"Stripped"
Chapter 11: Betrayal
"I told you to wear sneakers," Bella said as she and Caroline walked through the muddy woods.
"Well excuse me for wanting to look good for Tyler." Caroline replied. "So, how much further?"
"We're almost there," Bella replied.
"Why didn't we ask Bonnie to come again?" Caroline asked.
"Because she's too close to going to the dark side." Bella replied. "She does that, the spirits will abandon her."
"What about you?" Caroline countered.
"The spirits abandoned me a long time ago," Bella said, "I'm damaged Caroline; nothing can hurt me anymore."
They arrived at the grave yard where Elijah, Kol, Rebekah and Klaus (in Tyler's body) were waiting.
"What's she doing here?" Rebekah asked narrowing her eyes.
"She's here to help me," Bella replied glaring.
"Bella, seeing as how Damon isn't around how about we get a bite to eat after this…" Kol suggested, "You can be the dessert."
"Do you want your brother's body back or not?" Bella asked.
"I'm more partial to yours," Kol replied.
"Enough," Elijah said, interrupting, "What do you need us to do?"
"Three circles for three people," Bella replied, "Coffin goes on the right, Klaus you stand in the left one."
They did as they were told.
"Now what?" Rebekah asked impatiently.
"Now everyone step back and when I say back I mean way back," Bella said as she stepped into the circle.
As soon as she was in, the three circles lit up in flames.
"What's going on?" Kol asked tensely.
"Shut up," Bella replied and raised her hands.
"I call upon the power to aid me now in this hour,
From the essence let the body rise from the ashes, as the lightning strikes and thunder crashes."
Suddenly the stars in the clear night sky disappeared as the clouds formed, leaving only the light of the blood moon.
Bella pulled out a knife and cut her hand.
"I spill my blood for you, I ask you to bring the shell back from where it is.
Bring it back from the dark, soulless abyss.
I sacrifice my blood, witch's blood bring him back.
Let the spirit have the body he lacks.
On this the blood moon let what was done be undone,
Allow the body and spirit to be one."
Suddenly the lightning struck the coffin and flames appeared. As they dissipated Klaus' body was revealed.
"Separate this soul from that body and return it to his own,
Let the spirit become one in the flesh and bone."
Suddenly Tyler dropped to the ground and Klaus sat up. The flames around the circles disappeared and Caroline ran to Tyler.
"Well done," Klaus said after looking himself over, "I am impressed with how powerful you are."
"You have what you want, now leave," Bella said; she was drained.
"Oh but see I've found something else I want," Klaus said menacingly, "You."
"I'm not available," Bella replied through gritted teeth, "Get out of here."
"I always get what I want Isabella." Klaus said brushing her cheek and she stepped back.
"You won't get me." Bella said assuring him.
"Klaus let's go." Elijah said.
The Mikelsons disappeared before Bella fell to the ground.
"Bella," Caroline said while rushing over with Tyler.
"Bells," Tyler said worriedly.
Bella opened her eyes, "Nice to see you Tyler." Bella said.
"Are you okay?" Caroline asked. "Your nose is bleeding."
"Hazard of using that much power," Bella replied while sitting up, "Everyone okay?"
"I can't believe you did that," Tyler said while helping her up.
"What are friends for?" Bella replied.
"We need to get her checked out," Caroline said.
"No I just need to sleep." Bella protested. "Please."
"How are you going to explain this to everyone?" Caroline asked once they were in the car.
"I don't care right now," Bella said, "I just want my bed."
.*.*.*.*.*.
About thirty minutes later the two of them had gotten Bella up the stairs and Caroline had gotten her changed.
"We'll stay," Caroline said as she handed Bella some water.
"No you're not," Bella replied, "You two have been separated long enough, go have reunion sex."
"Bella," Caroline said shocked.
"Oh come on, I may be a virgin but I know that's why you got all dressed up now get out of here." Bella said as she laid down.
Tyler and Caroline left leaving Bella to get some rest.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Two days later, Damon had returned and was sitting in the Grill, drinking.
"Where have you been?" Jeremy asked while sitting next to him.
"Gone," Damon replied, "What do you want?"
"Have you seen Bella?" Jeremy asked. "Or Caroline or Tyler? None of us have."
"No and I don't care," Damon said while signaling the bartender for another.
"Well I think Tyler and Caroline are having a happy reunion." A crisp familiar voice said.
Damon froze before he slowly turned around.
"Hello Damon," Klaus said smirking, "How are you?"
"What the hell?" Jeremy asked shocked.
"Not now child, the adults are talking," Klaus replied dismissively, "Have you missed me? Well you really couldn't miss me because I never left."
"What?" Damon asked, still in shock.
"Oh yes, no one has told you. Well long story short, your little witch Bonnie placed me in Tyler's body before Alaric destroyed mine. I've been behaving like a good little boy seeing as how that was the deal I made with your other witch friend…Bella. She is quite the powerful one I'd say; using dark magic to bring my body back, a bit scary if you ask me." Klaus rambled. "But none the less I do appreciate her doing it. So now I'm back and have no plans of leaving."
"Bella did what?" Damon asked while still trying to process the news.
"Oh you really are daft," Klaus replied, "I don't see what she sees in you other than your looks; you aren't dependable otherwise you wouldn't have up and left for almost a week. Don't worry though…it works to my advantage giving me a chance to steal her away from here."
Damon quickly stood up and slammed Klaus' head on the bar.
"You stay away from her," Damon snarled, "You hear me. I will end you if you go near her."
"So you do care for her," Klaus said amused before he quickly moved, pinning Damon against the bar, "Tell me do you care for her like you do Elena or since Elena rejected you Bella is your back up? You know a woman like Bella should never be someone's back up."
"I'm going to kill you," Damon growled.
"Not without a white oak stake and they are all gone." Klaus said and released him, "I'll be seeing you around Damon. Say hello to Bella for me."
Klaus left and Jeremy started calling Bella.
"Straight to voicemail." Jeremy said after hanging up.
"Get the others; I'll meet you at the boarding house." Damon said while grabbing his jacket.
"Where are you going?" Jeremy called.
"To get Bella." Damon said before he disappeared.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Bella," Damon said while bursting through the front door, "Bella," He rushed up the stairs into her room "BELLA!"
"Don't shout," a voice said from under the covers, "I'm trying to sleep."
"Get up," Damon angrily said before ripping the covers off Bella.
"Go away," Bella replied before burying her head in the pillow.
"Get your ass up; you have some explaining to do." Damon said angrily.
"I don't have to explain myself to you," Bella said; finally looking at him.
She looked pale with dark circles under her eyes and she looked like she had lost some weight.
"You have been avoiding me and you won't explain why you just ditched so go to hell," Bella continued before she pulled the covers back over head.
"This is serious Bella, what the fuck were you thinking bringing Klaus' body back?" Damon asked, ripping the covers off again.
"I was thinking about my friends," Bella said glaring before sitting up, "You know the ones that are always there for you, defend you, answer your fucking calls. That's what I was thinking about."
"Bella forget the phone calls, you just unleashed a psycho on the town," Damon said completely shocked at her actions.
"If he knows what's good for him he won't do anything." Bella replied.
"He wants you Bella. Do you have any idea what he's capable of?" Damon asked as he started to pace.
"I know but I'm stronger than him," Bella said indignantly.
"Really because the way it looks you look like shit right now." Damon snapped. "You've drained yourself."
"I don't care," Bella said narrowing her eyes, "I helped Tyler and Caroline; that's all that matters. Now get out."
"You know you always tell me my faults so now let's turn the tables; you're stubborn, you're like a little child." Damon said. "Now get dressed." He threw some clothes at her.
"Are we going to talk about it?" Bella asked after getting out of bed.
"Talk about what?" Damon said tensely.
"Don't do that," Bella warned, "Not to me. Don't close off to me."
"Heat of the moment Bella," Damon said while pretending not to care, "Stop overanalyzing things."
Bella started to walk past him but as her arm brushed up against his, she saw a vision flash through his mind of him compelling her.
Bella moved away; stunned, angry and hurt.
"Bella," Damon said worried, "Bella are you alright?"
"What did you do?" Bella asked; her eyes narrowing, "Why did you do it?"
"What are you talking about?" Damon asked confused.
"Compelling me," Bella said while pushing him away, "What did you compel me to forget?"
Damon stepped back, "Bella don't; it's not important."
"Tell me," Bella said as she moved towards him, "What did you do?"
"Bella it's not important," Damon repeated while moving away from her.
Bella flung him against the wall, pinning him there, "Fine I'll find out for myself."
Bella walked over to him, placing her hands on either side of Damon's face, forcing him to look at her.
"Show me," She whispered.
Suddenly memories of the night at the club flooded her mind, every smell, every touch, every emotion bombarded her mind and once it was finished she moved backwards, grabbing the bed post for leverage and turning away from Damon.
"Bella," he said; his voice soft.
"How could you?" She said; tears brimming at her eyes, "I thought you treating me like a blood bag was bad, but this; you compelled me. You took away a memory, how could you?"
"I thought it was for the best." Damon defended.
Bella whirled around, "Yeah well you know what, Edward thought the same thing…you're no better than him. Get out. Get out and don't come back here."
"Bella please," Damon said while moving towards her, "You have to understand; I didn't want to hurt you."
"Well you failed that mission," Bella snapped, "Get out."
Damon was about to say something else but Bella used, throwing him down the stairs and out the door. She walked down the stairs after him, placed her hand on the frame before she quickly spoke a few words. Damon got up and headed straight for the door but he found he couldn't get in.
"Bella," he said.
"Sorry Damon," Bella hissed as she grabbed the door handle, "Changed the locks." She slammed the door.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"I can't believe she did that," Elena said, "I can't believe you did that."
"My options were kind of limited Elena," Bonnie defended, "She should of called."
Damon came into the room at that point and everyone stared at him.
"What?" he asked angrily.
"Where is she?" Elena said, "Is she okay?"
"No Elena she is not okay and that is my doing." Damon said while pouring himself a drink, "Now if you all will excuse me, I am going to go drink my sorrows away."
Elena followed Damon up the stairs to his room.
"What happened?" Elena asked.
"I hurt her alright," Damon said, "I did something that was worse than biting her."
"Damon," Elena said gently, "She'll forgive you."
"No she won't," Damon scoffed, "I went too far this time and she has every right to be angry; I had no right to take it away from her."
"Take what?" Elena asked.
"A memory," Damon mumbled.
"You compelled her," Elena said shocked.
"Only once," Damon said, "I didn't want to hurt her; no, I didn't want to lose her."
"Why?" Elena asked, "What happened?"
"We kissed one night," Damon said with a sigh; he needed to get this out, "It was before Katherine came, before Anna died. We had gone out to a bar, been drinking and it happened. I wanted to, I wanted her to feel how it should feel; I mean she had told me she had kissed Matt and I was just thought 'that's not enough'. I wanted her to know what it should feel like when you feel something for someone but I was just pretending. When it happened it was just supposed to be quick but the alcohol took over and it went longer. I didn't want her to think it meant something so I compelled her."
"I think you didn't want to admit it meant something for you," Elena said quietly, "You felt something, didn't you?"
"Doesn't matter now." Damon said, "It's done."
"Only if you want it to be," Elena said, "But first you have to admit something."
"What?" Damon asked. "What do I need to admit?"
"That you care about her as more than a friend." Elena said, "I told you Damon, there's something there between the two of you and she isn't just upset that you took her memory away but that in a way you rejected her which means she felt something too. She always has and it's more than a friendship; she loves you even if she hasn't realized it."
"You're crazy," Damon scoffed.
"Am I?" Elena replied, "Take a good look at your past with her Damon; the signs are there, you just have to be willing to see them."
Elena walked out of the room, leaving Damon alone with his thoughts. He closed his eyes, laid back on his bed and thought back to all the memories with Bella and one stuck out the most.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Christmas – Two Years Ago
"So what are you saying?" Damon asked as he drank his whiskey-loaded eggnog while they walked outside in the snow.
"I'm saying that maybe you're scared." Bella replied.
"Please," Damon scoffed, "I'm a vampire."
"True but you are still human to a degree; you feel," Bella countered. "Look all I'm saying is maybe you don't really love Elena and before you even jump down my throat, let me explain. Elena is an exact physical copy of Katherine; the woman who jilted you. You are still hung up on Katherine to a degree so those feelings are transferred to Elena but Elena is everything Katherine isn't and that draws you to her. So mix that with the transference of feelings and you get this entire situation. Maybe you do love Elena but I think it's more the familiarity that draws you in and not the emotion."
"You lost me," Damon said.
"I'm saying that you want Elena because the situation is the same as it was with Katherine; Stefan, you and the girl. You are gravitating towards it because you know the outcome, you know what can happen so instead of moving on and taking a chance, you stick with the dysfunctional because it's familiar. Taking a chance means trying and opening up which you're scared to do because you're afraid you'll be someone's second choice again." Bella explained.
"How will I know that the unknown is right?" Damon argued.
"Grams, has always said that the right one is different. The kiss that shows you the person is the one isn't planned, its fate almost and it's not consuming or overwhelming; it's subtle but noticeable. You do things differently with that person; things you don't do with others." Bella replied.
"Ever thought of becoming a psychologist?" Damon asked.
"It's crossed my mind," Bella said while laughing and they stopped walking, "Damon you're a good guy."
"Not many people would agree with you," Damon replied.
"They don't know you like I do." Bella countered, "I know the good, the bad, all of it. You deserve happiness but you won't get it until you believe that you deserve it."
"What about you Bella?" Damon asked countering, "What do you want in a relationship?"
"I want someone that trusts me, who doesn't underestimate me, who can let their walls down around me but in turn I want to feel that I can do the same." Bella said, "I don't want a hero or a knight in shining armor, I want a partner because sometimes I do need to be rescued but not always."
Damon smiled, "Are you sure you're only seventeen?"
Bella laughed, "Yes, I'm sure. Grams is always saying that I have an old soul in a young body."
"She's right," Damon said agreeing, "Where is she?"
"Over there looking for a Christmas tree and watching us to make sure you don't bite me or something." Bella answered.
"Me bite you," Damon said with mock shock, "Well I'm offended."
Suddenly a snow ball hit Damon in the back of the head.
"Where the hell did that come from?" Damon asked while looking around.
Bella avoided his gaze, but she was smiling.
"Bella," Damon said; drawing out her name, "You really want to do this."
"Do what?" Bella asked innocently and suddenly the snow on the branch above his head fell, covering him.
Bella made a run for it and Damon followed. Once they were out of the public eyesight (just a few feet into the forest), Damon used his vampire speed but Bella used which caused more snow to fall behind her from the trees, obscuring his vision.
"Bella," Damon called after stopping, "I know you're here; I can hear your heart beating."
Suddenly a snow ball flew at him from the left but he quickly went right and tackled Bella to the ground. He quickly rolled so that he was on his back and Bella was lying on top him off the cold ground.
"Got you," Damon said with a smile.
"You should do that more often," Bella commented while grinning.
"Do what?" Damon asked while brushing a strand of hair out of her face.
"Smile." Bella replied.
"I do smile," Damon countered.
"No you smirk," Bella said, "You never really smile."
"I think I only smile around you," Damon said honestly. "You're different."
"That a bad thing?" Bella asked.
"No," Damon said while shaking his head, "Don't ever change." Damon and Bella stared at each other for a while until he said, "We should get back otherwise your grandmother will think I'm corrupting you."
Bella laughed and got up off of Damon before she helped him up. They walked back towards where they started and Bella waved to her grandma, who looked relieved to see her.
"You've got snow in your hair," Damon said before trying to brush it off.
Suddenly a little boy ran past and started screaming, "Hey mister, lady, you're under the Mistletoe. You gotta kiss."
Damon and Bella both looked up and laughed.
"You think I should?" Damon asked the kid.
"Uh-huh," The little boy replied, "She's pretty. If you don't I will."
"Damon you're getting out charmed by a six year old," Bella said while laughing.
"No one out charms me," Damon said before he leaned down next to the boy, "So other then you kissing her, what will happen if I don't kiss her?"
"Well my nana told me that if a guy doesn't kiss the girl he's with under the Mistletoe then he'll lose her for all eternity." The little boy answered, "So if you don't want to lose her then you should kiss her."
Damon laughed, "The kid has a point," Damon said before he stood up, "I wouldn't want to lose you."
Bella laughed as Damon pulled her towards him and he leaned down. His lips lightly pressing against hers; warmth started to slowly trickle through his veins as he kissed Bella. It was subtle, not overwhelming, but noticeable.
"Isabella," Ms. Swan called, causing them to break apart, "Let's go."
Bella shook her head before she gently placed a kiss on Damon's cheek, "See you later Damon."
She stopped next to the boy and leaned down to give him a kiss on the cheek as well. He lit up like the Christmas tree in the town square and ran to his mom to tell her. Damon watched as Bella walked with her grandma but she turned around and threw Damon one more smile.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Damon quickly sat up.
"Subtle but noticeable yet not overwhelming," Damon said. "It's been her."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella laid there crying in the dark at the betrayal Damon had done. Suddenly she heard shattering glass and walked down the stairs.
"Hello," a familiar voice said behind her.
"What are you doing here?" Bella asked tensely.
"You're spell didn't work all the way," The man replied, "Really ought to hide your spare key better." He said before he tossed her the key.
"What do you want?" Bella asked.
"I'm not gonna let this town be overrun by vampires, werewolves or witches," the man hissed.
"I won't let you hurt them," Bella replied tensing.
"Oh I know," he said taking a step towards her, "Which is why I need you gone."
In the darkness the light from the moon reflected on the knife and Bella didn't have time to react. Three swift quick stabs to her abdomen and she crumbled to the ground.
"Meredith has no more vampire blood at the hospital and even if she did, she couldn't use it. You see the police are on their way as is an ambulance so if she did use it on you, the town would find out about everyone any ways. I've stabbed you in your main organs and you aren't going to survive." The man stood up from his kneeling position and sighed, "You know back in the day we burned witches, but this seems to be a much better way to do things."
He opened the front door and walked out, leaving the door open.
A/N: Hey everyone I am going to go hide for a little bit and wait for your reactions.
Thank you Dark~Supernatural~Angel for all your amazing work, for being a wonderful beta and for being a good friend.
Shout out to my loves over at Bambi's Beloveds the facebook group I'm a part of. You guys should really come join us it's an awesome madhouse over there.
Review!