I looked to the floor. I didn't want to see my brother as a murderer, I couldn't. I hoped Elijah would cut the ropes off but he didn't. I wasn't going to ask so I'd probably sit here for a while. He went upstairs, to his room without saying a word. Stefan looked even more angry at me.
''See what you did?'' he screamed.
''I..'' But that was all I could say because he threw something against the wall which made a hard noise when it shattered To pieces. I had closed my eyes but opened them again. It was a chair. Except now, it were just a lot of pieces of wood. A third of a second later, Damon came home, also through the window.
''What were you thinking? 'Oh, let's make all of my siblings worry, yeah, that seems like a great idea. Why not?' '' Damon said, imitating my voice.
''That's not''
''what you intended to do. Of course not. But the thing is , Elena, it is the only reason I can come up with to leave without telling anyone and not answering your phone while it clearly works. See why I don't understand?''
I let my head hang down.
''Will you untie me?'' I asked, looking at him. Damon shook his head and sighed.
''I really need a drink, I'm off.'' he said where after he left the house, probably to Alaric's. I had still no idea what was going on, this was another level of overreacting, even for my family. I let my head rest against the hard pillar and closed my eyes.
''Where are Rebekah and Klaus?'' I asked after a while.
''Rebekah is with Mikael, Klaus, who knows.'' Mikael was Rebekah's boyfriend, a vampire. Me and him got along well, I liked him and there weren't a lot of boyfriends of Rebekah I liked. Mikael was different, somehow. They were together for four years now, he moved with us last time. I sighed. Stefan being worried, it was the weirdest thing I had ever seen. If I'd even considered him caring about me, I guessed that he must feel guilty because he hadn't paid attention and I got away. But that was too human for Stefan.
A few minutes later, Klaus got home.
''Please untie me.'' I asked, he was my last chance because Rebekah probably wouldn't come back.
''Why are you tied ?' He asked, starting to untie the ropes.
''Stefan. '' I said. Stefan was still standing in the kitchen, drinking what looked like coffee but was probably blood. It was gross. I rubbed my wrists, they saw red from the ropes even though I had only been sitting there for less than ten fifteen minutes. I stood up and headed upstairs but Stefan stood in my way.
''What?'' I asked. I wanted to talk to Elijah, apologize for making him worry but also telling him I wanted more freedom.
''Don't go to Elijah. Let him be. He has a lot more on his mind than having to deal with a little brat. ''
''You really need to stop bossing me around, telling me what to do, Stefan.'' I said his name with a lot of venom, more than I thought I could. I tried to push him to the side, I looked like a toddler who tried to move a wall. Never had I ever had the urge to hit someone so bad so I put a little step back to punch him in the chest but before I succeeded, he got a hold on my wrist.
''You sure you want to speak like that to a vampire, who is stronger and faster than you?'' He growled.
''And who also happens to be my brother.'' I added, trying to kick him. He sighed.
''You'll never learn, won't you?'' Stefan threw me against the wall. It wasn't very hard but it had been hard enough for me to gasp for breath. The clap had punched the air out of my lungs and my back started to get sore. I felt tears sting in my eyes but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.
''Harsh.'' Klaus commented, smiling. Stefan bent down but stayed on his feet so he was a little higher than me. ''You'll listen. Besides, when was the last time Elijah gave you vervain? '' he added. My face stayed blank. It had been a long time ago, not too long for it to be out of my system yet but enough time to have not much left.
''Thought so. '' Stefan smiled.
''You're going to compel her?'' Klaus wondered.
''What choice do I have?'' He asked, shrugged and smiled. He enjoyed this too much. I put my head between my arms, closing my eyes but knew this couldn't stop him.
''That won't work, I just showed you how strong I am. Now, be good and look into my eyes.'' He grabbed my chin and let me look up and before I realized I had opened my eyes, he said:
''You will go to the couch and you'll stay there until I say you can leave. Go.'' He let loose and I gritted my teeth, standing while I didn't even want to stand up. My feet walked to the couch while I did my best trying not to obey but it was impossible. I had never been compelled before. I always wondered why people couldn't resist it but know I knew. I hated it. I sat down. No matter how bad I wanted to stand up, I didn't. I couldn't.
''You're going to regret this.'' I threatened even though there was nothing I could do. I wondered what Elijah was doing, he must've heard all of this.
''Elijah!'' I yelled.
''He's not here. Not anymore.'' Klaus said;
''I heard him leave right before you gave the wall a little kiss.''
''Funny.'' I said.
''So basically, the situation is as following: we are alone and we can compel you. I'm kind of loving this. '' Klaus said. Stefan started smiling, realizing where Klaus was getting at. I buried my head in my arms. This wasn't good.
I slammed my locker shut. ''It was unbearable, Caroline. Trust me, you never want to be compelled, it was like I couldn't control my body, my feet moved when I didn't want them to. They made me waitress the whole evening, every time they needed something, they told me to fetch it. '' Caroline laughed and I gave her an angry look.
''I'm sorry.'' She tried to put on a sincere face but had trouble not to laugh a little. ''You also mentioned something about Elijah's phone earlier? I couldn't understand because Ms. Appelo was nagging about that stupid story 'A perfect Day for Bananafish'. Why did the writer even get famous? I mean, it is a little weird and''
''Caroline!'' I interrupted. ''Me.''I pointed at myself. ''The focus for the coming five minutes is on me, please. ''
''Right. I'll do my best. So, tell me. ''
''They let me do all kinds of stuff, go to the kitchen and get some liquor, get chips and all that but when they had ordered me to make popcorn, I needed to wait for it to be ready.'' I went on and told her about Elijah's phone I had found on the kitchen island and about the texts that were in it. I had no clue about what it was but it seemed to be about a girl.
One of them had said: The wolves. It was from Alaric. I didn't know he was a friend of Elijah.
There was also a text from Elijah to Damon and Rebekah: They'll give her back, I won't give them a choice. Who'd give who back to who? He had erased the rest of them or he didn't have any more messages. Elijah had always been one of the calling types .
Caroline said she also had no idea what it could mean but before we had the chance to discuss it, Jenna and Bonnie joined which made us move on to another topic: the party at Tyler's.
Caroline had been looking forward to it for weeks, so she said, even though it had been announced only two weeks ago. After discussing what we were all wearing, we waved goodbye. I stepped to the other side of the street, looking for Elijah's car. He usually waited here but he was never too late.
After ten minutes, I took my phone but saw Stefan's car at the parking lot. I frowned and put my phone away. I walked over and saw the car was locked. Since when did Stefan go to school by car? He always ran, it was easier and, so he said, the wind was good for his hair. A few feet away were a couple of guys standing around a girl, I recognized one of Stefan's friends. Maybe Stefan was there too. I headed towards the guys but something felt wrong so I decided to sneak up on them and hid behind the nearest tree. From where I was standing, I was able to see a girl that looked a little younger than me, her face scared but also determined. The older boys were standing with their back to me so I couldn't see what they were doing but when the biggest guy of them grabbed the girl by the arm, I ran to her without thinking. But before I could help, he suddenly flew back, hard against a car that had been standing a few feet away. Amazed, I watched him get up and smile, cleaning the dirt of his pants. There were six guys, all football players with a lot of muscles.
The one that should've been in a lot of pain but wasn't, said ''Was that all you got?'' He laughed.
''You'll need to do better than that, doll.'' Two tall guys who stood closest suddenly noticed me.
''What are you looking at?'' the one with a lot of zips on his face said. He grabbed my arm and put me next to the girl.
''What did you see?'' The biggest guy said.
His pants were torn a little and his hair contained more gel than actual hair. I started to think that he was the one who was the leader.
I crossed my arms, refused to speak to them. I looked at all the boys their faces but didn't recognize any but Stefan's friend who was standing in the back, not coming in between. Good friend you are, I thought.
''Answer me! '' the leader said.
''I saw nothing.'' I said, not knowing what else to say. I didn't know how much he knew about the supernatural world and also didn't want to give him too much information. I started to move forward, back to the car and gestured to the girl to follow. She looked more scared than before but she nodded.
A chest stopped me.
I groaned.
''What?'' I said. I looked him in the eyes and moved to the left to go around him but he also went to the left. ''Where do you think you're going? We're not done with the two of you, not at all.'' He said. The one with the zips laughs and winked at me. I felt like puking.
''Roger, you can have her, Louis, take this one.'' He pointed at the guy with the zips when he said Louis. Louis came to me and started kissing me in the neck. I pushed away, shocked someone would just do something like that. I looked at the other girl, this Roger guy was doing the same to her.
''Stop it! '' we both screamed. I did not see this end well but fortunately, I was wrong. Suddenly, Stefan was holding Louis in the air, feet above the ground.
''That is my sister, dumbass.'' He said through clenched teeth, obviously trying to keep it together. He looked at me.
''You, get in the damn car, take the girl with you.''
''I'm Elena, by the way.'' I told her, trying to joke to break the tension while we walked to the car. I turned my head around to see Stefan arguing with the leader and right before he could punch him, I turned my head back. I didn't want to see that, he shouldn't have punched him even though he deserved it.
''I'm Willow.'' She smiled a little and wanted to look over her shoulder but I stopped her. ''Don't look.'' ''Why?'' She asked. I just shook my head and guided her toward the car. Only a second later, Stefan was with us and got behind the wheel.
''Where do you live?'' He asked Willow.
''A block away from here. '' He nodded and started the car. I looked through the window, trying not to focus on the fact of what my brother did to the football players. We dropped Willow of and didn't say another word for the whole ride home. It wasn't until we were home that I remembered how I got in trouble in the first place. ''Since when do you take the car?'' I asked while we got out.
He ignored me and went inside. I rolled my eyes and followed.
Damon, Rebekah and Mikael were inside. ''How do you make it happen to take half an hour to get here while school is only seven minutes away?'' Damon asked. He had a glass of Bourbon in his right hand but judging by the way he behaved, it was one of his firsts. I shrugged and greeted Mikael. He asked me how school was and all that but I didn't feel like answering in detail so I shrugged.
''Why wasn't Elijah at school to pick me up?'' I asked Rebekah while sitting down on the other couch.
''He punished Stefan. He needs to take you to and from school every day from now on, for a month.'' Rebekah answered.
I grinned. I knew how much he hated cars and driving them.
''I wouldn't laugh so hard about it, it wasn't the only thing. '' I raised my eyebrow.
''He also grounded Stefan and Klaus which means they stay home with you. ''
''What?! No! '' I raised my hands in disbelief. ''That is punishing me too while I didn't''
''you didn't do anything?'' Rebekah said with an angry parent look on her face.
I stood up.
''It's still not fair. '' I couldn't help but to have the last word. Damon pushed me back in the chair, which slid a little backwards.
''We're not done with you.''
I felt a cold shiver. It was the same thing the guy had said a few minutes earlier. Damon noticed my sudden fear but so did the other vampires. I hated their super hearing which made them able to tell if I were lying or how I was feeling, all based on the speed of my heart. Mikael was the first one to speak.
''Elena, what's wrong?'' I looked away, fidgeting with my T-shirt. I didn't want to tell them, they'd become worried and I wanted to prove I could look after myself but what had happened didn't help me get to my goals. But I couldn't keep quiet, I needed to say something else. I wished I was more creative than I was because the only
thing I could come up with to say was: ''Nothing. I'm fine. '' Great, very believable. I was glad Elijah walked in which distracted everyone. I ran to him and gave him a hug, I hadn't seen him since yesterday and I hoped he wasn't too mad at me. I felt relieved when he hugged me back. ''Is it activated?'' Damon asked. I stepped away from Elijah. ''Is what activated?'' I asked. Elijah sighed and scratched the back of his head. He always did this when he was about to tell someone something they wouldn't like.
He lifted me on the kitchen island so we were on eye height.
''I know you think I always nag.''
''That's not''
''Let me finish.'' I kept shut.
''It is dangerous outside, more than you can imagine. The only thing we can do to keep you safe , to protect you , is to keep you locked inside. '' I frowned.
I wanted to tell him to tell me what was dangerous because now, I was hiding from something I didn't know. But I let him talk, not sure it would help to ask
about it.
''That's why you can't go outside anymore, unless one of us is with you.''
''Isn't that what we've been doing for the last couple of weeks? '' I asked confused. Damon sighed loudly and rolled his eyes.
''You literally can't take a step outside without one of us holding your hands, Blondie.'' The Blondie comment got him an angry look from Rebekah. Even though my hair color was brown, Damon called everyone who he ought dumb a Blondie. Rebekah though, was blond and she didn't like it all when Damon said something like that. I still didn't get it and Elijah knew it. He put me on the ground, in front of the door. ''Try to go outside. '' He said. Not knowing where this was going to, I obeyed but before I
could feel the fresh air from the woods around me, I bumped into an invisible wall. I stumbled back and though I must've hit something and tried again. The second
I tried to step through the door, I got bumped back inside.
''What have you done?'' I asked, nearly whispering and fighting my tears.
