[Sorry about the short first chapter, I'm still warming up. Positive and critical reviews are both greatly appreciated. Don't be shy to let me know what you think.] - Rubaiyat

Chapter 2

"Well?" Asked Stefan impatiently. "Will you leave?"

"Given the current circumstances..." Damon replied.

"I'll get her through this, Damon. You need to leave Mystic falls."

"Are you still worried I'm going to swipe your girl, Stefan? Really, brother, this whole jealousy thing is getting a bit old."

"Are you really doing this Damon? Going back on your word?"

"Look, brother. I know what I said. But everything's changed now, surely you won't send me away in her greatest time of need."

"She doesn't need you, Damon. She needs me."

"Why?" Damon's voice rose slightly in anger. "Because you're the perfect vampire role model? Stefan, you have to admit that I'm just better at this than you are."

"Don't do this Damon." Stefan looked dead serious. His hands were clenched in fists.

"Ooh, I better watch out. Bad Stefan's out to get me."

"I'm serious, Damon. Go."

"I'll tell you what. How about we ask your lovely girlfriend? I mean, she chose you after all. Surely she'll agree with you and send me away. And if she does, I swear on my honour I'll go."

"You have honour?"

"You wound me, brother. How does the deal sound?

"Fine, but it's your last chance, Damon."

"What a good boyfriend you are, eh Stefan? Letting the lady make the decisions. She'll be so happy."

"Shut up Damon."

Meredith Fell's heels clicked and clacked on the hospital tiles as she walked down the corridor. She carried a clipboard in one arm and fingered a pen in her pocket with the other.

It had been an exhausting few days.

First Elena and her haemorrhage, and now her...death. Not to mention the Salvatores. Stefan was okay, but Meredith could see the constant blame in Damon's eyes. It made her uncomfortable. She couldn't possibly have known Elena would go and drive off a bridge while the blood was still in her system. Nevertheless, Meredith felt guilty. She felt guilty for being involved in what led to Elena's transition. She knew the girl had never wanted this, but the choice had been made for her.

Still, Meredith had business to attend to. She couldn't let the misfortunes of one patient distract her from all the others. She turned a corner into another hall, heading for Matt Donovan's room. The poor boy was in shock, and felt even more guilty than she herself did over Elena. After all, she'd died to save him. Unfortunately Meredith had no remedy to guilt or sadness. Even Bonnie, who'd been spending a lot of time in the hospital, couldn't help with that.

From ahead she suddenly heard a low groaning.

"Hello?" Meredith called. There was no reply. She reached a fork in the corridor, and heard the moaning again to her left.

"Oh God!" Meredith cried when she saw a janitor lying against a wall, blood pooling around him. His throat had been practically ripped out. "Henry!" She called, and started running towards him. The door across from where Henry was lying opened, and a patient wandered out to see what was happening.

"Please, go inside-" Meredith stopped abruptly when she saw who it was. "Elena, no! Go back." Elena didn't seem to hear her. She was staring transfixed at Henry, and at the blood he sat in.

"Elena, don't!" Meredith almost screamed, dropping the clipboard and sprinting to reach her. Elena bent down slowly next to the dying man. Her expression was distant. She seemed unaware of anything around her except the man sitting in the pool of blood. Meredith ran harder, but was too far away. Slowly Elena raised a hand, reaching for Henry's face as if to comfort him. Her hand paused just inches from his face when she saw the blood still flowing freely from his throat and neck. Her ears were deaf to Meredith's anguished screams as she wiped some blood off Henry's cheek, and stared at it on her finger.

"No! No no no no!" Meredith couldn't stand it. Seeing disaster loom and being helpless to stop it.

Elena hesitated for a moment, and licked her finger.

Instantly black veins appeared below her eyes. Her irises went dark, and her whites turned a deep scarlet. She lunged at Henry, who only had the strength to whimper before his head sagged. Her fangs dug into his neck, and she drank deeply. She was kneeling in the pool of blood, her hospital gown now soaked and stained. When Meredith finally reached her, she tried to pull Elena back, shouting in her ear. "Elena, no! Stop, you're killing him!"

Elena stopped, but only long enough to shove Meredith away, sending the doctor tumbling into the opposite wall. Meredith slumped down onto the floor, gasping for air. When her vision cleared, she saw Henry lying motionless, and Elena standing over her, with a look of terrible hunger in her demonic eyes. Her lips slowly drew back into a predatory grin, revealing her dripping fangs.

Fear like none other gripped Meredith at the sight of her.

All of a sudden Elena began screaming and clutching her temple. She fell to her knees and cried out in pain, the hunger and savagery gone from her face. Meredith looked up to see Bonnie walking towards them, one hand pointed at Elena and hair billowing behind her. When she eventually lowered her arm, Elena was lying on the floor weeping openly.

"Are you alright?" Bonnie asked, without taking her eyes off Elena.

"Y-yes. Thank you." Meredith managed to choke out. Her heart was pounding in her chest with the force of a marching drum.

"Did Elena do that too?" Bonnie motioned to Henry with a grimace. Meredith suddenly remembered about the poor janitor.

"Oh my God, Henry!" She shrieked before rushing to the unmoving body to check for a pulse. There was none. "He's...He's dead."

"Elena killed him?"

"No...not exactly. I found him lying in the hall already bleeding. Elena came out of her room and...finished the job." Meredith felt physically ill, unusual considering how many injured, sick and dead people she came across in her line of work. Bonnie was kneeling down next to Elena, now unconscious.

"Elena, wake up. Wake up Elena."

My mind was groggy and confused, but I heard Bonnie's voice clearly. She was leaning over me, looking concerned. She wouldn't touch me though. Odd.

"Bonnie?" I said faintly.

"I'm here Elena. Come back into your room."

"Bonnie...I'm so sorry. It was an accident. I didn't mean for it to happen."

"I know, Elena. You couldn't help yourself." For the briefest of instants her face was hard, but calmness and worry reappeared the next moment. It scared me a bit though. Bonnie was supposed to be my friend.

"There was blood everywhere, and I...I just had a little taste."

"Elena, don't talk about it. Let's get you inside. Dr Fell, could you find Stefan for me?" I looked up and realised Meredith was there too. She was pale as a ghost, and kept glancing nervously at me.

They hate me. I thought to myself.They hate what I've become. I'm a monster.

"I'll do that." Meredith said, getting up and striding briskly away. Bonnie took me by the arm and helped me back into my room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

"Get some clean clothes on, Elena. Stefan will be here soon. He'll know what to do."

Will he?

I changed quickly, thinking about what had happened. Why was there a bleeding man outside my room? Why couldn't I control myself? I'd always thought of myself as disciplined.

Obviously not. Not anymore.

Anger welled up within me. Without thinking I lashed out at the glass of water on the end-table. It flew into the wall, sending shards of glass and water everywhere. Sitting down on the table, I put my head in my hands and tried to keep the tears at bay.

Stop crying! Just stop! What's wrong with you?

"Elena..." Bonnie said softly.

"That wasn't me, Bonnie." I said angrily. "I wouldn't do that. It wasn't-" The door burst open, and Stefan hurried in.

"Elena? Are you alright? Meredith told me what happened."

"No, Stefan, I'm not alright. I just killed-" The words stuck in my throat.

Killed a man? God, how did I kill a man? I'm a killer. A cold-hearted murderer! He didn't deserve to die. What have I done?

"I...I killed someone. I couldn't stop myself." I could hold them in no more. The tears cascaded down my face. Grief, the grief was too much. Distantly, I felt Stefan embrace me.