Gabriella Gilbert || Vampire Diaries

Chapter Sixteen

"Wait," Elena pauses, processing my news. "Isobel's...alive?!"

"Yeah," I confirm with a small smile of disbelief. "I called her on the phone I stole from the guy and...I heard her. Her voice, Elena. I heard her voice." Elena smiles. "But, she doesn't want us to find her."

Her face beams with happiness despite the news. "This is great! We can talk about it with Stefan tomorrow—find some new leads."

"You want to meet her?" I ask, a little surprised. Isobel went through a lot of trouble to make sure we don't find her.

"Of course," Elena says. "Don't you?"

No..? Yes...? My feelings for my birth mother are complicated at best. If anything, I'm curious to see how she ended up this way.

"Yeah," I agree with a nod. "I think it'd be nice."

"Elena, when are we going to tell him?" I ask. She knows I'm talking about Jeremy.

It takes her a few moments to answer. "When the times right."

    "And when's that?"

    Elena sighs before shrugging her shoulders. "It's going to be hard enough to explain that we're adopted. What's next, we tell him about vampires too?"

    "I'm not saying that." I frown. "Everyone but him knows. It's unfair."

    "I know." She leaves my room before I can object or demand a better answer.

It's late, and after everything that's happened today, I should be exhausted. I should crave sleep or some form of rest but no. My mind has to wander. My mind has to overthink.

My mind keeps going back to Damon. Of course he was the one that killed our mother. But he didn't know that, how could he? Besides, it's not like she's actually dead. She was turned.

Did he turn her? Or did Isobel already have vampire blood in her system when Damon tried to kill her?

    Damnit.

    With a string of curse words, I open my window and slowly climb out of it. I lower myself from the ledge before letting go. "Shit!" I curse once I land on the ground. Damn, that hurt.

    With a small groan of annoyance, I make my way to the freaking Salvatore Boarding House.

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"What are you doing here?"

    My eyes widen at how fast Damon came to greet me. I hadn't even knocked yet. Hell, my hand is still raised in preparation.

    He's sobered up since earlier, now wearing comfortable clothing that he looks a little too good in.

    "Gabby?" He says, pulling my gaze away from his chest. I don't have the energy to be embarrassed.

    "Sorry," I say, taking a step back. "I shouldn't be here. I'm going—"

    "Hold on," he says, stepping forward. He grabs my hand before I can turn around. "You're here for a reason."