chapter eight — the tomb of darkness has opened

When I tell y'all this chapter was so hard to write, I'm not kidding. It kicked me in the ass. I had to rewrite this whole tomb scene and cut out the entire episode, so I'm so sorry this is so short.

      Through the thick darkness, Gwyn didn't have an issue sensing the mystical vitality flowing through the air that derived from the tomb's entrance. She could nearly see the trail of luminescent energy streaming through the foliage and trees. She muttered the intricately written passages in the grimoire, practicing the mantra with a small whisper. Stefan appeared from the staircase that was originally obstructed with debris with a flimsy shovel, thick jacket zipped and sweat glistening against this hairline. He had finished cleaning the wreckage and rubble and establishing the unlit torches Gwyn demanded that be properly arranged. She was perched on one of the large boulders of debris, polished fingernails tapping on the cover of the book. Stefan placed his shovel by the red gallons of gasoline that were connected to black tubes. "What is that," Bonnie asked, standing close to her grandma.

      "It's everything I need to destroy them," Stefan replied, his chest heaving. He was referring to the remainder of the vampires that resided within the tomb. They were going to douse them with flames. He handed Sheila a small flashlight, which she took with a concerned expression.

      "Are you sure Damon will come back with her," Sheila asked. This situation was complicated, that was an understatement. Gwyn was more than capable of doing the spell by herself, but Stefan and Elena had convinced the Bennett witches to oversee Gwyn's actions to ensure she kept her side of the bargain; open the tomb, get Katherine out, and burn everything else. Elena was occupied with regaining Damon's trust and hadn't returned as quickly as expected.

      A sharp whistle captured everyone's attention. Damon appeared from the forest's darkness and strode past Gwyn. Elena scurried to Stefan's concerned grasp. "Brother, witches." He greeted and his eyes were swirling with anticipation. He departed from view as he descended the lopsided stone staircase, not bothering to offer a proper welcome to her. The woman he was desperately in love with was only a few feet away, of course, he was too distracted to even begin a conversation.

      Elena stuffed her hands inside her pockets. "Are we ready?" She questioned aloud. Gwyn thought about the question for a quick moment, pondering on what was happening the second the tomb opened. Would she return back to her blissfully ignorant father? Would Damon even speak to her again? Dismissing the intrusive thoughts, Gwyn pushed herself off the boulder and descended from view.

      The remainder of the group trailed behind her. The doddering room was suddenly illuminated with flames as Gwyn raised her hand, the torches radiated an orange glow. "Air. Earth. Fire and water." She pulled a small water bottle from her pocket and poured the contents onto the floor.

      "That's it? Water from the tap?" Elena asked, clutching onto Stefan's side.

      Gwyn opened the grimoire with careful hands. "As opposed to what? Were you expecting a dragon's tear that's been blessed on a full moon?" She asked sarcastically. She turned away from the doppelganger and centralized her focus on the energy emitting from the tomb's ward. She could almost visualize the barrier's complexity. With a reluctant sigh, he closed her eyes, her palms open while she began chanting the spell. Her voice was compelling, influential like a thunderous storm.

      As her magic intensified, she could hear the faint whispers of the Spirits warning her, encircling her as she became closer to dismantling the spell. This encounter with them wasn't unfamiliar. They always voiced their disappointment and disapproval when she was around. She could also feel the harsh judgement she received from Sheila; Bennett witches were evidently opposed to dark magic.

      The flames erupted and stretched, evidence of the heightened increase of magical influence. The tomb rumbled, small pieces of rubble crashed onto the floor. In a melodramatic stillness, the tomb's door opened, revealing an ominous path of darkness. "It worked," Bonnie whispered to herself. Gwyn's eyes fluttered open, their darkness seemed endless and far more sinister than whatever was on the other side of the tomb's door.

      Sheila sneered with glaring disapproval. "Of course, it worked. She used magic beyond our comprehension." It wasn't beyond their comprehension, but it certainly was beyond their boundaries.

      Gwyn rolled her eyes, briefly removing her attention from the stonework. "Fuck off," She said, "Stefan, go grab your gasoline. We have some fires to light." Damon's eyes glanced to where Gwyn stood, his gaze softened and he offered a small, nearly imperceptible smile. It was his version of a thank you; wordless, but appreciative. She wasn't sure why she was expecting more. Gwyn returned it before returning back to reality. She jerked her chin to where Elena stood. "Bring her, as assurance you'll come back out."

      Sheila stepped forward. "Don't take her in. I'll bring the walls down."

      Gwyn cocked her head and smirked. "I don't think so," Her eyes flicked over to where Bonnie stood. "If you did, it'd be a shame if something happened to your granddaughter." Bonnie stumbled behind Sheila, cowering away from Gwyn's cold gaze. As impressed as Bonnie was with Gwyn's capabilities, she was always reminded she was wicked, not an ounce of good could be discovered within her.

      "Enough. All of you. He needs leverage. I'll do it." Elena declared, apprehensively standing beside him. And as Damon yanked one of the torches from the floor, he hurriedly stepped inside with Elena right behind him.

      Hurried footsteps came from the stairs revealing Anna. "Hey, you're not going in there," Bonnie demanded, speeding to block the entrance.

      Anna stalked towards her threateningly. "You think you can stop me?"

      "Bonnie..." Sheila warned and her granddaughter complied, backing away. Anna grabbed a spare flashlight from the floor and rushed inside.

      Bonnie looked at her grandma as if she was insane. "Why did you let her go in?"

      "Because she isn't coming out, baby. None of them are."

      Gwyn reeled, eyes wide. "What?"

      Sheila walked in front of Gwyn, cupping her face gently. "Child, if you let them stay in there, everyone's problems would be solved. No more deaths, no more pain, and you can move on with your life. You won't have to be indebted to that monster anymore."

      Gwyn didn't respond, she only remained still as she listened to Sheila's words. It was true. If she allowed Damon and Anna and the other vampires to reside there for the rest of eternity, she could leave and never come back. Her father would be safe, her friends back home would be safe.

      "You are Gwyndolyn Desdemona, the leader of the Void Coven, Queen of the wicked and shadows, are you going to be weak for a vampire that doesn't care about you? You are a selfish, uncaring person, so be that selfish and uncaring person and leave him to rot in there." Gwyn didn't know how to respond. Everything she was saying was true. Gwyn was the all-mighty powerful coven leader, master of the dark arts, and here she was almost forgetting her worth.

      Stefan appeared, a worried expression plastering his face as he realized Elena was gone. "Where is Elena?"

      "I told Damon to bring her inside." She answered, her voice wavering.

      He looked horrified and for a millisecond, Gwyn experienced a glimmer of remorse. "What?!" He stumbled forward and he was nearly inside before Sheila stopped him, grasping onto Stefan's forearm.

      "Stefan! If you go in there, you won't come out."

      He could have easily removed his arm from her fragile grasp, but he complied and listened. He glanced between the three witches. "What did you do?"

      "Opening the door didn't remove the seal, it just opened the door." Sheila explained, "Some seals keep vampires from entering. This one keeps them from coming out."

      Realization dawned upon Stefan. "Elena's human. She can leave. Anna and Katherine can't."

      Gwyn's eyes that were usually cold and calculated had a softness and vulnerability to them Stefan had never seen. "Damon can't."

       "Elena can get out. That's all the matters."

      But as Stefan heard Elena scream in agony, his sense of rational thought escaped him as he rushed inside. Bonnie attempted to follow him but Sheila stopped her. "He made his choice!"

      Bonnie appeared devastated. "No, no." She grabbed the grimoire from the floor and attempted to search for a solution. "Just tell me what to do. I'll do it!"

      "We are not strong enough. Even if we were to bring the seal down, there's no guarantee that we can get it back up again."

      "You said it yourself. Many things can fuel a witch's power. Help me or I do it alone."

       Gwyn contemplated the thought of helping them, almost succeeding with her idea of abandoning them but mentally groaned as she grabbed the grimoire. "So much theatrics. Hurry up, we don't have much time." Sheila seemed gobsmacked with the sudden change of Gwyn's plan but didn't protest. The three of them studied the scriptures with concentrated expressions.

      It wasn't long before Elena stumbled from the tomb's entrance. She was out of breath, leaning against the stone to balance herself. "He's right behind me," She eventually said, referring to Stefan. He eventually did appear, but he couldn't walk any further. The invisible barrier prevented him from doing so. His expression reeked of regret. "Stefan, what are you doing?" She asked, walking forward to interlace their hands.

      Bonnie's voice wavered. "It's gonna be okay. We'll fix it."

      Elena whirled on her heel. "What is it?"

      Gwyn's voice was thick, fabricated. "The spell is still up. We can't get them out yet."

      "You went in there not knowing if you could come back out?" Elena asked.

      "I heard you scream." Stefan's eyes were red, tears brimming around his eyes.

      Elena exhaled a shaky breath. "We can't leave him in there. We promised him, both of us."

      "I know."

      "Even if we're able to break through the seal, we won't be able to hold it for long. Gwyn's magic can only last for so long." They connected their hands, a rush of magic coursing through them as soon as their skin contacted Gwyn's becalmed hands. In sync, they began chanting the spell. However, as Gwyn remained fine, her eyes opened as she could feel Sheila's magic fluctuate, her life-force and energy faltering with each word. Sheila's eyes bore into Gwyn's shaking her head softly. She knew what was happening. "You better hurry!" Sheila shouted, struggling to stand on her own.

      Gwyn stared at the tomb before projecting herself into Damon's mind.

       Damon could feel Gwyn in his mind, tugging at him and luring him back. And as much as he wanted to curl up in the corner and wait for Katherine to magically appear beside him, he couldn't resist Gwyn's compulsion magic. And that's when she knew Katherine wasn't in the tomb.

       Bonnie gasped, nearly collapsing onto the pavement. "Oh, my god. I can't do it." She strained.

      The flames on the torches flickered but never fizzled out into smoke. Gwyn clutched Bonnie's hand, emitting a momentary wave of magic for Bonnie to absorb. "Yes, you can. Don't cock out on me." The younger Bennett witch inhaled sharply as the surge of unfamiliar magic coursed through her.

      Stefan and Elena staggered through the entrance, then finally Damon. The tomb closed and the torches finally vanished. They were all left in darkness and an unbearable stillness.