𝟙.𝟙: 𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕀𝕤 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕒𝕣𝕥 𝕎𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕐𝕠𝕦 ℝ𝕦𝕟

—Narrator's perspective—

Arabella's eyes stayed glued to the concrete wall, mind was slowly starting to defunction because of how bored she was. Why did she had to stay and keep a close eye on Landon? Getting to class seemed to be much more entertaining than a cellar which used to be a holding cell for Damon and Stefan.

She remembered the last time she was here, she was beating the crap out of Stefan for once again, turning his humanity switch off. It was times like that she'd wish she go back even though things seemed violent and bloody.

Her attention went elsewhere where she can hear ragged breathings. She quickly rushed to where Landon is and he was awake but looking around in frantic and breahing heavily.

"Landon. Landon hey!" Arabella called out and his attention turned to her in relief.

"Arabella. Can you get me out of here?" He pulled the bars desperately but was no use since it's locked. She shook her head feeling sorry.

"Sorry, Landon— But you won't be here for long I swear." She said in a soothing voice, hoping it will calm his heart rate down but no use.

Landon shook his head, panting. "I'm in a witch dungeon." He looked back quickly and turned to the girl again.

"It's a place for werewolf to transition." She informed but clearly didn't calm him down when he backed away.

"Super. I'm not so good with, you know. Small spaces." He explained and ran his hand through his hair.

"We won't keep you her for long. No one knew you can't be compelled."

"I don't know what that means!" He sneered.

Arabella sighed and nodded in understanding. "I tried to erase your memories of what you know but clearly didn't work." She huffed a sigh.

Landon chuckled. "So now what, I'm a hostage? Where's Rafi?" He questioned and dropped his smile still panting.

"He's okay and so will you if you calm down. People who take a herb called Vervain can't be compelled. The town sherrif sometimes slips it into the coffee at the gas station we were at this morning." She explained and seemed to calm down the boy who was listening intently. "It takes about a day to pass through your system and you just need to wait it out."

He exhaled in a huff before backinf away fully this time. "No big deal I'll just sit here alone in the witch dungeon." He sat down on the edge of the bed. "Can you wait it out with me?"

She sighed and simply smiled. "Yeah sure." Arabella sat down on the floor, leaning on the wall besides the bar. "Want to tell me why you hate small spaces?"

"Or you could tell me about Vampires? It takes the edge off my brain." He finally calmed down, fiddled with his fingers. "Or you? How did you... you know. Became a Vampire?"

Arabella smiled sadly, remembering why. "Let's say my family is a little crazy. I was once a witch before a Vampire so basically I was doomed to know about the supernatural world." She closed her eyes for a second, feeling vulnerable. Arabella's breath hitched of the image of her father dying in front of her. "God, I'm so sorry, Landon." She shook her head and breathed heavily whens she stood up. "I promise, we'll let you out but try to take your mind off it, y-yeah?" Before she could hear the boy asked what was wrong, She left in hurried steps.

Arabella closed her eyes and accidentally bumped into Hope who was on her way to check if Landon was alright but heard everything since he woke up. "Hey— What happened?" She asked worriedly and had to grip on the Vampire's wrist to stop her.

"Nothing— I just need fresh air." Arabella tried to speak in a much more calm tone than what she imagined but the words slipped out. She used her supernatural speed and quickly went to Alaric's office.

She didn't bother to knock seeing as they were friends and barged in. Alaric held a concerned look and told her to close the door behind her before anyone comes in.

"You're still having that?" He asked and patted her back comfortingly, helping her sit down on the chair so she can calm down.

"Not since Klaus died apparently." Arabella panted, her hand clutched her chest like her heart was about to explode. "Is this the curse my mother told me? If so, then fuck her." She managed to crack a smile but soon faltered as her heart kept pinching.

"I thought you and Caroline was researching the spell your mom casted before she died." He asked and leaned on the table behind him. Still holding a concerned expression of a hyperventilating Vampire.

Arabella shook her head, hand gripped on the chair besides her. "We were searching for the merge not the curse my mom did to me. God it hurts, Ric." She groaned and closed her eyes tightly.

"Uh... Here." Alaric looked around and grabbed a picture that was stuck on a book. He gave it to the girl who took it and looked. "It's the day Stefan and Caroline got married. I know you wanted to be there even if it was suppose to be fake."

"I had was helping Davina and Kol over a crisis they had from across the world." Her breathing went back to normal, looking over the man who stood besides Caroline, both holding huge smile on their faces. "Didn't even had the chance to participate my brother's wedding." She huffed and gave it back to Alaric who was relieved to see her calm down.

"He understood." Alaric said to make sure she wasn't having any regrets. "Stefan gave you a name that made you, you. I definitely prefer Arabella Salvatore than Black."

Arabella cracks a laugh and nodded. "I miss him." She whispered, looking at Alaric who nodded feeling the same way. The two got startled when the doors opened and Hope peaked out her head while she was tying her hair up.

"Dr. Saltzman." She called out and looked at him with a knowing look. Moreover surprised to see Ara in the room but pushed the thought away.

It took Alaric a second before he jumped off the table. "It was nice talking to you, Arabella. Come over soon if you have any more concerns." He gave Arabella a look that screamed for her to go which she did. Her swear was still running down her neck, her wiping it away when she walked past Hope.

At first, she walked to her room for a nap since she hasn't slept overnight thanks to Alaric and his quest. Arabella closed the lights and quickly jumped in bed but seemingly enough, she laid there for a solid 30 minutes with her eyes glued to the ceiling.

Her mind preoccupied the days she and Klaus spent, The days Elijah taught her self control which caused her a painful heartbreak all over again. They were great mentors and a role model except Klaus since he had an impulse of a puppy when they met. Marcel was her bestfriend but Bestfriends mean to hurt each other at times

Giving up, She jumped out of bed and stretched her limbs before going outside again in frustration. First a human couldn't be compelled and lead to her 'episodes', now Klaus and Elijah was envading her thoughts. Out of all the days, why now?

Arabella walked her way to the kitchen for a blood bag, which she was hoping not animal blood but prepared herself of the worse since it is a school for newbies. She got surprised when she heard someone screaming and shouting, glass breaking. The Vampire quickly rushed to it, hoping that no one got hurt. She got the irony when a knife suddenly pierced her stomach, her figure slamming to the wall.

"Oh god! Ara!" Lizzie shouted and stopped her tantrum, running over to the girl she just stabbed non-knowingly.

"Is this some sort of revenge for something I did?" Arabella lets out a weak chuckle before gripping the Knife's handle, a groan escaped her lips when she couldn't pull it out and when she tried, it only pained her more.

Lizzie was basically freaking out and didn't know what to do when Arabella told her to just pull it out quickly.

"Elizabe— Oh come on." Alaric groaned and quickly rushed to the Vampire in a breathless manner from running. He swiftly took the knife off her stomach making her cough. "Why do you always get to deal with the collateral?" He asked and helped the Vampire stand up.

"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to I swear!" She said, looking over at Alaric who was eyeing the kitchen, everything destroyed.

Arabella nodded and winced. "Safe to say I'm glad I'm a vampire..."

☘︎︎

"Jo it was an accident. Besides, it was her episodes." Arabella explained, the cup on her hand which she brought up to her lips to drink.

She was never one to attend highschool parties but here she was, acting like a newly transformed Vampire when only 3 people knew of her identity that stays in this school.

Josie was about to remark when Rafael came

up to them. "Hey Jo." He looked as if he needed something.

"Hey this is Arabella. Figured you might not know her since you were transitioning." She introduced the Vampire who gave him a smile.

"You were with Dr. Saltzman, right?" He asked and the two shared a handshake.

"Did you need something? You look restless, mate." She eyed him curiously, drinking her beer that was on a red cup. If only Klaus could see her now, In a party with frat boys and teenage girls.

Rafael snapped out of it when he noticed her eyes. She looked at Jo, "Can you help me find Landon? I haven't seen him since this morning." Arabella coughed but thank god for that loud and blasting music covering her tracks.

When Jo agreed, she offered for her to come with but she disagreed telling her to do her thing. Arabella was no where near drunk or tipsy but she found Mg, sitting around the bonfire.

They may have talked once or twice when she visited the twins last year. He's Josie's bestfriend so she made her way to him, greeting him as if they haven't seen each other in so long.

"Hey I'm glad you made it." He gave her a side hugged before gesturing her to sit down. "Oh and this is Arabella." Mg pointed at her.

"Kaleb Hawkins." He greeted and seemed to be lost in her eyes which was out of the ordinary for him.

"Before you ask, It's genetic." She quickly said when she noticed him staring too long. "So what were you two talking about?"

The three talked and Mg ranted about who's the best superhero of all time. Kaleb and Arabella teamed up on Superman while Mg had other ideas. There was too many alcohol for them to handle when they talk, which wasn't a problem for Arabella seeing as she's developed a tolerance and centuries older than them.

It seemed as if hours passed when they were talking. Arabella felt normal for once when she got acquainted with Kaleb and talked once more with an old friend, Mg. Soon after, Penelope made her presence known. Visibly interested in the Vampire who's eyes were Violete and brightly showing to the others around them, talking about her.

Arabella was too occupied with Mg's rants about twilight when Penelope was obviously flirting visibly. It didn't take long for the witch to glance at Josie's direction, giving her a look and turning her attention back to Arabella who told her she needed help to grab something back in the school.

She reluctantly agreed, needing blood anyways. That was how they arrived in the kitchen, Penelope sitting on the counter while the Vampire was rummaging through the blood stash that should be here but not. All empty.

"Dr. Saltzman needs to stock his supplies more often." Arabella hummed and accidentally brushed a few things causing them to fall. She groaned and went back to the main part of the kitchen, opening the fridge.

"So you're a vampire then?" Penelope asked in a grin. "Interesting."

Arabella closed the fridge and clicked her tongue. "And Very much in need of blood." She said and tried to walk past the girl but held her heel up, stopping her.

"I can help you with that." She hinted, dropping her leg when Arabella looked at her weirdly. Then, Penelope brushed her hair to the side, trying to get a reaction from her which was no use.

"Yeah I'm not about to drink from you. Policy rules." She widen her eyes a bit and stayed her ground. "Tempting, but no." She said seriously.

Penelope frowned suspiciously. "Who gives a crap about rules anymore? Are you one of those Vamps that stick to the rules?" She teased and pushed herself off the counter.

"Clearly not seeing as we just came out of a party." Arabella leaned on the counter behind her, hands were on opposite sides of each other to posture herself.

"Seriously? I'm offering to rock your world right now." Again with the grin, she moved her way slowly towards the girl, hair still on her shoulder.

Arabella sighed and rolled her eyes. "I'm not dumb, sweetheart. Who are you trying to piss off by getting to me?" She quirked her eyebrow up, looking at the witch who was discreetly making her way to her.

"I am more innocent than a baby cub." Penelope feigned. "But I do know your secret." She gasped in a dramatic way.

"I have many secrets." Arabella crossed her arms, now looking at the witch suspiciously.

"I do know that you're not a 17 year old girl who got turned by Ms. Forbes-Salvatore because you were dying." Penelope stopped in her tracks, eyeing the girl up and down. "Plus, Josie told me all about Arabella Salvatore."

It took her a second before Arabella chuckled darkly. "I should have known you were Penelope. What's it this time?" She motioned to her scheme on getting back on Josie for whatever reason they broke up.

"Like I said, I'm innocent like a baby cub." Penelope winked and placed her hands over Arabella's who sighed and tried to get off but was no use. "So, about that thirst? Are you going to suck me dry?"

Arabella looked down at the girl seeing as she was slightly much more taller. There was no thirst anymore seeing as she was emotionless on what to do. "Better hope you don't tell anyone about who I am." She warned, pushing past the witch who looked impressed for her self control.

"Or what?" Penelope pulled her wrist back, making them stand close to each other. "Going to tell Jo-jo?" She looked at Ara's eyes directly, taunting her madly.

Arabella could only gave her a warning look, her purple eyes were glued to Penelope as a warning.

"Ara?"

They both turned their heads, seeing Josie looking betrayed and upset of what she saw. Before Arabella could explain, The siphoner turned her heels quickly and left, thinking that the two were having a moment which wasn't very friendly like.

Penelope sucked in a tight air before walking closely to Arabella, leaning to her ear. "Sorry, sweetheart." She whispered one more time before leaving as well.

A heavy sigh and frustration escaped her lips, flipping a near by table causing many plates to shatter.

☘︎︎