Veil of Vengeance: A Mystic Falls Tale [ Elijah Mikaelson

Chapter 21: Unwanted Reunion

Isabella and Damon were reveling in the euphoria of their successful venture as they celebrated at the Salvatore boarding house. The air was thick with the sweet aroma of bourbon, and dance music filled the room, setting the stage for their impromptu celebration.

Damon swayed to the music, a bourbon glass in hand, as he grinned at Isabella. "This, my dear, is how you celebrate putting the doppelgänger in the tomb."

Isabella, equally caught up in the moment, matched his grin and raised her own glass. "To a Katherine-free Mystic Falls!" They clinked their glasses together before continuing their carefree dance.

Their celebration was abruptly interrupted when the door to the boarding house was thrown open, revealing Stefan Salvatore, his expression clearly fraught with worry. He scanned the room, searching for any sign of Elena.

Isabella couldn't help but tease Stefan as she called out to him, "Stefan, my man! You looking for someone?" She swayed her hips seductively, mocking the situation.

Damon chimed in with a sly grin, "Is it your girlfriend, Stefan?"

Stefan's face contorted with frustration as he replied, "This isn't the time for jokes, guys. Have you seen Elena?"

Isabella and Damon exchanged knowing glances before resuming their dance. The music played on as they ignored Stefan's inquiry, causing him to grow increasingly exasperated.

Finally, Stefan had enough and reached over to turn off the music, bringing the dancing to an abrupt halt. Isabella let out a disappointed sigh and complained, "Stefan, we were in the middle of something here. Elena probably just went on a girls' night."

Stefan's expression remained serious as he countered, "I'm genuinely worried. Can you call her, Isabella?"

Isabella rolled her eyes and chugged the remaining contents of her glass before grabbing her phone. She dialed Caroline's number, casually referring to her as "sweety."

Caroline picked up, and Isabella listened intently to her friend's response. After a brief conversation, she nodded and thanked Caroline before ending the call.

Isabella looked back at Stefan and shook her head. "Nope, Elena's not with Caroline either."

Stefan's worry deepened, and he couldn't help but glance at Damon for answers. Damon, irritated by Stefan's questioning, snapped back, "If you're so concerned, Stefan, why don't you go and check the tomb for yourself?"

The tension in the room became palpable as the brothers exchanged heated glares. Isabella, always quick to diffuse a situation, slammed the bottle of bourbon onto the nearest surface, effectively grabbing their attention.

"Alright, boys, let's chill," she declared, her voice laced with authority. "If Elena's still MIA tomorrow at school, you can start your search party. Until then, let's enjoy the music and the moment. Katherine's not going anywhere for a while."

Stefan sighed in reluctant agreement, realizing that Isabella had a point. He cast one last worried look around the room before deciding to follow her advice and attempting to unwind. Damon, still irritated, grabbed another glass of bourbon and resumed the music, allowing the atmosphere to shift back into a state of celebration.

Isabella returned to dancing, her smile unwavering, but beneath her cheerful exterior, she couldn't help but wonder where Elena had disappeared to and what might have led to her sudden absence.

***

The following day at school, Elena was still conspicuously absent, and her friends were growing increasingly concerned. Damon, who rarely made appearances at the high school, showed up to join the search for her. As they gathered in the hallways, he couldn't help but express his frustration. "What could have happened to Elena?" he wondered aloud.

Damon's words triggered a memory for him. The previous night, while they were celebrating Katherine's entombment, she had cryptically mentioned someone coming for the doppelgänger. Realization dawned on Damon as he muttered, "Katherine said something about someone coming for the doppelgänger."

Isabella's body tensed up at the mention of Katherine's warning. She cursed under her breath, her voice laced with worry. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

The trio immediately contacted Bonnie to perform a locator spell, hoping to find Elena's whereabouts. As the spell revealed an address, they wasted no time and embarked on a car ride to the unknown destination.

Isabella reclined in the back seat, her fingers flicking through her phone. Though her demeanor seemed nonchalant, deep down, she was harboring a growing fear of who might be searching for the doppelgänger. She knew all too well that the ominous "they" had been hunting for a doppelgänger for centuries, and she wasn't ready to meet them again.

Upon arriving at an old, decrepit house, Stefan was the first to jump out of the car, eager to rush inside. Isabella swiftly stopped him, placing a cautious hand on his shoulder. "Stefan, there might be older vampires in there. We need to be careful."

However, the younger Salvatore brothers appeared oblivious to the danger that lay ahead, charging into the house with reckless determination. Isabella let out an exasperated curse under her breath, finding their arrogance frustrating. She followed them inside, moving with caution.

As Isabella stepped into the house, her ears caught a voice that sent shivers down her spine. It was a voice she had never forgotten, a voice she had once loved deeply, and a voice she had been terrified to hear again. She froze in her tracks, the world around her seeming to come to a halt as memories she had buried deep within her mind resurfaced.

The vampire who had spoken turned around abruptly, demanding to know who was there. Their eyes locked with Isabella's, and a heavy silence fell upon them.

The vampire was the first to break it, his voice tinged with recognition. "Isabella."

Isabella's entire body tensed up, and she gritted her teeth in frustration, muttering through clenched jaws, "Elijah."