Fall

Chapter 8: Truth Hurts

I sit in my chair by Ms. Skuld in the alcove, as she sips her tea and looks over at me with a discerning eye. "You've not touched your tea, my dear." She leans back, those icy eyes of hers almost looking right into my soul. 

"I'm sorry, a lot on my mind." I respond with a wince, bringing the teacup to my lips and sipping the peppermint tea. It never fails to soothe me, which I suppose is why I avoided drinking it. I don't want to be soothed. I enjoy the agitation I can get in, it allows me to think better than if I were to have a clear head. Ms. Skuld raises a perfect eyebrow, and I set the cup down with a sigh. "After Stefan took me to the hospital, he's been really kind and giving me a lot of attention. And now I'm getting a small crush on him. But he's dating Elena, and I literally just broke up with Josh-" 

Ms. Skuld interrupts me in the middle of my explanation, setting her teacup down with a loud clank. "Did you say Stefan? As in Salvatore?" The seriousness returns to her face, the very same one that had been there the day she asked me to train with her. Hesitantly, I nod in response. She tsks and brings a hand to her head, as if a headache is forming there. "Kara, I need to tell you something. It will sound ludicrous, but you need to believe me. Do you trust me?"

She puts her hand over mine, and I have no doubt in my mind when I nod my head. Her icy eyes brighten a bit at that, but not by much. "Good. You need to stay away from Stefan Salvatore. His brother too, Damon. They will be the death of you and all that you love." Her tone is deadly serious. 

I blink at her, trying to understand what she's saying. I knew there was something sketchy about the two of them, but the death of me? The death of all that I love? That feels a bit extreme. I tilt my head to the side and try my best to see what she sees in them. "I grant you that they raise some flags, but the death of me? What are you talking about?" I question. 

She sighs and pushes her teacup away from her, standing up from our little table. Freya stirs at our feet at the motion. "This is going to sound insane, Kara. I know. But they're vampires." 

My eyebrows raise up and my eyes widen at what she just said. Vampires? Is this some sort of joke? I laugh a bit, waiting for her to join in. My stomach sinks a bit when she doesn't. Is she feeling alright today? "Vampires? Are you kidding me?" I stand up now too, my tea getting cold as it sits in my teacup. I don't care about it too much, instead I'm wondering if I'm going to have to get Ms. Skuld some psychiatric help. 

"I know how unlikely this seems, Kara." As Ms. Skuld talks, I scoff, pacing around the carpeted floor. "But look at the records. In their family, there is always a Stefan and Damon Salvatore. They are always brothers, always Damon older than Stefan. When they got here, mysterious animal attacks started. Why do you think I started training you to fight?" 

At her words, I stop pacing and round on her. "So some naming patterns and random animal attacks are your proof? That's all you need to start screaming vampire? Are you serious right now?" If this is a joke, it's getting old quickly. I don't get this at all. I don't understand this conversation. I push my hair out of my face in frustration, looking down at the watch on my hand. "I need to go, I need to get ready for the game tonight." I pick up my bag and sling it over my shoulder, storming out of the store. What the hell kind of joke is that? 

"Kara!" She calls after me, but I don't turn around. 

I just call back "I'll talk to you tomorrow." And then I get in my car and drive home, ready to put whatever that was behind me. 

♢ — ♢— ♢ — ♢ — ♢ — ♢

I stand next to Elena at the bonfire pregame for the big football game. I legitimately have zero interest in this sport, but Elena begged me to go with her since she quit cheerleading. And here I am. All of us are around the fire, signs saying Go Team posted to the outside walls of the gym. The marching band is here, playing a tune as everyone screams and shouts. Stefan and the rest of the football team are across from us, in uniform and looking like they're raring to go. Atop the bonfire is an effigy of the rival team, the Lions. It's a bit dramatic for me, but whatever.