Episode 6: Lost Girls
"What are you?" Elena and I demanded to Stefan as he opened the door. I looked down to his hand and saw a stake in it and stepped back as Elena repeated the question once more.
"You both know," He said, sounding resigned.
"No, we don't," Elena retorted immediately and I heard the panic in her voice.
"Yes, you do or you wouldn't both be here," Stefan said. I backed up even more, running my fingers through my natural curls.
"It's not possible...it can't be," I said, meeting his eyes for a second before turning away.
"Everything you both know...and every belief that you both have is about to change. Are you ready for that?" He asked us. I met Elena's gaze and saw the fear in her eyes, along with the disbelief. Then she shifted to look Stefan fully in the eye.
"What are you?" She asked quietly. I held my breath in the silence that followed.
"I'm a vampire," Stefan admitted and I heard the total honesty in his voice and realised this was no joke. I backed up even more, fear overtaking my actions.
"We shouldn't have come," Elena said, her thoughts running parallel to mine most likely. She backed up too and I turned to make my way to the car.
"No please," Stefan said and then he was in front of me. I stopped and felt tears coming to my eyes. Were we going to die? Surely he wouldn't attack us? I felt Elena's hand clasp in mine.
"How did you do that?" I asked, my fear showing in my voice and Stefan sighing in what looked like despair at it.
"Please don't be afraid of me," He said, looking between the two of us.
"Let us go," Elena said.
"No, Elena, Emmie, there's things that you have to know and understand," He protested.
"Let us go!" Elena exclaimed, pulling me around Stefan and to the car. I got into the passenger seat, whilst she ran and got into the driving seat.
"Elena, Emmie, please," Stefan pleaded as we drove away. I covered my face with my hands and felt tears begin to fall.
"What do we do, Emms?" Elena asked quietly in a small, timid voice.
"I don't know," I replied equally as quiet.
We went straight to Elena's room when we got home. I sat down on the bed, not even bothering to take off my shoes or jacket, unlike Elena who was also pacing. Her boyfriend was a vampire. One of my good friends was a vampire. I looked down then looked up to see Stefan standing there, looking at both of us. I shot up, gasping and backing into Elena.
"Elena, Emmie, I would never harm either of you. You're safe with me," He said.
"All those animal attacks- those people that died," Elena started.
"No! That was Damon!" Stefan protested.
"Damon?" I questioned numbly.
"Yes, Emmie. I don't drink human blood, that's not how I choose to surivive. But Damon does. I'll explain everything to you both but I beg you...do not tell anybody," Stefan answered.
"How can you ask us that?" Elena asked in astounded horror.
"Because you knowing this is dangerous. For so many reasons. You can hate me, but I need you to trust me," He said.
"Just go, just go, please. Go. If you mean us no harm, then you'll go!" Elena exclaimed as she went to leave but Stefan shut the door before she could even fully open it. He looked between the two of us.
"I never wanted this," Was all he said before going. I breathed out deeply as Elena turned to look at me with fearful eyes.
I sat down in front of Stefan with Elena sitting down moments later after me. Stefan shot us a tentative smile at the both of us, his eyes lingering on Elena for a moment longer than me.
"You said you would explain everything." Elena started. "That's why I asked you to meet us here. When you google vampire you get a world of fiction. What's the reality?
"I can you both whatever you wanna know," Stefan replied honestly.
"I know you eat garlic," Elena said shortly.
"Yes,"
"And somehow, sunlight isn't an issue?" I put in. Stefan paused as the waitress came out and handed our drinks to us.
"We have rings," Stefan said to me finally after she had left.
"Crucifixes?" I retorted.
"Decorative,"
"Holy water?"
"Drinkable,"
"Mirrors?"
"Myth,"
"You said you don't kill to survive," Elena said calmly, cutting in on my question round with Stefan. I leaned back slightly.
"Animal blood keeps me alive, but not as strong as Damon. He can be very powerful," Stefan explained.
"And yet you let get involved with Caroline?" I asked sharply.
"Forcing Damon not to do something is much more dangerous. Believe me," He replied, looking regretful.
"He was hurting her!" I exclaimed quietly, careful of those around us.
"He was feeding on her. He was able to take away her memories of being bitten using a form of mind compulsion. She never knew what was happening to her. If he wanted to kill her, he would have,"
"Is that supposed to make it okay?" I asked, eyebrows raised, fully aware of Elena doing the same thing.
"No, no none of this is okay, Emmie. I know that." Stefan reassured me.
"Are there any others, aside from you and Damon?" Elena asked.
"Not in Mystic Falls. Not anymore," Stefan replied.
"Not anymore?" I questioned.
"There was a time when this town was...very much aware of vampires. And it didn't end well for anybody. That's why it's important for you two to not tell anyone," Stefan answered, looking between us both.
"We can't promise that," Elena said for the both of us after we shared a glance between us.
"Elena, Emmie...Give me today." Stefan started. "I will answer any questions that you have. And when it's over, you can decide for yourselves what you wanna do with what you know. It'll be your choice,"
"Okay fine," I said immediately, then turned to see Elena's wary eyes. "Elena, we owe him this at least," I said earnestly.
I was driving my car through the lane that ran through the woods on the borders of Mystic Falls. Stefan was in the front passenger seat and Elena was in the backseat, obviously not wanting to be close to Stefan. I didn't mind anyway. I met Stefan as a vampire and unless he had some evil ulta ego I could see he tried to the good guy at all times and I admired him for that. I didn't admire Damon however.
"Stop here," Stefan instructed me suddenly, causing me to jump out of my thoughts and brake sharply.
"What are we doing here?" Elena asked.
"I want you show you both something," Stefan said as he opened his door. I followed suit and climbed out.
"In the middle of nowhere?" Elena asked skeptically though she too got out of the car.
"This...didn't used to be nowhere. Used to be my home," Stefan replied, looking around him.
"It looks so..." Elena trailed off as she also looked around her.
"Old? It's because they are," He said. I frowned and stopped looking around me and straight at Stefan.
"Wait. How long have you...?" I trailed off before I could finish my question. Stefan looked at me and gave me a grim smile.
"I've been seventeen years old since eighteen sixty four, Emmie," He told me. My eyes widened in shock, as did Elena's.
"Oh, my god," I choked out slightly.
"You both said you wanted to know. I'm not gonna hold anything back. Half a century before the boarding house was even built, this was my family's home. Damon and I...we were both born here. The Salvatore brothers, best friends," He said, a wistful look in his eye as he clearly thought back to his past. I zoned slightly until I heard Katherine's name and also another female name, Alexandria also being said.
"You knew Katherine in 1864?" Elena asked. "Damon made it seem like..."
"Damon was trying to make you think that... I was still heartbroken. He saw I was happy with you and he wanted to ruin it,"
"All because you loved the same woman one hundred and forty five years ago?" Elena asked.
"The same two women," Stefan corrected her.
"Alexandria?" I spoke the strange name and Stefan nodded at me. "Who was she?" I added.
"Katherine's sister," Stefan answered. I looked at Elena, but she just focused on Stefan as he carried on speaking. The parallels between now and then were unnatural in a way.
"She chose me and Alexandria chose Damon. We escorted them to the ball at the original Lockwood mansion," Stefan were saying.
"The first founder's party...where you signed the registry," Elena said.
"I didn't care that I had gotten something that my brother wanted. I didn't even care if it hurt him. I only knew I wanted her," He paused. "However, Alexandria was also beautiful and I wanted her too," He added.
"So he was upset," I said.
"That's the thing about Damon. He doesn't get mad. He just gets even," Stefan said evenly. We walked on a bit more. "What Damon wants, Damon usually gets. I didn't know it at the time but...turns out that night...Katherine was with him too..."
"So he stole her from you? Not the other way around?" Elena asked.
"What about Alexandria? Did Damon just abandon her?" I asked too.
"No, he was with her too...as I was with her in revenge also," Stefan answered my question. "And turns out they weren't ours to steal, either way," He added in response to Elena. "They could control my mind...and Damon's too. They compelled each of us to keep the secret from the other. They wanted all of us to be together. Forever." He paused. "Didn't work out that way, but...Damon and I, looks like we're stuck with each other...like it or not." He pulled out a ring from his pocket and I recognised it to be Damon's.
"Is that Damon's ring?" Elena voiced my thoughts.
"I took it from him, but it have to give it back," Stefan said.
"No, don't Stefan. Keep it hidden," Elena protested. I frowned at her but also agreed with her.
"Elena, if I don't give it to him, he'll retaliate in the only way that he knows he can hurt me." Stefan said, stepping towards us.
"And how is that?" Elena asked.
"By hurting you and Emmie," Stefan replied, showing emotion. I looked at Elena and she looked back at me, fear on our faces.
We entered our house an hour later, Stefan still with us to see Vicki, Matt and Jeremy all stood in the kitchen, Jeremy and Matt looking shaken.
"What's going on?" Elena asked them.
"She's really messed up," Matt said, nodding to Vicki. I walked to her and grabbed her arm.
"Vick, what the hell have you taken?" I asked her firmly. She just stared past me unfocused.
"Ems, back up," Stefan said from behind me. I did as he said and he grabbed her face. "Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine.." He turned
to Jeremy and Matt. "Guys, take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be okay," He instructed them. I looked at him, realising that he knew what was wrong with her. As
Matt and Jeremy helped Vicki upstairs, I turned to him fully.
"You know what's wrong with her," I stated. He just nodded. "What is it?"
"She's transitioning," He replied flatly. I stared at him in horror.
"Transitioning to what?" Elena asked, not catching on.
"A vampire," Stefan told her softly.
"What?" Elena asked in disbelief.
"Damon must have gotten to her. She's new. She hasn't completed her transformation yet," Stefan told her.
"I'll kill him," I said quietly, attracting their attention. Elena stepped forward and hugged me tightly. "She's my friend Elena and she's dead or undead or whatever," I said to her,
hugging her back.
"It'll be fine, Elles. She'll be okay, right?" She said, directing the last part to Stefan. He just nodded.
"How does she complete her..er transformation?" I asked him, stepping out of the hug.
"By feeding on human blood," He answered.
"And if she doesn't?" I asked once more.
"She'll die," He replied softly. "She may only have a few hours," He added.
"She's upstairs with them right now," Elena added and I understood her meaning. She could hurt Matt or Jeremy.
"It's okay. She doesn't know what's happening to her yet," Stefan explained.
"So when is she gonna know?" I asked.
"Right now, she doesn't remember anything. A part of her is still human, but slowly, the deeper she gets into the transition, the memories will start to come back and then she'll
know she has to make the choice," Stefan explained.
"The same choice you made?" Elena asked. He just nodded.
Moments later Vicki came running past us and out of the house.
"Vicki!" I yelled and ran out after her.
"I can track her," Stefan told me as he stopped just beside me.
"Please?" I asked. He sent me a small smile and ran off down the street. I turned to Elena as she came to stand beside me. I leant my head on her shoulder.
"Maybe we should check in with Matt?" Jeremy asked for the second time that hour.
"He'll call when he finds her," Elena tried to reassure him.
"Well, what are we supposed to do?" He asked us, looking at me more than anyone else.
"We wait. We're supposed to wait," Elena said anything before me. It went quiet for a few minutes before Jeremy spoke up once more.
"I don't know what's wrong with her," He admitted. I sighed.
"She'll be fine, Jer. It'll all be fine. She's probably just had another bender again," I replied. The doorbell rang and I got up to answer it. There stood Damon. I gasped and tried to
slam the door shut but he stopped it in time. "Jeremy, go upstairs," I said firmly and he looked confused but did as I told him to.
"You're both afraid of me." Damon stated. "I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess. Stefan finally fessed up,"
"Stay away from us," Elena said, grabbing me backwards.
"Hey, no need to be rude. I'm just looking for Stefan. May I come in?" He just smirked and stepped indoors anyway. "Oh wait. Of course I can. I've been invited. We can cut to the
chase if you want. I'm not gonna kill you right now. Either of you. That wouldn't serve my greater agenda. So... where's Stefan?"
"He's out looking for Vicki," I spat out. His gaze fell on me.
"Don't look at me with those judgey eyes. Girl's gonna thank me for what I did to her," He said. I narrowed my eyes.
"Did you thank Katherine and Alexandra?" I asked sharply. He also narrowed his eyes at me.
"Mmmm, you both got the whole life story, didn't you?" He said.
"We got enough," Elena said.
"Oh, I doubt that. Tell my brother I'm looking for him. Oh, tip for later..." He looked around, smirking. "Be careful who you invite into the house," Then he vanished, leaving the
front door open and the both of us shaken and angry.
I then saw Stefan walking up to the steps and I walked out quickly.
"You're bleeding," Elena stated.
"No, it's okay. I'm okay," Stefan replied. Then he looked at me. "I couldn't stop her. I tried," He told me.
"She drank?" I asked. He nodded.
"She fed and I lost her," He admitted.
"Oh my god," Elena and I said together.
"I'll take care of it. I'll find her and I'll show her that she can live like I do. I will make sure that she does not hurt anybody, I promise you both," Stefan said.
"What do we tell our brother- and Matt?" Elena asked.
"We'll come up with a story," Stefan said simply.
"You mean we'll come up with a lie," Elena stated.
"I'm so sorry,"
"We gave you today. I gave you today. Just like you asked. And I understand that you would never do anything to hurt me or Emmie and we both promise to keep your secret...
But I can't be with you, Stefan. I'm sorry," With this said, Elena walked past me into the house. Stefan met my gaze.
"I'm sorry," I said simply before following my sister indoors and shutting the door behind me as I watched her start crying.