Elena

The worst pain a person can endure is not physical, it's emotional. When someone takes everything from you and stomps over it, leaving you no chance to protect yourself. You are stripped of any walls you may have once raised, any hope you had, and the moment you feel everything being torn away from you, is the worst.

Yesterday, when I laid my eyes on Stefan, I still had a flicker of hope that when he raises his head, I will see those warm green eyes.

The reality was much different – they were the same colour, yes, but the emotion behind them was gone, all that was left were those big, endless pools of emptiness. Even his face was different – harder, colder. The way he held himself – he probably didn't know that he was doing that, but I could see it immediately – was rigid, like someone had ripped his wings from him and his body was reminding him that with every movement. Stefan was hardly recognizable.

"I feel nothing for you…" I go over his words in my head at least a few thousand times until they are etched so deep into my brain with every single detail – the tone of his voice, the way his eyes narrowed slightly, the way he said those words with such ease. And the more I go back to that moment, the more I am convinced that every word Stefan said to me, was a lie. I refuse to believe that the old Stefan, my Stefan, is completely gone. I can't let myself admit that, because what would be left of me, if I did?

When I grabbed his arm I could still feel it, the electricity, and I was so relieved to know that. Stefan said that he didn't feel it, but I know for sure that he did. The way his muscles clenched under my grip when I squeezed his arm, and how he quickly pulled away, was confirmation enough.

Stefan was afraid of that feeling. That is why he lashed out on me, I'm sure. He wanted to make me think that there's nothing left of him, but the cruel, angry shell that he tries so hard to be, but I know better. Somewhere deep down is the man I love, and I intend to bring him back, whatever it takes.

Love, yes. I have come to the realization that I am in love with him. As short as our time together has been, I have never been this sure about something in my life. I love him, and there's nothing that could destroy that feeling in me, even if Stefan himself tries to do that.

This is why I have to fight. Fight for him, for me, because if I don't do that, who will?

Stefan is sitting with his legs on the table when I walk into the kitchen. I swallow down the lump in my throat and make my way to the counter which is stacked with food; I'm guessing Damon brought all this stuff here.

I can feel his eyes on me.

"What?" I ask, turning around.

Stefan smirks and I have the urge to slap that off his face. "Nothing."

"Nothing?" I ask incredulously.

"Yep." He answers and averts his eyes, looking into distance.

"Where's your brother?" I haven't seen Damon around the whole day.

"Don't know. Don't particularly care either."

I take a deep breath, and sit down on the chair directly across Stefan. I align myself so that I can see past his feet which are still on the table. "There was a time when you would have done anything for your brother. For me." I say.

Stefan meets my gaze and I almost flinch back by the hostility of it. "Your point being?"

"That there are people who are willing to do the same for you." I can swear that his face softens for a second, but then he reverts back to his cold self.

"I'd say that those people are dumb for trying to do something that's impossible." His voice is clipped.

"You may think so, but that doesn't mean that I'm not going to try."

"Really?" he raises his eyebrows, "And how exactly are you going to do that?"

I take a minute to think over everything. How am I going to bring him back? I come up with nothing.

"I don't know yet." I confess, lowering my eyes.

Stefan barks out a laugh – "Figures." He mumbles.

"Why are you so adamant on staying like this?" I ask, pointing at him with my hand.

Stefan glares at me like I've asked the stupidest question ever – "Because I am better like this. Stronger. My head is clear and I don't have to care about anyone else but myself."

"You're not better like this." I whisper, not daring to look at him. "You're not."

"That's your opinion."

I meet his cold green eyes - "Yes it is." I state, "And whatever you may say to me..." I pause, choosing carefully my words, "Won't stop me from trying to save you from yourself."

Anger flashes in Stefan's bottomless eyes.

He swishes his feet off the table and slams his hands against the wood. He leans over it and his face is only bare inches away from me – "I don't want you to try." He whispers. "I don't need saving." And with that he walks away.

Stefan

Who the hell does she think she is? What gives her the right to come here and give me a lecture?

God, I am so angry right now.

I punch the wall with my fist – once, twice, the third time I can feel the pain and there's blood trickling down my knuckles.

I pace back and forth in the already destroyed living room and fight the urge to give the wall another good hard kick.

I almost am ready to deliver another punch to the wall when the source of my anger enters the room.

"Stefan, what are you doing?" Elena asks, frowning, her voice concerned.

"Elena…" I growl, "Leave." I command her, but of course she doesn't listen to me and instead, takes a few steps towards me.

"You're bleeding, Stefan." Her eyes are glued to my hand.

"So what?" I snap, irritated.

Elena says nothing but runs to the kitchen, she's back in a heartbeat carrying a towel with her, she walks over to me, grabs my hands and presses the towel against my knuckles. That is when I feel it - the current flowing through my arm and my whole body.

I jump back abruptly.

"Don't touch me." I snarl.

Elena looks at me, hurt. I swear if she's going to cry, I will lose it.

"Let me help you." Her voice is shaky.

"I don't want your help." I retort.

"Then why are you still here?" She raises her voice – "Leave, if you hate being here so much, just leave!" she's now yelling.

"Oh, I will leave. Once we get this Klaus business out of the way. I mean, my ass is on the line too."

She blinks a few times, weighing my words. "You're here…" Elena begins, at least she's not screaming anymore. "…because you want to kill Klaus?"

"Duh." I say, "It's not like I would be able to live my life while being hunted by a revengeful archangel."

Elena purses her lips; I can almost see the wheels turning in her head. Suddenly her face lights up as she realizes something, she raises her head and looks at me with a strange expression which I can't read.

"What?" I snap, when she doesn't stop staring at me.

"I have to go find Damon."

What? Damon? What does she want with my brother?

"Why Damon?" I suddenly feel something in my chest, a nasty feeling which is chewing its way through me. Could it be? No… I slap myself mentally. It's not possible. Jealousy? I can't possibly feel that.

"Why so curious?" Elena tilts her head. "I thought you weren't supposed to care."

I shake off the feeling – "I don't."

Elena gives me one last glance and now it is her who walks away.

I punch the wall again.

Elena

When Stefan said that he is here now because he is going to help us kill Klaus, something in me clicked. Suddenly, the words from the prophecy ringed in my head - One fallen shall be the redemption of the other."

Damon is a fallen angel and so is Stefan. I need a way to save Stefan and I think I have found it. Now it is only the matter of finding and convincing Damon.

I search through every room, but with no success, he's nowhere to be seen. I am almost giving up but then my eyes fall on the door which leads to the cellar.

Could it be?

I hesitantly open the door which lets out a loud creaking sound when I push it more open, I take the first step into the darkness, wishing I had Stefan to hold on to like I did when I first entered this room. I grope the cold slick walls around me, trying to make my way down the stairs, I almost slip on one step, but fortunately I manage to stay upright.

When my feet finally meet solid ground I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I try to look around the cellar hoping to see Damon here, but my eyes aren't adjusting as fast as I would like them to.

"Damon?" I squeak, flailing around with my hands to make sure I don't walk into something.

"You're going to walk into a shelf if you take another step." A gruff voice sounds behind me.

I spin abruptly around. "Damon?" I think I see a man's shape, but I'm not sure.

"What do you want?" Damon's voice is tired.

"I know how to bring Stefan back." I say, letting a bit of excitement lace my voice.

"Oh, please, do enlighten me." He quips. Is there a bottle in his hands?

"Are you drunk?" I can't help asking.

"Maybe." I can't see it but I'm pretty sure he is smirking.

"I should leave." I say, it might not be a good idea to talk to Damon while he's in that condition.

I start to turn around but before I can take even one step he grabs my arm – "No, wait."

Damon is standing quite close to me now and I can finally see him – his hair is dishevelled and his whole body screams of tiredness.

"How long have you been down here?" I ask.

"I came down here yesterday after Destiny left." – He rubs his forehead and inhales sharply.

"Why?"

Damon sits back on the chair I'm guessing he was residing when I came in, I stay in my position, afraid to move because the stuff that may fall on me if I knock something over.

"Honestly? I really can't stand Stefan right now." He takes a sip from the bottle.

"Tell me about it." I roll my eyes.

"So what's your plan, Elena? You know I heard everything that went down between the two of you before you decided to come looking for me. Gotta hand it to you – you are dealing with the whole situation pretty well." He raises the bottle in toast.

I ignore his comment and get right to the point – "When Stefan mentioned that he is staying here just because he wants to get rid of Klaus, I remembered something. The line from the prophecy – "One fallen shall be the..."

"Redemption of the other." Damon interrupts, "Yadda yadda, I already know that."

"You do?" I am unable to hide the surprise in my tone of voice.

"Of course I do." He snaps. "What, did you really think that I'll let my little brother stay like this?"

"So... you're up for it?" I ask.

"Unless it's Stefan who saves me." Damon states.

The blood in my veins freezes. I open my mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. I take a deep breath and finally manage to whisper – "I'm willing to take that risk."

Damon stays silent and after a while it almost becomes unbearable. I start to think that maybe I should leave but when I begin to walk away - this time with more confidence as my eyes are adjusted to the darkness – his voice stops me again. – "Can you recall the rest of the prophecy?" he asks.

I frown – "Of course." I'll never forget those lines.

"The last two lines then." He commands. "Please." He adds in a condescending manner.

"Why?" I ask, but when I see his annoyed glare, I submit – "Fine – two will flourish, one will perish."

Damon raises his eyebrows, waiting for me to put the pieces together.

"Oh my god." I cover my mouth with my hand when I realize what those lines mean.

Damon slowly claps his hands together – "Congratulations, Elena, you figured it out."

"One of us won't survive." My voice is barely audible and I take a staggering step back, my back hitting something hard, fortunately nothing comes raining down on me.

"Yep. That's the harsh truth."

"Do we have any way of knowing who will die?" My heart is beating so fast and my hands are starting to shake.

"That's the beauty of it, we don't." He purses his lips – "But if Stefan was himself, my guess would be that he would have sacrificed himself, being the martyr that he is. Sorry, was."

"I... I have to go." I feel like suffocating in here. I turn around and start making my way through all the boxes and shelves.

"Hey, Elena?" Damon's voice rings behind me.

I stop, but I don't turn to face him – "Yeah?"

"If it comes down to killing Klaus, are you willing to sacrifice yourself if needed?"

Jeremy's lifeless body flashes before my eyes and I don't hesitate with my answer – "Yes I am."

Klaus

"Where is it?" I ask when she enters the room, her lips curved into an annoying smile.

She puts her hands into her jacket pocket and pulls out the little bottle. I am immediately on my feet, reaching out my hand for it.

"Tsk, tsk, not so fast, dear." She sings.

"Destiny, I don't have time or the patience for your games. Give me the bottle." I growl.

"Not before you tell me what you want from it. Seeing as this was the Salvatores' only chance of defeating you."

"I am just securing my back. There's no harm in taking precautions. Now, give it to me, sweetheart."

I can see that she parts reluctantly from the bottle, but her fear of me is too strong to defy me. I turn my back to her and examine the vial. I am amazed of how a little drop of this liquid could do so much damage to me.

"Did they suspect anything?" I ask while twirling the container in my hands.

"No." Destiny's voice is alarmingly close to my ear.

I spin around and she's practically glued to my back – "Would you stop that?" I snarl, taking a step away from her.

"You're such a prude, Klaus." She pouts but it turns into a devilish smile in a second – "C'mon, I know some ways we could have fun." Destiny saunters closer to me, her hips swaying with every step.

"Not interested."

"Why not?" She whines. "I did everything you asked for, I want something in return."

"When this is all over, then you'll get your prize."

I put the small bottle in the inner pocket of my jacket where I also keep the blade. It's always better to keep those things that can destroy you close to you.

"That reminds me, why did you want Stefan to fall?" Destiny asks, "The prophecy clearly stated two fallen angels and they only had one, and you just let Stefan fall? I'm curious, what's the plan?"

I sit back down on the same chair I was sitting on before Destiny entered this office. It's not as lavish as I'm used to, but ever since I decided to put heaven on lockdown, I had to make some changes, including my office which is now situated in the farthest corner of heaven. The walls are plain white and so is the floor, whoever created this atrocious room had no taste whatsoever, but I guess I just have to get used to it, at least until I know the threat is gone.

"I needed to get rid of Stefan's feelings." I state, matter-of-factly. "Without them, he doesn't pose that big of a threat. If he still loved that girl, then I'd be more afraid. Stefan just doesn't have a reason to fight anymore."

"But he does." Destiny frowns – "He still wants to kill you, you know, because he thinks that his life is in danger."

"Oh, I know that. I expected that. He just won't fight that hard anymore, therefore he is easier to get rid of." I smile, imagining Stefan, Damon and Elena's cold corpses before me.

"You are evil, Klaus." Destiny grins and skips next to me; she rests her elbow on the back of the chair and looks straight into my eyes.

"Oh, I know that." I smirk.

"So, when are you going to attack?" she asks.

"Soon, darling, very soon."

Stefan

I am lying on the bed, trying to get some rest when I hear footsteps approaching. I groan silently, preparing myself for another annoying talk either with Elena or Damon.

"Where's your girlfriend?" Damon asks as he makes his way into the bedroom I have been using.

"If you're referring to Elena, who is by the way, not my girlfriend, then she's probably asleep, seeing as it is almost four in the morning."

"I see." Damon examines a trinket from the bedside table.

"Is there a point to your visit, brother?" I ask. Why can't they just leave me alone?

"We need to make a move, and fast." His voice is concerned. "I don't think we have much time left. I need you to find Destiny, so we could at least have some kind of a chance of winning this."

I prop myself upright, meeting Damon's icy blue eyes.

"Why do I need to find Destiny? I can't even get into heaven anymore." I can't keep the boredom out of my voice. This conversation is going nowhere.

"You found her before," Damon points his finger at me, "I figured you could do it again."

"I really don't think she wants to be found." I smirk.

"What do you mean?" Damon does this thing with his eyebrows when he is confused. I laugh.

"You really thought that she could be trusted? C'mon brother." I stand up and give him a pat on his back. "I wouldn't trust that bitch even if she was my sister."

"Stefan..." Damon warns. "Tell me what you know."

"I'm pretty sure that she is working with Klaus." I say nonchalantly.

"What?!" Damon almost yells.

"She really did wrap you around her little finger. I'm disappointed, Damon."

Anger flashes in Damon's eyes and suddenly I am pressed against the wall, with Damon's hands around my throat.

"Whoa, easy there." I bark out a laugh although it comes out more like a cough.

"Spill it." Damon snarls.

"Okay, okay. Let me go, and then I'll talk."

"No. You're going to tell me everything you know right now before I break your neck." He threatens and I can see that he is not kidding.

"Jeez, okay then." I can feel my lungs start to burn. "When Destiny sent me to go after the bottle which supposedly can immobilize an archangel, I did a little research of my own. The place where she sent me – some kind of a holy place near the cemetery of Mystic Falls, I don't really care – could only be entered by fallen angels. That was why I had to do it. Although, she should have sent you, seeing as you're so smitten by her." I cough again.

"Get to the point." Damon growls.

"Well I found some really old books, and by old I mean almost ancient, which talked about the archangels and liquid we saw in the bottle. Turns out it is the blood of the very first archangel, the one everyone in heaven has forgotten, except for Klaus." Damon slightly releases his hold on my throat; I have completely captured his attention.

"See, when the archangels were created, God had made sure that there was a fail-safe against them, just in case they got out of hand. He chose the one archangel he trusted the most – Esther. And from her blood the poison for archangels was made."

"What happened to her?" Damon now releases me completely.

I rub my throat – "No one knows. She disappeared along with God. How else could Klaus have so much power?"

"How do you know that Destiny is working with Klaus?"

"Oh, didn't I mention that? The book also mentioned that Destiny is always and will always be loyal to the archangels, she is theirs to command."

Damon throws his hands in the air in exasperation – "And you didn't tell me this, why?"

I tilt my head – "I honestly didn't really care."

"What the hell, Stefan?" He yells, "Because of you we're all going to die!"

"No we're not." I say. "How stupid do you think I am?" I ask and with that I reach out to my jacket pocket and pull out a small bottle of red liquid.

"Is that..." Damon takes a step closer, his eyes glued to the object in my hands.

"Yep. That's Esther's blood."

"How...?" he doesn't finish his question.

"I swapped it before I got back here. The vial I gave to Destiny was filled with my blood. She didn't suspect a thing."

Damon looks up to me and smiles – "Brother, I could hug you right now."

"Don't." I grimace.

"I won't." He says and smiles, which I can't help but to return.

Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think! :)

Until next time! (: