AUTHOR'S NOTE: Guys, I promise I have a plan for the story. The updates vary in length, and take a while to post when I find hiccups, but there IS a plan, I promise. And I haven't written Alaric or Jeremy out of the story either. ;-) I got plans there. I still haven't decided how far out the storyline will go, but I know one possible end for it, as well as a second one. If I do the second one... I'm going to have to re-watch sooooo much stuff. The storyline will vary, but background events will be continuous on some things.
DISCLAIMER: No I don't own Elijah, Elena, or anything to do with that which is The Vampire Diaries series. This is just my version of it. ;-)
Bound By Blood
~Previously in Bound By Blood~
"Any day now, Sage," Klaus called out, snapping her out of her thoughts.
Glancing at him, she frowned in reply and slammed the door shut after she climbed in causing him to pout. "Let's go hunt some Salvatore's."
Pout disappearing into a maniacal grin, Klaus was grateful Caroline was in Donovan's truck with Bonnie so she wouldn't see how pleasing that idea was. Motioning with his arm out the window to signal the boy to follow him, Klaus pulled down the road as he whispered, "I couldn't agree more."
Chapter 22 - Let Us Handle It
Hey Finn? After sitting in silence with their own thoughts for what felt like hours, Elena wiggled their linked hands to get his attention from wherever he had drifted off too. Feeling his reciprocating grip on her hand, she tilted her head to the side. How long do you think we've been down here?
Glancing around, Finn was getting frustrated with his utter inability of finding an answer that was useful to them. I don't really know. I imagine it hasn't been that long, but with no windows it's hard to guess.
Huffing to herself, Elena let her eyes wander around the small room they'd been unceremoniously dropped into. Neither of them knew much of anything that had happened while they were being locked up in what she now realized was the modified cellar room. Seems Stefan and Damon had been doing some remodeling of late. Skimming the fingertips of her free hand along the metal bars, Elena could tell they'd been coated with vervain by the sticky residue left behind. Scanning the outline of Finn's ragged appearance in the dim lighting, she bit her lip. I assume you already tried to take care of these?
You assume right, but it's no use. My strength isn't quite what it normally is and I can only hazard a guess as to the reason why. Shifting so he was facing her parallel with the bars, his eyes slid closed as he considered their very few options available.
Elena went to mimic his position, when they heard the door slam at the top of the stairs. Finn, if we get a chance, I know how to get out of this house.
As they stood up keeping their hands linked through the bars, Finn tilted his head in acknowledgement. Very well. Let's see if I can't provide one for us. He slid his hand away before she could question him further. If they were going to get out, she couldn't know when he would act on it. Smiling at her briefly, he saw her nod her head a fraction in understanding. Both their smiles disappeared when Damon came into view from the slot in the door.
"Well well, if it isn't one of the less annoying Originals I've had to deal with, and, of course, Elena Gilbert who just can't seem to mind her own business and let them die," he greeted them, with an expression of irritated annoyance on his face.
Visibly recoiling at the venom in his voice, Elena couldn't believe it was Damon standing in front of her. Sure, he could be a total ass at times, but even after all that had happened since the ball he'd never acted this cold towards her or Bonnie, or anyone for that matter. Something wasn't right. Seeing Finn's glance, she just barely shook her head. Whatever was going on, it was obvious they were missing a piece of this messed up puzzle.
Lifting her chin defiantly, she returned his snark with her own. "Hello to you too, Damon. Care to tell me why you and Stefan decided to give me the headache from hell?"
"What? From me dropping you in the car? C'mon Elena, you and I both know you're not that weak," he snorted, clearly disregarding the other factor, as Stefan joined him when the door slid open. The white oak in Stefan's hand gave them pause on making a move just yet. "Now be nice and we won't have to break any bones, Finny." Grabbing Elena by her upper left arm he jerked her to the stairs. "Move it, Elena."
Glancing over her shoulder, Elena saw Stefan repeatedly prodding Finn with the stake to get him to move forward. Frowning at Stefan's actions, Finn caught her eye and reassured her through the empathic bond that he was alright. Pursing her lips she grunted when Damon jerked her forward again. As they came to the stairway, Elena momentarily let herself think of the others. Surely Klaus and Bonnie had found them by now, right? Not knowing what had happened... It was the worst feeling in the world. Keep them safe.
The minute the car stopped in front of the Mikaelson mansion, Bonnie all but ran into the house to avoid Kol, making him grumble as Caroline simply smirked at him as she followed her friend. "What's the matter, Kol? Not used to someone not groveling at your feet?"
"Oh shut it, Forbes," he hissed, stalking into the house.
"Kol, I believe the proper response you're looking for is 'Bite me'," Rebekah called out to him, taking amusement where she could with all that was going on.
Holding her finger to her lips in thought, Caroline then vigorously shook her head. "Nah, sorry, he's not my type," she decided, causing them both to erupt in laughter, and Klaus to grin to himself at her comment. Matt just sighed and rolled his eyes as he moved past them into the house with Sage.
"I heard that!" Kol shouted from the den, pouting as he watched Bonnie silently set up the table for the spell.
Smirking at him, Sage patted him on the shoulder as she walked over intending to sit on the sofa. "I believe you were meant to, Mini-Mikaelson." Ducking as he swung at her from behind, she flashed to the other side of the couch instead as he growled.
Whirling on the young blonde vampire as she came in the room, he could only glare as Klaus was quick to appear at her side. "You'll pay for this," he threatened, but it was obvious the girl didn't take him seriously.
Glancing to her side where Klaus was standing and then back at Kol, Caroline merely grinned. "Whatever keeps you warm at night, Kol." Walking over to join Sage on the couch, she casually bumped shoulders with him as she passed, winking at Sage when they both heard him grumbling to himself about 'women' as he went to get a drink. "What was that about 'stupid women', Kol?" She inquired innocently with eyebrows raised, doubling over laughing onto the couch as the glass exploded in his hand from Bonnie's glare, spilling whiskey all down his shirt.
Sputtering, Kol looked from one female vampire to the other, then to Bonnie who had gone back to flipping through the grimoire with a smirk on her face, and finally to Klaus who just shrugged his shoulders at him while obviously refraining from laughing in his face. "I hate you all," he groaned, snatching the towel that the Donovan boy had offered to him. "Except Matt," he corrected, nodding at him in thanks as the boy went back to wandering about the room. Filling a new glass and adding vervain, he joined Matt by the family portrait mounted on the wall. "Here," he offered, holding the glass out in front of him.
Raising an eyebrow, Matt was already suspicious. "Isn't it a bit early for a drink? What is it?"
Rolling his eyes, Kol shoved it at him. "A peace offering, what else? It's whiskey and vervain if you must know. It's a thank you for not joining in on my torment just then when we both know you had every reason to."
Sniffing the liquid, Matt cautiously took a small sip. "You broke my throwing hand which I wasn't too pleased about, but I'm not oblivious to what you've been doing for Elena these last few weeks. Or for Bonnie," he adds, glancing at Kol carefully to gauge his reaction. Seeing the vampire actually start to fidget makes him smile behind his glass. "In the mean time" he continued on, leaning against the wall. "Those two over there have been ganging up on me for years. All I can do is sympathize with their other victims of harassment."
"Well at least I know I'm not their only victim then," Kol muttered, smiling to himself as he watched Bonnie lighting the candles once more.
Guffawing, Matt set the glass down on the end table next to him as he crossed his arms. "Far from it. You think you got the worst of it? I believe that award goes to Jeremy after certain... Events." Caroline's gaze jerking to his, made him gulp as he realized he might have said too much. "Point being, if it wasn't obvious, don't piss off Bonnie, or Caroline, or Elena. If you do, you'll end up facing the wrath of all three at once." Letting out a deep breath as she looked away at his save, he tugged at the collar of his shirt.
Leaning against the wall next to Matt, Kol realized if he was going to get along with Bonnie about anything, this human was one person he'd actually need approval from. Clearing his throat, he looked down at his relatively uncomfortable damp shirt. "It's not a game for me, Matt. I know you and I haven't been on the best terms in the past, but I do mean to fix that. You're important to them and I shouldn't have taken that for granted. I promise you, I'm not just messing around or looking for fun."
Turning his head sideways, his face was serious as he took in what Kol had confided in him. "I know. Relax, man, I get it. I may not be as old as any of you, but I've been protecting all three of them since we were babies. You learn to read the signs after a while. If I thought you had ulterior motives, thousand year old vampire or not, we wouldn't be having nearly as friendly a conversation right now."
Eyebrows raising at Matt's open threat, Kol was impressed. This human would risk anything for his loved ones. He realized he shouldn't be surprised after getting to know the ladies so well. "I'm guessing it would involve lots of wood, correct?"
"Yup," Matt popped his lips at the end, as he casually shoved Kol forward. "Looks like she's ready for you."
"Appears you're right," Kol agreed, already joining her at the table as she motioned Klaus and Rebekah over as well. I do hope you'll speak to me again one day, Bonnie. When her left hand paused mid air towards him for a second before grasping it, he knew she'd heard, but she still wouldn't respond. Klaus and Rebekah giving him sympathetic looks certainly wasn't helping.
"Okay," Bonnie began, taking Klaus' hand in her right one as Rebekah stood between him and Kol. "Hold onto each other tight. This will be quick, but I can't guarantee it will be very pleasant for anyone." As she began reading the incantation on the page, they all felt a shock go through them. Steadying her breathing, her eyes slid closed as the spell started spinning the magic itself while she continued whispering the gradually unintelligible words.
Sharing a worried look with Klaus, Kol wasn't certain which spell it was that Bonnie was using, but all their hands started shaking. She needn't have warned them to hold on as none of them could release their hands even if they'd wanted to. "Bonnie," he called out nervously, as her head started tilting forward and she was swaying. He felt a strange snapping sensation as she uttered one more word before the candles blew out and she collapsed. "Bonnie!" he yelled, lurching forward to catch her on his knees as Klaus and Rebekah rocked on their feet using the table to steady themselves. It felt like they'd just had a giant rubber band snapped inside them.
Once they were relocated to the parlor, Finn cleared his throat and folded his hands together to cover the jolt he felt as his strength started returning. Glancing at Elena, she didn't look any different than she had in the basement, but she was still far too pale. He had to find a way out of here, but he couldn't risk it just yet.
As he scanned over what he could see of Damon, he grew wary. The vampire was... Off, for lack of a better term. The few times he'd seen the Salvatore's in action, were vastly different from what he was seeing before him now. "I believe she was referring to the pain you caused her when your brother and yourself attacked me with the white oak." When Damon's ice blue eyes went dim for a moment, Finn had to wonder. "Surely you didn't think we were bluffing about her life being tied to ours? Especially after what happened to her when you all had the illustrious plan to stab my brother Kol. She could have very well died from that injury."
"Shut up!" Damon snapped, although it wasn't clear if he was actually speaking to them or someone else. "I don't believe one word that comes out of your mouth. You wanted to die for your family once. You had a change of heart and expect me to believe it was because of Elena? Give me a break!"
"Your brother Klaus had no qualms about ending her life. Why should we believe you care now?" Stefan chimed in tonelessly, scoffing at Finn.
Mouth hanging open, Elena clicked it shut. "You should believe him because it's true! You saw me after the ritual. I was awake. I heard every little thing that was said about how you talked Alaric into ganging up on Kol to take down the whole family. Well guess what? The same time you were busy shoving a dagger into Kol, Rebekah and myself collapsed with the same wound. Only where it wasn't fatal for them, it almost was for me! I'm human! What the hell is wrong with you two?!"
Had things really fallen this far in such a small amount of time? Was everything really that screwed up? Surely they didn't think she could be forced to choose between the Salvatore's and the Mikaelson's... She cared about all of them. Elena certainly didn't want any single one of them dead because of it. What do I do?
Holding her head, Rebekah glared at the grimoire as she pushed herself upright once more. "What was that?"
Sage walked over and scanned the contents of the page, eyeing Bonnie with concern. "She did the spell right. You'll all feel it for a few minutes. I've seen it done before, but it shouldn't have affected her this way."
Brushing the hair out of Bonnie's face, her skin was covered in sweat as he supported her with his other arm around her lower back and blood was trailing from her nose. She was breathing, but she wasn't conscious. "C'mon, Bonnie, wake up," he coaxed, gently tapping her face. No reaction. She was totally unresponsive. "Please wake up." Holding her against his chest, he rested his chin on top of her head and closed his eyes. Come back, Bonnie. I'm sorry. He could hear Klaus arguing with Caroline, but he didn't care. All he wanted was for the young witch in his arms to wake up. Please come back, Bonnie. Don't leave us this way. All was silent for a moment and then her head moved against his chest.
"Ungh... Kol?" She asked weakly, as he rubbed her back comfortingly.
Exhaling shakily, he bowed his head in quiet relief. "Right here, darling. You gave us quite a scare."
Squinting up at him, Bonnie noticed he'd grown pale again, before realizing that everyone was standing over her. "What happened?"
"The spell may have had a bit of an overload effect on you. You looked fit to faint halfway through" Sage answered, kneeling down in front of them.
Confusion clouding her face, Bonnie shook her head in denial. "That can't be right. I felt fine."
Tilting her head, Sage grew slightly suspicious. "What's the last thing you remember?"
"Finishing the spell," Bonnie insisted, feeling annoyed. "I felt the split and then... I don't know after that. I remember the jolt at the beginning, but it felt like I was almost electrocuted from the inside out at the end." Catching the look shared between the two of them, she pinched Kol's leg for good measure. "Stop that! What aren't you telling me?" Wiping her damp upper lip, Bonnie grimaced when she pulled her hand away to find blood smeared on it.
Motioning to Kol, Sage handed Bonnie a handkerchief as she quickly retreated watching his temper flaring once more. "He can probably explain this better than I." Jerking her head to the side, the others took the hint, scattering to get everything ready to rescue Elena and Finn.
Huffing at the evasive behavior, Bonnie turned her head back towards Kol as she dabbed at her face and nose. His stony appearance startled her. Setting down the now ruined cloth, Bonnie was unsure of what to do. "Kol?" Nervously backing up after she could almost feel anger coming off of him in waves, she was surprised when he all of a sudden pulled her closer. "Kol, what-?"
"She tried to kill you, Bonnie," he growled, his head buried against her neck. "The woman that claims to be my mother tried to kill you."
Eyes widening, Bonnie's hand froze on his shoulder. "What?"
Leaning back, he scanned her face again for any signs of pain. "When you said it felt like you were electrocuted after the spell."
"Almost electrocuted," she corrected, going quiet at his glance. "Continue."
"Very well, when you were almost electrocuted. That wasn't caused by you breaking the link." Holding her hand tight in his own, he gritted his teeth. "That was Esther openly trying and failing to kill you. As punishment for helping us... Among other things." You could've died because of me...
Cradling his face in her hands, Bonnie made him look at her. "Don't you dare go blaming yourself for this. I'm right here, Kol. I'm alive and I'm not going anywhere. Esther can try to kill me all she wants, but that won't change." As the fear flashed in his eyes at her open challenge of Esther, she tilted her head and smiled. "I mean it, Kol. Don't worry about me. I can handle her."
Head sagging forward, Kol relented even though he knew by now that he'd always be worrying about her well-being. Things were changing whether she knew it or not and it absolutely terrified him. He couldn't lose anyone else. "Very well. Just please be careful," he insisted, adding puppy eyes for good measure.
Remembering their earlier argument, Bonnie arched an eyebrow. "I will if you will," she challenged making him groan.
"Bonnie, it's not-"
"It is the same, Kol! You were barely able to function earlier, and yet I'm supposed to just ignore it when you were obviously over exerting yourself to help me? Knowing it could cause you pain? Not. Happening," she hissed. "God, why can't you understand that?" Squirming out of his arms, she pushed herself to her feet. Stumbling a step, she grabbed the table for balance, as she shrugged Kol's hands away. "Don't. I'm fine."
Kol spun her around as she tried to walk away causing her to fall against him. Hearing her growl, he only crossed his arms back of her shoulders. "No, you're not." Feeling her struggling, he remembered the condition he'd been in earlier when he'd refused her assistance. He knew it'd been wrong, but hadn't wanted to show how much it hurt to do anything. Just like she was doing now... Sighing as she apparently decided standing completely still was a better option, he bowed his head. He couldn't keep letting it end with her being mad at him. "I'm sorry, alright? Im not used to being rendered utterly useless after a thousand years."
"So this is about your ego?" She scoffed, looking away over his shoulder, waiting for him to release her. Typical.
Screwing his eyes shut, Kol groaned audibly in frustration. "That's not what I meant, Bonnie!"
"Then what, Kol? Really, what reason could you possibly have for pulling that stunt earlier? Pride? Vanity?" Looking down, she wondered. "Or do you think I'm too weak to handle it?"
"You. Are. Not. Weak," he insisted, lifting her chin with his left hand. "Never say that or even think it again. Understand?"
Swallowing hard, Bonnie whispered, "Then why?" Grabbing his hand in her own, she silently pleaded for him to trust her.
Mouth opening and closing, Kol tried to come up with an excuse, but found none. Seeing the disappointment in her eyes at his silence, he didn't fight her when she pulled away. "Bonnie...I.."
"It's okay, Kol. Really, I get it," she assured him weakly, gathering up the candles and placing them back on the mantle behind them. Crossing back to the table, she stacked the grimoire with the rest, before picking up her purse. His continued silence only confirmed her suspicions as she decided to go find the others.
Watching her move around him in the room, Kol's inner demons were coming out to wreak havoc on his mind. Images of past events, being turned, losing Henrik, Meghan, the ritual, her mother sacrificing her own mortality for Bonnie's sake. I'm supposed to be the one to protect you...
Foot slipping on the step, Bonnie grabbed the wall as she froze. "What?" Regaining her footing, she turned only to find Kol right behind her. Again. "You really need to stop doing that."
"Do I?" He smirked a little before growing serious once more. "I'm supposed to be the one doing the protecting, Bonnie," he repeated aloud this time, feeling embarrassed. "Yes, you're a witch, and a very powerful one at that, but you're also human meaning you can be easily hurt. I'm a thousand year old vampire who can't even manage to help a girl to her feet without every muscle in my body yelling at me to stop. What does that say about me?"
Comprehension dawning on her, Bonnie was slightly flustered. "It means you're able to feel, Kol. It means that you're alive. We all have weaknesses in some form or another."
Lips pressing into a thin line, she grabbed his shoulders tightly. "You can't always protect everyone from everything. Or yourself. Sometimes you have to let others handle it for you."
"But-" he protested, only to be cut off.
"Even if it puts them at risk of getting hurt. Yes, Kol, I'm human. So is Elena, and Matt. Even Alaric and Jeremy despite them having supernatural life protecting rings. The only reason Jeremy was sent away was to give him a chance at a normal happy life. This world has brought him so much pain already, Elena didn't want him to have to experience any more of it. The rest of us have stayed by choice. We've all suffered from heartbreak and loss from the supernatural world, but we kept going. This is our home and yeah, we could die a lot faster here any day of the week. So could a lot of other innocent people if we left. Their lives are worth just as much as ours, and if we can protect them, we're going to do so in any way possible." Running her hand through her hair, she leaned against the doorway as he looked down defeated.
"There's no way I can convince you to stay here again while we get Elena and my brother is there?" Watching her hopefully through his lashes for any indication she might cave, her stance was all the confirmation he needed. "Very well then..."
Tentatively reaching her hand out, she touched the side of his face causing his gaze to snap back to hers. Life is precious in any form, Kol. Mortal or immortal. Ordinary or supernatural. I'm not trying to hurt you or disregard how you feel. I just need you to understand.
Nodding at her request, he could at least grant her that. I know, Bonnie. We've both fought many battles to preserve this place. Just... Don't forget that your life is important to people as well.
Stepping forward she took advantage of the height difference from the steps and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "I know you're worried about what could happen," she whispered in his ear, as she ran her hand through his hair. "Have faith that things will turn out alright. For all of us." Closing her eyes, she rested her head on his shoulder and breathed deep as he tentatively slid his hands around her waist before holding her tight. I don't know what this is, Kol. Or what it means. I don't know if I'm even ready to understand it. Everything's changed so fast and it's hard to make sense of it all right now. What I do know... Is that I don't want to lose this. Or you. You are important to people too, despite what you sometimes seem to think. Drawing back, she held his face in her hands once more. "Your life matters, Kol. Please don't forget that."
Watching her eyes, her face, feeling her hands on his skin with her scent surrounding him... Was absolutely intoxicating. He knew they had to go soon. Elena and Finn needed them, but... For a single moment his troubles faded away... He couldn't resist... Leaning forward, Kol heard her breath catch as her eyes went wide. Pausing, he gave her time to stop him, to pull away, but she just kept staring at him, her hands frozen in place. Allowing himself a small smile, his hand slid into her hair as he closed what space was left between them.
"Hey, Bonnie, can I ride with- Oh my god!" Caroline squeaked, as Kol growled lowly in annoyance. "Sorry, I didn't mean- Ugh, everyone's ready to go." Grumbling, Caroline motioned behind her as she turned to flee the room.
So close. He thought, watching as her cheeks burned bright red when she quickly jumped away from him. Glaring daggers, pun intended, at the young blonde's back, he just knew Klaus or Sage had put her up to this. Sure enough, meeting the others outside, both Sage and his annoying pain in the arse hybrid brother were snickering at him. Shooting them a look promising retribution, he grunted when Rebekah none too gently tugged him towards Caroline's car as she flipped the bird at the cackling duo.
"Even I can only take so much of picking on you before it gets old. Whatever happened in there is your business and hers. No one else's." Shoving him into the back seat next to Bonnie, Caroline and herself shared a smile as she climbed into the passenger seat. Glancing at Bonnie in the rear view mirror, Rebekah frowned at what she saw. The mood had changed from happy and embarrassed to worried and afraid. She could see why. Turning sideways, she held her hand up the smallest amount off her leg motioning Caroline to wait a minute, she turned towards the young girl sitting next to her brother. "Bonnie?"
Eyes sliding open from their previous unexpected resting state, Bonnie stared at Rebekah tiredly. "What is it?"
Face stern, Rebekah pointed her finger right at Bonnie's face. "Under no circumstances are you to overdo it with the Salvatore's. You going and keeling over on us won't do anyone a bit of good. Understand?" Watching Kol's hands briefly flex in his lap, Rebekah knew she'd been right in why he looked so concerned.
"Rebekah, I'll be fine," Bonnie insisted, getting tired of being babied. "I had one hiccup earlier. It could've happened to anyone."
"All the same, that one 'hiccup' as you put it, almost cost you your life. We both know had it happened to anyone else then that person would be dead. You know your own strength, Bonnie, I won't deny that, but don't underestimate Esther... My siblings and myself are proof enough of that." Tipping her head just a smidge to the left towards Kol, she knew Bonnie got the warning as the witch sighed and leaned her head back against the seat, forfeiting the argument.
"Alright, whatever," she grumbled, dozing off as her head unknowingly sagged against Kol's shoulder much to his amusement.
Releasing a slow breath, Rebekah faced ahead again and nodded to Caroline to go ahead as the other blonde just raised her eyebrows and shook her head as she put the car into drive. Catching her brother's grateful gaze in the side mirror, she allowed herself a small smile. Kol was finally opening up to someone again. He had already lost enough people he cared about. Rebekah sure as hell wasn't going to let another name be added to that list. Remembering Elijah's look of total despair earlier, she only prayed that she could do the same for him and save Elena. Youngest of the family or not, she would do anything for her brothers regardless of their overprotective tendencies.
At the boarding house things weren't nearly as cheerful. Elena was trying to reason with them, but Stefan and Damon weren't listening. It was like they were deaf to any voice except their own.
"What's wrong with us?! What's wrong with you, Elena?" Damon questioned, pointing at Finn as he stepped closer to her. "His brothers are the reason Jenna and your parents are dead! Why could you possibly want to protect them now?"
Jerking back as if he'd slapped her, Elena wanted to cry and scream at the same time. Brows creasing, she shook her head in disbelief. "How is wanting to kill their entire family any better, Damon? There has been enough bloodshed caused by this whole goddamned supernatural world. Killing them won't bring Jenna, John, or Isobel back. It would only cause them a kind of pain that I wouldn't wish on anyone." Pulling on her hair in irritation when Stefan uncharacteristically rolled his eyes in response, she yet again tried to reason with them. "On top of that... They've been anything but cruel to me the last six weeks." Pausing, she glared at Damon hard enough to make him squirm. "Which is a lot more than I can say for either of you at the moment."
Slamming his hand on the bar, Damon was furious. "You've been staying with them! You really expect us to believe that they would've let us just waltz in to see you? Wake up, Elena!"
"No, you wake up!" She snapped back. "Both of you! This isn't a game that you can just redo when you make a mistake. Real lives are at risk here and it's like you don't even care so long as you think you win in the end!" Pulling her hair over her shoulder, she stomped over right in front of Damon as she parted her hair at the top of the back of her head. "If you don't believe me, then see for yourself. You know where Stefan hit Finn. Go ahead and feel right here on my head. Then tell me Finn is lying to you, that my life isn't linked to theirs, and that you still think they all deserve to die for a crime they. Did. Not. Commit." Seeing him blanch at her words, she pushed him. "Do it. Or are you too afraid to admit that someone else is right for once?"
Glowering at her challenge, he sighed and stepped forward. Stretching his right hand out, Damon noticed Elena visibly tense up the closer he got to her face. She's never been afraid of me before... He felt the most imperceptible of jumps when his fingers touched her hair causing him to frown. Clenching his jaw, he carefully slid his hand back to where she'd parted it only to suck in a harsh breath through his teeth as he saw her wince when his hand barely pressed down on a rather large bump on her head. Right where Stefan had hit Finn. "Impossible," he muttered, his hand falling to his side. When Elena glared at him, he backed away shaking his head. "I don't... It can't be possible." The buzzing in his mind was reaching a fever pitch.
"It is possible, Damon! You felt the proof of it! I. Am. The. Proof!" she shouted, wanting to wring his neck for going behind her back. Again. Her eyes burned as she stared at him. Why can't he understand?... First Elijah... Now Damon... And Stefan. Is it me? Am I the problem? "Is this what it's come down to, Damon?" she whispered, backing away from him and Stefan, being careful to keep her distance from Finn. She didn't need false hope right now. "Everyone I trust turning on me?" As his blue eyes flashed for a second, she had to ask. "Do you really hate me that much?"
Lips parting at her sudden shift, Damon's concern for her was winning over the anger he'd been overwhelmed with the last few weeks. "Elena, I don't hate you," he urged, taking a step closer to her as Stefan remained still.
"Then why? Why would you do this?" Elena demanded, keeping her eyes on them both. "Knowing that it would hurt me. That it could kill me!"
"I don't know!" Damon shouted back, pulling at his hair in frustration. "Alright, Elena? I. Don't. Know!" His head pounding, Damon squeezed his eyes shut. Groaning, he doubled over. "No... Go away. Make it stop!"
Seeing his pain, Elena stepped towards him while Finn was watching the vampire carefully to make sure it wasn't a trick as he felt the energy shift in the air. Something wasn't right in this house.
"Damon?" Resting her hand on his shoulder, Elena felt how tense he had become. "Make what stop, Damon?"
"Enough of this," Stefan sighed, pulling her attention away from Damon as he suddenly moved.
"Stefan, NO!" She screamed, as he lunged at Finn with the white oak stake, slashing his shoulder after Finn managed to sidestep out of the way. If he had still been weakened?, neither Elena nor himself would have been so lucky.
Gasping as her own shoulder was cut open, Elena pressed down as hard as she could bear to slow the bleeding, dropping to her knees in front of Damon. "Damon, please, help him," she begged desperately, trying to get back the man she'd come to know the last two years. "Please."
Damon jerked upright as he smelled her blood, and realized what she'd been trying to tell him all along. Mind finally clear for the first time in weeks, he stared at her pained expression in horror. "Elena, I..." He started to apologize, when he was cut off by Stefan throwing Finn into the wall temporarily stunning him. Stefan shouldn't have had the upper hand against the Original. Not sure with over 800 years seniority. Knowing Elena was in danger if Finn lost, Damon didn't stop to think before acting.
Charging forward, Damon slammed into Stefan holding him against the mantle. "Get her out of here!" He ordered Finn, as the Original quickly obeyed, and deftly lifted her into his arms, running out the door.
Lurching forward in the car, Elijah grabbed his shoulder as he felt pain go coursing through his arm. "No..."
Shooting glances at Elijah, Klaus tried to keep his eyes on the road. "Something wrong, Elijah?"
Gripping the handle of the door so hard it started to crumble in his hand, Elijah stared at the road ahead of them as pain covered his face. "Hurry, brother. We may not have much time."
Pressing the gas pedal to the floor, Klaus saw Caroline's features in the rearview mirror and knew she'd understood. "We'll make it," he promised them both quietly. "We'll make it."
Sage's phone started rattling in her coat as they were reaching the back driveway leading up to the Boarding House. "What?!... Finn? How did you- Are you alright? How's Elena?"
Klaus slammed on the brakes, causing Caroline to swerve around him on the left to avoid a collision. Holding a finger to his lips to silence her outburst he motioned to the phone in Sage's hand. The frown only deepened on her face as she heard what Finn was saying.
"I've been better," Finn sighed as he carefully set Elena down against the brick wall in the back alley of the Mystic Grille.
She grimaced and shifted so her right side was propping her up against the bricks to keep from agitating her left shoulder. The cloth he'd hastily tied around her cut would only work for so long. "How do I always get myself into these situations?" She muttered to herself, ignoring Finn's sympathetic glance.
"I'm afraid to say that Esther was indeed behind the Salvatore's attack earlier. It's almost like compulsion, but this was in no way done by a vampire. Stefan tried to stake me with the white oak, but I got away relatively unscathed. Unfortunately, Elena was not so lucky. The bond still affects her and that minor scratch on my end cut her pretty deep. Damon distracted Stefan long enough for me to get Elena and myself out of there. We're by the Mystic Grille restaurant or whatever it's called in town." Turning away from Elena, he murmured into the phone, "She needs help, Sage, but I'm not sure it's safe. She's been healed by so many of us already."
Holding Elijah's gaze, Sage read every emotion going across his face as she wordlessly asked the question Finn wouldn't. Fear, worry, anger, pain... Love. As he stiffly nodded his head at her, she gripped the phone in her hand. "Elijah says to do it... As do I," she replied calmly, knowing what the bond entailed, and that it wouldn't affect their own. "Stay out of sight. We'll come and get you."
Rubbing his forehead, Finn could only agree with the request. "Very well. We'll be ready." As the line went dead, he stepped over and knelt down next to Elena. "How are you feeling?"
She snorted and leaned her head against the wall. "Been better. Been worse. Does it really matter?" His concerned stare only served to agitate her more. "I'm guessing we're waiting for the rescue team again, right?
"It would appear that way...May I?" He asked, motioning towards the makeshift bandage.
Elena just shrugged and stared at the brick wall across from them. "Have nothing better to do here. Knock yourself out."
Frowning at her monotone reply, he wondered just how much of a toll the separation had already taken on her. His brother had to fix this. Soon. He gently brushed her hair to the side as he unwound the cloth from her shoulder, murmuring apologies when he saw her flinch.. As he'd suspected, most of it was already stained red. "This won't heal fast enough on its own, Elena. It's too deep."
Rolling her head to the left, she stared at him through half-lidded eyes. "Meaning what, Finn? Another supernatural remedy to prevent me from dying? After today, I think the universe has made it pretty clear my life doesn't matter anymore in the grand scheme of things. My part is done."
"You mean because of what happened with the Salvatore's?..." As she looked away to stare at her shoes, Finn pressed her on the subject. She needed to talk about it, or it may very well drive her mad. "Or Elijah?" Her chin trembling was all the answer he needed. "Elena, please, let me help you."
"What's the point, Finn? Two people, okay, two vampires, that I've known for years now, just tried to kill us both. Again. Elijah was so convinced that he was doing the right thing that he wouldn't even consider coming home. Not for me anyways." Twisting her hands in her lap, she admitted what had resurfaced and been bothering her for a while. "All I seem to do is cause problems."
Not wanting to betray Elijah's confession to his siblings, for that was his own story to tell her, Finn simply couldn't just let Elena suffer in silence either. "Elena, you do matter. Your part isn't done and it pains me to think that you could possibly believe that. Damon wasn't himself earlier, we both know that now. He's the only reason I was able to get us out of there. He saved us. As for my brother..." Smiling reassuringly at her, he patted her hands. "Elijah was the one that said I should heal you. Does it really sound like you don't matter to him?"
"I wouldn't know," she confessed, hair falling in her face. "He wouldn't tell me." Wrapping her arms around her middle, she remained silent after that, effectively ending the conversation.
Carefully binding the clean part of the material back around her shoulder, Finn wouldn't force her to take his blood. He'd let her be for the moment, but not for long.
Caroline stepped over to Klaus' window to warn him against doing that stunt with the cars ever again when they all jumped as they heard a gigantic crash coming from the house. "What the hell?!"
Klaus hopped out of the car, immediately passing the keys to Sage as she already knew what to do and shoved Elijah back into the passenger seat. "Go, Elijah. We can manage things here. Elena needs you more." He knew mentioning Elena was the only thing that would stop any forthcoming protests. Elijah's protective streak was tantamount to none, and right now Elena was the one that needed it the most. "Bring them home," he whispered, earning a determined nod from Elijah as Sage sped away.
Damon stumbled to his feet off the broken remains of the dining table as Stefan advanced on him. None of this made any sense. "Stefan... Stefan, stop! I'm your brother!" He shouted, jumping out of the way as Stefan swung at him again with the stake.
"You let them get away!" Stefan snarled, the veins around his eyes black, his voice hollow. "We needed them to die and you let them get away!" He charged forward, as Damon ducked and tossed him into the wall behind him as he spun around to question Stefan.
"Them to die?! That was Elena freaking Gilbert! You know, the girl you claimed to love once upon a journal! She's the last person on this planet you should want dead." As Stefan slowly rose to his feet, Damon realized what was wrong. What had been wrong for weeks. Why didn't I see it? "You're not Stefan, are you?" Seeing the malicious smirk form on his brother's face, Damon growled. "Esther. I should've known. What have you done with my brother?" He hesitated one second too long as fake Stefan knocked him against the far wall causing him to cry out as the splintered shelves cut into his skin. "Where is he?!" He demanded, gripping the counter for balance.
Bonnie could feel the magic pulsating in the air around the house as she pulled herself out of the car and it almost made her ill. "You've got to be kidding me." Hearing Damon's pained shout coming from inside, Bonnie ignored Kol's warnings and ran for the front door, Caroline following right behind her as she grabbed Bonnie's arm along the way and sped them both across the lawn.
"Bonnie, wait! Dammit!" Kol yelled, growling as he flashed across the yard after the two of them. "This isn't letting us handle things," he grumbled to himself, knowing how drained she'd been moments before. Another crash had him swearing even louder as he just barely caught the door swinging shut after Caroline had run through it with Bonnie in tow. Rebekah tapped his arm in comfort as she flashed by him to latch onto the two girl's shirts and yanked backwards. It deterred Caroline, but Bonnie just slid right out of the jacket ignoring them as she hurried towards the den.
"Really?" Rebekah huffed, shoving the jacket at Kol and quickly following the girl as Caroline actually snorted at Bonnie being the one to disobey orders. The conversation they could hear from the other room removed any humor from the situation as they moved down the hall.
Heading tilting sideways, fake Stefan only chuckled for a moment as he gripped the stake in his hand. "Don't worry, Damon. He'll be joining you soon enough," was all he said as he flashed in front of Damon with the stake going straight for his chest.
"Desino!" Bonnie cried, swinging her hand forward as she rounded the corner, blasting fake Stefan across the room. Kol and Rebekah promptly latched onto his arms, forcing him to drop the stake on the ground as they held him down. Walking forward, she stopped next to Damon as he held himself up using the wet bar. "Are you alright?" She asked quietly, keeping her expression blank as she still hadn't forgotten the last six weeks of total silence and kidnapping Elena.
Eyes wide, Damon's mouth opened and closed a few times. "Bonnie, I swear I... I didn't know. It wasn't me... I'm sorry."
Chin shifting to the side, Bonnie narrowed her eyes at what she could tell was in fact not Stefan. "What's done is done, Damon. We have bigger problems to worry about."
Caroline shushed him when he tried to speak up. "Don't push it, buddy."
Jerking her hand away when he went to touch her, Bonnie quickly crossed the room to stand at the feet of the possessed vampire. "You should know better than to cross a Bennett witch, Esther." Hand extended over his body, she made sure that he couldn't move. Esther didn't get to play with anyone else. "First Elena, then my mother, and now my friends." Kol, she subconsciously added to herself, ignoring his brief freeze as she realized he'd heard her. "Everyone I care about. Then you have the nerve to try and attack me directly? To kill me?" Waving her hand at the white oak resting next to Rebekah, it flew into the fire and burst into flames as she shook her head at the pitiful spirit before her. "I told you before. You. Won't. Win."
Esther started cackling menacingly, making everyone feel on edge at the sound it made coming out of Stefan. "You stupid girl. Did you really think these two were my only weapon? You are very mistaken."
"What do you mean?" Klaus demanded, stepping forward next to Bonnie. Esther continued laughing until Bonnie flexed her hand causing shocks to go through Stefan's possessed body making her groan.
Her face hard and eyes cold, Bonnie eventually relaxed her hand. "Answer him. Now."
Panting harshly, Esther stared at them with a gleeful look on Stefan's face. "I'm afraid your dear sweet Elena and Finn aren't quite as safe as you'd thought them to be."
Klaus wordlessly raised his left eyebrow at Kol before walking away, immediately calling Sage to warn them.
Kol tightened his grip on Stefan's arm as Rebekah did the same. You know what to do, Bonnie.
Gritting her teeth, Bonnie crossed her hands in the air over Stefan's currently possessed body. "Threatening people again? Really? We'll see about that," she hissed at the vengeful spirit, before closing her eyes. "Abduco spiritus vis veres exitus!"
Esther cried out once before Stefan's body went limp on the floor as she was cast out.
Staring around the room at each other as they waited for Stefan to come around, everyone had to wonder.
They'd won this battle, but how many more were to come? When would it finally end?
The general unspoken answer... Not soon enough.