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Chapter 12
Unpleasantville
To my darling daughter,
I have made so many mistakes in my short life, I have gone down dark twisted paths, and I have betrayed the one I cared about the most. I want you to know that I always wanted to keep you, even as you kick inside of me; I look forward to the day when I will know you. You must be confused as to why I let you go in the first place, but I promise you that I did it for you. I'm a teenage runaway with nobody left in the world, what type of life could I offer you? Sometimes when you love someone so much, you have to let them go. I know the family you went to are good, I was assured of it when I gave you up. I'm not making excuses, my daughter, I'm telling you simply what I believe. And I believe I made the right decision for you.
I know reading this, all I am to you is the mother who left you, alone in the cold. Yet one day I hope that if you wish to we can know each other, and I can restore everything that I have broken. That one day is what I wait for in my heart,
One day,
Olivia
I held the letter in my hands unsure if I wanted to tear it to shreds or hold it close to me. If she really wanted to know me, what had taken her so long? Was the letter just a bunch of lies? I couldn't understand, a tear drops to my bed as I take out a locket size photo. The woman in it is grinning, her hand draping the shoulder of another girl. They look similar, the same brown hair and eyes and it strikes me they must be sisters. I touch their faces, wondering which one is my mother and which one isn't. Curling up into bed, I cry freely clutching the picture in my hands.
"Stefan, who was the man on the road?" Elena questions as we sit in her room the next night. I had gone over for dinner, because I think Elena wanted to talk.
"I don't know, do you remember anything else about him?" Stefan asks me.
I frown searching my mind for anything that could be of use, "Sorry, I never really saw his face. He was wearing a hoodie. All I can remember is there was black boots coming towards me," I tell them, wishing that I had more.
Stefan nods, "I brought you some vervain," he informs me, handing me a bracelet from a box, "also I some for you and Jenna," he tells Elena, "and I made this bracelet for Jeremy few extra ones for friends," he says handing them over, "you can put them in jewellery, or you can even put it in food and drink, but as long as its in you a vampire cannot control you," he explains to us.
I slip my bracelet on thankfully, "Wow so much to remember," Elena comments, holding a dried branch of vervain.
"I know but there's another vampire in town. So until we find out what he wants, we have to be careful," Stefan warns us.
"So how are you?" Elena asks me.
"Apart from Caroline being on the warpath about her car, okay I think," I tell her, it was half true, "you?" I question.
After all she was the one who just find out she was adopted, "Not sure," she admits.
"So what's been up with you? You go missing for a day, you've seriously changed," Daniel tells me as we walk to school.
I shake my head, "I haven't changed, I'm just trying new things," I explain to him, biting my lip.
"Like being a truant," Daniel questions sarcastically, "where were you?"
"I can't tell you," I admit, not really wanting to tell him I spent the day with Damon in Georgia.
"Okay so you get into a car accident, and then disappear but you can't say anything. Seriously Elouise I tell you every detail of my life and suddenly you can't tell me anything about yours," Daniel snaps at me his annoyance clear in his voice.
"Daniel its not like that," I protest.
"Really?" he asks me raising an eyebrow.
"My mum gave me a letter from my bio mother," I inform him, seeking to change the subject.
Daniel's face softens, "Wow, what did it say?" he asks.
I roll my eyes, "Just this crap about not wanting to give me up and it was better for me. But when I'm older she'll get to know me. Well where the hell is she? Its not like we've moved or anything, it was just a letter filled with lies and I wish I never read it," I rant, feeling tears prick the sides of my eyes.
"Elouise," Daniel says concerned, giving me a quick hug.
"I'm sorry its just arghh I can't handle it," I confess.
"How about this we go to the Grill after school shoot some pool, cheer you up," Daniel suggests.
I smile at him tilting my head nervously, "I kind of promised to meet Elena," I murmur.
Daniel frowns, "Right," he mutters.
"Daniel, I'm sorry," I tell him, sincerely.
Daniel shakes his head, "You know what its fine."
"I can't believe you're adopted, I never saw that coming," Bonnie admits when Elena tells her, as we sit at the Grill.
Elena nods, "And it gets weirder. I looked at my birth certificate. It lists Miranda and Greyson Gilbert as my birthparents, none of it makes any sense," she tells us.
"Why don't you ask Jenna?" I question curious, surely she would have been able to shed some light on it.
Elena groans, "First of all, the Elena I know would want to know the truth good or bad," Bonnie tells her firmly.
"And second of all?" Elena asks her.
"You just found out your boyfriend is a vampire," she whispers, "so unless your birth parents are aliens, how bad could it be?"
"Ah ok look I have to go to the store my outfit is severely lacking in accessories, are you coming?" she questions turning to me.
I push my hair behind my ear, "No," I murmur.
"Come on, you have to," Elena protests.
"Dances just aren't my thing," I tell her shrugging.
"Elouise, it'll be fun, you can come get ready at mine again," she says to me.
I stare at her, realizing that I couldn't really say no, I never could, "Fine," I cave.
Elena grins, "Let's go," she says, "bye Bonnie," we both call before making our way to her car.
"Hello," I greet as I pick up my ringing phone.
"Hello, Elouise," the voice responds.
I frown, "Who is this?" I question confused as I go around to the passenger side of Elena's car.
"You hit me with your car," he reminds me, my entire body freezes, "is that your friend's one," he questions as Elena hops in. I glance behind me dreading what I might see. A man in a hoodie approaches us, "You got away from me. You won't next time," he warns.
I jump in the car, "Elena go, just go," I shout at her. My eyes search out the window as Elena speeds off down the road. I breathe a sigh of relief and Elena looks at me confused. "Vampire," I murmur, my eyes wide with fear and my hands visibly shaking.
"I don't understand what's going on, I mean why is he even going after me, I'm nobody, why can't he go after to someone else," I ramble, my heart still beating with fear as Elena and I sit with Stefan in the Salvatore library.
"Why did he call first?" Elena questions Stefan, looking almost as scared as me.
Stefan looks up both of us, "That's because we're predators. We hunt. We stalk. Its often as exciting as the kill, I want you to take this," he says sitting on the table in front of us and handing me the compass I had used to help Damon track Logan.
Elena looks at it in shock as I take it, "That's Jeremy's pocket watch," she exclaims.
"Also tracks vampires," I inform her, clutching it in my hand. I'd never wanted something more in my life. I pass it to Elena and she watches with wide eyes as the needle whirs around on the compass, finally clicking into place to point at Stefan.
"Why did my father have it?" she questions confused.
"Gilberts were one of the founding families, and back in 1864, they were among those who sought to eradicate the vampires. The compass was used to find us," Stefan explains.
"Did you know them?" Elena asks him. Stefan nods, a look I'd never seen passing through his eyes and then it's gone.
"Look I want you to have this, Elouise," he tells me, "that way you can know if your ever in danger." I grasp it from Elena, running my fingers over the cool metal, still trying to work through the fact a vampire was looking to kill me.
"Hey, Elouise," Elena says gently, placing a comforting hand on my arm, "it'll be okay. You can come over to mine we'll get ready to together like planned."
I nod thankfully, shaking my head, "This is too crazy," I mutter, grabbing my bag from the couch as I stand up.
"Okay almost done," Elena declares, handing me a black scarf to tie around my neck.
"Well, I officially feel like an idiot," I comment, studying my reflection in the mirror.
Elena laughs, "You look cute all polka dotty," she jokes.
"Cute?" I question offended as she retrieves her pink scarf from the closet.
"It wasn't an insult," Elena assures me as my eyes catches something on the bed.
I take the compass from where it lies, watching as it spins dramatically, "Elena," I murmur fearfully. Elena turns back around stopping when she sees the compass, Elena grabs her phone presumably dialling Stefan. I look around for some sort of wooden weapon, not noticing that Elena has already made her way downstairs. "Elena," I whisper after a search of the room, "Elena," I hiss for the first time realizing she isn't still in the room. I knew I should have noticed that she hadn't been talking, but my fear filled mind had been on defending myself. All of a sudden my ears catch a scream that echoes through the air, "Elena," I yell, sprinting down the stairs. I arrive just in time to see Stefan scare the attacking vampire away.
"How did he get in?" Damon questions us as he paces around the living room. "He was invited in," Elena explains.
"He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night," Stefan adds. I watch Damon process this as I sit on the edge of the couch, one eye trained on the front door.
"Well he gets points for that. Did he say what he wanted?" Damon asks Elena.
"No. He was too busy trying to kill me," Elena hisses and I flinch at her words.
"And you have no idea who this?" Stefan questions Damon.
"No," Damon replies, Stefan looks unconvinced by his answer, "don't give me that look. I told you we had company."
"You think there's more than one?" Elena asks voice full of fear.
"We don't know," Damon admits.
"Damon, he was invited in," Stefan tells him Damon nods, "Then we go get him tonight, you two up for it?" Damon questions, looking at me and Elena. Elena nods firmly, Damon looks up at me, but I can't seem to reply I can't say anything. Damon crouches in front of me, "Elouise, are you up for this?" he repeats.
I shake my head, "I'm scared," I confess to them.
"Its okay, we'll be by your side all night," Damon promises.
I glance up at him and I know that he means it, "Let's get him then," I say determined.
I grasp my hands together nervously running my thumbs over my hands to try and take my mind off the vampire that could be lying in wait at the dance. Damon stands next to me and to my surprise just the thought of him being here actually makes me feel safer. My eyes widen in surprise when I see Daniel, we never went to these kind of things. I recall his text earlier to ask if I was coming and now I realize why because he had decided to. I also remember that I had lied saying I wanted a night at home to study. When he finally catches sight of me, his face falls as he storms out of the dance.
I don't think but stride off to follow him when Damon grabs my arm, "What are you doing?" he questions.
"I have to talk to Daniel," I say pointing at the door he disappeared out of at the other end of the hall.
"No, that's exactly what the vampire will want, for you to be alone," Damon replies.
"He's right," Stefan agrees with me.
I look mournfully at the door, "But if I don't go after him, he'll think," I mutter, my words trailing off wondering what he would think.
He certainly wouldn't be viewing me as his best friend, "Look you can go fix your friendship after we find the vampire trying to kill you," Damon tells me and I can guess from his face that he's not going to let up.
"Fine," I cave, after all he was right I had bigger problems if only Daniel would understand that.
I watch as Elena and Stefan dance together grinning, they were just the perfect couple. "This is a dance, you're meant to dance, not sit," Damon says smirking as he approaches me.
"I don't dance," I inform him seriously.
"You did in Georgia," Damon reminds me.
I laugh at the memory, "Cause I was drunk," I remind him.
"Elouise, may I have this dance?" Damon asks me holding out his hand.
I look at it sighing, "Fine," I grumble taking it as Damon leads me to the dance floor. "So you can't see him anywhere?" I question Damon as we dance, looking around nervously.
"I don't know what he looks like remember," Damon tells me.
"Right," I mutter, "but I mean can't you tell?"
Damon gives me a look, "Elouise it doesn't exactly work like that," he informs me.
"Oh," I murmur, almost smiling. The smile dies on my lips as I see Caroline watching me, I hadn't even considered her reaction to this. She was glaring and I could tell by her very expression that she was miles around from happy. "We should stop dancing," I tell Damon, stepping away from him. Damon follows my gaze and frowns when he says Caroline, "Don't say anything okay," I beg him, "not tonight."
"Daniel," I exclaim happily, as I see him in front of the punch bowl, "I thought you might have left but you haven't."
Daniel turns to look at me, his eyes cold, "Not that you care, but I'm sure there's an excuse," he says, "but wait you can't tell me."
I look down biting my lip, "Daniel, I want to tell you but its not mine to tell," I admit, pleading with him to understand.
"Of course not," he says sarcastically, "look Elouise do what you want its obvious I've been holding you back all these years, but don't worry cause I'll stop now," Daniel growls at me a hurt expression across his face. I watch helplessly as he storms off, watching as Stefan and Elena dance, and locating Damon dancing as well. I turn my eyes back to where Daniel went and make a decision running after him.
"Daniel," I call confused as I see no sight of him in the hallway, I glance around not sure where he went. A thump comes from the cafeteria and I look at it curiously pushing the doors open. "Hello," I call, my eyes catching sight of a body on the floor. "Oh my god," Daniel I exclaim, rushing up to him.
"Elouise," he murmurs weakly, as I push his head aside to see the vampire bite on his neck.
"It'll be okay," I promise, but Daniel isn't listening to me his eyes are focused on something behind me. Before I know what's happen, I feel my body fling across one of the cafeteria tables. I struggle to get up as the vampire sends the table flying across the room. Frantically I grab a couple of pencils left over from the set up as he strides towards me. Picking me up he slams me against a wall and I groan in pain. He extends his fangs out revealing the face of a monster, but before I know what I'm doing the pencil is forced into his stomach. He looks down at his stomach, as I make my escape, slamming another pencil into his neck while he's distracted. He glares at me, pulling out both pencils as I walk backwards trying to figure out what to do. My feet go out from under me as I trip over a bucket and as the vampire gets closer and closer I'm convinced this is the end. Grabbing my arm he forces me up again but before he can bite me, he is tossed across the room by an angry Stefan.
"Hey dickhead," Damon calls from the other side of the room, "nobody wants to kill you. We just wanna talk." The vampire smiles rushing back towards me as I scream in fear, the stake in Damon's hand finds itself in Stefan's as he forces it into his stomach.
"Elouise, are you okay?" Elena calls, running over to me, and helping me up.
"Daniel," I exclaim, disbelieving I could even forget about my friend. Stefan leaves an injured vampire with Damon, walking over to Daniel and feeding him some of his blood.
"Now you feel like talking?" Damon questions, as I shift hesitantly before deciding to walk over with Elena to where Damon is interrogating the vampire. If someone was going to try and kill me and my best friend, I wanted to know why.
"Screw you," he hisses. Damon shoves the stake it deeper, causing him to groan.
"Wrong answer," Stefan announces coming up to me, "hes fine," he whispers to me and I nod in thanks.
"Why are you doing this?" Damon questions the vampire.
"Because its fun," he growls, looking at me.
Damon digs the stake in deeper, "What do you want with Elouise?" he asks.
The vampire smiles, "She looks like Rose," he answers.
We all look at each surprised, "You knew Rose?" Damon questions him.
"Oh I knew her and Katherine," he replies, looking over at Elena, "you thought you were the only ones," he says laughing, "you don't even remember me."
"Tell me how to get in the tomb?" Damon demands.
"No," he refuses. He drives the stake in deeper, "the grimoire," he hisses at him.
"Where is it?" Damon questions.
When he refuses to answer again the stake is pushed in deeper, "Check the journal. Jonathan Gilbert's journal."
"Who else is working with you?" Stefan asks him.
The vampire shakes his head, "No you going have to kill me," he tells them. Damon removes the stake from his stomach and a few seconds later stakes him in the heart, letting him fall to the ground and desiccate. I watch him emotionless, I felt no pity he had tried to kill me.
I run over to Daniel to see that he has still passed out, "You have to compel him or something," I murmur as Stefan walks over as tears prick my eyes, "cause he can't know."
Stefan nods, "Its okay Elouise, it'll be fine," he assures me.
I shake my head the tears falling, "No it really won't," I declare.
"Ahh Elouise what happened?" Daniel questions confused as he comes to.
"Don't you remember?" I ask, faking a smile.
Daniel laughs, "Right yeah hit my head passed out, man that's so embarrassing," he mutters.
I grin, though it doesn't reach my eyes, "I think we both embarrassed ourselves tonight," I tell him attempting to be light.
Daniel glances around him at his porch, "I'm glad you didn't take me inside, I can only imagine that my family would never let me live it down," he jokes.
"Yeah, they wouldn't," I agree, "anyway I should go its late and you know."
Daniel nods, "Sure, I'll call tomorrow," he suggests.
"Great," I smile as he makes his way inside. "He's my best friend and I just lied to his face," I mutter as I make my way over to Damon's car. Much to Stefan and Elena's annoyance, I had let Damon drop him off with me.
"Are you going to be alright?" he asks me sincerely as I glance over to my place all the lights off.
"I think so, I feel," I search for the word, "would it be weird, if I say good?" I question.
Damon smirks, "Well you did teach a vampire the dangers of a pencil."
I laugh, "I did, I was pretty great actually," I claim, grinning.
"I wouldn't be going head on against a vampire just yet," Damon warns me smiling.
"Yeah baby steps right," I shrug, grabbing my bag from his car, "thanks for tonight," I say to him.