Epilogue

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(Elena's POV)

            "Do you want me to leave?" Bonnie asked after a few quiet moments.

I stopped my violent thoughts and looked at her.

            "No," I croaked. "I'd rather you stay. You knew Faith. Besides, I need all the comfort I can get."

            "I bet you the witch will know something's up the moment he realizes the demon is dead," Damon said flatly as he strolled back into the living room. "It looks like we'll have to think of a plan after the funeral."

            "Are you suggesting we leave?" Stefan asked.

            "Of course not. I was thinking more along the lines of hunting him down and killing him." There was a smile in Damon's tone.

            It seemed he and I were on the same page. I would've suspected his suggestion was because of Faith, but I knew Damon well. He seemed to always want to pick a fight with the enemy, no matter how many there were or how powerful. My motive was different, I wanted revenge. Damon probably just wanted to add another kill to his tally.

            Jeremy trotted into the room, his face white like a ghost. We all stared at him. He looked like he had just seen a ghost, more like.

            "What's up with you?" Damon snapped.

            "You—you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Jer sputtered, throwing anxious glares over his shoulder, down the hall. Was he looking back towards Damon's room, where Faith lay?

 My head clicked the pieces together. Was it possible that the demon had survived, that Faith dying had all been for nothing? Was that what had Jeremy freaked out?

            "Tell us," I said quickly.

            "Well, I knew Fay was dead, and I saw Damon walk into his room with her," Jeremy babbled. "Then I figured when he left her, I'd be there by her side, you know, to mourn in my own way. But—as I was there, I swore I saw—saw..."

            "What, Jeremy?" Bonnie pleaded. She was just as curious as I was now.

            "I swore I saw Faith breathing."

            Instantly, a small flicker of hope burned within me, but it disappeared just as quickly. Most people would act like Jer was, hoping to see a sign of life in the person they had just lost.

            "Jeremy," I said softly. "I know you miss her—so do the rest of us—but your mind has to be playing tricks on you. She's gone, Jer. She can't play dead, there's just no way that she can."

            "Elena, I know what I'm talking about! I'm not crazy."

            "There's only one way to find out if he's right," Stefan whispered.

            Nobody spoke a word as we all converged into the hall and into Damon's room. Bonnie stood close with Jeremy, lagging in the back while Stefan and I were the closest to Faith. I didn't see what Jeremy was freaking out about. Fay was...gone. End of story.

            "I see nothing," Bonnie whispered sullenly.

            "But—but..." Jeremy stammered.

            Just then, one sound broke the silence. Jeremy and Bonnie couldn't hear it, but Stefan, Damon, and I could. I stiffened next to Stefan as he pulled me away from the bed. No, that's not possible. But it was—and it wasn't a very good reason for it to be possible.

            "Did you hear that, too?" I whispered under my breath.

            "Yes," Stefan said, his voice distant.

            Damon walked to the other side of the bed. He put his hands on the bed, staring down Fay. Was he ready to go into attack mode, to kill the demon? If Fay's heart was beating, then it was because of the demon. She couldn't have survived Bonnie's spell.

            "What's going on?" Bonnie asked worriedly.

            Another faint thump-thump made me jump. There was no way this was dreamt up in my head, not if Stefan and Damon were hearing it too.

Faith's body was still breathing.

 Damon remained unfazed. I wasn't sure what I was going to do when the demon woke up. Would I have the heart to attack it when it possessed my cousin's body? Would I get distracted by her features to forget what was really inside her body?

            "We've got a heartbeat," Stefan announced.

            "See? I told you!" Jeremy piped.

            "Not now, Jer," Bonnie scolded him. "Should I be ready?"

            "We all should," Stefan said slowly. "Whatever happens, we've got to remember it's not Faith."

            "Right," I muttered. "It's not Fay. It's just a soul-sucking demon that's taken over her body."

            The heart sounded like it was getting stronger. Damon still remained at the side of the bed. How was he not prepping himself like I was trying to? Did he know something that we didn't?

            I saw Fay's fingers twitch. Any second now, the demon would open its eyes—Faith's eyes—see us, then try to kill us all. Once the demon was finished off, the witch responsible would go next.

            With a small gasp, Faith's chest heaved and her eyes popped open, stunned.  

**I would say that I do apologize for the cliff hanger, but I don't think that I am. Sorry, dears ;) I am a bit evil when I write my stories. But please note that I put you all through torture because I want you all to have the best experience--though painful--as you read my works.

Now, I will address the big question: Yes, there will be a sequel. I'm evil, but not THAT evil, you guys. I mean...who would leave a story like that and not continue with another book??? So please, do not ask if there will be a sequel, because there will be one. WHEN there will be one, I, unfortunately, don't have the slightest idea. I've become so busy with ideas, college, work, and Netflix (*cough* Supernatural *cough*) that I can't seem to focus on a story and commit to it like I could easily do when I had a lot more free time.

The best advice I can give you is to check on the sequel's progress in my 'Future Works' book. Any information will be there. I hope to see you all again for the sequel, no matter how long you and I have to wait for me to write it.**