Victoria Salvatore

Mystic Falls

I walked into the door frame as soon as I'd shakily unlocked the front door and stumbled into my penthouse apartment, which I'd compelled a rich banker to buy me just a couple of months ago. It was absolutely stunning with a view overlooking Hollywood with the mountains in the background. I'd wanted it to be more of a studio apartment, but unfortunately, that wasn't possible when I also wanted a penthouse, so I settled for putting all of the furniture in the massive living room, that way I could always see the sky and horizon through the floor to ceiling windows.

It was also very practical on a night like this where I was drunk out of my mind, having had quite an emotional and nostalgic night. I had been out celebrating the anniversary of my death which happened quite a while ago in 1869 when I was 20.

I made it to my bed which was situated in the corner of the windows, facing out. It was quite a challenge so I felt triumphant when I made it and threw a fist in the air before I faceplanting the bed. Right as I did, the peace was disturbed by a shrill, nasal, ringing sound.

"You've got to be kidding me" I mumbled into the pillow. I sat up and searched for the source of that wretched sound. It called again when I realized it came from my bag by the door. I groaned and for a second contemplated picking up, but it stopped ringing. I sighed in relief and laid back down.

Just as I found a comfortable position it rang again. I grumbled and rolled out of bed, deciding to crawl to my phone seeing as the world was still fuzzy. "I'm coming, I'm coming" I mumbled slowly making my way to the cellular device.

"What?" I hissed into the phone when I finally made it. I made myself comfortable on the hardwood flooring, sitting against the wall, with the phone pressed firmly to my ear.

"Good morning to you too, love" my annoying friend Niklaus greeted on the other end of the line.

"It's 3:30 AM, hardly morning. What do you want?"

"Are you drunk?"

"It's 3:30 AM, of course, I am. Now, what do you want?" I asked, closing my eyes.

"We're going on a road trip, to Mystic Falls"

I was quiet for a moment.

"You surely must have lost your mind if you think you in any way can convince me to step foot in Mystic Falls. It must be the age finally catching up to you. A thousand years on earth will do that to you. So sad" I rolled my eyes and got up from my spot on the floor making my way back to bed.

"Oh yes you are, I need your help" I heard as I laid down.

"Nope," I said popping the p and hung up. I turned it off not and sank into a deep slumber.

*****

I was woken up by a pounding on the door, I groaned, still tired and thanked my lucky stars that vampires couldn't get hungover. The clock read 8:30 AM, and I grumbled to myself, cursing the person at the door for this ungodly hour.

" I swear to god Mrs. Zimmer, I won't hesitate to kill you-" I muttered and threw open the door with a scowl. I didn't find Mrs. Zimmer, my neighbor, on the other side, but none other than Nik, with a smile on his stupid face. He was wearing a navy blue sweater, which accentuated his blue eyes and his blonde hair was styled in his usual, timeless, updo. Nevertheless I was not happy to see him.

"Nope" I said and tried to close the door on him but he was quicker and stopped it with his foot. I looked at it and slammed the door repeatedly on it. I knew it wouldn't hurt him, I just didn't want to have the conversation he was there for. He stopped it with his hand on the fourth attempt and opened the door wider to give me a stern frown and made it into the apartment.

"That wasn't very nice" he noted.

"I'm not very nice"

I rolled my eyes and walked off to the kitchen in desperate need for some coffee. I could hear him close the door and follow me. We stood in silence on opposite sides of the kitchen island in my newly renovated, hardly used, kitchen as the coffee brewed. When I handed him a cup I finally met his eyes. He gave me a small smile and I just sighed into my coffee.

"So it wasn't a dream that you called last night?" I broke the silence. He shook his head. "Seemed like a nightmare, especially the absurdity of it." He laughed a short laugh.

"And you say I'm dramatic. You know it's rude to hang up on someone" he pointed at me.

"Not when the person on the other end suggests something so insane"

"It's not insane, I told you, I need your help"

"What is in Mystic Falls? I haven't been there for close to 150 years, I'm surprised it's still around"

"Well, for starters, the new dobblegänger lives there."

I almost spit out my coffee "WHAT?!"

"Yes, which is something dear Elijah has been trying to keep quiet for a while" he said with a frown.

"Why would he keep her a secret? Is he in love with her?" I rolled my eyes.

"No, I doesn't seem so. Even though it wouldn't be the first time, nor the second" he said with a smirk and I snorted into my coffee.

"Regardless of Elijahs motives, why are you asking me for help? I can't be because you need a tour guide, like I said I haven't been there for a 150 years, I'm sure it looks much different"

"You'd be surprised how little it's changed. But no, you're right, that's not why I'm here. With Elijah's change in alliance I will need someone in my corner, and with Rebekah otherwise... occupied, you're my best bet"

"You want me to help you murder an innocent girl so you can become the most powerful creature on earth?" I asked incredulously.

"Now you're getting it"