Prophecy

Picking Up The Pieces

Chapter Seven

The sun is beginning to rise by the time I make it back home. I stand at the edge of the driveway, staring at the house. It looks so peaceful, so ordinary. But I'm not the same person who left it last night. I never will be again.

I walk inside, closing the door as quietly as I can. It's early enough that Elena and Jenna should still be asleep. I just need to make it to my room without waking anyone. But as soon as I step into the hallway, the scent hits me. It's warm, intoxicating, and it wraps around me like a vice. I can hear their heartbeats, steady and rhythmic, calling to me like a siren song.

No. I can't do this.

I turn and bolt out the door, my vision blurring as I race through the yard and back into the woods. I don't know where I'm going; I just need to get away. I can feel the hunger gnawing at me, clawing from the inside out, and I know that if I stay, I won't be able to control myself.

Elena once mentioned that Stefan and Damon live on the edge of town, in a huge boarding house tucked away in the trees. I don't have a plan, but I can't think of anywhere else to go. I force my feet to carry me in that direction, my only thought to put as much distance between me and the house as possible.

After what feels like an eternity, I see it—a sprawling old mansion, its dark windows looming like empty eyes. I hesitate at the edge of the property, a part of me wondering if this is a mistake. But I have nowhere else to turn. I step onto the porch and push the heavy door open, slipping inside.

The house is quiet, almost eerily so. I call out, my voice barely above a whisper. "Hello? Damon?"

There's no answer, but as I walk deeper into the house, I sense that I'm not alone. I turn a corner and find myself face to face with Stefan. He's watching me, his expression guarded, and the moment our eyes meet, I feel a flood of relief.

"Stefan," I gasp, my voice breaking. "Thank God. I didn't know where else to go."

He takes a step closer, concern etched on his face. "Blaire, what happened? Are you okay?"

I shake my head, tears welling up as the weight of it all crashes down on me. "No. I'm not okay. Damon... he did something to me, Stefan. He tricked me into drinking from this flask, and then—" My voice cracks, and I bury my face in my hands, the sobs breaking free. "I can't go home. I wanted to... I almost... I can't control it. I'm scared."

Stefan's expression darkens, and I see the flash of anger in his eyes. "Damon did this to you?" He lets out a slow, steadying breath, his jaw clenched. "I can't believe him. Turning you, knowing what this life is like... he had no right."

I shake my head, trying to hold back the tears. "Turning me into what?!" I cry hysterically. "I don't know what to do. I can't be around my family like this. I almost hurt them."

Stefan's gaze softens, and he steps closer, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "I need you to try and calm down. You don't have to go through this alone, Blaire. Come on, let's get you settled."

He leads me down a hallway to a guest room, opening the door and gesturing for me to enter. The room is simple but warm, with soft lighting and a bed covered in a thick, comforting blanket. "You can stay here for as long as you need. There's a bathroom through that door. Take a shower, try to relax. I'll be back."

I nod, managing a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Stefan. I didn't know where else to go."

He gives me a gentle smile in return. "You're safe here. Take all the time you need."

Knowing that I'm not alone in this, that Stefan is a vampire too, brings a strange sense of calm. I can't explain how I know, but it's obvious, right? He's been around humans without hurting them. That realization steadies me, and the hot water from the shower does the rest.