Chapter 29

"I cant believe I actually have to put this dress on" Elena groaned looking at the hideous black lace dress Caleb had shipped her a few days ago. She couldn't believe how fast the time went by after Gabriel arrived and they started planning.

He had been spending a lot of time with Bonnie mentoring her and showing her how to use his life energy to call the spell. If Elena didn't know any better she would swear Tyler was jealous. he was always waiting outside the room for them to emerge with a grim expression on his face.

"I cant believe your going through with this at all" Jenna said trying to hold back tears. "What if something goes wrong?"

"It won't" Elena said firmly drawing as much strength from inside herself as she could. Damon had explained to her what Gabriel was going to do for them though no one else could know. It gave Elena a hopeful feeling knowing he would never let this marriage actually happen.

Caleb had no idea what they had at their disposal. He had even sent a threatening letter stating he would kill Stefan and his surprise guest if they didn't show up for his wedding. It worked perfectly with their plans. If Caleb assumed they only showed up because of his threat it kept the level of surprise on their side.

Elena pulled the black dress over her head. It was cut extremely low and most of her cleavage showed. The dress itself was long and lacy and came all the way down to her feet where it looked tattered at the end. The black veil was just over the top. Elena thought it looked like a bad bride of frankenstein costume from the mall. The only thing that made her smile was gazing at the diamond hearts necklace that hung from her bare neck. It glistened brighter then ever as if telling her love was on their side.


Damon paced nervously in the parlor waiting for Gabriel to arrive. He tried to shake out his nerves and assure himself everything was going be alright. He wasn't sure how much power Gabriel's blood was going to give him or how he was possibly going to be able to withstand looking at Caleb's face without lunging for it the second he saw him.

"Just keep it together" Damon told himself taking a deep breath as Gabriel entered the room.

"It's almost time to leave" Gabriel said quietly.

"Yes" Damon said feeling a little awkward. "Are we ready then?"

"Yes it's time" Gabriel said pulling up his arm to reveal a glass full of blood.

"I could hardly return to the Cathedral with a vampire bite" He explained.

Damon nodded feeling relieved. He didn't really want to bite an angel. He felt the life force within the cup fill his senses instantly. He patiently pushed his vampire urges back for the moment needing to show Gabriel he could indeed trust him with this power.

"Thank you" Damon said to the angel it seemed like the right thing to do. It wasn't every day they just gave out this kind of power to vampires practically vampires like Damon after all.

"No need to thank me. It is my duty to protect mankind" Gabriel said. "You all called for my help and here I am"

"Do all angels consider vampires still a part of mankind?" Damon asked.

"Most.. yes. The mark which has been over time referred to as the vampire's curse was never meant to touch humans. It was a punishment for evil angels before they were stricken from the heavens.

Many of us feel partially responsible for vampires and the havoc they cause. Humans were not meant to be able to handle bloodlust it goes against their very nature. But somehow many of you found ways to adapt and still retain your humanity. I find that admirable" Gabriel said thoughtfully.

Damon nodded taking all of this in. He took a long look at the cup in his hand. This power he had been handed. To think what he would have done with this a year ago. But not now. Never again would he be drunk with power would he kill without cause. Gabriel a man of pure good and light was trusting Damon with this power for a greater purpose and to save the one thing Damon lived for. He would prove Gabriel and Elena right he would prove himself right.

He gulped down the glass quickly and instantly felt the power surge through his body. He relaxed and let it set in doormat on his body until he needed it the most.


"You almost ready?' Katherine asked entering Elena's room she cringed at the sight of Elena in the horrible dress.

"Will I ever be" Elena muttered.

"I still just can't get over it" Jenna shook her head looking from Katherine to Elena in astonishment.

"You'll get used to it" Katherine replied tiredly "Or not... I'll be gone once this is all over so.. no worries right" She flopped down on Elena's a bed a little to quickly.

"Katherine you need blood" Elena said studying her doppelganger carefully. She wasn't anywhere near as vibrant as she usually was. Elena knew Katherine had drank the last blood bag yesterday and they couldn't leave to get more.

"I'll be fine" Katherine said quietly.

"No" Elena said sitting down next to her "You are going to need strength. She lifted her wrist to Katherine ignoring Jenna's horrified gaze.

"No.. no" Katherine said pushing Elena's arm. "It's way to weird to drink from someone who has a blood bond"

"It is?" Elena said confused.

"Every time a vampire drinks from you and gives you blood in return you build a more you do it the more it intensifies. Once you exchange at the same time.. you sort of connect to each other. Your blood sort of belongs to Damon and he would be able to sense someone drinking from you and.. well.. like I said it's just really weird" Katherine said nodding at Jenna who looked kind of sick.

"Sorry Jenna" Elena mumbled.

Jenna just nodded slightly.

"But Katherine you don't stand a chance if you don't drink. Your weak already" Elena augured.

"You are really bossy for a human you know that" Katherine smirked. "Look I can't drink from you or Bonnie because she needs as much life energy as she can get. Tyler's blood might hurt me I'm not sure.. I guess I could ask Alaric he seems nice enough..."

"No" Jenna said firmly "I'll do it"

"What?" Elena asked "No Aunt Jenna"

"Look Elena I'm stuck here as the one person with no special abilities to protect you. If I can do this at least I'm doing something right?"

"But.." Elena said.

"It's okay really" Jenna said "I do not want her feeding from Ric"

"Possessive" Katherine smirked.

"You could be less rude seeing as how I'm offering you my blood" Jenna snapped looking slightly distressed but determined nonetheless.

"Your right" Katherine replied gracefully "I could compel you to make it easier?"

"No I don't want you poking around in my mind" Jenna sighed "Just do it"

She held up her arm Katherine took it gently. She vamped out quickly and bit carefully making sure to leave a nice clean line that would heal easy. The least she could for Elena, Katherine figured. She drew what she needed from Jenna quickly. Licked the wound closed and returned her features turned right back to normal and not a trace of blood spilled even on Katherine's lips. The whole process took less then a few minutes.

Elena stared wide eyed and slightly awed at Katherine who chucked when she caught Elena's stare.

"Years of practice" Katherine said.

"Are you okay Jenna?" Elena asked pulling her eyes away from what was immanently her distant future.

"Yes, the initial pierce stung but after that it felt fine. It was fast. Didn't hurt anymore then getting a shot" Jenna replied looking slightly dazed.

"If you find the right pulse point and draw the blood at a consistent but rapid place it doesn't cause any pain to the donor." Katherine smirked slightly.

"Well okay so I'm going to go..." Jenna said hurrying out of the room to find Alaric.


"Well I suppose we have to get going" Elena said nervously looking at the clock.

"Do you want me to walk down the stairs with you?" Katherine offered.

"Yeah sure" Elena said not really feeling any relief. She still felt extremely exposed in this dress. It screamed Caleb to her and and she hated wearing it as much as she dreaded the look on Damon's face when he saw her in it.

She could feel her heart pounding as Katherine took her hand and led her down the stairs. She heard the collective gasps from the room below and closed her eyes in horror wishing she would have put a jacket on to cover up somewhat. Katherine pulled her the rest of the way down the stairs as Elene couldn't will her legs to keep walking.

She felt Katherine let go of her hand as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She suddenly felt a familiar hand brush her shoulder softly and then felt the cool leather hit her shoulders as Damon covered with his jacket. She looked up gratefully as his serene and calm eyes.

"Its going to okay princess" he said and Elena felt like it was as she gazed into his loving eyes.

"I love you Damon Salvatore" She whispered.

"I love you to Elena Gilbert" He said kissing her tenderly.

"Ahem.." Ric cleared his throat loudly.

"Why are you always the one who interrupts me?" Damon shot at him.

Jenna giggled holding up the wine bottle and leaning in to Ric.

"Uh.. Ric not a great time for your lady to be hammered" Damon said.

"I'm okay" Jenna said quickly putting the bottle down. "Just getting over a rather awkward moment."

Katherine coughed loudly.

"Okay" Gabriel said silencing the room "Perhaps should explain your purposes?"

"Right" Damon said feeling a sense of pride as he took charge of the room.

"First of all Bonnie" Damon said looking at her directly "You leave here first and start acting like your heading home. Act like your mad or something to throw him off. We will all leave right after that so if he's watching his attention will focus back on us and not you."

She nodded "Then circle back and meet Gabriel in the woods near the graveyard?"

"Exactly" Damon nodded "Start the spell immediately who knows how much time we have"

"The rest of us stall as much as possible without pissing Caleb off to much. Everyone just stand guard. If it gets to a point I don't like and Alana hasn't arrived yet I'm going to fight him. Do not intervene any of you just trust me. That includes you Elena"

She nodded slightly.

"Tyler, your job is to guard her at any cost. Do not let her near Caleb"

"I understand" Tyler nodded.

"Katherine if all hell breaks loose just start running the humans as far away as possible motion Stefan to help you. Let me handle Caleb I can hold him off" Damon continued.

"How?" Katherine asked suspiciously.

"Don't worry how just do as I say"

"Excuse me.." She said haughtily "I've got 300 years on you not to mention I'm your maker"

"Now is not the time to pull rank Pierce" he replied "Just trust me on this"

"Fine your funeral" She threw her hands up and glanced at Elena who should be protesting more...she thought but dismissed it for the time being.

"Elena" Damon said pulling his face down to hers and talking to her in a whisper "If I lose you tonight. This is all for nothing. I need you to promise me that you will stand back just this one time. I need you to let me save you"

"I promise" She said her eyes filled with unshed tears. "I trust you completely. You won't let him kill you because you wouldn't leave me"

"I love you" he whispered again.

"Ready?" he said louder facing the room "Head out Bonnie"

Bonnie nodded and left the boarding house.


Please review! This is pretty much a two part chapter. The next part should be up tonight. I'm editing it right after I post this!