The Compelled (14 page)

I
frantically searched the docks for my brother—my prey. Damon had overtaken two young vampires. One was lying on his back, his head at an unnatural angle, while the other had a stake protruding from his chest.

Adrenaline throbbed in my veins. But it was odd: It was as if my body was pulling for Damon. For the past few weeks, whenever I saw Damon in the middle of a battle, I’d feel my Power surge as though it could leap from my veins to his. I wasn’t sure if it ever worked.

No, that was wrong
. I didn’t want to help Damon. I glanced again at his victims. These would be my brother’s last murders. I would make sure of that. More vampires were circling Damon, but none had attacked. It was clear they were bound to whatever Samuel said and wouldn’t go in for the kill until given the instruction by Samuel.

“Stand clear!” Samuel commanded. The vampires stepped even farther away, opening up a path to my brother. I walked steadily toward Damon, hatred surging in my veins and overriding any instinctual inclination to help him. Yes, he had been my brother, but that was a lifetime ago. It was time to finally cut the filial ties. I’d be better off. With each footstep, I came up with new reasons to hate him.
He worked tirelessly to steal Katherine from me. He killed Callie. He forced me into marriage in New York. He killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of innocent people. He promised me an eternity of misery for turning him into a vampire, when all I’d wanted was my brother by my side.

We were face-to-face. I saw his blue eyes flicker toward me.

“Brother?” Damon asked.

Hatred flared in me. I hated the way he said it, so territorial and possessive. As if being brothers allowed infinite betrayals. How dare he stand in front of me, so cocky and self-assured? How dare he not apologize for the hell he’d put me through ever since Katherine had come to Mystic Falls?

“Stefan?” he asked tentatively. There was a note of something I hadn’t often heard in his voice. It was fear.

“You deserve to be frightened,” I said quietly. “Because this battle is personal, and I won’t forgive you for anything. Not until I’ve drained you of every last drop of blood in
your body.” Before he could respond, I lunged at him, wresting the stake from his hands.

“Brother?” Damon asked again, this time in confusion, attempting to wriggle out of my grip. “You’re being compelled. Stefan, this isn’t you. This is Samuel, the one you’ve been fighting for weeks. Don’t let him win, don’t let him do this to you.”

“No, Damon. That’s where you’re wrong. This is all I’ve thought about for the past twenty years. Now I finally have my chance.” I raised the stake and was about to plunge it into Damon’s chest when he shoved me away, sending the stake flying from my grasp. I pushed him back and we began wrestling on the pier. A remote part of my brain registered that we used to wrestle like this as children, testing our strength on the grounds of Veritas. But we weren’t children anymore.

“Stefan, you don’t know what you’re doing,” Damon said, an edge of panic rising in his voice. “If you’re going to kill me, kill me as Stefan Salvatore, not as one of Samuel’s minions.” His face was red, and sweat was beading on his temples.

“This is who I am,
brother
.” The stake was still a few feet out of reach. Around us, the ring of vampires watched the fight. Blind rage overtook me. I’d rip Damon’s heart out with my hands if I had to.

“Come on, Stefan. Show your brother who’s the boss.”
Samuel’s smooth voice rose over the crowd. He reached down and handed me the stake. I pulled it back and aimed it at the center of Damon’s heart. I couldn’t wait to see his blood, rich and red thanks to all his hundreds of conquests, spill onto the pier. I couldn’t wait for his limp, lifeless body to be thrown into the Thames.

“Good-bye forever,” I growled. I used the stake to pop off one of the buttons from Damon’s shirt, then gently scratched Damon’s skin. Blood spurted from the wound.

“If you do this, you’ll regret it for eternity, and that’s a promise,” Damon said, pushing me off him. He’d been holding off on truly fighting me, I realized, thinking that he’d be able to talk me out of killing him. It just showed how little he knew me.

I quickly jumped on him, pinning him back down. He was stronger than me, but I had adrenaline and twenty years of hatred surging in my veins. There was no way he’d get away from me again. I pushed Damon’s shoulders into the dock.

“Stefan, don’t do this. I swear, you’ll hate yourself more than you already do if you go through with it.” I wasn’t listening. I closed my eyes and pulled the stake back until a crack of lightning lit up the night sky, illuminating Damon’s face. Just then, fire sprang up from a spot on the dock and quickly formed a ring around us. I heard shrieks and whirled around in confusion and anger. Why was there a fire? I had important work to do.

That’s when I saw Cora running toward us, her hair loose and wild around her face. Behind her was Lady Alice. It was a shock to my system to see anyone other than Damon. It didn’t feel like they belonged in this world, in this place of battle.

Lady Alice lifted her hands to the sky and began chanting a low, guttural
ah
sound over and over again.

“Samuel?” I called in confusion. The fire had circled around Damon and me, and I couldn’t see an easy way to escape without burning myself and losing my grip on Damon. Was this a trap? Were
both
of us destined to die? I couldn’t tell if Lady Alice had set the fire or was trying to stop it. Based on our last conversation, I assumed the former.

“Put down the stake,” Damon breathed, bringing me back to the task at hand. He was struggling against my grasp, and I knew it would only be a few seconds before he wrestled free.

“No.” I shook my head and clutched the stake tighter. But I looked over my shoulder, and Samuel was no longer watching us. Instead, he was pinned against the wall by an invisible force. Lady Alice was pointing her finger toward him.

“Stupid witch!” Samuel yelled. “You’re ruining everything.”

“No, I’m making things right,” she said. “I believe in an eye for an eye.”

Samuel squirmed under whatever spell Lady Alice was
using to keep him glued to the building. He seemed far less powerful than I’d ever seen him before. Lady Alice turned her face toward the sky and began chanting again, a loud sound that matched the sound of the thunder rumbling all around us. All of the sudden, the flames that had encircled us leapt like a fireball through the sky and against the wall of the warehouse, silhouetting Samuel.

“
Exuro in abyssus
,” Lady Alice yelled. The sky lit up with hundreds of lightning bolts, but the driving rain stopped. Then, the warehouse burst into flames, igniting Samuel’s body like a firecracker. The vampires on the dock fell to their knees under an invisible force. Was Samuel dead? Had Lady Alice just saved us all?

Samuel’s charred body fell to the pier in a heap. The fire quickly spread, killing every one of Samuel’s vampires in its wake. Alice continued to chant until all of them had been burned to an unrecognizable state. The scent of smoldering flesh permeated the air.

I stood shakily. Several feet away, my brother was lying on the ground, his chest exposed and bloody.

Kill him
.

I wasn’t sure where the voice was coming from. It was like the half-remembered dialogue in a nightmare. Kill Damon? I couldn’t. Even the thought made my stomach turn in revulsion.

I looked down. Flecks of blood were on my hands,
and there was an indentation where I’d gripped the stake. What had just happened? Had I actually tried to kill my brother? Samuel’s compulsion must have been broken with his death. I turned to look at Damon, guilt filling my conscience. I was a monster capable of almost anything, but I could never have killed my brother. Damon leaned over and grabbed the stake, throwing it in the Thames. I pulled the sleeve from my shirt, intending to use it to stanch the blood from Damon’s wound. I moved toward him, and our eyes locked. There was something flickering in Damon’s eyes that I’d never seen before. It was terror.

In the distance, police bells sounded. The entire pier was on fire. My head was pounding in the smoke, my feet felt disconnected from my body, and I couldn’t comprehend how I’d gotten so close to killing Damon.

Then suddenly everything faded to black.

I
woke on a white eiderdown blanket. The sun-dappled mahogany table next to me was laden with several vases of flowers. I turned over on the pillow, trying to get my bearings. The room was far too luxurious to be my simple abode at Abbott Manor, and yet the bed and the night table were delicate, not at all like the rough-hewn furniture at Veritas. Suddenly, warm water was being dabbed on my forehead. I blinked. Above me sat a woman wearing a white gown. Was she an angel? The image swam into focus, and I realized it was Lady Alice.

“The fire,” I croaked as images from the night before sprang back into my mind. My throat hurt.

“Shh, just keep quiet. You swallowed quite a bit of ash. This is a rosemary poultice. It should calm you a bit,” she said.

I struggled to a sitting position. “What happened? Why are you here?”

“You had a nasty run-in with Samuel and he tried to make you kill your brother,” Lady Alice explained matter-of-factly as she picked up a tin cup and brought it to my lips. I turned away, unsure what she could possibly be giving me—or what she’d possibly think I’d deserve.

“Just goat’s blood. Cora said it was your favorite,” she said gently, again bringing the cup to my lips. This time, I drank, slowly, allowing the familiar liquid to run down my throat.

“Where’s Damon?” I finally croaked, pushing the cup away.

“He’s safe. He’s back at the Bedford house. I brought you to my house to heal.” A heavy silence fell between us as I realized the enormity of what she’d done. She’d saved me
and
invited me—a vampire—into her home. I didn’t know what to say.

“Why did you help?” I said finally.

“I realized I didn’t have much of a choice,” Lady Alice said. “Cora came running to me, begging me to intervene. She told me you all were in over your heads with Samuel. I eventually agreed, but by the time we got to the prime minister’s house, you were long gone. Luckily, I was able to do a locator spell.”

“But why now?”

“I had a talk with some wise witches, and I realized that if Samuel had his way, evil would win. And then I’d lose. I’d already lost Mary Jane. I knew I couldn’t lose anything else. And I came just in time,” she said.

“Thank you,” I said softly. It wasn’t nearly enough. But what else could I say to the woman who not only saved my life, but my brother’s life, too?

“Don’t thank me,” she said. “Just prove to me I did the right thing. I saved you, and I expect a good turn from you one of these days. All of our kind does. Promise me that.”

“I promise,” I said. After all of our disagreements, Lady Alice and I really did want the same things.

“Enough about me. There are a few people here who want to see you. I’ll let them know you’re up.”

Who could it be? Damon, I was sure, must hate me again.

I was surprised when Jemima, Gus, Billy, and Vivian, the four orphans from Mary Jane’s slum, walked in and surrounded my bed.

“They helped me reconsider. We all made mistakes when we tried to fight Samuel the first time, but Mary Jane would have wanted to help you.
Did
help you,” Lady Alice explained. “And their presence has added strength to our coven. They’re young, they’re strong, and they’re hungry. That spell I was performing down on the docks
wasn’t just coming from me. All the orphans were behind it as well. And that was enough to defeat Samuel and his vampire army. As soon as I realized the orphans didn’t have anywhere to live besides the slum, I invited them to join me at my house. I hope Mary Jane would be happy,” Lady Alice said sadly.

“She would be,” I assured her. Then I turned my attention to the orphans. “Thank you for helping me, especially after everything that happened.”

“I hope we can put it all behind us,” Vivian said.

“We have the chance to change history,” Lady Alice said. “Vampires and witches don’t work together. And maybe for the most part, it’s better that way. But we all know now that sometimes, in extraordinary circumstances, witches and vampires can accomplish amazing things together.”

I smiled at the sentiment. I was feeling much stronger, now, thanks to these kind witches. I swung my legs to the side of the bed and rose unsteadily to my feet.

“Thank you.” I wanted to tell them how sorry I was for the havoc Samuel had wreaked, and how I knew saving me didn’t make them feel any better about losing Mary Jane. But I didn’t. The situation was too large for words.

“You won’t have to worry about me anymore,” I said finally. “I’ll be moving on.”

“Good for you, then,” Jemima said. “Good luck with
everything.” I could tell that she actually meant it.

“Where will you go?” Gus asked.

“Maybe Australia,” I said, choosing a country at random. I wanted to get away from rain, and death, and that seemed far enough away for a fresh start.

“You need protection. Here, let me,” Lady Alice murmured. She circled her hands around my head several times in quick succession. By the third time, the burnt-out candles strewn about the floor lit up.

“
Ad lucem eterna
,” she intoned, and the younger witches took up the chorus. “That will help keep your true identity a secret when evil comes.”

“Thank you,” I said. I knew a million thank-yous wouldn’t express my gratitude for everything they’d done over these past few days.

A little while later, I said good-bye to the witches and readied myself to go. Just as I was about to head out, Cora walked in.

“Hi,” she said shyly.

“Hello.” I felt shy myself.

“You’re just in time. Stefan’s ready to leave,” Lady Alice said.

“Thank you for all you’ve done. And know that I won’t forget Mary Jane.” I knew the promise wasn’t enough to heal the ache in Lady Alice’s heart.

“Please don’t. And remember, you do have the potential to be a good man. But the tricky part is getting yourself to believe it.” Lady Alice smiled sadly.

“I’ll try,” I promised. Cora and I left the house and found ourselves back on London’s bustling streets. Fruit and vegetable carts clamored for space in the narrow lanes, ladies of the night were walking the blocks with rouged cheeks and low-cut dresses despite the early hour, and pub doors were flung open, welcoming thirsty laborers looking for a lunchtime pint. We could live here and set up house on Bedford Street. And yet I knew that was impossible.

Cora sighed, and I wondered if she was thinking the same thing.

“It’s time for me to move on,” Cora said.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” I told her.

“Damon’s arranging passage for me to America later today. Will you see me off?”

“Of course,” I said.

It was odd that we’d most likely never see each other again. It was necessary for Cora’s safety and for her well-being—as I’d learned, no good could come from a mortal spending time with a vampire. We lived on the same earth, but existed in two different worlds.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out Mr. Sutherland’s watch, which I’d been carrying ever since I left New York two decades ago. It was tarnished from age
and had a tiny bloodstain on it, but it continued to tick. It was a testament to time, nothing else. But it reminded me that this second was the only thing in this life—vampire or mortal—that was ever truly certain.

I took Cora’s hand and dropped the heavy timepiece inside. “I’d like you to have this,” I said.

Cora examined it. “Why are you giving it to me?” she asked in disbelief.

“You deserve it. To remind you that we shared time together and that it profoundly changed us both. And also to remind you that I will think of you, and remember you, for eternity,” I said. It was true.

“I’ll miss you,” she said sadly.

“You’ll be all right. You’re the smartest, fiercest person I know. Remember that,” I said urgently.

Cora nodded. “Thank you. I’ll keep this forever, and never forget.”

We walked for a few minutes in silence, lost in our thoughts.

“I think when I get to America, I’ll change my name. A true fresh start. I won’t have had a sister. I won’t have moved from London. I’ll be from Ireland, seeking fame and fortune…” She trailed off, lost in the fantasy.

“Don’t lie,” I said urgently. “You may think it’s easier, but it’s not. Lies always come back. May I make a suggestion?”

“Of course,” Cora said.

“Go to Mystic Falls. It’s the town Damon and I grew up in. It’s beautiful. My father always used to call it God’s country,” I said, remembering.

Cora smiled. “That’s what my father always said about Ireland, too!” she burst out.

I smiled. “There’s still one family in Mystic Falls who will help you. The Bennetts. Emily Bennett was a loyal friend who took good care of me, and she’s a witch. Tell her family what happened. I know they’ll protect you. And that way, you’ll have someone to talk to about everything that’s happened. Someone who might understand.”

“That would be nice,” Cora said in a small voice.

I glanced down at my ring, glinting in the sun. It was my ticket to freedom, the accessory that allowed me to walk in sunlight, among humans. Emily had given it to me, even after Katherine had died.

Just then, Big Ben began striking the time. Ten o’clock.

Cora turned to me, her eyes wide. “I should go. Damon said the boat leaves at four, but from Southampton. We’re taking a train there.”

I knew I’d promised to see her off, but running into Damon again might not be the best thing for either of us right now. Not when I’d just tried to kill him. But even with the events of last night, I knew I needed to say good-bye to my brother.

A cab stopped at the curb.

“Where you off to?” the coachman asked, genially tipping his hat toward us.

“Bedford Square,” I said, opening the door for Cora and following her inside. It was a relief to take a cab through the streets in daylight, without relying on compulsion or scanning the crowd in fear of Samuel. The sun shone through the window, leaving a pattern of light on the black leather of the seat. I glanced out the window as London rolled past me. The city would be all right. Cora would be all right. And, I realized, I’d be all right. I’d move somewhere else and hope that finally, this time, I’d stay out of trouble.

The driver stopped in front of the house and I sighed, wistful for all that could have been. In another world, could Cora and Damon and I have lived in happiness and solitude here? Could Damon and I have ever stopped bickering?
No
, I thought, trying desperately to push those questions out of my mind forever. It did no good to wonder. Because there
wasn’t
another world. There was this world, and I had to live in it as a vampire.

“Sir?” the coach driver asked, and I realized he was standing with the door open, waiting for me to step out. I jumped down and offered my arm to Cora. She took it, and together we walked into the home.