chapter eight. confessions and revelations

season one—————episode six.
[ small warning : unwanted kiss at the end of this chapter ]

      ELODIE HAD LIED WHEN SHE TOLD her parents she was going to bed three hours ago. Well, technically, she hadn't lied because she had gone upstairs with the intent to fall asleep as soon as possible. But the second her head hit the pillow, her thoughts began spiraling.

Stefan's face wouldn't leave her mind. The way his eyes had darkened and his features had shifted when she cut her arm—it wasn't just strange; it was impossible. And then there was Damon, the same face that haunted her dreams each time she slept. The same face Stefan donned just earlier.

Elodie sat up, switching on the lamp beside her bed. The soft light spilled over the room, pushing away the shadows but doing nothing to dispel the unease coiled in her chest. She pushed back her blanket, padded over to her desk, and powered on her laptop.

The computer whirred to life, and she hesitated as her desktop loaded, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. This is stupid, she thought, shaking her head. But the memory of those shifting faces wouldn't let go. With a sigh, she opened her browser and began typing: Why do people's faces change when they see blood?

Dozens of results populated the screen, most of them mundane. Articles about fainting at the sight of blood, psychological analyses of fear responses, and a few Reddit threads debating whether vampires in movies were biologically plausible. She clicked on a few links but found nothing useful.

Her frustration grew as she leaned back in her chair, staring at the blinking cursor in the search bar. She tried again: What causes someone's eyes to change color suddenly?

The new results were just as unhelpful, filled with articles about lighting effects, medical conditions, and even a piece about rare genetic disorders. But none of it came close to explaining the way Stefan and Damon had looked at her—how their eyes seemed to darken to black, as though they weren't human.

Elodie sighed and rubbed her temples. She wasn't going to find an answer because there wasn't one. What she'd seen wasn't possible.

Still, something compelled her to keep digging. She deleted the search and typed a more outlandish question: Signs of vampires

She felt ridiculous even as she hit enter, but her curiosity outweighed her skepticism. The results were strange and chaotic—lists of "vampire sightings," old folklore, and blogs from self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. One site, however, caught her eye: How to Recognize a Vampire.

She clicked the link, and the page loaded with a dramatic black background and a blood-red header. She skimmed the content, rolling her eyes at the over-the-top design. But as she read through the list of symptoms, her heart skipped a beat:

• Eyes that darken when blood is near.
• Unnatural speed or strength.
• Heightened senses, especially smell and hearing.
• Retractable fangs.

She stared at the screen, her breath catching in her throat. It was absurd. Vampires weren't real—they couldn't be. But the way Stefan and Damon had looked at her...it matched.

Elodie shook her head, pushing back from the desk. "This is insane," she muttered. "It's just...my imagination. It's not real."

But even as she tried to dismiss it, she couldn't forget their eyes. Or the sharpness in their features. Or the tension in the air, like something primal had been waiting to strike. Her hand drifted to the faint scratch on her wrist, the one that had bled just enough to catch Stefans attention. She glanced back at the screen. The words stared back at her, unrelenting.

Elodie closed the browser window and shut her laptop. She refused to believe it. Vampires were the stuff of horror movies and urban legends, not real life.

      Suddenly, her phone vibrated on the desk, the screen lighting up with an incoming call. The sharp noise made her jump, and she clutched her chest, trying to steady her breathing. She glanced at the screen to find Caroline's name covering her screen.

      Elodie hesitated before answering, her voice uncertain. "Hey."

      "Where did you disappear to during the car wash?" Caroline's voice came through the line, soft but tinged with something unreadable.

      "Me?" Elodie said, startled. "I didn't disappear—you did! I was looking everywhere for you. Where did you go?"

      There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then Caroline said, "I'm outside. Can we talk?"

      Elodie froze, her heart skipping a beat. "You're... here?" She crossed the room to the window and peeked out. Sure enough, Caroline stood on the front lawn, her arms wrapped around herself, her expression unreadable.

      "Can you let me in?" Caroline's voice broke the silence again.

      "Yeah, hold on," Elodie said quickly, ending the call and practically sprinting down the stairs. She opened the front door, and Caroline stepped inside.

      She looked fine—perfectly fine, in fact, as if she hadn't just disappeared without explanation earlier. Her blonde hair was immaculate, and her expression was calm, if slightly guarded.

      Elodie frowned. "Caroline, what happened? One minute you were helping with the car wash, and the next...you were just gone."

      Caroline gave her a small smile, brushing past her into the house. "It's a long story," she said lightly. "But can we talk about it in your room?"

      Elodie closed the door, locking it behind her, unease twisting in her stomach. She followed Caroline upstairs, the two ending in Elodie's room. Caroline closed the door, the lock clicking in place before the two found a seat on Elodie's bed. The soft hum of Elodie's laptop still filling the room before Elodie reached over to close the screen. Caroline glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing slightly before it turned black and the room went quiet.

"Okay," Elodie said, crossing her arms. "Start talking. Where did you go? What happened to you?"

Caroline let out a long breath and looked down at her hands, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. "I...I don't know, exactly."

Elodie frowned. "What do you mean, you don't know? You disappeared in the middle of the car wash! One second you were there, and the next—"

"I know," Caroline interrupted, her voice sharper than usual. She winced and softened her tone. "I know. And I'm sorry. I just...everything's a blur."

Elodie sat up straighter, her curiosity mixing with unease. "What do you remember?"

Caroline hesitated, staring at her hands. "I was walking into the school, trying to find more rags for Elena. I remember hearing someone call my name, but when I turned around, no one was there. And then...it's like I blacked out or something." She pressed her fingers to her temple, as if trying to force the memory back. "I came to in the woods behind the school. I don't even know how I got there."

Elodie's stomach twisted. "The woods?"

Caroline nodded. "Yeah. My head was spinning, and my heart was racing, like...like I'd been running, but I didn't remember moving." She paused, her brows knitting together. "And there was this metallic taste in my mouth."

Elodie stared at her. "Metallic? Like blood?"

Caroline flinched at the word. "I don't know! Maybe? I don't remember cutting myself or anything, but...it's possible, I guess." She shook her head, frustration creeping into her voice. "It doesn't make any sense. None of it does."

Elodie's thoughts raced as she pieced together what Caroline was saying. Her mind flashed back to the website she'd been reading, the list of signs. She glanced at her closed laptop but the article was engraved in her mind, her eyes moved back to Caroline.

"Do you feel okay now?" Elodie asked cautiously.

Caroline shrugged. "I mean, I guess? I was tired earlier, but now I feel...fine. Better than fine, actually. It's weird."

Elodie swallowed hard, unsure of how to proceed. "Did anyone else see you before you came here?"

Caroline shook her head. "No. I just...I didn't know where else to go." She looked up at Elodie, her eyes glassy. "I'm scared, Ellie. What if something's seriously wrong with me?"

Elodie hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to say something, anything, to reassure her friend. But she didn't know what to say. Instead, she reached over and grabbed Caroline's hand, giving it a comforting squeeze.

"We'll figure it out," Elodie said softly, though her voice shook. "Whatever this is, we'll figure it out together."

Caroline nodded, but her expression remained troubled. The room fell into a heavy silence, both girls lost in their thoughts. The silence between them lingered, heavy and suffocating. Caroline stared at the floor, her thoughts clearly tangled, while Elodie's mind raced, trying to make sense of what her friend had just told her.

      She wanted to focus on helping Caroline, but something else had been eating away at her for days. Something she wasn't sure she should bring up—until now.

      "Caroline," Elodie said hesitantly, breaking the quiet.

      Caroline looked up, her blue eyes glassy with worry. "Yeah?"

      "There's...there's something I need to tell you." Elodie's voice wavered, and she glanced away, unsure how to say it. "It's about Elena."

      Caroline frowned. "What about Elena?"

      Elodie hesitated for a moment longer, then took a deep breath. "I saw her kiss Damon."

      Caroline blinked, as if she hadn't heard right. "What?"

      "At the Founders Party," Elodie said quickly, the words spilling out now. "When you invited Stefan to dance. I walked into the artifact room and I just saw them...kissing."

      Caroline's face twisted with confusion and disbelief. "Elena? With Damon?" She shook her head. "No. That doesn't make sense. She was with Stefan."

      Elodie bit her lip, hating that she was the one to tell her this. "I know, but I saw it, Caroline. I'm sure of what I saw."

      Caroline stared at her for a long moment, her expression shifting from confusion to anger, then to something else entirely—resignation. "Of course," she muttered, mostly to herself.

      Elodie frowned. "What do you mean?"

Caroline let out a bitter laugh, running a hand through her hair. "I mean, it's Damon. He's always finding ways to mess with people's lives. And Elena...god, why would she do that?"

      "I don't know," Elodie admitted. "Maybe it didn't mean anything? Maybe it was just a moment."

      Caroline scoffed. "You don't kiss someone like Damon Salvatore on a whim. There's always something behind it." She shook her head again, looking more hurt than angry now. "Poor Stefan. He doesn't deserve this."

      Elodie's eyes dropped to her lap, and a flush crept up her neck. She had been holding this in, but now it felt like the right moment to confess. "And I almost kissed Stefan," she blurted out, her voice barely above a whisper.

      Caroline turned to look at her, surprise flashing across her face. "What?"

      "I almost kissed him yesterday," Elodie repeated, her gaze focused on the floor. "When you called me about the car wash, I was with him. We were just talking, and I thought maybe he wanted it too, but then I pulled away. I just...I couldn't. I couldn't do that to Elena." Her voice faltered.

      Caroline stayed quiet for a moment, processing Elodie's words. Then she let out a long sigh. "You don't have to explain yourself, El. If you like Stefan, that's your choice."

      "I don't know if I like him," Elodie said softly, shaking her head. "I just...I'm confused. And I don't want to hurt anyone. Especially not you, or Stefan, or Elena." She swallowed hard. "Everything's just so messy."

      Caroline exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "I know it is. This whole situation is just...messed up." She looked at Elodie, her expression softening. "But you're right. I'm not the one you need to worry about. It's Stefan and Elena who need to figure this out."

      Elodie nodded, but the tightness in her chest didn't loosen. The weight of her confession lingered between them, and she wasn't sure whether it had made things clearer or more complicated.

      Caroline ran a hand through her hair, "does Stefan know? About the kiss?"

      Elodie shook her head, trying to swallow down her tears, "no. I haven't told anyone besides you. God, I don't know how to Care. I just feel like everything's happening so fast," Elodie admitted. "Like I can't catch my breath, and then there's all this other stuff going on."

      Caroline's eyes flickered with something Elodie couldn't quite place. "I think we're all tangled up in something we don't understand. And I'm not sure how to get out of it."

      The room fell silent again, their words hanging between the two of them. Neither of them had answers. They only had more questions, and the unsettling realization that their world was far more complicated than it had seemed just a few days ago.

☾☾☾ ☼ ☽☽☽

      THE FOREST WAS UNNATURALLY STILL AS Elodie's feet carried her deeper into the shadows.A strange hum vibrated through her skull, pulling her forward like an invisible thread. The cold, damp ground bit at her bare feet, but she didn't stop. Her trance-like state led her to a small clearing, illuminated by the moon's silver glow.

      The metallic tang of blood hit her nose, sharp and sickening. Elodie blinked, the fog in her mind lifting just as she stepped into the clearing. Her eyes widened at the sight before her. Bodies lay scattered, lifeless and broken, their blood pooling on the ground.

      In the center stood Damon Salvatore, his eyes alight with predatory satisfaction. He held Vicki Donovan by the throat, her struggling figure growing weaker by the second. With one more swallow, Damon let her crumple to the blood-soaked grass.

      The trance shattered.

      Elodie's chest burned with rage and grief. A sudden surge of energy burst from within her, golden light exploding from her body. Her palms glowed with an intense brilliance, the light spilling into the clearing like a sunrise. Behind her, faint golden wings unfurled, shimmering as though forged from celestial fire.

      Damon snarled, his smirk wiped away as the golden radiance struck him. He staggered back, his body convulsing as smoke began to rise from his skin. "What the hell—" he roared, shielding his face. The light burned like sunlight, searing through him with merciless precision.

      "Get away from them!" Elodie's voice was raw, trembling with fury. Her golden light grew brighter, the wings behind her pulsing with her anger.

      Damon dropped to one knee, his hand still pressed to his face. "Turn it off!" He snarled, his confidence slipping. His usual arrogance was gone, replaced by genuine fear as his body burned as though he were standing under the sun without his daylight ring. "What the hell are you?"

      Elodie stepped forward, her hands shook, but the light only grew stronger, the wings behind her spreading wider, their golden glow bathing the entire clearing. "You're a monster," she spat, her voice breaking with grief as her gaze flicked to the bodies around her. "They were innocent!"

      Damon growled in frustration, trying to rise but faltering under the relentless brightness. "Enough!" he barked, his fangs bared, though he couldn't see her through the blinding light. "You're going to regret this, angel."

      The golden light flickered as exhaustion began to creep into Elodie's body. She could feel the strain of the power coursing through her, but she refused to let go. "You will regret kill them. Killing anyone," she shouted, her voice cracking under the weight of her grief and rage.

      Damon's struggles weakened as the burning continued, his body trembling. Desperate, he threw himself backward, clawing at the ground to escape the light. With one last, pained snarl, he disappeared into the dense shadows of the forest, his body smoking as he fled.

      Elodie fell to her knees, her golden light dimming to a soft glow before flickering out. The ethereal wings behind her dissolved into golden wisps, leaving her trembling and alone in the bloodstained clearing. Her hands pressed against the cold ground as sobs wracked her body. The lifeless forms of Vicki and her friends surrounded her, a grim reminder of her failure. The power within her had burned brighter than ever before, but it had come too late.

      The night was silent again, save for her broken cries and the faint rustle of the trees as the forest seemed to mourn with her. She stayed there as long as she could, blood coating her skin before she passed out.

Elodie woke up in her bed, cradled in Caroline's arms just as she had fallen asleep. She waited until the blonde woke up, and the two got dressed in silence. The weight of their late night conversation weighting heavily on their shoulders. Caroline borrowed one of Elodie's skirts—a red one Elodie almost never wore—and a white top. Elodie pulled on a pair of low rise jeans and a white top that matched Caroline's. She braided her hair before the two girls headed downstairs and outside.

      Elodie grabbed a key ring off the table before following Caroline outside and the two were attacked by the colder hair.

      "Where are you going?" Caroline asked when Elodie paused by the white car parked in the driveway.

      Elodie flashed the keys, "I actually have something to do before I head into work." She knew it was a statement but it came out more as a question.

      Caroline cocked an eyebrow, "does this have to do with the reason why you left in the middle of the night?"

      Elodie froze, flashes of Damon feeding on Vicky Donovan, the gold glow that filled the clearing, the power she felt. Her breath hitched. Caroline laughed at her reaction, "god I'm kidding. I won't push, you'll tell me soon enough—or I'll find out!"

      Caroline winked as Elodie laughed away her tension, "I'll tell you later, see you soon, Care-bear."

      "See you soon, Ellie-belly," Caroline smiled, climbing into her car as Elodie did the same.

      Her body froze up, she had been behind the wheel once since she had gotten her license and that was with Stefan. Someone she was half convinced was a vampire, but that was going to be a problem for later. Right now she had to start the car because she needed answers first.

      And the one person in Mystic Falls who had answers for everything was Grams.

☾☾☾ ☼ ☽☽☽

      GRAMS LIVED ON THE EDGE OF Mystic Falls, and Elodie had almost lived at the older woman's home the first few years of her life. When both Lily and Clayton had work and Elodie was too young for school. That's how Elodie had met Bonnie and in turn Elena and Caroline, the four girls having grown up together.

      Grams house brought back many memories as Elodie stood on the porch, her arms crossed over her chest and she nervously pulled on a loose strand of hair that had fallen from her braids. She swallowed before raising her hand to knock on the door softly, before stepping back and waiting. The nerves kicked in, and Elodie half turned to leave before the door opened. The door creaked open, and Grams stood there with a shawl draped over her shoulders and a knowing look in her eyes. She didn't look surprised to see Elodie standing on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself like she was holding something inside.

      "Elodie Solace," Grams said with a small, warm smile, stepping aside to let her in. "Took you long enough to come visit."

      Elodie ducked her head as she walked into the familiar house, her heart tightening at the sight of the cozy living room. Everything was just as she remembered—bookshelves crammed with old tomes, crystals glinting in the candlelight, and the faint scent of incense lingering in the air.

      "I was just about to put some tea on," Grams said, her voice smooth and welcoming. "You've got that look like you need something hot and strong."

      Elodie let out a soft laugh, though her shoulders remained tense. "That obvious, huh?"

      Grams waved her off and shuffled into the kitchen. "You've always worn your heart on your sleeve, child. Sit, sit."

      Elodie lowered herself onto the familiar worn couch, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sweater. She could hear the clatter of mugs and the soft hum of Grams' voice as she spoke to herself in the kitchen. After a moment, Grams returned with two steaming cups, handing one to Elodie before settling into the armchair across from her.

      "You just missed Bonnie," Grams said, watching her closely. "She's been running herself ragged lately, but she'll be back soon enough."

      Elodie shook her head, looking down into her tea. "Actually, I'm not here for Bonnie." She glanced up, her eyes meeting Grams' steady gaze. "I'm here for you."

      Grams' eyebrows lifted slightly, though she didn't look entirely surprised. She leaned back in her chair, her hands resting on the arms as though bracing herself for whatever Elodie had to say.

      "Well," Grams said, her voice soft but firm, "you'd better tell me what's got you all twisted up. And don't leave anything out."

It took almost ten minutes to explain everything that had been happening to her. From the beginning to the end—the only thing she left out were Stefan and Damon's faces, her gut telling her she already knew what they were.

Grams held her cup closer to her body, Elodie focusing on the steam instead of her face. Grams sighed, "there's more, isn't there." It was less of a question and more of a statement as Elodie nodded.

"Last night..." Elodie began, her voice trembling. "I had another dream. But this one was... different. More real than any of the others."

Grams leaned forward slightly, her dark eyes locked onto Elodie's face. "Keep going Elodie, I can only help if you tell me everything."

      Elodie nodded, sucking in a shaky breath. "I was in the woods, somewhere deep, it felt...wrong. The air was too thick to breathe, the fog covered every inch of my skin. I heard screaming, and when I followed it, I saw..." her words got stuck in her throat, and she shook her head, forcing the words out. "I saw Damon Salvatore. He was standing over Vicki, and—he was—he was drinking from her."

      Grams' expression remained unreadable, though her gaze sharpened. "Go on."

      "He drained her dry," Elodie continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "And then, when I thought it was over, I just...exploded. I screamed and then the fog was gone and in its place was a golden light. It was blinding, and then suddenly, it was like I wasn't just watching anymore. I was the light. I felt it. I felt it burning through me."

      Her breath quickened, and she shook her head as if trying to shake off the memory. "I had these...wings. Golden, glowing wings. I don't know how, but they were mine. And Damon, he tried to get close to me, but the light—my light—it burned him. He screamed, like it was tearing him apart."

      Elodie closed her eyes, the image of Damon writhing in pain still etched behind her eyelids. "I felt like I was going to burst. Like I couldn't hold it all in."

      Grams' face was a mask of calm, but her knuckles had gone white against the armrest of her chair. "And then?" She prompted.

      "And then I woke up, but it didn't feel like waking up. It felt like...I'd been thrown back into my body. Like I wasn't supposed to be here." She let out a bitter laugh, glancing up at Grams. "But here's the thing. When I got up this morning, I thought maybe it was all in my head. Just a nightmare, right? But Caroline—Caroline said I left in the middle of the night. She saw me walk out of the house. Said I looked like I was sleepwalking or something."

      Grams' eyes widened slightly, but she quickly schooled her expression into neutrality. "And that's when you knew it wasn't just a dream," she said quietly.

      Elodie nodded, her chest tightening. "It wasn't just a dream. I don't know how, but...I think I really was there. Or part of me was."

      Grams leaned back in her chair, folding her hands in her lap. "Child," she began, her voice low and serious, "what you're describing isn't ordinary. That golden light, those wings—they're not just symbols or figments of your imagination. They're power. And if Damon Salvatore burned in its presence, then that power is something this world—and his kind—hasn't seen in a long time."

      Elodie swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. His kind, Grans knew, and she had just confirmed everything for the blonde. "But why me? Why is this happening to me? I came here for answers, Grams, no more questions!"

      Grams leaned back in her chair, letting out a long, weary sigh. "Elodie, I won't pretend I have all the answers. I've told you everything I know about this kind of power. The truth is, this is older and deeper than anything I've dealt with before. But that doesn't mean you're without a path forward."

Elodie frowned, her chest tightening. "What are you saying? You don't know what this is?"

Grams shook her head, "I know enough to tell you that this isn't ordinary. That light, those wings—they're pieces of something ancient, something powerful. But the specifics? I can't say. I've only come across whispers of magic like this in my lifetime, and even then, it was shrouded in mystery."

Elodie's shoulders sagged, frustration bubbling up. "So what am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to figure out what's happening to me if you don't even know?"

Grams gave her a pointed look, the kind that had always made Elodie sit up straight as a child. "You don't give up, that's what you do. I may not have all the answers, but I can help you find them."

With that, Grams stood and made her way to one of the tall bookshelves lining the walls. Her fingers danced over the spines of ancient, leather-bound tomes, pausing every so often as though considering which secrets they held. Finally, she pulled down three books and brought them to the coffee table, placing them in front of Elodie with care.

"These," Grams said, gesturing to the books, "are a good place to start. They're some of the oldest texts I have, filled with information on rare magical phenomena, ancient powers, and things that exist beyond our understanding. If there's any hint about what's happening to you, it might be in one of these."

Elodie stared at the books, her hands hovering over them. The covers were worn, the pages yellowed and fragile, but they radiated a quiet kind of power, as though they knew the weight of their knowledge. "What if I don't understand them?" she asked quietly. "What if I'm just...not enough for this?"

Grams' eyes softened, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on Elodie's arm. "You are enough, child. You've always been enough. You might not understand everything right away, but that's why you have me—and the people who care about you. You're not in this alone."

Elodie nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat as she pulled the top book toward her, running her fingers over the embossed cover. "Thank you, Grams," she murmured. "For believing in me."

Grams smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You'll get through this, Elodie. One page at a time."

Elodie swallowed harshly, meeting Grams eyes once more before falling just behind her to the clock. Elodie jumped up, scrambling to collect the books and her bag. "Gods above Grams, I'm going to be late for work! I'm so sorry, thank you so much for these I'll return them as soon as possible! Love you!"

"Love you more, sweet girl," Grams whispered, watching as Elodie hurriedly climbed into her car and reversed out of her driveway—narrowly missing her mailbox in her rush. Grams laughed as the yellow bug sped down the street, a few seconds later Bonnie car returned to the driveway.

Elodie felt more comfortable behind the shell as she drove through the street. It was getting darker earlier and at five-thirty the sky was painted a rainbow of colors Elodie marveled at as her car sped through the streets. She had made it to the shelter within a minute of her shift started. And she clocked in just before the clock turned a minute past six.

      She was out of breath by the time she rushed up to the front desk once more. Ben was sitting there smiling amusedly at her rushing, "you okay, Ellie?"

      Her face was flushed as she rested a hip against the desk, "yeah, I was distracted and everything. But, I'm not late!"

      "That you are not," Ben nodded, piling together a stack of files, "we're the only two here today, so do you want to man the desk or the creatures in the back?"

      Elodie pretended to think for a moment, "the animals, please."

      Ben laughed, holding out the files to her, "that's what I assumed."

      She gratefully took the files from the boy, neglecting the glint in the boys eye as he watched her walk away. She moved quickly, greeting the dogs while heavy hands and treats, spendings a good hour with them alone before filling each bowl with kibble before leaving the section. Then she headed to the bunnies—wanting to wait until the dog's scent wore off so the cats wouldn't go too crazy over them. The twelve bunnies, each named after a greek god thumped their hind legs in happiness as they watched Elodie. She opened the cage and sat on the floor, grinning as each of them climbed into her lap. She made sure each bunnies got enough love before she gave them all their supplements before leaving food for them.

Then she got to visit her favorite animals, the cats. While Elodie knew it was wrong to work at a shelter and have a favorite animal, she couldn't help it. The cats were always her favorite, even as a child she dreamed of owning as many cats as she could.

      Star immediately crawled into her lap and began making biscuits on her legs. The vibrations of her purring brought a smile to her face as Elodie pet on a few other younger kittens that came closer to her. Most cats had grown up near Elodie, the blonde having frequented the shelter long before she chose to work there. There were few cats who hadn't become exactly acquainted with Elodie, though she didn't rush them. Simply sitting in her presence would become enough after a while.

      The clock was past nine when she finished all of her duties, locking up all of the cats besides Star with their food as she closed the cat door. Star weaving through her feet as she stepped. Jumping as Ben stood right in front of her, Elodie ignoring the hissing from Star as she smiled at the boy.

      "Hey Ben! Did you lock up the front already?" Elodie had a slight quiver in her face from her proximity to the boy, but she hoped it didn't show anywhere else.

      Ben grinned and it sent chills down her spine, "yep. Just us in here." Elodie tried to step around him to get to the back room when Ben reached out to grab her arm. "Hey! You never answered my question."

      The interaction a few nights ago flashed to the forefront of her mind, overshadowed by everything else Elodie had completely forgotten about it. "Oh, um, I'm so sorry I don't remember what you asked me."

Ben sighed through his nose, fury coating his words, "well I asked if you wanted to go out with me, yesterday. And yet you ignored me. Why is that, sunshine."

The nickname made her stomach churn, "I'm really sorry, Ben, I just have so much going on this week and—ow! Can you let go of my arm please, it really hurts."

His hold tightened, and Elodie stumbled as he yanked her forward, "well, since you like ignoring me. I'll ignore you. And if you won't give me what I want, I will take it."

With that his lips forcefully found Elodie's, and the kiss turned harsh. Elodie kept her lips closed as he tried to shove his tongue between them. She kept them closed until he reached around to pinch her side, she couldn't hold in a gasp and that was his opening.

Finally Elodie found the strength and power to push the boy away. Tears were running down her face as she stumbled away from him, gasping for air. Her lips were swelled, matching to Ben's as he grinned, pressing a hand to them.

"Better than I thought." Ben smirked, approaching her again only for his head to turn at an awkward angle as he collapsed to the ground.

Standing behind him was Stefan Salvatore, hands shaking as veins filling under his eyes, fangs elongated. Elodie gasped, stumbling away from him as his face changed again, this time he looked normal as he watched Elodie with worry.

He stepped towards her and Elodie didn't flinch, she didn't move as his hands pressed to Elodie's cheeks, swiping at the river of tears. "It's okay. He can't hurt you again. It's okay, I'm here."

She allowed herself as long as she could in his grasp, before she pushed away from him. Grabbing her bag from the table and running away from the room, she almost made it to the door when Stefan sped in front of her. Grabbing her arms as she screamed, trying to get away from him.

"Stop! Stop! Elodie, just stop please," Stefan begged, before grabbing her chin to force her to look at him. His pupils dilating, "you won't remember tonight. Ben was attacked after you left, you know nothing about it. He never kissed you, you saw him when you got there and when you left."

The slap came from his left, Elodie screaming at him as she wrenched herself from his grip. "What the fuck was that!" The curse word fell from her mouth before she could stop it.

Stefan watched her with wide eyes, Elodie glanced at him one more time before hurriedly turning and running to her car. He heard the lock of her doors before she floored it out of the parking lot. Confusion painting his expression as he wondered how she avoided his compulsion.

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KENNEDY SPEAKS :

very long chap in honor of hitting 1K reads on this
book!!! also sorry if there is anything wrong, i'm
sleep deprived and currently in the hospital bc i
had another allergic reaction this afternoon and i
almost died! ( kidding, but it felt like it tbh ) i'll probs
have time to write the next one, bc i've got plans for it,
tomorrow! but know elodie knows!!! almost everything
bc her parents ( mom ) know more than her... hehe