Believer (Derp Crew/Vampire Diaries)

7: Day At The Beach

~Steven's P.O.V.~
1917

Tom is here. He's home from the war. I want to be happy about his arrival. He's my brother, I love him. Yet, in my gut, I know something is going to go horribly wrong.

He's different. The war is changing him. The worst part is, he will return in a few weeks time.

He's moodier. He won't eat. He wakes up screaming and dad can't help him calm down. I'm too scared to try. So is mom.

Sapphire is fearless. She walks right up to him and talks to him. It's all one sided, but she doesn't mind. She tells him about herself, asks questions, and tells stories when he obviously won't answer.

When she's not trying to get my brother to open up from his shell, she is with me. We dance and laugh and kiss. I'm falling madly in love with this bold woman.

"Steven?" Someone asks. I turn to see Tom, tears in his eyes. His glasses are shattered and blood is dripping from his nose.

"What happened?" I immediately grab a towel and wet it, wiping away at his nose. His knuckles are also covered in blood.

"Dad took me to the tavern, said I might be able to cope if I was drunk. Got into a fight with someone because he was bashing the war efforts." Tom looks defeated. He looks crumpled and destroyed beyond repair.

"It'll be okay." I tell him. Sapphire appears in the doorway, looking worried. I hate to see those little frown lines in her pretty face.

"Are you okay, Mr. Fawkes? Your father seems a little stressed." She says as she comes closer. She inspects his face and takes the towel from me, cleaning him up. He needed a woman's touch, I suppose, as she did a better a job than me.

"I'm so sorry I've been rude to you, Ms. Shivani." He looks pleading. I can't take seeing my once so strong brother like this.

"Don't be, Tom. Just let me help you. I've been known to take the pain away." There's a hint of a smirk in her voice. Jealousy bubbles up in my veins and I clench my fists.

Is this what I was feeling? That he would take her away from me?

No. I won't let that happen. Even if he is my brother, she is my girl. I'll stop at nothing to make that stay that way.

~Lapis's P.O.V.~
Present day

The heat feels good on my skin. I lay with the girls on the yellow sands of the beach. It was Marissa who planned this little trip, saying I needed to get out.

"So, what are the boys up to today?" Sarah asks, laying in her stomach and playing on her phone.

"The boys are here!" A voice yells. A gasp escapes my lips as Chilled plops down right next to me, grinning like a fool.

"What the hell?!" Kayla yelps as GaLm appears in front of her, spraying her with sand.

"Johnny! I told you to keep them away!" Marissa pouts. John pecks her lips and smiles shyly with a shrug.

"I tried." He says.

"He did. We didn't listen." Chilled says as he steals my phone. "What are you doing?"

"Finding a job." I remark as I snatch it back. It's been weeks since the date with Steven, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of him or his brother.

Until now.

"Bookstore is hiring. Or maybe you're more of a bartender girl." Tom says as he falls to the ground next to Chilled.

"Ooh. Free drinks?" Chilled grins.

"You're a dick." I roll my eyes at him and stand up. The water looks cool and inviting, and God only knows I'm getting more of a burn than a tan sitting in the rays of the sun.

I head to the water, allowing my heated skin to cool against the waves. I haven't been a fan of water since I was a kid. I almost drowned once and my dad had to pull me out.

I look to see Steven, all the way across the beach. He's distant, of course. I don't blame him. I want him to be distant.

"You know, he's just torn about this." Tom says, startling me. I choose to ignore him. I don't play his games.

"Really, Lapis, he's upset. He didn't even want to come. He never wanted you to know, not like that. I'm the asshole, not him." He says.

"I came here to live my life as safely as possible. I can't do that with the two of you around." I remark.

"Maybe not with me around, but he hates this part of him more than you think you do. Trust me. Give him another chance."

"You're playing wingman for your little brother? How cute." I look at my nails out of boredom, hoping he'll go away. This is all a facade, though. What he's saying makes me regret what I'd said and done to Steven.

"Just think about it." He says. He's gone in a moment, and I feel colder than I should be. I walk back to the beach, subconsciously making my way towards Steven.

"Your brother seems to think you can be redeemed." I say as I stop close to him. I cross my arms over my chest. I put on the facade that I was pissed, and in a sense, I really was.

Steven looks shocked to see me. His green eyes were wide. "I'm staying away. That's what you wanted."

I sigh. "Can we talk?"

I begin to walk down the beach. A small breeze cools my skin as we walk. Steven keeps his distance, likes I'm the monster. Ha, funny.

"I've been thinking. Your mom must have known about Vampires. She named you after lapis lazuli, and that stone helps keep Vampires from burning in the sun." Steven says.

I furrow my eyebrows. "It does?"

He nods. "She named you after it, probably knowing you'd end up meeting Vampires. Hell's flame must be the sun, and you not being able to find Heaven'a light must be you being damned to being a Vampire for all of eternity."

I shake my head. "That's impossible."

"I'd like to meet your mom, if that's okay." He says softly, looking at me with an almost pleading expression.

"Steven, you can't." I shake my head again. The breeze picks up and blows my blue hair around and in my face.

"I won't hurt her, I promise. Besides, she probably knows how to kill me in every way there is." He tells me.

"No, Steven, you can't meet her. She's dead." I exhale softly and look to the water. I hear an audible gasp from Steven, then I feel his hand on my shoulder.

"I had no idea... I'm so sorry. How-?" He stops himself and pulls his hand away.

"It's why we moved here. Back in New York... They liked to do research from home. They travelled some, but they had a huge home office. I never knew what they did, but now I'm thinking it has to do with what you are. Well... right as I had finished my last college exam, John called. My parents, and our home, burned in a harsh fire. Their life's work, all of their belongings, perished along with them. They say it was electrical, but John and I know better. Someone started that fire. Someone murdered my family."