Chapter Two: Finders Keepers
Mostly against her will, Lydia is called upon to find Elena. After giving in to temptation, Katherine and Stefan ditch the runaway plan for some alone time at the boarding house. Rebekah and April's much needed girls day out is interrupted, and Damon is shocked when he sees Elena for the first time after he broke the sire bond.
*The Alternate Diaries are a series of chapters that are equal to an "episode". They begin after the midseason finale of season 4 and are what I would have written to happen afterwards. All rights go to LJ Smith and The CW, the characters all belong to them except for Lydia, Henry, and Russell as I created them. Please read the sidenote at the end of the chapter and please review*
Lydia
"So your paper on globalization in 1518 is due tomorrow," Mr. Shoemaker said. The entire class groaned in response. "I know, I know, tomorrow is a Friday but at least this way you won't have any work over the three-day weekend." He clapped his hands together and the bell rang.
I went to my locker down the hall and grabbed the books I would need for tonight's homework out of my locker. Then I felt hands around my waist and cool lips on my cheek.
"Hey, Henry," I smiled, pulling my light brown hair to the side so he could kiss my neck affectionately.
"Are you excited for tonight?" He asked.
"Remind me what tonight is, again," I said, drawing a blank.
"Oh, c'mon. You remember, party at Russell's. Only seniors are invited," he reminded me.
"It's funny how everyone there will be eighteen except for...me," I said, closing my locker. "Awesome."
"Hey, that doesn't even matter. Just 'cause you have a summer birthday. I mean we're eighteen and that doesn't mean we drink legally or something like that, doesn't even make a difference," he said, pulling a flyaway behind my ear gently.
"I know but all of you guys are technically adults, and I'm technically just a kid," I said, pulling my backpack over my shoulder.
Lydia - Later that Night
I left Russell and Henry's heated discussion on whether Ms. Dowry was a transvestite or not to get some more beer. Halfway to the keg I decided to ditch the empty cup and head for the nearest bathroom instead since I could feel a vision taking over my thoughts.
Sure enough as soon as I shut and locked the bathroom door I saw them. Bonnie, Jeremy, and Damon. They got out of a car in front of a small, light blue and white, two story home. They entered and there was music playing. I realized it was Russell's house. Suddenly I could feel the witch looking at me. She was trying to cut off my vision. I could tell by the words she muttered under her breath and the way everything blurred when she did.
I gasped and held the sink, trying to make out a tall figure heading towards them. It was Henry. I knew Damon too well to think that if he found out Henry was my boyfriend, he wouldn't use him for blackmail. There were other familiar figures I couldn't make out, voices I couldn't hear. The witch's spell was infuriating. And then it was over.
I took deep breaths and look into the mirror. The light blue color was fading back to hazel. I splashed some water on my face, unlocked the door and ran outside to the backyard to find Henry. I found Russell in a matter of seconds trying to hit on some blonde.
"Russ where did Henry go?" I asked.
"Inside, I think, to get rid of some party crashers," he said, obviously annoyed by my interruption. I waved that aside as I stumbled through the crowd to get into the house. My vision was only a few minutes ahead of real time and I couldn't help but think that Bonnie's spell had something to do with it. She had gotten a lot stronger indeed.
"What school do you guys even go to?" I heard Henry say.
"Doesn't matter," Damon said in a frustrated tone.
"Hey!" I yelled over the loud music. "Henry the keg is empty, you should go help Russ with the new one."
"Just a sec, babe," Henry said.
"This is the one," Bonnie whispered in Jeremy's ear, not breaking eye contact with me.
"Babe huh?" Damon said, raising an eyebrow.
"Damon stop," Bonnie said in a warning tone. This was not going well.
"Henry, go help Russell," I said in a more demanding voice. I didn't mean to sound like a bitchy girlfriend but he needed to get away from Damon as fast as possible.
"Yeah, go help Russell," Damon said, compelling him. Henry obliged and walked into the backyard.
"You didn't hurt him," I stated. "Thank you."
"That could change at any moment sweetheart. Now come with us," he said.
"I don't want to help you find Elena, Damon. She wants to be alone," I said, crossing my arms. I had seen Bonnie and him plotting to find me in a previous vision.
"How does she know my name?" Damon whispered to Bonnie.
"She's connected to Elena. She knows everything," Bonnie said with a shrug. "She understand Elena better than Elena probably understands herself considering she can see her past, present, and future."
"Bad things happen to humans that try to help you," I said. "I'm not interested and I don't have the time."
"Well, it's a good thing you're a seer then," Damon said, grabbing my arm. I tried to pull away but his grip was impossibly strong. A seer? Was that what I was? Was I truly not a human then? Was I one of them?
I was about to scream when Damon looked at me and said, "Don't make a sound, don't struggle. We're going to take you to Mystic Falls so you can help us."
I felt the compulsion taking me in. I did as I was told.
April
After Rebekah had miraculously risen from what seemed to be a dead state, she took me back to her old house and explained who she was.
"An original vampire?" I asked. "And you're extra old and extra strong."
"Yes. And extra immortal. It is much, much harder to kill an original than to kill a regular vampire," she explained. We were sitting in her bedroom. I was on her bed and she was putting makeup on at her vanity.
"The is crazy...vampires, werewolves, originals vampires, hybrids...what's next? Ghosts?" I asked, throwing my hands in the air.
Rebekah just smiled at me in the reflection from the mirror.
"Let me guess. There are ghosts, also," I assumed.
"Yes," she said. "By the way. I must thank you for the crown but it's not rightfully mine" she said, rising to place it back on my head with a smile. "I'm very disappointed I didn't get to see you win Miss Mystic Falls."
"I thought you had just left," I admitted.
"It's not your fault," she said. "It was my stupid brother, Klaus' fault. He's the one who did this to me. And you want to know why?" She asked. I just looked at her. I could her the anger rising in her voice. "Because I fell in love," she said more quietly.
"Do you want to get back at him?" I asked.
"You're the one who found me, April. You saved me. And honestly I'm so tired of bickering with Klaus, I'd just like to forget about him for a day. You decide what we do next. I've been in a box for a while and I sure as hell don't know what to do."
"Maybe we could just have a girls day out," I shrugged. "Get some brunch at the grill, go to the spa, watch movies, have a sleepover, talk about boys?" I laughed.
She smiled at me. "That sounds lovely."
Tyler
After Klaus found me in the park, he took me to the cellar and I swear he was about to mercilessly rip my heart out when he stopped. I heard a voice from behind him.
"Stop!" Hayley yelled. Klaus turned ever so slowly.
"Excuse me?" He said. "But I believe this was a part of the deal."
"No," she said. "It's not. I'll get you another hybrid, just let him go!" Hayley cried. I took this opportunity to rise to my feet. She looked at me with a certain expression in her eyes that told me this was a diversion and that this was my only chance.
"I don't really have time for that, love, but I appreciate your feeble loyalty to Tyler," Klaus smirked. His eyes were crazed and every inch of him was stained in blood and although my mother's blood was not on his body, it was certainly on his hands.
Hayley suddenly lunged at Klaus and I ran for the exit. I sprinted so fast and for so long until I was outside of Mystic Falls. I reached in my pocket and realized Hayley had sent me a text before she had gone to the cellar to save me.
Im coming to help u get away from Klaus. U won't have much time but run until you find the trailer. Its parked 20min outside of Mystic Falls one street down from Matt's old cabin. Make sure that NO ONE sees u. If u try to say goodbye to anyone, u will just put them in danger. Ill try to meet u there by sundown. If I dont make it do whatever you can to find a hybrid to take ur place. Regardless Im destroying my phone so Klaus wont know where to find u. Dont give up, Ty.
Stefan
"Hey, Stefan, Elena?" Caroline called, walking through the small cabin. "I'm going to the store with Matt to get some human food for him and Bonnie and Jeremy when they come. I'll be back in an hour or two," Caroline said as she wrapped a scarf around her neck and stepped into the cold winter air.
"Alright, be careful out there," I called back.
"We're going to a tiny market thirty miles outside Mystic Falls, I think we'll be okay," she winked.
"Just making sure," I shrugged. And with that she was gone.
"Katherine?" I called. Immediately she appeared in the room. "They're gone," I smirked. Katherine returned the expression.
"So I hear," she said. "It's funny how they still think I'm Elena."
"Yeah, well they won't for long. Once Damon and Bonnie get here with the real Elena then we'll be in a world of trouble," said, crossing the room towards her.
"Yeah, well, maybe we should just ditch when they do," she said, cocking her head to one side. "I hear Rome is pretty beautiful this time of year," she smiled. I closed the small distance between us and kissed her. Soon enough her tongue was flickering inside my mouth. She exposed her fangs and lightly nibbled on my lower lip, it was something that drove me crazy.
I kissed down her neck and to her breasts as she tilted her head back. "Until then?" I asked.
"It's been a while, Stefan Salvatore. But show me how much you missed me," she said, pulling my face up to hers.
"With pleasure," I growled. I pulled her into my arms and threw her on the couch. I planned to straddle her on the couch but when I tried she had already zoomed off to the other side of the room. Somewhere along the way she had stripped off her shirt. She stood against the wall with her black lace bra and a smirk.
"What?" She said with mock sympathy. "You thought I was easy?" I ran for her and tried to pin her to the wall but when I got there she was no longer in front of me, but behind me, unbuckling my belt and unzipping my pants. "You're going to have to do better than that," she whispered in my ear. I growled again, feeling my need for her growing with every heartbeat. There was no one sexier than Katherine Pierce.
Then after a moment I realized that Katherine was no longer behind me and her shirt was no longer lying on the floor. She was gone. Then I realized that Damon's car had just pulled into the driveway. It took every bit of strength not to punch a fist through the wall in front of me. Instead, I zipped up my pants and buckled my belt and felt my phone vibrate in my back pocket.
Pick up where we left off at the boarding house?
The message read from Katherine. I wanted nothing more than to leave right now and take her but I knew I had to talk to Damon and Bonnie first. I knew it would be dangerous to go back to Mystic Falls right now, but I could take care of myself.
When?
I responded.
Sundown. I'll be waiting very impatiently.
She replied. I sighed and put my phone back in my pocket as Damon stepped inside.
Damon
"Oh good, you're here," I said, when Stefan turned around to see who had come in.
He sighed and gave a weak smile "Why wouldn't I be, Damon?"
"Hey, where the hell am I?" Lydia yelled as Jeremy dragged her inside.
"You're outside of Mystic Falls," I explained. "And you're going to help us and then leave. The sooner you help us find Elena, the sooner you're gone." I took a seat on the couch and put my hands behind my head; my feet on the small coffee table.
"How does she know about Elena?" Stefan asked, placing his fists on the back of the couch.
"She knows about everything, all of us. She's a seer who is connected to Elena," Bonnie said, taking Lydia's hand and helping her to take a seat in a nearby armchair. Bonnie then found a spot on the couch next to me.
"I thought psychic visions were never true since the future was always changing or something stupid like that," Stefan said as Jeremy leaned against the archway.
"Well Shane told me that there are straightforward visions and visions with two different paths. The visions with two different paths are both equally true but are different depending on a decision that is uncertain to an important person involved," Bonnie continued.
"Wouldn't every decision be uncertain since it hasn't been made yet?" I asked.
"No. Think about it. If someone came up to you and said, 'would you like to have a new black leather jacket for free?' You wouldn't have to think about it, you would have made your decision immediately and agreed," Bonnie said.
"Well, it depends on the jacket-" I started.
"I've never had a vision with two different paths," Lydia cut in.
"It's very likely. You've only just been connected to your first person and by doing that you'll be able to see visions about your own future which means that your chances for having an indirect vision go up," Bonnie explained, leaning forward.
"How will I know if I'm having one?" Lydia asked.
"I'm not sure," Bonnie said, her eyebrows furrowed together.
"But don't you see," Jeremy said, Lydia turned to meet his eyes. "We can help you find out about your powers and you can use them to help us find my sister."
"Don't worry, Jeremy," I said. "She'll comply whether she wants to or not," I smirked at her. She just glared back.
"I'll help you," she said. "But I have to back home by tomorrow. I have school, ya know."
"Who cares about school?" I said. "Elena skips all the time."
"You would know," Stefan said, rolling his eyes. I refused to meet his stare.
"I can take you home," Bonnie said. "But we better get going."
"Just a minute," Lydia said, pressing her hands into her forehead. "I-I just need a minute."
"Are you seeing something?" Bonnie asked. Lydia's hands dropped to her lap and she gazed absently straight ahead. Her eyes turned a creepy pale blue and she stayed that way for a good two minutes.
"She's going to change locations tomorrow so we better do this tonight," Lydia said once her eyes turned back to normal.
"I call shotgun," I said.
April
The day had been great. After I got some food at the grill, Rebekah and I got manicures and pedicures at a nearby nail salon. Then we went shopping for a bit and rented "The Notebook" to watch later that night.
Rebekah laughed as she closed the door. She tossed her shopping bags onto a nearby couch. "Ugh," she groaned. "I hate rain. It ruins everything," but she continued to laugh.
"I'm just glad we got out of that," I said, falling down on the couch with a sigh.
"Yes. There are so many dangers lurking in a bit of light rain, aren't there?" A voice said from behind. I saw Rebekah's face, it was a mixture of hatred and downright fear. I turned slowly and saw Klaus covered in blood with a look in his eyes that stunned me into silence.
"Klaus-" Rebekah started.
"Tell me sister, what are you doing alive?" Klaus asked.
"April-"
"Ahh," Klaus said as he grabbed my arm and forced me to stand. He held my head underneath his other arm and I held my breath. "April set you free now did she. So that you two could be best friends forever?"
"She didn't mean to Klaus! She didn't know!" Rebekah screamed. "You can throw me back in that box and pretend like I don't exist but just don't hurt her!"
"You would be willing to take her place?" Klaus questioned.
"Y-yes," Rebekah stuttered.
"Get her out of here," Klaus said, practically tossing me across the room. I understood how strong original vampires were. "And I never want to see your sorry face ever again or I will change my mind. I've got a lot to do so leave. NOW!" Klaus bellowed.
Rebekah took my arm and ran from the house at incredible speed. "Get in my car," she said. I slid into the passenger seat and closed the door behind me.
"Where are we going?" I asked. Rebekah kept her eyes on the road as she pulled out of her own driveway.
"I'm taking you home," she responded. I noticed one tear falling from her eye. She quickly sniffled and wiped it away.
Elena
I knew I should find a better place to stay then the gross motel I was confined to so I made a plan to find a beautiful hotel and compel my way to the penthouse. I smiled at how easy it would be with my new vampire abilities. Surrounded by vampires, I was weak since I was new. But in the world of humans I could do anything and be anything and most importantly, forget about everything.
I hated to admit it but the reason I had stayed in the motel for so long was because I was secretly hoping that Katherine would have told Damon where I was and that he would come to find me. He had broken the sire bond but my love for him remained true. I resented the sire bond for being an obstacle between us. I wanted him, now more than ever.
I sighed as I laid down on the bed and realized how hungry I was and kicked myself for not gathering some blood bags before I left. I decided I would go down to the front desk for a tiny snack.
I opened the door to the motel and there he stood, about to knock. His beautiful eyes looked into mine with surprise. His hair appeared to be windblown from running. I felt my heartbeat pick up when I realized it was really him and not a figment of my imagination.
"Damon?" I breathed. He looked unsure. He probably thought that I didn't love him anymore since he set me free.
I took him in my arms and held him there. I breathed in his marvelous scent and felt the familiar leather of his favorite jacket. I moved my right hand to the back of his head and felt his soft black hair. Then I realized he had not hugged me back.
"What are you doing, Elena?" He whispered in my ear.
"Getting everything I want from life," I responded. He broke away from our hug and looked at me once more with those eyes. They didn't hold a conceding devilish look. Instead they looked vulnerable and shining with pure happiness. They held the same adoring gaze that I saw when I told him I had chosen him for the first time during Miss Mystic. Shane had interrupted us then, but it was just the two of us. They also looked at me with disbelief so to prove to him that what I said was true, I took his face in my hands and kissed him with such passion that he grabbed my waist immediately and began to kiss me back. And that love that I felt for him and he felt for me was unquestionably real.
SIDENOTE:
The next chapter is called, "What You Don't Know Won't Hurt You". Katherine and Stefan continue to explore their relationship and dodge trouble in Mystic Falls. Klaus is outraged by losing Tyler and finding Rebekah alive which leads his search outside of Mystic Falls. Lydia has a disturbing vision which makes her more anxious to return home. Tyler and Hayley rekindle a flame as they begin to travel away from Mystic Falls in search of a hybrid. Damon and Elena return to Matt's cabin with some shocking news for the rest of the group.