Chapter 3: Uneasy goodbyes
Elena POV:
"I can't believe we are all separating so soon" Bonnie groaned as she tried to help me pack what little clothes I had.
"I know" I agreed. "I really need more time with Stefan. I am so confused about everything. You know?"
"I know, Elena" Bonnie nodded "But you just have to follow your heart. I'm behind you no matter what"
"What do you mean by that Bonnie?" I asked "Did you have some kind of vision?"
"Nothing, just that Ive seen you and Damon together. Elena I'm your best friend. Honey I know when you are torn. Even if you won't admit it yourself"
"Sure. We bonded saving Stefan and I saved his soul. That's it Bonnie. Nothing else" I said sharply.
"Elena!" Bonnie exclaimed. "That is hardly nothing. Besides there is the whole issue of our husband spell..."
"Husband spell?"
"Don't you remember? The night we had you invite in your future husband? It ended up being Katherine outside that night that got my dog... not Damon. So when you invited you future husband in the spell worked and you saw Damon instead of Stefan"
My face fell. She was right...no she couldn't be it was just a spell. It didn't work. She was meant for Stefan end of story.
"Elena, You're torturing your soul" Bonnie's voice grew robotic she was in a physic trance. "She's locked up just like he was you have to let him set her free"
She snapped out of it as quickly as she went in. I stared at her wide eyes.
"But Bonnie, I love Stefan...I really do..."
"I know you do honey, that's what makes this so tragic."
I sighed and grabbed my small bag. This was going to be one road trip to remember.
Damon POV:
I quickly packed up my clothes and some silver arrows Mutt had gotten. Just in case. I was sitting at the table ready to depart whenever she was. I couldn't help but be really excited about going off with Elena on my own. I could;d almost forget for a moment I was a lowly human.
"Damon, take these herbs. Smear them on the windows and doors of the car and the hotel room. It will keep demons and kitsune away" Mrs. Flowers instructed giving me a bag.
"Thank you, Mr.s Flowers" I said
"Take this too" She out something in my hand. I opened it to find the years rent Stefan had left for Elena.
"You will need it" She said firmly "For gas, food hotel and you may need some later on."
"Later on?" I asked.
"Don't ask me to elaborate child. Witches only tell what they want. We make you children figure out the hints we give" She said with a smile.
"With all do respect. I am over 500 years old" I said smiling back at her.
"As a vampire you were frozen in time son, now that you are human again you are what 20? 21" She winked. "Just a kid"
"Hmm... I suppose you are right" I agreed. I could enjoy being a reckless youth again. It seemed much more fun now then it was in my day after all.
Elena chose that moment to glide down the stairs. Her blond hair swayed as she walked. She had that same cute little tank top on and a pair of jeans. She had one tiny bag across her shoulder. Her face was free of makeup. I was taken aback by her natural beauty. Reckless youth forgotten all I wanted at that moment was to call this angel mine.
"I'll be ready in a few minutes Damon" She said softly. My name coming from her lips made me want to grab her and kiss her but I held back.
"I'm going to go say goodbye to Stefan" She finished avoiding my eyes. She hurried outside.
Who was I kidding? She wasn't going to pick me. I didn't have a chance.I had gotten as close to her as I could but I would never compare to Stefan. Never. He was her hero and despite everything I had done to redeem myself with her I would always be the villain brother that she had a soft spot for and nothing more. And now she probably felt sorry for me because she saw Stefan beat me down like a dog and I was a stupid human.
"Hmm... don't be so sure of yourself son" Mrs Flowers said with smiling eyes "Perhaps you just need to reach her as she reached you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked
"She means man up" Bonnie said and breezed outside to join the others.
"Hmm... man up?" Were the witches in my corner when it came to Elena? I was feeling more confused then ever as I joined the group saying their goodbyes outside.
Elena POV:
Poor Damon! I thought as I left the house. His face looked terrible. I wanted to kiss his wounds away. I had to force myself not to look at him. Because it took everything inside of me to stop from jumping into his arms and comforting him. This had to be so difficult for him. She knew he loved her and seeing her with Stefan was killing him. Add to that him being human and beaten by his little brother. I felt twinge of anger toward Stefan for hurting Damon so badly. Then quickly pushed it away.
I had to keep my feelings for Damon platonic! Bonnie was wrong. He is not my future husband. Stefan is. That I am sure off. But are you? That tiny voice asked again.
"Stefan!" I yelled ignoring the little voice and running toward my love.
"Please be careful Elena" He said as I drew close to him. "I won't lose you"
Something about the way he said that scared me. I tried to ignore the alarm going off in my head. But I couldn't this was the 4th time today that Stefan had literally scared me and I didn't know what to think about that. Maybe he was just harder after being imprisoned in the underworld and I was overreacting.
"Of course Stefan. But I am going to go meet with a human. You are heading into demon town. You need to be careful. I don't want to lose you so soon after finding you"
"I am always careful love" He said his voice was distant and his eyes seemed sort sad. "I am going to miss you Elena. It has been so long. It's so unfair how little time we get before we have to go our separate ways"
"I know Stefan. I wish I could go with you."
"Funny you mention that. The old Elena would have demanded to go with me to get the orb. You didn't put up any fuss this time" His eyes grew a little colder.
I felt the chill and felt really uneasy under his stare.
"Well I couldn't... I mean someone has to do with Damon." I stammered
"Of course, Elena. I was kidding. I trust you" He said and winked.
He was acting really strange... I guess he sensed my inner turmoil with him and Damon. Perhaps he was jealous. But this cold, distant and fake Stefan scared me. It felt like it wasn't the same Stefan behind his eyes anymore. As if losing his chance at being human had taken some of the humanity from him.
What if he was possessed my malich? I hadn't even thought of that. I reached out and kissed him. I searched for malich but didn't find any. But Stefan was holding back feelings from me. That I could feel. He kissed me back fiercely...in a possessing way he had never done before.
"I love you Elena" He said "You are mine forever. After all of this is over we will be married finally"
His eyes were determined and cold not full of love and promises like I always remembered.
"Let's just save the town Stefan...We will figure everything else out once we've done that" I said feeling nervous for some reason.
"No Elena.. You need to promise me before you leave with my brother that you will marry me after we save the town. Please" His eyes were begging now the coldness gone replaced by desperation.
"Stefan!" Sage yelled "Train's a leaving. We gotta get there before it gets dark!"
Stefan growled.
"Go on Stefan" kissed him quickly. "We will talk about everything once Shi-no-shi has been stopped"
I quickly ran toward the house where Damon was waiting with the others. Bonnie and Mrs. Flowers both held concerned expressions on their faces. I felt the same unease in the pit of my stomach.
