Apologies….again. The real world just keeps getting in the way! Crazy mid-winter-spring-whatever they want to call it TVD finale, huh? I'm pretty sure I'm still in shock! Here's a little something to tide you over until it comes back mid-March….it's on the shorter side (again) but packed with goodies! Enjoy!
Rebekah grinned wickedly, leaned against the door jamb and crossed her arms. It struck Elena that it was a very Damon-esque pose. Shaking her head to clear it, Elena chastised herself internally. She needed to quit thinking about Damon and focus on getting out of this alive. Her chances were already slim at best. Elena bit her lip and opened her mouth to speak.
Rebekah beat her to it. "You should be more careful, darling." She said in that annoying accent. "There are dangers lurking around every corner in this town." She cocked her head. "Why do you stay here, exactly? Your loved one's die or leave you…." She shook her hair out. "I don't understand it."
"Rebekah…." Elena started.
"Oh, you know my name. I'm quite surprised actually. You seem very wrapped up in yourself." Rebekah snarled. Elena frowned.
"I know your name. Elijah's my friend; of course I know his sister's name." Elena whispered, struggling to sit up.
"Oh. Elijah? Really? That traitorous bastard?" Rebekah stuck out her lip, pouted. "He took away something very important to me, interfered where it was none of his bloody business!" Elena watched her closely; a little scared of her antics. She seemed entirely unstable. And an unstable vampire was never a good sign.
"I'm sorry that he hurt you." Elena said softly.
Rebekah threw her head back and laughed. "Oh, that's rich coming from you Elena. This whole mess is all your fault." Glaring at her now, Rebekah straightened away from the door jamb and began slowly walking to her, stood at the foot rails of the bed. "If it wasn't for you, Stefan never would have left me. Never would have come back here. If Klaus had just killed you like he was supposed to I would still have my brother. If you had died all of this never would have happened. Stefan and I would be enjoying paradise right now but instead he's here. And now so am I. I'll get him back, Elena. But before I dispose of you, I have some plans for you." Raising her eyebrows, Rebekah sauntered even closer. "Rumor has it there's a hybrid on the loose." She leaned down and whispered in her ear. "And I've also heard he'd love to get his paws on you."
With an evil laugh that sounded much like a cackle, Rebekah waltzed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Elena closed her eyes and fought back her panic. Of all the scenarios she had imagined this had never been one of them. Damon and Stefan would surely come after her. How on Earth would they defeat another Original? Mikael hadn't been heard from since the death of Klaus; Elijah wouldn't stand for the Salvatore brothers to take out another member of his family. Bonnie and Jeremy and Alaric would all be a part of the rescue mission too. Tears trekked down her face, and Elena tried her best not to sob. She didn't want any of Rebekah's extra attention diverted her way. God, what a mess. She really couldn't envision a way this would end well.
A huge crack split the air, startling everyone from their Rebekah induced haze. They turned to find the source of the noise and found themselves staring at Damon and the huge chunk of marble slab that had been separated from the countertop. He looked slightly startled himself as he stared down at the pieces at his feet. His rage faded slightly, the veins around his eyes lightening and his fangs retracting.
Stefan looked absolutely sick, like he was seconds away from vomiting. "Elijah said he'd handle her." He said the first to break the silence. "I didn't think….never imagined…." Before he could finish his sentence Damon flew across the room at him, grabbing him by the shirt and hauling him up in the air. Stefan didn't fight him at all.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Damon growled. Jeremy blinked as he watched the scene unfolding before him. Caroline moved to interject but Damon merely pushed her back with his free arm.
"To Rebekah?" Stefan asked. If it was possible, this angered Damon more. He tightened his hold.
"No, Stefan. To the Tooth Fairy!"
"I left. Without saying goodbye." He admitted with a wince. "I got the hell out of there fast. But she compelled me!" He tried to justify it. Damon growled, and threw Stefan across the room. He fell through the coffee table breaking the glass top and making enough racket to bring Bonnie, Matt and Alaric down the stairs. Stefan stayed where he was, though he kept an eye on Damon. Caroline quickly filled the three in on the latest.
Damon braced his hands on his hips, clenched his fists. "You better pray that not a hair on her head is harmed." Damon said softly. "Or I'll kill you myself." And it was no threat. It was a promise. He turned back to Caroline, though he spoke to Stefan. "Do you know where the coffins are? The rest of his family? We're going to need another one of those damned daggers. Preferably the one he used on Rebekah and not one lodged in his brothers."
"I'll find it." Stefan whispered. And the front door shut signaling his exit. Damon brushed his hands over his pants, wiping off the remainder of the marble dust and looked over at Jeremy.
"What else is on that footage?" He asked calmly. Striding back over to the computer, Damon pulled up a chair next to Jeremy and analyzed the tape frame by frame. They would find something to go on. They had to.
Hours later, they had nothing. Still nothing. The gang decided to do split up and do some simple recon. They were all getting tired of sitting in the house, doing nothing. Caroline had gone to join Stefan who was swinging by the foreclosure Klaus had taken up residence in while he and his posse had come to town. They were also going to canvas Mystic Falls for the moving truck in which the coffins had originally been stored. Stefan still hadn't located it. Damon and Alaric were heading out to the Lockwood cabin, one more valid attempt to discover if Tyler had made any moves, done anything different. Bonnie and Jeremy were going to try to tap into the witches' power to see if they could be of any help. It was worth a shot. And Matt? Matt would hold the fort down. What else could he do?
Jeremy stared at his reflection in the mirror. The frown on his face seemed permanent these days. He braced his hands on either side of the sink and hung his head. These past two years had been utter hell on him and his family. His mother, his father, his aunt, his uncle, and the havoc on his sister slash cousin.
A single tear trailed down his face. Bonnie knocked on the door and he quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand. With a small sniffle, he turned to open the bathroom door. As she stepped in she gave him a small sympathetic smile. He quirked the side of his mouth, pushed off of the counter.
She held open her arms and he stepped into them. He wrapped his arms around her, and held her close. Burying his head in the crook of her neck, he let out a shuddering breath. "We'll get her back, Jer." Bonnie whispered. "I swear on everything I hold to be true." He nodded and released her.
He used his hand again to wipe away the tears that he refused to acknowledge. "You ready to go?" He asked with a sigh.
"Not yet." She whispered. Reaching for his hand, she tugged him into his bedroom, pushed him back slightly so he sat on his bed. She squatted in front of him. "I might have an idea." She said, squeezing his hand. He frowned at her. "You can see ghosts."
Jeremy bit his lip and frowned at her like she was crazy. "Yes, Bonnie."
"Can you contact your parents? Or Jenna?" She asked. The look on his face was clearly evidence of his unease. She stood and began pacing. "Because I was thinking, if you can see Anna, but you don't really see anyone else, maybe you need some sort of connection to the ghost. And those three you definitely have a connection to. And maybe Anna can help you find them or can tell you how to contact them. Because maybe, just maybe they keep an eye on you and Elena. And maybe they were watching her when Rebekah took her and maybe they followed them." She stopped pacing finally to face him. "Maybe."
He shrugged, unsure but willing to try anything to save his sister. "So essentially, you're giving me leave to contact ghosts."
"You don't need my permission, Jeremy." She stated, hands on her hips. "I just didn't like that you saw your ex girlfriend on a daily basis when no one else could see her."
Nodding, he closed his eyes. And thought of his parents. And Jenna. That was what he had done in the past when he wanted to see Anna. Maybe it could work like Bonnie said and he could reach his mom or dad or aunt. Hopefully one of them could help.
Damon and Alaric were the first to make it back. They had made a pit stop at the boarding house to grab some bags of blood and some other necessities. When Caroline and Stefan trudged in the door shoulders hunched Damon stomped up stairs. He had overheard Bonnie and Jeremy whispering as soon as he entered the house. So Jeremy was trying to contact his dead family members? Couldn't hurt. Throwing open the door to little Gilbert's room he stood there and stared at the two of them as they sat huddled together on the bed.
"No progress?" He asked simply and at Bonnie's subtle shake of her head Damon slammed the door. He heard Jeremy curse under his breath and cracked a small smile.
A few minutes later, everyone gathered for updates. Nothing new. Stefan and Caroline? Found nothing. Damon and Alaric? Nothing. Tyler hadn't been to the cabin. Bonnie? Still powerless against her own spell. Jeremy? A ghost whisperer who couldn't even contact his own family. Damon took a deep unnecessary breath. Everyone turned to him as if saying 'what now, fearless leader?' He stalked over to the fridge and tossed Stefan a blood bag.
Stefan stared at it for a solid minute before Damon hissed at him. "If it comes down to strength and speed….you're going to want that running through your veins, baby brother." Damon continued in a softer tone. "I may need you. And your 'A' game." Stefan sighed deeply and slowly popped the top of off one of the plugs. He closed his eyes as he sipped slowly, the veins around his eyes becoming more pronounced. A low growl emanated from his chest. Caroline placed her hand on his shoulder, squeezed it comfortingly. Damon watched in fascination as Stefan reached up to cover her hand with his. Interesting. Damon left them in the room to snag a bag of his own.
As he stood looking out the window in the kitchen, he remembered how less than two weeks ago he had stood in this very kitchen, contemplating on taking Elena with him to Chicago. Oh, to go back to that time. The things he would change. And the things he wouldn't. He regretted nothing of his relationship with Elena. Just maybe that she could have realized her feelings for him sooner. He could've done more, could've coaxed her into it. But then again, he was glad she had come to the realization on her own.
Pouring his blood bag into a glass he squeezed the last bit out and tossed the bag in the trash. His phone rang in his pocket. He nearly dropped his glass in his haste to dig it out. At the sight of the name on the screen the glass shattered on the floor. Blood splashed all over his shoes and the rug covering the hardwood floors but he couldn't give a flying fuck.
"Guys!" he yelled. He slid his finger across the screen to answer. "Elena?" He breathed, his voice cracking on the one word. "Elena!" He repeated, louder and clearer this time. Caroline and Stefan were the first in the room, but Alaric and Jeremy and Bonnie quickly filed in. He held the phone down, pushed the speaker option.
"Hullo, Damon." Said the cheery blond bitch.
"Rebekah." Damon growled menacingly.
"I believe I have something of yours." She laughed. "I'm willing to exchange it for something that belongs to me."
"Done." Damon snarled. "You can have him."
Stefan met his eyes, Caroline placed a hand on Stefan's arm. "Damon!" She protested. Damon just glared at her.
"For Elena." Stefan whispered, nodding at Caroline.
"Yes, dear Stefan. For Elena," Rebekah purred.
"How do I know you haven't harmed her?" Damon demanded, "That she's still alive."
"You want proof of life, Damon?" She asked. There was a moment of silence and then heels clicked on a hardwood floor. They all heard a loud rip and Elena's sharp cry. Damon clenched his phone, fought back his lengthening fangs and hissed.
"If you harm her, I swear…." He vowed.
"Damon?" Elena whispered hoarsely. He nearly wept with relief. He switched the speaker off and held the phone up to his ear.
"Elena. Are you alright?" He asked sharply. He heard Rebekah snap in the background to make it quick. There was no time for niceties. "Do you know where you are?" He asked.
"I'm okay." She said hesitantly. Then, "I'm so sorry." She whispered softly. "I should have listened to you. I wish I could tell you…" She paused and said tenderly, "For closure."
"You can tell me later, Elena. I promise. I'm going to get you…"
"That's enough," Rebekah said as she snatched the phone back from Elena, and Damon could just hear the malice underlying her voice. Damon pinched the bridge of his nose and placed the phone back on speaker.
"When do we make the exchange? Where?"
"Why when I'm done with her of course." Rebekah laughed, "Nothing too harsh."
"Now wait a damn minute!" Damon yelled.
"Call you in a few days. Ta!" Rebekah murmured and Damon heard the disappointing beep as his phone lost the call.
"Fuck!" He screamed, throwing the phone across the room. It shattered as it hit the wall, pieces scattering as they bounced off the floor. He threaded his hands through his hair and linked them at the back of his head. Tugging on his hair tightly, he spun to face the group. They were watching him with wary eyes, like he was a ticking time bomb. Good, he thought, because he was.
Elena was alright. For now. He was going to find that Original bitch and kill her. He pointed at Caroline. "Blondie. Get your mom on the phone. Have her track the GPS on Elena's phone or cell phone towers or whatever. That call pinged off a tower somewhere. Find out where." Stefan stood still clenching his hands into fists. Damon pinched the bridge of his nose. "Turning you over won't accomplish a fucking thing, Stef. I need that damn dagger!"
The front door opened and they all tensed turning towards the entryway as in strolled two familiar figures.
"Looking for this?" Katherine asked coyly, twirling the proverbial dagger in her hand.
Elena bit back a whimper as Rebekah slapped the duct tape back over her mouth. She had clearly enjoyed ripping the tape off of her face earlier before she handed Elena the phone. Elena had tried to avoid making any noise. Letting Rebekah know she was hurting her would only encourage the sadistic bitch. She and Klaus were really cut from the same cloth.
"Your boyfriend sounds awfully distressed you're gone, Elena. And Stefan seems super willing to turn himself over for you." Rebekah walked away holding the phone in her hand. She fiddled with it tossing it from hand to hand. "What is it about you that has these boys just falling all over you?" She crossed her arms. "I mean, what do you have that I don't?" She asked, huffing.
Elena kept her mouth shut, not wanting to anger her any more. She just hoped and prayed that Damon had received her message, had understood it. She had done the best she could with what she had to work with. She closed her eyes, holding back tears. When she opened them, Rebekah was hovering over her. Elena jumped and worked to slow her breath, calm her nerves. Showing fear was like waving a red flag to at a bull. Elena racked her brain trying to come up with something to appease her. Opening her mouth to reply, Elena flinched when the phone rang.
Rebekah cursed and looked down at the display to see who was calling. The smile that spread over her face gave a new meaning to evil. She slid her finger across the phone and pulled back from Elena, began walking towards the door. Relieved, Elena let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding and thanked her lucky stars that whoever it was had bought her a reprieve. She held her head up though, eager to find out what her temporary savior wanted. Right before she shut the door, Rebekah looked over her shoulder at Elena and winked. Elena froze. "Tyler, darling. You'll never guess what I picked up at the market."
Let me know what you think! Thanks for reading….and reviews are greatly appreciated! ;)