A LOT OF LOVE A LOT OF BLOOD Chapter 21

Title: A lot of Love A lot of Blood

Rating: Mature

Pairing: Stefan/Elena, Damon/Bonnie

Soundtrack:

Loneliest day of my life: System of Down

Athlete: Wires

A/N: For all of you who were wondering why Bonnie named that little dark voice in her head "Beatrice", it's her middle name. She's acknowledging that this is a part of her. Also, I did a little twisting of how things actually went down on the show, but I liked how it turned out.

TIT For TAT

Bennett House

Sleep came easily that night and she was lost to her dreams the moment her head hit the pillow

"Why am I here?" She wondered surprised when her dreams placed her outside of the Salvatore house in a old fashioned dress with a hoop skirt.

"To learn," A familiar voice spoke from behind her.

"Emily," She whispered gritting her teeth as she slowly turned to face her ancestor.

"I came here to talk, but I didn't bring you."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm in your dream."

"My dream? But why would I be dreaming about the Salvatore boarding house?"

"You did a blood exchange," She stated as Bonnie nodded.

"Good; all is as it should be."

"He nearly killed me because of you, and now you want me to believe you're okay with the fact that we're swapping blood and forming a bond!" She demanded done with being kept in the dark by Emily Bennett.

"When I first touched Damon Salvatore I saw… some of your future, you have to stand together to survive what it to come."

"That we all ready knew, what aren't you telling me?"

"I tell you what I can, saying too much could alter things, and I do not wish to be responsible for that." She said leading her inside the house and up the grand stairs.

"Can they see us?" Bonnie whispered as they came up on Stefan and Damon in a heated conversation in a study. Watching Emily shake her head no she stopped talking as they focused in on their conversation. "I don't understand why you always have to rouse his anger brother," Stefan said sighing as Damon scowled.

"Because everything I do rouses his anger Stef, he allows you to choose your own path, but as the eldest he tried to make mine for me. Go to the university and become a doctor or a lawyer, marry Elizabeth her Father has great wealth; never mind that I have no desire to practice medicine or law and Elizabeth has a face like a horse, and an annoying voice."

"He just wants what's best for us."
"That's where I disagree brother, he wants what's best for him." Damon said shaking his head.

"And you can't meet him in the middle?"
"How is that possible when it's his way or no way!" he snapped.

"He's our Father we owe him our respect ad obedience."

"Maybe you feel that way," he snapped before turning and storming out of the room.

Waking a few moments later Bonnie frowned. Was that a result of the blood exchange, or more of Emily's tricks? Despite their shared heritage Bonnie didn't trust the witch, she held too many secrets. Seeing the flashing red button blinking at her from her phone she knew what had woken her. Reaching over to the night stand she grabbed the Blackberry and listened to the message. It was a cold sounding Caroline informing her that they'd found Matt's body and a suicide note at his house.

"That bitch needs to pay," An all too familiar voice raged.

"She will Beatrice, she will," She assured it preparing herself for the drama that was about to follow.

"Why are you calling me?" Katherine asked irritated that her little church mouse was forgetting her place.

"I—I have a message from the Salvatores," Caroline said making her eyes go wide with surprise. Had they decided to actually give chase and play her game correctly? She didn't think they had it in them.

"Oh now this is intriguing, continue."

"They said … they weren't going to hand over the moonstone?" She relayed sounding completely lost. Really the girl was so clueless it was almost painful to witness.

"Oh we will see about that," She scoffed. "Good work little mouse, you're proving to be more valuable than I ever expected, keep this up and you just might last," She purred before hanging up.

Did these silly boys really think they were smarter than her? She hadn't survived this long by not covering all her bases?

"They'll change their mind when blonde washes up, and if not, I'll send out my wolf," She thought moving to pour herself a drink.

She was growing bored with Mason and Stefan didn't seem ready to come around just yet. Maybe she should comb the town and look for someone nice and weak to corrupt, because really that was the fun part. Watching their innocence die as they realized all that mattered was survival and pleasure. Sipping the champagne she cursed the fact that most of the teens were single children. Nothing brought someone to their knees quicker than threatening a lover or a younger sibling.

"Sibling hmm?" She pondered smirking as an idea began to form.

Putting her sunglasses on to shield her sensitive eyes from the light Bonnie hurried to her car ignoring all attempts at conversation and knowing glances. Thanks to Damon her hearing and eyesight were better than before; and being privy to whispered comments along with the anger building rapidly with every tear shed over Matt was frightening. It was hard to be in mourning when you knew he wasn't a teen pushed over the edge, but a murder victim of a callus bitch. Knowing what she was feeling was a seriously watered down version of the way vamps experienced emotions made her respect Caroline even more.

Earlier today in Biology class she'd made the lights go out in her classroom. She needed to get a hold of herself before she did something she'd regret or couldn't pass off as a fluke. She knew a large part of this was caused by Damon's blood, but she couldn't help but wonder how much of it was truly her. She was grateful that Caroline had driven herself today, now all she had to do was get through a quick ride with Elena and head home.

"Long day," Elena stated softly slipping into the passenger seat.

"Very, "She replied sighing as she started up the car and pulled out.

"I think people are torn between whom to feel worst for me as the old flame or Caroline as the current," She said shaking her head before tangling the locks in between her fingers.

"I think everyone's at a loss right now, this isn't Matt and even though the case is clear cut a part of them knows that."

" I wish she'd stop thinking the world revolves around her," The little voice she'd become more and more familiar with whispered.

"I hope so, Matt deserves more than to be remembered for this," She whispered as a silence fell in the car.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Elena asked almost suspiciously.

"I'm positive," Bonnie said with a self assurance that came with a combination of the amulet and the blood exchanges.

"You know I'm always just a phone call away." She asked leaning in to hug her before slipping out of the car and into her house.

"What are you doing here?" Bonnie asked surprised to wake on the living room couch and find Damon seated across from her in a chair.

"Well someone has to look out for you, and it's that time again," he said shaking holding up his wrist as she nodded and wiped the sleep from her eyes and sat up.

"Nothing nefarious has happened yet I take it?"

"No, but the days not over yet," He said pointedly.

"I hate this sitting and waiting." She growled freezing when her phone began to chime.

"You might have spoken too soon," he replied dully.

"Where were you the other day? You didn't come home until really late?" Elena asked finally managing to corner her brother just before dinner.

"Out, I can have friends you know."

"You could, but I never see you with anyone so I don't think that was it."

"Lay off Elena," He hissed mindful of Aunt Jenna who was just in the kitchen.

"I'm just worried about you Jer."

"Maybe it's too little too late."

"Jer," She began only to be interrupted by Aunt Jenna coming into the room.

"Hey Elena phone," She said returning to cooking into the kitchen.

"Who is it?" she asked irritated as Jenna shrugged and headed back into the kitchen.

"Hello."

"Hello Elena," a voice said making her blood run cold as Jeremy shot her a questioning look. Ignoring him she walked away giving him her back.

"Katherine?"

"Did you enjoy your little rendezvous with Stefan the other morning? I will always know Elena. I will always be one step ahead of you. When are you gonna figure that out? Do you know how easy it was to get inside of your house, to replace Jenna vervaine perfume and convince her to stop drinking her special tea," She said making her stomach knot as she waved Jeremy's away.

"Jenna's been my little spy for days now, and unlike you She listens to me, so when I suggested the world would be a much better place if she were too…. "She said causing her to turn around and cry out as she saw Jenna posed to bring a butcher knife down into her stomach.

"Jenna no!" She screamed crying out as the blade plunged home and she rushed towards her not sure if she would do more help or harm by grabbing the knife. Grateful when Alaric rushed over and put his first aid training to work she followed his lead.

"Call 911!" he yelled sending Jeremy for the phone.

"Wait Jenna what?" Bonnie yelled trying to decipher Elena's tearful words.

"She made Jenna stab herself Bonnie , she came into my house got her to stop using everything that had vervaine in it and compelled her to hurt herself ; and nothing would have happened if I had listened and stopped seeing Stefan! This is my entirely my fault."

"Elena you can't believe that, Katherine is a monster, even if you bent over backward to do everything she wanted it wouldn't' be enough. How's Jenna?"

"She's going to be fine, they said she was lucky, but she'll have to stay here overnight," She said shakily wiping her face.

" I- I need go and see her before visiting hours are over." She said hanging up quickly.

"I have to go." Damon announced.

"Off to rescue the damsel in distress?"

"The bloods got a hold of you," he observed liking the sarcastic words rolling off her tongue.

" I'm going to supervise Stefan ."

"You think she's going to let him go?" She asked shocked.

"It was in her voice, she just realized how real this is about to get."

Looking into the flames of the fire Stefan felt older than he ever had before. They thought they were actually going to shake her up. But once again Katherine showed them just how much control she had over the situation. Heating how close Jenna had come to dying because of their stupidity made him sick to his stomach. The footsteps gave Elena away before she entered the room and shut the door behind her but he waited until the last moment to turn around.

"I'm so sorry," he managed to push out chocking back the tears that threatened to spill over as he took in her features through watery eyes.

"We were stupid," She whispered shaking her head as she moved closer to him. "Sneaking around, thinking we weren't going to get caught."

"I know." He agreed.

"We did this, Stefan Jenna's in the hospital, and Jeremy could be next, all because we- we didn't' listen to her because were- were together." She continued pausing to take a deep breath before she moved closer.

"Stefan-"

"I already know what you're going to say," He interrupted not wanting to hear the words leave her mouth. Knowing something and experiencing it, were two different things completely.

"Then let me say it," She said moving to stand in front of him as he forced himself to nod pulling his arms even tighter in front of his chest almost as if they would hold him together.

"I've been so selfish because I love you so much, and I know how much you love me … but it's over." She said as he shook his head.

"Elena don't"He chocked

"Stefan it has to be."

"No Stefan," She rasped reaching up to caress his face one last time as she rememorized every line, every nuance that was unexplainably him.

"It has to be," She stated again firmly, more for herself than him. It felt like a part of her was dying, but for the safety of her family she would live in misery.

Releasing his face she moved to step away and paused unable to leave things the way they were. Turning back to face him she cupped his face in her hand and pulled him in for a bittersweet kiss. Placing every ounce of feeling she could into the mating of their mouths she allowed time to stop for those few seconds. There was no world outside of the one they created, and it was bliss.

"I- " She started shaking her head before rushing off. Saying I love you now would be nothing short of cruel.

Hurrying from the room she was stopped at the door by Damon who appeared in the doorway.

"Elena, it was our fault, we riled Katherine up, we shouldn't have- "

"It doesn't matter Damon, Katherine won, she won," She whispered not bothering to stop the tears that flowed as she quickly fled.

"The deadlines up," Katherine said tapping her toe as the digital clock by the bed side turned to twelve.

She hadn't expected this sort of resistance from them, Matt was dead and by now Jenna must be well on her way to join him. So why were they stalling.

"What are we going to do?"

"You are going to send them another message," She purred running her hand down his face as he sighed.

" I know you hate doing this sweet heart, but it's the only way you can ever be free," She cooed as he nodded his agreement. It might be true, but he didn't like all the carnage that was piling up around them.

"What do you want me to do?" He sighed softly.

"I want you to finish the job you started with the witch," She said jumping back when his eyes suddenly turned amber.

"Mason?" She asked confused when he feel to his feet racked with pain and his limbs began to twist and contort.

" It was nowhere near the full moon, had they broken the spell themselves?" She thought horrified. That would ruin everything she had planned.

"MASON!" She cried careful to keep the bed between them as his grunts, gasps and cries filled the room.

Narrowing her eyes when his wide framed dwarfed the bed moments later she took a defensive stance as he barred his teeth. Even in his wolf form Mason should know her scent, whatever had gotten into him was induced, but none of that mattered as he lunged for her with his eyes focused on her throat. Waiting until she could practically feel his breath against her skin she dodged at the last moment bringing the back of her hand up swiftly to deliver a sound blow that had him crashing into the wall.

"I hate to do this lover, but better you than I," She said standing over him and wrenching his neck with a deafening crack before he could gain his bearing. He'd always been a lover instead of a fighter and with her advanced age he hadn't stood a chance.

"Touche' Bennett," She whispered realizing they'd been busier than she had thought.

A/N: And end scene. I took some liberties with the wer wolf in my story. He's bigger, meaner and nastier than the one we saw in the TVD series. So if you' were reading and going… umm right, that fact might make things more believable. :D As always reviews = love/