Midnight Rising

As Long As We Have To

Stefan saunters into the bar, his ego inflated by his seemingly successful warning to Damon. I watch the eyes of the other people in the bar follow him, intoxicated by the confidence the vampire emits. Up and down, on the highest high only to quickly descend to lower than ever before. Stefan will roller coaster until the turmoil becomes too much. He'll crack. He's a step away. Sure, he may have been victorious in getting his message across, one tiny victory in a much bigger chess game. That win involved killing an innocent. That will weigh on the sympathetic man, eating away at him, piled against the dusty corners of his mind.

"Your back," Klaus says, no surprise in his tone. He's got his claws deep in Stefan's psyche. The hybrid graciously saved Damon for the teeny tiny price of Stefan's soul. Stefan feels he's indebted to Klaus. Klaus plays upon that feeling daily. How much is his brother's life to him? How many more favors can Klaus call in before Stefan says it's not worth it? My heart sinks as I stare at the man. He's not here for Damon. Stefan is here for Elena. The long he entertains the whims of Klaus, the longer he keeps him in the dark about Elena being alive. No request will be too much. Once Stefan loves you that's it, he'll do everything he can to keep you safe. 

Damon's brother flashes a grin, lounging on the bar, "Did you doubt me?"

"Not for a second," From my spot in the doorway, I almost gag at the loving nature that laces Klaus' words. He sure is laying it on thick, acting like a father whose most beloved son has just stopped in for a visit. "Where has Diana gotten off to? She went out for a smoke and never came back."

Rolling my eyes, I push off the wall, snaking my arms around Stefan, "Isn't a girl allowed to go out for a snack without having her intentions questions?"

"You smell like him," Stefan whispers, lips pressed tightly to my ear. His breath tickles against my cheek, creating goosebumps up and down my neck and arms.

I kiss my way up Stefan's neck; letting my teeth graze his earlobe as I hiss back, "So, make me smell like you."

Stefan gives me a wink, adding in a lopsided smile as the pulls me in closer to his chest, rubbing his cheek against the top of my head.

"I knew you'd pass the test," Klaus begins again, staring through me to Damon's brother. "You still care for your brother, for your old life."

In return, Klaus gets a smirk, Stefan lifting his head to stare right back at the man, refusing to break his gaze, "Naw. I don't care about anything anymore."

Klaus' eyes drop from Stefan to me, to our bodies curled around one another. The vampire wedges in between us, almost nose to nose with Stefan. The younger Salvatore brother has about half an inch on Klaus, something that the hybrid is not fond of. What Klaus lacks in height he makes up for in ego. No matter how hard Stefan tries, he'll never think as highly of himself as Klaus does himself. "You put on a good show, Stefan. I almost believe you." Once again Klaus' eyes flick over to me. "Let's hope for your brother's sake, he does. You never stop caring about family, do you?"

Stefan reaches around Klaus, pulling me close to his side. Muscled arms curl around me, holding me in place. The t-shirt covered flesh creates protection between the outside and me. It's Stefan and me against Klaus. I'm beginning to think that the older vampire is catching on to this. It won't sit well when push comes to shove. Klaus still lingers in front of us, his chest pushed to my face, piercing eyes boring into Stefan's soul, trying to find the little pieces that have cracked off.

"Step back, Klaus." I push on his chest, forcing him to take a staggering step away.

Despite this, Klaus still wears his twisted smile, the devilish glint hanging in his eyes, "But every time you feed, the blood makes it easier to let go."