Elena's POV:
——• 11:45 am •——
Elena had just hung up on Jeremy on when she heard someone making their way downstairs. Remaining on the couch, Elena shifted her position leaning to get a view of which Salvatore brother it was.
Stefan came into view with a white singlet and jeans on, his hair already in its hero hair form. Part of Elena felt disappointed, but she quickly pushed that feeling away telling herself it was because she was mad at him.
Stefan finally saw her and paused for a second panic flashing on his face for a millisecond. Does he know that I'm mad? Elena wondered, watching Stefan very closely as he made his way towards her.
Stefan finally arrived and he sat in the arm chair across from her, his eyes unreadable. Silence hung in the air like it was a ghost haunting them.
Elena wanted to scream at him, she wanted to know where he'd been all night. But that meant her opening her mouth to talk, and that meant he would win. Elena narrowed her eyes, Stefan looked at her unblinkingly. Someone would crack under the pressure eventually, it just wouldn't be her.
And finally Stefan did crack, he let out a long sigh which Elena could only guess was because he knew they were about to get into an argument.
A shy smile curled on his lips as he finally broke the silence. "I heard someone slam a door really loudly earlier, Elena is everything ok?" Elena was taken aback from the sudden conversation starter. She was sure he'd taken the bait and was going to start apologising.
Quickly masking her confusion she muttered a reply. "Damon was being annoying, I just wanted him to get my message".
Stefan looked at her worriedly. "I was worried that you and Damon wouldn't get on, I can talk to him about staying away from your room if you want? You can move rooms if yours is too close to Damon's". Elena held back laughter. Ironic. She thought. Her and Damon were getting on quite well, even if he made her mad, she found herself enjoying his company. And deep down they both knew she was never really mad.
"I slammed Damon's door shut, not my own." Elena said matter of factly, she didnt want to move rooms, or have Damon avoid hers.
If Stefan was trying to hide his shock he wasnt doing a very good job at it. "WHAT?! What were you doing in Damon's room?" he cried getting to his feet. A little of an over reaction really, Elena thought numbly.
She was about to explain that she was giving his shirt back but Stefan continued talking. Much to Elena's relief she realised how bad it woulda've sounded.
"You didn't even sleep in my room last night".
"Your room?" You didn't come home last night. Where were you Stefan?!". There. Elena had finally done it. She'd ask Stefan the question that had been gnawing at her all morning.
"I did I just came home later, at 12. You were asleep I checked on you."Elena was about to ask him where he'd been when it hit her. Stefan was lying. She had no doubt in her mind that he had checked on her when he came home. That was a Stefan thing to do. But if he'd come home at 12 he would've seen Damon in her bed. And she was 100% sure that both her and Damon would've been woken up instantly by that. Stefan had come home much later. And was hiding it.
Having this new profound knowledge Elena decided to hide it. Checking her phone she saw it was 11:52 am. Cursing under her breath she looked up at Stefan trying to keep the anger out of her eyes. He couldn't know that she had caught him in a lie. Not yet. "I have to go, I'm already late Caroline's going to kill me".
Darting out of the room Elena caught a figure at the staircase, leaning on the banister in a cockish manner. Damon. He gave her a quick smirk and winked at her. Butterflies filled Elena's stomach as she walked to the front door. She couldn't afford to lose more time. But even as she left her thoughts where still on Damon. How much of their conversation had he heard?
Damon's POV:
Damon watched as the front door slammed closed behind Elena. She had only paused infront of him for a moment but that second had been filled with tension and he loved it.
Striding to the living room a smile spread on his face. He was tired, exhausted even. But last night was a night he'd keep with him always.
Stefan looked at him tired. He knew Stefan and Elena were on rocky terms. Damon had been eavesdropping since Stefan came downstairs. And even though every part of his body was screaming it's your turn. You can steal her away from your brother now. Damon kept a neutral face and poured himself a glass of burbon.
Stefan was eyeing him suspiciously. "You heard that whole conversation didn't you?"
Damon blinked at him innocently. "What conversation?"
"Aha" Stefan said clearly not buying Damon's act. He took Damon's burbon glass from him and downed it before continuing.
"I know you think that this if finally your time to shine. And there's hope for you and Elena. But there's not. She chose me. It will always be me. Me and Elena always survive".
Damon blinked at Stefan creating an uncomfortable silence. He wouldn't admit it but the words Stefan said hurt. However, Stefan was only that insensitive when he felt vulnerable. This only gave Damon more hope
Standing up he faced his brother head on and smirked. "I wouldn't be so sure about that little brother". Then with a quick pat on Stefan's shoulder he left the room calling behind him. "I don't think she'll have a postive reaction when she finds you with your mistress".
He was about to slip out of view when an idea occurred to him. Turning around quickly he caught Stefan's eye and smirked. "And don't worry I didn't tell her what time you came home last night. Her visit to my room was way too exciting to bring you into the conversation. It would've killed the mood".
With that he vamp speeded out of there satisfied. Stefan's words had Stung. But Damon knew Stefan would be spending the whole day wondering what had happened in Damon's room. The ironic thing is, Stefan should really be wondering about what had happened in Elena's room.
Elena's POV:
Cursing, Elena jogged to the Mystic Grill, she was already 5 minutes late. Caroline would stake her.
As the grill came into view, it seemed oddly quieter than usual, and the lights were turned off inside. Thinking nothing of it Elena opened the door, making up a plausible lie in her head so that Caroline wouldn't have her neck.
As the door closed behind her she heard someone scream "arms in the air or I'll shoot". Elena jumped with surprise and mindlessly put her arms up in a defenceless gesture. The room was dark and she could barely make out 2 figure, one sitting the other standing pointing something that looked too much like a gun at her.
The standing figure turned on the lights revealing the vampire hunter and Caroline tied to a chair, duck tape on her mouth. Before Elena could help herself she let out a little yelp and darted to Caroline hoping she could help in any way possible.
"Done move". The vampire hunter screamed his gun now aimed at Elena's heart. "My bullet are wooden and laced with werewolf venom". He should've intermediated, Elena but she was too worried about Caroline.
Caroline was tied to a chair with some very painful looking vervain ropes. However the most concerning thing was the duck tape taped to her mouth with vervain plants sticking out of it. Caroline herself was barely conscious. Her eyes had lighten up in surprise when she'd seen Elena. But had gotten back to their half asleep state merely moments later.
He was killing her and Elena couldn't take it. Without thinking she yanked the ropes off Caroline and held them up to the Vampire hunter before he pulled the tigger. "You let her go and I'll take her spot" she offered willing to sacrifice herself for Caroline.
The vampire hunter merely laughed his white teeth shining in the ceiling light. "And why would I do that, when I have both of you here where I want you".
Elena hesitated for a moment an idea forming in her head. "If you let her go I'll be your bait for the Salvatore brothers. Let Caroline go and she'll bring them here. You'll have all of us here". He eyed her carefully, clearly considering the option
"And why would you agree to such a bad deal?" He questioned playing with a wooden bullet.
"I'll agree If you let Caroline go. I want her to live". Elena was starting to panic Caroline was looking worse and worse
"And what about the Salvatore brothers?". He questioned clearly enjoying the pain Caroline was in.
"I don't care about the Salvatore brother, I'd gladly sacrifice them for Caroline". Elena almost winced at her own lie but kept a neutral face. She did in fact care a lot about both brothers but she needed to safe Caroline's life. If only she could tell Caroline not to tell the Salvatore's she was here in trouble.
She wanted to sacrifice herself so no one else had to die. If they found out she was in danger they'd come here in a heartbeat. And then someone would get hurt or worse killed. No it was better this way, that way only Elena would die.
She looked up at the Vampire Hunter her expression cold. Finally her agreed. "Fine" he grumbled as he watched Elena immediately untie Caroline.
As she removed the duck tape from Caroline's mouth she whispered under her breath so quietly only a vampire could hear her. "Go to Stefan he will help you. Don't tell Damon or Stefan, someone will just end up getting killed. Make sure they don't come."
She managed to get Caroline to her feet while finishing her message. Caroline gave her a look that meant she'd heard what Elena had said. Then with one more sad look over her shoulder she vanished.
Elena felt a sharp pain in her back as the vampire hunger injected her with vervain. While Elena started to faint her last thoughts were prayers that Caroline would be too weak on vervain to think probably which meant she could sacrifice herself without anyone getting hurt.
Then darkness consumed her vision and Elena felt nothing but pain.