Recap:
At the Gilbert Residence, night had fallen and Elena was deep in her thoughts when there was a knock on the door. "Sheriff? Hi, what's up?"
"Never mind that," Damon walked up from behind Elena, making her scowl. "Bit late for a social call, don't you think?"
"It's important." Liz shifted on her feet as she bit her lip.
"Has something happened?" Damon narrowed his eyes.
"I don't know," Liz looked at Elena. "Lab results just came back."
"Any closer to finding out who put the bomb outside my house?" Elena asked.
"Yes." Liz breathed.
"Well?" Damon asked.
"You're not gonna believe this." Liz's face was pale.
Damon frowned while Elena looked at Liz, worried.
Chapter 86:
Matt threw a blanket over Talia and smiled as he watched her sleep. His phone rang and he sighed when he saw who it was. "Hey?" Matt spoke as he walked out of his room. "Chill, Tyler, nothing's going on. "What? Kol and Tal? Who the hell told you? What? Oh, hell no. Hang on- she's..." Matt glanced at Talia, "...no, I haven't seen her. You what? Are you sure that's a wise idea?"
As Matt's voice faded, Talia's eyes twitched as she dreamed. She tossed, feeling the warmth wrapped around her. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as a soft whimper escaped from her lips.
Meanwhile, at the Salvatore Boarding House, the atmosphere was deadly. Elena chewed her bottom lip as she thought. Surely not? It can't be. I mean, why? Elena snapped out of thoughts when Damon grunted.
"I'm sorry, Damon," Liz sighed.
"Surely it has to be a mistake," Damon said furiously. "Give me the results,"
"Damon, please." Liz was worried about her friend.
"Just show me, Liz, damn it!"
"Damon, don't," Elena spoke, at last, her voice croaking.
Damon looked at Elena, his eyebrows furrowed in concern. "Surely not, Elena? I mean, seriously?"
"I wanna see the results," Elena murmured.
Liz looked hesitant as her eyes darted between Elena and Damon. Finally, she sighed and held out her hand, a piece of paper slightly crumpled. Liz looked down as Elena read the results again. Her pager went off and she sighed. "I have to get going, I'm due at the hospital to take statements. There was another vampire attack."
"Oh?" Damon asked.
"Yeah, a young couple, camping."
Damon smirked. "Never learn, do they?"
"Is there something you're not telling me?" Liz's eyes were narrowed. "Regarding the attack in the woods? Well, Damon, is there?"
"Stop getting wound up, Liz, I was just saying," Damon paused. "Statements. From who?They're dead."
Liz sighed sadly. "Their toddler was left unharmed. A little girl."
Damon was shocked. "Poor kid,"
"Hm," Liz murmured. "CPS will want to talk to me too."
"Let me know if you need... vampire help." Damon looked at Elena and sobered up immediately. "You okay?"
"Surely this isn't real?" Elena asked Liz. "It can't be."
"DNA doesn't lie, honey," Liz said softly. "I'm sorry."
Elena nodded as her eyes blurred with tears. "I have to go."
"What, where?" Damon asked.
"I need to find my sister and Jer. Explain to them. They need to know what's happened."
"But-"
Elena did not wait for Damon to finish his sentence, she had sped out. Damon looked at Liz. "What if someone tampered with the evidence?"
"Who'd do that?" Liz humoured Damon.
"Who wouldn't?"
Liz was not amused because she had sensed where this was going. "Don't say it."
"There's one family in town who'd would do this. The Mikaelsons."
"Damon." Liz sighed. "I don't have time for this."
"It's logical!"
"It's silly!" Liz retorted.
"Why do you defend them?" Damon scowled.
"Because in the short amount of time they've been here, there has not been many vampire attacks. One a week, if we're lucky."
"Ugh, do-gooders damn Mikaelsons, scaring vampires away," Damon rolled his eyes, "Whatever would we do without them?"
Liz chuckled softly. "Damon, you might wanna remove that stick out of your ass." Liz squeezed his shoulder, looking remorseful. "Be there for Elena and the kids. They'll need your support... after..." Liz looked at the results Elena had dropped on the floor.
Damon nodded appreciatively.
"I better get going,"
Meanwhile, Tyler was in the woods with Matt, who looked tired.
"Tyler, man, you need to chill."
"I need to know if she's moved on."
"Even if she has, it has nothing to do with you!" Matt sighed.
"It has everything to do with me because I'm gonna win her back."
"You're gonna-" Matt blinked. "What? Why?!"
"Because I love her!" Tyler snapped.
Matt exhaled hard. "Did you love her when she was your girl?"
"Come on, man,"
"Tyler, it's freaking midnight. Why have you called me here?"
"I love her, man,"
"Pity you didn't appreciate her when you had her," Matt murmured as he looked at anything but Tyler.
"So help me."
"With what?" Matt asked.
"Getting Talia back."
"Wh-" Matt was speechless. "Tyler, you're my best friend and I love you and everything, no homo, by the way, but what the hell are you saying?"
"I want her back and I'm gonna get her back." Tyler swigged the last of his drink and threw the glass bottle into the distance. He smiled when it smashed into a tree seconds later. "With or without your help, Matt."
"I won't help you. She's finally happy."
Tyler looked at Matt, his eyebrows raised. "So she has moved on?"
"I didn't say that."
"How is she happy then?"
"Because she's no longer crying over you!"
"She cried over me because she missed me, Matt! Why the fuck can't you see that?"
"You're delusional," Matt shook his head.
"No, I'm just a guy who knows what he wants,"
"No. Delusional. Face it, Tyler, Talia will never get back with you ever again," Matt almost felt sorry for his best friend. "You may as well stop trying, she's over you."
"Wanna bet?" Tyler smirked, a glint in his dark eyes.
"What are you gonna do?" Matt asked anxiously.
"You'll see later on,"
"Tyler, please," Matt now took a step towards his friend. "Talia doesn't need this. So, whatever you've got planned, forget it."
"You'd do the same if it was Elena or Caroline," Tyler said. "In fact, you did, didn't you? When Elena hooked up with Stefan?"
"I know what you're trying to do," Matt's voice was quiet.
"What am I doing, o wise one?"
"You're trying to piss me off, and help you get Talia back."
"Will you?"
"Not gonna happen, Ty, sorry."
Tyler nodded. "So much for being best friends."
"We are," Matt was upset by Tyler's comment. "Look, as amazing as Lia is, there are other girls out there."
"I don't want other girls, I want Talia, and guess what Matt, I'm gonna get her back. Just you watch."
"Ty-" Matt groaned in frustration; Tyler had sped off. "Son of a-" Shaking his head, Matt put his hands in his pockets and skulked off towards his truck. He had not even reached his truck when his phone rang. "Elena? Pretty late for a phone call, is everything okay? Yeah... she's fine, she's asleep in the living room. Is it important? Okay, I'll meet you at your place in..." Matt looked at his watch, "...10 minutes." Putting the phone back in his pocket, Matt exhaled. "What a night."
A short while later, Matt pulled into the Gilberts' driveway. He turned off his engine and waited. Seconds later, Elena emerged, followed by Jeremy. "What's up?" Matt asked.
"You won't believ-"
"Oi, Talia!"
Elena, Jeremy and Matt looked at each other. Jeremy turned around wildly while Elena grimaced in the distance.
"Is that... Tyler?" Jeremy asked.
"He's, oh my, he's naked."
"What?!" Matt jumped out of his truck and looked into the distance. Soon enough, he could see Tyler, who was completely naked, except for a large hat placed in front of his privates. "Tyler, what the hell are you doing?!"
"Getting my girl back!" Tyler called back.
Jeremy snorted in laughter and Elena punched him in his arm. "Tyler, stop this, you're embarrassing yourself," Elena's voice was high. "Please, Tyler, this isn't the way, trust me!"
"Not until I see her," Tyler walked towards them. "She won't be able to resist this,"
"Really, bro?" Jeremy laughed. "Yeah, you're right, she'll be ready to jump your bones there and then."
"Stop encouraging him," Elena snapped. "Tyler. Please, you're embarrassing yourself and you're embarrassing us!"
"Talia doesn't want to see your dick, and quite frankly, buddy, neither do we," Matt called.
In the distance, a light switched on, startling them all. "Shit, that's our neighbour!" Elena hissed as she grabbed Matt and Jeremy's arms. "Shit! Shit!"
"Tyler, damn it!" Matt cringed as he shook. "Oh my God, stop!"
Elena looked and sure enough, Tyler was walking towards them.
"God, this would be gold for YouTube," Jeremy murmured as he felt for his phone in his pocket.
"Don't even think about it," Elena snarled and Jeremy retracted his hand.
"I- Talia would've laughed at the video!"
"Snap his neck!" Matt covered his ears as Tyler began to profess his love for Talia. "Do it before someone el-" Matt gasped as Tyler dropped to the ground; Caroline had snapped his neck.
"Help me get him inside,"
Elena hurried over and took off her jacket as she went. She threw it over Tyler and Matt ran over to take him inside. She looked over at the neighbour and waved. "Stupid alley cats. Heh."
Once inside, Caroline looked down at Tyler disapprovingly, "What the hell was he thinking?"
"Talia,"
Caroline's face softened and she sighed as she unraveled her arms. "He still loves her."
"He cheated on her," Elena said, "there's no way she's taking him back. I won't let her."
"I hope not," Matt muttered, "she can do so much better than him."
"He's your best friend," Caroline pointed out, "why won't you defend him?"
"He cheated." Matt looked at Caroline, "if Talia had cheated on him, I'd treat her the same, if not, worse,"
"Fair enough," Caroline nodded. "Where is she, anyway?"
"Asleep at my place," Matt looked at Elena, "what were you gonna tell me?"
"What?"
"You said it was important?" Matt raised his eyebrows as Elena faltered. "Well?"
"I'll tell you later," Elena murmured.
Caroline looked up, her lip wobbling, "Is it about me? I can feel freshman year insecurity coming back. It's about me, isn't it?"
"No, no!" Elena mustered a small smile. "It's... well, forensics results came back. We know who planted the bomb outside my house,"
"Who?" Jeremy asked breathlessly.
"Someone I never thought would do this, not in a million years," Elena sighed and looked at Tyler, who stirred feebly. "Come on, help me take him upstairs. I don't want Talia to see his sorry ass in this state."
Matt and Caroline exchanged a concerned look as Elena raised Tyler's arm.
After a while, Elena, Jeremy, Matt and Caroline were in the kitchen, steaming mugs of tea in their hands. They all sat in silence and having had enough, Jeremy rose. "It's 3 in the freakin' morning, I'm going to bed,"
"Jer-" Elena began.
"What?" Jeremy snapped. "You won't even tell me what you wanted to, about the bomb, what is it?"
"I can't tell you. Talia needs to hear it too,"
"Why can't you tell us separately?"
"It's not possible," Elena murmured.
Jeremy looked at his sister for a couple of moments. Finally, he shook his head. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."
"Night, Jer," Elena whispered. She turned to Caroline and Matt. "This is all such a mess."
"I better get going," Matt rose from his chair. "Thanks for the tea. I better go home, before Talia wakes up in a panic."
"I'll give you a ride?" Caroline offered.
"I've got my truck. Thanks though," Matt nodded appreciatively. He glanced at Elena. "See you at school."
"You won't," Elena murmured.
"Hm?"
"The way things are, school is the last thing on my mind,"
"Oh hon," Caroline simpered. "I'll compel the principle and have him shut the school."
"So extra," Matt chuckled. "See you,"
"Bye," Caroline smiled and she looked at Elena. "Elena, you're pale. What's the matter?"
"Tal-" Elena couldn't even finish the sentence when her phone rang. "Hello? Damon?"
Caroline rolled her eyes. She looked at the clock. 03:24AM.
*in the afternoon*
"Hey!" Talia smiled as she walked in. "Heard you were looking for me."
"I need to tell you something," Elena murmured.
Talia's smile slid off.
*20 minutes later*
"Sorry, sweetie," Damon sighed as he closed the cell door with a bang.
"Wha- but why?"
"Precautions, you know how it is, given the current situation."
"What current situation?"
"You know how it is, Elena explained,"
"I know ho- Damon, you are not making sense!"
Damon stopped and placed his hands on the bars. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Talia was bewildered. "What's happening though?"
"You need this." Damon's tone was grave.
"Don't do this," Talia whispered.
"I have to. And don't even think about using your powers. You've... been stripped of them."
"What?" Talia spluttered in disbelief, "my powers. Why the fuck would you do that?"
"I had to, sweetie, I'm sorry, to protect you I'm -,"
"No, you didn't!" Talia snapped and Damon grimaced. She sighed. "Sorry, sorry - just, Damon, please, please, let me go." Talia watched Damon slowly walk away and she started to hyperventilate. "Don't break the promise you made to my Dad!" Damon stopped but did not turn back. "I knew you wouldn't abandon me," Talia murmured. But seconds later, he carried on walking. "Please, Damon, please!"
A tear rolled down Damon's cheek as he pulled the heavy iron door shut. Talia's muffled yells and sobs could be heard faintly.
Outside, Damon exhaled and he wiped his tears away. He took out his phone and sighed. He looked back towards the cell, where Talia could be heard sobbing. Closing his eyes, Damon sped away. Seconds later, he appeared at the Salvatore Boarding House.
"Hey," Elena stood up.
Damon didn't reply.
"Where's... uh, where's Talia?" Stefan asked.
Damon remained silent.
"Damon, where is she?" Lexi asked.
Damon looked at Elena. "I did what you wanted me to do."
"What are you talking about?" Stefan looked from Damon to Elena. "What did you do?"
"I didn't do anything, bunny muncher," Damon scoffed.
"Where the hell is Talia?" Lexi asked forcefully.
"Lexi, stop," Elena sighed. "She's okay."
"Where is she?" Stefan asked.
"I won't tell you, you'd only break her out."
Lexi's eyes were wide in shock. "What the fuck?! You've locked her up."
"Let it go, Lex," Elena sighed.
"Let it-" Lexi was shaking with anger. "Wow. Some family you are, locking that poor kid up!"
"For her own protection!" Damon was exasperated.
"We could've protected her!" Lexi screamed. "We're her fucking family! She's friends with the Mikaelsons! They could've protected her from whoever hurts her!"
"Can they protect her from herself?" Damon snapped.
"H-" Lexi was stunned into silence.
"Didn't think so," Damon scowled quietly, making his way to the drinks cabinet.
"I'm gonna look for her," Stefan sped out. Lexi looked at Elena, who did not budge. Shaking her head, she too, followed Stefan.
Elena looked at Damon, whose eyes were red. "Kid's gonna hate me,"
"She'll understand," Elena murmured as her eyes watered.
"She'll hate me," Damon repeated, his tone harsher as he stared into the fire.
*a few hours later*
Klaus was beside himself with worry. He paced the Mikaelson Mansion as he stared at his phone. He came to a sudden stop. "Ah, Stefan. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
In the cell, Talia had stopped crying. She could not even comprehend the reason she had been locked up. Recalling how Damon treated her, Talia's eyes began to sting with tears. She hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees as she shivered.
"I don't even know why I'm crying," Talia's tone was bitter as she wiped her tears away harshly. "Crying does nothing. Crying... pointless. Won't get me out of here."
An hour later, Talia looked up as she heard a clang. "Hello?" When there was no reply, she stood up. "Hello?" Talia peered into the distance and she relaxed. "About time, mate."
"What happened to you, love?" Klaus asked as he placed his hand on Talia's shaking hand, which was holding the bar of the cell. "You look like hell."
"Gee, way to make your girl feel pretty," Talia sighed. She moved her mouth and exhaled. "God, my face feels so stiff from crying all night."
Klaus' eyes turned dark. "All night? You have been locked here all night?"
"For my safety, apparently," Talia sniffed as another tear fell.
Klaus' face softened and he reached out through the bar and cupped Talia's face. "My poor love."
"Please get me out of here, Klaus," Talia whimpered.
"You must be here for a good reason, my love," Klaus murmured.
"Please?" Talia whispered as she stepped closer.
"Why are you here?" Klaus asked softly.
"Apparently I'm the one who planted that bomb to kill my sister," Talia was dazed.
"And... did you?" Klaus asked quietly. "Plant the bomb?"
"I don't know, babe," Talia leaned forward, her bottom lip trembling, "you tell me."
OHHHH HELL NAW.
Did Talia plant the bomb?? What did she mean by, 'I don't know, babe, you tell me?' IS THAT A CHALLENGE???
So sorry for the mega late update. Life happened. It won't happen again. ❤❤