Nineteenth.

The next day was rainy and miserable so I decided to just stay in. I read for a few hours, took a long soak in my tub and then watched movies until dark. I didn't hear from Damon or Stefan the whole day. I knew that they were both out so I had the house to myself. I walked up and down the hallways looking at all of the intricate details in the woodwork and the antique statues and vases. I wandered into the kitchen in search of some blood, but no one had restocked the refrigerator. I knew that I had heard someone mention the cooler in the basement, so I opened the door and headed down the stairs. I had never been in this part of the house, and basements were always creepy. At the bottom of the stairs was a large wooden door with a small bar-lined window.

I was curious but wanted to find the blood storage first so I kept walking. Around the corner in the back room I found the cooler. I was surprised when I opened it to find dozens of blood bags all labeled with hospital names. I had no idea that they kept all of this in stock, but I guess it is better than hurting people. I grabbed one of the bottles that Stefan and I had collected, making a mental note that we probably needed more and headed back over to the wooden door. I unscrewed the bottle and took a long swig before opening the door. I took a few steps into what looked like a jail cell and then noticed the light to my left. I turned and walked over to see what it was, and to my horror I found vervain plants, at least fifty of them growing under the special light.

Vervain doesn't really have a scent, but it does produce pollen. For most vampires this isn't a problem because it is such a microscopic amount, but I started to feel a burn in my nose. I backed up towards the door and was almost out of the room when something hit the back of my skull sending me flying into the cell. I could feel the welt already forming as I jumped to my feet. I heard the slam of the door and the large plank being placed across to lock me in. I ran for the door but I didn't see anyone. The vervain was now making its way down my throat, the fire becoming so intense that breathing became difficult. I fell back against a wall and landed on my butt on the dirt floor. Before long my eyes started burning as well. I writhed around on the floor as my lungs caught fire followed by my stomach.

The pain was so intense that all I could do was scream which only made the pain in my throat worse. My head was pounding and my insides were burning up. I knew that this was it, there was no way that this wouldn't kill me. I prayed for death, called out to a higher being to take me, please! Finally I started to feel myself slip away. I made one final plea for a quick death and then everything went black. I awoke only a few short minutes later still in agony. It was widespread now, had gotten into my bloodstream and traveled to every last inch of my body. I couldn't scream anymore due to the swelling in my throat, when I tried only a weak cry emerged.

Moments later I heard the front door open followed by the thundering of footsteps running above me. I tried to call to them but nothing came out. I heard them running back and forth trying to find me, yelling my name. Then I heard Elena's voice alerting them that the basement door was open. She started down the stairs and then multiple people flew down past her. Damon reached the door first followed by Stefan, Alaric and Elena. I heard them pull the plank out and open the door. I felt myself slipping away again and silently prayed that I would not die, not when I was this close to being rescued. I felt someone's strong hand go under my back and then slid back into darkness.

I woke up the next morning weak but not in any real pain. My vision wasn't completely restored yet, and when I tried to call out for someone all I could muster was a groan. I knew that I wasn't in my own room, the bed was at a strange angle, the sheets were softer, and the comforter had been folded down at the end of the bed. I heard someone enter the room and called out. I jumped when I felt the mattress move next to me, someone had been lying there with me. I heard Stefan's voice as he came to the side of the bed to help me sit up. Elena, who had been lying in the bed asked me how I felt. I tried to answer but my throat was still too burned and blistered.

I rubbed my eyes to try and clear my vision, it helped a little. I gazed up to the ceiling and concentrated. A few minutes later my voice and my vision were back. Slowly my muscles began to work again. Stefan handed me a cup of blood and I realized how hungry I was; when I was hit the night before, the open bottle had flown out of my hand landing underneath the table that held all of the plants. He poured me some more and I drank it eagerly. "After you passed out we were able to get you upstairs. Damon insisted that we bring you into his room as it's the easiest to access, it had the biggest bed and we could all take turns sitting with you." I waved off any more blood for now.

Elena sat up and said, "I called Bonnie who came over and performed a spell to take away some of the pain, and then one to let you sleep through the night." I had told her a few days before if I was in too much pain I couldn't do anything to control it and wouldn't be able to heal. Bonnie had taken away some of the pain so I could sleep. I was beyond grateful for that.

"Do you remember anything at all about what happened," Stefan asked me.

"I got curious and peeked into the room with the heavy door and as I backed out someone came up from behind me and hit me in the head, I never had a chance to see them. By the time I got back over to the door it was locked and they were gone." I explained to Elena and Stefan why the vervain had affected me so violently, they had no idea that the pollen could harm me. I told them I hadn't either. "I had gotten a little in my nose some years back, and that burned, but it was easy to fix. Being closed in that room with the plants right next to me was too much and it incapacitated me."

I turned and put my feet down on the floor. Stefan offered his arm to steady me as I stood and took a few steps. I felt okay walking on my own, just really tired. I wanted to get back to my room, take a quick shower and go back to sleep, I was exhausted despite sleeping through the whole night. Elena walked with me back to my room and sat on the bed while I got everything in order. She looked like she wanted to talk, but I just wanted to get out of these clothes and in the shower. I told her I would be quick if she wanted to wait, so she switched the TV on and I closed the door behind me.

When I came back out a few minutes later I felt much better. I sat on the edge of the bed and let Elena comb out my hair and braid it down my back for me. She switched off the TV as I walked around the bed and sat up against the pillows. She looked at me hard for a moment. "You know about the Originals and that they are in Mystic Falls, right?" she asked and I nodded. "Do you think that there is any chance that they figured out that you are here?"

"I have no idea. I guess it's possible, but even if they have they don't know who I am and what I am capable of," I replied. It would have made sense though, a man biting me in the woods, someone shutting me in the tomb and carrying those boulders was no small task, finding me in the basement and knocking me out, locking me in with all of the vervain plants. It all fit, maybe they did know about me.

I heard a knock on the door and then Bonnie appeared in the doorway. I smiled and told her to please come in. I hugged her and thanked her for what she had done for me, she told me it was nothing, I was Elena's family, one of a very few members she had left, so she couldn't let anything happen to me.

Elena filled her in on our conversation about the Originals. "I heard that Esther had somehow found her way back into the land of the living. Is there any chance that either of you might know where to find her?" I asked.

Esther is gone, back to where she came from, and hopefully she won't be able to return ever again," Elena told me. I looked away and sighed, 'Damn!' I thoughts as I rubbed my fingers over the ring on my necklace. Elena was confused, "I thought that you would see that as a good thing."

Before I could answer her Bonnie, recognizing my distress explained "The spell that binds Norrah to Katherine was created by The Original Witch, Esther, therefore she is the only one who can break it. Without Esther Norrah will be bound to Katherine forever.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't know. I'm so sorry Norrah," Elena apologized but it wasn't necessary. It was only a short lived dream that I might finally be free of Katherine.

I yawned which signaled the end of our conversation. I wished Bonnie a good night, or day, whatever the appropriate saying was. She laughed and waved as she walked out the door. Elena lingered for a few minutes making sure that I didn't need anything, and that I would be alright by myself. "I'll ask Stefan to look in on you in a few hours to make sure you're okay," she told me. I hugged her before she left and then slipped down between the sheets and drifted off. I woke occasionally but only long enough to roll over before I was back asleep.

Sometime after noon I heard my door creak open. I figured it was Stefan fulfilling his promise to check on me, but then I felt the mattress give a little. I rolled back over to see who it was and found Damon lying next to me. He smiled. "How are you feeling?" he asked me.

"I'm better, just so tired," I responded.

"Well then go back to sleep," he instructed.

"Thank you for letting me use your bed last night."

I heard him say "it was my pleasure," as I closed my eyes. I slept soundly for hours, and when I woke I found Damon still lying there, fast asleep. I couldn't help but smile.