An Elemental Difference - AIR - Book 1 (Stefan Salvatore)

Chapter 76 - I told you no killing, Damon!

AN: Sorry this is a little late, Saturday was a crazy day and I was so exhausted that I just slept. Hope this chapter makes up for it, it has to be one of my favorite chapters... hope you enjoy!

.................................................

FOUNDER'S HALL

Entering the large hall, the three of them had their awareness dials fully powered as they glanced around; the Council, John and Stefan's blood lust... Aella wondered to herself if this was a good idea, after all.

Stefan pulled Aella close; for his comfort or hers, she wasn't sure. However, she still snuggled close to him. Damon turned to them with a raised brow, "Okay, lovebirds, I'm going to see if I can get more juicy gossip on Uncle Fester..."

"And we will keep an eye out for him from afar," Aella smirked at Damon's nickname for John. "Try not to kill or attack anyone for at least one town event."

Before Damon could throw his own comeback at her, she pulled Stefan over to the bar. He ordered them two cokes, and they both leaned against the bar as they waited, "So, no Bonnie or Caroline tonight?"

"Nope!" Aella popped her lip, smiling when the drinks were brought over and took a big gulp of the cold soda. "Caroline's at her dad's for the weekend, and Bonnie is having dinner with her dad."

Stefan poured some whiskey into the coke from the silver flask he'd brought with him. As much of Aella's blood was out of his system by now, the unique qualities that still baffled him, felt like he'd still drunk from a human in the last 12 hours. Alcohol dulled the cravings, and it wasn't like he could order a whiskey and coke without bringing some attention to himself... and it wasn't like he could become drunk.

His brow rose at Bonnie's location, "Bet that will be an entertaining evening."

Aella snorted, "So much so she's forgotten she hates me for at least these few hours to keep me updated that her dad's insulted Gran three times and me twice in the last hour."

Stefan knew Aella was trying to hide her hurt from Bonnie's sudden hate with a joke and kissed her head, "Bonnie doesn't hate you."

Aella pulled back with her brow raised, "Oh, so the glares, snark, and ignoring me on a regular basis is love?"

Stefan nodded, even if it wasn't what Aella wanted him to do, "To be honest, I think she's jealous. The two of you have always been close and have never had to be compared at all. Now she realizes that with something as big as the magic that you, her, and Sheila share, she will always be behind no matter what she does."

"But that's not my fault," Aella groaned, looking away, but Stefan turned her head back to meet her eyes with his. "Which is why you just keep being you, eventually she will realize this is none of your fault."

Her mouth twisted in contemplation, and Stefan nudged her to say out loud what she was thinking, "It's just..." Aella sighed helplessly. "I'm told that I'm only going to get more powerful, not just with my Samphire powers but my Bennett powers. What if, if she is jealous, she can't get over that, I'll be better?" Aella curled into herself, groaning aloud, "And now I sound like a completely big-headed know-it-all."

Stefan watched her, unsure of what to tell her. The relationship between Aella and her magic was just as strong as her relationship with her cousin, maybe so even more because of the connection with her parents. When she looked at him, so vulnerable, he pulled her close, "If it comes to that, we will deal with it together, like everything else. But it's not there yet, so we can only hope. Okay?"

Aella nodded into his chest then let out a sudden snort, Stefan pulled her back, forehead wrinkled in confusion. She started to laugh as she motioned around the room, "It's just that, we're having this incredible emotional heart to heart in the middle of this party, and it's still the most boring thing in the world."