『15』

Matt scrutinized Augustus and asked, "Why do the doppelgangers have this aura that attracts others to protect them? Don't get me wrong; they are beautiful but attract supernatural creatures to protect them like nothing else. This was evident with Elena when I saw her aura. It was drawing people in."

Augustus smirked, gesturing towards Asmodeus. "Why don't you ask him? After all, he aided the one who created the doppelganger spell—or at least provided some of his blood. But I believe he can speak for himself."

Asmodeus closed his book with a sharp motion and glared at Augustus. "Fine."

"It was around the 5th century B.C. and 1st century B.C., and I had met a witch I had taken a liking to, one who became my friend and confidant. Her name was Qetsiyah. When we met, she was in love with Silas, a man who did not love her. The heart wants what it wants. When she created the immortality spells, she knew about my nature and asked for some drops of my blood to aid it." Asmodeus paused for a bit, took a deep breath, and continued.

"You see, our blood is potent, and since we live for a long time, she wanted to use it as a base. So, I allowed her two drops—one for her and one for her lover. As the story goes on, Silas betrays her, giving her immortality serum to another, the progenitor of the Petrova line. I'm guessing my blood was potent enough to still affect her current doppelgangers, attracting supernaturals. As your aura draws people in, like prey to predators, you can control how much you give out and the intensity. The essence of my blood, intricately woven into the fabric of the Petrova line, endowed these doppelgangers with a unique allure. It's as if the echoes of that ancient spell still resonate within their very being. The subtlety of their aura acts as a magnetic force, drawing in supernatural entities like moths to a flame." Asmodeus explained.

Feeling the weight of the somber atmosphere Asmodeus had created, Augustus decided to dispel it. "Tonight, your task is quite straightforward. As the purveyors of lust and love, we must possess the ability to decipher people's thoughts. Much like sirens who delve into the minds of others, you've already harnessed this power to confront Katherine, I believe. However, what I'm about to teach you extends beyond that. Today, we're delving into dream walking—exploring the realm of dreams, where a person's subconscious desires play out. Dreams serve as a canvas for unspoken yearnings, whether the manifestation of desires in wet dreams or the revelation of innermost fantasies."

"Mastering dream walking opens a gateway into the very core of someone's being," Augustus continued; how do you think we can talk to you? Even though we are dead, we retain our powers, and dreamwalking is one of them. That is how we have taught you what we could."

—--------------------

When Matt opened his door, he was greeted with the sight of Caroline and Stephanie gossiping; with a raised eyebrow, he asked, "What are you girls up to?" asked

"I can't believe you're still asking, Matt. We're just discussing the latest drama and catching up on the latest gossip in town," Stephanie replied with a smirk, her eyes still focused on Caroline.

Caroline said, "Oh, you know, the usual juicy stuff. Who's dating, who said what, and all the scandalous details. You should join us some time; it's quite entertaining."

Matt couldn't help but chuckle at their enthusiasm. "Maybe I'll pass on the drama for now, but I appreciate the invitation. Anything particularly interesting happening?"

Stephanie leaned in, her tone conspiratorial, "Well, there's this rumor about Elena and Stefan.

Caroline quickly chimed in, interrupting the rumor mill. "Oh, please! It's fake. They didn't break up; they're just keeping their relationship under wraps. Elena's a terrible liar, and to top it off, she forgot to wear her vervain necklace the other day, so when I asked "Nicley," she told me the truth."

"Being a vampire is incredible," Caroline exclaimed with enthusiasm.

Matt hummed thoughtfully and inquired, "So, what's going on with Bonnie?"

Caroline sighed heavily and replied, "She's been acting really distant and avoiding me. It's like she's stuck on the fact that I became a vampire. I mean, I didn't have a choice in the matter; it was forced upon me. I tried explaining it to her, but she wouldn't listen.

Matt frowned, sympathy etching his expression. "That sounds tough. Have you tried talking to her again, maybe explaining things differently?"

Caroline nodded, her frustration evident. "I've attempted to, but she's got this wall up. Bonnie's always been strong-willed, but this is different. She sees me as some monster now, and it hurts."

Matt offered a reassuring smile. "Give it time, Caroline. Bonnie might need a bit more to process everything. It's a big adjustment for both of you."

Caroline sighed, appreciating Matt's understanding. "I hope so. I miss our friendship. It's just hard when someone you care about sees you in such a negative light."

"Hmm, how about cheering you up? We'll go on a trip to California." Matt suggested a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. "My agent managed to book me a couple of well-paying gigs, and if I pull some strings, I could get you on the runway too."

Caroline paused, looking directly at Matt, and asked, "Are you being serious right now?"

Matt smiled warmly and confirmed, "Yes."

Caroline squealed with delight, immediately thinking about what to pack for the trip. Meanwhile, Stephanie, adopting a more cautious tone, responded, "I'll tag along, but I'm not keen on the runway idea. I'd rather not have my coven track me down any quicker."

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I Love going into Asmodeus's background; let me know if you want to know more about him or Agustus. 

FOLLOW, VOTE, COMMENT 

Another controversial rant. 

Matt is often unfairly disliked despite facing many hardships. He's been manipulated and used by his friends and had to deal with his sister's death and a neglectful mother. Despite all this, he's managed to survive and keep going. He's been treated unfairly by those around him, including his friends, who only turn to him when they need something. It's like he is just used and abused and used as fodder for characters; why he stayed in Mystic Falls for so long stuns me. I would have had everyone a piece of my, find, and dipped. He is compelled, fed on, and disposed of like come on, are any of his friends his friends? 

Thanks for reading this story; comment on what you think about it or my rant I want to hear y'all's opinions.