𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝑯𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚|| 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒆 [1]

𝑼𝒏𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒗𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

XIII. THIRTEEN

THE FIRST DECADE DANCE

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

AVA HAD LEANED her body up against the headboard of her bed. With both hands, she caught the tennis ball that Stefan threw her way. It was nighttime. Elena sat beside her sister while Stefan sat on the floor, leaning up against her dresser as they made small talk. "Stefan, who was that man on the road?" Ava questioned the vampire. This was their small talk.

"I don't know." He admitted. "Do you remember anything else about him?" He questioned. "I wish. I was too busy screaming for my life." She said, the sarcasm not going past Stefan. Ava threw the ball back. "But he was wearing a hoodie. All I can remember is that there was these black boots coming towards me." She explained.

Elena looked at her sister sympathetically. She wasn't there the night of the attack. She couldn't protect her sister like Ava protected her, but Ava kept reminding the girl that there was nothing she could have done.

Stefan thought for a second. "I brought some vervain." He said, standing up to grab the wooden box he had brought over. "For, um, you two and Jenna. And, um, I made this bracelet for Jeremy. A few extra ones for friends." He explained. He showed us the different items within the box. "You can put it in jewelry or you can even put it in food, or drink. But as long as it's in you or on you a vampire cannot control you."

"Wow. So much to remember." Elena whispered.

"I know, but there's another vampire in town. So until we find out who it is and what he wants we have to be careful."

"Ava!" The sound of Jeremy Gilbert yelling from down the stairs filled Ava's ears. "I need the money!" The Gilbert boy was alone downstairs. He had been drawing up another sketch, inspired by the Gilbert family journals before he had answered the door for tonight's dinner.

"Here. Come in. Just put it on the table." Jeremy said, letting the pizza delivery guy in. The delivery guy adorned all black. A black T-shirt along with a black hoodie to match and black boots, thick black boots to be exact. He smiled at Jeremy. It was eerie.

He stepped into the Gilbert house, setting the pizza down as he looked up the staircase. There stood Ava Gilbert. He smiled.

"Hi." She greeted the delivery guy with her all-too-famous smile. "Um...keep the change," Ava said, handing the delivery guy $25. He nodded, staring down at the girl. "Thanks." She nodded her head.