Chapter 14: New hope
Tyler sat in the kitchen of the boarding house attempting to eat some dinner. His stomach was tied up in knots. The full moon was now only a day and half away and they still had no idea what they were going to do.
"Hey man." Jeremy said entering the kitchen with a blood bag he quickly defrosted it and poured the blood into a glass. Tyler watched him mutely seeming to be unaffected by the blood. "I finally got my aunt Jenna to calm down. She's freaking out about Alaric. She finally agreed to try and nap for a while. "
"Good that's one less human to worry about, where's Bonnie?" Tyler asked.
"She's upstairs working on something with the grimore. Are you okay? "Jeremy asked sitting across from him.
"Not really." Tyler said shaking his head. "I didn't want this Jer. I didn't want any of it and now for all I know come Friday I'm going to murder who knows how many people."
"We're going to find a way to stop that freak." Jeremy assured him. "We have to do."
"How Jeremy?" Tyler asked. "Damon's gone he was our best hope."
"We still have Isobel and Stefan." Jeremy offered. "And we're gonna get Damon back."
"Mason doesn't seem to think we should trust Stefan." Tyler sighed.
"Was someone going to fill me in on this?" Jeremy said looking surprised.
"Sorry kid." Mason said coming down the stairs with Isobel.
"He's right we can't trust him. But he cannot know that we don't trust him. So keep your mouths shut." Isobel said.
"What are we going to do now?" Jeremy asked feeling that hopefulness he had been trying to hold unto to start to slip away.
"We have a plan." Isobel said.
"Which is?" Tyler asked raising his eyebrow.
"We'll tell you right before it goes into motion it's safer that way." Mason explained.
"Wait where are you two going?" Jeremy asked seeing them putting their shoes on and heading towards the door.
"Do I look like I answer to a couple of kids?" Isobel quipped.
"We need to gather the wolfs bane. We never got it this morning we had to rush back here when we heard all the commotion." Mason said shooting Isobel a look.
She shrugged it off and headed out the door. Mason sighed and followed her.
"He's gonna have his hands full with that one." Tyler smirked.
"You don't think he …wants her do you?" Jeremy asked looking surprised.
"I have no idea why…but I do know my uncle and he's got it bad. " Tyler laughed. "Then again he always liked bitchy women for some reason."
Jeremy shook his head. "A werewolf and a vampire doesn't that go against nature or something?"
"Not anymore then a witch and a vampire would." Tyler said winking.
Jeremy was almost sure he would have been beet red had he still been human.
"I…how did you?"
"Are you kidding Gilbert? You're worse than Mason. Whenever she's within eyeshot you just stare at her in your creepy little vampire way." Tyler laughed.
"It's not creepy it's just watching from a distance. I'm making sure she's safe." Jeremy huffed crossing his arms.
"Sure…sure." Tyler laughed harder. "That's what it is."
"It doesn't matter anyway." Jeremy snapped. "She doesn't want me."
"You don't know that." Tyler started.
"Yes I do." Jeremy sighed. "She told me."
"Oh." Tyler said sheepishly. "Well... you know other fish and all that."
"No; I'm done with all that. All it leads to is misery." Jeremy said quietly.
"I know how you feel. Caroline doesn't want me either. I mean she wanted me in the physical sense. But she would never want anything else from me." Tyler sulked.
"You don't know that." Jeremy said repeating Tyler's earlier statement. "She's not in her right mind right now. Don't rule out hope just yet."
"For all I know she was possessed before she even got to my house." Tyler sighed. "What I do know is when we get Caroline back and we're going to get her back. She's going to go back to Matt. He's a great guy and he loves her. You didn't see the look on Matt's face in the hospital. When he thought he was going to lose her he was a mess. She's done so much for him. Matt was always such a serious person if it wasn't Vicki's problems, or his mom taking off again, it was double shifts at the grill, pressure to keep his grades up, football the list goes on and on. The older he got the more he piled it all on top of his shoulders. He was 17 going on 40 and then Caroline came along like a breath of fresh air for him she taught him how to have fun again how to live. She's good for him…he's good for her. I...I'm not even human Jeremy I have no right to interfere in that."
"I'm sorry Tyler." Jeremy said. "It sucks."
"Yeah." Tyler agreed getting up to help himself to Damon's liquor. "It really does."
"Hey guard!" Damon yelled trying to get one of the guards attention.
"What are doing?" Alaric whispered.
"Hey asshole I'm going to escape what are you going do about it?" Damon called out.
"Would you cut it out?" Alaric asked looking nervous.
"Really your just going to stand there watching the door?" Damon asked. "If I can break these bars open I'll kill you all."
The guards continued to stand facing the door.
"Damon I'm trying not to get killed here." Alaric snapped.
"Oh cut the drama you got your ring on." Damon said. "I need to see how far under control he's got them. They only have one task to shoot anyone who walks in."
"So what's your plan?"
"I don't have one." Damon grunted.
"Then what was the point in that?" Alaric asked.
"Well what would you like to do Ric play 20 questions? I'm trying to figure out a way to get us out of here. Before Elena…or Jenna decides to come and break us out." Damon snapped.
"You're getting cranky." Alaric quipped. "That's not going to help us."
"No blood and a triple dose of vervain will do that to a vampire." Damon said, "And don't call me cranky, I don't get cranky I get pissed off."
Alaric rolled his eyes and then grimaced as Damon's boot came flying out form his cell nailing one of the guards in the back of the head. The man flinched and straightened right back up continuing to watch the door.
"Huh." Damon muttered. "It's like vampire compulsion in a way."
"But why is it different with Liz and Caroline?" Alaric wondered. "They seemed more in control."
"Who knows?" Damon groaned.
"Do you think he can influence vampire or werewolves?" Alaric asked.
"So you do want to play 20 questions." Damon smirked.
"Humor me here." Alaric said. "What do you think?"
"I think if he could he wouldn't need the moonstone. " Damon said.
"That's what I figured." Alaric nodded.
"So why hasn't anyone come to break us out yet?" Damon asked.
"Hopefully they have a plan." Alaric said.
"A plan that you and I are not overseeing which is bad very bad." Damon sighed.
"Yeah," Alaric nodded. "I'm pretty much counting on Stefan to pull though and be the reasonable one here. He's the oldest and most mature."
"Don't count on my brother." Damon said shaking his head. "I doubt he's missing me. He's probably hounding Elena 24-7." He slammed his fist into a wall in anger.
"At least you know she's safe though." Alaric said. "It's Elena Damon she's not going to give up oin you and she won't let anyone else give up either."
Damon leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. He could tell through the blood link they had formed that she was safe. It was weak but he would know if she was in danger. That didn't mean she wasn't being held somewhere or something though. It didn't mean Shinichi wouldn't take advantage of him being gone and use the moonstone on her. He realized with her ring she would come back from that. But he didn't ever want it to come to that with her. Not until it was time for her to turn. He wanted to make it as easy on her as possible. The idea of her dying a painful death turned him inside out. He slammed his fist into the wall again in frustration. The one thing he couldn't do right now was protect Elena and it was killing him.
Bonnie woke up on the floor of the room Elena had stayed in at the boarding house. Her grimore, Caroline's hairs brush and some candles were all still in place around her. She realized she had passed out while attempting the spell.
When she found the spell that could exorcise a demon Bonnie didn't stop to think she still had Caroline's hairbrush so she just went for it. Hoping it would work. She realized she may have made things worse and but her lip.
Her phone started ringing and Bonnie gasped at Caroline's number on the screen.
"Caroline?" Bonnie whispered.
"Bon?" Caroline said sounding meek and tired.
"Where are you?" Bonnie asked.
"I'm at home. My mom brought me here. I ...we were at the police station I think…I don't remember much...things have been really strange. Then I woke up and I felt like I should call you. I don't know why." Caroline started crying.
"Care." Bonnie said softly. "It's okay…You're going to be okay. I'm going to come and get you. Stay there."
"Okay." Caroline mumbled. "But hurry…he's not here. But he will be mad so mad he will come back."
Caroline started sobbing.
"I'll be there soon I promise." Bonnie said.
Bonnie flew down the stairs in a hurry.
"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked.
"Caroline." Bonnie huffed. "I did an exorcism spell and it worked. I have to go get her."
"I'm coming with you." Tyler said.
"How do you know it worked?" Jeremy asked.
"I just know. I didn't sense the evil in her anymore." Bonnie said her eyes watering with tears.
"Let's go then before he gets his claws into her again." Tyler said ushering Bonnie out the door.
"I'm coming too." Jeremy said following them.
"No you have to stay here and protect your Aunt Jenna and watch Richard." Tyler said shaking his head.
"Right of course." Jeremy said. "Be careful."
We will." Bonnie said rushing out the door.
Tyler started to follow her and Jeremy grabbed his arm.
"Don't let anything happen to her." Jeremy said.
"Don't worry." Tyler nodded. "I won't."
"So when do I get to kill him?" Stefan asked again.
"When I say so." Shinichi rolled his eyes. "We do things my way how many times do I have to tell you that?"
They were sitting in the underground catacombs on the Lockwood's estate. Shinichi found it to be a good enough spot to hide. He could easily slip into the woods and with his speed he was nearly impossible to track in the woods.
"I did what you asked. " Stefan grunted. "I let you in. I made sure Katherine wouldn't interfere in your plans. Now I want what you promised."
"And you will get it." Shinichi said. "On Friday."
"I'm sick of waiting," Stefan hissed. "I want to do it now. He's locked up and she's been sequestered somewhere. It's the perfect timing she will never have to know it was me."
"Oh Stefan you don't get it do you?" Shinichi laughed. "Elena has to witness you kill Damon. "
"What?" Stefan said. "I didn't agree to that."
"The deal was you let me in and get rid of Katherine and Ill set it up so you can kill your brother and 'save' Elena from me. This is the setup she watches." Shinichi shrugged.
"I will never get her back if she watches me kill Damon!" Stefan screamed.
"Quiet you moron!" Shinichi said pushing Stefan back against the wall of the tomb.
"We do things my way!" Shinichi said closing his hand around Stefan's throat. "You understand."
"Good. " He said dropping Stefan. "Her being in hiding certainly puts a kink in my plans. But I'm sure that will change. She'll get away from whoever is watching her to save her lover. You Stefan will offer to help her and you will bring them to the woods. Then when she least expects you kill your brother."
"It's going to be delicious her agony and pain, your guilt and hate." Shinichi said dancing around the area as Stefan glared at him.
"You're not going to turn on me are you?" Shinichi asked.
"No." Stefan said his eyes darkening. "I hate that to will have to be this way but I can compel her to forget. He did the unthinkable twice. He let history repeat itself when I told him not to. This time I can't stand idly by and allow him to ruin my life. I won't. I finally got my revenge on Katherine and Damon is next. He's going to die by my hand and Elena will be mine again."
Isobel stood at the garden entrance her mouth wide open. She walked as silently as she would back towards Mason who had stayed back when she they heard the voices.
He shot her a questioning look he heard the voices but wasn't clear on what was said being so far back. She just motioned him to follow her and they took off in a run to the boarding house.
Caroline was already waiting outside her house when Bonnie and Tyler got there. She jumped in the car looking freaked out.
"Go." She urged.
Bonnie nodded and sped to the boarding house. They arrived in time to see a freaked out looking Isobel and Mason running on from the woods.
"What is that slut doing here?' Isobel hissed.
"Watch it." Tyler threatened.
Caroline chocked back a sob and felt Bonnie put her arm around her.
"She's okay now Isobel." Bonnie said. "I got it out of her. "
"Got what out of me?" Caroline said shaking. "What did Shinichi do to me?"
"You were possessed you were like a completely different person." Bonnie explained.
"I remember flashes of things. But It was like I was looking at things happening hut not through my own eyes." Caroline said shaking.
"Let's get you inside." Tyler said grabbing her arm gently. "You need to rest for a while. You don't have to rehash all of this right now."
She nodded and new tears started to spill over her eyes when she looked at his concerned face.
"It's going to be okay." Bonnie said grabbing her other arm.
"No it's not." Caroline sobbed. "I hurt Matt. He hates me. Nothing is ever going to be okay again."
Tyler frowned and helped Bonnie carry her shaky quivering body into the house.
"Great another human to deal with and one he's going to want back." Isobel moaned.
"Come on." Mason said crossing his arms. "She's your daughter's friend and she's just a young girl. Don't you have any compassion?"
"She's just food to me." Isobel said crossing her arms.
"You're a liar." Mason said. "You don't really think that way. You just want to come off like you do."
"What makes you suspect something so ridiculous Mason. I'm a vampire and humans are prey. Sure I care for my daughter she's my flesh and blood. I don't want her dead. But I still am what I am and it's something that apparently disturbs you."
"Because you hate what you are. That's why you didn't want it for Elena. Hating what you are means you care Isobel. You don't want to kill you don't want to give in to your worst nature any more than I do. You just want everyone to think you are heartless and cold that you could snap at any moment. It's a front and I see right through it." Mason said crossing his arms in a mock of her stance.
"It's who I am." She augured. "Unlike you who stupidly wears your emotions on your sleeve. Your need to the town's unofficial antihero so adamantly clear. I am a vampire and I can turn my emotions on and off like a switch. I don't have to feel all those pesky things you do."
"You think we can't do that to?' Mason scoffed. "Look at my brother? He has…sorry Isobel. I still think you're a liar you control your emotions you hide behind the bitch quite successfully. But it's a front and I know you don't shut it off because if you did you wouldn't be here right now. "
"Why do you care?" She spat out.
"Besides the fact that your smoking hot? " Mason smirked attempting to lighten the mood.
"Oh yeah?' She said her face vamping out as she leaned close. "Am I still hot now?"
"Stop pushing me away." He said angrily. "You want to know why I care?"
"Please humor me." She drawled her face retreating back to normal.
"Because I know who you are. Your just like I was a few years ago. I left everyone and everything when I turned for the first time. I hid myself away in a cabin for years locking myself up on full moons all alone. Then I came here and everything changed for me. I had Tyler to look after. Then I realized my brother was alive and what he was planning and felt a sudden need to take responsibility and do the right thing. I see it in you too." Mason said in softer tone.
"I don't need to be saved Mason." Isobel said bluntly.
"I'm not trying to save you. I'm just telling you I now who you really are and the more you fight it the more you're going to hurt." Mason sighed.
"We don't have time for this right now. I need to let everyone know what Stefan's u to before he comes back here and then we need to grill that girl for information. This might be our chance to get the moonstone back." Isobel said turning away from Mason as she walked into the house.
He followed her with a frown wondering if he pushed too hard or not hard enough.
"So when do we go back?" Elena asked anxiously as Katherine finally emerged from the bathroom showered and dressed. She had straightened her hair like Elena's. Elena was getting used to looking at her identical vampire twin after being there all afternoon. It didn't creep her out as much anymore. Elena saw the differences Katherine's face expressions. It was more like a twin then the creepy and scary vampire that she only thought of as cold and callous before.
"Tonight." Katherine said.
"Tonight?" Elena asked, "I thought we were going tomorrow. Not that I mind the change of plans. The sooner I get to Damon the better."
"We're speeding it up. Isobel called me when I was in the bathroom. She heard Stefan and Shinichi planning. Shinichi wants everything to go down on Friday. So we are going to get one step ahead of him and start the party tonight." Katherine explained.
"What are they planning?" Elena asked.
"Stefan wants to kill Damon to get you back. Shinichi insists that Stefan do it in front of you." Katherine said bluntly.
"What!" Elena gasped. "How could…his brother….why?...No! We can't let this happen."
"Dial it down Elena." Katherine smirked. "This is perfect. This makes our plan a lot easier. Stefan is going to make you think he's rescuing Damon and then he's going to lead you into the woods and kill Damon. All we have to do is intervene and stop it before it can happen. The best part is that Shinichi won't want to miss it so he will be nearby too. Two bird's one stone."
"No one stake and one very large pair of garden shears." Elena corrected.
Katherine laughed and shook her head. "I stand corrected."
"Well let's go." Elena said standing up. "No point in wasting any more time."
"You sure you can handle this?" Katherine asked.
"Yeah I'm sure." Elena said. "Even more now, I will never let Stefan or anyone else hurt Damon."
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