"It will be alright, Damon" I said softly as we drove to the hospital. "We'll help him"
"Should've seen this one coming. There's not a sane person in this town" he said lightly.
"Cheating death always has its consequences" I whispered. "We had seen mine, we should have known the ring could do the same"
"I expected an alcoholic problem with him, not this"
"I know you won't admit that you care for him and that you're worried… But the joking is bit too much" I said smiling a little.
"I don't care about anyone" he scoffed.
"Oh, really?"
"Really" he smirked at me.
"Fuck you then" I chuckled and he joined me. "I hate you"
"Me too"
I huffed and leaned back on my seat. He stopped the car, grabbed my hand and tugged me close to him.
"I love you" he whispered and kissed me.
"Hmm, much better" I murmured against his lips with a smile. "Me too"
"Where is he?" Damon demanded when we found Meredith and Elena talking on a quiet corridor.
"On a scan" Meredith frowned.
"I'm taking him home, this is bullshit" Damon said. "Discharge him"
"There's nothing physically wrong with him anyway" Meredith sighed looking at a chart.
"Normally, a serial killer's problem is psychological" I said.
"He says he didn't do it" Elena muttered.
"Denial" I said.
"Come on, take me to him" Damon said impatiently.
"I wanna talk to Elena, go ahead" I said.
He shot me a questioning look but followed Meredith. Elena took a deep breath, let it out, and leaned against a wall.
"Look about last night…"
"What was that?" she asked frowning. "How could you two let Stefan… Well, how could Damon let you two do that?"
"I know you think Stefan can go back to his old diet, but it's not so simple, Elena. We are vampires, we need human blood. If he plays the game of all or nothing he was playing yesterday, he'll lose it. He always does"
"What is your excuse?"
"I don't have one… Except I can't control myself, which is really lame" I chuckled mirthlessly. "Have you ever got really, really sick?" she nodded. "With fever and bedridden? You feel like you're gonna go insane if you stay sick one more day" she nodded again. "Ahn, once I got a really bad throat infection… It felt like there was a cat in my throat, the fur making it dry and its claws tearing it. That's how it feels. Damon says it's not quite like that for him, Edward said it's like that for his kind. It feels like I'm burning, like I'm not myself. I smell the blood and before I know it instincts take over and I killed a few people"
"So… you regret turning into a vampire?" she asked softly.
"I don't know, Elena. I… It's hard to know I'll live forever, like this, made of stone, while people I care about grow old, have families and die… But, most of the time, Damon makes the thought of it better. We'll have forever, the notion is romantic, but at the same time… forever is unknown, it's scary"
I extended the bracelet I wore to the Mikaelsons' ball.
"I wanted to give you this, I forgot… well, you were mad at me then, and there wasn't opportunity" she took it carefully. "I had it done in Italy by a special jeweler, it's the moonstone. The one that bound the curse, the one that bound us. I… I thought it was a good redemption gift, I don't know"
She nodded slowly and I turned to leave.
"I wanted to resent you" she said quietly and I stopped. "For leaving just like that, when I needed you, your friendship, when we were all worried about you. I got mad because you came back and you don't know how things were when you left. Damon was brokenhearted. It was worse than with Katherine"
I looked at her with a frown.
"I didn't know" I mumbled.
"I know" she smiled sadly. "But you're back now, and even if you act weird sometimes, like you don't care, most of the time you seem like the old Bella. And you proved that by fighting Rebekah to keep me safe. You're my friend, friends accept that friends change, but will always be friends" she put on the bracelet with a small smile. "I missed you"
"Elena didn't want to come, of course" I mused.
"Of course" Damon said as we approached the gathering of people for the Wickery Bridge restoration ceremony.
"Ahn, Bella?" Meredith asked nervously and I turned to her with a cocked eyebrow. "I'm sorry, really, really sorry. For giving you the blood. I didn't know this would happen to you, or that… there was another kind of vampires in town, one working with me…"
"It's fine, Meredith" I gave her a reassuring smile and took Damon's hand. "I'll have eternity with people I love…" I shrugged.
Meredith gave me a sad, awkward smile and Ric pulled her closer to him. It was good to see him moving on from Jenna.
"Why are we here?" Ric asked frowning.
"Ric, the world can't stop because you're an accidental psycho killer" Damon answered calmly.
"Don't you have any tact whatsoever?" Meredith retorted.
"Damon? Nah" I chuckled.
"Well, I'm going home" Ric said.
Damon nodded, distractedly and I told them to go ahead. After a quick conversation with Carol Lockwood, that explained why we were there – Damon had contributed a lot for the renovation – I asked him if we could leave.
"In a bit" he said distractedly.
"What's wrong?" I frowned.
"Nothing" he smirked.
"Damon Salvatore, my favorite student"
I turned to the woman approaching. She was tall, lean, with red hair and bright green eyes. She had a confident smirk, one that reminded me a lot of Damon's.
"Sage, my hottest teacher" Damon greeted with a smile.
"Hello" she said to me.
"Bella" I said, watching her.
"What are you doing here?" Damon asked.
"I'm just passing through"
"Nobody just passes through Mystic Falls" I said smirking.
"Isabella is right" Rebekah said approaching. "What are you doing here?" she sneered at Sage.
"Well, I heard Finn was finally freed from that casket your rageaholic brother Klaus carted him around in." Sage answered not even looking at Rebekah.
I threw Damon a worried look. If his friend became a problem because of the Originals, we would have to kill her.
"Mmm, Finn, you just missed him. He left town and didn't tell a soul where he was going." Rebekah said with a mean smirk.
"He probably went looking for me." Sage retorted scowling at her.
"Or quite possibly he forgot all about you"
"I doubt that"
"No? 'Cause he didn't seem to mention you. Sorry you came all this way for nothing. Have a nice life." Rebekah said dismissively.
"God, I hate that elitist Original bitch" Sage said as Rebekah walked away.
"You know them? Finn?" I asked.
"He's my one true love. He turned me so we could be together forever. Then Klaus daggered him and locked him away and I've been waiting ever since."
"Really?" Damon said teasingly.
"He did left town, and… well, I don't really know why Rebekah doesn't like you" I shrugged and let go of Damon's hand. "I'm gonna go talk to her"
He shot me a confused look but quickly masked, turning to talk to Sage. I walked quickly to catch up with Rebekah and when I did, she turned to me with a glare.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
"To apologize" I said seriously and she frowned. "I'm sorry. I understand you a bit… they are your family, and we're not. We shouldn't antagonize you for being loyal to them as we are to ours. Jacob is gone, and I really miss him. I can't go to the reservation, and I wanted him here so we could work on our friendship. I don't want him to resent me for being a bitch to you. Maybe we could… be… friendly?"
She eyed me, surprised, shocked. She nodded slowly, her scowl fading a bit.
"Okay"
I smiled at her and walked back to Damon. He and Sage looked at me with frowns, but I ignored them.
"I need to go shopping, running out of clothes at the speed you destroy them" I smiled at him and kissed him softly. "See you later. Behave"
He grumbled something, throwing me a glare as I grinned at him for behaving like a child scolded in front of his friends. I kissed his cheek and walked away from them.
I stopped by the Boarding House to get my car and purse and found Stefan on the study, on his fifth blood bag.
"I can see you're now succeeding on control" I commented looking for my keys.
"What did you say to Elena this morning?" he asked frowning.
"Why?"
"She doesn't stop calling"
"If you answered she would" I retorted. "So, you're stress eating? That's what takes people to obesity"
He threw me a look that told me the joke was not appreciated.
"I told her what she already knew but refused to accept" I said with a sigh. "We're vampires, we drink blood. She has to get over it so you two can work out. You too. Own it, live it, love it. Don't be ashamed of what you are. The shame drove you to fail on control…"
"So you are ashamed? Because you don't have control, let's face it" he said.
"I'm a vampire doppelganger, a hybrid of two species" I said rolling my eyes. "I think my problems with blood are a bit deeper than shame"
"Thank you, for trying to help with Elena… But don't" he said. "It's more complicated than that"
"You make it complicated, Stefan. She's reaching out. Your relationship will never work if only she works on it"
"How about this one?" I asked getting out of the dressing room.
"No" Rosalie said firmly. "No way"
"Yellow is not your color" Alice said frowning in distaste.
"She's right, dear" Esme said mortified.
"Alright! No yellow" I said going back in.
"How about blue?" Esme asked from outside. "You look lovely in blue"
"I think Damon prefers red" I said.
"Because blue was Edward's favorite color on her" Alice explained.
"Yeah, that would be a buzz kill" Rose murmured.
"This one?" I asked getting out with a deep blueberry top and a white skirt.
"Yes" Alice said.
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just told me what would be good by your visions?" I asked going back in.
"But then it wouldn't be fun, Bella" Rosalie said.
I got out and sat on the couch while Esme and Rosalie went in the dressing rooms. I sipped the champagne, looking around the expensive boutique.
"This reminds me of the dresses fitting for the wedding" I murmured.
"Yes" Alice dragged the word, suspicious. Silently asking where I was going with that.
"So?" Rosalie asked walking out in a nude color dress.
"Looks great" I said sincerely.
She beamed and went back in.
"Things are so complicated" I sighed leaning back on the couch. "Crazy"
"When things weren't crazy, Bella?" Alice chuckled. "We're vampires"
"Right" I sighed. "I wonder sometimes if I made the wrong choice"
"What wrong choice?" she scowled.
"Not marrying Edward" I said. "If I had, and he had changed me, nothing would happen. Jenna would still be here, John, Andie, Stefan wouldn't have left and…"
"Stop right there, missy" Alice said. "You can't put that responsibility on your shoulders. Things would have been bad, marrying Edward or not. Besides, you know that… it wasn't meant to be"
"She's right, Bella" Esme said poking her head out of the dressing room. "Damon makes you so happy… Edward did too, but not as much. His departure from Forks after your birthday seemed to always loom over you, and Damon makes you care-free happy"
"I agree" Rosalie said. "Even though he's a jackass sometimes"
"Rosalie" Esme scolded.
"What? It's true"
"It is" I laughed.
Alice looked at me with a secretive smile. Even Esme and Rosalie, who weren't in on all aspects, were telling me that Damon was right for me. Her eyes unfocused and she scowled.
"It would be wise to check up on said jackass" she said.
"Of course he wouldn't behave" I rolled my eyes, standing up taking the clothes to pay for them. "Thanks girls, next time we'll get shoes"
"I'll get you some and leave at the Boarding House later" Alice said. "And no, Esme, that dress looks awful"
Esme rolled her eyes and pulled me to a hug.
"I'm happy for you, honey" she whispered. "And don't forget, we're family, no matter what"
"Thanks, Esme" I murmured. "And Alice is right… that dress is awful"
She chuckled and let me go.
I parked the car and got all the shopping bags, expecting Damon to come out to help me any minute. He didn't. I frowned at the loud music as I entered the house, and walked to the living room. Damon and Sage were dirty dancing while Rebekah sulked by the piano. Damon spun Sage around, and as he pulled her back to his chest, she giggled.
"Oops" she said. "Busted"
I arched an eyebrow as Damon gave me a blank look. Oh, yeah, you're in trouble. He gave me an innocent smile in return to my glare and I heard Rebekah laughing. I dropped the bags and walked to the coffee table, full of bottles.
"Can I ask what the hell is going on and why wasn't I in on it?" I asked and drank wine from an aged bottle. "Nice"
"Klaus got it from a queen, not sure which" Rebekah said.
"We're having a party" Damon said.
"What for?" I asked narrowing my eyes.
"Friendship" he smirked. "You and Bekah…"
"Rebekah" she corrected.
"…are friends now, and I was planning on getting these two on good terms" Damon continued. "And apologize for my assholeness"
"You would have to throw a rave that lasted a century to apologize for your assholeness, Damon" I said smirking.
"I like her" Sage said sitting on an armchair and reaching for a blood laced drink. "You have him on a leash"
"She does not" Damon scoffed.
"He likes to think not" I teased and walked to Rebekah. "Not enjoying the party?"
She waved at Damon who pulled Sage to dance again, and rolled her eyes.
"It was a bad idea to come" she said.
"Come on" I said tugging on her arm. "Where else we could have fun around here?"
"Your boyfriend is a bit of a manwhore" she commented with a smile.
"Finding him on a private party with two women gave me the ultimate clue" I laughed. "He won't change, so I accept it, and enjoy it"
"How?" she frowned.
I smirked and started dancing. She chuckled and joined us.
"Bekah?" I asked softly. "Rebekah"
"She's out" Damon said, pleased with himself.
"This is awkward" I whispered resting my head on his chest.
"This was awesome"
"You're such a guy" I rolled my eyes at him.
The door creaked and Sage tiptoed in. I watched as she sat at the end of the bed and after giving us a quick look, focused on Rebekah.
Damon had said he would work on finding out what Rebekah was up to. Sage, a 900-years-old vampire, was clearly his weapon.
"I don't care if getting her vulnerable to read her mind was the plan" I whispered. "You should have told me"
"What for?" he asked calmly.
"So the fact that my boyfriend was throwing a private party with two women, dirty dancing with one of them, didn't get to me"
I stood up and got my clothes before going to the bathroom. I got dressed and when I walked out, only Rebekah was in bed. I sighed and went downstairs and found Damon looking for something in the study while Sage watched him sipping a drink.
"So?" I asked.
"She needed an information from me" Damon said.
"What?" I snapped.
"My family took care of the milling records of the area" Damon said pulling books shelves. "There was another oak tree, planted centuries after they left"
"There's another white oak tree?" I asked hopeful. "We have a chance to kill Klaus"
"Yes" Damon grinned.
"Can you go upstairs to keep an eye on Rebekah?" I asked Sage.
"You two… two of the most untrusting people I've met" Sage said amusedly while standing up. "Not that you don't have your reasons, Bella"
"What?" I frowned at her.
"I mean, you wouldn't want Damon to know what I know" she smirked while going to the door.
"Wait" Damon said. "What do you know?"
"She's bluffing, Damon" I snapped. I hoped she was. "What are you up to?" I asked her angrily.
"I'm just trying to warn my friend" she said shooting me a glare. "You fool him so easily"
"What the hell are you talking about, Sage?" Damon growled.
"Damon…"
He shot me a glare and I shut up, not believing what was going on. Was he siding with her? Didn't he trust me?
"She's leaving, Damon" Sage said. "To Italy, soon"
He stared at me and I looked away. I turned to Sage.
"You got in my mind!" I growled.
"Regrets of a ended wedding?" she retorted.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath. I would not kill her, I would not kill her... By killing her I was reaffirming her accusations. Damon laughed mirthlessly and Sage sneaked out of the room.
"Damon…"
"Don't" he snapped.
"You believe her over me?"
"Is it not true?" he asked glaring at me.
"Damon, you have to understand…"
"No, I don't want to understand" he snapped and took a deep breath, lowering his voice. "You promised you wouldn't leave"
"I just considered, Damon. It would keep everyone safe!"
"And safety is why you're reconsidering the wedding with Edward?" he said angrily.
"No, I love you, Damon. There's nothing to consider, I love you"
He scoffed and turned back to the bookcase.
"You don't want to hear me out" I accused. "It doesn't matter what I say, you'll always trust people's words over mine!"
"There is a lot to consider"
"Screw you, Damon"
"You don't get to act hurt, like the victim" he snapped as I turned to leave. "You consider leaving me, and you're hurt? No. Screw you"
"Great! Screw us. I'm leaving" I snapped getting my keys.
"About time"
"You're such an asshole! You just can't believe anyone would willingly choose you, love you unconditionally, so you're always looking for a reason to push people away. It's tiring"
"You're tired? This is your chance to leave" he said gesturing to the door.
I shook my head at him and walked out of the house. I got in the car, and will the tears away as I drove away from the Boarding House. My phone buzzes with a message from Alice.
Go to Elena's. She's in danger!
I frown and call Elena.
"Hey, Bella" she said awkwardly. "Ahn, everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah… Or no" I said realizing my voice was weird and she would realize I was lying. "Still looking for company at the 'I hate Damon' club?"
"What did he do?" she asked worriedly.
"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it" I said. "Where are you?"
"At Ric's with Stefan. We're getting his wedding ring so Bonnie can do the spell to help him"
"So you're not home?" I asked frowning. Why did Alice tell me to go there?
"I'm going home now… Do you wanna meet me there? We can talk"
"Sounds great, I'm heading there. Can I talk to Stefan?"
"Sure" she murmured.
"Bella? What's wrong?" Stefan asked.
"Alice told me Elena is in danger… I'm going to her house, we'll meet there, see what that's about. Keep an eye out"
"Okay. Thanks. Be careful"
"Always am"
I hung up, and called Alice.
"Bella, are you at her house?" she asked answering immediately.
"Turning in her street… She isn't home, she's with Stefan. What did you see?" I asked frowning.
"I saw it… clear. Now it's blurry…"
"What, Alice?"
"She was in a pool of blood at her kitchen. She died"
"Stefan is with her, and I'll wait for them here. We'll make sure she's safe"
"Jasper is still on that hunting trip, Carlisle is working. We're going home, but it will take an hour at least"
"Don't worry" I said turning in Elena's driveway. "I got it"
I hung up and walked to the door, searching for any signs of a hybrid or vampire. I got in the house, and put my purse on the table at the foyer.
"Hello?" I called out.
"Bella!"
I frowned at Meredith's cry and ran upstairs where I heard struggle. I found Ric trying to enter the bathroom while she hid inside.
"Hey!" I snapped pulling him away from the door.
He stabbed my in the shoulder with the bloody knife, and shocked, I let go of him. He ran down the stairs and I was about to go after him but I smelt blood from the bathroom. I took the knife off my shoulder and knocked on the door.
"Meredith, it's me, open up" I said holding my breath.
I heard the lock turn and when I got in, she was leaning against the sink. She had a cut on her stomach and was losing a lot of blood.
"Stefan and Elena are on their way" I told her and helped her sit on the floor. "Sorry, my blood isn't gonna help you, it's not like theirs"
"It's okay" she mumbled.
"I'm gonna go get Ric" I said and gave her the knife. "It will be fine"
She nodded weakly and I walked out of the bathroom, locking it, and checked the rooms upstairs. No sign of him. I went down the stairs, silently and checked the living room, the kitchen, the dining room. I followed his scent and it ended in the foyer. I sighed and took out my phone, ready to call Stefan and Damon and warn them bad Ric was on the loose. I opened the door, dialing Stefan's number when something hit my back. I saw Ric's reflection on the phone, behind me. Glass shattered against my skin and I cried in pain as liquid vervain drenched my clothes and burned my skin. I turning, vamping out, and Ric staked me in the heart. I could feel vervain entering my system from the stake.
"You are a shame, Isabella" he said scowling at me with disgust. "Your father must be turning in the grave because of you"
I whimpered and fell on the floor. He stared at me, waiting. Waiting for me to die. I was waiting for death. I tried to pull the stake out, but it hurt and I couldn't. He sighed, glaring at me. Oh, good, stakes didn't kill me. He grabbed me by the arms and dragged me inside the closet, ignoring my whimpers of pain. He threw me in the dark closet and closed the door, locking it. I saw a fake wall pane, and realized the vampire weapons were always hidden in the closet in that family. He must have been inside while I was looking for him. I grabbed the stake, but it was craved so deep, and it was so painful to move that I gave up. I leaned against the wall, closed my eyes and waited.
"Bella! Bella! Oh, my God!" I heard Elena crying. "No! Bella!"
I felt the stake being pulled off me, and my eyes snapped open as I took a deep breath. My vervain soaked clothes were still burning me and it hurt like hell as the wound on my chest healed. The almost numb pain in my throat I was feeling the whole day was worse, way worse.
"Oh, thank god" Elena sighed with relief wiping her tears. "I thought you…"
She trailed off, staring at me in shock as my face changed. She scrambled up, walking backwards.
"Stefan" she gasped.
I stood up and she ran. I ran out of the closet and went to the stairs, hearing her footsteps. Stefan got in my way and pushed me down the staircase.
"Control yourself, Bella" he snapped.
I growled at him and pushed him away from me. I started for the staircase again when I heard him coming behind me. I turned to get rid of him, when I felt the horrible pain I had felt earlier.
"Son of a bitch" I croaked as he let go of the stake thrust in my chest, wincing at the burns the vervain left in his hand.
I reached for the stake, the hunger giving me motivation to go through the pain of pulling it out. And suddenly there was that painful crack and everything went black.
I groaned and opened my eyes. The room was dark but was familiar. I looked around Elena's bedroom, and saw Damon sitting in the window seat. He gave me a small smile and I sat up, rubbing my neck.
"Emmett was the first to reach the house… He broke your neck and spine" he explained.
"Oh" I mumbled.
"It's good to know I don't have to worry about you. You just don't die"
"Yeah, not quite a good experience to have a vervain-dipped stake through your heart though" I chuckled mirthlessly.
He moved to seat next to me and pulled the hair away from my face.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Dying really makes me thirsty, so… I need to hunt. But I'll be alright"
"When I got here and Stefan told me he had to stake you and break your neck… I almost killed him"
"I thought you would have thanked him" I chuckled.
"I'm sorry" he said and I stared at him surprised. "Sage read your mind, and I sensed she was up to something… Why would she be reading your mind? She's 900-years-old, I didn't need her going after you"
"What?" I frowned. "So, all of that was so I wasn't her target just in case…"
"Yeah, but I wasn't so smart. She read my mind too and told Rebekah that I knew what she wanted and that the Wickery Bridge was made of the white oak tree" he shrugged. "Rebekah burned it down"
"Fuck, what will we do?" I asked and cocked an eyebrow at his ease. "You're not pissed. What are you up to?"
"You know, I'm a philanthropist, I make the world a better place. Restoring bridges, landmarks, and… Historical signs made of the same white oak as the Wickery Bridge."
"You have the white oak wood" I said happily. "We have a weapon!"
"We have a weapon" he smirked. "And they don't know. Game back on"