Today was the first day Linkin was let out of his room. He had been locked in there for two days without anything to eat. But thankfully he had his own bathroom so he could at least do his business, clean up an drink water.

He cleaned himself up after Carol unlocked the door and informed him of the days proceedings. The whole town was here to see the old artefacts that the place had. Linkin thought it was cool living in a museum, behing surrounded by all that history.

But as guests starting arriving, he had to put on a fake smile as everyone came up the steps of the manson. Giving false pleasantries, greetings and thanks. Doing what he had to do to keep up the family image.

Although, the big cut along his face probably isn't helping that in anyway.

"Hey Linkin." Bonnie said as she climbed up the stairs. She was wearing a beautiful gold dress with her hair left out, her curls hanging over shoulder.

"Hi." He said giving her his first actual smile with an genuine hug.

"I haven't heard from you in a couple days." She said still looking him over.

"Oh hush child." Came a voice that made Linkins happiness sky-rocket.

"Grams." Link all but cheered gently bringing the woman into his embrace. As they pulled apart the woman gave him a quick glance over. He was trying to hide it but she could see he was in pain.

"Ah, Sheila Bennett." Richard said moving over to the three, leaving Carol to do invite guests in. "I didn't expect to be seeing you here." He said slyly sending his son a warning look.

"I'm not normally one to go to such an event of unnecessary extravagance." Sheila said flatly.

"We figured we'd come an check out all the history." Bonnie said just as plainly.

"Yes." Sheila chimmed in. "One never knows what they could come to learn in a place like this." She spoke in a warning tone.

Mayor Lockwoods whole demeanour changed at the older womans words. His smile disappearing as his face morphed into a scowl. "Enjoy the party." He said through gritted teeth before turning to his son. "Come Linkin." The man ordered.

"Oh my, I'm suddenly famished." Shelia said with her signature smirk turning to the boy. "Would you kindly show an old woman to the buffet?"

"I-"

"Perfect." Shelia cut him off, linking her arm with his while Bonnie took the other. Both Bennett's then briskly and with supriseing strength dragged Linkin into the house away from his now fuming father.

"Grams, Bonnie." He chastised finally wiggling free from the two.

"Don't use that tone with me." Grams said playfully.

"Yes ma'am." He immediately said and Bonnie badly covered a laugh with a cough.

"Are you alright child?" Sheila asked him genuionly. She reached out to put a hand on his shoulder but he jerked back slightly. Bith the wemon looked downtrodden.

"They can't keep doing this to you Linkin. It's not okay." Bonnie said with anger to the Lockwoods.

"Bo-." He tried.

"She's right. No one should have to be treated the way you are." Grams added in.

Linkin was starting to feel really uncomfortable. They always had this conversation every now and then but, right now the whole town is here and anyone could hear whay they were saying. "Can we please not talk about this now." He pleeded looking around corners and in open doorways.

"Would you want to mov-"

"Whats going on guys?" Matt said coming around the coner. His eyes widened slightly seeing Bonnie's grandmother at the event. "Hi Mis Bennett." He added.

"Ah, hello Mathew. It's been a while but I was hoping to talk to Linkin here privately." She told him.

"I've actually just come to fetch him. Sheriff Forbes wanted some help with something and needs someone who knows the house." He said.

"Oh." Linkin said seeing an escape. "Well se shouldn't keep the Sheriff waiting." He said turning to walk with Matt.

"Link-" Bonnie tried.

"Sorry, but you guys enjoy the party." He said over his shoulder befor turning down another hall.

"I'm sorry Grams." Bonnie said.

"Its all right." She dismissed. "He's just scaired right now hunny." She explained.

"What if we tell Carolines mom about it. She's the Sheriff and she-."

"As much as I want to hunny, the only way he'll ever turly escape this is if he chooses it for himself."

"The he needs to know that he has other choices then here." Bonnie argued as here eyes started to well.

"I know. But right now isn't the best time or place. We'll give him the option later." She reassured her granddaughter as they both hugged one another.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked Link stopping them.

"I'm really starting to get sick of that question." Linkin mumbled.

"Has Drake-"

"Goodbye Matt." Link him cut off walking away.

He walked out into the main area and saw Miss Forbes. "You called Sheriff." He said coming up beside the woman.

"Oh, hey Linkin." She said smiling. Carolines mom has always been nice, if a bit oblivious. "Yair, I needed help moving some boxes to the basement from the room over there." She said leading him over to a storage room. When she opened the door he was greeted with a mountain of half empty boxes. "I know its alot, I can ask someone to help?"

"No. It's fine." Linkin said with a fake smile.

Sheriff Forbes nodded before walking off to the party. "Great." Linkin sighed before getting started.

...

It must have taken him longer than he thought because by the time he was finished it was dark outside. He was on his way back to his room when he was walking by the dinning area.

Carol had quietly told off a guy who was around his age about the candels before telling him to fix it in her rude way. He watched as she walked out another door.

"Bitch." He heard someone say. He looked back into the room and saw Bonnie who just looked disgusted at the direction Carol just left.

He couldn't help but laugh quietly. "I swear these Bennett's just don't take shit from no one." He thought amused. Then he saw Bonnie stare intensely at a candle for a moment. "Is she?"

But the Bennett girl just huffed anoyed standing up straight accidentally lighting the candle mounted on the wall behind her. She turned to leave but stoped noticing the lit candle kind of confused. Linkin watch as all the candles lit themselves as Bonnie turned around in awe at what she did. "Finally." Link sighed happily seeing the smile on hia best friends face.

But his attention was drawn the other way when he heard a door slam behind him and a teary eyed Caroline storming off. He wasn't so suprised to see Elena walk out immediately after her and boy did she look pissed.

"What did you do to her?" Link asked the Gilbert girl whos eyes shot straight at him and she stomped over.

"Have you seen Damon?" She asked in an angry tone ignoring the question.

"No. Why would I see Damon?" He asked completely confused.

"Because that psycho is here as Carolines date an hes been hurting her." She exclaimed and Linkin went wide eyed.

"Elena listen to me okay. Go find Stefan do not confront Damon." He said immediatly and the girl looked at him in shock.

"Are you serious right now? He's hurting her and you of all people should know how that feels." She shot back in disbelief.

Linkin had suddenly felt a hot burning anger start to flash through him. "Elena." He said in a low tone so suddenly the girl froze. "If you don't shut up and find Stefan in the next five seconds I will throw you out the front door." He growld balling his fists.

Elena gulped before nodding and hurriedly speeding off. His temper was still elevating until the point he just yelled and punched the wall leaving a dent. "I think it's time Damon got what was coming to him."

Linkin had scored the halls and empty rooms searching for the vampire but ended up bumping into something else. Someone much worse.

"Well look who it is." Came the voice of a bandaged nose Drake Riate. The boy pushed him into Linkins fathers study room and locking the door behin them.

"Your lucky I'm not pressing charges against you fagget." He said angrily stepped close making Link back up into his fathers desk knocking some stuff over.

"Your seriously saying that-." Drake just slapped him across the face cutting him off. He heard his glasses hit the floor and felt his face throb.

"I didn't say you could speak." He spat grabbing Linkin by the collar and right up into his face.

Thats when they heard the clicking of the door nob as it swung open revealing a startled Carol Lockwood. "What is going on in here?" She asked glairing daggers at Linkin.

Both boys were quiet before Drake's whole face change into a smiling and happy one an he turned to her. Carols demeanour switch seeing it was the family lawyer's son. "Oh my god. This is so embarrassing." Drake said sounding nervous. "We didn't think anyone would come in here." He fake stammered.

To say Carol had a look that scremaed 'oh my god'. She cleared her throat. "Well I don't think now would be a good time for you two be doing what you were doing. I suggest you find some place else." She said moving out of the door way.

"I think tour right." Drake agreed turning back to Link glairing as hia face was out of view. "Come on Link."

He stood there for a second not sure what to do. Would Carol help if he told her? Would she even care? But he needs to stop Damon. "You go ahead." Linkin said swallowing.

Drakes eye actually twitched in anger but before he went to speak Carol cut in. "He an I need to just have a little chat." She added with a fake smile of her own.

"Of cource." Drake said through gritted teeth. "I'll see you later." He said to Link before leaving the room.

The room was quiet for a minute before Linkin just decided to walk out. As he got to the door Carol grabbed his arm stopping him. "Next time don't whore yourself out in your fathers office." She said disgusted before letting him go and walking out herself.

Now he wasn't just angry. He was fuming as he walked the halls boiling with rage, hate, and any other negative emotions you could feel. He found himself outside when he heard a girls scream by the large pond outside. He came down the stairs to the side of the gouse and saw Damon feeding on Caroline. He went to run at him but Stefan appeared infront of him. "No don't l, just wait." He said stepping infront of him.

"I don't give a dam." Linkin said before gripping the back of Stefans neck and taking his bodys magic. "I'm not letting him hurt anyone else again." He let Stefan fall to the floor drained and weak as viens appeard on his neck befor he stormed over to Damon.

"Link wai-"

"Silentium." Linkin said making Stefan lose his voice. He turned back to Damon and Caroline. "Motus!" He yelled throwing his arm right sending the campire flying away from Caroline who feel to the floor.

Damon got stood up groggily bairly able to stand straight. He looked up seeing Linkin standing near Caroline. "You little bit-"

Linkin didn't give him the chance to finish as he thrust his arm back. "Shut Up!" He screamed thrwowing Damon at a tree. "ligamen vitis" The boy chanted in a hiss. Vines grew out of the tree and wraped themselves around Damon tightly restraining him to the tree.

"Since when were you a witch?" He growled struggling against the vines since he was weakened by the vervain in Carolines blood.

"Not for long." Linkin taunted, a smile creeping at the lips. "But." He exclaimed bringinghia hand in frontof his face. "Ignis pila" He wispered and a ball of fire appeared, dancing in his hand. "I was givin this little book thats help me learn alot." He said bringing the fire in his hand closer to Damons face. The vampire had pressed himself back into the tree wincing from the heat on hia skin. "Did you know vampire's have a speacial vulnerability to fire. It's one of the few things that can kill your kind. Well other than decapitation, wood through the heart or removing said organ."

Linkin was ranting on like a mad man and Damon was actually scared he was about to die. "You hurt one of my friend's." He informed the Vampire.

"What can I say. She looked tasty." Damon struggled to say as the some of the vines started to tighten around his throat.

"You know." Linkin started with a dark laugh. "Everyone's always pushed me around, hurt me, bullied me. My friends, family. Hell, even people I don't know think its okay to treat me like crap because everyone else dose and that I can deal with." Linkins smile and amused demeanour dropped as he scowled bringing his hand under Damons cheek. Thw fire in his hand start to burn the right half of Damons face. "But I won't stand for anyone, especially a monster like you to hurt them." He growled pulling his hand holding a fire ball back ready to burn his fave off.

There was a sudden gust of wind and the fire ball died out into a puff of smoke. The next thing was the sound of Damons neck snapping and Linkin got thrown a few feet away to the ground. He was furiously looking around until his eyes landed on Sheila Bennett as she dropped her hands back to her side. She walked over to Stefan removing the silencing spell as he slowly got to his feet.

"Thank you." Stefan told the woman.

"I didn't do it for you." She responded before walking over to the wide eyed Linkin who watch her come closer.

Linkin felt his anger immediately start to subside seemingly to snap back to normal. Sheila got down to her knees cupping the boys face in her hands. "Grams.. I.. I don't know what happened?" He stammered starting to cry.

"Oh child." She sighed wiping his tear. "Come here." She said and she opened her arms for him an it didn't even take him a second to dive into her embrace.

He cried into her shoulder. He only stoped when he realised Caroline was still on the ground. "Oh my god." He said immediatly running over to the girl feelinga pulse. Stay with me Caroline. "cellua regenteros" He chanted holding his hand over her fresh bite wound and it quickly sealed itself back together.

Grams came over and placed a hand on Linkins shoulder. "You should probably go." He told her.

"I can't leave you here by yourself." She said.

"Grams." His voice croaked. "Dad threatened to hurt you if I went see you again." He told her.

Sheila had to fight to keep her voice even. "I don't care. Your one of my own now." She said trying to comfort the boy.

"I'm sorry but I can't risk him coming after you or Bonnie." He said starting to tear up again.

"Ch-."

"Grams." He croaked. "Please go." He begged the woman who has been nothing but a mother to him.

Sheila squeezed his shoulder. "I'll always be there for you." She told him befor letting go and walking away.

Caroline started to wake up. "Linkin?" She asked in a daze. He helped her get to her feet.

"Hey. Are you alright?" He asked brushing the hair out of her face.

"I.. I'm.. Im okay." She stuttered breathing faster.

"Care?"

She had her hand over the bote mark he heald. "I'm okay." She started crying. She was trying to say she wasn't but the compulsion was stopping her.

"Sh, hey. It's all right." Linkin said pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around him sobbing. "He can't hurt you anymore."

Hello 👋

So this chapter had a bit more emotional truma with a twing of action.

I think it's safe to say Linkin isn't handling things too well 😕.

As usual I hope you liked this chapter. An if ya did don't forget to hit that vote button on the bottom left corner of your screen.