***

STEFAN AND DAMON MADE A PLAN to kill Katherine in a surprise ambush. It would take the help of Caroline, but they were sure they could do it. They were so sure that Stefan asked me to sit this one out, that I wasn't needed. When I told him I wanted to help though, he just told me that I should be with Elena. He worried about her, so I understood why he wanted me to be with her. He couldn't because of Katherine, and he wouldn't trust Damon within 10 feet of Elena without him around, really. So I was Stefan's only choice to protect Elena. It also made it better that I was her best friend, of course. As I was walking, I ran into Jeremy. "Hey, Jer," I smiled, waving. When I looked though, he wasn't smiling.

"What are they doing to Katherine right now?" Jeremy asked, concerned. 

"I don't know," I responded honestly, confused. "Why? What's going on?"

"Elena is getting a lot of pain and Bonnie senses it has something to do with magic. She's thinking someone did a linking spell to Elena, and that would obviously have to be Katherine," Jeremy explained. "Why are you going this way?"

"I was going to go see Elena. You go, though! I'll go with her and you run and tell the boys what's going on, okay?" I said hurriedly, pushing Jeremy towards the boys. If that was true, then I can only imagine the pain Elena is feeling. This is the first time they've really been able to get their hands on Katherine. 

I arrived to Bonnie holding Elena's hand that had a bloody cut along it and chanting a spell. Something to ease the pain, I figured, as I ran over and sat by Elena, who's side and back was all bloody due to the stakes. I held her other hand as she adjusted herself on the grass while Bonnie just kept chanting the spell, "Ascinda, mulaf, hinto, ascinda..." God I hope she's going to be alright. She's the first friend I've had since I met Stefan, and she seems to be Stefan's only happiness right now. They both mean so much to me and a part of him will die if Elena does, and I'll lose the first friend I had ever made. I admire Bonnie for sticking by her side and helping her. Bonnie truly is such a giving and kind woman. I should've paid her more attention when we went to that party together, she deserved it. Bonnie is absolutely perfect.

While Bonnie chanted to help Elena, and for a while I might add, Jeremy came running up to us. My attention went from Bonnie's focused features to him, seeing what he was going to tell us. "Are you okay?" Jeremy asked, looking at Elena.

"Are they?" Elena asked quickly, worried. I admired her spirit of self-sacrifice, and how she would endure the pain to make sure they were okay. I smiled a bit, realizing how lucky Stefan was to have someone who cared that much about him. I haven't ever had a real boyfriend. Hookups? A few. Boyfriends? Never. Although I'm not the type to sleep around, especially not now, partying in Vegas was the best place to do it. And it was the usually the men who came to me, and they seemed nice so I didn't turn them down. At least my first boyfriend will be someone who is special.

"They're stuck in there with her," Jeremy explained, making me worry more than I already was. Are they alright? What's going on? Will Stefan be okay? Will Katherine walk free? Will Damon finally get what's coming to him? Not that I want Damon to die, just getting his ass kicked a little would teach him something about being safe, you know? He looked to Bonnie, "You were right; Katherine had a witch link Elena to her."

Bonnie's eyes grew wide in realization. "The girl I saw, the one inside! Stay with her, keep pressure on her shoulder!" Bonnie ordered me, standing up quickly. I nodded in obedience and put my hand on Elena's shoulder, pressing against the material.

Jeremy looked overwhelmed as he yelled to Bonnie, "Where are you going?"

Bonnie was determined, and it was amazing to witness. The way these friends jump into action for each other is something I've never seen, and I love it. Bonnie is the most selfless of them all and that is what I appreciate about her. "There's another witch here, I'm gonna find her!" With that, she was gone. I watched her run with a small smile, as I looked down to find Jeremy kneeling across from Elena, giving her the Gilbert ring.

"No," Elena refused, shaking her head.

"Take it," Jeremy urged, holding it up closer to her.

"No, Jeremy..." Elena answered softly again through the pain, her voice sounding like she was talking through a bad cramp. Only... This was worse than that. 

Jeremy took Elena's face in his hands, stopping her from shaking her head as he said, "Elena listen to me: you need this more than I do."

"No Jeremy. What I need is for you to be safe," Elena choked out, looking up at Jeremy. I only shook my head at him. I'd make sure she made it out of this alive, even if I have to turn her into a vampire to save her. Stefan wouldn't talk to me for a long time, but at least she'd be safe. I watched as Jeremy gave in and slipped it on his finger.

***

After all the fighting, and caring for Elena, I was sitting with Damon. Bonnie came and took Elena's pain completely away, and Damon was telling me about how Katherine was gone. "You don't have to worry anymore, Little Flame. Katherine's gone now," Damon said to me, looking over at me. We were sitting on a stone wall on the Lockwood property, and he put his hand over mine. 

I moved my hand away, looking over at him. I was still afraid. This woman was capable of ruining lives, she ruined mine... I had to be sure. "Is she really gone?" I asked, looking into his eyes.

"Yes," Damon replied, "She's really gone. I'm heading home now. I think Stef is still with Elena. Do you wanna ride home with me tonight? It's a privilege to ride in my car, you know."

I chuckled, "No, Elena was talking about me riding home with her. I brought my car though, so if you could take it back for me at some point that would be great. I'm gonna stay the night with her I think, you know... Seeing as she's emotionally ruined because of Stefan and it'll be good to give her some vampire protection."

"Alright," Damon explained, hopping off the wall. "Well, I'll get Stef to bring your car back home, then. Put this on, though, you'll get cold while you wait out here." Damon took off his suit jacket, but I just pushed it away. 

"Damon, I'm a vampire. I can handle the cold. I can't get sick, so I'll be completely fine without it. Thank you for the offer though, at least you actually cared about something." That sounded passive-aggressive, I know. But Damon is so selfish, and he ruined a lot of Stefan's life and talked bad about him for so long, about his own brother. I can only imagine what he's said about me behind my back.

Damon scoffed, shrugging his jacket on. "Yeah, whatever. Don't come calling to me when you need someone to take your car home again!" Damon called, walking away.

"You're not even taking it, Stefan is!" I called back, annoyed. Damon just kept walking, pretending like he didn't hear me. What an annoyance he is. I jumped off of the wall and walked to the parking lot after a small stroll around the property. 

Damon's car was gone, and so was mine. I walked to Elena who was walking to her car. I smiled as I caught up to her, when I heard her talking to Jeremy. He asked if she had her car and if she was okay. She smiled and waved at me as she spoke. "Yeah Jeremy, I've got my car. Tell Bonnie that whatever she did, I'm starting to feel better. Yeah, you can drive her home. I'm just gonna go straight to bed. I'm bringing Charlotte home tonight. Okay." I watched as she hung up and jumped when I heard someone behind us.

I turned to look and so did Elena. A man and woman was behind us with white masquerade masks that were used a long time ago, the ones that covered their entire face. The man turned Elena around and held her face as the woman took on me. I believed they were human so I tried to fight back, only to discover her force was just as powerful, if not more powerful, than mine. Another vampire. Before I knew it she had vervain chains around my wrist, causing me to let out a hiss. Elena and I were both drug away by the two masked people.