Eternal Pain – Chapter 12


Alaric POV

Great, Damon's on his way. I've got to get Elena out of here, now. I rush back to the store that the girls were in, but I only see Caroline ringing up purchases. Crap… now what do I do?

I actually smack myself in the head as I think, 'that's what cell phones are for, idiot.' Ok, note to self, I do not think well under duress. I pull out my phone and call Elena.

"Alaric?"

Oh, my god, she sounds like she's been crying, what happened? "Elena, where are you?"

"I'm sitting at a bus stop, waiting to get home."

"Are you still outside the mall? I'll pick you up."

"I'm here…How did you know where I was?"

Crap…"Uh, you told me earlier that you were going with Caroline…" Smooth, really smooth.

"Ok. Thanks."

I rush out of the mall looking for the nearest bus stop. I see her sitting there, gazing into space.

"Elena."

"What? How did you get here so fast?" Her eyes are puffy, she's obviously been crying.

"Um…I had to pick something up…for Jenna."

"You don't have any bags?"

"Something came up. Look, I'll tell you about it in the car." Elena notices the franticness of my voice and quickly follows me to my car.

"Alaric, tell me what's going on." I start to open my mouth and explain when I see two people walk by only a few car lengths away.

"Is that who I think it is?"

"Yep. That's your mother and Katherine."


Elena POV

My mother, standing mere feet away from me. I'm entranced. She looks so normal, just shopping with one of her girlfriends. One of her girlfriends who happens to look exactly like me.

Exactly like me. The picture I saw earlier didn't do her justice. She really is exactly my twin. The only difference I can see is her curly hair and the way she carries herself with such confidence. She oozes sex appeal like no one I've even seen. It's weird to see me/her looking that way. Could I have that too?

As they walk past, getting into a rather expensive looking red convertible, I'm tempted to go out and follow them, but Alaric is luckily smarter than me.

"Elena, we have to go. Let's get back to the boarding house; we need a plan if they are in town."

The boarding house… Damon. Damon loved her, wanted her, and needed her. I'm just a copy, a cheap replacement. No wonder didn't want me, I could never compare with that.

Alaric starts the car, trying not to follow to catch their attention. I see their vehicle drive out of town, towards some of the nicer homes in the area.

"Crap, Elena… That was close. Why are they here?"


Damon POV

Please don't be too late…please don't be too late…. It was stupid to leave. How could I leave her there unprotected? I can't believe I'm out here when Katherine was in the same town as Elena. And Isobel…what is she doing with Katherine? Is it just family bonding? What are they planning?

This car just can't drive fast enough, 120 mph, really? Never have I spoken ill of my car, but suddenly I wish I had upgraded this to a faster engine. Four more hours until I reach Mystic Falls, I just hope it will be soon enough.


Elena POV

"What do you mean he's not here!?" He really left? He really left me? I feel the panic well up inside me.

"Elena, calm down. I called him, he's coming back. I told him what was going on."

He's coming back. My breathing starts to slow down a bit. Katherine. He knows she's here. Of course he's coming back; he's coming back for her. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Should we answer it?" I ask.

"I think I better." Alaric checks his sleeve for one of his stake launchers and makes sure it's secure. "Can't ever be too careful," he nods to me. I feel the breath catch in my throat as he answers the door.

"Mr. Saltzman, I didn't expect to see you here." A shocked Sheriff Forbes states. "Um, is Damon around?"

"He'll be back soon Sheriff, is there something I can help you with?"

"No, no…Just have him call me when he gets back. I need his help." Sheriff Forbes then turns and see's Elena standing there and her face brightens. "Oh, Elena, thank goodness you're here. I thought you were with Caroline."

"No, I left her at the mall, Alaric picked me up. What's going on?"

The sheriff quickly turns to Alaric and seems to be debating on whether or not she should tell us. "Oh, you'll find out soon enough. Caroline is missing. There seems to have been some sort of a scuffle at the mall, and I haven't heard from her. Bonnie said she left her at the mall, too. I was worried that you might be missing with her. Bonnie said she didn't know where you went."

"Oh, no! This is all my fault," turning to Ric, "I shouldn't have left with you, I should have made sure Caroline and Bonnie were ok, too."

"Elena, what are you talking about? If something happened you might have been taken, too. I'm glad that you are safe. Just please have Damon call me as soon as he's back." Ms. Forbes looks panicked as she leaves. Alaric closes the door behind her.

"Alaric, what are we going to do? What if they have her? This is Caroline; she knows nothing about any of this. She doesn't know about Katherine!"

"Elena, calm down. We'll figure it out. Can you call Bonnie?"

Bonnie, right, she can do a locator spell. I quickly pull out my phone and dial her number.

"Elena, I'm sorry for what I said that earlier. I didn't mean to imply that it was better that Stefan was dead." I hear Bonnie cry into the phone.

"Bonnie, that doesn't matter right now. When did you last see Caroline?" I ask quickly.

"Um, when we left her in that store. You were so upset, I tried to find you, I left her there."

"Bonnie, can you meet us at the boarding house? I need you to do a locator spell. I think Caroline is in danger."

"Does Damon have her?" I try to cover my frustration at this accusation. How could she think that? But then I think to all of those weeks that Damon did use Caroline, his human blood bag and fuck-doll. I guess I can't blame her for jumping to conclusions.

"No, not Damon. Katherine is in town. She's with Isobel."

"Isobel, as in your mother? I'll be right there!" I hang up the phone with Bonnie and turn back to Alaric.

"I wish Damon was here."