I'm so so sorry this has taken me so long but work has been super crazy over the last month with Christmas, I've barely had a spare moment.
But here it is and I hope you like it :D I've also started the next chapter and I have ideas for the sequel.
Last Chapter Elijah told Charlie she is literally immortal unless Klaus becomes a hybrid, only then can his bite kill her.
She still hasn't forgiven Damon, what will it take for her to do so?
Charlie also shared a drunken kiss with Jeremy. Does she like him more than she's letting herself admit?
…"And that's meant to make me feel better. I'm supposed to forgive you because you're Damon and doing something stupid is how you deal with your emotions?"
"Charlotte, I've loved you for 150 years, that means something to me and I hope it does to you. You don't have to forgive me yet, take all the time you need. But just know, I never meant to hurt you."
Charlotte didn't answer, she continued to stare at the wall. A few tears escaped from her eyes. After a few moments she felt Damon get off the bed and leave the room. When she was alone, she let the tears fall heavily…
Chapter 25
Charlie sat at the bar in The Grill with a beer in her hand and picking at some French fries. She had left the boarding house soon after Damon had. She didn't want to deal with Elijah right now. Jeremy was with Bonnie, Elena and Stefan were out somewhere, Alaric was with Jenna and that left her alone.
She took a big gulp of her beer. So much had changed in the last few months. Her mother was dead, killed by Katherine and Brice. Elijah, an original vampire was her real father, making her the most unique person in existence.
She'd fell in love with Damon again... then he'd hurt her. She now had feelings for Jeremy, a sixteen year old human. She was part of a 1000 year old curse, and if their plan to stop Klaus went wrong, it could end with her and all of her friends being dead...
She then heard a voice close beside her, stopping her thoughts. She then felt someone leaning on the bar next to her, his arm brushing hers slightly. "I screwed up." It was Damon.
"Yeah, yeah you did," Charlie replied with a sigh. She downed the end of her beer and turned to Damon, glaring at him. He had a scotch in his hand and his breath smelt strongly of alcohol, he had clearly had a lot to drink.
Alaric then crossed the room joining them.
"Hey, Charlie. Damon," Alaric smiled. "I'll have the same," he said to the barman, pointing to the drink in Damon's hand.
"Hey, Ric," she smiled. "I don't mean to be rude but I don't want to be here with him," she said nodding to Damon. Charlie got off the barstool. "Bye, Damon," she said lifelessly.
Charlie began to walk away but Damon grabbed her hand. "It doesn't have to be like this, Charlotte. I made a mistake, a stupid mistake which I regret and all I can do is say over and over how sorry I am."
She pulled away from him. "I understand that, I know you love me and how sorry you are but I'm not ready to forgive you," she breathed.
Someone suddenly interrupted them. "Hello, gentlemen. Miss Charlotta. Why so glum?" a voice asked from behind them. He was British, his tone both smooth and cruel.
Charlie froze, slowly turning towards the voice. In front of her she found an attractive man. His face seemed familiar... He had short blond hair, a malicious smile and a wild look in his blue eyes. There were only three men alive who used her original name Charlotta… Brice, Elijah, and...
"Klaus?" she stuttered.
"Ugh. Klaus, I presume," Damon scoffed, he had caught on too.
The man's smirk widened. "In the flesh." He turned to Alaric. "Thanks for the loaner, mate."
Alaric moved awkwardly in his seat. Charlie didn't blame him, she didn't like the idea of another person using her body either.
Damon then stood up so he was face to face with Klaus. Damon pulled Charlie close behind him. She didn't try and stop him, Klaus was evil, he'd killed her once already and he couldn't be trusted.
"Any reason you stopped by to say hi?" Damon asked glaring at Klaus.
Klaus shrugged. "I've been told that you and your brother fancy my doppelganger... but even better you're also smitten with my little niece here. Just thought I'd remind you not to do anything you'd regret."
Charlie and Alaric both laughed. It was too late for that. Damon had already given Elena his blood.
"Ha. Ha. Thanks for the advice," Damon said with a fake smile. "Actually, I don't suppose I could talk you into a postponement, huh?"
Alaric and Charlie exchanged worried glances. What was Damon doing? Klaus was going to kill him.
"You are kidding," Klaus laughed before realising how serious Damon was. Klaus then looked at Charlie. "He is kidding, right?"
She shook her head. "No, not really," she said quietly. The more Charlie looked at Klaus the more she thought she'd met him before...
"I mean come on!" Damon continued. "What's one more month in the whole scheme of things?"
Klaus' face suddenly became twisted. He wasn't playing anymore. "Let me be clear… I have my vampire. I have my werewolf. I have everything I need. The ritual will happen tonight. So if you want to live to see tomorrow, don't screw it up."
Damon glared at the cruel looking man in front of them.
"And, Charlotta." Charlie could feel herself shaking as Klaus spoke directly to her, she couldn't help but be frightened. Klaus was dangerous, he wouldn't think twice about killing them all. "Make sure your boyfriend doesn't mess up. Because I will get my vengeance. I'm sure Katerina already told you that story."
Without another word, Klaus left. Charlie couldn't help but feel terrified. Thinking about what Katherine told her about Klaus… what he did to her family. She couldn't allow anything to happen to her new friends. Elena, Jeremy, Alaric and Jenna were the closest thing she'd had to a family in a long time. And as angry as she was with Damon right now, she couldn't bear the thought of him being dead. A part of her would always love him no matter what he did.
"That was fun," Damon said sarcastically.
"Are you insane?" Charlie scoffed and she turned away from Damon.
Alaric sighed. "You're going to screw it up, aren't you?" he said half-heartedly to Damon.
Damon stepped in front of Charlie as she tried to walk away. "Charlotte, do you think if I took Klaus' werewolf out of the equation, Elena might get over the fact that I tried to turn her into a vampire?" Damon asked hopefully. "And maybe then you won't hate me as much."
"No, you idiot, it won't matter," she mocked. "Because you'll be dead."
"But without the werewolf, he can't perform the ritual tonight, which means I buy Elena one month before the next full moon," Damon continued. He was now mumbling away to himself.
"But you'll still be dead, Damon," Alaric added.
Damon rolled his eyes. "Are you two gonna help me or what?"
"Damon… this is a stupid and suicidal idea..." Charlie trailed off.
"So, does that mean you're gonna help me?"
Charlie sighed, knowing he was going to go through with his idiotic plan with or without their help. Plus, she wanted to help Elena; she knew how she felt about becoming a vampire.
"Fine," Charlie breathed, crossing her arms over her chest.
"What do you want us to do?" Alaric asked.
Several minutes later they arrived outside Alaric's apartment door.
Alaric opened the door and Damon pushed it open. Katherine was standing on the other side of it.
"Look who's dumb enough to come back," Katherine said to Alaric with a smirk.
"Don't start, Katherine," Charlie said glaring at her.
Katherine's eyes immediately shot to Charlie. "Oh, look, another idiot has returned to Klaus' death house." Katherine crossed her arms, still staring at Charlie. "I'm surprised you haven't ran, Charlotte. You're a vampire now, you can't stop Klaus breaking his curse. If I was you I would get the hell out of Mystic Falls before he hurts you. Unless you can't leave this town... is something or someone keeping you here?" Katherine glanced towards Damon and then back at Charlie.
"I'm not you, Katherine, I don't run and abandon my friends when they need me."
Katherine smirked. "You're right, you're not like me and you never will be. You're weak... all of you are. I'll always look out for myself and I won't think twice about doing so."
"And yet, here you are still stuck in this apartment," Charlie mocked.
"Ha. Ha," Katherine said sarcastically. "So what are you idiots doing here anyway?" she asked changing the subject.
"Well, somebody had to invite them in," Alaric answered. "Damon. Charlie. Would you like to come in?"
Damon and Charlie pushed passed Katherine and stopped in the middle of the apartment in front of her.
"Are you trying to get me killed?" Katherine shouted.
Damon suddenly held Katherine up against the wall. "We gave you vervain, now we're here to collect." Damon turned to Alaric. "We've got it from here, Ric."
"You sure?" Alaric asked unsure.
"Yep, we're vampires we can take care of ourselves. Klaus already used your body, he won't think twice about killing you," Charlie said gently.
"Yeah, Charlie's right," Damon added. "Anyway, you don't need to get blamed for this. Get back to the house. Keep Elena from handing herself over."
"Okay," Alaric said still a little uncertain, but he left the three vampires alone.
"Get blamed for what?" Katherine demanded.
"I need to know where Klaus is keeping his werewolf," Damon said as simply as if he were asking the weather.
"Why? What are you going to do?" Katherine turned to Charlie. "And why are you helping him?"
"Dead werewolf equals no ritual," Damon answered for Charlie.
"No. You can't interfere, Damon. And you're as stupid as Damon if you let him, Charlotte. Klaus will kill you and everyone you've ever met."
"I just need to delay this thing," Damon said.
"No. No way," Katherine said sternly.
"I don't understand," Charlie said. "You should like this. It's going to buy you another month of your pathetic life."
Katherine smirked. "Right. Except that I'm not the vampire he's planning on sacrificing."
"What?" Damon and Charlie said together.
"Yeah. He's got Caroline Forbes and Tyler Lockwood. Therefore, I'm in the clear," Katherine said holding her hands up.
"You could at least pretend to care about Tyler and Caroline," Charlie said annoyed.
"And what makes you think you're in the clear, Klaus hates you," Damon spat.
Katherine took a step towards them. "Hey, I'm just trying to stay alive long enough to get myself out of here."
Charlie shook her head at Katherine. "It's always about you," she said disgusted.
"What if I told you Elena had vampire blood in her system?" Damon said, glaring at Katherine.
"What?" Katherine demanded. She turned to Charlie. "Tell me he's lying."
"Nope. That's the only reason I'm here helping Damon. He needs to fix this. I know how much Elena doesn't want to be a vampire."
"Imagine how much fun that will be competing with Elena for Stefan's love for, I don't know, forever," Damon added with a smirk.
"The tomb. He's got them in the tomb," Katherine blurted out. Damon had hit a nerve.
"Thank you," Damon smirked, clearly impressed with himself. He'd gotten under Katherine's skin.
Charlie sighed. "Stop gloating, Damon, you only got Katherine to spill. She's an easy target when it comes to Elena." She then grabbed Damon's hand and pulled him towards the door. "Come on, we don't have any more time to waste, we need to help Tyler and Caroline and stop Elena from becoming a vampire."
Several minutes later Damon and Charlie arrived at the tomb. Klaus' witch Maddox was guarding the door. He smirked when he saw them.
"Which one are you trying to save? The blond or the wolf? Did you really think Klaus would leave them unprotected?"
"Wishful thinking," Damon said sarcastically.
Charlie suddenly rushed over to Maddox and easily pinned him to the ground. She held her hands tightly around his neck but Maddox threw her backwards with his powers. Maddox got to his feet and Charlie began to scream in pain. He was using magic to cause her head to burn.
Charlie continued to scream in agony, holding her head. She rolled on the floor in pain. She felt like her skull was going to explode.
Damon lunged for Maddox trying to help Charlie but he too began to scream as his head felt like it was on fire. He dropped to his knees, holding his head in his hands.
Suddenly, there was a gunshot and Maddox fell to the floor. Blood spreading across his shirt.
Charlie and Damon no longer in pain, stood up to find Matt with a gun. Damon was instantly beside Maddox and snapped his neck. His body was now lifeless on the ground.
They turned to a shocked looking Matt.
"What are you doing here?" Damon demanded.
"Where's Caroline?" Matt asked.
Damon took a deep breath. "Listen, man. Not a good time to play the hero."
Matt took a step towards them. "Where is she? And what did he do to her?" Matt said firmly.
Charlie could tell Damon was getting annoyed. She gave Damon a warning look; she didn't want him to hurt Matt.
"We're just here to rescue her. We know nothing more than you do," Charlie said gently.
"Yeah, what she said," Damon added.
Before Charlie could react Damon rushed over to Matt and hit him over the head with the gun. Matt fell to the floor, unconscious.
"Oh, my God, Damon," Charlie shouted. She rushed over to Matt and crouched beside him. She pressed her hand to his neck and gave a sigh of relief, he was still breathing.
"He'll be fine. You're lucky I already screwed up once today or he'd be dead right now," Damon mocked.
"You're not funny," Charlie said unimpressed.
"Okay, I'm sorry. But Matt was a liability." He crouched down next to Charlie. "Look," he said nodding to the ground beside Matt.
Charlie followed Damon's gaze to find wooden bullets scattered on the floor around them. "Matt knows about us?"
Damon smirked. "Wooden bullets... I'm gonna go with yes. Let's help Caroline first."
Charlie easily pushed open the tomb door. She entered with Damon following closely behind her. "Caroline? Tyler?" she yelled.
"Caroline?" Damon shouted too.
"Charlie? Damon?" Caroline asked, confused.
Charlie and Damon headed further into the tomb to find Tyler and Caroline sitting on the ground, their hands and feet tied with heavy metal chains.
"Your boyfriend's outside with a rifle loaded with wooden bullets. You have some explaining to do," Damon said to Caroline, lowering his eyebrows at her.
"Wait, what? Matt?" Caroline demanded.
"Matt knows about you?" Tyler said, surprised.
"No, I..." Caroline stuttered.
"It's okay," Charlie said gently.
"Yeah, shush, tomorrow's problem," Damon added.
"Wait a second, who is she," Tyler asked, pointing to Charlie.
"I'm Charlie, Damon's long lost girlfriend. I'll explain later. Wished we could have met under better conditions," she replied.
"Yeah, we don't have time for this now," Damon said and he effortlessly broke the chains, releasing Caroline. She instantly got to her feet.
Charlie started towards the exit of the tomb.
"Let's just get you out of here first," Damon said with a slight smile. And he grabbed Caroline's shoulders pushing her after Charlie.
Caroline fought against Damon's grip. "Wait, guys. No! I'm not leaving without Tyler."
Charlie stopped where she was and turned to face Caroline and Damon. "It's getting dark soon, Damon," she stated.
Damon turned to Tyler. "How fast can you get the hell away from here?"
"I need to get to my family's cellar. I can lock myself up," he replied.
"I'll help," Caroline quickly added.
Charlie sighed. "Let him out, Damon. We can't leave him here."
Damon headed toward Tyler and crouched down in front of him. "Don't make me regret this," he warned before pulling Tyler's chains off.
It was now completely dark. Still on the ground outside, Matt was beginning waking up. Caroline rushed over to him.
Caroline and Damon began arguing. Caroline annoyed he'd hurt Matt, Damon annoyed Matt knew about vampires.
Charlie looked up at the full moon; they needed to get Tyler out of here. She was about to tell Damon when Tyler growled and grabbed his chest in pain.
Everyone's attention instantly turned to Tyler.
"Tyler? Tyler?" Caroline yelled.
"It's starting," Tyler panted through the pain.
"Grab boy wonder and let's go," Damon shouted to Charlie and Caroline. He began to walk away.
They both pulled Matt to his feet and dragged him after Damon and Tyler.
The further they headed through the woods, the worse Tyler was becoming. He was sweating and holding his chest in pain.
"He doesn't look good, Damon," Charlie whispered.
"He just better not wolf out on us," Damon said.
Suddenly, Damon's phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket and answered. It was Stefan.
"Bad time, little bro."
"What the hell are you doing? Is Charlotte with you?" Stefan demanded.
"Saving the day. Charlie's here. We figured you'd understand. Just tell Elena to stay put."
"She's already gone, Damon."
"What?"
"Klaus came. He took her."
Damon took a deep breath. "I'll take care of it," he said and he hung up.
"What's happened," Charlie asked, concerned.
Before Damon could answer Tyler fell to the floor, writhing in pain. His transformation was starting.
"Tyler!" Matt shouted, confused.
"I don't know if I can hold it off. Get out of here," Tyler yelled through the pain.
"Tyler, it'll be okay," Caroline said softly.
"Go!"
"You've got time. We're almost there, just..."
Tyler cut her off. "It's happening faster."
Charlie gently touched Caroline's shoulder. "I know you care about him but we need to get out of here; one bite and we're dead."
Tyler let out a growl. They all turned to him. His eyes were now a bright yellow.
Tyler suddenly rushed over to Caroline but Charlie stopped him. She pushed Tyler to the ground but he pulled her down with him. They wrestled for a few moments, his teeth mere inches from her face... Damon then grabbed Tyler's shoulders and dragged him away from Charlie but in the process Tyler bit his arm...
Damon got to his feet, acting like nothing had happened.
"Damon..." Caroline said weakly.
Charlie stood up to. She rushed to Damon's side. "Oh, my God, Damon. Why did you help me, I would have been okay," she said annoyed.
"I'm fine," Damon said abruptly.
"Get out of here!" Tyler suddenly shouted, bringing them back to reality.
Damon held onto Charlie's shoulders, looking directly at her. "Get Caroline and Matt to the Lockwood cellar. If it held Tyler in, it'll keep him out. If it doesn't... Use these." He gave her the wooden bullets. "It'll buy you a couple of seconds. Go. Go!"
Charlie shook her head. "No! I'm coming with you."
"Go with Matt and Caroline," Damon said firmly. "I need to do this on my own."
"No!" she shouted.
Damon grabbed her wrist pulling her against his chest. He gently held her face, lifting it to his. Despite being mad at him, she didn't stop him. For the shortest second, his lips were against hers. Then it was over.
He didn't let go of her face as his icy blue eyes continued to burn into Charlie's. "Trust me," was all he said.
And then he was gone.
Charlie stood in silence for a few moments before Caroline spoke.
"Charlie, come on. We have to go."
"No, you go. Look after Matt. Get to the cellar. I'm going after Damon."
"But he told you not to."
"Damon should know I don't take orders. I'm just as stubborn as he is." And with that Charlie was gone.
Charlie raced through the woods but couldn't find Damon anywhere. She stopped beside a tree stump and sat on it. She leaned forward, putting her head in her hands. She was so frustrated. Damon had left her in the dark; she had no idea if Elena was okay. She had no idea what Damon was planning next. Where was he? What was he up to? What if he got himself killed?
She was mad at him but she didn't want him die. No matter what he'd done she couldn't bear the thought of him being gone. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed him.
"I love him," she whispered to herself. A few tears fell from her eyes, streaking down her cheeks. She wiped them away and sniffled. "I've always loved him... and I always will..."
"What a touching confession," a snarky voice said.
Charlie looked up but no one was there.
She quickly got to her feet. "Hello?" she shouted as she looked around her. But there was nothing but the trees in the dark night. She was alone.
"Stalking the pray is the best part of being a vampire," the same voice said. He had a slight European accent.
"Show yourself," she demanded. "Unless you're a coward."
The voice laughed darkly and suddenly out of the darkness appeared a male figure. He stepped into the moonlight... and in front of her was Brice...
His dark eyes eerie in the dim light.
"Love... it always continues to be our greatest weakness."
Charlie just glared at him. She wiped away the last remaining tears from her face. "What do you want, Brice?" she said lifelessly.
He smirked. "Nice to see you again too, Charlotta."
"Is it really? I can't say the same about you," she mocked.
"I'm hurt," he said sarcastically. "If it makes you feel any better, I'm glad you're not dead... or human for that matter. You're good as a vampire, it suits you."
"Just cut the crap, Brice, and tell me what you really want. I know you're working for Klaus. Elijah told me you'd do anything for him... you're so weak and spineless," she scoffed.
"Elijah," he mocked. "You're daddy's little princess already."
"He's a better man than you'll ever be. At least he's not afraid of his own brother."
Brice gave a half-laugh. "Okay, you got me, I'm here for you. Klaus sent me."
"If you think I'm gonna just hand myself over to you, you're so wrong," she spat.
Brice's smirk widened. "Klaus knew you wouldn't make this easy that's why he has..."
Before Brice could finish Charlie sped back through the woods. She stopped and broke a branch from a tree. She started to run again when Brice grabbed her wrist pulling her backwards and locking her against his chest.
He smiled darkly. "Did you really think you could out run me? I'm over 1000 years old, Charlotta."
"Not really, but I can do this..."
She then drove the branch into his side. Momentarily in pain Brice let go of her. But a mere second later he ripped it out and pulled her back by her hair.
His expression darkened his lips turning into a sinister smile. "I have to admit you're good. But you will come with me."
"You can go to hell," she yelled. "You can't compel me and you can't kill me..."
"Oh, I know I can't compel you that's why Klaus has leverage," he smirked.
"What do you mean?" she asked warily.
"Little Jeremy Gilbert."
Why do you think Charlie recognised Klaus?
Do you think she has forgiven Damon yet?
What has Klaus done to Jeremy?
What does he want with Charlie?
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, and I promise the next chapter won't take me as long to write :D