Sooner or Later

[BeautifullyxMad]

Damon looked at Stefan and sighed "Bathroom." He answered and soon he saw Charlize lift her head. She looked at Damon and shook her head. "What?"

"The spirits say she is with Klaus. They are going to lend me power to use a spell to create a frequency to bring down vampires, wolves, and hybrids. You need to get out of here. I'll gather Elena." She said, moving away from Stefan. "warn your friends. And now. I have to get to work."

Damon sighed and heeded her words before he went about warning Caroline and Tyler. It wasn't for him, but he knew Elena would want them safe and once outside the frequency burned a pain through him and he felt as if he were going to burst. Apparently Charlize and te spirits had it going.

[newmommy1993]

Stefan nodded. He helped Damon find Caroline and Tyler before they walked out. A burning shot through him, but not hard enough to actually affect him too much. He just winced, but stayed his distance. He hoped Charlize didn't strain herself too much, he remembered what happened to Bonnie when she tried too hard. One time, she almost died. He glanced at Damon, narrowing his eyes at him. "You were suppose to keep an eye on her. You know Elena has a knack for getting into trouble." He said in a low growl. "Guys, stop it." Caroline said a she stepped in between them. Stefan has his fist clenched, ready to lunge. Because of his brother's carelness and lack of attention, Charlize was saving Elena and anyone else who may have been in risk, again. Anger surged through Stefan, but he managed to keep his calm as he relaxed his hands and backed away from him, turning back to the mansion. As long as Charlize made it out okay, that would be enough for him.

---

Elena was pressed up against the wall by Klaus. "You're so lucky I need your blood, or else you'd be dead by now." He growled. Klaus groaned, clenching his head as he fell to his knees. Elena took this as her chance to leave, but he grabbed her ankles, causing her to fall to the ground. She moaned, turning over as she slightly banged her head. Dots danced in front of her face, but he was still writhing in pain on the ground. She quickly scooted back and stood up, running out of the room and the mansion real quick. She made it outside safely, and made her way to Damon, Caroline, Tyler, and Stefan. She didn't notice Stefan, but made sure her friends were okay, then looked at Damon. "Are you okay?" She asked, hoping the spell didn't affect him any.

[BeautifullyxMad]

Damon saw Elena and nodded. "We're fine."

"No, you are.dammed lucky." Charlize said, her arms crossed.

"Who are you?" Caroline asked.

"My name is Charlize. I don't believe any of us have properly met, but I have to say, you are a careless bunch. Elena is always on danger it seems, and the only reason I even remotely care anymore is because I have put a lot of time and magic into saving her. Now Damon. Do me a favor, we'll be even then. Don't make me save her ever again. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go back into the lion's den and pray I don't die because of what I did. Get home." She said, turning on her heels amd walking back imto the mansion.

Damon looked to Elena. "what the hell? The bathroom? Really? Now I have to follow you when you say you are going to the bathroom."

Caroline looked to Elena. "Come on, Elena we'll have a girls' night."

[newmommy1993]

Elena glared at the witch, the girl Stefan has been with. "No body asked you to do anything." She said, feeling herself lose her temper. "He wouldn't have hurt me either way." She said and glared after her as she left, arms crossed. Elena towards Damon as he started lecturing her. Her eyes stung, but she fought back the tears. "I didn't ask anything from you either." She said and nodded to Caroline. "Love to." She said coldly and pushed past him, but Stefan grabbed her arm. "We're just trying to help you." He told her and she stared coldly at him. "You've been so much help, Stefan. You left me heartbroken, not knowing if you were dead or not. Then you make the pain worse. That's not helping, Stefan." She said, but he didn't let go. "I'm sorry, Elena." He said, but she could tell in his voice he didn't mean it. Elena drew her hand back and slapped his face. It really didn't affect him any, but he figured it probably stung her hand.

Stefan let go of her arm and backed off. "I am sorry." He said and watched as Caroline and Elena left. Tyler stood there, scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm actually the driver... I'll make sure she gets to her house safely." He said and followed them. Tyler got into the car and started it up as they drove to Elena's house. She sat in the backseat in silence, staring out the window. Why did everyone just assume she always needed saving? She didn't. Elena knew how to take care of herself. She had been taking those lessons with Alaric every day, she was getting stronger, but they just never really gave her the chance. When they got to her house, Elena got out and Caroline gave Tyler a kiss before getting out also and going inside.

[BeautifullyxMad]

Charlize had heard his comment, and in a moment of her own weakness, she felt the dark magic surge through her and it caused Damon to be knocked.out cold. He just lie there, unconscious. In her mind she would have much rather taken out her aggression on Elena for being naive amd stupid. Klaus didn't care about anyone's well being and she knew it was only time before the witch spirits sent her to kill Elena to stop the siring of hybrids.

She got back inside amd Klaus found her, and quickly brought.her.upstairs. "How dare you. At my own party?" He hissed, forcing her down into a seat.

"Have to keep you away from Elena. Keep you from siring." She commented.

"Oh so trouble.in paradise then." Klaus said.

"Just because I care.about Stefan a hell of a lot more than what I lead on, doesn't mean that in a moment of weakness I won't kill Elena." She told him. "I'll be leaving town soon. Wreak havoc then, it wont be my duty to save her from her own stupidity."

[newmommy1993]

Stefan watched Charlize in awe as Damon fell to the ground. It didn't impact him, he thought that couldn't be done. When Charlize was out of sight, he made sure Damon was okay. "Check on Elena." He said, knowing his brother heard him. Stefan then straightened, smoothing out his tux, and headed back inside the house. People had already begun scattering out, but there were still a good bit left dancing and partying. He stopped and tuned in his hearing. Finding Klaus' and Charlize's voice, he went upstairs, making sure nobody was watching him, and stopped outside the door. He was about to go in when he heard them talking, catching what Charlize said. She cared for him? Stefan didn't even catch what she said about Elena. He knocked on the door with his knuckles. "You alright?" He asked through the door, standing there, waiting on a reply.

---

Elena had changed into a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie before curling up Indian style on her bed across from Caroline. She had let her hair fall loose around her face. "You doing okay?" She asked, looking at Elena with concern painted on her face. Elena nodded stiffly. "I will be." She said and put on a fake smile. Caroline could see right through it. "Well, manicure time." She asked with a grin. Bonnie was with her dad somewhere, Elena couldn't remember where, but she wasn't in town at the moment, and Elena missed her. Jeremy leaned in the doorway, looking at his sister. "I heard what happened." He said and Elena shot him a look. "It's a small town, sis, people talk." Elena nodded. "I'm fine, Jere." She said. He nodded before going into his bedroom. Elena waited until he shut his door before standing up, sitting on her window seat. Caroline watched her before stretching her legs out on the bed. "Maybe you should call Damon? See if everything's okay." Elena shook her head. "No. Last time I checked, I was such a burden on them." She said, looking towards her friend.

[BeautifullyxMad]

Klaus looked to Charlize when the knock came to the door and she sighed. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, go." He told her and she got up and left. She saw Stefan there and froze. "I don't know hpw much of that you heard." She said, but she grabbed hold of hand and towed him away. She was still feeling angry. There were things they didn't know about her that had changed that night. Things that the spirits had just asked her night. Things she had to fulfill before consequences came.

-

Damon woke on the.ground after Stefan left and he was more angry than ever. Fuck Elena. He was done with her, and he headed home. He was tired of everyone at this rate and he got home, and sat down on his couch. "Fine. She doesn't want help. She won't get it." He grumbled, getting some scotch and drinking it.

[newmommy1993]

Stefan didn't get a chance to say anything before he was being towed behind Charlize. "Where are we going" He asked her, but didn't get an answer. Stefan came to an abrupt stop and took hold of Charlize's hand. "And to answer your question, I heard where you were talking about how much you cared for me." He said, moving loose strands out of her face. "I care for you, too." He said with a smile, giving her a kiss on her forehead. He then looked down at her. "So, now answer my question, what are we doing." He asked, dragging out "doing". He let his hands drop to his sides as he waited for her to say something.

---

Elena picked her phone up and was staring at Damon's name for what seemed like several house. Caroline sat on the bed, staring at her. "Okay." She said, standing up and grabbing Elena's phone from her. "What are you doing?" She asked as she frowned and sat up. "You've been sitting there for ten minutes, just looking at your phone." She said and Elena sat back. "So?" She asked, holding her pillow closer to her as she stared out the window. "Elena, get up. Let's do something. Get dressed." She said. When Elena didn't move, Caroline rolled her eyes and looked through Elena's closet, taking out some jeans and a long sleeved blouse. She threw them both on the bed and took out a whit undershirt. "Why?" She asked and Caroline forced her up. "Now, just trust me." Elena just nodded firmly as she changed. Caroline already had on her clothes. "Now what?" She asked, throwing her arms up and letting them fall down.

"Now, we're going out." She said as they got into her car. Caroline drove to the grill where they both go out and went inside. "Why are we here, Caroline?" Elena asked. "WE are going to have fun. Play pool and stuff." She said in a perky voice. Elena just nodded.

[BeautifullyxMad]

Charlize looked up at Stefan when he acted on her question, and she barely breathed right before she nodded to him. "Well, I want to get out of this dress and just be away from everything. Being under appreciated scars my ego a little, especially when Elena has no idea what is brewing elsewhere. Klaus may not want to hurt her, but the witch spirits certainly do. There was one trying to possess Klaus when she was up there tonight. They want her dead because then he can't sire." she admitted, "So, we're going to head to the witch spirit epicenter, up in Vermont so I can block their power." she said.

"You don't have to come, you can stay here, but if I don't do this... Elena will die. I know what that will do to the balance of things, and the witch spirits bent on her demise no longer care about the balance of nature. I'm likely to receive consequences for tapping into the magic I have to, but keeping balance is my main priority." she told him before she got in the car and she leaned her head back.

-

Damon sighed when a knock came to the door after his shower. He had changed into clothes to go to the Grill, and when he opened the door he saw Alaric there. "You driving tonight?" Alaric asked and Damon nodded.

"You bet you. I can't go through all my scotch tonight, so why not hit the Grill?" he commented and Alaric nodded to him in agreement.

"What's wrong?" Ric asked and Damon sighed.

"Well, Stefan's witch pissed me off, knocked me out, and Elena said she doesn't need help. So I'm done for now." he closed his eyes and his phone rang. "I only accept written apologies."

"Trouble in paradise?" Katherine's voice came and Damon hung up and threw his phone in the backseat.

"Let's get drunk, brother." Damon smiled.

[newmommy1993]

Stefan stared at her, his eyes wide. "What? Why didn't you tell me this sooner so we could have let them know?" He asked her. He followed her outside, thousands of thoughts running through his head. So Klaus wasn't the only person that Elena had to be protected from, it was witches now. Stefan took his phone out and sent a quick message to Damon, letting him know all that was going on. When it sent, he got in the drivers side and started the car up. "We need to move quick, then." He said. He started down the road back to the house. He was going fast, but he was a good driver.

When they reached the house, he skidded to a stop and got out. "You change and pack, I'll gather some more things up." He told her going inside. He tossed several suitcases out, enough to get them plenty of clothes. He then changed into jeans and a t-shirt. "Ready?" He called out to Charlize.

---

Elena targeted the cue stick at the ball. She was winning, and if she made the black ball in, then she won the entire game. She had several drinks, and was feeling a slight buzz. Having a younger brother and friend work here had it's benefits. She drew the stick back and hit the ball. It made a clinking noise, but the black ball went in the hole perfectly. "No fair! I would've won if the stick hadn't slipped out of my hand." Caroline smiled and Elena grinned. "I still won though." She took another sip of her drink and looked towards the doors. Alaric and Damon had walked in and she rolled her eyes. She wasn't going to let him ruin her night, though. She finished her third drink and put the cup to the side. Caroline must have noticed them too because she shot Elena a "don't start anything, please" look.