Chapter 16: What Is This Feeling?
Elijah disappeared after our deal was struck. I could feel my sister's eyes watching me. "Serena?" Elena's voice broke me out of my own thoughts and I turned to look at her. A frown marred her face and I could practically feel the worry and fear welling up inside of her.
"I think I'm going to head to bed now." I muttered. The sun was still up, but I honestly didn't care. All I wanted was time to be alone to organize my thoughts. Seeing Elijah walk in through our front door was the last thing I had expected to happen today. A stake through the heart didn't kill him, it didn't even look like it had slowed him down.
"Serena, wait." My sister grabbed hold of my hand and held onto it tightly. "We'll figure this out, okay. I won't let him take you." I shook my head at my sister's words.
I did my best to give my sister a reassuring smile. "It's okay, Elena. If this deal works, and everyone stays safe. Then I can live with that." Elena didn't look convinced by my words, but she let my hand go. I could tell she was scared for me. But I wanted her safe, I wanted Jeremy safe, and Jenna. All our friends and family, I wanted them all safe.
I left Elena's room in a bit of a haze. This was really happening. I felt a strange sense of relief knowing that the deal I made with Elijah was in place. Elena was safe, and I was one step closer to getting answers. Two birds, one stone. I knew my deal with Elijah wasn't going to sit well with my sister, or even Damon and Stefan. But I was just going to have to convince them that this was the right move. That this is what will keep everyone safe, especially Elena.
After closing my door behind me, I took a moment and tried to slow my insistent thoughts down. I basked in the quiet before changing into something more comfortable. Everything was where they should be as I got ready for bed, that is until I set my hairbrush down on my dresser. There was a business card propped up against a picture frame that held a picture of Elena and I with our parents from when we were kids. I picked the white card up and held it between my fingers. My heart skipped a beat when I read the name written out above a printed phone number and a short note. Elijah, 'For whenever you need me'.
I kept the card in my hand as I sat down on the edge of my bed. 'For whenever you need me'. I reread the handwritten message in it's pristine scrawl. The thought of calling him right then and there and asking him all the questions I have built up over the years, popped into my mind. Would he answer? The question bounced around in my head as I sat there contemplating my options. But in the end self doubt won and I simply entered the number into my phone and saved it before placing the business card down on my nightstand and laying down in bed.
Tomorrow would be a new day.
Morning came and I found myself being pulled out of a dreamless slumber when a knock sounded from my door. I felt groggy, but well rested, as I poked my head out from under my comforter. My door creeped open and Elen stuck her head in to check if I was awake. "Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me to check up on Stefan." Elena fully entered my room just as I sat up and let out a soft yawn.
That's right, Stefan had been stuck in the tomb with Katherine. Then with him free, ment Elijah had kept his word. "Yeah, sure. Let me get dressed and I'll meet you downstairs." Elena nodded her head at my words. With the door closed behind her, I pushed myself from the warmth of my bed and dressed for the day.
When we arrived at the boarding house Elena and I let ourselves in. Elena went straight up the stairs to find Stefan. I decided to let the two have some alone time and set off to find Damon. I felt the familiar energy he let off and found both him and Rose sitting in the library. There was a moment of silence between the two vampires when I appeared in the doorway. Damon caught my eye and leaned over to whisper something to Rose before standing up and making his way over to me. I could tell something was wrong by the way Damon was looking at me and I glanced back over at Rose. The female vampire was staring off into the fire with a look I couldn't quite name. Damon gently took ahole of my arm and led me into the living room and away from Rose.
"What happened here?" I asked as soon as the two of us walked into the living area. The window facing the back of the house was broken and there was glass all over the floor beneath it. Damon released my arm and made his way over to the table filled with crystal tumblers of alcohol and poured himself a drink.
"Werewolf." Was Damons only answer. I felt my eyes go wide and I looked away from the broken window and back at the vampire. "Attacked us last night. Rose got bit."
"She got bit?" We all knew now that a werewolf bite was deadly to a vampire. "Is she alright? I mean, is it bad?" Damon took a long drink of his bourbon before putting the glass down.
"Well, it's not looking good." Damon said before repouring himself some more bourbon. I frowned. When we searched Isobel's office there hadn't been any information about any kind of cure that could fix a werewolf bite. Meaning there was very little chance of Rose recovering from this. "So, I heard from our brother that you made some sort of deal. With Elijah."
I could hear the distaste in Damon's voice and I shook my head at his words. "Damon, the deal I made with Elijah is what got Stefan out of the tomb and will keep Elena alive." I pointed out. My brother gave me an unconvinced look before setting his empty glass down and walking towards me.
"I don't trust him." Damon started. "This deal, I don't like it. There has to be another way to keep Elena alive and you far away from, Elijah." The way Damon said Elijah's name with such distaste had me giving him a small smile in amusement.
"We don't have a whole lot of options, Damon. This way is the safest for Elena and everyone else." I explained. Damon frowned at my words but before he could say anything else, we heard Elena coming down the stairs.
We met my sister in the hall just outside of the library. "Damon. Is she going to die?" Elena asked as she looked in on Rose sitting beside the fireplace.
"Probably." He answered. "The wolf bite caused some kind of infection and it's getting worse." I frowned, I felt bad for the woman, it must be painful. I wished I could offer the woman some sort of comfort, but I knew there was nothing I could do.
"Like poison?" Elena spoke up.
"I don't know, Elena. I'm not an expert in the field." Damon snapped. I frowned at the vampire. He definitely wasn't handling this well. Rose and him must have grown close, he was no doubt feeling at fault for this.
"I'm sorry." Elena muttered.
Damon glanced back into the library. "Death happens. We come, we go. Sooner she dies, the better." His words were cruel, but they held an air of truth to them. He didn't want Rose to suffer through this. "It's gloomy as hell in here." He grumbled.
Damon made to leave, but Elena spoke up. "Damon, wait." The vampire stopped to listen to my sister. "Can you take Serena to school? I can stay here and keep an eye on Rose."
I glanced up at Damon. His gaze was focused on Rose before he nodded his head. I gave Elena a grateful smile and followed Damon out the door. While Damon didn't say it, I knew he was also grateful for the chance to get out of the house.
The ride to school was a quiet one until we pulled into the parking lot and Damon stopped his car. "I won't let him take you. You know that, right?" I turned my head to look over at the older Salvatore brother and frowned.
"Damon." I whispered his name. "You can't stop this from happening." I started. " Elena's life, your life, and everyone else's, are all on the line here. My deal with Elijah keeps everyone safe, even me. All I have to do is break the curse myself."
"Yeah, well, how do you plan on doing that, huh?" Damon argued back. I rolled my eyes at him and his childish rebuke. "We don't know anything about fairies, or whatever you are."
"Fae, Damon. I'm a Fae." Granted, he was right, I didn't exactly have much of a plan when it came to actually breaking the curse. I mean, what even was a Fae? Emily's grimoire didn't exactly have all the answers. There were still so many variables, and then there was Elijah. "I'll see you later, okay." I grabbed my bag and opened the car door. Damon said nothing and let me go without any argument. I had a feeling today wasn't going to be easy for him. I closed the car door and leaned down so I could look through it's open window. "It's going to be okay, big brother."
School went by like a passing thought. I went to all my classes and did my work like normal, but none of it really processed for me. I felt like I was floating. My thoughts were far too preoccupied with other things to really focus on what was happening in front of me. Elijah had said that I would need to go with him before the next full moon. I was running out of time. I needed to come up with some way to break the curse, before being taken to Klaus.
My last class of the day ended and I was making my way down the hall when I caught sight of a familiar blond head. "Caroline." I called out her name and the new vampire turned around. A smile spread out across her face and I felt my shoulders relax.
"Hey!" She bounded up to me and stopped before pulling me into a hug. "I feel like I haven't seen you or Elena in forever. How are you doing?" She pulled back but left her hands resting on my shoulders. "Is everything okay? Are you feeling alright?"
"Relax, Caroline." I took her hands off my shoulders and gave them a squeeze before letting go. "Alots happened in the last few days."
Caroline frowned. "Well, we'll just have to spend the rest of the day catching up." She moved to the side of me and looped her arm through mine. "Come on, foods on me." I smiled up at the blonde and allowed her to lead me out of the school and out to her car.
"I can't believe you made a deal with an Original vampire." Caroline spoke up as we munched away at our food. "I mean, I know why you did it, but still."
"I know. It's definitely complicated." I spoke up as I poked at my food with a fork. "But I don't really have much of a choice in the matter."
Caroline pursed her lips at my words. "I know. But that doesn't make me feel any better, and you know Elena must feel terrible. You know how she gets." I nodded my head in agreement. I knew exactly how my sister was, and even worse, Damon tended to be the same way when it came to me.
"Yeah, I know. But I just." I paused. "I trust him, Elijah. I don't know what it is about him, but I do." I looked up at Caroline and saw her zero in on my face. I raised a curious brow at her before she finally spoke up.
"Hmmm. There's something you're not telling me." The blond narrowed her eyes and I felt my spine go rigid. I suddenly felt like the girl sitting across from me was looking into my soul. "No way, you like him, don't you?" A smile spread across her face and I felt my heart flop around in my chest. "Oh my god. You do!"
Caroline practically squealed with excitement and I shook my head in a panic. "Caroline, wait, it's not like that. I mean, it is, but there's more to it then that." Caroline calmed down enough for me to let out a sigh and let my shoulders sag. "Elijah, I knew him, Caroline. I knew him in my first life." Carolines jaw dropped and she found herself speechless. "And, I think, no, I know he remembers me."
"Wow. I mean, wow. Serena, if he knows you, then he'll know what you are." She pointed out. I nodded my head.
"I think that's part of the reason why he agreed to a deal with me so easily. He knows what I am and what I'm supposedly capable of." I explained. "But my first life, I just. What if these answers I've been searching for, what if I don't want to know." I folded my hands above the table and stared down at them. "There's just so much I don't remember. And Elijah, all I can remember of him are his eyes." Those deep brown eyes, and the feelings they brought up in me.
"Hey." Caroline had reached across the table and placed a hand over my own. "It's going to be okay. You want to know what I think." Caroline sat up straight and held both my hands within hers. "I think that you and Elijah are going to have some magical romance and you're going to find out all the answers you need and everythings going to be okay."
I smiled at the girl in front of me and squeezed her hand back. "Thank you, Caroline." While I wanted to believe in her words, I knew it wasn't going to be that easy. Things in Mystic Falls were never that easy. "So, what's been going on with you the last few days?" I asked and Caroline let out a sigh before pulling her hands away from mine and slumping in her seat.
"Nothing. Everything. Matts been acting weird and I've been acting weird and it's all just one big mess now." I listened to her talk and frowned at her words. "Matt kissed me today and even though I kissed him back, it all felt so, wrong. And I have no idea why." She continued. "And then there's Tyler. He's been through so much and last night when he changed, it was horrible, Serena. He was in so much pain."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that, Care. It must have been scary." Caroline nodded her head at my words. Things were so different now. Werewolves, vampires, and whatever the hell Fae were. That was our life now.
Caroline and I split ways after finishing up our food. The sun was just starting to set when I pulled my phone out to call Elena for a ride and check and up on her and Rose. The phone rang and rang before it went to her voicemail. I pulled my phone away from my ear. Something didn't feel right. A bad feeling filled my gut.
I ended up walking home. The night air helped clear my head, but the bad feeling in my gut didn't go anywhere as I walked up to the front door. It was late and I figured Jenna and Jeremy were probably already asleep and Elena was more than likely still at the boarding house.
When I opened the door I found Elena standing in the hallway with her arms crossed. "Oh hey, your home. How did things go with-" I cut myself off when after closing the door and seeing Stefan step out from behind Elena. His face looked slightly grim and I could tell something was wrong. Before I could say anything someone else stepped out of the hall. "John?" I felt my blood go cold at the sight of Elena and I's biological father. "Why is he here?"
"I got a phone number from Alaric to call Isobel, but I got John instead." Stefan explained. "He's here to help.
"Help? Help with what?" I asked and I looked over at Elena who shook her head.
"Nothing he wants to talk about right now." Elena sent a glare at the man before looking back at me. "I already tried to get answers. Come on, let's go to bed." My sister took my hand and pulled me from my spot. I forced my eyes away from the man who tried to kill me and allowed my sister to pull me up the stairs. I didn't like this. I didn't like this one bit. Being anywhere near the man made my skin break out in goosebumps.
"Why is he here?" I asked my sister as she dragged me into her room. My nerves suddenly felt on edge and I started to pace the length of Elena's room. "What is he doing here?"
"I don't know." She answered. Elena's hands suddenly grasped my arms to stop my movement. "Hey, calm down. It's going to be okay. John wouldn't dare hurt you." She promised.
I took a deep breath and relaxed my shoulders. She was right. John wouldnt be stupid enough to try something. I needed to get my mind off John and the fact that he had almost killed me the last time I saw him. Elena gave me a small smile and I suddenly remembered earlier when I tried to call her and I got that bad feeling.
"What happened tonight?" My question made Elena frown in confusion before she realized what I meant. My sister took a seat on the edge of her bed before letting out a sigh.
"Rose, she um. She got really sick and killed some people." Elena started to explain. "Damon. he had to kill her."
Sorrow filled my heart. Damon didn't deserve that. Rose didn't deserve that. "Oh." Elena nodded her head. I wish things could have been different. I wish there had been some other way. But life didn't always give us the answers we wanted. Sometimes it was cruel and hurtful.
I didn't sleep well that night. Having John in the house had me feeling on edge and then the guilt I felt for Damon swirled around in my stomach for most of the night. By the time the sun rose and morning arrived, I found myself contemplating just staying in bed. But there was no point in that. I could only hope that John took the hint last night and left.
After pulling myself together I finally made my way down stairs. Unfortunately, the one person I didn't want to see at the moment just so happened to be in the kitchen being glared at by my sister. Both John and my sister turned to look at me as soon as I entered the kitchen. The tense feeling in the air only got worse upon my appearance and I hoped against all hope that I could just get away with turning right back around and going back to bed.
"Oh God, I'm late." Jenna's voice pierce through the tense air and felt my shoulders slump at her and Alaric's appearance.
"That's what you get for hitting the snooze three times." Alaric joked as the two entered the kitchen, but upon seeing John also standing in the room, both adults froze.
"What the hell?" Jenna looked from John to Elena and even glanced at me. But there was nothing my sister and I could really offer the woman as to why John was here. Not without letting her in on a few things.
"Good morning to you, Jenna. Alaric." John sent the other man a look and I frowned at the exchange. It was clear to see that John didn't favor the history teacher/vampire hunter.
"It's okay that I'm confused, right?" Janna asked. "Because we were not expecting you, like, ever."
"Well, I got in late last night. Elena let me in." John gestured to Elena who looked uncomfortable at the mention of last night.
"You know, I'm uh, probably just gonna take off." Alaric looked at Elena and I before nodding his head awkwardly and exiting the kitchen. Honestly, I couldn't blame him, I currently wanted to do the exact same thing.
"I'm still confused here." Jenna pointed out as she spoke to John.
"I decided to come back and stay for a while." John shrugged and took a sip of his coffee. I cringed at the thought of John staying even longer than a minute. He was honestly the last person I wanted to see anywhere near here.
"Not here you're not." Jenna put her foot down and felt my shoulders sag in relife at her words. My love for the woman grew in that moment as she stood up to the man who left me to die, not that she knew that nor did she ever need to know that.
"Actually, you can't stop me from living here." John pointed out and I felt my throat close up at his words.
Jenna crossed her arm at the man's words and glared openly at John. "Actually I can, as legal guardian." She reminded the man.
"Yeah, about that, um." John let out a sigh and looked to Elena. "Elena, you want me to explain the situation, or would you like to do the honors?"
I felt sick at John's words. He was really going to use the fact that he was our biological father over Jenna. No, I wasn't just sick, I was angry.
"Okay, what's going on?" Jenna glanced between my sister and I felt my heart rate pick up.
"I'm sorry, Jenna." Elena spoke up. She shook her head and let out a sigh of defeat as she looked at our Aunt. "We should have told you earlier, but-"
John suddenly interrupted Elenas explanation as he told Jenna exactly what he wanted her to hear. "I'm Elena and Serena's biological father. There, now you know."
There was a pause as Jenna took in John's words. But it was me who broke the silence. "No." I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I glared at John with as much heat as I could muster. "You're no father of mine. Not now, not ever." I hissed out at the man before turning on my heel and heading for the front door. I wasn't going to let him use that fact to hold over Elena and I. He was not my father, nor would he ever be. I marched out of the house without pause and got into my car before driving off. I didn't care if I was being childish or disrespectful to the man, but I couldn't stand to listen to him anymore.
I have no idea how long I had been driving for before I decided to pick a destination, or well my stomach picked the destination. The Grill felt like a safe place for now. Somewhere I could just take a moment to breath and get some much needed food. The restaurant ended up being mostly empty and I was happy to find that my normal booth near the back was clear of any people sitting in it.
As I sat down I placed my bag on the table top. That was when I noticed my journal resting just inside the worn leather bag. I pulled the book out and felt my stomach clench. Why couldn't I even remember the last time I had opened my journal? Was life really so hectic I didn't even have time for my usual hobbies? That question was an easy one to answer, yes.
I opened the book and flipped through it's pages. I took notice that I was nearing the end of the journal and I would no doubt need to purchase another one. As I shuffled through its pages I came across a loose sketch that had my heart freezing up. It was a simple drawing of a pair of eyes staring back at me. I knew who those eyes belonged to, even with the sketch only being down in a grey scale. It was still hard to believe that this was all real. That Elijah was real.
I had no real hope that I would ever see anyone from my first life, and yet, here I was, staring at those familiar eyes. Eyes I had just seen in a lifetime so far away from when I first saw those eyes. I flipped the page and set the book down on the table. A blank page starred up at me and without looking away I reached into my bag and pulled out a pencil.
My mind was elsewhere as I sat there and focused on the drawing I was working on. The only thing to distract me was the waitress and reaching over to pick at the french fries I had ordered. The rest of the world just kind of fell away. I was lost in creating an image from memory.
"Serena?" It was my little brother's voice that pulled me out of my concentration and I glanced up to see Jeremy walking toward my table. "What are you doing here? Are you here for the memorial service?"
"Memorial Service?" I asked in confusion as I closed my journal and looked up at Jeremy. The Grill was now full of people and I noticed the now two empty baskets of french fries sitting in front of me.
"Yeah. Mrs. Lockwood set up a memorial service for the recent deaths in town." He answered. I let out a soft 'oh' and glanced around the Grill.
"I didn't know. I guess I just lost track of time. Didn't really expect to be here for so long." I shoved my journal into my bag as Jeremy glanced around.
"Hey, are you alright?" Jeremy placed a hand on my shoulder and I let out a deep sigh before smiling up at him and nodding. "You know, you don't have to go through with it, the deal you made. We can find another way."
I shook my head at his words and gave him a more genuine smile. "It's okay, Jeremy. I'm fine, I promise." I started. It warmed my heart knowing my little brother was worried about me, but he really didn't need to. "This deal keeps you all safe. Keeps Elena alive." Jermey didn't look convinced, but I could tell he was willing to drop it, for now.
"Ok. I'm going to go look for Bonnie. I'll see you later." I waved at Jeremy as he backed away from the table and left the building.
I took another glance around the Grill and took notice that both Jenna and Alaric were seated at one of the tables in the sunken part of the restaurant. Poor Jenna. Today could have gone a lot better for the woman.
I looked away from my Aunt and the history teacher and pulled out some cash to cover my bill. I placed the money on the table and stood up. My plan was to leave for the night, but I noticed a familiar shift in the air and I looked up at the door. Damon and Elena had walked into the Grill and were now looking at the table Jenna sat at. I glanced over at our Aunt and immediately cringed at the sight of John now sitting there.
Without gaining the attention of the table where Jenna, Alaric, and John sat at, I made my way across the restaurant to where Elena and Damon stood. "We just need answers. Please don't do anything stupid." Elena muttered to Damon as I approached the two.
"Yeah, but stupid is so much more fun." Damon grinned at my sister before his eyes found me coming toad them. "Hey there little sister. Fancy meeting you here."
"Serena." Elena turned around the grabbed hold of my hand before sending another warning glare at Damon. "I mean it. All I'm asking is you try to keep it together. Be the better man."
"Okay then." Damon agreed before walking over to the table where John sat with our Aunt and Alaric.
"Whats going on?" I asked as Elena and I watched the vampire approach John. With my hand still grasped in Elenas she pulled me over to one of the tall bar tables that overlooked the sunken part of the Grill where Damon and John were.
"Damons trying to figure out why Johns here." Elena answered. I glanced over at the table and watched as Damon and John walked over to the bar.
"This should be interesting." I commented. I looked back across the table at Elena. She was squeezing her hands together and looked to be contemplating something. "Are you alright, Elena?"
"Why didn't you tell me about you being a Fae?" Her question had my stomach flipping.
"I- I'm sorry. I should have told you when I first found out." I admitted to her. "I was waiting until I had more information. Solid information. But then things escalated and we got kidnapped and I just never got the chance to tell you."
"By escalated, you mean things with Elijah have escalated." She pointed out and I felt my heart skip a beat. She was right.
"Everything." I stated. "Everything had escalated. We haven't had any time to breath. It's just been one thing after another."
Elena took in my words and glanced out into the crowd. "I know." She spoke up. "About Elijah. Did you know him? During a different life."
"Yes. I knew him." I answered. "There isn't much I remember from my first life. It's all hazy at best. But I knew him." Elena nodded her head in understanding. The conversation ended there and I was grateful that I didn't have to explain myself any further.
Elena glanced back over at the bar and I followed her lead. Damon was now sitting there alone. "Stay here. I'll be right back." I nodded my head and watched as Elena walked away. I wondered what Damon was able to get out of John.
I was sitting and watching the crowd when Damon suddenly appeared beside me and pulled me off the tall bar stool I had been sitting on. I fumbled to my feet as the vampire rushed both my sister and I into the women's bathroom.
"What's going on? Ow, Damon let go." I yanked my arm out of the vampires grip and glanced over at Elena.
"Tyler knows about Damon and Stefan being vampires. He also knows about his Uncle Mason being dead." Elena explained and Damon let out a frustrated breath.
"Why am I just finding out about this now?" He questioned my sister.
"Stefan was worried that you-" She was cut off when Damon suddenly scoffed.
"That I'll what? That I'd kill him? Of course, it's what needs to happen." Damon growled out and I shook my head at him.
"Don't even think about it. Tyler doesn't need to die." I glared at the vampire and he sent me another scoff before glancing at Elena. I was right of course, there was no reason Tyler had to die. There had been enough death.
"Well, tell her." He gestured to me as Elena and him locked eyes. My sister sent him a glare before she looked over at me.
"Caroline was taken by some werewolves. Tyler is with Stefan and they want him in exchange for Caroline." Elena explained. I found my blood running cold at the information. She shook her head and turned her gaze back to Damon. "Just, do whatever you need to do to get Caroline back, but leave Tyler out of it, okay?"
"Why? He's a werewolf, he needs to die." Damon started. "I'm willing to kill him, it's a win-win."
Elena reached out to the vampire and placed a hand on his arm. "Damon please, okay? Too many people are dead." She pointed out. Damon sent the girl a glare before pulling her hand off of him.
"You need to stop doing that." He pointed out to her and Elena sent him a confused look.
"Doing what?" Elena asked him.
"Assuming that I'll play the good guy because it's you who's asking." Damon growled out. I found myself feeling like I had been caught between a rock and hard place. But I knew what the bigger picture here was. We needed to save Caroline.
"Be the better man, Damon." Elena told the vampire. Before Damon could argue back I held up a hand to stop him.
"Enough." I glared at both of them. "We don't have time for this. We need to save Caroline and I honestly don't care how we do it." Just as Damon opened his mouth to comment back, the bathroom door opened and John walked in.
"Do you mind?" Damon commented as he glared at the man.
"What's going on?" John asked as he glanced between the three of us.
"Nothing." Elena answered him.
"It doesn't look like nothing." The man shot back.
"Well guess what John, trust works both ways. Get out." Damon was suddenly standing in front of me as he faced the man. I felt slightly better having him there, but I knew he was needed somewhere else at the moment.
"Damon." I placed a hand on his shoulder and the vampire glanced back at me as I shook my head. "We don't have time for this. We need to get Caroline."
The vampire glanced at Elena before turning his gaze to John. "We don't need to do anything. I'll take care of it. First dad duty, ground your kids. Keep them here." He pointed his thumb back at me. "And make sure that one dosent do anything stupid." I felt my jaw drop and blanched at his words.
"I'm coming with you." Elena argued as she moved to follow Damon out of the bathroom.
"No, no, no. I'm with Damon on this one." John added and stood in front of the door to keep Elena from following after the vampire. My sister made a move to go around John but he simply grabbed hold of her. "No, stop, stop. You're not going anywhere. Just tell me what's going on."
I closed my mouth as John and Elena stared each other down. Damon was no doubt walking into a trap and we all knew werewolf bites were deadly to a vampire. Without glancing at John or Elena I made my move to leave the bathroom. That stupid thing Damon had mentioned, I was about to do just that.
"No, you're not leaving this restaurant." John suddenly shot at me as he blocked my path after I had successfully left the bathroom. I had pulled my cell phone out of my bag and was now clutching it tightly in my hand.
I sent the man a glare. "You don't get to tell me what to do." I snapped at him. "You have no right to act like a father to me now, not after what you've done." I shouldered past the man and made my way out of the Grill. I was fuming as I walked down the street to make sure I was far enough away from John. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. I needed to relax if I was going to do what I was about to do.
I held my cell phone steady in my hands and unlocked the screen. I selected the number I needed and hit the call button. The phone started to ring and I held the phone steady against my ear.
"Hello?" A voice answered.
"Elijah. I need your help."
I sat on the edge of my bed with my phone clenched tightly in my hand. Elijah had done as I asked and kept his word on keeping my loved ones safe. Stefan had texted me and let me know that Caroline was home safe. Tonight could have gone a lot worse if I hadn't called Elijah for help. Stefan and Damon would have died tonight if I hadn't called the Original vampire.
Elijah had promised me that one of his witch contacts was in Mystic Falls and would be able to help, and he did. The vampires who were once my brothers were safe and Caroline had been rescued.
A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts and I did my best to sound like I wasn't having a panic attack at the moment. "Come in." The second the door opened and John stepped into my room I felt the air grow tense as I stood from my bed. "What do you want?" I asked coldly as the man softly closed the door behind him.
"To apologize." His explanation made my stomach coil and I felt my eyes narrow at him in distrust. "Please, Serena, I just want to talk and then I'll leave and you'll never have to see me again." I kept quiet at his words and he took that as a sign to continue. "I never meant to hurt you. I was raised to be a different man then my brother, your father. When your parents died, I lost my way and I'm sorry for that." I felt my face fall. He had called them my parents. I had no doubt John knew just as much about me as Isobel did. But he still called them my parents.
"You know, Greyson and Miranda." I started. "They were the only parents who have loved me unconditionally, even though I wasn't really theirs to begin with. Even though I look so different compared to Elena and Jeremy." John opened his mouth to speak but I held up a hand to stop him. "I can't forgive you." I admitted and John's face fell. "You tried to kill me in the worst way possible. I've been burned before. But I can tolerate you, for now. Just tell me one thing, why are you here?"
"I'm here to protect you and Elena. The deal you made with Elijah, you can't trust him." John explained and I found myself frowning.
"You don't know anything about him." I pointed out.
"Do you?" John asked back. I hated that he was right. But still, I knew more than him and I trusted Elijah. So I shook my head at the man.
"The deal I made will protect everyone, and I don't regret making it." I explained to the man. "Stay here and protect Elena if you want. But I know what I'm doing and I will be keeping my deal with Elijah."
John looked at me with sad eyes, but his gaze didn't move me. I would never trust him, no matter what he said to me, I would always see the man who walked away as I was almost burned alive. He could try to be the loving father he thought he was by coming here, but my father in this lifetime died in a car crash along with my mother.
"Just, be careful, Serena." John turned and left the room after closing the door behind him. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I listened to him walk away from my room and down the stairs.
After John left I felt like the world was going to come crashing down around me, but before that could happen my door opened and Elena walked in with Stefan right behind her. She didn't say anything as she carefully took me into her arms. I could feel the dams break and I held my sister tightly as I cried into her shoulder.
"Come on, I think it's time for some old fashion remedies." Elena pulled away and went to my dresser, pulling out some sleep wear and tossing it in an empty backpack I kept under my bed.
"What?" I mumbled as I wiped at my eyes. Stefan took the backpack Elena so expertly packed with clothes. "Where are we going?"
After picking up Bonnie and driving to the Forbes house I finally understood what Elena meant by remedies. "Hey." Caroline answered her front door to see only Stefan as Elena, Bonnie, and myself all stood off the side and out of sight.
"Hey." Stefan smiled back at the blond haired vampire.
"What's going on?" Caroline asked and Stefan shrugged his shoulders.
"I was a bit worried about you, after everything you went through tonight." Stefan admitted and I could hear Caroline let out a soft sigh.
"I'm fine." She promised, but I knew better.
"Good." Stefan commented. "But just in case, I brought some back up."
Both Elena and Bonnie walked out behind Stefan and I followed after them. "We're gonna slumber it." Elena explained and I could see Caroline's eyes grow misty.
"We haven't done it in ages." Bonnie pointed out. I waved at the girl as her eyes found me and she let out a laugh as tears sprung from her eyes. The three girls hugged it out as I stood beside Stefan. This would be good, for all of us.
A/N: Thank you so much for reading. I'm happy to see all the new followers. Thank you for all the positive reviews and if you have any questions, feel free to the leave a review.
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