Cold Hearted | Damon Salvatore

thirteen

13. Bringing Out The Dead

"Good morning, I bought you coffee" Aria said, entering Alaric's apartment with the spare key Alaric had given her.

"Where's the aspirin?" Alaric asked.

"It's where the vitamins are" Aria said, handing Alaric his coffee, then opening the cupboard and taking out the aspirin.

"Oh thank god" Alaric said, taking the aspirin from Aria.

"May I know the reason as to why your so hungover?" Aria asked.

"Meredith was here" Alaric replied, making Aria smile, "Don't start".

"I didn't say anything" Aria defended.

"You don't have to, the way your smiling says everything" Alaric said.

"I'm just happy for you" Aria said.

"You wouldn't be when you learn that I whiskey dialed her at 2 in the a.m" Alaric said, sipping his coffee.

"Ric, please tell me your joking" Aria said.

"I wish I was" Alaric said.

"How did she react to it?" Aria asked.

"As soon as these aspirin kick in and I remember the conversation, I'll let you know" Alaric replied, "Anyways, you tell me, why do you look so happy?".

"Elijah's awake" Aria revealed.

"Really?" Alaric asked shocked.

Aria nodded, "Yeap, Nik let me remove the dagger from him and now Elijah's finally awake, and him Nik and Rebekah are planning how to get the sealed coffin from Stefan".

"Stefan is so screwed" Alaric commented.

Before Aria could reply, a knock on the door caught their attention.

Aria opened the door and was confused seeing Liz, "Liz, hey, what are you doing here?".

"Caroline told me you were here" Liz replied.

"Is everything okay?" Aria asked, frowning seeing Liz's worried face.

"This is an unconventional conversation we're about to have so I hope you'll protect me on it" Liz said.

"Of course" Alaric said, equally as confused as Aria.

"I assume you've heard our medical examiner was murdered the night of the Wickery Bridge fundraiser" Liz said.

"Yeah, Brian Walters, why?" Alaric asked.

"We've been investigating, someone drove this stake through his heart" Liz said, showing the father daughter duo the murder weapon.

Alaric took the evidence bag from Liz's hand and examined it, "That's one of ours, this is one of the set from the Gilbert's lake house".

"That's why I'm here" Liz said, "I haven't told anyone, but forensics ran it for prints and found only one clean set".

"Whose?" Aria asked.