A/N: One more chapter and we're done with Season 2. As usual, I only own my OCs.
Chapter 16: The Sacrifice
"Tonight is the full moon. We should assume that Klaus is prepared to break the curse," Elijah said and I stared at the floor blankly. This was it.
"Elena said that The Sun and The Moon Curse is fake? That it's actually just a curse placed on Klaus," Stefan said, asking for Elijah's confirmation.
"Klaus is a vampire born of a werewolf bloodline. The curse has kept his werewolf aspect from manifesting. But if he breaks it he'll be a true hybrid," Elijah told.
"Then why are we letting him break the curse?" Damon interjected, joining us in the library. "We can kill him today. With Bonnie," he said, trying to convince Elena. As much as I didn't like to put Bonnie's life at stake, I would rather have hers than Elena's.
"Damon…" Stefan tried to persuade his brother.
"No. Bonnie can't use that much power without dying," Elena said firmly.
"Alright," I interjected, trying to stop an argument. "How do we break this curse exactly?" I asked Elijah, changing the topic.
"Well, the ritual itself is relatively straightforward. The ingredients, so to speak, you already know," Elijah said and I nodded.
"The moonstone."
"A witch will channel the power of the full moon to release the spell that's bound within the stone. After that, Klaus, being both werewolf and vampire, will sacrifice one of each," Elijah explained.
"And where do I fit into it?" Elena asked.
"The final part of the ritual," Elijah said and took a wooden box from the shelf. "Klaus must drink the blood of the doppelganger…to the point of your death," Elijah said and I ignored the unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. I watched as Stefan took Elena's hand in his, in need of support.
"And that's where you come in," Elena said, trying to remain positive and Elijah took out an ancient looking jar.
"This is an elixir that I acquired some 500 years ago for Katerina. It possesses mystical properties of resuscitation," Elijah said.
"So I'll be dead?" Elena asked.
"And then you won't," Elijah replied without hesitation.
"That's your plan? A magical witch potion with no expiration date?" Damon asked and I sighed.
"We don't have any other options," I said softly, trying to get Damon to understand.
"You want to come back to life, what about John's ring?" he asked.
"Those rings only work on humans. The doppelgänger's a supernatural occurrence. Odds are, the ring won't work," Elijah said.
"I'll take those odds over your elixir. What if it doesn't work, Elena?" Damon asked.
"Then I guess I'll just be dead," Elena said and I looked at her in disbelief. How can she say that as if life and death didn't matter at all? Damon looked at Stefan for him to object but he shrugged, accepting whatever Elena had decided. His light blue eyes met mine and I looked away. He knew I didn't like these odds either. Knowing that I wouldn't do anything either, he stormed out of the room without another words.
I sighed, before turning to Elijah. "Do we know if Klaus has everything he needs to do this?" I asked. "Werewolves are pretty scarce nowadays."
"Klaus has been waiting to break this curse for over a thousand years. If he doesn't already have a werewolf, my guess is by tonight, he will," Elijah said and I took a deep breath.
"I'll go talk to Damon," Stefan said, patting Elena's hand softly. Elena nodded and sighed, walking over to Elijah to examine the elixir.
"You'd think he'd understand why I'm willing to do this," Elena complained at Elijah as she took the potion in her hands.
"Why are you?" I asked, my voice was stern and challenging. Elena turned to look at me, surprised at my tone.
"Vanessa, I thought we'd talked about this," Elena said, sounding exhausted. I sighed.
"I hate to agree with Damon," I said finally. "We're not even sure if the elixir will work," I said, glancing at Elijah.
"Vanessa's right. There's a possibility this elixir won't work. I don't want to mislead you," Elijah said calmly.
"I know the chance I'm taking," Elena said and I scoffed.
"I can't let you die, Elena," I said, holding her gaze firmly and she forcibly shut her eyes.
"Vanessa, I'm the key to breaking the curse. Klaus is here because of me. If I don't stop him, then he's going to hurt the people I love," Elena said and took my hand in hers, looking at me with her brown, doe like eyes. Damn, I hate it when she did that. "If I run like Katherine did, he's going to kill you. I can't have that," Elena said and I sighed, squeezing her hand.
The door was slammed shut, interrupting our conversation.
"Get out!" I heard Jenna yelled.
"Jenna, Jenna!" That sounded like Alaric. I shared a look with Elena before going to the front door. Jenna was pointing a crossbow at Alaric who had his hands up.
"Jenna, put the crossbow down, okay? It's me," Alaric said, sounding much like himself. He saw me and quickly turned to me. "Vanessa, I swear it's me."
"What's going on?" Elena asked, appearing a moment later.
"It's me. He let me go. Klaus let me go," Alaric said and I shared a look with Elena.
"Prove it," Damon demanded.
"Okay, uh, first night you and I spent together, Jeremy walked in right when I was about to-"
"Okay, it's him!" Jenna quickly cut him off. I smirked as I saw her face flushed and she sent me a warning look.
"Why did he let you go?" Stefan asked, slightly wary.
"He wanted me to deliver a message. The sacrifice happens tonight," Alaric said and my blood went cold.
"So you don't remember anything that happened?" Stefan asked, after Alaric finished telling his side of story.
"No. It's like I blacked out and woke up 3 days later. Katherine was there," he said and I had mixed feeling about Katherine. A part of me wished she would suffer and another part of me wished that she was alright.
"She's under compulsion. Damon snuck her some vervain, but she can't leave until Klaus tells her she can," Stefan said.
"Where's Damon?" Elena asked, noticing that he was missing.
"I saw him go upstairs," Jenna said and Elena excused herself and went to talk to Damon.
"So what else did I do?" Alaric asked, feeling slightly guilty and I exchanged looks with Jenna and Stefan. I'd heard about Klaus spilling everything about vampires to Jenna while playing with a knife in our own kitchen. Classic.
We were telling him about the past few days while his body was borrowed by Klaus, when we heard noise upstairs. Stefan was the first to arrive and I looked around. Elena was on the floor as Stefan went to her.
"What did you do?" I asked Damon, alarmed by the crazy look in his eyes.
"You're so bent on dying, at least this way I know you'll come back," Damon said to Elena.
"As a vampire! She'll come back as a vampire!" Stefan said angrily.
"Oh my god, why would you do that?" I asked Damon and he looked at me dangerously yet pleading for me to understand.
"It's better than nothing else," Damon said to me.
"How could you, of all people take that choice away from her?" Stefan said and Elena let out a whimper and glared at Damon while I tried to calm her down.
"Go ahead. Wish me an eternity of misery. Believe me, you'll get over it," Damon said to Elena and Stefan growled, pushing Damon across the room.
"Stefan!" Elena called as Damon took the wooden stick from the lamp and pushed Stefan against the wall with it.
"Admit it. You just wish you had the balls to do it yourself," Damon taunted and Stefan growled in anger before hitting Damon with the stick. Damon tried to attack but Stefan blocked it and punched Damon in the jaw. Then, the rational Stefan punched Damon again and again, three times in a row before hitting him again and Damon fell back. I knew I should intervene but Damon should never do that in the first place. And I never knew Stefan was such a badass.
Stefan was about to launch another punch when Damon staked him in the stomach with the stick and Elena rushed to his side. "Get out of here," Elena shouted at Damon in despise and I saw the hurt in his eyes.
"What the hell's going on here?" Alaric asked when he and Jenna arrived.
"Get him out of here!" Elena said it again and Alaric went to Damon who pushed him away. He finally left and I turned my attention back to Stefan.
"I'm going to take it out, okay?" I asked Stefan softly, knowing he would be in a lot of pain. He grunted in pain and Elena held his hand, trying to ease off the pain. I pulled the stick out without any effort but Stefan grunted in pain and lied down on Elena's lap.
"It's okay, it's okay. You're going to be okay," Elena said comfortingly, stroking Stefan's hair.
"I'm so sorry," Stefan cried out and I couldn't help but envy Elena at how much Stefan loved her. Seeing I wasn't needed there, I left the couple there and went downstairs.
"Where are you going?" I asked Elijah who was on his way out. He stopped and turned to look at me, a hand in his pocket.
"I'll be back before nightfall," he said and I nodded.
"I'll see you then,"
"Wait, there's something I need to tell you," I said after much hesitation. Elijah stood there and looked at me calculatingly, waiting. I met his gaze and wondered how this would change us. I was still mad at him but how could I stay mad forever? I couldn't just push away my feelings when they were really this strong. I gulped and took a sharp breath before meeting his dark brown orbs again.
"Cassandra isn't dead," I said. There you go. Finally.
"What?" Elijah asked. His composure was gone and he looked at me in disbelief.
"Klaus didn't kill her," I said and Elijah stared at me blankly, much like Katherine did when I told her about the news.
"She died in front of me, Vanessa," Elijah said, his voice strained with pain.
"When Klaus found me, he thought I was Cassandra," I explained. "I know I should have told you sooner," I said, trying my best to sound apologetic. I didn't want to tell him. I knew how much he loved-loves her. But I'd learn not to keep secret from people you cared about.
"Why didn't you?" he asked and I looked up to meet his eyes, lost as words.
"I guess…I'm afraid," I admitted.
"I should leave," he said suddenly and I became alarmed.
"Wait," I said, taking his hand. "You will still kill Klaus right?" I asked and he tilted his head to the side.
"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked questioningly.
"I don't know. Maybe you'll ask about Cassandra and he'll use that as your leverage," I said, trying not to sound bitter. He looked down at me and after a moment of us staring into each other, my mind became blank. Was he thinking of Cassandra as he looked into my eyes? Did my touch reminded him of hers?
I let go of his hand instantly.
"I will end Niklaus's life tonight. I give you my word," he said and I gave him a curt nod. His eyes burned into me and I forced myself to look at him. "Knowing Cassandra is alive changes things. But it doesn't change the way I feel about you," he said and I took a deep breath, and took a step back.
Lies.
"I'll see you by nightfall," I said coldly and walked back into the Boarding House without another word. I could feel Elijah's gaze burned at the back of my skull before he finally left. I walked to the library and poured myself a drink.
The next time I meet Klaus, I should ask him to compel me. Biting back a sigh, I downed the drink before refilling the glass.
It was almost dark outside, and none of them were yet to return. Jenna and I were hanging out, bonding. She asked me about being a vampire, and I was glad to tell her everything. Jenna was like my second mom and she listened to everything I've got to say and accepted it quite well.
"You're handling this really, really well," I said with a laugh.
"I'm glad you came back," she said and I smiled, contented.
"So Elijah is a vampire too," she said.
"An Original vampire. Remember when I told you he's way too old for me?" I asked and she laughed.
"Well, he's charming alright," she said and I pursed my lips.
"You and Alaric made up?" I asked, didn't like to further the conversation about Elijah.
"Yeah, I'm glad we did," she said and I nodded. "Hang on a second," she said, answering her phone.
"Jenna? Jenna?" I heard Elena's voice panicking over the phone.
"Elena, are you okay? Slow down," Jenna said.
"Jenna, help me. Is Vanessa there?" Elena asked, still panicking.
"Yes, where are you?" Jenna asked.
"I'm at the house, please, hurry up!" Elena said before hanging up.
"I'll meet you there!" I said hastily and Jenna nodded, taking her car keys. When I arrived at the doorstep, I was sent to my knees, my head was exploding. A female voice hovered above me, chanting a spell. She stopped before placing her hands on my head and then, my vision went black.
"Vanessa," I opened my eyes slowly, and was met with the familiar brown eyes. "What happened?" Elijah asked and I frowned, my head was pounding loudly but it was fading.
"I can't remember," I said and Elijah wrapped his arm around me, guiding me to walk.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Everyone else has gathered with Bonnie. Are you sure you're okay?" Elijah asked and I nodded.
"How did you find me?" I asked.
"You weren't at the Salvatore's, nor were you with Bonnie," he said and stopped. "I thought Klaus has you," he said and I could see his worries. I ignored the concern look in his eyes and stared right ahead.
"We better get going," I said and he stopped me.
"You're hurt, I understand. I sincerely apologize for what I did at the lake house. It wasn't noble of me, especially after I told you how much I care about you," he said and I looked away. It wasn't just that. He wouldn't understand. "Vanessa," he said, lifting my chin so that I looked at him.
"After this is all over, you should find her," I said, taking his hand in mine and removing it from my face.
"Thank god you're okay!" Bonnie exclaimed, hugging me and surprising me. She and I hadn't really talked to each other as she wasn't a fan of vampires. Especially since I was not really like Saint Stefan. But I hugged her back and smiled, appreciating her worries.
"Vanessa," Stefan called my name with such grimness that made me alert.
"What is it?" I asked, my heart thumped faster, waiting for the bad news.
"Klaus took Jenna," he said apologetically and I felt my whole world spun. Elijah caught me from falling, his arm wrapped securely around my waist. The burning sensation of his touch was what kept me from losing myself.
"Why? Why would he take her?" I asked, frantic. Deep breath.
"A punishment for meddling," Elijah said and I looked up at him in horror.
"What meddling are we talking about?" I asked, looking at Stefan and Bonnie.
"Klaus was going to use Tyler and Caroline. But Damon rescued them," Stefan said and I ran a hand over my face.
"I remember. Elena called Jenna and asked for our help…" I said and then I remembered Katherine was still in Klaus's clutch. "I should've known it was Katherine. Damn it!" I cried out frustratingly, hating that bitch more than ever.
"We need to go. Now. Before Jenna's been sacrificed. I can kill Klaus myself," Bonnie said determinedly.
"Bonnie, if you use that much power, you'll be dead. We've already been through this. It's not an option," Stefan said and I sighed, exasperated.
"We can't let Jenna die!" I said, horrified. Jenna was one of my only families left.
"That's why I'm going to offer another vampire. One that he'll want more," Stefan said and Bonnie and I looked at him. "Me," he said and my jaw dropped.
"No," I protested. "I'll offer myself. You can't. You can't sacrifice yourself," I said, gripping Stefan's shoulders tightly.
"I can't let you die," Stefan said honorably and I looked at him, eyes wide, speechless.
"Stefan, look," I said, taking his face in my hand forcefully. "Elena is going to survive through this ritual. She can't survive the aftermath without you," I said and Stefan shut his eyes painfully. "When I died, she grieved. And then you entered her life and you made her laugh again," I said convincingly.
"Jeremy needs you," Stefan said and it all came back to me. I can't die yet. I can't leave Jeremy.
"You know what?" I asked, releasing my grip on Stefan, my voice was rising. "Why don't I just go and grab a random stranger, and turn him into a vampire? End of discussion!" I said, running a hand through my hair in anger and desperation. Elijah stopped me from literally doing what I just said, and I sighed as I leaned into his arm, defeated.
"I've lived for more than a hundred years, Vanessa. You haven't," Stefan said. "Can you do a locater spell to find them?" Stefan asked Bonnie and I sighed. Bonnie hurried up inside and I turned to Stefan.
"Please don't do this," I said. "We all know who Elena loves most," I said softly, meeting his green eyes before going inside. I had to say goodbye to Jeremy if I was going to offer myself.
"Hey," I said to Jeremy, my eyes lingered at Bonnie who was performing a locater spell. "I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have left Jenna alone," I said and Jeremy hugged me. "I'm so sorry," I said, now apologizing for a different reason.
"It's not your fault," Jeremy told me kindly and I bit my lower lip. It was.
"You know how much I love you right?" I asked and he looked at me. Jeremy was just as good as me when it came to reading people.
"Yeah," he said, letting my weird, sudden, confession slide.
"Where are they?" I asked Bonnie urgently when she rose from the floor.
"They are at Steven's Quarry," Bonnie replied.
"Thanks," I said and before I left, I pulled Jeremy into a hug again, and kissed his cheek. I turned around, ready to leave when Elijah suddenly appeared in front of me.
"Elijah-" I gasped, surprised. He was blocking the door and I saw Stefan, who was standing outside, looking at me.
"I'm so sorry Vanessa. I can't let you do this," Stefan said and I narrowed my eyes at him.
"What?" I asked, confused when Elijah lifted my face and my eyes met his. Shit, no!
"You are to stay here until the ritual is over. You will not interrupt, interfere or attempt to sacrifice yourself," Elijah compelled and the thought of handing myself over to Klaus was completely gone from my mind.
"What did you do?" Jeremy asked, seeing my blank stares.
"Keeping her safe," Elijah replied coolly and walked out of the house to talk to Stefan.
"I can't believe you were going to sacrifice yourself," Jeremy said, angrily.
"What was I supposed to do? Let Jenna die?" I scoffed.
"Now isn't the time," Bonnie said, stopping our bickering. "We're looking for something to keep Elena from turning into a vampire," she explained.
"Is there a spell that can do that?" I asked skeptically, narrowing my eyes.
"Oh, you are so optimistic," Jeremy muttered dryly and I chuckled, much to my surprise. A few minutes later, John walked in, holding a box.
"I brought the Gilbert journals. I think I know the spell you're talking about," he said, placing the box on a table.
"Since when are you in town?" I asked in distaste.
"Neither you nor Elena returned my calls," he said, shooting me a look as if it was my job to answer his call. "I'm here to help," he said, looking at me pleadingly and I nodded after a while.
"Where's Damon?" Bonnie asked, and I remembered I hadn't seen him after he fed Elena his blood.
"Upstairs. Alaric wanted to talk to him," John answered. Did he come here with Damon? If yes, I'm impressed how he was still alive. We began flipping through the journals, searching for the resuscitation spell that Bonnie explained to me.
"Hey," I called Damon who was looking glum. "We found something in the Gilbert journals," I said and he followed me to the basement.
"Jonathan journaled the story of a mother who called on Emily's services. The woman's baby was sick; dying. Emily cast a spell that would bind the woman's life force with her child," John explained.
"Skip to the save Elena part," Damon said simply.
"Well, the child died, but the mother's life force flowed through her, restoring her to life," John told him.
"We already know Elena's going to come back to life. But she'll be a vampire," Jeremy countered.
"Not if her soul remains intact," John said and Damon looked at him, skeptical.
"Her soul, really? You're going to put your faith in some act of god mumbo jumbo?" Damon asked, bewildered. I rolled my eyes at him ridiculing this thing. John walked towards Damon, looking at him warningly.
"I refuse to let Elena become the thing I've spent my life protecting her against. And you can call that God or mystical energy, whatever you want, but yes...I'm putting my faith in it," he said and turned to Bonnie.
Bonnie started to chant a spell, and I walked downstairs to see Elijah and Alaric, talking to each other.
"Can I talk to Elijah for a second?" I asked, not being able to look at Alaric in the eye. If Jenna died, her blood would be on my hands.
"Yeah, sure," Ric said and left the room to go downstairs.
"What's on your mind?" Elijah asked me softly and I looked at him, and shrugged. I was so tired.
"When you look at him in the eye, will you be able to kill him?" I asked him seriously and he looked at me, debating the answer.
"When I look at him, all I see is a man who took my family away," Elijah said and I saw the pain in his eyes. "Not my brother," he said and I took a deep breath, taking in his answer. I wasn't going to say anything else that might lead him to change his mind. "Vanessa," he called my name and I had to close my eyes and composed myself before looking up at him.
"Yes?" I asked. Our eyes met, and my breath caught on my throat as I was lost in his dark eyes. He just stared into my eyes for a moment. I remembered how his dark eyes captivated me when I first met him. How those eyes showed me sorrow and hope when he thought I was his dead lover. How those eyes showed amusement and wonder whenever I said something.
Was it possible for him to…love me?
Stefan does love Elena.
"I will see you tonight," he said, his deep and rich voice brought me back from my wild thoughts.
"I will see you tonight," I said and he gave me a gentle smile. His eyes were on my lips and I was sure he was going to kiss me. My mind wandered to the kiss we shared in my dream and to the night where I kissed him. I leaned closer, feeling his hot breath on my face.
Except someone had to interrupt us.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we have a hybrid to kill," Damon interjected, slightly annoyed and I composed myself. I refused to meet Elijah's oh so enchanting brown eyes and luckily, we had a distraction.
"Wait, what do you mean?" I heard Jeremy's voice down the stairs. "No, I'm coming. I need to be there. I need to make sure you guys are okay," he argued with Bonnie and Damon snapped his fingers at me and pointed it at Jeremy.
"And who's going to make sure you're okay?" Bonnie asked.
"I've got my own ring. Look, I'm not taking no for an answer," Jeremy said stubbornly and Bonnie kissed him goodbye, before walking out of the door and I blocked Jeremy's path.
"I'm not going to compel you and I'm obviously not breaking your neck," I told Jeremy and we stared down to each other before he finally sighed.
"I hate it when you gave me that look," he muttered grudgingly and I rolled my eyes. "Take care," he said to Bonnie softly.
"Alright, I got the weapons in the car," Alaric said and I met Damon's eyes. I raised my eyebrow at him, not getting the look he was giving me.
"Bonnie's the only weapon that we need," I heard Elijah said and watched as Alaric slammed into an invisible wall.
"Bonnie! What is this?" he asked.
"I can't put anyone else at risk," Bonnie explained.
"I can't stay here with Jenna out there!" Alaric argued and I felt sorry for him.
"I'm sorry," Bonnie apologized.
"You can't do this! Damon?" he turned to his best friend, asking for help.
"Sorry, buddy. She's right," Damon said apologetically and they began walking away.
"No! You can't do this. Bonnie! Bonnie!" Alaric shouted and hit the doorframe angrily.
We just stared at the basement, waiting. "You okay?" Alaric suddenly asked, noticing my uneasiness. I looked at him and shrugged.
"I feel…weird," I said, not really knowing why. My inside was churning with something, and then I felt a surge of…power.
All of sudden my screams ripped through the silence, alarming the three men. My leg twisted by itself and I collapsed on the floor. I let out another scream when my shoulder cracked and I heard another crack down my back. My bones continued to crack and break and all I can feel was pain and pain. I gasped for breath, no longer able to scream. Panic was clear in Jeremy's face, although his face started to blur with the tears that welled in my eyes.
"What's happening to her?" Jeremy demanded at John and Alaric. I clung desperately at him, until I was thrown against the wall. "Are you okay?" Jeremy asked, lying me down on his lap. A hot searing pain ripped throughout my body and I heard screams of pain which actually came from me. I would scream and stop, and screamed again when I had the energy left. I heard Jeremy's voice trying to soothe me as he stroked my sweaty hair and forehead. My body contorted and twisted in pain and Jeremy watched with fear.
"Do something!" Jeremy urged Alaric who was lost at what to do.
"It hurts, it hurts," I managed to say to Jeremy, hoping for it to stop. "Make it stop," I cried out when I felt the pain seared through my body again and again. Then it stopped. I caught my breath and Jeremy stared at me. "It stopped," I said and breathed out in relief.
Jeremy saw it first, and then I felt it. "You're bleeding," Jeremy said as blood oozed out of my chest, smearing the creamy color of my button up shirt. Then I felt as if someone plunged a hand into my chest, gripping my heart. My eyes widened in fear. "Klaus," I said breathlessly.
"She's linked to him! She's linked to Klaus!" Jeremy cried in realization, and his tears dropped to my face, and rolled down my cheeks with my own. I only realized one thing. I was going to die.
"I love…you, Jer," I managed to say it, my bloodied hand caressed his cheek. I sobbed painfully as I felt my heart being twisted and I gasped desperately for air. My grip on Jeremy's neck loosened and he caught my hand, squeezing it.
"You're going to be okay. You're going to be okay," he promised and I swallowed the pain, waiting for my inevitable death.
I was falling. No, I was sinking into the bottom of the lake. I remembered that. How I had stopped struggling. When I had accepted the fact that I was about to die.
But I didn't.
Katherine pulled me out. She saved me from death. Death became me instead. Since then, I wasn't afraid of death anymore. I knew I could escape him. I could cheat death over and over again.
Except for that one time.
Elijah's face came to my mind, his dark brown eyes burned into me and I raised my head slowly to look at him. I couldn't show him my fear. I had to keep trying to convince him.
"Tell me who you are," Elijah said calmly yet his voice was powered with authority.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked him meekly. "After all these years I've been longing to meet you."
"Stop," he commanded. "I don't want to hurt you," he said and I managed a scoff.
"You've already had," I said, looking at him with hurt in my eyes. He looked away and I screamed in agony when he pushed his hand into my chest. I gasped, trying to ignore the pain as tears welled up in my eyes. I could feel my muscles, my tissues, my skin, trying to heal themselves but only to be torn again as his hand moved deeper and deeper.
"Elijah," I called his name desperately, as I felt his hand wrapped around my beating heart. My poor heart was beating wildly in his hands and I swallowed.
"Tell me," he said and I wondered how I could even utter a word when I was in so much pain. I however, let out another scream when he twisted his hand, my heart was almost ripped out. I leaned my head back against the chair and breathed heavily. Another tear fell.
I can never see them again. What left of my family. I was going to die.
I met Elijah's dark eyes and pleaded for my life with my eyes. His face turned blank before he retracted his hand from my chest. I listened as my body healed itself, attaching the tissue with one another. And then he was gone.
Today I realized why he spared me. He couldn't kill her. He couldn't kill me because of Cassandra.
But Klaus didn't give a shit. Today I was going to die.
"Vanessa? Thank god you're awake," Jeremy said, kissing my forehead and pulled me into a hug.
"Oh my god," I said as I sat up and looked around. "Have they returned?" I asked and Alaric shook his head.
"We should've heard from them by now," he said, troubled.
"It's daylight now," I said and looked at Jeremy. "What happened last night?" I asked.
"You passed out," he said. "It was really hard to tell if you're dead or not, you know?" he asked and I grinned. He smiled too. "You feeling okay?" he asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm good," I told him and he looked at me with concern.
"Do you think…?"
"I think Bonnie unlinked us," I said, hoping that that would be the truth. If I was alive because Klaus was still do, I…I wouldn't know what to say. Jeremy went back on reading the journal and I saw John sitting on the table, writing.
"What are you doing?" I asked tiredly but feeling alive. That feeling you got after you thought you were going to die but you didn't. Thank goodness.
"Writing a letter," he said and looked at me. He wanted to say something, but shook his head. John and I disagreed on a lot of things. He hated me for what I was, and I learned to hate him for hating me. It wasn't like it was entirely my choice.
I didn't want to die.
"Did you read all this?" Jeremy suddenly asked John, interrupting my thoughts. John glanced at Jeremy and me.
"I did," he said.
"So you understand what happened to the child's mother after the baby was brought back to life?" Jeremy asked and I turned to John, surprised.
"She saved her daughter. She found peace," John said.
"No…" I said, staring at him blankly. John rose from the chair and walked to Jeremy silently.
"I need you to give this to Elena for me," he said, handing the letter to Jeremy. "And also this," he said, taking the Gilbert ring and handed it to Jeremy as well.
"Oh, hey, what's going on?" Alaric asked, confused.
"He gave up his life for Elena," I said disbelievingly and John looked at me.
"Take care of each other. I know you're capable of doing that," he said to me, before turning to look at Jeremy. "Please."
The door opened and we heard people coming in.
"I think they're here!" Alaric said, and we rushed upstairs.
"What took you so long?" I asked, annoyed and mad. Damon had laid Elena down on the couch and she looked pretty dead to me.
"How is she?" Jeremy asked.
"I don't know yet," Damon said, and I saw how he tried to hide his worries.
"What about Jenna?" Alaric asked and my heart stopped beating. Damon didn't answer for a second and I never thought a second could be that long. He looked over his shoulder and met Alaric's eyes, apologetically.
"No," Ric murmured under his breath and my heart sank. No, no, no, no, no! Not Jenna!
"I'm sorry," Damon said and I gasped, letting out the breath that I was holding. Jeremy was staring at the floor blankly and I pulled him into a hug. He didn't hug me back, he just stood there, rigid. I caught John looking at us and felt my heart sank even lower. Another person was going to die. He looked at me sadly and I bit my lower lips, stroking Jeremy's back.
"I can never hate you," John told me softly and I felt hot tears welled in my eyes and I forced myself to smile. I nodded at him and he walked out of the door. Elena suddenly gasped for air and we rushed to her side.
"Damon?" she breathed and looked at us.
"How do you feel?"
"I feel fine," she replied breathlessly and we sighed in relief. Then I remembered John. I sped to the door and stopped in my tracks. There he was, lying on the ground, dead. I walked up towards him slowly, as if I was afraid to wake him up. John and Jenna were the only parents we had left. And now the two of them were gone. I carefully rolled him over and couldn't hold back the tears. Jenna, John, Isobel, my adoptive yet true parents, and who's next?
"Hey," Damon said softly and knelt down next to me. "It worked," he said to himself and I just stared at John, not knowing what to say. I regretted the days I spent loathing him when he scowled at me for killing some people. All the threats that I made to him when he said hateful things about vampire.
"I never know I'd be this sad over his death," I said, trying not to show my grief. So many deaths today, and all because of one selfish person. And he better be dead.
"Me neither," Damon commented as he looked down at John with regret.
The grieving will be on the next chapter, and I had to stop writing a few times because well it just too sad. Vanessa would be having a huge hard time to cope with a few deaths.
I'm sorry there was no kiss, there should be a kiss on the forehead but I cut it out, because it just wasn't Vanessa-ish. Next would be Vanessa's second meeting with Klaus!
And I'm going to give you guys a gift; a little sneak peak from season 3! All you have to do is give me the name of the character! I think everyone will ask for Kol? xx