|𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒|
Song : I love you by Billie Eilish
Damon told me everything.
He and Kaiden hadn't just randomly decided to "borrow" Elena. They'd found her, unconscious, pulled from a wrecked car. And standing nearby had been a man — not just any man, but one they were both certain was a vampire. A stranger. His face cloaked in shadow, but the aura unmistakable. Which meant only one thing.
Another vampire was in town.
And we had no idea who he was.
Or what he wanted.
There was a familiar coil of dread tightening in my gut — one I hadn't felt this strong since 1864. That gut-deep knowledge that something had shifted, and we didn't yet know the cost.
But I'd learned long ago that anxiety without action was useless. So instead of sitting around waiting for disaster to strike, I decided to do something. Something small, but necessary. Protective. I began crafting vervain bracelets — delicate and subtle enough to be worn daily without suspicion, but strong enough to buy someone precious seconds if they ever needed it.
Stefan helped me with the charms, the balance of aesthetics and purpose. And of course, I made one for Caroline.
I couldn't help myself — hers was the prettiest.
White and pink pearls, glinting in the light like something you'd find in a boutique window. She wouldn't wear it otherwise. She loved beautiful things, and honestly, I wanted her to want to wear it.
I called her up and told her I'd be stopping by her school. She squealed so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear, which — as always — made me smile despite myself. She told me when her lunch break was and promised to be there waiting.
And she was.
Twelve o'clock sharp, I pulled into the school's lot and spotted her immediately — standing at the other end, arms waving like I was returning from war instead of just driving across town. There was something so simple and genuine about Caroline's happiness. She made feeling wanted feel easy.
I lifted my hand in a subtle wave and walked over to meet her halfway. As soon as we reached each other, she hooked her arm through mine and tugged me toward the field like we'd done this every day of our lives.
"Finally come to your senses about being friends?" she teased as we sat across from each other on a bench nestled in the grass, the spring breeze toying with her curls.
I rolled my eyes and reached into my bag, fishing out a small pouch I'd packed earlier. "I was bored, and I knew you wouldn't bail on me, so I came. I also went shopping before — that's the explanation for the sweets and for this—"
From my pocket, I pulled out two bracelets. One of them glistened with white and pink pearls, the other black and white. They lay in my palm like fragile truths.
Caroline gave me a confused look as she tore into the bag of sweets I knew were her favorite. Slowly, she popped one into her mouth and began to chew, her eyes scanning the bracelets like they were ancient relics that might bite back.
"I found them in one of the shops downtown," I said casually, letting the lie roll off my tongue as easily as I breathed. "I thought you'd like the pink one — because you're the pink Care Bear — and then I saw the matching black one which I thought was nice, so I brought them."
None of that was true. I'd spent hours making them myself. Threading the vervain beads in between the pearls, charming them to hold up against compulsion, pain, whatever might come. I made them with intention. With care.
