Chapter 26

Boarding house

Damon staggers through the front door, and bonnie instantly gets up to him, he stumbles over to a chair and helps him sit down.

"Are you ok? What happened?" bonnie frantically asks whilst searching his body for any damage.

"Blood... bag "Damon slurs out the after effects of having his neck snapped twice in one night. Bonnie runs off the fetch him one. Once he's drunk hastily from it he throws the empty sack across the room, and bonnie passes another. He only drinks halfway when he says, "i saw her bonnie, leaving the mansion, they'd dressed her up, she looked more like Katherine. And i,... i well just instinct took over and i charged at the hybrids, shouting Elena only,...she, she ran. She ran away from me like i was the enemy, like she was scared."

Bonnies hands clasps her mouth a broken 'no' escaping her lips.

"He did it didn't he? He compelled her?"

Damon looks grim and unfocused. Nodding his head. He then stands up wildly pacing the room. "yes no maybe i don't know. It's what it looks like from her reaction. And Stefan, i didn't see him when i came to i broke in to the mansion, but he wasn't there. God we know who Klaus thinks Stefan is his little play thing, what about if Stefan cant control himself? What is Klaus bleeds him of vervain, n compels him? And can you imagine Elena? She's never really drunk from a human, except you, her friend, guiding her reminding her of who she is. But now, well if he's compelled her i can't even imagine what he's made her think, what he's making her do."

Bonnie watches Damon dart around the room, knowing its best to let him rant, he's feeling venerable, angry, weak, sadness. And Damon never reacts well to these emotions, she needs to get him concentrated, so they can find Elena and Stefan, before they lose themselves.

Chicago

Stefan sends the door flying banging into the wall. He kicks the bin hard, trying to vent his frustration.

He hasn't being away from Elena that long and Klaus has already got Elena to drink. But he saw her face, the quilt and pain, and now he knows he has to act quick, Elena soul is still in there and she'll hate herself for killing, with even knowing who she is. And then Klaus will tell her to turn it off, so it doesn't hurt, he'll ruin her. He needs to be around her constantly

He takes few deep breaths and goes back into the club, 'i will beat you Klaus'

Elena still sat on the floor trying to not to look at Klaus as he paces, until one of his hybrid enters,

"er nic? Your informative is here."

This seems to sedate his anger, and Elena can't help but think of Stefan. With his marine green eyes, that comfort her and make her feel safe.

"Come Elena lets join the party. Unless you're still hungry?" Klaus asks the teasing tilt to his smile. Elena smiles back, cos she figured she doesn't want to get on his wrong side.

"umh no am fine thanks, were going downstairs? it's a nice club has a 20's theme going on."

She see's that this comment has gained a genuine smile from Klaus.

"Yes i loved the 20's so when i bought this in Chicago, where i spent most of the 20's with Stefan i wanted to rebuild it here in my own club. You like it?"

"Yes it's great, its everything i imagine the 20's to be like. You've known Stefan so long. I wonder if i was around in the 20's."

Elena slips the Stefan part in, its not a question, no directness, she just hoping Klaus will fill her in on more information about Stefan. Also right now his angry mood seems to have lifted and is happy to talk about something he has interest in.

"Yes Stefan on off for a while. Changed though, he thinks for the better, i do not. He's a real vampire. As for you in the 20's i don't think so, am sure i would have meet you before now."

Elena attempts to return the smile, but his outburst from earlier makes her think that this man is too dangerous.

"Klaus can i just ask one thing?"

"of course kitten. "he smiles twinkling at her.

"well...how come if you didn't know me before how come am here with you now? i mean how did i get here?

The smile disappears, and Elena steals herself for a angry outburst. Only he tilts his head studying her.

Shrugging he says, "i saw potential"

Elena doesn't understand his answer, nor does she understand anything else, she now come to the conclusion that their not in a romantic relationship. And his answer troubles her, she's being watching all day how people do things for him, their responses and reactions. And things that he probably has a hidden meaning for her, but then he said he's know her a year, have i being with him all that time. Why don't i remember? Will i wake up in the morning and not remember?

She follows Klaus and two men to the private booth to one side of the dance floor. Klaus gestures for Elena to sit down, whilst one hybrid whispers in his ear.

"Elena love I've got to go see a man about a witch, won't be long, Tyler will keep you company."

Witch? like broomstick? Why i have a never heard of a witch? Klaus laughs out loud at what's apparent is some private joke and walks away, Tyler watches him until he's out of sight. He then shuffles into the booth right up to me, squeezing my hand his voice is edgy and panicky. "Elena are you ok what's he being doing to you? God i don't know how i got here. One minute am in the forest, and then it was pulling me his words what he wanted me to do, and then i was running, god what a mess, and i guess my sire bond isn't broken. All that pain for nothing, and oh god Caroline!"

Tyler puts his head in his hands breathing sharply, Elena just stares at him gawping. Until he sits back up too look at her too, with a slight confused look that soon turns to pity. "it will be ok Lena, you'll get home. Hey where's Stefan?"

Elena was about to but in with some questions until the Stefan part caught her off guard, what shocked her even more was a voice said "am here"

Elena whips head round to look at where the deep smoky voice came from, so does Tyler, who then jumps up clasping Stefan's shoulders.

"i don't know who this happened, how can i brake the sire bond?"Tyler is almost yelling at Stefan, but Stefan just tells him a low firm calm voice, come to my room later we'll talk, but right now your confusing Elena.

Tyler looks again at Elena, eyebrows knitted together, but just shrugs and agrees to meet Stefan later, before heading to the bar.

Elena and Stefan are left looking at each other, Elena can't help but feel drawn to him. He's beautiful she thinks, created by the gods, and cursed. Can he really have being this ripper that Klaus described? But then she thinks of the damage she did to jenny, and decided there and then, she won't lose it like that again.

"so you love dancing, shall we dance?

Stefan's voice brings her out of her trance, she frowns up at him though.

"How would you know i like dancing? I don't know."

Stefan's frozen for 10th of a second, before recovering.

"Well you just seem like the type that's likes dancing, plus i got a sort preview from upstairs"

He teases suggestively. She likes it, standing up and skimming past him, she flicks her hair over her shoulder, "am sure i can do better than that"

Hearing him chuckle, she feels more confidant, they walk down to the dance floor, where a lively upbeat tune is playing. They begin to dance around each other. Not touching just the promise of a touch. A few playful expressions, and then a slow dance comes on. Stefan held's out his hand, and Elena feels a sense of daj da vu come over her. but she steps into Stefan's embrace, feeling the tingle from his touch. Shockwaves it sends through her body, she feels magnetised to him. She finds herself fitting against his body, like she was made to. And she feels happy here everything else forgot.

Until Stefan voice cuts into her thoughts." I know you feel confused, it can be a very scared lonly feeling. But I'll be here, and i know right now am a stranger to you, but i want to help. Upstairs after feeding on that girl, i saw your face, I've worn that look many times, the trick is to remember that feeling how it hurts so that next time, you can feed take what you need, and compel them to forget you did it. You need blood to survive, when i did it i went completely wrong way about it, someone helped me, and so I'll help you. You heard how Klaus described me. You don't ever want to be like that Elena.

Are you ok? You can ask me anything."

"well there is something, obviously i know you cant bring my memory back, but Klaus mentioned something earlier. He said something about a witch. Are witches real?"

Stefan's eyes are wide with shock he stops dancing to look at her to see if she's serious, when he sees her face he realizes she is, and begins to laugh. Elena frowns at him not impressed by his reaction. "god Elena. Yes yes they are, actually i know a very good one, she s also a good one, she dates my brother Damon?" Stefan drawls out Damon's name to see if Elena shows any sign of recognition, but her face doesn't change so he carries on. "And werewolves. That's what Tyler was, you see Klaus is an original vampire, his mother put the vampire curse on him, his father and siblings, no on herself she's a witch. But when Klaus first drank it became clear that he had something else in him. His mother had being unfaithful with a werewolf. Making Klaus an hybrid and very powerful, so the witches binded this side. But he finally managed to break the spell an d create a little army of hybrids, Tyler being one. Tyler has in fact spent months' in a considerable amount of pain trying to break the bond. Which he thought had until Klaus ordered him to leave his friends behind and come with him. The sire bond means that he's practically Klaus slave."

Elena pout her lips trying to take in everything he's just said.

"i knew Klaus made me feel uneasy, he wants something from me" Elena whispers

But Stefan takes her chin and reassures her" am here i won't let him it will be ok."

"why are you being so good to me?"

Stefan quickly realizes he's being to forward and not acting the way he should, realising her he steps back,

"it's just you remind me of someone i lost."

Elena not liking being of his arms steps closer and places her hand on his forearm.

"the girl you loved?"

Stefan stares into her chocolate eyes and wills her to remember. I'll get you back elena.

Elsewhere in the club

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S NOT THERE!"

Klaus thunders at his informative. The other guys word coming out so fast he stutters.

"stop talking so fast and tell me what happened."

"i went to the address you gave me and its all boarded up. Looks dated and aged like it hasn't being used in a long time. So i go to the shop up the street and ask about it. She tells me no one's leased that property since the late 60's. So i break in to the place and she's right, it's a shambles filthy not weeks old dust, decade old dust. Your witch isn't there.

The man is sweating and feels trapped, Klaus pacing makes him nervous.

"that's impossible, little missy got away from me again."

Boarding-house

Damon stands in Stefan room drinking his bourbon. He needs to focus, that don't have time. He prays that Elena's humanity wins out. But what about Stefan's? And where is that Rebecca he wants to kill her with a need he's never felt before.

"Damon?" Damon turns at the sound of bonnies voice.

"Sorry i couldn't sleep."

"me either, i was dreaming, i don't know if it a vision of Elena being compelled, but then i hear the witch's chanting compulsion is they way."

"so the witches are still talking to you?"

"am not sure, but it did make me think, originals can compel over vampires, what about if we got a different original to compel Elena, to forget being compelled and forget Klaus doing it?"

Damon's dumbfounded for a minute and then kind of pissed he didn't think of it.

"we could yes. And if Stefan is in ripper mode maybe have them compel Stefan to snap out of it. Problem though who? Klaus nope, Finn=dust, Rebecca= dean when i get her, kol= no he would love the idea of ripper Stefan, he's a mini Klaus."

"Well then that leaves one, the only one who do it anyway."

Yeah thought Damon and i hate him to. But he wants Stefan and Elena back, so this is the only good idea.

"Elijah"