Chapter 16

Ottilie was released from hospital later that week, and Damon took her home to the mansion. She was very tired but was feeling stronger each day. Arriving back at the mansion, Damon lifted her gently out of the car and carried her up to her bedroom. Stefan greeted them at the door and followed them up to her room. Carefully settling her into her bed, Damon placed a kiss on her forehead. "Rest now, little otter," he said gently, and he sat with her whilst she fell asleep.

When he was sure that she was sleeping soundly, he walked downstairs to talk with Stefan. "Are you glad that she's home, brother?" asked Stefan. Damon nodded, hesitating just a little. "I'm so scared that I can't keep her safe," he said. "I've not exactly done well so far, she's been hospitalised twice since she moved in." Stefan smiled kindly at him.

"You're doing well, Damon. She loves you, and she feels safe with you. She's far better off with us than she was before you found her." Damon agreed unwillingly.

"Stefan," he began carefully. "Do you think she's a witch?" Stefan's head shot up to look at him. He knew that Damon had been avoiding talking about that, and it was the first time he'd voiced what they'd both been thinking. "I can't deny that I think she has some sort of powers, Damon" said Stefan. "I honestly believe she was able to heal me." Damon sighed. He knew Stefan was right but he didn't want to believe it, knowing that being a witch could bring up all sorts of problems.

Later that evening, Stefan carried Ottilie downstairs so that she could sit with them in front of the warmth of the fire. She was pale, but otherwise seemed in good spirits. "It's very boring being on bed rest," she said, as Stefan tucked the blankets around her. He chuckled and ruffled her hair. "I'll bring you something to eat, Otti," he said lovingly.

Just then, Elena walked straight into the room. Damon smirked at her. "Never heard of a doorbell?" he asked. Elena ignored him and went straight to Stefan. She looked angry, and Stefan stood up to face her. "Two days," she said through gritted teeth. "Two days and all I've had are texts from you"

Hey Elena, Otti is feeling better today. She woke up!

Hi, Otti should be home tomorrow, which is good news.

Bringing Otti home today. Just thought you'd like an update.

She read out the messages, sneering at him. "You LEFT me outside the Lockwood mansion. How could you leave me? I thought you loved me?" Stefan said nothing, unsure as to how to react. "And then, you send me messages, but they're just about some stupid, messed up kid that was abandoned because nobody cared about her!" Damon had had enough.

"Get out" he said, quietly. She turned to look at him.

"And you…" she spat, "Well she's got you around wrapped around her little finger. You used to be so strong. Now you're just pathetic"

Suddenly, the flames in the fire shot up, seemingly out of control. Damon and Stefan took a step back as they rose high into the fireplace. Damon looked down at Ottilie, who had her gaze fixed on the fireplace, tears streaming down her face. Stefan saw him and turned his back on Elena. "It's not true, Otti," he whispered gently to her, "we care about you, so, so much". She looked up at him, and the fire died down. She could sense that he was telling the truth and she smiled up at him.

"Stop it!" came a shriek from Elena. "Just stop looking at her like that." Damon turned to face her.

"Why?" he asked, "is it because it's how we used to look at you? Before you became bitter and jealous about us sharing our care and affection with a child? You're pathetic." He said.

Elena looked from him to Stefan, before saying in a dangerous voice, "You're going to have to choose one day, her or me." Stefan just looked at her.

"You're making it a pretty easy choice for me at the moment, Elena," he said coldly. Her mouth fell open, shocked at his words. "Now, as Damon said. Get out."

She turned on her heels and left the house. Stefan knelt down to be on Ottilie's eye level. "Don't listen to anything she says, Otti. I'm ashamed of her." Ottilie nodded sadly. Then Damon asked the question,

"Otti, was it you making the flames enlarge?" She looked up at him fearfully. "You won't be in trouble if it was, sweetheart," he said gently. "we just need to know so that we can get help to show you how to control it." She nodded.

"I'm sorry, it's me. I don't know what's happening to me. It all started on my birthday with the candles. Now I can make things move and appear, and I think I can heal people too. What's wrong with me?" she asked. Damon tilted her chin up to face him.

"There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, sweetheart. But I think we need to have a little talk."