Chapter Eight

Elena couldn't fall back asleep after Eric left. Her mind went immediately into escape mode. She didn't even care if he was still around to sense her thoughts, if he was leaving town then she had an opportunity to get out of there.

She grabbed a cup of coffee as she tried to figure out a plan. She knew she couldn't just leave the town but there had to be a loophole somewhere.

She walked over to the kitchen window and looked out into the backyard. Damon was sitting out there on one of the lounge chairs. He looked up and smirked at her. She rolled her eyes and walked to the sliding glass door that led to outside.

"Good morning." He grinned.

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know. He didn't tell me."

Elena rolled her eyes. "You know where he went. Is he going after Stefan?"

"I just don't know." He shrugged.

"So, you are just going to let him find your brother and kill him?"

"Stefan can take care of himself plus when he gets like this it's best to stay away."

"He's done this before?"

"He's always had issues adjusting. He either lives strictly off animals or this. Never a happy medium." He looked disappointed.

"And you just feed off people without a problem?"

"I don't go crazy and kill them if that is what you're asking. Unless they deserve it." He smirked. "And yes Elena, I still have my humanity. I have adjusted better than Stefan and I don't walk around with guilt as he does."

"How many times has he turned off his humanity?"

"A few. Each time is a bit worse than the last."

She felt awful. He had turned off his humanity because of her, did that mean that she was responsible for those he killed?

"Stefan is free to make his own choices even with his humanity off. You are not to blame."

Elena rolled her eyes. "It's rude to read my thoughts."

"Trust me it's not that I want to, but your thoughts are loud."

Elena sighed heavily. "I am never going to get used to this." She began to pace. "Damon, I need your help." She finally said the words that she had been wanting to say.

Meanwhile, in the French Quarter, Eric walked down the crowded street. People were still partying from the night before. The smell of sex and alcohol filled the air as well as the sound of so many heartbeats that it made his mouth water. He hadn't been back to town in nearly fifty years. He kept mainly to his part of Louisiana and now that he had Fangtasia to keep him occupied he rarely left. He remembered when he had brought Klaus to this town and offered it to him so that he could make a life for himself. He had been a great son over the years, and he had even sired some of his own so that he could have siblings. They all lived in New Orleans together. There was Elijah, Marcel, and Rebekah. They stayed clear of Eric when he came around. A lot of vampires did. He had a reputation about him and it made his kind nervous, he didn't mind though. He would rather be feared than vulnerable.

He looked up at the large home that took up most of the block. There was a large fence surrounding it.

"Eric. What a pleasant surprise" Elijah said as he walked up to him.

"You look well. It's been quite some time since I have seen you."

"At least fifteen years I would say. I hear Fangtasia is doing smashingly."

"You should come by sometime and check it out. Is Klaus around?"

"I guess we will find out." Elijah opened the large gate and they both stepped inside. He was actually unusually calm and red flags began to go off with Eric but then again, he didn't go out much.

"I heard Rebekah opened up her own fashion line." Eric made small talk.

"Yes, she is actually in Paris at the moment." He led them into the estate. The room opened into a large foyer. The smell of something caught Eric off guard. It was a scent he wasn't used to. Wolves. Two large men walked into the opening. "Wolves? What is the meaning of this?" Eric felt his fangs descend. Vampires didn't get along with them. Their bite could be deadly to a vampire, and they surely didn't lounge next to them.

"Relax Eric, otherwise you will make this hard on yourself." Elijah kept his tone even and calm as the two large men neared him.

"Where is Klaus!" Eric hissed as he checked the exits but before he could move a large silver chain wrapped around his torso. He had been lassoed like a bull and he yelled out in pain as he dropped to his knees. The chains dug into his flesh and sizzled loudly.

"Just relax. This is a precautionary measure." Elijah stepped back as another large man held onto the chain. He wore thick black gloves.

"Where the fuck is Klaus!" Eric yelled again and the large man tightened the chains around him causing excruciating pain. He yelled out again.

Meanwhile, Damon looked at Elena with wide eyes. "No fucking way. I get it that you want to get out of here, but I am not doing that."

"It's the only way I could leave. You owe me this much!"

"I am not killing you, Elena. I won't do it." Damon walked across the room.

"It's not like truly dead. Just enough to stop my heart so I can get over the county line and then you can bring me back. Everyone knows CPR." She had done a ton of thinking on this, and she believed that if her heart could stop long enough then Damon could carry her over the county line and whatever vampy spell that was on her would die with her. Then he could just bring her back with CPR, no harm no foul even though she wasn't sure if it would work. Either way, she had to try it. It was her one chance to break out of this god-forsaken place.

"I don't think you understand what you are asking of me. There are so many things that could go wrong. You said yourself that if you cross the line your body literally starts to bleed out."

"I am willing to take that chance. I can't stay here like this. I need to get out of here. Your carelessness is what brought Eric to me."

"Elena you could die, like really die. The kind where there is no coming back from it."

"I would rather die trying than not try at all. Don't you want to save your brother? I can help you. We can save Stefan together."

"Say this does work then what? Eric will hunt you down and me and whoever else gets involved. It would be a death sentence."

"Staying here is a death sentence!" She yelled. "He is not planning on keeping me alive forever. He will kill me eventually."

"This is not safe. I can't put you in harm's way. I'm sorry Elena. I just can't."

"Stefan was right about you. You only care about yourself!"

"I'm trying to keep you alive!" Damon got in front of her as she gasped. His fangs were descended, and he looked crazed. Before she could react, the front door was crashing inside the home. They both turned and looked to see a distraught Pam standing there. She had blood-red tears streaming down her face.

"It's Eric. Somethings wrong."

Eric was dragged helplessly through the large estate. He was brought down a huge flight of basement stairs. His body was bound so tight by silver that he could barely move but then he saw him, Klaus. He was chained up to a wall, encased in silver, and bleeding badly. Eric let out a strangled yell at the sight of his son. He tried to fight against the restraints to no avail.

"You are making it harder on yourself," Elijah warned him.

"What did you do to him!" He yelled. "I will rip you limb from limb!" Klaus let out a low groan as the large man wrapped the chain around a pole, effectively holding Eric in place. "Klaus. I'm here." He groaned once more in pain. "Why are you doing this?!"

Elijah adjusted his dark suit and smoothed back his hair. "I didn't want to, but he left me no choice." His eyes locked into someone across the room and then a tall brunette came walking over. Eric's eyes landed on her swollen belly. She came next to Elijah, and he put his arm around her. "He tried to kill my son."

The realization hit Eric like a ton of bricks as his eyes got wide. He looked around at the three wolves, the girl, and then Elijah.

"Your son?" His words were filled with shock.

"Neither of us knew it was possible but then it was. My baby is innocent in all of this." The girl spoke softly.

"That thing is an abomination, you filthy mutt!" Eric's words were laced with disgust. The girl was a wolf, he could smell her, but her child was a mix of the two. A hybrid.

"Now don't be rude, Eric. Her name is Hayley, and you will address her as such. I have been nothing but kind to you." Elijah warned. Klaus groaned again. Elijah walked over to him and roughly yanked his head up. He had blood coming out of his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. "Why couldn't you just let me be happy!" Elijah yelled and Klaus spit blood on him. He quickly backed up and wiped his face. Eric hissed angrily. "You should have just left this alone Eric. It had nothing to do with you."

"Oh, but it does. The second you laid a hand on my son it became my problem."

"You're more sentimental than I remember." Elijah began to walk out with the wolves and Hayley.

"Dad?" Klaus began to cough up blood.

"You're going to be ok. I got this. Save your strength." Eric pulled against the chain as it continued to burn him. He yelled out in agony.

Back in Elena's living room, Pam was pacing back and forth as she told them about the feeling she had in her chest.

"I know something is wrong. I can feel it." She was damn near inconsolable, and it was odd to see her this way. She was usually snarky and sarcastic. This was shocking, to say the least.

"He went to New Orleans. I'm sure he is fine." Damon interjected.

"Is that where Stefan is?" Elena added.

"Stop worrying about Stefan, this is serious!" Pam yelled angrily. "I can't feel Eric and that is not normal or right!"

"But Klaus also has witches around him and they are known to block out our kind. I'm sure he is fine. Just call him."

"Don't you think I have tried that!" She yelled. "It goes to voicemail. I sent a ton of text messages and nothing. This isn't just witchy interception. Something is wrong!"

"I'm sure he is fine," Elena spoke and then Pam was in front of her and grabbed her roughly as she hissed.

"Stop it, Pam!" Damon yelled out.

"No, if Eric is really fine then he would stop me before I kill her." She opened her mouth and Elena sucked in a shaky breath.

"Ok, ok I get it." Elena pleaded with her.

"Pam cut it out," Damon warned as she smiled and then bit against Elena's neck. Within seconds Damon was yanking her off as Elena cried out. She fell to her knees. Damon slammed Pam against the wall and her eyes got wide.

"Nothing. You see that, nothing." Pam wiped the blood off her mouth as Elena held her neck.

"You are out of your mind." Damon shoved her and then he knelt to Elena. "Here." He used a fang to prick his finger and then he rubbed it on her neck wound. It healed almost instantly.

"Oh my god, something is wrong. Something is so wrong." Pam began to panic.

"Are you ok?" Damon ignored Pam.

"I think she is right." Elena finally said as Pam looked at her. "I think there is something wrong with Eric." She didn't know why but she felt sudden concern for him. It was overwhelming.

"Ok, you both need to just calm down." Damon tried to be the voice of reason.

"I fucked up Dad." Klaus continued to cough up blood.

"Just save your energy. I am going to get us out of here."

"I got distracted. I should have known that there were wolves nearby. I could have stopped this."

"It's fine. I will fix this. Pam will sense that something is wrong."

"He has the heart. I led him to it." Klaus' voice was filled with remorse.

"What do you mean?" Eric felt like he was hearing things.

"I'm sorry. I fucked up. I just…" He began to cough again.

"What are you saying, Klaus." Eric's voice got more demanding.

"Stefan. He has Katherine's heart."

"No. You're delusional from blood loss. This isn't possible."

"I am so sorry. If I hadn't been so obsessed, I would have seen what was going on under my nose with Elijah."

"NO!" Eric yelled and the chains rattled. "You wouldn't do this to me!"

"I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

Pam continued to pace the living room. "We have to go to him and help him."

"What about Godric? Have you reached out to him? Maybe he can sense something is wrong." Elena felt her heart racing dangerously fast. She had an awful feeling coursing through her body. Part of her still wanted to take the opportunity to run but an overwhelming part felt like she needed to help.

"You are still just thinking about yourself and your pathetic attempts to get away!" Pam yelled as she got in front of Elena, but Damon pushed her aside.

"Now is not the time to turn against one another."

"This little bitch is planning a getaway while Eric is suffering!"

"Fine. I am ok. I want to get out of this fucking town, alright!" Elena yelled out as they both looked at her.

"I knew it!" Pam went to lunge for her, and Damon stopped her. "Let me rip this bitch's heart out!"

"ENOUGH!" A loud voice rumbled, and they all turned to see Godric standing there.

His voice was commanding as they all got quiet. It was Pam that finally spoke first.

"Eric is in trouble. You sensed it didn't you?"

Godric looked at each of them and then he looked back at Pam. "Where did he go?" His voice remained calm.

"To go see Klaus. Something is wrong. I can feel it." Pam began to break down again.

"Why are you here?" Godric brought his attention to Damon.

"It's nice to see you too Godric. What has it been, a hundred years?" Damon smirked.

Godric stared at him unamused.

"We are wasting time. We need to go there." Pam interjected.

"I feel it too. It's odd but I feel it." Elena swallowed hard as Godric looked at her now.

"My brother knew about Katherine's heart," Damon added as they all looked at him. "There was a rumor that Klaus was working with him."

"We're leaving, now." Godric took Elena by the arm and began to walk to the door.

"Do you really think it is a good idea to bring her along?" Damon asked as Godric turned and narrowed his eyes.

"Don't question me. I am older than you can imagine." He then looked at Elena and Pam. "Anyone else have something to add?"

"No." Pam and Elena said in unison and then they were all leaving.