"Buried Secrets 3: Enter The Shadows"
Chapter 2: Let Me Go
Lucy followed Bella up the dimly lit stone steps throughout the castle.
"You scared the hell out of me," Lucy grumbled.
"Serves you right for sneaking in here at night," Bella replied.
"We need to talk," Lucy said.
"I know," Bella replied.
"What do you mean you know?" Lucy asked and then stopped, "Wait a second…"
Bella turned around and smirked as realization crossed Lucy's face.
"You sent for me…you used a witch and implanted those ideas into my head," Lucy said while tapping her skull.
"I had to get you here somehow without being found out," Bella replied.
"Why?" Lucy asked.
"Because Damon and the others are looking for you," Bella said.
"No they're looking for you which is why I've been looking for you…Bella, Elena she…." Lucy started.
"Died with my blood in her system, turned, and is sired to me," Bella said knowingly.
Lucy's eyes widened, "You knew?"
"Not at first, but probably about three days after I left I figured it out." Bella replied shrugging.
"How?" Lucy questioned.
"Dreams…" Bella said, "I saw what was happening through her eyes. It's a mutual connection."
"I found out the day she woke up from death," Lucy said as they entered a room. She sat down, "I went to Duke, took some boxes and tried to cover for you. Angela tried to give you over."
"I know," Bella said as she set the lamp down and grabbed two glasses, "She always planned on doing that one day. Angela is naïve, still is in some ways."
"You were ahead of us all along." Lucy said in awe.
"Not entirely, but I always make sure I have a backup plan." Bella replied and handed Lucy the glass of scotch.
Lucy noticed as she took the glass that Bella's hands were bony and grayish tiny to them. As Bella walked away Lucy realized she hadn't gotten a good look at Bella at all.
"Bella," Lucy narrowed her eyes, "Come closer to the light."
Bella stilled visibly.
"Bella…" Lucy said, drawing out her name.
Bella slowly turned around and came into the light. Lucy gasped at Bella's appearance.
"Holy shit," Lucy whispered, "You look….."
"Like death," Bella guessed. "Haven't really had the chance to feed and there aren't that many supernatural beings around here."
"You're killing yourself," Lucy said angrily before she took off her jacket. She then held out her wrist, "Come on."
"Lucy it's been weeks, and I've only drank once," Bella warned.
"If you don't drink you're not gonna last much longer." Lucy argued, "Now do it or I lift the spell I have that's blocking Angela and Bonnie."
Bella quickly bit into Lucy's wrist and started drinking. The warm liquid slid down her throat and suddenly her body started to come alive. Her nerves started sparking, her heart rate picked up, and as her body started to recover, she started to bite down harder.
"Not so rough," Lucy said shakily as she started to feel lightheaded, "Bella that's enough."
Bella didn't let go, she bit down harder.
"Bella let go," Lucy said as she tried to struggle, but Bella held her in place.
"Bella," Lucy said before she passed out.
.*.*.*.*.*.
When Lucy woke up it was daylight and Bella was standing at the window, looking out.
"Bella," she said while trying to sit up.
"Don't," Bella said, not looking at her, "Don't get up."
"What happened?" Lucy asked.
"I nearly drained you," Bella said, her voice tight.
Bella turned to look at Lucy and Lucy saw that though Bella looked better than before, she was still obviously weak and no doubt hungry.
"You did a stupid thing," Bella walked towards her, "I could have killed you."
"I'm tougher than I look," Lucy said.
Bella handed her a glass of orange juice, "Drink this, it will help."
"You need to feed some more," Lucy said after taking the glass; her hands shaking. She took a sip, "There's a group of gypsies in town…"
"I can't risk it," Bella said while shaking her head.
"Bella you can't keep doing this," Lucy said earnestly, "If you plan on staying hidden you have to feed."
"Last thing I need is a bunch of pissed off gypsies." Bella growled.
"Well then lucky for you I happen to know them," Lucy said and Bella's eyes snapped to her wide with surprise, "They happen to be my cousins and keepers of the balance. They'll help you with no expectations."
"They won't come here and I can't go out there," Bella said frustrated, "I can't risk it."
"Well good thing I told them I was coming here and if I didn't come back they were coming here to find me tonight," Lucy said.
Bella shook her head and chuckled, "I'm a bad influence on you."
Lucy smiled, "Yeah well I kind of like your way of thinking."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Twelve hours later the gypsies had arrived and Bella had fed, restoring her strength. Lucy came down and saw that her cousins were ready to leave.
"You staying here long?" Lucy asked.
"You know I can't tell you," Bella said.
Lucy nodded, "I've got something for you…something that might help with the sire bond." She said.
Bella shook her head, "Keep it," she said, "I already know everything about it. Just watch yourself. If they figure out you know, they'll come looking for you."
"She'll be protected," one of the gypsies said with a thick Romanian accent. She pressed something into Bella's hand. "Fie ca spiritele grijă de tine și te ghida in calatoria ta. Mă rog nu ne vom întâlni din nou."
[May the spirits protect and guide you on your journey. I pray to them that we do not meet again].
"What did she say?" Lucy asked, "My Romanian is off."
"She blessed me, asking the spirits to watch over me and guide me. Then she said she hopes we do not meet again." Bella said with a chuckle before she looked at the old gypsy woman, "Vă mulțumim pentru sacrificiul de sânge și binecuvântarea ta. Voi onora dorința dumneavoastră și am jurat că nu vom întâlni din nou.
[Thank you for your sacrifice of blood and your blessing. I will honor your wish and I swear we will not meet again].
"What did you just say?" Lucy asked.
"I thanked her for her sacrifice and blessing and vowed we won't meet again." Bella replied.
"One of these days I'm going to have to take some lessons from you." Lucy mumbled.
"You better go with them," Bella said, "They don't want to be here any longer."
Lucy hugged Bella tightly, "Watch yourself." She said, "Angela and the others they won't stop."
"I know," Bella said, hugging her back, "You watch your back though."
Lucy and the gypsies departed and Bella walked back inside the castle. She knew she had to get moving soon.
She took out a map and the coin the old gypsy had given her. She tossed it into the air above the map and let it fall. She looked underneath the coin to see where it had landed and smiled.
"Budapest," Bella mused, "Now that's somewhere I haven't been before."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Damn it," Angela said as she slammed the crystal down onto the table, "Not one freaking hit on Lucy. She's good, but she's not that good."
"So she's having help," Elena said, wanting to clarify.
"If Bonnie and I together can't track her then that means she is having major help." Angela replied angrily.
"Who else does she know in the witch world?" Caroline asked.
"No one that's the thing," Angela replied while rubbing her temples, "Lucy is a contract witch. She has no loyalty to any coven or anyone."
"Except Bella," Bonnie pointed out. "Why is that?"
"I don't know," Angela said, "Lucy and Bella met a few years back and that's all I know."
"Seems like Bella kept more secrets from you than you even knew," Tyler said. "Maybe we should take the Mikelson's up on their offer and join forces."
"No," Stefan said, "We can't do that." He leaned forward and ran his hand through his hair, "What about any witches you might know that have a connection to Bella?"
Angela shook her head, "No," she replied, "I know Bella knows witches, but I don't know any of them."
"We need to use me," Elena said quietly, "We need to use what I can do."
"Elena we've tried that already and it hasn't worked." Bonnie said softly.
"We've tried it once and it did work. We were just a little behind her." Elena defended.
"We don't have any books or any idea on how to use this bond you have with her." Angela said. "Elena I know you want to help, but we can't limit ourselves to that bond."
Elena stood up and stalked out of the room and onto the back patio where Damon was drinking from the flask. He handed it to Elena, who took it and took a big swig of it.
Silence followed them for several minutes as Elena fumed at the fact that they weren't willing to use Elena's ability. Then again they had a point in that it wasn't reliable.
"Elena," Damon said quietly, "Come with me to the woods."
He blurred and Elena followed him.
"What Damon?" Elena asked, "I don't want to hear any more of your pity party crap."
"Do you think you can do it?" Damon asked while looking at her seriously, "Do you think you can track her?"
"Damon," Elena sighed, "You heard them, they're probably right."
"What they are doing is not working," Damon said through clenched teeth, "You have a direct line to her…sure it's a little off, but at least it's something."
"I don't even know how to use it," Elena threw her hands in the air in frustration.
"Maybe it's because you aren't focusing," Damon said, "Look all vampire abilities rely on one thing….our focus, our ability to tune out everything else and concentrate."
"So what, you want me to meditate?" Elena said sarcastically. "Find my zen."
Damon chuckled, "You sound like her." He said, "Look just try and try and try. Our abilities are like muscles too, they get stronger as we exercise them."
"Now you sound like Bella," Elena retorted.
She sighed and sat down on the ground before crossing her legs.
"What are you doing?" Damon asked.
"Taking your advice, now leave," Elena said, annoyed, "I can't concentrate with you around staring at me like some sort of experiment."
Damon bowed deeply and blurred away.
Elena took in a deep breath and closed her eyes as she attempted to focus.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Three Days Later:
"This is ridiculous," Elena shouted into the woods before she stood up and punched her fist through a tree, "God why did I ever listen to Damon. He's drunk most of the time."
Elena continued to hit various things in the woods until she came to the spot where she and Bella had trained one day.
*Flashback*
"Focus," Bella said as Elena went to stake her.
"You're not focusing," Bella chastised when Elena missed again and was thrown to the ground by Bella.
"I'm not like you, I'm just human," Elena snapped angrily. "I don't have the extra gifts you do."
"You don't need extra gifts Elena. You only need a few things." Bella replied.
"What is that?" Elena asked; her annoyance was evident.
"Determination, patience, and a clear mind." Bella replied, "Close your eyes."
Elena rolled her eyes, but did as she was told.
"I want you to breathe…just breathe. Ignore everything else around you for right now just concentrate on your breathing," Bella said and Elena started to, "Force your muscles to relax…let go of all the tension in them." Elena did and suddenly she felt light, almost re-energized. "Now listen," Bella said.
Elena did and she could hear Bella moving around, she felt her when she came close. It was like her body was reacting to Bella's presence. Suddenly her body tensed and Elena quickly turned, pushing the stake into whatever was coming at her. She opened her eyes and saw Bella on the ground with the stake in her gut, bleeding.
"Oh god Bella I'm so sorry," Elena said while stepping back.
Bella just smiled, "Don't be."
"But I…" Elena trailed.
"You did what you were meant to do." Bella said before pulling the stake out. "Elena your body and mind are always on alert. When you stop overthinking you can see that. I'm a predator by nature Elena, you're body knows that, it can sense it. When I came at you, it reacted in the right way to defend itself." She handed Elena the stake back, "Focus, determination and patience." Bella said.
Elena took the stake and looked at Bella, "You think you can take another round?"
*End Flashback*
Elena smiled, "Focus, determination, and patience." She said softly.
Elena sat on the ground and closed her eyes. She took a deep breath and began to let go of everything around her.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Elena opened her eyes and she was sitting on the floor with Klaus' coffin in front of her. She stood up and looked around. She saw Bella standing near the window.
"Elena," Bella said while not looking at her.
"Bella," Elena said, "Oh god you know I'm here."
"I know you're looking for me." Bella sighed, "I don't know how many times I'm going to have this conversation. I know you've found out about the bond, but it won't help you find me." Bella moved away from the window and started to pour herself a drink, "The bond works two ways. I know everything that you've gone through since I've left. It's easier to get into your mind when you're asleep. I'm sorry this happened to you, that you were forced into this life and that you choose to turn because of me."
"I want to help you," Elena pleaded, knowing full well that Bella couldn't hear her.
"Elena this bond we have, you feel like you have to help me, but you don't. I don't want you to help me. I don't want you to help Damon find me. I don't want you to be bound to me for all eternity to not feel as though you have a choice." Bella said, "I've lived that life Elena. I'm living now, but I'm doing it on my terms therefore as your maker, I command you to stop following me."
Elena felt something tug in her.
"You have to live Elena, you have to find a reason for your own eternity and it cannot be me." Bella said, "As your maker I command you to live…live the life you want."
"Bella please," Elena pleaded before dropping to her knees. She felt her chest tightening.
"That tug you feel, the tightening in your chest that's my will, it's forcing you to listen." Bella said sadly, "I promise you Elena this is the only time I will ever do anything against your will, but I promise it is for your own good…for everyone's good. I also promise you Rebekah will answer for what she did to you. Make no mistake of that. Goodbye Elena."
Elena snapped her eyes opened and threw up blood before she passed out.
.*.*.*.*.*.
"Elena," Stefan said; his voice far away.
Elena slowly opened her eyes and found herself surrounded by everyone.
"Elena," Stefan repeated with a worried look on his face.
"I'm alright," Elena said weakly before she sat up.
"Stefan found you in the woods," Bonnie said a bit relieved, "He said you were in a pool of blood. What happened?"
"Bella," Elena said, "She knew I was looking for her…she knows what's been going on."
"How?" Damon asked.
"The bond works both ways," Elena said, "She commanded me to stop following her."
"What?" Angela asked.
"It means Elena can no longer help you," Elijah said after appearing and causing everyone to tense.
"Get out," Caroline hissed.
"No," Angela said, "What do you mean?"
"The sire bond between Elena and Bella is stronger than even Klaus' sire bond to his hybrids," Elijah explained, "She commanded Elena to stop following her which means Elena is no longer useful. If she were to try to break a command from Bella, it would cause great agony."
"Why are you here?" Stefan asked.
"To offer my assistance," Elijah said simply, "I want to find my niece as much as you do. I want her to have the life she never got to have."
"You let Klaus out she never will," Caroline argued.
"I can control Klaus," Elijah said.
"Get out," Elena said quietly and when he didn't move she put more venom behind it, "GET OUT of here. Don't come back, we won't help you so stop asking us to."
"Elena," Stefan said.
"NO," Elena said and stood up, "You want to find Bella, good luck because you won't find her, but if you do I'd watch your back."
"Why is that?" Elijah asked while glaring.
"Think about it," Elena narrowed her eyes, "Now get out."
Elijah left and Stefan caught Elena as she fell. He took her to his room and went to get her something to drink. Damon sat by her side.
"Damon," Elena said weakly, "Bella she's not okay."
"What do you mean?" Damon asked.
"She's not feeding, I can tell." Elena said, "Damon I can't follow her, but you can."
"What?" Damon asked, "But she commanded…"
"She commanded I not follow her," Elena interrupted, "She never said anything about you. I can look for her and you can follow the trail."
"Elena I can't put you in that situation." Damon replied while shaking his head.
"Bella commanded me to do something else…she wants me to live the life I want to do and what I want to do is this." Elena said, breathing hard, "I owe you Damon and I want to see you happy because I care about you."
Elena pulled him close and hugged him.
"Sydney," Elena whispered in a barely audible voice, "That's where I saw her near the theatre, she's probably not there now, but you can pick up the trail and I'll do what I can here."
Damon hugged her back tightly, "Thank you," he whispered and left the room to pack.
.*.*.*.*.*.
For the next few weeks Damon globe trotted as he searched for Bella. He went to Sydney, and then France before Elena sent him to Germany. Now he was in Russia.
"Well?" Elena asked.
"She was here," Damon said, "And recently her scent is still fresh."
"So we're getting closer," Elena said while smiling, "I'll try some more tonight."
"Elena I can't thank you enough for doing this," Damon said before he hung up.
Stefan came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.
"What's wrong?" Elena asked.
"I'm worried about you," Stefan said, "You're looking tired. Maybe you should slow down."
Elena shook her head, "We're close Stefan I can't stop now."
"Elena," Stefan said, turning her to face him, "I know my brother wants to find her and I know you do too, but look at yourself. You haven't fed as much, you're tired all the time, and you're weak." Stefan said while cradling her face in his hands, "She wouldn't want you to do this to yourself."
Elena sighed. She had to admit he was right; she felt so much weaker every time she looked for Bella. It was taking all of her energy.
"Fine," Elena said, "I'll rest tonight, but tomorrow I start back up again."
"Alright," Stefan said before he kissed her.
Elena showered and climbed into bed next to Stefan and quickly fell asleep.
Suddenly she felt herself dreaming and she was in some castle, it was night and there was an eerie feeling in the air. As she walked around it seemed to be the courtyard and she felt herself being watched.
"Who's there?" Elena shouted as she started to panic.
A light chuckle drew her attention to the shadows near the wall.
"What did I tell you about panicking?" Bella asked and stepped out of the shadows. "It can get you killed."
"I'm dreaming," Elena said while shaking her head.
"In a way," Bella smiled and walked towards her, "I told you this bond works both ways. It's just easier to get inside your head when you're asleep. There are fewer barriers and you're more susceptible since you are more relaxed."
"Bella why do you keep running?"
"Because I have to," Bella said, "I commanded you to not look for me."
"No you commanded me to not follow you, you never said anything about not looking," Elena replied while crossing her arms.
Bella shook her head, "True, looks like I rubbed off on you too much."
"You also commanded me to live the life I wanted," Elena added, "I want to find you."
"I know," Bella said, "Which is why I'm here and I'm allowing you to see where I am."
"Which is…" Elena trailed.
"Romania," Bella replied, "Hunedoara castle to be exact."
"The castle Dracula was held prisoner in," Elena clarified.
"I figured it was appropriate and ironic for my prisoner," Bella replied while smiling.
Elena attempted to start waking herself up, but she couldn't.
"It's no use," Bella said, "I'm in control here…I'm stronger now."
"I can see that," Elena said, "You looked horrible."
"Yeah well I've had to stay awake more since you've been looking and when I do fall asleep you get in my head," Bella said while leaning against a wall, "Trying to keep moving and keep you out leaves little time or energy for me to feed."
"Bella…"Elena started.
"No," Bella said sternly, "I brought you here so you can see my side of things. So you will know why you can't follow me and why you have to stop telling Damon where I am." Bella pushed herself off the wall and started up the castle steps with Elena trailing behind her, "I know Elijah and Rebekah have been looking for me and I know they won't stop."
"They just want Klaus," Elena replied.
Bella laughed, "Yeah and when they get him you all die," Bella said.
"What?" Elena asked and froze in her tracks.
Bella turned around and faced her, "Klaus is vengeful; you know that better than anyone other than perhaps Katherine. What did he do to her family?"
"He slaughtered them," Elena said tensing.
Bella nodded, "I'm his daughter, I put him in that coffin."
"We all did," Elena argued.
Bella shook her head, "No in his eyes I did it and he's right. I came up with this plan so how do you think he will hurt me? To him I'm property, I'm his daughter so he will take everyone I care about. That means you, Stefan, Damon, my dad, all of them and he'll torture them, but he'll make me watch. He'll make sure I'm so weak I can't save you and then when you can't take any more of his torture, he'll kill you in front of me." Bella explained her voice becoming tight.
"He's not that demented," Elena said yet she wasn't able to believe that.
"Yes he is," Bella replied, "He told me one thing in that dungeon that has always stuck with me… 'Never go for the kill when you can go for the pain'. Do you know why he said that?" Bella asked and Elena shook her head, "Pain stays with you always. It weighs you down and slowly consumes you if the pain cuts deep enough. He knows how much I care about you, all of you, especially Damon. After he was done he wouldn't kill me instead he would make me relive that pain over and over. I want to come back to Mystic Falls Elena, I want to have a life with Damon and be with my dad. I want to help you understand this life, but I can't because if I do, I'd be signing your own death warrants."
Elena started to cry, "I didn't know Bella," Elena said.
"I know," Bella said before she pulled her in for a hug, "Which is why I came to you. I needed you to understand because I know you will. You were willing to sacrifice yourself for everyone, only you can understand why I'm doing this. You know how important and what it means to do anything to protect those you love."
Elena nodded, "I have to stop helping Damon," She said while wiping her tears away.
"Yes," Bella said, "I promise I'll be watching and I'll come to you, but you have to stop actively looking for me. If Elijah, Rebekah, or Kol found out or anyone looking for Klaus, you'd be in danger."
Elena nodded, "But you're okay."
Bella nodded, "Yeah," she said, "I've got some friends helping." Bella looked at Elena dead in the eye, "Trust me when I say I'm going to be fine and I will be watching out for you, but I need you to watch out for me."
"And to do that I have to stop helping them," Elena stated before she nodded, "Alright."
"Time to wake up," Bella said.
Elena suddenly sat up and took a deep breath.
"Elena," Stefan said, sitting up as well, "Are you okay?"
Elena nodded, "Fine," she said.
"Is it Bella?" Stefan asked and when she didn't answer he called for Angela and then dialed Damon's number.
"What's going on?" Angela asked.
"Is it Bella, is she okay?" Damon asked, answering immediately.
"It's over," Elena said, "I can't help anymore."
"Elena," Damon said, "What did she do?"
"I'm sorry Damon, but I can't do this anymore." Elena replied.
"Elena if you know something…if you know where she is you have to tell us," Angela argued.
"No I don't," Elena said, "You want to find Bella, you're on your own."
"Elena don't do this to me," Damon growled.
"I'm doing it to help you and to help her." Elena said before she blurred out of the room.
She reached her house and knocked on the door which Jeremy answered.
"Elena what's wrong?" Jeremy asked.
"Think I can move back in?" Elena asked before she started crying.
A/N: Hey everyone here is the second chapter I hope you enjoyed it. Little heads up I won't be updating for a bit because I have projects and exams coming up very quickly so my focus needs to be on them.
Thank you to my wonderful beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel as always for all you do.
Review my dears.
P.S. Would you guys like a playlist for each chapter? What I listened to while writing the chapters?