Later on that evening, after Jenna had gone to bed and Jeremy and Meredith were in Jeremy's room playing their endless video games, Elena went upstairs to her room to get ready for bed and wait for Damon, who had promised to come to her room. She smiled dreamily to herself as she all but floated into her room, closing her door behind her –
- and as she turned around, her bathroom door suddenly closed and Meredith was standing in the middle of her room, staring at her.
Elena jumped back a little, gasping. "You scared me, Merry!" she said, laughing a little to cover her fright. "Did you need something?"
"Well, yes, actually," Meredith responded, tilting her head and regarding Elena much like a scientist studies a bug under glass. "You."
Elena looked at her funny, trying to figure out what the hell was going on. "I'm sorry, what?"
Meredith took a step closer to Elena, suddenly looking a lot less wholesome and cheerful even with her long blonde hair. "Of course you're not going to know who I am, but I'm sure you know my friend…she looks just like you."
That took a minute for Elena to process, but when it did she had no idea what to do – was Meredith a vampire? Jenna? Was Jeremy okay? Damon, this is a really good time for you to show up, she thought desperately.
"You're a vampire?" she asked in disbelief, and Meredith smiled, shrugging slightly. She looks like Cheerleader Barbie ran through Elena's mind.
"Nobody ever suspects me because I look like this," she confirmed. "But Katherine turned me in the year 1781…my betrothed was a patriot fighting in the War for Independence and was killed at Cowpens – one of only twenty-five casualties! – and, well, I wanted to die myself. Katherine was posing as wealthy South Carolina gentry; we had met at one of the many balls in years past and struck up a friendship. She was the one to find me with a straight razor to my wrist out in the barn – she could smell the blood," Meredith explained, smiling as if this were amusing, "and managed to convince me that there was a new life, a better life, waiting for me…." Meredith seemed to stare past Elena, as if there was something only she could see just over Elena's shoulder. "A life where I didn't have to feel pain, or guilt, or miss Daniel…and now, dear girl," she actually smiled at Elena, snapping back to the present, "here I am to repay that long-ago favor."
Elena could only gaze at Meredith in complete shock, her brain racing to process all that the petite blonde vampire with the beautiful slate eyes had just told her. "Katherine sent you?" she asked, then suddenly remembered something. "Wait – Stefan said he recognized you – "
Meredith nodded. "I visited Katherine once or twice when she was pretending to be a sweet little orphan girl at the Salvatore mansion during the War of Northern Aggression…Stefan happened upon us while we were taking tea in the drawing room, but we only met for a brief minute and besides, back then he only had eyes for Katherine….I never was able to meet Damon, so he doesn't know who I am." She fixed Elena again with that direct, eerie stare. "It really is remarkable, you know…you could be twins." She laughed prettily, amused. "Well, that is, if she wasn't your great-grandmother."
Things were progressing rather quickly; Elena had been so astonished at this turn of events that she had forgotten all about Jeremy in the next room, innocently playing video games and probably waiting for Meredith to return, not knowing – without thinking she glanced at the closed bathroom door and Meredith shook her head, taking another step closer to Elena, probably to stop her if she bolted.
"Now, now, there's nothing to worry about, I haven't hurt your brother, I've just compelled him to think I'm in the powder room, and not to move a muscle until I return…in fact, I've grown rather fond of Jeremy," she said, and Elena, who had thought this encounter couldn't possibly get any weirder, watched as Meredith's face twisted slightly, as if she was – upset? Elena couldn't tell – but then the vampire smoothed out her features and in the tiniest fraction of a second was right up on Elena, grabbing her arm so she couldn't even think about moving.
"Why are you doing this? What do you want?" Elena cried, struggling for a short, futile moment in Meredith's grasp, who lifted a shoulder casually as she held Elena's arm in her steel grasp.
"It seems that Katherine wants her boys back, and since Stefan has departed for parts unknown, she's starting with Damon," she explained. "However, you present a problem, as I heard with my own ears this evening that you and he are in love - you see, I was supposed to do this weeks ago, but I…I was preoccupied." Again, that quick spark of emotion darkened her gray eyes, and then was gone again. "But no matter; there's still time to carry out my mission." She smiled at Elena again like they were friends – why does she keep doing that? Elena thought as she tried again in vain to rip her arm out of Meredith's grasp. The vampire shook her head at Elena again.
"Will you stop that? It won't do you any good, and besides, I'm not going to hurt you," she scoffed. "I just have to compel you to undertake a few tasks and then you're going to disappear, my dear…Katherine doesn't want any harm to come to you; you are her progeny after all; she just wants you to – go away."
She doesn't know about my necklace – I can just fake it when she tries to compel me, Elena thought in relief, but then Meredith easily had both her wrists in one pale, strong hand, moving so fast Elena's eyes couldn't follow, and reached up with her other hand, deftly finding the clasp on the vervain locket and removing it from Elena's neck, shoving it in her pocket. Elena's eyes widened, and Meredith chuckled.
"That was easy; I know Stefan gave it to you and it was the only thing Katherine couldn't duplicate when she assumed your identity to kill John," she told Elena. Then she stood perfectly still, focused, staring deeply into Elena's eyes, and though she closed them in a last ditch attempt, Meredith squeezed her wrists until she yelped in pain, eyelids flying open involuntarily, and Meredith smiled, pupils contracted rhythmically as she locked eyes with Elena, who went completely still.
"This is what you're going to do…"
Later that night, after Meredith had hidden Elena's necklace and left her room, her assignment completed, Elena lay in her bed, feeling – strange. She had taken a shower and then gone straight to bed with a headache that a dose of Advil hadn't taken care of yet….
Suddenly there was movement at her window and Damon was in her room, bringing with him a gust of cold air from outside. He grinned rakishly at her as he shucked his jacket, then shirt and pants, tossing them all onto her chair before blurring over to her bed and burrowing under the covers, taking her in his arms and kissing her – but then he drew back in concern.
"Is there something wrong?" he inquired, eyes searching her face. "I expect a little more enthusiasm; don't you remember who I am? I'm Mystic Falls' most eligible bachelor!" His jesting words couldn't cover up the note of concern in his voice. Elena shook her head, resting her cheek against his muscular chest, feeling his arms close around her.
"No, it's just that my head hurts…I don't know," she replied, feeling vaguely out of sorts. He kissed the top of her head as he held her.
"Go to sleep, then, Elena," he said softly. "I'll be here when you wake up."
Elena nodded drowsily, settling herself more comfortably against Damon's body before drifting off…as she did so, Damon's chin rested on top of her silky brown head as he stared across the room at the wall, lost in contemplation….
Elena felt better in the morning, and so went to school, Damon driving her and picking her up promptly at two-fifteen. He started to drive toward her house, but she objected, telling him she wanted to go to the boarding house, and so they arrived there a short time later. He watched her exit the car thoughtfully, and then followed her into the house and through the elaborate foyer to the great room, where she sat down on the couch and stared into the darkened fireplace. He followed her gaze.
"Would you like me to light a fire?" Damon asked her, and she nodded, smiling briefly at him before turning away and rummaging in her school bag, then standing up.
"I'll go get us something to drink," Elena told him, walking towards the wet bar on the other side of the room before he could reply. Shrugging, Damon started to set twigs and newspaper into the hearth…if he had looked closer at Elena just then, he would have noticed her eyes had changed, pupils contracting though the light was dim already.
At the bar, Elena turned her back to Damon and unstoppered the decanter that held his favorite Scotch, alien thoughts running through her mind, speaking to her, telling her what she had to do...
…take this vial of vervain extract, you don't want to go home after school tomorrow…go to the boarding house, tell him you'll make him a drink….
Elena filled a crystal tumbler with the expensive whiskey, then surreptitiously unscrewed the tiny glass vial and tipped the contents in.
…you need to pour the entire contents in – this is very strong and he probably won't gulp his drink – then put the vial into your pocket, shove it down deep! Prepare a drink for yourself, too, so he doesn't become suspicious…then bring him his while you drink yours.
She reached into the small, tasteful mini fridge inside the bar, extracting a bottle of water for herself, then turned around and made her way back to the sofa, where Damon had started a nice little fire that was quickly gaining power. She handed him his whiskey, carefully not making eye contact, and then lowered herself to the couch. He gave her a funny look as he accepted his drink.
"Since when do you serve me?" he asked, flopping down next to her gracefully and throwing his arm around her shoulders, hugging her to his side. She didn't say anything, merely opened her bottle of water and took a drink, leaning her head against his shoulder. He lifted his other shoulder as he swirled the contents of his drink around; Elena's eyes focused on the tumbler sparkling in the firelight, then looked away quickly, taking another drink of water.
"Better watch out, you're going to spoil me," he warned cheerfully, dropping a kiss on the top of her head and frowning when she just continued to sit there.
"Elena, what's going on with you? Does your head still hurt?" he questioned her. "I mean, you're not your usual happy self…" When she still didn't answer he shook his head, then brought the Scotch to his lips and took a healthy swig –
and the powerful extract slid down his throat, burning, choking him almost immediately.
Damon dropped the tumbler onto the floor as he grabbed his throat, falling to his knees onto the floor in front of the couch, his entire body on fire. He tried to speak, tried to say Elena's name, to tell her he was dying, but managed only to wheeze slightly before his vision dimmed and his head hit the floor.