Last Chapter... for now. Enjoy!

Chapter 12: Sedition

"Why is Elijah here?" She peered into his eyes in utter chaos.

"Klaus and Caroline gave their word to stay out of Mystic Falls." Connor placed a hand on Blaze's shoulder, as if to reassure her. "Now stake them." He stepped back and folded his arms, watching her carefully.

Blaze trembled and pulled the white oak stake from her coat.

Elena gasped. "Really, Damon? You couldn't pick a better hiding place than the sock drawer?"

"Hey, I figured the most obvious hiding place would be the best one. Reverse psychology."

"Blaze, please," Stefan ignored the other two and stared at her with beseeching eyes. "You don't have to do this."

Connor tilted his head toward the wavering huntress. "They killed your father, Blaze. The vampires need to die."

Blaze could feel the resolve enflame her senses once again, and she crouched for the first kill.

"No," Elena shook her head. "Connor's lying to you, Blaze." She cried in desperation, "We never started that fire."

"You're vampires," Blaze seethed. "I don't believe you."

"Blaze," A firm, deep voice called to her softly, and Blaze suddenly felt chills down her spine.

She turned to Elijah and struggled not to betray her conflicting feelings. "What?" she strained to hide the emotions clawing beneath the surface.

"Listen to Elena." Then, as if it were possible, Elijah spoke in the softest, most pleading whisper she could have imagined. "Our lives rest in your hands."

Connor saw Blaze's resolve crumble and decided to step in. "I've heard enough." Then he rushed at Blaze and grabbed the white oak stake from her hesitant grasp.

"No!" Blaze screamed. All her training, fighting all her life against vampires… she never figured her greatest battle would be against another vampire hunter, but she saw Connor rushing at Elijah in slow motion, and she knew her heart had chosen. She had to save him.

Connor was stronger, but Blaze was faster, and she latched herself to his back as he closed the distance toward the Original. He flipped her to the ground, but she was able to use the momentum to roll on top.

"What's gotten into you?" The veins in Connor's face bulged as he fought the girl.

Blaze struggled to keep him pinned down. "I can't let you touch him." She tried to reach a weapon from her coat, but before she had the chance Connor shifted her weight off of him.

Connor lunged into Blaze, stabbing her with the White Oak stake, then he got to his feet. Blaze fell back, clutching her stomach. The trees spun around her, but her focus became clear as Connor moved toward the vampires.

Blaze pulled up her sleeve, and flames shot ahead, engulfing the hunter.

Her mouth fell open in denial and adrenaline as she torched him, but there was no turning back. She'd made her choice. She stumbled over to the man in flames, and stabbed him in the heart with her own stake.

As the adrenaline faded she noticed the searing pain from between her ribs. The trees spun around, and Blaze realized she was going to die... for vampires, no less. She would have laughed at the irony if her whole body wasn't screaming in agony.

"Blaze," Elijah's soft voice rang in her ears. "Drink my blood."

"What?" She spun around dizzily to face him.

"The vampire blood will heal you." His gaze penetrated right into her soul, and she suddenly had no doubts.

Blaze staggered over to the tree where he was tied. Grabbing a small knife from her pocket, she pushed up the sleeve of his suit and nicked his forearm. Then, taking a deep breath, she leaned in and drank from his arm.

For several minutes Blaze stared around at the vampires in a stupor until she finally felt her wounds knitting themselves closed.

Kol rolled his eyes and sighed exaggeratedly. "Come on then, sweetheart. Set us free; we won't bite." He grinned at that last part, and Blaze shuddered.

She edged over to Elijah and whispered, "Please, don't kill me."

Elijah stared seriously into her eyes and inclined his head in a nod. "I give you my word."

She took another small stake from her coat and bit her lip. "Free the others when you wake." Then, before Elijah could protest, Blaze thrust the stake into his heart, tears brimming around her eyes.

"Oh, come on," Damon spat impatiently. "We seriously have to wait for old Original to come back to life?"

"Shut up, Damon," Stefan was just as tired of being tied up as his brother. "She just saved our lives. The least we can do is wait a few more minutes."

Blaze cut Elijah's vervain ropes and rested him gently on the ground of the cave. Then, in an act of impulsive trust, she set the white oak stake beside Elijah and stroked his hair gently.

"Oh my gosh. You care about him, don't you…" Elena furrowed her eyebrows in comprehension. "That's why Klaus was so sure we wouldn't be killed. He knew."

Blaze peered up at the rest of the vampires, regret plain in her face. "I'm sorry for the pain I caused you." Then she added in a whisper, "Please, don't come after me."

Stroking Elijah's grayed face one last time, she stood up and sprinted out of the woods as fast as her legs would allow.

Elijah woke several minutes later and pulled Blaze's stake from his chest. He freed Rebekah and Elena first, and they gradually, and painfully, got everyone out of their lethal bonds.

"I'm gonna kill her," Damon rubbed his hands, wincing.

But Elijah pushed Damon back against the tree and threatened in a low, even growl. "Do so, and I will rip your heart straight from your chest."

"Yeah Damon," Elena rested a hand on his shoulder. "If it weren't for her, Connor would still be alive. We owe her our lives."

"We don't owe her anything, Elena," Damon glared. But deep down, he knew she was right. Blaze had saved them all.

Elijah went to her house, hoping she'd be there, but the home was empty. He spent the next few days searching throughout the town, hoping to find some trace of her, but Blaze had seemingly vanished.

"I don't know what to tell you, Elijah," Liz pursed her lips, more than a month later. "Bailey's gone completely off the grid." She looked saddened at her own information. "She was always good at disappearing, blending in." The sheriff peered into the Original's eyes sincerely and exhaled, "I don't think you'll ever find her."

Elijah rose and thanked the sheriff for her help, determined not to give up. Blaze had spared his life, and he wanted to know why. He wanted to know her. And he would.

Five years later:

Blaze ran steadily along the trail. She was nearly halfway through her marathon run, and it felt great. The hillside began to incline, and she welcomed the burn. About halfway up the hill, Blaze thought she saw someone watching her, but when she focused on the tree, no one was there.

Vampire. Her insides felt the familiar rush, and she had no doubts.

Her natural instinct told her to run, but Blaze knew better. She hadn't had to use a stake in years, but she always had it. Always ready. Always waiting for the vampires who were sure to find her. She slowed her jog to ease her breathing, then turned sharply into the trees. The stake slid easily from the side of her hydration pack, and she was ready.

For two minutes Blaze heard nothing but the pounding of her heart. She was sure the vampire could hear it too. But then… just behind the tree where she was hid, a leaf crunched.

Blaze leapt out from behind the tree and tackled the man. She'd nearly pierced his heart when she looked into his face and gasped loudly, dropping the stake.

Her heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she crouched over his body, and a flood of emotions racing through with each breath. She wanted to run. She wanted to stay. The man glanced into her eyes, mildly amused at Blaze's surprised but conflicted countenance. Only one vampire had ever affected her like this.

"Elijah," she trembled slightly, heart beating wildly beneath her chest. She was in trouble now...

If I eventually get enough positive feedback I may add a few chapters later on, but for now… The End! I hope you enjoyed reading. Feel free to read my other stories if you haven't, and please review! Thanks! -Viola