Thanks to grapejuice101 for your advice and helpful ideas!
Chapter 36
"Good, good." Alaric commented and took her arm. "Now here and here." He moved her arm in a jabbing motion upward motion. Jane nodded and repeated the action. "You're small and light so your opponent will automatically think you're an easy target. And since you're a girl. You have to use your speed and your brain and not rely on strength." Jane nodded again and he backed up. "Let's try again."
Jane came at him and ducked his fist, jabbing him in the stomach and bouncing away when he swung to get her. Narrowing her eyes in concentration, she kicked his legs out from under him when he ventured too close and he slammed the ground. Without wasting a second, Jane pinned him down.
"Great." Alaric coughed and Jane got off him.
"I kind of feel like Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality." Alaric laughed and this eyes widened as something blurred through the trees. Arms went around Jane and she reacted quickly, she jabbed her elbow into her attacker's solar plexus, then stomped his foot, socked him in the nose with the heal of her hand, and went to punch his groin, when a hand wrapped around her wrist, stopping her.
"Ah, let's not do that. I need that." Damon smirked and Jane rolled her eyes at him. "I wondered where you had run off to so early this morning."
"Yeah, well she called me at five this morning."
Jane grimaced. "I said I was sorry. I just couldn't sleep."
"All right, Miss Congeniality, I need to borrow Alaric. Guy talk." Damon interrupted.
Jane shook her head at him and then turned to Alaric. "Tomorrow?"
"I thought this was a one-time thing." Damon frowned and she frowned back.
"Damon, we talked about this. I need to learn to defend myself. I could have gotten away from Jules and Brady a few days ago, but I didn't even try."
"He had a gun, Jane. He would have blown your head off before you even raised a fist. Or Jules would have snapped your neck." Damon touched his nose, frowning. "Besides, I think you broke my nose."
Jane smirked. "See? Then I do need it. In case someone else comes to try and kill me. Elijah said other vampires might be looking for me too."
He rolled his eyes, cracking his nose back into place. He had to admit that she hit harder than he thought she would have. "I let you get in a hit, Jane. You can't take on a werewolf by yourself much less a vampire."
"With Alaric's help I can."
Alaric looked from Jane to Damon and then began whistling, choosing to stay out of the argument. Damon rolled his eyes.
"I told you, you don't have to do that. I'll protect you."
"I can't rely on you to save me all the time, Damon." Jane told him firmly. "What if you weren't around? What if someone else needed your help, like, um, Elena or Stefan? I need to be able to at least put up a fight."
He narrowed his eyes. "Elena. What about her? Are you saying I'd pick her over you?"
"Why are you being so defensive?" Jane snapped. "It was an example! It's not like I'm asking you to pick one of us if you had too, Damon." She rolled her eyes, unaware of the vampire's inner turmoil. "Anyway, I want to know how to at least try to get away. I don't want to be stuck in a situation that could have been avoided if I had just fought."
"And that right there," Damon pointed a finger at her. "That attitude will get you killed."
"Then you teach me." Jane took his arm. "Please, Damon?"
He suppressed a groan. Did she have to look at him like that? Those big green eyes that shimmered at him in the sunlight.
"Fine." He relented. "I don't like it, but fine."
"Thank you, Damon." Jane stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. The usual electric feeling he got when she touched him coursed through his body. Damon scowled briefly. He was tired of people telling him how he felt. Elijah and John could both disappear or die for all he cared. Jane was who he thought of not Elena. Sure he had some feelings for Elena, but she loved Stefan. It was Jane he wanted. Even when he had first met her, he had felt a connection with her and it had nothing to do with the blood bond. She needed him. She was the first person in a long time that needed him and while it was odd, it felt nice to be needed.
He turned his face so that their lips touched instead. "You owe me one for being so nice." Jane laughed and hit his arm, flashing him that smile he loved to see on her face.
"So, what are you and Damon up to today, Mr. Saltzman?"
"Well, Jenna and I were supposed to go to her family's lake house, but somehow, she got roped into doing this historical society thing at the Lockwood's. So Damon and I are just going to have a drink at the bar." Alaric lied, smoother than he had thought he'd be able too. Damon smirked at him from over Jane's head.
"Yeah, who wants to go to that?"
"Oh, well I'm sure you'll have fun." The girl said brightly and Damon smirked.
"Well, of course. He'll be with me and I'm always fun."
"When you're not being an ass." Jane pointed out and Alaric laughed.
Damon scowled and leaned down to hiss in her ear. "I thought we were going to be more honest and open?" He said in a sing-song tone.
"We are." Jane chimed back at him. "And I am."
"Mean."
She smiled at him and then headed for her bike. Damon groaned. "Would you just please use your car?"
"I can a pedal a bike, Damon."
"A car would be safer. That way I wouldn't worry that someone might run you over. Or toss something at you."
"Well, I wasn't going to think about that, now I am. Thanks." Jane said dryly and Damon rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine. I'm just heading home and then to class."
"You stay home and I'll take you to class."
"Damon-"
"Don't argue. Just let me know when it's time to get you."
"Fine." Jane stated and he nodded at her. She waved at Alaric and Damon before getting onto her bike and pedaling up the drive.
"Really needs a car. Or an indestructible bubble."
Alaric rolled his eyes as they went inside.
"John Gilbert gave me this kill Elijah." Damon showed Alaric the dagger and the white oak ash. "Said you have to dip the dagger in the remains of an old white ash tree that dates back to the Originals, if there's any truth in that..."
"So you think it's a setup?" Alaric asked, frowning slightly.
"It could be. Guys a weasel. Wouldn't put anything past him." Damon shrugged. "So this Lockwood party… Elijah's the guest of honor."
Alaric saw the look on his friend's face and rolled his eyes. "Tell me you're not gonna kill him at the tea party." He groaned.
"No." Damon rolled his eyes "I want to know his endgame before I kill him." Alaric shook his head. "Hey, guy's hanging around Jane way too much for my liking. I want to know why."
"Don't start anything."
"Who me?" Damon smirked and Alaric sighed.
"Are those for me? Thank you." Jane said, flushing slightly, and taking the flowers from Elijah. No one had ever brought her flowers before. And they were wildflowers. She loved wildflowers. "What's the occasion?" She asked, admiring her flower bouquet.
"I was wondering if you'd like to come with me to the Lockwood's party."
Shocked, her green eyes darted up towards him in curiosity. Elijah smiled good-naturedly, though inwardly he wondered how much this girl hadn't experienced. She had acted delighted and excited at seeing flowers as though no one had ever given her any. And he supposed sadly…no one ever had.
"Really? You want me to go?" Another delighted smile.
"Of course. I would be enchanted if you would accompany me. This is a party for me after all." Elijah stated and Jane smiled, her cheeks a rosy pink.
"Well, I should probably find something to wear…I'll be right back."
"Take your time." He told her as she flew up the stairs. She came back down with her flowers.
"Um, could you-"
"I'll put them in water." He took them and she hurried back up the steps.
Elijah didn't have to wait long. She was back down half an hour later, wearing a sleeveless blueberry colored scoop neck dress. Her hair was up in a braided bun, with a few curls framing her face.
"You look lovely, Jane."
She looked at the floor shyly, biting her lip to hide a smile and then looked up. "Thank you."
He offered his arm to her. "Shall we?" Jane nodded and took his arm.
"Tyler. Hi." Jules looked up in surprise.
Tyler shifted. "You're still here."
"Is that all right with you?" She questioned.
"That guy last night made it pretty clear you needed to go." He frowned.
She nodded. "And we will soon." They turned to see Brady and a guy Tyler didn't know round the corner of the RV. "Listen. We need your help with something."
"We need you to help us find the moonstone." Brady informed him.
Tyler scowled. "Somebody needs to explain to me what the big deal is about a rock." He snapped. He was tired of hearing about it. He deserved an explanation.
"That rock," Stevie spoke up. "Helps break a curse of the sun and the moon."
"I don't know what the means." Tyler told him with a frown.
Jules stepped forward. "It's an old curse placed on both vampires and werewolves."
"Vampires break the curse, they're free to walk in the sunlight but we're stuck only turning at the full moon, A.K.A werewolf Armageddon." Stevie added and Tyler arched an eyebrow.
"But if we break it," Brady smirked. "They're stuck as nightwalkers and we can turn whenever we want."
"A.K.A werewolf Domination." Stevie nodded.
Tyler still looked unsure.
"Tyler, if we can turn at will, that means we never have turn at all, not if we don't want to." Jules told him and he swallowed.
"I'd never have to turn again?" Tyler asked. He could be free and never again to feel the pain?
Brady nodded. "There's more." He nodded at his friend. "Stevie?"
"If those vamps are gearing up to break the curse, they must have also found the doppelgänger." The werewolf explained. "Or the elemental doppelganger."
"That's just a myth. She doesn't exist." Brady snorted and Stevie shook his head.
"Nope she's as real as we are. And I have facts."
"The doppelgänger?" Tyler questioned creasing his eye brows. "What's an elemental?"
"Evil twin shadow person." Stevie explained. "We're betting Mason's hot vampire chick Kathy knows all about it. so we need you to help us find Kathy. I have a picture. Mason brought her to the bar once. No one liked her. She was a vampire. Bad news." Stevie pulls out his phone and showed Tyler the picture of Katherine sitting by Mason.
"Right there." He pointed to Katherine. "That was the girl he was dating."
"That's Elena Gilbert." Tyler frowned. The other werewolves exchanged glances.
"You know her?" Jules asked.
"I've known her my whole life." Tyler nodded. "But what is an elemental?"
"An elemental is someone who enhances a witches' powers if their blood is used. They are extremely rare." Jules told him.
"Which means there's one around that attracted the witch to be here."
"One of the oldest families' dates back to Katherine's time and also happens to be a doppelganger. Evans, I think is the name. You know any around here?" Stevie asked and Tyler frowned.
"Just Jane Evans, but she seems normal to me."
Brady smirked. "That girl from last night?" He met Jules' eyes. "No wonder that guy witch showed up. He was protecting her."
Jules turned to Tyler. "Where can we find her now?"
"Have you spent much time in Richmond for your book?" Carol Lockwood asked. "There's such a wealth of history there."
Elijah shook his head. "No. I'm focusing mostly on the smaller regions of Virginia. Lots of research. Strictly academic."
"That's fascinating." She said and Jane hid a smile behind her cup. Carol would find anything interesting if it meant someone famous would be here in Mystic Falls. Elijah saw her and gave a wink.
"Damon what are you doing here?" Jenna asked and Jane turned her head. She frowned when she saw the vampire striding into the room. What was he doing here? Alaric had come in earlier, saying that Jenna had asked him to come so Damon had gone home.
"Hi. You came." A voice said before he could answer he and Jenna turned. Jane saw who had walked over and frowned. It was Andie Starr the news reporter.
Damon smiled. "Hi."
"Hi." They kissed and Jane ground her teeth. First he lied to her and now this?! She wanted to use her newly learned self-defense on his face.
"Thanks for introducing us, Jenna." Damon smirked at Jenna and Jane scowled, jealously rising up a notch. How dare he?! He walked over towards Carol and Elijah and she stepped closer to hear.
"Damon." Carol greeted and she and Elijah turned to face the man as he stepped forward.
"Carol." He greeted back and she kissed his cheek. "What a surprise."
"Elijah I want you to meet Damon Salvatore." Carol turned to the Original. "His family is one of Mystic Falls' founding families."
"Such a pleasure to meet you." Damon smiled tightly through gritted teeth. Elijah smiled just as tightly.
"No. The pleasure's all mine." Elijah's eyes found Jane and he could see the frustration in her eyes as she glared daggers into Damon's back. "I assume you know my date? My dear." He held his hand out for her and Jane walked over to take it. Damon's eyes widened slightly before narrowing again, his jaw clenched as he saw Jane's hand in Elijah's.
Jane glared at him. "Hello, Mr. Salvatore. I didn't expect to see you here."
"And I didn't think I'd see you here. Aren't you a little young to be with him?"
Jane jutted her chin out. "Aren't you a little too old for that news reporter?" Damon flinched slightly. He wasn't into Andie, he had just used her to get into the party. She turned to Caroline who had been watching the argument with raised eyebrows. "Would you please excuse me? I need some air." She hurried away after seeing the concerned look on Elijah's face.
Damon and Elijah made their way to the office that had belonged to Carol's husband.
"What can I do for you Damon?" Elijah questioned, tilting his head at the younger vampire.
"I was hoping we could have a word." Damon replied and shut the door.
"Where's Elena?" He inquired, turning from the window.
"Safe with Stefan. They're laying low, you know, bit of a werewolf problem."
"Oh, yeah, I heard about that."
"I'm sure you did." Damon muttered. "Since it was your witch that saved the day."
"Your welcome."
"You did it for Jane, let's not pretend. So why did you bring her here?"
Elijah's eyes narrowed. "You have yet to show me you can be trusted with her safety. Last night was yet another failure. As of now she is my responsibility."
"And what exactly does that mean?" Damon frowned. "She's my girlfriend."
"Is she? Do you truly see her that way or are you just saying what you think I want to hear? Are you trying to make up for that display in the drawing room earlier?"
"What are you insinuating?" Damon hissed.
"Nothing. I'm merely curious as to how exactly you perceive her. She's a girl with a compassion I haven't seen in a very long time. It's a shame she wastes it on you."
"I am not cheating on her. I used Andie to get here so I can talk to you. And you still haven't explained why you brought her here?"
"I find it easier to watch her if she is nearby."
"Oh, haven't you heard? She's taking self-defense classes from Alaric Saltzman. She doesn't need us."
Elijah raised an eyebrow. "Is that a fact?"
"Yep she started this morning."
"Hmm."
"I'm a bit confused as to why you are here. Are you here for Jane or for Elena?"
"Why don't you just stay focused on keeping the girls safe and leave the rest to me." Elijah walked towards the door but Damon zipped in front of it enabling him from leaving.
"Not good enough." Damon growled. Patience run out, Elijah grabbed Damon by the throat and slammed him into the wall. Damon grabbed Elijha's throat, but the Original merely unwound his fingers and turned the hand that held him, snapping bones. Damon groaned.
"You young vampires, so arrogant." Elijah scowled and leaned closer. "How dare you come in here and challenge me." He snarled.
"You can't kill me, man. It's not part of the deal." Damon replied cockily, despite his throbbing hand.
"Silence." Elijah commanded calmly and jabbed a wooden pencil into Damon's neck. Damon cried out and Elijah let him go. The door opened and Jane stuck her head in.
"Damon? Elijah?" She called before seeing Damon clutching at his neck, jerking a pencil out of it. Gasping, she ran to Damon helping him ease himself into a chair.
"I'm an Original. Show a little respect." Elijah told Damon coolly as he wiped blood from his fingers. He held the handkerchief out to Jane who was looking at him with wide eyes. "The moment you cease to be of use to me, you're dead, so you should do what I say. Keep Jane safe. This is your final chance." Elijah warned Damon before leaving the room. Jane pressed the cloth to Damon's neck.
"I'm all right." He tried to shove her away, but she scowled and stayed.
"Just shut up and let me help you." She snapped and cleaned off the blood from his neck and his hand, being careful of the fractured bones. She sighed. "Damon, would you please stop goading him?"
"I wouldn't have too if my girlfriend would stay away from him." He retorted.
"He asked me to come with him." She decided not to tell him about the flowers, since he was still in a killing mood. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming here? Why did you lie to me?"
"Because I wanted to talk to him alone, that's why."
"And look where it got you." She scowled. "Damon, I thought we were going to be honest."
"Would you have stayed home if I had?"
"No." She admitted.
"See?"
"Well, you had your alone time and he nearly killed you." She snapped. "He's an Original, not someone who is easily threatened like most of the people you deal with."
Damon looked up at her. "Are you done lecturing me?" She was standing in front of him. Her hands on her hips.
"Are you in need of a news reporter?" She snapped.
"Are you jealous?" He asked. He had never seen her like that before. "That was nothing, Janey."
"Then why did you kiss her?" She sounded hurt, but her face remained angry.
He stroked her waist. "I was keeping up the charade, Janey. She thought I had a thing for her so she agreed to be my date. Besides, you were the one who showed up with Elijah."
"At least he asked me to go with him. You never ask me to go anywhere. You just assume I'll show up like the last few times."
"Are we really having this conversation?" He scowled. "Are you not satisfied with us? With me?"
Jane sighed. "Of course I am, Damon. I just wish we did a few normal things. Like going to the movies or to a restaurant or something romantic like that. I just want to know if you care."
Damon was silent for a moment and he played with the hem of her dress. "I do care. How about after your dance class you come over and we'll watch a movie, okay?" Jane smiled.
"Okay!" She nodded, looking excited, and it made him feel guilty for not doing anything with her before now. "And I can make cookies for us to eat."
"Yeah, sure." He shrugged and she beamed more. "Be the way you look super-hot." She laughed and stroked his hair.
"So do you."
He stood up in a flash and kissed her, winding his arms around her. "I'm sorry about Andie. And I'm working on the lying thing." She nodded and hugged him.
"Just don't forget about me, Damon." She whispered, clutching at the back of his shirt. "I need you."
"I know." He nodded. "I know."
Damon and Alaric lounged in the living room drinking.
"So where's Jane?"
"Baking cookies." Alaric arched an eyebrow and Damon shrugged. "Apparently, that's what you watch a movie with." The human snickered. "Personally I thought it was popcorn."
"Why didn't she do it here?"
"Because all her supplies were at home and she's Jane." He snorted. Alaric smirked. "Today was a bust." He griped.
Alaric nodded. "Yeah. How's the throat."
"Sore." He muttered.
"Yeah. That Elijah's one scary dude, but with nice hair. Hey. You want another?" He asked, getting up to pour himself some more and taking Damon's empty glass.
"He's gonna be hard to kill." Damon grumbled.
"Yeah. I'd think twice before I'd trust that dagger and some ashes to do the job. You're gonna need more info." Alaric told him, pouring them both more to drink.
"I'm out of sources." Damon rolled his eyes.
"By the way don't kill the news chick. The one you were pretending to like earlier?"
"If I did who would report her death."
Alaric rolled his eyes. "I'm serious. She's friends with Jenna and it's bad enough that I'm lying to her about everything else. I hate the lies." He glanced down at his phone. "I got to go. I got to pick Jenna up." He stood up and downed the rest of his drink. "Don't worry. I'll, uh, show myself out."
"Good luck." Damon murmured and leaned back in his chair, shutting his eyes.
"Hello, Mr. Saltzman." He heard Jane greet. "Want a cookie? They're really good."
"Uh, sure…Mmm. That's good..."
"I'm glad you like them."
"You can call me Alaric you know." He pointed out. "In fact I prefer it."
"Okay." Jane said happily.
Damon smirked. A crash came from the hall and his eyes flew open at the sound of Jane's startled gasp.
"Damon, come quick!"
He zoomed into the hall to see Jane steadying the man, a stake protruding from his side. She helped him lay on the floor and glanced up at Damon with a frightened expression. A Tupperware container of cookies in the floor next to her. The lid had her initials.
"What do we do?" She asked him and gasped when she felt the life go out of him. "Oh my god…" Before he could speak, he heard a noise behind him. He whirled around and was attacked by a werewolf. The werewolf got onto his back and jabbed a needle into his neck injecting him with vervain.
"Damon!" Jane screamed as he tried to bash the werewolf off his back, by slamming into walls, but it did no good. The vervain worked in his system and he went to the floor.
"Whew! Damn, your strong." The werewolf chuckled getting off of his back. "It took the whole syringe."
Jane held onto Alaric, silently pleading that he'd wake back up. The werewolf turned to face her. Damon looked up at her groggily, the vervain dosage about to make him pass out and she met his eyes briefly. "Well, now who are you sweetie?" He glanced at the cookie box and back at her. "You must be the elemental doppelganger." More werewolves came in and he nodded at Alaric. "Grab that one. He's dead." Alaric was taken from Jane's grasp and she stood up slowly.
"Who-who are you?" She asked.
"Stevie." He said and she took a step back when he moved closer to her. "I'm not going to hurt you." They looked over when Jules walked in.
"Hi, Damon." She greeted, she had a gun slung over one shoulder. "Nice to see you again." Jules looked at Jane. "Hello Jane, I'm so glad you're here." Jane went over and punched the werewolf in the face before Stevie could grab her.
"That's for Rose, you bitch." She snapped and Jules, rubbed her cheek. The werewolf growled.
"Get her." Two werewolves came at her and Jane backed up, trying to get herself room. She felt one come up behind her and like Sandra Bullock she used the S.I.N.G technique making sure that the last one was really painful. Groaning, the werewolf went to the ground and she ran for it. In her pocket was a wolfsbane filled dart that Alaric had made for her. He had made vervain ones as well. All she had to do was jab one of the wolves. Jane darted into the library and hid behind the door, holding the dart like a dagger she was about to stab someone with.
"Come out, we're not going to hurt you." Stevie cooed from the hall. "Where are you, sweetie?" Stevie came into the room and Jane jumped onto his back, jabbing the dart into his neck. "Shit, oh, shit." He cursed, going down much like Damon had. Jane leapt from his back and whirled around only to be knocked in the forehead by the butt of Jules' gun. Her world went dark and she hit the floor.
One of the werewolves bent down and plucked the needle from Stevie's neck and sniffed the end of it. "Wolfsbane." He muttered and looked at the unconscious girl who had blood coming from her hairline where Jules had hit her. "How'd she get that?"
Jules frowned. "Make sure she doesn't have anymore."
Damon groaned, coming too and found that he was sitting upright in a high-back chair, the same chair he had set Mason Lockwood in not but a month or so ago. There was something around his neck, prodding into his skin when he moved and he could feel the wood doing damage. He scanned the room, trying to see where everyone else was. He found Alaric, lying in the floor, the man's eyes wide open and unseeing. He looked down and saw that he was wearing his ring which made Damon sigh in relief and then he looked for Jane.
She was lying on the couch, her hands and feet tied roughly with a thick rope that was cutting into her skin. Blood and a large bruise covered her forehead and a few streaks of it went down her face. Other than that she looked okay and alive.
"Morning, sunshine." Stevie stated and Damon's eyes wandered over to him. The werewolf rubbed his neck with one hand. "Your girl jabbed me with a wolfsbane dart." Damon smirked slightly. He'd have to thank Ric later for making her those. A chain rattling caught his attention and the werewolf moved closer to him. "I saw this movie once, some torture porn flick. They had this collar device that was really cool, so I just modified it with some wooden nails, and when I pull." He jerked on the chain and Damon cried out as the wood dug into his flesh.
"So I hear you have the moonstone." Jules walked in the room, smiling at him smugly.
Damon laughed lightly. "Oh, if you only knew the irony of this moment right now." He smirked weakly. "Let me tell you how this is gonna go. You're gonna let her go." He nodded at Jane who was slowly blinking at him. "You're gonna torture me, I don't talk, someone loses a heart. Last time, it was your boy Mason." Jules nodded at Stevie who jerked on the chain again. Damon groaned in pain.
"Stop! Please, leave him alone!" Jane cried.
"This time it will be yours or hers. I'm not picky about which."
Jane screamed and tried to fight the werewolf off her, but he pinned her to the couch. Damon jerked in his chair.
"Let her go. This is between you and me." He hissed, eyeing the werewolf who was straddling Jane, ready to plunge a knife into her heart. The girl, to her credit, didn't cry only tried her best to knock the guy off her.
"Better make a decision." Jules warned.
"Tyler, why are you doing this?" Stefan asked in pain, gripping at his chest.
"I can't let you break the curse." The werewolf responded, keeping his gun trained on Stefan just like Brady had told him to do.
Stefan looked up at him. "You know about the curse?"
"You're liars, all of you!" He scowled.
The vampire shook his head. "No. I swear to you. We don't want to break the curse, Tyler. We don't want to do that."
"Oh yeah? But I do." He hissed and shot Stefan in the leg. "I can't be like this forever."
"Tyler, I'm just trying to save Elena." Stefan told him. "Jane too."
"Elena and Jane will be fine!" Tyler frowned.
"They didn't tell you that part, did they? Who are the liars now?" Stefan asked.
"Tell me what?"
"In order to break the curse, either Elena has to die, Jane dies, or both of them do." Tyler paled and lowered his gun.
"What?"
Stefan nodded. "Yes. The curse needs Elena to die. And in using Jane they insure that it works. Or they can use her for both and leave Elena out of it. Either way, Tyler…one of them will die." Stefan frowned. "Do you know if Jane is save?"
"I…I don't think she is." Tyler stated, looking worried and confused.
"You know what the great thing about buckshot is? It scatters through the body, maximum damage." Jules smirked before cocking the gun and aiming it at him. "Where's the moonstone?"
"Get over it, honey. You're never gonna get it." Damon smirked and Jules made to shoot him.
"No!" Frantically, Jane kneed the werewolf in the groin, getting him off her and they both fell from the couch in a tangled pile. The werewolf wrapped his hands around her throat, when he managed to get the upper hand once more. She choked, beating him for air. Before he could do much damage, a voice called out.
"You looking for this?" Elijah asked.
Everyone in the room looked over at him, watching as he strode into the living room, moonstone in hand. He placed the stone onto the table behind the couch.
"Go ahead." He urged. "Take it." The one pinning Jane got up and before his fingers could touch it, Elijah plunged his hand into the werewolf's heart jerking it out. Blood splattered around the floor some of it landing on Jane. he let the heart drop and two more went for him. Elijah took them out just as easily as the first. Jules fled rapidly, knowing there was no way to win this one.
Elijah walked over to the last werewolf in the room. Stevie curled up and tried to hide under his jacket.
"What about you, sweetheart, hmm?" He pulled the werewolf to his feet by the back of his collar. "You want to take a shot? Yes, no, yes?" He inquired and Stevie shook his head. "Where's the girl?" Elijah asked, looking for Jules.
"She left." Jane whispered, her throat hurting.
Elijah shrugged. "It doesn't really matter." He punched Stevie, snapping his neck and the wolf went to the floor, dead. He went over to Jane and crouched next to her, untying her wrists and her ankles.
"Are you all right?" He inquired, cupping her chin and tilting her head so he could see about her forehead. She nodded and he stood up coming to release Damon from his chains.
"You realize this is the third time I've saved your life now?" Elijah smirked, tossing the chains off. Damon only eyed him. The Original glanced at Jane and back at Damon, speaking so that only the other vampire could hear. "Because she loves you, I will overlook this. However, if she comes to harm once more I will be taking action."
"Thank you." Jane said, hugging Elijah's neck when he stepped away from Damon. "Thank you so much." He nodded at her and hugged her back. Damon inwardly seethed.
"Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yes, I'm okay." Elijah handed her the Tupperware container.
"This is yours?"
"Thank you." She nodded and opened the lid. "Aww, Damon, they ate my cookies!"
Elijah chuckled once and gave a nod to Damon before taking the moonstone and leaving. Jane set the box aside and came over to check on Damon who was standing upright now.
"Are you okay?"
"Just need some blood and then I'll be all better." He stroked her cheek. "You need some." He mused and she shook her head. "Let me see, I'll be the judge of that." He checked her forehead. "Well, aside from a nice big bruise, there's no permanent damage." His fingers grazed her neck and she shivered. "Does it hurt?"
"No, I'm okay." He lifted her wrists, eyeing them and then he brought them up to his mouth. He kissed her skin, his tongue grazing where the ropes had cut into her skin. He moaned at the taste of her blood, something he hadn't had in a long time and she offered her neck to him. "You need to heal."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and Damon sank his fangs into her skin. She held onto him as he fed from her. Damon groaned when he made himself pull away from her. Jane was limp in his arms from him having a little too much, but he had forgotten how sweet she had tasted. He settled her upstairs before coming back down to deal with his messy living room.
His phone rang and he answered it. "Judgey." He greeted before Bonnie went into a long explanation. "So he planned on killing her all along."
"Yeah. The sacrifice is part of Elijah's plan."
"Got it loud clear."
"And he plans on using Jane as an incentive for Klaus to come. Klaus has something of his and Elijah is going to give Jane to Klaus if he gets what he wants. But he definitely wants to use Elena in the sacrifice."
"Damn it. Thanks for the info." He hung up as Alaric groaned, coming back to life. "Finally. You missed all of the fun."
"Where's Jane? Is she okay?"
"Sleeping. She's got knocked around a bit, but she jabbed at least one of them with that wolfsbane dart. So thanks for giving those to her."
Alaric nodded and reached for his phone to call Jenna as Damon continued to clean up.
Stefan stood by the window, listening to Damon.
"It was straight from the witch's mouth. He was going to through with the whole sacrifice and use Jane to bring Klaus out of hiding. You should probably keep Elena away a little longer."
"How's Jane? She is okay?" Stefan frowned.
"She's okay, sleeping it off now." His voice was lowered so Stefan figured he was checking on her.
"Be careful." Stefan told his brother. "Try not to get yourself killed and keep an eye on Jane."
"Yeah. It's been a day for that."
Stefan hung up and turned when Elena came into the room.
"That was, um... that was Damon. We need to talk."
"What is it?" Elena asked, buttoning up her sweater to keep warm.
"He learned that Elijah's planning for you to die in the sacrifice ritual." Stefan grimaced.
Elena sighed. "I know the deal I made, Stefan. Elijah's very careful with his words. He promised to protect my friends. He never said a word about me."
"You mean, you knew that you weren't gonna survive this?" Stefan frowned, coming closer to her.
"If it comes down to the people that I love getting killed or me, I know what my choice is gonna be." She nodded. "He promised to keep Jane hidden from Klaus."
Hurt, Stefan frowned. "Elena, how...how could you stand out there earlier with me," He gestured at the pier. "Talking about making plans for our future, when you don't even expect to have one?"
"I'm sorry, Stefan. I'm just trying to keep the people I love safe. I'm trying to keep you safe." She said, trying to make him understand.
"No. What you're doing is you're being a martyr." Stefan hissed.
"How is that any different from when you say that you would die to keep me safe?" She hissed back.
"Because I've already lived. 162 years I have lived, and you've barely begun, and now your way to let yourself get killed? That's not heroic. It's tragic." He shook his head. "And did you know that Elijah is still planning on using Jane to get to Klaus?"
"What?"
"Apparently, he's not been all that truthful. He's going to use Jane to get what he wants from Klaus and then handing her over."
Elena bit her lip as Stefan stalked off.
"Everyone has a dark side, my love. And they alone have the choice to indulge in it." He murmured, his dark eyes growing darker as he gazed at the candle's flickering light. The flame cast a glow of orange across some of his features, while the other remained in shadow so Jane couldn't really see his face. She shifted closer to him and he stiffened slightly, the grip he had on the table edge so hard that his knuckles were now white.
"And…do you?" She asked lightly, almost whispering, unsure if she really wanted to voice the question and break the spell of silence that had fallen. "Do you indulge in your dark side?" She froze when he looked up. His angry reminder of not to provoke him came back and Jane bit into her lower lip. He watched her bite my lip and Jane felt a bit of reprieve from his intense stare. And then lifted his gaze from her mouth to her eyes again.
"When the need arises." He answered and she gasped when he snatched her hand lifting it to his lips to kiss her palm. "What about you, love?" He asked, heat from his breath skimming across her skin and she shuddered. He looked at her and she could feel a darkness in his gaze that threatened to consume her. "Do you indulge?" He held his hand out for her, his wrist had a slit in it. blood slipped down and Jane took his hand as he took one of hers. His fangs slid into her palm and she fit her mouth over his wrist. A wave of desire coursed through her body and between her legs.
Jane gasped and sat up. That had definitely been a vision and not a dream.
"Janey? You okay?" Damon asked, rolling onto his side. "Bad dream?"
She nodded and he shut his eyes. Jane bit her lip. That had not been Damon in her vision. Feeling guilty for even thinking of another man, Jane turned and buried her face against his bare chest and tried to will herself back to sleep. But she could not forget the feeling the vision had given her and she bit her lip hard. There was no way she could go to sleep now. The question was…who was that? Whomever it was she was blood bonded with him willingly and that thought frightened her.
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