Chapter 14: For the Best

Drip. Drop. Drip. Drop. The water dripped constantly, no break in between. A puddle formed as the drops continued causing the corner of the basement floor to become damp. It was obvious that the building was quite old with the look of the upkeep. Not only that, but the amount of creaks that could be heard. From walking across the floor, to doors opening and shutting. The building sounded like it was ready to collapse at any minute from exhaustion. In many ways, it was great for a hideout as no one would looking at going there. They would wander right past it as it's abandoned and doesn't look to be in use, but it couldn't be far from the truth.

She lay there, her body in a state of limbo. Half alive, half dead. Steady breaths left her lips as a purple bruise formed on her cheekbone, a small puddle of blood evident from where she hit her head on the concrete. Flicking her eyes slightly, she opened her eyes, a sharp pain which felt like daggers blistering through her head. Swallowing, her throat like sand paper, she tried to ignore the pain, but her vision kept blurring and the pain grew stronger. Closing her eyes again, she took a deep breath, trying to fight the pain. She was strong, she could do this. She could do anything if she put her heart and mind into it.

"Dammit Isobel! I said I wanted her here! Her! Again, she sends you!"
"Unfortunately, she was rather bu-"
"Bullshit! Do not tell me that she busy! She is not busy! Why the hell did she send you anyway!? Did you tell her about who I have got downstairs?"
"Oh, she is fully aware Julian."
"And?"
"And...she wants her dead."

"And I'll happily do it! I'm up to the task!" He snapped at her, walking along, the floorboards creaking in time with his steps, "If that's what it takes for her to see me!"
"Here was me thinking that the only stupid ones to be obsessed with her were the Salvatore brothers."
"Obsessed? They were fools! They never had with her what I did! None of them!"
"You're the fool for believing she would give you the time of the day, even after killing her."
"I know her better than you do! Just you wait!"

The basement door slammed open as Julian stomped down the steps, Isobel following down slowly as she watched him and then looked to the brunette who was lying on the floor, moans of pain coming from her. Groaning, Julian went over and pulled the chair up to a sitting position as Elena closed her eyes tightly, the pain growing worse.

"You did some damage there sweetheart." Julian commented, touching the side of her head as a sharp pain rushed through her skull.
"Stop!" She yelped with all of her energy, tears falling like a waterfall.

"If she stays away from the Salvatore's, Katherine will have no reason to kill her."
"I will kill her and bring Katherine to me. I don't care about her or the Salvatore's, I just want Katherine!"
"Katherine cares about the Salvatore's, sh-"
"NO! She cares about me and ONLY me!"

Julian turned around, grabbing Elena by the chin as she cried in pain, slowly opening her eyes to look up at him as he glared down at her, "I'm gonna ask you some questions alright? And I want straight answers. Any bullshit and the pain you're feeling will be a distant memory, understood?"

Letting out a sob, she mustered up a weak nod, taking a deep breath and he stroked his thumb over the bruise growing on her cheek.

"Good girl. So, first question...what is going on between you and Damon Salvatore?"
"Nothing." She whispered hoarsely.
"You did here me before right? No bullshit!"
"That's the truth!" She cried in frustration, "We are nothing!"
"I told you to stop lying!"

Julian groaned in anger, backhanding her as she sobbed in pain, looking down at the ground, "I told you...I'm not."

Sniffing, she whimpered just wishing the world would fade to black and she wouldn't have to feel the amount of pain she was feeling at this moment. Looking over to the corner, she froze slightly, a purple plant sitting in a pot capturing her eye. It was feathery, like a herb, it looked like lavender. Swallowing, a memory hit her like it was yesterday.

A 10 year old Elena sat swinging her legs as she sat on her father's desk watching him work. Grayson looked up at her, a grin playing on his face as he held the vervain up to her, a look of confusion appearing on her face as she tilted her head, looking at the plant in her dad's hand.

"Daddy, what is that?" Elena asked, her voice innocent.
"This...my little girl, is something that I want you to remember. It may not look like it now, but this can protect you beyond ways possible."
"Protect me from what daddy?"
"Unfortunately, not every person you meet will be nice. But for these types in particular, this will protect you alright?"
"Okay daddy."
"Just hold it close and don't let go." Taking her hand, he placed it and wrapped her hand around it, "You'll be safe."
"What does it do?"
"Certain people have influences sweetie. Like...mind control, this prevents it."
"Thank you daddy."
"I love you honey."
"I love you daddy."

"You know something, my love for Katherine, it is special. You cannot compare it to her relationship with the Salvatores! I am the one she loves, she love me and no one else. It's more special than anything, even than whatever her relationship is with that asshole Damon!"

"Katherine does no-"
"Yes she does! She feels the same, she loves me and I'm going to make her happy."

Turning to Elena, he glared at her, taking the knife from out of his pocket as he bent down, holding the knife to her neck as she swallowed, tears falling down her cheeks, trying to move away but he brought the knife closer and shook his head, sighing. "I'm really sorry Elena, but unfortunately, you need to die in order for me to see Katherine. Just close your eyes, I will make it quick."

Breathing deeply, he lifted the knife to stab it into her as she closed her eyes and held her breath, preparing for the hit. Just as he was about to drive the knife down, he gasped in pain, feeling a sharp object in his chest. Looking up, he seen Isobel had drove a stake into his chest, "Isobel...?"

"Goodbye Julian." She replied in monotone as he collapsed to the floor, the knife along with him, his skin turning grey and decomposed.

Elena opened her eyes, gasping in shock, tears flooding her eyes as Isobel untied her arms and legs, walking over to the vervain that sat in the corner of the room as she ripped a piece from it and turned back to her.

"Thank you." Elena whimpered.
"Don't thank me. "
"Wh-what?" She frowned.
"You don't have much time, so listen to me carefully, alright?" Isobel held her gaze.
"Uh...I...okay?"
"In about 5 minutes, Damon is going to show up here. He is going to help you."
"How? How do-"
"He knows. Believe me. You need to stay away from him, from Stefan. Stay away from both of them."
"But-"
"Listen, this is the best for now. He is gonna come here, you need to tell him anything, anything to end this. I will see you soon Elena."

Within seconds, she vanished from site as Elena looked around in confusion, tears falling down her face as she tried to stand, but fell in a heap, gasping in pain. Anything to end this? Tell him what? Hearing a door slam open, she jumped and crawled backwards slowly, fear running up her spin. Hearing footsteps rushing down the stairs, she panicked and suddenly froze as she seen Damon.

"Damon?" Elena questioned hoarsely.
"Oh Elena." Damon rushed over, falling to his knees as he looked her over, "Christ, what did he...oh El."

Swallowing, he tipped her chin gently, checking the bruise on her cheek and the blood on the side of her head as she held her breath, sadness running through her as she remembered Isobel's words. "I...I-"

"Its okay, everything is going to be okay. I am going to help you, were gonna get you out of here."
"No. I...no. Nothing is going to be okay," She let out a soft sob, looking up at him, "I can't be a part of this. This world. I can't."
"Elena-" He cupped her cheek, lost of words as he stared at her.
"I-I want to forget." She whispered, staring up at him, "I want to forget this...us. I want to forget it all. I can't take it."

Damon stared at her, sadness pooling in his eyes as he stroked her hair back, being careful of her wounds, "I can make you forget. I can take all the pain away. Make you forget this, our meeting. Everything that ever happened between us."

"Do it." Elena whispered, staring up at him as he nodded, blinking away tears.
"Be safe." Leaning forward, he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and tilted her chin, looking into her eyes.
"Damon, I-"

"Shhh." Stroking his thumb over her lips, he began compelling her, "You will forget us ever meeting, you will forget every moment we have had together, you will have no memory or thought on the matter of us. You will forget the car crash, about Katherine, about this night, the torture. You will only remember everything from before the night we met."

Elena held his gaze as if in a trance as he swallowed and tilted his head, smiling weakly, "Goodbye Elena."

Within seconds, he was gone and only Elena was left. Letting out the breath she was holding, she looked around the room as tears began falling. Opening her hand, she looked at the vervain that she had squeezed, marking her hand purple and sighed deeply. Isobel knew. Raising to her feet slowly, she whimpered and dropped the vervain as she slowly made her way upstairs, finding the strength as she made her way outside and near sobbed in relief when she seen a cop car pull up. Falling to her knees, she broke down as Liz Forbes got out of the car and ran over, calling for backup over the radio.

"Elena, Elena are you okay? Answer me."

She couldn't answer, she was numb, the nightmare still alive in her head, the pain the living proof of the nightmare that she had gone through. Releasing the vervain from her hand, it dropped to the ground as only one thought continued crossing her mind.

I'm sorry Damon, its for the best.

A/N: Hello! Yes two chapters, call me crazy! I hope you enjoyed the two chapters, more will be coming very soon, I can guarantee and promise you!

Thank you so much.

Shauna