The chandeliers sparkled above them, casting golden light across the polished floor of the Lockwood Villa's grand hall. A string quartet played softly in the background, their music mingling with the chatter of Mystic Falls' most distinguished guests.
"The families of Mystic Falls…" Elena read aloud from the framed parchment on the wall, her voice carrying a hint of awe. "Welcome you to the Inaugural Founder Council Celebration…" Her eyes gleamed with curiosity as she continued.
She turned to Stefan, her smile warm. "Look—it's the original list of the guests." She pointed, reading names with the excitement of someone uncovering buried history.
Bonnie, nestled against Aiken's side with his hand resting firmly on her waist, glanced at the list half-heartedly.
"All familiar names…" Elena murmured. But then her cheerful tone faltered. "The sheriff, William Forbes… the mayor, Benjamin Lockwood…" She trailed off, her brow furrowing as she read further. "That is… Damon Salvatore… and Stefan Salvatore."
Her voice slowed as her head turned toward Stefan.
Aiken smirked, enjoying the look of quiet panic flickering across Stefan's face. Beside him, Bonnie's expression hardened, her earlier suspicions stirring again. She had felt something was off with Stefan a while ago—and now, everything felt even stranger...
"The first Salvatore brothers." Damon's smooth voice cut through the tension, his sudden appearance as casual as it was theatrical. Caroline clung to his arm, looking smug herself. Damon's grin widened. "Our ancestors… a tragic story, really."
"Damon—" Stefan's voice snapped sharp, cutting him off immediately. "It's not necessary to bother her with stories of the past."
Elena, however, leaned in. "It's not boring, Stefan. I'd love to hear more about your family."
Stefan's eyes met Damon's. A silent battle passed between them.
But before Damon could twist the knife deeper, Caroline groaned, tugging at his sleeve. "Well, I'm getting bored," she announced, breaking the tension with a dramatic sigh. "I want to dance—but Damon doesn't want to dance with me."
"Mhm. Mhm." Damon nodded, his smirk refusing to fade.
Caroline's eyes landed on Stefan. "Can I borrow him, then?"
Stefan stiffened. "No… I don't know how to dance."
Aiken chuckled under his breath, amused at the obvious lie.
Damon's gaze finally slid toward Aiken, as if just noticing him. His smirk grew sharper. "Oh, Aiki, you came back?" His tone dripped with mockery. "I thought you got scared and slipped away."
"Scared? Of what?" Elena asked immediately, confusion deepening in her voice.
"Nothing…" Aiken replied, though his eyes stayed locked on Damon's. He matched Damon's grin with one of his own. "Don't worry, Damon. I never let go of my prey."
The charged words hung in the air, thick with menace.
Bonnie exhaled loudly, breaking the tension. "Why are you two always like this?" she asked, exasperated. Then, with a spark of inspiration, she added, "Since Caroline wants to dance… why don't we rotate partners?"
Aiken and Stefan both opened their mouths at once. "No, that's—"
But Damon and Elena overlapped them, their voices eager. "That's a fantastic idea, Bonnie."
Bonnie smiled, pleased with herself.
Caroline, however, crossed her arms with a huff. She wanted Stefan—but the thought of ending up in Aiken's arms as well made her stomach twist.
Caroline tugged Stefan by the hand, pulling him onto the dance floor.
Elena, trying to avoid Damon's gaze, went straight to Aiken. "Come on," she said quickly, grabbing his arm. "Let's see how my bestie's boyfriend moves." She pulled him a little aside, forcing him into position.
Aiken glanced sharply toward Damon, his expression darkening. Ifhe dares to even just touch her, I'll make him the rat lab for my new spells, he thought grimly.
Damon, of course, only smirked, turning smoothly to Bonnie. He extended his hand with a mocking politeness. "Will you concede me this dance?"
Bonnie sighed, visibly annoyed, but relented. "Sure…" she muttered, slipping her hand into his.
…
The music swelled, and the scene shifted. Elena was now dancing with Aiken, his arm firm yet careful at her waist. Just beside them, Caroline twirled gracefully with Stefan, while Bonnie was reluctantly led by Damon's confident steps.
"Wow…" Elena murmured, eyes widening as she tried to keep up with Aiken's rhythm. "You're really good at dancing. Have you ever taken dancing lessons?"
"No," Aiken said plainly, his movements smooth and precise. "This is my first time dancing, actually."
Elena blinked in surprise. "Really? How are you this good then?"
"I watched the others around just now and copied them," Aiken answered matter-of-factly.
Elena chuckled, shaking her head. "So Bonnie wasn't exaggerating when she said you were a total genius."
A faint smile tugged at Aiken's lips, but his eyes drifted toward Bonnie and Damon. Worry still gnawed at him. Damon had a dangerous streak, and even though Bonnie wore the protective bracelet he'd given her, he couldn't shake the unease.
"Aiken…" Elena's voice pulled him back.
"Sure," he said, glancing down at her. "What is it?"
"Do you think Stefan is a good guy?" she asked hesitantly.
"Stefan, huh?" Aiken muttered, turning her around with effortless grace. "Why this question?"
"Well… Caroline told Bonnie that Stefan did something horrible to Damon, so…"
"Caroline told Bonnie?" Aiken chuckled softly. "Damon probably lied to her. He's a maniac of control."
"You know Damon that well?" Elena pressed.
"I know him well enough," Aiken replied.
"Thanks…" Elena said quietly—only to suddenly be pulled away as Damon swept her into his arms, replacing Aiken with a smug grin. Bonnie had switched partners, now dancing with Stefan.
Caroline and Aiken were left standing together, turning reluctantly to face each other. Their eyes met, and in perfect unison, their thoughts matched: I don't want to dance with you.
To be continued...
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