Chapter Three

Ella sighed as she stared at the ceiling of her cell. She had been very patient with her friends over the past week, but that patience was wearing thin. They were still no closer to finding a way to save her humanity than they had been a week ago. She sighed again and lifted the book, that had been resting on her chest, to continue reading.

Every day Damon brought her something new to read. A book, an old family journal and every day came a new letter from one of her friends. They all say unopened, in the corning of the room. She had no interest in what they had to say to her. It was probably just more 'we miss you', 'we love you', 'please fight this' blah blah blah.

A small part of her still wanted to fight, to cling to her feelings and her friends. That part of her was growing smaller by the day however, and soon there would be no part of her that cared. She'd be just like her mother and how Stefan was pretending to be.

"Hello Ric," Ella greeted after she had been reading for a few minutes. She looked up from her book to find Alaric staring at her through the small window in the door. "Come to gawk at the prisoner?"

"You're not a prisoner Ella," Alaric answered.

"Really? So what do you call a person who's been locked in her father's basement? A guest?" Ella asked sarcastically.

"We're just trying to help you," Alaric countered, his eyebrows puckering into a frown. "But it's life you've just given up and don't want any help. You need to fight this Ella. You're the strongest person I know and I know that you could fight against this if you just try."

"So that's your plan?" Ella smiled suddenly. It wasn't a warm smile however, it's cold and calculating and a sudden chill runs through Alaric's veins. "You want to be the one to convince me, you want to save me. What do you think will happen Ric? Do you think that you can make me all better? You think you can make me forget about Jeremy and I'll be so grateful that I'll fall madly in love with you and we'll live happily ever after?"

"That's not what this is about..." Alaric started.

"DON'T lie to me!" Ella snarled, flying off her small cot, Ella was suddenly at the door. A loud thud filled the air when she collided with it and it shook dangerously on it's hinges. "You forget I know when you're lying Ric. I feel what you feel."

"How do you know that Jeremy is the one?" Alaric asked suddenly after a few moments of silence.

Stunned by the unexpected question, Ella took a step back from the door. "What?"

For a few seconds all of the pain and angered melted away and Alaric can see the real Ella. He seized the opportunity to press his point further.

"You had a crush on Jeremy when you got to Mystic Falls," he explained in a rush. "Then you found out you were a Fae, then the next day Damon told you what could happen if a Fae finds that special person. I'm not saying you don't love Jeremy, but maybe he isn't your one. Maybe you just thought he was because of how you felt about him. Maybe all of this is happening because you believe it's what is suppose to happen. You're half Vampire Ella. You could be turning off your humanity yourself and as a half Vampire you have the ability to turn it back on!"

Ella shook her head and backed away again. Her eyes looked wild, darting every which way as she tried to process what he'd said. Alaric remained quiet, allowing her to process what he'd said. Alaric remained quiet, allowing her to process what he'd said. He knew it was a risk, he'd never say anything if there was anyone in the house.

Luckily Damon had had to run an errand and everyone had gone to Bonnie's to help look over her Grams' old books for anything that might help. Alaric had volunteered to stay and keep an eye on Ella. Jeremy hadn't been thrilled, but he'd still left.

His relationship with Jeremy had been a little strained ever since the summer when he'd found out about Alaric's feelings for Ella. They had finally begun to heal when Jeremy had kissed Anna. Alaric had been furious with Jeremy for his hurting Ella.

"No!" Ella exclaimed suddenly. She looked like a wild animal now, pacing her cage. "You're just trying to confuse me!"

"Ella I'm not trying to confuse you," Alaric swore. "I'm trying to make you see that you don't have to be a monster. You can be yourself again."

"No! Stop it! I don't want to hear anymore!" Ella released a primal scream and ran forward with the intention of snapping Alaric's neck, but when she reached the door she was clutching air.

"Ella!" Damon yelled. "What the hell were you doing?"

Damon's livid face came into view, but Ella didn't care. She didn't care about anything anymore. She was finished with all of them and she was getting out of there.

"I was trying to break his neck," she answered Damon's question, her tone as empty as a tomb. "I'm tired of being held prisoner Damon. Let me out of here now."

"You're not going anywhere," Damon snarled.

"I said, let me out," Ella commanded.

Damon's eyes glazed over and he dutifully unlocked and opened the door. Alaric rushed forward to try and stop them.

"Restrain him," Ella told her father. Again Damon did as he was told.

"Ella! Don't do this!" Alaric yelled after her. "You can fight this Ella!"

"Oh Ric," Ella sighed and walked over to stand in front of him. "I don't want to fight it. I've never felt more free in all my life. I'll see you around."

Ella smiled then pressed a kiss to Alaric's lips. He froze in shock for a second before he relaxed into it against his own accord. Ella pulled away and whipped around before walking to the stairs. at the top she froze suddenly and let out a sharp scream, grabbing her head as a white hot pain ripped through her skull. Ella fell to her knees and was only vaguely aware of feet thundering up the stairs behind her and yelling over her screams before mercifully she collapsed.

TBC...