Chapter 11:
Tension, Anger & Fear

It felt like the end of the world.

Like every emotion of every person she'd ever hurt was thrust upon her, intensify with every passing second.

It was late into the afternoon – a day after Mason's death, the one that Damon had such a chilling part of. The vampire could still see it perfectly every time her eyes closed – Damon's words, his hand reaching out, and Mason's lifeless body limp in the chair. No matter what she did or how hard she tried she couldn't bring herself to shut it out.

Katherine had told her many times that the best part of being a vampire was turning it off. Turning off all the emotions that dragged humans down – the hope, the fear, the anger, and the sadness. Just let it all fall away. But Taylor knew it wasn't what she wanted to do. Even Katherine never completely shut it off – she just made it seem that way.

But it was still a thought running wild in her mind.

"Taylor?" Elena's voice rang through the room.

She'd been trying for hours to get her sister to talk – to do anything other than stare at the other side of the wall.

She was met with no response.

"I'll be home all night. I'm not going to the ball tonight," she continued, walking in and sitting on the bed next to Taylor. "The one at the Lockwood's."

Finally acknowledging her presence, Taylor glanced up. "What ever you guys are planning leave Tyler out of it. Don't get him involved."

Those weren't the words that Elena expected her to mutter. They weren't planning anything. At least, not that she knew of. Still, she'd expected her sister to say something angry or sad. Something about Damon, most likely, but Tyler? Confusion knit its way onto her face. "Tyler? Tay, what's going on between you two?"

Upset at her sister's accusation, Taylor sprang from her bed, crossing the room in seconds. She leaned against the wall, her eyes set in a glare. "Nothing," she snapped. "Just keep him out of it. No one else has to be involved in this."

It was no secret that she and Tyler had dated. Everyone knew. And everyone knew that they'd never really broken it off. Taylor had just sort of left, leaving a note behind for the boy as an explanation. There were definitely still feelings there. All the people in town assumed so anyway.

But there was more to it than that. Taylor felt it was the least she could do for Mason, who would have wanted his nephew as far away from the mystical creatures of Mystic Falls and away from the curse that could ruin his life. She needed to keep Tyler safe – for Mason and for herself.

"Involved in what? Taylor, why are you so worried about Tyler?"

But Elena was met with no response again. Her sister had shut her out just as quickly as she had let her in.

Taylor waited until her sister left before she crossed the room. She stopped at the window, resting her head against the cool glass with her eyes shut.

It was too much! At any moment Klaus could come walking down the street towards her house and demand her to leave with him. There wouldn't be much she could do to escape. She'd gotten away once, but that was because of luck and with help. Besides, if Klaus were to show up, she might have taken his offer to leave. Damon killing Mason, added to the stress of him trying to kill Jeremy – who now seemed to be on his side – made Taylor feel fragile. She was a porcelain doll sitting on the edge of a shelf and she's about to fall to the floor, where she'll break into a million unfix-able pieces.

Things were supposed to get better. That was why she left her family, her friends, and Tyler behind to find Katherine. It seems that everything that's happened since that fateful night in Chicago has been worse than she could have ever imagined.

Getting nowhere with her train of thoughts, Taylor retreated to her bed once again. She pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs, her eyes never leaving the spot on the wall directly across her.

Something was going to happen.

There was no other way to explain knowing besides magic.

Taylor stood on the edge of the Lockwood mansion, hiding from the guests and the music and the happiness in the forest as her eyes scanned the area. Everything seemed normal: people were laughing, getting drunk and falling all over each other. But there was something, something different about the night that had dragged her out of her bed.

Closing her eyes, she focused all of her attention and her powers on the people inside. She searched for anything out of the ordinary. Then her ears caught it: the tail-end of a conversation.

"Stefan and Damon want to talk to you…" It was Jeremy's voice! Who was he talking to?

"Oh?" is the response. The girl's voice is strong and certain and Taylor instantly knows its Katherine.

There's the sound of footsteps walking away and Taylor let's out a cry of no before she's running. She can still hear Jeremy and now Elena, who is asking him what's going on. But she doesn't need to hear him to understand. If Stefan and Damon wanted talk to Katherine it meant they had something they could use to kill her. A sharp pain shot through her at the thought: first Mason and then Katherine.

When she finally reached the two, Katherine was nowhere to be found.

"Where did she go?" Taylor demanded, grabbing the attention of the group, who were huddled around a small table on the lawn.

Jeremy, Elena and Bonnie – who must have joined them as Taylor ran over – stared at her in shock. The girl had barely said a word to anyone since Damon ripped Mason's chest from his heart and yet she stood before them, speaking of her own will.

"Where is she going," the vampire hissed, her eyes hardening into glares.

"It's probably too late. By now she-"

Before Jeremy could finish his sentence, Elena let out an agonizing scream. Blood is pooling from her back. It's soaking her shirt and dripping down at an alarmingly fast rate. Despite all the anger and hatred she felt, Taylor was by Elena's side in a second, her arms encircling her sister.

"What's happening to her?" Taylor demanded, ignoring the burning at the back of her throat.

"It's a spell," Bonnie shouted frantically. "Jeremy, you have to tell them to stop. Whatever happens to Katherine is happening to Elena!"

Without a second thought, Jeremy rushed across the lawn, going as fast as he could to stop the Salvatore's from killing his sister. Taylor was conflicted. Her gaze drifted from her sister, who was hunched over in pain, to her brothers disappearing figure. She was not going to be left out of this, she decided as she stood.

"Bonnie, take care of Elena."

And she disappeared, running after her brother in the most human speed she could manage. Nothing fazed her as she pushed through the crowds of people to get to the stairs. She received many glares but they didn't bother her. When she found him, upstairs in the Lockwood mansion, she rushed near him, but stayed far enough to remain from the sight of those in the room, in just enough time to hear Jeremy's warning.

"Stop! Whatever you're doing to Katherine is happening to Elena!"

"You aren't the only ones with a witch, you know. And something tells me mine is better than yours."

Taylor's eyes closed as she leaned back against the wall for support. Katherine was being the very Katherine that the Salvatore's tried to warn her about. Still, somewhere in her was the friend that Taylor knew. But she couldn't move from her spot against the wall, hidden in the shadows, to do anything. And it was because going into that room meant facing Damon. That was something she didn't want to do for a long time.

Jeremy's retreating steps broke her from her fear. She watched as he ran back down the stairs, probably to Elena and Bonnie. They would handle the witch, but who would handle Katherine? The second they found out the spell was broken they'd kill her. If they did, Taylor knew a part of her would die.

Damon's angry voice snapped through the silence. "I can't wait to kill you when this spell is lifted."

"No."

Taylor's voice was surprisingly strong and commanding as she stepped into the light of the room, walking through the doorway, knowing she wouldn't be able to leave. Stefan and Damon turned to face her with wide eyes. Instantly, regret flooded Damon's face, but Taylor ignored him. It was hard and she struggled to keep herself from running into his arms and breaking into tears, but she did. Instead she walked over to Katherine's side.

"You are not going to hurt her."

"Taylor," Stefan's even voice tried to reason. "This has to end."

"I've had enough of this ending shit! If you want to kill another person that I love then you're going to have to kill me first."

"Tay–" Damon began, but she stopped him.

"Don't. I'm not here to talk to you. I'm here for Katherine and Elena – to keep them safe. Once they're safe, I'm leaving."

"But –"

"Don't talk to me, Damon," Taylor snapped. Her face hardened in a glare with her hands bunched at her sides in fists. The anger that radiated off her body was strong. It took all her strength to keep from lunging at the older Salvatore. "You killed Mason without a second thought. You didn't even consider how it would hurt me. You didn't care. You're so selfish. Nothing will ever be more important to you than yourself!"

In all the rage she unleashed, Taylor found herself needing to take a seat on one of the couches in the room. As she fell to the couch, Katherine rushed to her side with a genuine worry creased into her features.

"Taylor? What's wrong?"

"I…" But she didn't know what was wrong. Everything was blurry and her eyes were heavy. Before long she could no longer keep them open. She soon drifted off into darkness, falling into another dream like state that felt all too real.

Klaus and Scarlet stood hand in hand. The young girl looked around nervously. They were standing in the living room area of her love's brother's house. It was large, but not quite as big as Klaus', with a Victorian theme running through it. She had never been to his families' houses. The only family she had met had been Rebekah, who often spent time with her at Klaus' mansion.

"There you are brother." Klaus' voice broke through the silence.

Scarlet snapped her head in the direction of his gaze, her blond hair falling in front of her face. She tucked the loose strands behind her ears, her green eyes landing on the man she assumed was his brother.

"Klaus! To what do I owe this meeting?"

His eyes flickered to the young woman by his brother's side. She nearly jumped at the lust in his eyes. Elijah – Klaus's brother. The two were close, as close as someone could get to Klaus. Scarlet knew this as she watched them interact. Yet, nothing quite phased her mind as they talked like the look in Elijah's eyes when he glanced at her. It worried her. The vampire's gaze filled her with fear at the intensity of the interest they held. Somehow Klaus didn't notice or he didn't show that he did.

Finally, as she began to pay attention to their words, her interest spiked.

"So what have you truly come here for, Klaus?"

Elijah's words cause Klaus to laugh – genuinely, as he often did around Scarlet.

"You know me too well brother. I'm set to leave for a few days. The trip will not be safe for my dear Scarlet and I was wondering if you could let her stay here and keep an eye out for her. Rebekah has gladly agreed to come over and help."

Scarlet's green eyes widened. "Klaus!"

He turned to her with expectant eyes but she couldn't speak. She couldn't very well say that the thought of being alone in a house with Elijah scared her. She couldn't say that the look in his eyes betrayed that he wasn't the kind brother anymore, that he looked at her like he wanted her for himself.

Instead, she said, "Why can't I come with you?"

"Because it's dangerous," he answered. "Because I said so."

Scarlet clamped her mouth shut. She would not be going on the trip with him. She would have to worry about him. She'd have to worry about herself – she was spending the next few days with Elijah.

Taylor woke with a start, a very real fear filling her being. She sat up, her eyes scanned the room. It was the same room she'd fainted in, but it was empty. Where had the other's gone? Her body filled with dread. Where was Katherine? If Damon had his say in it, she would already be dead and gone. Just like Mason.

A growl escaped her lips as she rushed through the door.

The crowd was thinning out. The party must have been nearing its end. Tail ends of conversations caught her ears. She listened, though she quickly tuned them out when she realized they were not important. Finally, as she exited the Lockwood mansion, unaware of the events unraveling for Tyler, her eyes caught sight of Elena.

As quickly as she could with people watching, the young vampire rushed to her sister's side. "Elena," she called as she neared, effectively stopping her sister.

"Are you okay, Taylor? Stefan said you passed out. He was just going back to the room to get you."

The twins were walking now, headed towards Elena's car. They spoke quietly. "I… I have to tell you something, 'Lena. I've been having these dreams."

The younger Gilbert sister raised a curious eyebrow. "Dreams? Like the Katherine ones?"

Taylor nodded her head, suddenly unsure about telling her. Saying it out loud made it all the more real. "It's always about a girl. She's our height and our age. She has light blond hair and bright green eyes. Her names Scarlet."

"And," Elena pressed as the car finally came into view.

The young vampire crossed her arms across her chest. Her face showed uncertainty and fear – an emotion that she despised. "And I think I'm her, Elena. She has the same scar…. But that's not the scariest part."

They finally reached their destination. They stood at the driver's side, obscured by the car from anyone at the party. The wind blew around them harshly, as if knowing they were trying to be quiet.

Elena cautiously asked, "Then what is?"

"Scarlet was engaged to Klaus."

Her sister gasped, eyes widened. For a few seconds her mouth opened and closed before she could speak. "Do you really think you're Scarlet, Tay?"

Taylor nodded her head. There was no other way to explain the intensity in her dreams or the coincidence that they share the same scar. And they way she felt everything like it was real every time she had a dream.

"Do you think Klaus knows?"

The vampire was about to respond when a noise caught her attention. She snapped her head to her right. Her eyes focused in on two figures. The adrenaline in her kicked in and she pushed Elena to run. Her sister stumbled, gripping the car for support, but she didn't run. Not until she heard her sister shout: "Get out of here, Elena!"

But it was too late. Taylor fell to the floor, a needle that had been full of vervain sticking from her back. A masked figure grabbed her body, picking her up like a feather, as the second figure rushed at Elena, who barely managed a scream before she was knocked out.

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while. I've been a bit stuck on this. I hope you like this chapter. The next chapter should be fun! Elijah will come into the story, as well as Rose and Trevor. Taylor will definitely recognize Elijah. It's going to be a very dramatic encounter and Taylor is going to remember more as Scarlet - which is always fun!

Let me know what you guys thought! Also, why do you think Scarlet/Taylor fears Elijah so much?