AN: I do not own the Vampire Diaries; all rights belong to the CW, Julie Plec, Kevin Williamson, and L.J. Smith, I only own what you don't recognize.
Full Summary: Bulgaria 1492 Katrina and Elizabeth Petrova; identical twins, except for one difference; their eyes. While Katrina had warm brown eyes, Elizabeth had eyes the color of shocking lapis lazul. When Katrina had a child out of wedlock, her family banished her to Europe; not wanting her twin to be alone Elizabeth followed her. Once in England the two easily became English and one of the Lords that resigned there took surprising interest in Katrina's looks and Elizabeth's powers. Modern day; Elena and Aileen Joelle aka A.J. Gilbert exact copies of Katrina and Elizabeth. After the deaths of their parents A.J. fled to a preforming arts school in Boston and Elena stayed home with what remained of her family.
****BY THE WAY ELENA'S THOUGHTS ARE IN BOLD&ITALICS AND A.J.'S ARE IN BOLD!*** (Everyone else's should be in italics)
The Secrets of the Girl
Chapter Thirty-Three
THE NEW DEAL
A.J. POV
My alarm woke me up, or maybe I was never really asleep in the first place. The hours had blurred together as I replayed the events of the previous night. The way fire ran through my veins, the way Damon disappointed me, how Nik made me feel with a single look, it was all racing in my head, tormenting me. I finally swung my legs out of bed and padded over to my closet where I quickly changed into a sports bra and shorts. Even though it was cold outside I knew that I would warm up in a matter of minutes. I tucked my phone into my sports bra and shoved my earbuds into my ears and quietly snuck out of the house and into the dark morning. I always started with a 3 mile run, making sure to get it done within 20 minutes, before heading into the basement for the rest of my workout. I took my normal route into town, running past the Grill before doubling back all the while keeping an eye out for lurking hybrids. Luckily I encountered no one and made it back to the house in 19:28. I smiled as I stopped the timer on my watch, I was finally getting back into shape after to being able to do anything over the summer and it felt good. I steadied my breathing as I made my way back inside and down to the basement. I changed my playlist and pulled on my training gloves. I walked over to our punching bag and started off slowly, keeping my punches and kicks hesitant as I got adjusted to the feeling of hitting the bag. It didn't take long for me to get back into the swing of things and soon I was punching and kicking like my life depended on it.
I put my anger, sadness, and disappointment, all of my emotions into my hits. I let out my emotions until my knuckles became bloody, the gloves no longer protecting my skin from the harsh impacts. My earbuds fell out and I let them hang by their cords as I kept going. I came to a stop when the timer on my phone beeped, telling me it was time to get upstairs for breakfast. After one last kick I dropped to the floor, pushing my earbuds back into my ears before counting my crunches out loud until I reached 125 and my abs were screaming for a break. I repeated the process with my pushups and soon my arms felt like jelly as I dropped onto my belly onto the matt, breath coming in pants. I stayed there until I felt my heart rate start to decrease and sat up. I got up and made my way over to the small fridge we had pushed into a corner. I plucked a water bottle from it and jogged up the stairs just as Elena got home from her run looking panicked. "Are you alright?" I asked as we both went to the kitchen.
Elena shook her head, letting out a breath as her fingers combed into her pony tail, "I'm going crazy." She breathed out as she pulled out a packet of instant oatmeal, "I could've sworn I was being followed today but it just turned out to be another jogger."
I shrugged as I tossed my water bottle into the trashcan and went straight for the protein shakes, "It's pretty normal, 'Lena. You've got yourself so worked up over whether or not Nik is going to kill you that its messing with your head." I explained as I shook up my drink.
"Is he even still in town?" Elena asked me as she took her oatmeal out of the microwave.
I broke the seal on my drink, "I'm not sure, he said he'd call later." I said taking a gulp of the drink, "Did you know Damon was fighting with me just because of the plan?"
Elena cast her gaze downward and that was confirmation enough, "Okay then." I said hiding my disappointment.
"Aileen-" Elena started as I made my way out of the kitchen.
I shook my head silencing her, "I'm not mad Elena." I informed her, hiding my feelings from her through the link.
I was plopped down on one side of Damon attempting to read my AP English-Lit assigned reading. Damon was on the set path to getting day drunk as a result of Stefan going dark side. "C'mon Ric, I can't drink this all by myself and A.J. here's got a drinking problem so she can't help me. You're my first and only option." Damon whined, "I mean, I could drink this by myself but then somebody's getting naked." He said eyeing the bartender. I put my book down, "I do not have a drinking problem." I said irritably.
"Yes you do." Damon and Alaric said in unison, or well in Damon's case slurred.
"Man, I can't believe you're making me drink alone." The vampire whined.
"I'm busy." Alaric maintained, not looking up from his stack of papers.
"It's the eve of Klaus-aggedon and you're doing homework?" Damon questioned in disbelief.
"This may come as a shock to you but I am not here to hang out with you. I'm here to keep an eye on Aileen and see Jeremy, who is an," Alaric looked up at the clock, "hour late for his shift." He told Damon, clearly irritated.
"Kids today, where are their values?" Damon offered drunkenly.
Alaric set a paper in front of Damon emblazoned with a big red F, "That's his midterm, copied it straight off the Internet. Didn't even try to hide it." He spat as I picked my book back up.
"Ooh somebody's getting grounded." Damon said with a grin.
Not taking my eyes off my book, I slammed my foot into the back of his knee, making Damon fall into the bar. He turned to look at me with a hazy expression, "Now that is not the correct way to play footsie." He said resting his arm over my shoulders.
"Did you say that you're waiting for Jeremy as in Jeremy Gilbert?" The bartender asked Ric.
"Yeah?" Ric said looking peeved at the mention of my baby brother.
"He was fired last week." She said with a sympathetic shrug before moving along.
I got up from my perch and made my way to an empty table by the dart board, knowing Damon would follow. I slammed my book down onto the table and crossed my arms as Damon picked up the darts. "He got fired." I spat, "Unbelievable."
Damon lined up a dart and hit the bullseye, "I had almost forgotten how feisty you get when you're mad." He said with an amused smirk.
"I'm not mad." I enunciated as I sent Jeremy a text, "I'm worried."
"Why? He'll survive losing his job, Aileen." Damon pointed out before lining up another dart.
He let it fly but this one strayed from the center of the board. "Because he's my little brother and he's spiraling; he has been since Bonnie broke up with him. I mean that's why you're day drunk right? Because Stefan's spiraling." I maneuvered the conversation to Damon's issue.
Damon plucked the darts off the board and turned to me with a smirk, "Do you have a problem with me being day drunk?" He asked approaching me.
"Its just not your most attractive look is all." I said innocently.
Damon's smirk widened as he slid a hand around my waist, "What is my most attractive look then?" He asked pulling me closer.
I smirked as I brought my hands up to his chest to push him back, "I didn't say you had one just that this is the one I like the least." I said pushing him off of me gently.
"Noted." Damon smirked.
"Besides usually day drunk Damon means-"
"Don't mind me love." Nik's voice came from behind me.
My eyes flickered over to Elena and Bonnie and met Bonnie's eyes but the witch quickly looked away leaving me feeling confused. I turned to face Nik, "You decided to stay then?" I asked making to take a step towards him only for Damon to pull me back by the hem of my shirt.
"You're gonna do this in the Grill, in front of everyone? It's a little beneath you don't you think?" Damon confronted him.
Nik began walking forwards "I don't know what you're talking about I just came down to my local pub to grab a drink with a mate." He said making my eyes flicker to the hybrid behind him, "Maybe chat up a pretty girl." He added eyes moving to me.
"Aileen that's the jogger from this morning." Elena said as her fear ran through me like ice water in my veins.
"Get a round then, would you Tony?" Nik asked the hybrid who smirked at me and Damon before heading to the bar.
Nik smiled at me as I gave him a knowing look, he was only here to mess with everyone's minds and probably make demands. "I'm surprised you stuck around town long enough for happy hour." Damon said interrupting our gaze.
Nik's smile fell, "My sister seems to be missing, need to sort that out." He indicated his suspicion of Damon.
The image of Rebekah's graying body lying in the Salvatore's basement flashed into mind and I swallowed back some guilt. "Cute, blonde bombshell, psycho, shouldn't be too hard to find." Damon bantered, shoulders tensed.
"Truth is I've grown to rather like your little town," Nik said walked towards Damon until they were a few feet apart, "I'm thinking I might fancy a home here." He said taking the darts from Damon, "Oh I imagine you're wondering how does this is affect you. The answer is: not in the slightest. As long I get what I want and everyone behaves themselves you can go on living your little lives however you choose. You have my word." He told us.
Elena came up beside me, "What more could you possibly want?" She asked trying to keep the fear out of her voice but failing.
Nik stepped in close to her, "Well for starters, you can tell me where I might find Stefan." He growled.
I knew Nik wouldn't hurt her but Damon didn't so he stepped up closer so he was edging between the two of us and Nik. "Stefan skipped town the second he saved your ass." Damon interjected.
"Well you see that is a shame." Nik growled before throwing a dart at the board and hitting the center, "You're brother stole from me, I need him found so I can take back what's mine."
"That sounds like a Klaus and Stefan problem." Elena challenged him making me send a glare to the doppelgänger.
Nik stepped towards her only to have Damon step in his way, making me furrow my eyebrows, what was Damon doing? Nik looked between the two with a smirk and let out a chuckle, "Well this is me broadening the scope, sweetheart." He said.
Elena looked frightened by his proximity and Nik moved his gaze to me, "Mind joining me for a drink, Ailey?" He said his demeanor softening as he held out his hand for me.
I took a step forwards and reached for his hand only to be blocked by Damon moving in between us, "She's not supposed to drink." He informed the Original.
I rolled my eyes, "I wasn't going to give her alcohol, mate." Nik said with a tense smirk, "Now would you move aside?"
Damon stepped farther in front of me making me roll my eyes, "You think I'm going to hurt her?" Nik said with a chuckle, "You actually think that I could hurt her?"
"Damon move." I said placing a hand on his shoulder.
"I don't trust him." He said and I didn't have to look at him to know he was sneering at the hybrid.
I huffed, "Sucks for you." I growled before swiftly moving around Damon and taking Nik's hand.
Nik guided me away with a hand on the small of my back, "C'mon why don't I introduce you to Tony." He said leading me to the table his hybrid had gotten us.
I looked back over my shoulder to see Elena and Damon watching me with unreadable expressions and quickly whipped my head back around to face Nik and Tony with a smile. "So you're the hybrid Nik assigned to scare my sister." I said with a smirk as Nik pulled out my chair.
Tony laughed, "She's easy to scare." He commented, sipping his beer.
I shrugged playing with the straw of my water, "She's been through a lot." I said glancing at Nik who was gazing down at his drink, "Anyway, so tell me about this 'extravagant home' you're building." I changed the subject causing Nik to look up at me with a smirk.
I handed Elena the plates to set the table as Alaric was chopping vegetables. "So are you ready?" Alaric asked us as I looked for silverware.
"Vampires, hybrids, and Originals no problem, my rebellious brother…I'm worried." Elena sighed.
"Proof that you're still human." Alaric said trying to lighten the mood.
I smiled at Elena, "Remember my rebellious stage?" I asked as I set down the silverware.
Elena laughed loudly, "You came home with bright purple highlights, a nose ring, and Tyler attached to your mouth; yes I remember." She said with a wide smile, "Mom and Dad just about sent you off to an all-girls school."
"You had a nose ring?" Ric asked looking up at me with bewilderment.
I chuckled, "It was magnetic; I was too scared of needles to even think of getting it done for real. The highlights I got out within the week and Carol Lockwood gave me and Tyler the sex talk; end of rebellious stage." I informed him as the front door opened.
"Just in time," Elena announced as Jeremy came into the kitchen, "we're cooking."
"Sorry just passing through." Jeremy said as he opened the fridge.
Elena and I exchanged looks, "Ric." I said pointedly.
"Oh well I thought that we'd all stay in, have a meal together like a typical atypical family." Ric said in an attempt to seem like we weren't forcing him to stay.
"Why?" Jeremy asked confused.
"Maybe because you got fired and you didn't tell anyone." Elena said jumping right in.
Jeremy froze mid step before sighing, "Look can we do this later? I made plans with Tyler, he's right outside." He said.
"Wait, when did you start hanging out with Tyler Lockwood?" Ric asked him as I leaned against the wall.
Jeremy shrugged, "I don't know, does it matter?" He asked.
"Yeah, Jeremy! It matters. He was sired by Klaus. He's dangerous." Elena said pointedly.
"He can still hear you, he's right outside." Jeremy said before turning to me, "You're taking their side? You of all people are going to tell me that I can't hang out with a hybrid? Because he's dangerous? You're practically dating the Original hybrid."
I pushed off from the wall, "Okay one, I know what I'm getting into-"
"So do I." Jeremy snapped, glaring at me.
"And two what the hell is with your attitude?" I asked raising my eyebrows, "Jere, we don't talk to each other like that."
"Yeah, whatever this is lame. Tyler's waiting." Jeremy said moving to leave.
"NO." Elena and I snapped moving towards him in unison.
"You are not going anywhere, especially not with Tyler." Elena said putting a hand on his chest to stop him.
Jeremy looked to Alaric for help but he just shrugged, "I'm with them on this, Jere. Sorry." He said with crossed arms.
Jeremy looked back to us with defiance in his eyes, "Alright, fine you want me to stay in? Let's all stay in then. YO TYLER, COME ON IN!" He yelled to the hybrid.
"No Jeremy!" I yelled.
The door opened and Tyler stepped through. I crossed my arms and glared at him, "I don't know what you're trying to pull but if he gets hurt because of you I'll kill you myself." I told the hybrid, enjoying how he flinched in pain at his mind being invaded.
3rd Person POV
Damon was pouring a glass of bourbon when Klaus made himself known. Damon turned around to face the hybrid, drink in hand, "I think it's about time we had a drink don't you?" Klaus asked with a smirk.
"I'd say we were overdue." Damon said faking a smile as he looked at the reason for all of his problems.
"Well you've been so busy, what with all of your plotting and scheming." Klaus remarked.
The tension in the room was mounting by the second, "You know me. Never miss a chance to plan an epic failure." The younger vampire replied.
Klaus made his way down to stand with Damon, "Don't be so hard on yourself. Who could have guessed your own brother would betray you?" He said unsympathetically.
"Well I did have a front row seat when your sister lied to you." Damon retorted with a smirk.
Klaus's smirk dropped, "Yes well she's fickle that one." He stated.
Damon scrunched up his face and nodded in agreement. "And you say you have no idea of her whereabouts?" Klaus asked determined to get an answer.
"That's the thing with younger siblings," Damon said with a laugh, "You just never know what they're gonna do."
Klaus chuckled tensely, "Drink?" Damon offered.
A.J. POV
Jeremy set a drink down in front of Tyler and the hybrid thanked him, "This is weird. Klaus has hybrids stalking me and now you're just sitting in our kitchen." Elena said from her position next to me as I watched the hybrid closely.
"Look, maybe I should go." Tyler said sensing the tension in the room.
"Oh, stay. You're not doing anything." Jeremy said giving him a plate.
"Unless you have to, you know, check in with your hybrid master." Elena sassed.
"Jeremy." I hissed at him.
"Ric would you please remind A.J. of house rule #3?" Jeremy said ignoring me.
"Aileen is not to speak to Jeremy telepathically without permission while he is mad at her." Alaric said seeming just as annoyed as I was.
Jeremy smirked at me, "Those were meant as a joke." I pointed out.
"Well now they're not." Jeremy retorted with a smile.
Tyler chuckled, "It's not like that Elena." He said smiling.
"Tell me Tyler," Alaric said as everyone settled in at the table, "What is the difference between being sire and being compelled?"
Tyler nodded and turned to face him in his seat, "Compulsion that´s just mind control - like hypnosis. And being sired is...it´s like faith. You do something because you believe it´s the right thing."
"So you believe that serving Klaus is the right thing?" I asked making him look at me with surprise.
"I don't serve him." Tyler denied, "Klaus released me from a curse that was ruining my life. I owe him for that."
Elena and Alaric shared a look, "What if he asked you to… jump off a bridge?" He asked trying to prove a point to Jeremy.
Tyler looked at him with a peeved expression, "He wouldn't! And even if he did I'd be fine. I'm a hybrid." He explained.
"Okay so what if he asked you to rip your own heart out?" Elena asked him before glancing to me.
I perked up with interest, "Again, he wouldn't." Tyler shot the question down.
"What if he did?" Elena pressured.
"I don't know! Then I´d rip out my heart!" Tyler shouted making us all raise our eyebrows in surprise at the confirmation, "You guys sound like Caroline, getting all freaked out over something you don´t understand."
"You're right Tyler I don't understand." Elena snapped glancing towards me, "Klaus terrorized every single one of us and you're just blindly loyal to him."
Wait, is that how Elena sees me? I wondered looking at my twin. "You're overthinking it. I can still make my own decisions." Tyler told her.
3rd Person POV
Damon poured himself and Klaus a drink before turning around and handing one to Klaus. "Cheers mate." Klaus drawled.
"Down the hatch." Damon returned watching the Original closely.
The two downed their drinks, "You know, we've actually got a lot in common you and I." Klaus told the younger vampire.
"Really? Well, yeah. Maybe we can bond over our mutual loathing of my brother." Damon said as Klaus moved about the library.
"Or maybe our mutual love for a pretty psychic." Klaus suggested with a smirk.
"What is it that my brother stole from you?" Damon said turning the subject to something that the hybrid couldn't use to twist the knife in his side that was Aileen.
Klaus stopped on the other side of the railing, "My family, the Originals. I had them daggered, boxed-up awaiting the day when I saw fit to wake them. And he went in and pinched the bloody lot." He said going to finish his drink.
Damon scoffed, "Of course he did." He said moving over to the window, "Such a buzz kill, my baby bro. Well, I´d love to find him. Just the trouble is, I sure as hell don't work for you." He said moving over to stand with Klaus.
Klaus turned to him with a smirk, "You know, your drink stinks of vervain- so I can't compel you. There be no point in killing you because your actually the one with the most help of getting me what I need. And yet it would seem a demonstration is in order. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I told you to find Stefan. Well, it seems you people respond best to displays of violence. Why don't you take this as an example of my reach." He said pulling out his cell phone and dialing a number, "So that thing I told you to do, why don't you go ahead and get on with it." He said before hanging up.
A.J. POV
"What was that about?" I asked as Jeremy returned from his phone call.
"It was nothing." He said still acting pissed at me.
Tyler checked his watch, "I gotta go." He said turning to Alaric, "Thanks for the food offer but.."
"Next time." Alaric said watching him closely.
Tyler stood up saying goodbye to Jeremy in that wordless way that guys do in awkward situations. Once he was gone Alaric, Elena, and I set to finishing the meal while Jeremy sat at the table wordless. "So, Tyler Lockwood is a lunatic who has access to our house." Elena said to us underneath her breath.
I chopped green beans, keeping my thoughts to myself. I sure as hell did not agree with the whole sire bond situation but I wasn't going to flat out say something against Nik. Alaric paused in his chopping, "I mean this whole sire bond thing is…wild. I mean, I don't even think Tyler is fully aware of what little reason lies behind what he's saying. It's like this weird cult logic." He said shaking his head.
I nodded agreeing fully, "But how do we keep it from hurting the people around us?" I asked lowly, looking up to meet Ric's eyes.
"Well, great that's a wonderful influence for you Jere-"
Elena cut herself off as we all turned to see Jeremy missing. I spotted his ring on his dinner plate, "Jeremy?" Elena asked walking towards the table.
"Is that his ring?" I asked my throat feeling dry all of a sudden.
"Yeah, that's it." Alaric confirmed as Elena picked it up.
I dropped the knife onto the counter with a clatter, "Where did he go?" I asked worry seeping into my voice.
Alaric and I were first to the front door, followed closely by Elena. "Jeremy?" I asked as we exited the house to see Jeremy standing in the middle of the road.
"What is he doing?" Elena inquired as we heard the roar of an engine and tires squealing.
A large black SUV came roaring around the corner and my muscles locked up in panic, "Jeremy MOVE!" I yelled starting to move towards him.
Alaric pulled me back and ran towards Jere at top speed, "JEREMY!" He yelled.
"JEREMY JEREMY!" Elena and I screamed, "MOVE!"
Just as the SUV was about to hit Jeremy, Alaric pushed him out of the way taking the blow himself. He rolled, bloodied and broken off of the SUV's windshield and Elena and I ran towards the man who had taken care of us. Elena turned him over and I checked for a pulse as the SUV's engine roared to life. The window rolled down revealing Tony the hybrid that I had just had lunch with a few hours before, "There I go again. Bumping into people." He said before speeding off.
Elena grabbed his hand to make sure Ric was wearing the Gilbert ring as Jeremy ran to us. "He's gonna be alright." Elena said as I began checking Jeremy over for cuts and bruises.
"Are you alright?" I asked my baby brother.
Jeremy just looked at me blankly, "I don't understand…" He said gazing down at Ric.
"Who was that on the phone earlier?" Elena demanded.
Jeremy thought for a moment before realization dawned on his face, "It was Klaus." He said making anger burn through me.
"You were compelled, Jeremy." Elena told him as Alaric laid motionless, "We've got to get him inside, help me!"
Jeremy and Elena picked him up and I sprinted into the house ahead of them, grabbing my phone. I shoved it into my back pocket and began clearing off the couch for Elena and Jeremy to set Alaric down on. I watched as they settled him down into a comfortable position. I perched myself on the coffee table and took Alaric's hand with his ring into mine as I pushed a strand of hair off his forehead, "And now we wait." I whispered.
Jeremy sank down in doorway between the sitting room and the living room, "Hey, I texted Damon." Elena said sitting down next to me, "He'll be here soon."
"Good." I said not taking my eyes off of Alaric.
I was still in shock, a hybrid ran over Alaric. One of Nik's hybrids was ordered to run over Jeremy. Tyler who was also one of Nik's hybrids was ordered to get Jeremy off of vervain so that Nik could compel him to stand in the middle of the road without his Gilbert ring and die. Nik had just almost taken my baby brother from me and he had almost killed my guardian, the man that almost became my uncle, the man that I considered family. "Are you okay?" Elena asked gently, touching my knee.
I pressed my forehead against the cool metal of Alaric's Gilbert ring. "I need to make a phone call." I said hoarsely.
I gently placed Alaric's hand on his stomach and stood up, marching past the couch, out the front door and onto the porch. I dialed the familiar number and after two rings was greeted by a familiar British accent, "Hello, love what can I do for-"
"You tried to kill my baby brother." I growled out, "I understand that you want whatever it is Stefan stole from you back and that the only way you think that you can get them is through pushing Damon and Elena to get to Stefan but Elena's family is my family, Niklaus. Elena's friends are my friends. And Elena's Stefan that is still underneath his 'I don't give a shit so I'm going to go do something insane' attitude he is still my best friend, my Stefan. If you hurt somebody else that I care about, you can forget about me, got it?"
There was a pause before Klaus drawled out, "That sounded like an ultimatum, sweetheart. You'll find out I don't do well with orders."
I let out a bitter laugh, "That wasn't an order, Nik. That was choice, pick the right one." I stated before hanging up.
"That sounded thoroughly unpleasant." Damon said as he closed his car door.
I quickly moved over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist tightly without giving an explanation. Damon's arms wrapped around my shoulders and I felt his cheek press against my hair. After a moment I drew back, "C'mon he's inside." I told him leading the way.
Damon trailed in behind me and Elena looked up with relief on her face, "How is he?" Damon asked as he closed the door behind us.
"He's dead but he had his ring." Elena answered as I took a seat on the arm of the couch next to Ric's head, "Klaus's hybrid hit him. Now we just wait."
"Jeremy, why aren't you wearing vervain? Where's your bracelet?" Damon asked suddenly.
Jeremy looked down at his wrist as though things were suddenly becoming clearer, "I don't know." He said.
"It was Tyler. He was hanging out with you to get you off the vervain." I concluded, sitting down next to Elena.
Damon gritted his teeth, "Klaus is trying to send us a message." He said grabbing everyone's attention, "He wants us to find Stefan who stole his coffins full of his dead family members."
"Coffins?" Elena prompted.
"Yep! So all we have to do is find four coffins and- voila no one else on your family's Christmas list needs to die." Damon informed us.
"Wait," Jeremy started as he stood up, "That's your big plan? To steal back four dead Originals so this evil hybrid doesn't kill me and everyone else we know?"
Damon squinted at him, "You got a better idea?" He challenged.
"Yeah! Let's get the hell out of here! Pack our bags and go!" Jeremy exclaimed, frustrated.
I stood up, "Hey, Jere, calm down, everything's gonna be okay." I said moving towards him.
Jeremy stepped back sharply, "No, no! I'm not gonna calm down, Aileen! This happens every time, no matter what we do! I mean, you get on my case about school and work, who cares? None of us are going to make it out of this town alive." He declared before grabbing his jacket and heading up to his room.
Elena and I looked at each other as we processed what Jeremy was saying. "Rebekah." I thought to her and she nodded.
We both turned to Damon, "He said he wants his family back." Elena started calmly.
Damon turned around, "No! No! I know what you're thinking- the answer is no!" He shot her down.
I took a step forward, heels of my combat boots tapping the ground, "If we give him Rebekah," I continued for her.
"Yeah, then Klaus undaggers her, first thing she does is kill Elena!" Damon shut me down, "Frying pan, fire- not an option."
Elena looked over at me with a sudden realization, "Klaus's coffins…Damon, how many did you say there were?" She asked.
I tapped into Elena's train of thought and with wide eyes grabbed my jacket, "And where are you going?" Damon asked stepping in front of me.
"Out. Elena call Bonnie, Damon watch out for my sister." I said vaguely.
Damon wasn't letting me leave so easily though, "Out where?" He inquired with raised eyebrows, "Klaus probably has hybrids waiting to bring you to him after that little phone conversation you just had. No way are you going anywhere by yourself."
I sighed, "Do you trust me?" I asked him.
Damon's eyebrows scrunched up, "Of course."
I smiled, "Then trust that I know what I'm doing."
I tugged on the front of his jacket and he reluctantly moved out of my way, "Elena, call Bonnie." I tossed over my shoulder as I exited the house.
I stepped up to Bonnie's front door and decided against knocking, using my telekinesis to unlock the door and move the deadbolt aside. I opened the door and quietly stepped inside, shutting the door as silently as possible. I made my way through Bonnie's house to her room where I saw her standing with her back facing me as she ended the phone call with Elena, "So my witchy friend," I said making her spin around with a gasp, "I think it's time that we had a chat."
I walked inside her room and plopped down on the bed, "How did you get in?" She asked crossing her arms across her body in a defensive manner.
I raised an eyebrow, "Right, psychic almost forgot." Bonnie murmured pushing her fingers through her hair.
I watched the way she acted, almost nervous in a sort of way. She had been avoiding me for about a week now, she had been hesitant towards me when I first came back but I had thought that she was warming up to me, I had no clue what had made her suddenly turn cold. "Bon, do you know why I came to see you?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
Bonnie stayed silent, avoiding my eyes, "Bonnie why have you been avoiding me?" I asked standing from the bed.
Bonnie just shook her head and hugged herself, "Bon, please-"
"How could you be friends with someone like that?" Bonnie demanded, "With the person who killed your aunt and sister right in front of your eyes? With the person who tried to kill your brother and instead killed Alaric? Aileen he's a monster."
I looked back at her steadily, "Why do people always fail to see the good in others? Why is it that doing wrong things automatically titles someone a monster? If that were true wouldn't we all be monsters, Bonnie?" I asked her.
Bonnie looked back at me just as steadily, "Some people refuse to show that they have any good at all, Aileen. That is what gets them dubbed as monsters." She said coldly.
A shot of anger pulsed through me but I quickly recognized that it wasn't my own, "Jeremy." I breathed.
Bonnie stepped forwards looking concerned, "Aileen what's wrong? Is Jeremy okay?" She asked worriedly.
I groaned, "He's pissed. This isn't over." I told her before hurrying out of her house.
I got into my car and drove to the woods as quickly as possible. I slammed my car into park and jumped out of the car. I took off into the woods; luckily I wasn't that far from where Tyler and Jeremy were arguing. Jeremy shot at Tyler who caught it, "What the hell?" The hybrid yelled out.
I concentrated and Tyler was sent flying into a tree, crying out as he fell to the ground, "A.J. cut it out!" He yelled as he got to his feet.
Jeremy spun to face me, crossbow lowered. "You let Nik try to kill my baby brother!" I yelled back slamming him into another tree.
Tyler hit the ground and spat out blood, "Don't you think this is a little unfair?" He asked attempting to stand up only for me to slam him into the ground.
I cocked my head, "How so? You were going to let my brother get hurt, so now I'm hurting you." I snapped his tibia and fibula causing him to cry out.
"I can't even fight back!" Tyler yelled making me freeze.
Sensing my hesitation he quickly continued, "Klaus put out a ban on anyone hurting you, even if you were attacking us." He confessed.
I turned to Jeremy, "C'mon Jere, Alaric should be waking up soon, let's get home." I said gesturing for him to come with me.
Jeremy looked to Tyler, "Whenever Klaus wants something, someone ends up dead! You think about that next time before you blindly do whatever he says." He told him before walking past me in the direction of the car.
The car ride back was silent, Jeremy lost in his thoughts as I listened to the radio hosts' mindless jabber. We pulled up outside the house to see an ambulance pulling away and someone at the door. "Jere, tell me you know how to shoot that." I thought to him as we got out of the car.
Jeremy adjusted his grip on the crossbow and nodded, "Good, because that's the hybrid that hit Alaric." I said watching as anger slipped onto his features.
Jere raised the crossbow and shot Tony in the center of his back, making him fall to the porch, "Jeremy, A." Elena breathed.
"He's not dead yet." Jeremy said entering the house.
"Where are you going?" Elena asked worriedly.
"Why was there an ambulance, where's Ric?" I asked to distract her.
Elena turned to me, "The ring didn't work-where are you going?" She asked as Jeremy came back through with a kitchen knife.
"Elena, don't look." I commanded only to be ignored.
Jeremy crouched down and swiftly cut the hybrid's head off making Elena let out a small scream, "Now he's dead." Jeremy said with a blood splattered face.
He stood up, dropping the knife, "We've gotta get Alaric to the hospital now." Jeremy said and walked past Elena and I into the house.
"I'll drive." I told him, brushing off what had just happened as Elena stood frozen.
After taking Alaric and Jeremy to the hospital I drove Elena and myself to the Salvatore's house and made a phone call. "Are you sure about this?" I asked her as we lounged around waiting for the doorbell to ring.
Elena gave a shaky nod, "Yeah, besides we don't even know if Klaus will undagger Rebekah." She said taking the most positive spin on this.
There was a knock on the door and we went to answer it together, "Thank you for coming." Elena said tensely once I opened the door.
Nik pushed past us into the house making me roll my eyes, so we're dealing with "intimidating Klaus" today. "I trust you have news of Stefan." He said to us.
"Couldn't find him, but we have something else." I said crossing my arms as Elena shut the door, "C'mon." I instructed leading him and Elena down to the cellar.
I walked along the hallway of cells and unlocked Rebekah's, shoving the door open to reveal Nik's sister. Nik's face fell when he saw her lying face down on the floor, "My poor sister." He said with a sigh, "I can't turn my back on her for a moment."
"You can have Rebekah." Elena said gaining her confidence, "A deal is a deal."
Nik walked farther into the cell, "The life of my sister in exchange for your brother? Yeah I´d say that´s a bargain. Consider him spared." He said making Elena and I blow a breath of relief.
"You should know, I was the one that daggered her. When she wakes she'll come after me, maybe Aileen because she'll think she was involved." Elena said.
Nik looked at me, "I can control Rebekah, besides I still need your help finding Stefan." The Original crouched next to his sister.
"I told you I don't know where he is." Elena insisted, although we all knew she was lying.
Nik pulled the dagger out of Rebekah's back, "You're lying. Fortunately you have no shortage of loved ones. If I don´t find my family the question you should be asking yourself is who´s gonna die next! Bonnie? Caroline? Damon?" Nik looked at me as he said that to Elena making my brow furrow in confusion, "It´s only a matter of time before Stefan gives me what I want."
Elena shrugged off the Damon dig, "He doesn't care about me anymore, you made sure of that. You turned him into a monster. Now he's your problem." My sister stepped closer to the Original, "And just so you know I´m not the only one that Rebekah wants dead. She knows what you did to your mother. She knows that you killed her."
Elena brushed past him, "I'll be in the car, A." She tossed over her shoulder before leaving.
I crossed my arms as I looked up at Nik, "I suppose you're going to tell me how much of a monster I am for making an attempt on your brother's life?" He said wearing a wounded expression.
I shook my head and took a step closer to him, "Nope." I answered resting a hand on his cheek and pulling his forehead to touch mine, "I'm going to let you soak in the guilt I know you're feeling for hurting me."
I pushed past him, "You can show yourself out." I called to him as I made my way back upstairs.
I walked in the kitchen after cleaning the blood off the porch to see Damon standing with Elena's face in his hands, "Am I interrupting?" I asked looking at them strangely.
Damon pulled back from Elena to take the rag from my hands, "No, just calming your sister down." He said with a small smile.
Elena rinsed off her hands as Damon threw the rag into the sink. "Aileen we need to talk." She said with a sigh as the two looked at me.
I raised an eyebrow giving her the go ahead, "What Jeremy did tonight…that can't happen again." Elena started off.
I laughed, "Elena what's wrong with Jeremy saving you and Ric from a hybrid?" I asked incredulously.
Elena and Damon shared a look, "Aileen, he cut off his head." My sister told me.
I raised an eyebrow, "So?" I asked
Elena narrowed her eyes, "So what he did isn't what a 16 year old should be doing." She said slightly raising her voice.
I shrugged, "Why not?" I asked.
"Because he's not you!" Elena yelled, "Dad didn't raise us the way he raised you!"
"He was going to tell Jeremy about vampires on his 16th birthday." I blurted making her eyes widen, "It's supposed to be a tradition for Gilbert men."
"That's beside the point." Elena said, "Damon is going to have a talk with Jeremy."
Something clicked in my mind, "You mean compel him." I said walking forwards, "What are you two going to do?"
Elena sighed, "Jere can't stay here." She started, "We're going to have him leave."
"Elena don't you dare do this." I said hurt filling me.
"Aileen-" Damon started towards me.
"No!" I said pushing him away from me so I could grab Elena's shoulders, "Elena we just got our family back together!"
Damon grabbed me by the waist and pulled me off of her, "I told you she wouldn't take it well." Alaric said coming into the kitchen wearing clean clothing.
I ripped Damon's arms from me, "You're in on this too?" I said looking at Ric with disbelief.
Alaric sighed, "He needs to get away for a while, A, you know that." He told me.
I rubbed my hands over my face, "Aileen you heard him earlier today." Elena interjected.
I laughed bitterly, "I guess I'm outnumbered then huh?" I said tears gathering in my eyes.
Elena squeezed my shoulder, "It's for the best." She said before walking out.
Damon pressed a kiss to my temple, "I'm sorry." He whispered before following her out.
Alaric wrapped an arm around me, "C'mon I've got you." He said guiding me out of the kitchen to where Damon was waiting at the bottom of the stairs.
Damon gestured with his head, "You guys first." He said.
Alaric slowly brought me up the stairs to where Elena was waiting. Together we walked over to Jeremy's room and Elena knocked on the door, drawing his attention, "Hey, can we talk?" Elena asked.
"Ahh, what did I do now?" Jeremy said plopping down on the bed.
"Nothing." I said glaring at Elena.
Elena ignored me, "I've been thinking about what you said earlier. About how we should pack up and go..." She trailed off.
Jeremy smiled, "Elena, I didn't mean any of that." He said with a chuckle.
Elena walked into the room as Alaric kept his supportive hold on me, "But you were right. You shouldn't have to give up a normal life just because of us." She said gesturing to me and her as Damon came up from behind Alaric and I.
Jeremy looked at all of us confused, "What's going on? Why does A.J. look like she's about to cry?" He asked making me force a watery smile.
"Your sister thinks that we should have another one of our talks." Damon said moving to sit next to Jere on his bed.
Jeremy looked at me and I gave a small shake of my head before turning my face into Alaric's chest, "Here's the thing, Jere. You're gonna go out of town for a while- a long while. You're gonna stay with some nice family friends in Denver, you're gonna be at a new school, you'll meet new girls, living girls. You're going to drink a few beers, take an art class. You do whatever you want." Damon compelled him with a slight smile.
I sniffled and gripped the material of Alaric's shirt in my fist, "Tell him he's gonna leave Mystic Falls behind and never think twice about it." Ric said making a shudder go through my body as I struggled not to cry.
Maybe this could be good for Jeremy. Damon looked to Elena who nodded but then he looked to me and I bit my lip before nodding, "Yeah." I said hoarsely making Elena look at me in surprise.
Damon looked back to Jeremy, "You're gonna leave Mystic Falls behind and never think twice about it." He repeated.
Damon looked away and Jeremy blinked, startling as a tear fell from Elena's eye. I pulled out of Alaric's arms and pulled Jeremy into my arms, keeping my tears silent as they rolled down my cheeks. I felt someone grab my hand and looked up to see Damon gazing at me with sympathetic eyes. I pulled back from Jeremy and kissed his forehead, "Get some sleep, you're helping me make breakfast in the morning." I said with a smile.
Jeremy laughed, "Yeah you need all the help you can get with cooking." He said.
I laughed and shoved his shoulder playfully as the others filed out, "Night, Jere." I said, "Love you."
"Love you too." He replied as I left his room.
I walked down the stairs and opened the front door, hoping for some fresh air. Damon is sitting on the steps, "Feeling any better?" He asks as I take a seat next to him.
I shook my head, "I don't know how I'm going to say goodbye to him."
Damon clasped my knee, "So don't." He said making me raise an eyebrow, "Just say see you later. Aileen, it's not goodbye. This is just temporary."
I nodded staring at the hand on my knee, "Yeah but it still makes me feel like my heart is being ripped out of my chest."
Damon released my knee once he saw my gaze and I turned towards him, "What's going on with you and Elena?" I asked him narrowing my eyes.
Damon raised an eyebrow, "Me and Elena? Aileen, come on." He groaned.
I raised an eyebrow, "So there's nothing going on?" I pushed.
Damon rolled his blue eyes, "We're friends, Aileen." He emphasized.
I leant back on my hands, crossing my ankles, "That's what they all say." I said hiding my doubt with a smirk as I peered up at him.
Damon sighed, "If you must have confirmation Elena is still on Stefan, stuck to him like glue. No matter what he does." He said not looking at me.
I nodded, "Should've figured, those two…" I trailed off as Damon looked back at me with a familiar intensity that made my stomach coil.
I looked down at the material of my jeans, picking at them, "Aren't you going to ask about me?" Damon said in a teasing tone.
I shrugged, "You were in love with my sister once, it could happen again."
I kept picking at my jeans as Damon let out an exasperated sigh, "How many times am I going to have to tell you that I was never in love with Elena?"
I smirked down at my jeans, "Until its true." I retorted playfully.
"Aileen…" Damon trailed off.
I looked up to see him gazing at me, "Wh-"
His lips on mine silenced me and the heat that coiled in my stomach and woke up my muscles made me close my eyes and lean up into the kiss. It was slow and meaningful and when he pulled away I inched forward, chasing him out of instinct. My eyes fluttered open as our noses brushed and he smiled down at me, "Goodnight A.J." He said before standing up and walking away.
AN: HEYY!
Ohmygosh I'm so sorry about the wait!
It's almost been a month since my last chapter! This one is around 8,500 words so I hope that makes up for it!
That kiss at the end was not the original plan, I swear! It just kind of happened! I hope you enjoyed it!
Christmas break is coming up, hopefully I can get another up before then!
Please Review!
-ConflictingLoyalties563;D