Parker's Legacy | Damon Salvatore, Malachai Parker

14

CHAPTER FOURTEEN
GUILTY CONSCIENCE

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ELENA FLED THE confines of the house, sobs racking her frame as she thought back of the previous sequence of events. That's right, she came across a woman that looked like her or that she looked like her. How was that possible? Sure, being part of the supernatural world has its surprises. She could accept the fact that she's surrounded by vampires, witches and werewolves but with a look alike? What is this? Some kind of doppelgänger bullshit?

"Elena, wait!" Henrique's footsteps resonated as he rushed into the night, endeavoring to catch up with his distressed friend. "Elena, please."

But Elena pressed on, oblivious to his plea, her journey leading her across a solitary bridge. "Stop following me, Henrique," her voice, laden with emotion, carried through the night air, punctuated by stifled sniffles. The weight of the unknown bore down on her, leaving a trail of uncertainty in its wake.

Henrique, desperate to bridge the emotional gap that had suddenly emerged, quickened his pace. "Elena, I just want to help. Whatever happened in there—"

Cutting him off with a sharp glance, Elena continued her solitary trek, the dim glow of streetlights casting a somber ambiance around her. The rhythmic tap of her footsteps on the bridge echoed the turmoil within.

As he caught up, Henrique tried a different approach, gentler this time. "You don't have to face this alone. I'm here for you, Elena."

She halted momentarily, her tear-streaked face partially illuminated by the faint glow of the moon. "Henrique, you don't understand. I don't even understand," she confessed, vulnerability tainting her words.

The two friends stood at the midpoint of the bridge, surrounded by the hushed whispers of the night. It was a moment suspended in the balance of uncertainty, where the supernatural met the profoundly human.

Henrique's brow furrowed in empathy, contemplating Elena's questions as they lingered on the bridge. The cool night air seemed to carry the weight of uncertainty, and he could sense the depth of her confusion.

"What if I do?" Henrique commented, his voice softened by a blend of understanding and concern.

Elena wiped away the tears from her face, her eyes locking onto Henrique's. "The fact that there's a look-alike of me? How does that work? The fact that Stefan was occupied with her?"

Henrique took a moment before responding, choosing his words carefully. "Elena, our world is filled with mysteries, some that even the supernatural struggles to comprehend. Look-alikes, unexpected twists — it's the nature of the life we lead. As for Stefan, I'm sure there's more to the story. You have to let him explain."

"You knew, didn't you? All this time," Elena questioned the Parker. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Henrique stepped a little closer towards the Gilbert. "It wasn't my place to say. As much as I wanted to, I shouldn't. It was not my intention to keep this from you, Elena."

"When?" The Gilbert retorted.

"When did I find out?" Henrique clarified, earning a nod and a soft hum from the girl. "It was during my time in the Prison World. Damon shared a few stories with me. Trust me, nothing good about Katherine. You have to believe me. Neither one of the Salvatores would like to have to do anything with her."