E, C and B's plane crashed, D&E are stranded on an island. E escapes to get to J; meets A&G. D&E reunite, bond, meet K, confess feelings and kiss. K kidnaps E to bargain her freedom, cure is shoved by TO. Kl bites E and is pushed away. A&E realize who really has the chalice.

Chapter 31: Am I In Hell?

Elena's heart thumped wildly in her chest. In full knowledge that everyone could see him, Aaron turned and winked at Elena.

And she knew.

He'd found her.

We might actually make it out alive.

As she turned to Klaus, he resembled more and more like a rabid dog without teeth. With his blood red eyes, he walked towards Elena like some stalking serial killer.

You are not winning this time, Klaus.

When he tried to bite her again, Elena placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away. Klaus gripped her by the neck, teeth rearing to sink into her flesh.

'Do you really want to face the owner of the chalice?' Elena choked out.

Klaus stopped in his tracks. Immediately, he composed himself. 'So you know who has the chalice?' said Klaus, smiling.

'I don't know who it is, but you were the one who got knocked over so it's clear they're on my side,' she said in one breath. 'That means bye bye Klaus.'

Klaus had had enough. Elena knew she'd made him extremely mad. Before he could take a step, a white oak dagger was buried deep in Klaus' chest.

He screamed as the dagger burst into flames, engulfing him with it. Elena watched in horror as his skin turned grey and veins popped up from underneath. The orange flamed obscured the body underneath until all there was left, were grey ashes sharing a strong resemblance to Klaus. He was dead.

Elena had no doubt about it.

'I'm glad the witches can deal with that, because I am not cleaning that up.'

Elena turned around to see Damon standing a few inches away. His blue eyes gazing at her fondly. She wanted to hug him but hesitated because turning her back to the current threat behind her was not wise. But Damon, being Damon couldn't care less. He pulled her in for a hug.

The worry and the tiredness lifted away. It was as though she was never exhausted in the first place. That's what Damon did to her. She felt amazing to be back in his arms.

Recollecting that they weren't alone, she spun around. Elijah and Kol were staring at their brother's dead body in shock. Elena could bet her life that Elijah had tears in his eyes. Slowly, he tried looking for Damon. Elena realized he probably saw her hugging an invisible someone. She looked up at his smiling face.

'Oops, awkward.' And after a thought, he was out of the concealment charm. Elena forgot he could control who could see him. That gave them an advantage. She was terrified for a moment that he'd have to put the chalice down to be visible, which meant Klaus or the witches could take it in less than a second.

Elijah had lost his brother of a thousand years. He let out a menacing, soul-terrifying growl. Like someone hurt beyond repair.

'Well it's not like we didn't want to do that ourselves,' Kol muttered, before anyone moved.

Elijah turned his eyes from Damon's to his alive and insensitive brother. He gaped at him incredulously. 'That was our brother Kol! Do you have any decency to look ashamed, appalled? Even mildly sorry would be more appropriate.'

'Don't use that tone with me, Elijah. I never liked our darling brother. He daggered me for 900 years; brought me back to life when he needed me. You have no idea what that feels like,' said Kol. 'I only wanted to see her dead and get the chalice. I don't give a flying crap about Klaus Mikaelson.'

Elijah continued to stare at him in disbelief. Then out of nowhere, Elijah produced a dagger and stuck it in Kol's chest. That time, he didn't go up in flames. He did turn the colour of ash. Veins popped up under his skin.

'I am not as vengeful and heartless as you, Kol. I believe in family and if you do not respect my choices, you deserve to be daggered,' said Elijah. By then, his brother looked more like a rock statue than a vicious vampire. Elijah turned to the crowd of women observing quietly behind him.

'Witches, as you might concede from the events happening today, I have no desire to be in any alliance with your kind.' He announced. Absolute. Final.

'What about the potion? And our supplies?' One of the witches asked.

'I'm afraid you're going to have to find other arrangements. I only ever agreed to this ridiculousness to maintain some semblance of family. I now have none. My brothers have fought like dogs than accept their blood relations like honorable men. So I recognize it as partly our fault as well. I do not wish to stay here and torment Katerina Petrova for wronging my brothers and me. In fact, when she wakes, please let her know that if she ever crosses my way again, I will show no mercy,' he said, in a solemn voice. 'Just please,' his voice, dropping low, 'take care of her.'

Elena stared at him. She realized he looked the same as Damon when he talked about Katherine. Elena knew immediately that he was one of the many guys that Katherine Pierce had tricked into loving her. Feeling bad for him, Elena fazed at his retreating back. He was the honorable one of the Originals. She found herself secretly admiring Elijah's attitude towards the whole situation.

'And Damon Salvatore, I will come back for you. You have the witches on your side because you killed their biggest threat. I do not wish to cross them seeing that we're parting on bad terms,' he said, setting the record straight. 'But mark my words, I will be back and my army shall be bigger than ever. No one can kill a Mikaelson and live,' he said, stepping towards Damon. 'Mark my words.'

He dragged the burnt corpse and Kol's daggered body to the ship. Finally to the witches, 'To convey my gratefulness for your help these past few years, please accept this last offering. Take all the goods in the ship. Hopefully, this will be the last time you'll ever see or hear of me.'

The witches looked at each other, wondering if it was a trap. Elena was wondering the same. In the end, they nodded and walked to the edge of the shoreline. They raised their hands in unison and began chanting. Soon, brown sacs began flying from the ship to the sand beside them. Elena watched in amazement as within the entire ship emptied within minutes. If us humans were given the task, it would have taken atleast five hours.

'Farewell, witches. Take care. I am so sorry for the trouble my family has caused here.' With that, Elijah boarded the ship and set sail. She, Damon, Aaron and the witches watched as he disappeared into the horizon.

Elena looked at Damon. She was shell-shocked and still not over Elijah's final words to Damon. He was lost. His eyes were set on Katherine's still body.

'Damon,' Elena placed a hand on his bicep. He shifted his attention to her.

'I really loved her. I can't... I don't know even after all these years, how could she betray someone who loved her like I did?'

'Maybe she never really loved someone like you did, Damon. She tossed you aside like some crazed fan, because she couldn't see why you're worth it.'

Damon turned to Elena, his eyebrows scrunched in emotion. She smiled encouragingly at him, and tightened her arms around his waist. He really was pleasantly warm.

'I am trying to write it in my memory forever: Katherine Pierce the weak, defenceless human,' he smiled successfully. 'If anyone deserved that cure, it was really her.'

'Yeah,' she admitted. 'But…aren't you worried about Elijah?'

Damon gave her an are-you-kidding-me look. 'I was bound to piss off the Originals at some point. I killed Klaus and did him a favor. I know that Elijah secretly wanted Klaus dead,' he placed his hands on her shoulders, 'and it might not be a part that he likes but trust me, it's there.'

'But-'

'Shh,' Damon whispered, softly. 'If he wants revenge, he can get it. It's not even like you're going to be around when he does,' he mumbled, gazing at the ground underneath her. 'You will be safe in heaven. It's just going to be me.'

Elena shook her head. 'Let's not go there, Damon. Anyone who's spent time with you, has secured a direct access VIP ticket to-'

'Am I in hell?'

Damon and Elena turned to the source of the voice. He smirked at Katherine. Elena felt the muscles tense under her arms. Before she could do anything, he leapt across, sinking his teeth in her neck. She shrieked and tried to buck him off. To everybody's delight, she wasn't strong enough to throw him off of her.

'Yup! You're in hell.' Damon smirked happily, towering over her.

'How could you do that? How could I not-' she paused, her eyes widening. Confusion turned to pure fear. 'I am… human? No,' she said, clutching her head. 'No, no, no that was not what was supposed to happen.' She tried to get up but fell on her butt. No one reached to help her.

She composed herself. If anything Katherine Pierce was good at, it was hiding her fear.

'Fine. Kill me. I tagged you along, left you to die and then, turned you into a vampire. I'm tired of running any longer. So end it.'

'Woah, woah what?' Damon snapped. 'You left me to die?!'

Katherine smirked. 'Mmm,' she moaned. 'We haven't even gotten to the juicy bits. Oh did I not tell you? I started the fire Damon. I wanted to turn you into a vampire, hoping you'd be less pathetic and obsessed. Guess that plan backfired. My only two plans that ever failed, really.'

Damon's lips twitched in barely suppressed hate. 'Well, guess what? Your two plans are backfiring big time. Simultaneously.' he kneeled beside her. 'The thing is Katherine. Sometimes you can be so thick; you just told me that you were tired of running any longer,' he said, smiling up at the witches. 'Which is exactly what is going to happen to you.'

Elena smiled at Damon and walked next to Katherine, towering over her next to Damon. 'Have a nice human life Katherine.'

Damon got up and looked at her with a manic grin on his face.

At the exact moment, Elena remembered that about their grand escape plan. Katherine was losing her chance by the second, but she and Damon missed their's a couple minutes ago. The ship. They were supposed to be on it.

'Oh come on! Don't tell me that you actually pity her.'

Elena frowned. 'I'm not sad because of that,' she grabbed his shirt. 'We missed the ship!'

Damon's eyes crinkled in understanding. 'I know. But I'm sure we'll find a way to get out of here. Anyways, I don't want to be sleeping in a ship with two corpses and a-' he whispered dramatically, 'righteous Original. But for now, we can stay here with the witches. I really grew fond of this village.'

Elena narrowed her eyes at him. 'You told me you couldn't wait to get out of here!'

Damon gave her a pointed look. Elena blushed when she got it. She punched his shoulder in embarrassment. Her mind was a whirling mess of thoughts and voices inside telling her what's right.

'No.'

Gloria stood behind her, staring at her with hatred.

'Gloria?'

'I refuse to let you take her. She's a human and as long as she's one, she's under our protection. You either turn her with her full consent,' she declared. 'or leave her and be on your way.'

Elena's jaw dropped. This time it was Aaron who answered her.

'Sorry to interrupt but I don't think Elena's choice is any of your business.'

Elena raised her eyebrows. Aaron had some nerve to stand up to the Originals and the witches under less than an hour.

'Can I please leave before I barf?' said Katherine. 'The last thing I want to do is waste my time listening to precious Elena's problems.'

'Fine,' conceded Damon. 'Get lost.'

'Aaron can you take her to your house? And make sure she doesn't try anything,' Elena said, looking at Aaron pointedly.

'Come on Katherine,' said Aaron, kneeling down beside her. Katherine rolled her eyes.

'I don't need a babysitter,' she somehow got up on her own. She walked a few feet before tripping over a stone peeking from under the sand. Aaron caught her this time.

Elena saw Katherine avoid Aaron's eyes, but there was no grimace on her face. She whispered a small 'thank you' before ranting about heels and sand.

Elena smiled at the two of them. Now that Katherine couldn't escape, there might be a possibility that she develop feelings for-

Stop that. Don't you think any further.

'About what you said Gloria,' Elena said, turning to the situation at hand. 'Aaron is right. What I do with my life is my problem; it shouldn't matter to you. But no matter my choice, me and Damon,' she pointedly, looked at him. 'won't cause any harm to the wonderful witches of Whitmore.'

Pause.

'Sorry I can't let you, Elena,' said Gloria in a strong voice. 'We can't let a vampire stay in our midst any longer. They feed on blood impulsively. You can love him all you want, but that wouldn't make him control his basic instincts.'

Her decision was full and final. Elena knew there was no way she was changing Gloria's voice.

'You know what? You're right!' Damon retorted. 'I can't change who I am. Elena can learn how to adapt, she can forgive and forget; one quality that you judgy witches clearly don't have. So thank you,' he muttered sarcastically, 'for being great hosts. We'll leave now.' He grabbed Elena's hand and began leading her away.

'Damon, where are we going to go?'

'We're going back to the forest.'

I'd like to point out that the last few chapters were written the weekend following the airing of 5x16. Editing this, reminded me of the hurried typing in my living room less than a year ago while rewatching that DE sex scene on YouTube. Ah nostalgia. It was a great source of inspiration to finally finish this story. Not to mention, I was on a dopamine high for atleast a month after that episode.

DO LEAVE YOUR EMAILS IN MY PM SO I CAN SEND YOU MY FIRST DRAFT (incld. some passages that've been cut out) READING WHICH YOU WILL LAUGH AND HOPEFULLY BE INSPIRED

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