(Author's Note: I've aged up the characters, Elena to 24 and Jeremy to 22. It's been five years since their parents died in the car crash (Elena was not there at the time of the crash in this version). Elena and her brother received five million dollars in insurance per parent, meaning that neither of them has to work a day in their lives. Despite this, it was important to their father that they pursue some sort of academics, which Elena decided that they would do. They moved to London for university, and to get away from the city of their tragic past. Story begins when Elena is in PhD and Jeremy just started Masters at University College London.
Just your simple love-triangle story. No witches, werewolves, originals, eternals, etc. in this version; just humans and vampires. There's one key difference which is integral to the plot: humans can't see vampires. Once you turn into a vampire, you become invisible to your prey. Katherine is already dead at the start of this story, and while she charmed Stephen into loving her, Damon truly loved her. She and Elena have opposite personalities but look absolutely identical- something the brothers have to grapple with.
Some humans are aware of the existence of vampires, but Elena is the only one who can see them (for now; I might add another human or two who can also see them in the future). Furthermore, Elena can only see them fasted; when she eats food, she severs the link for up to three hours. This is a philosophical reflection that digesting and getting nourishment from human food is one stark difference between the species. Like when Elena eats food, she is truly "human" in that moment.
Told from Elena's P.O.V. She's living with Jeremy in a flat in London currently. Enjoy!)
There wasn't time to make much of a breakfast; I plopped down a M&S donut onto a plate for Jeremy and poured myself a cup of tea with lemon and a tiny bit of honey. After bursting out into a coughing fit and wiping my chin with the back of my hand, I went to fetch my comatose brother from his room. Opening the door revealed him half under the covers, wearing boxers and a white t-shirt, and half a sock hanging off his foot. My knuckles tapped on the wood of the door, acting as his own personal alarm clock.
"Wake up, Jeremy. We've got to grab the tube in fifteen minutes," I said before returning to the kitchen. Some whole five minutes later he emerged, dressed but still looking shaggy. I set his plate and mug down at his plate at the two-person kitchen table. With a wide yawn, he sat himself down and gazed at the meal before him. Picking up the now luke-warm tea, he swirled it a bit before taking a sip. Then he looked at me on the other side of our kitchen.
"Morning, sis." "Morning," I cheerily replied before coughing into my sleeve again. Jeremy seemed concerned. "Still got that cold, eh?" "It's Fresher's Flu; all of my students are sick. Come on, we've only got like five minutes," I began shoving things into my backpack. He watched, taking a bite of his donut. "You could have left before me." "I want to make sure you actually go to your seminar today. Now please, I don't want to be late- again." "I'm eating as fast as I can. Did you have breakfast yet?"
My hands paused here a moment before I went on packing. "No, I'm fasting today." Jeremy frowned. "You shouldn't fast when you're sick." "I haven't fasted for the last three days. It's a safety thing, Jeremy; you know that." "So London's teeming in vampires. So what? They've never bothered us before…. well in this country, anyway." "You know I like to keep an eye on them, and besides, I took some cough syrup and honey tea earlier," yes, I know honey technically breaks a fast but I realized sometime in my early twenties that if I ate under fifty calories that wouldn't affect my "vampire-vision", as Mom used to call it.
My beloved younger brother watched me a moment before sighing, letting his head hang down a little. "It's been five years, sis. You can live a normal life, you know. You don't have to protect me from vampires forever." I stopped here to gaze over his way, straightening my back. "Haven't I lost enough? Is it too much to ask that I keep my little brother too? Yes, it's been five years, but do you know how any vampires I've seen since we moved here? Let's just say I lost count- a LONG time ago." He rolled his eyes, polishing off his donut. "Alright, alright, I get it. I just hate seeing you starve yourself like this, especially when you're not feeling well." "I'm not starving myself; you know that too. I ate nearly three thousand calories yesterday, so I'm all set. It's only every other day, and besides, I love the mental clarity it gives me," particularly for difficult PhD research. He nodded and then checked his watch while sipping down the rest of his coffee. His eyes widened as he leaped up out of his chair fast.
"It's five to; we gotta hurry!" "You've got to hurry. I'm all ready to go… Or I will be once I grab my tea," I headed over to the kitchen counter. Jeremy was on his way back over to his bedroom before pausing mid-hall to glance back in my direction. His hand was on the wall and he looked at me with such compassionate, loving eyes.
"Hey, sis?" "Yeah?" "Thanks… I mean thanks, for all you do for me. I know it hasn't been easy on you….. I haven't made it easy on you." I too froze here to stare back at him wide-eyed and a bit taken aback. My lips sputtered slightly as I wasn't sure how to respond to this; he must mean the drug use in his teen years. Took him until he was nineteen to get fully clean- and stay clean. Our eyes lingered on one another as my shoulders began to relax.
"It's ok, Jeremy. You were just going through a tough time- we all were. I don't blame you…. I'm just so happy you're here with me," here in London, I mean. His eyes lowered a tad, his fingers curling inward bit by bit. "I wish there was more I could do for you….." "You do enough. Heh, but if you want to do something for me, you can pick up some groceries on your way home. We're almost out of…. well everything."
He chuckled, shaking his head and turning to continue on down the hall. "Whatever you say, sis. Just expect to have takeout curry for dinner then." "If you buy fresh ingredients, I'll must us some," I replied back, turning back to my backpack. As I zipped it up, I could still feel Jeremy's eyes on me. When I peered back his way from over my shoulder, he was sending me a sincere, serious look. His hand had curled into a fist by this point. His lips parted a sliver after a second. "Elena." "Huh? Yes?" That's weird, he rarely calls me anything but "sis". But his expression just then…. That right there was one of true, familial love. He looked at me, and I knew that he loved me, as any good brother ought to love their sisters.
"Be careful out there…. for me."
I SOMEHOW got Jeremy to his seminar in my biology lab on time. Luckily for him- and me- I was lecturing in a nearby seminar room. We had entered into a sort of daily routine. Everyday we'd ride the tube to campus, then we'd go our separate ways, meeting back at home for dinner whenever that may be. The days went by fast now; I was teaching four lectures- all the same material- on top of my own PhD work. My supervisor wanted a chapter soon which wasn't anywhere near ready. I'd have to work on that after my last lecture…. Assuming I felt well enough to, that is. I was tempted to go home and lay down all afternoon but alas, the work had to be done sooner or later.
There weren't any vampires hanging around campus today- thank god. I'd kinda forgotten all about them by near the end of the day. Checking my phone- I didn't like wearing watches- the time read five thirty. Hmmmmmm, let's see; Jeremy likely won't get home until seven or so. I won't be eating dinner with him anyway, but I'd still like to make him something later. My throat was starting to hurt again though; time for another lemon, honey, peppermint tea! I'm very picky with the kinds of tea I drink.
Nearby outside of campus was this adorable little café which had great loose-leaf tea. And nearby that were the Postal and Charles Dicken's Museums, among more. By far the greatest attraction was the British Museum within walking distance, but it would be closing soon. Just wanting to go for a stroll while drinking my tea, I ended up wandering aimlessly through the Regent's Park- you might have heard of it; that's where the London Zoo is.
After a while of meandering, I came across this free park bench to sit at. My tea had been too hot to drink quickly, so this was a good chance to take the lid off and let it cool down. As it did so, I surveyed the surrounding absent-mindedly. This was such a beautiful park and I loved the Fall season- heh, or Autumn, if you so prefer. Shutting my eyes and tossing my head back, I drew in a deep breath. It's moments like that it feels like I'm back in Mystic Falls….. Back when things were good.
I don't know why but this shiver suddenly overtook me, causing my eyes to reopen. I looked forward ahead of me, and a cold sweat broke over my entire body.
There, halfway across the park in front of me, was this vampire. He was tall, thin, and looked to be about my age- in human years, that is. His hair was short and light brown; his eyes were emerald green….. and they were staring right back at me. I don't know if he knew that I could see him, but he was definitely looking at me either way. Another shiver raced up my spine. He didn't look like a predator on the hunt, but I don't like how intently, almost dumbfoundedly, he practically beheld me just then.
In a growing sense of panic, I decided to get up and leave, though I tried to do so as casually as possible; most vampires would ignore you if they thought you couldn't see them. True, anyone could theoretically become their prey, and it's hard to fight off an invisible attacker, but most vampires struck at night while people were sleeping. Lots of murders by vampires were actually thought to be from natural causes or accidents in the home. Not too many humans could see vampires, so it became harder and harder to convince others that they were real.
But they were real, and one was watching me.
Trying to act nonchalant but hurrying all the same, I gathered up my paper cup and lid, put on my backpack, and hastily started walking away. It didn't take a genius to know that he was following me, whoever he was. Feeling more in danger now, I threw out my cup in the nearest trash bin and picked up the pace. Everyone else around me was completely fine, just enjoying their time in the park. As I was half-sprinting by now, he kept up with my speed- because of course he did. I hadn't spoken to a vampire in years, and the last time it did not end well. I was NOT going to go through a repeat of that. Part of my mind was screaming at me to eat something so he'd become invisible to me, but then what? I can't go home; what if he follows me? And I can't go back onto campus; he'll know where I go to school. No, it's best I keep an eye on him, even if this was freaking me the heck out. I wanted to go down the closest tube station but decided against that too; the last thing I want is to be trapped on a train or platform with him, even if we wouldn't be alone this time of day.
Faster and faster my feet marched, not stopping to even check over my shoulder. I already knew he was still there and was following close behind me. I rounded a corner onto an empty street, which I hadn't planned on doing. It was then that I think he'd had enough of these games. Using his supernatural abilities he jumped to land in front of me, blocking my path. He was only mere feet away from me and continued staring my way with such intensity. It's like he wasn't looking at me but through me. My lips sputtered a little as my foot instinctively slid backward. My hand rose up defensively in front of my pounding chest. He took one look at me and opened his lush mouth. "Now don't be afraid; I just want to ask you something.
Can you really see me?"