Chapter Twenty-Five

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Daphne sits on the ground outside of the school, a cigarette between her fingers as she stares ahead of her. She's thinking about their coming plan. On the bonfire. She knows that Elena's worried about it too. That this whole thing is upsetting her and Daphne doesn't like either of her siblings hurting. Maybe she is trying to make up for things. For being gone as much as she has. Maybe she believes that things that have happened wouldn't have, if Daphne were here. That they wouldn't be in this mess if she'd been here. Elena moves towards her and sits at her side. The two of them just sitting there in silence for a moment.

"Thanks," Elena is the one to break the quiet, Daphne looks at her. "I've dragged you into this mess and...."

"I'm your sister and this is what sisters do" Daphne stops her. "I know you'd do the same for me"

"Of course I would" Elena assures her. The two of them sharing a look. "But I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if you got hurt because of this, because of me" Daphne stubs out her cigarette and then turns slightly to Elena.

"If I get hurt, it's because I'm diving headfirst into the fun, and not because of you" Daphne assures her. "If I didn't want a part of this, I'd pack up and move into my house in London"

"You have a house in London?" Elena asks, Daphne hums and nods.

"Yeah, it's my Dad's ancestral home and it was passed to me after his death....but that's not the point, the point is that...I am here, and I am involved because I chose to be, and if I get hurt, it will not be on you" Elena looks down a little. "It will likely be on me and my dumbass mouth" Elena laughs a little and looks at her sister. "I've got your back, Snickerdoodle...." Elena hugs Daphne's arm and leans into her. She's really grateful for her sister right about now. When everything else is against her, Daphne is here at her side, supporting the crap out of her. "Because I want to, not because you dragged me into this mess" Elena nods again.

.........

Elena and Daphne return to Alaric's classroom. Damon, Alaric and Caroline are stood with them. It's going to be an all hands on deck kind of thing. Elena paces slightly as she goes over the plan in her head, just to get it down and right. Daphne stands beside Damon, her arms folded over her chest, her wand clasped between her fingers. Damon's eyes are on her, drifting over her. Now that he has a moment to check her out. To check out her little brown plaid dress and those heels. It's like a sexy secretary biker witch thing she's got going on. None of those should work on paper, but one her, yeah, they work. They work really, really well. It all just makes him want to touch her. To find out how she's keeping those socks up. He'll assume magic. Elena turns to them. Pulling Damon's attention away from her sister.

"I'll lure Stefan away from the bonfire" Elena informs them. "Then when he's distracted..."

"I'll use the stunning spell" Daphne finishes. Elena nods in agreement and then pulls a face.

"I hate the idea of putting you in his way, Daph" Elena points out. "He could hurt you"

"I don't love it either" Alaric adds. "I can shoot him" Daphne snorts which stops him.

"I ain't scared of that forehead, he comes at me, I've got a spell that'll turn him into a fucking ferret" She counters. Damon smirks a little.

"I'm convinced" He assures her, she nods in agreement. He believes she could do it.

"Caroline, are you covered?" Daphne asks the blonde who nods.

"Yes! I will make sure that the old Forbes jail cell is prepped and ready." Caroline assures them.

"We're forgetting a key player here. Rebekah? Wherever Stefan goes, the blonde ponytail tends to follow" Damon points out.

"Which is why it's your job to keep her away," Elena tells him.

"How?! She's an Original. Last time I checked, we're out of daggers." Damon argues.

"So then preoccupy her with your charm" Daphne offers, teasing slightly. Damon looks at her and then smirks, shifting closer to her. Fingers ghosting over the warm flesh of her thigh. So close. It wouldn't take too much for him to just reach out and touch her.

"You think I'm charming?" He asks, starting to smirk.

"Hey, guys" Elena stops them before they can start, but there is a smile threatening on her lips. It's nice that Damon has someone that can keep up with that aspect of his personality. Daphne might just be capable of keeping him out of trouble...or getting her into it. "Keep it in your pants for tonight" Daphne bites the inside of her lip, fighting a smirk. She forgets sometimes, just how dangerous it is to get involved with people. Between her magic and her other thing.

"Right" Damon agrees, turning back to the room just a Tyler walks in.

"Sorry, I'm late. What's going on?" He offers.

"We need you to raid your mom's vervain supply" Elena answers. "Enough to keep Stefan down for a while"

"You can't do that to Stefan" Tyler argues, Daphne frowns slightly and unfolds her arms.

"Why not?" She asks.

"Trust me, Tyler, it's in his best interest" Elena adds.

"Yeah. It's not in Klaus'"

"But Klaus is the bad guy, Tyler" Caroline reminds him. "You know, why are you acting like some freaky, hybrid, slave minion"

"Uh-oh" Damon looks suspiciously at Tyler.

"What?" Daphne asks him, he hums a little and then glances at her.

"Klaus made me who I am, Caroline. I owe him everything" Tyler defends himself.

"Oh, boy" Damon comments.

"Okay, can we cool it on the commentary, please" Caroline scolds Damon.

"What is going on?" Elena asks, noting the shared look between Daphne and Damon, and not their usual flirty ones.

"I'm just going to go" Tyler turns around and starts walking to the door. Damon nods slightly and Daphne holds out her wand.

"Stupefy" She casts and the spell hits Tyler and he flies into the wall face first before falling back to the floor unconscious. "Oh shit, forgot the kick that spell can have"

"What are you doing?!" Caroline scolds her.

"He's been sired" Damon argues. Defending Daphne here. Daphne did the right thing. They can't have Tyler screwing this all up.

"What?" Alaric asks.

"Sired" Damon draws out. "He feels loyal to Klaus because Klaus's blood created him"

"Loyal how?" Elena inquires as Daphne pokes Tyler with her shoe just to check he's down. Caroline gives her a look but Daphne just smirks back at her.

"He'll seek acceptance from his master" Damon explains. "It's really rare. But maybe not so much in hybrids"

"So how do I fix him?" Caroline asks, Damon shrugs at her.

"Get a new boyfriend" He offers. Caroline looks at Daphne for another option. Daphne sighs and then shrugs.

"I'll hit the books," Daphne tells her. "But I'm not promising anything...." Caroline nods a little, understanding what she's saying, but it is more hope than Damon offered her.

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