ꜱᴀᴠɪᴏʀ ᴷˡᵃᵘˢ ᴹⁱᵏᵃᵉˡˢᵒⁿ

ɪɪɪ.

In the past twenty-four hours, Isabella felt overwhelmed by everything that had happened. Caroline confessed that Katherine had been threatening Matt to get her to spy on Stefan and Elena. With Liz now aware that Caroline was a vampire, they decided their only option was to compel her once the vervain was out of her system. As a result, Liz found herself in the basement cellar, where there wasn't a trace of vervain in sight.

"Morning, Care," Isabella called out as she stepped out of her room and saw the blonde vampire seated on the couch. "How's your mom?"

"I don't know. She just sits there," Caroline shrugged. Liz was clearly struggling to accept what her daughter had become, even though the Caroline she knew was still very much alive. "She won't even talk to me."

"I know this isn't easy to hear, but think about it this way. Your mom just found out that her daughter is technically gone, and she had no idea. On top of that, she's learned you're still alive but need to drink blood to survive." Isabella tilted her head gently toward the blonde vampire. "She's always believed vampires are dangerous, so it'll take her some time to adjust."

"Sometimes I just wish there was a way to make her understand," Caroline sighed heavily. "It's so hard knowing she sees me this way."

"Yeah, but deep down, you'd know it wasn't real. She has to come around on her own, Caroline." Isabella said gently, watching Caroline nod. "By the way, where is everyone?"

"Stefan's over at the Lockwoods'. Damon, well, who knows where he's off to," Caroline replied vaguely, furrowing her brows in thought. "God knows how you deal with these two."

"What'd you mean?" Isabella raised an eyebrow with confusion spread across her face.

"You just— you make dealing with all of this so easy. You have no idea how much I envy that," Caroline nervously chuckled. "You, out of everyone, managed to accept Damon and Stefan despite all they've done. Meanwhile, I can't even get my own mother to accept me."

"I get why you feel that way," Isabella replied softly. "But I'm not as innocent as you think. I've done my share of things I'm not proud of, and hurt people too. Maybe not in the same way as Damon and Stefan, but I've made my own mistakes. And as for your mother maybe if you talk to her, let her see that despite everything, you're still the same person inside, she might come around. It won't be easy, but sometimes just being honest can make a difference."

"Okay." Caroline lifted herself to her feet, took a deep breath, and smiled. "Wish me luck."

"Good luck," Isabella called out to her friend as Caroline wandered towards the staircase leading to the basement. Just five seconds later, the front door swung open, revealing Damon with an unconscious Mason Lockwood slung over his shoulder, with Bonnie at his side. "What the—"

"Don't ask, Bells," Bonnie grumbled, rolling her eyes as she trailed Damon into the library. Damon carefully placed Mason in a chair positioned strategically in the center of the room, as if he had already planned the next move. "Here's his bag, as requested," Bonnie announced, dropping a large duffle bag onto the chair beside them.