged Caroline and the young woman got the hint, grabbing Braxton's arm.

"Let's go try and find my mom," Caroline said to the young man, dragging him away.

"What are you doing here?" Stefan asked, stepping closer and into Logan's line of sight so he doesn't follow Caroline with his eyes. Athena crosses her arms coming to stand behind the baby vamp.

"You know, your brother asked me the same thing," Logan said, glancing between them, "In fact, why don't we just skip past all that who-turned-me stuff and get the answer that I want?"

Athena scoffed, "and why would we give you a response?" Logan turned to look at her, growing increasingly frustrated with these Salvatores, "you haven't done anything for us. We don't owe you anything."

He rolled his eyes and turned back to Stefan, "how can I turn into a daywalker?" He demanded.

"Damon, Athena, and I are the only 3 that I know of," Stefan lied.

"But you're both very cagey on the how, which tells me that there is a way," he smirked, "you know, in case you hadn't noticed I'm quite the celebrity in this town. It would be very, very easy for me to expose you."

Athena laughed and Logan turned to her, "you wanna know how you can walk around in the sun?" She asked, her smirk cold and smitful, "you can't. Threaten my brother, Damon, or myself again and the next vampire I go after is you. And I swear it won't be pretty, darling. I'm a whole lot fucking older than you, I've been in this world a long time. You wouldn't last a fucking day if you weren't here in Mystic Falls."

She patted his cheek with a smile. He slapped her hand away and she brushed past him, wrapping her arm around Stefan's shoulders, walking away from the man.

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AS ATHENA STEPPED out into the cold air outside, she breathed out a sigh. She really needed to start lighting dead people's bodies on fire. To make sure they are really dead, of course. It's not because she has an obsession.

She closed her eyes for a moment, letting her other senses tune into her surroundings. Her favorite part of being with Niklaus for so many years was when he taught her how to use her other senses and not just her eyes. She could clearly picture everything around her if she wanted to, she could hear things for miles—maybe even farther if she tried—, and could smell things just as far.

It was weird. Vampire's shouldn't have that much awareness but she always had, even when she was a child. She had spent a long time trying to figure it out and even asked the Mikaelson's for some answers but they always replied with a vague "you'll understand soon enough." It was annoying, but she decided to just let her life write itself.

That's why she could feel somebody watching her. Two people actually. They were both powerful, yet one of their energies felt different—dead kind of different. She's been able to communicate with the dead with a spell she found in one of Kol's dark artifact rooms. He didn't tell her who it was from, claiming he didn't remember, but he did his nervous tick—his nose scrunched. But she hadn't done the spell in a while.

She opened her eyes and turned her head towards the edge of the parking lot. A girl stood under a street light, a hood pulled over her head. Athena could barely make out her eyes—only that they were extremely dark and looked black. The girl was dressed in black sweats and a black hoodie that looked familiar—it had I <3 New Orleans on it. Like the hoodie Stefan had given her years ago when he passed through. She had no idea where it went.

Athena kept her eyes on the girl who's heart was pounding and breathing had hitched. The girl seemed so familiar, like Athena should know who she was, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Shifting a bit, she appeared in front of the girl who had to look up at her. Athena tilted her head, narrowing her eyes. She searched the girl's face.

"Who are you?" She asked, her voice quiet and soft but filled with curiosity.

Something flashed across the girl's face—hurt?—then she was gone. Athena reached out but felt nothing, only air. Astral projection? But why would she come see me? Who was she?

Her eyes looked so familiar. It spooked the Heretic. Something wasn't right.

Vamping back inside, she walked around a corner, smiling at some people who waved to her in greeting. She looked around, trying to find her brother who should've filled Damon in on everything. She was going to enter the cafeteria where the main parts of the careers were when someone ran into her.

She whipped around, watching her girlfriend walk away. Caroline had her head down slightly, moving quickly. She was about to walk after her when she heard a voice, "Liz."

"Logan," Liz said, sounding panicked. Athena quickly looked inside and saw Logan standing across from the sheriff. She quickly walked in, grabbing Logan's jacket as he cursed Liz out.

"Hey, buddy," she said with a wicked smirk, holding him tightly.

"Athena..." Liz said, grabbing her arm. She pulled her back, stepping in front of her.

Logan looked between them, scoffing, "God, she's fooled everyone. She had you all fooled," he spat, glaring at Liz. He points at Athena, "she was one of the people who helped kill me. Who turned me into this! I can't believe you fell for her lies."

Liz's grip on Athena loosened, turning her head to look at the redhead. Athena stared back at her for a moment before looking back at Logan, "I gave you a warning. Now walk away or I will carve out your heart and hang you up by your intestines." She walked forward, brushing past Liz, "make no mistake, if you come after somebody I love—I care about—I won't hesitate to put. You. Down."

"You're fucking crazy," he snarled.

"I lost it a long time ago, kid. You can't say anything that I don't already know," she said, looking unbothered by the whole thing. It unnerved Liz, quite a bit. She has never seen Athena act like this, but she's kind of grateful at the moment—Logan has backed off a bit.

Logan looked back at Liz, "I was one of you."

The sheriff swallowed, "and now you're one of them."

Logan glared at the two before he began to walk away. He turned around, "watch your back, Sheriff," he whispered before Athena shoved him back, eyes flashing black for a moment.

He sauntered out the door. Athena went to go after him but Liz grabbed her arm, already calling somebody. "Get a backup team to the school immediately," she said into the phone, "keep it within the circle. It's a V5."

"I gotta go find Caroline," Athena said, shaking off Liz's arm and quickly going to find her girlfriend. "CARE!" She shouted once she got outside, "CAROLINE!" She got some weird looks but she didn't pay them any attention, quickly walking around the parking lot to see if she can find her girlfriend, "CAROLINE!"

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

"CAROLINE!" THE BLONDE heard in the distance. She recognized Athena's voice.

"Oh, my girlfriend is looking for me. I'll just catch a ride with her," Caroline said, giving Logan a polite smile, "thank you for the offer." She went to unbuckle when everything suddenly went black.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA KNEW THE scent of her girlfriend's blood from anywhere. She caught it as soon as Logan left the parking lot. He keeps underestimating her and that's what's gonna get him killed.

She found the car and heard Logan inside. "The satisfaction of turning your daughter into a vampire," he said. He stopped the car, smirking. She was about to get him, but somebody ripped open the door and yanked Logan out of the car. There was a mixture of venom and blood.

Vamping over, she watched as Logan cried out on the ground, holding his neck as he curled into a ball in pain. She expected to see Stefan or Damon, but instead a young woman was standing over him.

She looked up, her eyes connecting with Athena's. She reeked of a dog—a werewolf. Werewolf bites are poisonous to vampires, and they offer no cure. The glowing yellow of her eyes slowly dimmed until her hazel-green irises stared back into her sky-colored ones. She was beautiful and held herself with a confidence not many people could fake. She was breathtaking really.

A smirk found its way onto the wolf's face, "I sense your blondie's knight in shining armor?" She asked, an Australian accent curling around her words.

Athena cocked an eyebrow and glanced down at the withering vampire at the hazel-eyed beauties feet. "I think that title goes to you, Little Wolf," she said, glancing back up into her eyes.

"You know what I am?" The woman asked, surprised, "not many vampires know a wolf when they see one."

Athena smiled, "I've been around for a long time, darling. I've run into a couple of wolves. And you knew what I was."

"That's because vampire's hold themselves as if they're royalty. Like they are so much better than everyone else," the wolf said.

"I am royalty, Little Wolf," she said, her voice lower than usual. She blinked a bit, surprised that her dark side came out to play. The Mikaelson's were royalty and she guesses her darkside meant that she was as well because of her time spent with them.

The werewolf scoffed even though a pink tint flushed her cheeks, "you just proved my point." Athena's smile widened. "Your Princess awaits," the wolf said before she disappeared into the darkness in front of them.

Athena watches for a moment longer, entranced, before she snaps out of it. She walks over to Caroline's side and opens the door as her brothers appear. Damon shoots the baby vamp a couple of times, saying something about pay back.

Stefan appears at Athena's side as she carefully pulls her girlfriend out of the car. She hands Caroline off to Stefan who cradles his friend's body close to him.

"Get her out of here," Athena tells her brother. He nods and vamps away. She walked around the car and took the gun from Damon who was telling Liz where they were.

She cocks it once more and shoots the baby vamp who was still thrashing around on the ground. He cries out and she tosses the gun into the back as Damon grabs a tire iron out.

"We're gonna try this one more time," Damon said, swinging the tire iron once to get a good feel of it, "who turned you?"

"I told you I don't know," Logan hissed through clenched teeth, obviously in pain.

Athena taps the tire iron in her brother's hand, keeping her gaze fixated on the man, "this tire iron here could take your head clean off," she threatened, a sly smirk working its way onto her face. Her demeanor from earlier with the werewolf was gone, replaced by an angered one.

"Is that your final answer?" Damon continued to taunt, preparing to kill the vampire at their feet.

"How can you side with them?" Logan demands.

"We don't side with anyone," Damon argues, rolling his eyes, "you pissed us off. We want you dead. Who turned you?"

"I don't know!"

"Oh, well," Athena sighed, looking at her fingernails boredly, "you're screwed."

Damon pulls back his arms, ready to swing. "Wait, wait! I do know!" Logan yelps.

"You're lying," Damon scoffed.

"You think you're the only one that wants to get in that tomb underneath the old church?" Logan asked, getting onto his knees.

Athena frowned, lips curling at the mention of the church.

"If you are lying to me, I will end you," Damon said.

Logan points to him, "I am not lying. There's another way to break the spell," he breathes out, out of breath. Sirens in the distance alert them to the police's presence. "We can help you."

"Damon," Athena warns.

"Meet me at the old church," Logan says.

Athena's eyes go to the police car. She doesn't hear the rest of what Damon says and only comes back to when Logan rams into them, throwing them into the trunk of the car.

"NO!" Athena yells, grabbing the tire iron and throwing it with practiced precision. Before Logan has a chance to vamp away or dodge, the piece of metal takes his head clean off.

Damon watches as Logan's body falls to the ground in a heap, in shock.

Liz gets out of her car and rushes over, "where is she?" She eyes the body as Damon slumps to the ground and Athena stands up.

"She's okay," Athena said, and Liz breathed out a sigh of relief and a thank God, "my brother's taken her home." She takes out a lighter that was stuffed in her pocket and turns it on, walking over to the body. She moves the head closer to the body and dumps the lighter onto it, snapping her fingers so the whole thing catches on.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA WATCHES LIZ brush Caroline's hair back. Caroline may not see how much her mom loves her, but Athena does. She has from the first time she saw the two together.

Liz's cell phone rang and she quickly took it out. She got up, giving Athena a look. The redhead quickly took Liz's spot, pulling off her shoes and pulling her legs onto the bed, crossing them. She was going to sit there and watch Caroline, just to make sure she was okay.

"Thank you, Athena," Liz whispers. Athena gives her a smile and nod.

"Anytime, Sheriff," she whispers back.

The woman closed the door and Athena looked back at Caroline. Once it closes, the blonde's eyes open and she looks up at Athena, "I should've known."

"You had no way to," Athena argues as Caroline sits up.

"Yes, I did. In the presence of a vampire, I get my memories of them back. I remembered everything," Caroline pouted, crossing her arms.

Athena sighed and leaned over, kissing her gently, placing her hand on the side of her face. Caroline kissed back, reaching behind Athena's head and tangling her fingers into the hair on the nape of her neck.

Athena had tied her hair up when she first came in and had changed into a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved shirt that she had left here.

Caroline kicked off her comforter and sheets, pulling back to breathe as she placed herself into Athena's lap. "Thank you for saving me tonight," she whispered, placing another peck onto Athena's lips.

The redhead wrapped her arms around Caroline's waist, "I didn't," she said and Caroline leaned back a bit, confused, "I mean, I was going to. I was there, but someone beat me to it." Caroline wrapped her other arm around Athena's shoulders, wrapping her legs around Athena's waist.

"Go on," the blonde said.

"It was this girl—a werewolf. And she was breathtaking. She had pulled Logan out of the car and bit him, so he was going to die eventually anyway because werewolf bites are poisonous to vampires—that's beside the point. She's really the one that saved you," Athena said.

Caroline frowned in thought, "I wish I could've seen her."

Athena smiled and raised one of her hands, pressing her fingertips to Caroline's temple. She focused on sharing the memory with her girlfriend. Caroline's eyes fluttered closed, silence filling the room.

Once the memory finished, Athena placed her arm back around her girlfriend who looked deep in thought. "What's going on in that beautiful head of yours, gorgeous?" Athena asked, placing a featherlight kiss on Caroline's jaw.

"She's familiar," Caroline says, and Athena tilts her head, confused, "I mean, in my dreams. She's—she is like always in them nowadays with you too. It's weird. We're, like, together and—and we have kids? But your last name isn't Salvatore, it's something else. Something with an M."

Athena loved watching her girlfriend ramble but what she was saying was weird. She quickly silenced the blonde with a kiss, "we'll talk about it another time. I agree, it is weird, but you've been through a lot tonight. Just relax."

Caroline smirked, "help me relax," she whispered seductively.

Athena didn't have to be told twice, her lips latching onto a point on Caroline's neck as she pushed the blonde down into the bed.

┍ ∞ ○ ∘ ɹǝʌǝɹoɟ puɐ sʎɐʍlɐ ∘ ○ ∞ ┙

ATHENA WOKE UP from her phone ringing. She frowned and looked at the side-table. Her phone was lit up with a familiar contact.

🦌Bambi🦌

She reached over and picked it up, answering the call. Caroline, who had been awake and had been running her fingers through Athena's hair, groaned at the interruption.

"What do you want, Elena?" She asked, "it's..." she checked the time, "1 in the morning."

Caroline placed kisses on her shoulder, slowing moving up to her neck.

"I—" Elena paused, sniffing, "I look like her! I look—look like her!" Elena sobbed.

Athena sat up, grabbing Caroline's hand and squeezing it when Caroline grunted. "What are you talking about? Darling, slow down. Are you driving?" She asked.

"Katherine! I look like Katherine!" The girl yelled.

"Elena, pull over. Driving while upset is never good—Elena!"

The human gasped and all Athena heard was the sound of the tires squealing and metal being crushed. 

AN: A very late update but an update at least. Merry late Christmas! I just got a new computer and have been trying to work out the kinks while also dealing with some stuff at home. I was just told that my siblings were exposed to Covid and by extension me since I live with them 😭 Stay safe out there, loves!

Word Count: 7368
Finished: December 29th, 2021
Edited: