The road to recovery

Chapter 8

Damon watches as Alaric enters the house.

"Thanks for coming, Ric. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, bourbon? Bourbon in your coffee?" Damon offers.

"Elena mentioned you needed my help." Alaric says trying to get to the point.

"Yeah, we were hoping you could shed some light on the Lockwood family." Stefan says.

"Now, why would I know anything about the Lockwood's?" Alaric asks.

"Well, you wouldn't. but your dead, not-dead vampire wife might." Damon explains.

"Isobel's research from when you guys were a Duke together." Elena says.

"You said that she spent years researching this town." Stefan points out.

"Isobel's research here in Mystic Falls rooted in folklores and legends but at the time I thought much of which was fiction." Alaric explains.

"Like that amazing vampire story." Damon says.

"Aside from vampires, what else?" Elena asks.

"The lycanthrope." Alaric answers.

"Wait, like werewolves?" Elena asks.

"No way, impossible, way to Lon Chaney." Damon immediately denies.

"Is it?" Stefan questions.

"I've been on this planet one hundred and sixty some odd years, never came across one. If werewolves exist, where the hell are they?" Damon asks the room.

"Why do you suspect the Lockwood's?" Alaric asks.

"Because vervain didn't affect the mayor at Founders' Day, but the Gilbert device did and it affected his son Tyler and Tyler's cousin, Stiles." Damon explains.

"And at the school carnival his uncle Mason exhibited inhuman behaviour when he fought with one of the carnival's workers." Stefan continues.

"And did you see that Stiles boy's arms, the number of scars he had on them is not natural." Damon jokes.

"Don't laugh at someone's mental disorder Damon." Elena says.

"He's not. They weren't cut marks Elena it looks like he has been tortured." Stefan explains. "Anyway, their strength suggests it's some sort of supernatural entity."

"We were hoping that Isobel's research could help us figure out what it is." Elena tells Alaric.

"Well, all her things are still at Duke. I mean her office is still there. She's technically still missing." Alaric informs them.

"So, we can get access to it?" Damon asks. "Ric, we need to know what we are dealing with. If this wolfman thing is true, I've seen enough movies to know it's not good. It means Mason Lockwood is a real-life Lon Chaney and that little Tyler punk and Stiles kid may just very well be Lon Chaney junior, which means Bella Lugosi, meaning me, is totally screwed.

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"Hey dude where have you been? You weren't around for our run." Stiles says when he sees Tyler.

"Sorry, but listen I followed Mason this morning." Tyler informs.

"I know you think the guy is keeping something from you Tyler, but don't you think stalking is a bit much?" Stiles asks.

"He is keeping something from me Stiles and I want to know what. Now let me speak." Stiles just mimes zipping his lips shut. "I followed him to the old Lockwood property and down into this cellar. It had these scratches all around the wall and chains everywhere."