Elena (Helen)
Girl like me, by Ladyhawke
"Between devil in the deep blue sea
I saw you dancing with a girl like me
I watched in silence as you held her hands
It's all down the river for a girl like me
For a girl like me"
A few hours later, I went to the precinct with a stake in one coat pocket and a vial of vervain extract in the other. I went to reception and asked for John. Nervously, I waited in the lobby. "Helen, are you alright?" he said and hugged me briefly. "You look tired," he said. "I am. After your call, I couldn't really sleep anymore, John. Is she here already?" I asked. He shook his head. "Not yet. Come," he said and led me into the small observation booth next to the interrogation room. "You'll wait here until I call you, okay? Did you come prepared?" I nodded and opened my coat so that he could see the stakes. "Good girl," he praised with a grin. I looked at the glass which separated the rooms. It seemed transparent on this side. "I can hear and see you, but you can't see me, right?" He nodded. "Right. I'll go back to the lobby now," he said and left me sitting alone in semi-darkness. A few minutes later, the door of the interrogation room opened and John accompanied a dark-haired beauty into the room. So this was Elena... She had long dark brown hair and a petite figure. She seemed to be the casual type, but I suspected that she would look just as stunning in a designer dress as she did now in her jeans. She sat down at John's request.
"Your name is Elena Gilbert, born in Mystic Falls, Virginia, on 22 June 1992 – is that right?" John said. She looked at him, confused. "Yes, that 's all true, Mr. Mayor," she replied. "You've died on 2 May 2010 in a car accident and woke up as a vampire." She shot up from her chair. I held my breath. "Liz said I could trust you, Mr. Mayor, that's the only reason you're still alive!" He smiled at her, unimpressed. "Miss Gilbert, please sit down again. Liz was right. I just want an information from you." He pointed to her chair and she sat down again. "Why should I help you?" He shook his head. "Not me, but I hope you will help a certain young lady." He waved at me. I walked over to the other room and knocked at the door. "Come in," he called from the other side. I took a deep breath and pushed the handle down. The door opened and I faced Elena Gilbert. She got up and looked at me. I held out my hand. "Hello Elena, nice to meet you." She was irritated. "Have we met before?" I smiled. "No, we've never met." I went to the table and John pulled up a chair for me. "Please sit down," I said.
"Who are you and what do you want from me?" she asked in consternation. I leaned back. Being six months pregnant, my belly was now clearly visible and I heard her taking a deep breath. "About six months ago I met a young man and fell in love with him. There was – well, let's say - a problematic moment and he left me a bit rushed. Since that day, I'm trying to find him to tell him that he will be a father." She narrowed her eyes briefly. "That's very nice for you, but how can I help?" she asked. "He is a mutual friend and I hope you know where he is or how I can reach him," I replied. Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you talking about?" I took a deep breath. "Damon Salvatore." "WHAT? Impossible," she hissed. John held up his hand. "Miss Gilbert, calm down please. In this particular case it is very possible because Helen has a different genetic profile than normal people." I ran my hands through my hair. "Elena, I know about you, Stefan and Damon. He has told me a few things. I have only one request: Help me to find him, so I can tell him that I'm expecting his child. You are my last hope!" I leaned forward and stretched my palms out in a pleading manner.
It worked inside her. She wanted to believe me, but to her it seemed to be unlikely that I was telling the truth. I fumbled in my coat pocket and pulled out the diary. "I gave this to him! Where did you get that from?" she asked, surprised. "He left it with me when he ran," I replied and opened the penultimate page. "Read this," I said, handing it to her. "I always thought he didn't write," she murmured as she scanned the lines. "He didn't, at least not regularly," I whispered. "He was falling in love?" she muttered in disbelief and dropped the book. I nodded and flipped back a few pages. "He has also written about you, look." I showed her the note that Damon had made before and after the fight with Alaric. Elena's eyes filled with tears as she read his sentences. "Oh God, Damon," she whispered, her hand flew to her mouth. "What have I done?" She shook her head. Obviously she hadn't been aware of the extent of Damon's pain. "You have made a decision, Elena, that's all. Some things will always hurt someone, including yourself," John said to her with an almost paternal smile. She looked at him and then at me. She looked at my belly and then into my face.
"I envy you, Helen. For me, the dream of having a family hasn't worked," she said with a sad face. "I never wanted to be a vampire, you know? I wanted children, a normal life, but fate had other plans with me. I was doomed from the moment vampires came into my life and now I am one myself." She shook her head and stared into space. "I'm very sorry for you, really," I replied. She smiled again. "I'll help you, Helen," she said, holding out her hand. I hesitated for a moment. "All right, Elena," I replied and shook it. "Okay, now we've settled this, back to Damon." She leaned forward. "I have no idea where he is. He left two years ago and has ignored all attempts by me or Stefan to contact him. I still have his phone number. If he hasn't changed it ..." she said and shrugged. "This needs to be well planned, Helen," John said. "You shouldn't tell him on the phone and you don't know how he reacts when he sees you like this. You know how impulsive he can be," he said with a meaningful glance. "He's right," Elena said. "There have to be others present who can stop him if necessary." I bit my tongue not to tell her that I could probably stop him easily myself, but I kept my mouth shut. After all, I didn't know how trustworthy she really was.
She pondered on it. "Ha, I think I've got it," she suddenly exclaimed. "I'll lure him home at Christmas under a pretext. With a little luck, he appears and you can talk to him relatively safe. Besides, Bonnie will be there and she can keep him in check." I looked a little confused. "Who is Bonnie?" She laughed. "Bonnie is a talented witch and one of my best friends. She is our counterweight to Damon's fits of madness." I leaned back and thought about it. Around Christmas..., I would be at the end of the seventh month. That would still be okay for air travel. "Why only at Christmas?" John asked. "I know pretty sure that Damon is staying in the vicinity of Mystic Falls at that time, even though he would never admit it. It still is his home," she said with a shrug. "Is there a hospital there?" I asked. She looked at me questioningly. "For emergencies," I said, pointing to my belly. "Oh yes, and Dr. Fell knows about our specific problems," she said, putting a hand on my arm. I looked at her, searching her face. "Elena, this must remain absolutely secret. It can't be known that I carry the child of a vampire. Imagine if word would get around in your circles." She looked at me with determination. "I understand, someone could want to use your special ability." She looked pensively. "I swear, I will not tell anyone. Your visit will be the absolute surprise and I 'm already looking forward to seeing Damon's face!" I nodded relieved.
John stood up. "Well, ladies, I could use a coffee now. Can I invite both of you?" I got up and suddenly winced. "Ouch!" I cried and put my hands on my belly. "Helen, what's wrong?" John put his arm around me. I paused. "It moves, the baby kicked me," I whispered in fascination. That was the first time I had been able to feel the baby's movements so clearly. "May I?" Elena asked softly. I took her hand and put it on my body. "Oh," she exclaimed as she felt a sharp blow against her hand. "Hey, kid, take it easy. You're hurting your Mommy," she said, tenderly stroking the slight bulge. The kicking stopped almost immediately. I grinned at John. "It stopped, she has a talent," I said. He laughed softly. I looked at Elena. She let her hand rest quite reverently on my stomach for a few more moments before she pulled away. "Then let 's go and celebrate," John said and led us out.
We went to the little cafe where we had sat with Damon that day. I sighed and let me plop down on a bench. John ordered a tea for me and coffee for himself and Elena. "What are you doing down here in the south, Elena?" he asked her. "Oh, I'm visiting the publisher who brings out my book," she replied. "You're a writer?" She nodded. "Yes, I've always wanted to write. I was lucky and it'll be published under a pseudonym, of course." The coffee arrived. "How far are you, Helen?" she asked me. "Oh, it's the 22nd week now," I replied. "And, do you know what it will be?" I shook my head. "No, so far we couldn't find out. I'm hoping for a boy." John laughed. "A boy would be great. I could take him to the playground, even though I'm not his grandpa." I had to smile. John really had become a father figure for me. "You're not related?" Elena asked. "No, Helen's father had been my colleague. He was shot eleven years ago." I tried not to hang my head. "I'm very sorry to hear that," she said, looking at me. My tea came. I lifted the cup. "To life," I toasted. "To life," Elena and John repeated and toasted with their coffee cups. I had to giggle.
We were still talking about this and that and exchanged our contact information. An hour later, John had to return to work and Elena had to meet with her publisher. I accompanied her back to her car, which happened to be parked next to mine. "You've trusted me very quickly," she said. I turned to face her. "Says who?" I replied with a smile and showed her the inside of my coat. I had sewn loops for several wooden stakes into the lining. Her eyes widened. "You're a hunter?" she asked. "No. My father has hunted vampires, but only if they wreaked too much havoc. John was his partner and has trained me," I explained. "You're not as harmless as you seem," she said. I shook my head. "Absolutely not, but I told you the truth: I want to see Damon for only one purpose and then he has to decide for himself." She held out her hand. "I 'm glad to have met you, Helen. I really hope Damon makes the right decision," she said. I shook her hand. "I hope so too." She went to her car and waved one last time at me.