Chapter 21
Isobel and Olivia
"Its good to see you. You look good. I hear that you're a high school history teacher. How is that?" Isobel asks as she sits beside her former husband at the bar.
Alaric stares at her in shock, unable to believe she is beside him, "Where have you been Isobel?" he questions.
"I don't have any reasons that are going to comfort you. I don't have any explanations that are going to satisfy you. I wanted this," she says simply.
"Its that simple?" Alaric questions, unable to believe after all this time, this was all he was going to get.
"Yeah, you were supposed to mourn and move on," she tells him.
Alaric stares at her in disbelief, "You were my wife, and I loved you. How could I not search for you?"
Isobel signs, "Because I wasn't lost Rick," she tells him, as if he should have known that all along. She grabs a piece of paper writing something down on it. "I understand you know my daughter Elena and my niece Elouise and I hear they've been looking for their mothers, so," she says, handing over the paper to Alaric, "I want you to arrange a meeting for us."
Alaric looks down at the paper and then back up at Isobel, "You want me to deliver a message," he says unsure.
Isobel smiles at him, "Yes," she confirms.
Alaric throws the paper away becoming angry, "Screw you, you selfish bitch," he snaps at her, getting up and marching out. Alaric walks out to his car, turning around at a small sound to find Olivia standing behind him. "What do you want from me?" Alaric asks, recognizing her from pictures.
"Isobel told you," Olivia says simply, a hint of a smile on her face.
"I'm not doing anything for either of you," he snaps at her.
Olivia frowns, grabbing his neck as he pushes him against the car, "Let me make this very clear, you tell Elouise and Elena that we want to meet, or me and Isobel are going to start killing the citizens of this town, and I'll make sure to start with your students. Got it?" she asks, throwing to the ground like a piece of trash. The paper Isobel had given him floats down to land beside him.
"Stefan," I say smiling to see him with Elena as I walk into school, Caroline had conned me into helping with the Miss Mystic float.
Stefan smiles back when he sees me, "Thank you Elouise," he says sincerely.
"No thank you for being okay, I've kind of come to depend on you," I admit, knowing that without Stefan I'd probably just be an anti-social confused teenager again.
"I'm always here for you," Stefan promises and I smile in relief. It felt good that someone could say that to me and mean it.
"Hey Mr Saltzman," Elena greets as Alaric walks over to us.
"Come with me, we need to talk," Alaric tells us and the tone of his voice sort of scares me.
I lean against the desk trying to figure what the hell I felt as Damon enters, "Damon, thanks for coming," Alaric says.
"Sorry I'm late, the dog ate my uh, never mind," he says, looking over at us, "whats with the furrowed brows?" he questions.
"I saw Isobel and Olivia last night," Alaric explains, and my minds goes into panic mood again at their names.
"They're here," Damon asks as Alaric nods, "in town?" I catch his eyes just as his looks over at me, I just shrug not sure I wasn't ready to say anything right now. "Did you ask them about Uncle John? Are they working together?" Damon began questioning Alaric.
"No," Alaric answers.
"No they're not?" Damon replies, unsure as to what question he was answering.
"No I didn't ask," Alaric clarifies.
"What about the invention?" Damon tries.
"Didn't ask," Alaric tells him.
"Did she know about the tomb vampires?" comes Damon's next question.
"I don't know," Alaric answers.
"Did words completely escape you?" Damon questions in disbelief.
Alaric glares at him, "No I was little too distracted by my dead vampire wife, and her dead vampire twin sister to ask any questions," he snaps in his defence.
"What did they want?" Damon questions turning his attention to us.
"They want to meet us," Elena answers him. Damon looks over at me but I turn my attention away out the window, this wasn't meant to be like this.
"Alaric is supposed to arrange a meeting. We don't know why or what they want," Stefan explains to his brother.
"You know you two don't have to see them if you don't want to," Damon tells us, being kinder than usual, but unfortunately he was wrong.
"I don't think we have a choice," Elena mutters.
"They've threatened to go on a killing spree," Alaric explains.
"I take it that's not okay with you guys," Damon guesses.
"I want to do it, I want to meet her. If I don't I know I'll regret it," Elena says with determination, I wish I had her resolve.
"Elouise," Damon questions me.
"What?" I snap turning back to look at them.
"You haven't said a word," Elena reminds me.
"Oh right maybe because we don't have a choice in this, this isn't about what we want, its about what they want. Why in the world would I need to say something, they're making all the decisions for us," I hiss, marching out of the class room in an attempt to get some air.
"Elouise," Damon says again appearing in front of me, "if you really don't want to, we'll find another way," he promises.
I shake my head, "No, but will you please, will you be there please," I plead with him. I knew I would have Elena but I needed a little extra insurance.
"Of course," Damon promises almost instantly.
I sit nervously at the Mystic Grill, playing with the salt shaker as Elena and I waited for our mothers to appear. I threw a glance over to where Damon and Stefan stood, watching over us. I smiled at them, it was good to have them both here. "Hello Elena, Elouise," a voice greets us and I look up to see Isobel and Olivia take a seat across from us.
"You look just like them, its eerie," Olivia comments half a smile on her face. I couldn't stop staring at her, couldn't stop believing she was in front of me.
"You've met Katherine and Rose?" Elena questions in surprise.
"Katherine found me after I turned. Genetic curiosity, I suppose, she'd be fascinated by you two," Isobel informs us. My eyes remain glued to Olivia, it was like we were in this odd staring contest unable to take our eyes from each other.
"Rose," I finally manage to cough out.
"Never met her," Isobel replies.
"She turned me," Olivia explains shrugging as if it was no big deal.
"Why?" I question confused, why in the world would Rose turn my mother, no Olivia.
"Its not important," Olivia says off-handily.
"Is that how you can walk in daylight?" Elena asks pointing to Isobel and Olivia's necklaces.
"Katherine helped me obtain it," Isobel explains.
"Rose gave me mine after I had turned," Olivia says, touching it with one finger, as if remembering something.
"Who's my father?" Elena asks, moving onto the next question. I'll admit that was one question I hadn't yet gotten time to think about.
"Not important," Isobel replies.
"Your fathers were teenage wastes of space," Olivia informs us.
"Try a name," I hiss at her.
"You ask a lot of questions," Isobel comments looking at Elena.
Elena ignores her, "Why did you compel that man to kill himself? Right after he told us to stop looking," Elena comes out with the next question. I couldn't work out how she was so focused, while my mind was screaming.
"Dramatic impact, I wish it had been more effective," Isobel tells her.
"Human life means that little to you?" Elena asks, for the first time her voice wavering.
"Means nothing to me, its part of being who I am," Isobel informs her, but that wasn't true I knew that.
"No its not, I know other vampires, that's not true," Elena retorts voicing my thoughts.
Isobel turns to look over at Damon and Stefan, "Your new boyfriend over there Stefan Salvatore? Why Stefan? Why didn't you go for Damon? Or are you enjoying them both like Katherine did," Isobel comments, a smile playing on her face.
Without thinking I hit my fist against the table, "You know what screw this, its clear you wanted to meet us for a reason, so just spit it out," I hiss, I was over this already.
Olivia smiles at my reaction, "We're curious about you two," she answers, I glare at her, "real reason we want what John Gilbert wants, Jonathan Gilbert's invention," Olivia confesses.
"How do you know my uncle?" Elena asks surprised.
"We spent a lot of time here when we were younger. John had a crush on me for years. He was the first one that told me about vampires," Isobel explains to her.
"So what made you want to be one?" Elena questions, sounding almost curious.
Isobel sighs, "A very long list of reasons, all of which I'm sure you're thought about," she guesses.
"No," Elena replies simply.
"That was your first lie. Its inevitable, you're going to get old, Stefan won't," Isobel comments as Elena looks over at Stefan, "forever doesn't last very long when you're a human."
"We don't have what you're looking for," I tell them, standing up and hoping Elena will do the same, all I wanted was out of this situation.
Olivia grabs my arm forcing me back down and I wince at the pain, "Sit down," she orders me, "and tell your guard dogs to walk away," she says pointing her head at Stefan and Damon or had begun to walk over. I nod at them, hoping they would stop. "I want the invention," Olivia say, releasing my arm as she sees Stefan and Damon stop there advance.
"We don't have it," Elena snaps.
"I know that but Damon does and you two are going to get it for us," Olivia says simply.
I look over at Damon in surprise, "He won't give it to you," I snap, and it was true.
"Then the blood will be on your hands," Olivia tells me as her and Isobel stand up, "it was lovely meeting you Elouise," she comments walking away.
"And you Elena," Isobel says following her twin sister. I watch them go, feeling the tears coming.
"I need to go," I mutter, grabbing my bag before I started bawling in public.
Damon steps out of the foreclosure after confronting Isobel to find himself face to face with her twin Olivia. Damon reacts without thinking, pinning her against the wall of the house, his hand around her neck. Olivia smiles despite her situation, "I know what you want Damon," she chokes, "Rose, you still have hope that after all this time she gives a damn about you."
Damon releases her, "You don't know anything," he argues.
"Rose is a manipulative little bitch, who doesn't give a damn. You know she turned me just because she didn't want me to go anywhere near Elouise. She wants to make everyone miserable, just like she is," Olivia informs him, her words laced with malice.
Damon throws her against the wall again, "Are her and Katherine doing this?" he asks. Olivia tries to shake her head, as Damon lets her fall to the floor.
"Why do you think Katherine sought me out, she's trying to find her, you really think Rose gives a damn about this town anymore, she's got bigger fish to fry," Olivia tells them, standing up and readjusting herself.
"If you touch a hair on Elouise's head, I will rip you apart," Damon warns her.
Olivia smiles sweetly, "I'll keep that in mind."
"Wait its a weapon against vampires, is Bonnie sure?" I question in disbelief, as I walk around everyone busy building the floats.
"Yeah," Elena agrees, "where are you?"
"I'm here, I'll meet you by the Miss Mystic Falls float," I tell her, putting my phone back in my pocket. I jump in shock when I see Olivia beside me. "What are you doing here?" I snap.
"I'm your mother, Elouise, I want to be more involved in your life," she says smiling, I glare at her, wishing I knew what the hell she was up too.
"I don't want you in my life," I hiss, trying to be angry, in case I ended up crying.
"I understand that, you and Elena already have so many people you care about, but I've been studying, let's see if we got this right?" she says, looking over everyone.
"Over there is Elena's witchy best friend, Bonnie, staying away from her," Olivia comments, "oh Elena's sad little brother Jeremy, thank god I didn't give you to that family. And Caroline," I growl when she says my sister's name, "obnoxious Caroline. I got all my information from her you know, she just wouldn't stop yapping. Oh and Matt, Elena's ex, your sister's future," she smiles as she says this.
"Just leave," I growl, getting more upset by the second.
"No, we have some friends here too," Isobel's voice comes from the other side of me as she walks over with Elena, I give Elena a desperate look. "Look you see the man over there, standing next to Matt by the float. His name is Frank, he's very handsome and he's also quite handy and he'd noticed that the axles are a little rusty, which is very dangerous. So, all you have to do is apply a little bit of pressure."
"No," Elena cries out as Frank jumps on the trailer, crushing Matt's arm. I wince at the sight unable to believe this, these were our mothers. Tyler and some of his friends attempt to try and lift the trailer but can't seem to do it. Stefan arrives to help and with his superior vampire strength they manage to get it off freeing Matt's arm.
"Caroline call an ambulance," Stefan orders Caroline as she rushes over to see Matt.
"Why?" I hiss.
"We're just showing you how easy it is to hurt the people you care about," Olivia says, placing her hand on my shoulder, making me shiver with fear.
"All for Jonathan Gilbert's invention?" Elena questions in disbelief.
"Hand it over and all will stop," Isobel confirms.
"I told you, Damon won't give it to us," Elena snaps, sounding desperate.
"Exactly you can threaten us all you want, but Damon he won't care," I hiss, shaking her hand of my shoulder.
Olivia smiles and the smile makes me feel sick, its so cold and detached, "I think you two underestimate how much he cares for the both of you," she tells us.
"He'll kill you before he gives it up," Elena hisses, about as tired of this as I am.
"Is that before or after we kill your brother Jeremy and your best friend Daniel?" Isobel asks us innocently.
"Crap," I mutter, grabbing my phone and dialling Daniel's number as Elena calls out for Jeremy. "Daniel, pick up, pick up," I beg him, but he doesn't. I turn around to yell at Olivia but both her and Isobel are gone.
"Where is the device?" Bonnie questions us as we explain the situation to her.
"Damon has it, he's going to be difficult to reason with," Stefan says and I close my eyes trying to just shut everything out. My mother was going to kill my best friend, in what world did this happen. Why couldn't I just appreciate my normal human life. I guess it didn't matter, I was always going to be a part of this.
"We'll go to him, I'll talk to him," Elena suggests.
I look at her with hope in my eyes, "Exactly it'll work out Elena's great with words," I agree, trying to convince myself.
Stefan shakes his head, "He's not just getting to hand it over, especially if its harmful to vampires," he reminds us.
"Damn it," I mutter in defeat.
"What if its not?" Elena questions, as I look up again to see a sparkle in her eyes. She had a plan.
"Absolutely not," Damon says when we tell him the plan, back at the Salvatore house.
"Hear us out," Elena pleads with him.
"I'm not going to give the device to Isobel and Olivia so they can give it to John who is going to in turn kill me. I like being a living dead person," Damon tells us, his voice firm.
"But it'll be useless, Bonnie can talk its power away," Elena argues with him.
"I don't trust her," Damon replies, looking at the young witch.
"I can remove the original spell," Bonnie assures him, no doubt present in her voice.
"John, Isobel, and Olivia will never know," Elena promises him.
"Please," I beg, just hoping that Damon will agree to this. I couldn't let Daniel die, not like this.
"No, I'll get Jeremy and Daniel in my own way," Damon retorts.
"Really? How are you going to do that? Because Isobel and Olivia are vampires and Jeremy and Daniel could be dead the second you walk in the door," Stefan reminds him, trying to make him see reason.
Damon sighs turning to face Bonnie, "Are you even up for this?" he questions her, "I mean no offense but you're no Emily Bennett. Emily knew what she was doing."
"I've been practicing," Bonnie replies, not backing down.
"It's not piano lessons, honey," Damon tells her. I was beginning to wonder if he was just trying to find a reason to not to do this.
"What's your favourite book?" Bonnie asks, causing me to frown in confusion.
"What?" Damon questions, sounding as confused as I felt.
"Name a book, any book," Bonnie tells him and it was about here I got, she was going to do a witch trick.
"Name a book," Damon considers, "how about Call of the Wild, Jack London?" Bonnie nods, turning to face the library of books, a book flies from its shelf landing perfectly in Damon's hand. Damon looks down at it, "Jack London, great parlour trick," he congratulates her, clearly not impressed.
"We're doing this Damon, and we're doing it our way. Now give me the device," Elena demands, clearly about as tired of all this stalling as me.
"I don't trust you, you tried to kill me," Damon says to Bonnie.
"You're right, you can't trust me," Bonnie confirms, shrugging as if its not a big deal.
"But you can trust me," Elena says, holding out her hand as she waits patiently for the device. Damon stares at her and then gazes over at me, I nod at him silently agreeing to everything that been said. Damon comes to stand beside me, placing the device next to me, I pick it up the metal cool against my hand.
"Thank you," I murmur, looking it to his icy blue eyes. I turn back to the others, seeing Stefan look from me to Damon in confusion.
Daniel picks up a towel passing it over to the man he only knew as John Gilbert, he'd heard about him not the best things either. "Thank you," John says looking over at Jeremy who was just coming round. Daniel felt his own head, wincing as it touched where he had been hit, by Elouise's mother of all people. She had met her mother, who turned out to be a heartless vampire and she hadn't called. In fact they had hardly spent any time together.
"What is she after?" the question comes from Jeremy who has now sat up, working out exactly what was happening to him. Daniel sat down across from John waiting eagerly for the answer as well.
John hesitates, looking at Daniel, "I don't know," he lies.
"Look," Daniel says sighing, "he won't tell you a thing as long as I'm here, he's scared I'll run and tell Elouise, who will in turn tell the Salvatore's," Daniel tells Jeremy.
"Wouldn't you?" John questions him.
"Of course I will, I'm just pointing it out," Daniel replies, although he wasn't as on board to the vampires are good people that Elouise was. He knew Stefan was a good guy but Damon, Damon was a different story. Unfortunately he basically had Elouise wrapped around his finger and she was never going to admit it. What was a best friend to do? "Besides I already know she's after the device, I'm just curious as to why they're giving it to you," Daniel admits. He had his guesses about the device, it probably did something to vampires, which John was probably going to use to kill the remaining tomb vampires. Daniel wasn't entirely against the plan, they had basically tortured Elouise. She'd never admit but it was still effecting her, she was more jumpy than usual and got this really blank look around knives. John gave him a look that basically told him he wasn't going to get an answer. "Fine how's this for a question how do you know Elena and Elouise birth mothers?" he questions.
"They lived not far from here," John answers quickly.
"Yeah, why do I think there's more to the story," Daniel mutters to himself.
I pace nervously as Elena and I wait at the Mystic Falls square, the device seems to burn me from its pocket announcing its presence. I jump when I turn to see Olivia and Isobel in front of us, "Where's the device?" Olivia demands, her voice cold.
"Where's my brother?" Elena snaps back.
"And my best friend," I add in annoyance, there was no way I was giving up this thing until I knew Daniel was safe.
"There isn't a negotiation," Isobel snaps, "now where's the invention?" she asks again.
"Where are Jeremy and Daniel?" Elena replies and I was glad I had her next to me, because there was no way she was backing down.
"Do you really think I came alone?" Isobel questions her, as her humans appear behind us.
"Do you really think I came alone?" Elena retorts, as Damon and Stefan appear behind them.
Isobel and Olivia look at them, before Olivia rolls her eyes, "For gods sake, call home, and call Daniel," she orders us. My eyes widen quickly grabbing my phone and dialling Daniel's number as Elena does the same.
"Elouise," Daniel answers.
"Thank god," I say, my relief flooding me, "are you okay? I mean did they hurt you?" I question concerned, I was prepared to stake her if she had.
Daniel laughs, "I'm fine but Elouise your mum's a bitch," I glare at her as he says it, "I know, I'll come see you soon okay," I promise. "Yeah," Daniel agrees as I hang up.
"You were never going to hurt him," Elena declares, but I wasn't so certain. Olivia's eyes were void of emotion, she didn't care, I knew she would have hurt him.
"No, I was going to kill him," Isobel informs her, "don't look for any redeeming qualities in us."
"We don't have any," Olivia says.
"I know," I mutter, "but you took a risk with Damon, I mean how'd you know he was going to give it to us?" I question, because I certainly didn't. Olivia smiles at me, running a hand through my hair making me want to run. I was beginning to suspect she did that because she knew how uncomfortable it made me.
"Because he's in love with you," she tells me, releasing her hand from my hair. Elena looks at me in surprise and I just shake my head. Clearly my mother was delusional, Damon and I had a friendship. I looked like Rose his old best friend and we had developed the same close friendship. If he was in love with anyone it'd be with Elena.
I take out the device, placing it in my mother's hand, "Thank you," I tell her sincerely.
"For what?" she questions me confused.
I take a deep breath, "For caring once upon a time, Damon told me Rose made you turn. My biggest fear was that I would find my mother and find out she never loved me. I don't need you, I have a family, I just needed to know that you loved me and you did," I say to her. Olivia looks at me and it almost looks sad.
"And thank you," Elena says turning to her mother, "for being such a monumental disappointment, it keep the memory of my real mother perfectly intact."
"Goodbye Elouise, Elena," Olivia says nodding to her niece, "as long as you two have a Salvatore on your arm, you're doomed. Katherine and Rose were smart they got out. But we're all know you're not Rose," she tells me, "and you're no Katherine." With those parting words they leave and I feel like a weight has been lifted off me, like I can finally breathe again. I was content to put the biological mother chapter to bed and never think about it again. Stefan walks up to Elena pulling her into a warm embrace. I look over at Damon, trying hard not to think about my mother's words, it was just a lie. Stefan gives me a hug too, placing a kiss on the top of my forehead, and I hug him back with everything I had left. Stefan looks across at Damon as he releases me, Damon places his eyes on the ground leaving the three of us. I stare after him in confusion.
Stefan walks into the Salvatore living room as Damon pours himself a glass of scotch. "Would like one?" Damon offers, looking at his brother's troubled face, "say it, purge, get it out," he encourages him.
"Its about what Olivia said," Stefan reveals.
"What about?" Damon questions, faking ignorance.
"Well I know that you and Elouise have bonded and I know she cares about you and I know you care about her," Stefan says.
"Well this is going an interesting direction," Damon comments, waiting for his brother to continue.
"I'm just concerned about Elouise getting hurt, you know she considers you a friend," Stefan clarifies for Damon, trying to figure out how to express his worry.
"Same here, Elouise is a very good friend. Actually she might qualify as one of my only," he pauses here, "friends. Is that a problem?" he asks innocently.
Stefan sighs, "At the risk of sounding like uh, like an overprotective brother," he tells him.
"Oh there's no risk, you do," Damon interrupts him smirking.
"Where Elouise is concerned, you will not put her in a situation where you can hurt her. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Stefan asks him.
"Sure, sure," Damon confirms readily, sounding hardly interested.
Stefan rushes toward him, "Do you understand?" Stefan repeats.
"Whatever you say, I mean honestly we're just friends, maybe I don't have the same brotherly concern for her that you do, but that's probably best. I didn't want to have to tell her or Elena the truth anyway," Damon says.
"What truth?" Stefan questions confused at the turn of the conversation.
"About John," Damon clarifies, "cause I know you three don't have secrets."
"What are you talking about?" Stefan asks, though the truth was beginning to dawn.
"Am I the only one around here who is has the abiliy to put two and two together?" Damon replies in disbelief, "Isobel and Olivia hello. Isobel dated John when she was fifteen she gets pregnant and ends up at the doctors office of John's brother. Isobel has hated Olivia for all this time, and somehow Elouise turns up at the Forbes after being assured their good people. Liz hates John and yet he used to do weekly dinners at their place. Now what do you think John's role is in all this? I mean go ahead, think about it, I'll wait. Do you get it? Are you there yet?"
"You think that John is Elena and Elouise's father?" Stefan guesses, although he wasn't so sure.
"Ding, ding, ding," Damon congratulates him.
"What proof do you have?" Stefan argues.
"I don't need any proof, that's a DNA test for John, Elena, Elouise and Maury Povich to deal with but I know how well you deal with these bombs so, sleep tight," Damon tells him a smirk on his lips as he leaves. "Oh and when you do, tell Elouise if she needs a friend to talk to about anything, I'm here for her," Damon calls.
"John," Olivia greets as he picks up the phone.
"Olivia," John replies, looking out the window almost nervously.
"I know Isobel's already told you she wants the Salvatores dead, but let me makes this very clear if Damon isn't dead, I will come back and take your ring and rip out your heart," Olivia threatens her voice icelike.
"It was always part of the plan," John promises her.
"Good, Elouise isn't equipped to handle someone like Damon and I will not let him force her into this life, watch over her John," Olivia orders as she hangs up, watching as her daughter walks into Daniel's home.
"Hey Daniel," I squeal happily, forcing him into a hug.
"Geez Elouise if all it took to get your attention was being held hostage, I would have tried to make it happen ages ago," he says into my shoulder making me feel instantly bad.
I step back, "I know, I know, I feel horrible its just so much stuff and," I mutter trying to explain it.
Daniel nods, "I get it, its just I used to be the person you came to with this stuff," he reminds me, making me feel worse.
"I know," I mutter.
"Anyway I'm about to drop something on you and I know this isn't the right time and I'm pretty sure there'll never be a right time. So I'm just going to say it, because it needs to be said," Daniel tells me, looking more nervous than I've ever seen him.
"Okay," I nod, my curiosity bubbling over trying to work out what it was.
"I care about you as more than a friend," he admits. My eyes widen of all the things he could say I didn't see that one coming.
I hug my bag closer, "I have to go," I mutter, desperately needing to escape because I had no idea what to tell him. I'd never thought about Daniel like that, I wasn't sure I ever could.
"Elouise, I get it you don't have those feelings for me, I just needed you to know," he informs me. I stare at him was he serious? Was he unaware of how hard it was going to be to be friends with him after this?
"I have to go," I repeat, running out the door before he can say anything more.
So we are nearly at the season finale...yay, I'm really excited for season 2 :) Please review and tell me what you think...