The sky finally cleared over MysticFalls after a gloomy dawn that never came. Water still soaked the earth, and the brightness of the daylight still was very new. But an incredible tension still existed on a quiet neighborhood street. A certain mansion was filled with anxiety as pairs of eyes continued to peer out the windows.
Suddenly, two figures could be seen walking down the street. The taller one walked with a limp and was weakly supported by the second one. As they drew closer to the mansion, exhaustion was obvious on their faces. Looks of fatigue, sorrow, and revelation all appeared in their expressions. A certain distance was between them even as they walked so close together, touching at the sides.
Two people ran out to meet them.
"Alex!" Katherine yelled, almost colliding with both Alex and Damon on the front lawn. "What happened?"
"Damon's hurt," Stefan noted anxiously. "Let's get them both inside."
The two weary vampires were rushed inside and treated to swift and thorough treatment. Damon needed even more blood, though he had accepted much from Alex. When Katherine heard of how much blood Alex actually gave Damon to drink, she gasped disapprovingly and rushed to the cellar to retrieve as much blood as she could.
Along with Stefan and Katherine, Elena and Caroline were also there. They were both anxious, though Caroline seemed to have taken an immediate disliking to Alex. Everyone had the same mission: to save Alex and Damon. But Alex perceived an even greater mission that she had to complete.
"Damon, where's the Blood Stone?" she asked calmly after they were both slightly revived. "I need it."
"What?" Stefan suddenly interrupted. It was clear Katherine had told everyone the whole story of the situation now. "You can't touch that, Alex. That's what made this happen."
"It will be different this time," Alex insisted simply, slowly stumbling around the living room like a weak hospital patient just out of surgery. "I'm going to end all this."
"Alex," Katherine called, leaping up from the couch and stalking over to Alex. "You can't be saying what I think you're saying. You wouldn't."
"I've already tried," Damon said, his voice on the verge of breaking. A returning sadness entered his eyes. "She's set on sacrificing herself. Maybe you guys can knock some sense into her."
"I think I will," Katherine stated fiercely.
But Alex was already ignoring her very presence. She walked over to Damon, who was feebly sitting down on a plush chair. "Damon, give me the stone."
"Alex, don't you want to think about this?" Stefan asked gently. "I mean, think about Elizabeth. If you die, she'll lose you forever."
"She'll never lose me," Alex told fervently. "I will always be with her. But it would be better for the both of us if she had a dead mother than an undead mother."
The room was dim and silent. No one spoke, yet words were sent passionately throughout the room with only the eyes of each person. Elena looked on the verge of tears, like this sort of circumstance only added to a great deal of depression caused by the supernatural world. Stefan's jaw was locked tightly as he stared pleadingly towards Alex. With her mouth slightly open, Katherine appeared to be the most shocked of everyone. She looked at everyone in the room as if the whole idea was something out of a mental patient. Even Caroline looked sad and slightly anxious about the whole situation. But Damon's face distracted Alex from all the rest.
He would not make eye contact with her. With watery eyes, he looked down at the floor. His whole body was tense, and he seemed unconcerned with his injuries. Alex felt like crying as she stared into his heartbreaking face.
"Damon, please understand," she begged, short sniffles occupying her in-between breaths. "I'm not doing this for myself. I have thought to myself that I would rather die than be without Elizabeth, but this is really the best for her." She tried to give a smile. "And it could be the best for all of you as well."
"What are you talking about, Alex?" Katherine asked, a hint of bitterness in her voice.
"I'm talking about this sacrifice," Alex said eagerly. "As long as I go with them, they should have no objection to letting any of you join. If you want to become human again, this sacrifice can help you."
"But you are the sacrifice!" Katherine exclaimed incredulously. "This is crazy! How could you want to leave us? You could live forever with us. We could be a family."
Alex stared coolly at Katherine. Slowly, she walked right up to the defiant vampire and took her hand. "Katherine, I need you to do something for me. And I think you'll want to do it."
"Alex-"
"Katherine," Alex interrupted calmly. "I need you to take care of Elizabeth for me. Would you do it?"
A look of disbelief and confusion filled Katherine's eyes. She opened her mouth and began to speak hurriedly and disjointedly. "What? You want me to take care of your daughter?"
"Yes," Alex answered. The uneasy breathing behind her showed Stefan and Damon's disapproval of this idea. And even Katherine was blatantly upset with this.
"You want me of all people to take care of your daughter?" Katherine asked, almost showing disgust with the thought. "Didn't I spend hours telling you about all the terrible things I've done? Don't you know about all the people I've killed? No one would trust me with their pet hamster, let alone their daughter!"
"I trust you," Alex whispered confidently, taking the picture of Elizabeth from her pocket.
For a moment, she looked down at it, truly amazed by how fast her life had changed. This little girl had only just been in her arms less than a week ago. But she felt an overwhelming need to let go, and she shakily shoved the picture into Katherine's hands and began to cry.
"I trust you," she repeated tearfully. "You lost your daughter five hundred years ago. I think you deserve to care for one now. You've always had the ability in you. Now it's time to use it."
Katherine appeared both incredibly surprised and touched by this decision. In tears, she looked down at the picture of Elizabeth in her hands. Lovingly, she held the picture and gave a grin towards the smiling little girl. But a new expression of gratefulness was mixed with immense sorrow as she looked back up at Alex.
"Damon," Alex called softly, now turning to the man who appeared to be filled with grief and anger. "Damon, listen to me."
"I can't become a human off of your blood," he told heatedly. "I will not use you."
"My blood is just the gateway of something bigger," Alex suggested enthusiastically. "Don't think of it as using me."
"What is it then?" he questioned fiercely, looking up at her for the first time since they entered the house. "Are you going to tell me that I can get away with being a human by disregarding who you are? What about who you are to Elizabeth? Or who you are to me?"
An unpleasant silence filled the room. Even Katherine's soft sobs were unheard in the thick stillness. It appeared as if no one was even breathing, until Alex finally spoke.
"Whatever you choose, Damon," she started with a voice of new desperation. "I need for you to promise me something."
Damon rebelliously shook his head, but suddenly Alex rushed over to him and kneeled at his side. She powerfully took his hand and continued.
"Damon, listen to me," she begged with a shaky voice. "Elizabeth's father has never been in her life. She's never had a male figure to look up to. Damon, I need you to be that for her. Please, at least try. Damon?"
Now Damon's rage had diminished, and he looked only like a broken man. Painfully, he looked at her as a few tears fell from his eyes. His lip quivered once or twice as he firmly gripped Alex's hand in return. Though he seemed unable to answer her, he began to speak.
"I will, Alex," he told passionately. "I promise."
Now Alex was crying harder. As she stared into his eyes, she slipped her hand into Damon's other hand and took the stone from him. For one moment, she saw all the hope completely drain from Damon's face. And then she was immersed into another vision.
White and red filled her eyes again, and they slowly turned into a vivid scene. She was staring at the green-eyed vampire who appeared fully healthy now. They were in a forest that was most certainly close by. The green-eyed vampire gave an attentive nod, and then sped away. It all faded into red and white, and she was back with Damon in the living room.
"They're close by," she informed bluntly.
"What should we do?" Elena asked anxiously.
"Elena, you should go upstairs," Stefan suggested gravely. "I don't want them near you."
"Alright," Elena breathed. She embraced Stefan for a long time, and then reluctantly went upstairs.
"I…I can't believe that you would do this," Caroline whispered, her unexpected voice alarming Alex greatly. "You would really sacrifice yourself so we can be human again?"
"I need to," Alex said, giving a small smile. "Caroline, I know how much you want to be human again. I'm glad I can help you."
A hesitant grin came onto Caroline's face. "Thank you. Thank you so much."
Abruptly, a loud bang was heard in the entrance hall. Stefan, being the closest to the doorway, left the living room to investigate. Without even a passing second, Stefan was being pressed up against a wall as the green-eyed vampire held him by the throat.
"No!" Alex exclaimed, rushing to both Stefan and the intruder. "Leave him alone! I'll go with you! Leave him!"
The green-eyed vampire gave a fierce glance in Alex's direction, and she could truly recognized him for the first time. Horrid memories of her kidnapping and murder reentered her mind, and an undying rage swelled within her. Angrily, she stared at the man, ready to compel him if it was necessary for him to let Stefan go. But eventually, he released his grip on Stefan and gave a calm look towards Alex.
"Ah," he started in a very posed voice. "You've finally accepted your purpose, I presume."
"Yes," Alex snarled heatedly. "But you must do something for me."
"Anything," he promised with a terrible smirk. His despicable eyes stared at her with a sort of hunger she could not stand to see.
"My friends here," she started. "You have to let them join you. They want to be human too."
The Enemy looked into the living room carefully, observing the small group of vampires. Damon was now on his feet, ready to pounce at any interruptions in Alex's plan. Katherine stood beside him, appearing even more ferocious.
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," he concluded with a sigh. "But, you see, there can't be any objection. Your little friends here can't jump me like common thieves."
"If they wanted to kill you," Alex whispered, "you'd already be dead."
That hideous smile invaded the man's long, thin, middle-aged face again. He fixed his short, curly hair cheerfully, and then gestured to the door in a gentlemanly fashion.
"After you, madam," he grinned with a malicious politeness.
For the first time, reluctance came over Alex. But it was not because of a lack of courage. Rather it was because she did not want to be separated from her friends by any sort of distance. But, suddenly, she felt Damon right by her side, and he took an unyielding hold of her hand. Together they walked out of the house, followed by Katherine, Stefan, Caroline, and the terrible green-eyed vampire.
They walked to the forest, and it was a long travel through the trees. Because the Enemy was leading from behind, he allowed no super speed, and cautiously watched every vampire's every move. More than once, Katherine suddenly slowed down, stepping on the green-eyed vampire's foot. This was most sincerely on purpose, Alex knew. Katherine was one who showed her dislike in even the most subtle ways.
Night had fallen by the time they made it to their destination. It was an eerie sight fit for the most horrible and ghostly of movies. A large, rectangular stone table stood in the middle of a small clearing, and symbols of all kinds were engraved onto it. There was a certain ancientness in the table as it stood on thin stands of handcrafted stone. Had it been here for ages? Perhaps it was even older than Katherine.
Standing beside the table was a tall man who looked quite ancient himself. He sported a short, tidy beard on his wrinkled face, and both his beard and his hair were white as snow. In his bright blue eyes was a kindness that Alex could not understand. Even sympathy could be felt in his gaze, yet he was a tool in this madness.
"Lay her down there," the old warlock ordered, gesturing to the table. Alex noticed an old, black book in his hands.
Alex would have gone on the table on her own will, but she could not let go of Damon's hand. Even as the green-eyed vampire pulled her away with such great force, it was clear Damon had a part in the unending union. But she eventually lay down on the table and took a deep breath.
"Is everyone here participating?" asked the old man, curiously observing everyone who surrounding him.
"By request of the sacrifice," the Enemy replied.
"I never considered you a gracious kind, Peter," the warlock suggested resentfully.
"Neither did I, Jonathan," Peter smirked.
"All of you must drink her blood now," Jonathan commanded in a tone that sounded full of boredom.
Though Peter had seemed like a sort of gentlemanly villain, he paid no attention to Alex's humanity at this moment. With an iron-like grip, his teeth bit down across her arm, and she let out a quick cry of pain. She felt the life draining out of her in a way that was unlike any way she had felt before. Not even Katherine and Damon had taken her blood so violently. But her feelings were more than that. She knew this life that was draining would never be returned.
"That's enough!" Damon suddenly yelled. Though Alex had her eyes closed in agony, she could feel the green-eyed vampire leaving her arm at once. There was a moment when only soft growls could be heard, and then Jonathan interrupted.
"Ladies first," he said, as if Peter had never even bitten Alex.
Slowly, Alex opened her eyes and saw Caroline looking at her with a most alarming face. She looked as if she would be sick, and her eyes were wide with fear.
"Um, excuse me," she started delicately, looking up at the warlock. "How much blood do I have to drink?"
"It doesn't matter," Jonathan answered plainly. "You can drink as little as you possibly can." Alex heard the bitterness in his voice as he said the world "little" and wondered just which side he was on.
After a few seconds of tension, Caroline leaned in and began to take some blood. She only drank for a few moments before backing away and looking at Alex with both sympathy and panic. Alex tried to give a reassuring look, but she could still feel the pain of Peter's agonizing bight.
Next was Katherine, and she seemed even more terrified than Caroline. She was clutching the picture of Elizabeth with crushing force, and her soft eyes were filled with tears. Before Katherine could do anything, Alex grabbed her hand weakly.
"Remember what I asked of you," she begged urgently. "Remember, Katherine."
"I will, Alex," Katherine promised hysterically. Slowly, Katherine moved her mouth down to Alex's arm and took only a few sips. Gratefully, Alex gave a feeble grin before wincing in slight pain.
When Stefan came next, he took her hand in his and held it for a while. Alex smiled at him devotedly. "If it weren't for you, I'd be the monster I was meant to be."
He shook his head quickly. "You were never meant to be a monster. You were always meant to be a great person. Alex, this still feels terribly wrong. But I must thank you."
"You'll visit Elizabeth?" Alex asked.
"Of course," he assured with a grin. He took his blood swiftly and was gone.
Damon's heavy footsteps gave Alex a sort of peace. He stepped up to the table and looked into her eyes with sincerity and adoration. She couldn't help but to smile.
"Elizabeth will be safe with us," he told with a grave passion. "I promise you, I'll never let her go."
"Thank you, Damon," she replied gratefully.
Without another word, Damon leaned towards her, but not towards her arm. He met with her right on her lips, giving her a soft, affectionate kiss that made her cry. Wherever she was going after this, she knew he would not be there, and she would miss him. But her heart remained strong, and she let go of his kiss willingly. When he took blood, it only felt like another peck, and she felt him leave like air in her lungs.
There was a long silence before Peter spoke. "If that is all, we shall continue."
She saw the warlock step up to the table, wielding a long wooden stake. It was almost too daunting for her to see something so deadly and painful that would so soon stop her heart. But as she looked up at her imminent death, a slight chuckled filled her mind. A stake, the most popular form of vampire hunting, was to be the thing that killed her. She realized not only that vampires were real, but that most every legend about them was based on truth. Perhaps she was going mad, but this idea amused her.
The bright light of the full moon in the sky blinded her for a moment, and she saw Elizabeth so clear in her mind. Laughing playfully, she was running in a field of many flowers, grasping just one in her hand, knowing that it was the special one. Only that flower held her heart.
Once more, she could see the stake, and she now heard some mumbling from the warlock. He raised the stake high in the sky and started to roar a language she could not understand. And then the stake fell.