CHAPTER 14

Elena fumed all the way home. She couldn't help it. She kept trying to reason with herself. She kept trying to put herself in Damon's shoes. If the sire bond thing was real, then she had to find out more about it. Tyler blindly did whatever Klaus told him to do, even when he didn't want to do so consciously. The night of Caroline's birthday came back into Elena's mind as she recalled the story of Tyler biting Caroline without even realising he had done so. It was almost like Klaus had implanted a hypnotic suggestion and Tyler had been unable to stop himself. Her stomach rumbled in discomfort as she contemplated that kind of power. She kept trying to think back to the occasions when Caroline had said that she had changed for Damon – the red dress, telling her not to worry about Jeremy, him telling her she would be miserable if she drank anything except blood from the vein…

She sighed as she recalled all of those times, trying to analyse what went through her mind. Could it be true? She didn't want to think down those lines because if it was true then she didn't know her own mind and she couldn't think of anything more terrifying than that. She was almost home when she realised what she had to do. She had to speak to the only person who knew everything there was to know about sire bonds. She had to speak to Klaus. She grimaced at the very idea of speaking to him, she knew he would probably play with her but he was the only one who could shed enough light on this topic. She considered Tyler for a moment but she didn't want to take the chance that she might run into Caroline again. She wasn't ready to see her yet after their argument today.

She pressed her foot down on the accelerator. Better to get this conversation over as quickly as possible. The enormous manor loomed at her as she approached the gravel driveway. What if he wouldn't tell her anything? At least one thing she could count on was knowing that Rebecca was out of the picture and therefore not a threat anymore and Klaus wouldn't have her harmed – not his precious Doppelganger.

She stepped up to the front door, feeling slightly unsure of how to proceed next. No doubt he had heard her car pull up outside. She knocked on the door using the ornate brass knocker on it and waited, trying to slow her heart rate down. A random human servant opened the door, visibly compelled, judging by the glazed look in her eyes.

"Do let our guest in Samantha!" Klaus's voice came from the large sitting room inside. Elena stepped past the girl and into the sitting room. Klaus was sitting by the fire drinking wine. He got up to his feet and beamed at her as she entered.

"Ah, Elena! To what do I owe the pleasure of your surprise visit?" He grinned at her. She bit back the urge to launch something at him. He knew exactly why she was here and she hated him for it. He raised his eyebrows when she didn't immediately respond. "Ah." He smiled to himself, "I see Caroline has put all the pieces together then?" He looked up at her through hooded eyes.

"I came here to ask what you know about sire bonds." Elena stated. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of becoming emotional. She was here for information only. He nodded, still smiling at her and gestured for her to take a seat. She reluctantly sat down as she watched him fill her a glass of wine. She shook her head in dismissal of his offer.

"Come now love, you might want something to take the edge off of what I'm going to tell you." He looked down at her seriously and she shivered for a moment. She begrudgingly took the glass from him and took a sip, praying that what he was going to tell her wouldn't turn her world upside down.

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Damon lay on his bed, drumming his fingers over his chest as he thought about today's' events. He knew Elena had been upset earlier, but he didn't know what to do to fix it. Damn Stefan for putting the idea in his mind that Elena might be sired. Damon wanted so badly to believe that everything she had said she felt for him was real. He had never been anyone's choice – it was always poor, sensitive, journal writing Stefan. Now Elena had chosen him. Damon closed his eyes and turned on his side. He could still smell her scent on his sheets. Memories of their lovemaking came to his mind and he relished in them. He had wanted her to be with him again tonight, almost as a way of sealing the deal. It was feasible for him that one night with Elena could be something that might happen before she changed her mind and saw sense but two nights together would make him feel like their relationship was real. Strange how he drank up such fleeting moments with her like they were the last drops of water in a desert, when Stefan had had a virtual ocean of moments with her. Why did he still feel like he wasn't going to get enough of her? He still didn't believe this was all for real yet and now Stefan had waltzed in and made him question it all the more.

A sire bond was a peculiar thing. He had experienced one before. He daren't mention it to Elena though, she was already mad with him and everyone else. He had once made a woman a vampire and had noticed her attachment to him physically and emotionally. He was unsure of what was going on at first but when he realised, he enjoyed every second of that power. He should feel guilty but he didn't. He didn't mean for it to happen but what was the harm if the girl wanted him? He had enjoyed everything she had to give him, but after a few years, he began to realise how empty the whole thing was. She became a bit like a slave really, never questioning him or challenging him. He bored of her and left her late one night after a particularly good session of sex and never returned to her again. Truth was, he hadn't given her a single thought since then.

The possibility, even if it was remote, that Elena might be sired to him terrified him. His Elena knew her own mind, had her own opinions and she always challenged him, fought with him, made him better than he was. The thought that she might become an automaton, at his beck and call, never arguing with him… He couldn't even think about it. It would destroy him if this turned out to be true. He gripped the sheets of his bed hard against himself and breathed in her scent again. This couldn't happen to his Elena. They had to know if what was happening was real. He had to find a way to test it without her knowing.

He sat up resolutely and scooted to the end of the bed, trying to formulate a plan. If he could get Elena to do something she couldn't previously then it would prove she wasn't sired, but he would have to be delicate about it. If he could catch her off guard with it, it might work. He made quick work getting dressed and grabbed his keys as he left for her house.

The house looked dark as he drove up and parked outside, but he could see her bedroom light was on. He figured going through the window might be more advisable considering Jeremy was funny about vampires at the moment. Why give him an opportunity to get a taste for killing anymore vampires tonight? He climbed in and locked the window behind him, expecting her to be in bed, but she was nowhere to be seen.

"Elena?" He called out quietly. Then he heard her in the bathroom, moving around hurriedly as though something was wrong. He burst through the bathroom door and gasped as he took in the sight of her huddled against the corner of the room, hugging her knees and sobbing quietly.

"Elena?" He dashed forward to touch her but she brushed him off as she looked up at him. She looked so small and frightened. He felt his stomach clench. "What's happened?" He whispered and she shook her head as tears fell down her cheeks. He stroked her hair and leant in to hug her but she put her hand against his chest and stopped him. He frowned in confusion and pain at her rejection. Her expression softened as she watched his distress change his demeanour. She took his hand in hers and turned it palm upwards. He looked at her in confusion again, then she placed something into his palm and stood up. He looked down and felt like he wanted to vomit as he did so. An empty blood bag lay in his hands…