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Damon POV

I drove my black Sting Ray to the other side of the house, hoping to arrive unnoticed, it didn't work. Zach was waiting on the back porch, his mouth in a thin line of disapproval. I took the steps two at a time, grinning at my human great nephew.

I didn't particularly like Zach; I don't think he's had fun a day in his life. However, when you're a vampire you need humans around that you can trust. Zach wasn't a friend but he offered acceptance, and that's all I can expect from anyone these days.

Stephen and I needed Zach, and he needed us. He like the rest of his family was employed to manage the Salvatore estate. It allowed Stephen and I to return to a home free of cobwebs and dust. Not that we were ever here together. We tend to avoid visiting if the other is in town.

Sneaking around town was easier for me than Stephen. He still looked 16 so required Zach to play guardian whenever he came for longer than a brief visit. We even attended school to fit in.

Stephen usually attended high school when living in town. I choose to register at universities instead, less risky. It was a bit dangerous but we knew how to stay under the radar. We always called in sick when yearbooks pictures were being taken.

We played that game for over a hundred years.

However, after the arrival of the internet and smart phones we decided not to risk attending public school again.

That was until this fall, when I found out through the grapevine that Stephen had signed up for high school again. I didn't know why my brother was back in town or why he registered at the high school, but I intended to find out. I had to be sure it wouldn't affect me in any way.

Ever since we became vampires we've lived under a gentleman's agreement, we treated our home as a Time-share between us rather than a place to spend time together. This made coming back to town despite his presence a bit problematic.

However, I didn't have a choice; my other reason for being here was worth risking my brother's anger. I was right; when I showed up Stephen was livid. I'm sure he'll get over it.

I settled into a comfortable chair on the back veranda, overlooking our small lake. "Make sure I got home for university safe? That's so sweet. "

Zach glared at me like I was an unwelcomed house guest.

"I wasn't waiting for your safe returned. Its Mystic Falls nothing ever happens here, until you showed up. Speaking of which, I finished cleaning up your mess in the living room Damon."

I rolled my eyes,

"Zach I didn't kill her, she's only a pint low don't be so melodramatic. I even compelled her to tell everyone she donated blood, and to ask you for a ride home."

"I saw the 'I donated blood' sticker on her jacket before he drove her home, nice touch brother." Stephen Salvatore said walking outside holding a flask. "Did you make it on a laser printer?"

I stood up and offered the seat next to me, Stephen took it reluctantly. "Well if I intend to survive as a hunter I need to cover my tracks. How is bunny blood treating you?"

Stephen grimaced, "I prefer white tailed deer but I couldn't find any this week, so Thumper it is."

I shook my head in disbelief, "Well I'd offer you some of my stash but a "Ripper" on the wagon is a dangerous thing. I don't want you eating the Girl Scout selling cookies."

Stephen's eyes widened when he noticed the Girl Scout cookies on the bench, "Damon you didn't… where is she? How could you feed on a child?"

I gave my best annoyed glare, "Seriously don't you know me at all? I didn't touch her, she knocked on the door, I bought butter cookies and she left, cute kid like seven years old."

Zach turned pale, "What kinda parents these days' lets their kids go door to door alone?"

I shrugged with disinterest, "I don't know, maybe she is a real life Lori from "The Walking Dead." How Carl made it alive to the apocalypse I'll never know."

Zach and Stephen look at each other.

"I believe you brother, but with vampires it's always trust but verify." Stephen said over my shoulder before they left.

I grimaced at the closed door, "I share a house with a former "Ripper" and a retired Black Magic Witch but I'm the one judged constantly. You both used to be fun."

I picked up my phone quickly. I needed time to start setting things in motion without my constant guards. I only had a few minutes before they return from checking the basement for a phantom chained up Girl Scout. This was the first chance all day to could make the call.

"It's time," I said to the caller on the line. After a brief pause the line went dead and I closed my phone. I stretched out my legs on the porch in contentment. "It's good to be home."