A Visit From An Old Face

Bill could not seem to get things to set in, his mind refusing to believe everything that Kiara had told him, everything in his entire body and soul rejected to believe that what she was saying was true. But yet there was a creeping sensation fighting to seep through his entire existence, making him doubt everything that he had been taught. The belief that love could conquer all, but it was all just a myth, a childish fairy tale told to children, it was times like this that he missed his sister Judith. But he refused to call, he needed to stand on his own two feet without relying on others to share his personal problems with.

Slamming the door closed as he entered his office, every single emotion barging against the barrier that he had forced up to keep everything up was giving in, breaking its way through. He had to clear his mind somehow, and focusing on work was the best solution. Sitting himself at his desk, he booted up his computer to begin scanning through daily email reports from his Sheriff's, anything to distract his mind from reality.

Dieter leaned against the bookshelf, smirking.

"Still as bad a temper as ever, William. When will you learn to keep that under control?"

Bill continued to work freely blocking his thoughts from penetrating his mind, or at least trying too, but he felt as though the weight on the world was on top of his shoulders, baring down on him.

"Still as bad a temper as ever, William. When will you learn to keep that under control?"

Bill eyes raised from the computer screen as he dropped his fangs as sped to his feet, Dieter Braun. His eyes remaining firmly fixed on the dead vampire in front of him.

"You?....You are dead. What is the meaning of this?" he hissed through his fangs.

Dieter sighed...

"Guess surviving could not really have helped to raise your IQ any. Do you really think you can keep the vial a secret from everyone? You already know that your precious wolf was looking for it. How many others suspect you have it?"

"What vial? The only vial has been destroyed" he spat at Dieter.

Bill could not understand these hallucinations that he had been having lately, first of his Maker Lorena, Godric and now Dieter Braun, a former member of the Vampire Authority.

"I destroyed the vial...Lilith is gone" he hissed.

Dieter smirked as he looked down at Compton.

"It is truly remarkable. As old as you are, and still cannot convincingly lie to save your life."

Dieter walked around the room, continuing his tirade.

"Do you really think she believed you destroyed it, after you went as far as glamouring her to protect it? If she does believe it, then she is as big a fool as you are for thinking it really is Lilith in that vial. Think about it William. Out of every one who drank of that vial, how many have met the true death? Yet for some reason, you still believe it is hers. You are an utter fool, William Compton. A fool and a liar. You are even lying to yourself. You are not in control of a damn thing."

Bill did not know how to respond, he remained silent and still. Retracting his fangs as he remained behind his desk, listening to the words of Dieter.

"You. Know. Nothing. You are nothing more than a stress driven hallucination. Nothing more" he spat.

Walking around to pour himself a glass of Royal Blend as he raised the glass to his lips, savoring the warmed flavor of rose petals.

"I AM IN CONTROL OF EVERYTHING. I AM THE FUCKING KING OF LOUISIANA!" he bellowed at Dieter.

Dieter stormed over to where Bill was standing, he reached out and struck the glass from his hand, smashing it to the floor.

"Hallucination, eh? Try again you arrogant bastard. You are only King because we allowed you to remain as such. You are nothing...no you are less than nothing without our strength to back you up. Look at yourself. You are falling apart!"

Bill had just raised the glass to his lips again when it was struck from his hand as it shattered across the floor, blood spraying across the floor and onto his legs.

"This.....Its not possible......What are you?" he stuttered.

Dieter grinned back at Bill, not answering his question...

"You arrogant fool. Did you really think she would choose you? You who spat in her face? You who was almost the poster child for mainstreaming? What a fool you are to cling to such a hope. Your arrogance and pride are only outshone by your recklessness."

"Recklessness...Is what kept me alive" he smirked

Bill growled as he stood his ground, he was not about to be pushed around by anyone. He had the upper hand, he had everything.

"She. Chose. Me....I am the Chosen One...You were nothing more than a false believer, you lied, betrayed your own kind for those who were not worthy of thought" he spat at him.

"I see you are still an idiot. The 'Book of Lilith' was nothing but the ravings of a drug-crazy old man who was so stupid he had to hire someone else to write it all down for him. He was high the whole time. In truth, with how you all acted...it is probably his polluted shit in that damn vial you say you no longer have."

He walked away from Bill, still talking.

"If you are so certain of things, then why have you not given some of it to your precious Jessica? It seems the rotten fruit does not fall far from the dying tree, does it, Billy-boy?"

Bill growled as his fangs dropped as he launched himself at Dieter, but instead of grappling onto him and forcing him to the floor, he passed through him as though like a ghost as he slid across the floor, knocking into a large grandfather clock that shook from the sudden impact. Turning on the floor so that he was on his back, staring up at Dieter as he gazed down at him.

"JESSICA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" he hissed.

Dieter laughed as Bill crashed into the clock.

"Oh I would argue differently. If you drink it, the vial you don't have, how do you know she will not be the next one you kill? or is that the general idea? After all, You killed Kibwe, you even killed your lover, Salome. What is some short-lived baby vamp to you, who you were forced to turn as punishment anyway? I guess that would be one way to clear up the problem."

Dieter walked around the desk and sat down in Bill's chair, propping up his feet. He brought his hand up from under the desk and seemed to be holding the vial up to inspect it.

"It does not really matter to me that much if you want this vial of polluted filth."

Dieter flashed Bill a devilish grin and threw the vial at him.

Bill frowned as looked at Dieter, questioning his last remark as he remained almost paralyzed on the floor, his eyes locked onto the vial that he began examining. Feeling that of a blood thirsty animal, preying on their next feed. His eyes not leaving the vial, even as he heard Dieter speak.

"It does not really matter to me that much if you want this vial of polluted filth"

His eyes shot open as Dieter tossed the small vial towards him as Bill watched as though in slow motion as he slid across the floor to catch the vial before it hit the floor, eradicating his prize. Catching it in his hand as it sealed shut, protecting what was his. Almost panting as he gazed to where Dieter was, as he was gone.

He was alone.

Standing to his feet as his hand remained locked around the small prized vial, he looked around his office, he was gone. Smirking a little as he opened his hand slowly to inspect his prize....the vial was gone.