Bad Feelings (Zach's Daughter series, Book Five, The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter 7__Death and the Handmaiden

Tessa had stopped by the house last night and had given Stefan his memories back.

Damon, Elena Stefan and I were sitting in the living room, making sure he knew everything.

"October 1852," Damon told him.

"You broke my nose trying to teach me how to throw a right hook," Stefan answered.

"But not on purpose," Damon told him. He looked at Elena and me. "Just to be clear." 

Elena laughed.

I looked at Stefan. "How much did you pay for that motorcycle you ride?" 

I smirked.

"That's a trick question," Stefan told me. "You bought me that motorcycle for my birthday, although I'm guessing it was pretty expensive." 

"November of last year," I told him.

"You had your surgery that saved your life," Stefan answered.

"So Tessa just gave you back your memories, no strings attached?" I asked. 

"Well, it wasn't exactly a gift," Stefan told us. "It was a lot to take in at once, everything from blowing out the candles on my first birthday cake to drowning in a safe." 

~~~~~

I looked at the glass in Stefan's hand that he was holding too tightly. "Stefan." 

"Stefan held his glass even tighter, making it shatter in his hand.

"Whoa!" Damon said. "Easy there, buddy." 

"Stefan, where did you go?" Elena asked. 

"All that and I still can't remember my own strength," Stefan told us. He heard a sound that I couldn't hear. "What was that noise?" 

"Uh, well, that is . . ." Damon trailed off.

"We have a situation," Elena told him.

"Of the Doppelganger variety," I told him. 

"Yeah," Elena said.

"Katherine?" Stefan asked.

"No," I answered. "Nope, not Katherine." 

~~~~~

I led Stefan down into the cell to show him Amara, screaming and trying to cut loose from her handcuffs, which was what was causing the noise. "I don't know! I don't know." 

"What's wrong with her?" Stefan asked. 

"Tessa turned her into a block of rock, left her in a box for 2,000 years, probably went a little stir crazy like those deserted island guys who talk to volleyballs," I told him.

"I said I don't know!" Amara yelled.

"So, you're telling me that this girl is the only thing holding together the Other Side?" Stefan asked.

"Yep," I answered. "She's the anchor." 

"Leave me alone," Amara said.

"As long as she's alive, the Other Side exists, and we can keep trying to get Bonnie from over there," I told him.

"I said I don't know!" Amara yelled.

"Well, considering she's immortal, I'd say we have plenty of opportunity," Stefan told me.