Fast forward a year. Stefan has met Lexi (his vampire best friend) in New Orleans.
New Orleans, Louisiana
September 24th, 1865
Damon's POV
I walked down the stairs with suitcases in hand. For some reason, I couldn't wait to see my sister. It's been forever it seemed and I still have forever ahead of me. Stefan has been complaining about some woman named Lexi. He would come back home every night saying that Lexi would try to make him drink animal blood, but he didn't want to give in. I tried animal blood before. It wasn't that bad, but had a more bitter taste than human.
I was about to walk out the back door when I heard a woman's voice, "going somewhere?"
I turned around and saw a woman gliding into the main hallway. She had long blonde hair that descended in a single plait down her back and she wore a dark green dress. She was tall and her amber eyes gazed into mine. They were clear and curious, but there was something about them...perhaps the pupils. They seemed ancient and knowing and stood out in sharp contrast to her rosy-cheeked, unlined face, "you must be the vampire that my brother keeps whining about."
She curtsied and tilted her head, "that would be me," she pointed to me and walked towards me with her arms crossed, "and you must be the brother that hates him."
I set the luggage down and nodded, "you're right. We've been at odds."
She stared at me and I looked around uncertainly, "you know that hate that you're feeling? Towards Stefan and towards everyone?" she asked, "you think you have it under control, but you don't. It will get the best of you," she said knowingly.
I shook my head, "I don't hate him. What he's become I hate. Do you think you can help him?" I asked.
She nodded, "I'll help him, but I think it's better if I trace back to his origins in Mystic Falls. To see what triggered his ripper side."
Ripper. That's what Stefan has been saying he is. A vampire that can't control his wanting for blood, "so you're coming to Mystic Falls with us?" I asked.
She nodded, "I think its best. For your brother. For you. For your sister."
Stefan's Diary Entry
September 24th, 1865
I'm on the train now with my brother and Lexi, leaving fun New Orleans and back to my beginning in Mystic Falls.
Something in me has changed. Maybe it is merely age. Maybe it's Lexi's tutoring. Or maybe it's just the fact that I am to be faced to an actual challenge. That challenge being: seeing my sister, Elizabeth, for the first time in a year. I've been wondering what she has been up to. Did she marry, George? Is she still living with the Lockwood's? Did she have children within the short time I was gone? Is she even in Mystic Falls? Is she going to meet me tomorrow? Does she even remember?
The questions are endless and I can't stand the feeling of not knowing any of the answers.
September 25th, 1865
Elizabeth's POV
Mrs. Lockwood came forward to me and set the two twin baby boys in my arms.
She smiled, "you and George have the two perfect little boys."
I bent down and kissed their foreheads and hugged my precious two young boys, "yes we do!" The boys giggled and their little pudgy hands met my face. I picked Damon and Stefan up in my arms, "thank you for watching them today, Mrs. Lockwood," I said to her.
She just shook her head with a smile on her face, "anytime. And how many times do I must tell you, Elizabeth?! Call me mom or mother. Remember you're a Mrs. Lockwood too now! No Miss Salvatore anymore."
I looked down at my right hand that was holding Damon and the ring that was on my finger, "yeah, I guess so..." I smiled, "goodbye," I called behind my shoulder to Mrs. Lock- um... I mean mom.
I walked outside and set the boys beside me. They ran off chasing each other. Their laughter filled the air. Their laughter was music to my ears. I had twin boys three months after the battle of Willow Creek exactly the time I started to show. And of course, I named them Stefan and Damon. They didn't know who they were named after, but I will tell them when they're older. I'll tell them that they were named after my dead brothers.
We finally got to our home. It was brand new. George and his father and brother built it during my pregnancy. I didn't know anything about it and it was a surprise. It had a wraparound porch and blue shutters. Beautiful trees were on the sides and in the front and back there were flower beds. I always loved flowers, especially the ones that bloom there in the spring and summer.
I looked through the woods and saw a little bit of the old burnt down Salvatore house. The place where I grew up. I asked Dinah to watch Damon and Stefan for a few minutes and ran outside and through the forest to my old home. I had to see my old home one more time. The main entrance was crumbled by the old pillars that used to be there, but I just walked over them. I walked the floors and remembered the entertainment room where I learned to play the piano and violin. The library where as kids, Stefan and I used to drool over our studies and have Shakespeare debates. The kitchen and the slave house I would always run to when I just wanted to get away. The stables where I would comb the horse's coats just to pass time. Every room, every detail had a memory attached to it.
As I was walking home I swear that in the bushes I could see the two most familiar eyes. A gorgeous combination of blues and browns. They were Stefan's.
Stefan's Diary Entry
September 25th, 1865
Stefan and Damon. Those are the names my sister gave her two sons. My two nephews. I am not supposed to have a heart. It stopped beating nearly a year ago. And yet something about those two boys' faces cause my dead heart to flutter in my body. Is this feeling real? Or is it a mere memory of something that used to be there?
Damon used to tell me stories about the war. He said that soldiers who got a hand, foot or limb amputated would scream out in pain for a hand that ached or a leg that hurt, even though that limb was gone. Phantom limbs, Damon called them, but it seems to be, I have a phantom heart.
The two boys enter my mind constantly. The constellation of freckles on their skin. Their bright eyes and their kind smiles. I can't help but admire the way they yield their own special Power. I think of my sister when I see them. And every time an image of the boys comes up an image of Elizabeth appears and vice versa, but every time I think of them I curse myself. Why am I so weak? I should be stronger than this. Strong enough to not feel when I see two little boys or a young woman. I should cast them off in my mind as just three little family members that I am letting live.
But deep down inside, despite my power, I know that those two little boys and that one woman have control over me. Of my feeling heart. My phantom heart.
Elizabeth's POV
I watched my two young precious boys sleep in their cribs. I am so proud to have such two perfect little angels. They had the brown hair and cheery smiles from George, but their small noses and green eyes were mine. I run my fingers through their hair and sing the lullaby that George and I sing to them religiously. In the eyes of the world they are just two innocent little boys, but to me they are the world and much, much more. They are my peace, my strength, and my courage. They are the ones I live for now. Damon and Stefan can't comprehend now why I stare at them while they play or when I wake up in the middle of the night just to kiss their foreheads, but hopefully, when they are older, they will. They are both my pride and joy. George and the boys are the best things that ever happened to me. Every night before I go to sleep I pray that He will bless them and keep them safe.
I carefully walked out of their room and went into mine and George's room. George was already in bed, reading a book. He had reading glasses on which I think made him look even more handsome. But as soon as I entered the room the reading glasses came off and the book went down. George looked nervous.
"Is something wrong?" I asked. I went behind a divider and got changed into my night dress.
I heard him sigh and I could tell that in his tone that what he was going say was with great difficulty, "yeah...there is something wrong, Elizabeth."
I came out from behind the divider and looked at him with worried eyes, "what is it?"
He looked at his hands and twiddled his thumbs, "you know the night when you were bitten by that wolf? When you were missing?"
I nodded. I had a feeling that he was going to say that wolf was him, but I didn't care. I'd love him no matter what. George looked up into my eyes and licked his lips, "well, Elizabeth...that wolf was me. I've been such a coward and so selfish for not telling you all these years. I'm so sorry."
I came close to him and kissed him on the lips, "its okay, George. I had a feeling that it was you...I still love you. You biting me isn't going to change the way I feel about you, but how? How could you survive? I killed you with an axe."
He lifted up his shirt and revealed a long scar on his gut, "it wasn't silver. I was only considered dead for an hour. They took Winnie away and when they were about to turn around and get me next I was gone and so was the full moon."
"You said it was a wound you got in battle..." I pondered. Tears sprung to my eyes as I traced his scar with my fingers, "I'm sorry I hurt you."
"Shhh," he whispered, stroking my face and pushing the loose strands of hair away behind my ear. "Don't be sorry. You didn't know it was me then. And besides, it only hurt for a second."
I grimaced. George, always the optimistic one. I bent my head down and kissed his scar, "I'm still sorry, but why? Why don't I change with you every full moon?"
"That's part of the reason why I've decided to tell you now," George said, "I found out the reason why all these years the lycanthropy has been dormant. The healing of your shoulder was remarkably fast. And the only way I know it can heal that quickly is if you drank-"
I cut him off and looked down, "vampire blood..."
He nodded, "exactly. When Katherine was here she must've given you her blood."
"She did. Katherine told me she did, but what does that have to do with it?" I asked.
He got out from under the covers and went over to my beauty vanity. He grabbed two powders. One pink and one white. He took a handkerchief and poured the pink on the right side and the white on the left. George pointed to the pink, "Imagine this is vampire DNA, the fundamental building block of their existence," he then pointed to the white, "and this is werewolf DNA. My research says that they are incompatible, but since my venom and Katherine's blood was running through your veins, I think they took out your immune system and manifested. The vampire DNA fought to control your body and so did the werewolf DNA. They took each other out, but not completely. So this is what happened," George took the two sides of the handkerchief and lifted it up so the two powders mixed, "they created a hybrid. So now both werewolf and vampire transformations are dormant. If you ever become a vampire the werewolf side will be dormant, but if a werewolf bites you it won't kill you it will just make a hybrid and vice versa. Did that make sense?" he asked, shyly backing away from his genius words.
I smiled, "it made perfect sense, but I'm not planning on becoming a vampire or werewolf anytime soon. I'm planning on spending the rest of my days with you."
George held his amazing smile and his eyes shone like the stars. Just like the first time I met him. An arrogant Lockwood, but ever so attractive.
Flashback
Elizabeth's POV (age thirteen)
(George age sixteen)
George sat next to me with a smile on his face, the Lockwood's are sending him off to court me. I didn't want to do this, but father insisted. A few minutes later George and I were sitting beside each other on the couch. I squirmed in my seat as George kept on looking at me incredulously. It wanted to make me laugh. I just told him about the Lockwood curse that I knew.
"Y-You know...about us?" he stuttered on his own words. I smirked. This was the first time I ever heard him stumble over his own words. George Lockwood was egotistical like that; he was bestowed with the Lockwood name and dignity. While my family were slaves in Italy and came to America and became prosperous off the land. It was kind of funny though, to see him this uncomfortable. I let out a short laugh. I nodded at the heir to the Lockwood estate, his face was pale and he looked as if he just gulped down something decayed. I could blame George though. I still remember the night when I saw a wolf in the woods with eyes as yellow as the sun.
"Miss Salvatore?" George said in a worried tone. He grabbed my hand and I pulled away.
""I-I'm sorry," I muttered, "It's just ever since I found out...Lets just say my head has been in the clouds lately. It's less complicated up there..." I looked around the room. Uncertain of where to look. Surely not George, I didn't want to look at him right now. George sighed and he scooted closer to me. Obviously being reserved wasn't something he knew of. I rolled my eyes and they landed on a green plant in the corner of the room. Lucky plant. Doesn't have to worry about who it's going to marry or how many children it has to have. I don't want to marry George. If he killed someone while I was still supposed to marry him, I'd have a werewolf husband on my hands.
George grabbed my hand firmly this time and I didn't pull away. He could probably sense the way my thoughts were heading. I often did wonder where this relationship was going. George was enduring though. He was heartening and I could tell he cared about me, but did I feel the same way about him? Slowly, George said, "How did you find out?"
"Hm, where to start?" I laughed.
"The beginning," George replied, "I want to know everything."
"Well," I started, "a couple of years ago, after my mother died, my father was...upset," he was veryupset. At Damon, Stefan, and I. Especially Damon, had bruises for weeks, "I ran away and just decided to stay in the woods for a night. I know the woods well enough not to get lost, so I didn't look at it as a bad idea. That night was a full moon of course. Well when I was about to go to sleep I heard this rumbling in the bushes. Being the way I am, I was curious and decided to see what it was. It was a werewolf. I don't know who it really was, but I didn't care." I got up out of my seat. Why did I tell him so much?! Why did I even agree to tell him? Maybe he deserves to know, "George I think you should go home no-"
He grabbed my hand and pulled me back down next to him as if were a rope attached to nothing but him, "forgive me for my actions, but how did you know it was a werewolf?"
I bared the silver knife I kept in my stocking and pointed it to his neck. I backed him up against the chair, "you better stay away from me, George Lockwood..." I warned.
He didn't look scared at all. George just smiled an awkward smile and pushed the knife away, "that's a humorous act, Miss Salvatore. Because personally I don't think you will hurt me and honestly I can't stay away from you...Are you going to hurt me, Elizabeth?"
I rolled my eyes, "forget it," but a girl could only handle to much charm. George kept on looking at me like that.I couldn't describe it. George is bad. He's a monster, but I keep on looking in those wolfish eyes. That grin that reminded of a fox's.
George took one of the ringlets from my hair and pulled it playfully like a child, "are you going to hurt me Elizabeth?" George repeated. He said Elizabeth slowly. Eli-za-beth...
I sighed and looked out the window and out the door to see if anyone was stalking. George and I were...at an awkward position. No one was near, "no, I'm not going to hurt you."
George smiled at his victory. Quickly and before I could react he reached out and caressed my face, "you're mine now."
My eyes furrowed at the words and I frowned. Why did he have to say that? I don't want to feel like I'm owned by someone. I didn't want to be treated like cattle. I didn't want to be a possession. I didn't want to feel this way, but I wanted George. I wanted every little revolting and vile piece of him. I wanted to let him in, but I'm terrified. I'm breaking. My breath was slow and I shook my head. I craned my neck down to him so we were mere centimeters apart, "no, George Lockwood. You're minenow."
George smiled that dazzling smile and he held me close in his two warm arms. I never thought this would happen, but it did. It was happening now. He's the one. George kissed me on the lips. The kiss was amazing and it melted my heart. He devoured me whole. Finally, we finally pulled apart and George just smiled, "that and a thousand kisses more."
Present Day
Elizabeth's POV
I looked at the clock ticking in the corner of our bedroom. Eleven thirty. I sucked in a deep breath as I swung my feet out of the bed and they landed lightly on the wooden floor. I tip-toed down the stairs and wrapped a shawl over my shoulders. The nice fall breeze made my hair fly in all directions. I hope it wasn't too late to go see him. In my bare feet, I ran with a lantern in hand all the way to Mystic Falls Cemetery. I walked past my father's grave and into the woods where I was planning to see my brother Stefan. And hopefully Damon. I didn't see him much...
"Stefan...!" I whispered, "Stefan where are you?" What if he didn't come? Or what if he did, but I was too late and he left?
I turned around and jumped when I saw my brother behind me. I felt relieved as I noticed it was him, "oh, it's you Ste-"
Before the last syllable of his name left my lips, he ran to me and his razor sharp teeth bit into my neck.
Stefan's POV
The scent of Elizabeth was intoxicating. It didn't taste like the ocean, but I tasted a mixture of chocolate, plums and tangerines. It was a mixture that might sound dire, but tastes extraordinary. I couldn't stop though. When my mind told my body to stop my teeth only dug further into her swan like neck. I drank long and hard. I needed to stop, but I stayed in the same position as if I were a marble sculpture. I sunk down to my knees and held Elizabeth limp in my arms.
Lexi would be upset.
So what?
Damon would hate me?
So what?
Little Stefan and Damon would lose their mother and George would lose his wife. Elizabeth was dying in my arms. Yes. Those things I do care about. With all my might, I dropped Elizabeth's body onto the ground. After that, I ran like hell. Afraid that I would turn back and make sure Elizabeth was dead.
Damon's POV
I walked out of the cemetery and into the woods. Stefan was probably out stalking Elizabeth while I was trying to find a quick meal. Heartbeats of small animals surrounded me and with every step I took one of them ran off. Over the heartbeats I heard a noise that sounded punctured. I listened closely. This wasn't the sound of a dying animal. It was a sound of a dying human. I heard the sound many times in the war. My step quickened as the breathing slowed and so did the heartbeat. I pushed past the branches of the trees and that's when I saw her. Elizabeth.
Her hair was spread out around her head and she was in a puddle of her own blood. My body trembled as I came to her. Blood was everywhere. She choked and looked past me. Elizabeth's eyes were wide open and glassy, her face pale. Her chest was still rising and falling, but barely. Please live,I thought, gazing into her unblinking eyes. Her eyelids fluttered, I want you to live, Lizzy.I bit my wrist and squeezed the blood from my wound into her open mouth. She choked down the blood and her eyes opened and locked into mine. It was working! Elizabeth was still gasping for air, but the puncture wounds on her neck disappeared.
I looked up and saw two eyes peering into mine. It was Stefan, "go to hell!" I hissed. And I meant what I said. He bit her and then ran off. What a coward. I picked Elizabeth's body up in my arms just like the night I did when she was hysterical between Winnie and the wolf. I cradled her in my arms and hummed to her. When I got to her new home, I murmured into her ear to let me in and she nodded and quietly said, "Come in." I slipped inside and put her gently next to George. I was so quiet; no one would know I was here or that Elizabeth was ever gone.
September 26th, 1865
Elizabeth's POV
As soon as the pain was gone my eyes shot open and I closed them once again from the daylight shining into my eyes. I jumped quickly out of bed and ran to the mirror. My fingers traced my neck, but there was no wound. I looked down and noticed my whole dress was covered in blood. I gasped and fell to the floor. Why did Stefan hurt me? I looked over at my George; he was sleeping soundly and did not stir. I needed to clean before he woke up, he couldn't see me like this. I couldn't tell him.
I got up off the floor and looked at the clock. Five fifteen. Enough time to take a bath and dry before George gets up for the day's work. Dinah waited outside the door for me like she did every morning. I nodded to her, "Dinah? Can you draw me a bath?" I asked kindly. I always appreciated Dinah.
She nodded and curtsied, "of course, Mrs. Lockwood," she ran off and I waited for her in the oak room with the tub. She poured a bunch of water in and I settled down in just my chemise. The water was warm, but I knew that wouldn't last long. The blood floated off my skin and hair. "Excuse me ma'am," Dinah said, "but may I ask you about the blood? What happened?"
I looked at the blood, "I went in the woods last night and I scratched myself a few times. It was just an accident..." I lied.
The story was weak and Dinah looked at me with a knowing look in her eyes, but she just nodded and accepted my answer. She finally left the room so I could be alone. Without control, I started sobbing. I should've known that Stefan wouldn't be the same. How could I be so stupid? But he came to Mystic Falls last night, to see me. That was some proof that the real Stefan was still there. I must find a way to talk to Stefan without him attacking me. For his face not to change. I didn't want to be afraid of Stefan. I wanted it to be like when we were younger. I was never afraid of my brother Stefan. I shook my head, trying to get my mind on something else, because thinking about them isn't worth it. I must have a tight grip on my life, the life that I have with no monsters, but I can't let go of it. George is a werewolf and soon there will be a full moon. I need to protect him and keep him safe from the towns prying eyes.
Dinah came in and I quickly wiped my tears away. She gave me a towel and my clothes for the day. I got ready and went into Damon and Stefan's nursery. I needed to keep them safe. Safe from whom they are named after. To keep them safe, I knew who I needed to see. Jonathan Gilbert. He knew everything about protecting his family from vampires. Everybody in Mystic Falls lost someone, but Jonathan's family was still together and unharmed. I walked outside and to the stables. Adona whinnied when I opened the doors. I petted her forehead and whispered to her, "You're a good girl, Adona. We're going to go for a ride, okay?"
And within a few minutes I was in the forest heading towards Wickery Bridge into Mystic Falls. When I got on the bridge the first thing I saw was him, Stefan standing in the middle. I stopped abruptly and tried to turn around, but he was there next to me within a second holding on to my leg. He let out a wicked laugh, "oh, Elizabeth. You cannot run away from me anymore..."
I looked down at him, "why? Why did you bite me last night?" I cried. He took my waist and picked me up. He pushed me up against the bridge railing and blocked me from an escape route.
"Because your blood was just too hard to ignore...I stopped for foolish reasons, but this time. I'm not going to stop..." he caressed my face and it brought a chill up my spine from his deathly cold hands, "I'm lost, Elizabeth. I want you to become like Damon and me. We can rule the world together, as a family." I struggled to get away from him, but he had a tight grip, "don't move, Elizabeth. There's no point in it."
Tears streamed down my face, "I don't want to become like you, Stefan..."
Stefan smirked, "did I say I was going to give you a choice?"
"Why are you doing this to me?" I cried. His grip was so tight I thought he was close to breaking a bone, "you're hurting me...!"
"I'm sorry; Elizabeth, but I can't be what youwant me to be. What Damonwants me to be. What Lexiwants me to be. What everyonewants me to be! They want me to be Stefan Salvatore, a good kid, a precious young lad. I'll never be that again! This is who I am," his eyes turned red and every vein became prominent. His canines became elongated and now I saw Stefan for who he was: a killer. His pupils dilated, "Now do what I say, Elizabeth..." his voice became wet and slippery like a spider's web, "wrap your arms around my neck." My eyes held with his and I wrapped my arms around his neck my fingers touched the curly hairs at the nape of his neck, "jump into my arms," I did so. Now he was carrying me to the bottom of Wickery Bridge. We got to the side of Wickery Creek and he smiled at me. I didn't smile back. He laid me down on the side so my back was to the creek. Stefan pushed my body down so my neck and head were in the cold water. With his left hand, he took my ankles so I was dangling off the side. With his right hand, he pushed on my neck so my head was now fully in the water. I didn't do anything I just looked up at the blurry images above me. Stefan was in my head and if it were a secret he whispered, "Now open your mouth, your nose, your lungs," he let out a short laugh, "and struggle."
First a quick sudden panic occurred. I had this vast feeling to get my nose out of the water. I recklessly tried to kick my legs, but Stefan held them down with a strong hold. For some reason my hands stayed still and hushed. I didn't scream or say anything. I just had this major sense of terror. After a few minutes my eyes fluttered closed. My mouth opened and the air came out of my lungs. I started to inhale water and my throat and lungs felt like they were on fire. I felt as if my head was going to explode. The icy water finally felt cold it finally numbed me. Stefan shouted, "Don't give up! Keep struggling!" he ordered. I tried kicking my legs more and my hands reached up above me, but it was no use. I finally stopped, "damn it! Keep fighting, don't stop!" Stefan roared. But I knew it was impossible. I finally became immobilized. Even though he was compelling me, my body couldn't take anymore. My muscles gave out in exhaustion and I became lightheaded. This was a peaceful way to die. I smiled at knowing that it was going to be easy. I almost felt no pain at all. It was peaceful. I saw my two children, George and my two brothers. My mother and father, too. They all kept on cheering me on. Screaming, "don't give up Elizabeth!" But how could I keep going? I was at peace in my happy place. My ears flooded with water and George's face entered my mind. He caressed my face, "shh, Elizabeth...don't give up. For me?" I looked at him, "why? I'm so happy here, George." He stayed with me. With no questions asked. Even though my lungs burned for more air and my legs cramped, I couldn't go on. This happiness was blinding. So blinding I forgot what real happiness felt like.
My last sane thought was, "I love you."
Then my life was annihilated and over.
