Hey :)
So another chapter with a lot of drama… Hopefully you will get the alert for this one as I know you probably didn't for the last two chapters (I didn't get one either), so go read chapter twelve and thirteen first if you haven't yet.
Also: September is closer and closer every minute and with school which starts then comes a lot of work, which means that the updates most likely won't be as frequent as they are now. (I will try to post at least one chapter a month, hopefully more.)
Love,
AGirlThatDaresToDream
Chapter 14
Jeremy lay there for what seemed like forever, trying to burn his feelings in that moment deeply into his memory. He is going to need them; after all, he admitted he feared that they will catch up to him a while ago. Yes, the thought of sneaking into CRS scared him as hell, but it was the only way. He won't allow this emotion to take over him during the execution of their plan and screw something up. And he needed to be confident that they will succeed - if not, he wasn't sure he is going to have enough power to do so.
With some of the weight lifting from his shoulders he felt like he was finally able to breathe properly, every past meeting playing like a movie inside his head. This is happening. Elena will be safe just a few hours after the sun rises tomorrow. They all agreed on this one. They will enter the centre a few minutes before dawn, making it harder for the majority of vampires, the ones without daylight rings, often called the night walkers to follow them. Jonas and Luka will hack their way into security system, taking care of the cameras and locking the guards out of the hall while their substitution will take place so that they won't have to worry about anyone walking on them while they will break into his sisters cell. There will be enough of them to carry her out if she isn't going to be in a state to walk by herself. They will drive away in an old but thanks to Luka working car, the fastest Alaric was able to put his hands on and still pay in cash. They will leave the vehicle at the side of the road, jumping in Kylan's driven by Ethan, who said himself that he doesn't want his age to hinder them in any way. All they needed to find was a safe house for Elena, Jenna and him to stay in. They said they will talk to her after she will recover and figure out what their next move is going to be afterwards, but he didn't even think about what will happen when she is out, all he cared about was whether their rescue operation will succeed and he will get his sister back. And that will happen. He could feel it.
There wasn't much time to appreciate that yet, thought, he needed to tell Jenna about what they are going to do first. He knew her well enough to know that there was no way she is going to get in a car full of unknown people without asking questions. He wished he wouldn't have to do this. He has been avoiding her since their fight after the vampire visited, focusing completely on rescuing Elena. In fact, the last time he stood in the same room as her for more than ten minutes was when the letters arrived. He had no idea how he was going to do this, or how she will react, but somehow he doubted that she will just overlook that he did exactly what she told him not to - put himself in danger.
He ran down the hallway, ignoring the strange looks and angry words of the people he bumped into, completely focused on the goal in his mind. Finding Rose. His plan was screwed, yes, but not Elena's life. That could still be saved. It had to be.
He opened the door of her office, jumping as they hit the wall, making a loud noise. He needed to calm down, he knew, or he will be dead before sunrise, but that was easier said than done, the worries as well as hatred towards himself not giving him a break. He would just had to be more careful and he would be getting the girl out of here tonight, but of course he didn't do that, and now he didn't even know what was happening to her, who was the new head of her research as well as was not allowed to enter her room ever again, returning the key to Blackmore. Why the hell did he had to be so stupid?
The quiet, surprised cry brought him from his thoughts, the door closing behind him as he came face to face with Rose, crossing the distance between the two of them until he was able to grab her shoulders, shaking her.
"Tell them I will do it. I will help them in any way than I can, just get her out and let me come with them. I will do anything."
"Damon…" The surprise in her voice was evident.
"Just tell them, Rose!" He let go of her, shoving her backwards, the thought of making a deal sickening him, but it was the only way now.
She caught balance, both worry and panic running through her wide eyes in a symbiosis. "What is going on?"
Damon let his eyes meet the floor. "It doesn't matter, just do it."
"Not until you tell me what happened!"
"They transferred me, OK? I can't help her anymore."
She just stared at him for a second, probably trying to comprehend the situation before an unreadable expression took over her face.
"And what about the "I don't know what are they going to do with her when they get her out" part? Risking her life doesn't bother you anymore? There is no way they are going to let a vampire join them."
"I don't have a choice."
"And what if you had it?"
"I don't." He hated feeling powerless, still not meeting her gaze.
"Or are you just too afraid to take it?"
He finally looked at her, a strange sparkle in her eyes, her arm holding a vervain bottle towards him. What was she doing?
"You were right, I should be better than that." She saw his confusion and smiled at him, explaining. "The people that want to get her out- they would use her. They think she has the power to save them, and I am done doing what I am told. The girl deserves better, but you won't be able to hide alone with her forever." He handed him the bottle along with a piece of paper with a telephone number written on it. "You will have to connect with them after a while, try to convince them to get you to Europe. They have their own reasons to try and save her, yes, but that doesn't mean that they are bad people. You have yours too, and you will need them but be careful; tell the girl that she still has her own will, no matter what she is. The guard substitution happens at five."
She almost left, but then their eyes met, her gentle voice filling the room again. "I always knew you had good in you, Damon, so don't you dare screw this up. It is your only chance."
….
He prayed desperately for his heart to slow down its beating as he passed the guards standing by many doors in the section he worked in with every step he took, knowing they can hear it. It was astonishing how simple it was for him to come up with a doable plan now when he really needed it, even if he was mostly relying on surprise and confusion, the most important thing was time. He glanced at the clock, causing a sudden rush of power to wash over him, quelling his fear. Quarter to five. Rose was right; this is going to be all or nothing.
He stopped in front of Elena's room, putting on his usual unemotional mask as the guard scanned him suspiciously.
"Mr. Morrison asked me to come here," he said, staring into the nightwalkers eyes before showing him the key he made a while ago, hoping it will be enough to get through. "And gave me this."
The vampire nodded almost immediately after that, stepping aside and it didn't take long for the familiar click to confirm his small victory, like music to his ears. Maybe this will go down the right way after all.
….
Elena heard him before he even entered, standing up from the cold floor and taking a few deep breaths before turning around to meet his eyes, knowing this will be their last talk and her only goodbye. She has to do this right, without tears, without fear, without breaking. She owed him that much.
"Damon." He stood in front of her now, his expression unreadable, his eyes soft, a relieved sigh leaving his mouth as he took her hand in his.
"Hey," he said his voice full of tension. "Listen, we don't have much time…"
"I know, I just… Thank you for everything you did for me even though you knew it can get you in trouble. I don't…"
"Stop, Elena…"
"Please, I have to do this." She begged, feeling the tears gathering in her eyes. Does he not understand she is doing this for both of them?
"No stop. Look we don't have time for this, OK? I am trying to get out of here."
….
She visibly tensed, her voice somehow higher, causing him to look at her in confusion. "Out?"
"Yes. Now listen. You can't run as fast as me and we have to be able to fool the guards if something goes wrong, so I will have to put you to sleep, OK?," he said, already reaching into his case and pulling out a needle. "This is the only thing I was able to put my hands on. It's the same thing we used during your operation…" He looked up, suddenly becoming aware of the quiet sounds Elena's feet made as she moved away from him, tears running down her face as she stared at him, her expression a mix of fear, anger and disgust, causing the words to stuck in his throat.
"They send you, didn't they? Or did you volunteer to do it?"
"What are you…?"
"Don't you dare lie to me! No one gets out of here. I thought we were friends." Her voice broke at the last sentence, a sob escaping her lips as he finally realised what was going on, taking small steps towards her.
"It is not what you think. I am trying to save you, Elena."
"Save me?!" Her hysteric laugh stopped as soon as one of her wings brushed against the wall. "With killing me? Is this what you try to believe, to convince yourself it is the right thing to do?"
"I am not going to…"
"How can you lie to me about something like that? No, don't. Don't come closer!" He saw the panic taking over her when he reached her, trying to get a good grip of her as she trashed around, her flapping wings making his task even harder.
Something broke inside of him at the sight of her trapped in his arms; one wrapped around her back, right above the start of her wings, holding her left hand still, the other one pulling the protection from the needle, her wings pounding firmly on his side. At some point she gave up and begged him not to do it, her eyes full of fear as he whispered "I am sorry," holding her in his embrace, soothing her by stroking her hair and planting kisses on her forehead until she fell into a deep slumber, knowing that the real danger hadn't even started yet.
The fact that the gentle humming of the engine was the only sound in a packed car was the proof of their nervousness. Nobody talked, moved or looked at the others, leaving Alaric to stare through the window, inspecting the surroundings as he lost himself in his thoughts.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Jeremy's face out of his head. He looked so angry, disappointment in his eyes for which Ric knew that was directed mainly towards him as they locked the boy, Luka, Jenna and Lynn's dog in Ethan's living room. Yes, he felt bad about betraying him, but it was necessary. It was better he was angry and alive than dead after all.
They weren't even half way to their bought car that was parked on the forest path a few miles ahead when Ethan's phone started to ring. His friend didn't even bother to decelerate the speed while pulling the device out of his pocket and turning on the speakers, so the caller's voice echoed through the vehicle.
"Rose."
Review?
