Hi readers! Soo, this is my first real story so I hope you are going to like it and that its not going to suck too much. This, is a prologue of the story so it's shorter. I needed to write that to put everything in place, I didn't feel like making it a chapter, it's the beginning of the story. Anyway, who cares. I would really like you to tell me what you think about it, event if you really hated it, because if nobody tells me anyhting I will not be able to correct myself, and of course to pursue the story if nobody read it. Oh and tell me if I make too much faults, English is not my first language! So I would be very grateful of you and I would answer any of your question :)

The story does not follow the show, even if the general environment is the same.

A cracking of glass echoed in what remained of the Gilbert family's house. Elena wandered among the ruins of what was once her home. Everything was overturned, windows were broken and a burning smell overwhelmed the room. The young girl picked up the shards of a plate to put it on the only surface still standing without any emotion.

"Elena!" A man ran into the house, a panicked look on his face which vanished at the sight of the girl. His eyes went round the room, shocked by what it was seeing. "God Elena ..." He tried to approach her but she turned to look deeply into him. A wound was barring the right side of her face in its entire length and tears of rage were running down his cheek. But to his surprise he found neither sorrow, nor despair in her eyes. They were empty, emptier and harsher than he had ever seen.

"They are gone. There is still people outside, but they are gone".

The appearance of the house from the outside made him imagined the worst. She seemed to be on the verge of collapse. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind. Once again, he looked panicked as he turned at the stairs, almost begging, to see a sign of life. He was so worried about Elena that he had completely forgotten -

"They took him". Elena's sharp voice cut short his thoughts. His eyes darkened and a grimace stretched his face.

"We have to get out of here Elena. We will talk about it later." He was speaking softly, as if he feared to awaken something in her. A stake still exceeded the back pocket of her jeans. He handed her a hand with the intention of taking her out of this room, but when he saw her eyes looked back at his hand, he catch something in her eyes, something he could not decipher, and when she looked up with a sad smile on her face, he knew.

"I'm sorry", she simply said.

"For what?". He looked again at the disaster and sighed. How did they get there? How the situation could have degenerated to this point? It was as if everytime a semblance of peace was regained destiny was giving a malicious pleasure to destroy it immediately. Elena would never let his brother in Klaus's hands without doing anything. She did not let me.

But this time it was different. She was neither naive nor weak, and he was concerned that this accident has now increased her desire for revenge. He could feel behind her impassive face and behind the veil of her eyes the rage flowed into her. Her control was impressive, he had never seen anyone so strong. This is one of the reasons why he wanted to protect her, he did not want to see it destroyed by the dark creatures they were. He approached her and took her face in his hands.

"Let me come with you", he whispered to her. "Please". He would not let her jump into the lion's den alone, he couldn't. However he felt Elena escape as she took his hands and pulled them away.

"You can't Stefan. And you don't want to. I don't want you to". She gave him a tender smile, gently stroking his cheek. " And you have to stay here for them, they need you".

"You need me". He insisted. It was so Elena, put others before herself. She had spent her whole life doing it, and nobody never gave it back to her the way she deserved it, even him was not able to do it when she needed it. He did not even want to imagine the weight of the burden she wore every day. The suffering of others and her own. He wanted her to gain back her smile, the desire to live for something other than what others want. But even if he had wish he could, he was not the one who was supposed to. He just hoped that this person would be here soon.

"No Stefan". He moved away from her with sad eyes and trembling hands. "I know ... But Elena, you do not have to do this by yourself". He shot her a imploring look. Although she may be genuinely stronger than before, today's disaster proved she was not strong enough to cope with them. To be honest, he did not think any of them were. She let a laugh escape her. Even though her eyes remain as dark, it gave hope to Stefan.

"I don't think there is a single chance I convince Alaric to let me go alone". Stefan smiled. No, there was no way he was letting her go, especially to save Jeremy, alone. Alaric was not a vampire, but he was trained to resist them , at least he would be able to protect her from some. In addition it was the one to trained her.

"I suppose I can't do anything to change your mind."

She planted her gaze in his again and he could read in it all her determination . She grabbed the stake from her pocket and squeezed it with all his strength, a disgusted grimace on her beautiful face.

"No."

He looked at her as she made her way to the stairs, probably to recover what was left of her wardrobe. He promised himself to find a way to take care of her even if he does not go with her. He shook his head and made his own out of the house.

Elena walked into her room. Most of her affairs were now dragged on the ground. Apparently one of the siblings wanted to recover something more. She unconsciously brought her hand around her neck. Rebekah. Rebekah and her damn necklace. She kicked in the amount of clothes in front of her and let out a cry of rage before recovering herself. She grabbed a few of it and threw it in a bag before stopping herself to take a frame on her dresser.

A picture of her and Jeremy was placed inside. She caressed it with her fingertips before replacing it and throw herself down the stairs and get out of this house as soon as possible.

This time she would not let herself do. This time she would not let someone else solve her problems. She did not need a hero. She would get her brother back. She would find him and protect him, as she should have done a long time ago. And whoever would be on his way would suffer the consequences.