Humanity 4 "The Rivalry"

Chapter 13

ASHLEY'S POV

I look up as our boat pulls up on the shore. I watch as professor Shane gets out and smiles, looking around at the island.

“Congratulations. We made it.” He whispers as everyone starts to unload.

I nervously take in my surroundings as I take a step onto the land. We’re here. Me, Damon, Elena, Stefan, Jeremy, Bonnie…and Rebekah.

I really didn’t want her to come, but she’s here. Caroline stayed home with Tyler to keep an eye on Klaus who is still stuck in Elena’s living room.

I’m a little worried about being the only human on this voyage and Damon was skeptical about it too. But I’ve been a part of all this from the beginning and I’m still alive. I think I can survive one safari through some abandoned jungle for the cure.

“Couldn’t they have hidden this cure in Hawaii?” Damon asks Shane as everyone looks around at the land in front of us. “Where the hell did you take us?”

“Two hundred miles off the Nova Scotia mainland. If you recall, the whole point was to hide the cure on the world’s most obscure, desolate island.” Shane explains.

I walk over to them and see that Damon is sharpening a knife. 

“Oh yeah? I thought the whole point was that no one found Silas, the oldest, deadliest freak in the world.” Damon scoffs.

“Yeah, that too.” Shane says with a small smile as he pulls some sunscreen out of his bag and offers it to Damon.

“Is that a joke?” Damon asks and I laugh a little bit.

“Right.” Shane says with a nod.

“You know, you’re not really helping.” I hear Stefan say and I look over to see him tying the boat to a tree stump while Rebekah stands by, watching.

“You’re perfectly capable of tying a knot.” She says back as her eyes lock with mine.

“You giving Ashley the evil eye, it’s not really helping.” Stefan says and I quickly look away, but continue to listen.

“It was her plan. She’s responsible for killing my brother and trying to get you to put a dagger in my back. She’s lucky all she’s getting is the evil eye.” Her words make me snap and I raise my head to look at her.

“You know I can hear you, right?” I ask, knowing that she’s only talking loudly to get to me.

“You know I don’t care, right?” She asks with a smirk and I ball my hands into fists as my sides. “Hate me all you want. You can even try to kill me. But then you’d have to face your real problems. Like the fact that Stefan invited me here, himself. I guess he likes me again…even if I am your worst enemy.”

My breathing increases as I try to control my anger. She turns and walks away and I find myself pulling the white oak stake out of jacket pocket. Yes, I brought it. Rebekah has tried to kill me too many times and I wasn't taking any chances on this trip.

I start walking towards her when Damon appears in front of me.

“Looks like someone forgot her team building exercises.” He says, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m not apologizing for not wanting her here.” I state angrily and he places his hands on my shoulders.

“And I’m not asking you to. You know Stefan just brought her here to make it seem like he’s moving on. He wants us all to think that he’s over everything. That he’s over you.” Damon says and I frown at him, not wanting to have this conversation. “Oh come on, Ashley, I heard what he said the other night about him developing real feelings for you.”