[VD] 30: The Fifth Talisman

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Jack sat on the couch, half-watching the TV before realizing he was just killing time. He sighed, turned off the screen, and looked over at Anna.

"What?" she teased when she caught his gaze. "I thought you actually planned to spend the night just watching TV."

"You wanted this, just remember," Jack said, accepting the challenge. He wrapped an arm around her waist and tilted her chin up with his other hand.

Anna didn't back away. Instead, she leaned forward and kissed him hard. They tumbled onto the couch, locked in a deep, heated kiss.

After a few moments, Jack noticed Anna's fangs slipping out on their own. Her hunger was kicking in.

"Go on," he said, pulling off his shirt. "Drink a little. Take it as payment for the sex."

Anna met his eyes, then sank her fangs gently into his shoulder. Jack gritted his teeth and lifted her up with one arm, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist like a koala. With one hand around her back and the other under her thighs, he carried her upstairs.

By the time they reached the bedroom, her thirst had faded—and the night ignited again. Under the blessing of the Rabbit Talisman and Horse Talisman, Jack's stamina and reflexes were far beyond normal. Still, against a five-hundred-year-old vampire like Anna, the balance shifted fast. What started as him taking control quickly turned into him being overwhelmed.

The air crackled with a primal challenge: to surrender to the climax or to master it. Anna moved with a fierce, untamed grace, her body arching into positions that defied the very concept of limits.

As he spilled into her, the magic of the Horse Talisman surged, refusing to let his hardness wane. A gasp caught in Anna's throat, her eyes igniting with a fresh, ravenous fire.

It was a looong night...

...

The Next Day

When Jack finally woke, it was already noon. Anna was still asleep beside him, curled up in his arms. He glanced down at himself—and sighed in amusement. "Guess the Horse Talisman really is a miracle worker," he muttered. No soreness, no fatigue, even after that much thrusting.

He didn't wake her, but his wandering hand eventually did the job for him.

"You really want another round?" Anna murmured, smirking as she shifted closer, teasing him with a new position.

"Why not? Think I'm scared of you?" Jack grinned and rolled her beneath him again.

And they began another season...

It might have gone on until nightfall—if Stefan hadn't called that afternoon. They'd found the Emily's Grimoire.

After cleaning up, Jack and Anna headed to Stefan's place as planned.

"Hey everyone, looks like we're all here," Jack said as he walked in.

"Hi, Jack," Bonnie greeted him.

"So, how's the grimoire looking?" he asked, settling on the couch with Anna beside him.

"It should work," Bonnie replied. "But I'll need my grandmother's help. I'm not strong enough on my own yet."

"Then let's not wait. We can handle it tonight," Jack said decisively.

"Jack," Stefan cut in, "since things are almost ready... you know I wanted to dry out Damon before. Can you hand him over to me this time? I promise I won't let him escape again."

"No need," Jack said flatly. "I've got a better place for him. You'll see tonight."

Then he turned to Anna. "Tell Ben to leave Mystic Falls. He's not suited to stay here anymore. But make sure he understands—if I ever hear he's out there killing people again, I'll personally put him down."

"Got it. I'll tell him," Anna said without hesitation. Ben had already served his purpose; she didn't care what happened next.

"All right, we'll regroup at the tomb tonight. I'm heading back to grab my gear—better safe than sorry."

...

Leaving Stefan's house, Jack drove back to his cabin.

"Wake up," he said, walking over to Damon—and slapped him twice across the face.

Damon stirred weakly, barely able to open his eyes.

"Good news," Jack said, dragging a chair over and sitting down in front of him. "We're opening the tomb tonight."

Damon didn't respond, just blinked sluggishly.

"Don't worry," Jack continued with a faint smile. "I'll take you there myself. Oh—and good news. I'm not going to kill Katherine."

Damon's dull eyes flickered to life. "Really?" he rasped.

"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" Jack said smoothly.

Then he leaned forward, voice sharpening. "I won't kill her... because she's not even in there. Damon, what the hell have you been doing for the last century?"

Damon's eyes widened. "No... that's impossible."

"It's true," Jack said. "Anna told me herself. She met Katherine back in 1983. Katherine knows you and Stefan are here, but she couldn't care less."

"That's... a lie! You.. are lying! You're—" Damon's voice cracked. The vervain and lack of blood had left him so weak he could barely move. The revelation hit him harder than any punch.

"You don't believe me?" Jack said coldly. "Fine. I'll take you in tonight. If you find her, I won't kill either of you. Deal?"

Of course, he never said anything about not drying them both out later.

Jack stood, ignoring Damon's silence, and started packing. He soaked fresh wooden stakes in vervain, then threw everything into a duffel bag. Finally, he hoisted Damon up like luggage, tossed him into the back seat of his car, and drove straight to the tomb.

...

The church basement was dim and cold. Bonnie and her grandmother, Sheila, were already there. Jack dropped Damon onto the stone floor with a thud and walked over.

"Hey, Bonnie."

"Hi, Jack," Bonnie replied.

"Jack, there's good news and bad," Sheila said after spotting the young man.

"Oh?" Jack said, inclining his head respectfully. "Mrs. Bennett, how's the spell? I hope the bad news isn't about that."

"Getting in won't be a problem," Sheila said. "But getting out will be difficult. The seal is extremely strong, and I can't just lift it and reapply it—our power is limited."

"That's still fine," Jack said calmly. "I'll deal with the vampires once I'm inside. Just don't let anyone out until I'm finished."

"...I see."

---

Once everyone arrived, Sheila began the ritual.

"Air. Earth. Fire. Water," she chanted, invoking each element in turn.

"Wait, you're just using tap water?" Elena asked, confused.

"What else would I use?" the old woman replied dryly.

"I don't know—holy water? Enchanted water?" Elena said.

Sheila only smiled faintly and didn't answer. She joined Bonnie to finish the spell that would open the tomb.

...

As the tomb door creaked open, Jack grabbed Damon and walked inside with Anna close behind.

"Go find your mother," he said to her.

Then he turned to Damon. "You don't believe me? Go ahead. Look for Katherine yourself. If you find her, I'll admit defeat."

He poured a little blood down Damon's throat—just enough to get him walking—and let him stumble off.

"Jack! I found my mother!" Anna's voice echoed through the chamber.

Following her voice, Jack found her cradling a frail woman. He gave the older vampire a bit of blood, enough to restore her, then sent Anna to escort her out.

When he turned back, Damon stood motionless, face pale and empty.

"Told you. She's not here," Jack said quietly.

Honestly, Jack didn't get why Damon was so obsessed with that Katherine. He'd never watched The Vampire Diaries in his past life, but now he was grateful for it.

From what he could tell, the moment he set foot in Mystic Falls, everyone here was toxic—Elena, Caroline, the Salvatores, anyone he met. It was like every single one of them came with a pile of drama. The only normal person was Bonnie. Even though she was a witch, she was still the most normal one he'd talked to since his transmigration.

"Now it's my turn to get to work."

He opened his duffel bag, pulled out the vervain-soaked stakes, and activated the Rabbit Talisman.

What followed was a massacre.

In minutes, he'd taken down over a dozen vampires. Then, deep in his mind, a faint glow sparked—

The fifth talisman had awakened.

.

.

.