An Elemental Difference - FIRE - Book 2 (Stefan Salvatore)

Chapter 95 - I miss selfish Caroline

MYSTIC FALLS HOSPITAL

Aella and Caroline sat outside Carol's hospital room, the tension palpable between them. Aella shifted restlessly, her nerves fraying as time slipped away and Tyler remained inside with his mother, Carol.

"We're wasting time sat here," Aella muttered, her impatience evident in her voice.

Caroline glanced at her phone, checking the message she had sent to Tyler upon their arrival. "I texted Tyler; he said he'd be out," she replied, her tone tinged with frustration.

Aella's gaze flicked towards the closed door of Carol's room, a silent plea for Tyler to join them, to no avail. She could feel Tyler's presence on the other side, his absence weighing heavily on her mind.

"You should just go in there and drag him out; it's not like we're saving his life," Aella suggested, her agitation clear in her voice.

Caroline bristled at Aella's lack of sympathy. "His mom fell down the stairs; he needs time with her," she countered, her voice tight with emotion.

Aella scoffed at Caroline's defense, her skepticism evident. "Fell down? What a coincidence: Klaus needs a werewolf, and the mother of one happens to fall down the stairs," she remarked, her words dripping with sarcasm.

Caroline's eyes widened in disbelief at the implication. "Klaus did this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Aella rolled her eyes at Caroline's naivety, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Of course Klaus did this, Caroline," she replied, her tone exasperated. "Klaus is crazy, and we're crazy sitting here when you should be hidden far away from him."

With a flick of her hand, Aella lightly tapped Caroline's forehead in agitation, the blonde wincing at the gesture.

Aella's pout deepened, her arms crossing petulantly as she turned away from Caroline, frustration evident in her demeanor.

"I miss selfish Caroline; she would have left Carol Lockwood to drag herself to call 911," she muttered, her words tinged with irritation.

Caroline's gasp of indignation cut through the tension, and she delivered a swift hit to Aella's arm in response to her remark.

"You take that back," Caroline demanded, her voice sharp with offense.

Aella recoiled, jumping down two seats in shock and rubbing her arm where Caroline had struck her.

"Ow! You totally used your vampire strength, that's going to bruise!" Aella protested, wincing at the soreness.

In retaliation, Aella unleashed a burst of her air magic, striking Caroline back. Caroline gasped in surprise as she rubbed her own arm.

"You used your magic on me," Caroline accused, her tone a mix of surprise and reproach.

Undeterred, Caroline shuffled down the two chairs to confront Aella face-to-face, lightly slapping her arm. Aella responded in kind, and soon the two were engaged in a playful but heated slapping match in the hospital corridor.

Their antics were abruptly interrupted by a cleared throat, and they turned to see Tyler standing there, a bemused expression on his face as he observed the spectacle before him.

The sight of Tyler's incredulous gaze only fueled their amusement, and they shared a sheepish grin before composing themselves.

"I'm feeling a slight deja vu here, except I was on the receiving side of Aella's fury," Tyler remarked, his tone laced with amusement.

Aella's expression darkened as she recalled the altercation with Tyler in the past, but she remained silent as Tyler continued, his tone sincere.

"Aella, I'm so sorry," Tyler apologized, his words weighted with remorse. "So much went on that night, and I said things that I never meant. As soon as we got away from Mystic Falls, my mind went clear and I felt so bad. I should know by now that you'd do anything to protect those you love."