When I died, I didn't have some spiritual experience where I could watch everything that happened from above. It was like I got knocked out. I wasn't concience of anything.
I felt a slight burning in my heart, then I gasped, my eyes snapping open. I felt life course through my body. It was the weirdest experience I'd ever had.
I was lying on a bed, in a nicely furnished room. Startled at the unfamiliar surroundings, I jumped off the bed and backed up to the wall. Then I noticed Shadow was standing on the other side of the room. He was infront of me in an instant.
"Marni!" he said, wrapping his arms around me. "Thank God you're okay."
"What happened?" I asked. "Where am I?"
"You died, and you're at my place," he said, pulling back to look at me.
"Oh," I said. Everything came rushing back to me. The epic battle with Klaus and me casting a spell to temporarily kill me.
"Wait," I said. "You have a home?"
"Of course I do," he said. "What, did you honestly think I spent all of my time wandering around and being all mysterious?"
"Well, yeah," I said. "I kinda did."
He laughed and shook his head.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Well, about as great as anyone can feel after they die," I said.
"That's good," he said.
"What happened after I died?" I asked.
"Well, Klaus disappeared," he said. "And that little door locking spell of yours wore off, and everybody ran in. I told them I'd take care of your body."
"How... How did everyone take it?" I asked. "My death, I mean."
He hesitated. "Not to well," he said. "Anna had to hold Lexi back from running after Klaus and killing him. I had to get Stefan to get Jeremy to calm down, he started raging when I said I'd take care of you."
"How did Damon take it?" I asked.
"He took it the worst," Shadow said. "It was like he was paralized or something. He wouldn't move."
"I should go see them," I said. "And let them know I'm okay,"
He nodded. "They're all at Elena's house. I cast a spell so Klaus won't be able to detect you, but you should stay out of public from now on, and only stick to going to your place and Jeremy's."
I nodded. "Are you coming with?"
"Yes," he said.
Everybody was in the livingroom when Shadow and I got to the Gilbert house. Just before we rounded to the corner Shadow turned to me. He held up his hand, motioning me to stay. I nodded and he walked into the livingroom. I leaned against the wall and listened.
"Guys," Shadow said. "I know you would rather sit here and grieve, but you should know what really happened tonight."
"Marni died," Jeremy said. He sounded like he was crying. "That's what happened."
"Or did she?" Shadow said. "Marni?"
I walked out into view and everyones jaws dropped when they saw me. I noticed that Damon wasn't there.
"Hey guys," I said. "You didn't really think you could get rid of me that easily, did you?"
Nobody moved. They were all frozen in shock.
I turned to Shadow. "You know what? I think I'll just leave. They don't seem to want me around.
"NO!" they all shouted in unison.
I grinned. I was suddenly surrounded by people. Lexi was the first one to hug me.
"Oh my God!" she said. "I thought you died! You even made me cry! I never cry! Never scare me like that again!"
I laughed.
Jeremy was next.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you," I said in his ear.
"It's fine," he said. "All that matters is that you're alive."
Caroline and Bonnie both hugged me at the same time, squeezing the hell out of me.
Elena and Anna joined in, making it even harder to breathe.
I laughed and turned to Stefan.
I smiled and he wrapped his arms around me.
"Don't ever do that to me again," he murmured.
"Don't worry," I said. "I won't. It's good to know you'd care if I died though,"
He laughed. "I'm so glad you're alive Marni,"
"Yeah," I said. "So am I."
He grinned.
"Where's Damon?" I asked.
"He's at home," Stefan said. "He said he wanted to be alone for a while."
"Hey Marni," Lexi said. "I have a question. How the hell are you still alive?"
"I would tell you," I said. "But right now I have to go tell Damon that I'm still alive. Shadow, why don't you tell them?"
He nodded.
"Don't worry guys," I said. "I'll be back later."
I left and ran at vampire speed to the Boarding house.
I walked in and found Damon in the livingroom.
He sat in a chair with a glass of bourbon in his hand, staring at the floor with tears in his eyes. The sight before me almost broke my heart. I'd never seen Damon look so hurt in my life.
He hadn't noticed me yet.
"Damon?"
His head shot up at the sound of my voice, and I heard his quick intake of breath.
His eyes widened he saw me.
"It's me, Marni," I said. "I'm alive."
He was infront of me in an instant. He stared at me.
Unwanted tears came to my eyes, seeing him like this.
"I'm fine," I said. "Everything's fine."
He pulled me to him and wrapped his arms around me tightly, burrying his face in my shoulder.
"You're alive," he whispered.
"Yes," I said, "I'm here, I'm alive."
We stood like that for what seemed like hours.
"How are you still alive?" he asked, breaking the silence. "I saw you die."
"I know," I said. "And I did die, I just didn't stay dead."
"How?" he asked.
"I'll explain, but I need a drink before I do," I said.
I let go of Damon and walked over to the liquer cabinant and pulled out a glass, along with the bourbon. I poured myself a glass, walked over to the couch and sat down.
Damon came over and sat next to me.
"You already know the part about how using all of my power could kill me," I said.
He nodded.
"The other day I was at the Grill, and I ran into Elijah," I said. "I told him I didn't want to die, and I made a deal with him. If I weakened Klaus enough, Elijah would come in and finish him off. But there was a problem. Klaus already knew I had the power to kill him, so we'd lost the element of surprise. In order to gain it back, Klaus had to see me die. There's a spell that allows someone to temporarily die, but then come back to life. I used it, to make Klaus believe that I was dead. I couldn't tell any of you about this though, otherwise Klaus wouldn't believe your reactions. Well, I told Shadow, because if I hadn't, you guys probably would've burried me alive."
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
"Because your's and Stefan's reactions would've been the strongest," I said. "I'm so sorry I couldn't tell you, I can't imagine what I put you through."
"I swear to God," he said. "If you ever die again, I'll destroy all of your belongings. Including you're beanie."
"You wouldn't dare," I said, feeling my eye twitch.
"Well, don't get killed and that won't happen," he said.
"I'm not planning on dying again anytime soon," I said.
We were silent for a moment.
"I honestly don't know what I would've done if you actually died Marni," he said.
"Torment Stefan for the rest of your life," I said.
"Well of course," he said. "But that would get boring after a while."
I looked at him.
"No, you're right," he said. "It wouldn't."
I laughed.
"How long until you and Elijah go after Klaus?" he asked.
"I don't know," I said. "But until then, I have to hide out either here or at Jeremy's, so Klaus doesn't see me."
"Well," Damon said. "Sucks to be you."
I hit his arm.
"You're such a dick," I laughed.
"No," he said. "I'm just seriously awesome."
He took my drink from my hands and downed the rest of it.
"Hey!" I protested. "I was enjoying that!"
"Not anymore," he said.
I glared at him.
"I'm hungry," he said. "Let's order Chineese."
"I'd love to, but I have to go back to Jeremy's," I said. "Everyone's waiting for me."
"Who cares?" Damon asked. "Just tell them you're having some overly dramatic emotional heart to heart conversation with me."
"Damon, they're not going to believe that," I said.
"Yeah, you're right," he said. "That just doesn't sound like me. Oh well, if they get too worried, they'll come over here and see that you're fine."
"Alright," I said. "Just make sure you order me honey chicken."
"Will do," he said.
He got up and pulled out his phone, dialing the number.
I smiled, because just for this moment, everything was okay.