Chapter 2: Mystic Falls

The drive from Chicago to Mystic Falls took twelve hours. By the time we passed the welcome to Mystic Falls sign I was ready to get out of the car. I could have flown but I had always hated it. I only did it when it was absolutely necessary. Michael, a witch of my coven and one of my most trusted friends, turned the car off the main road and onto the hidden driveway where my mother's cottage sat. He stopped the car and we climbed out. Michael, along with Amelia, frowned at the small house.

"This is it?" Amelia sounded disappointed.

"I told you it was a cottage."

"Yeah, but you like extravagance. This is not a place I can imagine you living."

I rolled my eyes and pulled my duffle bag from the boot and walked towards the front door. "This house is more extravagant than any other place. Old magic runs through the bones of this place. There is no safer place."

The door swung open, by itself, and let me inside. The house was as neat as I left it. Not a single speck of dust and the sun shone through the windows. I placed my bag on the sofa and told them to make themselves at home. Amelia sat at the table in the kitchen and pulled out her laptop. Michael dropped down on the couch.

"You both can fight over the bed. I'll stay with my family," I said. I opened a draw in the kitchen and pulled out a set of car keys. I kept an old 1969 Ford Mustang Fastback in the garage. It was a classic car and had belonged to Lydia.

"I have already transferred the file of the Salvatore's to your laptop. I'll ring you if I find anything else." Amelia didn't look up from her eyes.

"Good. Also, can you please find out if Shelia Bennet is still alive. If she is, send me her address, I think I need to refresh her old memory. I'll ring you when I have orders."

I grabbed my duffle and walked into the garage. I pulled off the car cover and smiled at the beautiful car before me. I slipped inside and the engine roared to life. I pulled out of the garage and my phone rang. John's name was on the screen.

"What?" I answered.

"Are you in town yet?"

"Yes."

"Good timing. I just got word from a contact that Isobel is in town. I don't know what she is up to but she is here."

I sighed. Isobel was nothing but trouble. When John found out that I was a witch he told me many things about Mystic Falls and the council. He even told me how Elena was adopted too. John was her biological father and a woman named Isobel was her mother. Isobel had become a vampire by choice and had caused nothing but grief for many people. She had crossed my path once or twice but I wasn't interested in dealing with her when I had bigger fish to fry.

"You there?" John's voice brought me from my thoughts.

"Where is she?" I said. I could deal with her quickly and then get down to real business.

"I'll send you the address."

I hung up the phone and waited for my phone to buzz. When it did I copied the address into maps and followed it to a large home that had a 'for sale' sign out the front. The home was certainly something to behold and was clearly worth a lot. It was defiantly the type of home the Isobel would enjoy. She wasn't the type of person, or should I say vampire, that would settle for less. Parking my car I walked straight inside.

I pushed open the door and wasn't surprised to find it unlocked. The house was quiet but it didn't mean that it was empty. I called out, "Oh, Isobel. Where are you?" I sensed the vampire before I saw it. It blurred towards me but dropped to the ground as I frowned at it. It cried out in pain. Another vampire raced forward and I did the same thing. Both of them withered in pain and I couldn't help but feel satisfied. "Isobel, I know you are here. Now stop hiding like a coward and show yourself."

Isobel appeared at the top of the stairs. A frown wrinkled her forehead. "Would you be so kind as to let my friends go?"

"Certainly." I released the vampires from their pain and they both gasped in relief but neither of them moved.

Isobel descended the stairs. She said, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I am here for one reason and one reason only. The last time I saw you I told you that you weren't allowed to go anywhere near Elena and if you did I would bury you alive. So would you like to tell me why you are in Mystic Falls?"

She walked past me and into the living room. She poured herself a glass of scotch and the sat down on the couch. "I would if I could but I can't."

I followed her into the living room and sat on the armrest of the couch. "You can and you will."

"No." She took a large gulp of her scotch. "I really can't."

I looked her in the eye. The strain in her face was clear. It looked like she wanted to tell me but she physically couldn't. It was almost like she was compelled. There were only very few vampires who could compel vampires and it looked like she had gotten herself in the middle of it all. Whatever it was.

"You're compelled." Isobel looked down at her almost empty glass of scotch. I knew there was no way she could confirm or deny it, so I would have to do it my way. "Let me help you with that." I stood from the couch and moved to stand in front of her. I placed my hands on either side of her head and said, "This will hurt."

She gasped and I closed my eyes. I said the spell, "Aufer ligare ligaveris tollere, auferre animo. Aufer ligare ligaveris tollere, auferre animo. Aufer ligare ligaveris tollere, auferre animo."

Isobel let out an ear shattering scream. From the humans that I had removed compulsion from had told me it felt like someone was ripping their skull in half. It sounded painful but hearing Isobel suffer, like the human's I am sure she made suffer, was gratifying.

I felt the compulsion dissipate and I released Isobel's head.

She collapsed sideways on the couch and dropped her glass. She held her head and took a few deep breaths before she opened her eyes and looked at me. "What the fuck did you do?"

"I removed your compulsion."

She looked astounded. "How?"

"How do you think?" I rolled my eyes and sat down across from her. "Now, back to my original question. Why are you here?"

"He sent me."

"He who?"

Isobel stood and poured herself another drink. "You know who. He is looking for you and he is also hunting the doppelganger."

"I know that! It is why I have tried to keep vampires, werewolves and witches out of Mystic Falls."

"Well, he is hunting. He knows that if he has you then he is one step closer to the doppelganger."

"Did you tell him?" I stood up and walked closer to her. Ready to kill her if she had exposed Elena.

"No. He doesn't even know that I know who it is. He knows that I know Katherine and how close we are. And he also knows that Katherine will try to give him Elena and the moonstone so that he will spare her life. That is why he sent me here."

I turned and walked away from her. Elena was safe for the meantime. But if Katherine is fluttering around Mystic Falls then something would need to be done about keeping her away from Elena.

"I am going to say this once and only once." I turned back to face Isobel. "Leave Mystic Falls and disappear. Make sure no one can find you. If I ever see you again it will be the last time you see anyone. Understand?"

Isobel frowned but nodded her head.

I turned and walked past the two vampires who lay on the floor. Both of them weak. I wouldn't have to worry about Isobel anymore. Her life was the most important thing to her. She wouldn't risk her neck for anyone. Not even her daughter.

Climbing into my car I followed the familiars roads back to my old family home. As I pulled up out the front it didn't look any different. I hadn't come back for over two years and I certainly wasn't happy about the return. The only thing that would make this trip bearable would be seeing Elena and Jeremy again.

I didn't knock I simply walked inside. The house was quiet but there was someone inside. From the kitchen I heard two people talking so I placed my bag at the bottom of the stairs and moved into the kitchen. There I found Jenna with a man I didn't know.

Jenna spotted me and a huge smile lit up her face. "Alex?"

"Hey, Aunt Jenna."

She walked over and wrapped me in a big hug. I smiled. It did feel good to see her again.

"What brings you back to town?" She was excited but suspicious about my visit.

"I finally got some time off work and decided I hadn't come by in awhile."

Jenna nodded. "That is true."

My eyes left her and went to the man who stood against the isle of the kitchen. "Who's this?" I asked.

Jenna eyes widened and then laughed. "Oh sorry. Alex this is Alaric. Alaric, this is Alex, Elena and Jeremy's older sister."

Alaric reached out his hand and I shook it. "Nice to me you," he said.

"You as well." I looked around and saw the two wine glasses and the cheese platter. Clearly they were planning on some alone time. "So, where are Elena and Jeremy?"

Jenna frowned. Clearly she didn't know. But Alaric said, "I believe Elena said something about going to the grill with Caroline."

"Well then, I'll leave you two to enjoy your afternoon." I turned to walked out and then said, "Oh by the way, is it cool if I stay here?"

"Of course it is," said Jenna.

"Okay, bye." Outside the street was quiet. There seemed to be almost no one around. Climbing into my car I drove the short trip to the Mystic Grill I spotted Elena walking in with Caroline Forbes. I didn't know much about the teen but she had always annoyed me when she was a child.

Parking my car I walked across the road and entered the grill. My body instantly sensed vampire. It was repulsive and when I was still learning to understand my powers I often couldn't stand it to be around vampires. But now it was bearable. I spotted Elena sitting in a booth with Caroline and Bonnie Bennet. They were laughing and looked like they were both having a good time. As I looked at Caroline I could tell that the scent was coming from her. The girl had been turned into a vampire. I guess it was more than two vampires I would have to deal with.

I walked straight towards Elena and wrapped my arms around her. She jumped and I laughed. "Even after all this time you are easy to scare."

Elena spun around and her face lit up. "Alex!" She hugged me tightly. "What are you doing here?"

I smiled. It was so good to see her. "I had some time off work and decided to come and see my family."

"I'm so glad you're here. It's been too long." She pulled back from the hug and turned to her friends. "You remember Bonnie and Caroline."

I kept my smile on my face. "Yes, I do. You both have certainly changed."

"Time will do that." Caroline's smile didn't reach her eyes. It was clear she didn't like me. I had always found her obnoxious and she had always found me bossy. No matter what Elena did we never got along.

"It's good to see you, Alex." Bonnie spoke up and had a gentle smile on my face.

Elena moved over in the booth and pulled me in to sit beside her. She talked and talked about many things and kept asking me a million questions. I answered all of them while sliding around the truth.

We stayed at the Grill and had lunch, and it was rather enjoyable. Caroline, of course, continued to question the fact that I was never around. Even after Elena had asked her to drop it. But Caroline being her annoying self and a vampire lost my curiosity when I felt a pull towards Bonnie. It seemed like her powers had finally developed. If she didn't know she was a witch then she soon would.

Once lunch was over Elena and I left the grill. She wanted to hang out some more. We ended up back at the house and found Jeremy had also come home. He was extremely happy that I was back and we sat around in the living room catching up.

It was later that night, after we had had dinner and cleaned up that Elena and I sat out on the front porch on the swing. We were talking about boys. A conversation I had started on purpose.

"I wasn't expecting to meet someone like him. Not while I was in high school." Elena smile lit up her whole face. It was clear she cared deeply for Stefan. "He has helped me too. I feel like the hole that was left by mum and dad has been filled."

I forced a smiled. "I'm glad that you are so happy."

Her phone ringing interrupted us. She smiled and said, "It's Stefan. Give me one second." She answered her phone. "Hey Stefan." She listened as he spoke. "Not tonight...My sister came for a surprise visit...Yeah, tomorrow. I'm sure she would love to me you."

I nodded my head. I certainly did.

"Yeah, she wants to. Why don't we go out for lunch tomorrow?...Okay, great. We will see you at the Grill at 12...I love you too...bye." She put her phone away.

"So we have a lunch date?" I said.

She nodded. "Yep. But you have to promise to be nice."

I smirked. "I make no such promise. I am your big sister. I'm supposed to make him squirm."

She laughed.

Elena went to bed and I stayed out on the porch. I pulled my own phone and rang Amelia.

"Hey boss, how are things progressing?"

I sighed. "Slowly. Turns out we have another vampire to be concerned about. Caroline Forbes. She is a friend of my sister. See if you can find out what happened to her."

"Will do. By the way I received a phone call not long ago from a coven who was keeping an eye on Katherine Peirce in New York. They said she caught a plan to Virginia two days ago. She is probably already in Mystic Falls."

I frowned. "Yeah, I had had a hunch she was here. See if you can locate her without tipping her off. I think, if she is here, that she is going to cause all sorts of trouble."

"Of course. Bye."

Slipping my phone back in my pocket I walked back inside. I locked the door and made my way upstairs and into my old bedroom. There wasn't much left inside but all I needed was a bed.


Thank you for reading.

Please make sure that you leave a review.

Sarah.