The Aftershock
(Summer Solstice)
3
Revival/Resurrection
Damon and Bonnie stepped into their hotel room, utterly exhausted. For the entire flight people had been staring at them and giving them cold glares. When they were recovering their luggage someone walked past and whispered 'they should be ashamed of themselves'.
They were sick and tired and wanted to lie down really badly. Bonnie was the first one to collapse onto the bed. It had looked suspicious when they'd walked into the hotel and Bonnie had had to say, "Come on Damon," – okay maybe it didn't look too suspicious, but it unnerved them both. The last thing they wanted was to alert any vampire hunters.
"Damon? Are we going to your place tomorrow?" Bonnie asked, getting comfy. Theirs was a double bed and neither complained about sharing. Bonnie had realised that it was far too stupid of her to even think Damon wanted to talk about 'love' yet and that even if he didn't say so he did deep down.
Damon smiled and sat down on the bed, sighing. "It's hardly 'my place' any more. I haven't been there in centuries." He bowed his head and looked at her. Bonnie's lashes were long and teased her cheeks as she kept trying to keep her eyes open.
"Bonnie… I've got to go," Damon stood up, bending down to kiss Bonnie goodbye.
"What? Where are you going?" Bonnie sat up, still half-asleep.
"Do you want an answer or can you guess?" he was already at the door. Bonnie looked over at him, saw his waxy face and knew right away what he meant.
"Oh,"
"Do you want me to pick you up something on the way back?"
"Can you get me a slice of pizza or something?"
"Can do. I won't be long," Damon was starting out of the door when Bonnie coughed to get his attention.
"Damon?"
"Yes?"
"Don't hurt anyone," she smiled, desperately trying to make him understand. Damon nodded and walked out of the door.
"He's changed," Bonnie told herself happily, lying back on the bed to sleep.
"Once more Salvatore and I don't need you," Tyler smiled, slapping Stefan on the back. Stefan groaned and cut another great gash down his arm, letting the blood drip into the large, golden basin that Tyler had set up.
"Excellent,"
"Three upon three,
Return threefold,
Blood of thy enemy,
In basin of gold.
One upon one,
Return to thy life,
Where good is banished,
And evil is rife." Tyler chanted. Matt smiled. He'd never thought Tyler was a chanting person – he thought he didn't believe in that sort of stuff. But Tyler had seen many rituals and initiations now to start magic.
The blood in the basin bubbled and writhed like there were great tentacles drowning inside, reaching out - trying to pull them all in. Stefan's arm started to heal again and the blood Tyler had collected from him over three days turned black and there was the smell of burning.
"White ash wood… white ash wood… white ash wood…" A voice whispered on the winds.
Matt stared in horror and clung onto Stefan as the two friends stepped backwards in disbelief. Tyler laughed and held his arms out in a summoning manner.
A body was gathering in the blood, growing and growing until a red figure was standing, fully dressed, in the basin – still covered in blood.
The person wiped the blood from their face and hair; only to reveal strands so white-blonde they could've been snow.
"Salvatore!" he announced, spreading his arms out – welcoming.
"Stefan!" Elena cried, desperate to speak to him. The last time she'd seen him was the night of the Solstice, three nights ago. She had a feeling something terrible was going to happen… something – evil.
Because Tyler was in the tomb with Matt and Stefan and Neve was busy with Meredith, Caroline and Elena were unsupervised. For some reason, Neve had removed their magical binds so they could wander free of the house. But why? Elena wondered.
A familiar figure was stomping up the hill, a stammering teenager trailing behind him. Elena could tell by the boy's mop of brown hair and tight trousers that it was Tyler. And the person? The snow-white hair, the trench coat – it was all too familiar. Elena was almost sick with shock.
"Elena how lovely to see you!" he smiled, walking up to her, his stride animal-like and dangerous.
"And you," she spat, frowning.
"Gosh, the last time I saw you was… oh, I remember now! When you sent me to exile. When was that? Three days ago. You have to do better than that, Elena!" Klaus jeered, staring her down.
"It was enough for us to know we beat you, Klaus." She told him. Tyler was walking back into the mansion. For some reason he thought that when Klaus came back he would be the leader. Funny how people always think like that.
"Listen Elena, I'm going to give you a chance, I-" Klaus' head snapped up and his eyes locked with a stern face - a woman his age was staring at him, silently, from the doorway of the Salvatore mansion.
"Neve? What are you doing here?" Klaus breathed, utterly shocked.
"I came to see the resurrection of my husband – is that a crime?" Neve frowned, looking slightly impatient.
"It's good to see you…"
"I have a surprise for you."
"What is it? The other Salvatore brother?" Klaus laughed. Elena cringed inside. If only Damon was taking care of Bonnie… if Bonnie was safe that was all that mattered. Elena didn't know how safe Bonnie was.
"No. It's your granddaughter." Neve told him. Klaus stopped laughing and stared, completely silent.
"I don't even have a child, let alone a grandchild." He frowned, clenching his fists.
"Do you remember someone by the name of Sulez?" Elena's insides ran cold. Oh no… So that explained why Meredith was always with her. But it couldn't be true… it couldn't be.
"The creep that stole my darling? Yes I remember. I also remember how he tasted, and how I nearly got that little…"
"Klaus, this is Meredith – your granddaughter." Suddenly the black-haired girl was standing next to Neve. It was shocking how much they looked alike. Meredith's eyes wouldn't meet Klaus'; she stared into the distance, unblinking.
Klaus growled. "That's not my granddaughter. That's a human. She may be yours but…"
"No. You don't understand. Her father was your son, not his."
Klaus froze. He couldn't move, couldn't breathe. All he felt was pain, hatred… and a grim sort of pride.
"She tried to kill me,"
"She didn't know who you were, nor you her. Klaus, she is your flesh and blood – she's half-vampire!" Neve screeched, ferociously – putting a protective arm around Meredith.
Elena dropped to the ground, speechless. Her best friend was a vampire, too. And not just any vampire – the granddaughter of an Old One.
"So – you believe she is our granddaughter because-?"
"Because she has my powers, Klaus. I've tested her – she's Armani."
"So, she's an Armani witch and a grandchild to an Old One. Quite a powerful combination." Armani witch, thought Elena, confused. What's an Armani witch?
"Talk about a reunion!" Klaus sighed. He held out a hand to Meredith.
"Come, let me take a look at you." He ordered. Meredith didn't want to move but Neve directed her, like a puppet, to her grandfather.
"You have Armani hair. Ha, my stern expression! Your grandmother's eyes and her serious face. You look every bit Armani but there's something about you I can't quite place…" Klaus began, pondering. Meredith stepped backwards; glad to be away from his inspection.
"Well, I'll know soon enough. Darling, get everyone in the house. Elena, you come with me." Klaus directed.
Neve nodded and took Meredith with her to the tomb at the bottom of the hill while a very happy vampire dragged Elena inside.
"Agh!" Damon sat bolt upright, sweat pouring off him and running down his forehead as he tried to unearth the nightmare that had just ran around inside his mind.
"Damon, what is it?" Bonnie asked, groggily – rolling over in the bed and clinging onto him.
Damon looked down at his naked body and then Bonnie's. He relaxed and wiped his face, amused. He didn't often get nightmares. He needed to be calm so the memory of it could run away with his stress.
It was Klaus… Damon had dreamed that on the night of the Solstice they hadn't won. Damon was swept back to his dream, unwillingly, and he slammed his eyes shut and shook his head to get rid of the thought.
The piece of white ash had landed not far from Damon and he realised on whom it had been used upon. He could feel Stefan's health dripping away…
"Get away from my brother."
And then, before he could deal with Klaus any further, the lightning had struck him down – before it was even meant to. The next instant, Bonnie was struck down, then the others.
Damon sat up, terrified. He watched the others die, and he didn't understand why Klaus hadn't killed him there and then.
The blonde vampire turned to him, grinned, and dropped down beside Stefan, laughing.
"Watch this Salvatore. I'm going to find out how your brother tastes."
Damon roared and tried to get up but he couldn't move. Klaus bent down and… and…
"Vintage? I'd say about… ooh, fifteenth century? Good century… good blood." He sneered.
"NO!" and Damon had watched his brother crumple… just like how he'd killed Mr Tanner… "No! No please! Elena!" But Elena didn't come. No one liked Damon… no one pitied him enough to save him.
Damon's eyes snapped open and he took a deep breath. It had been the worst nightmare he'd ever had. It was so real that he felt like that had actually been what had happened.
"Bonnie?" he whispered, nudging the girl on his left. Bonnie stirred and looked up at him.
"What is it?"
"I – Nothing. Don't worry about it." Damon sighed, lying back down again and cuddling up to her. "It's nothing."
"Are you okay? Did you take enough to feed?" Bonnie asked, acting like a worried older sister.
Damon laughed. "That's not it. I'm worried,"
"About Stefan?"
"Mm."
"Don't worry. Tyler's a push over!" Bonnie giggled, resting her head above his heart. She could hear it beat, how it was always so slow… like Meredith's and Stefan's… but Meredith had always been calm. The only time she'd been thrown off guard was at Vickie's house, and even then she'd gained composure. Also the night Elena came back to life.
"God, that was three days ago. Only three days…" Bonnie whispered. Damon looked down at her. "Yeah, I can't believe it either. It feels like a lifetime." He was brought back to his dream again, and he screwed his face up in detest.
"No…" Elena whimpered, backing away from Klaus. The vampire laughed and turned his back on her to lock the door. She tried to run at him, but he'd already turned back again and had hold of her flailing wrists before she knew what was happening. He twisted her arms behind her back and laughed.
"Don't even try it, Elena. Stefan will be up here soon and we can all have a party, ay? Would you like that?"
"Leave Stefan out of this!" Elena begged, trying to get out of his grip.
"On the contrary Elena, I'd love to have his company." He leant in close and whispered into her ear, "As I love your company too. Did you tell Stefan about-?"
"No, I didn't!" Elena moaned, terrified.
"Ah, a lying partner! So why didn't you?"
"Because… because I didn't have a chance!"
"Excuses, Elena, excuses." Klaus turned sharply to the right as his ears picked up Tyler's movements outside – he was dragging someone with him.
"Smallwood! Salvatore! Come in!" Klaus boomed, opening the door of what had been Stefan's chamber back in the Renaissance. Tyler threw Stefan into the room and nodded at Klaus.
"The others are chained up downstairs."
"And my granddaughter?"
"With Neve."
"Good – I give you my word I'll help you tomorrow Tyler, but I'm not to be disturbed until morning do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"And tell Neve I'm… dealing with business." Klaus grinned. Tyler nodded and shuffled outside. Klaus shut his eyes and with one thought, sent the rest of the house asleep. Elena and Stefan didn't realise it, though, and furiously tried to call out for help.
"Shut up!" Klaus hissed, using his powers to make it impossible for them to speak. Tears streamed down Elena's cheeks as Klaus still had her in his grip. Stefan jumped up off of the floor but Klaus made him fall down again with one glance.
It seemed impossible, but somehow he managed to tie the two of them up – putting Elena on the bed and standing Stefan up by the wall.
"This was your bed, wasn't it Salvatore?" Klaus smiled, sitting down at the end of it – his eyes fixed on Elena. Stefan groaned and tried to cry out.
"Don't be a fool – the others are asleep. No one's going to disturb us until morning. So – how about a bit of music?" Klaus grinned, withdrawing a cassette player from a pocket in his trench coat. He walked over to Stefan and put the earphones in his ears, and turned up the music at full volume. Stefan felt sick when he realised what song it was – Goodnight Sweetheart. Almost on an afterthought, Klaus turned it down and smiled.
"I don't want you to feel left out, Salvatore." Stefan didn't realise what he meant – then. Klaus took off his coat and revealed the green shirt and jeans beneath. He brushed his hair through with his fingers and sighed.
"You two love each other don't you?" he smiled, leaning back on the bed and lying back next to Elena. She cringed and tried to crawl away but she was paralysed in her bindings. Stefan wanted to cry but he couldn't. For some reason, he wasn't able to call upon one tear – he felt so angry. He wanted to kill Klaus, to rip him apart with his bare hands.
"Elena never told you what happened between us, did she Salvatore?" Klaus clicked his fingers and the block in Stefan's throat seemed to clear.
"What?" he growled.
Klaus laughed and put his arm around Elena, making Stefan's face grow red-hot with anger.
"I mean, me and Elena were together – weren't we Salvatore? I was watching out for her in that little place beyond the grave. Do you really expect me to not acknowledge such a pretty little thing?"
"Why you…" Stefan tried to jump forward but he couldn't. Elena was shaking with each sob sounding from her mouth.
"Well, she was extremely good, Salvatore. You're about to witness the same action again." Klaus said, his face wild with both happiness and laughter. He was going to enjoy every minute of this.
"Elena!" Stefan cried, terrified that anyone so evil were to put their hands on his girl. "Elena! Klaus… Klaus please!"
"Why should I do you a favour? I like Elena – she's very beautiful." He bent down and kissed her on the cheek, his eyes never leaving her face.
"NO! NO please I'll do what ever you want!"
"Die then!"
"NO!" Elena screamed, petrified. Stefan bowed his head and started to cry.
"Please, Klaus… Please I'll do anything."
"Anything?"
"Yes," Stefan sighed.
"Stefan, no…" Elena choked out.
"Well, Salvatore, there is one thing."
Stefan raised his head, expectantly. "Well?"
"You can watch this." Klaus laughed. Stefan felt his throat knot up and his heart pound against his ribcage.
"No!" He couldn't stand to have him touch Elena… not Elena… anything but that. Klaus started to pull his clothes off and take Elena's off too, paying no intention to Stefan but fully aware that he was there.
"No!" Stefan cried again.
"Do you know what Salvatore? I'm really going to enjoy this." And the next instant he was on top of her – and Elena was moaning, screaming at the top of her lungs for it to stop. Stefan's head was reeling and the next thing he knew, he was being sick.
