Same Old Love • Klaus Mikaelson • (NS Trilogy)

Chapter 6: Smells Like Stefan's Nonexistent Humanity & Gasoline

My alarm blares at 5:15 in the morning and I get up and put on my all black track suit. Today I'm suppose to be helping Alaric train Len. My sister wants to learn how to fight vampires since Stefan hurt her. I walk out of my room silent and Len joins me.

"Good morning," We greet Ric. He puts his hand up and go downstairs. We give each other a look. We venture off into the woods and Ric is telling us how to stake a vampire with a sleeve and two stakes.

"So the pressure of your punch ejects the stakes," He instructs. I punch the dummy and the stakes went in smoothly.

"Easy enough." Len spoke, punching the dummy. Her stakes don't eject and I snort. "That's weird."

She tried it again and I just rolled my eyes and turned around.

"Must be jammed or something, try yours again Elly." Len comments I punched the dummy and the stakes went in again.

"No it's just you." I retorted.

"You're not strong enough. Better start lifting some weights, put some meat on your bones." Ric stated. I slapped Len's arms playfully.

"Thanks for not sugar-coating it." Len said dryly. He takes something out of his bag and showed it to us.

"You know what this is?" Ric questioned. We nodded.

"A vervain grenade. I've used one before." Len commented.

"Then you know the element of surprise is your only advantage when it comes to a vampire." Ric minded. He pulled the pin and threw it at me. "Surprise."

I chucked the grenade to the other side of the forest.

"Oh my god." Len breathed. "This isn't a joke to me, Ric."

"You think I'm joking? Vampires will take whatever they want. They will hurt whoever they want. And they'll do it without remorse. It's in their nature. No offense, Elle." He replied to Len. I waved my hand.

"None taken. I'm only half." I dismissed.

"You don't have to use pronouns. You can say Stefan." Len mentioned. I pursed my lips.

"Look, I get why you're here. Stefan hurt you. You don't want it to happen again." Ric said.

"But you think I'm crazy. To believe that I can protect myself from a vampire who's flipped the switch on his humanity." Len remarked.

"I think you found a way to get out of bed this morning. And that makes you the strongest person I know. I think that you can do pretty much anything." Ric responded. He gives us sleeves with stakes and Len puts it back. I keep mine because it's nice for my ankle blades to have company. Len and I go to school and we meet up with the gang. Caroline hugs me and I return her hug. I missed my best friend.

"Here we are. Senior year." Care announced.

"Anyone else think it should feel slightly more empowering?" Bonnie questioned. I snort.

"Who would've ever thought us? To be seniors?" I comment answering her question with a question.

"Okay. So prank night was a bust. But we are accepting it, and we are moving on." Care noted. We started walking together and I glanced at Bon.

"You're right. I mean, why should I let the fact that my boyfriend is seeing the ghost of his dead girlfriend hinder this experience?" Bonnie retorted sarcastically. I purse my lips.