A/N: I want to apologize — again — to all of you wonderful readers for the long delay in posting. Although, I do have a lot of this story prewritten already, I'm never fully satisfied when I read through them again. Besides, checking the chapters for my dyslexic spelling mistakes— fun. It's like they play hide-and-seek with me, and I despise it.

But I want you all to know, thank you, for sticking with this story despite everything. Your interest and continuing support is definitely what's keeping me writing — well, checking mostly at this point — and I really appreciate it. So thank you, you all!

I'm sure you all know it by now, but I enjoy all the reviews and comments I get, hearing what y'all have to say, immensely.

On a good point, I finally have some free time coming up and I will have more time to write again. Which I will use to finalize more chapters. So let the story continue. More plans are made and perhaps, finally, we're going to find out where Bonnie went to^^

Lots of love,

Anna

o.O.o

Chapter Thirty-Two, Answers

I was sitting on my bed, arms wrapped around my drawn-up knees, trying to make some kind of sense of everything that had happened. The blood, the murders— I knew Caroline had escaped, but I hadn't heard from her.

I hadn't heard from Enzo either, then again why would I have? He held no interest in me beyond the brief relief it would have been to sink his teeth into my neck and watch Grayson shriek and cry for the death of his only daughter.

However, the carnage had triggered a ton of nightmares again, mostly featuring Enzo's cold, red eyes. Disorientating sensations of an arm around my waist, pressing and pressing, cracking ribs, the scent of burned flesh and metal. And ever so often, they'd turn darker and darker, until smoke was clogging my vision, the heat of the flames scorching the ground around me and Klaus smiling down at me.

'Thank you, Sweetheart,' before sinking his fangs in my neck.

I would die, the darkness closing in and then when I awoke as a vampire, I'd be strapped to a metal table. And then I would gasp awake for real. My human heart beating wildly against my chest, staring up at the slanted ceiling of Elena Gilbert's room.

The visage of her rather girly room didn't face me anymore, its familiarity almost soothing by now, as was the face looking back from the mirror now. Although my skin looked pallid, paler then Nina Dobrev's ever had, and the shadows beneath my eyes looked terrible, it was my face. And it was my life now.

My phone vibrated and I reached for it, finding my silent alarm telling me school would start in less then forty minutes and I busied myself with dressing. I didn't notice the door behind me open, nor did I hear the footsteps until a hand fell on my shoulder. My gasp was drowned out only by the thud my back made when it hit the wall.

"Oh—" Miranda Gilbert shocked voice registered a second before her face sharpened in front of me.

"Erm, hi mom," I tried, my heart thudding painfully against my chest.

"I'm sorry, Sweetie, I didn't mean to scare you." She whispered.

I recognized an intervention when I saw one. I wasn't sure how I hadn't expected one in the first place and bit my lip. "It's fine."

"Are you okay?" She intoned in a soft, warm voice.

I shrugged and tied my hair back in a high pony tail. "I'm fine."

"Your dad— I know you don't agree with it, but, Sweetie, you don't understand."

"Why is everyone telling me, I don't understand?" I asked, flattening my hands over the front of my white dress. "I understand perfectly. Dad thinks vampires are soulless monsters who don't have any rights. Or just monsters? I don't even know, but I know it doesn't give you the right to experiment on them. It makes you no better than the monsters you're trying to fight."

"Elena—"

"And it's not like he did it to cure any of them either." I continued, ignoring the dozen different emotions dancing in her eyes. "Not every vampire is a monster. Some try. But why bother, hm? In the end they're only vampires, aren't they?"

"Elena, we think we should have another talk," Miranda said and I met her eyes.

"I don't think I'll ever agree with your standpoint on this." I grumbled.

I didn't want to have this conversation. Not again.

Closing my eyes I gritted my teeth together. I only had to wait until Elena turned eighteen. I could handle it till June 22. I could— or I hoped, I could. I followed after Miranda in a way I supposed someone would have followed their impending doom.

Grayson was already sitting at the kitchen table, hands clasped together in front of him and I shuffled inside. Miranda closed the door behind us— so this was going to be a private conversation? Wonderfull.

Miranda gestured to the stool opposite of Grayson, but I shook my head. Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest and leant back against the counter. Grayson's expression was flat and empty when he looked at me and Miranda slumped down on a stool beside her husband, looking weary and so very tired.

"Okay," she said, tapping her fingers on the table, "I realize we've reached an intersection of some sort. And I know we do not agree with each other on how to threat vampires."

Grayson and I gave her equal looks of irritation and Miranda smiled wanly. "Well, at least you two can agree on something."

"Rand," Grayson huffed irritably.

"Honey, we have to work this out as a family."

My mouth dried at those words.

As a family—

But I would never be family.

I would never be Elena Gilbert. And could people really expect me to pretend to be someone I wasn't for the rest of my life? I didn't think I should have to and ground my teeth together in frustration. Miranda was nervously wringing her hands together, still talking.

I noticed her mouth move, but there was a loud buzzing in my ears preventing me to hear what it was she was saying. I was sure she had a plethora of fond, blurry memories, filled with all these little moments I didn't know about and— and it hurt.

It hurt knowing that every moment she would cart her fingers through my hair, she didn't see me. I wondered if that was what the real Elena felt when she found out about Katherine. The feeling hadn't been overwhelming before, the feeling of not belonging, but it was now.

It took one thoughtless comment about family to remind me of the fact I was not the one they wanted. That they were not the parents I wanted. That whenever I saw them curl on the couch with Jeremy, I would miss my own parents and remember that nothing I did could ever get them back. I thought all of this might have been easier if they were actually gone. If the both of them had died, but— although my father wasn't alive anymore, my mother was.

But she wasn't here—

Perhaps, it was easier to pretend she wasn't alive anymore. It had been easier to miss my father because of that. He would truly never come back. Perhaps, if I considered my mother that way—

"Elena?"

"Hm?"

Miranda cocked her head to the side, looking at me as if she expected me to say something. To answer a question, I guessed. A question I hadn't heard and I bit my lower lip, curling my fingers around the edge of the counter.

"I don't want to talk about all of this." I said flatly.

"I don't care," Grayson snapped, "as long as you live under our roof, you follow our rules."

"I do follow your rules," I remarked testily, forcing my anger down. "I'm home for curfew, I do my chores. I do my homework and prepare for SAT tests. What more do you want from me?"

"No associating with vampires would be a start." He remarked, adopting an expression of mild disinterest. It fooled no one. "You just don't understand what they are like."

I threw my head back and laughed boisterously. A nervous, jittery sound, and rolled up the sleeve of my jacket, exposing my wrist. The twin wounds were scabbed over now and, although very itchy, didn't look that bad anymore. "I know what vampires do. I have been through it first-hand." I whispered and held my wrist out as in challenge before dropping it.

Miranda's face had gone white. I saw a dozen different emotions dance in her eyes before she turned to her husband and realization hit me like a thunderbolt. She hadn't known I'd been bitten. I wondered what else Grayson had kept from her and let my eyes glide to his face.

He wasn't looking at me. Instead, he waved a hand dismissively as if my confession meant nothing. As if the scabbed wounds on my wrist were a normal occurrence. I wetted my lips.

"What if I become a vampire?" I asked.

"What—" Grayson started, panic flashing in his eyes.

"What if one decides to turn me?" I whispered and met his eyes. "Would you strap me to a table too? Or would you expect me to be better because I'm your kid? Would you give me a chance?"

"Elena, that's—"

"No, just— don't answer that." I whispered. "I don't— just, I'm going to school."

Miranda Gilbert stepped out in front of me and shook her head. "No. No, you're not going away like this." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Why would you want to know?"

"Not to become one." I responded evenly, shrugging on my coat. "I wanted to know where I stand."

"Sweetheart," Miranda whispered just as I hitched up my schoolbag, "we love you. And we worry."

I considered my next words carefully. "I know, but I am not a little girl anymore. And I don't have to agree with dad's past time. I don't have to agree with his 'for the greater good' policy. Bonnie didn't deserve any of this. You two have known her all of her life. And yet, that didn't stop you from taking her. From hurting her."

Grayson's chair scraped against the floor as he pushed it back and his face rapidly gained color. "She is not human anymore. You should't confuse—"

"I don't want to have this discussion anymore!" I snapped and tore out of the house. The door banged closed behind me and I ran. I ran down Maple Street and turned into the next, never bothering to remember its name.

My heartbeat sounded like a thunderous roar in my ears and cold filtered through my veins. I should have taken the car— it would have been easier— but the chilly morning air felt delicious against my heated skin.

When my muscles were finally drained off their energy, and my breath burned in my lungs, I came to a halt. Panting hard, I stooped over, hands bracing my thighs. I hadn't been attending cheer practice the last few months and my stamina paid the price. Gasping, I reached for the lantern and leant heavily against it, blinking away the tears burning in my eyes. My wrist itched and I ripped my sleeve up again, staring at the wound. Still fairly fresh and only partially scabbed over, it itched so bad, I couldn't help but scratch at it. It would probably leave another scar— although, it would be less recognizable on the paleness of the skin of my inner wrist.

I exhaled loudly and curled my fingers through my hair, gripping at the ends.

My schoolbag felt heavy on my shoulder and I wondered. I did that a lot lately. But I wondered. What if Elena's parent's car had gone off the bridge as it was supposed to, all those months ago? Would that somehow have made this situation better? I thought it would have saved Bonnie a lot of pain— perhaps the storyline wouldn't have changed so much when Elena's parents had died the way they should have?

I swallowed. Did that make me a horrible person? Was I a horrible person already? I wasn't sure anymore. It was much easier to consider someone's options from the safety of your bed, wrapped tightly into your comforter as you watched the series, then making decisions on the spot.

Rain started to drizzle against my skin and my cheeks chilled. I inhaled deeply, sucking my lower lip between my teeth and wrapped my arms around my waist. Not being a good person— it wasn't a pleasant thought.

Looking at my the noses of my sneakers I trotted further down the pavement. It took mere minutes before my feet were slushing in my sneakers, and another few before my coat was drenched. I couldn't have gotten any wetter had I gone for a swim in Wickery Creek and I let out a long, grateful breath when the Center's square came into view. It was short lived when I noticed a second set of footsteps behind me.

I quickened my step, a flutter of fear curling down my spine and—

"Elena?"

I sucked in a heavy breath when I recognized Caroline's voice and I turned my head so fast, a flash of pain curled up my neck. "Caroline?"

"Hi," she greeted and I stared hard at her.

"Hi?" I echoed and felt my face heat up. "Hi? Caroline where were you?" I continued, my voice gaining a screeching tone. Caroline flinched away from me, as if she had been struck and I forced my horrified anger down, "Don't you know how worried I was? I thought—"

"I'm okay," she tried.

The sound that escaped my throat hit the exact midpoint between relief and disbelief and I wondered what question I should throw Caroline's way first. There were so many of them, bubbling up my throat, none seemed quite right to start with.

"I don't know what to say— where were you?"

"Enzo helped me," she explained.

"Oh, it's Enzo now, hm?"

"He wasn't so bad," she shrugged and beckoned me to move along. I was reminded that this was the girl considering to give Klaus himself a second chance, after he all but painted to town of Mystic Falls red, and he was by far the baddest vampire of them all. Honestly, it was somewhat unsurprising Caroline considered Enzo 'not so bad' and I bit my lip.

"Did he bring you home?"

Caroline gave me a look that made me think I was being terribly naive and I wetted my lips.

"Never mind."

"Come on," she told me briskly.

"Erm?" I frowned. "School is the other way, Care."

"We're not going to school. We're going to discuss this— we have a lot to discuss."

Our footsteps tapped across the cobblestones as I followed Caroline towards the central library, crossing over Main Street. The air had lost most of its bite, even if the rain had not lost its chill, and the green, budding trees bent across the quaint stone buildings surrounding us.

The library was made of brick as well, a towering construction with stained windows and I slowly followed Caroline up the stone steps, leading to the entrance.

I craned my neck when we entered. Dim light spilled in through the stained windows above our heads and washed out over the entry. I hadn't been there before and slowly followed Caroline up a pair of wooden stairs.

My fingers clamped around the iron handrail and I let my eyes glide through the room. It was spacious, I would give it that, but missed the bookish smell, I'd come to associate with the old library at— my previous home. Compared to an old-fashioned library with its towering bookcases and several floors full of books, the two story library in Mystic Falls was rather lacking.

Well, at least, here, the library was pretty much deserted and we settled at a work table near the window, having a view on town's square.

The early spring rain pattered against the window and I bounced my knee. It was the only think I could do, without launching away the questions that burned at my throat. I wasn't sure, why Caroline was so worried about telling me what she found. I wondered how bad the answers were when she was this hesitant.

"Care," I finally asked, brushing a loose lock of hair behind my ear.

"Enzo and I had to hide during the day," she explained and I felt one eyebrow rise.

"Why?" I questioned, giving a pointed look at her daylight ring, "I was under the impression, you didn't burn in the sun when you wore that?"

"Well, yeah," she agreed, "but Enzo didn't— we had to find his ring. Weird story too, it was on display in an antique shop near campus. Anyway, Enzo helped me interrogate that creepy doctor. You know the one you had the hots for when you met him."

"I did not have the hots for that creep," I denied huffily. Caroline merely shrugged.

"It's fine," she waved her hand dismissively. "I thought Damon was hot too when I met him."

"And then he opened his mouth, I assume?"

Caroline made an agreeing sound and wetted her lips. "Yeah, then he opened his mouth…"

"Wait— that creepy Doctor," I muttered, "isn't he, you know dead?"

"Technically yes, but Enzo made him into a vampire."

"I know— but why?"

"Revenge," she shrugged, waving at me as if it should be obvious and leant closer. "But, anyway, the creepy witch doctor knew what happened to Bonnie— and don't worry, she's alive. They took her to a different building. The doctor said they needed her as leverage to find out about someone's location. Someone ancient, Enzo thinks."

"You mean an Original?"

"Makes sense, don't you think?"

"In their twisted way, probably." I agreed and trailed my index finger along the rough edge of the table. "Why would they need Bonnie to find an Original?"

I considered the possibility that Wes Maxfield meant to wake Silas. I knew he was considered an ancient one too and, of course, when resurrecting him, they needed a Bennett witch. And they would need Shane— but I was quite sure he'd gotten killed off mid-season four.

Vaguely, I remembered the creepy vampire experiments, but I hadn't given that plot line much thought, having lost interest in the show at the end of season four.

"Elena?"

"I'm trying to figure out what ancient one— what Original they are after."

"Why, you know more Originals than Klaus and Elijah?" She teased lightly.

"I do— Klaus and Elijah have other siblings—" I said.

Caroline's hesitant, teasing smile grew into a more genuine one, and I leant my chin on my hands, cradling my face in my palms. "So which one—"

"I'm not sure."

And I didn't. I knew Klaus had every one of his siblings boxed up, but none of them seemed all that useful to the group of crazy scientists. Sucking my lower-lip between my teeth, I considered Klaus' mother. She was dangerous and I supposed, she could be useful.

Opening her coffin needed a set, generation, of witches— which would not explain why they'd needed Bonnie— and there was Mikael. My stomach churned and my skin itched.

Mikael, the vampire who hunted vampires.

I felt my brows furrow together and I dug my teeth into my lower lip until I tasted blood.

"Perhaps Mikael," I whispered.

"Mikael?"

"Klaus' father," I explained, "I'm pretty sure he came to Mystic Falls years ago and Bonnie's mom desiccated him—" I explained, deciding I would think of a back-up story later, "—and hid him at a cemetery."

"Which one?"

"I don't know," I grumbled. I was pleased enough as it was, I might have deducted the mad scientists were after Mikael. Caroline brows furrowed together, her lips arching downward into a grimace. I was tempted to reach forward and grip her wrist. I was tempted to tell her she would, in the end, be okay. That we would find out where Bonnie was.

"Enzo could try and get it out of that arrogant asshole."

"Or we could look up Abby Bennett and ask her." I responded.

Caroline leant back in her chair and drew her fingers over her temples. "But she's been gone so long, I've no idea how we could find her."

"Perhaps we could ask your mom?"

"To find Bonnie's mom?" she clarified and I nodded.

"Yes, and when we find Abby, we can ask her. We can ask where she left Mikael." I said.

Caroline nodded, taking out her cell phone with a flourish that was not necessary and I watched her fingers tap on the screen so fast they became a blur.

I shifted in my seat, staring outside. It was still raining, although the downpour was less heavy than before. I let my eyes glide over town hall and then fixed them onto the clocktower. It had been featured in several episodes, as was the town's square. The grassy center with the park benches and the bulky trees surrounding it.

Two deputies were crossing the street and my thoughts shifted to Liz Forbes. Liz Forbes who knew about her daughter's vampirism, just as in the original timeline.

"Elena—"

"How did your mom find out you were a vampire?"

"Oh," she wetted her lips and frowned, "Matt told her."

I swallowed. Matt told her, just as in the original timeline. Caroline didn't seem to notice my musings, rolling her cellphone through her fingers and talked without realizing I was missing most of her sentences. "—But, she'll look up all the Abby Bennetts there are."

I forced a smile on my lips. "Good."

The rain had persisted throughout most of the day, but when we left the library, it was mostly dry.

Dew had gathered generously on the grass as we crossed the park. A short-cut to the Grill's parking lot. A strong gust of wind buffed about our bodies and caused the large green banner in front of the Grill to flap and flutter around wildly. My hands flew to my hair, as it whisked my ponytail this way and that way.

"I really hope spring will start soon," Caroline grumbled as she unlocked her grey Ford.

"Yeah," I agreed and clambered in the passenger seat. "Well, at least it stopped raining."

"The glass is always half full in your world, isn't it?" She smiled and I shrugged.

Looking at it in a more positive way, seemed like a good thing to do. I stared at the blonde vampire as she steered the car onto the road. She only had one hand on the steering wheel, the other held her phone as she texted someone. If she were anyone else — or if she was actually a human, that is — I would have freaked. Yet, she wasn't human and I didn't freak. I did worry about other things instead.

"What's wrong?" She asked, picking up on my souring mood.

"Considering what I should tell mom and dad— I'm sure they'll have a litter of kittens if they knew I still hang out with you."

"I thought you didn't care what they thought anymore?"

"I don't." I mumbled and wetted my lips. "Can I stay with you?" I asked, the words pouring from my lips before I could think twice about it. Caroline threw a worried look my way and I held her gaze for several long seconds. She averted her eyes, pursing her lips.

"Of course," she agreed, smacking her lips, "you know you're always welcome with us."

"But—?"

She blinked several times and the car slowed down. The street-lamps had turned to life, grey dusk chasing the last of daylight. They threw Caroline's face in dark shadows. She was still thinking, or it seemed like she was and her hands curled and uncurled around the steering wheel. "I'm afraid, Elena. Your dad threatened my mom when he found out what I was."

"He wouldn't— he wouldn't harm her." I stammered.

"I don't know if he wouldn't, Elena, but if he tries—" something dark passed over her face.

"I won't let him, Caroline." I whispered. "But I can't go there anymore."

I shook my head, my heart beating loudly and my breathing shallow and fast. I tried moving through the tangled emotions that twined around me. Tried to think through all the confusion that curled in my stomach like wild serpents. I just couldn't play a role anymore for people who would be wiling to maim and harm something they didn't understand.

"I know you wouldn't," Caroline assured me and wetted her lips, throwing open the car door. "Well, all the Vervain is almost gone."

"What?"

"I heard mom mention it a few nights ago." She whispered.

"And you want to compel him?"

She nodded. "It seems the right thing to do, doesn't it? We can compel your parents, perhaps even Matt—"

"Do you still love him?"

"I don't love love him. But I care for him. And it sucks he doesn't want to be my friend anymore."

"Right," I agreed, not really thinking compelling someone was the right way to regain someone's friendship. Caroline had already gotten out of the car, stalking up towards her house. I gave a cursory glance up and down the street before I followed after her.

Liz Forbes had appeared in the door-opening, stack of papers pressed against her chest.

I gave her a tired smile. At least, I didn't have to pretend that hard around her, to be someone I was not. I knew Caroline's mom had been an absent mom most of the times, too busy with her career and work to be home all that much. I thought she might not notice the major changes Elena had gone through. Or I hoped she wouldn't—

To be continued...

A/N: The updates will start to be more regular now. But I don't think I can update weekly under normal circumstances. Every two weeks should be more doable, or perhaps I should shorten the chapters a bit? Any ideas or feelings about this.

I'll see you next time^^