The Third Salvatore (TVD Season 1)

Chapter 34

Flashback, Mystic Falls Woods 1864

The town is catching Vampires.

But the Salvatore brothers have a plan of their own.

"Circle around that way. I'll distract them. Go. Both of you!" Hardin whispers to his brothers. Damon nods and jogs off to the carriage containing the vampires.

"Get Katherine and remain hidden where we decided. I'll get Anna and we'll fly off this cursed fucking continent. Go, Stefan."

But Stefan stays where he is and stares at Hardin worried. "You go with Damon, I'll distract them. I'll get Anna safely back here. What if they find out about you-"

"Damn it, Stefan, there's no time to argue." Hardin snaps back.

"But-"

"Stefan?" Damon calls Stefan.

Stefan turns to look at him but turns back at Hardin.

"Save your girl, brother." Hardin winks and runs away leading the townspeople behind him.

-------

"You see this chaos here, son? They lived among us, those filthy-"

"Mr. Gilbert I need to find my friends, if you please-"

"Sure, son. We're proud to have you brothers around. Guiseppe always said-"

But Hardin didn't wait to hear what his father always said. He had grown up listening to every piece of shit that spewed out of his father's mouth.

He grabs his horse's reins tightly and stalks up to Pearl and Anna standing in the dark, farther away from all the pandemonium. The scared look on Anna's face almost made him fall to his knees.

"Mrs Zhu, you and your daughter need to leave this place. Now!"

Pearl looks up at him with distaste. "It's happening because of you and your brothers. Suddenly you want to save us? I'm not going with you anywhere Mr. Salvatore." She stood in front of her daughter as if protecting her from him. "And neither is my daughter."

Hardin clutched at his hair in frustration. "Don't be foolish, woman. Don't you see what's happening out there? They're killing Vampires, they're going to take their bodies and burn them alive."

Pearl's wall of will falters and she looks beyond Hardin to where people are shrieking. It's like the whole town is ablaze.

"You can stay here and die by all means but I'm taking Annabelle." Hardin glares at her and vamp-speeds to Anna, grabbing her hand.

"You-" Pearl looks at him in shock. "You turned him?" She looks at her daughter shocked out of her mind.

"Now quickly mount on his horse, both of you, come on-" Hardin practically yells.

"Pearl!"

They all turn to see Jonathan Gilbert standing a few paces away, looking at Pearl softly.

"You both ride away. I can't just gallop away, he's going to be suspicious." Pearl mutters under her breath and turns to walk toward Gilbert.

"No, Mother!" Anna cries silently.

"Hurry up, Anna," Hardin forces her to mount the horse.

"No!" Anna jerks away from him.

"Please, love, ride away and I promise you, I'll not let anything happen to your mother." Hardin pleads. Anna looks at him and nods.

"At the spot where I told you, alright? I love you, Bella." Hardin says while his whole body shakes feverishly. "There shall be no parting after this."