𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐬

Everyone is currently sitting in the living room discussing Maria and her break down. Tiare filled me in on everything while we waited for Jac to get here. I can't believe what Maria has gone through and how she's had to carry that weight on her shoulders for so long.

After Damon got Maria to stop setting the house on fire she passed out and Stefan took her up to his room. Now we're all sitting in the living room trying to come up with a plan to keep her safe.

"So you think she for sure broke the cloak?" Damon asks the oldest Griffith sitting next to Elena. Tiare nods.

"From the amount of power and emotions that you just saw, there is no way she didn't break it" Tiare confirms causing everyone's shoulders to slump.

"Shit" Damon curses clenching his jaw. Jac looks around at everyone.

"So what do we do then?" She asks as everyone tries to find a way to answer her.

"Well one she can't be alone at any time of the day so one of us always has to be with her" Stefan says moving to stand in the middle of the room.

"And she'll need to learn how to control her powers better. I have grimoires and I'll ask Grams to chip in" Stefan nods at Tiare.

"She's still a celebrity so we'll have to make sure she's watched at all times and double security" Jac pitches in.

"And watch everyone. Witches are sneaky bastards, they could be wearing anyone's face" Damon adds on only making everyone more alert.

He was right, the beings after Maria aren't just regular people. They are supernatural creatures with many different abilities and tricks. If you weren't careful you could never see them coming.

"Okay then we have the protection plan, but how are we going to stop this. I mean she can't go back in to hiding for another 5 years" Elena asks the question they were all thinking.

"In the prophecy it says the only way she can really defend herself is by reaching maximum power. If she ever does that then anyone would be foolish to come after her" Tiare informs the new gang.

"Okay then how do we do that?" The green eyed vampire ask only to receive a shrug in return.

"I don't know, I mean I would have to research it" Tiare sighs stressing over her sisters safety.

"You don't know, of course not" Damon chuckles humorlessly walking towards the bar. The brown skinned women glare at him as he did so.

"No Damon I don't, but seeing as you know everything. Why don't you tell us something we've all been wondering" Damon turns to her awaiting her question.

"Ask away" He grins tightly leaning against the doorframe.

"How did you get her to stop? How did you know she was going to stop? And why on Earth would she stop for you?" Tiare asks getting to shout by the last question. Damon's smirk dropped immediately.

"Alright, you asked your questions. Conversation over" Damon orders with a roll of his eyes.

"Come on Damon, doesn't this sound all too familiar. You growing a tight bond with your brothers girl-"

"I said Conversation over!" The Salvatore brother snaps slamming his drink on the coffee table.

"Okay guys, lets just get back to Maria okay?" Stefan interrupts them glaring between them.

"Right ahem- so we've discussed everything but..." Jac trails off not wanting to come to terms with what she was about to say.

"An escape plan" She finishes looking down at her hands.

The room goes silent as they all don't want to think about the inevitable.

That Maria might have to disappear.

"Don't worry about that" Tiare mutters lowly but loud enough for everyone to hear. Elena furrows her eyebrows in concern.

"What do you mean?" She asks the women next to her.

The brown haired beauty glances around at everyone blankly.

"I've had an escape plan ready for Maria for years, it's already set up" She stares off at the space in front of her.

"Okay, then it's settled. We have to do whatever it takes to protect her" Stefan looks around as everyone nods in agreement. He nods.

"Okay, I'm gonna go check on Maria" The blonde boy speeds up to his room.

Jac stands up with shaking hands. She flashes a forced smile.

"I'm gonna go see if there's anything my aunt can find. I'll bring some of Marias stuff by later" Elena and Tiare nod watching as she leaves.

Tiare stands up this time straighten her dress.

"I have to make a call" She mumbles glancing at Damon who waves his fingers at her mockingly.

"See ya" He sends her a fake grin as she marches out of the room.

"And then there were two" Damon voices from his side of the room. Elena looks at him curiously.

"Got a problem, brownie. See something you like?" He muses in a cocky tone. Elena scrunches her face uncomfortably.

"Not in the slightest" She scoffs crossing her arms. Damon raises his eyebrows in mock surprise.

"Oh, she speaks. Wonderful, I was beginning to think you were mute or something" He mumbles in amusement taking another large sip from his glass of brown liquor. They sat in comfortable silence until Elena broke it.

"You love her don't you?" The brunette girl asks suddenly. Damon stares into the fire place for a few seconds before answering.

"Maybe" The vague answer was all the information she needed. Damon sat up in his seat matching her stare.

"You love her don't you?" He repeats her question from a few moments ago. She shrugs looking away from him.

"Maybe" that was all he needed.

Out in the hall Tiare takes out her phone to call someone.

The line rings until someone answers on the third chime.

"Hello" I gruff voice answers on the other side of the phone.

"It's happening" Tiare rushes not beating around the bush. The other line goes silent for a few moments.

"How long does she have?" The person asks the older sister. She massages her temples as a migraine begins to set.

"Until they find her...a month at most" She answers the mystery caller.

"I'll let everyone know" Tiare nods at the persons reply.

"Is the plan still set to go into action?" Tiare braces herself for any possible reply.

"Of course, it was going to happen eventually Tiare. We care about you two too much to just leave you helpless" The brown skinned women breathes a sigh of relief as a slight weight was lifted.

"I'll pack her emergency bags and all the money. I want you guys to hide it" She looks down to her feet leaning on the back of her heels.

"What about the other stuff?" Tiare shakes her head as if they can see her.

"Maria already hid it. I told her not tell anyone where just in case, including myself" Tiare explains to the caller.

"Okay, okay that's good" Tiare sighs heavily.

"Thank you so much, to all of you. You have no idea how much this means to me. My sister is the only person I have left and I will protect her at all cost...even if I have to let her go" The realization causing tears to build up in the corner of her eyes.

"You're family, Tiare. You don't have to thank me" The caller assures only causing Tiare's tears to fall.

"I know it just- still thank you" Tiare chokes out through gritted teeth trying to control herself.

"Stay safe, Tiare. I really hope I don't see you soon" The mystery person admits. Tiare nods in agreement.

"Me too"

I wake up in a familiar room. My limbs feel heavy and sore as I move to sit up. When I lean against the headboard of the bed I realize I'm in Stefan's room.

I see Stefan sitting at his wooden desk reading through old books. I look down at my clothes to see I was changed into a loose t shirt and sweatpants.

Stefan looks behind him when he hears movement from the bed. I meet his gaze when I look up from my clothes.

"Hey you're awake. How are you feeling?" He asks closing the book he was looking through and making his way over to me. I shrug only to wince at the soreness.

"I've been better" I tell softly. Stefan's eyes soften at how vulnerable I sound. He sits on at the edge of the bed on the side I'm on.

"Everyone's downstairs, but we figured you'd want to rest" Stefan tells me. I nod in response.

I look down at my hands that sat in my lap. I wanted to address the elephant in the room, but I couldn't. I literally can feel Stefan's curiosity but he holds his tongue. He wanted to ask me a question that he knew I wouldn't be able to answer. But I didn't want to leave him hanging on to think this is just another Katherine situation.

They never fully told me what happened since I never really asked, but I know it was brutal and ended in both of them being killed by their own father. I wonder how she did it, I mean how could she string them along like that? Play with them as if they were puppets, control their every move. I feel terrible for them just thinking about it.

Which is why I could never do that to Stefan and I can't let him think that either.

"I know what you're thinking" I mumble still looking down at me hands. Stefan remains quiet.

"It's not like that Stefan, I couldn't do that to you" I confess truthfully looking up when he doesn't respond.

He's staring at me intensely.

"That's what she said" He answers coldly causing chills to run down my spine at his blank expression.

"But I'm not her, so don't make me out to be her. I'm not that kind of person Stefan. If I wanted Damon I wouldn't be here with you" I defend honestly. Stefan nods believing my reply. But he continues looking off pondering on the words stuck at the tip of his tongue.

I wait for him to get off whatever is on his chest. Stefan rubs a hand down his face in frustration before finally mustering enough courage to face me again. I raise an eyebrow at his flustered expression.

"Stefan?" He meets my gaze caving in. I continue to wait patiently for him to ask whatever is causing him so must distress.

"And what about Elena?"

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