The Eternal Curse (TVD FanFic)

Chapter Five: A Night to Remember

I woke up to the soft light filtering through my window, casting delicate patterns on the wall. My body felt heavy, not from sleep but from the hunger that gnawed at me. It was the same ache I felt every morning, the kind that reminded me of who—what—I was. I didn't hesitate. My hand reached for the bloodbag in the fridge, and within seconds, I was drinking down the familiar, metallic liquid. It didn't satisfy completely, but it dulled the hunger just enough to get me moving.

I wasn't going to let hunger dictate my day. It was a Sunday, and I had plans. Well, sort of.

I quickly dressed in a comfortable sweater and jeans, feeling the cool autumn air creep through my window as I stepped outside. The leaves had started to turn, the rich reds, oranges, and golds of fall painting Mystic Falls in vibrant hues. Despite being a vampire, I couldn't resist the pull of the season. I could live without the crisp air, the cold breeze, and the pumpkin spice lattes, but for some reason, I didn't mind indulging every once in a while. Even vampires needed their comfort.

I didn't have a coffee maker yet—one of the few things I still needed to make this place feel more like home—so I made my way to the local coffee shop. The bell chimed as I entered, and the scent of coffee hit me instantly. I glanced around, not sure what I was expecting, but there was a strange comfort in the ordinary bustle of the place. Humans talking, typing on their laptops, the soft whir of the espresso machine—nothing seemed out of place.

I walked up to the counter, my eyes scanning the menu as I tried to decide. Pumpkin spice latte seemed like the obvious choice. It was fall, after all. I ordered it, trying to push back the instinctual thoughts that sometimes surged within me when I was near blood. Just a little more time before I'd need to feed again.

As I waited for my drink, I spotted a familiar face. Stefan sat in the corner, his gaze focused on his coffee. His dark hair was tousled, his jawline sharp, and for a brief moment, I found myself just staring at him. There was something magnetic about him, something that made it hard to look away.

He looked up and caught my eye, offering me a small, polite smile. "Scarlett," he greeted.

"Stefan," I replied, making my way over to his table. There was no reason to ignore him, not when we'd shared the same space at the Mystic Grill just yesterday. He was... different from Damon. Softer, more reserved.

I stood by his table, trying to make casual conversation. "I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Small town," he said, his lips curving into a slight smile. "I guess we're bound to cross paths eventually."

I leaned against the back of the chair opposite him, casually sipping my latte. The warmth of the drink felt good, comforting. "I'm surprised to see you here so early."

"I'm not much of a sleeper," he replied with a shrug, his eyes steady as he watched me.

We exchanged a few more words, small talk, nothing too personal. The chemistry between us was subtle—there was an underlying current in the air, something I couldn't put my finger on. It felt like we were both just skirting around the real conversation, keeping it light and easy. But for a moment, there was something there, something unspoken. Something that made me wonder if Stefan felt the pull, too.

After a few minutes, I made an excuse to leave. I didn't want to linger too long, especially not when there were still so many things I needed to figure out. "Well, it was nice running into you."

He gave a soft nod. "Take care, Scarlett."

As I left the coffee shop, I couldn't help but think about our brief interaction. The questions about Mystic Falls, the Salvatores, and my own purpose here swirled in my mind like a storm. Was I getting closer to the truth, or was I just digging myself deeper into something I wasn't prepared for?