Book 1: Time Of Our Lives

Chapter 55: Who is Isobel?

*Flashback*
In Alaric's and Isobel's apartment, Alaric is sitting on the edge of the bed as Isobel talks to him and paces across the floor.

Alaric: I think it's time to let this vampire crap go. I mean, the research, the trips, it's become an obsession.
Isobel: Well, this is important to me, Ric.
Alaric: Why? Why is it so important? Explain it to me. I mean, make me understand.

Isobel doesn't respond.

Alaric: (sighs) I mean, what's the point of this? You don't want kids. You're barely ever home. I just want us to be normal people.
Isobel: Maybe I don't want to. Maybe I want more.

Donovan Residence
Matt guides Kelly into the house. Kelly is obviously intoxicated.

Matt: Here we go. Home, sweet home.
Kelly: Wait. Why—why are we back here? I wasn't ready to leave.
Matt: Yeah, you were, mom.

Kelly sits down on the sofa with Matt's help and he sits down beside her.

Kelly: You're the best, Matty.
Matt: I know.
Kelly: I'm--I'm sorry...I was gone so long.
Matt: Why are you really home, mom?
Kelly: It's Pete. He's gone, and it's all my fault. I did it. I always do it.
Matt: No, you didn't, mom. It's not your fault.
Kelly: You're all I have left. [thickly said] Please don't leave me.
Matt: I'm not going anywhere.

Kelly touches Matt's face and smiles. She then lays her head on a throw pillow and Matt covers her with a blanket.

Salvatore Boarding House
Damon walks across the parlor and prepares to make a drink. Quietly, Alaric enters the room with a stake in his hand.

Damon: Are you really this stupid?

Damon finishes pouring his drink and turns around to look at Alaric who is standing behind him.

Damon: Guess so.

Damon takes a drink, places his glass down, and vamp-runs at Alaric, throwing him across the room. Alaric lands on the floor, heavily, but quickly gets back up, ready to attack. Giselle heard voices downstairs so she came down to see what's going on and she finds her history teacher and Damon and he looked like he was gonna kill him.

Damon: You gonna put down the stake?

Alaric remains in an attacking stance.

Damon: Wow. That's courage.

Damon walks towards Alaric.

Alaric: Where's Isobel? What have you done to my wife?
Damon: You want me to tell you I killed her? Would that make you happy? Because I think you know what happened.
Alaric: I saw you feeding on her.
Damon: Yeah, I did, and I wasn't lying. She was delicious.

Alaric rushes at Damon. Damon hits Alaric in the stomach and Alaric keels over falling back onto the floor.

Damon: Oh, come on. What do you think happened? Not an inkling? Never considered the possibility?

Alaric looks up at him.

Damon: I turned her.
Alaric: Why?
Damon: She came to me. All pathetic, looking for vampires. There was something about her, something I liked. There was something special.
Alaric: You turned her because you liked her?
Damon: No, I slept with her because I liked her. I turned her because she begged me to. Yeah. But you knew that, too, didn't you? Hmm. I guess she wasn't happy at home, wasn't happy with life in general, wasn't happy with you.

Alaric rushes at Damon again, but Damon grabs the stake from Alaric's hands and stabs him in the chest, puncturing his lung. Alaric yells in pain. Giselle gasp from where she was standing and was frozen and didn't know what to do.