Chapter 19: Full Moon
The Boarding House living room was tense. Bonnie and Elena searched the grimoire for any kinds of weakness the shapeshifter may have, Alaric and Stefan allocated the weaponry and explained to Jeremy how to use it if anything happened at the house. Isobel was going through any and all things she could find recorded about shapeshifters while Damon and Lucia stood looking out the window, Damon with a glass of scotch in his hand.
Elena had eventually calmed him down enough to give them a little more time to look into it. Damon was looking at the full moon blankly.
"You probably shouldn't be drinking you know." Lucia suggested somberly.
"Why not, I'm a rowdy drunk." His voice was sarcastic and hollow.
Lucia glowered up at him. "Can you be serious for one second, Damon? This is something we've never dealt with before you can't be so smug about it. We don't even know why it's targeting you!" she hissed.
Damon closed his eyes for a moment. "It's not targeting me, it's targeting Elena. It's using me to get to her." He explained gravely. He wanted to know why. Why did she have to go through this? What is it about her that people felt they needed to remove her from the world? His would be ruined without her. Why should Elena hold the weight of her family's curse…she didn't do anything to deserve this.
They were both silence for a minute. Lucia glanced at Elena. "Why do you think it wants her?" she asked quietly.
Damon shrugged helplessly. "I don't know." Damon looked at her and she caught his eyes. "But I don't care what I have to do to keep her safe."
Elena stood up and walked over to Damon and Lucia with her arms wrapped around herself. "Hey…Bonnie can't find anything about shapeshifters in the grimoire. She thinks they pre date the written text."
"So we're back to square one." Damon acknowledged grimly.
"Damon!" Isobel called out. He sped over and stood in front of her. "His name is Icarus. Meaning legendary figure…He goes way back Damon." Isobel warned him. She flipped through the pages that carried only a little information about him. "He's strong and he's callous, he disregards everyone lesser than him…which according to him is everyone." She explained with trepidation. "He's stronger in his true form, but he likes the game and the challenge so he doesn't usually show his true face." She wasn't really looking forward to hunting this guy down. But she had to, to protect her daughter.
"Damon maybe we shouldn't go after him tonight." Elena suggested coming to stand beside him.
He turned to her with a strong gaze. "You are not going anywhere." He placed his hands on either side of her face. "I can't risk it. You have to stay here."
Elena huffed and rolled her eyes. "And what if he comes here? What if he's waiting outside for you guys to leave so he can grab me here?" she argued.
Isobel stood up. "I'll stay here until they find him. Alaric can call me when they do." She offered, looking towards Ric, would just turned his head away from her. She knew her presence made him uncomfortable, and part of her wished she never hurt him the way she did. He loved her so much, and she left him to be a vampire…what kind of wife did that to their husband?
Elena nodded in resignation. "Damon, please be careful." She begged wrapping her arms around him.
The door opened and Caroline waltzed in. "Whoa…full house." She approached Stefan and beamed when he grinned at her. "Hey…I needed to talk to you. It's about Tyler." Stefan pulled her away so they could talk without the voices on the background. "It's a full moon tonight Stefan…Tyler's going to transition."
Stefan grimaced. "I forgot all about that. We've been dealing with another threat." At her confused look Stefan elaborated. "A shapeshifter has shifted into Damon's form to get to Elena. We were about to track him down."
Caroline eyes got big, and she looked past him to glance at Elena. "God, she must be freaking out. Why does everyone want her dead?" she asked sadly.
Stefan shook his head. "We don't even know if that's what he wants. Where is Tyler going to be locked up tonight?" he asked grabbed her hands in his in comfort.
She sighed. "The old Lockwood cellar. He's there now setting up. We watched some videos that Mason taped of the transition, and it looks bad. Tyler's body is going to go through some major changes, and I promised that I'd be there."
Stefan shook his head. "No…Caroline, you can't it's too dangerous!" he claimed urgently.
"I have to Stefan! I can't let him go through that alone…I did and it sucked."
"Then I'll go with you." He declared. "I'm sure Damon would understand."
Caroline rolled her eyes. "Um no he won't…and I'll be fine." She smiled confidently. "I'll be fine, you should help your brother." She hugged him tightly, pressing her cheek to his shoulder. "Be careful, okay?"
Stefan nodded and held her tighter. "You too…if something happens you call me." He stressed firmly.
Caroline pulled away. "I will…I promise." She kissed him quickly before anyone could see and took off.
Stefan headed back into the living room and walked up to Damon. "It's a full moon tonight. Tyler's going to phase." He explained.
"Oh my god I forgot…Is he going to be locked up?" Elena asked concerned.
Stefan nodded solemnly. "Yeah, Caroline's taking care of it." He didn't want her to, but he knew she was stubborn.
"We should leave soon. Bonnie, can you do a locator spell?" Damon asked.
She nodded sitting down on the floor cross legged. "Yeah, I can try and allocate the force of supernatural energy. I'll need some of your hair though." She pulled out some candles and placed them in front of her, lightening them with her mind. She pulled out a map of Mystic falls that she carried in the grimoire and set up.
Damon blinked. "Why?"
Bonnie looked up at him. "Because if he's still wearing your body then I can track him that way." She held out her hand in anticipation.
Damon pulled out a few strands and gave it to her. She closed her eyes and chanted closing her palms around the hair. The candle's flame grew a foot in height. Damon, Elena and Stefan watched as a burning line of fire crawled from the area the Boarding House was located to the high school.
"He's at the school." Elena acknowledged.
"He's waiting for us." Damon proclaimed.
Bonnie panted as she stopped her chanting. She turned her head down and wiped at her nose to get rid of the blood.
"Then let's go." Alaric called out, slipping a gun into the back of his jeans. Isobel walked over to him but he moved to the door before she got there. Everyone grabbed what they needed and headed for the door except for Damon who stayed behind to say goodbye to Elena.
He stared at her for a long time not saying anything. When he opened his mouth she stopped him. "Anything you say right now is going to sound like goodbye." He nodded in understanding. "Just come back in one piece." She gave him a lasting kiss before watching him leave with the others. Isobel went to go check the grounds quickly before coming back to the living room to lean against the wall.
She collapsed on the couch and covered her face with a pillow. Jeremy lay on the couch resting his head in her lap. "I'm scared Jeremy."
"I know…but it's six against one, Elena. I'm sure he won't be expecting that." Jeremy tried to reassure her.
"Yes he will." Isobel iterated bluntly. "He knows Damon's memories…Icarus knew he was coming for him the minute Damon thought it."
Elena pulled the pillow away and threw it to the floor. "What does he want?" her voice was tired and stressed.
"I don't know Elena." Isobel walked over to her and sat on the table in front of her. "But I can promise you that you'll be okay. Damon won't let anything happen to you." She confirmed confidently.
Elena looked at her mother, and saw honesty and compassion in her eyes. "And what if it costs him his life or Stefan's or Bonnie's…or yours?"
Isobel smiled tightly. "A risk we are all willing to take." She placed a hand on her thigh. "I know that I don't deserve anything from you except for hatred…but you are my daughter. You're life comes first." She tilted her head to the side. "Do you think I gave you up because I didn't want you? You needed better than what I could give you." She expressed softly. "I was young and John wasn't sticking around and I knew that Grayson and Miranda would love you as if you were their own."
Elena blinked away the tears in her eyes. This was the most honest she had ever seen Isobel, and she was happy that her mother wasn't completely heartless. "Thank you, Isobel." Elena put her hand over hers and squeezed.
The vampire's phone went off and she read the text from Alaric. "They found him…I have to go." Isobel stood and placed a kiss on Elena's head before racing towards the school.
Elena got up and locked the door behind her then settled back into the couch to wait with Jeremy for everyone to come back.
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Damon stormed onto the field with a dangerous looking sword and everyone trailing behind him. Icarus was leaning casually on the top of the bleachers with Damon's smirk plastered on his face.
"Bout time…I was starting to get impatient." Damon glared up at the demon wearing his face.
"Lease's up!" Damon yelled to him. "Time for you to get out of my body." Bonnie, Lucia, Alaric and Stefan stared in shock.
Icarus chuckled darkly. "And why would I want to do that when I'm having such a ball in it?" he sped down to stand in front of Damon. "I'm diggin' your skills too…that mind thing, compulsion is it? Love that!" Icarus grinned at the furious look on Damon's face. "Couldn't use it on Elena though, she wears vervain…but of course you know that." He taunted. Icarus looked past him to Bonnie. "And you're the witch right?" he stepped closer. "I love a woman with power." He widened his eyes flirtatiously and he reached out to her. She pulled away but he grazed her arm.
Bonnie glared at him trying with all her might to cause him pain. But it wasn't working. Why wasn't it working?
Icarus chuckled. "Trying that brain aneurism thing on me? Won't work…I've surpassed such hindrances." His eyes pinned hers darkly as he leaned in close. "Better stop before your nose starts bleeding…Bonnie." He whispered.
"So are we gonna fight, or are you gonna taunt us all night?" Damon jabbed, pulling Icarus' attention away from Bonnie.
He laughed. "You really want to fight me Damon? I was doing you a favor…I don't want you. I want Elena." He claimed strongly. "She doesn't belong in this world. She is an anomaly, a glitch that needs to be fixed." He explained in annoyance. "She needs to be eliminated."
"Not gonna happen. You see Elena has people that will protect her…you're not gonna lay a hand on her." Damon growled out his face changing and his body coiled with tension.
Icarus shrugged. "You can try to protect her…you all can. It'll be fun." He smiled when Isobel sped up behind everyone else. "I see we have a new player…and just in time for the show."
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Caroline watched in horror as Tyler's bones started cracking and shifting causing him to howl in pain. This had been happening on and off for almost an hour now. She ran to him when he collapse again, and held him, comforting him as he wept.
"You're gonna be okay…Tyler, it's gonna be okay." She whispered soothingly in his ear.
"You need to leave!" he shouted. "Go!"
"No." she held him tighter. "I'm not leaving yet."
"Please go…" he whimpered when he felt his body shifting again. "Caroline leave!" he pushed her back and growled loudly. Fangs grew out of his gums and his eyes turned yellow. He ran at her, snarling and pulling on his chains.
She rushed out of the cage, and locked him in it. "I'm sorry Tyler." She cried. She felt bad that he had to go through this. She could see him pulling against his chains, trying desperately to get out, as his body continued the transition.
She closed her eyes as he hollered in agony. She opened her eyes when he broke free of a chain that was bolted to the ground and slammed into the cage doors. He threw himself at it, pulling at the bars.
Caroline ran out of the cellar and barricaded the door right before he ran into it. She screamed when she could feel it give behind her weight. She quickly made the decision to run.
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Each vampire threw themselves into the fight, trying desperately to take down the oversized panther. Icarus was winning, throwing each vampire that attacked him off his back and flying across the field.
Lucia collected herself off the ground and ran at him again. Alaric shot an arrow but it was deflected by a heavy paw. Stefan and Damon ran at Icarus from either side, but he swatted Stefan away with his tail. Damon took the opportunity to grab hold of the panther's neck and crank it hard to the right.
He exhaled in relief when the body fell to the ground in a heap. Everyone collected themselves looking at the motionless animal. They all started to walk off the field when they heard a sickening crack.
Damon turned around to see Elena's face smirking at him. "You didn't think I'd give up that easily, did you?"
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Caroline ran as fast as she could. She knew Tyler was following her, she could hear his paws hitting the ground. The tree branches were snagging on her clothes and her hair, but she pushed on. The sound of paws hitting the ground got louder. He was close…she looked back and immediately regretted it. Tyler had her pinned, growling in her face as she struggled.
He bit hard into her shoulder and she screamed loudly in anguish. She kicked him off and he went flying, bouncing and hitting the ground a couple of times. He whimpered as he got up and ran into the woods.
Caroline sobbed. Her whole arm was numb. With shaky hands she peeled her shirt down and looked at the wound. It was starting to feel a little better, and her skin was slowly healing over the bite marks. She sighed in relief and got to her feet, taking off towards the Boarding House.
She got there in only a few minutes pounding on the door. "Elena!" she sobbed. "Please let me in!"
Elena yanked the door open, and her eyes widened at Caroline's disheveled appearance. The blonde vampire ran in and her knees buckled when she reached the couch. "What happened, Caroline?" Elena helped her to lie down and looked her over.
"Tyler got out." She rushed her voice frantic. "I tried to barricade him in but he got out a-and he bit me." Tears streaked her cheeks.
Elena looked to Jeremy in panic. "Oh my God." Elena quickly pulled away the clothing that was soaked in blood.
Caroline swallowed hard. "It's okay Elena…it's healed. Wolf bites aren't deadly to vampires, it's a myth…it just hurts a little."
Elena's mouth dropped open. "It's not healed, Care…" There were puncture wounds in the shape of a bite, and a lot of fresh scaring and raw flesh.
"What?" Caroline turned herself to see it and started sobbing again. "Oh my God…call Stefan."
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Icarus canted Elena's head to the side. "What no witty comeback?" Damon didn't like the way Elena's voice chuckled sinisterly. "I knew me being in this form would bother you." Icarus ran his hands up and down Elena's body. "Mmm…she feels good." He arched a brow when Damon growled. Stefan was about to run at Elena's form to attack but Damon held him back. Stefan looked at him curiously, but recognized the look of determination on his face. Alaric had handed him the gun behind his back before Damon stepped closer to Icarus.
"Do you think me seeing you in her form bothers me? It doesn't…it's nothing new actually and I have no problem killing you dressed like that." Damon barked. He pulled out the gun quickly and unloaded an entire road on Icarus. He didn't even flinch.
"Ouch, baby." Elena's face pouted at him. "That really hurt." He mocked. Icarus closed his eyes and shifted his form away from the bullets so they were frozen in the air. Icarus laughed. "Well that was fun, let's do it again."
Damon looked on in shock. He didn't even know if anything could kill him. His first two attempts failed.
"You might want to get home, sweetheart." He taunted Damon in Elena's sweet tone, which sounded too much like Katherine. "Looks like you've got trouble."
"Damon!" Stefan called out to his brother. "Caroline's hurt…Tyler got out." He uttered in panic taking off towards the house.
Everyone looked conflicted. Bonnie clearly wanted to follow Stefan but he decided to run instead of with the car. Lucia stood bravely beside Damon, vowing not to leave his side. And Isobel positioned herself slightly in front of Alaric and Bonnie.
"Go, Damon." Icarus said. "If you stay any longer I might kill you…and I'm having way too much fun to do that just yet." He laughed when Damon took off grabbing Bonnie's hand as he passed her, holding on to her tightly as he ran.
Isobel ran with Alaric and Lucia ran after them, but not before sending Icarus a glare.
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Stefan was the first to run into the Boarding House. He rushed to the couch where Caroline was still laying and Elena was tending to her wound. Her skin pale and her eyes barely open.
"Caroline…what happened?" he whispered looking her over, and stroking her cheek.
It took Caroline a lot of effort to speak. "Tyler got out…he bit me, Stefan." She gestured to her shoulder.
Stefan looked at the growing wound on her shoulder and tightened his jaw. "Elena, get me some wolf's bane and water." Elena rushed to get the wolf's bane from the desk in Damon's room and then to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.
Stefan grabbed Caroline's hand and squeezed it. She smiled tiredly. "Does that help?"
He shrugged. "I don't know, but it's worth a try." He shook his head and scowled. "I'm going to kill him." He pronounced in anger.
The blonde shook her head. "No…Stefan." She breathed out. "It's not his fault, he didn't mean to." She told him, her voice raspy and dry.
"I should have been with you." He said, his words laced with guilt.
"It wouldn't have changed anything." She started crying again. "I don't want to die Stefan." Stefan leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, whispering soothing words to her. She was hot to the touch, like she was coming down with a fever.
Elena ran in to see the intimate moment, and was reluctant to interrupt it. "Here." She handed Stefan the water bottle. "Is she going to be okay?" she asked, her voice wavering.
"I don't know…" he said pulling away from Caroline. He eyes were starting to close. "Drink this, Caroline…please." He tilted the bottle to her lips and she choked on it as in went down.
She groaned and clutched her chest. "Arghh! It burns…" she screeched, grabbing for Stefan.
He nodded, and let her grip his hands. "That means its working."
Everyone came bursting through the door, hearing Caroline's screams from outside. Bonnie and Damon came in first and she rushed to her friend's side. "I can help with the pain." He declared. "Here, give me your hands." Bonnie took Caroline's hands in hers and started chanting quietly.
The blonde's groans and whimpers quieted, until eventually Caroline's eyes closed. "What, what are you doing?" Stefan asked urgently.
"I'm making her go to sleep." She said her eyes still closed. "Her body needs to rest, or she's going to send it into shock." Bonnie knew what Caroline was going through was going to be long and painful. Bonnie prayed that this wasn't the end for her friend. She didn't deserve this…she needed to find a way to heal her.
A/N: I had so much fun writing this chapter! All the scenes with Icarus were a blast. I hope you liked it, and thank you for all you're reviews, you guys are awesome! Lol sidebar: the reason why both Stefan and Elena said they forgot about Tyler phasing was because I forgot too, getting too consumed in the other aspects of my story.
Anyways thanks for reading! Enjoy and review please!
Vanessa