CHAPTER 10:
It's been eight hours on foot. We've finally arrived in Seattle. It's a beautiful city. The skyline is completely white, and buildings stand taller than the empire state. Not that I would know. The space needle, however, is the most alluring attraction.
"So, now that we're here, where do we go?" I ask.
"Before we left, Tyler told me to track down the store, The Melting Pot." Caroline tells us. "It's a witch's store, and she might be able to help us."
I nod. "Alright."
We make our way as fast as we can through the crowded streets. However, as we're in broad daylight, we have to speed-walk like Humans. Finally, we turn a corner down a dark alley, and Caroline stops suddenly.
"What-?"
"Shh," she hisses.
"...Valerie's just relocated up the road, over there by the space needle..."
"...The Melting Pot? Right?..."
Bingo.
"Come on." Stefan says.
We're standing in front of a very old looking brick building. It looks abandoned. However, the only thing that says otherwise is the faded words on the sign above that read "The Melting Pot."
"Well, Ladies first," Stefan says as he moves aside for Caroline and I to enter.
The floors to the building squeak as we step onto them, and I'm surprised that this place hasn't collapsed. It's a dimly lit room, and arrays of knickknacks and herbs are spread out onto the table. It looks like a creepy halloween store.
"Who are you?"
The three of us look up in unison to see a middle-aged tan woman with spectacles approaching us from a set of staircases that we hadn't noticed.
"Valerie?" Stefan asks, moving closer.
"Vampires," she says the word as if it's a disgusting thing.
"Yes, my friends and I are vampires," Stefan says as he nods. Valerie doesn't move.
"We need your help." Caroline says.
"What in God's mind gave you the idea that I'd help vampires?" she hisses.
"Our friend told us that you might know of a cure for a werewolf bite," I say softly, and Valerie's gaze lands on me.
"Katherine." she snarls, and I suddenly feel every ounce of my head bursting.
"I'm-not-" I choke as I grip my head.
"You know Katherine?" Stefan asks, and Valerie nods.
"The vampire came to me, going on about some human who looked like her. She wanted to know why that was." Valerie snaps.
"Well, she's not Katherine," Caroline says. "She's Elena,"
The pain suddenly stops, and I look up as I cough. Valerie's regarding me with astonishment.
"You're the girl who she was talking about." Valerie says.
I nod. "Katherine came in?"
Valerie sighs. "She came in to ask why she had some sort of a double out there. I told her that I had no idea why. And that's the whole truth." she says. "She ripped me off, so that's why I attacked you. I thought that you were her."
I shake my head. "I'm not Katherine." I say slowly. "I'm Elena. And I need your help."
"Now, again, why would I help a vampire?" she asks softly.
"Because his brother," I point to Stefan, "Was bitten by a werewolf last night. And he's dying, and our other werewolf friend told us that you could possibly direct us to a cure."
Valerie scoffs. "Werewolves who help vampires. Well, I'll be damned."
"Please, Valerie," Stefan says desperately. "My brother is dying. It's my fault the he's even a vampire, and I couldn't live with myself if he died."
Valerie narrows her eyes at him, and suddenly her gaze lands on me.
"You love him." she says to me.
I nod. "I love him, and I want to save him. Please."
Valerie sighs, and she says nothing as she goes behind the counter and searches for something.
"This person is the only one who may be able to help you. Her address is written on this paper." she says as she hands me a piece of paper.
Seattle Inn, Room 4313
"Thank you," I say, and Valerie nods.
"Please do leave my store now." she says.
Within a second, we're back outside on the street.
"So Katherine's been here before, which means that it's not good," Caroline says.
"No," Stefan shakes his head. "It's not."
"So, that means that she doesn't know about the Abilities. She must not know about being an Originator." Caroline says. "And Valerie herself just said that she doesn't even know why you two look alike."
"I don't trust her," Stefan sighs as he looks at Valerie's store.
"But this is the only lead to find an anecdote that we have." I remind them. "So, we have to follow it."
Caroline sighs.
"Elena-"
"I'm not giving up. If you want to, then give me the address," I reach for the paper that she's holding, but she shakes her head.
"We're in this together," she says as she looks between Stefan and I. "For Damon."
"So, where's this place?" I ask, looking around for the Seattle Inn.
"I don't know." Caroline says. "But we'll find it."
"We better," Stefan mutters.
Ten minutes later, we are standing in front of the Seattle Inn, and I sigh. This is it. This is the one person who can help us cure Damon.
Caroline takes a deep breath as she climbs up the staircase, and Stefan and I follow behind her.
The Lobby looks like the Ritz. Or the Plaza, even. Chandeliers and red carpet galore.
We make our way to the elevators, and when it arrives, we step in. Stefan punches the number Four, and the elevator closes, and soon, we're rising up.
The elevator arrives on the forth floor, and We step out slowly.
The halls are as elegant as the lobby, and we hurry down in search of Room 4313.
"This is it." Caroline says as she stops in front of the door.
I nod.
Caroline knocks, and I suddenly feel dizzy.
The cream door opens slowly, revealing a raven-haired woman.
"Katherine, what are you doing?" she hisses.
"I'm not Katherine," I say angrily. I'm getting sick of everyone comparing me to her.
"Who are you? What do you want?" she asks softly, and I swallow.
"Valerie the witch directed us here to get answers on an anecdote to a werewolf bite," I say, and the woman nods as she steps aside.
"Come in."
When we step inside, I hear the door slam behind us.
I whip around.
This isn't good.
Who the hell is this woman?
"Why did you just do that?" Stefan hisses as he goes to open the door.
"Don't bother," the woman sighs as she sits on a plush couch. "It's been spelled. By Valerie, to be exact."
Wait, Valerie, What-?
"How-?"
"I know why you're here," the woman sneers as she looks at us. "I knew before you even stepped foot in the building."
"What do you want?" Caroline hisses. "You obviously aren't going to help us."
"Oh, I'll help you. You must be Caroline," she says, and Caroline blinks. "The brother," the woman looks at Stefan. Her gaze falls on me again.
"And you must be Elena," she smirks.
"How do you know who we are?" I ask, my voice shaky.
The woman's smirk grows wider, more malicious.
"Don't you care who I am?" she asks, as if we've offended her.
"Well, I'm going to tell you anyway." she says.
I look at her, blinking rapidly.
"I'm Isobel. Your birthmother."
Isobel stood in front of Valerie, deep in discussion with her.
"So, what's the plan?" she arched an eyebrow at Valerie.
"When they come in to my store, I'll lead them to you."
"She will come for a cure, and you will lead her to me." Isobel corrected.
"And I'm going to get my magic back?" Valerie asked, hope in her voice.
Isobel nodded. "They don't break their promises, Valerie."
The witch nodded. "Alright. I'll be expecting them soon."
AN:PLEASE FAVE/FOLLOW. Oh, and PLEASE REVIEW :) It motivates me to update more!
PS: Please check out my other TVD/DE stories Mirrors, The Other Side of Me, Shelter, Star Crossed and Sweet Temptation. I'd REALLY appreciate it :)
PPS: Follow me on Twitter, EverbloomMist13!