Brave (Damon Salvatore x OC)

Prepared*

All the students of Mystic Falls High School are gathered in the gym. For a memorial service for
Carol Lockwood.

Ember and Elena had arrived home to complete chaos. Klaus had discovered Tyler's plans to eliminate him and had slaughtered the unsired hybrids and then murdered his mother. Carol had been found drowned in the fountain in town square, her death ruled accidental.

The students are standing and lighting candles in memorial as Sheriff Forbes speaks. "Carol Lockwood always said that togetherness in times of tragedy leads to healing, that one community is stronger than a thousand of its members. But how does a community stay strong after losing its leader? And Carol was so much more than a leader; she was an open-minded friend and a concerned mother, taken from us too soon by a terrible accident."

"Accident, my ass." Ember mutters to herself. She is standing in a corner, unable to bring herself to join the crush of people. It means she has a perfect view of Tyler as he stands up and storms out of the gym

Elena is sitting with Caroline and glances towards the door and seems confused for a moment. Ember looks in that direction and doesn't spot anything but a minute later Elena heads towards the exit. Ember grabs her phone a sends her a text.

Em - Everything ok?

El - Yeah, just thought I saw something

Em - Need backup?

El - No, I'll keep u updated if I do

Em - Kk, luv u

El - U2

Elena is walking down the hallway and stops when she hears someone crying, she turns around the corner and finds April standing by the lockers. "April, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm fine." She insists.

"But you're crying?" Elena asks for clarification.

"It's just the whole mayor thing, you know. It's bringing stuff up about my dad." April admits and Elena nods. "And I know you're a vampire."

"Wait, what?" Elena stammers in shock just as Rebekah comes out of nowhere and snaps Elena's neck.

"Was that necessary?" April asks.

"No, but it was fun." Rebekah grins.

In the gym the service is over and Caroline is walking through the crowd talking on her phone with Stefan. "Hey, you just missed the mandatory school assembly."

"Well, that's because I'm at a mandatory all-day drinking party." He replies as the waitress at the grill brings him another drink,

"Seriously? You decided to go on a ripper bender now?" Caroline demands. "Tyler is already spiraling, and he gets top priority."

"His mother just died. What do you expect?" Stefan points out.

"I'm his girlfriend. I expect him to talk to me. Instead, he's all angry, and it doesn't help that everyone keeps referring to his mother's death as an accident, which is just a really polite way of saying she was drunk." Caroline remarks.

"You think it was Klaus?" He asks.

"Hmm, I don't think she drowned in her martini glass. Em and Elena agree with me. Just, get it together. I can't do this alone." Caroline hangs up.

...........................

Elena revives leaning against a bookshelf in the library. She looks around confused and gets up as April walks in. "What the hell is going on?"

"The assembly is over. The school will be empty soon...How many times did you compel me?" She asks and Elena looks at her. "Don't... don't lie. Rebekah says you lie."