Forever Fortune's Fool

A/N So first and foremost I just want to thank everyone who has stuck with 'Elements…' and for all those that have waited patiently for the sequel; here it is. Before you begin there are a few things that you need to know. The timeline of 'Elements' took place sometime after Season One but before Season Two. So that means there was no kiss between Damon and Katherine, no car accident for Caroline… basically nothing from season two! However just so you know I will be incorporating some of Season two and maybe Season three storylines into this story pending on how it flows. Instead of random one-shots like Elements started this story will be a continuing sequence. I'm hoping to have more action… more suspense and of course more angst. I hope you stick around for the ride because I intend to make this one bumpier than the last. Enjoy! P.S Thanks for whomever nominated my stories for the Bamon Awards! Hugs all around!}

Chapter One: And so it Begins… {One year Later}

Playlist: Shake it Out by Florence and The Machine

And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh

But I like to keep somethings to myself

I like to keep my issues strong

Its always darkest before the dawn

Nevada…

The bar was dimly lit; smoke invading his senses long before he walked through the door. The patrons were scarce and he found himself sidled up to the bar and ordering something strong, and dark. The bartender barely acknowledged him as he slid a shot glass in his direction and filled it to the brim. With his first sip he leaned back against the metal stool and took in his surroundings. It was just like most of the other bars he had visited…nothing exceptionally special. Except this one was located just a mile outside of town… just three miles from Trevor's hotel room…yes this one was slightly different. After a year of chasing this unbelievable son of a bitch he had finally found him. Not that tracking him had been hard. Trevor had a flare for the extravagant. He liked the good life… expensive cars, gambling… women. And with his newly stolen Daywalker ring he had been living it up to the fullest; and he moved like a fucking gypsy! This was the only reason why it had taken Damon this long to finally get to him. He was always just missing him… just one step behind the oblivious bastard… but that all was about to change. It took him a while to realize that in order to catch Trevor he had to stop running after him… and start thinking one step ahead. Which is why he was here… the Bellagio hotel was holding a week long Poker tournament. Seven days for gamblers to lose themselves in the city of sin; where the liquor flowed freely and women were plentiful. There was no way that Trevor would miss it. A few compulsions got him Trevor's hotel information and now all he had to do was wait… Just a few more hours and he should find him passed out in his hotel room, drunk off his ass and that's when he would strike!

The thought made him chuckle slightly as he drained his glass and motioned for another. He was so close… after a year of trailing him he was about to finally get his revenge… his fingers ached with anticipation, his mouth watered at the thought of sinking his fangs into flesh and ripping him apart… this meeting was long overdue. If he were honest with himself he might actually admit that a part of him would miss the chase… the cat tailing the mouse…the reason why he hadn't been back to Mystic Falls. Yes, Trevor was a great distraction from what he left behind. Taking in a deep breath that he didn't need he watched the fluorescent light from the bar flicker…a bright almost neon green hue that was about three shades too bright to be the color of her eyes…

It was always like this. Her memory crept up on him so randomly… frequently. He wondered if she thought of him… asked about him… Stefan had been kind of enough to send him a text when she woke from her coma. Two words… 'Bonnie's awake'.

He hadn't responded… there was no point. He had left for a reason… for her… to save her… protect her…

Downing his second drink of the night he signaled for another barely noticing the woman sitting down in the stool next to him.

"Careful there… don't want to have someone dragging you out of here on your ass do you?" Her southern accent was thick and heavy weighing down her words as she elongated syllables. He glanced her way taking in her appearance. She was tall, probably almost six feet. Her hair dark, blacker than ink and obviously dyed, was pulled back away from her face held there by what looked to be a Mardis Gras mask that sat atop her head. Her make-up was as dense as her southern drawl, black liner emphasized bright grey eyes, ruby red lipstick painted heavily over full lips, shiny gold earrings dangled low almost touching her shoulders and her skin was as pale as the moonlight. She looked like she was ready for a Halloween party that no one else got invited to.

"It's going to take more than two drinks for that." He remarked even as he motioned for another.

"A man who thinks that he can hold his liquor… how cliché,"

Arching an eyebrow he turned slightly so he was facing her, ice blue eyes stared her down perhaps hoping slightly for intimidation. She only gave him a wide grin in return. Pearly white teeth against a crimson landscape; "Do I seem like a cliché to you?" He questioned leaning in her general direction coming close to invading her personal space.

She squinted at him as if trying to see him through the haze. Her brow creasing gently in the middle, she seemed older yet still young. If he didn't know better he would think she might be a vampire. "There is nothing quite cliché about you…would you like me to tell you, your fortune?" She asked eliminating the space between them so now she was invading his space.

He chuckled sarcastically as though finally understanding. "My fortune… and what will it cost me… a drink?" He asked motioning for the bartender who had strangely disappeared since she sat down. He came back but remained at a distance. "Tell you what… I'll buy you one if you tell me that in the very near future I'll be back to sitting alone enjoying the solitude." Turning to the bartender he made a general gesture in her direction. "Give her whatever she likes…" He stated.

Her eyes flickered to the man behind the bar holding up her jewel encrusted palm she shook her head. "No thank you. I never touch the stuff. I find it makes it hard to think."

"Does it cloud your aura?" He asked sarcastically.

"Something like that. It's best that I remain sober." She admonished.

"Then what the hell are you doing in a bar?" He smirked.

"That's a good question…perhaps the fates lead me here." When she saw the skepticism in his eyes she smiled brightly. "A non-believer; I'm not surprised; most are. It's easier to doubt what one can't understand."

"Oh please don't preach to me about things that can't be understood… I'm a walking contradiction, sweetheart."

"And yet you run from your past just like the scared boy you've always been."

Furrowing his brow he stared her down, taking in her words. 'Was she for real?'

With a slight shake he chuckled. "You almost had me… so is that how this works?"

"Is that how what works?"

"This," he pointed back and forth at the space between them. "You spot a sucker at the bar… make some generalized statements about his life and the next thing you know the guy is forking over everything he owns to you?"

She frowned obviously not liking his assessment. "I don't need generalized statements to know… you're not of this world… that your life spans generations…" She stated evenly.

"You're not the first person to know about vampires." He commented still not impressed.

"You are absolutely right Mr. Salvatore…"

He arched an eyebrow. "So you know my name… I tend to be somewhat of a celebrity in certain circles…or perhaps my brother sent you?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. "Perhaps… perhaps your brother told me all about you… your battle with the Originals, your infatuation with his girlfriend… your confusion over the Bennett girl… the way you carry around that old llama she gave to Elena like it's your lifeline…" She listed off as she drummed her fingernails against the bar seeing that she had his attention.

"Who are you?" He asked.

Grey eyes bore into him and for a moment the only sound he could hear was her breathing… everything else seemed to fade… blend and disappear into the background. She reached out, grabbed his palm and turned it over. Her index finger followed the lines that ran over his skin. "Who I am is not important…the better question is who are you? The man that is still a boy forever running, forever chasing that which was never true… still unable to see that you cannot outrun what is meant to be… She has a plan… and your path has been set…what has been set in motion cannot be altered…" She smiled sadly, grey eyes shimmering with pity. "So afraid… afraid of the past… afraid to see what he will become…" Her eyes danced across his face, seeing him like no one ever has. "All that running and where has it gotten you? This journey has brought you nothing… will give you nothing… fulfillment can only be achieved when the boy becomes a man… when you face your deepest fear… and it is coming… the Darkness is coming… a darkness like you have never known…" Reaching within the folds of her dress she pulled out a Tarot card and placed it face up in his palm. A picture of a fiery bird stared back at him. Its long beak curved majestically at the tip, set beneath smoky black eyes looking as though it were rising into the sky…rising from the flames.

"You will need this… when all feels lost… in your darkest hour… hold onto this… keep it… and find the meaning…"

Looking down he stared at it… one word written beneath it.

'Hope'

"I don't understa-…" He began but when he looked up he was alone… as if vanished into thin air she was gone. Looking around he felt the chill of her departure. Swallowing hard he heard the chimes of a distant clock strike the third hour… he had to go… Trevor… he had to find Trevor.

With a slight shake, more to ward off the weird vibes that still coursed through him, he headed out tucking the tarot card into his back pocket.

Whatever that was… would have to wait another day… only one thing at a time… and at the moment… he wanted his fucking ring back!

Meanwhile…

"Focus…" he breathed into her ear. "Now just breathe into it… in…" he inhaled… "…and out…" he exhaled on the word, his nonexistent breath sent chills down her spine.

All was quiet… somewhat serene… out here in the middle of nowhere. The openness of the woods surrounded them. The sun was setting somewhere in the distance, night approaching fast but Bonnie barely registered anything as she stood in the center of it all, a bow in hand. Stefan right beside her, his arms barely touching her, guiding her… her fingers pressed into the taut string of the bow, pulling at it with just enough pressure to keep it steady waiting on Stefan to give her the word to let go… they had been doing this for months…

Ever since Bonnie awoke from her coma things seemed a bit off to her… as though her very senses had been heightened… everything she felt seemed to be magnified tenfold but in the past four months her powers seemed to have gone into overdrive reacting upon the whim of her own emotions. A burst of excitement and bottles were breaking, a moment of anger and glass would shatter… shedding a tear meant rain for days. It was starting to get out of hand and people {her father in particular} was starting to take notice. So she went to the only person she trusted with any kind of Supernatural background {still living in Mystic Falls} that could offer some insight into what was happening… Stefan!

He had come to the conclusion that for some unexplained reason her powers were growing and she needed to find a way to control them… {obviously not rocket science here!}. So they had started doing channeling techniques…things for her to focus on…to direct her power into…hence the bow and arrow. It actually seemed to be working. Channeling her power kept her from making random things around her from spontaneously exploding without warning. It was also teaching her the great art of shooting a bow and arrow.

"Have I told you how cool I feel right now?" She asked on a soft exhale of breath. "Blake would be so impressed." She remarked.

"Bonnie stay focused."

"I'm focused… I'm…" She began when there came a shout from less than a hundred feet away. It was enough to make her jump, the arrow released into the night hitting the side of an unmarked tree that was nowhere near her target. She looked over just in time to see Stefan fold his arms over his chest and arch his brow. "Just… don't say anything." She remarked with a deep sigh right before Jeremy appeared.

Breathing hard he bent over slightly to catch his breath all the while desperately trying to relay his message… words broken and disjointed. "Caroline… accident… hurt… bad."

It was enough information to get them moving back to Bonnie's car and straight to the hospital.

By the time they arrived Bonnie's nerves were practically shredded. This was the last thing they needed. Things had seemed to quiet down since the whole 'incident' as she liked to refer to it. No supernatural occurrences… other than Bonnie's magical spike anyway. No rabid vamps running around. Everything had seemed to go back to normal… until about two months ago… when a local teenager turned up floating down the Mystical Falls Riverbank, her throat viciously torn out, her head barely hanging on. The local police had stated that it must have been a wild animal… perhaps a coyote or a stray wolf… but Stefan had quickly confirmed that it looked like a new vampire was back in town. Especially when the attacks became more frequent… a local businessman had been reported missing and was discovered right off the camping trails about two days ago… his throat also gouged and torn to bits. Puncture wounds across his upper torso. Stefan had gotten a copy of the autopsy photos… it hadn't been pretty. This was another reason why they had started their weekly training sessions… to help protect her and her friends from the new bad that had come to her town. Because something had shown up… they just didn't know who or what it was!

It seemed the days of normal were over… she should have known it could only last for so long.

Crossing the threshold into the hospital they found Elena badgering a nurse trying desperately to get information on their friend.

"I'm her best friend… just tell me if she's going to be alright!" She demanded. Pushing long, dark brown hair from her face she blew out a frustrated breath when she was met with the nurse's stoic expression.

"I already explained that I can't release any information unless it's to the patient's immediately family."

"And I already told you that that's unacceptable!" She shot back all fired up.

Stefan eased between the two women placing a comforting hand on his girlfriend's arm to calm her. "What's going on?" He asked his voice already a soothing balm to Elena's nerves.

"This woman that wants to call herself helping people won't let me know if Caroline is going to be okay." She pointed a finger accusingly at the nurse whose cheeks flushed angrily.

"Please don't make me call security." The older woman threatened not in the least bit fazed by Elena's air of entitlement.

"Oh I wish you would…" She began when Stefan intervened taking his opposite hand and placing it on the woman's shoulder grabbing her undivided attention.

"Okay… now why don't we all calm down and you can just tell us Caroline Forbes's condition." He instructed and Bonnie watched as the older woman fell victim to Stefan's compulsion.

"She's lost a lot of blood. The wound to the Cartoid artery was severe…ripped practically all the way through. It will be a miracle if she makes it through the night."

They stood there in stunned silence barely registering when Stefan dismissed her. "What the heck happened?" Bonnie asked. "I mean was it another vampire attack?"

"I don't know. Jeremy found her in front of the Mystic Grille bleeding out… as if someone just did this to her and then left her there."

"What… like a message?" She asked.

Elena shook her head. "That's what it looks like… but there's no way of knowing until we talk to her… if we get to talk to her."

Bonnie's eyes cut to her sharply. "Don't say that… you can't say that… I mean there must be something that we can do…anything…"

"Do you know a spell… to make her better?" When Bonnie simply shook her head sadly Elena sighed defeated, the tears coming to her eyes.

There was a moment of silence before Stefan finally offered. "I could… I could heal her…"

"What; no!"

"Yes!" Bonnie stated.

"Bonnie!"

"What? Elena it's Caroline… our Care-bear! We can't just stand back and let her die… not if there is way to stop it!" She shot back before turning to Stefan. "Do it."

He looked to Elena watching her nod albeit reluctantly in agreement. He sighed. "I'll be right back…" and in a blink of an eye he was gone.

"Are you sure about this?" Elena asked.

"I'm sure that I won't let Caroline die at the hands of a vampire." She answered.

Meanwhile…

And I've been fool and I've been blind

I could never leave the past behind

I can see no way, i can see no way

He should have known something was amiss when he came upon his room and the door was wide open. An eerie silence blanketed the scene that was Trevor's hotel room. Bottles of liquor littered the floor, half smoked joints still slightly burning, its orange glow the only source of light. It only took him a moment to find the switch, flipping it on he stared at what lay at his feet.

Blood…

There was blood everywhere...soaking the cream colored carpet… splayed over the furniture, trailing down the hall… he followed it. Leading to an open bedroom door that barely hung on by it's hinges, a bloody handprint smeared across the frame. He pushed it open with his foot and there was Trevor pinned to the opposite wall like the Almighty. Nails had been driven through his wrists, and ankles. His chest pulled apart, a gaping hole staring back at him where his heart should have been. Crossing the threshold he let his eyes scan the room. White on white décor stained only by the crimson fluis that was Trevor's blood. Coming to stand in front of him he sighed. His face had taken a severe beating, one eye swollen the other missing completely. His lips busted open, cracked and cut. Perhaps if he were someone else…anyone else he could find some kind of compassion for him... some sympathy for the son of a bitch that stole his ring and tried to kill him and bonnie… But be that as it may he was all out of compassion…had been for quite some time; dried up about one hundred years ago.

Reaching down he went for the ring and found it accompanied with a small piece of folded paper tucked away in the dead vampire's palm. Words written neatly in old English script stared back at him.

'Damon, Consider this a gift. See you soon.'

Signed at the bottom with just one letter.

'K'

Meanwhile…

They stayed in the waiting area until Stefan came back. Elena greeted him placing a hand on his arm. "Did you do it?" He nodded.

"Yeah… it was pretty bad… it's going to take a couple of hours… but she should be fine. Whatever did this… whatever is doing this has to be stopped… I just wish we had some kind of lead."

Bonnie hesitated on her next words…"I think I can get you one."

"What do you mean?"

"You know how sometimes when I touch someone… sometimes I get these feelings… like when I first touched Stefan." She explained before continuing. "Well lately instead of just a feeling…Sometimes I get these… visions… like I see things that have happened… things that they have seen… when I concentrate… sometimes… sometimes I can see… It's like I'm tapping into your mind… It doesn't always work but sometimes it does."

"How long has this been happening?" Stefan asked, the concern written clearly across his face.

She shrugged halfheartedly. "I don't know… a few months." She mumbled not wanting to tell him that it's been going on since her road trip with Damon. Spells in her Grimoire had even started to come easier… but that was a conversation for another day.

"Why didn't you say something?" Elena asked.

"I don't know… I just… I thought they would go away… like maybe if I didn't think about them… didn't worry about them…" She trailed off.

"But they haven't." Stefan supplied. "They've gotten stronger…"

Nodding, she exhaled a deep breath. "Look If I can just get a couple of minutes alone with her… I might be able to see what hurt her." She offered. There was no argument from anyone… just a lot of concern.

"I'll take you to her room. I'll wait outside while you see what you can find out."

They nodded in agreement only to be interrupted by a cell phone. Looking at the caller ID Elena sighed. "It's Mrs. Forbes. I have to take this."

"Okay… we'll be right back… this shouldn't take long. It either comes or it doesn't."

"Just be careful!" She stressed before walking a few feet away and picking up her phone. "Mrs. Forbes… yeah… I think she'll be alright…"

That was all Bonnie heard before she was whisked around the corner up a flight of stairs and standing in front of Caroline's room. She inhaled sharply at the movement feeling as if her breath was still trying to catch up with the rest of her body. She gave Stefan a look. "Can you warn me next time before you do that?" She shot back annoyed.

"Sorry… it's habit." He apologized. "Are you sure about this?" He asked stopping her as she reached for the door.

"Yeah… this may be the first lead we get… I don't want to wait for hours before we find something out… that may cost someone else their life." She remarked.

"Okay… but next time… just tell me what's going on with you."

She gave him a weak smile. "Deal," and with one final glance she crossed into Caroline's room.

I'm always dragging that horse around

All of these questions, such a mournful sound

Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground

Cause I like to keep my issues strong…

It was dark, the only light coming from the heart monitor connected to her friend. Her slight snoring not really so slight as it rivaled the continuous hum of the air conditioner echoing off the walls. The smell of disinfectant and sterilization that only came from a hospital blanketed the room making it hard for her to breathe. Stepping lightly she came to stand beside her friend… her flawless white skin paler than usual. Her face void of make-up Caroline looked all of fourteen. Bright blond tresses fanned out over the pillow she looked peaceful…serene… the picture only marred by the gash that went from ear to shoulder. But it was healing… the scar would probably be completely gone in the next hour or two…

She ran her fingers across her forehead brushing the bangs back… the tears coming to her eyes without consent. Reaching for her hand she clasped it tightly…and focused… concentrating all her energy on the girl in the hospital bed…seconds ticked by turning to minutes but nothing… She exhaled a deep breath when it was evident it wouldn't work.

And for some reason she felt like she had failed… failed her friend in her time of need… With a slight shake she turned to go when Caroline's hand wrapped around her wrist tightly. "Caroline…" She breathed before her mind was filled with images… Caroline's fifth birthday… her first kiss… the day her father left… and finally… standing outside the Mystic Grille… waiting… and then there was the vampire… grabbing her from behind, teeth tearing into flesh… it was like fire searing her skin, burning… so hot… and then everything went numb... and then she was falling… hitting the ground… rolling to her back.

Staring up at the night sky she inhaled deeply… the sound of her heartbeat growing faint…she watched her attacker lean over her; her pale face blocking out the moon… long dark chestnut curls, wide brown eyes full of pleasure, flawless porcelain skin… She smiled but her face was distorted… but unmistakable…

"Elena…" Caroline whispered.

Bonnie gasped, yanking her hand from Caroline's grip breaking the connection. She hit something behind her hard as she continued to struggle for breath. Whirling around she came face to face with Stefan.

"Bonnie… what is it? What did you see?"

She shook her head. "I know who attacked Caroline… it was Katherine… Katherine is here. She's here in Mystic Falls Stefan."

Meanwhile…

He had just crossed the state line into Pennsylvania when he heard his cellphone go off. The sound was a distinct ring that alerted him to exactly who was on the other line. He exhaled deep breat. "Tony's pizzeria…how can I help you?" He answered. He heard Stefan sigh deeply on the other end. "I can hear you brooding on the other end…practically see the worry lines on your forehead right now." He joked darkly.

"Damon… there's a problem…I need you to come back to Mystic Falls."

"And why would I do that?" He asked even as he checked his GPS to make sure he was still on the right route. Just because he was already coming back didn't mean he had to let Stefan know that. He made it his sworn duty to annoy his little brother at every possible turn. And after a year of ignoring his calls, leaving two-worded text messages that simply read things like 'I'm fine' or 'ring still missing' just to let him know that he was still roaming the world looking for Trevor he figured he was long overdo for this. In all honesty he had missed his brother… even if he would never admit it to him. But Stefan's next words had him swerving across lanes, jerking the steering wheel sharply to avoid an oncoming semi-truck…

"Katherine… Katherine is back."

It's always darkest before the dawn…