The Asylum (The Vampire Diaries 18)

I watched, impressed, as Cora used an entirely different sort of compulsion. She placed a hand on Ephraim’s shoulder and squeezed slightly. Ephraim smiled, clearly in a state of bliss at being fawned over by a beautiful woman.

“Well, Ephraim can help you. Of course. But Ephraim knows what people say about him. Did James tell you Ephraim is insane? Do you believe it, too?” Ephraim asked, suddenly indignant. “Because Ephraim isn’t. But the question is, why would Ephraim help you, vampire?”

He swung to face me, his gaze suddenly sharp and probing.

“Far too much blood, too much violence,” he continued. “All you care about is satisfying your thirst, and the more you drink, the more you want. A waste of time. Now, witches on the other hand … we’re a majestic race.”

“You are majestic,” I said. “And that’s why I need your help. I can’t take down this vampire alone.”

“You want to destroy another vampire? Ephraim needs to hear why.” Ephraim gestured in front of him, as if inviting me to take the floor. “If you tell a good story, Ephraim may help you. And if not…” Ephraim trailed off ominously.

I looked into his beady eyes. “I am Stefan Salvatore,” I said, the name tasting strange on my tongue. I hadn’t used my surname since I’d been in England. “And I’m a vampire. I turned twenty years ago because I was young, and stupid, and blindly in love. And I caused destruction. I turned my brother … and I killed my father.” I heard Cora gasp. I’d never told her how I killed my father. I thought she’d never understand. But now that I was telling my story, I felt compelled to confess all my sins. I had a sense that Ephraim would know if I tried to leave anything out. “I killed men, women, and children. But that’s in the past now. I have reformed. I have tried to atone for my early mistakes. I came to England and found work on a farm in Ivinghoe. It was honest, clean work, and for the first time in years I felt I had a purpose. I felt happy.” The word sounded odd even as I said it, but it was true. I had been content with my life in Ivinghoe. “Until I learned about Jack the Ripper and his brutal attacks on women in Whitechapel. I knew it was the work of another vampire, and I suspected it was my brother, so I decided to intervene. The last thing I needed was more blood on my hands.”

Ephraim nodded slightly. “This is all a very good, courageous story. I could see it making a nice morality tale to tell children on a dark winter’s night. But why are you here? And who is this girl?”

“This is Cora. I befriended her sister, Violet, two weeks ago. She had just lost her job and was desperate to find Cora, who was missing. I told Violet I would help her find her sister. I gave Violet shelter, and when things became dangerous, I tried to protect her…”

“And yet?” Ephraim urged.

“It didn’t work.” I shook my head, my voice catching. “Samuel, the vampire I’m after, the true culprit behind the Jack the Ripper murders, attacked her.

I hadn’t seen it coming. She didn’t want to turn into a vampire herself—she chose death. But Samuel found us, killed an innocent boy, and forced her to drink his blood. She turned…”

“And now she is not only a vampire, but he has taken her under his wing,” Ephraim said. He seemed to know the whole story. I wondered if he did know it, and just wanted me to retell it so he could see whether or not I was truthful.

“Yes, he took her. I want to help repair the hurt I’ve caused and stop Samuel from murdering ever again. Cora just wants to save her sister.”

“She’s not who you remember anymore,” Ephraim said, turning his attention to Cora. “She’s a vampire. You’re better off without her.”

Cora shook her head. “I know what she is. But I still love her. She’s my sister. I’ll love her no matter what. We just need to get her away from Samuel. I know that if I could only talk to her, I could guide her back to be the kind of vampire Stefan is now.”

“And we need some sort of weapon against Samuel, too. He’s unaffected by vervain,” I explained.

“All right.” Ephraim nodded. “Well, the girl’s request is easy, but yours will be a bit more difficult. But…” he trailed off, squinting at me. His eyes were bright blue and I got the disconcerting feeling that he was looking into my thoughts. “Ephraim will think of something. Your intentions are honorable. Ephraim will help you find your sister and give you a weapon against Samuel. There is no need for money,” he said, holding up his hand. “Sometimes, when the money comes into play, the magic gets … complicated,” he said cryptically. “Ephraim only wants your blood.”

“My blood?” I asked, taken aback.

Ephraim laughed maniacally. “And vampires are supposed to be good at hearing. Yes, your blood. It’s the fee.”

“What will you do with it?” I asked hesitantly.

“You wouldn’t understand. Only Ephraim knows its purpose. But the offer is limited, so don’t squander Ephraim’s magnanimity.”

I glanced at Cora. I knew any reason a witch would want a vampire’s blood couldn’t be good. But we were already in too deep. She bit her lip nervously.

“Ephraim is starting to wonder if he shouldn’t take out the vampire in front of him as well.”

“I’ll give you my blood,” I said finally. I put my wrist to my fangs, ready to open my skin.

“Not yet,” Ephraim said. He reached into his tattered robe and pulled out a glittering, jewel-encrusted dagger. “When it’s time.” I nodded, letting my hand drop back to my side.

“First, Ephraim will cast a relocation spell. It’s quite simple, but it will do the trick. And no one will get hurt. When the clock strikes three, Violet will appear outside Samuel’s home, relocated from wherever she is at the time. She will be alone, but only for a few minutes. Ephraim can’t hold everyone off for long.”

“So she’ll be by herself. And then what?” Cora asked.

“And then you can speak to her. You can try to bring her with you. You can say good-bye. What you do is up to you. All I can do is facilitate a meeting.”

“That’s fine,” Cora said hastily.