The Good Daughter

Sixteen

"What can I get you?" A young blonde bartender set a tub full of dishes just behind the counter. It was a college bar. Dimly lit and very sticky.

"Something fruity."

"ID." She held her hand out.

Rather rude.

"I'm old enough, honey. Promise."

She rolled her eyes. "Do I have to ban you?"

"I'm not staying. Just wanted to make your acquaintance. Word on the street is you are dating that Lockwood boy."

"Who are you?"

"Unimportant. Know that if you hurt him, I'll ensure you die an excruciating death. His happiness is important to me. Understand?"

"What the hell-"

"Do you understand?"

She gave me a hesitant nod.

"Good. Now. I'd actually like something stronger. Whiskey. Neat." I dropped some cash on the wooden bar top. Terrible choice. "Darling, I wouldn't. You can relax that flexed little witchy hand or I'll rip it off."

The girl poured me my drink and handed it over. "Vampire?"

"Congratulations. You clocked me." I tipped it in her direction. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't mention this... interaction to Tyler. It's better for him not to know. He needs to move on. If my research on you is correct, and it always is, you would be good for him."

"I'm not his girlfriend."

"Right, but you are his friend, and he's interested in you. I've been watching. He follows you around with those big brown eyes and tries to woo you."

Something in the cup burned on the way down.

Liv watched me closely.

I downed the entire glass, relishing in her shock and horror. "Sweetheart, you're hardly the first to ever give me vervain, you won't be the last."

"Who are you?!" She demanded.

"So bold. So stupidly brave. I suppose Tyler has a type... Anyway, if anyone comes looking for me, I was never here, and if you blab, I'll know and I'll slaughter both you and everyone you have ever met, m'kay?"

Her heart was racing in her chest.

Good.

Fear was good, it held tongues.

I heard a few familiar voices coming closer to the bar, but the main one, the only one, I could focus on was Tyler.

Idiots.

They were supposed to keep him occupied! I used my speed and disappeared before he was too close.

Parker was waiting for me outside, not far away. "I assume that went well."

"It did."

"Right, because threatening your ex's new girlfriend always does."

"I don't need your sass." I wished I could see him. Go beyond just hearing his heart beating. But I knew he wouldn't let go. Especially since he spent so long trying to convince everyone to let me out. "How is the coven holding up?"

"There's been someone banging on their shields, but with the timely arrival of the secondary coven, it'll hold up. Promise."

"It better. Or it'll be your head."

Parker let out a dramatic groan. "I've tried for decades to get rid of you and all I've gotten is snarky threats. If you were going to do something, you would've."

"And money."

His head dipped.

"And an anti aging spell."

"Okay, okay. So where to? Or are we going to continue to hide in the most obvious place while your psychotic, murderous family comes looking?"

"It's not the first place they'd go. We do have time."

Parker stepped in front of me. "Did you forget we are running from the Originals?!"

"Didn't actually. Though I'm rather experienced in this particular arena. Elijah only found me by accident last time, it won't be happening again."

Really, it had been chance.

Wrong place, wrong time. It felt so good, to be back on the road, even if I feared the consequences.

Elijah wouldn't be pleased. Not at all.

They had Hope now. They could fucking focus on her.

"Morgan?" Elena Gilbert. "Morgan?! What the hell!"

I groaned. Fuck my life. "Doppelbitch. Long time no see." I shoved his shoulder. "Why didn't you warn me she was alive?!"

"I didn't think you'd care?!"

She crossed her arms. "Stefan's not here."

I looked at Parker, who immediately threw up his hands in defense.

"I didn't know!"

"You didn't think that maybe I would want to know that my brother were alive?!"

Parker began backing up. "It was an oversight, I swear to god! I'll make it up to you, I-I'll find him."

"Get out of my sight."

Parker ran.

Stefan was alive. He was alive!

"You'd better tell me everything you fucking know, Gilbert."