Caroline watched the building burn until the fire department managed to get the inferno under control. It was sad she thought that people leave their homes to come here in the hopes of being safe and build a future, then this kind of thing happens and they learn a lesson, one all their tuition fees couldnt give. The universe doesn't care about your plans and bad things will happen to you. She sighed as her pocket began to buzz again she wouldn't even dignify it, she knew who it was and what was going to be said. She wandered away from the charred remains of the fire and the noisy crowd that had formed, she walked through the halls leading to the library Caroline felt the need for quite. As she followed the signs for the library she noticed pictures on the walls from all the different clubs the campus offered, there was the usual, sports clubs and book clubs and a few unusual ones like Anime club and the Quidditch team. But the football team photos caught her eye one photo in particular. In the picture was what looked like a striker about to score, it was Elena.
Caroline quickly yanked her phone from her pocket and dialed Stefans number
Caroline finally where are you?
Im at some college but that's not important, Stefan i think Elenas still alive
There was silence on the other end of the line.
Didnt you hear me Stefan? She could still be alive, we still can save her
Caroline i know how hard this is, im hurting too, but she dead you saw the picture
It was a Doppelganger. I just found a picture of her on a college campus
Are you sure?
Yes Stefan how could? i mistake my best friend's face and thats not all. There's been a fire on this campus in the dorm buildings im guessing Nadia did it to make sure we didn't figure it out
This is great, meet me back at that hotel we can
Caroline hung up the phone and placed it back in her pocket, she thought about running back but her legs began to ache as a reminder of how much running she had already done today, she decided to compel a cab.
Elena felt safe once she saw Katherine had taken the hand of her past self, She didn't know where she was going but she trusted her trusted Katherine to protect her past self, that situation with Caroline had gotten so intense and confusing but she knew Katherine would make everything calm again. Katherine took Past Elena back up to her room, Elena watched as Katherine locked the door and turned back to her past self "Elena" said Katherine Elena could feel butterflies begin to form in Katherine stomach "it doesn't look like we have a lot of time until they come up those stairs so this will have to be quick, i want you to stay with me". A small smile on Past Elenas face seemed to quieten the butterflies, "usual i would be inclined to kill them and keep you locked up in this tower forever, but i want you to be happy so if you want to go with them i'd understand" as she finished her speech Elena began to feel the butterflies intensify again. "Katherine i want to stay with you too" Elena felt the burst of joy Katherine felt, "and i came here to be with you, but" Past Elena paused as she stepped forward and took Katherine into her arms, Elena could feel the safeness she brought Katherine, the same feeling she had felt when Katherine took her hand. "But i eventually was going to have to go back home, my friends are there jeremy's there my whole life is in Mystic falls" Elena felt Katherine's attempt to hide the sadness her past self's word caused. She felt her Past self squeeze Katherine tight "everything i love was there, until you left so will you please come back with me?" Katherine held Elenas past self tighter burying her head in Past Elena's shoulder and nodded. "Lets go back down there then, they are going to react badly at first but if we push through it they'll be okay with it eventually".
Nadia watched Nicky from the kitchen doorway, her captive had stopped struggling against her bonds a few hours ago and it looked like she was beginning to fall asleep. She supposed Katherine was right, she had tried the Elena is dead angle to get rid of their pursuers and it only seemed to throw petrol on the fire. She looked past the girl and looked out of the window, the sky outside had changed from a pitch black to a lighter navy blue, Nadias eyes moved back to Nicky. She was tempted to leave her to slowly burn but she willed herself over to the curtains and drew them closed, Katherine wouldn't be happy if her plan was spoiled by stupid pettiness. Her movements seemed to stir Nicky as more muffled curses came from the hostage, "you know if you didn't have such a foul mouth i wouldn't be so inclined to kill you" Nadia taunted as slouched down onto the sofa next to her.
Her eyelids felt heavy and her body was exhausted but Nadia refused to go back into her bedroom the thought of Elena slipping back into her dreams was unpleasant to say the least. She was relieved that it wouldn't be the case for long once they cram Elena into Nicky.
Elena can go home with her fanatic friends and she and Katherine can finally be left alone, no longer hunted.
"I guess it would be typical of our luck if you had some kind of supernatural friends" Nadia told Nicky "to gain new enemies after we use you to get rid of the ones we already have" Nickys retort was muffled. Nadia reached out for the gag "that mumbling is annoying, i'll take it off if you're quiet okay?" after a few moments of angery starring Nicky nodded, "good cause if you start shouting i'll just snap your neck" Nadia said as she pulled off the gag and slumped back into the sofa "you don't have any supernatural friends do you?" Nicky shook her head. Nadia smiled "there are others then?" Nicky asked "other than vampires" Nadia nodded "there are a few". Nicky blow a loose hair out of her face "whose Elena? And what does she have to do with me?" Nadia chuckled at the hostages boldness "a very annoying girl with some very annoying friends, but also some powerful friends who want me and Katherine dead" Nicky smiled "i like her already".
Nadia stretched her aching body and lied flat on the sofa and they spent a few seconds in silence "she was a nice enough girl but the things she and her friends did to my mother, they hurt her". She paused to remove her jacket and bunch it up to use as a makeshift pillow, "i can't blame them entirely it was mostly provoked but when it comes down to it i would kill angels if it meant Katherine could live".