Kairlie - Met In 1994

4

Charlie woke up in her bedroom. It was already dark, only her bedside lamp was giving faint orange glow. How long could she sleep? How many hours? Days?

She felt hungry. God, so hungry. She could eat... A horse. Ha ha, funny. She chuckled to herself.

So it wasn't that bad if she could muster some sense of humor.

She yanked herself up, trying not to give into her dizziness.

It's just an illusion... It's all about mind. She reminded herself but it gave her little relief, if none.

Alright. Breath in. Breath out. She winced. Her head was splitting like she was vervained.

Damn appearances. If they knew she was a vampire, she would have her own stock downstairs. But noo, she was so cautious, she made sure the only blood in the house was Damon's.

She had no idea what to do, she will have to figure it out soon, before she starts dessicating.

Charlie went to bathroom and took a bath. Her bathtub was filling with hot water and she was sinking in it as much as she could.

Her hands, then gradually her whole body, started glowing in faint yellowish light. She was siphoning water's heat energy, making it colder withing seconds.

When she was done, she got out and examined herself in the mirror. God, she looked awful. Yet better than before bathing.

She changed into new underwear (black lace, obviously). Then picked tight 3/4 black trousers and her favourite grey shirt, snatched from Stefan's closet. It was way too big and so loose it would always fell from one of her shoulders but the night was pretty cold and she felt like shivering.

Charlie cautiously went downstairs. She could hear voices in the library. That gave her an idea. She chose opposite direction, the kitchen. Nobody would question if she was hungry, because she was eating or drinking all the time.

She stuttered into the kitchen, aiming straight for the fridge. YES. Damon's stock was in place.

Charlie examined the bloodbags but every bag was unopened. She hoped to take a sip that would go unnoticed, but opening new bag was too risky.

She swore under her breath and devoured some leftover sandwiches. Feeling slightly better, she walked to the library.

She stopped at the entrance of the room, completely shocked to what she saw. Kai was sat on the armchair, his hands taped to rests. Damon and Bonnie were standing above him, confused and judgy.

Charlie made another shaky step, what didn't slip Kai's attention. He smiled at her welcome.

'Oh, hello there again. Heard you bumped your head?' He said, mock lingering in his words.

'Yeah, kind of. Did your plan work?' Charlie walked closer but Damon came to hold her so she wouldn't fall.

'You knew about the plan?' Bonnie was surprised.

'Not that I was filled in. Kai just ambushed me and asked to cooperate, cause he wanted to get your magic back.' Charlie explained truthfully.

'Well, it worked.' Kai cheered, while Damon helped sitting Charlie on the couch.

'So why is Kai ducktaped to the chair? Some new threeway fun I'm not invited in?' Charlie smiled.

'I don't trust the guy.' Damon mused.

'You don't trust me either, but hey, am I victim of your kidnaping slash hostage fantasies... Oh wait, I am.' Charlie sneered faintly.

'I won't let him go.' Damon spat.

'Whatever. I saw you didn't bring in our groceries and I'm still STARVING. So excuse me, I'm going to shop, guess it's still opened.' Charlie stood up, then looked at Bonnie. 'I mean, as long as it's still standing. You didn't blow it up, Bon Bon?'

'No, it's there.'

'Good. You want something?' Charlie asked Kai, who was just smiling and staring, like he had time of his life. Another mask to cover up... What? Emotions? Stress?

'No, thanks. Damon got me pork rinds, I don't need anything else.' His smile was even broader. 'And don't forget your wallet!' He said when she was at the exit, making Charlie smile.

'I pay with my card!' She retorted.

Charlie walked out in front of the house. She intended to walk all the way. It was just a mile, she would manage...

'Hey, wait!' It was Bonnie. 'I'm going with you, you can barely walk. I'll drive.'

Charlie couldn't say no. She greethed her teeth and sat in some random car parked in front. They were shifting cars now and then, just to avoid going to the gas station.

All the way to the shop Charlie was thinking what to do...

Then lightbulb lit up above her head.

'Um, Bonnie, can we go to the hospital?'

'What, you're injured?' Bonnie raised her eyebrows.

'No, Kai made sure I was safe... You are well too, right?'

Bonnie nodded.

'And Kai? How is he?'

'I think pretty good. Why do you need hospital then?' Bonnie inquired.

'I was looking into the fridge and I think there's not much blood for Damon. And above that... Damon got injured twice with vervain. All his alko stock is vervained, so he'll have more craving for blood all the way... Since we're taking car...'

'My magic is back, we're getting out of this place soon.'

'How?'

'Dunno, Kai said he'll explain first time in the morning.'

'So as well "soon" might mean next week.'

'Alright.' Bonnie sighed and turned to the alley leading to the medical center. After a moment of silence Bonnie said. 'You start liking Damon, huh? Caring about him? That's first.'

Charlie sneered. 'Oh hell no. I'm just keeping my head on my shoulders. Literally. If he snaps, it's me who gets neck torn for lunch.' Which wasn't completely false.

They arrived to the hospital and went straight to bloodbank room, which Charlie nicknamed as Damon's Fridge. Why everything had to be about Damon, Charlie sneered in thoughts.

With the last spark of brains, Charlie maneuvred Bonnie to go back to the car and take some shopping bags.

When she was finally alone, she opened bloodbag and took a generous sip.

Like never ever, life came back, straight to Charlie's veins. She could feel how every bit of her body softens, changing into her own life energy.

But it had to stop. She forced herself to rip herself from the bag.

She critically looked at how much she drank. Shit. Almost half of it.

Alright, now was time for the show. She closed the bag carefully, then tossed it on the ground. A very precise spell cut the bag on the bottom, so the blood started pooling around. Charlie congratulated herself not giving into showing fangs or those funny vampire veins.

'What happened?' Bonnie asked, walking in.

'Bag slipped from my hand, I guess there'll be no use of it. Clumsy as usual.' Charlie gasped, handing over the bloodbags she was carrying into Bonnie's outstretched bag. 'Please don't slip on it, ok?'

They walked out and drove to the mart. Charlie smiled at the fresh, cool night air.

'You feel better now?' Bonnie smiled.

'Yeah, I guess I'm recovering. I mean, I ate the whole plate of sandwiches... And the air... It's not often when we go out at night. Pity. How are you feeling, having your magic back, Bon Bon?'

'It's... Exhilarating... I feel complete.' Bonnie smiled with pure joy.

'You finally smile like you should have from the very start...' Charlie mused, genuinely happy for Bon.

When the girls came back to the house, Kai was already asleep.