The Teacher
Elena was actually glad to see him in the kitchen with Jenna when she arrived home. Alaric Salzman was a teacher, but he was someone who might be able to help.
"Hi Elena," Jenna said as she stood in the door and caught his eye.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked. Then to Jenna she added "Student-teacher stuff"
Alaric looked at Jenna "Is it OK? I won't be long."
Jenna nodded though she gave Elena an odd look.
Alaric followed Elena into her room a little unwillingly. This wasn't school, and he was not sure it was appropriate.
"Are you sure you want to talk to me?" He asked. "If it is girl stuff, you have Jenna and Bonnie to talk to. If it is Vampire-related, you have Stefan and Bonnie. Maybe you should just talk to Bonnie."
"It's about Bonnie." Elena said, sitting on her bed. Alaric remained standing, leaning against the closed door.
"Okay. What is it?"
Elena hesitated. She kept thinking to herself "Don't bring up Katherine." If she was to tell anyone about Katherine's visit, it would be Stefan, but Damon apparently hadn't said anything to him. And she was unwilling to test his reaction to the news that the girl he had been in love with was back. She had to be careful not to mention her visit.
"She threatened Damon and Stefan."
Alaric waited for more, but she didn't say anything. "Is about the burning of the tomb vampires? I know she saved them when you asked her to."
"No. This was later. She told Stefan that if Damon hurt any more innocents, she would destroy him, and Stefan too, if the tried to stop her."
"And you disagree with her that innocents should be left alone?" Alaric asked.
"No. Of course not. But I convinced Stefan and Damon to trust Bonnie, and she let them down. She let me down. I had to beg her to save them. "
"And she did save them."
"The point is, I want us to be on the same side, but I'm not sure what side she is on."
"Bonnie's family has a long history in Mystic Falls, Elena. They were protectors. And Bonnie sees that as her role as well."
"I want to protect the town too. Stefan isn't a threat."
"And Damon?"
"Not any more," Elena replied. "He has helped a lot recently. You know that."
"I know they are threats. Both of them. They have both shown it."
"They can control it. They are controlling it." Elena was beginning to wonder if this conversation was such a good idea.
"I don't know everything, but Stefan and Damen have been wreaking havoc for years. Ever since they lost Katherine they have been fighting each other. They behaved for her. Once she was gone, they could not be controlled."
"Stefan lives on animal blood."
"It wasn't always so. And do you think that makes him good? These are not two vampires out converting other vampires to live in peace with humans. Are they working together now to try to keep Mystic Falls safe? Yeah. But it's not because they are good. Itls because of you."
Elena shook her head as what he was saying sank in.
"Stefan's not evil," she said. "He wouldn't hurt anyone or anything."
"He has killed other vampires to keep you safe."
Elena didn't know how to respond. Of course, he was right. "That doesn't make him evil."
"Nor is it wrong for Bonnie to let vampires die to keep the town safe."
"You think I would be with Stefan if he was a threat to Mystic Falls?"
"I didn't say that." Alaric replied. "I'm saying I have studied vampires for a long time, and I think they are like humans. Some are mostly good, some mostly bad. Maybe some are all bad. I'm just not sure you can know. They can shut off whatever humanity they have anytime they want. Damon told me that himself."
"They both have it under control"
"Can you honestly say that?" Alaric asked. "Can you tell me you have never seen them without humanity?"
"We're not talking about what they were. We're talking about what they are."
"What they are, Elena, is loyal to you. There is no one they will not destroy if there is a real or perceived threat to you."
"I only want them and the town to be safe."
"Do you really think there is a 'safe' when you are around vampires?" Alaric asked. "Even Isobel started out just mildly interested. What could be safer than a little research? Now she's gone."
"You really loved her – my mother, didn't you?" She had meant to say birth-mother, but it didn't come out that way.
"I did. And she was still that Isobel when I met her. When I married her. When she came here threatening you and everyone else, I knew that whatever she became, she was not my Isobel. Not your mother."
"Yet it was after she changed that she gave you the ring. The ring that saved your life. She still loves you, protects you."
Alaric shook his head. "I didn't say I understand it.. They are not always all bad. She comes and threatens me, but at the same time protects me as best she can. I don't know what to make of it."
"She still loves you."
"Maybe. But it is not something I have to think about. She's gone. But you need to be careful. Maybe Stefan can control himself most of the time. Damon cannot be taken lightly."
"I don't take him lightly. But he's changing. He's becoming more like Stefan."
"You need to be careful around him, Elena."
"He won't hurt me."
"Are you sure? He tried to kill me. And it's not just about what he does. It's about what you feel for him."
Elena stared at Alaric briefly. "What do you mean? I'm with Stefan."
"We saw you, Elena, Jenna and I, when you danced with him. We saw the way you were looking at each other."
"That was for the audience. It was a show." Elena said defensively.
"No. Caroline Forbes with a big smile painted on as she looked at her fill-in partner. That was a show. What you and Damon were doing was not a show. Whatever it was, it was real."
Elena swallowed and exhaled before saying "I asked you up here to talk about Bonnie. What should I do about her?"
Alaric shook his head. "Talk to her. You are friends aren't you? Talk to her when there are no vampires or victims nearby – no plots or spells. You will at least understand each other better.
"OK. I can do that. I will"
"And Elena, please. I am starting to think of you as family. Be careful?"
Elena nodded slightly and Alaric left her room.
Maybe it was a mistake – it hadn't been so private lately. But she needed to write. Elena pulled out her journal.
