Clair de Lune - K.M.

c h a p t e r e i g h t e e n

"Stella! Baby, wake up. We have to be at Wickery Bridge in an hour."

"Go away," I groan, rolling across my mattress and pulling my pillow over my head. My mother ignores my demand and knocks again, the sound echoing through the small space of my bedroom.

"I mean it, Stella. You need to be there."

"Why?" I protest, my voice muffled by the pillow shoved over my head.

"Because I'm the mayor and you're my daughter."

"Since when does that involve getting up on a Saturday," I grumble, low enough that she can't hear me.

"I need to take care of a few things at the office first but I expect you to be there," she says with finality. "Fifty-eight minutes. I mean it."

I let out a groan of frustration and chuck my pillow towards the sound of her voice. It slams into the door with a bang but I hear her continue down the stars nevertheless, used to my temper by now. I throw my head back against the remaining pillows a couple times before I sit up and glance around my room.

It's been a couple of days since we figured out Alaric is the one who's been murdering people in Mystic Falls. He has no memory of these killings and Dr. Fell has been attempting to run tests in order to diagnose what could be causing these blackouts that happen to be paired with homicidal rage. So far she's been unsuccessful, most likely due to the fact that his condition is caused by magic. People aren't supposed to die and come back like that. It was bound to drive him crazy at some point.

Elena is really worried about him. He's the only family she has left. She wants to watch him all the time now, something Damon is not happy about. He's worried that his best friend is going to snap and kill the girl he loves so he's with at least one of them constantly. Meredith has been trying to help too, something else Damon isn't happy about. I don't think he's forgiven her for drugging him yet. 

With all of the chaos that's been going on I completely forgot about the historical restoration of Wickery Bridge that's happing today. My mom's been reminding me for weeks but I've been brushing her off, not exactly excited to spend my Saturday morning kissing up to a bunch of council member and townspeople. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like my plan of just hoping she forgets about me is going to work out.

Rolling my eyes, I jump out of bed and head to my closet to pick out an outfit. I pull out a sweater and a skirt before frowning and reaching for my coat. Vampires don't get cold but the whole point of me going today is to keep up appearances, that we're a perfect, normal, respectable family excluding my dead abusive father and my absentee brother. In the bathroom I brush my teeth and wash my face before swiping on some makeup and tying the top half of my hair back with a black ribbon.

When I head back into my room I grab my keys and phone before slipping on my boots and catching a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror by the door.

I hate it.

I hate that I have to spend my time honoring a town that I don't like, a place that I've felt trapped in my whole life. My mom wants me to be there but everyone knows it's just for her campaign, it doesn't actually have anything to do with me. Can't have both of your children abandon you, that wouldn't look good to voters.

Suddenly an idea forms in my head and an involuntarily smirk makes it's way into my face. I pull out my phone and dial the one person my mother wouldn't approve of me showing up with. If I'm going to play her game I might as well have some fun.

"Hello, pup," the familiar voice answers on the other end of the line.

"Klaus," I grin. "Any chance you're free right now?"