"Are you out of your mind?!" I screamed at Stefan. "You can't just keep me here! I need to go home. My family is worried about me! I won't tell anyone, I swear."
"Honey, it has nothing to do with that. We trust you but it's dangerous for you now. Whatever you are could make the entire vampire community turn upside down." Stefan said, trying to calm me down
"Don't tell them, then!" I cried, on the verge of tears. "Please, Stefan, let me go home. I can only take so much. Vampires, werewolves and now witches…this is like a movie. No one needs to know."
Stefan shook his head sadly.
"Vampires have been looking for a human that can't be compelled for centuries. Your blood was spilled; this is for your own protection. Your blood could be the cure for vampirism; at least that's what some stories say. I don't know if that's true in your case so don't panic…"
"Don't panic?!" I screeched. "You mean that vampires will try to drain my blood like I'm some kind of guinea pig! How can I not panic? And how do I know you and Damon aren't going to kill me?"
"Because we would have already," Damon interjected, coming back into the room. "The witch is on her way."
"Great," I said sarcastically.
"I see she's taking it well," Damon said, his tone matching mine.
"SHE is right here and SHE wants to go home!" I exclaimed. "Elena is going to flip out."
"I will take care of Elena, okay." Stefan said. "I promise."
"There, problem solved." Damon said.
"No," I said defiantly. "The problem is only just beginning."
"Don't you just wish you could compel her?" Damon teased to Stefan.
Stefan and I rolled our eyes at the same time.
"Again, not helping," Stefan said.
Damon plopped down on the couch and yanked me down next to him.
"Come on, Alyssa, make yourself comfortable. You're gonna be here for a while." He said to me.
"I'm gonna go see Elena." Stefan said.
I started to get up but was once again stopped by Damon.
"And you are going to stay here." Damon said.
I rolled my eyes and groaned but did what he said. He smirked and I threw a pillow at him.
"How long am I gonna have to stay here?" I complained.
"Until the witch gets here and tells us what to do with you."
"When will that be?" I demanded, furious.
He threw his head back and sighed. He sounded like a tired parent for a moment.
"When she gets here…she's from New Orleans."
"What?!" I screamed. "I am not staying here waiting around for some crazy witch to tell me I'm some insane cure…to hell with my blood and to hell with you."
I jumped up and marched towards the door, muttering "You guys are out of your minds," over and over. I opened the door and there stood a very pissed off Damon. I gasped in surprise but didn't back up. Instead I tried to move around him and shoved him. Okay, I knew I wouldn't win a battle against him but I wasn't about to let him bully me into doing whatever he wanted.
"Take one more step and it will get very ugly." He growled.
I set my jaw in fury.
"Let me go." I said.
"No," he said, slowly, giving me a crazy-eyed look that terrified me.
I don't know what came over me but I reared back and tried to punch him in the face; key word there being tried. He grabbed my fist mid-air in a crushing grip. He dragged me close so we were face to face.
"Don't ever do that again." His voice was menacing, brimming with primal rage.
My legs were quaking with fear as he dragged me into the house roughly. Instead of bringing me into the living room where we were, he continued to pull me towards a staircase. His grip was almost painful and suddenly I was tossed into a cellar. I heard the click of a bolt going into place.
"What are you doing?" I screamed, voice cracking in panic.
There were bars on the door and it was almost pitch-black except for the light from a single light bulb on the ceiling. The floor was made of cement, just like the walls. There was a cot and a wooden bench in there. I smacked the door and kicked it.
"Let me out!"
"You're gonna stay in there until I say so; until that witch gets here and tells us what the hell you are!"
Then he left me there completely alone, kicking the door and screaming. My heart pounded in my chest and tears filled my eyes. What was happening? What was so dangerous that I couldn't be let out of a house filled with two vampire strangers? All I wanted was to wake up and to find out it had all been one big dream…the accident and even meeting Damon. What was so important about my blood and what did they mean by "cure"? A month ago I didn't know vampires truly existed…now somehow I am the link that could end vampirism just because they couldn't do mind control on me? Maybe I was still in the hospital, pumped full of drugs that gave me these insane, lucid nightmares. But for now, I was stuck in this reality and all I could do was sit in the corner and weep. I hated being locked up; always have, even when I was little and had to do time-outs. But more than that, I hated being alone.
Where was Elena? She had to save me from this. But she was probably already compelled to leave us alone until this stupid witch gets here. I didn't know what Stefan and Damon wanted to hear…that I was some sort of alien or something? There were so many things I didn't know and Damon was certainly hiding something from me. Now I was trapped in a cellar with no way out. What if they decided to test out the theory that my blood cures and just drain me? I curled myself up under the bench and tried to quiet my sobs. This was the first time I had really cried since the accident and my emotions completely exploded from my well-built internal barricade. I didn't know how long I had been down there when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs. I tightened up my grip around my legs, pulling myself against the wall. I wished I could be completely invisible.
"Alyssa?" Stefan called softly.
I didn't answer, praying he would go away. I heard the bolt being unlocked and door sliding open.
"Come on out," he said. "I won't hurt you."
He got down on his knees and peered under the bench.
"I talked to Elena. I told her that you were going to be spending the night at your new friend's house and not to worry."
"You compelled her," I said hatefully.
He sighed and hung his head a little.
"I didn't have a choice, Alyssa. I will tell her the truth but not right now. After this is over, I promise I will. You can be there when I do. But for now, will you come out of there for me?" His voice was soothing, like melted honey.
I hesitated but I inched my way from under my shield. Stefan gave me a weak smile.
"I'm only trying to protect you. The Lockwood family has werewolves…your blood was spilled on the ground when you were attacked. I can't risk letting you out only to have you attacked again."
"Why didn't Damon attack me?" I asked.
"He was too busy trying to save you to focus on the blood. But he was concerned about the whole compulsion thing. Look, I don't want to jump to any conclusions…it could just be you drank vervain and didn't even know it." Stefan explained.
"None of this makes sense…can't you guys just cut me or something?"
He laughed in surprise.
"No, sweetheart, we can't. In order for the cure to work, we would need almost half of your blood and since Damon made you drink his, if you die…."
"If I die what?" I asked, terror filling my voice.
"Then you will become a vampire. But eventually the blood will leave your system completely."
"Eventually," I parroted.
Stefan put his hand on my leg.
"Just try not to panic; I know it's hard and a lot to take on. Being down here probably didn't help either. I'm so sorry about Damon."
I nodded. He enveloped me in a hug and rubbed my back.
"I won't let him touch you again. Now let's get you out of here."
Before I could try to get up, Stefan slipped his arms under me and hoisted me up. He carried me up the stairs and back to the room I was in before. There was no sight of Damon anywhere. He put me down on the bed.
"Try to get some rest. It's late."
"Where's Damon?" I asked.
"He went out. Don't worry; you're safe."
Stefan patted my head and left the room. Somehow I felt uneasy knowing Damon wasn't there…like something could attack me at any moment. I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I walked to the window. There was that black crow again, sitting on the grass and staring at me.
The witch arrived at the Salvatore boarding house the following night and I was both grateful for her arrival as well as dreading it. I was terrified at what I would be told. Damon still hadn't come back from wherever he had gone and I knew it was because of me. I was sure he would be glad to finally be rid of me once and for all. Even still, I wanted him to be there with me when the witch performed whatever mumbo jumbo she was going to use on me. But there was no sign of him when the witch rang the doorbell.
"Relax," Stefan whispered to me as he answered the door.
The woman was short, wearing a black, hooded overcoat. I couldn't see her face which made me want to turn around and bolt. Stefan was beside me in a second, taking hold of my arm. Could he read my thoughts too?
"Alyssa, meet Jasmine."
Jasmine thrust off her hood and revealed a head of curly black hair, emerald eyes and pale white skin. Frankly, she was stunning. She smiled at me.
"Do not be afraid, little one." She said kindly.
I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear nervously.
"I am going to set up now. Prepare the girl," she said to Stefan and left us alone in the living room.
"What does she mean 'prepare' me?" I asked, trying to whisper.
"Nothing, Alyssa…she just wants to make sure you understand the seriousness of what she is going to do. What she does may hurt but I promise you will be okay. And I will be there the whole time."
"Me too," Damon's voice said from behind me.
I jumped and flipped around. I could have hugged him; I was happy to see him. Instead, I stood there and stared, not moving an inch. He raised his hands up and bent his knees as he walked closer.
"Ok, I'm sorry I was hard on you and locked you in the cellar. It was a dick move." He said and smiled at me.
Then he mocked pouted.
"Come on, you didn't really think I would miss the hocus pocus, do you?"
I smiled and shook my head. He casually threw his arm around me.
"Bring in the girl!" Jasmine called from the cellar.
I looked at the men, hoping they didn't hear just how hard my heart was beating.
"Hey, whatever it is; it's going to be okay." Damon said, taking hold of my chin and forcing me to meet his gaze.
I nodded, unable to speak.
I followed Damon down the stairs, Stefan behind me. He was probably making sure I didn't try to run. The cellar was lit with candles that went around in a circle. Jasmine was sitting in the center and beckoned us to sit across from her. I sat sandwiched between Stefan and Damon, although I was leaning closer to Damon. Leaves from the forest in which I was rescued from were scattered, along with dirt and a pail of water. I wondered where her crystal ball or black caldrons were.
"Alyssa Gilbert," she said loudly, making me jump. "I have been called here tonight to determine if you are indeed The Key for regenerating life back into vampires. For thousands of years the undead have searched for blood so pure and clean that it could end their existence as immortal forever and bring them back to the living. In order to be The Key, your blood must have a connection with all of the elements of nature…Earth, fire, water and air as you are another life force. Give me your hand."
I hesitated, transfixed with the candle flames. Stefan nudged me and I gave her my hand. When I saw her pull out a long silver knife, I quickly drew it back.
"Alyssa, it's ok. She needs just a little of your blood. It will only hurt for a minute." Damon whispered, taking hold of my other hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"I hate knives." I whispered quietly.
"Close your eyes or look at me." Damon said.
I gave the witch my hand and stared into Damon's blue eyes, noticing the gold the rimmed the edges. He smiled at me and squeezed me tighter when I felt the knife cut across my palm. Jasmine tipped my hand over and drew out drops of blood onto the dirt and water. She wiped my blood on her face and hands as well as mine. Still holding my hand, she began to chant in a language I had never heard before.
"Lacomsa adoni acoumb…lacomsa adoni acoumb. Unlock the key. Unlock the key. Jendea existenctanse acoumb. Unlock its existence."
White lenses came over both of her eyes and she tipped her head back. It suddenly felt like a hurricane had overcome the room, our hair whipped in our faces as the flames shimmied in an orange glow. Every single candle blew out, leaving us in the pitch black. As Jasmine continued to chant, I felt myself getting dizzy. I almost thought I imagined the flames returning to each and every candle. Water rose and fell and knocked all over the ground. Jasmine began to shake and my hand started to burn. I wanted all this to stop but before I could open my lips to scream, she froze. The wind stopped blowing and silence took over. Her eyes turned back to normal and she stared at me so intently, it was like she was seeing right through to the very core of my being. It felt like an eternity before she spoke.
"It is you, my child. You are The Key; the most sought after cure in the vampire universe. But there is more. Your power is a two way sword…you see; you can bring back life to vampires but one drop of your blood is enough to kill a werewolf. You are the force of life but with that, the force of death in two colliding worlds."
"But how is this possible?!" I squeaked, my voice sounding foreign to my own ears. "I am just a normal girl."
"There is nothing normal about you, Alyssa Eugenia Gilbert." She exclaimed forcefully. "Daughter of witch!"
"My mom wasn't a witch," I stammered. "You are mistaken."
"There is no mistake, young one. Your mother Eugenia Blackburn was one of the last remaining witches in Mystic Falls. I knew her well and your doppelganger sister. She fell in love with a vampire and sought for years to make a cure for his existence. She spoke with witches and spirits from all over the world and they helped to create you and your sister. You were meant to be a sacrifice but she died giving birth; no one predicted she would have twins. However, it was you that inherited the cure."
My entire world had just come crumbling down at my feet. Even Stefan and Damon hadn't expected all of this. I felt like I had swallowed an iceberg whole, freezing my body. My hands were shaking and my eyes burned. I stumbled to my feet and ran as fast as I could up the stairs of the cellar before I could be grabbed by Stefan or Damon. I felt like a caged animal that had just got free; rabid and ready to kill the next person who stood in my way. I ran out the front door, tears streaming from my face. I wanted to get as far away from the Salvatore house as I possibly could. But as I was running down the dark street, I saw the long brown hair of my sister. However, her hair was curled and her makeup was darker than what she usually wore. She looked strange but I was so grateful I nearly fell on my face.
"I am so glad you're here!" I shrieked. "You have to get us out of here!"
She just looked at me and smiled slowly.
"Did you hear me?" I croaked. "Elena?!"
"Not exactly," she smirked.
