Chapter Forty

Ella gasped; her eyes open wide with surprise as Tyler's face came into view. He was crouched low, peering into the now open window.

"Tyler?" she asked when she finally found her voice. "What are you doing?"

"I got a text from Caroline," Tyler explained. "But it didn't sound like Caroline, is she there?"

"I'm here Tyler," Caroline called to him as quietly as she could.

"How did you know we were in the basement?" Ella asked, frowning.

"I heard you talking, I was listening to make sure you were in the house," he told her. "What's going on Ella? I was with Jeremy when I got a message from Caroline's phone, asking me to come pick her up here, just as Jer got a message from you asking him to come over because you were alone."

"Jeremy? Is he with you? Don't let him inside this house!" Ella warned. "You have to leave, he'll kill you."

"Who? Who'll kill us? Ella what's going on?" Tyler demanded, being a werewolf meant he was quick to anger.

"Marcus." Ella explained. "He's nuts, he chained me and Caroline and filled the room with vervain smoke. It wouldn't surprise me if he has wolfsbane somewhere as well. You can't come in here, you've got to warn the others to stay away. I'll figure out how to get us out of here."

"Like hell," an angry voice sounded from behind Tyler. Ella's heart took off at a sprint at the sound. "We're not going anywhere."

"I agree with Jeremy," Tyler told Ella. "I'm not leaving Caroline, or you."

Ella sighed at their stubbornness. "Fine, but call Damon, Stefan and Ric. Don't you dare try and come in here on your own, but don't let Damon and Stefan into the basement until we get that stupid smoke machine switched off."

"Jeremy's already calling them," Tyler informed her with a glance over his shoulder.

"All right," Ella nodded, the familiar uneasy feeling filling her stomach. Something bad was going to happen today. "Please, be careful, both of you."

"Don't worry Ella," Tyler told her. "Jeremy will be fine. We'll have you out of here in no time. Just keep my girl safe."

"I will," Ella promised with a weak smile. "Oh and Tyler? Try and make sure that Damon doesn't kill Marcus. He has information that I need."

"I'll do my best," he nodded and then he was gone.

Ella turned back to Caroline who was smiling. "I told you we'd be fine."

"We haven't gotten out of here yet," Ella sighed. She'd used what little energy she'd had standing to talk to Tyler. She now slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. "He could have been listening; he could be ready for them."

"What wrong Ella?" Caroline asked, shifting closer to her friend and taking her hand. "Are you worried about Jeremy?"

"I'm worried about all of you. You and them, you're the only family I have left. I don't want to lose any of you. I can't…"

"You won't," Caroline assured her.

"That's just it Care, I know that I will. I can't explain it, but someone is going to die tonight. I don't know who, if it's a member of my new family or the only father I've ever know, but I'm going to lose someone," Ella told her. She mentally added that she would possibly lose herself in the process. No matter what happened next, it wasn't going to end well for her. Ella was going to die.

"Ella…" Caroline started, but she was cut off by a loud crash from above them.

There was the sound of yelling and a scuffle. The next second the basement door crashed open and two figures came crashing down the stairs. Alaric and Jeremy stopped at the bottom, taking in the scene. Caroline sat clutching Ella's hand, blood still trickling down her face and she was still coughing and wheezing. Ella was still slumped against the wall, her eyes half closed, her face devoid of colour.

"Jesus," Alaric swore under his breath. He ran to the corner and switched off the smoke machine before turning and hurrying over to Caroline.

Jeremy was already kneeling beside Ella, her face in his hands. "Are you all right?" he asked, his gaze roving over every inch of her searching for injury.

"I am now," Ella whispered weakly, a small smile pulled at the corners of her mouth and her eyes drifted closed.

"I knew something was wrong," Jeremy said as he tried furiously to undo the collar around Ella's neck. "You never called me back or returned my messages and I just knew that there would be something wrong. I went looking for Caroline this morning; she wasn't at home or with Elena or Bonnie so I tried Tyler's. That's when we got the messages."

"Thank you for coming for me," Ella breathed.

"Anytime," Jeremy promised, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "I can't get this collar off."

"It needs a key," Alaric responded, he was having just as much luck with Caroline's.

"Here, let me."

They both turned as Tyler reached the bottom of the stairs. He strode forward toward Caroline and knelt in front of her. Hooking his fingers under the collar he pulled hard, the metal groaned in protest before finally giving way and freeing Caroline.

"Thanks," she smiled up at her boyfriend.

He smiled back then moved over to where Ella sat and removed her collar too. "Let's get them out of here."

Jeremy nodded and scooped Ella into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest. "You're safe now," he whispered against her hair.

Ella buried her face in his chest as they followed Tyler, who was carrying Caroline, and Alaric up the stairs. They came out into the kitchen, the sound of arguing reaching their ears.

"You can't kill him Damon!" Stefan was yelling. "He's still Ella's father!"

"He tried to kill her!" Damon screamed back at his brother.

Ella sighed, she had known it wasn't over yet.

TBC…