Blood, Death, and Tears

Mystic Falls

I was home again as the scenery passed by me I could just feel in my bones that I was home again. I looked over at Bonnie who was driving and sat up slowly "Before you say anything I'm sorry but I needed to get you out of there and I didn't have time to convince you to come back" I sighed and gave her a look "This is real nice time to pick to do this to me Bonnie" she flinched at my tone and bit her lip "I know. I know but I tried to be gentle with it" we laughed a little then I looked out the window to see the sign for Mystic Falls come into view and pass by. It felt strange to be back like in way I was a stranger to the place I once called home. As we started to drive by people I could see some of them stop in their tracks as they'd seen my face. Almost like they knew me, but I was sure that I didn't know them "Travelers. They were looking for you too" I nodded and looked back at the people who were now just staring at the car.

A feeling I was unsure of began to bubble in my stomach, I realized not long after arriving that I wanted to go back. She stopped at the Salvatore boarding house and I sighed inwardly knowing I was about to face the people I had abandoned for months without a goodbye. Would they be mad like Bonnie? Would they be happy? I started to pick at my skin the more I thought about it and approached the door but I had only gotten two steps before the door opened Caroline stepped out. As soon as she saw me she froze, a look I couldn't really read crossed her eye and she sped up to me looking me over quickly before hugging me tight. She never said anything she just hugged me tight I hugged her back breathing her in, it wasn't until I was faced with her that I realized I missed her too.

"Where have you been" I looked over at Bonnie not sure how to explain that question "Bonnie found me a few towns out. I just needed break from here" Bonnie gave me a look confused as to why I would lie and I gave her one back as Caroline turned to Bonnie who plastered on a fake smile "Yea I dragged her because I missed my best friend" Care frowned and pouted "You knew where she was and you didn't tell me" Bonnie once again looked at me for help and I stuttered a little before jumping in for her "I told her not to tell you. I knew you would try to convince me to come back and Bonnie already had me on the ropes I just needed time Care" she nodded after a long tense moment and gave me another hug "Well I hope Bonnie caught you up because you're gonna be pretty lost today" I frowned confused by what she meant as we walked into the house.

It hadn't changed since I was in it last, it looked and smelled and felt just like it did before I left. I touched the couch memories of what and who I was when I left flying through my brain. I pulled back remembering the people I killed, remembering the friends I hurt. My thoughts were continuing to draw me into this dark hole until a voice pulled me from them. The very voice that pulled me from the same thinking when I had met him so long ago "Elena" I heard before turning to him. Stefan Salvatore. The man I used to love, seeing him now I didn't see what I once had when I met him. He was handsome but I didn't crave him like I used to "Stefan" I spoke in a small voice sounding almost unfamiliar to myself, he walked human pace to stand in front of me. I hadn't changed at all since he last saw me, he looked me over checking to see if I was ok the way I had gotten used to then slowly wrapped his arms around me hugging me his face in my neck.

We hugged for only seconds before Caroline's voice shook us both from our moment and he pulled back. I knew what was happening between them as soon as I'd seen her face. I would've  never caught it otherwise but I remember vividly the way she used to look at me when me and Matt used to be in the same room. It was the look she had now as she looked between me and Stefan her smile tense and her hands twitching to reach for his. I almost wondered why she didn't just take it in hers the way I know she wanted to, but I knew better. She had once rooted for me and Stefan's "epic love" I guess she wanted to tell me in some grand way. I was happy for them, more for Stefan than Care. I was never scared that Care would meet someone again after Tyler I knew Caroline and she would never let heartbreak get her down. Stefan, Stefan was not like her, he loved so much harder and when I chose Damon I knew it crushed him.

This was good, I felt my shoulders relax and the fear that he still loved me was suddenly sliding away. He was happy now and the way I had once weighed heavy on his heart was gone. Now I didn't have to be that constant I reminder I knew I once was "You ready... Damon was kidnapped so me and Stefan are gonna go talk to the Travelers try to figure out where the hell they took him" was the next thing said by Caroline who was hanging awkwardly close to Stefan. I looked at Bonnie who looked away from giving me the "I'm not in it face" I sighed deciding instead to focus on Damon. Bonnie had explained to me already where Damon stood in this weirdly calm yet borderline destructive state "Enzo came to us and told us they were holding him so we're gonna go try to figure why and what we have to do to get him back" I frowned and stepped forward "Well I'm going" he looked at Caroline and Bonnie who immediately shouted "No!" pushing me backward.

"You have the cure in you Elena you're the last person to go on any missions" I rolled my eyes "Silas is gone right there's no reason for the cure to be a problem" Bonnie shook her head "It is when you can't be brought back. Elena, the cure is a permanent thing vampire blood won't work on you and you can't be turned now. If you die, you're dead and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we don't wanna bury anyone else"  my resolve to go died after that, how could I go against her. I already abandoned them I just got back I get why they wouldn't want me to leave now. I sighed and nodded watching Care and Stefan leave angry a little with myself for not being strong enough to go with them.

It was quiet for a while Bonnie was buried in her book and I was just taking a tour of the house I already knew. Going through the memories pushing through the pain. Why am I here? I kept asking myself, why stay? My guilt was strong and of course I owed it to them to help with this Traveler problem as best I can but do I really need to be here after all this is over? When they're gone can I leave again? Where would I go? As soon as the question fell from my lips I had an answer, the place that now popped in mind when I begun thinking of home. The people I had begun to get used to seeing everyday. Klaus and Elijah Mikealson and New Orleans. Somewhere along the crazy way it had become to the point that sitting in the bed I used to sleep in with Damon felt almost wrong in a way. Foreign. In fact thinking of him in that way was foreign to me. Klaus however, the memory of our kiss still burned my lips and I knew then the trouble I was in with that man ran deeper than I ever thought before.

"Doppelganger" I heard making me turn to the doorway where 3 people stood. I recognized one the woman who had stopped in her tracks when she saw me before. They rushed at me and I could hardly get out a scream before I was knocked out again. But this time when I woke up the feelings I had felt all those times before was gone. Before I had hope that I could be saved but I knew this time there was no way, the magic I felt in the room it almost spoke to me. Telling me that I was doomed. When I woke up I was in a chair tied just the day Klaus drained me of blood, well attempted to. I looked on either side and I saw that once again my blood was being taken and I was almost tempted to call for Klaus but I knew better. This wasn't him. Across from Stefan was being drained as well but Stefan was a vampire this wouldn't kill him.

"Elena! Don't panic. We're gonna get out of here ok" I could tell that he was lying, I could almost hear the uncertainty in his voice. He knew he was leaving and we both knew I wasn't. He tried and tried to keep me awake but I knew what was happening to me, my body started to weigh down and I knew I was dying. The more blood I lost the more my skin lost color, the more my vision blurred and my hearing disappeared. The last thing I heard before my hearing was out was the faint call of my name, but it wasn't Stefan telling me to stay awake, it wasn't Bonnie or Caroline it wasn't even Damon. It was him. It was Klaus faintly calling me. The last thing I saw him standing over me feeding me blood I knew wasn't going to help me. I saw him rub my cheek and his lips mouth stay awake before I made myself comfortable in his arms and took my breath.