Chapter 9

The grip on Elena's neck was becoming tighter, tears in her eyes. Was she really going to die by her best friend possessed by a ghost? It couldn't end like that. She squeezed her eyes, and she felt her neck became loose. She opened her eyes to see that Caroline had thrown herself with her whole body on Bonnie. Caroline's body pushed backwards caused by Emily's spell. Elena quickly ran to her to see if she was okay. Honestly, she had no idea what Caroline had been thinking, but it still was brave of her.

"Guys?"

Elena turned to see Bonnie clutching her head. There was no necklace on her. She shifted her glance to Caroline, and noticed her holding it.

"You saved my -" Elena's and other girls' eyes widened at the necklace hovering.

Bonnie raised her hands towards the necklace that was struggling to reach Bonnie. "Quickly, someone bring some water! I'll take it outside."

Elena dashed into the kitchen. With her shaking hand, she grabbed a mug and poured water into it. After it she carried the mug outside at the back of her house.

"Pour out the water towards the necklace. Now!" Bonnie's eyes focused on the necklace, her body tensed.

Elena without hesitation did what she was asked to. Next, Bonnie muttered some words in different language, and the water turned into the fire which caught the necklace. It fell down on the ground, Bonnie still casting those words, this time louder, made the necklace totally destroyed. Afterwards, she put the fire out.

Elena's breathing slowed down. She glanced at Bonnie wearing a relieved smile that Bonnie reciprocated.

Caroline spoke first, "I understand you're really a witch, and I guess I owe you an apology, but seriously, you need to explain me what's going on."

"I've been having these dreams lately where my ancestor, Emily, have been showing up in them telling me, 'she must die'. Well, hopefully those dreams will stop now."

"So basically, Emily wanted to kill Elena," Caroline concluded.

"But why?" They worry painted over Elena's face.

"That is what I don't understand and I has to ask grams about it. Maybe she'll know something."

Caroline grabbed Elena's and Bonnie's hands. She put a small smile on her lips. "Let's promise to each other that we won't keep any secrets from each other." Caroline raised her hand. "And I promise I won't assume you're crazy no matter how weird your secret will sound."

"After how you saved Elena from being killed by a ghost who possessed me I don't doubt that."

"Yes, thank you, Caroline." Elena and Bonnie took Caroline into their embrace.

"Oh guys, come on. I wasn't even thinking what I was doing then. I was just following my instinct." Caroline let go of the girls, and said, "I don't know about you, but seriously, after this I need a drink."

"Yeah, totally," Bonnie agreed.

While Caroline and Bonnie giggled together about some old story that Bonnie had heard from her grams, Elena was pensive about the secret she was keeping from the girls. She decided she would tell Bonnie about it. It would be better for her to know, so she would know from what she would need to protect herself if necessary.

However, Elena wasn't sure if telling Caroline that vampires were real would be a smart choice. Caroline had shown that she could be brave, and act quickly in any dangerous situations, but Elena felt that if Caroline would know about the vampires, then it would be harder for her to avoid all this mess.

"What is it, Elena?" Bonnie put a hand on Elena's shoulder, giving her a concerned look.

"Nothing. Just thinking about what happened." Elena lied.

Caroline wrapped her arm around Elena's neck and smiled at her, "Don't worry, Emily's gone and she's not coming back, and if she will then I will kick her ass for you."

Elena's lips curled up, Caroline was full of optimism, and she really wanted her to stay this way, but would she be able to hide the truth from Caroline all the time? Firstly, she would tell Bonnie about it, and see what she would have to say about it.


On the way back home, Damon kept talking about how much he doesn't trust and like John, and how he was sure that John would kill them in the minute they would be useless to him. Stefan had to admit it, but he agreed with Damon, but for now he wanted to focus on protecting Elena. He would worry about John later.

"I also wonder who is that hunter. You know John's friend whom I don't trust either, by the way." Damon poured a bourbon into his glass, while, Stefan sat down on the sofa.

"I don't know maybe someone new who came recently to Mystic Falls?"

"Is there such person?" Damon took a sip from his glass.

"Besides, that hunter whom we try to figure out who he is, and the woman who tries to capture Elena, no, not really."

"Well, then we'll need to have our eyes and ears wide open." Damon smirked.

"By the way, you wouldn't know anything about the someone much more dangerous coming after Elena?" Stefan asked. Damon knew more than he let on, Stefan was certain of it.

"Well, there are these stories," Damon started slowly.

"Yes?" Stefan leant forward, looking encouragingly.

"Okay, I had a friend who told me about-" Damon's face all deeply focused on something, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

Stefan tangled his hands, staring at Damon, waiting for him to say something. Every second seemed like a century for Stefan.

"- the person whom John mentioned about, I think. I'm not exactly sure. They could be two totally different people."

"Let's assume it's the same person. Who is it?"

"Well, the better question would be what we should do," Damon said.

Stefan raised his hands prompting Damon to continue.

"We have three choices, First, we'll stay here to protect Elena and we expose ourself to a certain death."

It wasn't news for Stefan. He already knew that he was risking his life for Elena. He didn't know anything about that woman and that person who wanted Elena. However, they way Damon said the word 'certain' seemed like they would be up against someone very dangerous.

Damon raised his pointer finger. "Two, we leave Mystic Falls and we're forgetting about Elena and anyone who is after her. Basically, we stay out of it."

"And the third choice." Leaving Elena without protection was out of options, so it wasn't worth to discuss it

Damon put his drink down, wearing a pensive look.

"Damon?"

"Yes, the third choice would be basically us working for that dangerous person so we would live and maybe get a prize from that person, but we would not only be the one who would gain something, and it quickly could go out of control."

"So, that's why you don't want to tell who that person is? You consider to give them Elena?" Of course, if there was something that Damon was interested in, then he surely would like to get it.

"Did consider. Past tense," Damon corrected him.

Stefan rolled his eyes as this would make much difference.

"Just tell me who is that person."

"Well, I don't know their name, but – but it would be better if I would not talk about them." Damon approached Stefan and whispered into his ear, "It will be better for all of us if that person wasn't real otherwise we all dead."


Caroline and Bonnie had already gone home, and Elena lay in her bed now writing in her diary, when the door opened, and she heard Jenna. "Can I come in? Isn't it too late?"

"No, I'm still awake. Come in."

Jenna walked in wearing a worried face, and sat down on the edge of the bed. Jenna tapped her fingers against the quilt avoiding Elena's gaze. Elena put her hand on Jenna's, tangling up her fingers with hers. "Jenna, what is it?"

"I shouldn't be the one who will tell you this. It should be your mum not me." Her voice trembled. Elena could smell alcohol from Jenna. She had been surprised to see Jeremy came back from the meeting with Alaric without Jenna. Jeremy had said that apparently Alaric had wanted to discuss with Jenna more about his education. However, Elena doubted that talking about Jeremy and school would leave Jenna in such state.

"Jenna, if you're not ready to talk about it, that's fine. I can wait." Whatever it was, Elena didn't want to force her aunt to anything she found hard to do it.

Jenna took a deep breath. "No, I have to. I told him I will even though he said it's my choice." Jenna ran her fingers through her hair. "Why I have to make this kind of decision."

Elena didn't respond. She again took her aunt's hand in her own and smiled at her.

"Okay now or never." Jenna paused for few seconds, before she continued. "Seventeen years ago, a high school couple appeared in your dad's clinic. The girl was pregnant and runaway. The guy lived with his parents, but from what I heard they were very strict so the guy didn't even mention about his girlfriend's pregnancy. Your father delivered the baby and he offered them the place to stay. After few days, they left without a word and a baby. They left the baby girl in your parents' house."

"Where's this girl now?" Her body went tense, Elena didn't even know why she bothered to ask this question. She knew the answer already.

"She's here." Few tears shined in Jenna's eyes. "Miranda's biggest wish was to be a mother, and when the girl and the guy left without you, your parents saw this as a perfect opportunity to be parents. Your father took care of documentation, so just few people knew the truth. They loved you and they didn't want to lose you." Jenna rubbed her eyes while letting out a breath.

Elena could feel her body shaking. She would never expect her to be adopted. It was beyond her imagination which had increased during the few last weeks. Seeing, Jenna's face covered with tears, she gave her a hug. They stayed in embrace for few minutes, before Elena released from it and asked, "Do you know the names of my biological parents."

"Yes. Isobel Flemming and Alaric Saltzman."

Elena widened her eyes in shock. Her new history teacher was her father? Now, she understood why Alaric's gaze had been focused on her. Maybe, she was the reason he had decided to move in to Mystic Falls and took a job here.

"I know Alaric's here. What about Isobel? Is she here too?"

"I'm sorry, Elena, but Rick told me that she – she died."

Elena stared blankly at Jenna, the words 'she died' was piercing her head.

"He told me that Isobel was attacked by some animal. Apparently, most of her blood was sucked out when she was found on the street. Ric told me that they never caught the animal that did it."

Elena clutched the quilt, still wearing a blank stare, but this time a realization could be glimpsed in them. Her biological mother hadn't been killed by an animal. She had been killed by a vampire.