The Vampire Diaries: Concrete Decisions

Pilot

September 9, 2014

I stepped over the town line into Mystic Falls. I was expecting a feeling of welcome wash over me, but all I got was death and darkness. Someone or something was here and it wasn't Lexi or the Salvatores. I look down at myself and realize that I am wearing knee-high heeled boots, dark jeans, a red blouse, and a leather jacket. My dark black hair curled and my face warm from the sun. When I left the Mikaelson's mansion, I took all my things, but I dropped them off at my storage unit in Savannah. I wanted nothing from my past to come with me here. As I walk the road into the heart of Mystic Falls, I notice that little has changed here. The original layout of the town has not changed with a few exceptions of new housing areas. Cars are passing me as I continue into downtown where I find many new shops and lots of high school students. Though, it is a Tuesday and almost 5:00, teenagers rush through the streets like school hasn't started. I smile when I see a small restaurant called 'The Mystic Grill'. I cross the street and walk in and find that it is filled with teenagers, all of them mostly juniors and seniors. One of the girls, however, catches my eye. Her face, her eyes, her hair, it's all too familiar to me. She is sitting with a blonde girl and a brunette, laughing.

"It can't be," I whisper to myself as I make my way over to the bar. "Vodka, straight," I say as I sit down.

"Photo ID," the bartender says.

"You don't need to see my ID," I say, compelling him.

"I don't need to see your ID," he replies.

"Vodka, straight, please," I repeat again. He obediently pours me a shot of vodka as I watch the girl. I down the shot and gesture for another as the three girls get up to leave. I watch as I see another figure get up and follow them out. "Unbelievable," I say as I notice that it is Stefan Salvatore. I finish the shot, leave some money on the bar and leave the Grill. I keep my distance as I watch the girl break apart from her group and join Stefan a few blocks away. The two of them walk and talk and I notice something that I completely brushed over the first time. This girl isn't Katherine, but her doppelganger. I remember Klaus telling me that the Petrova line had descendents that somehow started the doppelganger chain and that one was in Mystic Falls. I sigh and slow my pace. I decide that there is no need for me to impose myself on the Salvatores, yet. As I turn, I notice a black mass fly by me. A shadow, I think to myself. I turn back and see a crow flying low, towards Stefan. I laugh to myself. Though, I haven't seen Damon Salvatore for 150 years, Lexi has told me that Damon likes to manipulate crows and the fog. I smile as I follow the crow. Maybe it is time to impose myself. The crow flies into a dark alley and I hear Damon's voice, soft and steady. I turn into the alley to find him feeding on a girl no less than 15. He pulls back and gasps, then dives back for more. Blood is starting to stain the girl's shirt at the top.

"Damon Salvatore," my voice echoes through the alley. He pulls back from the girl, wiping his mouth. She drops to the ground, though I can hear her heartbeat. Damon's wearing jeans, a black shirt and a leather jacket. As I see his face, I notice that blood still stains his chin.

"Cecily Lauderdale," he asks.

I smile, "it's been a long time. I thought maybe you had forgotten me."

"I could never forget you, who made my brother and me drink that awful tea," he responds. He bends down to the girl and shakes her awake. "Forget everything that happened, forget me, forget her," Damon said. The girl gets up and puts her hand on her neck and she walks out of the alley. Damon turns his attention back to me, "who Turned you?"

I smile, "how old do you think I am?"

"Well, you weren't a vampire when the Founding Families had a go at us, so 110, maybe 120," Damon shoots.