After watching TV for a short while, Ron Mills felt like he was being overly sentimental. He turned off the screen and glanced toward Anna.
"What? I thought we were going to watch TV all night," Anna teased, noticing his gaze.
"Oh, really? You think I wouldn't dare make a move on you?" Ron smirked, wrapping one arm around her and tilting her chin up with the other.
Anna didn't hesitate — she leaned forward and kissed him deeply. The two tumbled onto the couch, their lips locking in a fierce embrace.
Before long, Ron noticed Anna's fangs starting to appear — her rising emotions were turning into hunger.
"Go ahead, have a drink," Ron said calmly, taking off his shirt.
Anna gave him a glance, then wrapped her arms around him and sank her fangs into his shoulder. Ron gritted his teeth, then stood up, lifting her easily. Like a koala, Anna clung to him — legs around his waist, arms around his neck — as Ron carried her upstairs.
By the time they reached the bedroom, Anna had nearly sated her thirst. The passion between them reignited, and what followed could only be described as thunder meeting flame. With the combined strength of the Rabbit and Horse Talismans, Ron could more than hold his own — but with Anna's five-hundred-year-old vampiric body amplifying her power, the balance soon shifted, and he found himself the one beneath her.
The night passed without words. By the time Ron woke the next day, it was already noon. He glanced at the sleeping Anna in his arms — and, predictably, a certain "little Ron" began to stir again. The Horse Talisman had truly done wonders: even after that exhausting night, his fatigue was completely gone.
He didn't bother waking Anna — though his wandering hand did the job for him. Before long, Anna's eyes fluttered open.
"Hmm… still not done?" she teased, shifting her position to tempt him further.
"If you insist," Ron grinned, pinning her down once more.
If Stefan hadn't called that afternoon to say the magic grimoire had been found, the sun might've set again before they stopped.
After cleaning up, Ron and Anna headed to Stefan's house as planned.
"Hello, everyone — looks like we're all here," Ron greeted.
"Hey, Ron," Bonnie replied with a smile.
"So, Bonnie, what do you think of the spellbook?" Ron asked as he and Anna took a seat on the sofa.
"It should be fine," Bonnie said, nodding. "But I'll need my grandma's help. I'm not strong enough alone."
"In that case," Ron said, "no time like the present. Let's take care of it tonight."
"Ron," Stefan interjected, "since this is settled… you know I planned to desiccate Damon before. Do you think you could hand him over to me for containment? I promise he won't escape this time."
"No need," Ron replied bluntly. "I've got a better place for him — you'll see tonight."
Then he turned to Anna. "Tell Ben to leave Mystic Falls. He doesn't belong here anymore. But make it clear — if he kills humans out there and I find out, I will kill him."
"Understood. I'll handle it now," Anna said without hesitation. Ben had served his purpose; she no longer needed him.
"Alright then — we'll meet at the tomb tonight," Ron said, standing up. "I'll grab some supplies and bring Damon myself."
Ron left Stefan's house, drove back to his cabin, and approached the weakened vampire tied to a chair.
"Wake up," he said, giving Damon two sharp smacks across the face.
Damon barely opened his eyes, too drained to speak.
"Good news," Ron said, sitting opposite him. "We're opening the tomb tonight."
He smirked. "Don't worry — I'll take you there personally. And here's a bonus: I won't kill Katherine."
"Really?" Damon finally croaked out.
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" Ron replied coolly. "I won't kill Katherine — because she was never in the tomb."
Damon's face went pale. "No… that's impossible."
"This came from Anna," Ron continued. "She saw Katherine in ZJG back in 1983. Katherine knows you and Stefan are here — and she doesn't care."
"You're lying!" Damon shouted, trembling from shock and weakness.
"Believe what you want," Ron said flatly. "I'll even give you a chance — if you can find Katherine inside the tomb, I'll let you both live."
Of course, he hadn't said he wouldn't desiccate them afterward.
Leaving Damon speechless, Ron began packing — mostly wooden stakes soaked in vervain. Once ready, he hauled Damon into the back seat of his car and drove to the old church.
In the underground tomb, Bonnie and her grandmother were already there. Ron dropped Damon on the floor and approached them.
"Hey, Bonnie," he greeted.
"Ron, you made it," she said.
"How's the spell?" he asked Bonnie's grandmother.
"Getting in won't be a problem," she said. "But getting back out might be. Our power isn't strong enough."
"No pressure," Ron reassured her. "Just try — if it doesn't work, we'll adapt."
As everyone gathered, Bonnie's grandmother began the ritual.
"Air, Earth, Fire, Water," she chanted, invoking each element in turn.
"Wait — you're using tap water?" Elena asked, puzzled.
"What did you expect?" the old woman replied calmly.
"I don't know… holy water? Or something enchanted?" Elena muttered.
Bonnie's grandmother just smiled and continued.
Meanwhile, Ron turned to Stefan. "I'm going to seal Damon in there. Admit it — you're dying to be rid of him. Oh, and by the way — Katherine's not inside. You both got played."
As the tomb doors opened, Ron grabbed Damon and entered with Anna.
"Go find your mother," he told Anna.
Then, turning to Damon, he added coldly, "You don't believe me? Go look for yourself. If you find Katherine, I'll admit defeat."
He gave Damon a sip of blood to help him stand and let him stumble into the shadows.
Moments later, Anna's voice echoed: "Ron, I found my mother!"
Ron rushed toward her voice and fed Anna's mother some blood to revive her. "Take her out of here first," he said firmly.
Then he turned back to Damon, who stood empty-eyed and devastated.
"Nothing, huh?" Ron said coldly. "Didn't think so."
With that, he reached into his bag, pulled out a vervain-soaked stake, and activated the Rabbit Talisman — moving with blinding speed as he began slaughtering the vampires inside.
Within minutes, he had slain over a dozen when suddenly, the fifth talisman on his body began to glow brightly.
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