Chapter Six

Elena makes her way to Sheila's door. She bangs the large brass knocker on the door and waits patiently outside. After a minute, Bonnie comes to the door and opens it.

"Elena? Hey, what's up? What're you doing here?" Bonnie asked as she embraced her best friend.

Elena grimaces as she contemplates on how to spill that how boyfriend's a vampire without being laughed at. Thankfully, Sheila comes up behind Bonnie and looks at Elena.

"Child, you look more stressed than ever. Come in, I can tell that we need to have a chat," Sheila remarks as she looks Elena over.

Elena steps in the house and immediately gets hit by the strong scent of chamomile and honey. Taking a deep breath, she follows Bonnie and Sheila to the living room. Elena sits on the couch next to Bonnie and stares at the ground.

"Now, dear, you've come over here for a reason, and I can sense that it's just not to hang out with Bonnie. Would you like to tell me what's going on?" Sheila asks kindly.

Clearing her throat, she avoids eye contact and stares at the random knick-knacks scattered on the coffee table. "For a while, I've never believed in the supernatural. You know, I was all 'I have to see it to believe it', and that always worked out for me. But a couple of days ago, I'm pretty sure my mind exploded."

Chucking slightly, Sheila offers Elena a cup of coffee. "You look like you could use some of this. And before you ask, no, I don't poison my drinks with vervain."

Elena's eyes flick up to Sheila's and she breathes a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that you seem to know about this, my reasoning for why I came over."

"Well, as my granddaughter likes to say, we're practically psychic. But in real terms, we're witches."

Bonnie seems disbelieving at that particular statement. "Grams, I can't tell if you're joking or not. Surely there's no such thing as witches and we just live in a world of coincidences…"

"If that were the case, Bonnie, life would be a whole lot easier. Contrary to your belief, we are real witches. One of the many supernatural entities out there. Elena came to talk about another one, didn't you?"

Nodding, Elena begins with a question, "I was wondering this...what do you call someone who looks exactly like you? As in same face, same body?"

"That would be a doppelgänger, dear. You've seen one, haven't you?"

While Bonnie looks completely lost, Elena nods. "Yeah, she looked exactly like me. I don't know how to explain how eerie it was to see my face stare back at me."

"I agree, doppelgängers are headscratchers, yes? If she had your face, then it must've been Katherine Pierce."

"Okay, well, the other day, this Katherine woman killed my boyfriend, Damon." Elena says nonchalantly, glancing at Bonnie whose mouth just dropped.

"Oh my god! Okay, I may not understand what you two are talking about, but did you just say Damon's dead?" Bonnie practically shrieks, covering her mouth with shaking hands.

"No, I didn't say Damon's dead. I just said that Katherine killed him."

"Elena, stop talking in riddles. Is Damon dead or not?"

"Yes and no, Bon. Middle of the line, really, he's a vampire." Elena says as Bonnie gapes at her.

"Like a real-life Dracula? Bloodsucking, pale, walks around with a weird cape kind of thing?" Bonnie asks, wide-eyed.

"No, he's still the same good-looking Damon. I don't know, maybe he's a little paler. But anyways, Miss Sheila, I was wondering if you could help me. Uh, we're kind of floundering about what to do. I know he needs blood, but there are so many unanswered questions."

Noting Bonnie's expression, Sheila gives her a reassuring nod and continues on, "Ask away, dear. I'll try to answer what I can."

"Wait, wait, wait. Vampires, doppelgängers, witches?! Grams, what's going on?" Bonnie inquires desperately.

"Bonnie, my dear, all of your beliefs, everything that you've thought is now about to change. Now, go on, Elena."

"Okay, my first question is how does someone become a vampire?"

"It's a process. First, the person consume ingest vampire blood, and they must have it in the their system when they die. The person will reawaken a couple hours later and they'll need human blood to complete the transition."

"What happens if they don't…?"

"Then said person will die. Kill or be killed, that's their motto. When transitioning from human to vampire, they will regain all memories lost to compulsion."

"My mom said something about compulsion and how vervain protects humans from it. What is it?"

"A type of mind-control, really. Any vampire can do it as long as the victim isn't wearing or ingested vervain. Once compelled, humans are at the vampire's mercy, and it's nearly impossible to resist it. Only other supernatural creatures are immune to it completely."

Nervously, Elena swallows and begins to finger her necklace. "My necklace is filled with vervain. Damon got burnt when he touched it and when my mom threw her cup of vervain tea at him."

Suddenly, Sheila bursts out laughing. "Oh my lord, my apologies, but that definitely sounds like Miranda. She isn't a fan of the vampire species. And yes, vervain hurts vampires, and it weakens them immensely if it's breathed in or consumed."

"Okay. So, uh, how do you kill a vampire?" Elena asks quietly.

Chuckling, Sheila takes a sip of her coffee. "You're not planning on offing your boyfriend, are you?" When Elena shakes her head no while trying to suppress a smile, Sheila continues, "Vampires are immortal. They can't die of age or any man-made weapon. Guns, knives, they won't work. You could decapitate one or remove their heart, since these things can't regenerate. The most common way of killing a vampire is staking them with wood or burning them in the sun. Setting them on fire works just as well."

"Speaking of, do you think you could do a spell on Damon's ring to make him immune to sunlight?" Elena pulls out his ring from her pocket that's engraved with his initials, D.S.

"The man you speak of seems to have a pure soul and heart. In that case, yes, I will do that for you. We would do good to finish the questions, though."

"Do vampires have to survive off of human blood?" Elena asks, nervous once again.

"They must survive off blood, yes, but it doesn't have to be human. Animal blood, for example, is a good replacement but doesn't allow the same perks that human blood does. They'd be weaker, so compulsion wouldn't work as well, strength would diplinish, and they'd be slower. Most vampires can't stand the taste of animal blood, so they turn to blood bags. It's still human blood but they're not taking it directly from the vein. Their morality stays intact."

"What if they don't get blood for a certain amount of time?"

"If it's a long period, then that'll result in starvation which will lead into desiccation if not satiated. Desiccation is kind of like a hunger-induced type coma, so when they get fed, they'll wake up."

"There's no cure for vampirism, is there?"

"None that's documented. I'm sorry, but vampires can't procreate either."

Elena's eyes widen and she turns to Bonnie who squeezes her hand. "I'm sorry, Elena. I know how much you wanted a family."

After waving her hand dismissively, she runs it through her hair. "I'll get over it. I want children, but pushing a baby out doesn't sound fun. Honestly, I'd love to adopt a baby…" Elena says wistfully before snapping back. "Sorry, I'm drifting. So, no cure, no kids. Uh, Damon was very...pissy before he completed the transition. What's the deal with that…?"

"All emotions in vampires are heightened. Sadness becomes depression, guilt becomes remorse, anger becomes rage, but when they love, they love."

"I don't know if I should see that as a good thing or bad…"

"Some vampires can live with heightened emotions, but they become the downfall of others."

"What do you mean? Like they could fall off the deep end?"

"Yes. And when it becomes too much, they turn it off. It's like a switch they can flip in their brain. It's all there and then, poof, every emotion disappears. Emotions are what keep the humanity in vampires. When their humanity goes, they become monsters."

Elena shudders, "I'll keep that in mind. Is there a way to force it back on?"

"There are ways to coax them back, but sometimes you have to be harsh. They won't care about anyone or anything. Make sure you keep your man away from such evil."

Elena nods, "I'll try my hardest. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Hmm. Vampire blood has a healing ability. It's what causes them to heal so rapidly, and it can be shared with humans, which in turn does the same."

"Oh, that's good. With all of this vampire knowledge, I was a little afraid that there would be few positives."

"Be warned, blood sharing can be very personal if you allow it to be."

"Personal, as in…?"

"Intimate."

With her arm propped up to support her head, Bonnie manages to roll her eyes and wink at Elena. "Fantastic for you and Damon, huh?"

Blushing, Elena closes her eyes and finishes up her coffee. Bonnie scoots closer to Elena and puts an arm over her shoulder.

"What does Stefan think about all of this?"

"He's a little freaked out, and I can't blame him. Honestly, this stuff is really overwhelming. Wrapping my mind around the fact that Damon's dead, but he's not was hard enough. And now all of this information?" Elena lets out a humorless chuckle and buries her face in Bonnie's hair.

"I know it's a lot to digest, child, but think about what he's going through. He's alone in this because vampires aren't extremely common in Mystic Falls anymore."

Elena's head pops up, "Anymore? You're saying that they were common here once?"

Sheila nods, "Yes, but that's a story for another time. Just...comfort him. Let him know that he's loved and he doesn't have to go through this by himself."

Elena smiles gratefully, "Thank you, Miss Sheila. I know I probably wasted a day with my stupid questions…"

"Nonsense. I'm happy to help."

"How exactly do you know all of this stuff, anyways? Heh, it's not like I can google it."

"Sometimes, it's good to do your homework in a town called Mystic Falls. Being cautious and knowing your neighbors is a good way to survive. Now, may I see the ring so I can work my magic?"

Elena takes the ring back out and hands it to Sheila who examines it closely. "Ah, this is Lapis Lazuli. Perfect." She sets the ring on the table and begins to chant in words that Elena couldn't understand. When she finishes, she hands it back to Elena who pockets it.

"Was that it? You just...spelled it?" Bonnie wonders in amazement.

"Heh, I did, child. You'll learn soon."

Flashing another smile, Elena stands up. "Thank you again, Miss Sheila, for everything. Your help is greatly appreciated. I should probably get back now since I have Damon locked in my room with every curtain closed."

"Hey, Elena, mind if I tag along? It's not that...I'm just have the same reasoning as you. Gotta see it to believe it."

"Sure, Bon. Just, uh, please don't get scared of him. I know you guys are practically best friends, but…"

"Don't worry, 'Lena, I'll keep it together. Calm, cool, and collected. I'll see you later, Grams!"

"Bye, dears. Be careful out there. It's more dangerous than you know."

"We will."

—

When Elena and Bonnie arrive at her house, Elena looks at the bandaid on Bonnie's hand. "Uh, you might want to shove your hand in a pocket or something. He's still learning to control the urges."

Folding her hands in her hoodie, Bonnie nervously smiles, "Got it. It looks like no one but Jeremy's home, since his car is the only one here."

Elena gushes at Bonnie and bats her eyelashes, "Aww, your crush is here! C'mon, Bon, don't pretend that you didn't know that I knew. You guys would be amazing together, and I happen to know some things, so if you ever-"

Bonnie laughs and cuts Elena off by putting her hand over her mouth. "I'll hold you to that, never. Now, let's go see Damon, hmm?"

Agreeing, Elena and Bonnie step inside the house and see Jeremy watching TV in the living room. He sees them and gives a friendly wave, mostly looking at Bonnie. She blushes and hurries up the stairs while Elena gives him a knowing look and a thumbs up.

Following Bonnie, they make it to Elena's bedroom, stopping right outside the door. Noticing that it's still locked, Elena knocks lightly on the door. They patiently wait for Damon to open the door, which he does after a few minutes. Looking like he just woke up with his perfectly disheveled hair and iridescent blue eyes, Elena thought he was even better looking than usual.

Damon's eyes brightened even more, if that was even possible, at the sight of Bonnie and Elena. "Hello, my two favorite ladies," Damon says while flashing his blinding smile. Bonnie glances at Elena and then back at Damon.

"Hey, Damon. How've you been?" Bonnie asks, feeling relieved that Damon still looked and acted like himself.

"Now that is a good question. I've been better, but you know how life goes. Is this even considered life anymore? I don't know."

Elena smiles and wraps her arms around Damon's neck, passionately kissing him. He responds eagerly while Bonnie watches, wishing she had the guts to go sit with Jeremy.

"Bonnie, you gotta man up if you want a chance with Little Gilbert," Damon says after him and Elena break the kiss.

Bonnie's eyes widen and she blushes, "Heh, did you do vampire mind-reading or something?"

Chuckling, Damon shakes his head. "I can read you like an open book, Bon-Bon. You looked awkward and longing at the same time there. Plus, everyone knows you have a crush on him. It's practically common knowledge. Well, except for him, who acts stupidly oblivious most of the time."

Bonnie smiles genuinely back at Damon, "Never change, Damon. Never change."

"Heh, don't plan on it. Now, are we just going to stand in the hallway and talk, or are we going to get to the juicy gossip?"

The three of them step back into Elena's room. Elena somehow manages to trip on a shoe that was in the middle of the floor. Before she can hit the ground, Damon's standing there, bracing her. When she looks up at him, she can tell he's trying not to laugh. Giving into her own embarrassment, Elena laughs herself.

"Haha, well, a clumsy person plus a messy room never bodes well. Sorry for inconveniencing you a trip over here." Elena quips, and then she realizes what she said, "No pun intended."

"Riiight, like I believe that. Puns are always intended with you, 'Lena." Damon states, stifling back his own laugh.

Bonnie looks between the two and gushes, "Oh, you two are freaking adorable! Now you're really making me contemplate my relationship with Jeremy."

"What're best friends for, Bon? Honestly, you'd be the best thing to ever happen to Jeremy. No exaggeration."

"Uh-huh. Can we open the curtains in here? I feel like I'm going to fall over my own feet, it's so dark."

"Yep, we can. Damon, here's your ring back. You should be able to walk outside and not turn into a pile of ashes now. Yay!" Elena giggles while slipping the ring back onto his finger.

"I think a test is in order, hmm? Lemme just do the grand flourish here…" Damon grabs the curtains and pulls them open. Still standing intact, Damon turns around smirking. "Well, I'm not barbecued, so Sheila gets major points for that. Bon-Bon, are you a witch too?"

"I could call myself a witch-to-be. I've practically been psychic all of high school, but now that I know what's real, I think I'm ready to be a witch." Bonnie says while absentmindedly cleaning up Elena's room.

Damon's head whips around when he smells the blood from under Bonnie's bandage. Slowly inhaling, Damon twiddles his thumbs as his eyes darken slightly, "Mm, Bonica Magica, you really cut yourself there."

Not noticing Damon's change in attitude, Bonnie continues rearranging Elena's vanity. "First of all, that nickname sucks. 'Bonica Magica'? Pretty lame. Never use it again."

"Noted," Damon says as veins appear under his eyes. Elena notices and tries alleviating the tension by caressing his hands and whispering to him.

"Yeah, I did cut myself pretty good the other day when I was attempting to use a letter opener. Don't ever give me one of those, because I'm pretty sure they could be used as a medieval torture device. It hurt like-" Bonnie abruptly stops talking when she remembers that blood triggers Damon. Turning around, she's relieved that Elena has it under control.

With his eyes closed, Damon sighs contently as Elena continues playing with his hands. As soon as Elena stops, his eyes snap open, completely back to normal.

Sheepishly smiling, Bonnie shoves her hand back into the hoodie pocket. "Sorry, my bad. I kind of forgot, as stupid as that sounds."

"No harm, no foul, Bonica-" Damon shuts his mouth as soon as he sees Bonnie's raised eyebrow.

Rolling her eyes, Bonnie lets out a laugh, "Never again, Damon."

"Sure, sure, whatever helps you sleep at night. Speaking of, do you still sleep with Miss-" Damon ends up getting cut off by Bonnie throwing Elena's hairbrush at him, which he ends up catching. "Ooh, Bon-Bon's violent. I'm guessing that would be a yes to sleeping with Miss Cuddles?"

Laughing at Bonnie's reaction, Elena pats her on the back, "No worries, we know every single one of your embarrassing secrets. I won't let any out of the bag to Jeremy, but I can't promise the same thing about Damon over there."

"Well, 'Lena, considering the fact that I'm staring straight at your own teddy bear on your bed, I think that proves my point without saying stuffed animals are the best sleeping buddies."

Wiggling his eyebrows, Damon smirks, "Agree to disagree on that one. I at least hope that I'm a better bed-buddy than Mr. Cuddles over there," He says, nudging Elena with his elbow. She responds by poking Damon in the bicep and goes over to pick up Mr. Cuddles."

"Agree to disagree on this one, Damon?" Elena says, returning the smirk.

—

let me know if I should continue posting this story :P it'll get a lot more emotional later on. it's fun to write either way