Maria Salvatore || The Vampire Diaries

eight

Maria's POV

I was honestly exhausted. I've never been to a real high school before, and trying to fit in was a bit harder than expected. "How was school?" I heard Damon from the kitchen, I shut the front door behind me and walk towards the sound of his voice.

"It was.. different." I answer truthfully, he raises an eyebrow, "Anyone bully you?" He teases and I fake a smile, "You would've heard about their deaths by now." I tell him and he chuckles.

"Speaking of death, there's some gossip that Katherine's in town. Perhaps she never left." Damon suddenly speaks, cutting the teasing conversation short. I don't say anything, so he turns around to give me a look, "Do you know anything?" He asks and I furrow my eyebrows, "Why would you assume that?"

I really can't help myself. I'm a defensive person.

He raises his hands to show himself surrendering, "Just thought I'd ask, that's all."

I sigh before leaning my head on my palm, did I know something? Katherine never spoke much about any plans, she simply me told me about our trip here, and about her love for Stefan. She never mentioned why she was truly here.

"I have another question, don't attack me but.. did she ever mention anything about werewolves?"

---

Stefan let out a groan, "We established this already. Werewolves exist, big hooray, what are we going to do about it?" Damon didn't look too pleased with our brothers words. "Maria has useful information, why would Katherine be looking for wolves in the first place?" Damon asks Stefan, and honestly I was just as clueless as them.

Stefan looked stressed out, "Okay, look- it could mean nothing." I try to ease the tension, but my attempt failed miserably.

They both sit to think for a moment, before Damon looks at his phone, "Well how about we talk about this later? I got a very important barbecue that I can't miss." Is all he says before he leaves the house.

"Where is he going?" I ask Stefan, who only sighs and sits down on the other couch, "He's convinced Masons a wolf, but not much people trigger the curse still. That's all I know."

Trigger the curse?

"And say if they were to trigger the curse? How would that work?" I ask, trying to seem causal about the situation.

"Uhh as far as we know, they'd have to kill someone to trigger it.. why?" He asks, this weird look on his face. "Just curious." I answer.

After while Stefan leaves the house, I didn't ask him where he was going because I had my own business to attend.

After compelling a few people, I finally found my way to the Lockwood household, which just got me annoyed. I was here before. How did I not remember that?

I knocked on the door softly and short after a short women with pearls hanging around her neck opened the door, "Hi. Can I help you?" She asks and I smile at her, "Does Tyler Lockwood by any chance live here?" I ask and she nods, "He's upstairs, I'll go fetch him for you. You're welcome to wait down here." She opened the door and I walked straight through, already being invited in.

A minute later, the same guy I talked to the night I was here came walking down the stairs alone. "Uhh hey?" Confusion full in his voice as he looked at me, "I was at a party here a few days ago.." I mutter and he nods, "Oh did you loose something? Usually the maid collects lost things after tho-"

"No, I came here to talk to you." I cut him off and he raises his eyebrows, "About?" He asks and before I answer I listen throughout the house, nobody seemed in close enough range to hear us.

"Your werewolf curse."

His eyes widened, and he quickly gripped my wrist before dragging me out the front door, gently closing it behind us. "You know?" His voice is rushed and rigid.

"I know of some sorts. Now tell me, did you happen to trigger it?" I ask and he shakes his head, "No. I can't."

I bite my lip at his answer, I'm sure Katherine mentioned something about the lockwoods, and I know I heard the name Tyler tossed around. "How about your family members?" I ask, trying to piece everything together.

"They don't know, except my uncle Ma-"

"Mason. Yeah, I know of the guy." I mumble, his name seemed familiar too and not because Stefan has just said it. But I wanted answers. Katherine rarely told me plans involving Mystic Falls, but the Lockwood and werewolves seemed familiar.

"Do you know where I could possibly find the guy?" I ask, hoping that he would tell me, Tyler shrugs. "He usually just comes and goes, but I think he mentioned something about a having barbecue?" Tyler replies and I let out a quiet sigh, "Okay." Is the last thing I say before walking off.

Once I'm gone, I dial Damon's number, "Yes?" He asks once he answers, "Where are you exactly?" I ask, looking around the small town. "Uh Elena's?" He replies like it was a question, I don't say anything after that. After I hang up I start walking towards Elena's.

I finally make to where I hoped was the Gilbert household, and swiftly knock on the door, an annoyed sigh leaving my mouth.

Surprisingly, Jeremy opened the door, "Uh hey?" I grin at him.

"My brother said I should stop by, is that alright?" I ask and he smiles, "Yeah. Come on in." Just as the words leave his mouth, Elena walks around the corner with a terrified expression on her face. "No." Is all she mutters as I step into the house.

"She's here with Damon." Jeremy tells her, and she doesn't take her eyes off me. "I don't want you here." She suddenly speaks and I raise my eyebrows, Jeremy is the one who takes offence to her choice of words.

"What? You're joking right.." Jeremy replies, and I grin as I stare at her. "No. She isn't welcomed." Elena mutters and I look over at Jeremy, just to see how he'd react.

"So you can bring Stefan around here whenever you want but Maria can't visit for a barbecue? Don't be a hypocrite Elena." Jeremy's voice is loud this time, Elena looks shocked at his out burst.

"Woah, woah, what's going on here?" A women with slightly red hair asks, as she walks around the corner.

The siblings make eye contact before Elena sighs, "Nothing."

The women finally notices me and she smiles, "Hi. Are you a friend of Jeremy's?" She asks and I shrug, "Yeah. But I'm also Damon's sister, he said I should stop by." I lie and she nods, "I didn't know the Salvatore's had a sister. Anyway- come on in. The food is just about done." I nod and smile.

"Oh I'm Jenna by the way, Jeremy and Elena's aunt." I fake another smile, "I'm Maria. Damon and Stefan's younger sister." I tell her and she looks slightly amused, "Haven't seen you around here." She comments and I giggle, "Yeah, kinda new around here. I was travelling around the world with a family member, for a few years.. but Damon and Stefan thought it was best if I settled and went to a real school." I slightly explain.

She nods, she probably got Stefan's story about our parents dying or whatever, so it probably made sense why I wouldn't be around.

"Well welcome to our house, Uh come on in the kitchen. I'll introduce you to everyone."