Cosmic Love

The next morning Stefan walked downstairs agitated and on a mission. “Where are you going?” I asked him.

“I’m going to meet with Elena. She wanted to talk to me.” I could sense there was something he wasn’t telling me. He wasn’t agitated just because of Damon. With Damon he’s usually pretty level headed or just angry. He was never nervous.

“Stefan, what is this about?”

“Elena knows,” he said simply. I felt the world stop for a minute before it came back. He could see the shock and slight anger on my face. “She figured it out. I didn’t tell her.”

“And you’re going to talk to her now?” Stefan nodded in confirmation. “Then I’m going with you.”

“Emma, she—”

“I’m coming with you,” I said forcibly. With a grim face he turned and went to meet Elena at the café in town.

We found Elena already sitting at a table. Stefan went and sat across from her first and I pulled up a chair to sit in between them. “You know about the vampires too?” Elena asked me after making sure no one else was around.

“I am a vampire,” I said simply. The surprise on her face was obvious until she masked it.

“You said you would explain everything. That’s why I asked you to meet me here,” said Elena to Stefan. Her tone was businesslike with no emotion present. “When you Google vampire you get a world of fiction. What’s reality?”

“I can tell you whatever you want to know,” said Stefan. I doubt he’d actually tell her everything though. There are some secrets and things he’s definitely not proud of. I wouldn’t be.

“I know you eat garlic,” said Elena.

“Yes.”

“And somehow sunlight’s not an issue?” The interrogation stopped for the waitress to bring over some cups of coffee.

“We have rings that protect us.”

“Crucifixes?”

“Decorative.”

“Holy water?”

“Drinkable.”

“Mirrors?”

“Myth.”

“You said you don’t kill to survive,” said Elena, not phrasing it as a question.

“Animal blood keeps me alive, but not as strong as Damon. He can be very powerful.” I nodded my head knowing that was true.

“And yet you let him get involved with Caroline?” She was upset that he would let that happen. She didn’t understand.

“Forcing Damon not to do something is much more dangerous, believe me.”

“He was hurting her,” said Elena outraged at Stefan’s calm response.

“He was feeding on her. He was able to take away her memories of being bitten using a form of mind compulsion. She never knew what was happening to her. If he wanted to kill her he would have.”

“Is that supposed to make it okay?!” asked Elena.

“No, no. None of this is okay,” responded Stefan. “I know that.”

“Do feed on animals?” Elena asked me.

“No,” I said crinkling my nose at the thought. “I prefer to use blood bags from hospitals.” Elena was about to burst out in anger before she just closed her mouth and looked away from me.

“Are there any others beside for you, Damon, and Emma?” she asked.

“Not in Mystic Falls, not anymore.”

“Not anymore?”

“There was a time when this town was very much aware of vampires. It didn’t end well for anybody. That’s why it’s important you don’t tell anyone.” I’d probably kill you, I thought.

“I can’t promise that,” admitted Elena. I was tempted to just swipe the necklace off her and compel her right now but I figured Stefan would probably stop me before I was able.

“Elena, give me today. I will answer any questions that you have. And when it’s over you can decide for yourself what you want to do with what you know. It’ll be your choice.” Elena nodded her consent. She was a very curious one. Curiosity killed the cat.

“I have something to show you,” Stefan said. “A place that has a lot of meaning. Could you drive us there?” he asked.

“Sure,” said Elena. Forgetting our cups of coffee we got up and went in Elena’s car. Stefan gave Elena turn by turn directions, telling neither of us where it was we were going. The car was silent other than Stefan’s directions. I could feel the tension.

“Stop here,” said Stefan once we go to the middle of the forest on an old dirt road. He got out quickly and began to walk towards the structure. I knew instantly what it was. It was his home.

“What are we doing here?” asked Elena also getting out. I got out after and went to stand by Stefan.

“I want to show you something,” responded Stefan. He turned and walked deeper into the structure, some stones still standing.

“In the middle of nowhere?” she asked. I was about to snap at her but Stefan beat me to the response.

“This didn’t use to be nowhere,” he said. “It used to be my home.” I went and laid a comforting hand on Stefan’s shoulder getting a small smile in response. It was then that Elena moved away from the car and began to follow Stefan.

Elena stopped in front of one of the stone structures. “It looks so…”

“Old?” guessed Stefan. “That’s because they are.”

“Wait, how long have you…” She was still obviously wary around the word vampire.

“I’ve been seventeen years old since 1864.”

“Oh my god,” said Elena obviously in shock. “What about you?” she asked me.

“I’ve been nineteen since 1864,” I admitted to her.

“So you guys were turned the same year?” she asked. “Is that how you know each other?”

“Not quite,” said Stefan.

“Both of us are from Mystic Falls. We were turned the same day.” Elena’s face was complete surprise. She didn’t want to believe what she was hearing. Until yesterday it was impossible.

“You said you wanted to know,” said Stefan. “I’m not going to hold anything back from you.” He made the message clear to Elena before speaking again. “A half century before the boarding house was even built, this was my family’s home. Damon and I, we were both born here. The Salvatore brothers, best friends. Katherine was here too.”

“You knew Katherine in 1864?” said Elena, shocked. “Damon made it seem like…”

“Damon was trying to make you think that I was still heartbroken. He saw that I was happy with you and he wanted to ruin it.”

“All because you loved the same woman 145 years ago?”

“She wasn’t just any girl,” said Stefan. “She was beautiful, fun, and loved to play games. But they weren’t always nice games. She liked to play with Damon and I too, putting us against each other. She chose me. I escorted her to the ball at the original Lockwood mansion.”

“The first Founder’s Party?” asked Elena.

“It was a lovely party,” I said sighing. I would still love to wear the dress I did then.

“Where you both signed the registry?” Stefan nodded in confirmation.

“I didn’t care that I had gotten something that my brother wanted. I didn’t even care if it hurt him. I only knew that I wanted her.”

“That’s what compulsion does to you, dear Stefan,” I said sympathetically. I knew this was hurting him more than he let on. I sat down on a stone bench that still happened to be intact.

“So he was upset,” said Elena sitting down beside me. Her posture was tense though and I knew she wasn’t fully comfortable yet.

“That’s the thing about Damon. He doesn’t get mad. He just gets even. What Damon wants, Damon usually gets. I didn’t know it at the time but it turns out that night Katherine was with him too.”

“So he stole her from you?” asked Elena trying to make sense of it. “Not the other way around?”

“Turns out, she wasn’t ours to steal. She planned to have both of us, wanted both of us. She could control my mind and Damon’s. She compelled each of us to keep it a secret from the other. She wanted all of us to be together. Forever. It didn’t work out that way, but Damon and I, it looks like we’re stuck with each other. Like it or not.” Stefan bent down and retrieved a piece of cloth from behind a fallen stone pillar. He began to unravel and pulled out Damon’s ring.

“Is that Damon’s ring?” asked Elena.

“I took it from him,” nodded Stefan. “But I have to give it back.”

“No, don’t, Stefan,” begged Elena. “Keep it hidden.”

“Elena, if I don’t give it to him he’ll retaliate in the only way he knows he can hurt me.”

“And how is that?” asked Elena distressed with the idea of given Damon his ring back.

“By hurting you,” said Stefan. I resisted the urge to say ‘Awww.’

“Elena, if we don’t give it back he’s just going to hurt more people.” She knew I was right and she didn’t argue about it anymore.

“Emma, how do you know Damon and Stefan?”

“We were turned the same night, all of us killed, murdered.”

“You said you were at the Founder’s Party. That means you were part of one of the founding families.” I waited for her to ask the question I could see in her head. “Which one?”

“My name is Emma Gilbert.” The shock went through Elena and she stared at me stunned.

“We’re related?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. I gave a glance towards Stefan. How could we be related if she looks exactly like Katherine? Somehow she has to be descended from her. Both him and I knew it.

“This is a lot to take in,” said Stefan. “Why don’t we get you back home?” We walked back to the car and Stefan opened Elena’s door for her. She was about to get in when she turned around ready to say something. I paused in opening my own car door.

“The mind control, that Katherine used, did you ever do that to me?”

“No,” said Stefan. And the way he said it I knew he never would. “That necklace contains an herb called vervain. It protects you from being compelled. I wanted to protect you from Damon’s influence. But I also wanted to protect you from me.” It was hard for him to say it. He knew he was dangerous to her.

“Elena, you should never take that necklace off,” he said making it obvious that it was very important she listened. “Cause no matter what happens after today, no matter how you feel about me, you know you’ll be free to make your own choice.” He moved away and we all got in the car. Just as with the car ride here, the way back was silent.