XV. THE WORLD WEPT

THE morning of November 1, 1846, had begun like any other. The Virginia air was crisp and breezy— a sharp contrast to the once humid atmosphere that suffocated Virginia inhabitants in the summer months. The land had already begun to be tended to before the sun had reached its destination in the sky and the Salvatore family had already started their tasks for the day.

   Lily Salvatore's stomach was swollen beyond words— limiting her movement and causing a dull ache in the low of her back. She was due to endure the torment of childbirth any day; the idea alone haunted her mind as her stomach protruded from her body— evidence of more than one child resting there in her body.

   The swollen state of her stomach allowed her to off put the responsibility of looking after her firstborn, Damon, not that she spent her time with him prior to her pregnancy, but now she had a valid excuse.

   Eleanor, his nonna, took on the responsibility of caring for her grandson, her darling ometto. Unlike her daughter-in-law, Eleanor Salvatore adored looking after her grandchild, often whisking him away from the ladies meant to care for him as assigned by his father.

   That particular morning on the first of November, they spent the morning strolling the garden just outside their estate. Eleanor glanced down at Damon fondly, taking in his vibrant blue eyes that were similar to her own.

   "You know, ometto, you are due to be a big brother soon. You know what this means, yes?"

   "Yes, Nonna."

   With a ruffle of his hair, Eleanor smiled at him. "And what does it mean, Signorino?"

   "That I'm going to have a little brother or sister. I have to look after them."

   "Very good, caro. You must protect your siblings when they come; I will not be around forever."

   "Protect them against who?"

   "Anyone who wishes them harm," Eleanor crouched down, becoming eye level with Damon, "listen to me, sweet boy. There are going to be people who want to hurt your little siblings— you cannot let them."

   "Like father?"

   Smiling sadly, Eleanor wiped her thumb against his cheek, "Yes, caro, like your father. A child should never have to fear the one meant to protect them, but your father is much more of your late grandfather than anything. I tried my hardest to guard him against the monster of a man he was, but I failed. The weight you will carry will not be fair, but it is your duty. Do you understand?"

   Damon nodded in a determined fashion, eyes wide as he stared into his grandmother's eyes, "I do."

   "Good, ometto."

   As she made her way to stand up, footsteps came running in the direction, a midwife clutching at the ends of her dress as she caught her breath, "It's Mrs. Salvatore. She is going into birth."

   BY the time Eleanor had entered the house, the wails of Lily could be heard from upstairs. As she trudged closer to the door, the wails grew louder and higher pitched— intermixing with the words of encouragement coming from the midwives gathered in the room.

   Eleanor entered swiftly, coming to rest beside the bed, taking Lily's hand in her own. While she never cared much for the woman, she was not cruel enough to let her endure childbirth alone without a person that was not a midwife by her side.

Lily's back arched, a cry tumbling from her lips as a midwife rested between her legs, pushing her dressing gown up on her thighs, "It's time. You must push."

Bracing herself, Lily clamped down on Eleanor's hand, a string of cries hurtling into the air as she pushed, forcing the child from her body.

Blood coated the sheets as Lily pushed again, trails of tears rushing down her face as her body screamed in protest. Sobs took over her body as she made to push again.

"I can see the head. You're almost there."

The screams continued until Lily's body sagged, the shrill cry of a baby entering the world as her son was pulled from her body.

"It's a boy, Miss. Congratulations."

The midwife handed the baby off to the woman beside her, moving back to the place between Lily's legs just as Lily began to stir again, a shout forming on her lips, "Miss, the other one is ready."

"I can't do this, Eleanor." Lily's tear-filled eyes met her mother in laws, desperation clawing at her skin as her body began to squirm in alarm at birthing the other child that lay waiting on her body.

A gentle squeeze was felt against her hand, fingers brushing back the wet hair that rested on her forehead, "They say a man is the ruler of our world— they make the laws and enforce them. The Bible claims them to be superior, yet here you lay on the bed of childbirth, Lilian. A woman is much stronger than we are perceived. You can do this, tesoro. You have a beautiful baby boy, now. Another child is ready to meet their mother."

Lily's eyes were vulnerable as she nodded— her face exposing the fear that was so evidently lingering in the room. "Okay."

A few more minutes passed before another baby joined the world— her cry cutting into the air.

The world wept as the baby girl cried into the air, gurgling in the midwife's arms.

"A girl."

Lily dropped Eleanor's hand abruptly, hands coming down to fist the sheets as she stared at the bundle of blankets the two midwives held.

The vulnerability that was once open across Lily's face was now a ghost, a mere fable if Eleanor were to ever speak of it. Lily pushed herself up against the pillows with a yelp, "Take them to see their father."

"You don't wish to hold them?"

"Guiseppe will wish to see his children. Take them."

"What of their names?"

"Guiseppe wishes for the boy to be named Stefan, after his grandfather."

"And the girl?"

Lily looked over to Eleanor, envious of the loving glint that was so clear in the grandmother's eyes. "Let my mother-in-law name her."

Eleanor spared Lily a glance, lips pursing at the cold demeanor that had been placed like a mask over the raw vulnerability that once was so bravely resting on her face. "Give them to me."

She would protect them.

Always.

STEFAN was resting in the wooden cradle, the creaking of the wood in sync with the gentle sound of Eleanor's rocking chair against the floor.

The unnamed baby girl was bundled in her arms, cooing gently as Eleanor looked at her soft and round cheeks.

Her son had denied seeing them, but it didn't matter.

They needn't be tainted so early in their innocent lives by the stale breath and harsh tongue of the father.

"Hello, Gioia." Eleanor beamed at the baby, "What shall we name you?"

Lily had given birth hours ago, but not a single name had felt right for the innocent bundle of joy resting in her nonna's arms.

"My sweet innocent girl. You do not deserve the fate that will chase you to the end of the Earth."

Eleanor tilted her head as her finger came to brush against the baby's cheek, "You were born with a terrible fate, my Ivy Inesa, but you shall prevail."

Ivy Inesa Salvatore stirred in her nonna's arms but showed no other signs of understanding the lingering meaning hidden behind her grandmother's words.

A hiss cut out into the air as Ivy's foot fell atop a leaf, the subtle crunch filling the otherwise quiet air. Green eyes shooting up to the clearing in the woods, she eyed the animal, sighing with relief when she noticed the animal had not moved.

The red fox was short in stature, with a burnt orange coloring to its fur except for the white areas around its mouth and stomach. Its long snout was turned downwards towards the ground as it sniffed at something.

Ivy grasped the dagger in her hand, wincing as she thought about killing the creature. There was a dull nagging in the back of her mind— condemning her for getting innocent blood on her hands; animal or not.

Biting down on her lip, she advanced the wolf, fingers holding the dagger so tightly that her muscles began to ache.

When she was within feet of the animal, its gaze snapped up to her; wide eyes met her own and diminished whatever strength she had.

Tossing the dagger aside, Ivy slumped down to the grass, making herself small under the fox's gaze. With tears forming in her eyes, she began to plead with the animal, "You must understand, my brother he's losing himself. You see, he is on a strictly animal blood diet, but he had human blood and now I worry for him. I'm trying to help is all." Ivy glanced at the animal who had titled its head at her, "Don't fret. I clearly lack the hunting abilities my brothers possess."

   Ivy groaned, picking at the pieces of grass beneath her. She eyed the fox as it moved closer to her, her eyes growing wide, "You're not going to kill me, are you? Well, I suppose I did hunt you, it's only fair." Closing her eyes, she grimaced, "Get on with it then."

   She waited for a few beats before opening a single eye, watching the fox lay beside her with a whine. Opening both eyes, she extended her hand to sit beneath the animal's snout. Waiting a few seconds for the fox to settle before she moved her hand, she let her fingers run through its fur, "You wouldn't happen to know where to get animal blood that doesn't require killing, would you?"

   THE bell chimed as Ivy pressed the door open, alarmed eyes scouting out the store before stepping in all the way. The building was empty aside from a young boy standing behind the counter. He glanced up as she entered, straightening his back with a grin, "Welcome. Can I help you find anything?"

   Ivy glanced around the pet store, trying to find what her cell phone had said would be there. Moving towards the counter, Ivy smiled at the boy, "You wouldn't happen to have any animal blood, would you?"

   "Animal blood?"

   Ivy shook her hand, "Oh, it's not for me. My brother is on a diet. I'm only trying to help."

   "A diet that requires animal blood?"

   Ivy hummed under her breath, "It's a bit odd. He's quite set on it I'm afraid. You wouldn't happen to have any, would you?"

   "We don't sell our animals to be used for meals."

   Appalled, Ivy placed her hand flat against her chest, "Oh no! That's not at all what I meant. I only was wondering if you sold pre-prepared animal blood is all."

   The boy looked slightly relieved at that, "Oh. No, we don't. Your best bet would be the butcher shop across the street."

   "Alright, thank you!"

   "Wait! I can give you my number in case I find anything else out or if you get lost."

   Tilting her head slightly, Ivy eyed him before grinning, "I'm sure I'll be alright. Thank you for your help!"

   "STEFFIE!"

  "Bambi, stop yelling," Damon groaned as she opened the door to Stefan's bedroom, "We have enhanced hearing, remember?"

   Stepping into the room, Ivy grinned, "I'm sure you'll survive, brother."

   Stefan looked up from his place on the floor where he was doing push-ups, "Are you okay?"

   "Yes. I got you something!"

   "Why is there a leaf in your hair, little Bambi?"

   Ivy chuckled sheepishly, fingers reaching up to find the leaf in her hair, flicking it to the ground with a huff. "That's not important. This is," Ivy tossed the bag over to him, arms swinging in front of her form anxiously as he peeled open the bag.

   "Animal blood?"

   "It's fresh too!" Ivy nodded proudly, smiling at Damon who had sat up.

Damon eyed his sister suspiciously, eyes tracing over her in an act of inspection, "Where exactly did you get animal blood?"

"It's a long story, really. I tried hunting animals in the woods, but that was a poor idea. I couldn't bring myself to hurt any of the animals, so I used the thing, the Internet," Ivy paused on the still unfamiliar word, clicking her tongue as she tried to remember if that was the word, "well, I pressed in the words 'animal blood mystic falls' and a pet store came up. I stopped by there, but I think the man thought I was odd. He did however point me in the direction of the butcher shop which is where a scary-looking man sold me the blood bag."

"I'm sorry," Stefan shook his head a few times before looking toward his twin, "what?"

Huffing, Ivy put her hands on her hips, "Please tell me I do not have to repeat myself. I got it from a butcher shop. You know, the horrific place where they chop up sweet innocent animals? You're welcome for entering such a place and retrieving that for you by the way."

"You went into town?" Damon asked, eyes wide and alert.

"It wasn't quite all the way in town, but I suppose the general answer to that would be yes."

"How?"

"I walked. I didn't think you two would be too happy with me getting in a car— not that I want to. Those evil things." Ivy whispered the last part to herself under her breath, practically spitting the words out.

"Do you know how unsafe that is?" Stefan took a seat on one of the chairs, eyes locked on his sister.

"Walking?"

"No, Bambi. Walking on the side of the road. Alone."

"Was I meant to ask one of the gentlemen that hollered at me to give me a ride?"

Both brothers scoffed at first before realizing that for once, their sister was not messing with them.

"First, hitchhiking is a very big no-no, Bambi. Second, how about we go on a drive and you point out these guys for me, yeah?"

"No murdering, please. I carried a sack of blood home for my twin, I don't think I can stomach it anymore."

"Okay, back to the topic here. Ivy, you can't just go walking wherever you want. It's not safe."

"What was I meant to do? You're busy sulking in your room and Damon came home drunk so I locked him in his room."

Damon gasped, "That was you?"

Ivy grimaced as she accidentally exposed herself, "It might have been."

Stefan glanced between them with a furrowed brow, "I'm missing something."

"I woke up this morning locked in my room. Tried to break the door, but the handle was covered in vervain and so was the wood. I had to text Ivy to come let me out with the spare keys we have above the doorway."

"You came home and kept eating the batter I was using. I had to resort to different tactics when you wouldn't leave me alone!"

"You could've killed me!"

"It was a tiny sting! It wasn't like I put vervain in your bathtub and convinced you I drew you a nice bath! I only put a little vervain on your door and laid out some blood to lure you in before locking the door!"

"I created a monster. Bambi, when I taught you these things when you were little, you were meant to use them on Stefan, not me!"

"Don't come home reeking of alcohol then."

"Guys, back to the conversation, please. Ivy, if you want to explore, you can't go walking around."

"What do you suggest?"

"THERE. Nice and snug." Damon grinned, buckling the helmet under Ivy's chin before stepping back.

   Ivy wobbled slightly with the knee and elbow guards covering her skin as she approached the bike Stefan was standing beside. "I watched the videos Stefan sent me on the Tube, but I don't think I understand it all that much."

   Stefan stifled a laugh, "The Tube? Do you mean YouTube?"

   Ivy waved her hand dismissively at her mistake, "To-may-to, to-mah-to, dear brother."

   Grumbling, Ivy climbed onto the bike, planting her feet on either side to keep herself steady.

   Damon came to stand beside Stefan, clutching a camera in his hand as he caught Ivy's attention, "Smile, Bambi!"

   Grasping the handlebars in her hands, Ivy grinned at the camera, wincing internally when the flash went off.

   Once Damon put the camera down, he directed Ivy, "Okay, you're going to lift up your feet and put them on the pedals."

   Blindly, Ivy followed his directions, lifting her feet off the ground and placing them on the pedals, or rather trying to.

   The bike tipped over before she had a chance.

   Howls of laughter tumbled from her brothers as she let out a meek, "Ouch."

   With a wince, she stood back up and righted the bike, glaring at Damon who had yet to stop laughing, "You gibface! You didn't tell me I would fall over!"

   "Forgive me for thinking you understood how gravity works."

   Stefan caught Ivy by the waist before she could punch Damon in the face. He grabbed her clenched fist, lowering it with a smile, "Come on, hop back on."

   With a final lingering glare at her eldest brother, Ivy spun around and got back on the bike, this time keeping her feet planted on the ground. She looked to Stefan for further guidance.

   "Listen, I'm going to hold the bike in place while you practice moving the steering wheel and pushing the pedals, okay?"

   "Okay."

   She slowly pulled her feet up, sighing softly in relief when Stefan helped hold the bike upright. Her feet slipped into the pedals and slowly started moving forward. She turned the handles left and right, mimicking the actions she would make if the bike were truly moving.

   "I'm going to stop pushing against you to keep it planted. I'll keep holding on, but you're going to move some."

   With shaky legs, Ivy's bike moved, her feet pushing the pedals which in turn had her bike moving across the grass. Ivy squealed at the movement, peels of laughter tumbling from her lips.

   In her delight, she didn't realize Stefan had let go.

   "You're doing it, Bambi!"

   And she was.

   Her fingers grasped at the handles as she pumped her legs faster, laughing wildly as the wind kissed at her cheeks and the sun pelted her exposed skin, "Look! I'm doing it!"

   Purple bruises littered Ivy's body, harsh in contrast to the golden skin that the rest of her body displayed. Huffing, Ivy finished bandaging a small scrap she had from the biking adventure before settling into the couch. Curling into herself with the blanket, Ivy cradled the cup of tea in her hands as her eyes fixated on the television playing a thing called a 'movie' before her.

   The Salvatore home was quiet aside from the soft chatter of the television— a result of her brothers leaving to attend some event in town. They had invited her to finally make her debut in society, but Ivy felt she had experienced too much excitement for one day.

   Her warm and comforting atmosphere was tarnished when the front door swung open, and her brothers rushed in arguing with one another.

   "Goodness! Will you two stop? What is the matter?"

   The brothers shared a fleeting look between them before Stefan turned to Ivy, the words blurting out before he could stop them.

   "Damon killed Elena's uncle!"

"What?!"

"Relax," Damon drawled, pouring himself a drink as he drew out the last syllables, "I didn't kill him." After a few moments, Damon cleared his throat, "Okay, technically speaking, I did kill him, but he is alive and well."

   "Damon!"

   "How about you lecture Stefan for almost killing the guy on the dance floor— literally."

   "Stefan!"

   Stefan at least had the decency to look ashamed, "I'm sorry, Ivy. I've been having a hard time since everything."

   "Kiss up," Damon said in a sing-song voice.

   "You know what," Stefan began.

   "Oh what? What're you going to do? Comb your hair?"

   "Go to your rooms!"

   Their argument forgotten, her brothers turned to her with gaping mouths, "What?"

   "I was having a relaxing evening before the two of you ratbags waltzed in here arguing and assaulting my poor ears. Go to your rooms. I will come to find you when I have decided you can come out."

   "You can't put us in time-out!"

   Ivy launched forward, grasping Damon's ear between her fingers and yanking him towards his room, ignoring his sounds of protest. "I am!"

   Stefan simply walked towards the stairs, watching as Ivy wrestled Damon into his room, "I can walk myself."

   Ivy ducked Damon's arms trying to grab her, kicking her foot against the small of his back to push him into his room. With a large exhale, she slammed the door shut, calling out into the house, "Don't even think about coming out until I've sought you out! I will not hesitate to key your cars!"

________

more nonna and italian salvatore
content because it is what we deserved.

qotd: favorite season?
→ as much as i love season 3/4,
there is something so nostalgic about
season 1 for me. it had a horror
element to it that i loved.

THE TITLE OF THIS STORY HAS CHANGED.

copyright © -loonylupins