On My Own (TVD Series)

Morgue-Like

They say once you have mastered being alone, you are ready for the company of others. That doesn't make it easy, though. I guess the good news is that in time, after many unpleasant days, you are okay. Then you find joy again, or maybe it finds you. After that, your journey can change, and you can take on new and exciting adventures, but this wasn't one of them, at least not yet.

It had been a week since I last spoke to Enzo, and we had tried to keep our communication to a minimum for fear that Nora or Lillian would find out. Even with magic on my side, I couldn't risk it. Bringing him home was my priority more than getting my revenge for Lilian, but to do that, I needed my plan to work. So, I told Damon the truth about Oscar. Kai had summed up most details on how we got him out of the state without him knowing, while I drafted a plan to use his glamoured clone.

And now, as we sit in the kitchen surrounded by dozens of jars full of dried-up herbs, half-melted candles, and a stack of grimoires. Damon rested against the stove while Kai and I stood on either side of the island counter. Hearing the soft crackling from the fireplace in the living room, I could also smell the cologne on Oscar's body, roaming from the couch. Damon stared off onto the island counter, brows furrowed and lips tightly sealed, a resemblance uncanny to the old cranky man from The Christmas Carol.

"Are you going to say something?" I mumbled.

"...if I say something, you're going to be angry...so, I'm going to stay silent."

"It'll work, Damon..." Kai added.

"You want to use the stone to animate Oscar's body...a stone you don't even know how to control. How is that a smart idea?"

"First of all, using the stone wasn't part of it," I added quietly, catching a glare from Damon.

"Yeah, right...you two have been two peas in a pod since Jo's wedding, this is both of your plans."

"Can you just listen, for once?" Kai blurted out.

Standing with our backs against the stove and countertop behind me, I subtly glanced at Damon as his eyes peered over to me.

"If we figure out how to use the stone before Lillian realizes hers is fake, we'll be one step ahead. So, why not use it on something that doesn't matter to us? Who cares what person or thing decides to jump into the body? That's Lilian's problem. Damon gets back Elena, and we're one step closer to killing Lillian." Kai sighed, resting against the counter as my eyes shot up at him.

"...to what?" Damon gasped.

"No, I just meant like-, not kill her because she's a vampire-"

"Save your breath, Kai. He would've found out sooner or later."

I straightened slowly, waltzing over to the sliding doors as I turned to look at Damon.

"Please tell me it's a joke, Laurie. You're not thinking of taking her on by yourself-"

"Don't be ridiculous...I know my odds if I do." I sighed.

"This is why you came back? For your revenge?"

"I came back because Stefan fucked up...because he is such a Momma's boy that he can't see past the shitty person she's always been. I was doing something good for the people in New Orleans...something worth staying for until I got your call. Had Stefan controlled them from the start, we wouldn't be here...you said it yourself, Damon. He's weak around her...I can't deal with weak people anymore. And neither can you...not with Elena."

"...She'll figure out who we are, Damon, and no one...not even you, Enzo, or even Stefan would be able to stop what they do to us," Kai added.

"Us? You still have a chance to run away. Why don't you take it?"