Chapter Twenty Eight

The vampires huddled close, trailing the map with a finger. "Don't cause too much harm. Just give her a scare." Jameela warned, keeping her finger on the location. "Someone is blocking my spells, making it impossible to reach her...Back to our goal, give her a nice fright. I want to know what she says and how she reacts."

"Got it boss." The female responded. "Let's go boys." Walking away, her swinging arm was caught. The grip on her wrist, burned through her skin. Trying to pry her arm off, her head moved to where the witch stood.

"Remember, if she is harmed in any way, I will kill you myself. Warn your boys." She let the arm go and took off, hips swaying side to side and the click clack of her heels echoing throughout.

The vampire waited before she spoke. Glaring at the door where the witch exited from, she spoke in an arrogant and corrosive tone. "We stick to our original plan." The two vampires gave her a nod but said nothing. "We kill her and have fun with her blood." Her vile smirk, like fire caught onto them.

Sophia

It was mid-May and spring was slowly morphing into summer. In the greenery of the tree was the salvation of the mind, a place to rest old thoughts and gain new perspectives. So our footfalls became our heartbeats. The whispers of the ancient trees were magical. Epping forest was as ancient as time. What was once a hunting ground was now a vast public space with wildlife, greenery, and life. The afternoon sun seeped through the tall trees that poked the clear blue sky. The taste of the earthy air sat on the tip of my tongue. I came to an abrupt stop, halfway into the depths of the woodland. A rider on his horse galloped by, bowing with his head as his eyes met mine. They stopped in their tracks and turned back.

"Sophia, come on then, we have a lot of ground to cover." Laura beckoned.

"I have something to tell you guys."  They eyed me suspiciously as the words left my mouth. Twigs snapped beneath their boots as they stalked back.

"What?" Theo asked, inspecting an oddly crooked twig in his hand.

I held up my left hand, showcasing my ring. "I'm getting married!"

Laura jumped up and down squealing with delight, drawing attention to our group as the passer-by's turned their heads to our direction. She brought my hand closer to her face and her jaw dropped. "That ring looks out of this world! I've never seen anything like it! Kol really loves you.... I am so happy for you!"

Theo pulled me into a bear hug. "Congratulations! I was starting to wonder when you'd settle down!"

Laura jumped again and threw her arms around us. "I am so happy! So when is it? Oh my days...oh my gosh are we invited, what do we wear, what are you wearing ahhh!' She gushed with questions. My eyes flickered to Ethan, wearing a fixed expression.

"I'm getting married in three weeks....so on the eleventh of June!" I said, walking arm in arm with Theo and Laura with Ethan trailing behind us, listening silently.

"When did he ask you?" Theo inquired, more interested than he's ever been in my life.

"Yesterday evening and it was just a little family gathering. And yes, you are all invited...." I trailed off in thought of Amelia. She adored weddings and she would have loved mine. Suddenly the weight of losing her returned.

"Amelia, right?" Laura smiled softly as she too reminisced our fallen friend. We found a log and settled down in deep conversation over Amelia. We laughed and cried a little. I wish I could tell them I saw her, I held her and that I would see her again.

"Theo, Lia would want you to live your life to its fullest. She'd want you to fall in love and do what makes you happy." A tear trickled down his cheek to my comforting words.

"Are you happy?" Ethan interjected. He had his back pressed against a thick tree trunk and folded his arms, looking directly at me. "Are you happy?" He repeated.

I nodded my head. "Extremely."

"Then congratulations. I can't say I'm happy for him, but I do care about you." Somehow I found that difficult to believe.

"Thank you, Ethan." I forced my smiled. His gaze was fixed on me, itching and skin crawling I rose to stand, yelping as I almost toppled over the log when Theo and Laura jumped up; throwing twigs at one another. She chased him around in a circle. He threw more twigs and leaves at her, infuriating her. He guffawed. They continued to chase one another. Theo broke the circle and raced straight ahead with Laura fast on his heels, hurling curses his way. My smile disappeared as the realisation of being left alone with Ethan sunk. He straightened his spine and looked straight at me with baleful eyes, prowling closer.

"Ethan...what are you doing?" He ignored me and pounced, pinning me against a tree, forcing his lips against my neck. I brought my knee up between his legs and struck. When his grip on me loosened I shoved him back. He staggered but regained his balance and charged at me again. My fist connected with his jaw. A snarl escaped his belly and he spat on the ground.

"Stay the hell away from me!" I hissed. He was not a friend. He was not the same man I met four years ago. He was a monster. I bolted down the pathway in search of Theo and Laura. I could hear him run after me, calling out and begging for another chance.

~

"Ethan! Where's Soph?" They called out, jogging down the path towards him, panting.

He shrugged. "We split up to look for you guys. I can't find her either."

Theo glanced around unsettled. "Okay, let's stick together and search for her." They meandered through the twist and turns of the forest that seemed to grow darker with every step. The trees contorted and obscured the sky, the air grew thicker, and a sense of darkness loomed over them. Strange voices alarmed them. Glancing up ahead, four strange figures materialised, surrounding, and menacing their friend. From the distance their faces could be seen transforming. Trembling they squat down, shielding themselves behind the large ancient trees and peeking through the cracks. They wanted to fight and save their friend but every bone in their body was petrified.

"What do you want?" She snarled.

The largest of the men stepped forward. "An eye for an eye." He menaced.

She scoffed at his remark almost laughing. "For what?" Why wasn't she scared? Why was she smiling like that? Why was she not running? Several thoughts raced through their minds.

The three men and female growled, baring what looked like fangs at her. Not once did she flinch. "Your blood and your magic. You see, we got word from the witches that you're now human. As powerful as you are, you have become all the more valuable."

The three friends pressed their backs harder against the trees quaking in their boots. What did they mean by magic and blood? What were they? They held their breaths, frightened of being found.

She chuckled darkly then her expression set cold stone. "So, vampires are now friends with the witches, I see! Might I guess you work for Jameela and Lamees or is it Genevieve, which witch is it?"

"We don't work for them, we're here for our own fun." The younger looking man lunged forward and hurled her across. Grunting, she jumped to her feet and cracked her neck. Her eyes narrowed at the man who charged at her once again. Grabbing his head with her fingers, anguished screams ripped through him. His body began to grey, and he was slipping away. It was as if she was sucking the life force out of him. The body slammed to the ground, and she turned her attention onto the remaining vampires. Thrusting her hands out she muttered something. Whatever she was doing to them they tried to resist. It was of no use, their feet dragged them to her, and she flung the two of them. They hit the trees and slumped down. They were frozen, unable to move. She snapped her head back to the female who unwillingly crumpled to her knees. Yet it didn't stop her from the snarky remarks.

"You're not a vampire.... anymore." She rasped and grunted. "That means you have the cure running through your pathetic veins. An easy kill!" She screamed as her bones snapped over and over again. The screams rattling the forest.

"Yes, I'm a human again but just as dangerous as I was a century ago. Now tell me, why are you really here? If you value your life, you'll cough up."

They watched horrified as the woman they called their friend tortured the female vampire on the ground. Unable to tolerate the pain that was inflicted on her she disclosed. "We were recruited by a witch. She-" She folded over coughing and spluttering out blood. "She wants us to help her mess with you-I-I don't-" The vampire gripped her head, gurgling blood and having no choice but to swallow it back down. "We're here to kill you and play around with-with-" A bone snapped, protruding out. "Let me go pl-please."

She took a step back and scrutinised the vampire. "Who?" Crouching down low, she grasped her chin and forced her to meet gazes. "Which diabolical witch are you-were you working with?"

The female on the floor coughed rigorously. "Jameela." It came out in a rasp.

She loosened her hold. "That's impossible, she's dead."

"You don't understand.... three months ago you died and your family resurrected you...she was brought back."

"Where is she?"

"I-I-" Each time she tried to open her mouth and disclose the information, a force gripped a hold of her tongue and forced it back. "I can't say."

Latching her fingers onto the vampire's temples, Sophia closed her eyes. What she was trying to do, they couldn't be sure of or understand. Withdrawing away, she marched in a fast pace to her left, grabbed a long, thick branch. Raising her knee, she brought the branch down and it split unevenly-one end jagged and sharp. The female vampire dragged herself back, desperate to flee. Sophia stalked closer, twirling the makeshift stake in her hand. When she reached the screaming vampire, she rammed the stake through the heart and shoved it in deep, letting it snap without even touching her. They watched as veins spread all over the body and she closed her eyes. She was dead.

They wanted to warn Sophia of the two vampires regaining their strength and catapulting towards her, but the words were stuck. She was flung across and hit the tree. Get up get up they screamed internally at her, but she flopped down. The larger man yanked her up, holding her by the throat, her feet thrashing in the air. A gush of strong, powerful wind blew past them. Blinking, missing the movement. It was Kol. He stood behind the men and tore through their backs, yanking out their hearts. Eyes large and frozen as they looked on. The bodies crumpled to the ground, and he let the hearts drop to the floor.

Sophia

I flopped down trying to catch my breath. I looked around me at the dead bodies. He helped be back on my feet and pulled me to his chest. "Kol..." I breathed. "How did you know?"

He stroked my hair. "You didn't answer your phone darling and I knew something was wrong. How is it, you always land yourself in trouble? Now... what did these insects want?" I debated whether I wanted to tell him the truth about the witches and how they returned and what they wanted. I didn't want to lie to him.

"They wanted the cure. Now that I'm human everyone wants me! Kol, my friends are missing, we need to find them. I'm scared the vampires got to them"

"We'll find them but darling, you look like hell." He rubbed away the blood that splattered onto my cheek. I felt like hell. My body swayed to the consequences of exerting myself too much and using powerful magic.

"I'm soft and fragile, you shouldn't say such things."

"You just shoved a branch into her heart then tore it back out, without touching her!" He exclaimed, overflowing with pride.

I smiled. "She talked too much."

"You little devil." His lips brushed my forehead.

"Please find my friends Kol..." I felt my body give way and his arms wove around me, holding me upright. The colour drained from my face, I couldn't see it but I could feel my heart stop beating and all the blood flushed down into my boots. I swayed in his arms. The sound of hard fast-moving footsteps filled my ears.

"Is she okay!!!" Laura and Theo. It was their panicked voices. I felt myself being lifted. My eyesight blurred. Everything became fuzzy and then I saw nothing. I was floating through an empty space filled with thick static. My heartbeats pounded loudly, echoing in my ears, along with pleas for me to open my eyes and stay with them. I faded away.

~

Running late was what she was. She sprinted up the station stairs and out into the busy streets of Oxford Circus. They were waiting for her on the other side just in front of the Regent's street Cinema. They waved at her and she darted down the crossing and hurried to them. "...Laura, I am so sorry! " She was pulled into a hug by her best friend. She turned to the grinning, handsome man and smiled. "Ethan..."

He pulled her into his arms and kissed her slowly. Quickly she pulled away before he went in for another. "We're running late!" They turned and rushed into the university campus, signed in and prepared for the work next door, at the cinema. She stuck her head in her checklist and ran through it, ensuring everything was ticked off and nothing was missing. Ethan's lips alight on her cheek like a dew freckled petal caught in a breeze, so soft and with the smallest hint of coolness. The room began to fill up with the others involved with the project. Conversations filled the room. She bent her head down, rereading the script with Laura. The play was almost in full swing. All that was left was the casting. A strange feeling of something missing washed over her. She glanced around feeling alien. Why didn't she love Ethan the way she should have? Why was it when he kissed her it was completely and utterly wrong. Looking back at the crowd she staggered back, tripping, and falling over. Every face she looked at, leaked with blood. Blood poured out from their eyes, making its way out their mouths and they were melting like wax. Kicking herself away, shrieking as they neared her, arms reaching out and voices droning.

Stefan

She passed out cold. I dove into her head but what I saw rattled me. She was a completely different person. She was human, living a full life and none of us were in her life. We didn't exist. I coiled back. Is that what she wanted? Had her subconscious created another world, where she had a normal life and not the one, she did now? It made no sense. She knew she didn't belong there but yet why was she there? I turned to Bonnie and Freya expressing my concerns. Freya deduced witches were messing with her, surely that's what it was? I took her hand and jumped back in. Once in her head again, we walked around the busy hall. She was there again, sitting in the same position we left her.

"I can feel magic around us... It's not her own doing, someone else is showing her these vision." The crowd that blocked our view dispersed. Sophia staggered backwards, kicking, and screaming. I plunged forward to save her, but I couldn't reach her. The faces around us morphed into monstrous beings. "Freya! How do we help her?" Each time I tried to grasp a hold of her, my fingers slipped right through. Grabbing me, Freya pulled me back out of her head.

"Someone is trying to mess with her mind. I sensed two types of energy." She mumbled, scouring Sophia's face.

Kol bounced to his feet. "What do you mean?"

"One energy is trying to harm her..." She took Sophia's hand in hers. "There's another force that's trying to repel the harmful spell."

"So we have a secret well-wisher? Who?"

"I can't get a read of that energy. We have to wait for her to fight through it." Who other than us, was fighting for her?

~

Answering the phone, placing it on speaker, Noah set down the phone on the desk. "I've managed to counterattack my mum's spell...as much as I could." He breathed out hard, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. "It's hard because she's being attacked from all sides, and I can't keep up...." He stared down at the wooden floor with a tight-lipped smile. "I hope I did enough, Harlow."

She exhaled. "You're doing all you can...we just have to try harder. Where's Ben?"

"I'm here." Benjamin answered with a defeated tone. "Any updates?"

"There wasn't much I could find out about your pack or how they link to Sophia. I asked around and the witches here don't know of anything. The only people that will know are Qetsiyah and-"

"Sophia." Ben volunteered.

"Yes." It came as a whisper. Through the phone they heard a constant tapping sound. She was anxious, tapping away at the table with a pen. "I'm worried about Sophia. My ancestors swore to protect her and that every witch after them, will protect her. I just don't know how we can do all that and go undetected..."

Ben paused his pacing and spun around. "I have a plan...a way I can mislead the pack and buy us some time and it'll keep Sophia safe for a while longer." His eyes lit up as the plan fully formed in his racing mind.

"Well go on! Tell us!" Noah urged.

Stefan

A new problem was thrown our way and we weren't sure how to fix it. Her human friends witnessed what transpired in the woods. They saw everything. Their system was overloaded with vervain, so compulsion was not an option. Freya wanted to use magic to wipe their memories, but I urged we wait for Sophia to wake up, much to everyone's disappointment. I took Theo and Laura to one side and explained it all to them. Shockingly, they accepted the truth and were no longer scared. I made space for Damon on the sofa who had not left her side since Kol brought her back.

"Is she going to be okay?" Theo inquired. Both friends wore the same splotchy expression.

"She'll be fine. Her magic is too powerful and now that she's human it can become too much for her." Caroline responded on my behalf.

"You know...she changed our lives." Laura tried to put on a brave face, but she was too scared and worried. "We can't imagine our lives without her. Through everything, she was there. She saved us."

Theo sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, pacing up and down. "I can't believe she's supernatural...yet she made time for everything, and she was more human than any human I've ever known!"

I lifted my head up to face them. "She's special." She was beyond that, she truly was. My eyes skimmed over her sleeping frame. "You have to come back to me." I muttered to myself even when a teeny tiny part of me whispered, I was not worthy of her.

"Better than us all." Damon emitted, lost in his own trail of thoughts, a hundred memories twirling before him. The day changed to night and the night morphed into a new day. The sun rays seeped through the window as the curtains were pulled apart. The light washed over her complexion, painting her in a new light. A soft gasp escaped her, and she shot up.

Sophia

I shot up, every thought in high definition. My eyes took in every ray of light and without a doubt I knew I've been passed out for more than a day. The noises from outside are of a day in full swing, heavy traffic, humans in a rush. Though my eyes were open I couldn't fathom why my heart was pounding and why my mind was empty. It was as though a hypodermic of adrenaline had been emptied into my carotid artery. I strained through the light, the rate of my breathing beginning to steady. Stefan and Damon were by my side holding onto my hands. I smiled weakly, feeling at ease knowing they were there.

"Had a nice nap?" Damon quipped.

"I... I don't know...I keep getting these strange visions...dreams where I'm in a complete different world and I don't belong there-Where's Kol?" Upon being summoned, the Mikaelsons power walked in. I rubbed my eyes hard to confirm whether I had seen them power march into the room with their arms swinging at their sides. Everything seemed rhythmic. Or maybe they always moved such grace, exuding power.

"Ethan is nowhere to be found." Klaus stated. "I'll kill him myself- Hello love." He relaxed the moment his eyes landed on me. Throwing the blanket off me, I got to my feet, wobbling as I did. In no time Kol's arms wound around me and I was pulled close, a kiss planted to my forehead. God he was home. I glanced around and met the wide-eyed expressions of Theo and Laura.

"What are you guys doing here?" My thoughts were muddled and seeing them made no sense.

"We know." They declared. I opened my mouth but closed it again, unable to form the words. I was clearly unhinged. They couldn't possibly know. Laura took my silence as her opportunity to continue. "We saw everything back at the forest and your brother explained everything to us...also, Ethan is missing, and we think he's gone rouge."

"I apologise for all the secrets but it's not safe for you guys-"

"You can't erase our memories or whatever that thing is your brothers said-"

"Compulsion?" I assisted.

"Yes, that!"

"What do you mean Ethan went rogue?"

"He was there with us, back at the forest but he seemed strange and then vanished."

I sighed. "He has been acting strange lately...he tried to force himself on me-"

"I'm going to kill him!" Kol raged. I turned in his arm and faced him.

"Let's just find him first and no, you can't kill him...he's just hurt that I'm marrying you and he's been in love with me since the day he met me."

"You don't see Nik forcing himself on you." He retorted.

I sighed. "Because Klaus has a pure heart like you, and I know he will never do anything to harm me or anything that will diminish the respect you have for him." If Kol was another man, perhaps that would have not been the case.

My brothers and the Mikaelson brothers, alongside Marcel set out to search for Ethan. I sat down with Theo and Laura explaining my story to them. They questioned why I chose them and why I wanted to be friends with them. I ran my fingers through my hair, recalling the very first day I saw Laura. "It was April 16th 2023..." I began. "You were being stalked by your ex-boyfriend, at first I couldn't comprehend why you were so afraid and broke into a run. You ran for your life not looking back. It then hit me, he was a plague and he hurt you in ways unacceptable. When he caught up with you, I came in between you both. He raised his fists to hammer into you but he hit me instead." I chuckled. "Of course, that did nothing to me, but you were so terrified you had this look in your eyes...you were so concerned about me, but I grabbed the guy and broke both his hands. You were so confused. That's when you saw how I was, because I compelled him to speak of his nature...I wanted to see, if deep down he was a good person but when he revealed to me his evil intentions and all his victims, I lost myself and I tore into him. Of course, you heard all he had said but you're made of strong stuff. I turned back to you, and you asked if I wanted to grab a coffee and I was confuddled. I just killed a guy in front of you and not a single bone in your body was afraid. We cleaned up and burned the body, then spent the day at costa with you, where Amelia was and that's how you became friends with her. I had to compel you to forget. I told you to focus on your studies, work towards your dreams and you did just that. However, you made such an impression I had to be friends and so began our ordinary friendship."

She stared at me with amazement and a teary face. "I can't believe it! Does that mean you knew Amelia from the start?"

My face lit up. "I have a deep history with her family. Her grandmother knew about me, and Amelia's father was my godson. Since then, I have always watched over her and now she's watching over me."

"What about me?" Theo asked meekly.

"Theo, when I met you for the first time you were working late...back when you took extra shifts at Harrods and one night you assumed I needed help as coincidentally, two men cornered me. You thundered down the street but met with a terrible sight as I fought the men off and sent them flying and then I compelled them to go straighten up and stop being drunk bastards. You quite literally froze and tried to run because you knew something was up and I wasn't normal. I caught up with you and we had a little chat. You all attending the same university was an actual coincidence! You were already friends with Ethan and after that day, we were all in the same group for our projects and our friendship truly evolved. I've lived a long life and I very rarely made human friends but when I met you all, a part of me felt a little human."

"How does it feel to be human again? Being back from the dead?" They sat with their chins resting on their hands, gaping at me.

"I don't know...it doesn't beat being a heretic, but I am okay with it I suppose...I have to be." I answered truthfully because I myself wasn't sure how I felt. It didn't change the supernatural drama. The only option left was to accept my fate silently. The lads hadn't returned, and it was getting late. They called a while back to inform us about another vampire lurking in the brush. God knew where they had taken the poor soul and interrogated him, and no doubt killed him. A minor threat comes my way, and they went on a rampage. I lied again, concealing the fact about Jameela and the witches that rose from the dead.

I contemplated sharing the information with Freya, convincing myself it was the right thing to do. I couldn't tell Rebekah or my sister-in-laws, they would rat me out. Pushing all those thoughts to the back of my mind, I focused on my friends. Caroline offered to drive them home and ensure their safety, leaving them with no choice but to accept.

"Freya, I need your help with my wardrobe, please come!" I glanced at her furtively hoping she caught sense of the urgency. I left the kitchen and holding onto the handrail as a clutch, made my way up the stairs. It pained me with every step I took but I powered through. I sat on my bed waiting for her arrival and so she did. After locking the door behind her, she joined my side on the bed.

"What is it? I'm getting a sense of Deja vu. The last time you asked me to speak, you wanted me to trap our family so you could go off and fight on your own.... what is it now?" Her concern was palpable.

I fiddled with the mini snow globe of Mystic Falls, gifted to me by Caroline- Stefan had gifted it to her as a secret Santa gift and she wanted me to hold onto it, to feel closer to him.

Heroes don't dread, they buckle up and brace themselves for impact.

It was something my godson Hunter had said several times. No, I wasn't a hero, but I had been dreading far too much.

Anxiety is the leak in your bucket. If there is a hole in your bucket, dear Sophia, dear Sophia, you need to settle yourself down and take time to make the necessary repairs. Rose once advised. They both were right. They always were. I had to do what was necessary. Not for my safety but for my loved ones. I had to do right by them.

"Somehow, Jameela...is alive again. I'm sure she's brought other witches with her too. I didn't tell Kol but that was the reason the vampires came for me. They want the cure, and the witches still want me, not sure why...maybe we can do something?"

Freya let out a slow controlled breath and attempted to loosen her body movements. She was walking like a clockwork soldier and that was no way to be in this family. She gave her shoulders a wiggle and rolled her head in a circle, letting her stride slacken to a more casual pace. It was a decent effort, enough to fool the casual observer, but for the onlooker with a keen eye she was a walking advert for tension. Her eyes moved with the alertness that comes from heavy stress and her hands remained clenched by subconscious demand. She turned back to me and continued to speak. "Why have they not shown up yet? What are they waiting for?"

"Power, more numbers! I do not have a clue. I'm getting married in three weeks! What if that's when she strikes? Jameela is very conniving, she's waiting for the right moment."

"What do you want me to do? We have to be alert!"

"She's in cahoots with vampires so you can imagine how messy it'll get. I don't think she wants me dead; she wants something else, and the question is what."

"FREYA!" Klaus boomed. His voice sliced through the walls, and I jumped to my feet. Unlocking the door, we pattered down the stairs. He was fuming. What had they discovered?

"I'm afraid we have an urgent problem." Announced Elijah before Klaus exploded.

"What is it?" She probed.

"Sneaky little witch wormed her way back to the land of the living." Damon sneered. Under the impression they hadn't noticed me or had been paying me any attention, I tried to slip away until Damon yanked me back. "Not so fast. Spit it out! What do you know?"

I turned to face the crowd with my hands up in surrender. "I confess...I knew. Honestly, she's just one person using vampires. Clearly, she's weak and doesn't have her witches and if there are any other living witches...well, they won't help her!"

"So you knew?" Stefan admonished. "And you hid it from us, again! When will you learn!" Rigid cords formed in his neck.

"What's the matter with you?!" Damon exasperated.

I fiddled with my hair, keeping my head down. "I don't know what she wants, and I don't think she's here..." I felt Kol's glare sizzle through me. "I swear to you I wasn't intending on doing anything.... I just told Freya before you guys called her down!"

"That doesn't mean you lie to us!" Barked Klaus. Even Elijah and Marcel had a few words to share.

"Enough!" I trembled with fury. " I am not a child that needs to be reprimanded! Stop treating me like I can't handle anything! You parade around like you know what is best for me but have you any idea what your actions have cost-" I stopped myself, biting down hard on my tongue. I let the anger consume me and almost exposed the truth. My truth. I clutched at my heart where the pain erupted, flinching when Kol took a step towards me.

Turning away, I fled up the stairs and locked myself in my room. Pressing myself against the door, trembling as anguished cries let loose. Slowly I slid down, holding my stomach where it hurt. The tears weren't silent they were crucifying. He knocked continuously on the door, begging for me to open up and let him in. My brothers came and tried but to no avail. I shuffled back, shaking my head. The pain I buried deep had finally soared through, freeing itself. I died and they brought me back only for me to die all over again. My heart was hanging in the air. I screamed for them to stop but they wouldn't. Unable to take it, my hands shielded my ears from their voices, from my shrieks. From the cries. I was furious and enraged.

I was more than just upset and disappointed! Staggering back up to my feet I held my head desperate to block everything out, desperate to shut down! I lashed out scattering everything from my dressing table. How the rage took over, I didn't know. All I knew, I was throwing and breaking everything in my way. The mirror shattered into pieces. But it wouldn't stop. The rage wouldn't disappear. "Make it stop...please make it Stop!" I screamed, trembling, and breaking all over again. My vision blurred and I staggered forward. "Aargh..." I cried out. Wobbling over to the bed, I dropped.

Stefan

Bonnie broke the door down with magic. The moment it cracked open we fled in, Damon dashing to her side. Her feet dangled over the bed. Blood slowly dripped down, forming a tiny puddle beneath her foot. Lifting her feet, he straightened her out, wincing at the damage inflicted. I inched closer. A thick slanted piece of glass was buried deep. With his fingers he pried it out. I felt for her temperature, it was neutral. Bonnie rushed back in handing Damon two cloths. One damp and one dry and Caroline, ready with a first aid box on hand. In silence he treated her wound. Whatever can silence be? For is there not always the sound of your own heart? Just as with whiteness there is light; if there is a soul present, there is always something.

Her foot was bandaged up and the room was cleared. It was then I noticed the wreck it was in. Glass bits rained everywhere; flowers strewn on the floor. Everything was broken and discarded. The Mikaelsons stood by eyes moist, and foreheads creased. Hurt and helpless. Damon pushed them back, lashing out. He wrongfully held them responsible, refusing them. Rebekah was on the verge of tears, but they waited by the door. Her words echoed in my mind. What had she meant about our actions? What did we cause? I couldn't shake off the feeling something was terribly amiss. Damon pulled his face taught, paced to the door where they stood, holding their breaths.

"I'm sorry...you can come in."

Kol put a hand on his shoulder. "No, we understand. She's your sister and you have more right over her than we."

He nodded and side stepped, letting them zoom past him. Moving from my spot, Kol filled it up, looking down at her with aching eyes. Her cries and screams rattled every soul present. We contemplated as he gently brushed the side of her face. Not a single soul was in a state of speaking. So the silence settled comfortably amongst us. I was cold. Sad and frustrated. I didn't know how to let it go. The hope I built, threatened to come crashing down. Why was my heart screaming at me, telling me something was wrong?