Book Four: Solitude (A. Saltzman)

Chapter Twenty Four

Diana walks Connor forward as she leads him through the back streets and away from the Grill. Something collides with Diana and Connor, sending Diana to the ground. Diana lifts her head and sees Elena on Connor. She pushes herself back to her feet and hurries towards where Elena and Connor landed on the ground.

"Elena, stop" Diana scolds as Elena grabs Connor by the throat and bites his neck. Connor screams. "I said stop it!" Diana grabs Elena's arm and pulls her sister away from Connor. She lets go of him and Connor falls down in front of her on his knees. Elena turns and vamps out, biting Diana. Diana screams as Elena's teeth sink into her neck. "Elena!" Diana scolds grabbing at Elena's hair to pull her off of her. Elena pulls away and seems to realise what she has done as Diana collapses into unconsciousness. Elena covers her mouth and crouches.

"Diana" Elena whispers and touches Diana's face. Elena looks at Connor. "Stay the hell away from my family!"

"Look at you. So worried about your family. You're the biggest monster he'll ever meet." Connor counters, Elena looks back at Diana. Elena's eyes harden as she turns to Connor. She snaps Connor's neck. Connor falls to the ground, dead. She breathes heavily as she stares at the first person she's killed before rushing back to Diana.

"Di" She pleads as she crouches at her side. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry"

..............

Later; Elena is digging dirt up with a shovel, she's making a grave for Connor. As she digs, she cries. The blood from Connor and Diana still stains her chin. Diana sits, conscious now, pressing a ripped up piece of her shirt to her neck as she watches Elena. Elena is distraught over what happened. Stefan and Damon walk towards the two of them.

"Watchdog?" Damon asks, she waves him off and shakes her head before she stands with a groan.

"Elena" Diana starts as she steps closer to Elena. Elena looks over at her and then Stefan and Damon behind her. Diana looks down at Connor's lifeless body and Elena looks as well.

"I need to bury him. I killed him, I should – I should bury him." Elena mumbles out quickly. She continues to dig, while Stefan and Damon look at each other. Diana walks towards Elena and grabs her gently. Elena pushes her away.

"Hey, hey, come on." Diana whispers.

"Don't!" Elena scolds Diana. "I...hurt you and..."

"And I'm fine" Diana stops her. "It's fine, it happens...."

"Thought you blamed me for Ric, that you hate me" Elena whispers.

"And I still do" Diana admits. "I still blame you for Ric, I just....I get it, it couldn't be stopped, it was going to happen....but yes, I still blame you, and I always will, but it's not like you chose to get him killed......." Diana shrugs and then looks away a little as she starts to get upset. She doesn't want to be upset any more, but she knows she always will. "I should get back to the twins" She whispers.

..............

Jeremy is sitting on a bench in the middle of the Town Square. He removes his vervain bracelet and looks at it. Matt and April walk over to him.

"Hey Jeremy. Sorry we're so late, we had to take this crazy detour." April offers Jeremy.

"There was a gas leak." Matt adds sharing a look with Jeremy, they both know it wasn't a gas leak.

"Yeah, I heard about that." Jeremy states.

"Yeah, and we had to stop by your sister's apartment because we had to see Caroline. We talked to her for a little bit, but now I was thinking maybe we could all go get some coffee." April looks over at the Mystic Grill. "But the Grill is closed. That's weird." Jeremy gets up.