A/N: this is the final chapter of the first book, the second book is called Dangerous Woman and should be posted soon. sorry about the long wait.
As I lay dying. . .
I'd spent the next few days hiding at Gramm's house, I didn't really want to see anybody. I spent most of my time studying grimoires or meditating.
I scoffed as my phone rang beside me, knocking me out of the peaceful trance I had myself in. For a split second I thought about ignoring it but one look at the Caller ID made me answer.
"Stefan?"
"Alicia, I need your help." Stefan said, I knew it was about Damon because Stefan wouldn't have called me unless it was absolutely necessary.
"Damon?"
"Yeah, there's gotta be something you can do." Stefan replied, I frowned there wasn't a single thing in any of these grimoires about curing a werewolf bite, I'd read most of them from top to bottom.
"I don't have anything in the grimoires that would help, Stefan." I sighed, bouncing to my feet and stretching."I'll text Bonnie, meet us at the witch's house okay?"
"I'll be there." Stefan replied, hanging up, I shoved my phone into my pockets and headed straight for the bathroom. I needed a hot shower and a change of clothes before I left the house.
When I finished getting ready I sent Bonnie that text telling her to meet me there, I made the smart decision to ignore the series of texts she sent afterwards knowing most of them were pissed off messages about me going awol again.
I got to the house the same time Bonnie did, she was standing on the front porch looking impatient, I was surprised Stefan wasn't already there but chose to give him more time.
"If it isn't the deadbeat." Bonnie scoffed, as I slammed my car door shut. I rolled my eyes and shoved my hands into my pockets.
"If it makes a difference, I didn't actually want talk to anybody. Stefan needs help with Damon, he's dying so here we are."
"I heard Tyler bit him." Bonnie replied, her face softened a bit."Should we go and get comfortable? Stefan should be here soon."
"Yeah." I shrugged, Bonnie pushed the front door open and I followed her inside. I noticed since the last time I was here the place looked a lot cleaner. Bonnie & Jeremy must have been cleaning it as a distraction.
"Do you have some sort of plan?" Bonnie asked, sitting down in the middle of the floor, it was the exact same spot Bonnie & I had taken the magic in and the exact same spot we used it to kill a girl.
"Emily?" I shrugged, I sat down in front of Bonnie and lit up the candles. Stefan finally walked in, the poor guy looked stressed out and rightfully so.
"Seance?"
"Yeah." Bonnie & I replied at the exact same time." Just waiting for you."
"This is one of the few moments I remember you two are twins." Stefan smiled, it was small and if you didn't know any better you would've missed it.
"You know the spell?" I asked Bonnie, she shrugged and rolled her eyes.
"No way, last time you wanted to get possessed. It's your turn."
"Jokes on you, I bugs bunnied you." I grinned taking Bonnie's hands, I channeled a bit of Bonnie as I chanted the incantation in my head. My body felt very light before I didn't feel a thing, everything went dark.
I wondered if this was the feeling Elijah was describing when we talked about daggering. I felt like I was asleep except I knew I wasn't and then before I knew it I was back opening my eyes as if nothing happened.
"Well?" I asked standing up from the floor dusting myself off, Bonnie & Stefan looked uncomfortable in every way.
"They don't want us here. They think we're abusing the power." Bonnie shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
"Yeah, I had a run in with Emily the night of the ritual." I replied, Bonnie led the three of us outside the house.
"Why is this just coming up now?"
"Did Emily say anything that would help?" I immediately changed the subject, saving Damon was our mission for right now. We could worry about the other things later.
"They just said a name." Bonnie replied, we both whipped our head back toward the house. Despite the fact we went outside the whisperers were nearly deafening.
"What was it?" Stefan asked, before Bonnie could respond the witches did it for her. I gulped when I finally heard what they were saying clearly.
Stefan went off to update Elena on Damon, and Bonnie headed back home. If Klaus was the answer to Damon's problem I knew exactly what I had to do. I drove to Alaric's apartment, I took a deep breath as I pushed open the room door.
"Finally, someone who can tell me what's going on." Katherine said, I heard her before I saw her. The next thing I knew the Doppelganger had me pinned against the wall.
"Elijah didn't do it." I replied using my magic to throw her off of me and to the other side of the room."Bonnie & I went to drop him and they took off on us."
"So I'm stuck here until he comes back?" Katherine groaned dusting herself off, she grabbed a blood bag from the fridge pouting.
"No reason to pout, I'll be here with you." I grinned plopping myself down on the couch, Katherine eyed me skeptically before taking a seat beside me. She popped the bag open and took a sip.
"You're either really bold or really stupid to come here." She said after swallowing.
"Well, the witches say he could help Damon. And Damon is kinda good on the right day." I shrugged, crossing my arms, getting comfortable."I'm sure you'd agree."
"Maybe." She shrugged, mimicking my movements and grabbing remote."Wanna watch Friends?"
"I'm more of a fan of Sex & The City but sure." I kicked my feet up onto the coffee table and Katherine cut on the tv. If I barely looked at her it was almost like watching TV with Elena.
We got through maybe two episodes before the door opened again, Katherine cut the tv off and stood up fluffing her hair out.
"Stefan." Katherine purred, Stefan looked from Katherine to me confused. He blinked then looked at me probably checking for injuries. It seemed to be a habit he'd picked up.
Before Stefan could even respond, Katherine gripped him up and pinned him to the wall. I had half a mind to intervene before I heard it, very faintly two pairs of footsteps outside the door.
"Klaus your back, look who decided to come by for a visit." Katherine said as the door opened, Elijah closed the door behind him and Katherine let go of Stefan. I slid off the couch to come closer but stopped when I noticed Elijah putting himself in front of me.
"You two just keep popping up." Klaus commented, he peaked around Elijah and smiled at me. He was either in really good spirits since he'd broken his curse or maybe he did like me.
"I need your help." Stefan said, he looked from me to Klaus almost pleadingly."For my brother."
"Well whatever it is, he's gonna have to wait a tick." Klaus said I tilted my head confused as Klaus took a few steps around us." You see, I have an obligation to my brother that requires my immediate attention."
"You understand how important family is, or you wouldn't be here." Elijah said staring at Stefan I couldn't be mad at him for doing exactly what Stefan & I would've done in a heartbeat."My brother gave me his word that he would reunite me with my family."
"And I shall." Klaus said. I jumped back and let out a scream as I watched Klaus drive that damn dagger through Elijah's heart. Elijah drops to the floor temporarily dead, Klaus flashes toward me pulling me into a headlock before quickly stabbing Stefan with a wooden stake."Now what am I to do with you?"
"Let us go?" I asked stupidly, Klaus tightened his grip on my neck I could barely breath which meant I couldn't focus long enough to use magic.
"Do you feel that Stefan? It's scraping against your heart. The slightest movement and you're dead." Klaus taunted, I tried to fight my way out of his grip but it was doing more harm than good.
"They're just trying to help Damon." Katherine cried, if I didn't know any better I would think she actually did care.
"The witches said you have a cure, make me a deal."Stefan choked out, Klaus hadn't let up on either of us." Just give me the cure and I'll do whatever you want."
Klaus shoved Stefan to the floor before dragging me over with him to grab a drink, I think the moment he realized he needed another hand for said drink he let me go. I grabbed my neck and scurried behind Katherine who flashed to the other side of the room.
"I can use you." Klaus looked at me as he sipped his drink. He turned his attention back to Stefan as he put the glass back down."But the trouble is I don't know if you'll be of any good to me the way you are now. You are just shy of useless."
I flinched, he wasn't talking about me but words still hurt. The way he spoke, he spoke as if he knew Stefan. Which I doubted because I'm sure the guy would've given up that very useful information.
I used my magic to carefully pull the stake out of Stefan and threw it onto the floor. It wouldn't kill Klaus so it wasn't any point of any of us holding onto it anyway.
"I heard about this one vampire, crazy bloke. Always on & off the wagon for decades. When he was off he was magnificent." Klaus paused to take another sip of his drink."1917, he went into Monterey and wiped out an entire migrant village. A true ripper, sound familiar ?"
I cringed, I'd actually read about that while doing random research one day. That town was torn apart in some of the most unspeakable ways.
"I haven't been that way in a very long time." Stefan said, my heart started to race as I looked at him. I'd seen Stefan momentarily off the wagon and he still didn't seem even a fraction of as bad as Klaus was saying. Maybe Stefan was worse than Damon.
"Well, that's the vampire I can make a deal with." Klaus replied, I gulped in exchange for him helping Damon. Klaus wanted Stefan to turn into a monster."That is the kind of talent I can use when I leave this town."
"You're leaving?" I choked out my throat was a lot more horse than I expected it to be.
"You think I'd stay in this god forsaken town any longer than I had to?" He asked, shaking his head."Katerina come here."
Katherine reluctantly came over, Klaus grabbed her arm and bit into it.
"Ah! No no no!" Katherine cried she started to clutch her arm to her chest but Klaus bit into his wrist and forced it down her throat. He grabbed her arm and held it out to us, we watched in amazement as the skin stitched itself back up.
"You want your cure? There it is." Klaus replied cockily.
"Your blood." I stammered out, Klaus walked over to Stefan and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Gotta love Mother Nature. Let's talk." Klaus gave a cat-like grin. I downed the rest of his drink and flopped on the couch. I don't know why I chose to come here when I should've just gone to the square and watched Gone with the wind for the hundredth time.
My phone suddenly rings, I jumped forgetting about the damn thing. I fished it out my pocket surprised Klaus didn't toss it out the window or something.
"I'm gonna take this." I grabbed my phone and went towards the front door, Klaus flashed in front of me."I'm not leaving, I promise you I'm just going out in the hallway while you talk."
He stared at me skeptical for a moment before moving out my way, I threw the door open and stopped right beside it. Klaus eyed me up for a second before closing it. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding and answered my phone.
"Bonnie."
"Alicia! Alicia! I need you." Bonnie cried out, I was immediately put on edge just hearing the tone of her voice.
"Bonnie what's wrong?" I asked, starting to pace back and forth."Where are you?"
"Jeremy! He's dead." She wailed, my heart dropped. There was absolutely no reason for Jeremy to have been in any danger."We're going to the witch's house to try and save him, please meet me there."
"I'm on my way." I quickly hung up the phone, and opened up the apartment door. My face paled even more when I saw Stefan scarfing down a blood bag."Klaus, I need to help my sister."
"Why are telling me?"
"Because I'm coming back." I replied full of determination."I'm giving you my word."
"So be it." He replied watching Stefan with a sicken gleam in his eye."Do hurry though."
I nodded, closing the door, and running down the stairs. I got into my car and drove as quickly as I could. Death was a tricky thing, and it was not easy to cheat it. Nature was very adamant about it. But if anybody can do it, it's us.
"Bonnie!" I called out entering the house, it held a lot more hostility than it did when we were here earlier.
"Living room." Bonnie called back, I rushed into the room. I felt my heart tighten seeing Jeremy with a gunshot wound, there was blood on his lips like somebody tried to heal him.
"What the hell happened?" I tore my eyes away from Jeremy to Alaric.
"It was meant for Damon, but Jeremy got in the way." He explained, I raised an eyebrow still confused on how that even happened."The sheriff knows everything, and Damon got out."
"Oh." I replied, it was brief but it filled in the blanks enough."So what do you need from me?"
"There's a spell we can do, I just need to see if they'll let us use it." Bonnie explained, and man I know she regretted saying it because all 100 of the witches started yelling at us.
Are you crazy?
You shouldn't have come back here.
It's against nature.
Get out!
If it's his time, it's his time.
We won't help.
If he dies, he dies.
I scoffed the last one was funnier than it was meant to be, and I think whoever said it is my kind of witch.
"What is it?" Alaric asked, my guess he read both Bonnie's facial expressions. I was a lot better at keeping a poker face than she was.
"They're angry at us for coming back, they don't want to help." Bonnie explained, I hummed in agreement the two of us sat on the floor with Bonnie practically holding onto Jeremy for dear life.
"Well they have to." Alaric replied, I bit my lip because if it's one thing you should never do as a human is try and tell a witch what to do.
If you do this there will be consequences.
Let's just take the magic back right now.
Yeah! They didn't even kill the original.
I rolled my eyes, witches could be so damn catty.
"They said there would be consequences." Bonnie explained, I liked how she was able to ignore the other witches because I definitely wanted to throw hands.
"Well he's just a kid tell them to shut up." Alaric replied, fuck that's childish as hell. I noticed Bonnie's eyes closed as blood started to trickle down her nose, I grabbed her arm lending her some of my magic the blood slowed but I still felt some blockage.
"Emily." I said firmly, I needed to freeze out the other voices hers would be the only one that mattered."Please help us, I know your listening. We'll die trying to save him if you don't."
Alicia, I do not know what the consequences and what ramifications this could cause. But I'll help.
"We can live with that." I shouted, it seemed like everybody wanted to speak over me because Emily shouldn't help. The rest of the voices stopped and Bonnie let out a cry. I smiled happily as Jeremy opened up his eyes, I'd never been more happy to see that kid than I was right now.
"Oh my god." Bonnie smiled tears of joy poured down her face as she cupped his cheeks in his hands.
"Bonnie." He replied, it was actually pretty cute at this moment, nothing else but the other mattered to them.
"Oh my god, Jeremy." She pulled him into a tight hug, Alaric joined in, I playfully rolled my eyes as I joined it.
"Gotta be more careful kid."
"What happened?" Jeremy asked as Alaric and I pulled away.
"It doesn't matter, you're okay." Bonnie smiled looking up, I followed her eyes wondering if Emily decided to show off and psychically appear to her."Thank you."
"I have to get back to helping Stefan." I said pulling my phone out my pocket."I'll let Caroline know Jeremy's fine but you guys shouldn't stay here."
I left before Bonnie decided to question exactly how I was helping Stefan. And once she got the news through Elena she was gonna definitely kick my ass. I was taken aback by the amount of disarray the apartment was in when I got back, it was blood and empty bags all over the floor.
Stefan sat hunched over in it savagely drinking. I cringed just thinking about how much of it Klaus made him drink.
"Where's Katherine?" I asked shifting my weight from one foot to the other. I didn't know what else to say and addressing the amount of blood Stefan most likely consumed was probably the worst thing I could say.
"I sent her to give the cure to Damon." Klaus replied with a shrug. I nodded, I wouldn't trust Katherine to do anything but I'm realizing she would do almost anything for Stefan.
"I guess that means we're leaving."
"Smart girl, you catch on quickly." Klaus replied."I trust all your arrangements are in order?"
"Yeah."
"Then let's go." He replied, Stefan popped up to his feet a bloody mess. I knew I'd need to keep an eye on him or else, I might end up dead.
We headed out of the apartment and ended up driving to some warehouse, Klaus had compelled help coming behind us to put Elijah with the rest of his siblings. I was in awe seeing 5 coffins, it was kind of creepy. The guy put his family into forced slumbers and just dragged them around with him.
I have no idea why, and I know it would put me into even more hot water with the witches but I wanted to free his siblings.
Something about this whole thing rubbed me the wrong way.