Blood and Honey (Vampire Diaries FanFic)

24- Masquerade Murder

Stefan's P.O.V.

I stare down at the body, sighing, and shaking my head. "So, what now?" I ask, looking to Damon. "We get rid of the body. Then tomorrow, we head to the Masquerade Ball, to kill the she-wolf, and Katherine." Damon says with a smirk. "What makes you think Rae'll be there? She knows you killed Mason now, something tells me she won't be in much of a partying mood." I say. Damon chuckles. "Be that as it may, there's absolutely no way she won't be at the party." He says confidently. "Oh? What makes you so sure?" I ask. "Simple. Baby Lockwood will be there. Her and Mason were always following him around, trying to prevent him from becoming one of them accidentally. Sure, I killed her uncle, but she'll still want to protect her brother. Plus, Katherine wants the stone, which means she'll be there too. So, I'll kill them both tomorrow night." He says. "Go ahead and kill Rae. But, you're not going to kill Katherine.." I say. "Watch me." Damon says, daring me to stop him. I shake my head. "No, Damon. You're not going to kill her...because I'm going to." I say, earning a proud smirk from him. "Alright then, fine. You can get Katherine, I'll get the she-wolf. In a way, everybody wins." He says. Nodding, I speak. "If tomorrow's going to go our way, we need to grab Katherine. She's the biggest threat, we should take care of her first. We can deal with Rae after." I say. Damon nods in agreement. With this, we start planning.

The next night..

As I look at a picture of Mason, Tyler, and Myself, my bedroom door opens, revealing mom. "What are you doing in here? You should be getting dressed! The ball is starting soon!" Mom says, making me sigh. "Sorry, mom...but I don't feel like partying right now.." I say, narrowing my eyes in sadness. "Nonsense! You promised me you'd go! Your brother's already dressed and ready to go!" She says. "Come on! Get up this instant, I promised Damon Salvatore we'd meet him there!" She says. Hearing this, my eyes widen immediately, and I quickly look to her. "Damon Salvatore is going?" I ask, just to be sure. "Of course he's going. Both he and his brother. It's a founding family party afterall." She says. If both Salvatores are going to be there, then.. I glance towards Tyler's room in worry. I can't let them hurt Tyler.. Knowing what I had to do, I sigh, place the picture down, and hurry to my closet. Knowing Katherine, I'm sure she'll be there too...especially if she wants that Moonstone.. "Give me a few minutes to get ready. I'll be down shortly." I say. Hearing this, mom squeals in delight, clapping her hands. "Don't be long, we'll be waiting downstairs!" She says, before hurrying out of the room. Sighing, I get to work.

A half an hour later..

I make my way through the many crowds of people at the party, as I keep constant watch over Tyler. He may hate me right now, but I refuse to let him out of my sight. Since breaking the curse is impossible now, I'll have to make sure he never triggers it...for the rest of his life.. As I follow him, Tyler sighs, and turns towards me with a glare. "Leave me alone." He says. I sigh and shake my head. "You know I can't do that." I say. He scoffs. "I wasn't giving you a choice." Is all he says, before quickly fleeing deeper into the crowd. My eyes widen and I take a few steps forward. "Tyler, wait..!" I call out. Soon, I lose sight of him in the dense crowd. I sigh and shake my head. "Dammit.." I say to myself, before hurrying into the crowd, to search for him again.

A couple hours later..

As I continue to search for Tyler, I see a portable medical transport table, with a body bag being zipped up atop it. Fear immediately grips my chest, as I see Tyler, watching the table get wheeled away. My eyes widen. No...don't tell me..! I hurry over to him. "Tyler..!" I yell, catching his attention. "Oh, great. Just what I need right now.." he says, standing, and walking away. Seeing this, I sigh, and chase after him. Once we're far enough away from everyone, I grab ahold of his wrist, only for him to get a surge of strength, snatching his wrist away from me violently. "Will you stop already?! It's done! You failed! It's over for me!" He snaps, before shoving me away. My eyes widen at his sudden strength. Right before his words register in my mind. Wait...that girl...did he..! Needing answers, I growl in annoyance, and grab him again. "No, you stop!" I say, pinning him to a wall with a slam.

"Tell me what happened! Why was there a body bag? What do you mean its over?" I snap at him, demanding answers. "I KILLED SOMEONE..!" He snaps back. Hearing this, my eyes widen in fear. What..? "That's not funny, Tyler...quit joking around.." I say. He scoffs. "Why the hell would I joke about this, huh?!" He snaps again. Hearing this, reality comes crashing down around me, and I repeatedly shake my head, releasing him, and staggering back a few steps. "That...that wasn't a joke..? But...no, no! You can't..! The Moonstone...I-I don't have the Moonstone..! If you killed someone...I-I can't stop you from turning..!" I say, gripping onto his suit desperately, as tears fill my eyes. "Do you...know what that means?! It means...you'll be like me..!" I say, shaking my head repeatedly. "No, no! You can't, Tyler! I-I promised him...I promised Mason I'd protect you..! H-He made me promise...to protect you..! It's only been a day..! How...how could I have failed him...in one day..?!" I say, releasing his suit, to cover both sides of my head, as I continue to shake my head in denial, while tears streamed down my cheeks. "Well, it happened! I killed that girl, and now I'm stuck with this goddamn curse! All because you weren't there to stop me!" He snaps. I widen my eyes, snapping out of it immediately, and look at him. "How could I be?! You ran away from me, dammit!" I say, snapping back at him.

Hearing these words, he seems to snap out of it as well, as he realizes it to. "You're right...oh my God, you're right.." he says, trailing off, and slamming his fists against the wall next to him. "God dammit! What the hell was wrong with me?! I'm such an idiot!!" He asks, snapping at himself, before he paces back and forth before me. He places his hands to both sides of his head as well, continuing to pace. Seeing this, I sigh, and shake my head. Regardless of who's to blame...one thing is clear.. "Tyler." I say. He doesn't answer, continuing to pace. I walk to him, grabbing his shoulders. "Tyler...TYLER..! Look at me dammit!" I snap at him, catching his attention. "You need to Calm. Down." I say. "Bu--" I cut him off. "Just listen to me for once!" I say. Hearing this, he sighs, and nods. "Okay.." he says. Sighing in relief, I speak. "I know you are scared right now. I know, and I am too. But, freaking out about it...won't change the fact, that it did happen. You...are a Werewolf now, there's no changing that. Which means...you are going to turn. Now, I need you to listen to me from now on. No more running away from me. Alright..?" I ask him. He's silent for a few moments, before sighing, and nodding his head. "Okay.." he says quietly.