TVD: The Siphoner

"Stefan, while I keep this vampire still, compel Vicky to forget everything, and bring her to the Grill," Aiken said sharply, voice low and urgent.

"ARGHHH!" the vampire winced, the magical force still wracking his body in waves of pain. Yet, through clenched teeth and a twisted grin, he managed to choke out, "Stefan..." He chuckled bitterly. "So, you've found yourself... an ally witch?"

"Damon—" Stefan began, eyes wide.

"Stefan!" Aiken cut him off, not turning his head. "Stop wasting time!"

Stefan hesitated for only a moment, then looked down at Vicky, who was dazed and shaking. He gently lifted her chin and locked eyes with her. His voice dropped into that familiar, soothing cadence.

"Vicky, you'll forget everything that happened tonight... at the Grill, on this rooftop, every word spoken here. It's all gone."

Vicky's expression softened. Her breathing steadied. She nodded slowly, lost in his gaze.

"Now take her away." Aiken's hand slipped into his jacket and pulled out a sharpened wooden stake. "I'll deal with this one."

"Aiken…" Stefan said cautiously, suddenly alarmed. His grip on Vicky tightened. "There's no need to go that far. Let's just get her to safety—"

"Having compassion for a fellow vampire, huh?" Aiken muttered as he intensified the magical pressure. The vampire cried out again, veins bulging beneath his skin. Aiken stepped behind him and pressed the stake's tip against the vampire's back—directly above his heart.

With a small push, the point broke skin.

"ARGHHH!" the vampire shrieked. The area around the puncture began to blacken and sizzle, necrosis creeping outward.

Stefan flinched.

The vampire groaned, then managed to rasp, "Stefan… are you really gonna let your brother… die?"

A silence fell over the rooftop like a shroud. Stefan's expression shifted. Conflict etched into every line of his face.

"Your brother?" Aiken whispered, eyes narrowing in disbelief. The magical hold faltered—just for an instant.

And that instant was all Damon needed.

With a violent surge, he twisted free and lunged. His eyes glowed, and his fangs gleamed—razor sharp and aimed for Aiken's throat.

"NO, DAMON!" Stefan shouted, blurring into action and slamming into Damon mid-air, knocking him off Aiken and onto the ground with a hard crash.

"Damn it… I was so close," Damon growled, rolling up to his feet with unnatural grace.

He looked toward Aiken, sneering.

"Hey, witch." His voice was low and menacing. "If you want to keep breathing… you better start hiding."

Aiken stood slowly, brushing dust from his jacket, calm as ever. He met Damon's eyes and gave him a small, knowing smile.

"I could say the same thing to you."

Damon stared at him for a moment, lip curled in amused irritation—then vanished into the night in a blur of motion.

Aiken walked up to Stefan and the still-compelled Vicky, his eyes sharp with fresh realization.

"So, he's your brother, huh?" Aiken asked, his voice unreadable.

"Aiken, look—" Stefan began, but Aiken immediately cut him off.

"We'll talk about it some other time," he said firmly, walking past him.

...

Vicky sat at a corner table, and Matt knelt in front of her, gently patching up her neck with a fresh bandage.

"Everything okay?" Matt asked with concern.

"Yes... my neck hurts a bit, but... yes," Vicky muttered, her fingers lightly brushing the wounded area.

Matt looked up to where Stefan and Aiken were standing nearby. "Guys, you found her wandering around?" he asked.

"Yes," Stefan replied calmly.

"Then... thank you very much," Matt said with sincerity.

Stefan just nodded. "No problem, Donovan," Aiken added, giving a simple wave before walking away alongside Stefan. Matt returned his attention to his sister.

Nearby, Caroline sat with Bonnie, casually sipping from a drink.

"Oh, she's too dramatic..." Caroline muttered, her gaze flicking toward Vicky. "Junkies would even prostitute for a bit of attention."

"Yep..." Bonnie said, not too interested, merely echoing Caroline's mood.

"Come on, girls... don't be so mean," Aiken suddenly said as he approached, Stefan still beside him.

"Aiken..." Bonnie lit up with a wide smile as she stood and met him halfway. "What do you think about a date? Right now?" she asked, eyes gleaming.

"This late?" Aiken raised an eyebrow.

"Don't worry..." Bonnie began to backtrack. "It's fine if you don't want—"

But her words were silenced as Aiken leaned in and gently kissed her.

"What about a date to my place?" he whispered into her ear.

Bonnie smirked and whispered back, "That's perfect."

They chuckled together, leaning close. Caroline clicked her tongue in irritation.

Tch. She's too innocent for him… that piece of shit is surely using her just for some quick sex... she thought bitterly.

"Ehm, sorry to interrupt you guys, but..." Stefan said, walking up to them. Bonnie and Aiken, still holding each other, turned to him.

"Do you know where Elena is?"

"I think she went home..." Bonnie replied.

"Oh..." Stefan said, nodding, and turned to go.

"Wait," Bonnie called. She dug into her bag and pulled out a pen and paper. "I'll give you her number and email. She loves to send messages." After quickly scribbling them down, she handed it over. "And you can say I gave them to you."

"Thank you," Stefan said, reaching for the paper.

The moment his fingers touched it, Bonnie's eyes widened.

Everyone around noticed her expression shift.

Aiken stared, eyebrows narrowing. Did she sense something?

"Everything alright?" Stefan asked, blinking.

"What happened to you?" Bonnie asked, her voice suddenly distant—curious, yet shaken.

Then she seemed to realize what she'd just said and flushed. "Sorry, I put you in embarrassment... sorry..." She turned and quickly walked off.

Aiken immediately followed her, glancing once back at Stefan. "We'll talk tomorrow after classes," he said, then left after her.

Still seated, Caroline gave Stefan a sidelong glance. Her usual flirtatious air seemed to have vanished. "Sorry for Bonnie," she said, voice dull. "She is strange sometimes."

...

Underneath the sheets, Aiken and Bonnie lay tangled together in the afterglow. Bonnie was snuggled close against him, her bare skin pressed to his toned body. Despite the intimacy, her expression was distant.

"Bonnie... what did you sense from Stefan?" Aiken asked suddenly, voice low but serious.

"What?" Bonnie blinked, like she'd been somewhere else entirely.

"You've been distracted the entire time... well, at least until I drove you mad," he teased with a soft grin, brushing her cheek.

But Bonnie didn't smile.

"Death..." she said, her voice hushed. "That's what I sensed from him. Death."

Aiken's playful mood faded. He gently pulled her closer, resting her head against his chest.

"Don't worry, Bonnie," he murmured into her hair. "I'm here."

Bonnie closed her eyes, the steady beat of his heart calming her. In his arms, she felt safer than anywhere else in the world.

Aiken stared at the ceiling, eyes thoughtful and serious.

Seems like Stefan won't be able to hide his true nature for long...

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Also, I decided the next harem member, try to guess her.