"Dying is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. I do it so it feels like hell." -Sylvia Plath

22 - 23. The Sun Also Rises and As I Lay Dying

Jenna was waking up, clutching onto her head in pain. Thea was standing too far away from both women, but she could see Elena attempting to reassure her aunt, to quiet her panic down.

Glancing around, she bit her lip nervously, wishing her bonded was here, that his face had been the last she saw before her father had arrived and spirited her away. Something was going to go wrong, she could feel it. As keenly as she once felt her uncle's impending death. Something was going to go wrong, and she'd be the one paying the price.

Looking up, she noticed Klaus' witch glaring at her with a narrowed stare, and she simply tilted her head in response, curious for the clear animosity. It was everywhere, this feeling of impending doom. It consumed her very being, filtered into her very soul.

Her breath was beginning to stutter, lungs straining under the pressure of her anxiety. Suddenly, none of this seemed like a good plan, like a good idea. Suddenly, she just wanted to rewind the clock, go back to this afternoon, with just her and her bonded on the couch, wrapped up in each other, bond throbbing under the force of their love.

Something was going to go wrong, and she didn't think she would come out of it alive.

Klaus came back, walking leisurely towards his audience. She realised a little too late that she was trapped within a ring of flames, and it seemed Klaus did as well, for once he saw her, noticed her tensing with fear and anxiety, he turned to the witch and commanded, "Why is she trapped as well? I've told you, she is not to be harmed!"

The woman shrugged her shoulders, "Not my problem, I've spelled the entire quarry. Once one ring was lit, the others followed suit."

Thea swallowed nervously, she could feel her hands shaking slightly, and shouted out, "I'd recommend letting me out, I've been told I get my anger from him, so I doubt you want to witness what he'd do if he had magic thrumming through his system."

The woman smirked evilly, gesturing with her hands, "Go ahead, try. I've spelled yours in particular, no magic, no witchcraft of any kind. You're completely powerless in there."

The blood-witch's eyes widened in disbelief, before she tore at the skin of her wrist ferociously with her own teeth. Ignoring Elena and Jenna's cries, which were ironically mingled with her father's , she closed her eyes and focused on her magic, finding that her powers had been blocked, unaccessible to her.

She was powerless, in every sense of the word.

"What have you done?" She whispered frightfully, the weight of the situation landing upon her shoulders heavily, weighing her down. She looked at Klaus, noticed his enraged gaze and the panic in his stance, as he in turn threatened the witch, "Release her Greta! Release her immediately, or I will make your existence a living nightmare."

Greta turned to him with apologetic eyes, before saying, "The Chaos-Wielder must never rise. She will bring death and destruction in her wake, and that, that I fear more than I ever will you," and with a final flick of her wrist, Thea felt her neck snapping sideways, a sickening crack filling the air, as she landed on her back, eyes opened but unseeing.

Dead.

—

She awakened in a vast chasm of nothingness, just black. It was weirdly similar to the dreamscape she'd once met Damon in, nothing but pure blackness as far as her eyes could see.

Gasping, her hands shot to her neck, palpating on the bones, finding them even and straight. Her shoulders dropped in relief, before she stood up, calling out a shaky "Hello? Is anyone here?"

Her feet began leading her forwards, as her mind drifted to Damon. God, he must be feeling her death, feeling the snapping of their bond, and the seemingly endless hopelessness that probably came with it.

Her only respite came from the knowledge of his blood in her system, and the fact that he'd given it to her, so he knew she's rise again. He knew their story wasn't over, because they'd ensured it. So she just had to get out of here, so she could reassure him that she was alright, that she was perfectly fine.

Straightening her shoulders, her strides became more even, more powered with her determination. Clearing her throat, she called out again, this time, her voice stronger, far more powerful than it had ever previously been, "Hello? Whoever it is that dragged me in here, show yourself and let's get this shit over with. I've got a bonded to return to, and you're delaying this whole process infinitely, and with it, taking whatever patience I have out of the equation."

A light giggle floated to her ears, before a woman headed her way, light following her as she came closer. She stopped right in front of her, and Thea gasped in surprise, after all, not many people had the stage combination of raven hair, and duo-coloured eyes, although the woman's were green and blue.

"Hi sweet girl, it's good to finally see you again." She whispered, laying a tender hand on Thea's cheek, cupping it softly.

"Amelia, right?" Mumbled the girl, still in a state of abject surprise and confusion. Her birthmother was standing in front of her, as real and solid as she would have been, had she been alive.

Amelia giggled, the sound like the gentle chiming of bells, "Yeah, Amelia works, though I guess I always thought you'd call me mom or something."

"Sorry," mumbled Thea, clearing her throat and continuing, "Sorry, mom. I just…this is weird and I don't know what's happening and I need to get back to Damon before he loses his mind."

"I know sweet girl, and you will. I just wanted to se you one last time before you awakened, before you became who you were meant to be. I just wanted to tell you how proud you've made me, how proud you've made all of us."

"All of you?"

The elder blood-witch gestured behind her, and thousands of figures began appearing, some more translucent that others. "The blood-witches, those who were hunted and executed for their nature, because of the fear of others. You've carried the line until the end, until you've become what we were all waiting for."

The girl shook her head nervously, chuckling, "i don't understand. I'm gonna wake up as a vampire in transition, right? Like, I'm not going to have any powers or magic or anything. I'm just gonna be Thea, no add-ons, no more legions of people chasing me."

Amelia smiled sadly, "You and I both know this isn't true. You know who you are, what you are going to become. You've already exhibited your magic, as damaging as it may have seemed. You are the Chaos-Wielder, sweet girl, and no change or transition will ever rid you of that power. It is yours, has been since the moment your birth was prophesied in the stars, and will be until the earth burns and the world begins anew."

"I get to keep my magic?" She whispered in surprise, "I won't become a vampire?"

Her mother smiled mischievously, "Who said you couldn't have the best of both, or maybe three worlds? You are a miracle, baby, one that will never be seen again."

She smiled, but it dropped instantly when she felt a wave of pain washing over her, beginning in her soul itself. Her bonded was dying, and she would be damned if he passed before she could smack him back into immortality for landing himself in this situation.

Straightening up, she looked at her mother, the woman's who'd given up her life for her, and nodded, "I'm ready, my bonded needs me." Looking around, she nodded her head at the legions of witches, all like her, but unfortunate enough to have lost the fight, "You will not be forgotten," she stated, standing tall, "Your sacrifices and your power will always be remembered, and when the day comes, and another of us is born, she will never have to fear persecution, because I promise you, it ends with me."

A soft hand laid on her cheek, a whispered floated in her ears as she felt the ground tilting beneath her feet.

"It's time to wake up, my sweet girl. And remember, I have never been more proud of you."

—

Her eyes snapped open in a haze of red, crimson ribbons floating through her skin, surrounding her hands. She could feel the power, the chaotic magic flowing through her veins, lighting her up like electricity.

Thea didn't know how long she'd been gone, but looking around, she found herself alone in hers and Damon's room, the cover ruffled beside her, as though someone had previously laid there.

There was a pain in her heart, in her very soul. She knew something was wrong with her bonded, and with that knowledge, came the push she needed to get up, and slowly leave the room.

Everything was heightened. She felt as though she could see every dust molecule floating in the air, could smell the humidity in the house, as well as the mixed scents of those who'd passed by. It would have been completely overwhelming, had she not been pushed single-mindedly into finding her bonded, and healing him.

Murmurs reached her ears, too low to listen to, unless one had supernatural hearing, which she now did. Closing her eyes, she focused on the sounds, until they became crystal clear, Damon's voice sounding through her system like cold water.

She began heading that way, ignoring everything around her, until she stopped at the doorstep, inhaling quietly. She didn't think she still needed to breath, but she was nervous, unaware of what she'd walk into, of how far gone her soulmate would be.

"It's okay. 'Cause if I'd have chosen differently, I wouldn't have met you. I'm so sorry. Done so many things to hurt you." He mumbled painfully.

"It's okay. I forgive you." She could hear Elena talking, and although still angry, she was somewhat relieved her former friend hadn't perished, that she was still alive. Preparing to enter the room, Damon's next words stopped her, "I love you. You should know that."

She felt as though her head had been plunged underwater, complete disbelief filing her at his words. Surely he wasn't talking to Elena? Surely he wasn't confessing his love for the doppelgänger, when merely hours ago, he'd been with her. Closing her eyes, she waited, breath held in her throat, as he continued, "You should have met me in 1864. You would have loved me, Angel."

Her eyes popped open, anger flooding her system. He wasn't talking to Elena, he was talking to her. He was hallucinating her, and the human was taking advantage of the situation. Straightening her shoulders, she walked into the room, right as the brunette had begun leaning in. "What are you doing, Elena?" She asked, voice low with anger, the danger clear in it.

The brunette's head popped up, and she stumbled away from the bed stuttering her reply, "I didn't….I wasn't. You were dead!"

As she was about to answer, crimson smoke wrapping around her closed fists, ready to attack the girl, a soft whisper claimed her attention instead, "Angel?"

"Ace." She breathed, powering down and running to him. Well, speeding to him, rather, since her control over her new skills was nonexistent. She ignored Elena, staring instead at her bedridden bonded, cupping his sweaty cheek in her palm.

"HI," she mumbled, smiling sadly.

"Hi back," he replied, shaky hand reaching over to lay on top of hers. "You're alive. You're here." He whispered hoarsely, voice tinged in wonder.

"Of course," she chuckled in reply, caressing his skin, "What? You thought you could pass away and leave me to deal with all the idiots in our family? I thought we were in this forever Ace."

"Yeah, forever." He murmured, smiling, "I'm just happy I got to see your face again before—"

"Shh, there is no before. There is only now and after and forever. You're not leaving without me love, never. I'll fix it." She whispered, climbing up on the bed next to him, and gently pulling his head to her neck. She continued soothing him when he shook it, refusing to drink, "It's okay baby. I've got you, and I promise you, I know what I'm doing. Drink. I've got you. I love you."

His head sunk in defeat, before she felt his fangs piercing into her neck, rougher than before. Pulling him in closer, she closed her eyes and focused on her powers, and their bond. Seeking the poison and removing it from his blood, healing him, as he'd done her so many times before. She could feel the heat of her magic caressing them, scarlet lights flashing behind her closed eyelids, until he slowly pulled away, and cupped her face in clammy hands.

"You're here." He mumbled.

"I'm here." She agreed, opening her eyes, and staring at him, "I'm here, and I'm never leaving you again."

She could see tears gathering in his eyes, and he closed them tightly, pulling her into his chest, holding her as though her thought he'd never see her again, and the truth was, he had.

"You're alive," he kept whispering, first in disbelief, then in pure joy. Joy she could feel spreading across their bond, infecting her as steadily as it did him.

"I'm alive," she nodded, "And you're healed, so we've officially got forever now."

His brows furrowed in confusion, as he asked, "I thought you couldn't be a witch and a vampire at the same time."

Thea giggled, watching as he smiled at the sound, "Well, I'm not a witch baby, I'm the Chaos-Wielder. As well as a vampire, and maybe a werewolf now too, not sure about that one. I'll explain it all later, I promise, but right now, I think I need to complete my transition."

He nodded, reaching to his bedside and bringing the blood-bag placed there to her, "One blood-bag for the all-mighty Chaos-Wielder, coming right up."

She grabbed it in her hands, before scrunching her nose at it, "isn't it supposed to entice me to the point where I have no control? Because honestly right now, I'm a little grossed out by it."

Damon laughed jovially, shaking his head, "Just drink baby, the thirst will follow I promise."

Shaking her head, she scrunched her eyes closed, before placing the straw between her lips and pulling, swallowing the crimson liquid as it flowed up. It didn't taste like anything special, she noticed, it was good, but not the best thing she'd ever tasted. Taking a couple more sips, she gave it back to him, explaining at his confused frown, "I'm not really hungry, and honestly, it doesn't taste good enough to make me want to finish it out of gluttony, y'know?"

He shook his head, placing it back on the nightstand before saying, "Figures your control would transition along with you into your vampirism. I don't think you're gonna have to worry about being around humans Angel."

She didn't answer, which prompted him to look back at her in worry, finding her face screwed in pain. "What's wrong?" He questioned immediately, concern flooding between them.

"Nothing, it's just, my gums hurt, which I'm assuming are the fangs coming out, and I'd really like them to hurry because this is unnecessarily painful." She retorted, furrowing her brows at the sensation.

He went quiet, before his eyes lit up, and he bit into his wrist, bringing the wound up to her nose. Her eyes widened when the scent of his blood hit her system, because he smelled better than anything she'd ever encountered. Noticing this, he smiled, "there we go, just let them come out, and you can have a taste, I promise."

Thea nodded, closing her eyes slowly, focusing on the pinching she felt in her mouth, as well as the enticing smell her bonded had placed under her nose. That seemed to be all it took, because she felt the pain give away, and two sharp pinpricks nudged against her bottom lip.

Opening her eyes, she found him staring at her in wonder, "Your eyes, they're red."he murmured, one finger gliding softly over the newly developed veins under her eyes, making her gasp at the sensation. Smiling, he raised his wrist to her lips, encouraging her to bite him, to take his blood into her, for the first time since her change.

Meeting his eyes, icy-blue to ruby-red she pulled it to her, biting into the skin and feeling it give under her teeth with a soft 'pop', before his taste exploded across her taste buds.

Moaning at the feeling, she began pulling with gusto, feeling even emotion he held caressing her veins, as though instead of blood, she was absorbing his love into her.

When she felt her control slipping, she slowly released him, licking her lips before saying, "I think that's enough. For some reason, you taste better than the blood-bag or chocolate or both combined."

His hand dug into her hair, pulling her closer to him, and as his lips descended on hers, he whispered, "Good, because you're addicting, and now I can have my fill without worrying about you." Before kissing her passionately, pulling her on top of him, hands on her hips, hers holding onto his shoulders.

Their moment however, was interrupted with a small clearing of the throat, to which the newly awakened Chaos-Wielder's only response was a groan, "For fuck's sake, I just died. Can the universe give me one instant without cock-blocking all of my efforts to figure out what's so special about vampire sex?"

A light giggle hit her ears, and she smiled in return, chuckling when Damon groaned as her retreating form, his hands grasping onto her tighter. Looking at the doorway, she found herself staring in the brown eyes of a relived Kat, who said, "I see you took care of the problem, and rose out of the ashes like a Phoenix. Not that I'm surprised, mind you."

Thea laughed, "Well, you're do seem relived."

"What can I say, I like you, little witch. Would have been a damn same to lose the one person I've been able to tolerate for centuries this soon." The woman stepped into the room, placing a small, blood-filled vial on the nightstand. At the couple's curious expressions, she explained, "Klaus' blood. Apparently it's the one cure for a werewolf bite, though it seems to me like Thea's is as well. Now you have it on hand, for a rainy day."

"I thought you got free?" Questioned the man, raising himself into a seated position, cradling his witch to his chest still.

She nodded, "Yep. Finally."

"And you still came here?"

Kat looked at the both of them, before gesturing towards the witch, "I owed her one. Plus, I figured she wouldn't want you to follow after her, if she'd truly been dead."

Thea nodded before titling her head, "He wouldn't have just given this for free. Especially if he thought I was dead. He would have wanted to torture all of you, so how did you get it?"

The woman's smile became cold, a certain predatory look in her eyes, "Stefan. He gave himself up for his brother, all the while his little human tried to kiss a taken man. Your taken man."

The blood-witch and her bonded both. Tensed at the reminder, and she growled, feeling the veins growing beneath her glowing eyes as she growled, "And trust me, I'm gonna make her life hell for it. It's one thing to pursue someone, it's a completely different thing to take advantage of his weakness, and pretend to be his bonded while he was hallucinating her in order to kiss him. That's just assault."

"Much worse than anything I ever did, huh?" Questioned the woman jovially, tilting her head.

"Uh huh, and she's about to be the first person to learn why you don't fuck with the Chaos-Wielder, or her bonded, because I'm gonna make her wish she stayed dead."

Katherine nodded solemnly, before turning to the two, "Enjoy your forever, if anyone deserves it, its the two of you. And spare me an invite to the wedding, yeah? I promise I won't eat anyone." She threw them a wink, before spending out of the house, and their lives. For now, at least.

Damon's arms tightened around her, pulling her back to chest, as he whispered, "What now?"

"Now, I give my father a call, see if I can convince him to return Stefan peacefully, and reassure him I'm alive. Other than that, it's just you and me and forever, Ace."

He kissed her, his voice floating through her mind louder than it ever had before, forever sounds like just enough time Angel.

—

She'd kept her word, and was now pacing across the room as her phone rang. Damon was in the shower, washing off the aftermath of the werewolf bite, and Elena's touch.

"Yes?" Came the answer, in an angry British voice.

"You know, I figured you'd at least show a modicum of happiness at hearing your previously dead daughter's not-so-dead voice," she joked.

The line went quiet, for so long in fact that she had to check to see if the call was still on-going, before asking again, "Hello? Did I break you? Because you're a thousand years old, and I should think you've witnessed your fair share of resurrections."

"You're alive?" He questioned in whisper.

"Yep. Well, is becoming a vampire-witch-possible werewolf tribrid still considered alive, because I don't really know anymore." She replied, laughter clear in her voice.

"You had vampire blood in your system when she snapped your neck," he breathed in relief.

"Uh huh, and you lifted the curse, which I should congratulate you for, by the way, except I'm not really sure where it leaves me so…"

"I suppose you'll figure it out eventually little one. I am just happy to hear you are safe and sound."

"Happy enough to maybe give me my future brother-in-law back? Because apparently he bartered himself over to you for a bottle of blood, which we didn't need because I'm the same level of awesome as you, and now it's causing a bit of a stir on this side of the isle." She asked, voice squeaking slightly in bashfulness.

Cold hands wrapped around her waist from behind, and she leaned into her bonded's still wet chest, as Klaus retorted in a voice tinged with laughed, "No can't do, little one. He made a deal, so now, Stefan's just upholding it. Let your bonded know that your safety is paramount, and should you have a scratch on you upon my return, he will have to deal with the Hybrid."

Giggling, she replied, "He got you loud and clear, though I'm pretty sure he's gonna become a tyrant from here on out, I did effectively die after all. Just…take care of Stef, yeah? Don't…don't be too much of a tyrant, or serial killer yourself, and I'll take myself out the equation completely. I am Switzerland from here on out, just so I can maintain my relationship with everyone."

"You still wish to get to know me?" He questioned carefully.

"Yeah, I mean, I may not have known you were my dad three weeks ago, but I do now. And I don't exactly have a lot of family left, you know? Plus, I think there's more to you, more than the rumours and the titles, and I'd like to see it. If you'll let me, that is."

Klaus went quiet, before whispering softly, "You are an impossibility, little one. A miracle, as it were. I'll keep you updated, and take care of yourself in the meantime, before my return to Mystic Falls."

"Will do. Bye, dad." She whispered back, before hanging up, and leaning her head back against Damon.

"I tried," she said, "but I didn't want to push him, and he was right. Stefan did make a deal, so now he's upholding it. And I don't want to make you angry, or play on any sides. I love you, you're my bonded, so you'll always be my first priority, but he's—"

"He's your dad," he interrupted softly, nuzzling into her, "I get it. I understand baby, and I don't blame you. I'll handle finding Stefan, and you stay out of it, build a relationship with him, because you need to, and you want to. Because you're my first priority too."

Turning around in his arms, she smiled, "I love you. You are the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, Ace."

HIs forehead touched hers, lips grazing together as he spoke, every word a kiss onto itself, "Love you too, Angel. And now, I've got forever to show you." Before he pulled her in, and kiss to begin all kisses. A kiss that signalled forever.

The Angel and her Ace, following the path destiny had long ago laid for them.