CHAPTER FOUR
❝FAMILY TIES❞

​"I can confirm that twelve-foot puma mountain-lion attacked a hunter and was subsequently shot and killed. The hunter is in stable condition." Sheriff Forbes announced, speaking into a microphone for the Channel 9 WPKW news.
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"To repeat, the animal terrorizing Mystic Falls has been caught." Logan Fell continued, seeing as though he was the reporter on the scene.
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"Scum ball...scum bucket," Jenna angrily muttered, staring at the television. Elena and I exchanged confused glances as we entered the kitchen.
​
"Who are you talking to?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing together.
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"Him," Jenna replied, nodding toward the television with her head.
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Elena arched a brow before asking: "The news guy?"
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"Also known as Logan "Scum" Fell. Did your mom ever tell you guys why I moved away from Mystic Falls?" Jenna asked, not breaking eye-contact with the television.
​
Elena and I started chuckling, "Oh, no way. You and him?" I asked, before studying Logan Fell on the screen. "He's cute."

"He's not cute. There's nothing cute about him." Jenna replied, and defensively shut the television off. I rolled my eyes and walked over to the kitchen table and sat down.

I looked over at Elena to see her cleaning something, Jenna must have noticed it too, because she looked intrigued.

"What are you doing with that?" Jenna asked Elena.

"I went yesterday and got it from the safe deposit box. Mom had told Mrs. Lockwood that she would loan it to the Founder's Council for their heritage display." Elena explained, polishing a piece of gold that had been molded into something long and skinny.

Jenna pursed her lips, reaching into the small box in front of Elena and pulled a ring out. She examined the ring before asking: "Is that Grandma Beth's wedding ring?"

"Originally, it was Great-Great-Grandma Mary's wedding ring." Elena corrected. I suddenly felt a breeze of someone walking behind me, I turned to look over my shoulder and saw Jeremy.

"How much do you think this stuff is worth, like, on eBay?" Jeremy asked, inspecting something that he had grabbed out of the box.

I scoffed and shook my head slightly. Elena snatched the object out of Jeremy's hand and placed it back in the box. "You're not going to find out." Elena said bitterly.

"That stuff is Mom and Dad's. You can't just give it away." Jeremy replied, walking toward the fridge and opening it.

"I'm not giving it away. It's called a loan, Jeremy." Elena assured our younger brother.

The doorbell suddenly rang out loudly through the house. Elena grinned to herself, stood up from the table eagerly and strode quickly to the door and answered it. I rolled myself, knowing it was Stefan at the door, and decided to make myself a cup of coffee.

Around noon, I heard the doorbell ring as I was walking down the stairs. Since I was closest to the door, I decided to answer it - to be polite and not make Elena get it, who was in the kitchen.

I opened it, and revealed Tyler Lockwood standing on the porch. I rolled my eyes and tried to slam it in his face, but before I could complete the slam, he stopped the door with his hand.

"Look, I'm sorry about the other night." Tyler said, looking down, not being able to make proper eye-contact with me.
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I clenched my jaw before saying: "Whatever. I know you that you didn't come out of your way to apologize. Now, why are you really here?"
​
"I'm here for my Mom. Supposed to pick up a box-"

"It's right here." Elena said, walking up from behind me with the box in her hands. When she got to the door, and handed it to him, her facial expression became extremely serious. "Please be careful."

"Yeah, be careful with it dick." I said in a harsh tone. Tyler gave me a look and as did Elena. She turned to me looking disappointed in what I said.

"Hey," Elena scolded, glancing between Tyler and I. "Not now, okay, guys? Please?"

"This wouldn't be happening right now, if he hadn't punched me." I growled through gritted teeth.

Elena looked at me and mumbled quietly: "Not now, please." I nodded. "Look, Tyler, maybe you should go. Tell you Mom that I'll see her tonight." Elena said, smiling slightly.

Tyler nodded in agreement, and Elena turned around and left. I was trying to successfully shut the door in his face, but he stopped it again with his hand. "Hey, would it make a difference if I told I actually am sorry?"

"Not even if you meant it." I snapped, slamming the door.

Later, Bonnie had arrived to help Elena and I decide what we were going to do with ourselves for the Founder's Party tonight. Bonnie and I were sitting at the kitchen table, and Elena was messing with something in the kitchen.
​
"Delicate Flower versus Naughty Vixen," Bonnie announced, holding up two small vials of nail polish at eye-level.
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"Tough call," I confessed, leaning back in my chair.
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"Can we mix them?" Elena asked, walking toward the table with a few sheets of paper-towel in her hands, folding them as she sat down next to me at the table.
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"Look at you, getting all pretty for your date." Bonnie mused, giggling slightly. "You seem happy-ish." Bonnie commented, digging through her nail-kit.
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"I am-ish," Elena replied, resting her hands on the table. "Tonight's going to be a good night. But don't let that stop you from telling us whatever it is you wanted to tell us as soon as you walked in the door." Elena said, narrowing her eyes knowingly at Bonnie.
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Bonnie sighed before saying: "What if I tell you guys in the morning? I don't want to ruin the night." She replied, avoiding mine and Elena's eyes.
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"Bonnie," I said in a warning tone. "Out with it."
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"Okay, but it has to go into the vault, because Caroline will kill me if it gets back to Damon that she squealed." Bonnie responded, searching our faces, confirming that we both agreed to her terms.
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Elena and I nodded, giving her our undivided attention.
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"Apparently, Stefan has a very interesting back story." Bonnie began slowly.

​"Go on," I urged, assuring her that she could continue.
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"Do you know what happened with his ex-girlfriends: Katherine and Beatrice?" Bonnie asked.
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"I know that they both dated them and that's why they have issues." I answered.
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"Yeah, they both dated them, only Beatrice chose Damon. And that drove Stefan mad. So, he did horrible things to try and break them up. He manipulated Beatrice. He filled her head with all these lies until finally it worked." Bonnie paused, and sighed, before continuing: "And she turned against Damon."
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I shook my head slightly, and said: "That sounds like one person's side of the story, meaning Damon's."
​
"I just wanted you guys to know," Bonnie reminded us.
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"Anyway, his past relationships are none of our business." I stated harshly. Hopefully, his past didn't have to become our business, I thought.
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"Unless he's calculating manipulative liar - that is your business."
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My mouth gaped open, taken aback. "Stefan is none of things." I insisted, coming to Stefan's defense.
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"Yeah? How do you know?" Bonnie asked, tilting her head.

The three of us were getting ready for the party in my bathroom. Bonnie and I were curling our hair, as Elena was applying her mascara to her eyelashes. We heard the phone ring, and I looked to Elena expectantly. She sighed and rolled her eyes.

I smirked at Bonnie, as Elena left the bathroom, and walked into her bedroom. I only caught the end of Elena's conversation.

"Hello? Hi, Mrs. Lockwood...what do you mean?... it is?...are you sure?...'cause I saw it. Let me check... mm-hmm. I will find it and bring it. Okay, bye." She hung up the phone.

"What's wrong?" Bonnie and I both asked. Elena just walked out of the room so I followed her as she went into Jeremy's room and smacked his headphones off his head.

"Ah! God, what now?" Jeremy shouted; agitated with Elena's actions.

"The pocket watch. Where is it?" Elena demanded.
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"What watch?" Jeremy asked, struggling to get the headphone cord untangled from around her neck.
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Elena crossed her arms over her chest.
"The one you stole from Mom's box. Look, Mrs. Lockwood just called me, freaking out. It was on the list, Jeremy. She can't find it, and she thinks she's one who lost it."
​
"And maybe she did," Jeremy said, shrugging his shoulders.
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"Maybe, uh, maybe Tyler took it." I defended Jeremy from the doorway.
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"Don't even play that card, either of you. Jeremy, you took it. If I go online, am I going to find it on eBay? Is that how you pay for your pot?" Elena accused, scrunching her nose up in disgust.
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"Elena, that's enough!" I hollered out in disbelief.
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"Screw you," Jeremy spat, standing up from his computer chair, walking over to a book shelf and pulled out the pocket-watch in question. "I would never sell this, okay?"
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"Then why did you take it?"
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"Because it's supposed to be mine," Jeremy replied. "Dad said it goes to the firstborn son. His father gave it to him, and now what?"
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"And he was going to give it to you," I said, realization settling into my being. Elena's face fell, feeling extremely guilty for accusing him of selling it.
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Jeremy slammed the watch into Elena's hand before shoving past her to return to his position in front of his computer. "Yeah."
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"Look, Jeremy, it's still yours, okay? Mom promised Mrs. Lockwood. What do you want us to do?"
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"Just take it and get out," Jeremy replied, putting his headphones back on. Elena and I shared a shameful glance, before backing out of his bedroom.

Finally, what we have all been dreading. Or at least I have. The Founder's Party. I sighed as I stepped out of Bonnie's car with her. We didn't have dates so we just decided on going together since Elena was going with Stefan. And Caroline of course was going with Damon.

Elena and Stefan were in front of us, standing at the threshold of the Lockwood Mansion, waiting for Mayor Lockwood to invite them in. Bonnie and I were next to walk inside, I just pulled her in, trying to avoid the Lockwood's all together.

"Hey, I'm going to get a drink. You want one?" Bonnie asked me.

"Sure," I replied, smiling. Bonnie nodded and smiled, before turning around and began walking toward the table where the food and drinks were set up.
​
I sunk my teeth into my bottom lip nervously. I didn't want to be discovered my Mrs. Lockwood, so I decided to walk in the middle of a large crowd, hoping that the swarm of bodies would shield me.

"Elektra! Sweetheart!" Mrs. Lockwood called from behind me. I rolled my eyes, and turned around. A large smile was plastered on my face as I faced Mrs. Lockwood.

"Hello, Mrs. Lockwood." I said sweetly.

"You look very beautiful, Elektra. Your parents would be proud." She said to me. My eyes fell to the floor for a split second and then back up to her face.

"Thank you." I replied, my voice sadder than before.

"So, what is this that I hear about you and my son not being together anymore?" she asked me, her eyes full of curiosity.

"No, Mrs. Lockwood we aren't." I said.

"Why did you two split up? You two were the perfect couple." She said, dragging out the word perfect.

"Well, after my parents death, I needed time alone." I said simply, she nodded but I knew she wasn't convinced.

"I understand. Do you think you two will get back together?" she asked, hope filling her eyes. I shook my head with fake sadness.

"No, I'm sorry. It's just during that time he has moved on to Vicki..." I began to say but was cut off my Mrs. Lockwood.

"Vicki? Vicki Donovan?" she asked me, shock written all over her face.

"Yes, ma'am. You didn't know?" I asked, playing along as if it wasn't a big secret. Which it actually was, because Vicki wasn't the classiest girl in all of Virginia, and not the best girl to show off either.

"Oh, no I didn't..." she said, glancing around the room. "Please excuse me, Elektra." Mrs. Lockwood excused herself. I nodded.

After Mrs. Lockwood had walked away, probably to find Tyler. You could tell she was upset when I said that her dearest son was with the stoner, whore Vicki Donovan. Who didn't meet her standards obviously. I felt a tap on my left shoulder, and turned around; there stood Bonnie with our drinks.

"Sorry, I would have come sooner, but I didn't want to interrupt your conversation with Mrs. Lockwood." Bonnie said in a sarcastic apologizing way. I rolled my eyes at her. I took the drink from her hand and took a sip.

"Thanks for the drink."

"You're welcome." She responded. I nodded and realized I should probably look at the heritage display with Elena, since our parents were a big part of the founders council, it helped us feel closer to them.

I walked into a small room, where I saw Elena and Stefan staring at the old heritage display. I smiled and walked over to them.

"There's a lot of history here." Elena sighed. She turned around and noticed me she jumped slightly. I giggled, as her hand flew up over her heart. "Oh my, God, Elektra, you scared me!"

"But, you're right; there is a lot history here." I said, examining all of the displays. We walked over to an old scroll looking thing, which turned out to be the original guest register. "The Founding Families of Mystic Falls welcomes you to the inaugural Founder's Council Celebration." I said, reading the heading of the script aloud.

"Wow, it's the original Founders Celebration guest registry." Elena pointed out. I looked down at the names and saw familiar names and wanted to share.

"Look at all of these familiar names: Sheriff William Forbes, Mayor Benjamin Lockwood..." I said reading them aloud then two names stuck out from all the rest. "Is that Damon Salvatore?" I asked, glancing up at Stefan. "And Stefan Salvatore?"

"The original Salvatore brothers. Our ancestors," Damon said, announcing his presence. We all snapped around to see Damon and Caroline strolling into the room. "Tragic story, actually."

"We don't need to bore them with stories of the past." Stefan replied, walking closer to Damon. The both of them sending glares at each other.

"It's not boring, Stefan. I'd love to hear more about your family." I said to Stefan, nudging him slightly.

"Well, I'm bored. I want to dance, and Damon won't dance with me." Caroline whined, shooting Damon a playful glare.

"Mm-mm," Damon hummed in response.

Caroline's eyes shifted over to Elena and she asked: "Could I just borrow your date?"

"Oh, uh..." Elena stumbled awkwardly with her words, glancing at Stefan to speak up and save her from this embarrassing moment.

"I don't really dance," Stefan said.

"Oh, sure he does. You should see him. Waltz, jitterbug, the moonwalk. He does it all." Damon corrected, smirking at his younger brother. I glanced at Elena, to see that she looked very uncomfortable - just how I felt.

"You wouldn't mind, would you, Elena?" Caroline asked.

"It's up to Stefan," Elena replied. "But, I am going to find Bonnie." She continued, smiling at me before walking out of the small room.

"Well, sorry, but I'm not going to take no for an answer," Caroline said, grabbing Stefan's hand and dragging him out of the room, leaving Damon and I alone.

"I want to, uh, apologize to you, for being such a world-class jerk the other night when I tried to kiss you. There's no excuse. My therapist says I'm acting out, trying to punish Stefan." Damon said, breaking the silence that had fallen upon us.

"For what?" I asked, confused.

"It's all in the past, I don't even want to bring it up. Let's just say that the men in the Salvatore family have been cursed with sibling rivalry. And it all started with the original Salvatore brothers." Damon said, pointing at the original guest list behind him. "The Salvatore name was practically royalty in this town until the war. There was a battler here -"

"The Battle of Willow Creek."

"Right," Damon said, slightly shocked.

"I know, we talked about it in class. Confederate soldiers fired upon a church with civilians inside."

"What the history books left out, was that the people that were killed, they weren't there by accident. They were believed to be union sympathizers. So, some of the founders on the confederacy side back then, wanted them rounded up and burned alive." Damon explained, walking to a model of what I assumed was the church back in the 1800's. "Stefan and Damon had two people they loved very much in that church." Damon said, staring at the model like he was remembering an old memory. "And when they went to rescue them, they were shot. Murdered in cold blood.

"Who was in the church that they wanted to save?"

"Two women, I guess. Doesn't it always come down to the love of a woman?" Damon asked, tilting his head.

"Look, I'm sorry that you and Stefan have this thing between you, but I can't get in the middle of it, Damon." I told him. He let his eyes fall to the floor before bringing them back up to me. "I just...I hope you two can work it out."

"I hope so too," Damon whispered.

Later, I found Elena, sitting alone in a corner. When I asked why she was alone, she told me that her and Stefan had a fight. I sighed, sitting down beside her and placed a comforting hand on her knee.

"This is my fault. Bonnie and I planted doubt. We're doubt-planters."

"It's not y'all's fault." Elena denied, shaking her head. "I just...I feel terrible. Because we said that we wouldn't get in the middle of it -"

"And that's exactly what we did," I said, finishing for her.

Elena let her head hand, "And I got all snotty."

"I'm sorry, Elena." I said; not completely understanding why he was being so secretive.

"It's okay." She replied quietly. I held her hand tightly. We sat for a few more minutes before I excused myself into the powder room.

"Hey," I said, noticing Caroline standing in front of the mirror, fiddling with her hair.

"Hey," Caroline replied, glancing at me through the mirror. "How are things with Stefan and Elena?" she asked.

"Great. Just great," I answered.

"Really? Well, my radar must me off, 'cause I was getting all sorts of other vibes." Caroline mumbled, beginning to apply lip gloss to her lips.

I remained silent as I redid my eyeliner and reapplied lip gloss on my plump lips, but something on Caroline's neck under her scarf caught my attention - the skin was irritated and there was dried blood underneath the green fabric.

"What is that?" I asked, not breaking my stare.

"Hmm?" Caroline hummed. I reached out to move the scarf, but she angrily shoved my hand off. "Don't."

Ignoring her, I reached out again, grabbing the scarf and lifting it up to reveal a severe bite mark imprinted into her flesh. "Oh, my God. Caroline, what happened?"

"Nothing, okay?" Caroline snapped, pushing my hands off her and adjusting her scarf and cardigan.

"That is not nothing," I replied, worried. "Did somebody hurt you?"

"No, okay, it - nothing. It's just...my Mom would kill me."

I noticed another something on her shoulder through the holes of her knitted cardigan. I pulled down the fabric and saw a bite mark, exactly like the one on her neck, on her shoulder blade. "Did Damon hurt you?" I asked, my anger rising by the second.

"No. O-Of course not," Caroline stumbled with her answer. I leaned over to look again, but she slammed my hands away. "Just leave me alone, okay, Elektra? God." she shouted, storming out of the powder room.
​
I immediately left the powder room to search for the man in question. Once I searched the entire house, I decided to go outside. My eyes scanned over the faces until I found the one I was looking for. I angrily stomped over to the tent and shoved his chest.
​
"There is something seriously wrong with you." I spat through gritted teeth. "You stay away from Caroline, or I will go straight to her mother, the sheriff. You got it? Stay away from her."

I had to go find Caroline and make sure she was okay. I know that she and I don't always get along, but she is still my friend. When you grow up with someone, it doesn't matter what issues you have because in the end, you always look out for each other.

In the midst of finding Caroline, I found Stefan staring at the large pond behind the mansion. I quickened my pace and called out to him.

"You're right about Damon," I admitted, slightly out of breath.

Stefan turned around, his eyes searching my body for any sign of harm. "What did he do?"

"There are bruises all over Caroline's body. Bite marks. And he has her all confused and messed up in the head." I said, looking at Stefan's face. "You don't look surprised."

"Um," Stefan mumbled, glancing around as if he were contemplating his answer. "I'm handling it."

"Handling it?" I repeated. "Stefan, you should be having him arrested."

"Elektra, please, I-I don't expect you to understand." Stefan replied, cautiously taking my hand in his own.

"I don't understand anything, Stefan. So why don't you just clear it up for me?"

Stefan bowed his head closer to mine. "Look, there are things that you don't know, okay? Things that I want to tell you, but I can't. And I may never be able to. And I just need you to trust me."

"Trust is earned. I can't just magically hand it over."

Stefan glanced over my shoulder for a second, before bringing his attention back to me. "I'm sorry. I have to go."
​
After Stefan walked off, I began searching for Caroline again. I searched the property for a good half hour before I found her standing alone on the lawn.
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"Caroline?" I asked, approaching her, carrying my heels by their straps in my right hand. "Oh, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you." I said, but noticed that she had tears welling up in her eyes. "Are you okay?"
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"Yeah, I'm fine." Caroline replied, shakily and she seemed to be out of breath.
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"Caroline, what happened?"
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"I'm fine," She repeated, as she began to breathe heavily.
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"No," I said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're shaking. Caroline, what -"
​
"I'm fine, I'm fine."
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"Caroline, come here, come here." I mumbled, pulling her into a hug and she reluctantly wrapped her arms around me, as she started to sob uncontrollably.

✥ ✥ ✥

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