Chapter 24: Turning point

Bonnie POV

We had just checked into a hotel in Denver Colorado. I had insisted we come here after a strange vision I had. All I had seen was the sign "Welcome to Colorado" But I insisted she had to be here. I really hoped I was right. I knew in my heart she was still alive but I felt like she wasn't okay.

How could she be? I thought to myself, she's been torn from Damon. Right after they found each other.

I could hear Damon stirring in the room next to mine. He was suffering so much without her. My heart really went out to him.

"Still awake Red?" Sage whispered entering my room with a bag of greasy burgers.

"I am now" I teased sitting up.

"Matt was hungry" He explained"I thought you might be too"

"Starving" I said grabbing the bag, "Thanks"

"Of course" He said smiling.

"So how's the rooming going?" I asked. I knew he was less then thrilled about sharing a room with Matt. But Meredith and I of course roomed together and Damon would wake several times a night screaming for Elena. So it just made the most sense this way.

"He bugs me..." he shrugged "But I can stand it"

"For you" he added softly just as I had taken a huge bite out of my burger, I blushed furiously in embarrassment. But he smiled and chuckled softly.

"Leave it to me to ruin a moment" I muttered wiping my lips.

"Ruin?" He said raising an eyebrow "Hardly. You are the most delightful woman I have ever met. No one makes me laugh like you do"

I smiled and marveled at his chiseled face. I felt a pang of guilt for Matt who I knew liked me. He had told Meredith about it during the trip at one point. I did have a bit of a crush on him when this all started but since I had met Sage.. Matt just seemed so,.. less interesting? I couldn't help but feel a little rush over the two men both interested in me. After all this was an Elena thing not a Bonnie thing. She is the modern day Helen of troy after all.

"Maybe she is" Sage murmured into my ear "but you Red.. no past icon compares to you.. you are one of a kind"

I felt my heart flutter madly as he leaned in to me. He's going to kiss me. This alluring smoldering charming vampire is about to kiss me. I couldn't turn my thoughts off as his lips drew closer to mine. Until we both Heard Damon wake and start screaming for Elena.

I pulled back guilty. This is not what you are here for, I told myself.

"I hope we find her soon" I said out loud.

"Me to Red" Sage said putting his arm around me "Me too"

Damon POV

It has been months now...months since I lost my angel, my redemption, my everything. As I lie on the crappy mattress in this cheap motel. Will this search ever end? Will I ever find her?

I closed my eyes and willed dreams to come. Dreams of my angel's silky blond hair framing her perfect beautiful face. Her creamy skin and soft lips beckoning me. Her piercing blue eyes gazing into my soul interlocked with her just like always I couldn't see her a glimpse and she was gone. Everything goes back to that night, Running into the house. Chaos everywhere.

"She's gone!" Bonnie had screamed at him.

"NO!" I screamed into the darkness. "No! I want her back"

"Damon" A weak voice whispered

"Elena?" I snapped open my eyes and there she was standing in front of my bed. Her hair tangled and wild her face pale and tired. Her body weak and trembling but it was her. It was my angel.

"Oh Damon. Thank god. Thank god you are alive" She cried and jumped into my arms.

I stroked her hair softly and hushed her. "Its okay princess everything is going to be okay"

"Oh Damon he told me you were dead" She said tears stinging her beautiful blues eyes. I quickly kissed her tears away I couldn't bare to see her so sad.

"I'm alive Elena. I'm right here I'm okay. Look at me" I held her face up to mine and I gazed into her blue eyes. She stared at me for a few solid moments and then she found relief.

"You are alive.' She cried "Thank god!"

I held her closely feeling my blood boil at my brother for what he had done. I couldn't imagine the pain my Elena has been in. She was so traumatized. I rocked her back and forth slowly in my arms and soothed her tense body.

"What has he done to you" I asked. "How did you get away?" I brushed back my tears and kissed her head,

"That's the thing. I'm not really here." she started to explain.

"What but how?" What did she mean she wasn't here. I was holding her in my arms. I could feel her.

"Listen love. she said ruffling my hair and gazing into my eyes "I don't know how much time I have. We need to gather everyone so I can explain what I know and you can find me for real "

I kissed her passionately and pulled her into my lap as I grabbed my phone to alert the others.

"I don't know how you are here. But I'm not letting go of you until I absolutely have to." I whispered into her ear.

"Good...Please hold on to me tight. I think it will keep me here longer and it's giving me some strength back" She said kissing my the tops of arms and meting her body into mine.

She did look less weak then when I first saw her. Her eyes held more light too them as well. I wrapped my arms tighter around her and quickly knocked on the girl's wall as I dialed Sage and Matt's room.

"What's going on?" Matt answered grumpily.

"Just come to my room now" I snapped and hing up.

"Was that Matt? Please don't be mean to him" Elena begged and I crumpled. "Okay I'll be nicer to him"

"I love you" She said kissing me. With every kiss I felt the wounds of being away from her close and felt stronger.

"I knew I heard Elena's voice!" Sage said entering the room for the enjoining door next door with Bonnie behind him and a sleepy Meredith a few feet back.

"Elena?" Matt had come in the front door looking just as surprised. he shot a quick glance towards Sage. Clearly wondering why he was in the girls room but ran to Elena instead.

"I'm sop glad your okay!" He cried.

"I knew Stefan wouldn't hurt you" Meredith said entering the room with wide eyes.

Elena shot her a dark glance. "He has hurt me very badly Meredith"

Meredith said nothing.

"Listen everyone. I don't know how long I have here. So let me talk and don't ask questions" Elena said.

"Still my bossy little love" I whispered into her ear kissing her cheek softly. Feeling a beam of pride for her even as I teased her.

"So... I figured out a way to launch my body to whenever I want to go a while ago. I haven't had the strength or will to try until now but it worked and here I am, But as soon as I wake up. I'll be gone"

I shuddered and held her as tight as I could without hurting her.

"Stefan took me as you all know. What you don't know is that he is possessed. By a demon and a strong one. I have been doing my best to keep him reasonable but he becomes a little scarier each day"

I felt my heart pace quicken. I wanted to tear my brother limb from limb.

"He told me Damon was dead and then had Shinichi cast a spell to block us from each other"

"Oh my!" Bonnie exclaimed "Elena that must have been terrible for you!"

"It was unbearable" She sighed melting further into me.

"But I manged to get a foothold on things. I managed to get Stefan to unlock my door and let me roam the house. Long story short I found Misao's orb and now control her. She told me everything and reversed Shinici's spell" She took a breath and looked around. "But Stefan doesnt know. So if it seems like she is following him that is part of the plan"

"So do not hurt Misao?" Bonnie confirmed and Elena nodded.

"I am waking up I have to hurry" She said urgently.

"I am in Colorado. Surrounded by trees. Long drive north from the sign." She said quickly as she started to fade "Oh... and Stefan may or may not have just killed a cashier at a Holiday a few miles from us"

Meredith gasped in horror. Everyone else just looked sickened myself included. I felt her slip from my arms as she wakened and faded away.

"I love you Elena!" I called out to her "I will find you and save you I promise you!"

I could swear I faintly heard her say "I love you to" and she was gone.