Damon's pov
It had been about 20 minutes since I woke up, Alexis was wrapped around me and I couldn't bring myself to wake her up. Her color was better and her heartbeat closer to normal. I used my free hand lightly brushing the hair off her face, her face scrunched up and she rolled over, moaning? I smiled and my eyebrow raised. What are you dreaming about? Suddenly her eyes popped open and she looked over at me, her cheeks going red. "Good morning." I said smiling.
"Morning." She mumbled, trying to bury her face under the covers.
"Did you sleep ok?" I asked, pulling the blanket back. Alexis gripped at the covers trying to keep them in place but I quickly won that fight, she nodded before sitting up and rubbing her face. My eyes immediately went to her leg, she had a bruise where she'd been shot last night, "Does your shoulder look like that too?"
She looked at her leg and then her shoulder, "It's the witch hazel, it makes the blood less effective it's also what stops me from doing magic. It's the mute part of the magical mute button." She sighed taking a look at her leg, "I have no idea how I'm going to cover these." She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, getting up and walking to the closet, walking back out in a pair of jeans and a plain t-shirt.
"Where do you think you're going?" I said quickly wrapping my arms around her and pulling her back to my chest, "I thought we could stay up here all day and I could nurse you back to health." I said kissing down her neck. She moaned quietly, tilting her head to the side. My hand ran under her shirt, "Damon." She half moaned half scolded, I assume she just remembered the other girls downstairs, "You going to tell me what that dream was about?" I asked, moving her hair and switching sides, alternating bites, and kisses back up to her ear.
"Y-you." She stuttered.
"Me?" I smirked, "What about me?" Even though I had a pretty good idea. As my fingers traced the top of her jeans, Alexis snapped out of it and gripped my hand, "Stop." She said sternly. I let go of Alexis and walked in front of her, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing I- everything hurts, it was a great distraction for a second, then everything just felt like pins and needles." She sighed looking down.
"Everyone else is awake," I said changing the subject, I knew pressing the issues wasn't going to make her talk about it, "and I could be wrong but I think I smell bacon." She smiled and nodded before walking out.
We walked downstairs and into the kitchen, we were greeted with howls of laughter, Caroline was making plates, "Surprise, surprise, Alexis didn't suffer on the floor like the rest of us." Bonnie said from the table.
"I think almost dying yesterday totally earns me a bed." Alexis replied.
"Fair enough, this time."
"Ok back to what I was saying, " Caroline piped up, " You really should just read it, Elena."
"Oh God are we still on this?" Alexis asked leaning on the counter.
"On what?" I asked confused
Alexis turned to look at me, " Caroline has this new dirty girl book she's trying to get us to read." She laughed looking back at Caroline, " If we learned anything last night, it's Bonnie's a prude, Elena is a liar and me and you are freaks."Alexis said pointing between her and Caroline.
"Why am I a liar?" Elena said looking hurt.
"Because I've seen the books you keep under your pillow." Alexis smirked.
"When?"
"Never but now I know there is one." Alexis smiled, "There are two kinds of people in this world those that look at porn and those that lie about it."
"Well, I walked in at the wrong time." Stefan said walking past me to Elena.
"Believe me brother, there wasn't a right time to walk into this conversation, my opinion of all of them is ruined." I replied, shaking my head and as if on cue all of the girls burst into laughter. It was short-lived for Alexis who quickly wrapped her arms around her waist and scrunched her face up. "I'll be right back." She said to no one in particular, sliding past me and into the parlor.
"Can I help?" I asked as she steadied herself holding onto the back of the couch, she took a deep breath and shook her head. "No, Bonnie gave me this tonic, I haven't drank any yet, I don't know that I want to."
"Why if it will help?"
"Because it's something Emily came up with. While Bonnie may mean well I don't know that Emily did."
I nodded my head, she rapidly collected herself and moved back towards the kitchen. She took a plate from Caroline and sat at the table with Bonnie.
"I have a favor to ask." Elena said, looking at her sister.
"No." Alexis replied.
"You don't even know what it is."
"I'm sure I'm too tired to care, Elena, the only thing I want to do today is sleep."
"I'll write your next three English is papers." Elena bribed.
"What's the favor?"
"I was supposed to go this high tea for the historical society, you know Gilbert representation, but I want to get out of here with Stefan for a few days."
"5 papers." Was all Alexis replied, I was impressed, she knew how bad Elena wanted to leave but she wasn't going to let herself be taken advantage of.
"Really? I covered for you for nothing."
"I hate tea and last I heard this party is for Elijah. 5 papers."
"Fine." Elena relented and stuck out her hand, Alexis took it and they shook, "I have 5,000-word essay on Charlotte Bronte due a week from Wednesday." Alexis smiled and Elena groaned.
It wasn't long before Alexis was the only one left walking into the parlor, "Have you seen my keys?"
"Library." I replied, pouring a drink. She walked back and I stopped her before she got to the door, "If Elijah is going to be at this party I think I need to be there with you."
"Ok, pick me up in an hour." She said reaching for the door.
"Really?" I asked, cocking my eyebrow. She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Hello John, " I said once the door was open, Alexis shifted next to me.
"Damon, Alexis. May I come in?" He asked.
"I don't care I'm leaving." She said, kissing me on the cheek and then brushing past him.
I moved to allow John to step across the threshold, "What do you want John?"
"What's wrong with her?" He asked nodding towards the door.
"I asked first." I sneered.
"I come bearing gifts, Damon." He pulled an object covered in cloth from his jacket, "I'm going to help you kill and original." He smirked.
Alexis's pov
As soon as I got to the truck I let out a deep breath, I didn't have the energy to deal with John right now. I cranked up the music and headed home.
Once I got there I was happy to see the house was already empty, I headed up the stairs and into Elena's room trying to find something to wear. Elena enjoyed things like this, and her wardrobe was perfect for occasions like this. I managed to find a cream-colored dress, with a white, lace overlay. I pulled it on, the hem fell just above my knee, flowing out slightly. I found a pair of brown knee-length boots to cover up one bruise and a short jean jacket to hide the other. Taking a look in the mirror I was pretty impressed at how well the outfit went together. I ran my fingers through my hair fixing the waves of my hair so it wasn't a mess.
"Pidge?" Damon called from downstairs.
"Yes, Tramp." I smirked walking down the stairs, he rolled his eyes, "You ready?"
"Yeah let's get this over with." I sighed, while Damon led me out to his car.
He pulled away from the curve and headed towards the Lockwood's, "So you going to tell me what you were dreaming about this morning?" He said peaking over at me, I felt my face burn with embarrassment, "It was just a dirty dream." I replied trying to play it off.
"Mmhmm." He said unconvinced.
"Why do you want to know so bad?"
"Mostly because you won't tell me. I mean I could always just ask Caroline what book she's talking about and put the pieces together for myself."
I watched that stupid smirk creep over his face, "She won't tell you, girl code loyalty and all." I countered, sure we weren't really friends again but she seemed like she wanted to be. "So I guess it's for me to know and you to dot dot dot."
His face became annoyed before quickly smiling, "Let's make it a game."
"A game?"
"Yeah if I can guess it I win."
"What do you win?"
"I get to help you act it out?" He winked
"Fine but if you lose we never talk about it again and I have rules." I replied, he nodded, "You only get three guesses and no outside help."
"Deal." He smirked again. He pulled into the driveway at the Lockwood's, turning off the car and looking at me, "Just me and you in that dream right?"
"Eww, yes!" I said with a shudder, "I was never good at sharing." I smirked, getting out of the car.
Walking in I immediately felt out of place, within seconds Jenna was by my side, "Hey Elena said you'd be here but I didn't believe her." She laughed, stopping and looking at me, "Are you ok? You don't look so hot?"
"Gee thanks Jenna, " I replied rolling my eyes, "I'm fine I just woke up feeling a little funky this morning."
"Well if it gets too bad, have Damon take you home ok? You know what scratch that, have him take you anywhere but home. If Elena doesn't have to deal with John then neither should you."
"Thanks, Jenna." I smiled. Jenna wandered off, "I'm going to go find something to eat." I told Damon as Alaric walked up. He nodded and I headed towards the refreshments table, "Miss Gilbert, don't you look lovely this afternoon." I knew who the voice belonged to without turning around, "Elijah, " I said facing him, "Smith right? How original.
He smirked, " I think it's time we had a little chat, wouldn't you say?"
"Do I get to walk out alive?"
"I guess that all depends on you." He replied, his smile never faltered. He moved to place his hand on my back to lead me through the crowd. I arched my back and stepped away, "Don't." I said sternly, "I'll just follow you."
He nodded his head, leading me into the Mayor's study. "I heard of your predicament last night." He said stopping at the desk.
"I heard your witches made an appearance." I replied simply, "What do you want, Elijah?"
"The same thing you do, Niklaus dead."
"Why should I trust you? I mean you did stab me twice." I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest.
"I thought you would be skeptical, so I brought you a gift." He pulled a vial and a folded piece of paper from his suit pocket, "Think of it as a peace offering." He held out the items and I slowly stepped towards him, "What is it?" I asked, looking at the bottle.
"I am assuming you are dealing with the after-effects of Miss Bennett's elixir?"
"You would assume correctly." I looked at the paper reading over the ingredients on the page, they didn't seem to make sense together, "I still don't understand what this is."
"I knew a which like you, a long time ago. She threw this together as a way to speed up the recovery process."
"How do I know this, " I held up the paper, "is what's in here?" I looked at the vial.
"Because Miss Gilbert, I need you very much alive."
"For now?" I looked at the vial once more, "How quickly does it work?"
"Her journal said a matter of hours."
I thought for a moment if he was telling the truth, then taking this would mean not only colud I could get my revenge on Brady and Jules sooner rather than later but I also wouldn't feel like shit anymore. I threw back the bottle about the time Damon came crashing through the door.
"Have you lost your mind?" He said storming over to me, "I thought you were going to get food?"
"I was." I shrugged.
"Miss Gilbert, I'll let you explain I really must be getting back." Elijah straightened his suit, "My card." He said simply and headed for the door.
"Wait, who's Tatia?" I asked quietly.
Elijah stopped, "I haven't heard that name in a long time, that is a story for another day." Was all he said before going into the main room.
"What the fuck Alexis?" He went to grab my shoulders but I stepped back. he realized why and dropped his hands to his sides.
"He wanted to talk. I'm on Elena's do not kill list, I didn't see a problem." I said calmly
"Other then you've gone completely insane, didn't your mom ever teach you not to take things from strangers?"
"I'm sure she did but I highly doubt an original vampire is going to poison me to get me out of the way."
"That's not the point Alexis." He growled.
"No, the point is Elijah offered to help, he said if I drank that I'd be back to normal in a few hours instead of days. I can't feel like this for days Damon! Every nerve is on fire like I'm burning from the inside out, even though I feel like I'm freezing, I'm constantly resisting the urge to throw up and not to mention I'm powerless, it's only gotten worse since I woke up. I saw an opportunity and I took it, you can be mad if you want but what's done is done."
"Alexis, why didn't you tell me it was that bad?"
"Would you have let me out of the house if I did?" I watched as Damon shook his head, "That's why. I'm not weak and I won't have anyone thinking any different. Not even one of the oldest vampires ever, so here I am putting up this facade that I'm perfectly fine when all I really want to do is crawl in my bed and stay there." I took a deep breath wrapping my arms around my waist, "I need a minute." I turned and left heading out front for some air.
Once I'd made it outside and down the steps, a hand wrapped around my wrist making me yelp as the man spun me around. I raised my hand, slapping John right across the face, he let go of my wrist cussing, "What the fuck is it with people invading my space today?" I snapped.
John rubbed his hand over his cheek, "What were you and Elijah talking about?"
"That's rich, trust works both ways, John."
He scanned my face, no doubt taking in the fact that I was pale and probably looked exhausted, "Damon finally lose it and almost drain you dry?" He sneered.
"Excuse you?"
"You heard me."
"I did I just wanted to see if you would say it again. Damon would never hurt me. You, on the other hand, all it would take is one word and he would show you your liver." I said my words dripping with venom as if on cue Damon walked out of the house, "Problem?" He asked.
"No, I was just asking Alexis how her meeting with Elijah went." John answered.
"Ha!" I laughed, "Not so brave now. While that was his first question which I didn't answer, his second question, however, was quite ballsy."
"Oh do tell." Damon said, smirking.
"He thinks you did this to me. Thinks you lost control and almost killed me." As I said the last words, Damon started stalking towards John. I held my hand out Damon stopped just before it touched his chest, I locked eyes with John, "If it wasn't for Damon, I wouldn't be here. Caroline and I were taken by werewolves last night. Call Isobel, ask her about dosing an Elemental, then come talk to me about my terrible boyfriend." I looked back to Damon, "Can we go, please?" Damon nodded and followed me to the car. Once I was in and he was driving down the road I noticed my head felt a little less foggy, and I wasn't feeling as sick. I wondered if the tonic from Elijah cleared the physical symptoms first, any relief was welcome so I wasn't complaining.
"Ric is meeting us at the house," Damon said breaking the silence, "we need to talk about what John wanted this morning." He looked over at me, "How do you feel?"
"Better actually, my clothes don't hurt so that's a step up."
"You could always just hang out naked, I wouldn't mind." He smirked pulling into the driveway.
"I'm sure." I said.
Ric was waiting for us when we pulled up, we quietly walked inside heading towards the library. Damon pulled a few books out before taking out something that was hidden behind them. He set the cloth wrapped objects on the table, "So according to Isobel you dip this dagger in this bottle of white oak ash and stab it though their heart and it's lights out original loser."
"Do we have any plans that don't involve suicide? I mean how can we trust John is telling the truth?"
"Got any better ideas?"
"Yeah leave him alone."
"I'm sorry, is the blood loss fucking with your head?" Damon spat. "You trust him?"
"I need to know about Tatia, the witches from my dream-"
"It was a dream Alexis." Damon exclaims.
"I don't know about this dream but I do think Alexis is right I'd look elsewhere before I trust that dagger from John." Alaric said standing up, " I gotta go pick up Jenna, do you need a ride home?" He asked me.
"No, Jenna said I could steer clear of the house until John is gone."
"I'll show myself out." He nodded.
I waited until Ric was out of the room, "So you think I'm crazy trying to find this loophole."
"No I just think you need to take a dream with a grain of salt."
"You know what Damon yo-" he stopped me clamping his hand over my mouth as I was about to struggle he held his finger to his lips and moved his hand. A loud crash came from the front of the house, "Take this and run up back stairs go hide." He said quietly, handing me the dagger before rushing out of the room, even if I had time to argue I wouldn't have for once. I knew I would be more of a hassle than a help.
I took the stairs two at a time running up towards Stefan's room. It was on the top floor. It would be the last place they checked, my scent was all over this house it would take them a while to find me. I stepped out on to the balcony closing the door behind me.
It had been fifteen minutes and I could still hear people moving around, I knew Damon would have found me by now. Panic crept up and I sent a text to the only person I thought could help.
I hit the send button as the balcony doors flew open, I didn't recognize the man but as he picked me up by my arm I couldn't help but notice it didn't hurt more then it should. "I found her." He shouted, snatching my phone from my hand.
"Bring her downstairs, she can watch the show." Another voice answered.
They brought me back into the library, tying my hands behind my back and pushing me to the floor, "I'm going to have fun with you later." Smirked the younger looking werewolf before walking over and pulling the chain tied to Damon. I followed the links with my eyes seeing it was attached to a collar with wooden spikes in it, the guy pulled at it poking the spikes into Damon's neck. He let out a groan and opened his eyes, "Oh if you only knew how ironic this was." The guy pulled the chain again causing a growl from Damon.
"Stop." I yelled trying to get up, another wolf pushed me down, "Calm down you'll get your turn." He spat.
"Hello Damon," Jules said from the doorway, "Nice place you got here."
"Look we know how this goes you ask me a question, I don't answer, someone loses a heart. Last time it was your boy Mason."
"This time it'll be you. Now where's the moonstone?"
"You're barking up the wrong tree." Damon replied.
She held her shotgun up to Damon, "You know the great thing about buck shot? It scatters throughout the body. Where's the moonstone." She moved her finger to the trigger.
"No!" I screamed out, at the same time the flames in the fireplace shot up, going unnoticed by anyone but me and Damon. I smiled to myself, "We don't have the moonstone. A very powerful vampire does and if you kill us you won't know who it is."
Jules turned her attention to me, switching out her shotgun for a pistol, "You're going to tell me who has it."
"And why the fuck would I do that?" I sneered, my hands were already free I was just waiting for the perfect moment. She pulled the trigger hitting me in the leg. I yelled, "Why does everyone insist on shooting me with FUCKING WOODEN BULLETS!"
She crouched down in front of me, "You're going to tell me where it is, or the next one, goes in his chest." She smiled.
"Well if you think I'm going to let that happen you are a bigger idiot than I thought." Jules pulled the trigger as my hands flew up, stopping the bullet mid air, keeping it from hitting me in the stomach, "Surprise." I said as the bullet fell to the ground with a *tink*.
Shock flew across her face and before she could move I clenched both my fists and all of the werewolves went down covering their ears.
"That's quite enough, Miss Gilbert." Elijah's smooth voice came from the doorway, I didn't drop the spell, "I'm sure you didn't have me come all the way out here to watch you have all the fun."
I let everyone up but Jules, her nose, eyes and ears now bleeding as she screamed on the floor, "Moment of weakness." I said before releasing Jules.
"I understand all of this," Elijah stated, motioning around the room, "is because of this?" He held the moonstone up before placing it on the table, "Take it." He said simply a smile tugging at his lips. I limped over to Damon trying to loosen the chains keeping him in the chair. One of the wolves rushed towards the stone, Elijah quickly stopped him, ripping his heart out and letting it fall to the floor. Two more tried their luck meeting the same fate, Jules finally off the floor rushed out of the room in terror. Which just left the one who threatened me earlier, he was cowering in fear, Elijah phone pulled him up by his collar, "How about you princess?" Elijah asked mockingly. He shook his head, Elijah punched him in the face and the man crumpled to the floor. He stepped over and pulled the chains off of Damon and started towards the door, "I believe that's three times I've saved your life now." He said locking eyes with Damon, he left without another word.
Damon groaned in the chair, "Sit up. I'll get this off you." I said quietly, he leaned up with a groan and I pulled the collar off, careful not to scratch his face with the spikes. "You're bleeding." He said looking down at my leg, there was a large spot of pooled blood on the skirt of my dress, my thigh was throbbing where the bullet still was, "Just a flesh wound." I said trying to laugh it off. He cocked his eyebrow at me, getting up and making me sit in an empty chair. I pulled my dress up and looked at the wound, "This is going to hurt." He said.
"I know." I dug my nails into the arm of the chair and groaned through gritted teeth as he pulled out the bullet, holding it up "I should start a collection of all the wooden bullets I've been shot with."
"That's not funny."
"It's a little funny." I replied, my phone started buzzing in my pocket, "It's Bonnie." I said looking at the caller ID, I quickly answered it and put it on speaker, "Hey, you finish with Luka?"
"Yeah, and you're not going to like what he said."
"What?"
"He said that Kalus has been using witches to try and break this curse for centuries. Elijah has been planning on killing Elena all along, the sacrifice has to happen to kill Klaus."
"I can't really say I'm surprised." I could hear the shakiness in my voice. The exiled witches said the curse must be broken so my only option was to find that loophole.
"Are you ok?" Bonnie asked quietly.
"Yeah, I um- it's just been a long day, I'll talk to you tomorrow Bon.
"Ok bye."
I heard the click on the other line and I put my head in my hands. Damon let me sit like that for a few minutes before I heard him bite his wrist, "Your magic is back I assume it's safe to drink this?" I nodded drinking from his wrist, until I felt my leg heal, I let his hand go and looked around at the carnegie left behind. "Can I borrow your car? Only for like an hour, I just need to get out of here for a bit. I can call Bonnie back and have her come get me."
He reached in his pocket and pulled out his keys, tossing them to me, "Don't wreck it." He said as he kicked Ric.
"I won't. Is he going to be ok?"
"Yeah, the ring takes a bit. I'll get all of this cleaned up." He moved the chair and stopped looking at me as I stood up, "Are you ok?"
"Physically? Yeah I feel fine." I sighed, "Can we talk about it later?"
Damon nodded and I headed upstairs, changing quickly and heading out to get some much needed alone time.
Damon's POV
Once Ric woke up he helped me load up the dead werewolves and bring them outside. Stefan called about the time we had finished burning them and I was happy Alexis wasn't here to listen in. It seems Elena was aware of Elijah's plan to let her be sacrificed. I ended the conversation without too many more details, too angry with Elena to continue, Alexis had been working her ass off to try and find a way around Elena dying, not to mention the several near death experiences she's had on the last few days.
Deciding to blow off some steam I laid down in the middle of Wickery Bridge Road and waited for a car to come by. I was only there for about twenty minutes when I heard the engine of my car, I smiled to myself when I heard it being pulled off the road and the door shut. I kept my eyes closed as Alexis laid down next to me, "Whatcha doin weirdo?" She asked.
"Stargazing." I replied flatly.
"With your eyes closed?"
I turned my head towards her and opened my eyes, "Did you enjoy your alone time."
"Yeah." She stopped smiling, "I did a thing."
"A thing?"
She sat up and stuck her tongue, showing off a silver barbell, "I needed some control." She said simply.
"Yeah it's been a rough few days."
She sat up hugging her knees to her chest, "It didn't even have anything to do with that. Damon, I think my parent's death was my fault."
I sat up pulling her towards me, "Alexis it was an accident."
"I don't think it was anymore." She had tears running down her face, "Last night, after I thought you were Brady and passed out I got this jumbled bunch of memories, they we're all broken up and didn't make a whole lot of sense, until my magic came back. The second I could think about them I did. When I was six I jumped off the dock at my family's lake house, it was December and I couldn't swim, my dad saved me. A few months before the Caroline thing started I tried to drown myself in the tub, took abunch of sleeping pills, Jeremy found me. I did it for no reason I just remembered feeling like I had too. Then when you stopped me from jumping off the Wickery Bridge. Those witches in my dream said that breaking the curse was my destiny, I just thought they meant since I died but now I think they have been trying to pull strings and drown me my whole fucking life." She took a shuttered breath, crying harder now. "I- I don't even have any good memories of them an-and it's my fault they're dead."
I scooped her up moving us out of the road, I sat her on the trunk, cupping her face in my hands making her look at me, "Alexis Gilbert, you are not responsible for your parents death, if anything it's those fucking witches. What the fuck was a six year old going to do with the kind of power you have. You're just now learning to control it when you're angry. Can you imagine 6 year old, you throwing a tantrum and blowing the house up?" She stopped crying, "Hell 15 year old you with this would have been an even bigger nightmare and if you for a second think that I feel bad about not letting you jump that day, you're mistaken. You have no reason to carry around that guilt because it, was, not, your, fault. Okay?"
She wiped her face with her hand and nodded, "Take me home please." She said hopping off the trunk and getting into the passenger seat.
"I talked to Stefan, they got attacked out there as well Brady and Tyler." I said as I pulled the car back on the road.
"Yeah Elena told me, well she texted me and then wouldn't answer when I called to scream at her."
"I take it she told you she knew that Elijah had no plans for her to live."
"Yup." She said popping the 'p' "What the fuck am I working so hard for if she's just continually going to put herself in danger."
"Are you giving up?"
"No, that's not the way I work and you know it."
"Yes I'm vaguely familiar with your stubbornness." I said with a grin.
As we pulled into the boarding house I was surprised that for once there was no mention of her not living here.
Yay another chapter in, hope you guys enjoyed it please feel free to leave me a review, don't be a silent reader.