Little Lockwood

2.7: The Masquerade

"You know I got bit by a lot of snakes today." Linkin snarked as he walked into the the bed an breakfast.

"Did you even feel it?"

Linkin just followed her inside an up the stairs to her room. "The bottle stops emotions, no physical feelings."

"Not if you didn't cast the spell properly." She chimed before throwing the bags of expensive cloths onto her bed in the middle of the room.

"You're favourite Salvatore nearly died trying to get the moonstone. I'm surprised you aren't worried for him.

Katherine turned around to face him. Ling waves or hair dramtically landing over her shoulder as she gave him a sickeningly sweet smile. "But you jumped into the snake vervain waters to save him." She pointed out with a chuckle. "Tell me, did you bottle up love as well or is that bubbling feeling in your chest there when you see him?"

He rolled his eyes. "I figured you wouldn't be happy with me if I had let him die."

She gave a light hum. "I guess we'll never know." She shrugged. "But that's enough of that." Her hand reached up to the thin chain around her neck. It's long golden metal links rising up an out from under her top to reveal the dimly glowing vial of swirling clouds of colour. "Now I'll give you this if you give me the moon stone."

"I don't have it."

Katherine's eyes narrowed on him. "What do you mean you don't have it?" She questioned lowly.

Linkin let out a tiered breath. "As in Stefan has it an I don't because he took it off me." He explained.

"Well at least you have your sarcasm." Katherine huffed. "But that's the deal little Lockwood. You get me the moonstone and I give you back this. Plus extra."

A brow rose on the boys forehead.

Katherine grinned. "I thought that might garner your attention. You see, I have another witch who will be coming into town very soon who can help show you how to correct the spell."

"So than the vial won't keep taking all the emotions and feelings I have left and turn me into a robot." He chimmed with ever growing interest."

"Yes." She said befor pulling out a dress from one of the many bags. Deciding she didn't like it she huffed and threw it aside. "Now I want the stone by the end of the ball tomorrow night."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"You're smart. Figure out." She sighed.

Rolling his eyes he took that as there conversation over.

"If you fail me, just remeber I can smash this vial and everything you've bottled up will hit you all at once." She laughed to herself. "I bet that would be overwhelming. Even painful."

He threw a uncaring hand over his shoulder. "Yeah whatever."

...

By the time Linkin had made it back to the Salvatore boarding house he found it empty. With his ring still off he couldn't even sense the vampire brothers that normally roamed around. Not even the fientest hint of arguing about there tragic romances or how they hated eachother.

He found it oddly settling as he made his way up the stairs and to his room.

After showering off the day he looked at his steaming reflection in the mirror. Before when he would do this he would look at all the scars. The memories they each held, the pain and torture of the past. It used to make him cry, feel so sorry for himself that all he wanted to do was end it all.