So this is my first multi-part story. Please review me. I have a direction for the story and it should go on for quite awhile. I do take long breaks sometimes. I'm still trying to figure out if short chapters work better or long chapters
Chapter 6 – The Transition
These characters are based on 'The Vampire Diaries". I own none of the characters in this fan fiction.
Elena's POV
I woke up feeling the light, that in between state where you can see the light through your eyelids. I absently threw my hand to the right and felt nothing. No Damon. I kept my eyes closed for a few minutes longer enjoying the warmth of the sun pouring through the windows onto the massive bed. It was a soft light, filtered through the black walnut and white oak trees that littered the large property on which the Boarding House was situated. For a minute I almost forgot the last few days and what had transpired. My house burning, Katherine, Damon…Damon. I lingered for a minute thinking of the way he kissed me last night, the way we made love. I've never felt anything like it. He touched every part of my soul and body.
Everything I knew about this man had been challenged in the last weeks. In my head, I knew that I was already in love with him. It was undeniable. I was complete. I used to laugh at people that talked like that, romantic notions of love and soul mates. However, I found myself challenging my own beliefs when it came to Damon. Somewhere in the back of my mind I just knew. I just knew he was the one.
I slowly raised myself up in the bed and looked around blankly, threw the sheet back and draped my legs over the side of the bed. My feet hit the wooden floor and I stood up letting the blood flow through my body. I wandered through the bedroom door and then down the stairs until I found the kitchen. Damon was sitting on a stool at drinking a glass of scotch and reading a newspaper. I walked up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist from behind.
"Mmmmm good morning Elenaaaa, "the words sang from his lips. He turned around, his blue eyes shining bright. "And how did you sleep?" He smiled down at me with that devastating gorgeous smile of his.
"Too good," I responded. "It took me a minute to remember that I'm being chased by a homicidal vampire with an affinity for torture that happens to look exactly like me. But," I smiled back, "I'm happy and I can't stop thinking about last night."
He looked at me for a minute, something on the very tip of his tongue. However, I could see the thought get swallowed back as he opted not to say whatever it was that was on his mind. He flashed his smile, leaned down and kissed me softly. As he drew back he motioned to a stool beside him, in front of which sat a perfectly arranged plate of fruit, a poached egg and a glass of orange juice. As I straddled the stool, he asked "Coffee?"
I nodded lazily, feeling the last couple of days washing over my body along with a ravenous hunger. I began to dig into the fruit. It was sweet and cold. It seemed to rehydrate my body with every taste. Damon sat a steaming cup of coffee in front of me and we sat there, me eating and him chattering away about the news in Mystic Falls. It was a scene straight out of Norman Rockwell magazine cover. The world melted into the distance.
After an hour or so, Damon pulled himself up and went to take a shower. I decided to call my brother and Jenna. They must be racked with worry. The phone at the Lake House rang. Jenna picked up on the other end…"Hello." She said tentatively.
"Jenna, its Elena"
"Elena! Where have you been? We have been calling everywhere. The house burnt down Elena. I'm really sorry. I don't know what happened. I can't remember. "She sounded half angry and half worried.
"Jenna…I'm sorry" I stammered. "I got caught up and went to Caroline's. "I was so upset from the trauma that I ended up sleeping for almost 24 hours. I'm sorry I should have called."
"Well I'm glad you are okay." I could hear her voice start to relax.
"How is Jeremy?" I asked like it was any other day.
"He's fine; he's in the living room, playing a video game. Are you coming here? I think you should come here." She was not really asking.
"Jenna, I know this doesn't make sense, but I need to stay here for a little while. I promise I will explain everything when I see you. Just please don't worry. I will call more I promise."
"Elena, are you okay?" her voice kind of quivered like she knew there was more to the story.
"Yes, I'm fine." I said in the most confident voice I could muster.
"Okay." She finally relented. "Just call me every day and let me know that you are okay."
Damon's POV
I stepped out of the shower and listened. I could hear Elena on her phone with someone chatting away. Despite everything she seemed to be in a very relaxed state of mind which was a bonus. At least I didn't have to worry about her taking off again.
I dried off and pulled on a dark blue John Varvatos t-shirt and jeans. I pulled on my socks and motorcycle boots and walked out of the door to my bedroom. Just as I got to the foot of the stairs, I heard the doorbell. Elena peaked out of the kitchen. I motioned to her to get back out of sight.
Standing at the door was a rather tall man, at least 5'11" with light blue eyes and sandy blonde hair. He smiled at me. "Hello mate. I was wondering if I could have a minute of your time." His smile was beyond confident and he stared through me. Confident or cocky I considered as I looked at him.
"And you are?" I asked sarcastically.
"I'm Klaus Mikealson. I heard you are having a little problem with a mutual friend of ours Katherine Pierce or Katerina Petrova as I know her."
I raised my eyebrow. "And how does that pertain to you?"
"Look mate, be a gent and invite me in and I will tell you all about it." His voice trailed off as if there was much more to the story.
I moved aside backing up enough to let him pass.
He walked into the living room and sat down on the leather sofa turning to watch me as I approached the opposite side. "So Klaus, you are a friend of Katherine's?"
"Well, that is subjective. Katerina and I have been missing each other for about 500 years. " He arched his eyebrow as he talked. "Katerina was very special to me and then she betrayed me and ran away. I don't take kindly to people who betray me so I have been looking for her for a very long time. I was in Europe when I got word that Katerina was in Virginia spying on a certain brother of a slightly unhinged vampire. So, "he continued "I followed her here and here we are." He said as he raised his forearms up.
"And, so that affects me how?" I lowered my stare to meet his.
"Well Damon," he spoke slowly. "It affects you because Katerina is older than you and it would be difficult, say almost impossible for you to kill her. However, if we work together I'm willing to help you and then we both get what we want. It's very simple really. You get rid of your problem. I get Katerina. Everyone is happy."
As he finished his statement, Elena walked into the room. I looked up…shit. Klaus looked up; the shock in his eyes was easy to register. "Hello" he said in a very charming English accent. "I'm Klaus and you are?"
"She is…just getting ready to go upstairs." I finished before she could say anything. She looked at me confused, but I could see that somehow she understood not say her name. She excused herself and walked towards the staircase.
Klaus's eyes widened. "Well, well. That was unexpected." He smiled a half crooked smile. He studied me waiting for something.
"So let me get this straight. You want to just help us. Nothing in return. Why should I believe that? There's always a price. What do you want? Why are you here?" I stated as I looked at him with my jaw set as stern as possible.
"Well…" he said as he stared off at the staircase. "I didn't say I don't want anything. There is a stone in Katerina's possession that I want. It is of no monetary value; however it's important to me."
I narrowed my eyes in his direction. "And what does this stone do?"
"Nothing that is of consequence to you mate. Let's just say I need it." He fired back.
"Mmmm hmmm." I muttered.
"Well mate. I'm going to leave you now to ponder your situation." He rose from the sofa and looked at me with a brilliant smile and walked towards the door. I got up and followed him to the door and closed it as he departed.
Elena came bouncing down the stairs as soon as the door closed.
"Who was that?" she demanded.
"A problem" I said.
"Great" she grimaced. "Just what we need, another problem."
I smiled at her, my mind swirling around how to deal with the latest entry into our lives. Klaus, or Niklaus as I've heard him referred to as, was an original vampire. Original vampires are a problem. They are problem because they are lethal, ruthless and virtually unbeatable. Whatever angle Klaus was playing, it wasn't good, that was for sure.
I headed to the basement to check on Stefan. He was lying in a heap on the floor. The dirt from the floor covering him like a blanket. "Stefan…are you awake?" I talked through the barred window.
"Go away Damon" he coughed out.
"Stefan I have something for you." I tossed a vial of animal blood through the tiny barred window in the door. "Come on Stefan. You know this is necessary."
"Go away Damon" he repeated and he dragged himself towards the vial.
"Okay" I rolled my eyes and walked away towards the stairs. As I reached the door, I could see Elena leaning against the wall waiting for me. I shook my head and headed down the hallway. Not really knowing what to say.
"Damon" she said impatiently. "I need to know what is going on. Who is that? What did he want? And why are you scared of him?"
I laughed. "I'm not scared of him."
"Who is it?" She demanded.
"Elena, look, all vampires are descendant from a single family of vampires called Originals. It's been largely legend…" I continued as I walked into the living room and poured a drink. "I have heard rumors of this family. The Mikealson's. They are rumored to be very powerful and virtually unbeatable. I think that guy," I motioned my eyes towards the door, "was Klaus Mikaelson. He's looking for Katherine, which happens to coincide perfectly with our need to kill her right now," he continued, "but given his very obvious interest in you, I'm not ready to rush into an alliance with an original vampire."
"But he could kill Katherine." Her voice trailed off as if trying to weigh the choice.
"Yes, Elena, he could." I drank down the whiskey and walked over to her. I put my hand underneath her chin and pulled her head up to look at me. "I need you to trust me and let me figure this out Elena. Can you do that?"
She nodded. I leaned down and kissed her beautiful mouth. "Thank you" I whispered as I drew her close to my chest and just held her there, suspended in the moment.
She withdrew and looked at me. "Okay, I'm going to take a bath." She smiled and turned towards the stairs.
What the hell was I going to do? While Klaus's offer was intriguing, I didn't trust him. He was hiding something. I needed help. I couldn't take on Katherine alone, let alone Klaus. However, I thought to myself, Klaus had mentioned that Katherine had been running for 500 years so with Klaus in town, Elena was safe from Katherine, but how safe was she from Klaus? His eyes lit up when Elena had walked into the room. And what was the stone Klaus was so interested in? The questions were piling up as I considered my position. Suddenly my phone rang. I looked down. Blondie?
"Yes blondie?"
"Damon!" Her voice was panicked. "Damon I don't know what to do!"
"Calm down. What is wrong?" I said in a slightly irritated tone.
"I woke up in the hospital. The sun is really bright. I'm really hungry. I don't know. Elena came to see me last night. Wait…" she continued on her panicked state. "Elena came to see me last night, and it doesn't make any sense, but she said to tell you ..game on. I don't know what that means Damon and I don't know what is going on. And she fed me her blood and then I don't remember anything…" She was practically in tears at this point.
"What?" I said into the phone. I rolled my eyes to a resting position on the ceiling. "Katherine!" I hissed. "Okay listen. I need you to stay put. Elena and I are going to come get you. Stay there! Do you understand?"
I took the steps two at a time. Elena was just drying off. "Elena, we have to go." I grabbed her jacket and threw it in her direction as she pulled on her jeans and a tshirt.
"What's wrong?" she asked in a trembling voice. She knew something was wrong.
"Elena." I walked over to her and gently grabbed her by the shoulders. "Listen to me. We have to go. We are going to see your best friend Caroline. She is okay, but we have to go now."
We got in the car and headed towards the hospital. I had no idea why Caroline was in the hospital to begin with. She must have checked in after the car accident.
"Elena, look I need to prepare you for this. I think, I'm not sure, but I think Katherine turned Caroline." Her face immediately looked panicked. "If that is true, we need to get her back to the Boarding House before she feeds on someone or worse dies."
Her eyes filled with tears as she listened to me explain the transition process for a vampire. When we pulled into the hospital, she was silent. I grabbed the blood bag on the car seat and put it inside my jacket. I reached over and grabbed her hand.
"Elena. It's going to be okay." I squeezed lightly and smiled a half hearted smile.
We headed through the sliding doors, checked in at the desk and headed up to Caroline's room. She was sitting on the bed in the dark. Elena ran through the door. "Caroline. Are you okay?" she hugged her tightly. Caroline backed away with urgency, her eyes narrowing.
"Whoa Blondie." I walked in and headed straight to Caroline. I looked at her eyes. Yep. Exactly as I thought, definitely transitioning. "Okay, so here is the situation, you are transitioning. It wasn't Elena who came to see you, it was Katherine. She fed you her blood and then she killed you. If you don't drink blood you are going to die." I pulled out the blood bag. "We need to get you out of here though before Katherine comes back or," I smirked "you kill the entire hospital staff. Your choice."
She looked too scared to speak. "Okay" She muttered as she put her hands out flat, moving up and down as if she was trying to calm herself down. "I need to get dressed." She got up, grabbed her clothes and walked towards the bathroom.
Elena just sat there watching the whole thing unfold.
Caroline exited the bathroom looking disheveled for Caroline and looked at us both. "Wellll." She looked at us impatiently.
Okay then. I headed towards the door, holding on to Elena's hand. Caroline followed us, keeping her head down the entire walk through the hospital. We climbed into my car and headed back to the Boarding House, all of us silent the entire way.
Caroline got out of the car and headed into the house without saying a word. Honestly it was the quietest I've ever heard her, or not heard her as the case was. Elena looked at me and half smiled. I could see in her eyes that she was upset. She looked like a lost little girl at that moment. My heart hurt. All I wanted to do was protect her from all of this. I put my arm around her as we walked in after Katherine.
Caroline was sitting on the couch lost in thought. I handed her the blood bag. "Yours to do with what you want Blondie. It's your choice." Elena and I quietly sat on the opposite couch. She looked at me and pulled the cap off. She swallowed the first mouthful slowly as if still contemplating whether to save her own life. Her eyes started to change and the veins popped out as her eyes turned blood red. The hunger hit her and she started gulping the bag down desperately. And that was that. Caroline Forbes was a vampire.