The Second Life Of Stella Salvatore

A Mother's Instinct

Gabriel's POV:

When I passed the Welcome to Mystic Falls sign I didn't stop this time. This time I kept right on going and didn't look back. I couldn't believe I had actually done it. I couldn't believe I actually took away the one thing my brother loved the most. What not a single one of those people know is that I didn't have a choice. If they knew what would happen if I didn't do it they would understand.

My knuckles were white from the grip I had on the steering wheel. I jumped when my phone went off and started playing one of my few favorite songs. I pulled it out and looked at the caller ID to find a blocked number. It was them. I answered but before I could say anything she spoke first. "Is it done? Do you have her?"

"Do you people not have hello in your vocabulary? Geez," I muttered. "And if by 'her' you mean the body of the doppelgänger then yes. What do you want with her anyway?"

"That's none of your concern," Sloan growled into the phone before she started to bark orders again. "Now bring me the doppelgänger where we agreed."

"What about Samantha? I swear to god if you've done anything to hurt her I'll kill you myself."

My teeth clenched when Sloan laughed quietly. "Love is a strange thing you know? Even someone as evil as you managed to find someone to love." There was a short pause. "The girl is fine. However, she won't remain that way unless you bring me the doppelgänger."

I hit the steering wheel with the palm of my hand and I wanted more than anything to reach through that phone and rip her head off. "I want to talk to her. Put her on the phone. Please."

There was an annoyed sigh followed by some static. It sounded like she was walking somewhere. There was more static before Sloan snapped,"Make it quick."

There was some shuffling before I heard a small sniffle then,"Gabe?"

"Sam," I breathed as my voice lost all of its hostility and my face quickly softened. "Sam, are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

"I'm fine. But, Gabe, please tell me you didn't do any of the horrible things she's telling me you did. She said you hurt your family...tore your brother's family apart. Is that true?" She sounded scared. Damn you Sloan.

I sighed not really wanting to tell her the horrid truth. She would really think I was a monster then. "Sam, I didn't have a choice. If I didn't do what they asked they would have killed you. They would have killed you. I did it to save you."

"You destroyed your own family because of me?! Gabe!"

"They aren't my family! And they never will be! The second my mother gave me away she lost all right to call me her son! I'm not going to feel guilty for saving you, Sam, because I love you!"

"Gabe-"

Why wasn't she understanding the great lengths I would go to save her? Samantha was the only one who made me feel..well, human. She was the only sane thing in my life and I couldn't just let her die. "No, you don't understand! I love you, Sam! I love you so much I was willing to kill someone just to keep you alive! That's how much I love you!"

"Times up," Sloan sounded bored and impatient which didn't really surprise me to be honest. The Travelers were the type of people who hated to wait and had to have whatever they wanted right then and there. "Bring us the doppelgänger and your girlfriend lives."

With that she hung up and I was left driving in silence with the desiccated body of my pregnant vampire sister-in-law in the trunk of my car. I've done stranger things. All I knew was that I may have been leaving Mystic Falls behind me..but I would return and carry out the long overdue vengeance on my mother. Sooner or later Mystic Falls would see me again.