VIENNA--••--DS&SS

•• Chapter Sixty eight ••

Vivian was aware of the towns hustle and bustle as they prepared for the annual Miss Mystic Falls Pageant. She loathed the entirety of it and mostly attended these events for the guaranteed drama that usually happened at these events, this time, she was certain a special someone would be the center of tonight's entertainment.

With everything else going on, Vivian couldn't help but think about the cure. Had she'd know there was such a thing, she'd like to think that she'd be open to taking it. But perhaps now, now that she really thought about it, she liked who she was now. She was stronger now. Faster. She was no longer the naïve person she once was. She smiled to herself as she thought about it. No. She didn't believe she'd take the cure. It wasn't for her.

"Do you often think so hard while you take strolls in the woods?" A familiar voice sounded from her right side. She scoffed and shook her head as she continued walking, her hand hovered the air and caused a bunch of leaves and branches to levitate, they spun in a soft tornado and as she's suddenly grabbed, they drop heavily to the ground.

"Do you often corner woman in the woods?" Vivian asked back, as she let out a laugh, she embraced Stefan's hug.

"I'm not Damon." He tells her, she can't help but smile.

"True enough." Vivian is about to reach up for kiss but before she could, she's grabbed again, but this time, her attacker isn't as friendly as she hoped. With her head in an arm lock, Stefan is quickly on guard as Klaus holds her.

"In what world to the words, "tell no one" mean your brother, lover and every teenage sycophant in this god forsaken town?" Klaus asks, tightening his grip before Vivian could try and shimmy her way out of his hold. She grunted in discomfort as she tried with her other arm to hit his ribs, but he grabbed her am and held her back just a bit tighter.

"The secrets safe. No one who knows about the cure will endanger us. Trust me. You know I wanna find it more than anyone." Stefan says, "let her go." Reluctantly, Klaus lets out a groan of anger but listened to Stefan and let Vivian go. She scoffed in annoyance as she fixed her hair and clothes. Looking down to the ground, she used her hand and raised a log that was close to Klaus, twisting her hand, the log flew in his direction and hit him square in the jaw. He barely reacted, but that only annoyed Vivian more.

"One: throw another log at me again, and it'll be the last thing you do. Second: if you don't find some vampires for Jeremy to kill....ill offer her over to him as victim one." Klaus says, Vivian crossed her arms over her chest as she stood next to Stefan, who looked as annoyed as she felt. "And try to keep this one to yourselves, would you?" Vivian watched as Klaus sped away in a flash. She turned to Stefan and she knew they were in for it now. With a sigh, she followed him back towards the boarding house.

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"So." Vivian stated, as she and Stefan reached his bedroom. He grabbed a small bag and filled it with a few things. Vivian watched as he silently maneuvered around the room. She could tell he was having a conversation with himself.  She sat herself onto the bed, unsure about what to do. Klaus was pissed Stefan told the others about the cure and his secret alliance, and threatened that if they said anything again, they'd pay for it.
Vivian couldn't imagine Jeremy Gilbert being the one to take her down, not even in his new hunter form. But Klaus was determined, and if he wanted them dead, he would have their heads on a stick in a second.

"They'll figure it out. Damon will figure it out."  Vivian said Damon's name quietly, knowing he could be lurking anywhere. Stefan scoffed as he zipped up his bag. He said nothing to her as he headed out the door, with a sigh, she followed him down the stairs.

"Oh Viv, I've been looking for you...where are you two off to?"

"Uhh...out?" Vivian says, as she passes by him, she gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Okay, that's not suspicious at all. Don't tell me you two are still working with Klaus." Vivian sent glances towards Stefan.

"Obviously not."

"Sure. Okay. Oh, I should probably throw you into the loop....so apparently, if you want to find the cure, we have to find a vampire hunter...who can kill enough vampires to reveal the map on the Hunters Mark." Damon said, as he watched between Vivian and his brother. Vivian could tell he was unsure of them. She knew he would figure it out eventually.

"Now." He said, clearing his throat, "unless we want Jeremy to go all Connor 2.0....I suggest we find a different hunter."

"Okay. And?"

"Well, I see shady Stefan's back." Damon said, and rolled his eyes, "I was gonna ask Professor Shane, but turns out, he's more shadier than you."

"Ha." Vivian mused.

"Anyway." Damon said, "Matt Donavan-of all people- connected him and the pastor through phone records. The two were very chatty the day the pastor blew up the Council."

"Ah. So you're Donna confront Shane, threaten him, possibly kill him." Stefan droned, Damon shrugged his shoulders.

"Unless he tells me what he's up to. That's what's I was going to ask Viv about, what do you  say? Wanna tag-team this with me? I know you're itching for a killing."

Vivian smirked, "you know, I am...but—"

"Actually, I think you should go with Damon." Stefan said, catching Vivian off guard. She had fully prepared to go with Stefan. She didn't exactly know his plan, but she was willing to get her hands dirty with something hands on. She wasn't in the mood for interactions or boring yearly party's.

"Oh?" Vivian said, and crossed her arms over her chest. She ignored Damon's smirk he was giving her as Stefan headed for the door.

"Yeah. Someone has to keep an eye out for Damon." Stefan says. He sends her a tight lipped smile and quickly leaves her and Damon standing in the foyer.

"Like I'm some kind of babysitter. What the hell." She mutters. Damon reaches over to her and puts his arm around her shoulders.

"Come on. It'll be fun. I'll wear a suit, you'll wear a dress...."

"If I don't kill anyone today, I'm going to be pissed."

"Wear something red. It brings out the murder in your eyes." Damon says, with a cocky smile. Vivian grumbles to herself as she rushes back up to her room a to find a dress to wear tot the Miss Mystic Falls pageant. She wasn't kidding about the killing part. If nothing of the sorts happened, she would see to it herself and the likelihood of Stefan being her first victim was not even a question.

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New year new me! My New Year's resolution for 2025 is more Vienna chapters!!