Hey guys! You know I love you guys right? Cause I really do, and I'm sorry I didn't update earlier but contrary to popular belief I have a life. I have things to do, and it is a lot for me to even update every week. I know you guys are excited but cut me some slack ok? Love you guys!
Season 3 Episode 5 The Reckoning
"It's Damon. You know what to do."
"Damon?" I said through the phone. "I know I've called… like a million times… but I just… you have to know that…. I love you… ok? I love you and I didn't mean to hurt you… wherever you are…. Just... call me."
I snapped my phone shut. Damon had been gone since last night. I went to his house, trying to find a way to apologize, to think of anything that would fix this. But he was gone. The house was empty, and he was just… gone.
"Thanks for letting me crash here." Jace said as he came out of the bathroom. His hair was still wet, and I could see it dripping into his shirt. "Didn't really want to go to the boarding house after… all that."
"No problem." I replied, putting the phone on my bedside table. Jace eyed it, then met my gaze.
"He still won't answer huh?" He asked. I shook my head. "He'll call."
"I'm not so sure." I replied, pushing my sketch pad off of my lap. "He was so angry last night… so hurt. I'm not sure if we can fix this."
Jace sat down at the foot of my bed. For someone who had just woken up mere hours after having his neck snapped, he looked pretty good. I had taken him back to my place, waiting until he awoke. He looked fine, perfectly healthy. Just… tired. He looked very tired.
"You two always fix it." He said, squeezing my knee. "Don't worry about it."
I sighed.
"You want to skip this whole senior prank night thing?" I asked. "Caroline will understand if you don't go."
"We're going." Jace said with a smile. "It will get your mind off of all of this."
I smiled weakly. I didn't know if setting up pranks all over the high school the day before the first day was the right way to get my mind off of Damon. I would prefer to draw, it was much less illegal compared to breaking into the school and putting buckets of water above the door so that the person who enters gets soaked.
"Besides." Jace said, standing. "We're seniors now. We have got to start making some memories."
"I've had enough memories to last a life time." I said. "Ones filled with vampires, werewolves, and hybrids who think you are their long lost twin."
"I mean normal memories." Jace said. "You have got to get some normal in your life."
He wasn't wrong. Normal was so far from my life that it was a bit insane. I was surprised that I hadn't completely lost my mind over the last year. Jace was right. I needed some normalcy in my life or I would go crazy. Maybe this prank night wasn't such a bad idea.
"Ok." I said. "I'll go."
"Awesome!" Jace cheered. I rolled my eyes. Even as I got ready, I still continued to think about Damon. I had no idea where he was. I didn't know if he was in danger or where we stood in terms of our relationship. I called a couple more times until Jace took my phone away.
Damon was driving, a car he believed Katherine stole. She was in the passenger seat, trying to make small talk and frankly it was annoying him. He looked down as he phone lit up again. Another text from Alex. He gripped the steering wheel tighter, making sure he didn't answer it.
"Oh, look." Katherine said, picking up the phone. "Another text. Damon, I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I love you-"
Damon jerked the phone from Katherine's hand, to which she smirked.
"I'm getting good at imitating her." Katherine said. "She's all sweet and innocent, but yet she has that fire in her. Must be from her Klaus' twin side."
"We've been driving around aimlessly for hours." Damon snapped. "Where are we going?"
"Far enough away so that you can't go running back." Katherine replied. Damon scoffed.
"Not to worry." Damon said. "Mystic Falls and I are on a bit of a break."
"You and Mystic Falls, or you and Alex?" Katherine asked. Damon's hand clenched around his phone. He had been fighting with himself not to turn back. He wanted to go running back to her, but there was another part of him that just wanted her to sweat it out. He couldn't be the good guy that she deserved. He wasn't the hero.
"Let's just say Alex and I are having a bit of difference of opinion on how I should behave." Damon replied.
"Ooh. Let me guess... Alex wants you to be the hero, and you don't like playing pretend." Katherine said, her finger ghosting across Damon's jawline.
"Something like that." Damon replied. Katherine scooted closer.
"Her loss." She said, attacking him with her lips.
The kiss was full of lust, and Damon wouldn't lie and say that he didn't respond to it. But it wasn't what it was like when he was human and kissed Katherine. There was no love, no tender feelings. It was nothing like kissing Alex. Not even close.
Damon shoved Katherine off, bouncing her head off the window. She narrowed her eyes at him.
"What are you doing?" She asked. Damon smirked.
"I thought I'd give it a shot." Damon said with a shrug. "Truth is, you just don't do it for me anymore."
Katherine glared, not ever being rejected. She pouted in her seat while Damon only smiled. He looked down to his phone, seeing another message from Alex. He tensed his jaw and shoved the phone in his pocket.
When the sun went down, Jace drove me to the school. I felt a feeling of dread come over me when I saw the place. I was not looking forward to going back to that place, but I agreed with Jace. I should have some fun before I am forced to go back there.
"You ready for this?" Jace asked as we hopped out of the truck. There were already a lot of students here, and I could see Elena's car in the parking lot. I sighed.
"As I'll ever be." I replied. He smirked leading us into the school. Caroline was the ring leader for all of this, as I suspected. She gave different people different tasks. She sent Jace and I to the gym to set up some pranks there. I silently thanked her for not putting me with Elena.
"This isn't so bad." Jace said, putting saran wrap in front of the boy's locker room door. "It's actually kind of fun."
"I guess so." I replied with a shrug. I was too busy looking at my phone. No calls. No messages. No voicemails.
"Seriously?" Jace barked, getting my attention. I jumped, looking up to meet his gaze. "You're supposed to be having fun."
"I am!" I replied. He reached out for my phone but I jerked my hand away. "I have to see if he called."
"Alex, he needs some time right now." Jace said, his voice calm. "You can't keep obsessing over this."
"How can I not?" I asked. "How do I know if he's ok? I don't know if he's hurt or dying. I don't have a clue where he is and he won't call-"
"Alex." Jace said, putting his hands on my shoulders. "You can't make him call you. He's tough, he can take care of himself. If he wanted to talk to you he would have called."
His words felt like a knife to the heart. Jace was always good with words and giving me advice. I knew he wasn't wrong. If Damon wanted to talk to me he would have called or texted. But the realization that Damon was in fact ignoring me hurt my heart.
"I didn't mean-"
"It's ok." I replied. Jace opened his mouth to speak, but the doors to the gym slammed open. We turned and I felt my heart drop when I saw who entered.
"Attention, seniors! You have officially been busted." It was Klaus using an American accent. "Prank night is over. Head on home."
In tow was Elena, who was trying to fight off Klaus' grip. I stood in front of Jace, my eyes narrowing at the hybrid and his hold on Elena.
"Except you two." He said pointing to Jace and I. "Hello, Alexandra it is good to see you."
"I wish I could say the same." I spat. He still had ahold of Elena and the guardian instincts in me were telling me to get her the hell away from him. Klaus smirked at me.
"Now, that's not very nice." Klaus said, then looked away from me. "You two! I remember you."
It was Dana and her boyfriend Chad.
"I'm sorry. Who are you?" Dana asked.
"Oh, don't worry, I wasn't in my right head last time we met." Klaus said, then looked the girl deep in the eyes. "Lift your foot up, please, Dana."
Dana lifted up her foot. I narrowed my eyes at him. What was he doing?
"If she drops her foot, Chad, I want you to beat her to death." Klaus said. "Understood?"
Chad nodded. I felt my eyes go wide.
"What the hell Klaus?" I asked, trying to help Dana stand on her one foot. "You don't have to hurt anybody."
"On the contrary." Klaus said. "You see, I broke the curse so I could make hybrids. Your little doppelgänger here is still alive, therefore I cannot make said hybrids."
I licked my lips. Elena and I shared a look. It didn't explain why Klaus hadn't killed Elena yet, although I wasn't complaining. I didn't think I could go through this again and make it out alive. There was no John here to save me this time.
"Where's Stefan?" Elena asked. Klaus let go of her arm, and I took my chance to reach for her and put her behind me protectively. "What did you do to him?"
"Stefan's on a time out." Klaus said cryptically. "Where's Damon? I'm surprised that he hasn't come swooping in to rescue you."
I tensed, my jaw clenched. Klaus must have noticed because a large smirk formed on his face.
"Such a pity he won't be able to join us." Klaus said. Oh, how I wish Damon was there. I could never take Klaus on, especially with my wooden stake. It wouldn't kill Klaus. It would barely wound him. It would only make him angrier.
Just then, the doors opened once more, this time revealing Bonnie and Matt.
"Bonnie get out of here!" Elena called. Bonnie's eyes widened upon seeing Klaus. I held my arm out in front of Elena, my eyes never leaving Klaus.
"Ah, I was wondering when you'd show up. Now we can get started." Klaus said, then looked to Dana. "Ah, Dana, why don't you relax? You and Chad sit tight."
Dana fell down to the floor, relaxing for a second.
"I assume you're the reason Elena's still walking around alive?" Klaus said to Bonnie. She nodded. In truth, it was really Elijah's doing, but Elijah wasn't around anymore, so Bonnie was the only target.
"That's right." Bonnie said. "If you want to blame someone, blame me."
"Oh, there's no need for blame, love. Just your witchy interference seems to have caused some undesirable side effects." Klaus explained. "And since you caused the problem, I'm going to have you find the fix."
Bonnie furrowed her brows. I grabbed Elena's arm even tighter. It sounded to me that Klaus was going to have Bonnie kill Elena, and I wasn't going to let that happen. I loved Bonnie, but my guardian instincts wouldn't allow any harm to come to Elena. I would die before that happened.
"Get off of me!"
Tyler was being rushed into the gym by a young blonde woman. She seemed to be pretty strong, considering she was throwing Tyler around like a rag doll. She must have been a vampire.
"I'd like you all to meet my sister Rebekah." Klaus said. "Word of warning...She can be quite mean."
I felt my heart sink. Yet another sibling of the family that I was connected to. Rebekah threw Tyler to Klaus, eyeing the people in the room. Her eyes fell upon be, and I tensed under her blue gaze.
"She does look like Lissa." Rebekah said, coming to circle around me. I squeezed Elena's arm again. "Except for that God awful hair style."
"Now, now, don't be rude." Klaus said. Rebekah continued to eye me, but she said nothing more. Instead of focusing on Rebekah's judging eye, I instead focused on Klaus holding onto Tyler.
"Leave him alone!" Elena called out. However, Klaus didn't listen.
"I'm going to make this very simple...Every time I attempt to turn a werewolf into a vampire hybrid, they die during the transition." Klaus said. "It's quite horrible, actually."
He took his wrist and bit it, causing a wound to form. He shoved the open wound into Tyler's mouth, making the werewolf drink his blood.
"I need you to find a way to save my hybrids, Bonnie." Klaus said. "And for Tyler's sake...You better hurry."
With a quick flick of his wrist, Klaus had snapped Tyler's neck and he fell down to the floor dead. I felt my eyes widen and my stomach lurch. I looked back up to Klaus and he had a sadistic smirk on his face. I glared at him.
"He killed him." Matt said as he looked at his friend, not breathing or moving on the floor. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the sadness on Matt's face it was rather heartbreaking.
"He's not dead." Elena explained. "Klaus's blood will turn him into a vampire."
"And if Bonnie's successful, he'll live through his transition." Klaus said. "Go on, then. Go and fetch your grimoires and enchantments and what-not. I'll hold on to Elena...for safe-keeping."
Klaus grabbed Elena's arm, causing my stomach to set off warning bells. I eyed him closely. Bonnie hesitated, but soon after she and Matt ran out into the hallway. I prayed that they would find a solution that didn't end in Elena's death.
"So this is the latest doppelgänger." Rebekah said as she looked Elena over. Much like she had to me. "The original one was much prettier."
"Enough, Rebekah." Klaus said. "Take the wolf boy and hunter elsewhere, would you?"
Rebekah grabbed Tyler's arm and started to drag him. When Jace didn't move, she soon grabbed him too. She was much stronger, unable to fight her off. We shared a fleeting glance as she dragged my friend out of the room. I turned back to Klaus with a narrowed eyed gaze.
"Just ignore her." Klaus said. "She's a petty little thing."
"Why didn't you have her take me too?" I asked. Klaus released his hold on Elena and stepped closer to me. I stood my ground, but the closer he got to me the more I wanted to put space between us. I didn't know Klaus' intentions, and I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him.
"I didn't want Rebekah filling your head with stories about me." Klaus said. "She's quite the gossip."
"I didn't think I would ever get the pleasure of meeting your other siblings." I said, my voice thick with sarcasm. He chuckled.
"Trust me, they are nowhere near as mean as I." Klaus threatened. "I do wish that you would have told me about this little problem."
Klaus turned back to Elena. I swallowed hard, crossing my arms over my chest.
"Did you expect any different?" I asked. Klaus shrugged.
"I guess the guardian in you would not allow you to." Klaus said. "Even if your allegiance were to change because of your true nature."
I furrowed my brows.
"My allegiance is to the side that keeps my friends and loved ones alive." I spat. "And you are not on that side."
"You are saying that we are enemies?" Klaus asked, his eyebrows shooting up. I shrugged. "Such a pity. Because you could be of great use to me."
I watched carefully as he circled me. When I could feel his breath on the back of my neck I trembled. He said nothing more as he made his way around the gym. I shared a look with Elena. She looked rightfully afraid, but she was covering it up well. Klaus fed on the fear of others. It was best not to add to his ego.
What struck me to my core was what Klaus said about my true nature. Did he mean that because of my connection to him and his family that I was supposed to be on his side? If it weren't for the guardian part of me, would I put aside those duties to be with him? I didn't think that was true, because Klaus was on the side that killed people, while I was on the side of life. I could not deny the connection I felt to him, but I also could not deny my true feelings. Klaus was bad, and I was good. That was how it was supposed to be.
After a few minutes of silence, the gym doors came open again. I reached for my stake, readying myself if need be. I relaxed a bit when I saw Stefan. I stood in front of Elena though, making sure that she was safe behind me.
"Come to save your damsel, mate?" Klaus asked from his seat on the bleachers. Stefan was entering slowly, carefully. I could see blood on his shirt, and I knew that he had been injured.
"I came to ask for your forgiveness." Stefan said. "And pledge my loyalty."
I felt Elena tense behind me. I readied my stance once more. I may not be able to kill Klaus, but this wood could kill Stefan.
"Well, you broke that pledge once already." Klaus said, anger evident in his voice. Stefan held up his hands in surrender.
"Elena means nothing to me anymore." Stefan said. "And whatever you ask of me...I will do."
Elena pushed against the arm I had around her, but I kept my hold strong. I wouldn't let her run to Stefan, no matter how much she wanted to.
"Fair enough. Let's drink on it." Klaus said, pointing to Dana and Chad. "Kill them."
Stefan hesitated.
"What are you waiting for?" Klaus asked. "Kill them."
When I wasn't paying attention, Elena removed herself from my grip and stepped much too close to Klaus for my liking.
"No! Stefan, don't." She begged. "He's not going to hurt me. He already said-"
But before she could finish, Klaus hit her. He slapped her face and knocked her to the ground. Stefan and I must have had the same idea, because we both ran to Klaus to attack. I was closer, and so I was the first to stab my stake into Klaus' side. He howled in pain but took my stake out of his body and snapped it in two. I let out a shriek as I saw it fall to the ground in splinters. That was from John… it was the last thing I had of him. He took his chance and pushed me, hard enough to send me into the wall.
I groaned as I fell to the floor, rolling over in pain. I couldn't get up, even after I tried. I wondered if I had broken something, or if I had gotten a concussion. I rolled to my side so that I could keep an eye on the scene happening before me.
"She means nothing to you?" Klaus said, his hand around Stefan's throat. "Your lies just keep piling up."
"Let her go!" Stefan begged. "I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!"
"Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, during which time I never had to resort to this..." Klaus said, then stared into Stefan's eyes. "Stop fighting."
"Don't do this, don't do this." Stefan pleaded. I knew then that Klaus was compelling him to do his bidding. I pushed up, trying to get up again, but I fell back to the floor once more.
"You will do exactly as I say when I say it." Klaus compelled Stefan. "You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."
"No Stefan!" Elena yelled from her place on the floor. Stefan had a glossy look over his face, and I knew the compulsion was working. I pushed myself up along the wall.
"Now kill them." Klaus ordered. "Ripper."
There was a pause of silence before Stefan turned to Dana and Chad. His back was to me, but in a second he sped over to the couple and drank Dana's blood first. She was dead within seconds, and soon afterward was Chad. I could hear Elena sobbing from the floor, and when Stefan turned around, there was blood coming down his face.
"It's always nice to see a vampire in his true element." Klaus said, coming over to me. "The species has become such a broody lot."
I protested as he picked me up effortlessly. I didn't have enough strength to push him away. Everything hurt, my muscles ached and I knew that I must be bruised.
"Sorry love." Klaus said. "But you made me."
"Did you expect me to sit by?" I asked.
"No, but I wish you would have." He replied, taking his wrist and biting it. I couldn't protest when he put his bloody wound up to my mouth. I felt the sticky liquid go down my throat and within seconds I felt better. He set me down next to Elena, who looked very distraught. She stood up, helping me stand as well. Hybrid blood was a very good healer. I was feeling good as new very quickly.
"Where is it?!" A shrill voice echoed through the gym. I saw a quick moving Rebekah storming toward Elena. I stood in front of her. "Where's my necklace?"
"What are you talking about?" Klaus asked. Rebekah handed him a phone, showing him something on the screen. "Well, well. More lies."
"Where is it?" Rebekah asked again. She was glaring at Elena over my shoulder, her blue gaze so intense, it brought life to the phrase if looks could kill. The necklace that Stefan had given Elena… it was Rebekah's.
"I don't have it anymore." Elena said. Rebekah's glare intensified.
"You're lying!" She yelled, about to attack but I stood in front of her. "Get out of my way."
"No." I replied. Rebekah turned her glare on me. "She doesn't have it."
"You may be valuable to Niklaus but you are nothing to me." Rebekah spat. She was about to attack me, but Klaus took a step in front of me. I could no longer see Rebekah, but instead the lean back of Klaus.
"Leave her be, sister." Klaus ordered. There were a tense few seconds before Klaus turned back around to me. He eyed me, much calmer then he was before. "I need to be sure that she isn't lying."
"She's not." I insisted. "I give you my word."
Klaus' jaw set, and in that second I thought he believed me. Or at least he wanted to believe me.
"I promise not to harm her." Klaus said, his voice even and sincere. We stared at one another for a very long time. I didn't trust Klaus, but I knew that if he really wanted to compel Elena, he could get me out of the way in a second. He was trying to make me trust him. He was trying to appeal to me, give me some kind of control. I took a deep breath before stepping aside. Klaus nodded to me, moving closer to Elena. Rebekah continued to glare at me.
"Where's the necklace, sweetheart?" Klaus asked Elena. "Be honest."
"I'm telling the truth." Elena replied. "Katherine stole it."
Rebekah's face fell. She was sure that she was right about Elena and I lying and now she had been proved wrong. I smiled at her triumphantly, to which she sent me a bone chilling glare.
"Katerina. Of course. Well, that's unfortunate." Klaus said. "If we had the necklace it would make things a whole lot easier for your witch, but since we're doing this the hard way, let's put a clock on it, shall we?"
He went to the bleachers, finding the remote that controlled the scoreboard on the wall. He clicked a few buttons, making the buzzer sound and a large 20:00 form on the board. He stepped over to Stefan.
"Twenty minutes. If Bonnie hasn't found a solution by then, I want you to feed again." Klaus said. "Only this time, I want you to feed on Elena. You know you want to."
"No!" I shouted, grabbing for Elena protectively. "I won't let you!"
"Which is exactly why you are going to leave with Rebekah." Klaus said, standing in front of me. "Sorry love, it's not personal. But I can't have you ruining things by getting in the way."
He grabbed my arm, forcing me to release Elena and move away from her. I fought against him, but he was much stronger then I. I felt the panic rise in my stomach as I thought about the pain I had endured when Elena died the first time. However, that pain had subsided the moment she woke up. This time, Elena wouldn't wake up.
"Let me go!" I yelled as Klaus and Rebekah pushed me toward the entrance of the gym. I looked over my shoulder back to Elena. She had a frightened and forlorn look on her face. The sight was cut off when the gym doors shut behind me. I fought all the way to a random classroom that I was thrown into. I turned back to the door to run, but Rebekah was in front of me in a second and prevented me from escaping.
"Don't let her escape." Klaus ordered. Rebekah looked me over.
"I don't know why she is such a threat." She said, circling me with her critical eyes. "She doesn't look like she could hurt a fly."
"Looks can be deceiving." Klaus said, looking at me. "I will return."
He closed the door behind him and I felt my resolve melt. Rebekah would never let me leave, and I couldn't kill her. I could only hope that I could think of a distraction to keep her busy while I went to save Elena's life.
"Don't fall asleep, Jer." Damon said. "You might have a concussion."
Jeremy sat at a picnic table, a bloody wound on his forehead from where Damon had to hit it against the table. The plan wasn't perfect, but it had gotten the information they needed out of Anna's ghost, and that was all Damon needed. Anna was leading them right to Mikael, the person who could kill Klaus.
"Thanks for the concern, dick." Jeremy muttered.
"Oh, stop pouting. He took one for the team." Katherine said. "Everyone back home will thank you once Klaus is dead."
Damon patted his pockets, finding his phone was not in his pocket. He looked up to Katherine, who was smiling innocently to him.
"Where's my phone?" He asked, but he knew she had it.
"Do you need to check to see how many more messages Alex left you?" Katherine mocked. "Are you finally going to call her back and tell her how much you can't live without her?"
"You know you have it." Damon said. Katherine shrugged.
"What can I say?" Katherine asked. "I needed you present here and now."
"Katherine, phone, now." Damon ordered. Katherine sighed, handing him the phone. Damon clicked it on, expecting to find a string of more sappy texts from Alex. Instead, he found more frantic one's from Bonnie. Damon's heart sank.
"What is it?" Jeremy asked.
"Bonnie's been texting." Damon said, his eyes widening. "It's Klaus."
"No turning back, Damon." Katherine warned. Damon glared.
"Shut up Katherine." Damon ordered, dialing Alex's number and holding it up to his ear. It kept ringing.
"Hey, look at the big picture." Katherine said. "The best shot at taking out Klaus is by finding Mikael."
The phone rang until it went to voicemail. Damon cursed. He shouldn't have left. He should have stayed with her. Now there was no telling what kind of trouble she could be in.
"Stay with her so Anna can guide you." Damon said, handing Jeremy the car keys. "I'm going back."
"You're going to get yourself killed." Katherine warned. "The Damon I remember wouldn't have been that stupid."
Damon turned back to look at her.
"I wouldn't have done it for you." Damon said, turning back to go back toward Mystic Falls. Katherine wasn't worth dying for. Alex was. He would die before he let anything happen to her. With quick fingers he sent a text to Alex.
I'm coming for you pretty girl.
I was pacing in the classroom. Caroline was standing next to a science table where a dead Tyler was laying. Jace was seated in the corner, glaring at the floor. Rebekah was seated upon the teacher's desk, messing with my phone. She had swiped it from me just in case I got any ideas.
"Awh, how sweet." Rebekah said, turning the phone around to show me a new text. It was from Damon. "Too bad he will probably die before he can rescue you."
I glared at her, but said nothing. Rebekah seemed to me like a bratty teenager. She liked to push people's buttons and she had every way of finding out what buttons to push. I wouldn't give her the satisfaction. I walked over to Jace.
"You ok?" I asked. He shrugged. "She didn't hurt you did she?"
"No." Jace replied. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine." I replied. "Klaus broke my stake."
Jace's face fell. I could see the sympathy in his eyes. I shrugged, although the idea that it was broken was actually hurting me more then I wanted to believe. That was the last thing I had of John. He had taken time and effort to make it, and now it was gone. It had been my trusty weapon since I had received it. Parting with it, was much harder than I thought.
"I'm sorry." Jace whispered. I nodded, swallowing the lump forming in my throat. He opened his mouth to say something else, but he was cut off by the sudden intake of breath behind me. I turned and Jace stood, to see what it was.
Tyler was gasping for breath on the table, Caroline trying to calm him down. Rebekah hopped down from her seat on the desk, nonchalantly walking over to Tyler.
"Where am I?" He asked. "What happened?"
"Tyler…" Caroline trailed off.
"Don't be shy about it." Rebekah said with a sadistic smirk. Tyler looked back to Caroline.
"What's going on?" He asked. Caroline's mouth formed a straight line. She then looked over her shoulder and met my gaze. She couldn't do it, so I stepped up beside her.
"Klaus is turning you into a vampire. A hybrid." I explained. Tyler blinked. "You're in transition."
"Don't leave out the hard part, sweets." Rebekah said. "You'll only survive if your witch is successful. If not...You're pretty much dead."
Tyler shared a panicked look with all of us. Caroline squeezed his shoulder.
"You're going to be okay. Okay? It's going to be okay." Caroline tried to reassure him. Tyler didn't look convinced. Rebekah chuckled looking down to my phone again.
"I wonder how she's doing." She said, turning the phone around to show us. "Tick tock goes the gym clock."
Two minutes remained on the clock. I felt my anxiety rise in my chest. I had to figure something out, otherwise, Stefan was going to kill Elena.
"Why are you working with him?" I asked Rebekah. She looked up surprised. "I mean, he killed you right?"
"He also brought me back." Rebekah said, but she didn't sound like it was enough. "Trust me, being on Klaus' side is better than not."
I stepped forward, closer to her. She eyed me suspiciously.
"Aren't you afraid that once you are no use to him he will just get rid of you?" I asked. Rebekah scoffed. "I'm serious."
"You are just like Lissa." Rebekah said, causing me to bristle. "She was clever, always thinking of different ways to get people to listen."
I swallowed. Rebekah didn't seem too impressed by the fact that I looked like her late sister. In fact, I think it annoyed her more than it relieved her. I took another step closer to her.
"You know, if you didn't resemble her so…" Rebekah said. "You would be dead."
"I know." I replied. "I don't take that for granted."
"Oh, yes you do." She said. "You think Klaus will never hurt you. But Alissa thought the same thing and look what happened to her."
I tensed. Rebekah did as well, but she tried to hide it by looking back down at me phone. I knew that she had let too much slip. Now, I knew that Alissa's death had to do with Klaus. He had been living in guilt because he was the reason she died. The reincarnation of the guardian made him suffer because he relived the death of his twin every day.
"Oops." Rebekah said, turning the phone around. "Looks like your doppelgänger's time is up."
The number zero flashed before my eyes and I felt my heart sink. I tried to run to the door, but Rebekah caught me effortlessly, grabbing me by the neck and tossing me into some desks. Caroline and Jace helped me to my feet.
"Don't forget this." Rebekah warned. "I'm not afraid to kill you. You mean nothing to me."
I swallowed as the vampire before me settled back down on the desk. Jace pulled me to his side protectively, but I didn't look at him. I stared at the floor, waiting for the pain of Elena's impending death to go through me.
Minutes passed, and I felt nothing. I was starting to feel more and more relieved and yet more and more anxious. What had happened to her? Where was she? Where was Stefan? The questions burned in my head and it was torture to not have the answers.
Tyler didn't look much better, in fact he looked worse than me. He was sweating and panting, not able to get a breath. Jace and I stayed as far away from his as possible, because Tyler needed blood and the longer he went without it the more he looked at us.
"Would be a pity to lose such a cutie." Rebekah said, looking Jace over. "Maybe you could drink from her Tyler."
"No." Jace said, standing in front of me protectively. Rebekah rolled her eyes, continuing to scroll through my phone. The door opened in the next second with a bang.
"Well, the verdict's in." Klaus said suddenly as he entered the room. "The original witch says the doppelgänger should be dead."
"Where is she?" I asked taking a step forward. Klaus didn't answer, he merely winked at me. Jace squeezed my arm.
"Does that mean we can kill her?" Rebekah asked, much too happy for my liking.
"No, I'm fairly certain it means the opposite." Klaus said, looking at Tyler.
"What?" Rebekah asked, sounding outraged. She grabbed Caroline, restraining her.
"Call it a hunch..." Klaus said, pulling out a vial of red liquid. "Elena's blood. Drink it."
"No!" Caroline protested. "Tyler don't!"
"If he doesn't feed, he'll die anyway, love." Klaus said, handing the vial to Tyler. "Consider this an experiment. It's okay."
Tyler looked at the blood in the vial, hesitating for a moment. However, the vampire in him took over and he drank it. Immediately, Tyler started to cough. He rolled onto the floor, yelling out in pain. My eyes widened as I watched him convulse and shake. He had his hands digging into his scalp, and soon after a loud growl came out of his mouth. He looked up, bright yellow eyes showing along with vampire fangs and veins popping out of his skin. I gasped.
"Well, that's a good sign." Klaus said with a grin.
Tyler was a hybrid.
"Alright, let's go." Klaus said. "Bring the girl."
"Why?" Rebekah whined, but grabbed my arm anyway. I shared a panicked look with Jace and Caroline.
"Don't question me." Klaus said. "We have work to do."
Rebekah started leading me out of the classroom when Jace grabbed my arm. Rebekah huffed before pushing him in the chest, sending him flying into the window of the classroom and falling to the floor. I called out to him, but it was too late, I was being taken away by Klaus and Rebekah.
Rebekah and Klaus had taken me to the hospital where Elena was. I had tried to get away, but neither let me escape. I was beginning to panic. Whatever Klaus wanted me for, I didn't think I could get away from him easily. I thought about Damon, how he said he was coming for me. I just hoped that he would hurry.
"So the doppelgänger isn't the problem." Rebekah said. "Her blood is the solution."
"Seems so." Klaus said. I was leaning against a large truck, my arms crossed over my chest, and glaring at the ground. As of then, they were taking Elena's blood. I wanted to go in and stop it, but Klaus wouldn't let me.
"How did you know?" Rebekah asked. I looked up then with interest. Klaus met my gaze for a second before he looked back to his sister.
"Well, you know how much the original witch hated me." Klaus said. "Do you honestly think I would do anything other than the opposite of what she says?"
"A thousand years in the grave and she's still screwing with you." Rebekah said humorously. Klaus sighed.
"Well, it makes sense if you think about it from her perspective. It was her fail-safe in case I ever broke the hybrid curse." Klaus explained. "The doppelgänger had to die in order for me to become a hybrid, but if she was dead..."
"Then you couldn't make hybrids." I finished for him. Both he and Rebekah looked to me curiously. Rebekah looked more irritated that I had spoken, but Klaus smirked.
"Why is she even here?" Rebekah asked. I rolled my eyes, looking back to the ground.
"Rebekah." Klaus warned. "Why don't you go get the truck huh?"
Rebekah huffed, but she hopped off the car and walked in the opposite direction. I watched her go, and when she was out of sight I turned back to Klaus.
"Why am I here?" I asked. "I'm of no use to you."
"That's where you are wrong." Klaus said. "You have power."
"I'm just a little human." I said with a shrug. "I can't help you."
"You do not give yourself enough credit, love." He said with a smile. "You are strong."
"I can't even protect the thing I was created for." I said, looking back down at the ground. "I'm not strong."
I was surprised when I felt hands on my cheeks. I looked up, and he was right in front of me. I flinched a bit and he brought his hands back, but he continued to stare me in the eye.
"You are the reincarnation of my sister." He said fondly. "I know you are strong."
I gulped. He was being kind to me, but still I didn't trust him. I didn't think I ever could. We were on opposing sides, and even with this family connection, I couldn't bring myself to try and trust him.
"Why are you so obsessed with hybrids?" I asked. Klaus tensed. "Is it because you want to create some kind of army?"
"The original witch put this curse upon me so that I would be alone." Klaus admitted. I furrowed my brows. "I would never have companionship… not after what I did."
"With Alissa?" I asked. Klaus turned quickly. "Rebekah let something slip."
"Of course she did." Klaus muttered. I took a deep breath.
"Is that what this is all about?" I asked. "You afraid of being alone?"
Klaus didn't answer. He didn't get a chance to, because someone had joined us.
"Well, look who finally decided to show up to the party." Klaus said. I stepped to the side to see who he was talking to. Damon was marching forward, looking very determined.
"Damon!" I called. Klaus stood in front of me.
"Let her go." Damon ordered. Klaus clucked his tongue.
"No, I don't think I will." Klaus replied. I tried to move toward Damon, but Klaus stopped me. Damon met my gaze. There was a beat of silence, where Damon and I shared a silent conversation. Before I could say a word, Damon attacked Klaus. However, Klaus had been expecting it, and easily overtook him. Klaus was about to kill him when Damon spoke up.
"Don't you want to know about your friend Mikael?" Damon asked. Klaus stopped, pulling back.
"What do you know about Mikael?" Klaus asked. I had never heard the name come up, but by the sound of Klaus' voice he sounded… scared.
"Just that he knows you're here." Damon said. "Katherine and I found him. Consider it our leverage."
Klaus hesitated, but threw Damon into another car before making his getaway. I threw myself down to Damon's level, checking him over. He seemed fine, and when he met my gaze I felt tears fall from my eyes.
"Where were you Damon?" I asked. His eyes held remorse. "I needed you. We all needed you…"
Damon set his jaw.
"I shouldn't have left." He said, placing his hands on either side of my face. "I promise I will never leave you again."
He then pressed a kiss to my lips, firm and tender. I gripped his shirt, never wanting to let go.
Elena seemed pretty distraught, and she didn't want to be alone. Damon, Jace, and I took turns sitting with her. Apparently, Klaus had compelled Stefan to turn off his emotions. Now, there was no saving him. We couldn't force Stefan to turn those emotions back on, and he had attacked Elena. Stefan was gone.
I was currently sitting in the parlor with Elena. She sat emotionless, staring at the fire. We didn't speak. I just sat there, reading a magazine, waiting for anything to happen.
"Thank you." Elena said suddenly. I looked up to her. "You protected me tonight… you didn't have to do that."
I licked my lips. The guardian instincts had pushed most of the protecting I did tonight. However, there was still a part of me that saw Elena as a friend. She was my half-sister, and yeah my job was to protect her. But I couldn't honestly sit here and say I wanted the girl to die after what had happened. I was going to protect Elena until I couldn't or didn't have to.
"Elena." I said. "Regardless of what happened between us, I'm still your guardian. I'm going to protect you, no matter what."
Elena smiled weakly, and I saw tears coming down her cheeks. Despite my better judgement, I reached forward, pulling her to me in a hug. She seemed surprised at first, but then melted into the hug.
"How sweet."
I jumped immediately standing in front of Elena. Stefan was leaning against the doorframe, a confident swagger to him that I had never seen before.
"What are you doing here?" I asked. Stefan shrugged.
"Last time I checked I lived here." He said, pouring himself a glass of bourbon. "And you… you don't."
"I'm going to protect Elena." I said. Stefan chuckled.
"I heard that." Stefan said, taking another sip. "But you see, Klaus is gone, and he left me behind to protect Elena. Looks like you're out of a job."
I glared at him. He smirked.
"By all means." He said gesturing between us. "Carry on."
He turned and left the room. I looked down at Elena and we shared a very worried glance before looking back to where Stefan had just departed.