Hey everyone, I know this update took a little longer than normal but it was a lot to write. I hope you guys enjoy and as always I only own my oc.
The darkness was suffocating, I didn't hurt anymore, but I could still taste Caroline's blood. I didn't know how long it had been, it felt like hours when I finally heard a voice."Esther wasn't able to intervene tonight, she'll wake up in transition." Whoever it was I'd never heard them before and I still couldn't see anything."A hybrid to break the hybrid curse." Tia's voice rang out and then it was silent again.
Damon's POV
I'd heard what Caroline said over the phone but that didn't stop me from pacing back and forth, hovering over Alexis. "How long has it been?"
"An hour." Caroline replied, she shifted her weight nervously, "She was alive when I fed her my blood and her wound started to heal and then she just died." Caroline repeated for the second time.
"Did she wake up yet?" Elena's voice rang through the hall, Stefan following right behind her, I glared at both of them. "I tried to stop her." He said apologetically.
"Elena you do realize that when she wakes up you're the only human in the room."
"Can you guys stop being so fucking loud?" Alexis groaned from the couch.
Alexis's POV
My head hurt, everyone's voices were jumbled together making it worse. Unfortunately, me asking them to shut up only made them talk more. I slowly opened my eyes and immediately noticed I wasn't in the grill anymore, "What happened?" I asked, sitting up. "What do you remember?" Damon replied. I thought for a second as it all came rushing back to me, "We were at the grill and Jonas pinned me to the wall with a chair leg and… Oh!" I stopped looking around between everyone, "I died." I said quietly, it wasn't a question but everyone nodded. Elena stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, hugging me tightly.
The reaction was almost immediate, my body tensed as a part of my brain tried to take over, telling me she was food, I held my breath and pushed her back, "I need a minute," I stood up, walking towards the front door, pulling Damon with me. Once I stepped outside, I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself down. As an Elemental, my emotions were already a little intensified, but this felt smothering. Damon took ahold of my shoulders and looked me in the eyes, "Listen, I know you're probably feeling a little overwhelmed, but I need you to pick one thing and focus."
It took no time for me to find something, "Where's Jonas?" I asked, focusing on anger.
"Dead. Kathrine killed him." He replied simply.
"He said his son was dead, what happened to Luka?"
"I killed him with a flame-thrower, though I'm not really sure how."
"What do you mean?"
"Well he was here but not here, we couldn't see him. Kathrine caught someone trying to steal the dagger."
"He was astral projecting. That's why I do it the other way, I may not be as effective and I can't hold it as long but I can't be killed, or couldn't." I stopped the memory of what I'd heard in the darkness, sweeping through me, "Damon I don't think this was an accident."
"Of course it wasn't Jonas stabbed you in the chest with a chair leg."
"No, that's not what I mean, before I woke up I heard someone talking, something about someone named Esther, not being able to get in the way this time."
"Who's that?" He asked.
"I don't know. There was another voice though, I recognized it was one of the witches from my dream. She said, 'A hybrid to break the hybrid curse.' Damon the more all of this starts to unravel, the more I think we have no fucking clue what's really going on." My voice had a tone of panic, damn these extra heightened emotions.
"Stop spiraling. Let's go in, you can feed and then we can dive back into your box of knowledge and try to figure this out."
"But Elena.." I trailed off.
"No one is going to let you hurt Elena." He held out his hand and I nodded. He led me back through the door and into the parlor. Elena and Stefan were sitting on one couch Caroline on the other, I leaned against the archway, looking at my shoes.
Damon walked over and grabbed the blood bag off of the table and brought it to me, I scrunched up my nose, "Three hours ago I would have killed for a cheeseburger." Damon and Caroline shared an amused look, while Stefan and Elena rolled their eyes.
"So you're going to turn?" Elena asked.
"I mean what would you have me do, die? Cause those are the only two options in the history of vampirism."
"You can't magically fix it?"
"I'm not broken, Elena. Even if I could I wouldn't, this was my end game, I mean this wasn't the way it was supposed to happen, but me being a vampire was always the plan." I looked back at the bag again, "If you have a problem with it there's the door."
Elena shifted down into her seat, Stefan looked at me, "It only has to be human the first time, I can show you how to-"
"I'm going to stop you right there, I'm not bunny hunting," I said firmly, I heard Damon chuckle behind me.
"If you at least try maybe you can avoid hurting anyone." He argued.
"Caroline feeds from blood bags, she doesn't hurt people."
"Caroline doesn't have the kind of personality you do." Stefan retorted.
"And what the hell does that mean?" I growled, if I had access to my powers every light in this damn house would have blown, I was so angry. "You think I'm going to be a ripper." Stefan didn't speak, Elena looked guilty, "Fuck you, both of you."
I stormed off into the kitchen, leaning on the counter and pinching the bridge of my nose, "Now can I hurt her?" I asked quietly as Damon walked into the room.
"No. But I know something that will make you feel better."
"Really? And what's that?" I turned around.
"Drink that and go get changed, we're going to break those fangs in the right way." He smirked. I looked at the bag again, I really wanted it, to the point my gums ached just looking at it. I slid down the cabinets and sat on the floor, "What are you doing?" Damon asked.
"Once I drink this I'll get my memories back, I don't know how intense it's going to be. I figured the closer I was to the floor the better."
"Fair enough." He replied, sitting in front of me.
I pulled the stopper out of the top of the bag and brought it to my lips. The first sip wasn't anything special, it was delicious but the sensation of the veins under my eyes and the sharp prick in my gums, when my fangs extended for the first time distracted me. I pulled the bag away with a small groan, my hand clamped over my mouth and the veins went away.
"It only hurts the first time," Damon assured me, sticking his hand out and running his thumb over my cheek.
I brought the bag back up to my mouth and squeezed, this time I was able to focus on everything else, the taste was nothing like what I'd expected. I'd always felt a little tingle of my magic if I concentrated hard enough, but the blood made it almost hum through me. About the time I finished the bag my head started to feel fuzzy and I knew the moment I'd been dreading was coming. It was like someone smacked me in the head with a 2x4, I closed my eyes trying to block out the ringing in my ears, as memories blurred before me. Birthdays, Christmases, sneaking out and getting grounded, long talks with Jenna and my mom. Emotions hitting me one after another, trying not to cry and laugh at the same time. When it all stopped I opened my eyes and looked at Damon, he was closer to me, his hands on my knees, "You ok?"
I nodded, "My emotions are a little wonky, trying to process everything… it's kind of like if you took my iTunes library and hit shuffle. My brain is going from Disney princess to angry emo music and back real quick." I said laughing.
"I can see that," Damon stood up and held out his hand, "go get dressed, Princess Fall Out Boy, we're going to have some fun."
I rolled my eyes and quickly ran upstairs, careful to avoid everyone talking in the parlor. I changed and headed back downstairs, stopping when I heard my name.
"You're taking Alexis hunting, have you lost your mind?" Stefan snapped."In order to learn how to deal with the blood lust you have to experience it, Stefan." Damon replied, "I'm going to show her how to be a vampire the right way, the fun way. That's how I can drink my fill and not leave a trail of body parts behind me.""Damon's right," Caroline added, "I'm better at control because I know what it feels like to lose it."
I smiled hearing Caroline and Damon both stick up for me. I stepped out into the parlor, ''You know I can hear you guys right?"
Elena stood up from her spot, "Then you know we're worried about you." She pointed between Stefan and herself.
"I'm peachy Elena. In fact, I feel pretty amazing. I got my memories back," I focused on a couple of candles by the couch and waved my hand, "my magic works. You need to stop worrying about me and focus on yourself because I'm pretty sure, me turning helps Klaus's plan."
"Why do you say that?" Stefan asked.
"The sun and the moon curse said it could be broken by a witch born of death, which we, well I thought meant just any old Elemental. Before I woke up I heard someone say a hybrid to break the hybrid curse, I think it was always meant to be an Elemental that turned."
"What did they mean by hybrid curse?"
"I don't know, your guess is as good as any." I said with a huff, "Anyway can we talk about this later, it's going to be daylight in a few hours and I don't have a ring yet so…" I trailed off.
"Bonnie can make you one, Jonas gave her her magic back. "
"I had Bonnie make you a ring right after the werewolf incident." Damon blurred off towards the stairs and was back in less than a minute. "Pick a hand." He said holding out both fists.
"What? I pick the right one and I don't burn to death in the sun?"
"Pretty much." He smirked.
I rolled my eyes knowing I was getting that ring either way. Setting one of my hands on each of his, and noticed his left hand felt different. I pulled his fingers open and sure enough, there was the small silver ring with the lapis stone, "I win." I smirked back, taking the ring and sliding it on my finger.
"You two make me want to vomit." Caroline gagged from her spot on the couch, she got up and walked over to me, "You good? I need to get back to Matt, I kinda knocked him out."
"What why?" I asked shocked, a few hours ago they were making out at the grill.
"He saw me try to save you. So I need to go deal with that."
"Good luck," I replied as she walked towards the door. I turned back to Stefan and Elena, "You guys wanna keep shitting on my parade or can I go?"
"Just one more thing," Elena replied quietly.
"Elena, maybe not now." Stefan stopped her.
"What?" I asked.
Elena fidgeted for a second, "Isobel is back, she showed up and Jenna answered the door."
Anger swelled up inside me and I felt my nails dig into my palms, a light bulb shattered somewhere in the house, "Breath," Damon whispered behind me. I let out a sigh, "It's tomorrow's problem. You told me the world wasn't going to end if I took a break for a while, well it didn't end but it got turned upside down. So right now I'm going to make the most of it." I laced my fingers through Damon's and he led me outside. I started pulling towards his car, his fingers tightened around mine, "Nope." he pulled me towards the open grass in the middle of the driveway. "What are we doing?" I asked.
"We're having fun." He smirked, he put his hands on my hips, circling behind me, "So put one foot in front of the other." I did what he said but started laughing, "What?" He asked.
"Nothing, I just feel ridiculous, getting vampire lessons in the front yard."
"Gotta start somewhere, Stefan and I learned all this by ourselves." He shrugged, "Now when I let go, push off with all your strength. I'll meet you at the end of the driveway." I nodded and smiled as he slowly lifted his hands from my hips and I dug the toe of my Converse into the ground. I pushed off and the wind whipped around me, my vision adjusted almost making it seem like everything around me was moving slower. When I stopped at the end of the driveway my hair whipped around me with the sudden stop. I heard Damon laugh as I pulled it out of my face, "And here I thought vampires looked flawless all the time."
"Nope, we have to work at it." He laughed again. He took my hand and we started walking down the road, "So how does it feel to have your memories back?"
"Weird. I was a really different person before the accident, those memories just feel out of place. Don't get me wrong there are quite a few things I'm glad I remember but on the same hand there's a lot that I would have been fine not getting back."
"Tell me your favorite." He smiled.
"My favorite, umm, oh ok I know, so when I was ten there was a carnival and I spent all day and three months worth of allowance, trying to win this stupid bear. I didn't win it and I went home all defeated."
"This sounds like a terrible story."
"Well, I'm not done yet. So the next day my mom comes home with the same bear, I found out a couple of years later from Jenna she paid the guy running the booth like 50 bucks to just give her the bear."
"Ok you're right it got better."
"A lot of the memories of my mom are like that," I said, my eyes stinging a little.
"What about your dad?"
"Oh no, he treated me slightly better than John, Elena was his favorite, she could do no wrong in his eyes."
We walked and talked for a while before Damon suddenly stopped, "We're here."
"Stargazing?" I asked, remembering the last time I saw him lying in the road. "I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Then I won't let you hurt anyone. I promise." He replied, "Close your eyes." He released my hand and stepped behind me, moving my hair off of my neck. His fingers just barely brushed against my skin but with my heightened senses, it sent shocks through my body. Damon's voice in my ear only intensified the feeling, "What do you hear?"
"You," I replied breathlessly.
"Seriously." He laughed, I stepped forward, opening my eyes and turning around to face him, "I can't concentrate on anything else, you hardly touched me and my brain just went to mush."
"So you're saying I should stand way over here?" He smiled and walked to the other side of the road.
I rolled my eyes, "Quite the opposite." I smirked and vamped over stopping in front of Damon, who returned my smirk. His hand cupped the back of my head, as he crashed his lips on mine, tightening his hand in my hair. I moaned into his mouth and pressed myself flush against him. He pulled my hair, not hard, just enough to break us apart, "If I promise to make it up to you, can you focus?" He asked quietly.
"Fine." I pout, pulling myself away, putting at least a foot in between us, "What was I supposed to be doing?"
"Listening." He replied simply.
I closed my eyes and heard the normal nighttime sounds, crickets, wind blowing through the trees and cars, lots of them. One, in particular, sounded a lot closer than the rest. He obviously heard it turn off the highway a lot sooner than I would have. I smirked at him, and he smiled back knowing I'd heard what he meant for me too, "I'll snatch, you eat and I'll erase."
"We both know I don't do things half-ass, I've come this far I'll be a willing participant, the car was getting closer and a weird excitement took over. Damon laid on the ground and I crouched down next to him right before headlights rounded the corner.
The car came to a screeching halt, as I heard the door open I stood up, fake tears flowing, "Someone hit my boyfriend!" I choked through dramatic sobs. She was halfway between her car and us, she quickly turned around, "I'll get my phone." As she turned around I looked down at Damon who opened his eyes and nudged his head in the girl's direction. I looked at her, heart pounding, the vampire part of my brain sending off sparks of anticipation.
I vamped over to her about the time she got to her car, pushing her up against the door. I locked eyes with her as she opened her mouth to yell, "Don't scream." More excitement flooded through me as I realized my compulsion worked without even trying, "This won't hurt." I said locking eyes with her again. Instinct took over, her pulse almost screaming at me, my fangs clicked into place and the veins rolled under my eyes. The feeling caused me to hesitate, what if I couldn't stop? I looked up at Damon who was now leaning on the hood of the car, he nodded at me and I remembered he promised to make sure I didn't hurt anyone.
I leaned in and punctured the thin skin of her neck, letting the blood wash over my tongue. I tried to concentrate on her, but the sensation her blood gave me was more commanding than the blood bag, my magic felt like it was vibrating through me. I forced myself to stop, stepping back and wiping my mouth Damon pushed himself off the car, stepping in between me and the girl, "Go home. Remember nothing." He compelled, and within a few seconds, she was gone.
"I'm impressed." Damon said, "I really figured I'd have to pull you off the first one. How do you feel?"
"Slightly offended." I joked, earning me an eye roll, but let's face it I was expecting him to have to pull me off too. "I feel pretty amazing actually."
We'd stopped three more cars and my control seemed to get better with each one. The last car was a couple, Damon took one while I took the other, when we were done we each compelled one and sent them on their way. "Thank you," I said.
"For what?" Damon asked, wrapping his arm around my waist and leading me back to the house. The sun was starting to come up and I wanted to get a couple of hours of sleep before going to talk to Jenna. "All of this. It wasn't anything like we'd talked about and somehow you still made learning how to be a vampire fun."
"I aim to please." He smirked, "It's harder to control when you're upset, so control is your best friend. You getting suspended was kind of a good thing."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure that wasn't an accident either. But it'll give me time to figure out what the hell the hybrid curse is. You know another thing I don't get? What does Klaus want with Dr. Martin's daughter anyway? There are only a couple things Spirit witches can do that I couldn't."
"Like what?"
"Raise the dead, soul transference, our magic isn't 'pure' enough."
"Witches can raise the dead?" He asked, raising his brow.
"Yeah but they would need to be ridiculously strong and there are big consequences." I stayed silent for a few minutes rolling ideas around in my head, "What if she's helping him willingly?"
"Like his personal witch?" He scoffed.
"You act like the idea is so silly but I mean if we weren't together then that's essentially what I would be, or Bonnie. I mean you asked for a daylight ring and she made it."
"It took some convincing." He shrugged.
"Really?" I asked looking over at Damon, he nodded but didn't go into detail.
When we walked into the house Stefan was laying on the couch with a book, I ignored him walking towards the kitchen. After the vein buffet, I probably could have heard a conversation a mile away if I tried hard enough. I listened in on the brothers as I made coffee.
"How did it go?" Stefan asked."No fatalities. Her control might even rival Caroline's." Damon replied with a small laugh. "I think it's safe to say you're still the only ripper in the house. Looks like you'll be going to raccoon haters anonymous alone.""You can't know that after one feed. Not when you were there to pull her off.""Four. Each of which she stopped herself, long before she even needed to. I'm not sure why you're so hellbent on her being a bigger danger than the rest of us."
I'd heard enough, grabbing my coffee I walked back into the living room, "Because I am." I interrupted, both of their faces snapped in my direction, "I mean I'm an unknown variable, a vampire that can do magic, unheard of. We don't know anything really about what I can do. All I know for sure is the more powerful the magic the more it will drain me, so I'll probably have to be extra careful. " I gave Stefan a long look, "I get it, Stefan, I do and I give you permission to stop me and lock me up if I get out of hand."
"And how would I do that, Alexis? What's to stop you from melting my brain or throwing me out a window?"
"Mix some vervain and witch hazel together," I said simply.
"Would dosing you even work anymore?" Damon asked confusedly, I shrugged, "The spirit witch blood is what makes me sick, so it's not really dosing me."
"But would it even work?" Stefan asked.
"I don't know but it's an idea." My phone rang before he could continue, I answered, turning away from Stefan, "Hey Elena."
"Can you come home, Jenna has been locked up in her room since last night and she won't talk to me."
I stiffened and looked at Damon, he nodded answering the question I didn't want to ask, hey would you come with and make sure I don't kill my family.
"Yeah I'll be there in a few," I said quietly before hanging up.
Alaric pulled up at the same time we did, "Elena told me about last night, how are you holding up?"
"I'd be better if people would stop acting like it's the end of the world." I grumbled, "Sorry misplaced aggravation."
"It's fine. So have you talked to her?" He asked sadly.
I shook my head as I stepped up on to the porch. Elena who must have heard us talking, swung the door open, "I'm glad you guys are here." She said as Stefan walked in, hugging her. Alaric walked in right after followed by Damon, I took a step forward and suddenly remembered I had to be invited in, "Umm, Elena?" I said quietly.
"Oh, I forgot. You can co-" she started.
"No, she can't." John said from the kitchen, "I think there are enough of them in the house."
"Somebody push him out here, so I can break his neck," I growled.
"Come in," Elena said quickly.
I smirked as I stepped through the doorway, "Better run John, I'm suddenly very hungry." I faked like I was going to jump at him and he took off to the kitchen.
"Really?" Elena sighed.
"What?" I shrugged. I heard Jenna's door open, Damon and Stefan moved to the living room. When Jenna got about halfway down the stairs she looked at me, "I'm assuming you knew too?" I nodded my head silently, guilt overwhelming me, "You couldn't have added that in when you were sharing the other night?"
"I told you there were things I couldn't tell you, I didn't keep it from you to hurt you."
"Well hurt, enraged, betrayed, those pretty much sum up how I'm feeling." She adjusted the strap on her bag, "Ric you need to leave I don't want you here."
"Jenna, if you would just let me explain."
"No, I'm tired of being lied to…. By all of you," she headed down the stairs and towards the door.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
"School, I have a paper to write and I can't be in this house, I'll be back in a couple of days."
"Jenna, wait." Elena pleaded but Jenna ignored her and walked out.
"It's best if she's not around for what's coming," John said coming out of the kitchen.
"This is all your fault," I said poking him in the chest, I felt the veins roll under my eyes, Damon was behind me in a second.
"Says the monster." John sneered.
I went to lunge at him, but Damon wrapped his arms around my waist. I stopped struggling immediately, pulling myself away from him and walking up the stairs I stopped a couple steps up, looking at John's hand seeing his ring. I smirked and kept walking, I flicked my wrist and heard the satisfying*snap* and John crumpled to the ground.
"ALEXIS!" Elena growled, I continued to my room without another word.
Someone had been in here, snooping. It was hard to tell but little details were out of place. A book here, a pillow there, the closet door was shut which I never do. I walked over to the bookshelf the book I used as a stash box had been moved but nothing had been taken out.
It had been about ten minutes since my scene downstairs and I was halfway under my bed, moving things, checking boxes, nothing had been taken but it seemed like everything had been touched.
I knew who was knocking on the door before he'd even made it up the steps, "If you came up here to yell at me you can save your breath." I yelled from under the bed.
Damon walked in shutting the door behind him, "Why didn't you just move the bed?"
I shimmied out and sat back on my heels, pushing my hair out of my face, "Because until about two seconds ago I forgot I could." I shrugged.
"What are you doing?"
"Someone's been in here, nothing's missing, it's just weird." I stood up looking around again. "I'm not sorry for snapping John's neck," I said quietly, laying on my bed. I stared up at the ceiling as Damon moved to lay down next to me.
"He's already awake and bitching in the kitchen."
"I figured, I pretty much tuned everything out until I heard you walking up the steps."
"How did you know it was me?" He smirked and rolled to face me.
"Your left foot hits the ground just a little harder than your right, and you smell like leather, and cedar, with a tiny hint of bourbon," I replied facing him.
"Creeper."
"Says the guy who once told me, 'I could smell you a mile away'." I heard Elena's door shut, followed by the bathroom door and the radio being turned on, "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they are talking about me."
"Stefan is convinced you snapped." He said quietly.
"And you?" I asked.
"I think you're being a new vampire, with a learning curve."
"Breaking John's neck wasn't an impulse move, I knew he had the ring. Yes I was angry, yes I could have handled the situation differently but I didn't and here we are." I noticed the radio was still on in Elena's room, "Wanna know what they're talking about?"
"The music's too loud, it'll interfere too much."
I smirked grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the door, "Put your other hand on the door." He raised his eyebrow but did what I said, I did the same and whispered, "beretur silentium."
"I thought it wasn't possible Stefan? Vampires can't be witches." Elena sounded anxious.
"I didn't know it was. Not until last night but her impulsiveness is dangerous for all of us. God forbid she turns off her humanity."
I pulled my hand off the door, the sound of the radio filled the room again, I pulled open my door and rushed through her's.
"No humanity, no magic." Both of them looked at me, "Oh don't look so shocked, the radio was a dead giveaway that you were obviously talking about me. If I flip my switch and shut off my emotions I have no magic." Neither of them spoke, I rushed into my room pulling out a stake from in-between my mattress. I walked past Damon who grabbed my wrist, "What are yo-"
"Now I'm being impulsive." I shook his hand off and stepped into Elena's room, slapping the stake down in Stefan's hand, "Here's your one chance Stefan, if you really think I'm that evil, that dangerous, then put me down right here." Stefan looked at the stake in his hand, "Having second thoughts?" I asked he hadn't even wrapped his fingers around it, I snatched it back, "That's the last I ever want to hear about it." I said through gritted teeth.
"You guys need to come downstairs, all of you," John said from the doorway.
"Eat a-" I started Elena clamped her hand over my mouth, "We have nothing to say to you." She finished.
"Well I have something to say to you and it's important."
Elena nodded, letting me go, she followed Stefan out of the room. Damon placed his hand in the small of my back and tried to lead me forward. I planted my feet, crossing my arms, Damon rolled his eyes, "You're just going to pout then?"
"I don't really care what he has to say, I mean I can hear it from here anyway."
"Well if you pay attention you'll notice an extra person down there."
It only took a second to realize who the extra person in the kitchen was, I vamped downstairs and pinned her to the wall with my arm, "Her you invite in but me I'm a monster." I growled at John. Isobel slammed me to the floor pinning me by the throat, "That's no way to say hello to your mother." She pressed a little harder on my neck to prove she was stronger than me.
"You're..not..my..mother." I choked out, I wrapped my fingers around her wrist and heard the skin sizzle beneath it. She yanked her hand back and I zipped behind Damon.
"When?" Isobel asked.
"Last night, Elijah's witch friend stabbed me with a chair, Caroline tried to heal me but her blood didn't work fast enough."
"Told you it would happen sooner or later." She smirked, John scoffed in the corner. Isobel's face turned into a scowl which I mirrored at John. Damon muttered something about a family resemblance and this time Elena joined in with a scowl of her own, "I'm going to move over here where it's safe." He said moving to the opposite side of the kitchen.
"Why is she here?" Elena asked.
"She has information about Klaus," John replied.
"Well let's hear it." Stefan chimed in.
"When I left here I started looking into Klaus, I knew the best way to help was to find him before he found you two." Isobel looked between Elena and me.
"What's the best way for what?"
"To keep the two of you alive," John's eyes cut to me, "or at least alive-ish."
"Ha! Half an hour ago you called me a monster. If you're going to be an asshole, own that shit." I snapped.
"Were you able to find Klaus?" Stefan asked as he walked up behind Elena.
"No, nobody knows where he is. However, there are rumors flying around about the Doppelganger existing."
"Which means anyone looking to win Klaus's favor will be looking for you."
"Why should we believe any of this? Last time you were here you made it very clear you didn't want anything to do with us and now you can't wait to save us?"
"Isobel has been helping all along, anyone of those tomb vampires could have told Klaus about the Doppelganger or Alexis."
"You almost killed Damon and Stefan in the process," I yelled.
"I have a safe house," Isobel interrupted, "it was signed over to both of you but I guess just Elena now, no vampires can get in unless you invite them, not even me."
"If you wanna help then get the hell out of my house." Elena snapped, Isobel didn't move.
I stood up, done with the conversation and walked outside, sitting on the porch swing and staring at the road. "You're more like me than you think," Isobel stated as she stepped outside.
" I'm not up for some mushy bonding moment," I replied, pulling my knees up still looking at the road. She stepped off the porch without another word and zipped off.
Damon walked out a few minutes later, "You want to go on an adventure?"
"Is it far, far, away?" I asked, throwing my head back.
"No, but if you refrain from snapping any more necks today, one can be arranged." He stepped in front of me, his hands on my knees. I tilted my head to look at him, "Really?"
"Mmhmm." He replied holding out his hand, "Really, it's not like you have school to worry about next week, Elena is safe for now and only a phone call away."
I took his hand and pulled myself up, "So where are we going now?"
"To the Martin's, Sabrina wants to meet there something about grimoires."
We met up with Bonnie and Jeremy outside the apartment, "I see the ring works." Bonnie called out as we reached the landing, I nodded, "Caroline told me, are you sure you're ok to be here?"
"I'm fine, really." I assured her, Jeremy's face went from confused to sad, " No one tells me anything." He groaned and then leaned in to hug me. I stepped back and held my hands up, "No offense, I just really don't want to be tempted to eat you." I replied laughing it off, " Give me a couple of days."
"Damon opened the apartment door and waved his hand through, "Yep, everybody's dead." He said, stepping through. I followed behind him, " So what happens if we end up in a house we weren't invited into?"
"I don't know how you would even manage that, we can't get past the threshold."
"I could, with that spell I used at the masquerade ball. I'm just wondering what would happen."
"That's pretty big magic, can you even do anything like that now that you're…" Bonnie questioned.
"Dead, it's not a dirty word. I don't know what I can do, I've only tried a couple of things but they've all worked out well."
"Yeah just ask John," Damon smirked, earning him a glare from me. He ignored me looking at Luka's charred body, "You know we could save some time and just light another match." I smacked him and Bonnie whipped around, "Don't be disrespectful, not with him."
"Fine, I'll bury him."
"We should pack up these grimoires, they spent years collecting them." Bonnie looked around at the shelves packed full of books.
"What are we looking for Bonnie?" I asked.
"Dr. Martin told me there was a spell to harness the magic of dead witches, and if you could harness enough power you can kill an original."
"Like the kind of power you can find at the site of a hundred witch massacres?"
Bonnie nodded and Damon raised an eyebrow, "I didn't realize you and Daddy witch were so close."
"We weren't, but when he gave me my powers back he told me what to do."
"We'll add that to our to-do list harnesses dead witch power."
Bonnie's eyes snapped up to Damon, " You know where the witches were burned?"
"Did we forget to mention that?" I smirked.
Bonnie rolled her eyes and started glancing over the books scattered on the desk, "Alexis come looked at this." I dropped the book I was looking at and stepped over. The book she pulled out had symbols written through it I'd only seen in my book, "This is an Elemental's grimoire. He shouldn't have this."
"Bree had yours." Damon pointed out.
"Yeah, because she was meant to give it to me. The Martins don't strike me as the kind of people ok with the kind of witch I am."
"It looks like he just didn't have time to give it to the right person. Look, it talks about Elemental's going through transition." Bonnie pointed out.
"While the normal human has 24 hours to complete, an Elemental only has 12."
"Well that would have been good to know last night," I mumbled.
"All of it looks like that, like a manual for how to be a vampire and a witch," Bonnie said, flipping through the pages. I took the book from her, it wasn't anywhere near as big as the one I had, but it looked old.
"So are we going to have to look through all of these to find the one spell we need?" Jeremy asked.
"Not exactly." Bonnie walked over to the bookshelf, magic moving through the air like electricity, I looked at Damon who seemed unphased. A book fell off the shelf and opened onto the floor, Bonnie bent down and picked it up, "This is the spell we'll need." She looked at Jeremy and smiled.
"Get a room," I said rolling my eyes, they looked away from each other, I inwardly laughed remembering the conversation we'd had before all hell broke out at the grill.
"Stefan and Elena want to meet us back at the house," Damon said looking at his phone.
"Joy," I replied sarcastically, twirling a piece of my hair in-between my fingers. He threw his arm over my shoulder leading me out, "We all have a tic."
"Huh?" I said before realizing what he was talking about.
"Stefan taps his fingers, Kathrine chews on her lip." He pulled a flask out of his pocket, took a sip and handed it to me, "What's yours?" I asked before taking a sip. Being in the room with Jeremy and Bonnie hadn't been unbearable but being out here in the hall with just Damon, I felt less tense.
"Alcoholism." He shrugged.
"You can be so aggravating sometimes you know." I took the flask back and took another swig.
He snatched it from me, sliding it back in his pocket, "I pace, or tap my foot if I can't move around."
"Basically we're eternally hungry and it makes us all look like we have anxiety." I laughed.
"Well I mean trying not to kill a room full of people could make someone anxious." He joked.
I fell onto the couch, leaning my head back, Damon tapped my shoulder with a small glass of blood, "Thanks."
"With three of us feeding out of that fridge we're going to have to make a run soon."
"Or you guys could start feeding from ani-" Stefan started.
"No!" Damon and I yelled at the same time. Stefan sat back in his seat with a defeated look on his face. Elena spoke up drawing the attention away from him, "Do you think Isobel was telling the truth? About the rumors of the Doppelganger existing?"
"Maybe, but it would be stupid to ignore her warning," Stefan replied.
"So what are we going to do about it?"
"She could stay here. I mean there are 3 of us." I added.
"Yeah but any vampire can get in here."
"Ok, maybe home is better."
Elena let out a huff, "So what you guys are just going to follow me around all the time? And what about you Alexis?"
"What about me?"
"No one seems to be worried about you." Elena's face was serious, it made me realize we hadn't had a chance to talk about everything that had been going on. Damon wouldn't have told Stefan, so Elena had no clue how twisted everything truly was.
"They aren't worried about me because there's nothing we can do."
"So you want me to fight but you get to just give up?" Elena said angrily.
"Elena I won't have a choice."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
I sighed, "Because it's true."
"I'm going to need you to elaborate."
"Later ok, I swear we will have a good long talk but it's too much and you have that luncheon, and me and Damon have witch stuff with Bonnie."
She narrowed her eyes, "Swear?" I nodded, "So does that mean you know-"
"Shh." Damon interrupted, putting his finger to his lips, a few seconds later Kathrine walked in, "Don't get quiet on my account." She sneered, "Seriously do you have a plan to derail the pending vampire apocalypse, because I'd love to hear it."
"You first." I said turning around on my seat, "Did you know I'd have to be a vampire to break the curse?"
"I was going to turn you that night in the kitchen, you didn't have any blood in your system and I wasn't going to feed it to y-" Kathrine fell to her knees, yelling.
"So why would we trust you when you have been lying all along?" I said, staring at Katherine.
"That's enough, Alexis," Stefan said. I didn't listen, the vampire part of my brain almost giddy, seeing Kathrine in pain. Damon stepped in breaking my eye contact, "Easy there feisty pants."
Kathrine stood up, coughing, "I delivered you a moonstone, a werewolf, and a pretty little dagger to lure and kill Klaus and all you seek to have is the moonstone. You do have it still, right ?"
"Oh we have it," Damon replied.
"Prove it."
"Kathrine, please don't let the fact that we haven't killed you in your sleep be confused for trust." Damon spat.
"Bye-bye now," I added with a wave.
"Fine be that way," Kathrine replied, turning on her heel and leaving the room.
Damon pulled at my arm gently, "Come on, let's go."
We met Bonnie and Jeremy on the edge of the woods, Damon led the way, Bonnie, right behind him, "So this is where the witches were burned?" She asked.
"Yeah, when Alexis went to the other side Emily told her about the house, the Gilbert journals mention it as well." He stopped as the house came into view, "Doesn't look much different."
"You've been here before?" I asked.
"Yeah I tried to save Emily, she was my only link to Kathrine before I realized how big of an evil bitch she is."
We walked up the worn step on to the porch, Damon pushed the door open with a creek. "You're sure this is the right place?" Jeremy asked as we walked in, Damon and I nodded. "This place is super creepy." I pointed out, the house had an energy to it that made me feel on edge. Damon and I followed behind Bonnie and Jeremy, only making it a few feet down a hallway when both of us couldn't move, "Ok whatever witchy practical joke you're playing I don't like it." Damon spat at Bonnie.
"This isn't me." She replied with a smirk. Damon started groaning, the sun streaming in through the boarded-up window burning his skin. I only had a moment to be concerned because I suddenly felt like I was being choked.
"I don't think they want you here," Bonnie said again.
"Do something," Damon growled at Bonnie, she looked between both of us and muttered something. My lungs started burning and gripped the wall for support. Bonnie finished her chant Damon's ring started to work and he started to heal. I took a deep breath and was back outside in a flash, Damon right behind me, "Fuck you too Emily." He said into the house. I sat down on the porch about the time my phone started ringing, "Caroline?"
"Have you seen Matt?"
"No," I replied nervously.
"Crap, thanks." She hung up.
"Ok?" I said confused.
"She lost Matt?" Damon asked.
"I guess." I ran my hands over my face, "It's like the never-ending shit show."
Damon smirked and walked over to the door, it slammed in his face, "Well we're no use here."
I stood up walking out to a sunny spot in the grass and laid down, "What are you doing?" Damon asked walking over.
"Patiently waiting." I put my hands under my head, "Enjoying the sun and the fact I won't burn to death."
"You can feel it?" Damon asked, raising his eyebrow.
"You can't?" I sat up on my forearms.
"Nope."
"Huh? Weird."
"Maybe it's in that book."
"It's at the house." I said jumping up, "Race you to the car." I smirked and took off, turning my head to look for Damon only to crash into him. I bounced back but he wrapped his arms around me lifting me up and smirking, "Told you I'd still be faster."
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head down kissing him, locking my ankles behind his back. Damon groaned as his phone went off in his pocket.
"Please let me kill whoever that is," I grumbled as I unhooked my legs placing my feet back on the ground.
"It's Elena."
"I stand by it," I replied crossing my arms.
He shook his head and answered the phone. Elena sounded pissed, John had been bitten and thrown down the stairs at the luncheon. Damon hung up and we headed towards the car.
Damon slid right in the door at the Lockwood's but I stayed on the porch, I knew I wouldn't be able to actually get in but I didn't want to look suspicious. I watched through the open door as Damon whispered something to Mrs. Lockwood and she nodded, "Alexis you can come in." As I walked inside she quietly whispered, "Damon days you know about the town's little problem."
"Yeah, I kind of spiraled after what happened to me after Miss Mystic, thought I was going crazy." I lied, impressed with how quick that flew to mind.
"Well, there's always a spot for a Gilbert on the council." She nodded before walking over to Damon, I had to stop myself from busting out with laughter. Once everyone else had left Damon stood up and said, "Yeah he's not dead."
"Damon, he has no pulse." Mrs. Lockwood insisted.
"Yeah about that, see the Gilbert's have this ring that's been passed down. It umm, it protects the wearer from death by a supernatural entity."
"I don't understand."
"You don't have to, I'll take care of him but we need a cover story, heart attack, alcohol binge, banana peel, whatever works." Damon started dragging John out of the room, signaling me to follow him.
I opened the door for Damon, he walked in and dropped John on the floor, he pulled at his shirt looking at the bloodstain, "Even dead this guy's a pain in my ass."
I let out a small laugh and followed him upstairs. I watched from the bed as he got himself cleaned up, "Enjoying the show?"
I bit my lip, "Very much."
Damon's phone rang, as he started out of the bathroom, "This damn phone." He reached in his pocket pulling it out, "Stefan? How did we beat you and Elena home?"
Stefan explained that the attack on John was orchestrated by Kathrine and no doubt Isobel. Kathrine used John's accident as a distraction to switch places. Damon snapped out of his thoughts and started tearing through the soap bowl, "Shit." He swore hanging up the phone.
"What?" I asked, rolling off the bed.
"Kathrine took the moonstone."
"So they have Elena and the moonstone?"
"Yeah," he stopped sensing the anxiousness in my voice, he turned around, "I'm pretty sure I know where to find her, we'll get Elena back."
I sat in the back once we'd picked up Stefan. Damon parked in front of a gorgeous house, " You sure they're here?" Stefan asked.
"Nicest foreclosure in town," Damon said walking up the sidewalk.
"Is that a thing?" I asked walking behind them.
"It is for me, I have expensive taste."
"She better be here," Stefan grumbled as we walked up the stairs.
"Spare me the dramatics, Stefan."
As we walked in I immediately noticed luggage by the door, the faint scent of blood lingered in the room to the left. Damon flashed upstairs while Stefan looked around on the main floor. I walked over to the luggage and picked up the scarf that was sitting on top, "Where are you, Elena?" I whispered. My stomach dropped, and my ears started ringing, and a picture flashed into my head, Grove Hill Cemetery.
"They're not here," Damon announced, coming down the stairs.
"I know where they are," I replied quietly.
Damon broke the speed limit all the way to the cemetery, "You didn't see anything else? What if it's a trap?" Stefan asked from the front seat.
"I get what I get." I shrugged, Damon's eyes flew to the rearview mirror, "I swear to God if you ask me if I'm ok again, I'm going to lose it."
"I didn't say anything." He replied innocently.
We rushed through the cemetery stopping a few feet back, Elena and Isobel were just talking.
"Who was that?" Elena asked.
I'm sorry I was such a disappointment," Isobel stopped and looked up locking eyes with me, "To both of you."
Isobel ripped her necklace off and fell to her knees. As she burst into flames, I spun around not wanting to watch, crashing into Damon. He wrapped his arms around me, "Go get Elena, let's get the hell out of here." He said to Stefan.
The four of us walked silently to the car, "Isobel wanted me to give you this." Elena pulled an envelope from her back pocket. I took the letter folding it up and putting it away, "Hey I know we're supposed to sit down and talk tonight, but…"
"I'm not up for it either." She sighed, "It's been a long fucking day."
I wide eye stared at her, "Elena Gilbert did you just say fuck?"
"Not the first time today," She groaned, getting into the car.
Stepping into the house I kicked John's still dead body, once for good measure before walking over to the bar cart. I poured myself a drink and sprawled out on one of the couches, "This has been the longest day ever." I grumbled, I looked over at Elena, she was sitting across with me fiddling with a necklace, "Was that Isobel's?"
"Yeah, I never thought I would feel bad if she died, but here I am."
"Well she was your mother," Stefan said as he sat down next to Elena, "You read your letter yet?" He asked me.
"Nope," I took a sip of my drink, "Probably not going to either."
"It could be important," Elena argued.
I dug into my back pocket and pulled out the folded envelope, flinging it at her, "If you're so concerned then you read it."
Elena picked the letter up and set it on the table, "I wonder why they let me go."
"I don't know, we have to assume anything John told Isobel, Klaus knows," Stefan replied pacing.
"Well, in that case, it makes sense, he knows she's not going to run or turn, and all of us are protecting her. He knows she's safe right where she's at." I added.
"Which brings us to our next order of business." Damon walked in and dropped a stack of papers in front of Elena.
"What's this?" She asked.
"The deed to the house, it's still in Zach's name, if you sign these it will be in yours," Stefan explained.
"Some of us will be very upset if you lock us out," Damon added, implying him and myself.
John sat up gasping for air, Damon and I rushed towards him. I either wanted it more or Damon let me win because I got there first pinning John up against the wall, I ripped the ring off his finger, ignoring the sizzling noise it made in my fingers, and threw it across the room, "Talk fast John." I growled.
"I swear I didn't know what she was going to do. I'm sorry I swear."
Elena stood up crossing her arms, "Let him go, I think we all need to have a little chat."
I let John go and he slumped down the wall, "You guys enjoy your little heart to heart." I ripped open the door and ran out fast enough that hopefully, no one could follow.
Mystic Falls cemetery was surrounded by woods, it made it easy to get there without being seen. I didn't run directly there I made wide circles, turning randomly hopefully giving me a little more time before anyone found me. I finally stopped my hair whipping around my face, I pulled it back and sat down in front of one of the newest headstones in the cemetery. I ran my fingers over the name engraved on the grey stone, Miranda Sommers Gilbert. "I'm so sorry Mom." I choked as the tears started flowing and I finally got to mourn my mother.
Damon's POV
"Damon wait," Elena yelled as she grabbed my arm.
"I have to go after her, I promised I wouldn't let her hurt anyone."
"Just give her a minute."
"If I wait too long she'll be too hard to track Elena." I pulled my arm away.
"I know where she's going and if you think about it hard enough you do too." She replied knowingly, "She just watched our birth mother burn to death, less than 24 hours after she got all of her other memories back." Elena almost looked like she was going to cry, "She never got to say goodbye, she was in the hospital and even if she wasn't, she had no idea who they even were. Trust me."
I nodded before walking outside, running off into the woods. A little way in I noticed her scent was all over but was indeed headed towards the cemetery. I moved as quietly as I could, staying back in the shadows of the trees. I'd seen her upset, a few tears shed but it was normally short-lived. This was a full-on breakdown, she was sobbing, Elena was right.
I stepped out of my hiding place and sat down behind her pulling her against my chest. We sat like that for a while before she calmed down, I looked at her face and she had fallen asleep. I stood up and carried her to the house.
Well it finally happened, please let me know what you think.