Written In Blood

Chapter Twenty Two.

When morning broke, Stefan awoke, jolting up into a seated position.
The first thing he noticed was the ring on his finger, then it was Emily, standing above him.
"Katherine had me make that weeks ago." She said, gesturing to the ring.
"Where am I?" Stefan asked.
"The quarry just north of town. My brother, Rayna and I brought you here last night. We found you dead in the woods." The witch explained.
Realisation started to hit Stefan and so did his memories.
"Where's Damon? Am I...Am I a...?"
"Not yet. You're in transition." Emily replied.
"But how? I..."
"You had Katherine's blood in your system when you died." Emily confirmed.
"No. I never..." Stefan was so confused.
"She's been compelling you to drink it for weeks, Stefan." The witch explained, a sympathetic tone to her voice.
"And Damon?" Stefan asked.
"No compulsion was necessary. He drank from her willingly."
"I need to see Rayna." He said.
"She's with Damon by the river." Emily told him before leaving to go back into the cabin.

"Damon..." Stefan breathed a sigh of relief as he walked up to his brother.
"I woke up last night. I didn't know where I was. I went to the church... And I watched them drag her inside. Then they set fire to it. The whole church went up in flames. They killed her, Stefan. She's gone." Damon sighed as his younger brother sat down next to him in the grass.
"Are you alright?" Rayna asked.
Stefan nodded.
"Like I told Damon last night, I'll teach you both about being Vampires. It's one thing to hear the stories, a totally different thing to live it." The Heretic told the younger brother.
Stefan looked at her, awfully confused.
"Wait... You're a...?"
Rayna nodded.
Stefan got up again, sighing.
"Where are you going?" Damon asked.
"To get some water. We need to clean our clothes." Stefan replied with a slightly angered tone, walking off.
"You hated Katherine... What did she do?" Damon asked Rayna.
Rayna was slightly startled at the timing of the question.
"Now is not the time to be talking about this. You're a transitioning Vampire, your emotions are everywhere. Believe it or not, grief is usually easier to deal with than hatred." Rayna told him. "But you already know the jist of it." 

Stefan came back a few moments later, equipped with a pail of water.
Damon took off his shirt and soaked it as Stefan sat back down, doing the same.
"I bet Jonathan Gilbert has told father by now. Wonder how he took the news that we're dead." Stefan said, attempting to make conversation.
"As if he cares. He betrayed us." Damon scoffed.
"He thought he was protecting us, Damon. He thought he was protecting this town." The younger brother countered.
Damon sighed. "God this sun hurts my eyes."
"That's part of it. The muscle aches, the sick feeling. It's your bodies pushing you to feed and complete the transition." Rayna explained.
"That's not going to happen." Damon said, quickly.
Rayna froze.
"Is that your choice then? To die instead?" Stefan frowned.
"Isn't it your's? This was all to be with Katherine. But she's gone. I want it over." Damon huffed.
"So that's it? You're just going to leave me?" Rayna sniffed.
Damon hadn't thought of that.
He turned to her with a sympathetic look.
"I'm sorry, Rayna. But I loved her. She was my life." He sighed.
Her body began to feel cold.
"Fine." She said. "It wouldn't be the first time I've lost my best friend at Katherine's hand." Rayna got up and went to leave, but Stefan blocked her path.
"Don't go, please." He begged.
"What's the point? Damon doesn't want me. You'll be fine." Rayna frowned, folding her arms over her chest.
"I won't cope. I need you." Stefan argued.
Rayna sighed heavily.
"Fine. I'll remain at my house for two days. If you don't come, I'll leave town without you." She said.
Stefan gave her a small smile. "Thank you."