Messages and Minions
"Isobel?" Elena was speaking softly. She was standing between Bonnie and Alaric on the doorstep of the house that Isobel said the hostile vampires had come from.
She had expected Isobel to be there when she arrived, but the porch was empty. The door was open a crack.
"Something's changed." Bonnie said from beside her. "I think Isobel is inside with at least one other vampire."
"She said she couldn't go inside. How?" Elena's worry was showing.
"I don't know." Bonnie said.
"You can't tell who else is in there?" Elena asked.
Bonnie shook her head. "I can tell that they are pretty close to each other, but it looks like they're just walking around."
Elena pushed the door all of the way open as Sarah, who was next to Alaric, asked "Do we want a protection spell?"
"Not yet," Elena said, "but be ready, OK?"
"I am" Sarah as Bonnie entered followed by Elena and the others. The room was dark, but Bonnie found a light switch on the wall and flipped the light on. Elena hesitated, almost expecting Isobel or the other vampire to come to them when the light turned on. They didn't.
The house was quiet except for Elena's whisper to Sarah "Did your mom have a spell?"
Sarah shook her head as Bonnie softly said "there are no other vampires here, Elena, just the two."
"Call for the owner, OK Sarah?" Elena asked, looking at her. Elena began slowly walking forward, the others moving to stay beside her.
"Mr. Fredrickson?" Sarah called out. The group moved quietly and listened for a response, but heard none.
They had moved to the house's kitchen when they heard something from another part of the house. It was a gasp followed by voices speaking so softly they could not understand.
Elena moved immediately out of the kitchen into the hallway. She stopped short when she saw Nathaniel in the hallway, looking into a bedroom.
"Do you keep things from her?" he asked into the room.
Elena understood Isobel's words this time. "She doesn't need to see this."
Elena had reached the door, which was still blocked by Nathaniel. "See what?" She asked.
Nathaniel did not let her enter but she heard Isobel speaking on the phone "Owner's dead. There's nothing else here."
"Dead?" Sarah exclaimed from behind Elena. "Let me see," she said trying to push her way through.
"Please let us through," Elena asked. Nathaniel had turned slightly, though he still did not look at them.
"I won't keep this from her." Nathaniel said as he moved aside.
There was a large bed a few feet from the door. Isobel was at the foot of the bed, and looked up as Elena entered the bedroom, followed by Sarah
Isobel intercepted Elena and had Elena's arm in a firm grip before she had reached the foot of the bed, but not before she had seen. Sarah stood over the body with a shocked look on her face.
Bonnie and Alaric entered the room. When they saw the body they stopped. They had not yet passed Elena and Isobel.
"Mr. Fredrickson," Sarah said, shaking her head.
"I didn't want you to see this, Elena," Isobel said softly. Isobel had been looking at the body, but looked at Elena now. "Or that," she added.
Elena was staring at the bed. Part of a severed arm had been cast aside after apparently being used to write a few words in blood on the bedspread. It was a scrawl, but legible enough. "My name," Elena whispered.
"We won't let it happen," Isobel said, still speaking softly.
"Let it happen?" Elena asked, still staring at the bed. "Let what happen? What's that word with my name?"
Elena looked at Isobel, but she didn't answer. Finally, Nathaniel did. "Mors," he said from behind her. He had not moved. "Latin. It refers to death."
Elena let out a breath, closed her eyes and shook her head. She opened them to look at Sarah when she spoke.
"Elena," Sarah said, "is this because I let you come here?" Elena could see that Sarah had wiped away tears.
"Elena didn't bring this." Isobel said harshly.
"I wasn't accusing her." Sarah said defensively, though her face was hardening.
"You know it was already here," Nathaniel said calmly. "It's one reason you were willing to talk to us."
Sarah glanced up at him questioningly. "Nathaniel" Alaric said, nodding towards Nathaniel.
"Is this true, Sarah?" Elena asked drawing Sarah's eyes from Nathaniel to her. "Has stuff like this happened here before?"
Sarah hesitated, but nodded.
"You didn't tell us that."
"You never told me what you are or that someone wants you dead." Sarah said to Elena, then she turned to stare at Nathaniel. "How do I know you're not like whoever did this?"
"He's not," Katherine said as she entered the room. "Come out now, Elena."
Elena's gaze had moved from Sarah to the body. "If a vampire did this, how did it get out without being seen?"
"We don't know who or what did this," Katherine said as she and Isobel turned Elena around and started pushing her out of the room.
They stopped short when they heard Sarah speak. "I hate whoever did this."
Katherine turned around and studied Sarah's hard, tear-streaked face briefly before saying "You can help us stop them."
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked, her face still hard.
Katherine turned to Elena. "Do you find her reliable, Elena?"
"Reliable?" Elena asked.
"Yes. Do you?"
Elena made the connection. "No! You don't mean…"
"I do." Katherine confirmed.
"She doesn't owe you anything." Elena argued. "I owe her."
"Elena," Sarah asked, walking towards them. "what are you two talking about?"
Elena looked desperately at Katherine. "You can't ask her to do anything for you."
"It would not be the same sort of arrangement I have with you, Elena. It would be different."
"Arrangement? Elena?" Sarah was facing Elena now, close to her.
Elena stared at Katherine as she forced herself to say the words. "She would like you to work for her."
"Work for a vampire." Sarah repeated.
"You're in Mystic Falls – not here," Elena continued to look desperately at Katherine.
"I'm in more than just Mystic Falls, Elena. Wherever I am, arrangements can be made. If she is willing to discuss it with me, we will make them."
Sarah looked at Bonnie, who had a worried look on her face before looking at Katherine.
"I would fight whoever did this anyway. Why would I need an arrangement with you?" Sarah asked.
"It would help Elena. It would strengthen your agreement with Nathaniel. Some of my resources would be here to fight whatever did this as well. Also, there would be compensation." Katherine replied.
"Pledge herself for compensation?" Elena asked.
"Not pledge." Katherine said. "It would be different. We would discuss terms."
"Help Elena how?" Sarah asked.
"Cast spells which would allow us to protect her, perhaps even be with her sometimes. We would work that out."
"Are you seriously considering this?" Bonnie said disbelievingly. "Taking sides in vampire fights?"
"Not just vampires." Sarah said, "My aunt somehow got involved and my neighbor. Besides, you've taken a side."
"No," Bonnie claimed. "I side with Elena. I only help her."
"You only help the vampire-pledge girl who has taken a side. I see no difference. Plus you said your ancestor helped Katherine and still fought vampires."
"It's not that simple." Bonnie claimed.
"Elena does everything Katherine asks, don't you?" Sarah asked, looking at Elena.
"Yes." Elena said. She wanted to add a 'but', but couldn't think of anything to say after it.
"I'll talk to you." Sarah said to Katherine.
"Your mother…" Bonnie started.
"My mother wants what's best for our town. So do I. Do not think I would do anything different." Sarah said as she walked through the door. She turned back and looked at Nathaniel. "We need to meet to finalize all this as well."
"We'll clean up in here, then meet at the kitchen table later tonight, if that is acceptable to you."
Sarah shook her head. "Not here. We'll find someplace else. Mr. Frederickson has a family. Proper arrangements will need to be made."
"We'll see to it," Nathaniel said. "We have connections that will handle the matter discretely."
"Meet me on your doorstep?" Katherine asked Sarah. "I need to speak with Elena briefly, then I will be there."
Sarah nodded as she left the room and house.
The others took this as their cue to leave. They went through the front door, Katherine took Elena to the back door, but then turned back to speak with Nathaniel briefly, leaving Elena waiting at the door. Elena could not hear them. When Katherine returned, she led Elena to the back porch where there were a few chairs and a swing that was made for two people. Elena sat in the swing, Katherine stood in front of her.
"Please don't make her do this." Elena said.
Elena found that she was even more unnerved than usual when she was alone with Katherine – probably because even the clothing and hair were the same this time. The mirror image was worse than usual.
"I told you it would be different." Katherine replied.
"You won't try to compel her?"
"Elena, they have vervain. I tasted it when I bit the older witch. Even without it though, I wouldn't do that. I told you, we will discuss the matter and come to terms."
"You didn't 'discuss the matter' with me." Elena said, lowering her eyes.
"It was a very different circumstance then, Elena, and a very different person involved."
"What do you mean?" Elena was looking at Katherine again. "I mean, I know it's not the same – she is not trying to save anyone like I was, and I owe her my life."
"I am in her debt as well for the same thing. It will all factor into whatever arrangement we make."
"But very different person?" Elena's confusion showed in her face.
"Elena, I've been around long enough to know that there are a number of witches who are willing to work for vampires. It is just a matter of creating the obligation or setting the price. But with you, Elena, it's very different. There's no one else like you. You are unique."
"I'm coming to hate that word." Elena said under her breath.
Elena thought she heard Katherine make as noise as if she was trying to stifle a laugh. Then Katherine's face was blank again. "Our role here is done. I will speak with Sarah while you and the others wait in the cars. Damon will take you there now."
Damon was sitting next to Elena as soon as his name was spoken.
"I can't even say goodbye?" Elena asked.
"I will do it for you with Sarah. If things work out, you will see each other again. Natalie is in mourning, best left alone for now. Nathaniel has his agreement and has been informed of the terms, he will finish the matter with the witches. He thanks you and says that whenever he or his are near you, you will have their assistance and protection. He also says you are welcome here anytime."
"Wherever here is." Elena grumbled.
"Wait in the cars. I will join you shortly." Katherine said as she left.
Elena immediately turned and hugged Damon. She didn't speak at first, just let herself enjoy the feeling of being in his arms. Her mind kept running through the events of what had become a very long day. Eventually she found herself crying softly.
"It's over, Elena." Damon whispered, stroking Elena's hair. "We're going home soon. We'll be in Mystic Falls by dawn."
"Did you see what's in the bedroom in this house?" Elena asked not moving.
"Heard about it and saw it before I came here. I won't let it happen, Elena."
"I can't believe someone wants me dead. Or maybe even alive. What did I do that caused this?"
Damon tightened his hug. "It's not always about what someone does, Elena. Sometimes it's about who they are."
Elena moved to sit on his lap, still hugging him and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Who they are? Who am I? I'm nobody."
"You should stop saying that about yourself, Elena," Damon said softly. "No one here believes that – not Rick, not the witches, not the vampires, certainly not me. You're not a nobody and you're not just anybody. You are unique"
Elena bristled but remained in place. She was enjoying the feeling of his arms around her too much to move. "You heard her say that. I can't believe you're rubbing it in."
"I'm not 'rubbing it in'." Damon whispered. "You are unique. It's not a bad thing. I know I would not have paid any attention to you if you were like everybody else."
Elena calmed down a little. "I still can't believe this."
She was silent for a minute or two before asking "Did the vampire Katherine let live say anything about who's after me?"
"No," Damon said. "He just kept repeating 'the witch' to any question asked. He's dead now."
It upset Elena a little to be reminded of death again. To get her mind off of it and everything else that had happened, she concentrated on Damon, on what she was feeling as she hugged him and as he stroked her hair and rubbed her back. Eventually she spoke into his shoulder, "Don't we need to go to a car?"
"Not yet. I'll know when Katherine is going to the cars, and I'll take you there when she is. We can stay here until then."
"She said she wanted us to wait for her in a car," Elena said.
"You may be her minion, but I'm not."
"Don't call me that!" Elena said as sharply as she could manage while in the arms of the vampire she loved. "Do, however, keep rubbing my back."
The End
(well, until the bloody muse bites me...I mean sings to me again. Anyone have any muse repellent?...)
Thanks again to Peachie X who performed Beta services on this chapter and most of this story. She made what I did much easier and what you saw much better. She is awesome...
End of Part VIII - Paying the Debt. The Epilogue introduces the next part.