The Chosen One

Thirty Six: Whatever It Takes

Damon

       I waited anxiously for Jessica's return. All the while I dreaded what kind of deal she could possibly be making in order to have her witch friend returned. I disliked the way we had left things, parting ways after having a minor confrontation but even if time could be rewound I would do the same thing again. The thought of Jessica agreeing to owe that hybrid anything made my skin crawl and made me see red. Didn't she realize that because of her newfound status as an Original, she was now capable of distancing herself from him? Yet she returned to him, even if it was for the sake of a friend. I loathed the thought of him being near her. Jealousy and possessiveness ate at me and had me wanting to do nothing less than charge over to the Original estate and get her away from there. It would ruin her chances of having her friend returned and I knew it would cause her to resent me. I didn't want her to resent me, so in trying to keep myself from fulfilling those actions, I sought alcohol to help divert me per usual.

       So sitting in the main parlor on one of the sofas with my feet propped up on top of the coffee table and a bottle in my hand, I absently stared across the room and began to contemplate on my other current problem...killing Klaus without it killing or affecting Jessica. In order for that to happen, Jessica would have to be unbound from Klaus. I wasn't sure if it was possible but logic tried to tell me it was. What is done can be undone, can it not? All that was needed was a witch. Too bad I had messed things up with Bonnie, but what else could have been done at that point?

     "She isn't back yet?" Stefan's voice brought me out of my thoughts.

      "Does it look like she is?" I retorted bitterly.

      Stefan took a seat on the sofa opposite of me. He leaned forwards with his elbows on his knees and caught my gaze. From his brooding expression and the worried line across his brow, I could tell that some sort of 'Stefan' lecture was imminent.

      "If you continue on not letting her make her own decisions and let her follow them through, she will come to hate you for it."

       I rolled my eyes, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "Thank you for that little pep talk."

       Stefan maintained his gaze on me for a moment before slowly standing. "You will lose her because of it."

       Without another word he started walking away, heading for the staircase. Amidst the sound of his retreating footsteps, I heard softer, lighter ones outside before there was a soft knock on the thick front door. I heard Stefan pause and there was a moment of silence before I got to my feet and crossed the parlor to the front door. Swinging it open, I was a bit surprised to find Jessica's red headed witch standing there.

      While Amelia evidently wasn't thrilled to see me, she did give me an amicable nod of her head.

      "Damon." She greeted me with a fairly impartial tone.

      "Since you're here, seems she managed to make a deal." I cast my gaze past the witch and about the front grounds for Jessica. "Where is she?"

      Stefan approached us and stood next to me, waiting to hear the answer to that question as well.

     "Jess isn't..." Amelia paused briefly, displeased with the news she was delivering. "She isn't coming."

      I stiffened and from the apprehensive look that appeared on the witch's face, I could guess that my eyes must have darkened to some degree. "Why not?" I growled. "What did she agree to?"

     "Klaus's terms were that she can't see you. In order for me to be free, she cannot be with you."

       In a flash I grabbed the witch roughly by the arm and yanked her forwards to tower over her and shoot her a livid glare. "Tell me, did it make you happy to hear that?"

        Stefan's hand shot out and clamped down on mine. "Let her go Damon. She isn't even defending herself."

     It took me a brief moment to push aside the red haze of anger before I realized that he was right. The witch had not used her magic to defend herself. I remembered then how Amelia supposedly had been drugged by the warlock to have the control of her powers taken from her. Slowly I released her, seeing the fearful expression on her face.

     She rubbed her arm where I had roughly gripped it and winced. "Believe me. I want to get her out of all of this mess even more than you do. As soon as I receive the use of my powers back, I am going to focus on finding a way to unbind her from him to free her once and for all."

     I saw the flash of determination in her eyes. "You will do whatever you have to for her to be free of him, won't you?" I prodded.

    That determination did not dim one bit as she nodded. "Yes. Whatever it takes. I have to fix this. I have to free Jess and bring about the natural balance of things."

    "Then you best get started. We've got a lot to do." I stated.