Forever Is Not Enough

The Letter

1864 - Mystic Falls

Elena watched out the window patiently as the sun began to rise in the sky. She hadn't moved even a little since Katherine had left her side in the small hours of the morning. Slowly, streaks of light crept down the wall until the entire room was filled with the fresh light of day. Her hands held her brother's, who still lay unconscious before her. All through the night, she feared that Mr. Salvatore or her uncle would come bursting through the door and would discover Jeremy's body. Each time she heard footsteps go through the front door or a gunshot ring out in the air, she prayed for Jeremy to wake. Each time her prayers went unanswered.

She felt distant from herself. There was a disconnect between her thoughts and emotions. Everything Katherine had told her should have upset her, but she didn't feel that way. She felt calm. What do you know? she asked herself. My name is Elena Gilbert. I am human. My brother is Jeremy. He is dead. Temporarily. My aunt, no my relative, Katherine, is a vampire. She murders people. She protects me. She protected my mother. I don't understand what a vampire is. They feed on humans. My family wants them dead. I don't know if I want them dead. I have to protect Katherine's secret. I mustn't tell.

She thought of someone else who said that to her once and her mind drifted to thoughts of Damon. Images of the yellowed bruises and his embarrassment on the night of the Founder's Ball flashed before her mind. She kicked herself for even letting on she had noticed. It was so impolite and he had been so humiliated, pushing her to the side so he could button his shirt once again. Elena apologized until she couldn't think of any other ways to say 'sorry', but he couldn't even look her in the face.

The few times she saw him afterwards, she pretended it had never happened and their affection continued as before. Even so, she still wondered about it. Her first thought was that he got them from roughhousing with his brother, or maybe he'd been working in the stables. She hadn't given them a second thought until his panicked eyes met hers and he said those three words: "You mustn't tell." That was when she knew that Mr. Salvatore was not the man she had thought. It was the only thing that made sense to her. Every time she saw him now, she couldn't stand to look at his ugly face.

She reached into the pocket of her robe and grabbed the piece of paper in it. The paper was worn and crinkled from being folded and refolded, but she opened it once again. It looked like Damon had scratched his words quickly.

Elena,

I cannot tell if it is the cold weather or that you are gone from my sight, but everything is bleak now. I hope my letter will make you smile as greatly as yours made me. Thank you so much for everything you sent me. Every little piece of you was more than I deserve. My companions might be more in love with you than I am after I shared some of your gifts. I hope you don't mind, but every little thing that will lift up their spirits helps. In my next package, could you send a sewing kit? All of my clothes are falling apart already. Otherwise, everything is well. We are fed almost as well as we are in our own homes. The nights are a little cold, but we're given a bounty of blankets to stack on top of ourselves. All is well, my love. I hope you will tell me the same. I don't have time to write any further. They drill us until my muscles can't remember how to do anything else, but I still must go back. Thank you again, Elena, my sunshine. Please write soon.

All my love,

Damon Salvatore

When the door opened behind her, she was startled. She shoved the paper back in her pocket quickly as she spun around. Giuseppe Salvatore stared at her with his beady eyes and her thoughts immediately turned to Jeremy. She raised a finger to her lips and held a hand up so he wouldn't come any closer. "He was up all night," she whispered. "He had a fever until early this morning."

"Why didn't you call for a doctor?" he whispered back, worried.

"I heard shots and screams. I didn't want to leave the room."

He nodded. "I'm sorry. There was a... burglar."

She pretended to believe every word. "I'm glad I didn't leave then."

"Yes, it was safer for you in here."

"Did you catch him?" Elena asked.

"Who?"

"The burglar?"

"Oh! No, he got away."

"Oh, dear."

"Don't fret. He'll be caught soon enough now that we know of him." His eyes turned to Jeremy once again and Elena tried to position herself in his line of sight. "Should I call a doctor for him now?"

"His fever is gone. He's just resting."

"You're sure?"

"I think the cold just got him."

He sighed. "If you say so." There was a moment between them where they only could stare at each other. The silence reflected on the awkward encounter as a whole, but Elena wasn't thinking of that at all. Rage burned in her stomach and she tried to suck it down, but she still felt her cheeks growing red. "Has Damon written?"

"Of course." You would know that if you had written him yourself, you evil lit-

"I assume he hasn't seen battle then?"

"Not yet."

He didn't say another word to her before leaving, and her face turned up in disgust. It was bewildering to think that man and Damon could be related. She sat back down as she was and took the letter from her pocket again, folding it carefully. It was then that Jeremy sat up with a start, lifting his hand to his neck. The wound was gone and Katherine and Elena had long since changed him out of his bloody clothes, but he could still feel a burning pinch on the spot where he was bitten. "Elena?" he gasped.

A smile erupted over her face and she dove for him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck. "Thank God," she breathed.

"What happened?"

She hesitated, remembering what her aunt had said. "Katherine will tell you."