Chapter 29
Jane pointed her spoon at Damon. "You are not going to do that."
"Come on, it's safer."
"Then I won't know where she is, Damon."
"And neither will Katherine and you can finally focus on saving yourself."
She frowned, waving the spoon. "That is a selfish reason and I refuse to do that." She said simply and shoveled another bite of cereal into her mouth.
"You're supposed to eat your food not wave it at me." He smirked. She held up a finger, finishing her bite of food.
"Don't change the subject." She told him. "You are not moving my mother."
"I'll tell you where she is after Katherine is dead."
"And what if she dies and I'm not there. Damon, she'll be alone."
"And?" He prompted out, she glared at him and he raised his hands in defeat. "Fine, fine. I like this angry side of you, Janey. Especially when it's not aimed at me." She threw a grape at his head and he ducked. "Missed me." Jane's phone buzzed on the table. "Is she texting you again?"
"Yes. She wants me to come over as soon as your done with me."
"Why?" He asked suspiciously and then shook his head. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. You're not going to meet up with her. she could have killed you last night and more than likely she's heard of your mom's miraculous resurrection." Jane bit her lip and Damon stroked her cheek. "She's not going to try that again, Janey. Not when she knows she's pissed us all off."
"Damon?!"
He groaned as Caroline called from the living room. "Damn it."
"In here, Care." Jane called to her and the vampire came in. "What's wrong?" She asked, seeing the look on the blonde's face.
"I saw Katherine."
"Here." Damon handed her a glass of blood to calm her nerves.
She took it from him with shaking hands. "I'm still shaking." Jane sat next to her, looking at her friend in concern.
"What happened?" Stefan frowned, walking brusquely into the room.
Caroline hesitated and Damon smirked. "Go ahead, tell him." He glanced up at his brother. "You're gonna love this."
"I saw Katherine today." Caroline muttered and Stefan's eyes widened.
"Where?"
"At the Grill. I just stopped by to gawk and… quasi-stalk Matt." She admitted and Jane patted her hand.
"Skip the teen drama and get to it." Damon told her and Jane smacked his arm.
"Let her tell the story, Damon." She told him and he rolled his eyes.
Caroline sighed. "Then I had to pretend to use the bathroom. Even though I didn't really have to because I'm a doofus." She went on to explain how Katherine had told her to deliver a message.
"What was the message?" Stefan asked and Caroline bit her lip.
"Katherine said…bring her the moonstone or she'd rip the town apart until it rained blood."
"Tell her the rest of it." Damon waved a hand.
"Tonight. At the masquerade ball."
"She wants to do it in Public. Killing Mason threw her off guard." Stefan murmured.
"She's running scared." Damon shrugged. "What she did to Jenna was desperate. She's out of tricks."
"And Jane's mother? How long before she tries again or with Jane herself?" Stefan frowned.
"That won't happen again." Damon growled. "She wouldn't dare."
"Wait. What?" Caroline frowned and looked at Jane. "What about your mom?"
"Katherine ripped her breathing tube out and tried to suffocate her with a pillow." Damon said bluntly and Jane flinched. Caroline gasped.
"We can't underestimate her. We have to play this smarter than her."
"Well, can't we just give her the moonstone so she'll leave?" Caroline asked.
"No, Katherine is not getting dick." Damon snapped angrily. "I've had it. I'm gonna go to the masquerade ball and I'm gonna kill her. Tonight."
Stefan shook his head. "You're not gonna kill Katherine." His older brother whirled on him.
"Don't give me that goody-goody crap." He warned. "I won't let her use Jane any longer."
"You're not gonna kill her." Stefan repeated.
Damon scoffed. "Really?"
"Because I am."
His older brother smirked at him. "Smartest thing you've said all day." Jane's phone buzzed again and Damon snatched it from her. "What the hell does she want?"
"I don't know, now give me my phone back." She tried to get it from him, but he held it out of reach.
""We need to talk. I want to apologize."" He read mockingly. "Liar. She just wants to see if you'll do as she says."
"And I have to if I want my mother to live."
"This is exactly why you should have agreed to my moving your mother elsewhere."
"That wouldn't solve a thing." Jane frowned. "She'd just try and harm someone else that I care about."
"You are not going." He told her sternly. "I don't care what she does."
Jane stood up from the couch and walked over to him. "It might be the only way for you to know where she is at that the masquerade ball!" She pointed out. "If she does as she says in her text then all I have to do is show up and listen to her. that's all. she'll more than likely tell me to tail you and give report. Easy. I'll follow you for a while, let her see us and then you do whatever plan you're coming up with."
Stefan nodded. "She has a point. She already got into trouble by not being around you at the Lockwood's. This way, Katherine thinks she's in the loop, but she's not." Damon scowled and handed her the cell back.
"I'll be okay, Damon." She assured him, putting a hand on his arm.
"Not yet, but you will be." He said to her and tugged her close to kiss her gently when she smiled at him.
"So…are you two finally dating?" Caroline asked curiously and Damon rolled his eyes.
"I got Stefan's message." Bonnie informed Caroline as she was ushered inside.
Stefan smiled as she came into the living room. "Hey, you brought the grimoire, thank you."
Bonnie looked over to see Damon talking intently with Alaric who was gesturing at a table of weapons. Jane pointed at one and Alaric nodded, holding it up, and showing her what it did. Frowning, she looked at Stefan. "What's going on?"
"We're gonna kill Katherine." Jeremy informed her before Stefan could say anything and the witch's eyes widened.
"I can explain." Stefan told her quickly
"Please."
He hesitated before grimacing. "We're gonna kill Katherine." It was the only thing he could say.
"This works with compressed air. The trigger mechanism is up here. I have two of these in a different size." Alaric informed and Stefan and Bonnie wandered over to hear more. Jane was leaning against Damon and he had an arm around her. "For you I recommend this." He showed Damon dan Stefan a sleeve with mini wooden stakes attached. "It fits nicely under the jacket sleeve. You use the trigger when you're ready." He made one of the stakes release into his hand and then made a stabbing motion. He caught the look on Damon's face. "You wanted me to show you how to kill a vampire." He reminded him and the vampire grimaced.
Bonnie sighed at Stefan. "I know you love Elena and you want to be with her, but it's risky. Too many people could get hurt."
"Look, I want Elena back, yes but it's more than that. What she did to Jenna crossed the line, and you heard about Jane's mother right?" Bonnie frowned.
"No. What happened?"
"Katherine tried to kill her. So she has to be stopped before it happens again."
"I don't know, Stefan." Bonnie murmured.
"Katherine knows me, right? She knows that I'm not gonna try something in a crowd full of innocent people so that gives me an edge." He told her with certainty. "I could catch her by surprise."
Jane came over to them. "Bonnie, please help us. I know you want to stay out of it, but I can't be free of her until this is over." Bonnie's face softened.
"I could do a spell to trap them, like the tomb spell." Jane nodded.
"Right. We can isolate her, away from the others. Please Bonnie." Stefan asked her.
Jane smiled at her. "We can finally be rid of her and you won't have to do anything else."
Bonnie nodded. "Okay."
"Are you sure you guys don't want me there tonight?" Alaric asked once more.
Stefan shook his head. "No, I need you to stay with Elena. I don't want her to know about this."
"Okay. Well, I'll make sure she doesn't leave my sight." He promised.
"Alright, if anybody wants to back out, I'll understand." Stefan nodded looking around at everyone who was involved Damon, Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy.
"Yeah. Cold feet speak now. I don't want this going wrong if someone chicken's out." Damon looked over at a particular person. "Caroline."
Jane elbowed him. "Damon."
"I won't." Caroline said confidently and rolled her eyes when Damon looked at her skeptically. "Look, she killed me. Fair's fair. As long as there's no werewolves running around."
"Oh, I took care of Mason." Damon smirked and Jane elbowed him again. "Cut that out."
"Stop being snarky." She retorted.
"As long as Tyler doesn't kill anyone, he won't turn." Jeremy explained, crossing his arms.
Stefan turned to Bonnie. "Bonnie? Are you with us?"
She nodded once. "But no one gets hurt." That was her condition.
"Except Katherine." Damon chimed in. "Tonight she gets a stake through her heart. And Janey is free." Jane smiled and everyone else did too. That was something everyone looked forward too.
Damon tapped the wheel. "I still don't like this."
"I know, but as long as I'm civil and don't upset her-"
"If she even lays one finger on you, call me. I don't care if we have to devise a whole new plan. You are not going to be bullied by her anymore."
Jane turned to face him. He was glaring out the window, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He had driven for a while, but his anger got the better of him. Jane touched his face, but he refused to look at her. "I'll be okay, Damon. I have my vervain bracelet, remember? As long as she never sees it, I'll be safe. You just concentrate on your plan." She leaned up and kissed his nose and then his cheek and he turned his face to catch her lips. Jane sighed and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I wish this was over already."
"Be careful, Janey." He murmured against her forehead.
"You too. I don't trust her."
"What is the first thing you are going to do when you're a free woman?" He smirked and she tangled their fingers together. "Go on a shopping spree and buy clothes you actually like?" She snorted and then met his gaze shyly.
"Be with you."
"You are with me." He teased and she shook her head.
"No…You know…be with you…" It suddenly dawned on him what she was getting at and why she looked so shy, her cheeks a rosy red.
"Oh…" He took their hands and lifted them so he could kiss the back of her knuckles. "You really want that?" She nodded, still looking embarrassed. Damon stroked her cheek.
"You said you'd help me. I don't want to be scared anymore."
He nodded seriously. "And I will. You won't have to be." He told her. Jane's phone buzzed and she sighed. Damon wrapped an arm around her and they continued driving in contented silence.
Jane walked between Katherine and Lucy, Katherine's friend. The vampire had been treating her nicely and it was starting to worry her. Katherine never said a word about her plans except asking Jane to make sure the Salvatore brothers had the moonstone to give her. She was very lucky that Katherine never saw her slip her vervain bracelet underneath her black glove. With it, she didn't feel so powerless. Lucy was only introduced as a friend, but Jane suspected there was something else going on.
"Elena?" The three of them turned to see Matt standing there.
"Matt," Katherine greeted.
"I thought you said you weren't coming."
"I convinced her to go." Jane spoke up, smiling at him and Matt smiled back.
"Jane, wow. You look beautiful."
She flushed. "Thanks, Matty." She was wearing a strapless white lacy dress that had a large black ribbon trimmed with lace around the middle, long black gloves that went to her elbows, black heels, and a feathery black and white mask that sat snuggly over her eyes. Her curls were pinned back with a thick white and black polka dot ribbon which she tightened slightly to make sure her hair wouldn't fall.
Katherine pushed at her. "Why don't you go find Damon now, hm?" Jane nodded.
"Bye Matt." She waved at him and gladly hurried away from the vampire.
Damon and Stefan were standing up at the top of the back steps of the mansion looking over the Lockwood grounds at the dancing people down below.
"Do you see her?" Damon asked. "Or Jane?"
"Nope. You're sure you can do this?" Stefan looked at him.
"Who are you talking to?" Damon scoffed.
"Oh, I had a chance to kill Katherine and I hesitated." Stefan told him.
"Well that is a fork in the road between you and me, my friend. I don't hesitate." Damon growled.
"You spent 145 years loving Katherine, it could happen." Stefan reasoned.
"I won't hesitate." Damon growled. "Not with Jane involved."
Stefan nodded. "There's Jane now." No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than Damon was moving towards the girl.
Damon tapped her shoulder and Jane turned to him. "Hey. Bonnie and Jeremy are heading upstairs."
"Okay." Jane nodded and he took her arm.
"You don't have to do this you know. Bonnie can do it without you."
"If we want to work really well I have to be there."
Damon nodded and then pulled her close, pretending to dance in case someone was looking. "Where is she?"
"Inside, talking to Matt and pretending to be Elena. She'll be looking for Stefan sooon."
"Did she give any hints as to if she's really going to do this or not?"
Jane shook her. "She was being really nice to me." He frowned.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I haven't figured that out yet. I mean she got all of this for me." She gestured to her dress and the mask. "Except the shoes and the ribbon, those are really mine." His fingers had the edge of her dress, feeling of the fabric.
"I like it."
Jane swatted his hand. "Damon, behave." She flushed and he chuckled, running his fingers along her bare shoulders.
"It'll be easier to get off you later." She bit her lip shyly and he figured she had had enough teasing. For now, at least.
Jane pulled away from him. "Just be careful and don't give yourself away."
He pecked her on the lips, making her gasp. "I'll see you later." He walked away from her and Jane went back inside the mansion.
She found Jeremy and followed him up the stairs behind Bonnie.
"Is this the room, Jane?" He asked her and she nodded.
"That's the one. Is it okay, Bonnie?"
Bonnie nodded. "It's perfect."
Jeremy and Jane took out weapons that Alaric had given them from a bag and Jane went to place them in the bathroom for Damon and Stefan to find later. Bonnie was sitting on the divan in front of the bed, flipping through the grimoire.
"Is that the spell book I read about in my family's old journal?" Jeremy asked curiously, handing some more weapons to Jane.
"It's my ancestor, Emily's. The spell I'm doing here is similar to the one that sealed the vampires into the tomb." Bonnie explained to him. Jeremy handed Jane the bag to hide next and she placed it into the closet and behind some coats.
"Can you do all the stuff that's in there?" He asked coming over to sit next to her. Bonnie sighed.
"I mean it takes practice. I've worked on some small spells. Spells that only do good. I don't want to know too much." She shook her head. "I don't particularly enjoy any of this, in case you haven't noticed."
"Yeah but you're 100% witch, that is so cool." He smirked and Bonnie frowned.
"It's anything but cool. Did your family journals tell you what happened to Emily? Or what about my Grams? It never ends well for people like me."
Jane bit her lip. "Or what happens to people like me." Jeremy frowned.
"If you feel that way, why help?"
"Because I don't want anyone else getting hurt." Bonnie sighed. "And I don't know how to stay out of it." Jane held her hand out, a knife in her other hand. She had already taken one glove off.
"Here. We better get started."
Jeremy frowned, taking the knife from her. "Are you sure about this?"
"Trust me, Bonnie needs backup and my blood in her spell will help her." Jane smiled at the witch. "We're in this together." Bonnie nodded. Jeremy cut into her palm and Jane winced. Bonnie took her hand and began chanting lowly. Jeremy stood by incase something went wrong.
Seconds ticked by and then it was done. Bonnie let go of Jane and the girl stumbled a bit. Jeremy grabbed her arm.
"Whoa, hey, are you all right?"
"Yeah. Just got a little lightheaded. I'll be fine." She told him and Jeremy frowned.
"You should sit down."
"We don't have time. Katherine will be checking to see if I am with Damon soon. I have to make sure she sees me with him." Jane made a hasty bandage and slipped her glove back on. "Thank goodness these are too dark to see bloodied spots.
"You just better hope Katherine doesn't smell it."
"She won't. I'll be near Damon and she doesn't want to rile him up just yet. She knows he's still angry about her almost killing my mother." Jeremy nodded and Bonnie took her uninjured hand.
"Be careful, Jane."
"You and Jeremy be careful. I don't trust Katherine at all."
Jane ran into Damon and he took her hand. "Everything go okay?" He asked, leading her onto the dance floor. Katherine was across the room, her eyes on them, but there was no way she could hear them over the throbbing base music coming from the speakers.
"Yeah, room's all ready. Is she still looking?" Damon tugged her closer to him and bent her back slightly in a Dirty Dancing type move. "I take that as a yes." She gasped and he chuckled. "Have you been watching Patrick Swayze?"
Damon only smirked and tugged her back up, twirling her around and she laughed as he pressed his chest to her back, wrapping his arms around her and swaying to the music. "I've got moves too." He said in her ear and she reached up to touch his face. He turned his face into her hand and inhaled. "You okay?"
"Hmm. It's just a little cut. Just enough to help, Bonnie."
He hummed and kissed her palm. "I'll heal it later. Katherine's gone." She nodded and pulled away from him. "And I'm much hotter than Swayze." Jane giggled and he kissed her gently. "Now go stay near Bonnie until this is over, okay?" She nodded and he disappeared into the crowd.
"So can you do like a hocus pocus to ace a test?" Jeremy asked curiously and Jane laughed. Bonnie shook her head.
"I don't know that spell." She smirked and he shrugged.
"It'd be like the first one I'd learn or maybe like a sex spell or something... I don't know." He chuckled and Bonnie just shook her head in amusement. "Do either of you want to dance or something while we're waiting?"
Jane shook her head. "No, thanks, Jer. My feet are killing me. I had to take my heels off. Which I have to remember not to leave here at the table." She laughed and Jeremy snickered and turned to Bonnie.
"No!" She said automatically before shaking her head. She hadn't meant it to sound condescending. "I mean, no thank you." Jeremy's phone vibrated and he glanced at it before nodding at Jane and Bonnie. Now it was time to deliver the message to Katherine.
Caroline waited along the staircase, her eyes wandering about the room until she found Matt. He was laughing and hanging around with Tyler and Sarah, a girl who was almost never seen without her best friend Aimee. Matt met her eyes for a brief moment before he disappeared, leaving Caroline feeling alone and sad. Her phone buzzed and she quickly glanced at it. Jeremy had texted her. It was time for the biggest test. Could she fool Katherine?
The vampire walked down to an empty part of the mansion, heading for the back door when someone grabbed her arm and twisted it behind her back, pinning her face first against the wall.
"What are Stefan and Damon up to?" Katherine asked hissed and Caroline swallowed.
"What do you mean?" She squeaked. Katherine narrowed her eyes.
"I've got Jeremy Gilbert luring us out to a lake. What's going on?" She snapped. "And where is Jane?"
"I don't know…Nothing." She gasped as Katherine turned her arm slamming her back against the wall with a hand around her throat.
"Don't lie to me, Caroline. They're up to something, what is it? Jane is supposed to be with Damon. Why isn't she?"
"I-I don't…" Katherine choked her harder. "Wait. They are trying to kill you."
"I figured as much." She snapped, irked that Jane was going behind her back. She had wondered why a cut had magically appeared on the palm of her hand. "Where is the moonstone?"
"Jane has it." Caroline rasped.
"And where is Janey right now?"
"I don't know." Caroline snapped and Katherine squeezed again. "Okay! She's upstairs. She's upstairs with Bonnie."
"Take me to her. Now. It's obvious that someone hasn't learned their lesson."
Caroline swallowed. Katherine had bought it for the moment. Now she just had to get her upstairs. She had hated to bring Jane into it, but Katherine would have come after her if she hadn't and she needed the plan to work.
"You guys are trying to kill her here?" Elena shook her head incredulously.
"We saw an opportunity and we knew we had to take it." Jeremy explained calmly, but Elena wasn't having any of it.
"Okay, stop with the "We"." She told her brother. "Are you guys crazy? You could get yourselves killed." She looked at Jane. "How can you be in on this?"
"Because I want it to be over. I don't want her running my life anymore. I want to be free. Be with Damon and not have to worry about her looming around my house, Elena."
Bonnie nodded. "We know what we're doing."
Elena frowned. "And how am I supposed to feel if one of you guys gets hurt because of me?"
"It's not just you anymore." Jeremy shook his head. "She's messed with all of us, she has to be stopped."
Jane nodded. "I don't want to anyone to be hurt, but I don't want her around anymore."
"Why do you keep dragging me into this?" Caroline sobbed as Katherine dragged her by the hair. "I don't want any part of it." The older vampire shook her.
"Shut up. Which room is it?"
She nodded reluctantly at the set of doors across from them. "It's that one." Katherine let go of Caroline and stalked forward into the room, shoving the doors open.
"Oh, Janey? I think we need to have another chat." Katherine called and then scowled. "Where is she?"
Caroline began to laugh and Katherine turned to look at her. "I did it." She smirked. "I really didn't think I'd be able to fool you, but I did it!" Katherine zoomed forward to harm her, but was blocked by an invisble barrier.
"What the …?" She paused and narrowed her eyes. "Stefan." She said without turning around.
"Hello, Katherine," Stefan smiled when she finally did turn.
"Goodbye, Katherine." Caroline mocked and walked away.
Katherine slowly stalked towards Stefan. "You don't really think you can kill me with that now, do you?" She asked, eyeing the stake in his hands.
"No," He replied slowly before looking at something behind her. "But he can." Seconds later a sharp pain erupted into Katherine's back and she gripped at the stake in her back, facing Damon who was smirking at her, weapon raised. While Katherine was staggering around Stefan lunged for her.
Jane suddenly cried out in pain and tipped out of her chair, clenching her hands into fists. Elena, Bonnie, and Jeremy both gasped, seeing blood well up and soak the back of her white dress.
"Oh my god! Jane!" Elena went forward and hugged her gently. "What's happening?"
"I don't know." Jane gasped, trying not to scream like she wanted too. "It just hurts so much. It feels like there's something in my back." She did scream as her arm felt like someone had stabbed it. She held onto it, blood coating her fingers. "What's happening to me?"
Bonnie gasped suddenly. "It's Katherine! She linked herself to Jane!" She took Jeremy's arm. "You have to go stop them! Now!" Jeremy nodded and ran off, hoping he would get there in time to stop them from plunging a stake into Katherine and killing Jane.
Elena stroked Jane's hair. "Bonnie can you do anything?" She asked as Jane tossed her glove off to reveal a thick angry cut in her palm. The girl cried in pain.
"I can't break the spell, Elena." Bonnie sighed. "I'm so sorry, Jane. But I can try and take some of the pain away. Okay?"
"'Kay." Jane nodded weakly and Bonnie began to chant.
Jeremy reached the bedroom just in time to see Damon about to stab a wooden stake directly into Katherine's heart, while Stefan had a hold of her.
"Stop!" Jeremy yelled and spoke quickly. "You're hurting Jane!" Damon whipped his head around, eyes silently demanding an explanation. Both brothers stopped immediately "Everything you're doing to her is hurting Jane."
Stefan released Katherine and Damon stepped back as she stood up with a smirk. "You think you two are the only ones with a witch on your side? Wrong." She mocked. "And something tells me that my witch is better than your witch." She took the stake from Damon's hand twirled it a bit, walking away from them to the other side of the room.
"Jeremy, go check on Jane. Make sure she's okay." Stefan nodded at him. "Go."
"Let's all make sure that poor Jane is okay." Katherine mocked and Damon glared at her. "You know I did wonder why a cut appeared on my hand earlier. Now I know and well…pay back's a bitch." She took the stake and held it above her palm in the same spot Jane had been cut at earlier. "Just a little bit more pressure." She jabbed down and dragged the wood, opening a thicker cut on her palm. Being closer, Stefan zoomed over and slapped the stake from her.
"Stop it."
Katherine zoomed and snatched another stake. "This is really going to hurt." She warned and drew back, ready to stab herself.
"Wait! Don't you do it, Katherine." Damon hissed.
She smirked and sat down on the divan like nothing had happened. "Okay. So, how about that moonstone?"
Elena wiped at Jane's tears the discarded glove, holding her still while Bonnie continued to chant. Jeremy came running up the path and skidded to a halt.
"Is she okay?" Jeremy asked.
"Are they?" Jane asked weakly, looking up at him. "Are Damon and Stefan?"
He nodded. "They're stuck in there with her." He said to her and Elena before looking at Bonnie. "You were right; Katherine had a witch link Jane to her."
Bonnie suddenly nodded. "The girl I saw, the one I spoke to!" She got up from the grass and nodded at Elena and Jane. "Stay with them, keep pressure on Jane's arm!"
"Where are you going?" Jeremy asked as the witch began to leave.
"There's another witch here, I'm gonna find her!" She called over her shoulder, running towards the mansion.
Jeremy knelt by Jane, tugging his ring off. Jane shook her head.
"No. Jer. Don't."
"You need this, Jane."
"It might not work on me. I'm a supernatural something." She smiled at him weakly. "I appreciate the thought, but you need it more than I do. And you need to keep safe."
"The three of us together just like old times." Katherine said in amusement. "The brother that loved me too much and the one that didn't love me enough."
"And the evil slut vampire who only loved herself." Damon growled at her.
She smirked. "What happened to you Damon? You used to be so sweet and polite."
"Oh, that Damon died a long time ago." He smirked back.
"Good. He was a bore." She said in a bored tone.
Stefan rolled his eyes. "Oh, why don't you two stop antagonizing each other."
"Where is the moonstone?" Katherine finally asked, not amused any longer.
"What do you want with it?" Stefan countered.
"You know Damon falling for another doppelganger is a bad idea, especially when that relationship is doomed. I mean. It's only a matter of time before she's whisked away and forced to play her role as witch enhancer. You know she'll never really belong to you." Damon's eyes flashed, but he didn't say a word.
"That was really desperate, Katherine." Stefan drawled. "Don't you think we can see right through you?"
Katherine scoffed. "So it doesn't bother you that Jane is an object and not a person?"
"Shut the hell up." Damon snapped.
"Stop being petty." Stefan rolled his eyes.
"Or what?" Katherine mocked. "You'll hurt me?" She stood up. "C'mon, Stefan. Everything I feel, Jane feels. So go ahead." She shrugged carelessly before gasping with an idea and turning to Damon. "Or better yet, kiss me Damon." She purred. "She'll feel that too. Don't you want to?"
Stefan stepped between them before Damon could throttle her. "You know, this whole Mason thing has me a bit confused. Why a werewolf? The moonstone can break a curse that would help them destroy all vampires. So what's in it for you?"
"Sorry about your pet wolf." Damon smirked. "Probably should have kept him on a tight leash."
"I'll have to remember that for next time. He's not the only wolf in town."
"Damn it." Damon growled impatiently, pacing the room like a penned up cat. "Where is that witch?"
"We could play charades." Katherine suggested lightly.
"You bargained the moonstone." Stefan finally came to a conclusion. Damon rolled his eyes
"What are you mumbling about over there?" He asked.
Stefan ignored him and kept speaking to Katherine. "When you struck a deal with George Lockwood, to help you fake your death, you told me that you gave George something that he needed. It was the moonstone, wasn't it?"
She smirked. "Good for you, Stefan. Two plus two … And it would have worked except that people found out that I wasn't in the tomb. Thanks to you." She glanced at Damon. "By the way, have I mentioned how inconvenient your obsession with me has been?"
"You and me both, honey." Damon scoffed.
"Why do you need it back?" Stefan demanded.
"I love you in a suit, so dashing." She answered, ignoring him.
"What were you doing with it in the first place?"
"You're wasting your breath, Stefan." Damon rolled his eyes.
Stefan tilted his head. "Unless it wasn't yours to begin with. In 1864 you faked your own death. Who were you running from?"
"In 1986 you were in Chicago, at a concert of all places with that wench Lexi." Katherine announced and smiled with he gave her a shocked look. "Come on Stefan, don't look so surprised. Of course I checked in on you over the years. You were standing in the front row, dancing all night. You were watching Bon Jovi and I was watching you."
"Who were you running from?" Stefan repeated, but she only mouthed the words: 'I love you'.
Damon poured himself a glass of bourbon. He was getting tired of being stuck in a room with Katherine.
"We're missing the party." Katherine pouted and then looked over at Damon. "I'll have one of those."
"Right away Ms. Katherine." He mocked handing her one. the voice a servant boy giving her a glass as she walked past him.
"Thank you." She smirked, sipping it as she went by. Damon suddenly turned and grabbed her, shoving her up against the wall and readying the stake to drive into her heart.
"No, no!" Stefan ran over to him, trying to still his brother. "Damon, don't!"
""Yes, Damon, Please." Katherine licked her lips. "Save Jane."
Damon's jaw clenched. "The second the spell is lifted, I'm gonna drive a stake through your heart." He snarled at her. Katherine only laughed at him.
"God, you're hot. When did you get so hot?" She asked, flirtingly and he let go of her like she had stung him.
"Katherine…"
They all turned to see a young woman standing there, moonstone in hand. "The spell in this room has been broken, you're free to leave." Lucy told her.
"Thank god." Katherine groaned and walked over to Lucy.
"When I hand this over my debt to you is over." The witch told her and Katherine nodded.
"Done."
"I owe you nothing." Lucy added, trying to make sure it was understood.
"I said "done", give it." Katherine hissed impatiently.
"I wouldn't go that." Damon warned in a sing song voice. No one paid him any mind.
Lucy placed the stone into her palm and Katherine's fingers folded over it. suddenly she gasped as if her air supply had been cut short. She choked for air, going to her knees. She stared at Lucy accusingly, her eyes narrowed.
"You should have told me another witch was involved. She's a Bennett witch, Katherine, but I'm sure you knew that." Lucy said dismissively and tuned ot leave.
"Wait." Stefan called. "Jane?"
"She's fine." Lucy replied. "The spell is broken. She'll heal quickly. Bonnie's with her. I apologize for my involvement."
"Damon!" Jane smiled at him. "Are you okay?"
He rolled his eyes, taking her hand. "I'm fine. What about you?" He took her arm turning it to see the damage and then looked at her back and then her hand. "I should heal you, but I have to take Katherine down to the tomb." Jane nodded.
"Is she really gone?"
He nodded, kissing her forehead. "Yeah. How's it feel to be a free woman?"
Jane smiled. "Feels great." He stroked her cheek.
"You look tired and pale. You need sleep."
"I can give her a ride home." Elena spoke up. "I just need to talk to Stefan, but I can run her home."
"I'll meet you there later, all right?" Damon told Jane holding her face in his hands. "No more having to be afraid." She nodded.
"I love you, Damon." She murmured and he pressed his forehead against hers once before releasing her to go take care of Katherine.
"Hello, Katherine." Damon stated when she had woken up finally. He had heard her scrambling around, trying to figure out how to get out.
"Where am I?" She croaked, standing up in the dark, dusty place.
"Where you should have been all along. I thought you'd had learned your lesson by now, messing with a Bennett witch." He smirked.
"You should have killed me." She muttered.
"Death would have been too kind." Damon told her coldly. He walked over to the rock door, ready to seal her inside. Katherine began to panic.
"No, don't! Damon, don't! You need me! Jane and Elena are in danger."
Damon paused. "From who?" Katherine refused to say.
"You're lying." Damon snapped. "You're always lying."
"Why do you think I haven't killed Elena yet?! Because she's the doppelgänger. She needs to be protected."
"And Jane?"
"She's important. And she'll be found now. I could have made sure she wouldn't be."
"I can protect her and Elena both. While you rot in hell."
"No! No! No, Damon! I'll do anything! Please. Damon! You need me! You won't be able save her!"
Damon slammed the door shut on her screams.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, the pain is mostly gone. I'm just tired." Jane told her and Elena nodded with a smile.
"I'm just so glad that this is over with."
"Me too and I'm sorry about you and Stefan."
Elena sighed. "I just…I need to make sure that everything is okay, before getting back together."
"I understand. I just hope it's not for a long time. you two are so good for each other."
"And you are good for Damon."
"You think so?" Jane asked.
"He's different around you. A good different."
Jane smiled, encouraged and they lapsed into silence.
They walked along the parking lot towards Elena's car and Jane stopped to fix her shoe which had gotten a pebble in it. While Elena was unlocking her car, she felt something was off and whirled around. Jane was lying limply against a masked man, who pulled his hand away from her mouth, showing off a cloth. Elena backed up, intending to scream for Stefan, when the man dropped Jane and lunged at her, slapping his hand over her mouth and stiffing her screams. Elena thrashed for a moment and then all went black.
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