The next morning arrived in the town of Mystic Falls, bringing with it new events and incidents waiting to unfold.
Alan woke up early, got ready, and arrived in the main hall to find Pearl working in the kitchen. She was dressed in a bathrobe for lack of any better clothes, and much to Alan's pleasant surprise, she was preparing breakfast.
"Good morning, Alan," she greeted him with a smile.
"Good morning, Pearl," he replied. "I was not expecting to find you working in the kitchen."
"Neither was I," she chuckled lightly. "But I have been asleep for a century and a half. I could hardly sleep last night. And since I have not eaten in so long, I thought I would try to make some breakfast."
"Though I must admit," she continued. "It was harder than I expected. It took me quite a while just to understand how the stove worked. But I managed in the end."
"And then there was this device from which whatever I took out was cold and chilled," she added. "I guess it must be another of those electronic devices like the one you showed me last night which gave warm water?"
"Yes," Alan nodded.
"You did well," he continued and he took his seat at the dining table. "But do not worry much. I will teach you how everything works."
Pearl served breakfast and took a seat opposite him.
"Before either of us digs in," she said, looking at him intently, "I am hungry. It has been hours since I last fed, and it is becoming difficult to maintain my sanity and control. I need blood. Now."
Alan did not say a word. He simply extended his hand toward her. Delight flashed across her face as she bit into his wrist and began to drink. Every time she tasted his blood, she felt she could never get enough. It was the same heavenly feeling. Even so, she let go of his hand once she had taken enough to last her for a few hours.
"After this," Alan said, finally digging into his breakfast, "I will arrange clothes and blood bags for you. I will also get you a mobile phone and a computer."
"What is a mobile phone? And a 'computer'?" Pearl asked, her face clouded with confusion.
Alan smiled before pulling out his own phone and delving into an explanation of modern electronic devices. Pearl was awed as she learned more, and the conversation shifted to a myriad of other modern things she had no concept of.
After breakfast, Alan left the house and headed toward the market. He had once again strictly instructed Pearl not to venture outside. He first bought more than a dozen outfits at a clothing shop, then purchased a mobile phone and a laptop from an electronics store. Finally, it was time for the blood.
Acquiring the supply was no problem for him. He cast a cloaking spell on himself and easily stole almost the entire blood supply from the hospital. He left only the bare minimum needed for emergency cases before the stock could be replenished.
Because he could not use compulsion to make the staff forget or manipulate the records, the missing blood bags were certain to be noticed. The Founder's Council was already suspicious that vampires were returning to the town, and his actions would surely turn those suspicions into a certainty. He could have used more subtle methods to arrange for the blood undetected, but perhaps he was going to enjoy the resulting chaos.
Alan returned home and spent the rest of the day teaching Pearl about the modern era. He taught her the basics, specifically how to use a smartphone, a computer, and the internet, then encouraged her to continue learning on her own. She was to learn, beginning with the history that had passed since her desiccation, moving to current world events, and other things before slowly diving into the details of his business enterprises.
Pearl also raised the question of seeing her daughter, Anna. Alan assured her that she would see her soon, promising that it was his responsibility to protect her and bring the girl to her unharmed.
Evening had set in, and Alan was slumped on the couch in the main hall, going through one of his ancestors' many grimoires. More than eighty percent of the spells in all the grimoires were the same, with very few new additions. It would not be long before he had finished all of them.
Thanks to his supernatural abilities, he had a photographic memory. Whatever spell he read once, he retained permanently. His arsenal was growing day after day.
It was then that his phone rang. It was Caroline. He picked it up.
"Good evening, Alan," Caroline's voice chirped. "Where are you? What are you doing?"
"Good evening, Caroline," he greeted. "I am at my house and I am doing absolutely nothing."
"Perfect," she said, pleased. "We have a football match in a couple of hours. I will be cheerleading for the Mystic Falls Timberwolves, and I want you to come and attend the game."
"So, a cheerleader needs her own cheerleader?" Alan quipped.
"It's not like that!" Caroline sighed.
"Okay, okay," Alan remarked. "Do not get worked up. I will be there."
"But you sound frustrated. Irritated," he added. "What happened?"
"Now you are asking the right question," she replied with a smile that Alan, of course, could not see.
"You know, last night Elena arranged dinner," she said, her voice sounding frustrated again. "For whom? Bonnie and Stefan, so they could get to know each other. Fine, I can understand that much. I can understand that she missed her second best friend."
"But what happens at dinner? Damon. You do not know him. He is Stefan's brother," she continued. "So Damon and Lori reach Elena's house and somehow they get invited, too. Even then, they could not think of calling me!"
"And it is making me angry," she finished her rant.
"They seem to have done you dirty," Alan remarked.
"They sure have," she replied. "And I will have my revenge."
"Now, revenge is a heavy word," he responded.
"Whatever," came the reply.
"Anyway," Alan asked. "Who is this Lori?"
"Oh," she responded. "She is one of our classmates and somehow, I do not know how, she is now with Damon."
"Damon does sound like an intriguing man," he said.
"Maybe," she responded. "Meet me this evening. I have something else to tell you, too. Bye! Got to go."
"Bye," Alan mumbled, and the phone was immediately disconnected.
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