A/n: Here we go with the next chapter. This is kind of a turning point for the story. And wow, 507 reviews?! FIRST STORY OF MINE TO EVER REACH THAT LEVEL! :D I'm so ecstatic! I want to thank you for all the support all of you have given me. These months have been crazy for me since I have been so caught up with school. My education comes first before any fanfic writing. My work has paid off because I ended up having an A- average. A 3.5 for the semester. This helps me get qualified for scholarships and things. Sometimes, I hate college. LOL. Anyway, the updates maybe slow, but I'm still trudging through to get them out. Hope y'all like it.
Anyway, onto the story.
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Disclaimer: I don't own TVD.
Chapter 36: Welcome to the Jungle
Unnamed Island, Nova Scotia
200 miles away from the Nova Scotia mainland
Present – March 23, 2011
The nightmares still haunted her. Even while she was awake, they would haunt her. His voice, her howls, the magic around her. The guilt was killing her from the inside.
How far would you go to keep your family? For Charlene, that choice came at a heavy price.
"What? What's going on, Char?"
She stole something that she could never be able to give back.
"Why? Why am I feeling like this? Why am I so…thirsty? What's happening to me?"
This is the price she paid for making a deal with the devil. Eventually, he would come for her.
"How could you do this to me?! I NEVER wanted THIS! NEVER ANY OF THIS! You took away MY choice! I didn't want this! YOU DID THIS TO ME! YOU LET HIM TURN ME INTO A MONSTER!"
And because of that one selfish choice Charlene made, she also helped in creating a monster. Klaus was already something bad. And now, she helped Klaus create another one like him.
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT! And you know what? After all the shit we went through, I would've thought you would actually support my choice and just let me be at peace, but NO! YOU TURNED ME INTO THIS MONSTER! He may have used his blood and crap to turn me, but it wasn't him that started this! NOT HIM! IT WAS YOU!"
"Charlene!"
The sound of her name finally broke her attention from the past. She forgot that they had traveled to the island by boat, which their guide – Professor Shane – was leading them to find the cure. Dressed up in her gear to combat again the chilly weather, she still felt the coldness seep into her bones. Stepping onto shore, the air of this place felt cold and thin. Peering into that dark forest ahead was impossible. She tried to hold back the shuddering breath trying to escape her as she stayed close to the group.
"Yeah, I'm here, Bekah." Charlene replied back finally. "I'm fine."
"You better be. We can't have one of our witches out of shape before we actually try to get the cure." Rebekah retorted with a small playful smirk on her lips.
Charlene soon felt her old self trying to kick back in. "If you're insinuating that I'm out of shape to take a hike in that creepy jungle then you're mistaken. I haven't let myself gone slack."
"Oh yeah? Then how have you kept in shape?" the Original asked putting her bag on the ground before breathing the salty air. "Damn, hardly any people or animals nearby."
"Mentally, I kept myself busy with the grimoires and going to classes in college. Physically, I was dragged out to the Zumba classes to dance. And usually, dancing is not my usual hobby."
"I wonder who the guilty party who drug you out."
Charlene winced at that last sentence with her recent memories threatening to come back. But digging deep, she was able to hold them at bay, and she kept the smile on her face from falling. "A dear friend of mine actually. She was more of the dancer than I ever was."
"Come on, guys! Let's get this rolling!"
She rolled her eyes at Damon barking out orders. Sorry, but that was laughable. Even she knew she knew that if they were going to listen to anyone, it was going to be Stefan. Sure, he had his issues like every vampire she most met. However, he was the most leveled-headed out of any of them. Then there's the fact that Damon didn't know the layout of the island.
Only the creepy professor did, and that made Charlene's skin crawl enough. She had to agree that Damon was right about him being shady. She only came to the conclusion that it would only be a matter of time before his true colors showed. How in the hell they got the professor out of the jail is something Charlene will never know or understand.
"You can hold your horses, Damon. We're not burning daylight here." Charlene replied, grabbing her bag and heading closer towards the group.
Damon just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, but we don't want to waste time either. I'm just being a motivator here."
"You're not someone people would vouch for a motivator. No offense, big brother." Stefan joined in on the conversation, playfully smiling for the first time in a while.
"Let's just get this going, okay. We need to get a move on." Rebekah sighed. "That includes you too, Elena."
"I heard you loud and clear, Rebekah." Elena answered, annoyed with Rebekah's impatience.
But there was more to Rebekah than impatience. Ever since they came closer to the island, Bekah became more of a bristling she-demon towards the Gilberts. Her animosity towards them came more to the surface now that they were away from Mystic Falls. Elena always brought a constant wound on her family, which left two of her brothers dead and a third one probably dead soon.
Sensing the tension already, Stefan intervened. "You know, you're not really helping."
"You're perfectly capable of tying a knot," she retorted, not in the mood for Stefan's diplomatic skills.
Finishing the knot to keep the boat secure, Stefan got back up on his feet.
"You're giving Elena the evil eye – it's not really helping."
"She's killed my brother months ago, and now this little trip about her has forced my other brother to probably starving to death. She's lucky all she's getting is the evil eye."
This time, Elena had enough. She stopped in her tracks with her back towards them. "You know I can hear you, right?"
"You know I don't care, right?"
Rebekah's inner bitch was already coming out. She dared Elena do something about it.
Elena's temper finally snapping, she sped towards Rebekah, grabbing her neck and pointing the white oak stake at her chest. Thankfully, Rebekah had the upper hand and flipped her over and pushed her to the ground, leaving Elena stunned in result.
The blonde Original was on the verge of doing the job of strangling Elena's throat, but she kept herself in check. The white oak stake and having Stefan close by helped in that regard. She came here on her own volition, wanting the cure. She wasn't here because of the trollop's sake. Still, it didn't change that Rebekah hated Elena more now with the cause of Kol's death threatening her life.
"Go ahead, try and kill me. See where it takes you, but then you'd have to face your real problems. Like the fact that Stefan invited me here, himself. I guess he likes me again."
Watching from a distance, Charlene watched the intense yet short confrontation between the two vampires. She knew that Rebekah could handle herself despite how angry she was. She had too much value in what she was looking for. Then with Elena, Charlene resided just to stay away from her as much as possible. Lately Charlene's own emotional issues and cloudy thoughts of Damon weren't a good combination. She kept herself busy with Jeremy and Bonnie, taking pictures of the Hunter's Mark while they waited Rebekah with the sword.
"Something interesting over there?" Bonnie asked.
Charlene shook her head. "No, sorry. Just drama that we don't need to be involved in."
Still, she was worried that drama would mess up this trip.
"Drama is inevitable when it comes to vampires and all of this. Even back to when Qetsiyah and Silas were around." The witch added, taking pictures of the tattoo with her phone.
"Yeah, I know. Trust me, that story was told to me way too many times before." Charlene agreed, her eyes following the tattoo from the start of the shoulder to the top of Jeremy's hand.
"You know about Silas and Qetsiyah? Even before this?"
"Yes, Jeremy. But, mostly they were just legends. Stories. Something my old teacher would tell me about just for sport on Hallow's Eve. It's the same story, though. Silas asked Qetsiyah for her help to make an immortal spell. She helped him, but she felt betrayed when she found out his real plans. Silas wanted to make his lover immortal instead of him so she killed her in spite." Of course, Charlene knew more about the details in the story, but that didn't matter. Not for this trip.
"Yeah, and since Silas was immortal, she couldn't kill him." Bonnie finished out the story as she remembered. "She trapped him in a cave and buried him alive instead."
Looking at his tattoo once more, he couldn't help but wonder. "Does this say anything about the hunter's purpose in all of this?"
"I was wondering when you'd ask." The hairs on Charlene's back went up as soon as Professor Shane walked up behind them, gathering their attention.
Charlene bit her tongue back from saying something sarcastic. Just looking at this man and being around him still gave her the creeps and had her witch senses in an uproar. He was bad news, but what can she do? She worked with the opposite team too long. She highly doubted the gang would believe her.
"Qetsiyah created a cure for immortality, and then she buried it with Silas, hoping that he'd take it and die, and end up on the other side with her for all eternity. But he wouldn't give her the satisfaction. So, many centuries later, her descendants created the hunters to find him, cure him and kill him." Shane told them the story, casting a small knowing glance towards the blonde witch. He knew that she knew way more about Silas and Qetsiyah more than she led on with the group. He could say something about it to the group, exposing her, but he kept his silence. In time, she would be put to better use. "You know what? I'll explain on the hike. Come on. We gotta get going."
{Louder Than Thunder}
They had been trekking for a while now with Shane leading the way. With Shane taking the lead, Damon and Elena took up the front with Stefan and Rebekah following up in the middle. Charlene was tagging alone with Bonnie while Jeremy held up the rear. And as always, the quiet tense silence among the trail was always broken.
"Satellite phone lost its signal," Shane said, hearing the beeps from his phone that weren't a good indicator.
Damon rolled his eyes, predicting this would happen earlier on with this damn haunted island. "Well, that's a good sign."
Now, it was Charlene's turn to roll her eyes at Damon's sarcasm. How did she like him still after all these years was beyond her.
"At least he still know this place. We're not lost yet." Charlene stated with a carefully placed smile. She had to choose her words carefully because she knew it would only be a matter of time. At least that's what her instincts were telling her.
This island was crackling with magic, but at the same time, it made her sick. The nausea was hard to keep at bay. She hoped they would stop for a break soon.
"Is anyone else a little creeped out?" Elena spoke out.
"So then leave. Out of everyone here your presence is the least necessary."
And of course, Rebekah had to open her mouth.
"Please don't start." Stefan added in, not wanting to get involved into more girl drama. Rebekah can be a nasty drama queen when she wanted to be.
"I'm merely stating facts. Jeremy has the spell on his body. Bonnie is the witch who unseals Silas while Charlene is our backup witch just in case. Shane is the human compass. You and I have the tombstone and the sword to be able to translate the tattoos. And as always, Elena has no point." Rebekah held nothing back on her answer. And honestly, it felt pretty damn good. It was nothing compared to roasting Elena alive, but she'll take it for now.
Elena kept her silence, not wanting to give the blonde the satisfaction of a reaction. The rest of the group kept their silence too and hiked quietly.
But as always, Damon hated being left out. "What about me?"
"You have a nice behind." The blonde Original answered casually.
Hearing that, Charlene had a hard time keeping a straight face on the rest of the hike.
(Louder Than Thunder}
Soon enough, day had turned into night, and it only amplified the creepy factor on this island. The only thing that had kept the group distracted from that was the small conversations here and there. (Not to the mention, Shane's creepy tour guide vibes he had been showing with talking about this island.)
"Centuries after Qetsiyah died, there were these miners who were excavating a well on the island. Suddenly went mad. They bled themselves dry. No apparent reason. So, the legend spread that these miners, in exchange for a drop of their blood, saw visions of their lost loved ones in the well they were digging. The word traveled and explorers sought out the well to see if the legend was true." Shane continued on with the tale, hiking along the path with his headlight to help him see.
Hearing more about this, Bonnie was shocked. "So, the well was magic?"
The professor nodded. "Well, you know, some people believe the voices of lost souls were just a wind vortex whipping through the caves, and visions were caused by inhaling the island's poisonous plant life."
"And what do you believe?" the brunette vampire asked out of curiosity.
"I believe in magic. My wife and my son died within months of each other. And so...I decided to try the well out for myself. I offered up my blood and I waited."
Both Bonnie and Charlene wanted to deny it. Both of them have been around magic long enough to know things are possible, but the well? Being able to see dead loved ones? No way. That's impossible.
"What happened next?" Charlene asked next to distract herself.
It was then that the look on the professor's face became more unsettling. "I saw my wife. I saw her eyes, her smile. My blood let me see her again."
"Yeah, got it." Damon cut them off, ready to get back on the trail. "Don't eat the poisonous flowers."
"Damon, you wouldn't know what the poisonous flowers would look like to begin with." Charlene joked as the group followed behind him.
"Hey! I got those herbs like you told me too. Don't deny me the credit, sister."
Charlene laughed for the first time in a while. "Fine, fine. I won't stomp on your glory."
"Wait." Shane called out. "Stop. Stop! Stop!"
Everyone stopped in their tracks, wondering what the hell is going on.
"Is everybody paying attention? Our first lesson in survival." The professor asked before crouching down, picking up a rock, and throwing it into the dark patch of forest in front of them. The rock triggered a net trap, swinging up into the trees faster than they could blink. "Stay together. Keep your eyes open."
The group continued moving on ahead with Shane still at the lead. Hopefully, they would be more vigilant and careful when it came to traps. That's at least what Charlene hoped for herself. And, she also hoped they would get to their destination soon. Hiking for hours now, they've been at it for like a day. This would be the fourth day since Klaus and the other wolf had been trapped inside the Mikaelson mansion in their wolf forms. She knew they were strong. Wolves can survive without eating for days at a time.
Still, it's been four days. She couldn't help, but worry.
"Rebekah?" she called her name carefully.
"Yes, Char?" the vampire responded neutrally, watching her as the witch walked up beside her to catch up. "You can talk, you know? It's not like I compelled you into silence."
"Alright, just give me a minute." Charlene couldn't back the small laugh. "I was hoping that I could talk to you since you haven't tried to kill me yet."
Rebekah shook her head at her. "Charlene, I have no reason to kill you."
Charlene couldn't hide her surprised reaction. "You don't?"
"No, why should I?"
The blonde witch couldn't understand her. Was Rebekah blind? "I just feel like that after everything that happened, you would want to kill me just as much as you wanted to kill Elena."
Before Rebekah answered, the group stopped to a clearing up ahead. While Shane was going on more about mundane details about the folklore of the island, Rebekah took Charlene aside and finally spoke again. "Charlene, if you're looking for someone to be your killer, you've come to the wrong person."
"Bekah, that's not my intention at all." Charlene quickly pleaded. "I'm just-"
"I know what's going on with you, Char." Rebekah cut her off. "Look, you're one of the few people I can trust. Do you know how rare that is for me? A lot. And yes, I know you worked for Nik. I know your reasons. I know your secret."
In that moment, the Original could see the cold dread washing over the witch like a bucket of cold water splashing on her. "Please…don't say…"
"Your secret is safe with me. You proved your trustfulness and reliability in keeping your word. As much as you loathed my brother, you kept your word before you left him. I don't begrudge you. You helped in getting Bonnie's magic back, which helps me into getting the cure."
"I thought you would hate me, though. After what was forced upon your brother."
Both of the girls wouldn't be able to forget. All of the events were burned into their memories. They were there when it happened. Charlene was part of the group to infiltrate the house and grab the sword and Rebekah. While Stefan would go try to get the sword and Rebekah, the two witches tried to find Matt. However, it was too late. Matt was beyond saving, dying from blood loss after being strung up in the ballroom of the mansion like a pig in a meat-locker. There were other humans and new dead vampires too. Blood was everywhere, and the place was ranked with fear. After that devastating loss, they go and find Klaus.
Another part of that plan was to isolate Klaus with a barrier spell just like last time. Stefan managed to get the sword, but when he went to get to Rebekah, Klaus was already aware of his presence. He was aware of all of them. He was just ready to kill them all and enjoy bathing in their blood with his humanity off. While Stefan distracted him, both of the girls barely were able to get to Rebekah without scraps and scars. Charlene had lost so much energy from the last spell that she barely could keep up. Bonnie was doing a majority of the work. Holding off Klaus too, Charlene pulled out the dagger, Rebekah waking up remarkably quickly with her hunger taking control.
Rebekah, overwhelmed by her hunger, fled to the ballroom to feed on the humans like wolf after sheep. That gave the group enough time to distract and corner Klaus to where he was trapped. They pushed him until he got into the basement, where he previously kept the witch prisoner. Bonnie finally put up the barrier to keep Klaus trapped. You couldn't imagine the pure rage that Klaus felt being trapped like animal once again. What made it worse was the sting of them taking his sister; her high from the blood and emotional seeing him there was enough for some of his anger to break through.
"YOU TURNED HER AGAINST ME!" Klaus had roared in rage that night.
"You've done that yourself!" Stefan yelled back in frustration, holding onto Rebekah tightly.
Bonnie was about to finish things once and for all before Klaus' partner finally joined into the fray. The huge brownish-gray she-wolf from before smashed through the glass to attack the Bennett witch to protect Klaus. However, there was hell to pay. Bonnie struck back making the she-wolf trapped inside the barrier as well, and also receiving a nasty aneurism to boot. Hearing her yelp in pain was knives to Charlene's heart.
The worst of it all was yet to come. Using Charlene as a source since she was also had Bennett magic, Bonnie was able to conjure enough magic for a spell to incapacitate Klaus. Before they knew it, the group could only watch as Klaus was forced on his knees, his bones cracking and twisting causing him massive pain. His eyes turned black and gold and fangs began to manifest from his mouth. Eventually, the man known was Klaus was gone. Something else was in his place. A different kind of monster.
There was a great sized wolf crouched in front of them; its face was hidden from view. But as it stood up and everything cleared, its true manifestation of who it was came to them. Strong and lean legs helped the wolf to stand, putting itself into a tense and angry stance while staring at the group in front. The wolf's bristling coat was light gray with patches of silver mixing in, and black fur around the ears and face. However, instead of golden eyes glowing in the dark, they were a piercing stormy blue. Klaus' eyes.
The gray monster snarled at them, attacking the barrier with fruitless effort. The other wolf followed suit as well, barking loudly and just as angry. The group left knowing what they were leaving behind when looking for the cure.
"What happened to him wasn't because of your doing. You didn't kill my brothers for a stupid cure or some selfish plot. Although, I know that you wanted to kill my brother for threatening to turn you into a vampire. But I feel it's something I would have done as well, a preventive measure. I would have been angry too despite that I love him like hell."
"I'm still surprised you still don't hate me," the blonde witch remarked, her eyes cast down looking at her feet, embarrassed at feeling like this.
"For the last time, I don't hate you." Rebekah replied impatiently, trying to get through this witch's thick skull. "You treated me like how I would want to be treated, and you didn't stab me in the back. Might surprise you, but I'm not so high maintenance and bitchy like I put off." Rebekah grabbed the witch's hand and dragged her closer towards the group's campsite. "You are my friend, and loyalty goes a long way with a Mikaelson. Girls need to stick together."
After a moment, Charlene appeared to have finally accepted what Rebekah was saying. She could trust Rebekah. Even since they knew each other in the 20's, they never came to harm. "I can at least promise you that I would protect you if you needed it."
"I highly doubt it, but it's nice to have back up." The blonde Original had been smiling for the first time in a long while, and it felt good. It felt nice to have a friend that wasn't trying to get something out of you or stab you in the back. It was a breath of fresh air that she desperately needed. "It's nice to have a friend."
The witch couldn't help, but agree. "Yeah, it definitely does."
Happiness was a rare thing to find these days. Hope was even scarcer, especially for a vampire. With their situation, it was like looking for water in the middle of a desert. It still boggled Charlene's mind (and it would for anyone) to be treated nice and respected for a change. Thinking of Rebekah, the witch had seen glimpses first hand on how Klaus could be. Cold, bastard of a brother. Into thinking of her own brother – Ben – she was thankful that he wasn't like that at all. He reminded her more of Kol.
Hell, sometimes she missed that fool of all people.
"Are you going to help me set up the tent or what?" Rebekah was trying to read through the manual of how to put the tent together, but she was at a loss. "It's like I'm reading in bloody ancient Aztec."
"You're a thousand years old, and you don't know how to put up a tent?"
"Your sarcasm is very much not needed right now."
"Alright, alright. Let's at least get Stefan's help before you get your panties in a knot." The blonde suggested, putting her things down. "We could use some manly help with this thing."
"Stefan!" the blonde Original yelled. Damn, she was louder than – "Where in the blood hell are you?"
"Right here," Stefan answered with a small smile, ruffling Rebekah up a bit. Carrying small logs of firewood like it's no trouble at all, he laid them beside the snuffed out campfire.
Not pleased with his jokes, Charlene laughed at Rebekah marching towards him, punching him in the arm. "Don't scare me like that. I'm not going to lose you on this damned island."
"You're not going to lose me, Bex." The younger Salvatore tried to put her at ease. "It's going to take a lot more than that take me out of the equation."
"All of us need to at least take a breather. If Stefan can survive being stabbed multiple times by Klaus, looking like a turkey on Thanksgiving, then I'm pretty sure he can handle the island." Charlene said, winking at Stefan.
Rebekah's mouth dropped. "Nik did that to you?"
Stefan reluctantly nodded. "Yes, but Klaus has done multiple things to me before. It's nothing new besides it being painful."
"Damn it all," Rebekah growled out, close to being angry. She angrily sat down on one of the logs in front of the fire the witch had going, which was being lighted by a small lighter. God, when will there ever be a time when she won't be angry at her brother? "Why when I'm always daggered, something happens to the people I care about?"
"So you do care about me?" Stefan was really bad with his timing on jokes.
Rebekah sent him a heavy glare. "Hasn't it been already obvious?"
"Rebekah, if it makes you feel any better, me and Bonnie were able to get him healed up in time. He's away from Klaus' reach for now. He's undead and beside you."
Rolling her eyes, Bex had quite enough now of everyone talking. "You," she pointed to Stefan, "have a bad sense of humor."
Stefan shrugged. "I'm not that bad. It's not my fault Damon has the funny gene more than I do."
But Rebekah wasn't finished. Charlene was the next target. "And you definitely talk too much."
"I'm not usually the chatty one, but it's a nice change." Charlene grinned, trying to hold back the yawn that was coming to her for a while.
Both vampires noticed. Trying to be charitable, Stefan reached into his pack and tossed something to her. "Here, have some fuel to help you be ready for tomorrow."
Thankfully, Charlene's coordination hasn't been that rusty over the years. Catching the granola bar, her mouth watered remembering the deliciousness of the apple-cinnamon flavor as she read the label on the paper. She hardly eat today at all, not feeling very hungry after all that had happened. But now, her hunger finally kicked in with a vengeance, demanding to be satisfied.
"Hope none of you mind, but I'm going to see hang out with Bonnie. I'm gonna see how she's doing." Charlene dismissed them quickly before hopping away almost like a jackrabbit to the wooden shack on the campsite, biting into the deliciousness of the granola bar along the way.
"Did you see the way her eyes were?" Rebekah asked in shock.
"Yeah, what's the big deal?" Oh, he knew the look the witch had before, but he didn't indicate that to the blonde sitting next to him.
The blonde vampire had a hard time processing this odd behavior. "She looked like a vampire about to drain some poor sod."
"Guess we found a weakness with her. Better write that down."
"She's already a bad influence on you since you've been so sarcastic so much."
Stefan chuckled at her. "Trust me, I've been what you like to call "Sassy Stefan" long before she even came around back in Mystic Falls."
Rebekah smirked, liking the man who was sitting beside her more. "I'll admit, this Stefan is a lot more fun than the broody one that's been visiting to me."
Laughing quietly, both vampires shifted closer to each other and enjoyed the rare warmth around them. For Rebekah, he heat from the fire and being close to Stefan was perfectly enough for her to have for now. Still having her family despite everything made her happy, but there was always this something heavy looming over her when she was with them. She felt it more definitely with Nik in that state he was in. And without Elijah now, she felt completely alone. The rest of her family was gone. It hit her couple days ago after they left Mystic Falls, and she tried with all her might to be strong. And she has.
Having not experienced touch from someone else in a while, she decided to take a risk. She placed her head on Stefan's shoulder, and she waited to see what he would do. After a moment, Rebekah could feel his arm wrapping around her shoulder, bringing her close to him. Surprised as she was, she kept her silence since she didn't want to ruin the moment. For a small moment, this was bliss.
She was happy.
"Stefan, can I ask you something?" she asked carefully.
"Sure, ask away."
A part of Rebekah was scared about asking this stupid question, but she couldn't shut it out. Despite how much she trusted him and care about Stefan, she would always have insecurities when it came to his previous love. This was the reason why she always hated to care. To have all these feelings only for them to be broken by pain. She was too familiar with it. After all, she was the girl who loved too easily.
She lifted her head from his shoulder and faced him squarely. She needed an honest person. Rebekah would rather cut the cord clean now instead of hanging onto something later.
"What are you gonna do when Elena becomes human and comes running back to you? You said that you'd take the cure to be with her. You'd have children and grow old. Is that still true?"
She watched the facial muscles in his face grow pensive. His arm around her shoulder slackened only for it to come back to grasp Rebekah's hand. The blonde could feel the warmth radiating from his palm.
"You say when like it's a definite and unchanging. Are you sure about that?"
Now, Rebekah was even more confused. "Wasn't that the plan before? This "epic love" you two supposedly had. Fly off into the sunset with the girl of your dreams?"
"Plans change, Bekah. People change." He paused, trying to find the words for this to come out. "I've changed."
"What changed then?" A part of her was dreading the answer, and she steeled herself for the blow no matter what.
Stefan tried to reassure her again. "I would help Elena get the cure because I care about her, but only as a friend. I'm going after the cure for my own reasons."
"Aren't all of us?" she laughed bitterly, seeing Damon and Elena nearby being loving towards each other. It left a bad taste in her mouth. "It's just hard to believe you, Stef. Everyone's reasons here, even after everything, is all because of Elena and trying to help her. Just because of a girl who has a hard time being a vampire."
"Well, why do you want to take it? Aren't you the perfect vampire?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Rebekah answered tiredly. "It's all an act, Stefan. Being a vampire is miserable. I would give anything to be human. Normal."
None of anyone she knew would understand her wishes. Maybe Elijah would, but none of her brothers be that open to that idea. Klaus would have scorned her, Kol would have mocked her for lowering herself to that level of living, and the rest of her family were too dead to care. A part of her was just ready to start fresh. She needed a clean state. Rebekah had come to a point where maybe it was time to leave her old life behind in pursuit of something better.
Stefan understood that about her.
"Like I said before, if I take the cure...it wouldn't be for her. It'd be for me if I made that choice."
Before she lost her nerve, Rebekah slowly leaned in towards Stefan. Her mouth was just inches away from his. "You want to know what my choice is right now?"
Her warm breath tickled his skin. "What?"
"Wanting you."
That was all she said after that. And for the first time in her life, she wanted to slow things down. She wanted to slow time town to feel every detail and every moment. She pressed her lips against Stefan's, and it was all that was needed to ignite that hunger again. She had been craving human blood all day, and she'd had also craved for Stefan's touch. When was the last time that he kissed her? Touched her?
Rebekah's hunger wasn't the only thing that arose. Stefan couldn't deny the craving he had for the Original. He kissed her back with the same effort, his hands slowly raking through her golden locks, thick in between his fingers. Before he knew it, the blonde vamp-speed closer towards him to sit in his lap with her legs wrapped around his waist.
"Hopefully, I'm not too rusty." She breathed out, her blue eyes hazy from the kiss.
"Not at all," he answered with a small smile.
Before anyone could see them, Stefan sped off with Rebekah carrying her in his arms towards the thicket of trees. Now, they can finally have privacy.
Rebekah felt her back land against the thick tree bark with only Stefan holding her there as support. Everything about her that craved him came back in full circle, and she was more than happy to take a drink from him once again. Her lust and hunger were guiding her – also along with her impatience – pushing to get more of Stefan faster. Her strong hands ripped Stefan's shirt off like it was only paper.
"That was my favorite shirt." Stefan said roughly as peppered kisses along Rebekah's neck.
Rebekah didn't care. "Who cares? There's plenty more shirts to use."
To give her equal treatment, Stefan did the same thing to her. Somehow tearing her long-sleeved shirt away in their tangled mess of limbs and mouths. "Hey!" she pouted. "No need to get rough with me now."
Both of them were bare-chested now except for Rebekah leaving her with only her cotton bra on. Still looking at her now, her chest rising and falling, those ocean-blue eyes piercing through him, and her blonde hair framing her face in a mess. It was still a wonder that he hadn't found her more attractive before. Now, even with the danger around them, he couldn't deny that he wanted her.
"I though you liked it rough with me." The younger Salvatore whispered in her ear, sending a chill down her spine, but also making her heated.
"Yes, I do. But I like everything with you. Not just one part of you." Rebekah wrapped her arms tighter around his neck, giving him a long kiss before they needed to come back for air. (Not that they needed it.) "I want all of you."
"I know," Stefan said.
But that wasn't good enough for Rebekah. She was so tired of half answers. "I knows" weren't what she wanted. God forbid, she was being selfish right now, but that's all she knew how to be. Being denied the simplest desires by her state in her family, she was always looking for something. Now that she could come so close to getting to that, little things like that throw her off and scare her. And now after hearing those two words, all of her hurried feelings previously of lust and desire slipped away. She stiffened in Stefan's arms and unwrapped herself away from him, standing there awkwardly wanting to say something to kill the silence right now.
Stefan brought a hand to her face. "What's wrong?"
It's funny how Rebekah could only feel the chilly and cool air now. The cool weather wasn't the only thing that made goosebumps form along her skin. "I'm tired, Stefan."
"The vague answer really isn't that much of help." Stefan commented. "Talk to me."
She sighed. "Fine, I'm tired of trying to give myself answers to questions I'm afraid of."
"What questions are those, Bex?"
'How about do you care about me? Do you feel for me on the same level as I do for you?' Rebekah's mind swirled with those questions she ached so much to ask. She hated prolonging the inevitable. If Nik saw her now, he'd be having a riot. The girl who loved too easily. God, she hated being like this.
"Just be honest with me with something." Rebekah tried to be strong, but her voice faltered towards the end.
Stefan didn't let that go unnoticed. "Try me."
"Can you say something and mean what you say? No tricks about it."
"I'd like to think I am honest, Rebekah. Just tell me."
"Do you want me as much as I want you?" It was a broad term. Want. However, she knew exactly in what context that she was referring to. Every tryst she had her past meant nothing to her. She felt in her heart that this was something entirely different.
Waiting for his answer was excruciating. Just say something, already!
And for the first time in a long time, she caught a glimpse of a familiar look developing in his eyes that she'd seen in him with one other person. No. Wait? She's got to be hallucinating? He was looking at her? The Crazy Blonde Original? He can't be looking at her like that. It's impossible.
"A lot of things have happened, Bekah," Stefan began to explain, looking deeply into her eyes. "I'm pretty sure there would be something different happening if it weren't for…" His face was downcast for a moment, thinking of the blonde he cared for as his best friend. He tried to push her out of his mind ever since that dark day. "Things have changed. I liked the thing we had, and then all these situations happened. I was worried about you when you left to see Klaus, when you were staying with him, when you went out of your way to save me, and then we find out that you were staked by him. And then you actually came with us to get the cure…"
"Get to the point, Stefan." Rebekah was the point where she was almost begging. She was tired of beating around the bush.
"I care about you, Rebekah. That is my point." He finally answered, taking a step closer to her with his hands cupping her face. "I realized that I want you to be happy, and it's not just because of my personality or some moral duty of a saint that people like to label with me. It's because…a part of me is happy when the people I care about are happy too."
AKA: Rebekah was another one being added to Stefan's small list.
To enforce even more, Stefan proved it to her.
"I." With every kiss he showed her. "Care." On her forehead. "About." Her cheeks. "You."
And finally, her lips received his attention.
Rebekah stood there frozen in shock. She was speechless. No words could come out after hearing those words from him. From that one action, instead of the heartache she expected, there was a healing she never thought to have experienced in her heart. The wonders of what a simple kindness could do is beyond anything she ever knew. Damn her heightened emotions.
She didn't anticipate the tears leaking from her eyes now. The pain of everything from her brother, her family, and the whole situation finally reached to the surface after being buried deep for so long. She didn't sob like she had normally done, but she let the tears fall. It was helping her to heal.
"Thank you, Stefan," she whispered. "For your honesty."
He smiled at her. "You're welcome."
Besides the sadness from the pain and the situation occupying her, there was also a bright moment of hope and happiness seeping into her emotions. Acting upon those emotions, she wanted to enjoy every moment she could possibly have with Stefan before heading back to camp and the reality of a bad situation. Yes, she wanted the cure and be human. But she wanted Stefan too. That was occupying her attention more right now.
She tentatively brought her arms around the other vampire's neck, slowly bring her mouth to a smile at him in return. "Let's finish what we started," her voice dropped to a husky whisper. "But let's take it slow."
Stefan was more than happy to obey her request. His desire for her was already there, but hearing what she said, everything was going downhill from there. He didn't care if anyone heard or if anyone saw. He wanted to be tangled up in Rebekah no matter what.
Going slow on purpose, he kissed her long deep, tempted to insert his tongue into her mouth and let his tongue roam inside. His hands held onto her hips once more as he brought her legs around his body.
"Let me taste you," his breath wavered.
"By all means…"
With Rebekah's permission, he finally able to insert his tongue into her mouth, tasting the inside of her mouth with almost delight. He savored her taste. She was completely unique, especially as a vampire. She was an Original. The one who started the vampires she sired. She was an original taste, and there was nothing better than going back to the source. Soon enough, Rebekah began to repeat the same treatment into Stefan's mouth as well. He tasted just like those other times before, but it was better now. It was more enjoyable with tasting the whole thing when you're elated.
They switched positions now from being upright against to a tree to lying on one another on a patch of cool grass. Rebekah's breath quickened at the show of dominance, but it only deepened her desire for him more. Seeing him now above her, he looked like a man carved out of marble. Those forest green eyes of his were something that she secretly adored, and his copper hair complemented him too. And God, those kissable lips were to die for. It was no wonder women wanted him, yearned for him, and would kill to have him. Rebekah would do the same in her nature. And now, he was above her, enjoying her presence because of his own choice. Looking further down from his face, she could see every line of his body, ripping and molding it into definition as her eyes followed down to what was hiding below his pants.
He didn't miss that.
Without a word, he began to unbuckle the belt holding his pants up while Rebekah did the same with her clothes. (Using vamp speed for stripping had its perks.) Now, there was nothing left except for the bare piece of clothing that withheld what they craved.
On top of her still, Stefan began with her lips first. Kissing her full lips, he savored the softness of it, withdrawing slowly to attend to other areas needing his attention. He began descending his lips over her neck now, coming across a sensitive spot that made a long moan come from Rebekah's mouth.
He smirked against her skin. "You like that, don't you?"
"You ought to know," she said in guttery tone, enjoying his work a little too much. "You've explored this wonderland more than you can count."
"I know, and I intend to explore it again. Every. Single. Inch."
He upped the ante in the sweet torture he was about to give. Going along her neck in a pattern, his lips caressed her skin in a trail, nibbling and biting in addition to that.
"Oh…" Rebekah let out even a louder moan than before.
If that was Rebekah now then she had no idea what Stefan had in stored for her yet.