"it was said that the gods favoured fools because they were entertaining to watch." - N.K Jemisin
8. Rose:
She was being carried somewhere. Her head was still incredibly foggy, and she was unable to fully concentrate. Based on previous experiences, Thea assumed that meant that whoever had kidnapped her, had also cracked her skull. She tried to focus her hearing, because she was fairly certain she could distinguish Elena's voice, faint though it may have been.
Her entire upper body felt immobilised. Arms wrapped tightly behind her back, and neck bound into place by rough ropes. That probably meant that whoever her kidnapper was, they knew her particular brand of witchcraft, and had taken the necessary precautions to keep her from harming herself and subsequently, them too.
She was abruptly dropped into a hard surface, the ground most likely, and just before she lost consciousness once more, she vaguely heard Elena's voice, screaming her name.
—
She slowly opened her eyes, squinting against the sudden onslaught of brightness. Her neck ached, and her shoulders were cramping up, but none of that compared to the immense pain she felt coming from the side of her head. The bone was still mending, then.
She attempted tov turn her head sideways, finding the task nearly impossible with the binding around her neck. And so she resorted to whispering, "Elena! El!"
A familiar brunette figure came into her line of vision, before the girl sobbed quietly in relief, "Tee! You're okay!"
"I am, but I need you to sit me up. They've bound me like a thanksgiving turkey, so I can't exactly move right now."
Elena nodded, before softly reaching over and helping the girl to sit up. As soon as her hand made contact with Thea's arm though, the blood-which hissed in pain, and watched in mild horror as deep black bruises grew on her skin.
"What's happening to you?" Whispered Elena in a panic.
"I used dark magic to bind myself to Katherine yesterday instead of you. This is the price of it." She mumbled, observing as the splotches spread across both of her arms, and legs.
Looking back at her fried, she whispered, "Do you know anything?"
The human shook her head, "No, just that they're two vampires. A man and a woman. I can sort of hear them talking right now, but you were more important."
"Go, eavesdrop as best as you can, and come back here before they figure you out. I'm okay for now. The boys will be coming soon anyways."
"How do you know?"
"Damon and I are connected, El. He's gonna start feeling the physical pain I'm in, and I'm pretty sure the ropes they used are rubbing my skin raw. The same's gonna happen to him. They're coming." She assured her softly.
The brunette nodded, before quickly moving away and up the stairs, heading to fulfil her task. Meanwhile, Thea simply sighed in discomfort. The effect of yesterday's dark magic was beginning to wear on her, the bruises stinging with each breath she took. And she wasn't lying, the ropes truly were rubbing her skin raw, especially around her neck, where she could feel most of the pain coming from.
She wasn't used to being so helpless, always being able to reply on both her magic and her intelligence to get her out of situations. But currently, she had neither at her disposal. She could't bleed for her powers, and the harsh blow to her head had muddled her thoughts, rendering them as useless as the average person's. She felt slow and stupid, and in the back of her head, wondered if this is what it was like inside a normal person's brain, because good lord, was it ever so dull.
Resting her back against the sofa she was on, she waited for her friend to reappear with information, and hopefully the minute brain damage she'd sustained would have healed by then.
It turned out that she didn't have to wait for long, as only a couple of minutes later, Elena was dragged back into the room by a disgruntled female vampire.
The woman threw her onto the couch beside Thea, and took up a standing position in front of them.
Looking at her, Thea raised an arrogant brow, "care to tell us why we're here, or are we meant to guess?"
The woman stared at her, before retorting, "You keep asking me these questions like I'm gonna answer them."
"Why won't you?" Questioned the brunette human.
"There's another one."
Thea groaned, rolling her eyes in annoyance, "Listen, you got us, alright? I'm trussed up like a fucking turkey with brain damage and Elena's human, so it's not like we can escape or anything. Might as well tell us why you went through all the fucking trouble. I'm assuming it's not because you were craving our presence."
The vampire rolled her eyes back, before saying in a vaguely menacing tone, "You are far too arrogant for your current situation."
"Nope," replied the blood-witch, "I just know you need the both of us alive, and probably unharmed. So I can keep calling you out on your bullshit, and you're not gonna do jack shit about it. Because if you hurt me, then it's game over for you, so just answer our fucking questions." Smirking smugly, she added, "Christ, even with a cracked skull, I'm still leagues smarter than you'll ever be."
"I personally want nothing; I'm just a delivery service." Replied the vampire.
"Delivery to who? Elijah?" Asked Elena.
At that name, Thea's eyes jumped to her in surprise. There was only one Elijah in her knowledge that held that much command, enough to frighten even this seemingly old vampire. God, it was just her luck too.
Turning to the woman, she questioned, "Why does one of the originals want the both of us?"
"So you're not as ignorant as your friend then. I'd assumed you would be."
"Don't assume anything about me. 9 times out of 10, you'll find your wrong. Now answer my question."
Elena turned to her suddenly, and asked, "What do you mean, the originals?"
"Exactly as the title implies El. According to British Vamp over here, one of the originals, aka the first vampires created, wants us."
The vampire ignored her statement, and said, "Trevor and I have been running for 500 years. We're tired, we want it over. We're using the both of you to negotiate ourselves out of an old mess."
"But why us?" Retorted the brunette.
"Because you're a Petrova Doppelgänger. You're the key to breaking the curse." Gesturing towards the tied-up witch, she continued, "And she's the last blood-witch. One of the single most powerful creatures on earth, and the prophesied Chaos Wielder."
Chaos Wielder. Thea had never heard of the title before, didn't even know what it meant. Ignoring the conversation occurring between the other two females, she began quickly thinking about the possible implications. She knew of Chaos Magic, but it was a myth. Legends passed on through the ages of witches far too powerful, of magics that destroyed and eviscerated. In every legend involving it, the wielder eventually died, their magic turning against them.
It was powerful, able to do anything. Play on the mind and the soul, as well as the physical world around it. Magic that was boundless and limitless in its capabilities. But again, they were simply myths. Nature would not allow for suck power too exist, unrestrained, and Thea had her boundaries. She couldn't practise magic without bleeding, and even then, if she bled too much, she would pass out, with blood-loss being a very real possibility.
She tuned back into the conversation when she heard the vampire state, "The blood of the doppelgänger. You're the doppelgänger. Which means, in order to break the curse you're the one who has to die. And the Chaos-Wielder's blood would only power it more. And the man who wants to break the curse craves nothing but complete power. You are both going to die."
—
Elena was still questioning the woman, when the man suddenly appeared, grinning maliciously, "Captivity has made her pushy, eh? What do you want to know doppelicious?"
Thea gagged slightly, before saying, "God, could you be any more perverted? You're what? A little over 600 years, and you still have the maturity level of a hormonal 16 year old."
The man sped towards her, hissing and flashing his fangs. Thea simply raised her brow, before she said, in a clearly fake frightened tone, "Oh no, oh god. Not the teeth. Please don' bite me, Mr. Vampire Man." Dropping the act, she asked him, "Is that what you were going for? Cause uh, let me tell you, those fangs aren't all that scary."
She turned her eyes back to the woman, before stating, "Since my brain is functioning normally again, let me tell you what I know. I think you're running from the same people Katherine is, and I'm pretty sure one of you turned her, which is why you're shitting yourselves with fear. I think that home-boy over there," she tilted her head minimally towards the man, before continuing, "fell for Kat's charms, and that landed you in some steep shit with the originals, since they needed to kill the doppelgänger, but she was a vamp now. And I also think, that they probably want him dead, more than you, but you're the only people you've had in centuries, and so you continue to fix his fuck-ups, much like an older sibling. And now, you've hit rock bottom, and figured selling two teenage girls to Elijah would get you a life."
Growing quiet for a minute, she watched as the two's eyes grew wide with wonder and surprise, and figured she'd gotten everything correctly, but regardless, she still smirked smugly and asked, "So how'd I do?"
The two exchanged glances, before speeding out of the room, leaving the girls alone. Thea looked at Elena, before saying, "Now that I've run them out, we need to plan what to do once Elijah gets here. Because as much as I seem to get myself in deadly situations, I actually have a lot to live for now."
Elena nodded, but right before she could answer, she jumped slightly in surprise. The blood-witch raised a curious brow at the. Reaction, and. The human looked at her, before placing a finger over her lips, warning the witch to remain silent.
She nodded, and the human scooted closer, showing her the note that had apparently, spontaneously appeared into her hand.
"Stefan and Damon are coming for the both of you. - B"
They exchanged relived glances, as small smiles grew on both of their faces. Perhaps they'd make it out of here unharmed after all.
It was only around fifteen minutes later that their kidnappers ran back into the room, with the man saying in a panic, "He's here! This was a mistake."
"No, I told you I would get us out of this. You have to trust me." Replied the woman.
"No! He wants me dead, Rose!"
Rose, apparently, shook her head and pointed at the girls, "He wants them more."
The man however, was unconvinced, "I can't do this. You give them to him, he'll have mercy on you but I need to get out of here."
Rose stepped closer to him, before she asked in a soothing tone, "Hey! What are we?"
He closed his eyes, before answering in a resigned whisper, "We're family, forever."
A knock on the door snapped them open though, and he began pacing anxiously once more.
Thea looked at Rose, and stated, "You're terrified."
The woman ignored her, before telling her companion, "Stay here with them and don't make a sound." And heading upstairs.
Thea could hear muffled voices, the two making conversation. She assumed that Rose was arguing for hers and her friend's freedom, and it proved to be true, as only a minute later, they heard footsteps descending the stairs.
A brown-haired man appeared at the door, and gasped in surprise. Thea rolled her eyes, assuming that he was in disbelief over the Petrova Doppelgänger, but. Strangely enough, he sped straight to her side.
His hands came to cup her cheeks softly, and although incredibly weirded out, the blood-witch couldn't help but notice how familiar his eyes seemed, as though she'd seen them before.
"Look how you've grown, little one." He whispered lovingly, before noticing the ropes binding her and the bruises on her skin.
She could see him tensing, and physically holding in his anger, before he turned to Elena, and sniffed her neck delicately, mumbling, "So you are human, it seems."
He then turned back to their kidnappers, asking, "Which one of you was it, that tied the witch up so spectacularly?"
The man's spot's voice quivered in fear as he replied, "Me."
Elijah nodded resolutely, before turning to Rose, and saying, "One last piece of business and we're done."
He walked towards the man, and slapped him. He slapped him with such strength that his head toppled straight off of his shoulders. Elena screamed in surprised and fear, while Thea merely raised an impressed brow. Just how old was he, to have such strength? Older than 600, that's for sure, perhaps even a millennium, if the rumours were true and he'd truly originated the vampire species.
At Rose's worried screech, he simply said, "You do not get to harm her, ever. And if it were you who'd hurt her in this way, Rose-Marie, it would be your head on the floor."
Elena sobbed quietly, "Please don't let him take us."
The blood-witch turned to her friend with pity, before saying, "El, her only family is dead. She's not gonna do shit right now."
Elijah turned back. To the two girls, heading their way. With a deft hand, he ripped through Thea's binding as easily as if they were paper, and ran a tender hand across her wrist. Picking her arm up, he raised a brow at the bruises, before stating, "We shall need to discuss your usage of ancient dark magicks, little one. I will not have you harm yourself."
He then grabbed Elena roughy, and began pulling them towards the stairs with a single commanded, "Come."
The brunette struggled in his grasp, until she attempted to bargain, "No, what about the moonstone?"
Thea groaned inwardly, rolling her eyes at her friend's lack of common sense. The moonstone was not a bargaining chip, it had to be protected if they wanted to stay alive, and now the human had just indicated that they knew of its whereabouts to one of the vampires that wanted them dead.
The original looked at the brunette with a raised brow, "What do you know about the moonstone?"
"I know that you need it and I know where it is."
"Yes?"
"I can help you get it."
"Tell me where it is."
Chuckling in slight amusement, he asked, "Are you negotiating with me?" Before turning to look at Thea.
The blood-witch rolled her eyes in annoyance, replying, "it's a habit. If you ignore her, she'll just keep going, and my skull is still healing. So if you could just speed this thing up, so I can catch a fucking break, I'd be much obliged."
Elijah smiled at her, true and wide, and Thea grinned back. She didn't know why, but something in her gut was telling her to trust this man, that he would come to mean so much to her, that he was important. It also didn't help that he was terribly familiar, and it was nagging at her.
He looked back at Elena, noticing the necklace around her neck, "What is this vervain doing around your neck?" He wondered, before ripping it off, and grabbing her face.
"Tell me where the moonstone is." He compelled her.
The human's eyes became glassy, and her voice turned monotone, "In the tomb, underneath the church ruins."
"What is it doing there?"
"It's with Katherine."
"Interesting." He hummed, before pulling away.
The sudden noise of breaking glass surprised them, and a tingle of awareness flowed through the witch's blood-bond. She withheld a smile, sending a flow of love and gratitude through it. Damon was here, and he was not going to leave without her.
"What is that?" Asked Elijah, turning to Rose with a questioning brow.
The woman shocker head, replying, "I don't know."
"Who else's in this house?"
Rose simply repeated her previous answer, "I don't know."
The original sighed, before blurring towards Elena, roughly grabbing her by the arm, and then towards Thea, who he proceeded to gently hold. He sped them towards different part of the house, before leaving them together.
Thea could hear Damon speaking, taunting the original, before she was pulled away form her friend, and into a familiar chest. Wrapping her armsaroundheq blood-bonded tightly, she inhaled his scent, before looking up at him. She could see the relief in his gaze, could feel it flowing through him in abundant waves. He put his finger to his lips, indicating that she should remain quiet, as Elijah stated, "Excuse me. To whom it may concern, you're making a great mistake if you think that you can beat me. You can't. Do you hear that?"
She could hear something breaking, and assumed he'd found himself a weapon, before he added, "I repeat, you cannot beat me. So I want the girls, I'm gonna count to three or heads will roll. Do we understand each other?"
Elena's voice suddenly piped up, "I'll come with you, just please don't hurt my friends, they just wanted to help me out."
He said, "Where is Althea?"
She heard something explode, before Damon sped them towards the noise, and quicker than her eyes could catch the movement, her blood-bonded had stacked Elijah straight through the heart and into the door.
At the sight of the original's desiccated body, the blood-witch couldn't help but wince, feeling a strange sadness flowing through her. She didn't understand why. She felt that way. Didn't know why he'd looked at her like she was something precious, valuable to him. Like he hadn't seen her in years, and could not believe that she was finally with him again.
Nothing that her bonded was about to follow a quickly disappearing Rose, Thea interjected, "Let her go," before whispering to him, "Can you come here, please Ace?"
He sped to her, pulling her into his arms, wrapping himself around her. "You're okay," he mumbled into her hair, his love and relief filling her up.
"I'm okay love. I'm okay." She whispered back, burrowing deeper into him. He pulled away, cradling her face between his hands, before pulling it to his, laying his lips over hers with so much love and gratitude, she could feel tears flowing form her eyes.
"I love you Damon," she whispered into him, before he pulled her into. His arms and carried her to the car, remaining silent all the way.
—
She'd just gotten out of the shower, when Damon walked into the room. The girl looked up at him vulnerably, before. Whispering, "I don't know if you're angry at me still, or not. But just for tonight, can you just hold me? We can fight and argue tomorrow, but just hold me tonight."
He didn't reply, simply taking off his clothes, before speeding to her, and pulling her into the bed with him, where he wrapped his arms around her. Thea snuggled into him, laying her head against his heart, letting the slow beats guide hers.
"I'm not angry at you," he whispered. "I was, but the moment I felt that pain across my head, I knew something had happened to you. I could feel it, in my soul. And nothing mattered anymore. Not what happened yesterday, or the bruises that grew on my arms because of whatever magic you used. The only important thing, the only thing that mattered, was getting you back in my arms, safe and sound again."
"I'm so sorry Ace," she mumbled, voice heavy with tears, "I know I hurt you yesterday by not telling you, but I knew she'd plan something, and I also knew that I was the only witch powerful enough to potentially override it. And I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to get hurt in the crossfire. Not because I don't trust you, or anything else. And the bruises are a result of the magic I used, you're right. But they'll be gone by tomorrow."
His arms tightened around her, and he said, "I know you're sorry, I can feel it. And I know you trust me. And I trust you too baby. And I'm sorry I overlooked your opinion and thoughts, that won't happen again." His forehead leant against hers, as he whispered reverently, "God, I love you so much, and just the thought that I could lose you, that we could have been too late, was enough to drive me crazy."
"I knew you were coming." She mumbled, "I kept telling Elena that you would feel me and come, and you did."
"Always." He kissed her softly, before pulling back and asking, "So Elijah wanted to sacrifice you and Elena?"
Thea swallowed, before shaking her head, "No, Elena, maybe, but not me. He was weirdly protective, slapped one the kidnappers' head straight off his shoulders because he'd hurt me. He also stroked my cheeks, and was weirdly caring."
She could feel the immediate jealousy spread through him, and he pulled her closer to him possessively. Thea chuckled in response, before explaining, "Not that way. He called me 'little one', and the way he looked at me, it was as though he hadn't seen me in a while, and had missed me. As though he was observing all the ways I'd grown and changed. Kind of like a relative does." Shaking her head slightly, she added, "He seemed so familiar to me, Damon. Like I know I've met him before, I'm sure of it. I know him, and my gut kept telling me that he was important, that he was someone I would need and love and respect."
A soft kiss was dropped on her forehead, before her bonded whispered, "We'll figure it out tomorrow. But for now, you need to sleep, and I need to hold you in my arms all night."