"I heard what happened." I jumped in surprise, turning to see John Gilbert approaching from behind me. I shifted the blood covered dress awkwardly in my arms. Damon had brought me something to change in to. I was currently standing outside the hospital waiting for Alaric to pick me up.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about the dress. I was going to try and clean it up to return it," I explained, holding it up in explanation.
"Why would you do that?" John asked, stepping closer.
"This was too much. I appreciate the gift but I can't accept it," I offered.
"It was a gift, and what would I do with it?" he chuckled. I gave a small smile and looked around awkwardly.
"I don't think I should be talking to you. I've heard nefarious things," I told him.
"Oh really? Your boyfriend tell you this?" he asked. I frowned and turned myself away from him. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's going on between you two but you should work it out or break it off before Katherine-"
"I'm going to stop you right there. I don't give a crap what Katherine does or wants or anything. I don't know her! I don't care about her! She broke Damon's heart. She's the reason I got locked underneath the church," I snapped, interrupting him. "Besides, Damon and I are none of your business. But he is not my boyfriend." John chuckled and nodded.
"Of course."
"What do you want John?" I sighed.
"Is it so hard to believe I wanted to check to see if you were okay?" he asked. I rolled my eyes and looked at him.
"Yes, it is. So spit it out."
"The device. Do you know where it is?" he questioned, all joking leaving his voice.
"You are going to have to be more specific." Alaric pulled up and honked announcing his presence. I started walking away but John grabbed my arm.
"Does Damon have the Gilbert device?" I tore my arm from his.
"I don't know what you were talking about and if I did, that is not a way to get me to tell you. Goodbye John." I walked off without another word.
…
Alaric took us back to his place without a word. He simply went to his kitchen table and started shifting through random papers.
"What's up?" I asked, looking over his shoulder. "Are those cellphone records?"
"Yeah." I stood behind him waiting for him to elaborate.
"And?" He continued not to reply. "Whose are they?"
"They belong to Isobel," he stated. My eyes widened and I nodded.
"Oh yeah. The dead wife. Elena's mother. Vampire. What are we searching for?" I asked taking a seat beside him. He shook his head.
"No, no. I just picked you up from the hospital. You are recovering. I'm not taking you on any special missions," he retorted. I frowned, furrowing my eyebrows.
"Well if you aren't going to take me then who are you taking? You aren't going alone." Just as I finished speaking there was a loud knock on the door. Alaric stood up to answer. I watched him from where I was sitting.
"Hello Ric," Damon's voice announced from the other side of the door, "Going to invite me in?" I stood so I could see him.
"No, I'm not that stupid. Let's go," Alaric stated, grabbing his coat.
"Damon? That's who you picked?" I asked. Damon smirked at me.
"Glad to see you out of the hospital, now go lay down and rest. There is no way your strength is back already. Take a breather Red, we've got this one," Damon said.
"I will be back soon Annie, don't worry. But Damon is right, you should get some rest," Alaric stated before leaving the flat. He closed the door behind him.
"Bye!" I called after them, my shoulders slumping. I wandered off to my guest bed and collapsed in a tangle of sheets. "This is stupid," I mumbled to myself. I pulled the bandaid off my neck and gently ran my fingers over the bite mark. I shuddered thinking about Stefan. That wasn't him. I laid back, my head on the pillow, fixating my gaze on the ceiling. I sighed, closing my eyes.
…
Dark eyes. Dark, red eyes. It was all I could see. Crossing my vision. The veins extending across his cheeks. His wicked smile pulled across a set of razor sharp fangs.
"You have wanted to do this a long time, haven't you?" I whispered. A small glimmer of pain crossed those devilish eyes. "Do not act hurt. You have got me. Now what do you want with me?"
"That isn't really a question, is it sweetheart?" he replied, dropping another victim dead to the floor. I shuddered at the lifeless thump of the body.
"The full moon is not for another month, you don't have the doppelgänger, you aren't ready. Let me go and come collect me when it's closer to the time," I snapped. He rushed in front of me, grabbing my chin.
"You are foolish if you think I am ever going to let you go," he growled. I tried meeting his eyes but I had to look away. I despised the monster inside him, inside us all. "And the doppelgänger is in sight. She will be collected in time for the curse to be broken."
"Why am I here now then?"
"Feed with me, my daughter," he said, lightly running his fingers down my cheek. I shivered.
"No."
"You will do as I say!" Suddenly the soft touch became a hard grasp on my chin. I glared forward at him.
"You cannot force me to feed if I do not wish to do so," I bit back, "Not again." He pushed my chin away and took a step back. He grabbed one of the compelled women and tore deeply into her neck. He tossed the now heavily bleeding woman toward me. I looked at her horror filled eyes. I looked up at my father. I brought my wrist to my lips and bit through the soft skin with my dull teeth. I pressed my wrist to the woman's mouth. "Drink," I whispered. She looked at me with fear but obeyed. It only lasted seconds before her head went tumbling across the room. I screamed and dropped her body. My father stood inches from me. His icy eyes pierced into mine. He pushed me back into the wall.
"What do you think you were doing?" he asked.
"Helping instead of hurting. It is what good people do," I replied. He growled and suddenly his hand was wrapped around my neck.
"You are not a good person. You do not help. You are a vampire. ACT LIKE ONE!" he shouted into my face. I narrowed my eyes.
"Never," I wheezed out. Before I knew what was happening I felt daggers tear into my neck. I grabbed my father's shoulders pushing him away with my limited strength. He held tight but pulled back, his hands tight on my shoulders and my blood on his lips. "How dare you?"
"HOW DARE YOU?! You defy your true nature, you defy your father! The sooner this curse is broken the better. Until then," he started leading me out of the room and down a darkened set of steps. I shivered at the cold of the basement. I saw an empty room. It looked like a cell. "You will wait here until I require you. When I go to break the curse, you better not disobey me, or there will be severe consequences." He shoved me into the room before slamming the door behind me. I rushed up to the door after stumbling a few steps. I tried opening it and shaking it but the door wouldn't budge.
"You would not leave me here!" I called after him. He said nothing. All I heard was his footsteps and the slamming of the basement door.
…
I sat up quickly. There was a ringing through the house. I rubbed my neck gently and tried to slow my breathing while getting up out of the bed. I rushed into the kitchen and found a phone on the counter. Elena's name came up on the caller ID. I picked it up slowly.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Annie? Is Alaric there?" Elena asked.
"Um, no. He left with Damon not too long ago I think. Why?" I questioned.
"It's Stefan. I can't get through to him. Actually, maybe it's better I got you. Will you talk to him?" A lump formed in my throat.
"Can you give him the phone?" I asked shakily.
"No Annie, you have to come here. He may listen to you. Tell him it's okay. Tell him you will forgive him. Please, he isn't eating," Elena begged. I sat silently for a moment. Could I talk to him? I had told Damon that I would forgive Stefan but was I really ready for that? "Annie?"
I cleared my throat. "I will be right there." I hung up the phone placing it on the counter. I took a shaky breath and fell into one of the kitchen chairs. "I don't think I can do this."
…
I knocked softly on the door to the boarding house. Elena answered in seconds.
"Thank you for coming. I realize that this is a lot to ask of you. I really appreciate it." I nodded numbly as I walked into the house.
"Where is he?"
"The cellar downstairs," she told me. I nodded again and followed her down the stairs. My mind rushed with my own terrible memories. I gripped the railing tightly. "Stefan?"
"I thought I told you to get out," Stefan growled.
"I brought someone I thought you might want to talk to," she replied.
"I told you I don't want to talk to anyone!"
"Stefan," I whispered. I could see him through the bars. His face fell.
"Leave. Please leave," he said. I could hear fear and begging in his voice. I shook my head even though every bone in my body told me to leave. I took a deep breath.
"Elena, can you lock me in there with him? I will call for you if I need you. Just give me a moment with him," I asked. She nodded and opened the cellar door. I stepped in and listened to the wooden door settle in to place.
"I will be right upstairs."
"Annie, what are you doing?" Stefan asked with wide eyes. He pressed himself to the wall of the other side of the room. I knew how he felt. I kept trying and failing to pull myself away from the door.
"I forgive you Stefan." His eyes dropped from mine to the bite marks on my neck. "Look me in the eyes Stefan. Don't focus on that. I'm okay Stefan. You can see that."
"That's why I took you. Because I knew you wouldn't die. Anyone else I would have killed," he told me through gritted teeth. I nodded.
"Guilt free. Killing without killing. But both of us know there is no such thing as guilt free killing. Even when the switch is flipped, the moment we come back we are torn apart by the lives we have stolen. Even the ripper feels guilt. And that is normal Stefan. I just want you to know that I'm okay. And I forgive you for doing what you did. But you have to feed again," I told him, finally taking a step forward. I noticed a bottle of blood laying on the floor. I picked it up and sat on the little bed with it.
"Annie, you should not forgive me. I don't deserve it," Stefan whispered. I fiddled with the bottle in my hands.
"You don't get to decide that Stefan. I have been there. I have killed because the monster inside me could not be satisfied. I would give anything to take it back, but we can't. All we can do is ask for forgiveness, then allow ourselves to accept it, and hope we never let that part of ourselves out again. You have my forgiveness Stefan. Drinking this is the first step to accepting it and working towards concealing the demon," I told him, holding the bottle up. He took it and sat next to me.
"Sometimes I forget how old you are," he chuckled.
"But then I unleash some Yoda like wisdom and the truth comes out," I joked in return.
"Thank you," he whispered. I looked up and met his eyes. I placed my hand on his arm.
"You are welcome Stefan. I will be honest with you, I was scared to come here today. But I am really glad I did," I told him. He nodded and twisted the cap off the bottle taking a big drink from it.
"You did what!?" Stefan and I both jumped at the loud yell that came from upstairs. The door to the basement slammed open.
"She asked me to Damon!" Stefan and I both stood up quickly. I saw Damon's face appear through the bars, Elena close behind him.
"Damon, it's okay. I'm fine. We both are!" I stated quickly. His angry eyes dropped from mine to the bottle of blood in Stefan's hand.
"Well what do you know? You got him to drink," Damon growled.
"What? That's good! That's so good Annie!" Elena called. She pulled the door to the cell open. She rushed up to Stefan, wrapping her arms around him.
"Thank you Annie," Stefan said. I nodded and smiled to him and started walking towards the door. My smile fell when I saw the murderous look on Damon's face. I stepped out of the room around him and ran up the stairs. I didn't hear Damon follow me but sure enough he met me at the top of the stairs. He grabbed my arm spinning me around.
"What the hell were you thinking?" he snapped.
"Elena asked for help," I whispered. Damon took a step forward backing me into the wall. I shrunk back.
"You didn't have to go into the damn cell! You didn't have to put yourself in danger!" he shouted.
"I wasn't in danger! Stefan wouldn't have hurt me again!" I replied. His dark eyes narrowed.
"Tell me what you were thinking!" he ordered. I felt my hands start to shake. I had to look away, down to my feet.
"I was thinking, I've been there, where he is now. And I hated it. I hoped I could help. I just wanted to help," I noticed his fist clenching and I flinched back further into the wall. "Damon I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't be mad. Please let me go." His body froze in place.
"Annie, no. I'm sorry. I'm not mad. Well I was. But it's not like that. I'm not going to hurt you," he whispered. He raised his hand and gently brushed my cheek with his knuckles. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself.
"Can I go?" I asked. I felt a tear drip down my cheek.
"No, Annie. I'm sorry."
"I know Damon. I know. But can I leave. I want to go back to Alaric's," I begged, finally looking up to meet his now soft eyes.
"Actually the teacher had kind of a hard day Annie. It's best to just give him some space," Damon said. I cocked my head.
"Damon are you actually caring about someone other than yourself?" I asked. He grabbed my face gently.
"Annie, stay. Please." I looked into his eyes.
"I don't think I can," I whispered. I pulled myself away from him and towards the door. I paused holding it open. "Just let me get some air." I slammed the door behind me and ran down the drive of the house. I walked down the road headed for the grill. Hopefully I could sneak in a drink or two before inevitably heading back to the boarding house.
I opened the door to the Grill and the first thing I saw was Ric sitting at the bar with a woman beside him. The look on his face said he hadn't been expecting to see her. I walked around the dining area, watching the two as I went.
"Hey, Annie! How has it been?" Matt said, walking up to me. I tore my eyes off Ric and the woman and looked at him.
"Busy, it's been busy," I said.
"What happened to your neck?" He asked. I suddenly reached up and grabbed my neck.
"Oh! My friend's dog bit me. Sad event really. Had to put the beast down. I was going to cover it up. I was in a bit of a rush," I said. I noticed the woman Ric was with had turned to look at me. "I have to go."
"Is everything okay?" He asked. I nodded and gave him a smile.
"Yup, see you at school?" He nodded and I turned walking towards the bar. Ric started walking away. "Is everything alright here?" I asked stopping Ric.
"Annie, leave," he warned.
"Annie, stay," the woman snapped in return. Alaric narrowed his eyes at the woman.
"What is going on?" The woman smiled and walked up to me. She grabbed a strand of my hair and twisted it around her finger.
"Nothing darling."
"Let her go Isobel!" Alaric snarled. My eyes widened and I looked quickly between him and her.
"Isobel?" my voice shook, giving me away. She smiled brightly at me.
"I've heard so much about you," she said. I took a step away from her but she grabbed my arm holding me in place.
"You and many others. To my disliking someone is spreading the word about me. I would appreciate it if you kept your mouth shut," I told her. She smiled.
"Don't worry. You will see her soon," she told me.
"Katherine?" I asked. She nodded and I felt myself growl at the name.
"Isobel, let her go," Alaric said, after a moment. I felt the vampire's grip tighten on my arm.
"Do as I say Alaric or she won't be so lucky," Isobel threatened. I looked at Ric and subtly shook my head. Isobel caught the gesture and pulled me closer. "This bite doesn't look good darling. Just starting to heal. Would be a shame if someone were to tear it open." I glared at her.
"Do it. You will last three seconds. This town is full of vampire hunters," I warned. She brought a hand up and pulled her nail through the bite mark, drawing blood. I hissed at her and slapped her hand away.
"Torturing you could be fun," she whispered.
"I'll do it," Alaric cut in, "Leave Annie alone."
"Alaric whatever she wants you to do, you don't have to do it," I tried. Isobel ran her finger through the blood dripping from my neck and brought it to her mouth.
"Yes he does," she said with a smirk. I glared at her.
"I said I would do it, now let Annie go," Alaric ordered. Isobel let go of my arm and took a step back with a smirk.
"See you around." She sent a wink my way before turning and sauntering out of the Grill.
"Are you okay?" Alaric asked, he caught my face in his hands, looking over my neck. I nodded and took his hands in mine.
"Are you okay?" I asked him in return. His face fell and he grabbed a piece of paper from the bar, handing it to me.
"She wants to meet with Elena," he explained.
"Forget Elena for a second. What did she say to you?" I tried again. He shook his head.
"She is just a bitch. Don't worry about it," he said. I squeezed his hands as he sat back at the bar. "Drink?"
"Please." He called the bartender over and ordered me something.
"What brought you here Annie?" he asked as I downed my drink.
"The thought of getting drunk and making bad decisions," I told him. He didn't reply, just took a sip of his own drink. I sighed. "I thought Damon was going to hurt me. It reminded me of before. He was so mad." Alaric's glass hit the bar with a thud.
"What do you mean?" he ordered.
"I locked myself in a cell with Stefan to try and get him to drink blood again. He was starving himself and I wanted to help bring him back. Damon got mad at me for putting myself in harms way," I explained.
"Did he hurt you?" I shook my head frantically.
"No, no. Damon wouldn't do that now. That was before. Things are better between us now," I told him. He didn't believe me. I could tell by the look in his eyes. He ordered another round of drinks.
"Well, I guess we both have issues don't we," he finally said in reply. I nodded, downing this drink as well.
"I'm in love with a psychopath and your wife is a selfish bitch vampire, life couldn't be better," I teased.
"What?" I looked at him in confusion as the bartender filled my drink again. "You love Damon?"
"I didn't say that," I told him taking a drink. He grabbed the glass from me.
"Annie, you can't possibly love him," Alaric said. I looked from my stolen alcohol to his face. I shook my head.
"I can't," I whispered. I felt a tear run down my cheek.
"Oh Annie, let's get home." I nodded. I grabbed my glass back from him and once again downed it. I stood up and swayed a little but ignored it as I walked towards Ric's car. "Are you okay?" Alaric wrapped his arm around my waist. I nodded and got into the passenger's side.
"I'm sorry about your wife Alaric," I told him as he got behind the wheel. He looked over to me and I turned to him with tear filled eyes. "We deserve better don't we?"
"We do Annie."