Midnight Rising

Fun

"Look, I know you're dealing with your own shit, Diana, but—" Jeremy lets out a long sigh, the sound like thunder through the recorded message. "I'm seeing stuff, people—dead people. Vicki and Anna mostly. I just need to tell someone. Bonnie would just freak out. I need you, Diana. I need your help. If there's any way you can call. I swear, I won't tell Damon or Elena. I just don't know what to do." Another sigh and a hard swallow, "I miss you. I hope you're okay."

I play the voicemail for the hundredth time, enjoying the familiar voice. Jeremy sounds scared, trapped in this world that he doesn't know how to navigate. Chewing my lip, I shove my phone back into my pocket as Klaus approaches. Although he's only forbidden phone calls, I'm not sure he'd be happy to know I've been listening to the phone messages I've gotten.

I should have never left. This was a foolish plan. It kills me to be away from Damon. It kills me to watch Stefan shrink further and further inside of himself. We're getting nowhere, finding no one with any information. I'm beginning to lose faith in Klaus.

"Boyfriend trouble?" His words cascade into my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

Gathering myself, I turn, leaning my head against the vampire's shoulder, "Which one? The one you're desperately trying to turn into a ripper? The one that grows ever closer to finding out where we are? Or, the one who's seeing his dead ex-girlfriends?"

"Getting involved in their lives was a mistake, Diana," Klaus offers his warped advice.

Rolling my eyes, I take a step away from the man. He knows my affection is waning. Whoever said distance makes the heart grow founder never met Klaus. His charm no longer has the same effect, smooth words sounding more and more like the hissing of snakes. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for Stefan. Leaving him alone with Klaus just seems cruel. Damon's brother is weak. The guilt Stefan has buried deep down inside for all these years, threatening to break through any day now, forced to the surface by Klaus's constant prying. "Getting involved in anyone's life but my own was a mistake, Klaus."

"Isn't it more fun this way?"

He's lost his mind completely, reason clouded by blind ambition. "What? Living out of a suitcase? Leaving a trail of bodies for Damon to follow? You better find your man fast or else you and Stefan will be riding it out together. Without me."

"Now, now," Klaus chides, "That isn't part of our deal."

"Compel them, Klaus. You don't need me."

The sandy-haired man before me frowns, fingers curling around my shoulder, "And where would you go? Back to him? Do you really think he'd take you back, Diana, after everything you've put him through? After running off with his brother?"

"No. I'd go to Bermuda or Madagascar. Those are the only two places left on earth that I haven't been to." With Damon at my side, I tack on silently. The oldest Salvatore brother and I have been through worse. We find our way back together, that's what makes our love story so special.

Klaus continues to pout, "Just another month, love. I'll buy you the grandest mansion you've ever seen."

As Stefan approaches, I look over my shoulder at him. "And the brothers?"

"Yours, just like we've always agreed to," Klaus confirms. "Are you ever going to settle on one?"

As Stefan draws near, I wrap my arms around him, resting my cheek against his chest. The vampire melts against me, his chin resting on the top of my head, fingers tangling in my hair. "Why pick one when I can have both?"

As Klaus saunters away, Stefan slides his lips next to my ear, his breath warm against my skin, "You're playing a very dangerous game, Diana."

"And what game is that, Stefan?" I twist away from the vampire, keeping my fingers curled between his.