The Irony of the Cure
*All rights belong to the owners and writers of The Vampire Diaries. This is my first Fanfic so review it and tell me what you think!*
Elena glances at the small little vial he held out to her. His eyes rise to meet hers, a curtain drawn across their depths. She can still feel his anticipation, though. It hovers in the air between them, almost suffocating. She takes the vial into her hands, wrapping her fingers around the little bottle.
"And to think," she says, holding the bottle up, "that this is all it takes to cure immortality." She gives a little smile, but it feels fake.
"All you have to do is drink it," Stefan says. His urgency is leaking into his words. He's been waiting for this, and that's what worries her. He's holding on too hard. She chooses not to acknowledge his impatience, instead asking a question.
"Where's Damon?"
Stefan shrugs. "You shouldn't wait for him, though," he says. "The sooner you take this, the better. That's all there is."
Elena tries to ignore the sharp stab of hurt. She had thought Damon had wanted to be there for this. But then again...maybe he was afraid. Maybe he was afraid that after she drank this, after she was human, that she wouldn't love him the same. Isn't that what she was afraid of, after all?
She suddenly realizes Stefan is staring at her. She jerks her gaze back up to meet his.
"I think.." she begins, slowly, rolling the bottle around between her fingertips, "that I need to be alone."
"To take the cure?" he asks, confused. "Elena, I..."
"Stefan, I want to be alone," she repeats, cutting him off. "And you need to respect my choice." Her words are firm, an echo of his promise from days of old. She sees the flash of recognition in his eyes, and her words do what she intended them to. He backs up a step.
"If that's what you really need," he concedes wearily.
"That's what I..." Her words are suddenly interrupted by the ringing of Stefan's cell phone. He pulls it out of his pocket, narrowing his eyes at what she assumes is the caller i.d.
"I'll see you later then?" he mouths as he brings the cellphone up to his ear. She is surprised by how easily he gave up, but nods her head quickly, seizing the opportunity to be alone while he has given it to her. He walks out the front door, listening intently to whoever was on the other line.
She then climbs the stairs, still clutching the bottle all the while. Stepping into her room, she allows her mind to embrace the possibility awaiting her. The possibility of being human again.
She would never admit this to Stefan, but there is a part of her that doesn't even want this. Doesn't want to give up her vampirism. There is a brilliance to it, a feeling of vitality and freedom she had never experienced beforehand. And, as she had thought earlier, she's scared. Her love for Damon feels real. But will it be real once she's human again? Will it feel the same? Will it be as fiery bright, as all consuming? She can't know.
But on the other hand, she misses her humanity. She wants to feel without breaking; she wants to live without the constant worry, the constant thirst. She wants Damon to know, once and for all, that they are real. That was she feels isn't sire bond created. And she needs to do this for Stefan too. He will never be free of her if she doesn't.
She brings the bottle to her mouth, and takes her last drink as a vampire.