Originally: 'All In My Head?'
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WARNING: POINTS OF THIS BOOK WILL DISCUSS ISSUES OF EATING DISORDERS, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS/ATTEMPTS, DEPRESSION, AND DEATH. IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO THESE ISSUES THEN PROCEED WITH CAUTION IF YOU ARE TO CONTINUE READIN...
I was grateful that the biting breeze didn't affect me as much as it did my mortal companions. The boat rocked slightly when we finally reached the sandy and pebbled beach, Shane taking the lead in feeling the solid ground beneath his boots before digging through his backpack in search of a compass. The Earth crunched beneath my steps, a chain rattling as I guided Connor to follow me--his wrists, ankles, and neck chained together as he tried to burn a hole through me with his glare. I was the only immortal on our trip, James tagging along as Bonnie's moral support and tether just in case she became too consumed by the dark magic Shane had been teaching her. Shane played the part of our human compass, Connor our map and magical key.
I was simply here to make sure no one fucked up all of our hard work.
Damon wasn't too happy I'd flown the coop so far without his guidance, but I knew it was necessary that I put a bit of distance between us. I adore the man, but I can tell he's becoming too attached, and the last thing I need right now is an obsessive lover boy. Scarlet agreed with me that she'd take him on her own road trip for a distraction, knowing that no matter how my relationship developed with the vampire, it would never become the monogamous love he'd become accustomed to on my TV screen--"Vanessa?"
I turned my head to find Shane staring at me, expectation in his eyes. I gave a short nod, letting him know that we could start our hike before glancing back myself. I found James helping Bonnie from the unsteady transport, the tightness in their grips as they held onto each other forcing a smile to push up my lips. "Come on, lovebirds!" James scowled, Bonnie blushed. Interesting..."Can't leave Silas waiting, can we(?)"
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The quiet grumble of the engine diminished to an overwhelming silence when Damon parked his car beside a seemingly abandoned warehouse. A buzz vibrated against my thigh, a ruffling of paper sounding as I set aside our map to check who'd text me. I couldn't stop a smile from stretching my lips when I saw Elena's name flash on the screen;
'How's the road trip going? :)'
"Finished reassuring your girlfriend(?)" Damon's tone was filled with boredom, making me realize I'd just been staring at my phone with a goofy expression since opening the message. I blushed in embarrassment.
'Just got here. I'll update you when I'm back in the car ;)'
Typing out a quick response, I hid my phone from sight and pulled the map back into focus. "She's not my girlfriend," I responded with an annoyed mutter, he rolled his eyes.
"Who're you really trying to convince here(?)"
"You because I've accepted my fate," my opening of the door was clumsy, body almost falling in a heap as I stood in a rush. My grip on the map had tightened, jaw clenching in an attempt to make the world clear again before I took a few steps in approach to the looming building. "This should be the right place. It lines up with the only available blood trail on the map." I raised the paper higher, three paths of red burned into it. One stayed static in Mystic Falls, Elena. Another trailed from America and traveled across the pond, Katherine. The final pathway stopped just here in Kansas, it had to be Amara...
