Bound in the Shadows / TVD N.M

🦋~° 4 °~🦋

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Liora

"Why are we heading to the Salvatore's again?"

"You do realize there's a witch out there trying to kill you, right?"

"Honestly, men never listen when I tell them anything."

"You know what? I'm going to Jeremy's! At least he talks to me when I'm speaking."

Is it wrong to be mad at Niklaus for not answering? I mean, sure, he physically can't hear me, but could he at least try?

Okay, fine—I'm being dramatic. I know. But conversations like this are all I have these days. Still, finding Jeremy is probably a good idea.

Yep, that's what I'm going to do. "Nik, you head home alone. I'll catch up with you at the Salvatores," I called after him. He just kept walking down the road, not hearing a word, while I stopped.

Where could Jeremy be? Probably at home, like any other normal teenager his age. Even if, let's be honest, he's far from normal.

On my way to find Jeremy, I strolled through the center of town. Not much excitement here. Just some dull boutiques, a grocery store, and a place called the Mystic Grill.

Great name... but boring.

Scanning the area, I spotted Jeremy outside the Grill, wiping down tables and chatting with an elderly couple. They looked really cute together. Sometimes I wish I had something like that—just a little normalcy.

"Can I get an iced latte with caramel on top?"

"Sorry, we don't sell..." Jeremy began, then looked up.

"Oh hey, Liora!" He ran a hand through his hair, smiling. "Yeah, even if we did sell that, I don't think you'd be able to drink it."

Obviously. I rolled my eyes, glancing around. The elderly couple at a nearby table was eyeing Jeremy with concern.

Right. I'm still a ghost, and he's the only one who can see me.

"I don't think we should be talking here unless you want to look like you're losing your mind in front of your customers," I said, nodding toward the couple.

Jeremy glanced at them, noticed their worried expressions, and quickly headed inside the Grill without a word.

Okay, rude. He could've at least told me to follow him. One more sentence to thin air wouldn't have made him look any crazier.

I followed him inside, only to see him intercepted by none other than Damon Salvatore. Ugh, I already can't stand this guy.

"So, Jer, Klaus is in town. You're not going to the Decade Dance tonight," Damon said, his smirk visible from across the room. Jeremy's mood visibly soured.

"You're not my father, or anything remotely relevant to me, Damon," Jeremy shot back, his voice dripping with defiance. "So, please excuse me."

Without waiting for a response, Jeremy brushed past Damon, heading straight to the employee bathroom and slamming the door behind him.

Should I follow him in? Or does he actually need to... you know?

Whatever. I phased through the door anyway and found Jeremy standing in front of the mirror. The bathroom was small, barely enough room for the two of us, if you could count me as taking up space.

"What are you doing here, Liora?" he asked, his voice a mix of irritation and curiosity.

"I'm bored," I replied, staring right at him. We stood there, locked in silence, just staring at each other.

Jeremy leans against the sink, sighing with a small smile on his face. "You can't just pop in like this, Liora. You know that, right?"

"Well, technically, I didn't pop in. I phased in—ghost perks, remember?" I smile back at him, still thrilled to finally have someone to talk to. As Jeremy rolls his eyes, I fight the urge to lean against the wall, knowing I'd just embarrass myself by falling straight through it.

"Yeah, great. Lucky me. The only person who can see you, and you just phase in whenever you feel like it."

I grin mischievously. "Come on, admit it. You've only seen me a couple of times, and you already enjoy my company."

Jeremy sighs, glancing around nervously. "I'm serious, Liora. People are already looking at me like I've lost it. I can't keep talking to thin air. You're not the first ghost I've seen, and all they ever brought was trouble."

Slightly offended, I lock eyes with him. "Excuse me? Thin air? I'm far better company than half the people you talk to, and you know it." My expression softens as I add, with a touch of guilt, "But... I can't deny that trouble seems to follow me. Or rather, I have to follow it. You'll probably hear about him soon enough. Let's just say he's not the kind to tell you much about me."

Jeremy rubs his face, taking a deep breath like he's about to ask something. Before he can speak, I quickly cut him off. "Don't. Don't ask. I don't want to ruin the start of our... friendship."

The young boy—Elena's brother—the one who will eventually lose his sister because of my hybrid's curse. He can't know anything about it. Not yet. Even if I'm not directly involved in our plans, I'm still stuck with Klaus, whether he knows it or not. We're doing everything together now, even if he can't see me.

Jeremy tries to speak again, but suddenly, a sharp pain slices through my head. I clutch my temples, trying to keep myself steady.

"Hey! Liora, are you okay? You look like you're in serious pain. Can ghosts even feel pain? What am I supposed to do?" He tries to steady me, but his hands pass right through me.

As the pain starts to fade slightly, I manage to look at Jeremy apologetically. "Sorry, I really have to go. I'll see you at the Decade Dance..." I barely finish my sentence before rushing out of the small restroom, leaving a very confused Jeremy staring at the spot where I just phased through the wall.

I need to find Niklaus—fast. Only he can stop this pain.