The Sacrifice

Masquerade - 3

"You guys are trying to kill her here?" Elena exclaims in disbelief after Bonnie, Jeremy and I explained the plan.

"We saw an opportunity and we knew we had to take it." I say, defending our actions.

Elena shakes her head. "Okay, stop with the "we", are you guys crazy? You're gonna get yourselves killed."

"We know what we're doing, Elena." Bonnie defends with her arms crossed.

"And how am I supposed to feel if one of you guys gets hurt because of me?"
Jeremy shakes his head at her, "It's not just you anymore, Elena. She's messed with all of us, she has to be stopped."

I scream in pain when I feel something pierce my back, my knees shake and I quickly reach for Jeremy as I gasp at the pain. They quickly move me to sit down at table that was just a few feet away.

I groan at the pain coming from my back as blood oozes from my back, and starts to ruin my dress.
I scream louder when the pain starts to come from my arm as well. I looked at my arm where blood sprouted with fear while Elena, Jeremy and Bonnie scrambled to figure out what was happening.

"What's going on?" Elena yells with panic.

"it's Katherine" Bonnie says in realization. "She's linked to Katherine, Jeremy get them to stop! Now!" Bonnie yells at him and Jeremy and Elena start to run, faster then I've ever seen them run before.

I force myself to breath through the pain, even if the pain hurts like a bitch.

I groan in fear as a cut suddenly appears in the palm of my hand.
That little bitch, what better way to hurt Elena then through me. If Stefan or Damon kill her, they kill me and Elena would never forgive them. Damn she's cleaver.

"Bonnie, it hurts." I whine as Bonnie holds my hand.

"I can't break the spell, Ariel. I'm sorry but I can try to take some of the pain away. Okay? Okay?"

I nod at her as I inhale sharply. She takes my hand and starts to chant a spell. "Ascinda, mulaf, hinto, ascinda..."

Jeremy and Elena drop to my side when they arrive.

"Are you okay?" They asked out of breath.

"Are they?" I question with a groan,
Jeremy looks back at the house as they explain "They're stuck in there with her."

"You were right; Katherine had a witch link Elena to her." Jeremy says looking at Bonnie.
Bonnies eyes widen in shock "The girl I saw, the one inside! Stay with her, keep pressure on her shoulder!"

"Where are you going?" Elena asks as she gets up
"There's another witch here, I'm gonna find her!"

She runs away and Elena stands up, "I'll be right back, I'm gonna bring some more napkins" she says before rushing off.

They both leave, leaving me with Jeremy who removes the Gilbert ring and thrusts it at me.

I wince in pain and shake my head at him. "No."

"Take it."

"No, Jeremy..." I argue as I sift through the pain.
He grabs my face and makes me look at him.

"Ariel listen to me: you need this more than I do."

I groan as I shake my head at him, even that movement hurts.

"No Jeremy. What I need is for you to be safe."

When Elena came back with more napkins for the blood, I started to feel less pain.

"You're going to be alright!" Bonnie exclaimed as she rushed back. "What do you mean?" Elena asked confused. I held my hand up, watching as the cut healed.

"What did you do?" I asked Bonnie with wide eyes. "The other witch, she did it"

"She helped?' Jeremy asked confused as he and Elena cleaned up most of the blood.

"don't worry. Everything's going to be fine"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After getting most of the blood off me, and staining my dress, I shrugged on my black jacket. Which thankfully covered my wounds.

I went to find Matt because Caroline texted me saying there was an accident.

"What happened?" I asked as I rushed into the old mayors office.

Caroline sighed heavily, "Matt was drunk and was attacking Tyler then I kind of knocked him out, and then Sarah attacked him and then Tyler shoved her away and she hit her head and died"

It took me a second to register the words.

"Oh my god. Where's Tyler, and Matt?"

"Tyler went with his mom to talk to my mom, and Matts downstairs, waiting for you"

I sighed, as I looked around the room with worry. "Hey, why do I smell blood?" Caroline asked curious.

I shook my head at her, "Long story, I'll see you at school tomorrow"

I found Matt practically passed out on a table. I was still healing so it hurt a little to drag him to the car.

"Here let me help" Stefan said, grabbing Matts arm and helping hoist him up.

"Thanks" I said, opening the passenger side of my car and getting him in.

"Listen Ariel. I'm sorry for the pain you went through" Stefan apologized.

I shook my head at him, "Don't worry about it. Bonnie say's I'm healing"

He shook his head, "We shouldn't have involved you, you almost died, again" He said a bit annoyed.

"I'm starting to think that death follows you"

I laugh a little, "I'm starting to think that to"

I sighed, putting my serious face on. "Listen Stefan. There is always going to be danger. I know that, but I don't care if I'm in the middle of it as long as the one's I love aren't"

Stefan sighed, "But that's reckless"

"I don't care Stefan. If I have to be reckless all the time so be it"