"Never Let Me Go"
Chapter 12
"Would you like to repeat that?" Klaus demanded as he glared at Damon.
"You heard me," Damon countered, "I said no more."
"Not an hour ago you were on my side," Klaus growled, "What the bloody hell changed?"
"I went and talked with Bella." Damon snapped.
"She got to you," Klaus scoffed at the thought, "Damon I know it's hard, but this is what is best for her."
"No it's not," Damon said, "Taking away her free will is not right. It's happened to us and we didn't like it. We despised it, so why the hell are we going to do it to her? To someone that has sacrificed for us?"
"Because it's going to keep her alive," Klaus yelled, "That's why!"
Damon shook his head, "I won't do it." He said, "I'm out."
"Fine," Klaus said, "I don't need your help. Besides we both know her feelings for you are just lust-filled. Nothing like what I have with her."
Damon let out a dark laugh, "Nice to know the old Klaus is still inside you somewhere." Damon grabbed his jacket. "Think about this Klaus. When she does break the bond and realizes what we tried to do, she's going to hate us both."
"So let her hate us at least she'll be alive," Klaus roared.
"It could push her over the edge," Damon said in a low voice, "To where she'd shut it off…do you want that to happen?"
Klaus was silent.
"Maybe instead of making decisions for her we should listen to what she wants." Damon continued. "We brought this onto her, the sire bond, her death, all of it. We had a hand in it. We can't change what's happened, but we can change what she will think of us when all is said and done."
"You've gone soft," Klaus glared at Damon, "I will do what I have to, to keep her alive and safe. You do what you have to Damon, but don't get in my way."
Klaus pushed pass Damon and disappeared upstairs.
"Damon Salvatore thinking about someone other than himself…I'm shocked," Rebekah greeted as she entered the room.
"For Bella yeah," Damon said.
"Dare I say it Damon, but I believe you care for Bella more than you are willing to admit to yourself," Rebekah pointed out as she sat down.
"I'm not in the mood for games Rebekah," Damon sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose; the exhaustion was creeping up on him.
"What does she want?" Rebekah asked and Damon looked at her. "Bella," she clarified.
"For us to trust her," Damon said and he leaned back in the chair. "Maybe Klaus is right."
"Is that so hard to do?" Rebekah asked. "To trust her?"
"You said she's like family," Damon said and Rebekah nodded, "You saw what happened last time with Emmett. Can you imagine that happening four more times? What if we did lose her?"
"Let's put this in perspective," Rebekah started as she poured them each a glass of scotch. "First off when she did that with Emmett she still wasn't fully healed or at her full strength," She handed him a glass, "Secondly she wasn't feeding nor resting as she should have been. Bella never meant for that to happen with Emmett. It was spur of the moment. Now if things were perfectly planned, which is what Bella wants…all bases covered, proper prep time, etc. I believe that she could withstand what she plans to do." Rebekah finished before taking a sip of her scotch.
"You really think so?" Damon asked.
Rebekah nodded, "Bella doesn't like fighting things on her own Damon. She can do it, but that doesn't mean she wants to."
"How do you know this?" Damon asked.
"We spent many days together just talking," Rebekah explained, "She's strong, but she's not afraid to lean on others for support. The whole problem though is how it has all come about. The problem in this family has always been communication or lack thereof and I believe that is what is happening now. Everyone is so scared of losing Bella that they won't even entertain this idea she has because there is a level of danger behind it."
Damon looked closely at the Original, "Aren't you afraid of losing her?"
"Of course," Rebekah said, "But I have faith in her, something my brother seriously lacks despite what strength Bella has shown time and time again."
"He won't let her get involved," Damon sighed at the thought as he took a sip of his scotch.
"Then perhaps his neck will be snapped repeatedly." Rebekah replied with a shrug. "It's good that you talked to her Damon. Perhaps it will help her."
"How do you figure that?" Damon asked.
Rebekah stood up, "You two shared a camaraderie before she turned did you not?"
Damon nodded.
"Perhaps finding that again will help her in breaking the bonds Damon." Rebekah suggested, "Don't hold me to it, but you challenged her and if she can resist it, then it could help her. Otherwise there is only one other way to break the bond."
"You know of a way?" Damon asked, shocked, "Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because it's not something any of us want," Rebekah said reluctantly, "Order her to turn it off."
Damon froze.
"Forcing her to turn it off would effectively break the bond because she wouldn't have any emotions." Rebekah said.
"No," Damon shook his head. "No."
"Those are the choices Damon and that's it." Rebekah said before she walked out.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"You okay?" Leah asked as Bella came back in.
"Yeah," Bella took off her jacket and took over the bar, "Everything go alright?"
"No problems here," Jake asked as he approached the bar, "What did he want?"
"Just to talk," Bella replied as she started making drinks again.
"Bella," The Reverend greeted, "I was hoping to speak with you."
"Of course," Bella leaned against the bar, "what's up?"
"Carol is throwing a party this weekend and we were hoping that you and Damon might join us at the meeting to discuss some precautions we can take." Reverend Young said.
"Sure," Bella said, "When is the meeting?"
"Tomorrow morning," Reverend Young replied, "At Carol's house."
"I'll be there with bells on," Bella replied with a laugh.
"And about the other thing we discussed?" Reverend Young asked.
"Working on it," Bella said before she leaned over and squeezed his hand.
"I understand," Reverend Young said.
Bella poured him a beer and handed it to him, "On the house." She offered.
"Thank you," Reverend Young said and raised the glass before he walked away.
Jake walked up to join Bella, "Who do you want with ya?" He asked.
"They won't let anyone in those meetings no matter how much I vouched for you." Bella said with a sigh.
"She'll have Damon," Leah corrected.
"No," Jake refused with a shake of his head, "I don't trust that snake."
"Jake it's fine," Bella replied and pulled out her phone.
"I'll call him," Leah offered before she took the phone from Bella.
"Bells," Jake started.
"Don't," Bella said and walked over to deliver some drinks.
"Hey don't," Jake tried again when Bella came back to the bar, "Look I'm happy you and Leah are getting along, but don't shut me out okay. Something else is going on."
"You won't like what I have to say Jake so just leave it." Bella argued and looked over to Alaric, "Hey."
"Hey," Rick said as he took a seat at the bar.
"Whiskey?" Bella asked and Rick nodded.
"Thanks," Rick said when he got his drink, "You look better."
"I'm healed," Bella shrugged, "Physically, I mean."
Jake sighed when it became obvious that Bella was going to continue working. "I'm gonna head to the house Bells," Jake said dejectedly when it was clear she didn't want to talk.
Bella did nothing as Jake left.
Alaric waited until he was gone, "You doing alright?"
Bella shrugged, "Still here."
"Living and existing are two different things." Rick pointed out.
Bella sighed, "Right now I don't see a difference between the two."
"Where's Tori?" Rick asked.
"Still recouping," Bella replied.
Rick stood up, "Go home," he said.
"What?"
"Go home. I'll handle this." Rick explained as he walked around to join her behind the bar.
"Ric I got it," Bella said.
"Bella I bartended in college, I doubt much has changed," Rick replied, "Please it's the least I can do."
"You don't have to make up for anything with me," Bella replied.
"That's your opinion," Rick said, "Hey Leah take her home and make sure she gets some sleep."
Leah put an arm around Bella's shoulder, "Come on. Let's go see who you're having for dinner tonight."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Once Bella and Leah walked through the door, the boys inside stilled.
"What's going on?" Bella asked.
"Rebecca called," Jake started, "She said she needs to talk to you."
Bella pulled out her cellphone and went upstairs as she dialled Rebecca's number.
"Rebecca Black," Rebecca greeted after a few rings.
"Hey it's me," Bella said.
"Hey, how you feeling?" Rebecca asked.
"I'm here still aren't I," Bella said with a laugh, "So tell me the news."
"Bella," Rebecca said while stalling for the right words to come to her.
"The only thing holding the venom back is my feeding." Bella said, "Let me take another guess that the venom is becoming immune which is why I have been needing to feed more often."
"How did you know?" Rebecca asked.
"I can feel it," Bella confessed as she leaned against the wall while looking out the window. "How much time do you figure?"
"I honestly don't know," Rebecca said, "Your biology is so different from everyone else. I have to take into consideration the mutation before you turned, the mutation now, and then a bunch of other things too. Look I'm trying to get time off to come down, but it's hard."
"I know Rebecca," Bella sighed, "You don't need to worry about me."
"I know you've got enough of that," Rebecca said, "Leah told me about the bond which is another thing I'm going to have to consider. Bella those last blood samples I got, who had you been feeding on?"
"Klaus and Damon," Bella said.
"And recently when you figured out what was going on, have you fed from them since?" Rebecca asked.
"Yeah, but it wasn't exactly willingly." Bella said.
"I have a theory," Rebecca said, "About the venom and the bond."
"I'm all ears," Bella said.
"Leah said you have to bend to their will…have they exerted that on you?" Rebecca asked.
"Yes," Bella growled.
"How did it feel?" Rebecca continued.
"I felt like I was suffocating…like I was being forced down like Jake or the other pack members do when Sam gives any order." Bella explained.
"Did you fight against it?" Rebecca asked.
"Yeah and it wasn't pleasant," Bella answered.
"What about before when Klaus would ask you something, did you do it no question?" Rebecca asked.
Bella thought for a while and then answered, "Yeah now that I think back to it…in London I never questioned his orders." Bella straightened up, "What's this theory Rebecca?"
"You aren't going to like it and until I get samples from you, Damon, and Klaus, I can't be positive about it." Rebecca rambled.
"Rebecca spill it." Bella interrupted.
"I think with the venom having their blood in you, it holds it at bay better than the others." Rebecca said.
"Okay so I have to feed from them," Bella shook with anger. "What about the bond?"
"With their blood in your system it makes the bond stronger so you don't fight against them as much." Rebecca said.
Bella punched the wall.
"Bella?" Rebecca said.
"So feeding from them means I get to hold the venom back, but in doing so I subject myself to their will more and I don't question it." Bella said through clenched teeth, "God nothing in my life can be simple can it."
"I'm sorry Bella," Rebecca apologized, "But like I said without more evidence and testing the blood…"
"I know," Bella said, "I'm damned if I do yet damned if I don't." She sunk down to the floor.
"There may be a silver lining." Rebecca said, "I can't help with the bond part, but as far as the venom I may be able to neutralize it. I mean I need blood from you, Damon and Klaus, but I mean I already have the building blocks."
"What do you mean?" Bella asked.
"The shot I initially created for you with Vanessa and Meredith, well it was intended for neutralizing the mutation of the venom. I start from there and then I use the blood and maybe I can create a venom catalyst 2.0." Rebecca explained. "I'm closer than I initially thought and with Vanessa and Meredith being there I can send my research to them and we can figure this out. I'm not giving up Bella and neither should you."
"There's a difference between giving up and giving in Rebecca," Bella said softly.
"Then just promise me you won't give in just yet." Rebecca said.
Bella was silent.
"Bella," Rebecca said. "I have never asked you for anything, but now I am. Please just not yet."
Bella sighed, "Okay. What do you want me to do?"
.*.*.*.*.*.
Damon pulled up outside the mansion and got out just as Jake opened the door.
"She's upstairs getting dressed," Jake said.
"What's wrong?" Damon asked.
"My sister called and she won't tell us what she said and she didn't feed last night." Jake replied, "She just went to bed."
Damon walked inside and saw Leah coming down the stairs.
"She's dressed," Leah said and she grabbed his arm as he passed her, "You hurt my friend I tear you apart you got me?"
Damon nodded and walked up the stairs. He soon found himself knocking on her door.
"Almost ready," Bella called out, "Come in."
Damon opened the door and saw her sitting on the bench as she put on a pair of nude-colored pumps. Her hair was pinned back in a bun with a few curly strands loose around her face, framing it. She wore a sleeveless coral-colored dress with a trumpet hem.
When she was done, Bella stood up and looked at him.
"I didn't know it was a formal affair," Damon said after finding his voice.
"I'm meeting with a friend for lunch afterwards," Bella explained as she walked over to get her clutch.
"Klaus?" Damon asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.
"No," Bella replied, her voice tight.
"You look a little pale." Damon said.
"I'm a little dead," Bella replied, "Pretty sure paleness is a side effect."
"Jake told me," Damon said.
"Jake needs to learn to keep his mouth shut," Bella snapped. "Ready?"
She tried walking pass him, but Damon caught her elbow.
"You need to eat," Damon said, "If you don't, you could slip and reveal yourself."
"You offering?" Bella asked.
Damon was shocked. She barely spoke to him or Klaus and now she was asking to feed from him.
"You want to feed from me?" Damon asked.
"I've been feeding pretty regularly from the others. They need a break, but if you don't want me to," Bella trailed off and turned to walk away.
"No," Damon blurred in front of her, "It's alright."
He took off his jacket, leaving him in a tight v-neck black shirt. He held out his wrist.
Bella allowed her face to change and she quickly bit into Damon's wrist. Damon closed his eyes, immediately feeling the connection between them. He had to bite back a growl as she took a long pull of his blood before she licked at his wrist.
It was over all too soon and Bella's face had returned to normal. She darted out her tongue to lick away any remaining traces of blood.
Damon stepped closer to her with his eyes piercing into hers. He placed one hand on her back, pushing her closer to him and the other hand came up to her mouth to brush the corner of her mouth.
"You missed a spot," he explained as she showed her the slightest smear of his blood he collected.
Bella caught his thumb in her mouth and sucked, savoring the last little bit of blood.
Damon's eyes seemed to smolder and both their gazes bore into one another.
"Hey Bella," Leah called out as she came up the stairs.
Bella blurred out of Damon's arms and across the room.
Leah walked in, "Hey you guys are going to be late." She narrowed her eyes when she saw Damon's jacket off and both of them staring intently at one another. "Everything okay?" Leah asked, tilting her head to Damon.
"Fine," Bella said quickly with her eyes still focused on Damon.
"We better go," Damon said as he grabbed his jacket. His gaze never broke from hers as he put it back on.
Bella walked quickly down the stairs and walked to the passenger side of Damon's Camaro.
"I'm only a call away," Leah said in a warning tone.
"Get some rest," Bella said as she opened the door.
"Allow me," Damon blurred next to her and helped her into the car.
He shut the door and got into the driver's seat. They drove in silence for a while until finally Damon said something.
"What were you doing?" Damon asked.
"Feeding," Bella replied while looking out the window.
"So when you sucked on my thumb you were feeding," Damon scoffed.
"I always like to clean my plate," Bella said, unable to resist the remark.
Damon laughed, "And old Bella is back." He said, "Nice to see you again."
"That Bella never left. She was just too tired for verbal banter." Bella said, "It takes a lot to come up with witty comebacks to you…I have to be creative. I mean you have been around for a while so I don't want to use old material."
"I appreciate that." Damon said as they pulled up to the Lockwood mansion.
He opened the door and the two of them walked into the house.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Klaus looked at the several maps laid out in front of him. He was searching for any possible hiding spot the Cullen's might use. So far nothing had come out of his searches.
His phone rang and he quickly answered it. "What?" He snapped.
"Back off Vamp. You said if I had news that I should call you," Rebecca Black snapped back at him.
Klaus took a deep breath, "I'm sorry Miss Black," he said as he regained his composure. "What have you found?"
"I think I have an idea about how to stop the venom from taking her over." Rebecca said.
"What is it?" Klaus asked with hope seeping into his voice.
"Your blood and Damon's blood turned her so I need blood from both of you. I'm hoping by mixing it with the serum I used to cure Bella the first time when she was still partially human that I can hopefully figure out a way to change it to fit her current state. If I can then there's a very good possibility that I can neutralize the venom all together." Rebecca explained.
"How much do you need from us?" Klaus asked.
"Five bags to start. It's going to be trial and error until I get the combination right and I have to take into account how everything will react. Her biology is different now. I need a few samples sent to Vanessa Monroe and Dr. Fell too. We are working together on this." Rebecca explained.
"I'll have it done right away," Klaus said, "Thank you Rebecca."
"Klaus wait," Rebecca said. "There's something else you should know. Her feeding on the others, it holds the venom back a bit, but yours and Damon's blood stops it in its tracks for longer periods. It's better if both your bloods are in her system at the same time."
"I understand," Klaus said very carefully, "I'll make sure of it."
"I'm going to try to get down there," Rebecca said.
"Why can't you come now?" Klaus asked.
"Because I have a job," Rebecca snapped, "And bills."
"I'll bloody pay you and make sure you have your job," Klaus said, "Get down here now." He ordered and hung up.
"Good luck," Kol taunted as he walked in, "Getting her to feed from the two of you, I mean."
"Not now Kol," Klaus growled.
"She won't do it," Kol said, "She's mad at you both."
"She'll do as I say," Klaus said.
Kol blurred and pinned Klaus to the wall, "I swear to whatever God there is Klaus that you will not bend her to your will again." He hissed. "If that means I have to break your neck again and again then I will do it."
"Get off of me," Klaus said before he flung Kol across the room.
"What is going on?" Elijah interrupted after blurring down the stairs.
"He's going to force Bella to drink from him." Kol said as he spat out some blood.
"It's the only way to keep the venom at bay and whether she likes it or not she will be drinking from me and Damon." Klaus snapped at Kol.
"Enough," Elijah roared and everyone stilled, "I have had enough Niklaus."
"You've done it now," Rebekah chided as she joined her brothers.
"Do you have any concept of what you are doing to her?" Elijah continued, "Any inkling to the pain you put her through when you exert your will upon her?"
"Then she should stop fighting," Klaus growled.
"NO. You should stop trying to control her!" Elijah snapped at him. "Are you so hell bent on being alone?"
"What do you mean?" Klaus asked tensely.
"I mean when she does break the bond and we all know she will, she will hate you. She will want nothing to do with you. Even now, though she has no idea what's going on, she is trusting you and you are betraying that trust. You are making decisions for her Niklaus." Elijah said.
"Do you know what scares her brother?" Kol asked, "What terrifies her to her very core?"
"Death," Klaus said while trying to sound calm.
"No," Kol said, "Losing herself."
Klaus tensed.
"Losing who she is for someone else and if you force her to do what you want, if you use that sire bond against her, you will be doing just that. Taking her free will and control away from her, that's what she fears. She will lose herself in you and when it's over she will be a shell." Kol finished. "Do you want that for her? Do you want to be the cause of that like Edward was?"
Klaus didn't say anything, he merely left the room.
"She trusted you Nik," Rebekah said softly as he ascended the stairs, "Give her the same curtsey. Don't break her heart."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Well I believe that's all for today everyone," Reverend Young said. "Bella, Damon, thank you for coming."
"Of course," Bella said as she stood up. "We'll let everyone else know the plan."
"Wonderful," Carol said.
Bella and Damon said their goodbyes and headed out of the house.
"You were truly magnificent in there," Damon commented as he held the door open for her, "A very commanding presence."
"I just don't let them push me around," Bella replied after getting in.
"So where to for lunch?" Damon asked as he got into the driver's seat.
Bella looked at her phone and frowned, "Nowhere," she said, "They cancelled so just back to the house for me."
Damon turned on the car and smirked. He headed out of town.
"Where are we going?" Bella asked.
"Well you got all dressed up for lunch so I'm taking you to lunch." Damon said, "I mean I would have preferred that you got all dressed up for me, but I'll take what I can get."
Bella shook her head and sat back. She closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep. Damon woke her just before they reached Richmond. He pulled up to Rain and Bella looked at him.
"The place where we had our first date," Damon said before he got out and opened the door for her.
They walked in and immediately the hostess smiled.
"Hello Mr. Salvatore. I see you've brought back your friend." The girl greeted. "Love the dress."
"Thanks," Bella said.
"Usual table?" She asked.
"Please," Damon said.
The hostess led them to a private table and she gave them menus.
"Scotch as usual for you Damon and if I remember correctly lemon drop martini right?" she asked.
"Yeah," Bella said and the girl walked away. Bella looked at Damon, "What did you do?"
"Moi?" Damon asked while sounding offended.
Bella arched her brow and crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair.
Damon rolled his eyes, "Fine," he said, "I may have compelled the girls to remember what you liked and to treat you with respect as they should."
"You shouldn't have," Bella said, "I can handle snotty bitches."
"I know that, but consider it a peace offering." Damon said.
"When did you do this?" Bella asked.
"When you went to the bathroom," Damon said.
Bella thought for a moment and then her eyes widened.
"Damon that was months ago." She said shocked.
"I know," Damon said as he leaned back in his chair.
"Why?" Bella asked.
"I planned on bringing you back here. Mind you I thought it would be sooner, but…" Damon trailed, "You went and died on me."
"Wasn't intentional," Bella replied.
"I know so consider this your way of making it up to me," Damon said as their drinks came. "Want what we had last time?"
"Actually giving me a choice?" Bella said tensely.
Damon blew out a breath and stared at her intently, "I think you've had enough choices taken from you don't you think?"
Bella nodded, "What we had last time would be great."
The waitress left and Bella and Damon sat in silence.
"Aren't you going to ask?" Bella said.
"Ask what?" Damon replied.
"Why I haven't been around you or Klaus." Bella clarified.
"We pissed you off." Damon said with a shrug, but his posture was noticeably tense.
"I'd say pissed is an understatement," Bella said carefully. "I'd go more along the lines of ready to rip you both to shreds to start with."
"Well here's another peace offering," Damon said as their cranberry puffs came, "I'm siding with you."
Bella choked on her martini.
"I'm sorry come again?" Bella said shocked.
"I'm siding with you." Damon said, "Whatever you want to do I'm in…within reason of course."
"Knew there was a catch." Bella replied grimly as she shook her head.
"No catch, just more along the lines of a plan…a very well thought out and executed plan." Damon said seriously. "I get that you wanna help them and kick Esther's ass in the process and I support that, but you need to be at your strongest when you do it."
"Meaning?" Bella asked.
"Meaning that you rest and feed, and then we make a plan which I'll back you on when it comes to getting into the Cullen's heads." Damon said.
"You're serious?" Bella asked shocked.
Damon nodded, "Yeah," he said, "Look you've been to hell and back, you put your trust in us and we broke it, but yet you keep coming back and saving our asses. I don't know why, we aren't worth it, but you do so the least we can do is hear you out."
Bella felt her chest tighten as she realized Damon was telling the truth. He was dead serious and it made her feel…she couldn't pinpoint the emotion, but it was powerful.
"Thank you," Bell said as their food came.
Damon smirked, "Don't think I'm going all soft Bella. Now eat so we can get back before your boyfriend tries to kill me…again."
A/N: Hey everyone it's been a while hasn't it? I'm sorry for the long wait but unfortunately for me and my wonderful beta (Dark~Supernatural~Angel) life got in the way. Some of us do have to work unfortunately.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and thank you to my wonderful beta and friend Dark~Supernatural~Angel.
Just a little update. I have been extremely busy this summer preparing to take my GRE. For those of you that don't know the GRE is a test I must take to get into my master's program so that has been my first priority. Good news though next week I am going to be up in my cabin taking a break from studying which hopefully means a lot and lot of writing!.
Thank you all for sticking with me through this journey and the continuing support. I hope you enjoy the chapter and review!