From Then to Now

"Keep running Jazi!!..." I scream as she stops to help me. My
foot stuck between blackberry bush vines.

"I'm not leaving you! Hurry pull your leg, I'll lift the vine."
She says as we hear a rustle in the leaves coming fast.

"I can't, Just go!!

"I said I'm not leaving you Paris. Now pull!" She yanks the vines one way and I pull my leg, freeing my ankle from the vines. She helps me to my feet and we take of running through the forest once more.

Grabbing each others hands, we leap over a busted old tree stump and make our way to the fence. "You first, slide under and run. Do you hear me?" I say as she begins to climb under the wooden fence. We always made sure we had a hole we could get back through. Seeing as how this wasn't our first run through the woods.

"But.."

"No buts, run Jazi.. I'll be right behind you. okay?" She does exactly what I say, she slips under the fence and starts running towards the house. Just as I kneel to crawl under I feel a hand grip the back of my shirt, pulling me up from the ground. Before I could even turn my head I am thrown from the fence back to the woods, slamming hard against a tree. My body bouncing off the tree and landing in the undergrowth of leaves and branches.

"Well well well, if it isn't the nosy little girl." A deep male voice says as I try to compose myself, turning myself so my back is against the tree. "When will you learn that the woods aren't made for you?" He says as he circles me. " Go ahead, try to run. It's more fun that way."

Pressing up against the tree as I stand, I shake my head. "What do you want?" I ask.

"Oh you know, I just want to show you that it's not okay to meddle in other peoples business. You and that lovely sister of yours have no right to be in these woods. THIS isn't your property, your father knows that, he's been told before." He says as he glares at me.

"I'm not my father, and I have no idea what you are talking about." Stepping away from the tree, only to be pushed back against it.

"Doesn't matter, he was warned. Now it's time for him to suffer the consequences." His eyes darken and sharp teeth appear beyond his lips. "It's party time." He says as his mouth opens and he leans in towards my neck. I close my eyes and wait.. but nothing. Upon hearing a snap and then a thud I open my left eye to take a peak, and then my other. Nothing. He was gone.

"I do believe this is your chance to run, Paris." That voice, I've heard it before.

"Who's there?"

"You won't get any more chances, make your way home. Now." His voice gets firmer and darker. So I do as I'm told, I take off through the woods and to the fence. Never looking back, I Meet Jazi at the house.

"Where in the hell have you been? You said you were going

 to be right behind me. DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN PARIS!" She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. "Don't ever leave me like that." I hug her back tightly and peak over into the woods.

There he stands, lurking, watching. That dark mysterious side grin. Who is he and why did he save me?

Taking a deep breath, I turn over and pull back the sheet. "Fucking dreams."

Stepping out of my bed I go for a quick shower. so much has to be done today. After changing into my jean and loose tank top, I secure my knives to my thigh and place my bow over my shoulder. I grab my pack and begin shoving important things into it. DejaVu all over again. Making my way downstairs all I can do is shake my head.

Walking over a body and next to another, I pluck a few photos off of my mantle, and stick them into my bag. I head for the kitchen, stopping above a body. My eyes canvasing the body. Anger takes over and I kick the limp body.

"Now, now. It's not fair to kick someone when they are already down, in this manner, already dead. Is it now?" The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I take in a deep breath. My hand moves towards my knife slowly. "Don't do that, Paris." I turn quickly, flinging the knife towards him, I should have known better. He slams me against the wall. "I said, NOT to do that."

"What do you want, Elijah? You shouldn't be here." I wiggle my arms lose and he takes a step back. "Take a look around, this.. this is my life, and you aren't welcomed in it anymore." I saunter across the room to retrieve my blade from the wall.  "Our worlds aren't the same." Making my way to the kitchen, I pull a bottle of Bourbon and a bottle of vodka from the bar, a long with some shitty snack foods.

I slip out the back door to find him standing by my car. "Move, Elijah." He strides sideways and opens my door for me. "Would you just stop. What do you want?"

"Where are you going Paris?" He asks as he folds his arms. I raise a brow and continue to the garage. Pulling out a gas can and shaking it. "What? Are you going to just burn it all away? The memories? I remember there being a few memories of us in this house." He says with that damn smirk.

"It's my house, I'll do what I want with it, thank you very much." Trailing the gas can behind me as I finish walking through the house, dousing the dead bodies and the dead memories. I take in a deep breath and toss the can. "Last time I checked there wasn't anything worth remembering. Is there now?"

"You always had a thing for running, didn't you Paris? Even as a child. Always running, getting into trouble." I slam him against the wall. "Did I hit a soft spot?" He says with an arched brow.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE!" I scream at him, punching him in the arm. "You should have been here to help her Elijah! Where the fuck were you?" I shake my head and let him go, taking a step back I breath in. "What happened to the all mighty powerful Elijah, protector and warrior? Huh? So much for that."

"Paris.."

"No, stop. I don't even want to hear it anymore. I'm so tired of always being the one to pick up the damn pieces. Always trying to decide whos side I'm on. If what I am doing is the right thing, or if it's going to get someone killed. I'm done with this, Elijah." I take out a box of matches and open the front door. "I'm going to find him, and then I'm going to kill him. And then when I'm done with that.. There's someone else on my list that needs to be taken care of. and DON'T try to stop me. Or you'll be part of that list.

I slide the match against the side of the box and toss it into the living room, watching as the flames hit the blood stained carpet and engulf the ground. I turn to face Elijah with so much hatred in my eyes, he turns and allows me to walk past him. "Be careful Paris." Trying to ignore his words I get in my car and peel out of my driveway, I get onto the main road and begin heading east of Mystic Falls. Straight to daddys cabin.

Pissed Off

After picking myself up off the floor, I pull my hair back and walk to the sink. Grabbing a bottle of water sitting on the counter. I splash some cold water on my face, drying it with a towel. Tossing it on the counter. "Fucking Mess." I pull out a plastic bag and make my way to the freezer, placing some ice in the bag, I close it. Reach for the bourbon and some Tylenol. Twisting the cap off of the bottle I take back the bills and the amber liquid. Probably more than I should have at that moment.

"Fuck it." I say as I toss the bottle of water back onto the counter and head through the house with the bourbon in hand. My eyes catching every thing that reminds me of Jazi. I walk past the mantle and flip the pictures one by one. Then continue to do so throughout the living room.

I plop down onto the sofa. And stare at the mess. " I'm totally not cleaning this shit up." I take back some more of the bourbon, which I haven't had since the last time we were all in my house. Me, Jazi, Damon, and Elijah. I let out a long sigh, shake my head and stand up. Causing myself to close my eyes and focus.

I look around and try to remember where my phone is. I have to call Travis. He should have came with me. At least I wouldn't have been in this mess alone. He's probably already tried calling me a billion times. He's going to be so pissed when he finds out what happened. I swear he worries too damn much for a partner. I told his ass not to get attached.

I head upstairs, flipping the photos on the wall until I come to one. The one of me, Jazi, Maddox, mother and father. Jazi was just a baby in this photo but the day was such a vivid memory. I clench my fist and a tear falls down my cheek. Slamming my hand into the photo I let out a scream. So much anger, so much sadness balled up inside.

I step into my room and slam the door behind me. Sliding down the back of the door I let out a cry, just enough to make me feel a little bit better. I lift the bottle and laugh. "Look who turned out a lone in the end.." I take a hefty swig and make my way to my feet. Locking the door behind me, I slip into bed, pulling the down to my face; burying myself into a silent slumber.

Tomorrow I will take care of the house, and then it's hell to pay. "I'll find you, father.. If it's the last thing I do.."

Family Ties

My eyes flutter as my head jolts to a twist, looking around I can see three bodies pacing. And then I spot him. The man who gave up on his family to pursue being a Hunter. The man I once loved and cared bout. The man I call father.

"Dad?"
"Paris! I am so sorry, I never intended for this to happen. Not to you." He says as he wiggles in his chair.

I try to remember how I got here, but I can't. The last thing I remember was answering my door. The rope tightly knotted against my wrists, I look around and realize the men holding us captive, are none the less blood suckers themselves. One looking a bit familiar, I cock my head and stare at him.
"Stop Staring Paris, it's not polite." He says. With those words he turns his back to me. "You, your father, even that pesky brother of yours have a problem with meddling into other peoples business. This is what happens when you are warned and refuse to do as you are told. Hunters are not allowed here in Mystic Falls. So, it is our duty to make sure you are no longer a threat."

He paces through out my living room, fingers gliding across photos. "Martin, buddy, dear old friend. How is that loving little girl of yours? Jazmine, is it?"

"Keep my sisters name out of your mouth. Or else." I say as I try harder to slip my wrists out of the rope.
"Or else? Paris, my dear. Please tell me that you know who I am, and that you do know better than to talk to me in that tone." He turns around and I just glare at him. "Well now, that IS a bit disappointing. You see, I... well, WE all use to be friends back in the day, Your dear old daddy was once a great man. Until one day he realized he was better than us. Leaving us to defend ourselves from those so called monsters. You know, the ones he trained you to hunt. We were all there that day, and he ran, ran so far that he missed out on the lovely opportunity to be one of us. He didn't so much as look back to see if we were going to be okay. Over time I guess you can say his guilt got the best of him. Because that's when he decided to start training. That is why he took pride in his children, he wanted to create an army of hunters. Why do you think he wanted you and Maddox to hunt with him all the time? It surely wasn't because he was a mere animal hunter. Face it Paris, YOU were created just for this purpose.

My head turns and my eyes meet his "Paris.. don't listen to him."

"Stop, you aren't allowed to talk. Not here, not anymore. No more bullshit dad. Wait until Maddox finds out what you did." I pull my teary eyes away from his gaze and close them. Wishing and praying that he will just walk through the door this very minute.

"Maddox? You think Maddox cares about you?" He says with a laugh. "Who do you think gave me your address? He is still one of us, as are you. You can't deny that. I know what you did back in Montana and New York. You are a hunter, you had a duty to this family, and you betrayed us. You and that sister of yours. You should have taken care of her when you had the chance to Paris." He shakes his head and lets out a disappointed sigh. "I didn't think they would follow me here, I'm sorry. None of this would be happening if your mother would have  just allowed her to hunt. She should have learned the ways of this life."

"Enough already, this isn't some family bonding time. I have business to attend to. And you two are screwing up my plans. As I already mentioned, I don't take hunters here in Mystic Falls lightly, as a matter of fact, I don't take them at all." He flicks his wrist, and a sudden burst of heat shoots trough me. Standing before me with a shit eating grin on him, is one of the three vampires. I let out a cough, sputtering out a few drops of crimson blood. One more sharp pain and I soon realize I have a knife peering out of my abdomen.

"NO!!!" My father yells as the vampire takes one last stab at me. My head limps as I hear the elder vampires voice. "Oh, this is on you Martin, this.. is all your doing. You were told to stay away, but you just had to come back, didn't you?" I feel my hair being yanked and then a sharp pain through my neck. I scream out in agony as I feel his teeth rip through my skin.

Then, nothing. My surroundings go black and all I hear is a few thuds and what sounds like Jazis voice.
"What the hell?" Feeling my life beginning to slip away I hear her, loud and clear and I know that I have no choice. "Drink sissy." So I do. The taste of iron slipping down my tongue. I never imagined my life at this point. My sister, the vampire who I had an obligation to kill, is now saving my life.

She unties me, and I begin to feel the life return to my body, slowly.. but surely. Looking up I see her walking away from us, I try to call out to her to not turn her back, but it's too late. Just as she enters the kitchen he follows her. "Daddy... NO!"

I sprint towards the kitchen, grabbing his arm, "Dad STOP! You can't do this!" I yell as he pushes me back, causing me to lose my balance.

"I said I was sorry Paris, but you will never be safe with her around." He says as he enters the kitchen. I get back to a full stand and stamper to the kitchen, just in time to catch him staking her.
"NOOOO!!" I scream as I lunge forward, jumping like a little kid onto his back. With his full force he swings me around, throwing me off of him, My head slamming against the marble counter. I instantly drop to the cold floor. I can feel the blood running down my neck. "Jazi...." I whisper as I fade in and out of consciousness. My eyes flutter to the site of my own flesh and blood, my father pushing the stake farther into my only sister. I try to move but I fade back out again. Coming around once more I see the face of my father, with Jazi in his arms. A single tear forms at the corner of my eye as he walks out through the back door.

Feeling a hand on me, shaking me about like a rag doll, I peer up to see Damon staring down at me. "PARIS! What happened? Where is she, where is Jazi?" I look around as I make my way to my feet, unsure of how long I have been out. It couldn't have been that long, or has it? Bringing my hand to touch the wound, I wince at the pain ripping through the back of my head.

"How long was I out?" I ask Damon, a bit confused, but he ignores me.
"Paris I know she was here, where is she?

I glance around at the massive mess in my house. Blood, Everywhere. I shake my head in disbelief that what had just happened wasn't a dream. "My father, he staked her. I watched him Damon.. and I couldn't even help her." I place my head in my hands an close my eyes.

"Where is he Paris, the address... NOW!" He demands.

"I don't know. I didn't even know he was here. I didn't know he knew we were here." He grabs my arm and I quickly snatch it from him. "Don't touch me, Damon... ever." I walk across the kitchen trying not to step in my sisters blood. "This is all your fault.." I mumble as I fold my arms to comfort myself "He has a cabin in the woods heading out East from Mystic Falls. I don't know if he still lives there or not.." I turn around to see Damon gone. The door is open and a clear crisp breeze make its way through the house, releasing an aroma of blood. "Fuck"

I drop to the ground, knees hitting the concrete ground. My eyes make their way to a photo of Jazi and I on the kitchen wall. My face pale, my heart full of pain, and hatred. I sit there and stare.  Staring beyond the photo, visions of Jazi and I running through the woods at a young age pop into my head and a trail of tears make their way down my cheek. "What have I done?.."

Mystic Falls

After the arrival of Liliana I decided to distance myself. When Damon made the choice to leave my sister, it completely turned her world upside down. With no knowledge of his where abouts, or any reasoning behind him abandoning his family Jazi became a home body, locked herself away in that house. That dark, cold house. She excluded the outside world, including me. I wasn't sure what to do. How was I supposed to tell her that life would be okay? That she can continue to lead a loving life without Damon? I couldn't. I was left in the dark, and there was nothing I could do or say to my sister to make her come out of her stage of mourning.

Damon might as well be dead. Or so, you would think by the way things were unraveling in life. But the thing was, we didn't know what happened to him. No one seemed to know.
Elijah was making more and more appearances at the house. He was quite the helper around there, taking on almost an uncle role to those kids. Seeing as how our feelings strayed from one another, I couldn't bare to hang around the house much. Allowing myself to let go of the family I so longed to have back in my life, my sister; I left. Leaving my home just the way I had left it before, I ventured out into the open world.

Taking just a few essential things a long with me. Making sure I grab my photos of both Dante and Lilianna. The only children I know that will ever be a part of my heart.

Jumping with a gasp of air as I wake to the sound of my phone going off, I look at it and see an unknown number. Not many people have this number, so in curiosity, I answer.
"Miss Rayne?"

"Depends on who is asking., What can I do for you?"

"Sorry to bother you, but it's Emma, the witch you contacted before leaving town... Um, I have some information you might want to hear about."

Pulling my robe around me and tying it at the waist, I look over my shoulder to see that Travis is still passed out in bed. I pad my bare feet across the bedroom and shut the door behind me; making my way to the kitchen. Listening to Emma, I pour myself a cup of coffee. Just as I am lifting it to take a sip I hear the words com out of her mouth. Dropping my cup, my eyes shut in slow motion as I hear the glass smash against the rock tile. Waiting to open them until I have composed myself. I take a deep breath and ask her if she is sure of what she is telling me.

"I'm sure of it. I can do the spell again if you would like, just to be sure?"

"No. That's quite alright Emma. I will be there as soon as I can. We can discuss the details when I get there."

"Yes ma'am." She says with such a clear tone.

"Oh Emma, one more thing before I get off the phone. You can't let anyone know I am coming back. I mean No one.. is that understood?"

"Yes Ma'am, I understand."

Tossing the phone onto the counter I pull the paper towels from their holder and begin to unravel them. I lean down to clean up my mess just as Travis comes walking in to see if everything is alright.

"Paris, are you okay? I heard glass."

"Yeah, I'm okay. I just dropped my coffee cup is all."
Cleaning up my mess, I can't help but run things through my head. Knowing I need to get back to Jazi, I rush off to the bedroom and pull my robe off. I grab my jeans and slip them over my bare ass. I grab a pink tank top and pull it over my head, followed by an over sized cream covered sweater. I lace up my black boots and stick my dagger in my right one. I pull my pack from the back of the closet and grab my car keys.

Kissing Travis on the cheek, I grab my phone off the counter. "When are you coming back?"

I shrug and smile. "I'm not sure. I promise I will text you or call you though, okay?" Smiling as he walks over to me, placing his hands around my waist. "Please be careful. I can go with you, just so you are safe."

"No, she's my sister. Damon is her husband. I have to do this myself. I need to know." Leaning up into a kiss, I step back down onto my heels. "Don't be too far from your phone Travis. If i do decide I need my partner, I want to know he'll be there when the time comes. Got it?"

"Yes ma'am. I have a mission though that I need to get ready for. I leave tonight. I will send you all the details once I am on the move."

"Please be careful. I don't want to have to come and save you all over again." Laughing as I start to walk away. I stop in my tracks. Purse my lips and raise a brow. "Oh, and Travis... Stop staring at my ass." Hearing him laugh as I walk away and exit the house.

After a few long hours on the road, I finally make it to where I was headed. I slowly pull into the drive, and shut off my lights. Hopefully no one seen me pull in. I hit the button for the garage and pull my car in, shutting the door behind me. I make my way out of my car and into the house.

"Damn, I missed being here." Flicking the lights on, I make my way through the living room to start a fire.  I rummage through the mail that has been piling up by the front door, taking it back with me and tossing it in the flames. Upon looking at the family portrait of my sister and I, I wonder if I am doing the right thing? Am I safe being back here? Should I call Jazi? I shake it off and twist the cap of my bottle of rum. Seems to be the only thing that works to calm my nerves.

I open the drawer under my desk and pulls out a red felt pack. Laying it out before me, I unroll it. Revealing a few blades and a stake. Stained in blood I pick up the stake and examine it. "Poor lost soul." I say placing it back down. I glance around the room, at the darkness in which it has become. Nothing here is the same as it has once been. I am not the same Paris as Jazi once knew. The hunter in me will find a way to fix this. To fix her. She is all I have and I won't let the likes of the Vampires destroy her. Mystic Falls will fall, and Damon will fall with it. Now that I know he is alive and back here, I will find him. And I will make him pay for the damage he has done upon my sister.