(1) Bloodlines: The Curse (A Vampire Dairies Fanfiction)

36. Rash Decisions

Alex had stayed in her room, not talking to anyone, and waited to hear back from the others. She had sent messages to both the Salvatore brother's and James and Robert, letting them all know where Elijah claimed Caroline and Tyler were being held. But once she had managed to stop crying and pull herself together, she took a shower and insisted she needed some time alone.

It hadn't been more than an hour since Elijah's message, and Alex hadn't been able to look at her phone since she put it down. The messages to Stefan and James had been her last, and while her phone had buzzed more than once from where it sat on her bedside table, she hadn't been able to pick it up and check it.

Alex sat on the window seat and looked down at the street. It was getting late in the day, and Alex wondered what would happen if they managed to make it through the full moon. What would happen if the full moon passed and Klaus couldn't break his curse? If he wasn't put down, then he would go after them all. It all came down to what would happen and if they could succeed.

There was doubt, a lot of doubt, in Alex's mind that they would be able to stop Klaus. The idea of fighting against Elijah made her skin crawl. He wasn't supposed to be against them; he was supposed to be sitting by her side, encouraging her and comforting her. Instead, she had no idea where he was precisely, only that he didn't want Klaus dead anymore. It scared Alex that she might come face to face with Elijah; she didn't know how she would handle that.

"Alex!" Elena's voice echoed from downstairs. "Alex!"

Alex pushed away from the window seat and rushed to her door. "What?" she asked.

Bonnie was standing beside Elena at the bottom of the stairs; they looked panicked.

"It's Jeremy," said Elena.

Alex frowned.

"We were in his room, and I fell asleep," explained Bonnie. "When I woke up, he was gone."

Alex wanted to scream. Jeremy was impulsive, but he couldn't be stupid enough to take off now. "Did you try his phone?"

Elena gave Alex a look like the answer was obvious. "It just rings."

Alex turned back to her room and walked around her bed to grab her phone. As she picked it up, Jeremy's name flashed on the screen. She sighed with relief but was ready to yell at him.

"Jeremy," she answered, "where the hell are you!"

The soft chuckle made Alex freeze. It felt like someone had pressed ice against her back.

"No wonder your little brother looked so distraught when I found him." Renee's tone was mocking and full of amusement. "Such a helpless thing; it would have been boring if he didn't have so much fight in him."

"Where is he?" demanded Alex.

"He's here with me. Safe and sound."

"Alex!" Jeremy call out in the background.

"But he will only stay safe and sound if you give me what I want."

"If your oh so powerful, why don't you just come and take it?"

Renee sighed. "Because I want to watch you beg, and when you do that of your own will, I will enjoy it so much more."

"And why would I beg?"

"That's for you to find out."

Alex ground her teeth together. This Renee wasn't the woman who had mentored her; this bitch was vindictive and power-hungry. How had she ever trusted such a person?

"Now, I want you to bring me the moonstone and meet me at the coordinates I send you. You have two hours, or little brother Jeremy starts to learn exactly how unsafe he can be."