𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 | 𝐭𝐯𝐝

23

"Sundance? C'mon, you're gonna wanna see this." A voice whispered. Sundance rolled over and onto a chest. "What do you want, Damon?" She groaned. She didn't move. "Stefan was locked up by his own lover. What a shocker." Damon inhaled sharply. "What do you mean?" Sundance looked up. It was pitch black in her room, but she could make out his face. "Get dressed and I'll show you."

A FEW DAYS LATER

Sundance, Elena, and Damon were standing in the Salvatore cellar, watching Stefan. "It's so hard to see him locked up like this." Elena sighed. "You're the one who locked him up," Damon remarked. "You helped." Sundance defended her sister. "I couldn't have him running around chewing on people. While the town was looking for vampires, now, could I?" Damon said. "It had nothing to do with you actually caring about him?" Elena asked. "Your thing, not mine." Damon shrugged, walking away.
Sundance followed him. "You look exhausted." He said. "Wow, thanks," Sundance spoke with sarcasm in her voice. He laughed. "Go to sleep in my room." He suggested. "Really?" She yawned. He nodded and sat down on the couch then played with a device he got from Pearl.

"Did you ever figure out what that is?" She asked. "Nope. Whatever it is, it doesn't work." Damon frowned. "Pearl didn't say anything else about it?" Sundance sighed. "She thought she was stealing his vampire compass, but that was a pocket watch. That Johnathan Gilbert was a crazy scientist. Have you spoken to your uncle lately?" Damon looked up. "I've been avoiding him, actually. That, and I've been here most nights." Sundance smiled. Damon made a face. "Is that a problem?" She asked sarcastically. "Yes. You're a complete nuisance." He responded playfully. "Oh, I know. I'm absolutely terrible." Sundance laughed.

She walked upstairs and, after changing into some clothes she brought, she laid down and stared at the ceiling. Damon walked in. "You realize there are like 10 other rooms, right?" He smirked. "Well, your bed is comfortable." Sundance excused. Damon laid down and looked at her. "You are such a liar." He chuckled. "I know." She sighed and laughed. Damon pulled her closer and rested his forehead on hers. He looked at her eyes. "You drive me nuts." He whispered. Sundance's heart skipped a beat. She looked at the ceiling again, trying to process what to do next. Damon stared at her chest, slowly rising and falling. She sat up and looked at him, almost as if she was about to say something.
Sundance stopped before she could and just laid back down to look at him. "You okay?" He asked. She nodded, then slowly shook her head.

"A part of me wants everything vampire-related to go away. Everything...everyone. But another part of me knows this has been the most interesting year of my life. The adrenaline rushes, the adventure, the mystery...it just fits. I don't know." She sighed. Damon was quiet. Sundance put her hand on his cheek, thinking of what would happen if Katherine would come back. Her heart clenched.
Damon's eyes fluttered shut.

Sundance waited then got up. She walked downstairs and to his alcohol, then poured a glass and walked the cellar.

"Stefan?" She looked in. "Go away." He said roughly. "Nope, it's Sundance." She replied sarcastically. Sundance walked in and sat down. "Tell me what's going on in that head of yours." She said. "I said go away." He repeated. "Stefan Salvatore." She said strictly. Stefan crossed his arms.

FLASHBACK

Stefan awakened with a start. He opened his shirt and saw the bullet wound is gone. He also saw a ring on his hand and examined it. Emily appeared.

Emily: Katherine had me make that for you weeks ago.
Stefan: Where am I?
Emily: The quarry just north of town. My brother and I brought you here last night. We found you dead in the woods.
Stefan: Where's Damon? Am I...am I a...?
Emily: Not yet. You're in transition.
Stefan: But how? I...
Emily: You had Katherine's blood in your system when you died.
Stefan: No. I never...
Emily: She's been compelling you to drink it for weeks, Stefan.
Stefan: And Damon?
Emily: No compulsion was necessary. He drank from her willingly.
[Stefan joined Damon by the river.]