Stefan woke up at the sound of Elena's scream in his mind. He lifted his head, looking around. A white wolf lay in a pile of blood. A black wolf lay on it's side, the tiger about to rush in for the killing blow.
"Katherine." He panted, rising slowly, painfully. The tiger lifted its head, looking at him. Stefan looked at the white wolf. Elena? the eyes were dull, but aware. She would die soon, he saw the amount of blood she had lost. She needed help. So did his brother. Stefan saw the look of fear in his brother's eyes.
Sorry I wasn't able to protect her. Stefan heard his brother's mental voice in his head. He thought they were already dead. Katherine had told him…
"No!" He said aloud. The tiger just watched him as he approached. He didn't know how Elena had gotten strong enough to become a wolf, and guess she must have fed from more than one human tonight. He felt her pain, and it hurt him. It was going to end up differently tonight.
"You will leave them alone Katherine." He demanded. She was in human form again, laughing.
"But that's no fun." she told him. "I get the pleasure to kill her again. I never got to finish you and your brother off last time. They're as good as dead anyway." Stefan didn't say anything. Katherine had had a spear earlier. What had she done with it? He looked around the tomb. It was by the door! But she was in his way. He advanced slowly. The sun had risen. He wanted to kill Katherine. His rage was making him stronger.
Katherine, again the tiger, had him pinned. But he was closer to the wooden spear this time. He reached out with his hand, trying to reach it. He felt teeth graze his throat and stopped moving. She stood back, human again.
"What a good idea!" she said, and her hand was wrapped around the spear. Stefan climbed to his feet, unable to do anything, his eyes on the spear. "Oh, you want this?" she asked, and then pain.
No! Elena was on her feet again, as was Damon. She had just enough strength for one last rush. She rushed Katherine, her and Damon's weight knocking her outside. Katherine screamed as Elena's teeth pierced her throat. Elena felt Damon's hands on her, pulling her away. get off me! She growled. I'll kill her.
You don't need to. The sun will do it for you. Said Damon, look no talisman.
Elena pulled back and looked at the vampire. She was in pain. Elena remembered how it felt.
"didn't have enough time to get that talisman did you Katherine." said Damon with amusement. She just glared. Elena felt Damon's mind in hers, and she was human again, looking down at Katherine. The girl would die. That was all she cared about. Then her legs grew weak, and she leaned heavily on Damon. He looked over his shoulder, and she remembered what had happened.
He lay on his back, the spear sticking out of him. Elena approached him slowly. His breathing laboured, his eyes full of pain and sadness.
"Stefan?" she whispered. He met her eyes. His green eyes held hers. Elena dropped to his side, taking the spear in one hand, pulling it out. He jerked in pain, crying out. It tore at Elena's heart. He looked outside.
"You did it." he said, trying to smile. Elena's eyes welled with tears.
"Again." she finished, smiling back at him. She took his hand in hers. Damon was beside her. "I can't heal you." she whispered, remembering how she had healed them all, that night in the clearing. He nodded. Elena looked at Damon, his eyes filled with regret.
"No! Stefan…."
"It's ok, Elena." He said, but she could see what was happening. He looked at his brother. "Take care of her."