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𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 - 𝐂𝐡. 12
"𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐮𝐬."

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— "WHERE'S DAMON?"
Elena demanded from someone Skyler didn't recognize. It seemed Stefan recognized him if the glare sent to the man was any indication.

"Where he should be." He responded sternly, "It's over for Damon." Upon hearing his words, Stefan and Skyler began to avoid eye contact. Neither wanted to be recognized as vampires, especially as they held themselves back from snapping at the man who took their brother.

"You're crazy." Elena told him, for once Skyler agreed with the doppelgänger.

"Why?" The man asked with a manic look in his eyes, "Because I'm doing what should've been done a hundred and forty-five years ago?" Skyler openly stared at him now. How did he know that? How did he know the truth of what happened all those years ago?

If he saw her gaze, he didn't show it as he continued, his focus on Elena, "This is the right thing, Elena."

The right thing, she thought sarcastically, barely able to hold back the laugh that would reveal her and bring his focus onto her.

Instead, she followed Stefan's gaze to the burning buildings before them, the man seemed to notice where their gazes went as he turned his attention to them while he spoke, "Go ahead. You won't make it out. Neither of you will." Finally, both twins met his gaze as he continued, "It'll save me the trouble of killing you myself."

Stefan took a step in front of Skyler, blocking her from the man's view while Skyler held herself back from snapping. She wanted to rip his throat out for threatening her family. He was only lucky that none of the Mikaelsons were here, her other family wouldn't hesitate to kill the man for the threat alone.

Stefan glanced at Elena and asked her quietly, "You know the building well, is there another entrance in?"

"Uh, utility door. There's one around the side." Elena told them, pointing the way. Stefan looked to Skyler expectantly to which she gave a nod and followed as he led the way. She took a moment to silently apologize to Kol, who was sure to have felt the pain earlier. The worst part of being soulmates, though it had saved them in the past. Whenever either one is hurt badly — either physically or mentally — the other feels it, with the pain being only slightly diluted.

The twins headed for the door, behind them, Elena tried to follow but was held back by the man. Skyler glanced back but didn't stop. She couldn't — she wouldn't, not for her. Not when stopping meant risking Damon's life. Between a doppelgänger and her brothers, she would always choose her brothers. They didn't always feel the same, but she didn't much care about that.

Finally, they arrived at the door and were ready to bust it open. Stefan was attempting to tear the chains off the door when Bonnie approached, "Hey you can't go in there!" She called, stopping in front of them, "The fire will take you both out."

"He's our brother, Bonnie." Stefan told her while Skyler continued to try wrestling with the chains on the door. Finally, they gave way, and she followed Stefan into the burning building. If it took them both out, at least all the Salvatores would be together once more. Dying at each other's side like they did a hundred years ago.

"Don't leave my side." Stefan told her, whether he was genuinely worried about losing her or if he saw how unfocused she is. "I can't lose you too."

Skyler shook her head to clear her thoughts and show her disapproval, "You're not losing either of us." She told him, more stubborn than truly confident. Stefan didn't respond, only hoping she was right.

Stefan found the locked door first, with Skyler not far behind. He reached for the doorknob without hesitation only to be burned by vervain. He pulled away on instinct with a groan of pain. Before he could try again, Skyler stepped forward and flung the door open without so much as a wince at the direct contact to vervain. "I have a tolerance." She explained, and a lot of enemies, she added silently.

Not able to waste any time, they looked into the basement that was blanketed in smoke and fire, burning the vampires that were inside alive. The stairs were covered in flames, there was no way they could make it down them without being burned alive too. At least not until the fire began to dissipate enough for them to make their way down. Running down the stairs, they rushed over to their big brother who was crawling on the floor. Salvatore's are stubborn, Skyler thought.

"Damon!" She called, going to his left while Stefan went to his right. Together, the twins help him stand, his arms around their shoulders.

"Come here. Come on." Stefan looked around at the burning basement, silently apologizing to the other vampires who they couldn't save.

"We gotta go." Skyler told them as the flames surrounded them dangerously, heating their skin. Stefan didn't need any more of a push as he helped Skyler lead Damon up the stairs. Just as they disappeared up the stairs, the flames that has previously dissipated for them to get down the stairs reappeared.

Skyler breathed shakily as she held onto her brother, knowing they were lucky to get out.

Together, all three Salvatores burst through the door, coughing from the smoke that clouded their lungs. "I have to go." She managed to say with a hoarse voice once Elena stepped forward and took her place, stabilizing Damon. Stefan looked at her worriedly and she shook her head, "I- I'm fine. I'm fine. I just..." she paused to cough harshly, "I need air."

Stefan nodded in understanding, his lungs were surely hurting just as bad as hers. But he still looked at her worriedly, so she repeated, "I'm fine."

Before they could say anything, she walked away. The second she turned around the corner, she disappeared in a flash.

It took her longer than usual to get there, having to stop when the rush of air became too much on her pained lungs, or when she'd stumble in a daze and slow unconsciously. Nonetheless, she finally made it to the newest Mikaelson home. Stumbling through the door, she managed to call out hoarsely, "Kol."

In a matter of seconds, Kol was in front of her with his eyes narrowed in concern as he reached forward to stabilize her, "What happened, darling?"

"Mystic Falls sucks." She answered in lieu of a proper explanation.

Overcome with worry, he pulled her into his arms and held her close, after a moment he mumbled, "I know that already love. I need to know what happened tonight."

Reluctantly, she pulled away and led him to the living room where she explained what happened to him and Klaus, who joined them while Kol was protectively surveying her for injuries.

"That's why my lungs hurt." Kol said when she finished explaining. "And why I got that bloody headache."

"They thought they were doing what they should've done a hundred and forty-five years ago." She told them bitterly, "I was lucky I wasn't caught." She added with a huff that barely hid the underlying fear in her voice.

"Tell me you killed them?" Klaus interjected with narrowed eyes, the plan forgotten in his rage for his sister.

She shook her head, both men barely holding back groans of disappointment, "The whole council disappearing wouldn't exactly help the plan."

"It would help me." Kol muttered indignantly, pulling her closer.

"We'll get our revenge once the plan is over with, brother." Klaus said with a manic glimmer in his eyes, Kol merely nodded before he pulled Skyler up and led her upstairs.

"Please tell me you don't have to go yet." He whispered once they were in their bedroom, "I just want to hold you." He said, feeling vulnerable and weak but deciding not to care, something that took a lot of practice.

She shook her head, "I don't have to go. Not yet." She told him.

It was a lie, they both knew it. Her brothers would wonder where she is. She didn't care, and neither did Kol. He took her words as truth despite knowing they were a lie and pulled her into his arms, allowing reality to escape them as she sunk into his hold.

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Eventually, Skyler did have to leave, promising to message Kol when she arrived at the Salvatore house. However, she had become increasingly lost in thought in the time it took to get to the Salvatore house, and by the time she arrived, it felt as though she was underwater. Everything around her was drowned out, and she had to drag herself with every step.

Finally, she made it to the bedroom where she collapsed on the bed and stared at the ceiling, the day's events finally catching up to her and dragging her under.

She wasn't sure how much time passed, it seemed like seconds but it could have been minutes or even hours and she wouldn't have known the difference. Not until her phone vibrated beside her.

Blinking sluggishly, she pulled herself up and grabbed her phone to find several texts from Kol. It had been over an hour since she arrived and of course, Kol had begun to worry.

"Shit." She muttered, quickly typing out a message, apologizing and saying she was safe. It wouldn't help, she knew that. Kol was already overcome with worry, and her words would only barely dull the feeling. Guilt smothered her as she read Kol's response and collapsed backward onto the bed once more.

Mystic Falls couldn't tear them apart, but it could strain the both of them until they're exhausted and can only long for what they cannot have, which is, right now, each other.

She didn't know how long the plan would be, nor did she know how much more she could take of this. Betraying her brothers, and her mother's promise, she was unsure of. But being separated from Kol? That was far more than she could take, and she was certain if it went on too long, it would be her downfall.

Skyler pulled the comforter closer in an attempt to hide from the world and her own mind. As she lay there, she imagined Kol beside her. It was easy to do, they had spent more nights together than apart, but the image in her head wasn't the same. The exhaustion from the day she had was the only thing that lulled her to sleep, the spot beside her cold as she reached for it, willing it to warm with Kol's presence. It didn't. Her eyes slipped closed.

Soon, she thought certainly, her final thought before sleep took her entirely. Soon, the plan would be finished and she wouldn't have to separate from Kol again. Soon, she hoped.

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1,830 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔

The ending is terrible I know, I couldn't figure out how to finish it properly so it's a bit of anticlimactic end for the first act but either way I hope y'all enjoyed!