Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries.

A/N: This chapter is mostly Jolie discovering and learning how to control her powers.

A/N: Ghost World.

I was unsure of whether or not any of that was a dream. I did what I always do when I was stressed or frustrated I went for a run. I put on a purple sports bra, black Capri yoga pants, and a pair of purple and black sneakers. I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail. I made sure to grab my Ipod. As I ran P!nk's song so what blasted in my ear.

The town's people were getting ready for another event. I swear how many of these things are going to be had. It gets pretty annoying after a while. This town has to for some reason had to celebrate everything.

All of a sudden my body was slammed into a tree by an unknown force. It was a man I sort of remember. I saw him at the boarding house once and I think his name was Frederick. I watch as veins from his eyes came out with little specs of blood. I wanted to scream but his forearm was crushing my throat. Fangs were the last thing I saw before pain ripped through my neck and everything went black. The last thing I heard was a loud cracking sound.

Light filled my eyes as my neck was stiff and in pain. I felt like I'd just went ten rounds with the worlds grumpiest kangaroo. I looked around and noticed I was in my room but I had no recollection of how I got here. The last thing I remember was that guy attacking and …biting me.

"Wait he bite me?!" I yelled, well to myself.

"Yes. He is what you call a vampire or he was before he was killed and became a ghost." I jumped at the sound of that voice, which caused me to grab my neck in a slight pain. My eyes widened at him, it was my biological father Michael. "Ah yes the pain in your neck should be gone in a minute or two. I suppose having your neck snapped can be a bit painful."

This answers the question of whether last night actually happened or not.

"Whoa hold on a minute. Vampires are real." Just when I thought things couldn't get any freakier.

"Yes for the last thousand years or so." I just stared at him. I continued to do so until my phone ringed. When I ran I kept my phone in my bra. I turned away from him to retrieve it. No need to make this moment awkward. It was Alaric.

"Yes." I ignored the slight pain in my throat for the time being.

"Hey where are you?" I didn't know how to respond. I couldn't just tell him I was with my biological father who was an Archangel and was attacked by a…ghost vampire.

"I'm in my room." That wasn't a lie. It was the truth. While on the phone I spotted my Ipod on my dresser.

"Okay good. Just stay there for now and whatever you do, under no circumstance are you to set foot outside." I found what Alaric was saying to be weird.

"Got it. I wasn't planning anything today anyway." With that Alaric hung up. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Wait did you say ghost vampire?" I looked at Michael.

"Yes the veil to the other side a place where the dead supernatural go. Any way the veil came down so now the deceased supernatural are currently roaming the earth until that Bonnie Bennett girl can put it back up." Michael casually flipped through a book that had been on my desk. I think it was Withering Heights.

"Um…Bonnie?" I was wondering what Bonnie had to do with any of this.

"Ah right you have no idea do you. Bonnie Bennett is a witch, Caroline Forbes is a vampire, the Salvatore brothers are vampires, Tyler Lockwood formerly a werewolf turned hybrid half vampire half werewolf, your sister Elena is a doppelganger meaning she has look alike named Katherine who is over five centuries old and a vampire. Your brother Jeremy is currently a medium but human none the less but he knows. Then Matthew Donovan is human. Also your guardian Alaric is a vampire hunter and a member of the council along with Sheriff Forbes and Mayor Lockwood. The council hunts and protects the town from vampires and have done that since the town's founding." I listened to his words carefully. I can't believe everyone hid this from me. Then it hit me.

Did my aunt Jenna really die in a hiking accident?" Part of me knew the answer. If they had lied to me about everything else why wouldn't they lie to me about this?

"No she was killed in a ritual after being turned into a vampire by the original hybrid. Your uncle John gave his life to bring back your sister Elena." Michael explained this like it was the most casual conversation to have in the world.

I refused to cry I was tired of crying but the feeling of deep betrayal would not go away. I pushed aside what I felt at that moment.

"You said my biological mom Grace was a witch. Is she here as well?" I was rather curious about

"No her and your Aunt Jenna found peace. They've never experienced the other side." I nodded my head in acceptance. At least they were at peace.

I didn't know what was supposed to happen now. I had no idea what I was supposed to say right now.

"How long before I'm hunted?" That was something I'd been worrying about since last night. "In the bible the Nephilim were all killed."

"You don't need to worry about that. No one will be hunting you. The bible gets more things wrong than people realize." I could only nod at his words. "As long as we are on the topic of the supernatural, I believe now would be the perfect time to teach you control over your abilities you inherited from me. Come along."

"I told Alaric I wouldn't leave the house." I reminded him. I didn't like breaking promises to people.

"Of all the things they've kept from you, I'm sure they can over look this minor incident." With that he walked out of the door. I slowly followed him out.

I did need to learn control. Hearing everyone's thoughts was giving me a headache. The only way for me to drown them out was with music. We ended up in town square and there was huge crowd of people. Every thought bombarded my head. I couldn't even hear myself think with these random thoughts taking up all the space in my head.

"Jolie breathe. Focus on your thoughts not theirs. Put a wall between you and them. Your thought and theirs." I heard Michael's voice and I tried.

I focused on my inner thoughts until they got louder. I then imagined a wall between me and them. It wasn't long before their thoughts were no longer crowding my mind. I let out a pleasant sigh. In my mind it was just me again.

"Now I want you to focus on a specific person and peer into their mind. All you need to do is focus on that one person." Michael explained. I eventually found Jeremy and decided why not. I looked at him and focused. I concentrated and I was surprised by his thoughts.

"I finally get to be with Anna. It's been so long since I've talked to her, touched her, and held her. I didn't realize how much I'd missed her until now." My eyes widened at Jeremy's thoughts. I then saw her, Anna, holding Jeremy's hand while they smiled at each other. My first instinct was what about Bonnie.

"Okay now end the connection. It's like hanging up on a call." I listened to Michael's instructions and sadly put the wall back up. Ending my mental connection with Jeremy.

"How could he do this to Bonnie?" If anyone ever did this to me I wouldn't know what to do. I'd forever be broken.

"Sometimes people make mistakes. It's easy when the past comes back and old memories resurface. I've seen it time and time again over the years." I didn't respond to him. I just continued to watch Jeremy and Anna together.

"That makes it okay." I spoke quietly.

"No but when you've been around as long as I have you learn a few lessons on human behavior. The emotions they feel. Love is a very strange, powerful, and dangerous emotion that can cause people to do the most selfless or selfish of acts." I listened to his words silently.

"What's next?" I needed a distraction from all of this. So what better distraction than to learn control.

"Telepathic push. This ability functions in a similar way to compulsion. You have to focus and pick one person. You have to speak in order for it to be effective. All you do is talk and push the thought into their mind." I nodded.

I looked around for someone and I spotted Elena. So I figured why not. I ran over to her in a jog.

"Didn't Ric tell you to stay in the house?" That was the first thing Elena said when she saw me. I took a deep breath so I could concentrate.

"Tell me where you're going." I knew if I asked her outright she'd most likely lie to me.

"I'm going to meet Lexi at the town jail so she can show how to get Stefan to stop being a Ripper before the veil is put back up." I blinked not sure what to do now that Elena had told me this. "Wait why did I just tell you that?"

"Make her forget this conversation." I looked at Michael unsure. "It works the same way."

"Forget we had this conversation." I looked at Elena wondering did it work. I was silently thinking forget me.

"Who are you?" My eyes widened at this as Elena stepped around me. My head immediately snapped to Michael.

"You weren't focusing. You told her to forget this conversation but you pushed the thought forget me into her head." I just stared at him. I'd made Elena forget me. I didn't know how to feel about this honestly. Nothing would really be that different. "You do realize you're going to have to fix this."

"I was afraid of that." I knew where Elena was, I just had to wait until she was alone. It didn't take long for her to come out. "Elena." She looked at me confused with no recognition in her eyes.

"I don't know you." She was about to walk away until I grabbed her.

"Remember me." I made sure to focus and push the correct thought into her head.

"Jolie what are you doing here?" I breathed a sigh of relief at her words.

That could have been a problem really quickly if she had talked to Alaric or Jeremy. I didn't know how I'd explain this. Oh I found out I'm half angel and my bio dad was teaching me how to control my powers and I decided to test one on Elena. That would have gone over well, sarcasm included.

"Oh um I was just out grocery shopping and I was wondering if you needed something." I made up a quick excuse. I've been the one doing the grocery shopping for awhile now.

"No I'm good." I mumbled out an okay and quickly left. I'm never going to get use to this.

"That's it, right? We're done." I mean how much more could there be.

"No there's still more Jolie. Follow me." I followed him into the woods. I had no idea why we were out here. "Now you are faster, stronger, and more durable than you realize. I want you to run over there to Steven's Quarry. Start running and focus." I wasn't entirely sure but so far everything he's said has helped.

I took off into a run; I focused just like he told me. Everything around me began to blur. Trees passed me in split seconds. I began to worry I didn't know how to stop. I just stopped moving my legs and I came to a halt.

"I said to the Falls." I nearly jumped once again at his sudden appearance.

"I know I panicked. Sorry." I managed to mumble. It was like stuff just got real, well more real than before. I continued to run with everything blurring until I made it to the falls. It took less than a minute when it should have taken thirty or forty five minutes.

"Next we're working on strength. Punch the boulder. Focus." I looked him then at the boulder. I was starting to think that focus was our word of the day. I punched the boulder and to my surprise it broke.

I was starting to feel powerful. Maybe even unique. It helped to know that I wasn't the only supernatural person in Mystic Falls.

"I believe we are done with what you inherited from me for the day. Now it is time for you to remember ten years of being a witch." I was confused.

"I didn't know I was a witch before last night." I just looked at him.

"Not quite. Now remember everything." I stared at him. Then all of these memories came flooding back.

Flash back to 2000

"What your name?" A five year old me looked up at woman who I'd soon learn was my first real friend.

"My name is Emily Bennett." Emily seemed kind enough to me.

I silently sat on my bed with Emily. I was playing with my stuffed bunny Mr. Fluffy tails.

"Hi Emily. I'm Jolie. Are you related to Bonnie? Her last name is Bennett too. Bonnie's my sister Elena's friend." I pulled at Mr. Fluffy tails' bow tie.

"Yes she's a member of my family. But it'd be best not to tell her." The little me cocked my head at Emily in a puzzled manner.

"Okay. I won't tell Bonnie." I brushed through Mr. Fluffy tails' brown fur with my fingers.

"What's wrong Jolie, you seem sad." Little me looked at Emily and then back my bunny.

"I am sad. I don't have any friends. It's always me by myself. Elena doesn't want me to hang out with her and her friends. She says I'm annoying. I don't mean to bother her. I just want to spend time with my big sister." Not much has changed since that time. Elena's always off with her friends and most of my time is spent alone.

"Well I'll be your friend." Little me beamed a bright smile at Emily. "I'll even tell you a special secret but you can't tell anyone."

I nodded my enthusiastically. I was just happy to have an actual friend. My first real friend.

"You're a very special girl Jolie. You're a witch." Emily smiled at me.

"Really. Elena says witches and fairytales aren't real. That they're all just make believe." I looked at Emily with a small amount of hope in my eyes.

"Well witches are very real. I'd be happy to teach you if you'd let me that is." I nodded eagerly at her words.

End Flashback to 2000

From then on I'd always talk to Emily. She was my friend, my best friend, and my only friend. She taught me all about witchcraft until I was thirteen years old. She was there for me in my darkest hours. My downward spiral which all started in 2006.

Flashback to 2006

I silently made my way downstairs my uncle John was visiting. I could hear him and mom talking when I reached the bottom of the stairs.

"Admit it Miranda you hate Jolie. You blame her for her mother's death. It's understandable really. If she wasn't here Grace would still be here. You'd still have your sister. I mean you've had to look at her for the past 12 years knowing she took away your sister." I listened to uncle John's words.

I wasn't an idiot. John basically just said I was adopted and my biological mom was Grace my mom's sister.

"You're right I know I shouldn't but after all this time. I can't help blame her. I know it's not her fault. Grace chose to give birth to her, knowing what would happen to her once she gave birth to Jolie." I always knew it.

That she hated me. She never treated me like Jeremy and Elena. She never looked at me with the same love and affection. Mom always kept me at arm's length. It was always like she always tolerated me and never loved me. We were always distant. I was closer to Aunt Jenna. She always looked at me with more compassion and affection than mom did. I just stood there in the hall way listening.

I felt numb inside. I didn't feel anything. I wanted to feel something anything. Between being bullied at school and neglected by my mom. I had nothing. I had no one to depend on. I wanted to go into darkness so I didn't have to feel their pain. I wasn't thinking. I silently went upstairs only to come back down a minute later making enough noise this time to alert them to my presence.

"What are you doing home, shouldn't you be in school?" I looked at her wearing mask praying it didn't give away my true intentions.

"Oh I wasn't feeling well this morning. Dad said he'd come back to check on me." Mom just nodded paying no attention to the fact that I'd taken an apple, I had no attention of eating it, and a knife I had every intention of using.

I walked into my room not bothering to lock the door. I sat at my desk with those words replaying in my mind. I didn't think I just stabbed the knife into my rest. There was so much blood. I figured out I must have it a vein. I didn't stop and drove the knife deeper into my rest. I was finally in control of the pain I felt. I could finally decide how I'd be hurt and when.

Strangely enough I felt pure unadulterated bliss. An ecstasy I'd never experienced. I wasn't afraid when black spots began to cover my vision. I didn't panic when I fell out of my desk chair. All I wanted was to give myself into the darkness. To end all of my pain and suffering. To leave the world where nobody cared about me. I wanted it all to end. I just want my pain to end.

I didn't hear the door open.

"Jolie!" I could barely register my dad screaming my name over and over again. He made no effort to remove the knife, knowing it'd probably do more harm than good.

"Oh my God." I heard mom say. Most likely from all the blood. After that I blacked out.

I hoped I was dead. I wantedto be dead. It was the only way to escape the pain. My hopes of death were crashed when I awakened at the Mystic Falls Hospital. I awakened alone. I'm alone. Always and forever.

"You're finally awake." I looked over and there was Emily. I remembered waking up by myself that is until Michael gave me back my memories of her. So I wasn't alone that day after all. I smiled at her just for being there. Sometimes all you had to do was be there for someone and it would be the biggest thing you could ever do for someone.

Before I could reply my dad walked in followed by mom. I couldn't tell if she was worried or disappointed I'd lived.

"Why?" That was the first thing he asked me. I guess it was a logical question when your daughter attempts suicide.

"Mom hates me. I heard her and uncle John talking about her sister Grace. How Grace was my birth mom and she died giving birth to me. Mom admitted to hating me. I always knew she didn't love me, now I know why." I didn't look at either of them. No one talked. It felt like forever. I heard footsteps leaving the room. I knew it was mom who had left. Dad followed her.

End Flashback to 2006

I never knew what was said in that hallway. Things were not the same after that. It was for neither better nor worse. I've never been at home in my own home. I've always felt like an outsider intruding. Sleeping in a bed that wasn't my own. When they discovered that I'd been started cutting they sent me to a therapist. According to Dr. Cane I was suffering from major depressive disorder. I stopped seeing her a month after Aunt Jenna died. I asked Alaric. He never knew exactly why I saw a therapist no one did. I hated being looked at like I was some broken toy. I already knew I was broken and damaged but I hated that look more than anything else. I hated being pitied.

I understood why Michael had taken away my knowledge of ever being a witch. Emily had taught me healing spells. I'd use them to heal my wounds to make sure I didn't leave a scar from cutting. So there'd be no evidence of my actions. The only way they found out was when mom found a razor blade in my underwear drawer.

I hadn't noticed Michael had left or returned as I was so caught up in my thoughts. The only new thing is now he was holding a trunk in his hands. The trunk was beautifully crafted of mahogany wood with a lock which contained a sun and moon on it. I silently took the key Michael had offered to me.

"Um why?" I looked at it confused as to what it meant.

"In it are grimoires of your family and some your mom collected before she passed." Michael explained. I remember Emily telling me that Grimoires are filled with spells, rituals, recipes for potions, and family teachings.

"Thank you." I spoke quietly but I knew he'd heard me.

"You're welcome." I looked around and he was gone. I've got to remember to ask how he does that.

I decided to go make dinner before I looked in the trunk. I decided to warm up some chunky chicken noodle soup and I also grabbed a big stick; it was a Popsicle flavored cherry and pineapple. I was literally obsessed with these things.

One thing Elena and I sort of had in common was that neither of us could cook. Although I could make simple things like spaghetti, also anything with the mix already made, etc. I ate all my food down stairs before heading back to my room. I finished my regular homework before I got started on my supernatural homework.

When I opened the top I noticed a dark red leather bound journal. I figured I'd start with that first before anything else. I decided to put the trunk in my closet, mainly because it couldn't fit under my bed. I got comfortable before I began reading. I noticed a letter fall out when I opened the journal.

Dear Jolie,

I understand this is most likely a very confusing time for you. Not only are you discovering you're this powerful creature but you're also learning everything by yourself. Although I'm positive Michael would be willing to assist you in anyway. You're this amazing creation and the only one of your kind. You should embrace it along with your immortality.

I get the prospect of forever can be scary but you will never be truly alone. For those you love and who love you will always be alive in your heart and precious memories. I'm sure you'll find love just as I found it with your father Michael. Although he may not express it he loves you more than anything in the world. We both do.

I love you now and forever.

Love,

Grace Sommers.

P.S. I don't regret having you or any other decision when it comes to you. Remember loving a child is a parent's greatest gift a parent can ever receive.

I smiled at the letter. I made sure to tuck it back into the journal so I'd always know where it was. To be honest that letter meant more to me than anyone could ever imagine. I felt a little less guilty for her death knowing she didn't blame me and that she did love me. I picked the journal back up and began to read the first page.

I ran myself a nice hot bubble bath. Out of my room I grabbed a bottle of sweet red wine and a wine glass. Once my body hit the water I almost immediately began to relax. My tense muscles loosened. I took a sip of one favorite red wines. It was sweet and had a citrus taste to it but it's scent was a bit flowery. I moaned to myself as the sweet liquid flowed over my taste buds and down my throat.

I wasn't an alcoholic or anything. I was like my Aunt Jenna. I enjoyed a glass of red wine every now and then. Underage drinking really wasn't a big deal in Mystic Falls. I finally understood why. I mean which seemed like the bigger threat vampires or drunk teens. I'd go with the former.

I still couldn't believe Caroline, Damon, and Stefan are vampires. Okay Damon I could understand and maybe Stefan because they've always come off a little…well off to me. Caroline was really perky and not how I would have ever in a hundred years imagined a vampire to be like. I poured myself another glass of wine.

I wasn't sure how I felt about all the supernatural stuff right now. At first I felt like a freak but I felt a little better knowing I wasn't the only one. My mind slowly drifted towards immortality. According to the pages in the journal I'd read. Nothing should be immortal. But Angels were immortal and I guess I was the exception as well.

Looking towards forever seemed rather lonely. But maybe it wouldn't have to be. Elena might become a vampire someday and then I sort of wouldn't be alone. Although from what I've learned Elena doesn't want to be a vampire which is not fair to Damon or Stefan. It seems a bit selfish for her to expect them to sit by and watch as she grows old and eventually die.

If she doesn't want to be a vampire than she should say goodbye to them both. They're going to ruin their relationship as brothers. From what Michael has told me this happened before with her doppelganger Katherine. They weren't on good terms with each other for over a century.

I would never fight over a boy with Elena, mainly because said boy would probably choose Elena. Everyone always chooses Elena.

It felt good to finally be able to practice magic again. I felt like I was reconnecting with apart of myself that I'd lost. The only difference is now I know I'm not just a witch but I'm a hybrid. I'm half Angel and half Witch.

I've already made the decision to keep my new status as a hybrid a secret from everyone. I've decided this for two reasons; one so I don't get pulled into their drama and two I don't completely trust them which is sad. They've just never been someone I could count on and tell my secrets and troubles to. Their caught up in their own little world.