I've decided that since this story has prominently been about the future, that an epilogue is definitely necessary after the last chapter. So following this one, there will be the final chapter when Elena returns to the present and deals with what she's learned through this whole process. And then the epilogue, set some distance into the future, which will show the differences between this future and the one she chooses to live.
Alright, not much to say about this chapter other than it's the last future moment. Hopefully it's not too confusing and feel free to ask any questions if you have them.
I hope you like it!
- May 2021 -
I ran my hands through my sleek waterfall of cascading hair and steady stream of hot water. When I opened my eyes, the image of Damon's room at the Salvatore boarding house filled my sight through the steamed up glass of his shower.
Coming back had been Damon's decision and I knew it was going to be rough, but understood that it was the best location for what was in store. The moment I stepped foot through the big wooden door of this mansion two days ago, I'd been pummeled with a painful nostalgia riddled with memories of events that had happened here. I hadn't stepped foot in Stefan's room since our return and I was fairly certain Damon had locked the bolt and sealed it up anyway.
But after tip toeing around for two days, the vast house was starting to feel like home again. And despite the familiarity of every other room but his, Damon's felt the most natural for me to exist in. As I looked around at the bare modern design now, I realized that it was because this room was Damon materialized. And if I'd learned anything from our crazy, demanding life it was that I wanted nothing but him as well.
This fact was only solidified further as I saw the blurred edges of his silhouette enter the room and my heart started pulsating frantically within my chest. I'd long since acknowledged that this reaction to his presence was never going to go away, but my pulse rate only seemed to accelerate further when I considered that today would be the last day this reflex would occur.
My mind had just started to drift to my decision and the sad irony of it happening on the 10th anniversary of Jenna's death, when the glass door swung open and Damon's half smirking face appeared in its place. My thoughts faded away as I smiled back at him and my eyes ran their way down his figure. He had already stripped down to nothing but his boxer briefs and the ripples of his abs and those delicious Jesus knots of his had me suddenly feeling more wet than I'd already been. I knew he could smell my arousal and the way his eyes narrowed seductively only indicated he was right there with me, but instead of acting out his desires, he teased, "Only you, Mrs. Salvatore, would feel the need to freshen up before…"
But I cut him off as my hand shot out and latched onto his forearm, pulling him into the shower with me. For once, I didn't want to talk. I only wanted to feel this moment and feel him with me before everything changed. And yeah, maybe my directness had something to do with the pleasing way my new last name sounded as it seemed to roll off of his tongue.
That same tongue found its way to mine instantly as they glided together in perfect harmonious strokes. The shower door was pulled shut and his boxer briefs were off without Damon missing a beat. Then his hands found their way to that perfect spot where my neck meets my jawline and he pulled me further into him. Our motions became rougher and my breathing intensified as I fought to inhale the scent of him deeper down into my lungs while the torrent of steaming liquid blasted us from above.
The difficulty of obtaining suitable breaths under the flow of water had no effect on me because I'd endure anything to feel his lips on mine like this. I could spend days here with our lips molding seamlessly together because there was nothing that made me feel more completely intact than being melded to him and having all of the pieces that he'd taken from me throughout the years back against my own skin.
But then one of his hands slid its way down the wet curvature of my side and he reminded me that there was something even better than feeling intact. He slid a finger into me and I was flipped inside out as he began moving it up and down. As his thumb began grazing masterfully over my clit, I let my head fall back and my eyes shut as a pleasurable moan escaped from my lips.
Then I was pushed backwards and my bare back landed on the cold of the damp glass. I opened my eyes only to see the glimmer of his brightening at the image of me in pleasure and he said in awe, "God, you're beautiful like this."
I bit my lower lip because I feared that if I opened my mouth to respond, my heart was going to come tumbling out instead. Hearing those words and feeling him inside of me sent a blast of overwhelming satisfaction filling my body and I knew that any minute I would surely burst from the expanding bliss of it all. But I was ready for that blast, so instead of speaking words, I forced his lips crashing back against mine and inhaled again.
His finger slid out and was immediately replaced by the length of his shaft. I gasped in gratifying relief as one arm laced around my back and over my shoulder to keep me from flying too high while the other positioned itself under the cheek of my butt to keep me from crashing too low. I then wrapped one leg around his back and with the water only aiding my personal lubricant; he started thrusting in and out.
My moans were subtle at first, but then I arched my body and with each motion he stroked that perfect spot. I began repeating his name in ecstasy and at the sound of it, Damon licked his lips. Then those black veins of his streaked from the edges of his eyes and the points of his fangs slid past his upper lip.
I only had a second to marvel this version of my beloved vampire before Damon swooped down to my neck and between wet kisses I felt the tips of those very fangs trace the sensitive skin that was begging to be pierced. He slid along my inner walls again and my extremities began to tremble as I felt myself edging closer to that ultimate high. I grabbed onto the back of his head and buried my hand in the locks that covered it, forcing him further towards my awaiting vein.
He read my invitation and his mouth closed around my throat. I felt a warm rush spread across the area amidst the chilling tingles his icy breath was producing. Then the edges of his fangs protruded into me and the tiny burst of pain shot my pleasure through the roof. I felt him pull the liquid from my bloodstream and the combination of Damon's guttural growl, after he swallowed, with another stroke inside of me pushed me right over the edge.
The blast was mind-numbing as I came undone and shuddered violently against him. My inner walls tightened along with my grips on his shoulder and head as I rode the pleasure-filled waves Damon was supplying. Then he dislodged his fangs from my neck and his head fell backwards as his eyes closed and he reached his own euphoric climax.
The moment was absolute perfection.
But then the universe decided it was time for another reminder that these effortlessly perfect moments weren't constant and only allowed in between the reality that was our lives. His legs began to tremble and I started shaking in his hold. And as Damon's knees buckled and we fell to the wet tiles below, the impact of the hard ceramic was the most effective smack of reality the universe could have thrown our way.
Neither one of us was surprised by the sudden change in Damon's strength because these falls had started months ago, but every time I always seemed to fall with him, whether it be physically or emotionally. This time it was both as my hands frantically cupped onto his cheeks and I asked through a panicked gasp, "Are you okay?"
Damon winced as I asked the question and it was crystal to see he was the furthest from okay. His hands were shaking against my bare skin as he clung to me for dear life. I was terrified, the same way I always was when this happened because it was possible that at any second he could just fall into one of these episodes and be taken away for good.
But then, just as quickly as the moment appeared, it disappeared. His trembling stopped and his expression relaxed as he took a deep breath. I took one in unison as relief swept its way through me because he'd survived another one.
"I'm fine," he finally answered lifting my spirits while I helped lift him from the ground.
He turned around to turn the jet of the shower off and grabbed two towels for us to dry off. As he handed me mine, I couldn't help but point out uneasily, "These episodes are becoming more frequent. That's the fourth time today."
Damon ran the towel over his locks before wrapping it around his waist. He then made his way to me and took my face in the palm of his hands. "You don't need to worry, I'm not going anywhere," he assured as he placed a kiss against my forehead. When he pulled back he cocked his head to the side and added lightly, "Besides, we still have the better part of a century remember?"
He'd successfully settled my nerves and he appeared perfectly fine in front of me now, so I smiled and replied, "Definitely the better part." I then leaned in to press my lips quickly against his before we both made our way to the dresser and started slipping into our clothes.
I'd just pulled my most comfortable navy blue t-shirt over my head, when Damon said, "I picked up your book while I was out today and laid it on the bed."
I glanced over and saw the freshly bound and printed hardcover resting in the middle of Damon's comforter when he added, "I'd thought you'd like to see your last piece of published fiction before you give it all up to spend more time with your muse."
I walked over and picked the thing up from the bed. It smelled fresh and as I ran my thumb down its sharp edges and crisp cover, a smile lifted the edges of my lips upward.
I'd given the characters the rightful ending they deserved after everything I'd put them through in the series; an eternity together of happiness. It had been the obvious happily ever after, but I knew there were more options when this phrase was taken into account. Because Damon and I weren't getting our eternal life together, but we were getting the next best thing and despite the overall belief that death was tragic, I knew that 'beautifully' could also be tacked on before the word.
Because what was more beautifully and romantically tragic than dying alongside your essential purpose of existence?
While the thought of Damon dying still sent a certain form of remorse sweeping through my veins, I'd accepted this circumstance. And I'd realized that I wanted to be there when it happened. Not just because the concept of dying together rather than at separate times seemed a much more suitable ending to our story, but also because it allowed us just a little more time.
That sense of time had taken on such a powerful meaning since our wedding day, so when I'd brought up the suggestion of turning to gain more of it together, Damon had conceded. Not at first, but after a bit of discussion and even more witty banter about our intimate life when my age started to reflect physically, he'd agreed.
And that was why we'd come back to this town. It seemed like a much more appropriate place for the change to happen, instead of a busy city over-sized with temptation that held the possibility of filling me with guilt afterwards. Of course, our apartment still waited for us back in the big apple whenever I felt ready to return, but for the time being, Mystic Falls would act as our home.
Damon walked over and took a seat on the bed, pulling me from my thoughts, and declared, "You know you didn't have to end that part of you."
"I know, but I've never really been a behind the scenes type of author," I replied as my eyes swept over the cover one last time. I then turned my face to look at him and added, "Besides, I was ready to start living in our world instead of theirs."
"Which is terribly inappropriate of you to say considering the fact that you're going to die today," he remarked as his hand swept out and he pulled me down into his lap. The book fell to the ground as he wrapped his arms around me and I leaned my head to rest on his shoulder.
I nuzzled my head against the nook in his neck that was designated specifically for me and countered playfully, "There's a huge asterisk next to that statement – then I'll come back to life."
We both laughed at my quoting of Damon's phrase he'd used so many years ago; neither one of us focusing on the reasoning behind its use originally and instead its new one. The moment felt natural and it spoke of nothing but our effortless connection. His thumb was circling the small of my back and mine was running down the stubble of his chin. I knew these were the moments that needed to be cherished because all too soon the universe would send us a reminder that this wasn't all we were.
But instead of the universe, Damon was the one to change the tone of the room as his face shifted into a serious expression and he asked, "You know you don't have to die when I do right?"
It was the first time he had brought the issue up, but it was obvious it had been playing in the back of his mind since the decision to turn me had been made. I knew he hated the idea of me dying just because he did, but I couldn't possibly see the point in existing once he no longer did. Once Damon died, so would I. End of story.
There was no way Damon was going to sway my decision on this, so I lifted my head and pulled away slightly so that I could see the cerulean blue of his eyes and stated, "You're full of a lot of you didn'ts and you don'ts today, but what you don't understand is that I wanted and want to."
He shook his head slowly from side to side and rolled his eyes at me, his satisfied grin revealing just how much the simple statement had meant to him, and observed, "You're remarkably relaxed for someone whose life is about to end."
He knew better than anyone else that my life was just about to begin. So much of our world had revolved around this decision and whether or not it would take place. Now that I'd finally made up my mind, I anxiously anticipated its arrival. I was excited, not at all nervous, because I knew Damon would be there to coax me through it and there was no one I'd rather invest my faith in then him.
It was that excitement that had my eyebrows whipping up playfully and me challenging, "And you're remarkably relaxed for someone who's about to end my life before the night's over."
Damon chuckled at my playful banter and opened his mouth to reply, when his expression suddenly changed from relaxed to rigid.
Within a flash we were both standing beside the bed with his body placed protectively in front of mine. I was utterly confused by the change of atmosphere, but my questions were answered as his chilling velvety accented voice sounded through the air.
"By all means, if someone's going to be killing anyone this evening, please let it be me," Klaus declared as he stepped through the doorway of Damon's room and leaned his back against the wall. The action only emphasized the arrogant confidence that seemed to drip from this hybrid's demeanor. But then I noticed the shaky state of his legs and momentarily wondered if the action wasn't for effect, but a necessary means of support.
It was about this time that I revoked my earlier assumption; this unexpected encounter was the most effective smack of reality the universe could have possibly thrown our way and, at the sight of him, my nerve endings lit up like the Las Vegas strip.
I was terrified of this monster, the same way I figured I'd always be, but my terror was equally matched by the fury I felt towards him as well. I wanted nothing more than to charge across the room and drive a stake through his non-existent heart, but I knew it wouldn't be effective and even if it was, Damon would tarnish in the process.
So I settled for an expression that scorched my features with as much heat as I felt on the inside and asked, "What are you…"
But I stopped short when Klaus grunted and dropped to the ground. I halfway expected Damon to tumble down with the hybrid, and his moment of hesitation suggested he expected the same thing, but after he realized he was unaffected, Damon took advantage of the moment. He flashed to the closet and in the blink of an eye, he was over to Klaus' side.
I knew exactly what he'd grabbed. And as Damon's hand lowered towards Klaus' shoulder, clutching the syringe filled with a mixture of liquid vervain and wolfs bane in case an occurrence like this happened, I held up my arms and screamed, "Wait!"
Damon turned his face to look back at me. His mouth was hanging slightly open in disbelief and his eyes suggested nothing but agitated disappointment when I explained, "It might affect you too."
But he shrugged before he turned around and jabbed the needle into the top of Klaus' shoulder blade and inserted the liquid. Klaus writhed in pain against the wall and floor as Damon turned around and said, "He needed to be controlled and it was the only way we could do it. Besides, he just fell and I didn't; that has to mean something."
As Damon made his way to my side, Klaus' painful cries transitioned into sinister laughter. There was a brittle edge to it and his limbs were still completely immobile, but those signs of weakness did little to settle my over anxious nerves. I didn't understand how someone had the capability of being that evil as to laugh while they were in that much pain.
But Klaus couldn't resist smearing his insight in our faces and as a result I got my understanding. In between bursts of laughter, he managed to get out in a raspy voice, "It means there's a delay to this link of ours." The edges of his lips lifted slightly upward as he continued, "You're going to come crashing down in 3, 2, 1…"
And Damon fell, right on cue. I dropped to the floor and wrapped my arms around him as we both braced for the brunt of the agony from the mixture that was coming next. The scream of pain was deafening and echoed against the walls as I felt all of his muscles stiffen under mine. They shook violently and with each new cry of pain, another amused chuckle came from Klaus' direction.
I never thought it was possible to burn with this much hatred towards someone, but considering the amount of ache this goddamn hybrid had caused the Salvatore brothers, it was understandable how I could. So when Damon finally reigned in control over his vocal chords and the screaming ceased, I positioned him so that his back rested against the night stand and stomped my way over to Klaus.
All of my fears about confronting this demon had modified into strictly rage, and it was that rage that gave me the courage to position my face within inches of his and shout, "If there was a way that I could kill you without hurting him, it would already be done. You don't deserve to take another breath and your only saving grace is that you were linked to someone who does."
Klaus laughed again and it only managed to strike the match that ignited my fury to an exorbitant level. I resisted every muscle of my body inching my hand to reach out and slap the side of his amused face and instead screamed, "Why are you even here? Haven't you toyed with us enough already?"
The laughing stopped and Klaus' eyes narrowed seductively as he mused, "I always knew you had fire in you, but I can see why you captured the Salvatore men's hearts so ardently."
The reflex of a slap motioned its way through the muscles of my arm and this time I couldn't fight it off. My hand had just lifted to slice through the air when Damon weakly asked from behind me, "How did you find us?"
The midnight blue of Klaus' irises shifted over to look at Damon and he momentarily appeared perturbed before he masked it behind his cool exterior. "Your witch made my efforts a little more difficult than I had anticipated, but please thank you blonde friend for so conveniently placing herself in the public eye. Compelling her to spill your location and forget the incident afterwards was almost too easy."
My mind was racing a mile a minute. The witch Klaus was referring to was obviously Bonnie, but what had she done to prevent him from finding us? And why had she done it in the first place? To protect Damon?
I turned my head in Damon's direction with every intention of asking him any one of these questions, when it dawned on me that he hadn't been surprised by Klaus' sudden appearance. And as I studied him now, he looked the furthest from shocked. Honestly, his expression was rather indifferent and the tone of his voice emphasized the same thing as he noted, "I'm surprised you came alone."
My hair whipped around my face as I turned to look in Klaus' direction just in time for him to shrug his shoulders. "Desperate times call for…" He took a moment to roll his eyes and concluded, "Well you know the phrase."
"So desperate that you had to come without your circle of protectors?" Damon asked. Although my eyes were still fixated on Klaus, I could feel the accusatory heat searing my back from Damon's.
Another stiff shrug came from Klaus before he replied, "My timeline was running out, I couldn't exactly wait around." This point was emphasized by a painful wince across the features of his face and a hiss escaped through his lips.
I turned and made my way to Damon because I knew it was only a matter of seconds before that pain struck through him and although there was nothing I could physically do to help my vampire; I still wanted to be there when it happened. And although I knew Damon would hate the way I was making him appear vulnerable in front of his enemy, I just didn't have it in me to remain separated from him.
I laced my arms supportively around his body and leaned the side of my head against his. I then looked at Klaus and asked, "What do you mean your timeline is running out?"
"Well, I thought it was obvious, but I'm going to die today unless I have my cure." He spoke the words so matter-of-factly that I almost wasn't sure I heard him correctly.
But I didn't have time to wrap my mind around the idea because I felt Damon's body go stiff in my hold and I tightened my arms around him. He took a couple of quick harsh breaths before he grunted, "What happened to a century?"
"I didn't want my true timeline revealed to everyone; that would have made me too vulnerable," Klaus scoffed as if this were something we should have already known. He then rolled his eyes in a way that was clearly meant to make us feel inferior for our ignorance and continued, "The supernatural are a survival species and they would have taken advantage if they knew I was only given a decade to survive without the cure. So, I fabricated the time."
I vaguely heard Damon spit out some form of an insult or threat and another fire back from Klaus, but everything seemed to become muffled as the reality of what Klaus had just admitted hit me. We'd run out of time and I'd lose Damon within a matter of hours. And that was only if he was lucky enough to survive that long.
My eyes had just started to sting with the threat of hysterical moisture when I finally took a moment to study just how deteriorated the features of his face had become. There was moisture resting across the top layer of Damon's skin and the blue irises that I'd become so fond of had dimmed to resemble the sky of a rain-soaked day. Tiny red veins streaked from the circumference of that grey, only to continue under his eyelids, and dark circles had etched their way right above his cheekbones making everything appear slightly sunken in. His skin was ghostly pale, even whiter than usual, and I could no longer ignore what I'd been so desperately trying to.
Damon was dying right before my very eyes, there was absolutely no denying that fact and at that second I felt my heart falter. When it resumed beating, the motions felt unnatural and the pain stinging from my chest only emphasized how difficult it would be to keep the thing functioning if Damon ceased to exist.
With the conversation between the two men still acting as my background music, the rest of my organs decided to protest alongside my heart. My throat sealed itself up tight and I struggled for proper amounts of breath to fill my lungs. Even my tear ducts failed to produce moisture.
My entire body was shutting down when Klaus' angered voice suddenly became magnified. "But enough of this stalling. Give me my cure and I won't rip your heart from your ribcage."
Damon moved his hand slightly to cover mine and I felt the pressure of his fingers tighten down protectively. It was the first sign of improvement I'd witnessed since Klaus' appearance and it was enough to jump-start my insides.
I took a deep breath of air, relishing the way my expanding lungs felt, when Damon remarked, "One: that's my move. And two: I don't think you're in any position to be barking out threats."
With all of my organs working properly once again, I felt my anger towards Klaus return. He was the reason this death was looming over our heads in the first place. If he'd been honest then we would have known the real time Damon had left instead of wasting so much of it. And if we only had a little bit of time left, I sure as hell didn't want Klaus hanging around bantering with my husband.
All of these thoughts swirled through my head and I was trembling with rage when I re-entered myself back into the conversation. My voice was elevated as I screamed, "Why would you even think that we have it in the first place?"
This stopped them both dead in their tracks. Damon stared at me with an expression so effected by pain that it was hard to witness. He looked guilty and I half expected him to reply to my question instead of Klaus, but all too soon the hybrid's thick voice pulled my attention to his side of the room.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that she doesn't know?" he asked pointedly, staring directly at Damon. He then sighed and shook his head from side to side. "I learned to expect this obsession when handling Stefan, but I always figured you to be better." Then a sly grin lifted one side of his lips upwards as he added, "That obsession of his was actually the reason I never came for your life after you took his."
I saw that Klaus' verbal slash had struck Damon with full force, but in typical Damon fashion, he hid the emotional fatigue well and quipped back, "I always figured it was because you were off fetching little red riding hood."
But Klaus' ignored Damon's jab and continued rubbing salt in the older brother's bare wound. "He became a nuisance after our first month in Glenwood, Utah. I figured start him off in a tiny town and I'd mold him from there. But then he couldn't help himself whenever someone slightly resembling this doppelganger stepped into view. He became more of a problem than an asset, so I wanted to thank you for taking him off of my hands."
The last words of Klaus' speech had come out slowly for optimum effect and I couldn't continue to sit there and let this pathetic piece of shit drown my husband in his own self-guilt. And besides, I was tired of the guessing games and it was time I got the final piece of this whole puzzle.
So, before Damon had the chance to counter Klaus' verbal attack and continue this war any longer, I took a deep breath and blatantly asked, "What's the cure?"
Klaus didn't hesitate before he smiled appreciatively and answered, "You, of course."
I gasped, but in all honesty I'm not sure why I did. As soon as the words left those thinly stretched lips of his I realized that I should have known all along that I'd be the cure. My blood was the element that had allowed the two species to coexist within Klaus' in the first place. So it only seemed appropriate that my blood would allow them to continue coexisting.
Plus, I knew that I hadn't misread Damon's reaction when I first asked him about obtaining the cure. I'd seen a possessive flash, but I'd gotten so good at reading him throughout the years that when he'd lied to me afterwards with such earnesty, I couldn't not believe him.
I felt his hand tighten around mine once again as the truth spilled from Klaus' mouth and I knew that he was just trying to save me all along. I wasn't angry with him because if the roles were reversed, I would have done the very same thing. The only thing that made me angry was the fact that in order to save the person I loved most on this planet, I had to save the one that I hated the most.
It was a catch 22, one that others might have possibly spent wasted hours contemplating, but I needed no time. I would save anyone, including the person whom I considered number one of my hit list, if it meant that I also got to save him.
So, I peeled myself out of Damon's hold, which was terrifyingly easy considering how weak he was, and headed over to Klaus. I'd taken only three steps when Damon nervously shouted, "What the hell are you doing?"
I turned around and for the first time I was thankful that he was defenseless because it meant that I could go through with this. But at the same time, I hated seeing him that way, especially because despite everything, I still considered him invincible. Perhaps it had been my minds way of coping with his ultimate timeline since I couldn't imagine living in a world without him.
It was that thought of never living in a world without him that powered me to declare, "I'm saving you."
"No you're not," he argued without a missing a beat. "He needs to drain you dry for enough of your blood to make the combination work."
"I figured," I replied softly as my head nodded up and down, because I'd already assumed this was part of the deal. This wasn't just about choosing whether to kill Klaus or save Damon, but also a matter of choosing to save myself or save Damon.
It had played an initial part in my decision and had little effect in making it any more difficult. Because my body had already declared how uncommitted it was to surviving without Damon and I honestly didn't have the desire to do so.
The way he was looking at me now, concern shadowing every fleck of his beauty, was torturous. I wanted to run to Damon, wrap my arms around him, and tell him how much I loved him, but I knew that if I did I'd never leave his side. Feeling him that close would crumble any strength I had of sacrificing myself for him.
So, instead of giving in, I smiled weakly and refuted, "And yes, I am. Because you need me to." I then turned and headed over to Klaus, whose eyes had illuminated with the prospect of survival. For the first time this repulsive creature remained silent and for that I was thankful.
As Damon's protests pounded against my back, I swiped the pocket knife that had fallen from Klaus' jean pocket onto the floor and flipped the blade out. I slid it along the delicate skin covering the veins that extended down into my hand and saw the first droplets of red liquid breach the surface. I then held it over Klaus' mouth, which was wide open and resembled a highway toll waiting for its proper coin payment to be dropped in. I did this because I couldn't bear the thought of Klaus's lips on my wrist. And at least this way, I'd lose enough blood to become unconscious before contact was actually made.
The stream of red liquid seeped its way around the side of my wrist when I finally focused my attention on Damon's voice. I couldn't handle looking at him because his struggle to move and the pain on his face would be too unbearable, but I wanted him to be the last thing I heard before I died.
"It's only going to work for another decade. Damnit, Elena, think about what you're doing!" Damon shouted desperately.
After hearing that, I pulled my wrist back against my body. One tiny drop of blood fell against Klaus' bottom lip and before I snapped my head in Damon's direction, I saw the hybrid's tongue snake out and swipe the droplet into his mouth.
"I thought it was a cure?" I asked.
"There's no cure, it'll only delay the inevitable," he quickly explained. Damon then sighed once my shoulders slumped and he'd realized that he'd delayed my inevitable act.
The chiseled features of his face finally softened as he added, "And besides, how are you so narrow-minded as to believe that I'd want to live on without you?"
I stared back, saying absolutely nothing because what was I supposed to say to him? I'm not strong enough to survive in a world without you in it, but you deserve the chance to do so? It didn't seem to express nearly enough.
Damon misread my internal struggle to find the right words, because he cocked his head to the side slightly and smirked at me. God, that image of him that I'd loathed so many years ago had my heart feeling like it was going to pound right out of my chest. He then reasoned, "If you're going to be stubborn enough to sacrifice yourself for me, at least let me give you my blood so that I know you'll come back afterwards."
The memory of Damon forcing his blood onto me the day of the first sacrifice played in my vision and I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered this before. His blood had been in my system that time, so why couldn't it this time?
I felt the smile slowly creep over my lips and I never imagined I could be this happy about receiving a decade with Damon when I'd been so distraught about only have a century. But I was. Tiny bubbles of exhilaration were exploding inside of me as I made my way to him. With my arms eager to wrap themselves around his frail, yet indestructible body, it felt like the room had expanded and become a mile wide.
I was only a few more steps away when his smirk disappeared and disbelief masked Damon's expression. His eyes were focused behind me as he whispered in awe, "All it took was a drop?" He was clearly stunned.
Then his expression transitioned yet again into one overcome by terror. Curiosity got the best of me, so I whirled around to glance back in Klaus' direction in time to hear him mutter, "I just need another taste," and for his head to swoop down to my neck. I screamed as his fangs pierced themselves viciously through my skin and latched onto my carotid artery. His pulls were deep and I could feel the liquid being sucked all of the way from my fingertips and toes.
I tried to push Klaus off of me, but I knew it was worthless. Still, I wouldn't go down without a fight. As I thrashed against the hybrid's chest, I heard Damon's pleading shouts echo throughout the room.
"All you needed was a drop!"
"Stop!"
"What the fuck are you doing?"
"You're going to kill her!"
"You're cured!"
"You'll need her in another ten years!"
He screamed them all as he tried to reason with Klaus, but the monster's fangs never dislodged themselves from my neck.
The hybrid then shifted slightly and Damon finally came into my line of vision. He was thrashing violently, well as violently as you can without the ability of using your extremities, as he tried to mobilize himself to my aid.
But the time delay between Klaus' body and his hadn't been reached and I prayed to whoever would listen that it would before it was too late.
Responsively the sound of a ticking time-bomb started in my head, only magnifying time's significance. And it was at that moment that I realized I hated time and the fact that we never seemed to have enough of it.
As I continued my internal begging and Damon continued his useless efforts, I noticed the ticks got closer and closer together the further I felt myself edging towards death. These ticks scared the hell out of me and I once again resumed my pathetic efforts of removing myself from Klaus' hold.
Tick.
There Damon and I were, fighting uselessly against whatever evil was holding us in place and failing miserably. The notion was enough to make anyone give up, but neither of us did.
Tick.
I jerked and flailed, each motion dragging Klaus' fangs around my skin and widening the puncture marks he'd made in my neck.
Tick.
My entire body was screaming in pain and beginning to feel numb at the same time, but still I kept up my efforts. I wouldn't give up because there was nothing beautiful about this ending. It was pure tragedy and completely unnecessary.
Tick.
My legs started to become limp and my arms felt like jello as I smashed them against the back of Klaus' head. Why the hell wouldn't he stop drinking? He was cured for god's sake!
When there was barely any separation between the ticks, Damon finally managed to heave himself from the floor. He'd just reached Klaus when my vision began to fade out. I felt one of his hands on my shoulder as he tried to pry Klaus' fangs from my skin. A tiny ray of hope shot through me and for a second I let myself believe that I would survive this.
But then I felt my limbs go slack and instead of allowing myself to feel the painful regret of not giving Damon a proper goodbye before I stubbornly and stupidly tried to save him, I thanked whoever I'd been praying to before that I'd at least got to feel him one last time before I died. And I figured that, at least, despite everything, I'd died so he could live. The optimist in me hoped he had it in him to do so.
That was the last thing I prayed for when the world faded to black and no other tick followed.
Please read and review. :)
I've had a few people ask me what Bonnie saw in her future, so I'm going to include that in the next chapter when Elena gets back to real time.
Also, I've been traveling a lot for work lately, hence the delays between posts, and it's going to continue for at least another week. So it's probably going to take about the same time as it did for this chapter before my next post.
