The Vampires

Elena woke up suddenly. It was still dark outside. But something was wrong. Then she noticed a figure in the nearby chair. She sat up in bed - slowly, deliberately.

"Not a screamer. Impressive," Katherine said arising from the chair.

"I know better. Dating a vampire," Elena replied. She was upset, but did her best to control it.

"Everything I've heard is true. You look like me, even sound like me. It really is amazing. We could be twins."

"Give or take a hundred and fifty years. What do you want Katherine."

"Not all that sociable, though." Katherine said.

"I do that during daytime hours."

"Then you're missing out. The dark has its advantages."

Elena didn't respond. The longer Katherine just stood there, the more nervous Elena became.

Katherine waited briefly, knowing it was increasing Elena's fear. "OK, I guess it will take us longer to become 'chatting friends'." She moved to stand at the foot of Elena's bed.

"You've probably heard a lot about me. None of it good, I imagine."

Elena felt a little safer with the bed between them. She knew it was unreasonable, but she did. And she was feeling a bit contradictory. "I heard you were loved." She said.

Katherine smiled briefly. "Yes I was. And I loved them as well. Still do. Which is why I'm here."

Elena was not sure where this was headed, but she was thinking it could not turn out well. She waited.

"Let's talk about the Gilberts. Do you know why your family is almost gone."

"I'm not a Gilbert. I'm part of your family."

Katherine laughed to herself again. "So you are. I am starting to see why they like you. Your adopted family, then. Do you know why they are almost gone? It is not just bad luck."

"Are you saying it was you?"

"You can infer what you want, but you know that the Gilberts have done nothing but try to destroy us since the beginning. Now they are almost gone. They only remain because through some stroke of fate, you became one of them."

Elena stared at Katherine. "Are you saying you would have killed Jenna and Jeremy if I were not here?"

"Again, infer what you want. But you need to know that it could still happen."

"They aren't a threat to you."

"Jeremy knows. He knows the history. Every Gilbert that has known has been a threat."

"I know the history, and you know I'm not a threat to you."

"And you know you're not really a Gilbert. You're my family. Probably my only living relative now – give or take a vampire are two."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that the Gilberts are nearly gone. If they become a threat, it is easily dealt with now. The only remaining Salvatores are on our side. The only real threat remaining in Mystic Falls is the witch."

"Bonnie? But she…" Elena couldn't finish. She was starting to understand Katherine.

"I didn't start this feud." Katherine said. "But I am close to finishing it."

"People have died, Katherine. Good people."

"People always die. And it's not just humans who die."

Katherine could see Elena's expression, and she actually softened a bit – or so Elena thought. "Look, I know you have lost a lot. And I know it hurts. I've lived a lot longer than you and I've lost a lot more. When that happens, it's not that you become heartless. It's that you lose enough that you refuse to lose anymore. You no longer hurt, you just get angry. There comes a time when any further loss will just result in revenge. And that is where the witch comes in."

"What do you mean?" Elena asked, visibly upset now.

"She needs to know the consequences if she harms you, Stefan or Damon."

"Me? Why would you care?"

"You're family, Elena. And you are the only reason there are still Gilberts in Mystic Falls. If they protect you and are not a threat to us, they will be left alone. If that changes…"

"It won't." Elena said quickly, "Jenna still doesn't know. And Jeremy tried to become one of you. They're not a threat and won't become one. There's no reason for you to hurt them."

"Time will tell. But now you know."

"Are you my protector now? Am I supposed to be grateful?"

"I don't expect you to care, Elena. Not now, anyway. I am asking you to talk to the witch – to convince her to leave you and the Salvatores alone."

"Bonnie is not a threat to me." Elena said.

"Don't be so sure. She is already threatening those you love. Do you think its such a big leap from harming them to harming you. Besides, if she really is your friend, there are those that would hurt you just to cause her pain."

"Damon and Stefan won't let that happen."

"Damon, Stefan and me. And it's true. You have the best protection you could possibly have, in this town anyway. But is not really a good time or place to have the name 'Gilbert'. There are a lot of creatures who would take you out just to get back at the town, the witch, Damon, Stefan, or me."

"No one's threatened me…" Elena started. But she knew it wasn't true.

"A lot of vampires have died here recently. That is not unnoticed. And part of the reason is the witch. That is not unnoticed either."

"She's just trying to protect..."

Katherine interrupted. "I know what she is doing and why. I saw it in Emily, and in every member of her family since. But she needs to know that if she or anyone in this town she is so fond of harms you, Stefan or Damon, it will be burned to the ground and there will not be a human or a witch alive within a hundred miles." Katherine was starting coldly at Elena now.

"She can fight you. I've seen her power."

"Against a few vampires? Yeah, she can fight. But it wouldn't take much to raise an army of vampires willing to destroy Mystic Falls. She would lose."

Elena was looking down now, trying to process all of this.

"I don't want a fight, Elena. I prefer her on our side, but at least I want her to leave us alone."

"She already said if Damon hurt anyone…"

"I've heard. And do you think she doesn't mean Stefan as well?"

"They don't think you care about them," repeating what Damon and Stefan had said about Katherine.

"And they are to continue to think that, Elena. Secrets make for good relationships. Talk to the witch alone."

"I don't think she'll change her mind. And she won't respond to threats."

"Then don't threaten her. Look, Elena, we want the same thing. We want the same people safe and living their lives. I've tried living in peace with my secrets. The Gilberts and Salvatores ended that. They didn't care who I was, who I loved or who loved me. They just cared what I was and wanted me dead. Don't let the witch make that mistake. I'm not losing anyone else."

"I'll try."

"You'll make her understand."

"Why do I feel threatened? You're protecting me by threatening me?"

Katherine moved towards the door "You'll work it out."

"Oh Katherine," Elena said as the vampire reached the door, "Family knocks."

A few hours later…

Elena needed the walk to clear her mind – to try to formulate what she was going to say to Bonnie. She had parked half an hour away. She was reconsidering as she approached Bonnie's house. Would she be up to walking back to the car after this was done?

Suddenly Damon was in front of her. "Out for a stroll – alone?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Does Stefan know?"

"He's not my keeper. What are you doing here?"

"A better question, Elena, is what are you doing here?"

"Bonnie is my friend. I came to talk to her. I don't thinks its safe for you to be here Damon."

"Why. I haven't spilled any innocent blood. Or does that not matter anymore?"

"Damon, please. Just let me talk to her."

"Do you think you can convince her that she's wrong? Elena, you know she isn't. You know what I've done. What I might do again."

"Yeah, I do. Bad and good."

"Then what will you tell her? That I'm good now? She knows better. That I'll go away? Not without you."

"Damon, don't say things like that."

"Why not? It's true enough. You are honest with me, I'll be honest with you."

Elena closed her eyes and shook her head. "And I'll be honest with Bonnie. I'll tell her that if she hurts you, it'll hurt me." She looked into his eyes just before turning to walk to Bonnie's house "but I don't know if it'll be enough…"