And again, a series of beeps, which will stop in seconds with the words "the subscriber is not responding". The operator's cold voice becomes uncomfortable. I recovered the familiar combination of numbers in the hope that Jeremy will respond to the call with words that everything is in order..... But that doesn't happen. In an attempt to calm down, I use my fingers to hit a wooden table. I wasted it. I don't hear what Caroline is so excited about and I clearly don't realize that my thoughts are far from here. Maybe Damon is right, and it's just paranoia? I don't know. Call it what you will. Ever since Bonnie brought Jeremy out of purgatory, I can't stop worrying. Yes, fear overshadows my eyes, so I can't judge the situation soberly. I don't care! I'm ready to be heard as a freak, as long as my brother is okay. Just... Because in the last two years so much has happened that even the slightest whisper is sometimes terrible. Somewhere on the edge of consciousness, the thought flashes: Jeremy is no longer a child for long, and his sister's constant concern for him is a burden. But it doesn't help to erase the bad feeling.
I get up from the table, leave Caroline alone in the bar, disconcerted, and run to the parking lot. My hands tremble with fear and anxiety and barely insert the key in the ignition. The sound of the engine running for a moment provides peace of mind, but in the next few seconds it flies away. I press the accelerator and go to the guest house.
Time has lost count for me. I can't tell you how long it took to get into the guest house Salvatore. The feeling that something may have happened during my absence is very worrying. The silence, the unnatural and unpleasant pressure in my ears, plays into my imagination; the fear draws unthinkable images of what happened. Unexpectedly a rumor comes from the second floor, which interrupts my future thoughts. I immediately smell fresh blood provoking my vampire essence.
I can't remember how I ended up in this room. The floor is filled with fragments of glass and furniture.
I stop in the horror of the photo I saw. My legs seem to grow to the ground, my body doesn't listen, but my head is full of noise. I can't understand and believe what I see. Stefan. Once a beloved man, a good friend, a good brother. Now it seems so far away. He is no longer in front of me! Another person. A descendant of Hell, but not everyone's favorite Steph. Leaning over Jeremy's breathless body, he drinks his life in big sips from Jeremy's body. For a hundredth of a second our eyes meet, and his eyes only read the thirst and desire of an animal to kill.
- Please leave him alone! - I pray.
Stefan takes his time from his lesson and goes into the air allowed.
- It's not his fault, please don't kill him - I keep asking, there's nothing I can do, because I see Jeremy standing before me half dead. - Stop it, you're not yourself. Stefan, whom I know, would never hurt you.
All I hear is the roar of the womb, which takes away my hope that he won't give up his goal.
- Stop for you, Elena? I heard an unexpected question.
- No, my voice is shaking. - For me. When humanity comes back, you will blame yourself for her death. And I will never forgive you for the death of your brother.
- But Damon has forgiven you.
I feel uncomfortable. He's right, I forgave Damon.... but I can't say it out loud.
- You are a vampire, Elena, a merciless creature who only knows what to kill. No feelings, just a constant thirst for blood. You, like me, can kill him, by coincidence, not deal with the thirst.
The last spoken words really beat in your heart. His words are terrible but true. And it only hurts more. I have unconsciously lowered my eyes; my eyes fall on the splinters of varnished wood, which were once part of the bookcase.
I take a slow step, I lift it up, and I hold it firmly in the palms of my hands.
- Let go of my brother, I hear a note of anger in my voice.
Stephen laughed and instead of leaving Jeremy alone, he brought his neck close to his bloody lips.
- Different? What are you going to do, Elena?", he mocks. - Do you want to kill me?
I can't see myself across the hall, pressed against the wall by Stephen's body. His hand hurts in my throat. I hear his breath torn. When I look up, I immediately find the freezing fire in my bright green eyes. Because I can't stand it, I close my eyelids. And like a light in the night, there is hope that everything that happens is just a terrible dream. When you wake up...
