Review-
AndTheSaintsAreAllMadeOfGold: Thank you very much for your review. I'm sorry you had to re-read because its been so long, but a lot of changes have been made to previous chapters so it was best to re-read and catch-up. I'm really happy that you've enjoyed the story so far. The chapter was shorter, but I hope this part makes it up to you. Hope to see your reviews in the future!
Shrieking and laughter bellowed through the hallways as I curled up in my temporary bed. Pulling my knees closer into my chest, I clutched the pillow and held it tightly against my face, almost suffocating myself. Anything to block out the screams. Anything. Taking no more, I shot out of bed and hovered by the door as a shadow passed below. I opened the door no more than a crack as Damon walked by.
"Damon..." I whispered as he passed.
"Hmm?" He turned around and I exited the room into the hallway in front of him.
"What the hell is going on?" I asked as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes.
A light growl vibrated from his chest as he turned around and made his way for the staircase. I followed on closely behind.
Blood.
I could smell it. I could see it.
Not looking as to where I was walking as I descended the stairs, I stopped as soon as my bare feet stepped on something squishy. I grudgingly looked down, and there they were, two discarded bodies slumped on top of each other at the foot of the stairs.
Damon stepped over them and reached his hand out to me, I placed my own into his as he closed his fingers around mine. My hand all but vanished in his as he pulled me over the bodies. Rounding the corner to the main room, we hovered in the doorway as Stefan slumped on the couch while a few other girls were there playing twister. Blood covered the mat almost completely as Stefan spun the little arrow on the card.
"Uh-oh. Alexandria, left hand, please." Stefan commanded and the woman obeyed. He gripped her hand and tuned her wrist before sinking his teeth into her pink flesh.
"Hey," Damon grunted, "The two brunettes on the staircase owe me a new Persian rug."
With a playful pout on his lips, Stefan replied, "You mean, they owe us a Persian rug? It's my house too, brother. Ohh!" he gasped. "Would you like a spin?" He held up the spinner, giving it a light flick with his freehand as he looked over at us.
With his arms folded over his chest, Damon took a few steps into the room as I stayed leaning against the wooden frame behind.
"So this is what Klaus had in mind when he compelled you to protect Jess and Elena?"
Before he could answer, a loud knocking came from the door down the hall.
Damon left to answer as Stefan turned his attention to me.
"How about you?" He grinned, "Fancy a go?"
"I'll pass, thanks."
"Come on! You know you want to." His smugness really knew no bounds.
"I said NO."
He held his hands up in retreat, but the smile never left his blood-stained-lips.
"Where's Stefan?" The commanding, yet familiar voice travelled down the hall.
Fuck me... no
I internally screamed as she came into sight.
This day really can't get any worse.
"Who the hell are you?" Damon frowned as she passed him by and completely ignored me as she approached the doorway.
She pouted, "He left me here. My brother actually left me here."
Stefan shrugged, "Oh, I'm sorry. Your tone implies that I'm actually supposed to care."
I couldn't help but snigger at his comeback.
"You're Klaus' sister?" Damon asked as he appeared by my side.
"Rebekah. Pleasure, I'm sure." She weakly smiled. "Which one is my room?"
"You're not staying here." Stefan spoke, and for the first time, It was the only thing that he said that made sense.
The blonde turned to face Damon, bags swinging in her hands.
"Rude. Both of you. I'll see to it myself."
She walked towards the stairs as I pushed myself off the frame.
"No, no and, oh wait, NO" I walked a little further into the room between Stefan and Damon. " It's bad enough I have to stay here with you, but I draw the line at living here with both of you."
"It looks like she's staying here." Stefan shrugged.
"Well, I'm leaving then." I headed for the door once more, and like I knew he would, Stefan was in front of me faster that I could blink.
"You're staying here, too." He ordered.
"I'm pretty sure you can check in on me from my house." I scoffed, "Call me or message, I'll do my very best to get back to you."
I side-stepped him, but he caught my arm pulling me back.
"Leave her." Damon warned from behind.
Stefan removed his hand, "Just talking, big brother." He smiled as he looked down at me. "You are staying here, or do we need a little reminder of the last conversation we had?"
Caroline, he threatened her life last time. I still wasn't sure if he was bluffing, but again, could I take that risk?
"What'll it be? Hmm?"
"Screw you." I hissed as I pushed past him before walking up the stairs. I couldn't stand being in close proximity to him for a second longer. I could hear Rebekah a few doors down the hallway, cursing Klaus' name as she rummaged through the bags she walked in with.
"I couldn't agree with you more." I whispered under my breath as she called him not-so-nice names.
Fresh out the shower and changed into some of Elena's clothes that I found in a drawer, I took one last look in the mirror fixing the stray hairs that wouldn't stay in place before leaving my room and heading down the stairs. As quiet as it was, I knew it wouldn't last long, it never does anymore. Just as my hand closed around the door handle and pulled it open, Stefan was behind me, watching.
"What now?" I asked without looking in his direction. The subtle breeze blowing my hair softly from my face.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"School." I turned around, "Is that okay with you?"
He sniggered, "Of course, can't have you missing more school now, can we?"
I rolled my eyes, "You're insufferable, you know that?"
A light laugh escaped his lips, and for a brief moment, it was like he was the old Stefan again, the one that I quite liked, actually. Now it feels like he's just a hollow shell of what he once was.
"Alright, bye then." I turned to leave but he caught my arm once more.
"I'll drive." He said.
I furrowed my brow, "No, thanks."
"Again, it's not up for discussion."
"God, Stefan, what's your aim here?" I pushed him back, "You can't watch over Elena and I 24/7."
"Yeah, that's the plan." he smirked, "Why, are you hiding something?"
"What? No." I shot back a little to quickly, "I just mean that Elena and I aren't together all the time, so you'll have to be with one of us." A little light bulb popped off in my head as I remembered back to Prank night.
"I'm pretty sure Klaus would want you to watch Elena more, she is after all his blood source for his hybrids." I smiled, "You wouldn't want anything to happen to her under your watch, would you?"
His eyes darkened a shade as he loomed over me, "Is that a threat I hear?"
I'd never hurt Elena, and he should know that. However, if it gets him to watch her more, then I'm all for playing games.
"Ohh, no. I'm just saying If anything were to happen to her, I'm sure he wouldn't be best pleased."
His eyes narrowed, "If anything were to happen to you, he'd be worse."
I swallowed, hard, at his words.
What was that supposed to mean?
"What do you mean?"
He smirked.
Fuck!
"See you at school, Jess." He opened the door wider and waved for me to leave. I walked out and he closed it behind me. I looked back.
Had I just been played? Again. Fuck.
The drive to school was torturous. I kept going over what Stefan had said, it was bugging me as it floated around in bold letters in my head. I still don't know why Klaus took an interest in me, it was unnerving to say the least but there was nothing I could do about it now. He wasn't even here to tell me.
But do I really want to know?
I clocked Elena as I entered into the hallway and approached her.
"Hey," I smiled as she walked past some lockers. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Hey, yeah, of course." She smiled back. I noticed the scarf around her neck, as she pulled it a little tighter, concealing the bite mark Stefan had gave her.
Her phone began to ring, "Ohh, hang-on," She looked at the screen, "It's Damon."
"Answer it." I told her and began to walk down to where Caroline was standing. I pointed to where I was going so she'd know where to go once she'd finished her call. She nodded in understanding and I walked away.
"Jess, hey!" Caroline enveloped me into a hug.
"Hey, Care." I smiled back as she released me. I took a look at the flyer that she stapled to the wall. "I forgot about the bonfire."
"You have to come. It's our first spirit squad event. And it sets the bar for the rest of the whole year" Caroline blurted out.
"Caroline, relax. I'll be there." I reassured her and her shoulders fell limp.
"Thank you. It's just that..."
Before she could finish, Tyler approached.
"Happy first day!" He smiled gleefully. It was almost like he'd forgotten what happened to him the other night.
My brows were knitted together as I looked at his shirt, "Is that...blood?" I asked him.
"Oh my god!" Caroline grabbed him and walked into the boys' restroom, Elena followed them in as I waited outside.
Getting distracted by speaking to someone, I hadn't noticed that Elena left the toilets and Stefan had arrived.
"What why?" Elena said as I approached.
"Klaus wants me to keep an eye on you." His grin widened as he saw me walk up beside them. "Both of you. I'm just doing what I'm told."
"I'm going to be late for class." Elena huffed and tried to walk away but Stefan grabbed her arm.
"Oh, class is this way." Stefan pointed out.
"Let her go, Stefan." I warned.
"Do you think I want to be a senior for the 100th time? No. But if I don't have a choice in the matter, then neither do you."
"Let me go." Elena hissed.
It was the first time I had seen her be angry at Stefan. It was surreal, actually.
I turned around as Alaric walked up quickly behind us, "Let her go." He instructed Stefan and just like that, he let her go.
Quickly moving his attention to Ric, he shoved his body against some lockers and got close to his face.
"Stefan, stop it!" Elena and I said in unison.
"You're not gonna want to get in my way. Okay Ric? I will see you both in history." He released Ric and walked away.
Alaric fixed his shirt and stepped away from the lockers, looking at the back of Stefan's head as he vanished from sight.
"Ric, are you okay?" I asked.
"Come with me." Alaric said to Elena and I.
In Alaric's class room before class started, he, Elena and I were talking about Stefan.
"What the hell is he doing here?" Alaric hissed.
"Klaus compelled him to watch over us. Apparently we're one of Klaus' assets now. My blood is the only way to create a hybrid." Elena spoke.
Ric looked to me, "And you? What does he want with you?"
Good question.
I shrugged, "I honestly have no idea."
He nodded, "So he's what? The bodyguard now?"
"I don't know what he is. But he's definitely not Stefan." Elena said with sorrow.
I sighed, "Definitely not after this morning, anyway."
"What do you mean?" Elena looked at me frowning.
I bit my tongue.
I was thankful when the bell rang and some students entered.
"I'll tell you later."
She nodded, "Look," Elena lowered her voice, "His being here is not good for any of us. We have to do something.
We nodded and took our seats. I sat in my usual spot in front of Caroline and across from Elena. Caroline entered and took her seat and Joey took the empty seat beside Elena.
"You're in my seat."
I turned around to see Stefan hovering over Joey. He quickly got out of the seat and crossed the room to another as Stefan smiled at Elena.
"Hey you!" he smirked as he sat down.
"Welcome back, seniors. Let's turn out brains back on, starting with this country's original founders... the native Americans."
Kill. Me. Now.
I looked up from my notebook as I caught her scent enter the room.
"What about the Vikings?" She asked and took a seat.
Tyler, Caroline, Elena and I looked at her.
Alaric cleared his throat, "There's no evidence that Viking explorers actually settled in the United States." He paused briefly, "Who are you?"
"My name's Rebekah. I'm new. And history's my favourite subject."
I could physically feel the smugness radiating from her as she spoke. And I had never wanted to snap a neck so much before in my life.
Later out on the fields, I was warming up for my first cheer practice since coming home. I was excited. In the locker room after changing into shorts and a tank, I took a few small sips of water from my bottle before I tied my hair back.
As I stretched my arms side-to-side, Molly asked if anyone had seen Dana.
"She might be late." I replied as I cast my eye out onto the field.
"Sounds like you have an opening on the squad."
I turned around to be met with Rebekah's grinning face.
"We don't, sorry." I shut her down fast.
"What are you doing?" Caroline asked her as she stood beside me. Rebekah ignored her and began to stretch. "Hey. Hey! You can't just come here and infiltrate all of out lives."
"I'm only interested in yours." Rebekah grinned, "Your spunk, your popularity," She cast her gaze into the field as I followed it. "Maybe even your boyfriend."
The coach began to shout at the jocks as I faced Rebekah, "Stay away from my sister, and stay away from Tyler." I warned her. As I expected, my warning was void as she walked away smiling.
"Are you alright?" I asked Care.
She was watching Tyler as he spoke to the coach.
"Yeah... give me a minute." She made her way across the field towards Tyler as I watched on.
"Okay, ladies! Let's get warmed up!" I yelled to the other cheerleaders. Rebekah joined in and I couldn't even muster up the strength to fend her off this time. So I left her to it.
However, she only had one thing on her mind. Trouble.
Taking the head of the line, she clapped her hands together, gaining the attention of the other cheerleaders as she began to sprint. Effortlessly doing a summer-salt into the splits. I can't even lie, even I was slightly impressed by her form but it was all to rub it into my sisters face. I wasn't surprised one bit as she smirked at her across the field where she stood with a gleeful Tyler.
The day was finally over. I was looking forward to tonight, the bonfire. It was something I had looked forward to for a while, so I kicked myself when I forgot about it tonight. Thankfully, Caroline wouldn't let me forget. Elena had messaged me and filled me in on some of the plan she had worked up with Alaric after school earlier. Not all the details were filled in, so we said we'd meet at the school before heading to the bonfire.
I was granted some freedom from Stefan for a while, well, that was only after I argued with him for hours at the Boarding house.
In my own room at my house, I set my outfit out on my bed before taking a quick shower and partly drying my hair. I left it slightly damp as it began to take its natural curly state, stopping shy of my collar bones. I pilled some of my clothes into a suitcase, with some other things from my bedroom for the Boarding house. I was pretty sure that if whatever Elena and the others had planned crashes and burns tonight, I'd better have my shit ready to be forced back into the dungeon. Pulling on my dark jeans and emerald tank-top, I slipped on a pair of ankle boots and my leather jacket to accompany the rest before I set off for the school.
"So... What's the plan?"
The drive to the school was quick as few cars were on the road, so we were there in no time. Once my sister changed, we left to join the others. I sat on top of Alaric's desk as the others stood in the room discussing the plan for tonight.
"I'll lure Stefan away from the bonfire. Then when he's distracted-"
"I'll shoot him." Alaric finished Elena's sentence.
I nodded along.
"Can't Bonnie just ju-ju him or something?" Damon asked.
"I'm trying to keep Bonnie out of this. I don't trust that Stefan won't hurt her. Caroline, are you covered?"
She nodded, "Yes! I will make sure that the old Forbes jail cell is prepared and ready."
Damon cleared his throat, "We're forgetting a key player here. Rebekah? Wherever Stefan goes, the blonde ponytail tends to follow."
"Which is why it's your job to keep her away." Elena smiled.
"How!?" Damon groaned, "She's an original. Last time I checked, we're out of daggers."
"I'm sure you can think of some way to distract her." I spoke, swinging my legs back and forth.
Alaric sniggered, "Might have better luck finding the dagger."
With a roll of the eye, Damon faced Alaric. "Are you ever not going to be mad at me for a day?"
He shook his head, "Doubtful."
He can't blame Alaric, I was still pissed about the whole situation that unfolded on that night. The attempted murder of my dad, fighting me and then killing Alaric outside the house. Time may stand still for us, but it doesn't make it any less easier with each day that passes.
"What about me?" I asked.
Elena sighed, "If I can't get Stefan away from the bonfire, you might need to be on standby, just in case something goes wrong."
"Okay, I'll make sure to keep an eye out for anything."
Just as I hopped off the desk, Tyler rounded the corner and entered the room.
"Sorry I'm late. What's going on?" He asked gleefully.
"We need you to raid your mom's vervain supply. Enough to keep Stefan down for a while." Elena informed him and his face morphed from happy to uncertainty within seconds.
"You can't do that to Stefan." He said with authority, causing us all to share the same look of confusion.
"What do you mean?" I asked from his right, "Why not?"
"Trust me, Tyler, It's in his best interests." Elena tried to reason with him.
"Yeah. It's not in Klaus'"
Just hearing his name set my stomach ablaze. I dug my nails into the palms of my hands to slow my now thumping heart without detection.
Caroline stormed in front of him. "But Klaus is the bad guy, Tyler. You know, why are you acting like some freaky, hybrid, slave minion."
"Uh-oh." Damon looked suspiciously at Tyler as he straightened up.
"Klaus made me who I am, Caroline. I owe him everything." Tyler announced to us.
"Oh, boy." Damon spoke again. Edging ever-so-closer to Tyler.
"Damon, what are you babbling about?" I almost yelled at him as he came up to the desk and subtly took a vervain dart from my side.
"I'm just gonna go." Tyler turned on his heels and headed for the door but Damon was quick. Very quick. Appearing behind him, he injected the vervain into the side of his neck and he immediately collapsed to the floor, out cold.
"What are you doing!?" Caroline shrieked and rushed to his side.
"He's been sired." Damon informed us.
I frowned, "What does that mean?"
"Sired." He repeated, "He feels loyal to Klaus because Klaus' blood created him."
Well shit.
"Loyal how?" Elena asked for clarity.
"He'll seek acceptance from his master. It's really rare. But maybe not so much in hybrids."
Caroline pouted, "So... how do I fix him?"
"Get a new boyfriend." Damon shrugged.
"Damon!" I glared at him as he mouthed, 'what' while frowning.
I walked over to Caroline and made sure she was alright.
"Here," I handed over my keys, "When you're making sure the cellar is ready, take Tyler home or something." She nodded in agreement and took the keys before dragging Tyler out of the room by his ankles. I turned around to face the rest of the group. "Shall we head over now?" They all agreed it was time to leave, so that's what we done.
As we arrived at the bonfire, masses of people were already drinking and the majority were halfway to passing out. We all separated, leaving Alaric behind with the rifle, ready for Stefan. Elena and I stuck together as we waded thought some people and headed to a kegger in the middle. And just by luck, Stefan was there with Rebekah.
"I so need a drink... or five." I laughed as we approached.
"Excuse me." Elena shoved herself in between Stefan and the blonde.
Stefan smirked, but it faltered slightly as she began filling up her plastic cup.
"Elena, hi. What are you doing?"
"I'm having fun, Stefan. You have a problem with that?" She replied cockily and downed the whole cup of beer without a breath.
"Alright, take it easy." Stefan warned, "We both know you're kind of a lightweight."
Elena smirked, "Uh-huh. Really? You think I'm going to let a blood addict tell me how to drink."
Ouch.
Sometime had passed, and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't slightly drunk right now. Then again, so is everyone else at the bonfire. Even Elena has a slight buzz going on right now. I watched from the tree line with my cup of cheap beer in hand as a group of guys held the legs of another over the keg so that he could do a key stand. Everyone was cheering 'drink', even Elena from across the way cheered with the others before raising her cup and drinking. I followed her gaze and met Stefan as he watched her intently. I knew he still cared for her. He hadn't taken his eyes off her the whole time that we were here. Leaving me to my own devices for the first time in... I don't actually know how long its been. Day's seem to blur lately.
As I blinked, Stefan vanished and appeared by Elena as she watched Damon sitting at the other side of the fire with Rebekah. There was too much noise and cheering for me to even try and listen to the conversation. Especially now that I was getting a buzz-on. So I wandered around aimlessly as I sipped on my cup before taking a seat at the edge of the party. I chewed on the rim of the blue, plastic cup as Johnathan approached and sat down beside me. The smell of alcohol was pouring from every pore on his body.
"Hey J-Jessie..." He mumbled and rested his hand on my thigh.
"Hey, Johnathan." I replied and swatted his hand away.
He sniggered, "Ohh, come o-on." He moved closer, "You're hot, y-you know that?"
"And you're seriously lacking some brain cells right now." I went to stand up but his hand shot up and enclosed around my wrist, pulling me back down. "Seriously, Johnathan stop."
"Come on, lets just... make out."
His eyes were bloodshot. He was usually kind, and sweet. Tonight however, he was being a total ass that was pushing me the wrong way.
"I mean it, back off."
"Y-you always act like you're better than us a-all." He got to his feet and threw his half-filled cup at my feet. The warm liquid splashed up my exposed ankles and splattered on to my shirt as he laughed. "No ones ever been good enough for y-you. You're just a stuck-up bitch."
I saw red.
He was pushing on every nerve within my body, and he was about to face the consequences.
I grabbed a hold of his neck and pulled him closer, tightening my grip more and more as the moments ticked by.
Johnathan began to squirm under my vice-like grip. His face began to turn a deep shade of red, his lips began to turn blue as he clawed at my wrist for relief. His eyes began to bulge as I squeezed a little harder.
"P-please..." He gasped. "S-stop."
I blinked rapidly and dropped my hand from his neck once I realised what I was doing. He began to cough and inhale erratically as he stumbled to his feet, catching his breath and balance.
"Y-you tried to kill me!"
"You're drunk!" I hissed as my heart rate spiked. My skin flared intensely. "When a woman says 'no' it means NO! Got it?"
"Crazy bitch!" He mumbled as he staggered away, clutching at his bruised neck.
What the hell did I just do?
Something came over me. I was blinded by rage once more. Only this time it was more intense. I almost lost complete control.
As I took a step forward to head back to the bonfire, my head shot to the left as I heard a familiar scream.
"Elena?"
I ran towards the scream and rounded towards the bleachers, coming to a staggering halt behind Elena. Looking to her feet, I saw Stefan laying there in a heap with a vervain-dart sticking out his back. Alaric pointed his gun at me.
I raised my hands, dropping the vervain dart that I held, "Wait! It's me." I protested and he lowered his gun as Elena jumped to the side, startled by my sudden presence.
"Jess, what happened?" Elena asked as she looked at me, slightly concerned.
"What do you mean?"
"Your shirt, it's soaked." She clarified.
My heart rate began to pick up a little once again. I couldn't tell her that I grabbed a guy's throat just seconds before I got here. Nor could I tell her that I almost killed him. She'd think I was crazy.
What's crazy these days though?
I blatantly lied to her face, "I tripped by the bonfire and spilled my drink down myself." I smiled weakly, "It's nothing."
I was thankful when she nodded. She was to concerned about Stefan to even care to continue talking about it any longer.
"The plan worked." She smiled, "That's all that matters. Let's get him out of here."
I picked up the vervain dart and placed it back into my pocket before walking over and grabbing Stefan's feet as Alaric grabbed him under his arms before we lifted him off the ground and walked over the where he parked his car. Elena popped the trunk and we placed him inside as Elena climbed in the front seat and closed the door behind her without another word.
Alaric closed the trunk, "You want a ride?" he asked me.
I accepted. Caroline had my car anyway.
As we walked around the car, I kicked a plastic gas can that was left beside the backdoor.
"I see all the geniuses came out to the bonfire tonight." Alaric groaned as he looked at the discarded container.
"Agreed," I placed my hand on the door handle as a heated sensation pricked at my skin. "Alaric?"
Before I could utter another word, the car was engulfed in amber flames.
"Alaric!" I yelled as he tried to pull on the door handle to no avail.
"Elena! Elena! Open the door!" Alaric yelled at her through the window.
The car was completely engulfed now, it was hard to see anything through the flames.
"I can't! It won't open!" I heard her yell.
"Try and get in!" He instructed me before running over to a bin.
"Elena!" I yelled, "Wake Stefan!" I ran around to the other side where she was sitting, "Try and get him to wake up!"
She nodded as she began coughing, struggling for air as the flames got higher.
Loud banging began to emerge from the back of the car as Stefan began to kick at the trunk, eventually breaking the hinges causing it to spring open.
Alaric rushed over and grabbed Elena by the arm. "Hurry before it blows!" He yelled at her. Elena protested and looked back at Stefan.
"Wait! Wait, wait, Wait!" She screeched between coughs.
"I've got him, move!" I leaned in and pulled Stefan out of the trunk before staggering over to where Alaric and Elena were standing.
Not even a second later and the car exploded. Sending pieces into the air as I watched from the ground where Stefan and I lay.
I dropped my head back against the concrete, taking a sharp inhale of the crisp air.
I rifled through the suitcase I had packed earlier and pulled out a top and a pair of shorts. Rubbing off some of the black smoke that clung to my cheek, I closed the bathroom cabinet door over to look in the mirror. I stared continuously at my eyes in the reflection without blinking. I still couldn't believe that I almost killed someone tonight, all because I was blinded by rage.
"Weirdo." I groaned before turning the light out.
After changing into the shorts and top, I made my way downstairs into the living room to pour myself some of Damon's bourbon. I walked over to one of the sofas and took a seat as Stefan walked in. I acknowledged his presence briefly as he poured himself a glass, before walking over to the fire.
"I-uh, thanks." He spoke softly.
I knew what he was referring to, "Welcome." I replied and took a sip from the glass without looking at him.
I turned my head as I heard Elena and Alaric heading for the door. Stefan placed his glass on top of the fire and walked over to them.
"Well you got me tonight. Definitely wasn't expecting that." Stefan said as he followed them into the hallway.
I stayed on the sofa and listened in.
"That's the point." Alaric bit back.
"Yeah. You know, you can hate it all you want, but Elena needs me." He said, "I'll always protect her. I think you're both better off having me around."
I heard the footsteps edging closer to the door and got to my feet then walked into the hallway behind Stefan.
"Elena, wait." She stopped and faced him once more. "You could have let me die in that fire tonight. Why didn't you?"
She released a heavy sigh, "Because I still have hope."
"After everything I've done, you... You still think I'll be able to find my humanity again?"
He sounded sincere and even I was questioning wither or not something inside him had sparked alight.
"Yes, I do. I know who you really are better than anyone, Stefan. And I'm not giving up."
He moved closer to Elena, closing the gap between them slightly.
"Elena, do you have any idea how pathetic that makes you?" He toyed with her.
Any and all feeling that I had that something had changed in him was crushed at his words.
"No, Stefan." Elena spoke, her tone strong. "It makes me strong."
She drove her fist forward, driving two wooden stakes into Stefan's stomach simultaneously with a weapon concealed up her sleeve. Stefan slowly kneeled down on the floor, grunting as he pulled out the stakes.
Elena took off the sleeve-weapon and handed it to Alaric before smiling at me and leaving. Alaric looked to Stefan and smiled before looking back to me.
"Will you be okay?" he asked.
"I'll be fine." I replied nodding my head with a smile.
Alaric said goodbye and closed the door behind him as he left. Stefan thew the two stakes across the floor and got back to his feet before facing me.
I smiled. Teeth bearing as I looked at his blood-soaked shirt.
"If she didn't do it... I would have." I said before walking away towards the stairs and heading to my room for the night.