The night air was crisp as I adjusted my cufflinks, taking a moment to look at my reflection in the mirror. The black tuxedo fit me perfectly, a testament to my wealth—wealth I'd acquired through subtle manipulations, erased memories, and altered lives. The power I had gained was intoxicating, not because of the riches, the privileges, or even the new social status—but because it brought out the truth in everyone. And the truth was, people were weak. Easily swayed, easily bought. Everyone had their price.
I knew how to find it.
The Founder's Ball was a perfect example. A celebration of Mystic Falls' elite, its deep-rooted history, and the kind of gathering that had no use for someone like me—except that I had engineered my way into it. I'd used the spell "Dic mihi hva du vet"—an old incantation that allowed me to read minds. And as expected, I adapted it. I modified it until it became something darker; I didn't just read minds anymore; I could alter them. But only on humans as of now.
After perfecting my craft, I used it to extract wealth, stockpile intangible assets, and build my presence in the town. No one had a clue what I was doing, not even Bonnie. She would never suspect me.
Now, after weeks of meticulously planning, I was poised to meet the Lockwoods. I had a deal to close, one that would grant me a piece of their property—a historical relic—and, in the process, something much more valuable: Emily's talisman and the elusive moonstone.
My phone buzzed with a reminder: "Founder's Ball. Tonight."
As I made my way to the Lockwoods' mansion, the buzz of conversations and laughter reached my ears. The opulence of the evening was almost laughable, the superficiality so thick it nearly suffocated me. I'd learned one thing about people like the Lockwoods: they didn't value anything unless it came with power.
I slid into the party with quiet confidence, shaking hands with a few of the town's wealthiest, nodding at their attempts at small talk. Then, I found them: Tyler's parents.
"Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood," I greeted smoothly, offering my hand to Richard. "Thank you for having me tonight. I trust the evening is going well?"
Richard's eyes flicked over me, his lips curling into a thin, almost predatory smile. He shook my hand with an exaggerated firmness that was more about dominance than politeness. "Been going well, I heard a decent amount about you from my son—secondhand accounts and all that." He paused, his gaze lingering on me for just a bit too long, assessing, weighing. "He tells me you've been doing well in class. Already top of the class, huh?"
I could feel where this was heading, but I didn't flinch. "It's been a lot of hard work, but thank you," I replied. "I'm always striving to be the best."
Richard's chuckle was more condescending than amused. "Brains, sure, but brains aren't the only thing that makes a man," he said with a dismissive smile. "You ever think about joining the football team? My boy Tyler could teach you a couple of things. Might help you—well, let's just say it could help you out in more ways than one."
I bit back a sigh. Yeah, right. Does this guy have blinders on? Acting like I'm not 6'3" and 230 pounds with decent mass. I'm more than capable of holding my own, but I'll humor him for now.
I kept the thought to myself, letting a small, polite smile tug at the corner of my lips. "I've never really considered it," I said, voice casual. "I'm more of a mind-over-matter kind of guy."
Richard didn't seem to hear me, or at least didn't want to. His eyes gleamed with some kind of strange satisfaction. "Ah, well, there's more than one way to prove yourself, kid." He clapped me on the back with a little too much force, making me feel the weight of his expectation. "Just remember, strength doesn't come from books alone. It's the muscle that backs it up that counts in this town."
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The last thing I needed was this guy giving me a lecture on strength. I gave a noncommittal nod, letting him think I was absorbing his pearls of wisdom. "I'll keep that in mind," I said smoothly, my tone light. It wasn't a lie, but it sure wasn't the truth, either.
Carol, standing quietly beside her husband, hadn't said a word yet. I could tell she was watching me, though, her eyes scanning me with a curiosity that went beyond polite conversation. I didn't need to try hard to catch the faintest ripple of thoughts brushing against my mind. As Richard babbled on, I shifted my focus, just enough to pick up on Carol's inner musings.
She was disappointed. Disappointed that I wasn't older. Disappointed that I wasn't someone she could connect with on a deeper level. She was a woman who longed for more—more excitement, more passion, more of what she couldn't seem to reach. The subtle shift in her gaze, the brief flicker of longing, didn't escape me.
But I didn't want to dwell on her thoughts. Not now. I forced my attention back to the conversation at hand.
Finally, Carol broke the silence. "I trust you're fitting in well with the town," she said, her voice smooth and careful, like she'd practiced this line many times before. "We've heard great things about you—how mature and trustworthy you are. It's impressive, really, that your state-appointed guardian trusts you with such decisions at your age." She smiled warmly, though there was a slight coolness to her demeanor that I couldn't quite ignore. "It says a lot about you."
I nodded, keeping my expression neutral. "Thank you. I've always believed that age doesn't define capability. It's about making the right choices and knowing when to act."
Her eyes softened for a moment, but I could tell she was still thinking about what she wanted from me. She wasn't just trying to make conversation; she was weighing me, testing me. But I didn't care about any of that. I had a deal to close, and that's all I needed to focus on.
"Yes, exactly," Carol said, almost as though to herself. "We're glad you could make it tonight. I do hope you're settling in well here, and that the transition's been easy for you." Her eyes flicked over me again, lingering a moment longer than I expected, and for a brief second, I saw the flicker of something else behind them. She wishes she were a couple of years younger. She's thinking about what it would be like to be in a position of freedom. She wants someone who gets it.
It was all so clear, so easy to pick up on. I didn't let my thoughts linger there, though. She wasn't my focus. Not right now.
"Thank you again," Carol continued, breaking the thought. "I'm sure you'll make the most of your time here in Mystic Falls."
I gave a polite smile. "I'm grateful for the opportunity," I said. "And I'm excited to see where this can take me."
Richard nodded, seemingly satisfied, and gestured toward the back of the room. "Well, then. We've got the paperwork ready to go. We can finalize everything in the back. If you're ready."
It was time. I followed them through the room, the noise of the party fading into the background as we made our way toward a more secluded area. I wasn't paying attention to the guests anymore. My focus was sharp—on the Lockwoods, the deal, and nothing else.
We reached a quiet, dimly lit room at the back of the mansion, far from the buzz of the party. It was richly furnished, the walls lined with portraits and ornate furniture that screamed old money. As we entered, I noticed a faint door at the far end of the room, slightly ajar. My mind instantly made the connection. That's where Mason took the moonstone in that one episode, or was that Tyler? I need to stop relying on previous knowledge of the show; the multiversal concept is the thing for a reason.
Regardless, I'm going to check it out to see if it's there or not later after I close this deal to it was one of my predominant reasons of coming here anyway.
We reached a desk, and Richard handed me a pen with a practiced air, his expression one of quiet satisfaction. "Here we are," he said. "Everything's in order. Just a formality now."
I took the pen and signed without hesitation, my mind already focused on the next step. The property was mine, the deal was done, and I would have everything I needed to carry out my plans.
Carol watched me sign, her gaze lingering, her thoughts shifting again. She was wondering what it would be like to have someone like me around. Someone who could make things happen. Someone who wasn't bound by the same constraints she was.
But that wasn't my concern. The deal had been struck, and the moonstone would soon be in my possession. That was all that mattered.
"Thank you, Hunter," Carol said as she and Richard began to leave the room. Her tone softened just slightly. "We look forward to what comes next."
I gave her a smile—polite, but cool. "Of course. You can count on it."
They left, and I was alone in the room, the weight of the night's success settling in. The property was mine. The moonstone would be mine, too.
I glanced toward the door again, the fleeting sense of déjà vu washing over me. I'll be back here, I thought. Soon enough.
But for now, I took a deep breath, leaned back, and allowed myself a moment of satisfaction. The deal had gone as planned. Now, it was time to make my move.
-MINUTES LATER-
The noise of the Founder's Ball seemed to fade as I moved further into the mansion, my thoughts already focused on what I needed to do. The Lockwoods were off, signing paperwork, content with the deal we'd just made, and I was content with that too. But there was one thing left to do.
The moonstone.
The thought of it gnawed at me as I quietly left the room, making my way through the winding corridors of the mansion. I knew exactly where I needed to go, but... the exact location of the stone was slipping away from me. Why is it fading?
It wasn't the first time something like this had happened. The more I dabbled in magic, the more my memory of certain events seemed to blur. Faces, places, moments—they all began to fade like fragments of a dream. It's happening again. I could feel it in my bones, the unsettling sensation of something slipping away, something important. But I couldn't afford to lose the moonstone. Not yet.
I reached the hallway I needed, the air colder here, the silence deafening. I couldn't just waltz in and look around. Magic would be required—subtle, but potent magic. I wasn't sure how far I could push it without consequences, but I was out of options, until i could modify my memory spell so I'm able to use it on myself or find out how some witches are able recall memory's with a bit of effort as show from the show, some times i would kill to be vampire man.
-----------------------------
Longest chapter to date
Also with the MC stealing the on the prowl stealing the moonstone along with other items what ripple effects you think would occur, would Damon be more volatile, how would future interactions proceed, any plot points or interactions/confontation you want to occur? If so why and how.
Also was able to commend some fixes with the help of constructive criticism, so keep it coming
POWER STONES!!!!!!!!!!!