Hi, ;)

You probably didn't get an e-mail that chapter twelve was posted either, so go read that first.

I was away again and had a great time, but was forced to write a part of this chapter on my mobile phone, which on my antiquated device really isn't practical… Anyway, here it is.

Enjoy,

AGirlThatDaresToDream


Chapter 13

One of the still gently orange shining lights pulsated as he walked underneath it, his still sleepy hair ruffled. Damon was early for work again; the proof given to him by the lightening, telling him that it wasn't even seven yet. He only did this when something big was on his mind, stealing his peace and preventing him from sitting at home and drinking for a little longer, usually it was the demons of his past that did this, the guilt, the pain while he thought about all the things he should have done differently, but it was something else today. Frustration. There was no other word to describe his feelings better. Two days have passed since he made his decision, yet he still didn't come up with a plan that wouldn't be suicidal. The only smart thing he did make up was creating a fake key to Elena's room and then nothing. Not being able to remember anything while the pressure from his superiors grew every passing hour was far worse that the fear he felt rising inside of him. Fear was useful, causing him to be careful and cautious exactly like he needed to be, but the frustration was slowly eating his confidence away, the anger making him to throw at least ten of his anciently old crystal glasses into the fireplace, where they smashed, feeding the flames with strength, while watching the scene did the same with his heart. He will get the girl out. He has to. He has to save the only one that can save him. If he won't succeed, it will not be the stake what would kill him, but the guilt.

He didn't know how much time have passed, before he realised that there was someone walking by his side, almost running, taking two steps for each one of his. He looked at the person, only to find out that it was Rose, something that didn't surprise him. She has been holding to his side like a tick, joining him as he walked the hallways. Only when they were empty, thought, usually teasing him, trying to take his guard down so he would tell her something about the research. Not knowing the reason why she was doing this was still messing with him, but he had grown used to her secrecy lately, not even bothering to ask her anymore in hope that she would back down too, yet she never did.

"Something bugging you in that dumpy head of yours again, Salvatore?" Her voice echoed through the hallway, playful as always, and he could clearly imagine her with devils antlers, watching them grow when he only answered her with silence.

"Aw, did I just hit the soft spot? Sorry. You should probably brush your hair next time; I wouldn't find anything that would disclose you, than."

He tried hard to swallow her words without snapping, closing his eyes just for a second to make up the meanest sentence he could and murmuring it under his breath, quietly enough for her vampire ears not to sense it. He found her scanning the hallway nervously when he opened his eyes again, astonished that she didn't remark anything while he wasn't looking. She ran in front of him, to the first unlocked door she could find and stepped into a small room, her gaze urging him to follow her. What was she doing? Pranking him? It would make sense if it weren't for her serious expression and not knowing what is going on he soon found himself locked in a pantry room with her, the place full of bottles of stinky cleaning fluids, which made him feel like his nose is on fire.

"I have a message for you. An offer, really," Rose spoke, her voice quiet, and he could almost see her ears listening hard to intercept any sign of someone coming. "I know what you are trying to do and I think we are both aware that there is no way you can succeed without help. There is someone else there. Someone who has the same goal as you, and is offering you help. You give his group information and they will get the girl out themselves. You won't have to risk anything. They will do the hard work and will take care of the girl afterwards."

The rage began to boil inside of him as soon as he heard the last sentence leaving Rose's mouth and knew his answer instantly. The girl was meant to stay with him, to be protected by him, not being stuck with people whose intentions are unknown.

"Take care of her, huh? You mean killed slowly and painfully by a vampire freak, or be used by a bounce of human idiots, who think that she has some kind of a power that will win their war." He didn't even bother to control the volume of his rough voice.

"No! Damon, it's not…"

"Not like that? It is exactly like that. My answer is no." He paused to scan her with disgust in his eyes, his hand already on the door handle. "Don't even bother to ask again."

He turned only when he was already standing in a hallway looking back into the dark in her direction. "Oh, and hey, Rose," he waited till their gazes locked, not being bothered by the phone which started to ring in his pocket. "I thought better of you."

He left her standing there and as he headed towards his office he didn't look back.

….

He didn't even make it to the end of the hall, before the sound of telephone ringing unnerved him enough he finally picked up.

"What?" The annotation was clear in his voice and his heart slinked as he heard the man on the other side of the line.

"Damon." Blakemore sounded breathless. "I was trying to get a hold on you for a while, left you a message at your home number, but you obviously already left. Elijah Mikaelson's secretary called me about fifteen minutes ago. He is coming here today Damon, he wants to see your specimen. Meet me in my office, now."

The line went dead and all Damon did before the panic settled into him was to stare at the machine in his hand. They have learned something. Someone must have figured out what he was trying to do or just assumed so because he wasn't making any progress with the research, and now both he and the girl are dead. He couldn't feel the air entering his lungs anymore, the lump in his throat getting bigger any second, and the suitcase falling from his grip. How could his whole plan, everything he was working for, break into pieces in just a few moments?

He was taking deep breaths, trying to get himself back together the whole way to his boss's office.

….

Elena was left with nothing to do again, after a few minutes before a shaken Damon busted into her room, stuffing the books he gave her over the last week into his bag, before quickly explaining her what was going on. But it wasn't until the very moment it happened she completely understood him.

At the other side of the room, right in front of her stood Elijah Mikaelson, the man she was lucky enough to only see on television until now, just staring at her, surrounded by four guards, the ones that usually walked her to every room she was taken too. Damon was there to, standing on Elijah's left, giving away no proof of the panic she saw flowing in him before.

There was complete silence. No one moved, nobody said anything, causing her fear to rise along with the awkwardness. She tried hard to get a sight of Damon's eyes, the ones that would tell her that she was doing OK and this was the way an Original always looked at its underling, but the vampire kept his gaze fixed on the spot on the wall next to her, not helping her to calm down at all.

It felt like hours before they left, but only after she saw Elijah's eyes draw a line, connecting her to Damon, the fear at the gesture stuck with her till the end of the day as did the felling of man's stares burning right through her.

The door opened with a loud click, the surprise causing Damon to jump on his feet. He has been waiting in front of his bosses' office for almost a whole hour as Blakemore and the original vampire talked inside about the subject restricted to his ears. The witches casted a spell against eavesdropping on the offices as soon as the centre was build. It never bothered him until now, he realised, thinking about how things have changed for him since the girl arrived, but being careful to keep his mask on, right when he heard Blakemore's voice call him inside.

He meat Elijah at the door, letting him leave the room first. The other vampire showed his goodbye with a short and reserved nod, before leaving him alone on the hallway, increasing Damon's anxiety.

He lost himself in his own worries for a few moments, until the sound of the door shutting brought him back to life and he scanned Blakemore's impression. He looked tired, a shadow of something in his eyes as he motioned for Damon to sit, sighing, before the words started to leave is mouth.

"I have to say that Elijah is a very good observant." He eyed his employee coldly, but he could still sense the disappointment in his voice. Damon opened his mouth, trying to play along, but was stopped before he could even start.

"Don't, Damon. Enough of the pretending, we both know what I am talking about." The lump in Damon's throat was so big that he was struggling to breathe properly. Of course he knew. He made this case personal, wanting to get to know Elena, breaking rules on the way to their friendship, if it even could be considered as one, given the circumstances.

They didn't know about the plan, though, right? He raised his brow, the tension killing him. "So…?"

Blakemore send him a glare, clearly not happy with how Damon responded to his accusations and handed him his working contract over the table. "Due to your over attachment to this specific case, you are, from this moment on deposed from this position. You will be given all of the material you will need for your new research tomorrow morning at seven. Meet me in here. Your potential appeals won't be appreciated." His cold eyes burned into Damon's again. "You have done enough."

….

She let a small smile to linger on her lips when she realised that she had been awaken by a click of the lock, not stressing about the fact that she wasn't pulled into half consciousness at the sound of Damon's footsteps echoing through the hall like she usually was. The vampire was acting differently since her birthday, but she was never able to put a finger on in what way. He was still being nice to her, visiting her at least twice a day. They talked about books mostly, the research long forgotten, his questions light, almost like he sensed that she was still uneasy despite their growing relationship. She would not call it friendship, but she had learned that she can put a certain amount of trust in him. She knew it was probably reckless in situation she was in, but she couldn't help herself; she needed someone and he was always there, not letting her down since the operation.

Relief ran through her as she heard the door opening behind her back; the bad feeling she got when Elijah visited haven't left her yet in combination with boredom completely occupying her with worries, and a relaxed talk was her already tested solution. But the sight she saw as she turned around had a completely different effect. In front of her stood a vampire she had never seen before, dressed in white robe which looked just like the one Damon wore, with short blond hair, grey eyes and her folder in his hand.

She froze, hugging herself with her wings. This can't be happening. Please, let this just be a kind of mistake.

She didn't know where she got the courage to speak from, but she found it somewhere, not even bothering to cover up the fear in her shaky voice.

"Where is Damon?"

The vampire's response was immediate, so professional it sounded almost robotical. "Damon Salvatore was transferred to another research, so I will be the one to take over yours, which is, from what I have read so far, falling behind even though it is getting close to its end."

"Can I see him?"

"Not right now, no, but if you want I will bring him here once before the end of the research."

Elena felt the walls squeezing her and her heartbeat quickened drastically, as she comprehended what he meant with an end. She felt like an idiot for not realising it sooner. She will never see her brother again or feel the sunshine. She shivered as the entire amount of hope she was able to keep until now left her heart, letting her with a cold feeling of fear as it settled inside her soul.


Jeremy was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling, a mobile phone with a message on its still bright screen in his arm. Things were finally looking good for him. Their plan was ready.


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