Family Above All

35. Hanging from the Rafters

Pairing: Pearl/Annabelle (F/f) slipper

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Lockwood Mansion

Morning

Matt finally found his phone on the floor of the living room, under a pizza box.

"Shit, five voicemails?" Matt said. Tyler was getting his car keys.

"Hurry up, fuckface, we're going to be late," Tyler chided, putting on his shoes. Even though, Carol Lockwood wasn't here, Tyler still tried to put his shoes in the closet. She didn't want the floor scuffed up, or maybe it was germs. Tyler really wasn't sure, but his thoughts were interrupted by Matt yelling.

"Vicki is missing," Matt shouted. "She busted out of the hospital last night!"
"What?" Tyler asked in shock. "I thought you said she was locked up in the mental ward?"
"I did. I can't believe she would escape. Never mind, this is Vic, she would totally do this," Matt said. "You go, I have to call the hospital."
"Fuck that," Tyler said. "We'll drive over there."

"But you'll be late," Matt replied.

"I don't care. This is your sister, man," Tyler said. He contemplated waking up Mason, but figured he would tell him later. "Let's go."

Matt shrugged and grabbed his phone and followed Tyler out the grand entrance of the mansion.

Salvatore Boarding House

Katherine had called the Sheriff and informed her of the body in the dumpster and the rogue vampire, Frederick, being on the loose.

"He's very dangerous," Katherine reported. "He should be detained or taken out. We wash our hands of him."
Liz Forbes said she would put her new deputy on it.

"Just be careful," Katherine warned. "Frederick has been in a cave for decades, he won't want to go back in a cage. Oh, and there is another victim. She may turn, she may not. There was no id on her."

"I understand. I'll check for any missing persons. She might have been a transient. We've done this sort of thing before," Liz said, thanking her for calling.

"I bet you have," Katherine muttered, after hanging up.

"Who was that?" Nadia said, coming in the kitchen.

"The Sheriff. Frederick is no longer our problem. Are the others secured?" Katherine asked.

"Yes, Pearl has them and the girls in cells in the basement. Mother, is it not odd that the Salvatores have that in their home?" Nadia inquired, pouring herself a cup of tea.

"Not really," Katherine answered, biting into a sweet roll. Now that Pearl could work some of the appliances, she was baking. Katherine always watched her figure, but Pearl was a fantastic cook.

"But why?" Nadia prodded. She took a roll from the pan.

"Um, Stefan is what we call a ripper," Katherine said, chewing. "You know, he goes into a frenzy when he has human blood and...takes off their heads."

Nadia choked on her roll, taking a sip of tea to wash it down.

"A ripper? I think I've heard of this, but I've never met one," Nadia said horrified. "What is the cure?"
"Oh, there is no cure," Katherine said lightly. "He just drinks animal blood. Horrible, isn't it?"

"Was he always like that?" Nadia wondered, reaching for a napkin to wipe the icing off her fingers.

"I suppose. I don't really know. I had to flee from here after he turned," Katherine admitted, licking icing off her manicured finger.