Isabella's POV
"Does Elena know that she's in my body?" I asked.
"Not yet," Serena said. "But you need to draw her out."
"Why?"
"So we can perform an extraction," Vonda put in.
"An extraction?" I repeated in confusion.
"Yes," she replied solemnly. "We would extract Elena's soul from your body."
"H-how would you do that?" I stammered.
"Magic," Vonda smiled. "It wouldn't hurt you. We'd put you under, take Elena out and then let her rest peacefully."
"But how do I draw her out?" I asked.
"Anything. Try touching the people she loved. And I think we both know what I mean by that: the Salvatore vampires. Visit the places she loved, and visit her grave," Vonda told me.
"Elena loved Stefan, right? Try kissing Stefan. That would bring her out," Serena grinned. "She'd be furious if she knew you were kissing her boyfriend."
"As Elena grows stronger you will start to feel her emotions. You may feel a strong desire for Stefan, or a strong hatred for something that you've never felt before. Try and keep your feelings and her feelings separate. Her soul may talk to you as she strengthens, and she may send you images and memories. Embrace them. The stronger she gets, the easier it will be to extract her," Vonda explained.
It all seemed a little cruel to me. Elena had been brought from the dead to only get trapped in my body, where I would let her live her life again, and then send her back to the world of the dead. But, that's what I wanted, right? I wanted to get rid of her – I didn't want her plaguing my dreams with her memories. I didn't want Stefan to want me because of her; I wanted him to want me for me.
I sighed. "Okay. I'll do it," I stood up. "Thank you for your help. I should get home now."
"Here," Serena handed me a little card. "Call us if you need us. That's Grandmother's business number."
"Thanks," I said. "See you soon."
Stefan's POV
I wrote my name at the bottom of my essay, and then closed my book and put the lid on the pen. Caroline walked in, holding a Wii remote. She grinned, and offered me the control.
"Feel like a game of tennis?" she asked.
"I'm doing homework," I told her.
"Ugh, seriously? Why don't you just take one of your old written essays and submit it?"
"Because that's cheating."
She rolled her eyes. "That's what we vampires do, remember? We cheat at everything."
Just as I was about to respond, I heard the front door open and then close. Caroline and I both glanced at each other curiously, before leaving my room to investigate. We hurried down the stairs into the living room. Someone was playing a game of tennis on the Wii. Not just someone. It was Damon.
"Yes! Take that, Bobby!" Damon shouted at the television, before turning around to look at us.
"Damon," I said in surprise.
"Hey, brother," he glanced at Caroline. "Hey, Vampire Barbie."
Caroline glared at him. "You've had two hundred years to come up with a better nickname than that, Salvatore."
Damon grinned. "So? Feel like a game of tennis, Stefan?"
"What are you doing here, Damon?" I asked.
"Visiting," he replied.
"Why? It's been two hundred years!"
"I've been dreading it too but it had to happen eventually," he retorted. "Now we need to talk: Isabella."
Caroline and I exchanged glances.
"How do you know about Isabella?" Caroline asked.
"It's a small town. People talk," he shrugged.
"How long have you been here?" I enquired.
"A few days. It wasn't hard to pick up on the gossip. And Isabella's in a lot of it. Her resemblance to Elena...I mean, it's like Elena's resemblance to Katherine."
I said nothing.
"What, Stef? You've all ready called dibs on her? You gonna fall in love with Elena all over again?" Damon said sardonically.
"She's not Elena," Caroline snapped.
"He doesn't care!" Damon shot back. "All he cares about is that there might be a chance that Elena remembers him. He doesn't care about the girl, Isabella. He just wants Elena."
"And what about you, Damon?" I finally spoke up. "Huh? I know you loved Elena. Aren't you dying to meet her too? See if she remembered you?"
"I don't care about Elena," he lied fluently. "It's been two hundred years. The quicker she died, the better. I didn't need to see her with you every day, because that hurt the most. At least if she's dead I don't have to put up with that."
"Liar," I shook my head. "Wow, Damon. Two hundred years of practising that lie. You almost had me convinced, but you're not that good."
Damon shrugged. "It's the truth. I don't care about Isabella. I'm gonna stay well away from her, because unlike you, I'm not stupid. I fell for Katherine. She turned out to be a manipulative little bitch who loved you. Fell for Elena, she loved you, and then died on me. I don't believe in 'third time lucky'."
"Then why are you here?" I demanded quietly.
He grinned. "Because I missed my baby bro'. Is that good enough? Well, I'm gonna go to bed now. Goodnight, roomies."
He stalked past us. I glanced at Caroline, who was glaring in the direction that Damon walked off in. I sighed. It would be a long night.
Isabella's POV
I paused hesitantly outside the Salvatore Boarding House door. Come on, I told myself. Don't be a chicken. I could feel something stirring inside of me; I felt...happy. I felt happy to be here. No, I reminded myself. That was Elena's feelings. I bet Elena could sense she was here, and she felt happy here. I couldn't help but smile as I knocked on the door.
It was opened a second later and my mouth fell open in shock. Standing in the doorway, mirroring my shocked expression was Damon Salvatore. He quickly regained his composure, and glanced at me with mild curiosity.
"You must be Isabella," he said coolly, offering me his hand.
I shook his hand. "And you're Damon."
"Yep. The one and only. And what can I do for you?"
"I'm here to see Stefan," I told him.
"Then you'd better come on in then," he held the door wide open for me and stood aside.
"Thanks," I muttered, stepping inside. Suddenly, I felt elated. I recognised this house immediately, and I felt happy to be here. I couldn't help but let a little laugh escape my lips.
"What's so amusing?" he asked.
"Nothing," I suppressed another smile.
Damon looked at me curiously, a smile curling on the corners of his lips. "So you know all about me, right? Well, everything that Elena knew."
"Yeah," I murmured quietly, feeling something stronger stir inside me. I desperately tried to find her. Elena? You there? I asked silently. I pictured her in my mind, and I imagined tugging her out of a dark hole. Suddenly, I felt a twist in my stomach, strong and quite painful. I winced and clutched my tummy.
"What's the matter?" he asked, touching my arm. When he touched me, it made it worse. I cried out in pain, and slouched against the wall.
"Isabella!" he encircled me in his arms and lifted me. In a flash he had placed me gently down on the sofa, and then I heard a voice.
Isabella, she spoke softly. It's okay. The pain will be over in a minute. You're setting me free.
I gasped loudly and glanced around wildly for the source of the voice. "Who's there?" I demanded over my heavy breathing.
"Isabella," Damon touched my cheek. "It's just me; no one else."
My name is Elena Gilbert, but I think you all ready know that. I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you.
Abruptly, the pain was over, and I was left gasping, crying and numb.
"I – I'm okay now," I told him shakily, sitting up.
"What the hell happened?" he demanded.
"Elena," I whispered. "She's in my body."
I quickly explained to him about the reincarnation and how I had tugged Elena from where she'd been trapped in my body. I could feel her. I could feel her gazing around at her surroundings, and I could almost see her thoughts. She wasn't strong enough to control my body, but she could see and hear through my eyes and ears.
"And why would you do that? Why would you release her into your body?" Damon asked.
"Because..." I began, afraid of his reaction. "I want her to rest. I want to send her back to where departed souls go."
Damon's eyes widened in surprise. "Good luck telling Stefan that."
"You can't tell him," I begged. "Please. I don't know how he'll handle it."
Damon regarded me for a few moments, and then he hesitantly touched my face with the tips of his fingers. "Is she really there? Can she hear me?"
"Yes," I whispered.
Talk to him, I told her. Go on. Speak through my lips.
I could feel her trying. She was desperately trying to break past the barriers that trapped her. But she wasn't strong enough.
Tell him I'm sorry, she said. Tell him that I don't want this to come between him and Stefan. Tell him that he needs his brother, and that he shouldn't blame Stefan.
I recited her message to Damon, and he forced a smile. I could see the sadness behind his eyes.
"Don't be sorry," he said gently. "And don't worry about me and Stefan. I loved you, Elena. I need you to know that. I loved you with all my heart, and a part of me still does. I...I'm sorry I didn't do a better job to protect you."
"It wasn't your fault," I whispered, before Elena even had to tell me to say it.
Tears filled his eyes, and he said nothing. I knew from Elena's memories the type of person he could be: mean, cynical, sarcastic and careless. But it wasn't him. This sad and grieving side of him was a completely different person. Right then I felt useless and hurt. Neither of the Salvatores would ever want me. It was always Elena. How could I take her away from them? I knew what I had to do. I just wasn't sure if I was brave enough to do it.
(I will try and post chapters 8 and 9 as quickly as I can. Thanks for the great reviews :)
