Veil of Vengeance: A Mystic Falls Tale [ Elijah Mikaelson

Chapter 10: the vengence

The next day, Isabella and Katherine meticulously planned their next move in their intricate game of deception. Each step was calculated to bring them closer to their ultimate goal—retribution against the Salvatore brothers.

Isabella approached Stefan Salvatore with an air of determination. "I think I'll go out for a jog," she announced.

Stefan nodded in agreement, unaware of the role he was about to play in their twisted plot.

Approximately 20 minutes later, Isabella placed a call to Stefan. He answered, his voice filled with concern. But before he could utter a word, Isabella let out a piercing scream, her voice trembling with apparent fear.

"Stefan, please! You have to come and rescue me! Katherine has me!" Isabella cried out, and the sound of a neck snapping followed, simulating a gruesome act of violence.

Now holding the phone, Katherine took over the conversation. Her voice was laced with sinister intent as she delivered her message. "Meet me under the Mystic Falls bridge, Stefan, before 10 p.m., or she dies."

Before Stefan could respond, the line went dead, leaving him in a state of frantic worry.

Isabella, who had been playing her part perfectly, woke up from her faux unconsciousness and couldn't help but make light of the situation. "That neck-snapping part hurt, you know."

Katherine responded with a sly smile. "We had to make it realistic."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Stefan arrived under the Mystic Falls bridge, his anxiety and desperation apparent. He demanded that Katherine release Isabella.

But just as Stefan's hopes seemed to rise, Isabella emerged from the shadows behind him, her movements swift and silent. In an instant, she snapped his neck, rendering him unconscious and leaving him to crumple to the ground.

The scene ended with Isabella standing over the fallen Stefan, her plan progressing according to her ruthless and calculated design. Revenge was within her grasp, and she was determined to see it through to the bitter end.

***

Stefan slowly regained consciousness, his vision blurry as he found himself bound to a chair. The dimly lit room seemed unfamiliar, and his heart raced with anxiety.

Isabella leaned casually against a nearby wooden chair, her expression a complex mix of anger and sorrow. Stefan's voice trembled as he asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Isabella's emotions got the best of her as she began to shout, her voice filled with frustration. "Hah! It's... Because of you! You took away my only connection to family... my brother didn't deserve any of it!" Tears welled up in her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She didn't think that she would become this emotional.

Stefan was bewildered. "I don't understand. What are you talking about?"

Isabella's voice quivered as she questioned him, "Does the date October 23rd, 1904 mean anything to you?"

Recognition washed over Stefan's face. "That was when I was... when I was the Ripper."

Isabella's anger flared, and she hurled a branch through Stefan's chest, causing him to gasp in pain. She yelled back at him, "It won't change anything! My brother is still dead!"

Desperation filled Stefan's voice as he asked, "So where you ever even human? Was it all an act?"

Isabella admitted with a mocking tone, still emotional, "Oh~ it was so easy to manipulate you into thinking I was a naive, fragile little girl."

Stefan felt a pang of hurt as he revealed, "... I thought we were starting to ...connect."

Isabella burst into laughter, her emotions spiraling out of control. "That was my plan all along—to get revenge on my dead brother. That YOU killed!" She grabs another branch from near by, hurling it towards his chest. "Hah! I bet you don't even know his fucking name! DO YOU!"

Stefan corrected her, his voice filled with regret. "It's Alexei right? I remember he.. he had a picture of you in his wallet..."

Isabella broke down again, her voice filled with anguish as she asked, "Why... w-why did you do it?"

Stefan, grappling with his own remorse, confessed, "I'm not proud of what I did Isabella. And I know it may not be an excuse but please... please understand that I didn't have any emotions because I flipped the switch."

Isabella was livid. "Why would you do such a thing?"

Stefan's response was tinged with sorrow. "I was a new vampire, alone, and it was too hard to handle. And again it may not be an excuse but, I turned it off."

Just as Isabella was about to speed toward Stefan with a stake, he managed to break free from his restraints, pushing her down. As Isabella quickly regained her footing, she realized that Stefan had taken a bullet meant for her, but she couldn't see the shooter in the darkness. Before she could react, another shot rang out, and Isabella fell to the ground, her vision fading into blackness.