❝𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘺, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳.❞
Estella Delacour was a normal girl. She had her best friends, was po...
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ESTELLA DELACOUR felt a visible tension ripple through her body as Bonnie recounted the troubling story about Damon—the very one Caroline had shared with her over the phone. At that moment, she was grateful they weren't face-to-face, for Bonnie had an uncanny ability to read her emotions like an open book.
Confusion and dread swirled within her. Damon had been inflicting pain on Caroline, feeding off her, and who knew what else? Estella felt utterly powerless to safeguard her friend; confronting a vampire nearly a century old was far from ideal. Yet, a fierce anger coursed through her veins, igniting thoughts of violence and fantasies of setting him ablaze.
Elena had also confided in her about the bruises and hidden wounds on Caroline's neck, concealed beneath a scarf. The fury she felt was overwhelming—she aimed it at both Salvatores. Damon for his monstrous behaviour, and Stefan for his inaction, for failing to protect Caroline when it mattered most.
Clenching her fists until her nails dug painfully into her palms, she fought against the impulse for revenge. Still, the desire surged through her, engulfing her very being. How dare Damon hurt Caroline, her best friend, while parading around town unscathed?
Bonnie had mentioned something about a crystal, and suddenly, a spark ignited within Estella. A wicked smile curled her lips at the thought; the blue-eyed Salvatore seemed desperate to reclaim that trivial object. She was resolved to become an obstacle to his plans, an itch he could not scratch. For a fleeting moment, the grim prospect of Damon killing her flitted through her mind, turning her rage into a paralyzing helplessness.
How could she possibly take on a vampire that had lived for over a century? How could she hope to win?
Yet, she knew she had to push those thoughts aside for the time being and adopt a lighthearted attitude as she listened to Caroline outline plans for the upcoming fundraiser.
"The sexy suds car wash is tomorrow," Caroline announced, distributing flyers like confetti. "The football team and some members of the band are in. Well, just the ones brave enough to wear bikinis." Laughter erupted from a group of cheerleaders gathered behind her. "I want it to be in-your-face sexy! I mean, it's a fundraiser, for goodness' sake!"
"Unbelievable. It's like nothing happened," Elena's face encrusted into a look of disbelief, doe eyes following the perky blonde.
Bonnie glanced between Elena and Estella, her brow furrowing with concern. A weary sigh left her lips. "She's in denial."
The chaotic thoughts swirling in her mind left no room for peace, compelling her to wish it all away.
The image of Damon, fangs bared as he fed from Caroline, flashed vividly in her mind—a sight she desperately tried to erase, focusing instead on the present moment.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. "Hey."
The girls turned to see Stefan approaching. Instantly, Estella shot him a pointed glare, while Elena regarded him with a cool, emotionless stare, masking the frustration that churned beneath her surface.
