Chapter Twelve: Let the Right One In
Belle woke up early in the morning and sat on the floor for a while. The sun had yet to rise and Elena was softly snoring in her bed. The rain was softly pounding on the roof. The redhead finally got up and opened Elena's window. She pulled herself onto the roof before closing the window. By the time Elena had woken up, the rain had soaked through her yellow tank top and grey pajama shorts.
"What are you doing out there?" she asked, poking her head out the window.
"The rain is soothing," Belle replied and ran a hand through her wet hair, "Thanks for last night."
"Well I couldn't let you do something you'd regret," Elena shrugged, "We're friends, right?"
"Yeah," she agreed with a small smile.
"And friends don't let friends sleep with the guy they're mad at," the doppelganger laughed, "Coming inside soon?"
"Yeah, I have to go to the boarding house later. Stefan texted me that there was an incident," she told her and noticed the worried look cross her face, "He's fine."
"Okay," Elena nodded and left her alone.
An hour or so later, Belle and Elena arrived to see Damon finishing boarding up the window. The vampiress ignored him and asked Stefan if he was alright. Stefan sent his brother a superior look before replying they were both fine. Elena snuggled against her boyfriend and listened to them retell the story.
"I say we go to Pearl's, bust down the door, and annihilate the idiot that attacked us last night," Damon said when his brother finished.
"Yeah. And then what? We turn to the rest of that house of vampires and say, 'Oops. Sorry?'" Belle rolled her eyes at him.
"I can't believe you made a deal with her," Elena added, giving Damon a disappointed look.
"It was more like a helpful exchange of information," he shrugged, "And it's not like I had a choice. She's... scary. Besides, she's gonna help me get Katherine back."
"Of course she is. Damon gets what he wants, as usual. No matter who he hurts in the process," the redhead scoffed and stormed out the door.
"You don't have to be snarky about it," he called after her.
"Shut up, Damon," Elena snapped at him.
"What's your problem?" he asked with an annoyed look.
"I woke up this morning to learn that all the vampires have been released from the tomb," she replied with an annoyed tone, "And now I have to deal with an upset Belle."
"How long are you going to blame me for turning your birth mother into a vampire?" Damon sighed.
"I'm not blaming you, Damon. I've accepted the fact that you're a self-serving psychopath with no redeeming qualities. Sometimes I wonder if Belle got hit on the head as a child because she still cares about you."
"Ouch," he winced.
"This isn't being very productive. We're gonna figure out a way to deal with Pearl and the vampires," Stefan interrupted and looked at Damon pointedly. His brother nodded and left the room.
"Stay away from Belle!" Elena shouted.
"I can do what I want, Elena!" Damon replied. She tried to respond but her boyfriend stopped her.
"I'm sorry. He just makes me so cranky," she said softly.
"I know. He makes everybody cranky," he smiled lightly at her.
"So, what are we going to do?" she sighed.
"Belle, Damon and I are gonna handle everything, I promise," Stefan pulled her closer to him.
"Well, what about me? I can't just sit here and do nothing," she pouted.
"That's exactly what you're gonna do, because that's what going to keep you safe," he rolled his eyes.
"Which means nothing if you're not safe, too," she told him.
"What do you mean? I'm perfectly safe. I have Damon, the self-serving psychopath, and Belle, the miserable vampire, on my side," he joked.
"Well, that's comforting," Elena replied dryly, "Speaking of Belle, she is making this rainy day seem bright and happy."
"I'm sure you would too if you were in love with my idiotic brother," he retorted.
"Thank god I'm not," she snorted before looking somber, "I'm worried about her."
"She'll be okay," Stefan assured her, "I was thinking about taking her on a little trip, get her away from Mystic Falls for a week or so."
"Oh," she couldn't help but pout a little at the fact her boyfriend would be gone for a week.
"She needs it, Elena," he told her.
"I know," she sighed, "I'll just miss you."
"You won't miss Belle?" he teased.
"Honestly? If Belle, the miserable vampire, is gone when you get back, I'll be super happy," Elena grinned.
Elena found Belle sitting on the front steps on her house an hour later. On a whim, the human girl had decided to exit her house and saw Belle. She couldn't tell much but she was sure the vampiress had been crying.
"Want to talk about it?" she asked, sitting next to her.
"No, I'm being snarky," Belle snapped before storming into Elena's house. The brunette followed her and heard a phone ring. It wasn't hers so she assumed it was Belle's. The phone was thrown at the floor and she saw the ID was Damon the Sexy Vamp. The next second, there was a knock on the door. It was Damon and he pushed past her to find Belle in the living room.
"You're ignoring me," he glared at her.
"The 6 missed calls?" she asked innocently before adding dryly, "Sorry. My phone is dead."
"Is Stefan here?" Damon turned to Elena.
"No. Why? Something wrong?" she answered.
"He went out in the woods and didn't come back. I can't get him on his phone. I figured he was here with you," he shrugged.
"Well, he's not so you can leave," Belle told him.
"Will you stop acting hurt for one second?!" he yelled at her.
"Maybe I'm not acting," she snorted and stood up.
"I didn't do anything wrong!" he growled at her.
"I can't deal with this back and forth thing!" she snapped at him, "Made a decision already!"
"I don't have to right this second," Damon replied, folding his arms over his chest.
"Fine, I'll make it easier for you," she shrugged and walked out, "I'm leaving Mystic Falls."
"It's going straight to voice-mail," Elena said after a tensely silent moment, "Where could he be?"
"You're not going to like what I'm thinking," he responded, staring at the door where Belle just was.
"Call Belle," Damon said as they drove away from the house Stefan was now captive in by Fredrick. Elena nodded and pulled out her phone. On the third ring Belle answered.
"Hey 'Lena. Did you find Stefan?"
"The tomb vampires took him," she told her and there was an audible gasp from Belle.
"How are we going to get him out?"
"Damon and I are going to ask Mr. Saltzman for help," and there was a long pause before Belle spoke again.
"I'll meet you there," with that, the line went dead.
"She's actually coming?" Damon sneered.
"Just because you're an ass doesn't mean she's going to take it out on Stefan," Elena snapped.
"Really? Because she's acting like a miserable brat," he scoffed, glaring at the road.
"She's confused, Damon," she snapped, "You keep going back and forth between wanting her or Katherine."
"Can't I have both," he grinned at her before stopping the car. Elena got out and slammed it as she gave him a dirty look that clearly stated no.
Alaric and Belle were already in the classroom by the time Elena stormed in with Damon following. The redheaded vampiress acted as if Damon was not there which seemed to annoy him to no end. The vampire, along with snarky remarks, explained to the teacher what had happened earlier.
"Stefan's in the house. Damon and Belle are vampires. They can't get in. We need you. I would go, but..." she started but was interrupted by Damon.
"But your life is valuable. Yours, on the other hand is..." he smirked.
"Stefan told us about your ring," Belle sighed.
"What about it?" Alaric glared at her.
"Let me recap...You tried to kill me. I defended myself. You died. Then according to my brother, your ring brought you back to life. Am I leaving anything out?" Damon replied with annoyance.
"Yeah. The part where I try and kill you again. Only this time, I don't miss," he retorted.
"Mr. Saltzman. Please. It's Stefan," Elena jumped in between them and looked at Belle for help.
"I'm sorry, Elena. But it's not my problem," her teacher sighed.
"That's a shame," Damon rolled his eyes, "Because the woman in charge of the crowd can help you find your wife."
"You're lying," he hissed.
" Am I? Why don't you ask her for yourself?" he shrugged and turned to Elena and Belle, "Coward. Come on, Elena and Belle."
"All right! Wait. I'll go," he sighed and went to pull out his arsenal of vampire weapons.
"Teacher by day, vampire hunter by night," Belle joked.
"I've your boyfriend to thank for that," Alaric rolled his eyes. Damon snorted when her mouth opened to deny it.
"What are these?" Elena asked, picking up a syringe.
"Those are tranquilizer darts filled with vervain," he explained and selected a few choice stakes and syringes.
"Just get me in. I'll get Stefan out," the raven-haired man said.
"That's your plan? You're just gonna take them all on yourself?" Belle scoffed.
"Well, I'll be a little stealthier than that," he gave her a look as Elena took one of the vervain darts, "Hopefully."
"Whoa. What are you doing?" Alaric asked her.
"I'm going with you guys," she replied as if it was obvious.
"No. No way," Belle shook her head.
"You need me. I'll get in. You could distract them, and then I'll get Stefan out," she agrued.
"You'll get yourself killed. You're not going in there," Damon disagreed.
"I'm going," the little human crossed her arms and glared at all three of them.
"So, when you get me in, get out as quickly as you can. I know how to sneak around where they can't hear me. You'll basically just be in the way," Damon ignored her and looked at Alaric.
"Damon, now is not the time to be the lone ranger," Elena snapped.
"Fine. Elena, Belle can come with me and you can drive the getaway car. You're not going in the house," he rolled his eyes.
"You can't stop me. It's Stefan we're talking about here. You don't understand," Elena pouted.
"Oh, I understand. I understand. He's the reason you live. His love lifts you up where you belong. I get it," the vampire mocked.
"Can you just not joke around for 2 seconds?" she scoffed.
"I can't protect you, Elena. I don't know how many vampires there are in there," he snapped his fingers, "That's how long it takes you to get your head ripped off. I have to be able to get in and get out. I can't be distracted with your safety. Or this will end up a bloodbath that none of us walk away from...Including Stefan. I know. I get it. I understand," he glanced at Belle for a moment and hoped no one noticed. The only one who did was Elena who finally nodded.
"If we're gonna go, let's go," Belle sighed.
Belle and Damon were standing on the back porch in silence as they waited for Alaric to open the door.
"Are you going to ignore me forever?" he said, smirking at her.
"It's called self-preservation," she answered, staring at the door. Damon suddenly was in front of her and forced her to look at him.
"Don't," he hissed.
"Leave me alone," Belle tried to shove him away but he refused to budge. At that moment, Alaric opened the door with an older women standing at his side.
"Be careful," he whispered to her and let go of her and grinned at Ms. Gibbons.
"Oh, I'm sorry. He's not allowed in the house," she said kindly.
"I know that. But you've gotta make an exception," Alaric begged.
"Get her out of the house. Now!" Damon ordered. Alaric shoved her out, "Miss Gibbons, tell me the truth. Are you married?"
"No," she shook her head.
"Parents, children, anyone else who lives on this property?" he asked.
"No. It's just me," she smiled at him.
"No? Good," Damon said and snapped her neck so he can now enter the house. Belle sighed and pushed past the two men.
"You were supposed to compel her," Alaric gapped.
"It doesn't work that way..." he replied and shoved him out of his way.
"She is human," he argued. Belle was suddenly gone, searching for Stefan.
"And I'm not! So, I don't care," he snapped, "Now, get out of here. And get rid of the body!"
Frederick came in the room to see a staked vampire in the dining room. Damon caught him by surprise and the two begin to fight. After a few moments, Damon got Frederick on the floor and started punching him. Suddenly two vampires came up from behind and pulled Damon off. Frederick disappeared while his minions fought with Damon. One of them monopolized his time and he did not notice the other approaching from behind. Belle tackled the vampire to the ground and quickly staked him.
"I'm going after Frederick!" he called to her before running down the hallway.
Another vampire ran in with Alaric on his heels. Belle jumped on him and wrestled him to the ground. He managed to overpower her and pinned her to the ground. He reached an arm up to punch her but Alaric stabbed him with a vervain syringe. Damon was back and stood in the doorway.
"Frederick's gone," he sighed.
"Let's get out of here," Alaric nodded.
"I'm gonna kill him," he growled and the three exited the house. They see more vampires approaching the house, "How many of those vervain darts do you have left?"
"One," he answered.
"Not gonna be enough," Damon said. At that moment, Pearl and Anna came home.
"So, what you said to get me to do this, about my wife. It was a lie, wasn't it?" the teacher pointed out.
"Yep."
"Stop. What's going on here? What did you do?" Pearl shouted and stormed over to the three.
"Me?" Damon scoffed, "Your merry little band of vampires spent the day torturing my brother."
"Trust me. The parties responsible for this will be dealt with," she nodded.
"Our little arrangement doesn't work unless you learn to control them," he snarked.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she replied.
"Well, it did. If I had a good side," he replied with an eye roll, "Not a way to get on it."
"Damon," Belle said warningly. He nodded and grabbed her hand (ignoring her protest). Alaric followed them back to the car.
Once they found Stefan and Elena, the five got in Damon's car and drive in almost silence. Belle had attempted to pull her hand away from Damon but he didn't let go so she let him. In the backseat, Elena fussed over Stefan while Alaric stared out the window aimlessly. By the time they had dropped Alaric off at the school, Elena had nagged her boyfriend so much that Damon yelled at her to quiet down. After that, the car was completely quiet. Elena was the next to be taken home and after, Stefan was the first to exit the car and enter the Salvatore Boarding House.
"Wait," Damon said as Belle attempted to get out of the car.
"Damon, I'm tired," she complained but he acted like she hadn't spoken. For a while, the vampire didn't say anything, just stared at their still entwined fingers.
"Want to go to dinner tomorrow?" he asked.
"For what?"
"A date," he let out a laugh and watched her reaction. Belle tried to keep her face devote of emotions but it betrayed her.
"I thought Pearl was helping you find Katherine," she said tauntingly.
"She's not," he rolled his eyes.
"So you're choosing me, over Katherine," Belle confirmed, giving him a suspicious look.
"Yes, Belle," he sighed in exasperation. After a moment or so of though, she finally answered him.
"I can't Damon," she said softly, pulling her hand out of his. With that, she bolted up to the room she had 'stolen' from him. Instead of following her, the vampire decided to go clear his head.
Damon had left Belle alone in his room for most of the night. By the time he had gotten back, Belle had already fallen asleep. He watched her for a few minutes before realizing he was hungry and went to the cellar. He found no blood in the freezer which was odd as he had just put some in earlier. The older Salvatore brother walked into Stefan's room, about to ask if he knew what happened to the blood. What he found was something he had not expected. Stefan was sitting in a pile of empty blood bags while sucking from another one.
Hope you liked my twelfth chapter of Beauty and the Demon. Reviews and critics are welcome, flames are not.
Disclaimer: I do not own Vampires Diaries, or any of its characters or lines.
