Endgame ⚜ Sweet but Psycho

26. i could kill you right now

December 24, 2017

Mystic Falls, Virginia 

The Salvatore Boarding Home 

Poppy walked down the stairs of the compound, her hand in her dad's so she could be with him. He was her idol, her best friend, her dad, especially since her mom started disappearing. She smiled, looking at the guests, the party, and her eyes lit up when she saw the giant tree. A bulb lit up and shattered as someone took a photo of them. 

After the memory of the 1914 Christmas, Poppy opened her eyes to see the familiar ceiling of the Salvatore Boarding Home, her home, though it looked like she was in the attic..how odd. Light poured into the room from the circle window on the wall, allowing her to see everything, and see the dust...she would need a shower. She furrowed her eyebrows and noted that she felt weak and sick and hungry as she sat up. She was in a half opened coffin with a cushiony interior and a polished wood exterior, her name was engraved into the wood. This wouldn't be her only coffin, which made her roll her eyes. At least it was comfy. She pulled her legs into the opened part and climbed out, stumbling a bit. My legs feel like jelly. She thought as she walked to the attic door, walking around dusty boxes and piles of old books. With a shaky hand, she grabbed the knob and turned it, pulling it open...she had a whole staircase to walk down.

With a tight grip on the railing, she descended from the stairs and entered the third floor. From there she went to the second, then to the first. She smelled food, delicious home cooked food. As she looked around, she noticed the home had been decorated for Christmas. She knew what day it was, she had kept track in the Chambre de Chasse. Christmas Eve. 

Silently, she stepped into the foyer, admiring the Christmas tree, the stockings on the fireplace, the lights, with sparkling, yet somewhat dull, eyes. On the record player, a soft version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was playing. She wondered who had taken the time to set everything up, but she could take a guess and say it was who was in the process of cooking. I guess it doesn't matter who did it.. She appreciated it, that's all that mattered. For a moment, she let her struggles go away. 

With a curious expression, she walked to the kitchen and to the table, sitting down to relax her jelly legs. Her head was beating fast from the effort she had put into getting down the stairs and to the kitchen. She looked up to see Stefan  at the stove, stirring whatever was in the steaming pot. 

"Smells good in here." She greeted, her voice surprisingly raspy and weak and dry. She hadn't used it in days. 

Stefan looked up from the pot at his daughter, looking a bit surprised. "When did you wake up?" He set the spoon down and walked around the kitchen island to where she was. 

"Like ten minutes ago. I don't know how, though." Poppy replied as he cupped her cheek with his hand. 

He moved her messy hair behind her ear and slipped his hand away so he could walk to the cabinet. From one, he grabbed a glass and filled it with tap water. "That would be your husband. He's been working at a cure night and day...you being awake most likely means that he found one." Stefan walked back to her, feeling hopeful, and gave her a warm smile. He handed her the glass. 

Poppy gave him a small smile and took a sip of the water, the soothing liquid flowing down her throat. "Wow, a real life Christmas miracle." She remarked as Stefan went back to stirring whatever was in the pot. 

Before he could say anything else, Caroline stepped into the kitchen, leaning against the doorway. She hugged her robe around her body, wearing pajamas underneath. "I thought we agreed to cancel.." She said softly, a smile on her face as she walked in more. She looked over at Poppy and walked to stand beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.