From Blood and Bone

Chapter 46

"Hey," I spoke into my phone, the speaker on. Elena sighed on the other end. "So, have you heard from Bonnie?"

There was a pause before I heard her hum. "Um, no. I've been leaving her messages and not once has she responded. Jenna came home sooner than I thought, and she gave me some news about my birth parents. Well, birth mom, she doesn't know anything about my father." She stayed quiet for a second there was shuffling, I heard the springs of her bed she must have sat down. "She was a cheerleader, like me. She had this best friend, Trudie, I think I might visit her. I'm not sure, actually."

I didn't respond right away, it got me thinking about my birth parents. "Sorry, I got lost. Umm, did you want some company if you decide to go?"

I could practically hear the relief, "Yes, please. It would be really nice of you."

"Have you told Stefan yet?

"No, but he's on his way. I'm planning on telling him when he gets here. AH, hey I got to go, but I'll let you know if I do head up to Trudie's." I said bye before hanging up. My throat let out a loud sigh I might as well have been holding back my breath. When I looked up to the door of my room, mom was just standing there staring at me with a sad look.

"Hey, mom. What's up?"

She hesitated, then took a step into my space and closed the door behind her gently. "Sweetheart. I kind of heard you conversation with Elena. I couldn't help but feel like you wanted to know more about your parents."

My face must have shown how surprised I was because she laughed at me. Ever since she had taken me in and adopted me, not once have we mentioned my parents. "I know that they're gone, that they died when I was little, before I was put into the orphanage. Mom, it's okay. I just never think of them and this thing with Elena... I just want to at least know what they look like."

Elizabeth sat beside me and hugged me tightly. "I know, sweetheart. I can try to pull up some files on them if you want, see if I can find anything on them. How's that sound?"

Nodding, I closed my eyes and breathed in her scent. "Thank you." She pressed a kiss to my head and got up. My mom was dressed in her uniform, so she must be on her way to work. It was still pretty early.

Elena called me later that day. Maybe about three hours after our first call. She wanted to go see Trudie. She had talked to Stefan about it, but she said that he seemed to be opposed to the idea of meeting that lady. Not alone, but in general.

"So, are you going to knock, or just stand there all day?" I asked her. I wasn't looking at Elena, I was looking around the neighborhood that looked almost abandoned. Trudie's house was white and old from the outside. There was one singular tree standing on her dead lawn. Her house number was rusty and near to falling.

Elena was about to turn around and walk away when I grabbed her wrist and held her, I place and knocking with my fist. I didn't care that there was a knocker right in the center of the door almost poking my eye. For a second, no one answered, then the door swung open to a pretty, blonde woman. She was the same height as me. Trudie gave us a smile, eyeing both Elena and I up and down.

"Trudie Peterson?" The woman nodded, an uneasy smile on her face as she leaned back, like she didn't want to talk to us. "My name is Elena Gilbert. I wanted to talk to you about Isobel Fleming."

Trudie didn't seem to like our reason for showing up at her door. Her face turned slightly cold, and her smile hard. "Well, I haven't heard that name in years. How do you know her?"

"I think that, um, well... Do you know if she had a baby that she gave up for adoption?"

Her eyes widened, "My God. You're her daughters." She looked at Elena then to me. I had to do a double take at that.

My brows furrowed. "Uh, not her daughter, sorry. Only Elena." I pointed to 'Lena. "I mean, I am adopted too, but not by the same- I mean, Elena isn't my sister, we're not sisters. Biologically nor adopted." Elena rolled her eyes at me with a smile. "No offense."

"None taken."

Trudie laughed and opened the door wider with an overly bright smile. "I was just going to make some tea. Would you two like some?" We both nodded, her face faltering into a focused look. "The kitchen's this way."

"I wasn't going to come. I wasn't sure if I got the address right, or if you were Isobel's friend at all. But I needed some support so we both came." Elena rambled like I did as she took off her scarf and hanged it on the back of her chair. I just sat down and took a look around the living room.

"I haven't thought about Isobel in years. The last time I saw her was about 17 years ago, when she left to go have you. We kept in touch for a while, but you know, people drift apart, they lose contact."

I rubbed my hands together, it had gotten cold out recently. "And you don't know where she ended up?"

"She was in Florida for a while. She was on her own. I know it wasn't easy."

Elena leaned forward, "Do you have any idea who my father is?" she asked. I could tell this was hitting harder than we thought.

Trudie shrugged, "I could never get her to fess up. Anyway, she finally pulled it together. Got into college on a scholarship. She went up somewhere in North Carolina. Duke, I think. Smart girl, Smart school." Elena's face lit up.

A smile finally settling on her face. The kettle began to whistle in the kitchen, so Trudie got up to get it. When she came back with our tea, she also brought along a photo album. Elena flipped through the pages as Trudie told her about the old times, how her and Isobel and the other cheerleaders were the reason why people went to the football games.

"The football team hadn't won in years. We were the stars. Well, Izzie was. But I was a damn good backup." Elena thanked her, and Trudie nodded. "You're welcome. You haven't touched your tea."

I cleared my throat before picking up the cup, Elena began to do the same. I really did not want to drink the damn tea, I hate hot beverages and this thing was still hot and smoke was coming up. There was no other choice, I struggled to blow on the tiny spoon while Elena took small sips. I burned my tongue when my mouth touched the spoon. I was able to keep my posture and not jump from my seat at the burning sensation.

The taste was familiar, something my mom had given me before. I believe she never told me the name of what it was.

"What is this?"

Trudie stuttered slightly her eyes stuck to the table. "Oh, it's just some herbal mixture."

"Vervain?" Elena asked. I looked between them both confused, then I realized. Damon and Stefan had both said that Vervain was a poison for vampires. "You know. You know about vampires."

I got up pushing my chair back, "You didn't invite us in, and you're serving us vervain tea. You know."

"I think that you should probably leave." Trudie stood up pulling Elena to her feet.

I crossed my arms over my chest giving her a glare. "No, why don't you tell us what you know."

"You need to leave. You have to go, now. Leave now!" She took me by the wrist and Elena by the arm and dragged us out of the house.

"Hey, lady what the hell is your problem—" She shut the door in my face and I scoffed standing there as I heard her lock every door lock she had attached.

"Come on Hangelina." She swallowed hard. I turned to her about to tell her something when I saw she wasn't looking at me. A few houses down there was a man standing outside in the middle of the road. He stared at us, I quickly took Elena's arm and walked fast to the car. She drove away fast we both didn't bother to put on our seatbelts.