You Are My Life

Friends on the Other Side

"You found a way to save the life of the doppelgänger?" Mallorie asked.

"Yes, Mallorie. I did." Elijah took a deep breath. "But unfortunately, Katerina took matters into her own hands first. I believe you already know how that played out."

"You cared about her, didn't you?" Mallorie asked.

"It's a common mistake, I'm told. And it's one I won't make again." Elijah almost chuckled.

He handed Mallorie her jacket. Without a word, Mallorie knew their meeting was over. Elijah didn't have anything else to share. As Mallorie walked to her car, Elijah followed her and climbed in beside her.

"You want to go back to the Salvatore house?" Mallorie asked. "Don't you think that's a bad idea?"

"Please drive, Miss Dupuis." Elijah stared out the windshield.

*****

~Damon ~

Andie handed Damon a glass of bourbon. "You don't have to be so mad at your brother. You know, he's worried about Mallorie, and--"

"Just go, please." Damon rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"I know you're worried about her, too." Andie sat on the armrest of his chair.

Damon looked up at her. "Andie. Go."

Andie held up her hands. "Okay. Geez."

Stefan appeared as she grabbed her bag and walked out the door to the library. "Tired of your little plaything already?"

"Don't start with me, Stefan. She's just my distraction." Damon took a sip of his bourbon.

"She's a person. You're victimizing her." Stefan pointed in the direction Andie had gone.

Anger flared in Damon's chest. "You should be thankful she's here. She keeps me from going for what I really want."

"You're right. Thank you for being in love with my girlfriend's sister." Stefan held his hands up mockingly.

Damon set his glass on the table before getting up. "And there it is."

"There it is." Stefan matched his intensity. "You know, you can be in love with Mallorie all you want. If it means that you'll protect her. But I have the one thing that you never will."

"Oh, yeah? What's that?" Damon asked.

Stefan was inches from Damon. "Her respect."

Damon swung and connected with Stefan's body. He flew backward so hard, he slammed into the bookshelf and broke it—books scattered around him on the floor. With a shocked but angry look, Stefan shot up, ran to Damon, and they grabbed onto each others' shoulders. 

"Stop!" Mallorie shouted from the doorway.

A new form of rage filled Damon. There she stood with Elijah. How dare she compromise her safety the way that she had? And now, she brought him back with her? No way.

"Now you've invited him in?" Damon marched toward Mallorie.

Mallorie crossed her arms. "Elijah and I have renewed the terms of our agreement."

"Oh, really?" Damon scoffed. "And what are these new terms?"

Elijah took a step forward. "The two of you will come to no harm at my hands. I only ask for one thing in return."

"What?" Even Damon could hear how annoyed he sounded.

Elijah paused. "An apology."

Damon chuckled. "A what?"