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Chapter 15
A Few Good Men
A man is backpacking through the woods turning in shock when he hears the sound of twigs snapping. Quickly he turns around coming face to face with the vampire from the tomb who still looks hungry. "Jeez, you scared me," the backpacker exclaims.
"Do you know what day it is?" the vampire asks him.
"Saturday," the man replies.
"And what year?" he questions.
The man looks confused by the question, "2010, are you okay?" he asks.
"Thank you," the vampire murmurs, ignoring the question.
"Wait, what's your name?" the backpacker questions the vampire.
"It's Harper, sir," Harper responds. The man inches closer to him, trying to find out what's wrong with him.
"How did you get out here? Why are you dressed like that?" he questions concerned.
"You seem like a nice person," Harper comments, "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what?" the man asks confused. Harper doesn't respond instead he bites down on the man's neck as he screams loudly.
I make my way out into the kitchen, smiling as the morning sun hits my face. I breathe in the fresh air as it blows from the window and smile. "You're in a good mood," mum comments, as she grabs her keys from the table.
"Today is a good day," I tell her, it was a new day the events of last night were behind me for now.
"I hope so," mum says frowning.
"What's wrong?" I question concerned.
"Nothing just a new case, I'll see you for dinner," she asks me.
I smile, "I'm going to Daniel's," I explain.
Mum sighs, kissing me on the forehead as Caroline steps out, "I've been missing you," she admits.
"The side effect of me getting a life," I joke lightly.
Mum rolls her eyes, "See you later," she says to both of us as she makes her way out.
"So," Caroline starts, standing on the other side of the table, "I want to talk to you about Damon."
I groan, grabbing my bag from the floor, "I have to go," I tell her.
"Elouise," Caroline snaps drawing my attention back to her, "he was horrible to me, and you don't deserve that. Look I know on the outside he seems like a catch but he's not a nice person," she tells me.
"Caroline we're not together," I argue my eyes widening at her assumption.
Caroline rolls her eyes, "Right so you just go off into the woods with anyone, also I know he's not treating you any better because he dragged you away its classic Damon, I'm warning my you to stay away from him for your own safety," she explains to me.
"Careful Caroline, its starting to sound like you care," I hiss.
"Elouise I do care okay, I know I've given you a lot of crap about being adopted but that's cause you're my sister we're meant to tease each other, I want you to have a guy that appreciates you," she tells me.
I stare at her shocked and a little touched, "Um thanks," I mutter turning away to grab an apple, "but Damon and I aren't together and he's going through some stuff, it doesn't excuse what's he done but he's dealing with things," I inform her, walking past her so I don't have to look at her face.
"Be careful," Caroline advises as I step out the door.
"When am I not?" I call back, happy to be away from her and her odd concern for me.
"Hey Bonnie its just me checking in, seeing how your doing. We miss you here. Don't let your aunt drive you to crazy," Elena says leaving Bonnie a voicemail as she sits out on the porch with her journal.
"What are you doing out here? Its cold," Jenna comments, watching Elena coffee in hand.
"Thinking, writing. The, uh, funeral for Bonnie's grandma, it brought back a lot about mom and dad. I was wondering you said that you would do some digging about the adoption," Elena says to Jenna.
"Right," Jenna nods.
"So did you? Dig?" Elena asks eager for an answer.
"Come on inside," Jenna tells her, pulling out her laptop on the dining table, "your dad kept everything from his medical practice records, logs, old appointment books," Jenna explains, pulling out journal opening it to a page to show Elena, "I found an entry from the night you were born. Patient and birth date. Isobel Peterson."
"Do you think that's her real name?" Elena questions her hopeful.
"Pregnant teenage runaway? Probably not. First name, maybe. But where'd she get Peterson? Classmate? Best friend? So I binged it," Jenna informs her, "I looked for all the Petersons in the area born the same year as Isobel, found three two men and a woman, Trudie, who lived in Grove Hill, Virginia."
"That's not far from here," Elena comments.
"Well, watch this," Jenna says, typing something in the search engine and pulling up a picture of Isobel from high school.
"Isobel," Elena says smiling, "she was a cheerleader," she murmurs as someone knocks on the door. "Elouise," Elena tells Jenna, "come in," she calls.
"Hey," Elouise greets them walking over to where they stand, pausing at the picture of Isobel. "Who's that?" she asks curiously.
"I think its my mother," Elena tells her.
Elouise continues to stare at it before pulling something out of her pocket, "I think its my aunt," she mutters handing Elena the photo that came with the letter from her mother. Jenna looks at them both, taking the photo and pulling something else up. "That's her," Elouise says in shock pointing at a picture of three cheerleaders, Trudie, Isobel, and Olivia.
"They were twins, Isobel and Olivia," Jenna informs them.
Elena and Elouise share a look, "We're cousins?" Elouise mutters.
"Trudie still lives there," Jenna informs the two, handing Elena a post it note, "this is her address."
"What about Isobel and Olivia?" Elena questions as Elouise leans forward.
"I couldn't find anything about her, or her family," Jenna says sadly. Both Elouise and Elena look disheartened Jenna pauses before adding a new bit of information, "Listen. There's something else. Mr Saltzman Ric, his wife was from around her, and her name was also Isobel."
"Was as in?" Elena asks afraid of the answer.
"She died," Jenna confirms.
"Alaric's wife might have been your mother?" Stefan questions Elena in shock.
"Yeah and my aunt," I add, throwing myself back on Elena's bed. I didn't know what to think, I couldn't quite process what was going through my head. I didn't know if I was happy or sad, sure I was happy Elena and I were family, but there was always a part of me that never wanted to know my real mother, I couldn't forgive her for what she had done.
Elena sighs, "It can't be true, right? I mean the coincidence alone is just crazy," Elena muses, "I have an address for their friend Trudie," she informs Stefan.
"You two want to talk to her?" Stefan questions us, as I sit up on the bed biting my lip.
"I don't know, If its true and they are the same person, that means that my birth mother is dead, and I don't know if I can handle that," Elena confesses to us.
"Besides I don't think I'm really ready to learn about my mother either," I mutter shrugging.
Stefan nods, "Did Jenna tell you anything else about how Alaric's wife died? How she died?" he questions the two of us.
"Just that she was killed and the case was never solved," Elena answers, sighing as she shuts her drawer.
I watch Stefan as he nods, "You knew?" I question surprised, Elena shares my surprise as well as she looks at him.
"The night at the school when he attacked me, he told me some things about her death," Stefan explains to us, seeming to regret the words as he says them.
"What?" I ask him suspicious.
Stefan shakes his head, "No, no," he says grabbing Elena's wrists, "its not possible the coincidence is, its to much," he claims, "now listen if you decide to go to talk to Isobel and Olivia's friend, I'll go with you two, okay?" I lay back on the bed again, trying not to think about the decision. Part of me now that the option was in front of me wanted to learn about my family, but then again knowing Elena was my cousin was enough. "I've got to go, I've got to deal with Damon," Stefan tells us.
I jump up again, "How is he?" I ask concerned, I could only imagine how it felt to spend 145 searching for your best friend, and love of your life to find out they were never lost at all.
"He's dealing in his own way," Stefan says cryptically. I give Elena a sideways glance, she just shrugs.
I sigh, picking up my bag turning to find myself in a hug by Elena, "I'm really happy to know that we're cousins," she admits.
I smile, "Me too, to think I've always wondered about my real family, not my mother, but I guess her family and all along you were right here," I confess.
Elena creases her eyebrows, "Maybe they placed us with families close to each other," she murmurs.
I scoff, "That implied that they cared," I snap before seeing her face, "sorry," I murmur, "its just," I shake my head walking out the door, I couldn't think that my own mother loved because that made it harder.
Damon is dancing around with young sorority girls, all having various bite marks up and down their bodies. "How do I taste?" one of the girls asks excited as Damon pulls his fangs out.
"Oh so much better than your friends," Damon slurs drunkenly, "but shh, don't tell them. They might get jealous. No, buzzkill Bob," Damon exclaims as the lights come on. Stefan studies his surroundings before turning off the music, "Greetings," Damon greets him.
"Can we talk?" Stefan asks him seriously.
"Yeah," Damon agrees.
"Without the Tri-Delts," Stefan adds looking at the girls that surround his brother.
"Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of them. They're really good at keeping secrets," Damon promises him as the girls giggle. Stefan shakes his head, walking over to a private corner as the girls lounge around on the sofas. Damon looks at his brother smiling with his bottle of booze in hand, "You're worried about me. That's nice. Don't be. There's no need," Damon assures him, "I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I spent the last 145 years with one goal; get in that tomb. I succeeded. Granted Katherine and Rose weren't in there to be rescued, but why dwell? You know, its so liberating not having a master plan, because I can do whatever the hell I want."
"That's kind of what I'm afraid of," Stefan admits watching his brother carefully.
"Relax I haven't killed anyone in," Damon pauses to think before sighing, "too long."
"Those girls?" Stefan questions nodding his head towards them.
"Will end up in their dorm with headaches, think they blacked out. Business as usual. Predictable you didn't pull me over here for a pep talk," Damon guesses, pushing the bottle into Stefan's chest, "so drink up, and spill it brother."
Stefan takes the bottle placing it on the table beside them, "There was a woman you may have known a few years back named Isobel in North Carolina at Duke," he tells him.
Damon looks at him in disbelief, "You want to discuss the women in my past right now? Seriously?" he questions.
"You killed her," Stefan clarifies.
"What's your point?" Damon shrugs as if it is no big deal.
"I just want to know if you remember anything about her," Stefan says not wanting to divulge too much information.
"Oh its like a needle in a haystack, Stefan," Damon tells his brother.
"Well think hard, its important," Stefan snaps at him.
Damon grasps Stefan's shoulder, "Nothing is important, not anymore," Damon whispers in Stefan's ear, he claps Stefan on the shoulder grabbing the bottle from the table. "Great chat. I have to go and exploit some women in the name of grief, which I'm sure you understand. TTFN said the Tri-Delt," Damon calls walking back to the girls.
Matt and Caroline sit snuggled up on Matt's couch as they watch TV. Caroline makes a huffing noise, as Matt mutes the TV to look at her. "What?" he questions.
"This is boring, I'm bored," Caroline declares.
"Wow," Matt mutters, looking at her.
"But we have this entire house to ourselves. I mean, its practically a bachelor pad," Caroline reminds him, looking up at him hopefully.
"And," Matt says slowly.
"So shouldn't we do something a little bit more bachelor-paddy?" Caroline clarifies smiling.
"What? Something like this?" Matt asks lifting her chin, kissing her before pulling away.
"Something like that," Caroline agrees.
Matt turns away from her unmuting the tv, "I don't know this is a pretty good tv show," he jokes.
Caroline glares at him, hitting him, "Seriously?" she exclaims. She crosses her arms giggling as Matt pushes her down on the couch. She laughs she wraps her legs around his waist as they begin to kiss passionately, steadily removing each other's clothing.
"Oh, god," a voice exclaims from behind them. Matt looks up suddenly, shocked to see his mother standing at the door frame. "Not on my couch," she tells them.
"Mom, hey," Matt calls, covering Caroline with a pillow, as Caroline places her hands over her face mortified.
"I don't know. Its just weird, you know, me being raffled off like a Disney Cruise," Alaric admits to Jenna as they hang up a banner for the Founder's Fundraiser.
Jenna laughs, "In this town, fundraising is like an indentured service. You don't have a choice. Besides, you're a bachelor, and you're eligible, so there you go," she mutters.
Alaric smiles making his way to Jenna's side of the banner, "Here, let me help you," he offers, hanging up the banner as Jenna looks on. Jenna smiles brightly as Alaric leans into kiss her, Jenna sighs softly as he pulls away.
"Oh god, I can't believe I'm going to do this," she admits.
"What?" Alaric asks concerned.
"I'm totally going to ruin the moment, but I have to tell you. Elena recently found out she was adopted, and found out her and Elouise were cousins. They've been looking for their birthmothers Olivia," Jenna pauses her, "and Isobel."
Alaric looks shocked, "Like my wife?" he questions, his eyes widening, "she had a twin named Olivia, but she never had a daughter," he claims. Jenna takes out her phone, handing it to Alaric, a picture of Isobel on the screen.
"This is Elena's birthmother," she informs him.
Alaric stares at it in surprise, "She never uh told me. I have to go," Alaric says, walking away as Jenna watches him sighing heavily.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Elena asks me as we stand outside the address Jenna had given us.
"No, yes, I don't know," I admit looking at the house nervously. Elena nods at me making her way to the front of the door as I follow. I didn't know why I agreed to come because Elena was all of a sudden talking about her mom and wanted to come and I couldn't say no I guess. Elena hesitates before knocking the door, but finally allows herself enough courage to. "She's probably not home," I say after a few seconds turning away just as someone answers the door.
I look at her in shock unable to form any words, "Trudie Peterson?" Elena questions.
"Yes?" Trudie answers, looking us both over.
"My name is Elena Gilbert, this is Elouise Forbes. We wanted to talk to you about Isobel and Olivia Flemming," Elena explains as I force down a sick feeling in my stomach.
"Well I haven't heard those names in years," she says, "how do you know them?"
"Well we think, do you know if they had babies they gave up for adoption?" Elena asks her as I shift nervously looking around.
"My god, you're their daughters," Trudie exclaims in shock laughing, "I was just going to make some tea. Would you like some?" she offers.
"Sure," Elena agrees, as I watch Trudie an odd feeling as if she was hiding something coming over me.
"Uh, the kitchen's this way," she tells us backing away from the door as we step through. She leads us to the dining room and I look around still unsure if I wanted to be here or not.
Trudie walks back into the room watching us, "We weren't going to come, but I was driving, and I hit this stoplight, and it made me think about when I was learning to drive and then my mum would always warn me about this blind turn on the left-hand side, and then I was thinking about my mom. We had your address," Elena explains.
"We're sorry for barging in," I tell her nervously.
"Its no problem, just a surprise," she tells us, taking a seat as me and Elena do the same. "I haven't thought about Isobel and Olivia in years," Trudie confesses to us.
"When we the last time you saw them?" Elena questions her.
"Last time I saw Isobel was about 17 years when she left to go have you, we kept in touch for a while, but well you know people drift apart," Trudie says shrugging.
"And you don't know where she ended up?" Elena asks her hopeful.
"She was in Florida for a while. She was on her own. I know it wasn't easy," Trudie comments sadly.
"Do you have any idea who my father is?" Elena questions eager to find answers.
"I could never get her to fess up. Anyway she finally pulled it together, got into college on scholarship, smart girl," Trudie tells her.
"Where did she go?" Elena questions as I hold my breath.
"Someone in North Carolina Duke I think," Trudie admits as I look at Elena trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"Olivia," I prompt, realizing she never answered the question about my mother. Trudie gives me the saddest look and I know I just know and every part of my mind is telling me to run to not get the answer but I feel like I am glued in place.
"I'm so sorry dear, after she had you she came back said she'd get her life together so she could be part of yours. She did too, got a good job, a good house, and a good man. She was about to find you again to see if she would be allowed to part of your life, must be about ten years ago now," Trudie tells me sighing, "she went missing and I'm sorry but they never found her." I look down fighting the urge to scream, she was meant to not want me that's how it was.
"Elouise," Elena says softly as the kettle starts whistling.
"Let me grab that," Trudie says leaving us.
"I didn't want her to care," I mutter, clutching my hands together. She was going to be part of my life, but now she was missing, most probably dead.
"So its been a few months, where have you been?" Matt asks his mother.
"Ah, you know, here and there. Never one place to long. You know Pete," Kelly informs her son.
"No actually I don't because you never brought him around," Matt reminds her coldly.
Kelly doesn't respond to the question, "So blonde's the new flavour of the month, huh? Sorry I scared her off," Kelly comments walking over to Matt.
"She's not a flavour mom, I like her," Matt tells her firmly.
"So she's the one?" she questions.
"No, probably not, but maybe," Matt replies. Kelly sighs grabbing a glass as she pulls out a bottle of vodka out of the fridge, sitting down at the table.
"Mattie seriously, Lizzie Forbes daughter? Eck," she comments thinking of her mother.
"Mom, seriously, knock it off," Matt warns her, unhappy how she was talking about Caroline.
"Ice, please?" Kelly asks holding out her glass. Matt takes it opening the fridge placing ice in it.
"So, uh, you heard from Vic?" Matt questions, handing her back the glass.
Kelly shrugs pouring her vodka, "No, but don't worry. She'll come home eventually when she needs something. I played that game," she tells Matt.
"Are you playing it now?" Matt asks her.
"No," Kelly responds.
"Then what are you doing home?" Matt questions her suspicious.
"Are you trying to say I need a reason to come back? Sit down, eat with me," she encourages him. Matt sighs taking his plate fill of food and sitting across from Kelly. "Tell me everything I missed," she says to him smiling.
"Thanks for meeting me, something's come up," Alaric announces as he meets Stefan in the Town Square.
"Jenna told you," Stefan guesses correctly.
"Yeah," Alaric confirms.
"So its true, your wife Isobel was Elena's birth mother," Stefan replies, sad for Elena.
"What do Elena and Elouise know?" Alaric questions Stefan thinking about both girls.
Stefan sighs crossing his arms, "About your wife?" he asks.
"About everything," Alaric clarifies, "you, your brother."
"They know what I am, and they know that you know about vampires," Stefan informs him.
"Do they know about Damon and Isobel?" Alaric presses.
"No," Stefan says shaking his head, "I couldn't tell them, not till I was sure."
"You said you'd help me," Alaric reminds him.
Stefan nods, "I asked Damon without saying too much. He doesn't remember," he tells Alaric.
"Ask him again," Alaric snaps, wanting to know what happened to his wife.
"Damon is not stable right now," Stefan explains to him.
Alaric gives him a look, "You know, he murdered my wife, or at the very least made a meal out of her. When has he been stable?"
"I'm telling you not to push this," Stefan warns him.
"Give me a reason not to," Alaric retorts.
"Your survival, how's that for a reason? I'll handle it but for not, I need you to let it go," Stefan urges him.
"Is that what you'll tell Elena or Elouise? Let it go?" Alaric questions him angry.
Stefan moves closer till only inches separate the two of them, "Leave Elena and Elouise out of this," he growls in a threatening manner.
"I need to know what happened. I think you would too," Alaric says sadly, thinking of his wife.
Stefan takes a breath, understand his reasoning as he steps away, "I need something more than your wife's name. A picture, something I could show Damon," Stefan tells him. Alaric quickly grabs a photo of Isobel from his wallet, handing it to Stefan. Stefan glances at it, taking it as he walks away.
Flashback
Alaric eyes fly open as he is awakened by the sound of typing. Sitting up tiredly he sees Isobel typing on her computer. "Is," he calls softly.
"Just a few more minutes," she promises, not turning to look at him.
"Can't you finish in the morning?" Alaric questions.
Isobel turns back to look at him, "But I like working at night," she argues.
"Yeah see I like sleeping at night with you," he tells her smiling. Isobel turns back to her computer continuing to type, Alaric sits up properly. "Okay I'll bite. What is this thesis stuff?" he questions her. Isobel stops typing as she bites her lip not responding. "Look, baby, I'm in a three way here with you and your computer, the least you can do is let me know what you're up to," Alaric begs her sincerely. Isobel sighs walking over to the bed, sitting down beside her husband.
"I was doing research, and I dug up all this stuff about this small town in Virginia near where I grew up. Its isolated out of the way and quiet. And every now and then people die mysteriously, and they say its an animal attack. Except these bodies, are drained of blood," she explains as Alaric stares at her confused, "its vampires, it has to be," she muses.
"Okay I'll get my garlic and holy water, and then maybe, just maybe," Alaric jokes as Isobel rolls her eyes.
"No," she says, hitting him across the head with a pillow as Alaric laughs.
"We can get some sleep come here," Alaric tells her, pulling her towards him.
"No," Isobel protests.
"Look this is why I love you, because you believe all this stuff. So much that you're making a degree out of it. You're like Mulder, except hotter and a girl," Alaric tells her. Isobel rolls her eyes, pushing him down on the bed as she moves on top of him.
"This is not a joke Ric. You think this cute, but I'm going to prove it," she declares, kissing him before jumping off the bed and heading over to her computer. "And Mulder was right in the end," she reminds him.
I smile as Trudie shows us an old yearbook, pointing out a picture of her, Isobel, and Olivia. "Ah they came to the games for us. The football team hadn't won in years. We were the stars. Well Livvy was, but Izzie and I made damn good backups," Trudie tells us.
"This is really great thanks," I tell her sincerely, as I put my finger on my mother's smiling face.
"You're welcome, you two haven't touched your tea," she points out looking at our teacups.
"Oh yeah," Elena replies flustered. We both take the tea and I frown at the unique taste.
"What is this?" I question when I see the same reaction from Elena's face.
"Oh its just some herbal mixture," Trudie tells us shrugging.
"Vervain?" Elena asks her.
Trudie doesn't respond, "You know," I guess.
"Know what?" Trudie questions pretending to be confused.
"You wouldn't invite us in, and you're serving us vervain tea, you know," I say to her, frowning as I wonder what this means.
Trudie stands up, "I think you should leave," she tells us firmly.
Elena places her cup down as I do the same grabbing my jacket, "What are you not telling us?" Elena asks her desperate for answers.
"Please leave now," Trudie shouts at us.
I flinch, "Let's just go," I tell Elena, pulling her with me as we make our way out. As we approach the car I see a man staring at us from the middle of the road. "Elena go now," I order her feeling a sense of fear of him. Elena jumps in the car, starting the engine as I slam my door shut, trying to work out what had just happened.
Alaric sits alone at the bar with a glass of bourbon, as Damon walks up, "Bourbon," he orders taking the seat next to Alaric. "Behold the teacher," Damon comments as the bartender pushes the bourbon towards him, "don't you have some papers to grade?"
Alaric gives him a sideways look shrugging, "Its more fun with a buzz," he explains.
"Well most things in life are," Damon agrees, "sobers depressing."
"You don't strike me as someone who gets depressed," Alaric comments.
"You say that like you know me," Damon says with suspicion.
"Just a hunch," Alaric explains as he and Damon exchange a look. Alaric finishes his drink, "You have a good afternoon," he tells Damon placing his drink back down on the bar.
"Not likely," Damon replies as Alaric leaves.
"Daytime drinking, huh?" Liz questions walking up to Damon.
"Its all the rage," Damon replies sarcastically.
"Listen, I need a favour," Liz begins, "you ever been in love?" Damon interrupts her. "Excuse me?" Liz asks confused as to where the questions came from.
"Have you ever been so bent on someone, just to have your heart ripped out by them?" he questions again.
"You forget I was married," Liz reminds him.
"Right, gay husband," Damon remembers gesturing to the barman, "she'll have what I'm having," he tells him. "Sit down," he encourages her, patting the seat next to him.
Liz nods taking the seat, "There's a fundraiser here tonight that the Founder's Council is throwing. The town's most eligible bachelors get raffled off for dates and well, we're short a bachelor," she explains to Damon.
"Is this what you do when there's no um," here Damon lowers his voice, "vampires? Organize bachelor raffles?"
Liz laughs at the question, "Trust me, at this point, I miss the vampires," she confesses, "look, you're a hero to this town, Damon. I know most people don't know it, but you are, and you're single and a catch. Come on help me out. Carol Lockwood won't let me live it down if I come back empty handed."
"You know a room full of women clamoring to win a date with me sounds tasty," Damon tells her smiling.
Liz laughs relieved, "Thank you."
"One thing. Can you get information on someone for me? Alaric Saltzman, the history teacher. There's just something off about him, and I just want to make the school did their homework on this guy," Damon requests.
"You got it," Liz assures him getting up.
"Thanks," Damon says taking a swig from his glass as Liz walks off.
Trudie answers her door nervously as the man on the road stands on her porch. "May I help you?" she questions confused.
"Thank you for the text," the man tells her, Trudie looks surprised, "You're welcome. I didn't tell them anything, I kept my promise," she informs him. "Good," the man nods.
"The girls though, they knew something," she tells him.
"That won't be a problem, they won't get any closer to the truth," the man assures her.
"Good, so I'm done?" Trudie asks hopeful.
"You're done," he confirms as Trudie begins to shut the door but the man stops her forcing it open again.
"No I won't invite you in, you can't come in," Trudie shouts at him.
"I'm not a vampire, so yes I can," he tells her coldly. The man forces the door right open, causing Trudie to fall backwards on the stairs.
"I don't understand. I did what you told me, I did my part," Trudie whimpers as the man walks in.
"And now I have to do mine," the man tells her gravely. Trudie screams trying to run up the stairs but is stopped when the man pulls her hair, throwing her down the stairs as she tumbles to the floor. A pool of blood flows out of Trudie's head as the man walks down the stairs stepping over the body as he leaves the house.
Harper makes his way into the middle of the square his eyes a mirror of amazement as he stares at the changes that have taken place. He looks over to a bench his eyes sparking in recognition as he notices the woman who sits there. She nods her head slightly as Harper walks away.
I sigh my mind still a mixture of emotion from the visit to Trudie, I step into Stefan's room studying it carefully. I had left Elena with Stefan downstairs but really I had come to make sure Damon was alright, Stefan had directed me to where he was. "Damon," I call out. Damon walks out of the bathroom shirtless and I sigh, "You look um," I mutter struggling to find the words since I'd never seen Damon like this.
"Dashing? Gorgeous? Irresistible?" Damon questions walking towards me until we're almost touching, I glare at him pushing him away, "Wrecked actually, didn't I tell you not to appear shirtless in front of me," I remind him.
Damon shrugs, "Forgot. Do you know that I'm one of Mystic Falls most eligible bachelors?" he questions me.
I burst into laughter at the mere thought Damon frowns at me, "I'm sorry, sorry, I can see that," I say, trying to control my laughter. The truth was I just wanted to smile, "How are you?" I ask.
"Never better," he says giving me a look.
He throws a shirt on, "What can I do for you? I'm a barrel of favours for the Forbes family today, its my newfound purpose," he tells me sarcastically.
I sigh, "Elena was meeting Stefan and I wanted to make sure you're okay," I tell him truthfully.
"Well I'm fine," Damon assures, me struggling with his buttons, "help a guy out won't you?" Damon questions me.
I roll my eyes, "It better not be an excuse to get me close to you," I snap jokingly as I begin to button his shirt. "So Elena and I found out we're cousins, we found our birthmothers, they were twins," I tell him, frowning as I think back to my day.
"Who cares?" Damon questions and I look up at him feeling hurt I had done all this caring about him and he didn't care about me, "she left you, she sucks," Damon clarifies.
"Well I thought that to," I mutter finishing the last button, "but I'm not so sure anymore."
"Uh, I need a bigger jacket," Damon declares as I see Stefan and Elena walk into the room, "an occasional sorority girl, you know might help me fill out a little bit," Damon says throwing the jacket on the bed as he walks out.
I frown at the both of them, "He'll be fine," I decide.
"He's Damon," Stefan agrees.
Elena creases her brows, "Maybe this heartache will be good for him, it'll remind him he has one, even if it doesn't beat," Elena comments.
"Won't hold my breath," Stefan says as we all laugh.
"So we went to see Trudie Peterson," Elena tells Stefan as his face loses its smile.
"We didn't plan it," I tell Stefan.
"How was it?" he asks us concerned.
"She has vervain, she knows about vampire stuff, it can't be a coincidence," Elena explains to him.
"It isn't, this is Alaric's wife," Stefan says handing Elena a photo I peer over her shoulder to look at it.
"This is her? This is Isobel. He gave this to you?" Elena questions.
"Everything he knows about vampires, he learned from her. He believed she was killed by one," Stefan informs us, I gasp.
"Oh my god," Elena exclaims.
"Listen Elena there's a lot about Isobel that Alaric can tell you, but I need you to hold off for a little while before you talk to him," Stefan asks her.
"Why?" Elena questions.
"I know that it's a lot to ask, but will you do that for me?" Stefan repeats. Elena nods as Stefan turns to me, "And you?" he asks.
I shrug, "She's dead," I say simply, walking past as I try to fight the tears that are beginning to fall.
"Tickets are now on sale. All proceeds benefit the annual Founder's Day celebration," Carol Lockwood announces from on stage.
"That's a good look for you," Jenna comments as she walks up to Alaric who has a drink in hand.
"What? Embarrassed and uncomfortable?" Alaric questions.
"Yep that's the one," Jenna confirms, smiling.
"Hey look um I'm sorry about earlier, it was kind of a shock," Alaric tells her.
Jenna shakes her head, "No I'm sorry for dropping it on you, but I felt like you should know," Jenna admits.
"No, I get it," Alaric assures her.
"At some point maybe you and Elena should talk. I'm sure she'd like to hear about Isobel," Jenna suggests.
"Yeah," Alaric mutters sounding as if he doesn't want to at all.
"Or not, no pressure," Jenna tells him, sensing it.
"I don't know if that's a good idea, at least not for a while," Alaric admits. Jenna nods in understanding.
"Where'd our girls go?" Damon asks Stefan as he walks downstairs.
"They've gone to the Grill. I, uh, wanted to talk to you," Stefan says, pulling out the picture of Isobel and handing it to Damon who looks down at it smug, "this is the woman Isobel from North Carolina. Remember her now?"
"Who wants to know?" Damon questions his brother.
"I do," Stefan claims.
"Who else wants to know?" Damon asks.
"Did you kill her?" Stefan questions seriously.
"Sorry don't know her," Damon lies walking past Stefan, "hey are you coming the real housewives of Mystic Falls await."
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Daniel comments taking a seat across from me at the grill.
I give him a small smile, "Why are we here?" I question, I was looking forward to dinner at Daniel's.
Daniel shrugs, "Mum decided she wanted to support the founders," Daniel tells me lightly.
"She brought a ticket?" I ask laughing.
Daniel laughs as well, "Its too weird, but hey whatever," he admits, "but seriously tell me what's wrong, I'm worried about you."
"I found my real mom, actually Elena and I are cousins our mothers are twins. Daniel she sorted out her life for me she was going to find me, and then she went missing," I confess, feeling tears brim my eyes.
Daniel looks at me, "I'm sorry Elouise, that sucks," he admits.
I shake my head, "I wish I had never been talked into looking, I could have lived in blissful ignorance," I say to him sadly.
"Yeah and then you'd never know Elena was your cousin, which would suck, after all this time you found your real family," Daniel reminds me looking over to where Elena stands with Caroline and Matt.
I grin, "I know its just its like all the times she's been nice to me finally make sense, maybe we always knew," I muse to myself.
Daniel laughs, "Lets not get to ahead of ourselves," he says.
"He's already been hit on, like, 35 times, he's total cougar bait," Caroline informs Elena from where they stand.
"Impressive," Elena comments smiling.
"More like embarrassing," Matt corrects her.
Caroline laughs as she spots Kelly enter the Grill, "Hi Mrs Donovan," she greets her cheerfully.
Kelly gives her a distasteful look, "Elena honey," Kelly smiles seeing Elena.
"Hi, Kelly," Elena greets her as they hug.
"Long time, no see," she comments as they come apart.
"How are you doing?" Elena asks sincerely.
"Oh, same old, Matty tells me you broke his heart," she says to her.
"Mom," Matt hisses.
"Just kidding, calm down, he found his rebound girl," Kelly tells them, looking over at Caroline. "Oh there you go sweetheart, however many that will buy," Kelly says dismissively handing Caroline some money. "I just hope I don't get Bachelor 3. I dated him in high school, not impressive in any way," Kelly comments causing Matt to look down embarrassed. Caroline hands Kelly her tickets, "Very exciting," she says as she takes them walking away.
"I've got the big date planned. It's a romantic dinner, secluded spot somewhere woodsy," Damon tells Carol as they talk.
"You're making me think I should buy a ticket," Carol says smiling.
"Well, you are in charge, you could always rig it," Damon suggests with a sly smirk. "Pardon me," Damon says spotting Liz, rubbing Carol's arm he leaves her walking over to Liz.
"I ran the check on the history teacher, you want this before or after you big debut?" Liz questions Damon.
"How's it look?" Damon asks her. Liz hands Damon a folder as he searches through it.
"He checks out. Couple of speeding tickets. It's a rough story, though. Turns out his wife went missing a few years back in North Carolina," Liz explains.
Damon glances up at this, "North Caroline, she have a name?" he questions.
"Yeah Isobel," Liz tells him, flipping back to the page that held her picture.
"Isobel," Damon mumurs, looking over at Alaric with a smirk on his face.
"And what do you do Bachelor number 3?" Carol questions as the bachelors are being introduced on stage. I watch them with disinterest, rolling my eyes at Daniel.
"I'm never going to be into this," I promise him.
"Yeah I'm a plumber," Bachelor three replies.
"Well isn't that wonderful? We could always use more plumbers," Carol comments and I fight the urge to laugh, "moving on. Number 4, Alaric Saltzman, wow, that's quite a mouthful. What do you do, Alaric?" Carol questions.
"I'm a teacher at Mystic Falls High School," Alaric replies.
"Oh beauty and brains, ladies. This one's a keeper," Carol declares causing me to burst into laughter, "what do you teach?"
"History," Alaric answers simply.
"History. Oh well give us a fun fact about Mystic Falls, something crazy," Carol encourages him.
I watch Alaric turn to Damon who places his hand to his ear, "Uh well," Alaric stutters.
Carol takes the microphone from him, "He's probably saving the best stories for his date," she tells the audience moving down the line, "and last but not least, Damon Salvatore. We don't have much on you."
"Well I'm tough to fit on a card," Damon tells her smirking causing me to roll my eyes.
"Do you have any hobbies, like to travel?" Carol questions curiously.
"Oh yeah. L.A, New York. Couple of years ago, I was in North Carolina. Near the Duke campus, actually. I think Alaric went to school there, didn't you Ric?" Damon questions Alaric and I wonder what he's up to. "Yeah cause I know your wife did," my eyes widen at his words a churning feeling beginning in my stomach, "I had a drink with her once. She was a great girl. I ever tell you that? Cause she was delicious," Damon says as I watch him in horror.
"Elouise, are you alright?" Daniel questions concerned.
"I need to go, get air," I mutter, forcing my way out of the packed Grill.
I spot Elena as I walk out, "Elouise, Elena," Stefan calls walking up to us.
"He killed her? Damon was the vampire who killed her?" Elena asks the hurt present in her voice.
I just couldn't believe he rubbed it in Alaric's face, "I don't know what happened. Alaric said they never found the body," Stefan explains.
"Oh my god, Stefan," Elena exclaims.
"I'm sorry I wanted to tell you, but I wanted to know more," Stefan admits to us.
I shake my head in anger, "I was feeling sorry for him, I actually fooled myself into thinking this Katherine and Rose thing would change him, how could I have been so stupid," I berate myself.
"He doesn't know about the connection to either of you, I thought about confronting him, but he's already on edge," Stefan tells us.
"Why are you protecting him?" I hiss at Stefan.
"Because Elouise, you're not the only one hoping that he might actually change," Stefan confesses.
I shake my head looking at Elena's eyes full of tears, my eyes catching something else, "That man," I point to the man I had seen earlier had Trudie's, "he was outside of Trudie's."
Elena nods in recognition, "Get back inside, come on," Stefan encourages us, pushing Elena and me towards the door.
"And bachelor number 3 goes to 37458," Carol announces.
"That's me," Kelly declares no excitement found in her voice.
"Ah Kelly Donovan lovely," Carol comments as Kelly takes the ticket from Carol, "you and the plumber should have so much fun."
"Congratulations Mrs Donovan," Caroline says smiling as Kelly comes to claim her prize.
"Ok, just stop. Stop trying so hard. This thing you're doing, this nice thing, its fake. Like you. Like your mom. And for some reason Matt fell for it, but that doesn't mean I will. I don't like you ok?" Kelly snaps at Caroline, "so tell plumber boy I'll be at the bar."
"Okay," Caroline says weakly, deeply hurt by her words.
I follow Elena back into the grill my eyes on the ground in front of me as I try to process everything I just learnt. My mind is so caught up I don't even notice running into Damon. "Whoa, easy there," Damon comments smirking as I step back, "if you wanted a ticket, I would have brought you one," Damon says winking at me.
"You make me sick," I hiss angry, "did you enjoy rubbing it into Alaric Saltzman's face?"
"What?" Damon questions genuinely confused.
"You know just when I thought that there was something redeemable in you, but you showed me I won't make that mistake ever again," I assure him unable to control my anger.
"Elouise," Stefan warns from behind me.
Damon looks from the two of us, "Am I missing something here?"
"Did I forget to mention when we were talking about my birthmother and Elena's you know the one that gave me up? Her name was Olivia and her twin was Isobel, why don't you go and reminisce about how you killed her," I growl at her marching past him hitting his shoulder as I went.
"Are you alright?" Stefan asks me as I storm outside happy to be in the fresh air. To think only this morning I was looking forward to the day ahead what I fool I had been.
"No, I'm not alright, my birth mother's dead, Damon killed Elena's my aunt. I'm not even in the neighbourhood of alright," I admit, tears beginning to fall as Elena walks out.
"We'll get you home," she promises hugging me. My eyes widen in fear when I see the man from earlier, Stefan steps in front of us.
"I have a message for the two of you," he announces.
"What?" I question confused.
"Stop looking," he announces the message.
"Stop looking for what?" Elena asks as confused as me.
"They don't want to know you, they don't want to talk to you," he informs us.
"Isobel?" Elena questions just as I say Olivia.
"You need to stop looking. Do you understand?" he repeats.
"They're alive," I murmur in disbelief.
"Does that mean they're," Elena starts moving closer before Stefan stops her.
"He's under compulsion," he tells us.
"Do you understand," he repeats again.
"Yes," I whisper as Elena does the same.
"Good," the man says looking down the street, "then I'm done." He steps backwards into the road as large truck beeps it horn before running over to him. I scream in shock and horror, running it to the middle of the street. Everything around me is a mess as people yell, my eyes catch a phone I grab it stuffing it into my pocket before anyone can see. "Let's get out of here," Stefan tells me and Elena pulling us away.
"37649," Carol calls out the number of the next ticket. Jenna raises her hand, "That's me," she says excitedly.
"Congratulations," Carol says smiling as Jenna walks up taking her ticket.
"And Bachelor Number 5, Damon Salvatore," she declares pulling out a ticket, "37552." "Would you look at that? 37552 what are the chances me," Carol announces, searching for Damon, "where'd he go?"
"I'll call you later," Alaric tells Jenna as he begins to leave.
Flashback
Alaric sits on the edge of the bed as Isobel paces in front of him. "I think its time to let this vampire crap go. I mean, the research, the trips, its become an obsession," Alaric tells his wife.
"Well, this is important to me, Ric," Isobel informs him.
"Why? Why is it so important? Explain to me. I mean make me understand," Alaric begs her, "I mean what's the point of this? You don't want kids. You're barely ever home, I just want us to be normal people."
Isobel sighs heavily, "Maybe I don't want to, maybe I want more," she admits.
"Here we go home sweet home," Matt declares as him and Kelly arrive at home.
"Wait why are we back here, I wasn't ready to leave," Kelly slurs tiredly.
"Yeah you were mom," Matt tells her leading her inside to the sofa before taking a seat next to her.
"You're the best Matty," Kelly informs him smiling.
"I know," Matt mutters.
"I'm sorry, I was gone so long," she whispers.
"Why are you really home, mom?" Matt questions her.
"It's Pete, he's gone," she confesses, "and its all my fault. I did it. I always do."
"No you didn't mom, its not your fault," Matt assures her.
"You're all I have left, please don't leave me," Kelly pleads with her son.
"I'm not going anywhere," he promises. Kelly touches Matt's face smiling, laying her head back on a pillow as Matt puts a blanket over her.
Damon makes his across the parlor making a drink as Alaric walks in quietly stake in hand. "Are you really this stupid?" Damon asks him, pouring his drink before turning to face Alaric who stands behind him. Damon sips his drink placing it down before rushing at Alaric throwing him across the room.
Alaric lands heavily on the floor but is soon back up again, "You going to put down the stake?" Damon questions him. Alaric remains stake in hand ready to attack, "Wow, that's courage," Damon comments.
"Where's Isobel, what have you done to my wife?" Alaric demands as Damon walks toward him.
"You want me to tell you I killed her? Would that make you happy? Because I think you know what happened," Damon tells him.
"I saw you feeding on her," Alaric argues unable to accept the truth.
"Yeah, I did, and I wasn't lying she was delicious," Damon says to him smirking as Alaric runs towards him. Damon hits Alaric in the stomach and Alaric kneels over falling on the floor.
"Oh come on, what do you think happened? Not an inkling? Never considered the possibility?" Damon teases Alaric, "I turned her," he clarifies.
"Why?" Alaric rasps.
"She came to me, all pathetic looking for vampires. There was something about her, something I liked. There was something special," Damon explains to Alaric.
"You turned her because you liked her?" Alaric asks in disbelief.
"No, I slept with her because I liked her. I turned her because she begged me to. Yeah, but you knew that too didn't you? Hmm I guess she wasn't happy at home, wasn't happy with life in general, wasn't happy with you," Damon comments. Alaric rushes at Damon again in anger, but Damon grabs the stake, stabbing him in the chest, Alaric yells in pain. "Ah this is a shame, we're kindred spirits, abandoned by the women we love. Unrequited love sucks," Damon declares pulling the stake out of Alaric as he wheezes. "Sounds like I got a lung, which means I get to sit here and watch you die," Damon tells him tossing him on the floor. Alaric gasps for air, placing his hand on the wound. Damon throws the stake on the ground, grabbing his drink as he sits on the sofa watching Alaric take his last breath before he dies. Damon takes a drink from his glass looking at the dead body in front of him as Stefan walks in.
He spots Alaric rushing over to the body checking for a pulse, "What happened? What did you do?" Stefan questions Damon.
"Do what? He attacked me," Damon argues.
"Damon," Stefan says looking at his brother.
"All I did was tell the truth. His wife didn't want him anymore, its not my fault he couldn't handle it," Damon says simply.
"Like you've been handling Katherine and Rose?" Stefan retorts.
"I'm handling it fine. You know what? Isobel came to me. She found me. And if she's related to Elena and Elouise that means she's related to Katherine and Rose, maybe they sent her to me," Damon muses.
"Stop it, you don't have to keep looking," Stefan tells his brother desperately.
"Can't be a coincidence Isobel sought me out, can't," he repeats pointing to Alaric, "I'll assume you'll take care of this." Damon gets up leaving as Stefan tiredly sits beside Alaric's body. Stefan sees Alaric's fingers twitch, he furrows his brows leaning over Alaric. Suddenly Alaric eyes open gasping as he comes back to life.
"What happened? What's going on?" he questions confused seeing Stefan.
"You were just, did Damon turn you?" Stefan asks just as confused.
"No I went for him and he stabbed me," Alaric recounts.
"No, no, no you must have vampire blood in your system, someone must have slipped it to you," Stefan declares.
Alaric looks down at his fingers flexing them, "No its something else," he mutters.
"Then how?" Stefan questions him. Alaric looks down at the ring on his hand, "Isobel," he explains.
Flashback
"Surprise gifts aren't fair. I always feel bad for not getting you something," Alaric protests holding a small box in his hand as him and Isobel sit on the bed.
"Just open it," Isobel encourages him, grinning.
Alaric opens the box, laughing when he sees the ring, "Oh that's a giant piece of jewelry," he comments, taking out the ring to examine it.
"I know its ridiculous, just tell people it's a family heirloom, nobody questions that," Isobel tells him.
"Where'd you get this?" Alaric asks her.
"If I told you you'd laugh. But promise me you'll always wear it," Isobel pleads with him, "it'll protect you from all the things that go bump in the night."
"A ring to ward off the demons," Alaric jokes.
"Consider it a token of my love, my affection, and if nothing else, an apology for being so crazy," Isobel tells him smiling.
"Well, you are definitely crazy," Alaric agrees slipping it on his finger.
"I'm selfish, I'm obsessed, I'm a horrible wife, but you love me anyway," Isobel comments.
"Yes I do," Alaric agrees.
"This ring protected me," Alaric explains to Stefan.
"That's impossible," Stefan claims.
"I know," Alaric agrees, looking down at it.
I lay down on my bed studying a picture of mum, dad, me and Caroline, it was taken before I knew they weren't my real parents. I sigh if my real mum was a vampire, was it any better than her being dead. I sigh taking the cell phone I took from the man and dialling the last number.
After a couple of rings someone picks up, "Was there a problem? Did you find them? What's going on?" the voice asks me.
I wonder who it is that answered, "Isobel? Olivia?" I question fearfully. The phone is hung up and I look down at it tearful.
Harper walks toward a house, knocking on the door, "Pearl, its Harper," he calls out.
Pearl and Anna walk to the front door, "I'm glad you found us. Ms Gibbons, this gentleman is a friend of mine," Pearl comments talking to a older lady who comes up behind her.
"May he come in?" she questions her.
Miss Gibbons smiles, "Any friend of Pearl's is a friend of mine, please do, come in," she invites him.
"Annabelle, close the door, please," Pearl asks her daughter. Harper enters the house walking off with Pearl and Miss Gibbons as Anna looks into the woods nervously before shutting the door.
So that was a crazy chapter to write and an especially hard one for Elouise, who goes from thinking her mother's dead to being a vampire...
Kyler1123