For Eternity - chapter 7
Caroline shifted as her consciousness returned. She blinked hard trying to remember where she was and how she got there. The images flooded her mind and she gasped as she remembered the casual look of Klaus and a slightly worried look on Stefan's face. That bastard, she thought as she took in her surroundings. She was in a small room, floor to ceiling steel walls and a small light coming from behind her. She cast a downwards shadow onto the floor in front of her so the window must have been above her head and small. She tried to move her arms and legs but she was bolted to the chair. She heard the door unbolting and then she was being pulled out of the room backwards. She took note of the rooms she passes and although she was still struggling with the effects of what she thought was vervain and magic she knew she could retrace her steps should she need to.
She reached a large room with very high walls and a large stone centerpiece. She swallowed deeply, someone or something was getting sacrificed and she knew it.
“Stefan.” Klaus spoke and Caroline whipped her head to see where they were. “Go get them.”
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Elena was sat looking at the photo of her and Damon in times square. Her eyes didn't focus on the beautiful man in the photo, or herself gripping him lovingly but the stone original eyeing them in the distance. Elena had looked at the other New York photos from that trip, studying every face to see if he was in any others. Nothing. Just this one photo.
She heard the ring of her door and she pulled herself away to press the intercom button. She saw the screen and Stefan’s face staring back at her. He looked panicked.
“Damon, its Stefan.” She called before pressing the button.
“Let him up, I want to kill that idiot.” Damon said as he floated into the room. Elena looked back at Stefan as he rang the bell a second time.
“Come up.” Elena said as she pressed the intercom.
Stefan flew into the room like he was out of breath, he ran his hand through his hair and paced before glancing at the image Elena had left on the screen. His eyes widened and then pierced into Elena.
“I wasn't exactly honest with you both.” Elena and Damon didn't say a word, they simply waited for him to spit out the truth. Elena could see the cogs turning in Damon’s head and she hoped Stefan would hurry with his explanation before Damon ripped his head off. “Ive been tracking Klaus since you turned. I knew you turned and I hoped my letter would sway you to that decision.” Elena took a shallow breath and remembered her feelings when she had first read the letter. She had desperately wanted to remember her and Damon, she wanted it to be real and give Damon what he deserved; to be her first choice. His letter had only fueled the stubborn fire burning in the pit of her belly and ultimately re-reading the letter constantly had driven her to eventually touch the subject with Damon. And here she was, faced with a bemusing problem.
“And why were you tracking Klaus?” Damon asked unimpressed.
“Because he was watching Elena.” Stefan paused as his eyes met Elena’s. “When you turned he had no clue. You had about 20 years before he finally accepted that you were no longer human.” Elena narrowed her eyes.
“What has me being human got to do with Klaus?” She asked as she tipped her head.
“When I left, I made a deal with him. He needs you to make hybrids. I bargained for your temporary freedom IF I could convince you to stay human. I knew Id have maybe a few years before you would turn for him, but all I wanted was time.” The three vampires shifted from foot to foot as Stefan spoke quickly. “He needed you human, with human blood to perform the ritual. The thing is, his witches kept... dying when they tried to harvest his power. Bonnie refused to help him and had the power to kill him so he decided to wait for her descendants hoping one of them would be a black witch. He was lucky with Lola. After Klaus realised you turning was in his benefit and only bought him more time he left you alone, made me check in now and then all the while I'm trying to figure out his plans. He has Caroline and he wants me to lure you and Damon to rescue her, but in reality he wants Damon dead and Elena human again. He’s planning a sacrifice.” Stefan said seriously.
“Well he was probably getting angsty not having one for what, a hundred plus years.” Damon replied sarcastically. “So why are you telling us all this and where is Caroline?” Damon added.
“I’m telling you this because I'm your brother, and I'm sick of hiding and running and existing. I want to live Damon. Caroline is in the abandoned prison near the witches house. He has Lola harnessing their power to turn you back human. They want sacrifices in return.”
“Well lets go. Lets go now.” Elena said firmly as two sets of eyes looked back at her angrily.