"Buried Secret 3"
Chapter 16
"I can't believe you're back," Elena cried as she hugged Jenna, "I'm so sorry."
"Don't," Jenna interrupted, "I'm always gonna protect you," she pulled Jeremy to her next, "Both of you."
Meanwhile Matt welcomed Alaric back with a hug. "Good to you have you back," Matt greeted the former ghost. Alaric laughed.
"Keeping on that bunny diet?" Lexi teased Stefan after giving him a fierce hug. Stefan only rolled his eyes but the smile on his face was still there; his best friend was back.
Instead of a reunion, a score needed to be settled for Mason, "Where's Damon? I got a bone to pick with him."
"Make that two us," Lexi quickly added.
"He at least owes me a drink," Rose muttered, "I took a bite for him."
"Last time I saw him, he had taken Bella to her room when we got back. He hasn't come out," Stefan said, "I think he slept in there."
"How is she?" Jenna asked.
Elena shook her head.
"We've missed something, haven't we?" Mason said after noticing everyone's sullen looks.
"Charlie's dead," Stefan said solemnly, "Silas had his men kill him."
"Oh my god," Jenna gasped, "Oh Bella. I need to go check on her."
"Good luck with that," Damon growled as he came into the room, "She's gone…again."
"Nice to see you too buddy," Alaric quipped.
Damon rolled his eyes and went to hug his friend.
"Has anyone seen Bella?" Elena yelled to everyone within the compound.
"Saw her early this morning," Marcel said as he walked into the room, "She was hungry and I fed her. We talked and I went to bed."
"Maybe she just needs some space," Elena suggested, "Get herself prepped."
Mason quietly slipped out of the room as the others talked.
"Going somewhere?" Elijah intercepted the werewolf.
"Bella's gone," Mason said. "I know where she went," he continued, "I just want to talk to her."
Elijah nodded at the thought, "I'll keep the others busy." Elijah offered before he walked into the living room.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Mason walked throughout the city until he arrived at the Audubon Butterfly garden.
The compelled guard let him in and Mason headed for the open flight area. Hundreds of butterflies flew around him, freely landing here and there.
"Why do you come here?" Mason asked as he entered.
"Because I envy them," Bella said as she stood on a bridge with a blue butterfly resting on her finger. "They have complete freedom, unbothered by the people that enter their world."
"Hey," Mason walked towards her. "Bella I'm…"
"Don't," Bella interrupted with a sigh before the butterfly took off. "I can't talk about that. Not now."
"Maybe you should." Mason replied.
"No," Bella said.
"Pretty sure everyone wants to thank you," Mason leaned against the rail with his new topic in mind.
"What are friends for?" Bella replied.
"I remember you said your mom and Dad brought you here when you were little." Mason said as he tried to ease into the conversation he wanted to have with her.
Bella nodded, "I didn't want to leave. I think this is when I decided to come here for college. I always wanted to be close to this place."
"They aren't really free you know," Mason said, "They are confined into this space."
"They have more freedom than I ever had." Bella replied.
"So what's the plan boss?" Mason asked, "I mean you broke us out of purgatory for a reason."
Bella was silent.
Mason looked at her and sighed, "You're expecting to go down with him, aren't you."
"It's a big possibility," Bella said.
"You know we won't let that happen," Mason said.
"I didn't bring you guys back just for you to get killed again." Bella warned.
"You brought us back to be your replacements," Mason scoffed, "Newsflash you aren't replaceable darling."
"You guys are my back up plan," Bella turned to look at him. "If I get bound to Silas then that's it…this world goes to shit…more so than it is already."
Mason frowned, "But nothing can kill Silas."
"But something can kill me," Bella said before she pulled out a white oak stake from her jacket.
"Whoa," Mason started.
"The bonding works both ways. He gets my power, but he also gets my weaknesses which does include this." Bella explained as she stared at the stake. "I'm vulnerable to these just like Klaus and the others."
"We can't know that for sure," Mason argued.
"I do," Bella said, "I did my research."
.*.*.*.*.*.
A Few Hours Earlier:
Bella finished off the bottle and headed out of the house. She couldn't shake her experience in the cemetery with the blonde woman. She had wanted to tell Bella something, but she had refrained.
Bella arrived at the cemetery and laid down on one of the stone tombs.
"Okay let's see if I can do this again." Bella mumbled to herself before she closed her eyes.
When Bella opened her eyes, she was still in the cemetery except it was dark.
"I wondered if you would return." The woman greeted as she sat across from Bella on a bench.
"Seemed like you wanted to tell me something," Bella said as she stood up.
The woman stood and held her hand out, "Walk with me Isabella."
"I prefer Bella," Bella corrected as she started walking alongside her, "You know my name, do I get yours?"
"Mine is unimportant." The woman said, "Yours though… yours is the most talked about here."
"I like to cause a stir." Bella said, "When I said Silas you froze…you know him?"
"I have crossed paths with him," the woman said, "Or his followers. They are the reason I am here."
"Dead," Bella said.
"Between," the woman corrected, "another unimportant aspect. You understand what will happen if you fail?"
"I am bound to him," Bella said, her voice tight.
"And he to you," the woman said with a tiny smile.
Bella stopped walking, "What do you mean?"
The woman turned to look at Bella fully, "He is bound to you as well. Though you lose yourself to him…your free will won't be lost to him."
"He gains my loyalty, my power," Bella said.
"And your weaknesses," The woman added and Bella stilled, "Balance Isabella. That is the key to everything."
"There's nothing to balance me out," Bella argued.
"You balance yourself out," the woman clarified, "You hold onto the humanity within you. You are of the four. Therefore you are the epitome of balance within oneself."
"I have no weaknesses," Bella said. "I am immune to vervain, wolfsbane…"
"But not white oak ash," the woman said, "It affects you as is it does the paternal side of your family. What else do you think may be your weakness?"
Bella thought for a moment and then her eyes widened.
The woman smiled and walked away, "That should be your last resort Isabella…I do hope you will not have to use it. Better go…the sun is rising."
.*.*.*.*.*.
Present Day:
"No," Mason was mortified, "You know we won't do it."
"Do you think Damon could do it?" Bella asked, "The only one who maybe could do it is Kol, but then he runs the risk of his own death by his siblings' hands." She turned to look at him, "And I'm not talking about the others Mason." She held out the stake to him, "I'm talking about you."
Mason shook his head, "Not only are you asking me to end your life, the life of my most trusted friends, but you're asking me to sign my death warrant…again."
Bella laughed, "When I brought you back Mason, I made sure you had a few good decades left." She said, "You're protected. Besides…you won't be in control."
"What?" Mason asked confused.
Bella placed her hands on his shoulders, "I swear Mason, this is the last time I will compel you against your will."
Mason started to panic, "No Bella." He struggled within her hold on him.
Bella's pupils dilated. "Stop," she ordered and Mason did. "When you walk out of here you won't remember this conversation, you won't say anything to anyone. But if I fail, if I get bound to Silas, you will take this stake and you will drive it into my heart. Do you understand?"
"I will take this stake and stab you in the heart with it," Mason repeated robotically.
"No one will hurt you I swear, in any way," Bella continued her compulsion. "Now take the stake and put it in your jacket. When you go back to the house you will hide it until the time comes. You will shadow me the night of the ritual and if I fail, you will prevent all hell from breaking loose on earth…do you understand?"
"I understand," Mason said.
"Good," Bella said, "Now turn around and walk out of here and go back to the house. Tell the others I needed some time and I will be back soon. You will act as if nothing is wrong."
Mason nodded and walked out of the room.
Bella sighed and stood there for a few minutes before she left.
She wondered the streets until finally she made it to the church. She saw Kieran on his hands and knees as he scrubbed the blood from where her father had fallen.
"Bella," Kieran said as he quickly moved to shield her.
"Don't," Bella said, "I need to know it's real." She walked to the altar, "I need to see."
"You've seen enough," Kieran replied gravely.
"Your God would disagree," Bella said as she moved past him.
She stared at the bloodstain.
"It washes away," Kieran said softly.
"Like our sins?" Bella asked.
"That's more complicated," Kieran said, "Bella…"
"Kieran I don't need a friend right now," Bella interrupted.
"Then why did you come here?" Kieran asked confused.
"I'm here to confess," Bella said.
"Confess what?" Kieran asked.
"My sins," Bella turned to look at him, "Think you got the time?"
"You've never believed in any of this," Kieran said.
"I've had a change of heart," Bella said as she walked over to a pew and sat down.
"Would you rather go into the confessional?" Kieran offered, "Some people…"
"I'm not like them," Bella said, "I know my sins, I trust when I confess them to you, you will uphold your holy vow and keep them between us and him," Bella said as she pointed up. "Hate to be pushy Kieran, but I'm on a bit of a time crunch."
Kieran sighed and sat down beside Bella.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Klaus sat in the study, going over a map of the city, when the door opened.
"I don't know where she went," Klaus said without looking up.
"If I thought you did we would be throwing each other around this house," Damon said after he closed the door.
"What do you want?" Klaus asked. "I'm trying to plan an assassination on an immortal."
"What happens?" Damon asked instead as he stood across the table from him, "What happens when this is all over?"
Klaus tensed, but calmly replied, "That is entirely up to Isabella. I assume she will return to Forks and bury Charlie. After that, I don't know."
"She thinks she's poison," Damon said. "She thinks she is cursed."
"We are all cursed in a way." Klaus said.
"She thinks she ruins everything she touches," Damon continued.
"No. That would be my talent," Klaus stated as he traced a line on the map.
"She thinks she inherited it." Damon slammed his fist on the table, "Look at me, damn it!"
Klaus put the pencil down and looked up, "What do want me to say Damon? Anything I say, you won't believe. There is nothing I can do to dissuade you or cause you to change your mind about me." Klaus said angrily. "Believe one thing though Damon, if I could change everything…I would. I wish to God it had been me not Charlie they had killed. If I could trade my life for his I would, but I can't. Instead my only mission now is to keep her alive as I promised him I would." Klaus' face began to change due to his anger, "This is not what I wanted and I realize that now. I became the father I despised…Mikael. I used his tactics against my own child! I am a monster, truly in every sense of the word because I took her innocence and now I am the reason her father…her real father is gone."
Damon stood in silence once Klaus was done.
"Klaus," Damon started.
"No," Klaus growled, "When this is over, I am leaving her alone. She does not want me. She does not need me. I am poison to her." He said and stormed out of the room.
"Did you get what you wanted?" Marcel asked after coming in from the balcony.
"I think I have a right to know what he plans on doing." Damon said.
"Because Bella's your girl?" Marcel said, "I get the impression that my little sister doesn't like being treated like property."
"She's not your sister." Damon replied tensely.
"In a way she is." Marcel said. "He's trying…he hates himself now that he sees what he did."
Damon scoffed, "And that changes everything."
"No, but no one in this house is free from sins. We all have them. We all have blood of some sort on our hands." Marcel said and poured himself a drink, "Some of us more than others. I'm sure your brother could give Klaus a run for his money in that department."
"Ripper Stefan yes, but my brother…no." Damon replied tensely. "What's your interest in Bella?"
Marcel downed his drink, "I've seen a lot of good people…friends go down a dark path. I saw her going down it. She's on the edge of the shadows. At any minute she could enter them and even if she came back, that sort of darkness leaves a mark on the soul. It will haunt her forever. But you see, she isn't like us." Marcel said.
"What do you mean?" Damon asked.
"You, me, Klaus, and many others we go into those shadows…for revenge to get payback." Marcel said.
"So that's what Bella is doing…for her Dad." Damon said.
Marcel shook his head, "She was already going to enter those shadows before losing her Dad. She was going to do it for you guys. You guys are that tiny little light she carries with her when she is in the darkness…if that gets snuffed out when she goes into the shadows this time…she won't come back the same." Marcel explained as he walked to the door, "That darkness will seep into her soul and eventually it would consume her."
.*.*.*.*.*.
"So let's start," Bella said to Kieran, "Forgive me Father for I have sinned."
"Bella," Kieran sighed, "That just sounds strange coming from you."
"This is my one and only confession Father." Bella said, "I plan on doing it right."
Kieran brushed his hand down his face before he sat down next to Bella, "Tell me child how have you sinned."
"I swear too much, I have premarital sex, I'm the daughter of a monster," Bella started.
"The first two are common sins, as for your third, you are not responsible for that. You were meant to be here." Kieran replied.
"I have questioned everything my dad believed in. He believed in God and heaven. He was a good man and I tried to be a good daughter." Bella said softly.
"You were." Kieran said. "You are. You are a good friend as well."
"I compelled Mason to drive a stake into my heart if I get bound to Silas," Bella stated calmly, "My weaknesses become his once we are bound." Kieran tensed, "I took Mason's free will away. I am lying to everyone around me because I only see this ending one way for me and that's with my death."
"You can't know that," Kieran said, his voice was shaking. "You don't have to face the evils of the world alone."
"But the people around me have faced them and fought long enough," Bella said before she looked at him. "You know everyone believes that I think I'm cursed and in some ways I am, but in others I'm not."
"How so?" Kieran asked.
"I can make the hard choices others can't. I have the power to change certain things. I made several people happy last night." Bella said.
"But with great power comes great responsibility." Kieran pointed out.
"And sacrifice," Bella said and smiled weakly at him.
"It doesn't have to be you that does all the sacrificing though. You don't have to walk alone or face the darkness on your own." Kieran said and took her hand, "You have people in this life that can help you."
"But they don't understand my life." Bella said and squeezed his hand before she stood up. "They shouldn't have to. My life, my trials, they are mine to bear."
Kieran didn't respond and Bella began to walk out of the church, but she stopped right before the double doors.
"What's my penance Father?" she asked without looking at him.
"There is none," Kieran said softly. He sighed and looked up at the cross, "Because there is no reason for one." He whispered before he stood up. "Go in peace my child."
Bella let out a soft laugh, "Peace. Now that's a foreign concept to me." She said before she walked out of the church.
Kieran closed his eyes and prayed for guidance. As a priest he had a duty to uphold the vow he took. He could not reveal what Bella had told him, but as her friend and Cami's uncle, it cut him deep in his soul to hear the decisions she had made and the course she was taking. Not only that, but she had come to him to confess because she knew that he would never break the vows he took for the priesthood. He would never tell a soul living, dead, or undead what she had done to Mason or the path she was going down.
As it seemed to her, this sacrifice was hers to bear and her truth was his. This was her wish and he would respect it…even though her life may be lost.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Klaus stormed into his room and slammed the door shut.
"You know you can't take all the credit," Bella interrupted, "Being the reason for things, like my dad being gone."
Klaus froze.
"I heard everything," Bella clarified as she came in from the balcony, "Everyone did. Don't take my sins on as your own."
"But they are," Klaus said softly.
Bella laughed harshly, "No they aren't. My sins are mine. I made the choices I did because that's what I wanted. Blaming you is a cop-out. I take accountability for the things I've done because ultimately I chose to do them." Bella said before she sat down, "You and the others, you think I am different from you because of my humanity but that's bullshit. You guys still have your humanity too. The difference between me and you is that I take responsibility for my actions in the end and I don't blame it on because of what you or anyone else has done to me. You want to change Klaus then start there. Don't blame all your mistakes on Mikael. Yeah, he influenced certain things, but in the end you make the decision. You can either be like him or not. Own up to your mistakes, take responsibility for your actions, in doing that you take control of your life. You have the power…not your past."
Klaus was taken back, "Why are you telling me this? Encouraging me like this?"
"Because you don't get to just up and leave when this is over." Bella said as she stood up. "You don't get to run away from owning up to things. You and me, if we make it out of this then I want answers and I want them from you, no one else." She said, "I need to understand in order for me to take back full control of my life. I have to know."
"Elijah can tell you," Klaus said, "Rebekah, Kol…hell even Marcel."
"I want to hear them from you," Bella interrupted him, "You say you wish you can take it back, but you can't. Doing this though, explaining to me about that…that can help me." Bella looked at him, "Accountability Klaus…that's what I want from you."
Bella walked out of the room and started down the hall.
"Why don't we do this now then?" Klaus called out as he came out of his room to follow her, "Just get it over with."
Bella stopped and turned to look at him, "Because I won't get the full story," Bella said, "I know that you'll water it down. Play it off as something unimportant then when this is all over, you'll disappear." Bella walked back towards him, "You don't get to do that. Not this time. This way I test two things with you."
"What are they?" Klaus asked tensely.
"Your sincerity and to see if you can actual keep a promise without twisting it in your favour," Bella said. "Do I have your utter and complete word that you will stay Klaus?"
Klaus was silent for a few moments as he studied Bella. After a time, he finally nodded.
"I swear on the last bit of integrity I have, I shall answer everything." Klaus said.
"Good," Bella said and turned walking away.
.*.*.*.*.*.
Bella entered into her room and went to lie down. She was quickly asleep, yet she found herself back in the cemetery.
"YOOHOO," Bella called as she walked through the rows of tombs, "Creepy blonde girl who seems to know a lot about me, where are you? I know I didn't come here on my own."
"Why did you make him promise such a thing when you seem to be sure of your death?" the blonde asked from behind Bella.
Bella turned around, "I wanted to see something." She replied.
"See what?" the blonde asked.
"If he was capable of telling the truth and being sincere," Bella said.
"And…" The blonde trailed.
"He was," Bella said, "He meant it."
"How do you know?" the blonde questioned.
"I saw it…in his eyes. Don't get me wrong, I'm still angry and hurt. But somehow knowing he's telling the truth…it eases the pain and anger." Bella said before she sat down.
"It gives you a sense of peace," the woman joined her, "That's what so many people yearn for in the end."
"Yeah well, I'm going to be condemned to hell. At least I can know that I would finally get the answers I've wanted for so long." Bella said as she looked up at the night sky.
"And what of your lover?" the girl asked.
"There was no happy ending for me and Damon." Bella shrugged. "Even if I survived we would go our separate ways. We're too broken."
"Sometimes broken souls meet and with the remaining pieces they are made whole again," the blonde said.
"My life has been a never ending fight," Bella said, "That will never change. I can't ask him to be part of that."
"What if he wants to be part of it?" the woman challenged. "He may view things differently than you. Perhaps you should speak with him. That's the least he is owed, don't you believe?"
Bella remained silent.
"You sacrifice so much to protect those around you…many people believe they don't deserve such protection." The woman continued.
"Most people don't see what I see," Bella said.
"Why should the burden fall on you?" the woman asked.
"Because it's who I am. It's all I've ever known." Bella said.
"Perhaps you wish for death" the woman suggested. "Would it be easier?"
"Life isn't supposed to be easy," Bella replied angrily as she stood, "All you witches, you all call me an abomination, a mistake, a stain on this earth." She spat, "You think I was never meant to exist and many tried to end my life long ago, but I'm still here. I'm still standing. Why, I don't know. Maybe I'm lucky or maybe I actually was meant to be here. Whatever the case, I am here!"
Bella started to walk away.
"Is that how you see your life? One of perpetual sacrifice…being the victim for all eternity?" the woman asked. "What about your life?"
"I'm not a victim anymore." Bella argued, "Being a victim means I have no control. That's not the case anymore. I have control now, I decide my fate. No one else. My life is in my own hands and how I chose to live it or die by it is my choice and mine alone. I could allow Silas to take over and it would mean I would live, but at what cost? The enslavement of the entire world, including myself once again. I would be his victim. I would be enslaved and the worst part is I wouldn't even know it." Bella spat out. "I won't do that again. I refuse to be a victim again. For so long I held onto my anger for what Klaus did to me, but perhaps I should thank him."
"Why?" the woman asked, shocked.
"Because he showed me all the things I never wanted to be, but he also gave me the strength to fight no matter how futile a situation is, there is still a tiny speck of hope to overcome it." Bella said. "He tried to bend me to his will and he failed. Silas will fail too and if the cost of that is my death then I'll gladly pay the price."
Bella looked up and continued.
"You asked me what about my life?" Bella said, "You want a definition."
"Yes," the woman said.
"Some may call it a curse, a life like mine, but others a blessing. It's certainly a lonely life, but a fulfilling one at best. It's my cross to bear and I bare it gladly. Someone has to take a stand against evil…" Bella explained as she looked at the woman, "Why should it not be me?"
A/N: Hey everyone! So sorry for the long wait to update. I have had a busy last semester, but I have officially graduated! Now I get one semester off before I start working on my Master's lol.
Thank to my fantastic Beta Dark~Supernatural~Angel for taking time to edit this for me. I know your life is crazy busy right now and I appreciate you being here not just as my beta, but as my friend.
Thank you to all the readers who have been patient with me. We literally only have about 2 chapters left you guys! Things will be getting wrapped up quickly so hold on. Thank you for taking this journey with me and all the support you have given the story. I really appreciate it.
Thank you all and please review. See you all soon!