Author's Note: Hello All! SO before I start my formal author's note, I have something I would like to get off of my chest. For most of you, this won't apply. I don't mind getting criticism. I welcome all opinions. With that being said, please don't be rude. And if you leave an offensive, criticizing comment, all I ask is that you don't leave it in an anonymous comment. Have the balls (or ovaries, if you are female) to own up to it.

The actual A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews and comments. You are all wonderful! I wanted to clear up some confusion about the last chapter. When Merrick forced Bonnie to have sex with him, he had control over her body. She wasn't frozen with fear; she literally didn't have control over herself. I really want to get these last chapters finished. I think that chapter 19 will be the last chapter. Feel free to check out my new Bonnie/Damon stories: Hallow and Attraction.

Hugs and junk!
-Anneryn

I DO NOT OWN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES OR THE CHARACTERS,
NOR DO I OWN TWILIGHT OR THE CHARACTERS.

Chapter 17:

I can feel rage, hurt, and resentment pulsate through me. I took a deep breath to calm myself. It had no effect. I didn't think that it would. I took a step towards Merrick. His reign is over. I can feel my powers build up, and start to flow through me. Something in me faltered. I can't do this. No matter how horrible he is, I can't take a life. I can't. If I kill him… he'll haunt me, always. Realization grew tightly in my chest. He broke me. I have the chance to overpower him, and I can't do it. I can't… I can't.

The pain in my chest is growing. It feels like I'm being stabbed repeatedly with daggers. I clutched a hand to my chest. What's happening?

"I-I can't do it. I can't do it. He knew I could never do it. He knew that I would never be able to… He… I-I…" I told them. Damon wrapped an arm around my middle to support me. My legs feel like they are going to give way. My chest, it feels like its being ripped open. I don't know how to stop it.

"Shh… It's alright, Bonnie, love. You don't have to do this." Damon tried to calm me. He put his fingers under my chin, and made me look up at him. He's so gentle… I forgot how gentle he was. His eyes bore into mine.

"I can't." I told him.

"I'll finish this; I just need you to start the fire." He told me. I nodded. Only fire will kill him. It should me. It's supposed to be me. I'm supposed to finish this. Will he be able to be killed, if I can't?

The pain is worse now, increasingly so. It's getting hard to breathe. My breath is coming out in pants. Grams and Carlisle are talking to Damon about Merrick. Merrick is still lying on the ground, suffering. Everyone else is conversing. I can't concentrate on any of it. I pulled free of Damon. He gave me a questioning look, but didn't pursue it. I need to cool down. I feel like I'm drowning in fire.

I feel dizzy. Everything is starting to spin. I tried to take a deep breath, and failed miserably. I started coughing. One wave of dizziness hit me, followed by another, and another. I put my hands out in an effort to steady myself. I'm seeing doubles. None of this should be happening. I felt my legs come out from underneath me. I can feel myself falling to the floor. All I can see is black…

My eyes are closed, I can feel them. I ache. All I can feel is aching. I tried to open my eyes, but everything is black. The pain is searing. I can't move. I can feel arms around me.

"Bonnie," Damon's voice whispered.

"My chest," I told him, my voice not even a whisper. I can feel his hand touching my chest gingerly. My heart feels like its on overdrive, and it's failing. It feels like it's ripping apart. What's happening to me? The only pain I can compare this with is the pain that I felt while I was maturing into my powers. Unless… I'm maturing into the rest of my powers early. It's not supposed to happen for another four years. Why is it happening so early?

I groaned. A sudden blast of pain shot through me. I actually felt the air cackle with energy around me. It must be time. This shouldn't be happening this soon. Eerie whispers are filling the room. I don't recognize any of the voices. They are overpowering everything else that could be heard. Who are they? A cold breeze wafted across my body. How is there wind inside? Maybe it's just a draft.

The cold feeling stopped. The energy in the room feels different now. A particularly sharp blast of pain shot through my entire body. I cried out, unable to stop myself. There are other presences in the room, aside from the people who were already in the room.

Their auras, they feel… different, void. They are here, but they aren't here. What could that mean? I can feel them surrounding me, but… without their bodies? Bodiless people… Only one possibility comes to mind - spirits.

Damon's arms moved from around me. I already miss his touch. It's been absent for so long; I treasure each time I get to feel it. I'm being lifted up, cradled. I can feel anything touching me physically. I'm not lifting myself. I can feel something tugging at me. Not at my skin… my brain. They are trying to get into my head. I feel like I'm being pulled apart into a million different directions, into a million different pieces.

It feels like my mind is being probed with hot spikes. I tried to shield myself off from it. I can hear murmuring in the distance. It sounds like Grams. Maybe she knows what's happening to me. If only I could find my voice to say something. All of my concentration is being used to shield myself off from the invasion. I'm not sure how long I will last. The invaders are relentless.

There is a steel wall surrounding my mind. Every time they try to get it, they ricochet off, and the walls are weakened ever so slightly.

"Bonnie," my mother's voices filled my head. My mental wall crumbled as a result of my shocked distraction. How is this possible? She's dead. This can't be. Unless… I used what little strength I had to open my eyes. I can see them surrounding me. I'm not imagining this. This is real, too real. I can see who they used to be. Their mortal shells are long relinquished. All of their silvery, translucent spirits are blocking everything else in sight.

One face stands out amongst the rest: my mother. She's right in front of me. She's so close, after being gone for so long.

"You have to let this happen, Baby Girl. It's the only way to end this." She whispered. I felt her voice in every part of my being. I rattled my core. How could I ignore her advice? Something tells me that this won't be easy… nothing ever is.

I closed my eyes, letting a lone tear trickle down my face. I disintegrated every defense I still had up. All at once, I felt them invade me. I am no longer the only one filling my body. It's so loud now. Their voices are filling my head. I clamped my mouth shut, so I wouldn't scream. I can feel more and more spirits entering my body with each passing second. With every new soul, I can feel part of myself dissolve, and fade.

Most of them are not kind. I can feel evil spread its seed in my core. It's spreading through me. I can feel it tainting me. Everything burns. Last time was nothing, nothing compared to this. Something sank its claws into my stomach, and began clawing. I can feel my skin rip, and my body being ripped apart. Something is trying to take me by force, and its winning. How can I fight it, and keep my defenses down?

I can feel my body fighting back. My resistance to it all is growing.

Damon's POV

What's happening? I've never seen anything like this in all of my years. These aren't just spirits consuming her, there are demons. Black claws emerged from the silver mist surrounding her. They began to cut her open. Her blood is painting the walls around us. If there is one thing that Damon Salvatore does, it's helpless. I turned to Grace.

"Fix this Grace!" I demanded. If I can't fix it, I will find someone who can. She looks horror-struck. Her eyes are wide with wonder and fear. She turned her attention to me, her eyes flicking back and forth my face to the scene above us.

"Dear boy, don't you think that I could fix this, it would be fixed already? This is beyond our control! The next step of her ascension has begun. She has to overcome this, alone. If she doesn't, she will die." Grace growled. I nodded stiffly. Bonnie's pain is unmistakable.

'Come back to me, baby. Come back to me. We haven't gone through all of this, just to have you die on me. You're strong. You're so strong. I love you, Bonnie. Don't leave me. I need you to stay. Live for me, Bonnie. I need you to fight. You have to live. Live.' I tried to send her my thoughts. I'm not sure if she'll get them. So many things in her head, how can she hear me?

Bonnie's POV

Damon's voice filled my head. I tried to concentrate on it. If I concentrate on him, maybe I will be able to drown the invaders out. Hopefully, it will work… He's right; I have to fight this. It's the only way that I will survive this. More and more things are clawing at different limbs of my body. The extra beings are forcing the blood out of my body. If I can't stop this soon, I don't think I'll make it.

I overcame the electric shocks, and the fire, and Merrick. Can't I survive this? This is a different kind of pain.

'Damon.' I sent him. I can feel his presence wash over me. 'They are so strong.' I sent him.

'They aren't stronger than you. You have to fight this. You have to.' He sent me. I groaned in pain. I took all of my defenses down. I felt even more things invade my body. As soon as all of the trespassers entered me, I concentrated on covering myself with fire, and letting electricity fill me body. It's so loud. I can't even hear myself think. I feel like I am drowning in noise. I started pushing them out.

They slowly, painfully started to leave me. The electricity weakened them, and the fire forced them out. The majority of them may be spirits, but they can't handle the heat. Their essence wasn't made like mine. Their weaknesses are showing. With every spirit or demon that left, I felt more and more energy leave me. I know that I'm losing blood, badly. I need to finish this.

I clenched my jaw, and gritted my teeth together. I screamed, and felt what was left of my power shove at the foreign things in me. I pushed them out. They didn't go easily. I can feel them clinging to my insides, and leaving their mark on me, internally. Some were literally clawing me from the inside, out. As soon as the last of them left, I started to fall.

"Go back to your graves," I snared, in barely a whisper. They went into the ground, and vanished. Only a few glowing figures remained. I came crashing to the ground. The impact shocked us all. I heard something snap, but I didn't feel it. My eyes fluttered. I've lost too much blood. Now that the foreigners are gone, I feel wrong. Like they ripped me apart, and I was never put back together. My hands are clutched to my stomach.

I looked down, my hands are stained crimson. My hands are holding my insides, inside. Damon caught me. How can I come back from this? I coughed, and felt my mouth fill with blood. I can still see Merrick in the corner of my eye. I willed him to light on fire. I watched his skin cook, and him slowly turn to charred ash.

Damon handed me to someone else.

"Shh, it's okay. We'll fix this, somehow." Stefan whispered, calmly. I nodded. He held me. I watched as Damon picked up something from the floor, and unsheathed it. It's an ancient looking dueling sword. I can see foreign writing and characters covering the blade.

He walked over to the now burning Merrick. His eyes are lethal, and he looks deadly.

"You hurt her. You forced yourself on her. You took her for me. You took her mother. You tortured her. Now, you die." Damon growled at Merrick. Even through the flames, and patches of burnt, caked flesh, I can still see his arrogance. He's smirking. He won't show any weakness, not even in the end. Damon raised the sword, getting ready for the deadly blow. He turned to me suddenly. "Any last words love?" He asked me. I looked at him, surprised. I turned my gaze to Merrick. Though his body is burning, his eyes are unaffected. They are the same eyes that watched me suffer with joy. My breath caught. How can one person bestow so much damage? I took a shaky breath.

"God forgive you, you sick fuck… because I can't." I said as loudly as I could muster. I'm still losing blood. I felt my eyes grow unexpectedly heavy. They drooped, and fluttered. I don't have any strength left. I head the sword severe Merrick's head. I heard it fall to the floor, with a sickening sound. I took a weak breath. It's over; it's finally over.

I could fight my exhaustion no longer. I slipped out of consciousness into a dreamless sleep. I can hear people talking, but I can't find my way back to them. I feel like I'm floating. I've never felt so free. Something is pulling me back. It feels so familiar, but I can't place it. I came crashing into reality head first. Something is pulling me back together. I cried out in pain. This feels worse than being torn apart, literally. Something forced my eyes open. A blurred figure is in front of me. I cringed.

"Please, don't hurt me…" I whimpered. The image isn't getting any clearer. Everything is getting darker. My eyes closed, again.

Damon's POV

How could she think that I would hurt her? That motherfucking bastard did this to her! She was never afraid like this before! I can't take away the pain he caused her, or erase what she had to endure. I would give everything to just take her pain away. I never thought it was possible for Bonnie to break… but, he broke her. She'll never be the same as before.

I know how hard it was for her the first time. The first time we made love… She was terrified, but so sure. She wanted to forget the feelings of violation that Merrick caused her. Now that he forced… forced himself inside of her… how can she forget that? She of all people shouldn't have to bear this burden. She doesn't deserve it. No one deserves what he did… least of all her.

Everything that happened to her brought an uncontrollable fury burning inside me. I growled. She's minutes from death… I can't lose her. I don't want her to have this life, my life. I can feel myself shaking with anguish. Just the thought of losing her… I shuddered at the thought. So help me God, if she dies… everyone will pay. They thought I was bad before… this world has not seen what I am capable of.

A noise behind me got my attention. Bonnie is coughing uncontrollably. I went to her side, and crouched down. She shouldn't have gotten this bad, this fast.

"Something is accelerating her blood loss rate." I growled, angrily. Carlisle looked at me, as if thinking my words over. I stared at him, my gaze never faltering.

"You're right, Damon. She shouldn't have lost this much. Judging by the rate her blood is leaving her, she has minutes…" Carlisle said, grimly. He looked around the damaged mansion, looking for something.

"Carlisle, what is it?" I asked him, starting to panic. Is someone doing this? If someone was doing this, who would be behind this? Merrick is dead. We killed all of his accomplices. Carlisle's lips formed a straight, thin line. His eyes narrowed. He walked over to a door I hadn't noticed before. It's near the kitchen, but it's almost like the door was hidden before.

"Damon, I may need your assistance." Carlisle said, beckoning me over. Grace attempted to follow him, but he held up a hand to stop her. He shook her head. I noticed Grace for the first time, since Merrick's death. She looks horrified. So many things have happened in front of her eyes. She went to Bonnie's side, and held her hand, gently.

I walked to Carlisle, barely registering Gabriel, Jayson, and Chalice. They had helped us, and defended Bonnie in the battle. They aren't enemies. They are doing something. It looks like they are mixing a salve of some kind. Jayson is chanting. Gabriel is concentrating on doing something, that isn't apparent to the rest of us. After a short moment, they stopped. They walked the solution over to Grace and Stefan. Grace gave them a soft thank you, and started applying it to Bonnie's fatal wound.

I turned my attention back to Carlisle, and followed him to the door. Carlisle opened the door cautiously, as if he expected something grotesque and monstrous to fall out. He opened the door, and nothing happened.

"Reveal yourself." Carlisle snared. So something is here. Magic wielders? "Reveal yourself, or I will burn this building down, with you inside. I'm not bluffing, and I think you know that." He threatened again. This time, I could see a visible change in the dark hallway behind the previously closed door. Something is becoming visible quickly. Two cloaked figures emerged from the hallway, being careful to keep their distance. They look mortified.

They are blood stained, and ghastly. If they weren't wearing cloaks, they would look normal. All except for their eyes, they look wild and caged. Like their eyes have been restrained for too long. Carlisle looked like he was using other means to communicate with them.

"Fix this." I growled at them. They looked over at me, but didn't say a word. They just stood, silently. Carlisle did something that caused them to fall the floor in pain. I looked over at him questioningly. He threw whatever he was holding to the floor. It looks like an old, twisted, dream catcher.

"I've given you your freedom. Giver her, her's." He told them. They nodded silently. They stood up and removed their cloaks. Just normal people…

"I know that I will grant you no peace, but I am gravely sorry for everything that has happened. If I could have, I would have stopped it." One of the men told us. I nodded. Carlisle touched a hand to the man's forearm.

"Can you reverse the damage?" He asked, pleadingly. The men looked regretful.

"Some of it. We do not know how intensive the damage is. We will do as much as we can. Though, if it had been anyone else, I doubt she would have survived what she had to endure." One of the men said. I nodded. They walked over to Bonnie. If they hurt her… what happened to Merrick will look tame compared to what I will do to them.

I watched them work. Grace, Gabriel, and Chalice sat next to them, and aided them. They are making weaving motions, as if trying to sew her back together from the inside. Jayson held her hand, and started chanting something, while touching her face. She coughed, and blooded poured out of her mouth. I looked at Carlisle terrified.

"There is a lot of internal bleeding; they need to get rid of the blood, or she will drown." Carlisle told me. Slowly, so slowly, she started to look better, more alive. I let out a small breath of relief. So much blood… I handled it before, but it's starting to take its toll on me. I need something, now. I looked at Stefan and noticed that his eyes are black, and ravenous. I looked at Carlisle.

"I will bring something back." Carlisle said. He walked to the door, and left. Stefan looked at me in thanks. I nodded. I sat next to Bonnie, and took her from Stefan. I held as close to myself as I could, without interfering with the healing process. I can feel her body shaking. She fighting; she's still trying to do all that she can.

She's muttering something incoherently. I can't make out what she's saying. I kissed her forehead. I felt a spark of energy. She's chanting something, over and over again. I can hear her, but it's something foreign. Silvery orbs appeared, and surrounded us. This can't be happening again; it's over. What more could they want for her? I want her to have peace.

The orbs transfigured into transparent, glowing, silvery people. The spirits are back. My breath caught. Is this possible?

Grace's POV

I've heard about the prestigious reputation of Damon Salvatore. I would be lying when I said that I wasn't pleased when I heard that he had taken an interest in my Bonnie. A grandmother never wants her granddaughter to get hurt: especially when Bonnie lost her mother at such a young age.

But since I've met Damon (again), and seen him with her, it took my breath away. I literally can't ask for someone to care more for Bonnie. He would do anything to protect her, and he's proven that. I can see the fear in his eyes as he holds her. He's so afraid of losing her. She's become a part of him. Is there a greater love?

Something caught Damon's attention. I looked over and followed his astonished gaze. Spirits are manifesting… again. Lena? How is this possible? Did Bonnie get another element with her ascension? Can she manifest and control spirits?

Bonnie's POV

Something brought me back to my consciousness. I can smell mom's perfume. My eyes opened. Everything I blurry, like before. The pain is still horrible, but it's starting to fade.

Something moved behind me. I realized that someone was holding me, and that people were chanting around me. I started thrashing.

"Don't touch me. Stop…" I said in a whispered moan. My voice is hoarse, and barely audible. The arms loosened around me.

"Bonnie, love, relax. It's alright. I've got you. I've got you." Damon assured me. My thrashing slowed to a soft shaking. Having someone be this close to me… it's hard. I know that Damon would never hurt me, but I feel so… dirty. It's harder when someone is touching me. If it were anyone but Damon, I'm not sure I could handle it.

I felt something tingle over my skin. I started to notice what it was. My vision is growing clearer, but everything is still foggy. I can see translucent faces staring at me. I don't need clear vision to know that one of those faces belongs to my mother. I felt tears leak from my eyes, making it impossible to see anything.

"Mom," I uttered with my rough voice. I know you can't feel a ghost, or a spirit, but I can. I can feel her. She's here.

"I'm so proud of you Baby Girl. I love you and your father more than you'll ever know." She whispered, against my ear. I shuddered. Warmth filled my body. It's been so long since I've seen her, and now she has to see me like this. How can she be proud of me? She motioned at everyone around me. I hadn't realized that they were trying to heal me. I'm always the damsel.

Mom motioned for everyone to leave us, everyone but Damon and Grams.

She took one of Grams' hands and held it in her own. She brought her free hand to my stomach. A wave of warmth flew over me. It feels like I'm being stitched back together. I screamed. The pain was over quickly. I looked up at Mom and Grams, panting. She healed me. I shuddered.

I tried to sit up, but failed. I may be healed, but my body is worn out. Damon pulled me onto his lap, gently. I force myself to relax against him. Being this close to someone, and not flinching is so… difficult. The intimacy of it…. The things that Merrick have taken from me… I will the tears away.

My mother settles herself on the floor in front of me. Grams sits next to her, still holding her hand. How could someone survive losing a daughter?

"You could never disappoint me. I am so inexpressibly sorry. I never wanted Merrick to cause you harm. He was supposed to leave you alone… let you live. It wasn't supposed to be like this. You handled everything as best as you could. Most people wouldn't be able to survive what you went through. I know that it doesn't seem like it now, but things will get better, my beautiful Bonita. It will take time… eventually you will be comfortable with love again." Mom told me. I forgot how soothing, and reassuring her voice was.

"I can feel your pain, love. If I could take it away, I would. You'll be alright. It's written in your destiny. It's been foreseen that you will overcome many things." She explained. I nodded weakly.

"Many things?" I asked her, uncertainly. She smiled. She realized that I caught on to her hidden clue.

"Don't worry yourself about such things now. I want you to do something for me." She whispered. I nodded.

"Anything." I told her. She smiled, and squeezed my hand. She let go of my hand, and caressed my cheek softly.

"Remind your father that I love him. And, I want you to move in with your Grams." She said. I nodded.

"I'll tell Dad." I promised her. How will he take my moving in with Grams?

"Don't worry about your father, leave him to me." Grams assured me. I nodded.

"I must leave you now, sweet one." Mom said, sadly. I nodded. She leaned forward, and embraced me. She kissed my cheek, and pulled away. She fastened something around my neck. She kissed Damon on his forehead, and whispered something inaudible in his ear. She repeated the process with Grams. She took one last look at us, and took her leave. The other spirits followed her.

The room felt colder after she left. A few tears trickled down my face. Damon turned me around, and started to wipe them off. "Don't," I told him. He looked at me questioningly. I didn't say anything. He let it fall. He looks pained.

"Trust me, please." He asked. I hesitated before I answered him.

"With my life, I just… need time. I can't… things can't go back to the way they were before. I'm not the same." I told him. He looked at me, with expressionless eyes. My body trembled with unshed tears. I pushed him away… the sole person I cannot live without… He wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me close to him. I looked up at his face in surprise.

"You have forever," he promised. "I'm not leaving you; let me help you." He told me. I buried my face in his chest. I nodded.

"I promise; I'll try." I told him. He kissed the top of my head, with tenderness that threatened to make me melt. I shook with dry, silent sobs. I can't let the tears out now. If I open the gate, they will pour until I have nothing left.

"Let's go home." Grams whispered.

Author's Note: Here it is. I used a slightly different writing style. I hope you enjoyed it all the same. The next chapter will be the last. I'm sad to say. But you all have made writing this fic so amazing. Thank you!

Hugs and junk,
(Review please?)
Anneryn