Salvatore Gardens~ Time Uncertain

Abigail had regained her control. While seeing Damon, all stages of him, had released part of her pain and grief, she knew there was plenty more where that came from. And so she waited until the next shadow took form and approached.

"Miss Morgan?" A light feminine voice broke through the silence of the garden.

"Sallie," Abigail whispered, her voice raw. "Haven't I asked you to call me Abigail?" She was trying desperately for lightness, but opening her eyes to the woman who'd been with her since practically her birth would bring terrible pain. She knew she had to, it was part of the process.

Her maid turned companion was dressed in the light pink dress from the Founders' Party. Still made up, still beautiful and wonderful in how they had set the town talking. She was bathed in sunlight, perfect and unlike whatever horror must have befallen her, only because Abigail set her on a task.

Once again the tears blurred and burned her eyes. She felt Sallie come closer, bending down before her in that beautiful dress.

"Please, Abigail," Sallie begged. "It wasn't your fault." Her hands took Abigail's into a clutch of comfort, rubbing soothing circles with her thumbs against the smooth skin of her former mistress' hands.

"I sent you to him," she sobbed, her guilt overwhelming. "Like a lamb to slaughter." Sallie shushed her, like she had when Abigail was a child having a bad dream. "He killed you because of me."

"No," Sallie said, correcting her. "He killed me because he was a monster. If you hadn't sent me, he would have ripped me from your arms and made you watch. This wasn't your fault."

Her guilt poured out of her in a torrent. All the anguish she felt knowing that she hadn't kept Sallie safe. That because she used her as messenger she became part of a grotesque courting ritual. She sobbed and screamed, begging for forgiveness. Pleading with Sallie to forgive her for this tragic end.

As she gained control over herself, she felt Sallie slip away from her. Letting go of her lost love, then the guilt of not protecting Sallie eased part of her burden that still laid heavily on her. Its release allowed her to breathe a little more freely, but she knew it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Mystic Falls, VA November 2009

Damon killed Lexi. Swearing it was part of some elaborate masterplan, but Stefan felt it was part of his vow to make his eternity miserable. Without Lexi, he had no one to discuss Abigail with, no one to discuss options to help her. No one to understand his need to help her.

The town swallowed Lexi's death as the perfect answer to the animal attacks. Clearly new local hero, Damon Salvatore knew what he was doing in vampire hunting.

Stefan felt Lexi's loss deeply. He swore to Elena that he'd kill Damon for this, the final betrayal between them. He had to die. Sadly when push came to shove the stake in, he relented. Instead he'd merely ruined his brother's shirt, and gave him an irritation by staking his stomach.

Everything seemed to be falling off kilter. The town was running toward madness. Matt Donavan was dating Caroline Forbes. Bonnie Bennett was wearing a hideous large necklace, at the behest of her grandmother, but it was strange nonetheless. And for a really weird checkmark, Damon Salvatore was a member of the Founders' Council.

Weird was the new normal, so hardly anyone took note of the new history teacher, Alaric Saltzman. Hardly anyone. He was helping Jeremy find his way back into the academic league he should be in. Winning over Jenna was just a nice bonus for the attractive, widowed teacher.

And still, Abigail Morgan was kept waiting in the wings. No one outside her prison seemed to be able to focus on the problem at hand. Perhaps simply because it wasn't the promise at their hand.