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Chapter 28:

Heart of Courage

"Klaus took Nikki," Kat says, her lip slightly trembling.

"What do you mean, Klaus took her?" Damon exclaims loudly, snatching the note from Kat's hands.

"Read it yourself," Kat says as she gets herself off the floor.

Elena,

If you do not come to me willingly tomorrow, everybody you have ever loved will die – starting with your dear sister. After her, I will continue with the rest of your loved ones. Perhaps Jeremy next? You know where to meet me.

'Till tomorrow my darling Queen. My greetings to Damon.

-Klaus

Damon crumples up the paper angrily. "That bastard," he snarls.

"This is all my fault," Katherine moans silently, picking up the pieces of glass on the carpet.

Elena rushes over to her in a flash. "No, no it's not," Elena says gently, caressing a strand of her sister's hair.

"Yes, it is Elena," Katherine says, her eyes brimming with tears. "If I hadn't been so greedy, if I hadn't listened to Klaus –"

"Then he would've still found a way to destroy our lives," Elena says, interrupting her. "It's Klaus' fault, and his alone," she says fiercely. She looks up at Damon, with fire in her eyes, "And we will stop him."

Stefan throws another rock into the murky waters, finding the ripples to be calming, somehow.

As the last moments of daylight come to an end, Stefan takes a long look at his ring. Another day of his useless existence accounted for. How many times has he contemplated death in this very spot?

"Stefan?"

Rose gives him a small smile as she sits down on the dry grass beside him.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Stefan extends his hands dramatically. "What better place to end a miserable life than at Steven's Quarry?"

Rose tilts her head, looking at him with pity.

"You don't mean that."

Stefan sighs. "I might. I just might Rose." He stares back down at his ring. "I lost Elena. My brother is probably going to die. My best friend is on the verge of going on a murderous rampage. And, with Klaus still on the loose, we're all going to end up dead anyway."

"Is that what you really think?" Rose asks, her voice full of concern.

"What am I supposed to think Rose?" Stefan looks at her, his green eyes looking ever so lost and confused.

Rose straightens up and stares deep into his soul. "You know what I think? I think you're meant for something so much more Stefan. You have this amazing ability that so few people have – your compassionate and gentle soul. You understand everyone, but so few people understand you. You have such a pure heart, which makes you so much harder on yourself than you should be. I don't know what lies in your future Stefan, but I am positive you have an amazing destiny that you just haven't begun to fulfill yet."

Stefan gapes at her, at loss for words. After a few moments, he breaks out in a sad smile. "I hope you're right Rose. And if you are, I'll make sure to thank you for having such faith in me."

"I'll keep you to that," Rose says smiling. "But for now, we have more pressing matters. The sacrifice is tomorrow, as I'm sure you remember. I think it would mean a lot to Damon if you saw him before, you know."

Stefan nods sadly. "Despite everything, I know nothing that happened was his fault. I love him. He's my brother, and that's a bond that can never be broken."

"And we're just supposed to sit here and wait?"

"Jenna, calm down."

"No, how am I supposed to calm down Ric?" Jenna plops herself on the couch, and puts her head in her hands. "I can't believe this is happening."

Ric sits next to her and tentatively massages her back. "I know but, after tomorrow, Klaus will be dead and Elena will be free to live her life."

"Yeah, but at the cost of Damon's life. How will Elena get over that?" Jenna manages to ask, through her sniffles.

"Elena is strong. She'll survive this. Especially with you by her side."

Jenna lifts her head up and looks up at Alaric. "What if something goes wrong and it's Elena who dies? How will I survive?"

Alaric gently cups her chin, lightly caressing it with his thumb. "I will always be here for you. But you don't need to worry. Damon won't let anything go wrong. His love for Elena will make sure of that."

Jenna nods, blinking more tears, and tightly embraces him. "Either way, tomorrow is going to be a tragedy."

After a few minutes, Ric's phone buzzes loudly.

"It's Damon. The plan is set."

"So what's the plan again?" Jeremy asks, his sweaty hands nervously tugging at the hem of his shirt.

Damon throws in another piece of wood to the burning fire, before standing up and facing the small crowd in his living room.

"All the windows closed? No large birds of any kind hiding around?"

Kat gives him a thumbs up. "Clear of all feathery bastards."

"Okay. This will be the last time I'll repeat it out loud so listen up. Elena, you'll go to your meeting place at midday just as you had agreed with Elijah. As soon as Klaus – or whatever minion he sends – takes you to wherever they're performing the ritual, prick your finger and place a spot of blood on the ground of where you are. The moment you leave this house, Bonnie will begin her tracking spell and that blood will be able to lead us to your exact location. Once we know, I'll make my way over there with Stefan and Katherine. Bonnie, Rose and Caroline will be close behind. Stefan and Katherine will distract the minions, while Bonnie uses her juju to paralyze the other witch. I'll make my way over to Klaus and then use – the weapon."

Elena and Katherine glance at each other, each with fear in their eyes.

"Caroline will grab Elena, Katherine will grab Nikki and you all will get the hell out of there," Damon continues. "There's no way we can't win. With Jeremy and Isobel waiting a bit aways in case we need extra backup, I think we got all our grounds covered." Damon places his hands on his hips clearly satisfied with his plan, though his eyes hint of sadness.

Elena makes her way over to him and gives him a sweet kiss on the cheek. "You've always been a master planner."

Damon looks down at her, smiling sweetly. "I had to be talented at something."

"Well, I think we're good here." Katherine proclaims, jumping down from the stair banister she was sitting on. "I think all the humans and vampires could use some rest before the big day tomorrow. I'm more excited for this than I was for my own wedding," she says winking at Elena. Elena understands that underneath her playfulness, Kat is just as scared as Elena was.

After bidding her aunt and Jeremy a good night, Elena follows Damon into his bedroom.

Damon is already stripping off his black tee, allowing her to admire his strong back for a few moments before he notices her.

"See something you like?" He asks with a smirk.

Elena smiles as she wraps her arms around his waist from behind. "Just one hunk of a man."

Damon places his large hands over her small ones that are lightly caressing the soft patch of hair above his belly button. Elena rests her head on his back, closing her eyes and enjoying his warmth.

"I don't want you to worry about tomorrow Elena," Damon says in a whisper. "I'll make sure Klaus is out of our lives forever."

Elena, holding in a sob, lifts her head up and turns him around. " I can't lose you," she says softly as she runs a hand down the side of his face.

"You never will," Damon says, touching her lip with his thumb. "God, I love you Elena."

He places light kiss on her lips before grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the window.

"Look up at the sky Elena. What do you see?"

As Elena looks out the window, the moonlight shines on her face, perfectly illuminating her beauty for Damon to admire.

"Stars. A whole bunch of them."

Damon wraps his arms around her and kisses the top of her head. "Can you count them?"

Elena gives him a soft giggle. "No way. That would take forever."

Damon places his mouth near her ear and whispers, "The number of stars is the number of days I will love you. Forever Elena, forever."

Elena leans back against him, a tear silently falling down her cheek.

"Forever Damon."

Elena's eyes fly open.

The sunlight coming in through the window slightly warms the side of her face as she softly rolls on her side to check the time on her phone.

6:25 a.m.

Any minute now.

She rolls back over again and gazes over at her love, at her Damon. It had taken awhile, but he had finally fallen asleep. Even the most powerful being in the entire world needed some rest. But Elena was sure he wouldn't be asleep for long.

God, he was so beautiful. Oh, how she loved him. And oh, how he loved her. So much. Her chest ached just thinking about the lengths he was willing to go to save her. HER. Just a lowly human. So few people get to experience this kind of true and pure love. How did she get so lucky?

But Elena wouldn't let him die for her. His plan was, indeed, masterful. But there was no chance in hell she would let it happen.

The door silently opens as Katherine slowly makes her way in. Elena only gives her a nod, and Katherine rushes her way to Damon's side. Damon's eyes open but his blue orbs only meet Elena's sad ones for a second before Katherine stabs the giant vervain needle to his chest, and Damon slumps back down to the bed.

"Will that keep him down for long?" Elena asks, as she lightly touches his cheek.

"There's enough concentrated vervain in there to put down an ogre, so I'm guessing a few hours at least. Let's go," Katherine jumps off the bed, smoothing down her black jeans.

Before leaving, Elena gives Damon a last kiss on his soft lips. "My love for you is as great as the stars as well Damon. We'll be reunited soon, my love. I promise."

And Elena hurries out the room with Katherine.

A half hour later, Elena finds herself standing in the middle of a fog-filled Mystic Falls Graveyard.

"All by yourself, I presume?"

Elena whips her head around, her entire body trembling.

"Klaus."

The man with the devilish blue eyes and pale face smirks at her, as he rubs his hands together.

"The one and only, my sweet." He walks around her, admiring her body from all angles. "Lovely locket," he says, staring at her neck. "A hand-me-down, I suppose?"

"My mother gave it to me," Elena says in a quivery whisper.

"Did she now? Well, it certainly is perfect for the occasion."

Suddenly, Klaus grabs Elena by the shoulders and stares deeply into her chocolate eyes.

"Does Damon Salvatore know you are here?"

"No," Elena squeaks out.

"Does he have a plan to try and stop me?"

"Yes, but I have just ruined it. I won't let him die for me."

Klaus pulls back, a satisfied smile on his face.

"Well then," he extends a hand out to Elena. "Shall we proceed?"