BORN TO DIE, stefan salvatore [1]

42 - THE HYBRID

BORN TO DIE
THE HYBRID

MADELEINE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. Her voiceless phone call with Stefan had rocked her to her core. What did it mean? Why did he call her? Madeleine didn't know if it was a witch thing, she always felt like she could read people's emotions better than others, but she felt like she could physically feel his sorrow through the phone. He was reaching out. Madeleine had to do something.

Her first thought was to tell Damon. After all, it was him that was tracking Stefan all these months. This summer was actually the most they got along with each other, with Damon finding clues and Madeleine inspecting them so that Elena wouldn't get too suspicious.

Madeleine let herself into the boarding house, a habit she had picked up over the past year. If she knocked every time, they'd never get anything done. Madeleine followed the sound of a TV and found herself in Damon's bedroom, a place she didn't frequent. The last time she was in here was when Rose had died. The thought formed a lump in her throat. "Field reporter and weekend anchor, Andie Starr has tragically passed away last night at the station-"

Madeleine's lips parted at the news. She didn't exactly approve of Damon's fake girlfriend. He had compelled her to keep his secret and find clues on Stefan but he didn't once compel her feelings for him. Madeleine knew Damon liked to brush off his emotions but she knew he cared about Andie, even if it was a little bit. "What happened?"

"Stefan paid a visit." The vampire said with resentment as he plucked his newspaper clippings off his closet that he transformed into a map to find his brother.

"He was here? That's not possible."

"How'd you figure that?"

"He called me last night. I asked Sherriff Forbes to trace the call. It came from Tennessee."

Damon didn't offer to spare Madeleine any eye contact. "Where's he's binge drinking on the country folk."

The witch stepped forward. "You don't know that."

Damon rolled his eyes. He stalked over to the TV. "How much more proof do you need, Madeleine!?" He pointed to the news story of his dead girlfriend. "He's gone. I don't just mean geographically."

"If he was gone he wouldn't have called. He wants help." Madeleine insisted.

Damon pointed an accusatory finger. "You're a bad judge of character."

"You know, everyone needs to stop using that against me." Madeleine said with a fed up expression. "I'm not sorry for believing in him and if I'm wrong you can yell at me later."

Madeleine marched out of the room. If Damon didn't want to help, fine. He wasn't the only supernatural in this town. Madeleine just thought he deserved to know, Stefan being his brother and all, but if he'd given up then Madeleine would look for him herself.