(act one, chapter seven: haunted)

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"Is Stefan here?" Elena asked as Damon opened the door.

"Yup."

"Where is he?" Buffy asked.

"And good morning to you two, Little Misses, we're on a mission." Damon said, smirking.

"How can you be so arrogant and glib after everything that you've done?" Elena asked.

"And how can you be so brave and stupid to call a vampire arrogant and glib?"

"If you wanted us dead, we'd be dead."

"Yes, you would."

"But we're not." Elena smiled but her smile quickly dropped as Damon replied. "Yet."

"Excuse me." Buffy said, as she walked through the front door, bumping into his shoulder.

"Where is Stefan?" Elena asked again.

"Singing 'The Rain in Spain.' Knock yourselves out."

He would be a great bestie if he wasn't a murdering vampire.

"Stefan." Elena called through the house after Damon had left the house.

"Yes?" He said, appearing on the stairs, making Buffy half jump

"Dude, don't do that. You want us to die from a heart attack?" She said, while picking up a book, which was laying on the table next to her and throw it at his head.

But he caught it before it could hit him in his face.

"Where is Vicki?"

"She's upstairs." Stefan said, putting his finger on his lips, gesturing for the two to be quiet.

"What happens now? Because my brother is searching for her with the rest of the town. What do i tell him?"

"I'm working with her. But, it's gonna take time. She's a very volatile and impulsive personality. She's a drug user. That's gonna play a part in how she responds to this."

"So she's a vampire with issues? What am I supposed to do? Because I am lying to everyone that I care about."

Hey, me too.

"What's gonna happen to her?"

"You people do realize that she can hear you." Buffy said, seeing Vicki standing at the top of the stairs, listening to their conversation. She maybe doesn't like Vicki because of the drug problems but she died, and she wasn't going to be mean to her now.

She smiled sweetly at Vicki, getting a small one in return.

Vicki never liked Elena, but Buffy she did.

Elena was liked, loved by many, but Buffy? Buffy was loved by everyone.

"I'm gonna keep her here with me until I know that she's safe."

"How long is that?

"We can talk about that later.

"Hey, Vicki, how are you?"

"Elena she died." Buffy said, putting her hand to her head in frustration.

If I die and become a vampire and anyone asks me 'how are you doing?' I swear to god, I will snap my own neck.

"How am I? You're kidding, right?" Vicki asked as Buffy took out her phone and texted Caroline.

It really sucks I can't drive yet dude.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Hey, can you pick me up at the Salvatore boarding house? I have to make a quick stop at the Grill but then we can go to school.

CARE BEAR

Be there in five.

BTW I GOT YOUR HALLOWEEN COSTUMES

I also fixed Bonnie's

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

AWESOME

"You two can handle this situation, right? I have to do something." Buffy said, putting her phone away as the two nodded.

"I'm gonna say bye to Vicki." Buffy said, ready to step on the stairs but Elena grabbed her wrist.

"Are you sure you wanna go up there?" She asked, doubt visible in her eyes.

"Elena, she isn't gonna murder me. I hope, at least. If she tries I will yell something. Oh, I will yell 'sea apple'. Is that a thing. Well, anyway, I'll be up just for a moment. But if I die tell my mom I love her. And make sure Skeet Ulrich knows I always had a crush on him. Because wow that man is hot. Okay, so now I'm really going upstairs."

She quickly made her way up to Damon's room, at least she thinks it's his room.

"Hey." She said as she sat down next to Vicki. "I'm not gonna ask you if you're okay or something. Because you're probably not. But I just wanted you to know. I'm gonna help you get through this. I promise you it will get better, because we'll help you."

What surprised her was that Vicki hugged her.

Please don't feed on me. Please do not do it.

"Thank you." Vicki whispered.

As they pulled away, Buffy got a text from Caroline, who was waiting for outside the boarding house.

"Text me if you need anything, okay?" She asked the newbie vampire, who nodded.

She stood up and walked back downstairs, passing next to Elena and Stefan.

"How is she?" Elena asked.

"She'll be fine, I suppose. You just gotta have patience." Buffy answered, hugging Elena, who was clearly very stressed about this whole situation.

"And you, you take care of her." She spoke to Stefan, who nodded.

"Okay, bye bye." Buffy said as she walked through the front door and was met with Caroline, who was standing there with one hand on her hip.

"Finally there you are. The costume is awesome. You have to see it with Bonnie."

"All right, but stop at the Grill okay?"

Caroline nodded, as they both stepped in the car and Caroline started driving.

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"Stay in the car. I need to talk alone with him."

"Who?"

"Somebody, don't worry, if I'm not back in the next ten minutes, you call you're mom and say that I am probably laying murdered in the Mystic Grill, okay?"

Caroline looked worriedly at her as she stepped inside the Grill. And right Buffy was, he was sitting right by the bar.

"It is a bit early for day drinking don't you think?" She asked as she sat down next to him.

"And you don't seem particularly afraid of me. Not like you're sister at least." Damon answered, sipping on his bourbon.

"Well, what can I say? I always wanted vampires to be real and voila I'm sitting next to one right now."

"And why is that?" Damon asked. He didn't know why but he liked this girl. Ever seen seeing her, she had this vibe around her that made people want to be close to her.

"Oh you know. Buffy."

Damon was confused as to way she was saying her own name. "That's your name. I know that."

Buffy sighed. "No, that's not what I mean. I give this exact talk to you're brother. Buffy Sommers, that's me, but my full name is Elizabeth. Buffy is a nickname my mom gave me when I was twelve and it just stuck and now everybody calls me that. But the point is my favourite character in a show is Buffy Summers. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. You should watch it, it's awesome. But I'm not gonna try to stake you or anything, except if you keep murdering people and feeding on my friends."

As she spoke the last bit she punched his arm.

"What the hell was that for."

"For Amy. And for Vicki." She said before the bartender came towards them, asking if she wanted anything, which she politely declined.

"Okay." She turned to him. "You stop hurting my friends and killing people and I'll be your friend."

"What makes you think I wanna be your friend."

"Oh, don't fuck with me on this. Everybody wants a friend, everybody needs one. And I believe you could be a good friend."

Suddenly her gaze fell behind Damon. "Oh shoot."

Damon looked at the same way as her and saw Mrs. Lockwood sitting there.

"How big is the chance she saw me?" Buffy asked.

"Big."

"Well, I can make a run for it."

"Why?"

"She has been hellbent on getting me and Tyler together since I was eight. Okay, so think about my offer and I've really gotta go to school now, bye." She quickly stood up, trying to stay out of sight for the Lockwoods. The only times she knew she couldn't avoid them, where at local parties.

"Buffy." Carol spoke, waving the girl over.

"Shit." She silently cursed, neither heard her. "Mrs. Lockwood, Mr. Lockwood how nice to see you." She said, smiling at them.

I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE BEFORE CAROLINE REALLY THINKS I DIED

"Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Um, I am actually on my way over there now, I just had to talk to my friend. But Caroline is right outside so."

"Yes, of course, honey."

"Bye." She said before she walked outside.

"Fifteen." Caroline spoke as she got in the car.

"Fifteen what?"

"Fifteen seconds and I had called my mom to let her know you died at 9 am in the Grill." Caroline spoke as she started her car.

"Well, I- you know never mind. I made it. So you don't have to plan my funeral. And if I die, you better have one hell of an amazing outfit, because if you don't, I'll come back to hunt your ass."

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"I have got your costume. It's all here. Okay, Bonnie you first." Caroline said as she handed Bonnie the dag with costumes.

"Seriously?" She asked as she looked at the witch costume.

"Ahh, come on. Can someone please be excited that it's Halloween. I just wanna have fun."

"I am excited that it is Halloween." Buffy said taking her costume out of the bag.

"What are you going as?" Bonnie asked.

"Little red riding hood. James is gonna be the wolf. He didn't want to, but I made him."

"As you should." Caroline spoke.

"Hey, isn't that the one Amy got from Damon?" Buffy asked as she saw the ugly necklace again.

"Yep, she gave it to me. Wear it, toss it. I don't care. She just wanted it gone. Have you seen Elena? Do we know what she's wearing?"

"I was with Grams all weekend. I haven't talked to her. maybe she's with Stefan."

"She is with Stefan."

"Riding to his castle on his white horse?"

"Oh, don't be bitter. It provokes wrinkles."

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"Cider for the ladies? It's a Lockwood special." Tyler offered the three girls a drink.

"Oh, way. Last years, I was hung-over until Thanksgiving." Bonnie answered.

"Lightweight. I am going to drink until someone is hot enough to make out with." Caroline as poke as she took the drink.

"Sounds like a plan." Tyler spoke to Caroline, but kept looking at Buffy.

"Hey Buffy." James said, coming over from behind them.

"Jamie, you really did dress up." She went to kiss him but he turned away. Tyler rolled his eyes, if he had the chance to kiss Buffy he would take it. James phone started buzzing.

"Hold on. Hey Soph." He spoke as he walked away.

"Who is Soph?" Tyler asked, if James was gonna make it this obvious he was cheating on the Sommers-girl, he definitely had a chance.

"His sister, who lives in New-Orleans. She is the best. I spend a part of my summer last year with her and James."

"What's wrong with you two?" Bonnie asked.

"He's been getting a lot of calls from his sisters lately and he has been ignoring me. This is the first time I speak to him in almost a week."

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As James didn't return after his phone call, Buffy parted ways with the others, walking around, until suddenly she saw Elena literally flying through the air.

Since when did she became a fairy?

"Elena." Buffy yelled and then she saw Vicki speeding towards herself, the newbie-vampire was only stopped by Stefan pushing her against a school bus.

Vicki suddenly flashed away, all four looking around to where she had gone to.

"Go, get inside. Go!" Stefan said to Elena, who dragged Jeremy and Buffy with her.

As they went through the door, Buffy scratched her arms, making a very large cut appear on her arm.

"Ow." She spoke, but suddenly she was pulled back and Vicki's teeth sunk into her neck.

She started to see black dots, her vision became blurry as Stefan pushed a stake right through Vicki's heart.

As he pulled it out, Buffy fell to the ground only to be half-caught by Elena.

Stefan held back Jeremy, who tried to get to Vicki.

"Get him out of here." Elena spoke as she wiped Buffy's hair out of her face and watched her brother and Stefan leave.

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Not even two minutes later Damon appeared. "You should go. I got this."

"You did this. This is your fault." Elena said as she stood up, placing Buffy's head on the ground gently.

"You confuse me for someone with remorse." Damon spoke, but his eyes flickered to Buffy with a bit of worry. Not that that was seen by Elena as she tried to push him, only for him to catch her arm.

"None of this matters to me. None of it."

"People die around you. How could it not matter. It matters and you know it." This time she slept him across his face.

"Hmm, you need to leave. Your wounds are bleeding, and you need to leave."

Damon saw Elena looking down at Buffy. "I'll bring her home. Now you leave." He spoke, no room for discussion visible in his tone. And then Elena left, really believing and mostly hoping Damon wouldn't hurt her sister.

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"Stefan, please. I don't know how he'll ever get past this. I just want him to forget everything that happened. Buffy too." Elena begged Stefan, hoping he could take away the awful memories of what happened tonight by her siblings.

"If I did it, there's no guarantee that it would work because of who I am, because of how I live. I don't have the ability to do it right." Stefan explained.

"I can do it." Damon said, walking up the porch with Buffy in his arms. "If this is what you want, I'll do it."

"It's what I want."

"What do you want them to know?"

"I want you to tell Jeremy that Vicki left town and she's not coming back. That he shouldn't look for her or worry about her. He's gonna miss her, but he knows it's for the best. And Buffy, let her forget about this whole evening."

Damon nodded, before walking inside, Buffy still unconscious. He walked up the stairs and laid Buffy down on her bed. Stroking her cheek before leaving to Jeremy's room and compelling him.

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"Damon?" Buffy said, groaning as she sat up and her hand went to her neck, where Vicki's bite marks were still visible. She had been laying against Damon.

"Hey, you."

"What happened?" She asked.

What surprised her that Damon bit his wrist and held it out for her. "It will heal your wounds."

As she pushed down the thought that she was actually going to drink someone's blood she brought his wrist towards her mouth and started to drink, feeling the marks heal.

"Thanks."

Damon cupped her face. "You are going to forget everything that happened tonight with Vicki. You went to the party and had fun with Bonnie and Caroline."

"I went to the party and had fun with Bonnie and Caroline." She repeated in a monofone tone.

As Damon stopped compelling her, she let out a yawn. "I'm tired." She spoke as she leaned back to him, remembering nothing from what had happened an hour ago. And not much later she fell asleep. Damon pulled the covers over her, kissed her head and then left her room quickly.

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Words: 2491

Posted: January 26, 2024

𝗢𝗸𝗮𝘆, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻😭