I felt sick, dizzy, as I bandaged up my cut with shaking hands. It was a dream, just a stupid dream. Shuddering, I scanned the room. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary but... I paused before crossing to the window.

Taking in a slow deep breath, I pressed my palm lightly against the panelled glass and it opened with the faintest of pressure. Heart pounding, I shook my head and slammed the window shut with a sharp snap. So it wasn't locked, big deal.

The past few years had made me paranoid, it wasn't the first time I had woken up like this and it sure as hell wouldn't be the last. I was just an uneasy sleeper and it wasn't unusual for people to wake up with unexplained bruises or scratches.

Not thoroughly convinced, I pushed the thought to the back of my mind for now as I exited the room and descended the stairs, instead turning my full concentration to the voices in the kitchen.

"I know that she can help us open them Elena. I just need to find her." I let a small smile escape my lips as I recognised the speaker and languidly leaned against the doorframe, watching on.

"You sure you want to do this Bonnie? We can find another way," Elena murmured back, staring at her with large and concerned eyes. It was astonishing to see how everything was still the same and yet so completely different. After all these years, my sister was still looking out for her childhood best friend, Bonnie Bennett.

Bonnie's head was bowed down as she poured over the images in front of her. "There is no other way Elena," she uttered. "She is the only one who can help us with Klaus."

My head tipped to one side curiously. Now this had grabbed my attention. The rage aimed at that one name when voiced. And my sister seemed to harbour those very same wrathful feelings. I narrowed my eyes and made my presence known. "Who's Klaus?"

Bonnie whipped around in her seat and the chair scraped back as she steadily got to her feet. After sending a brief glance to Elena who assuredly nodded, she looked back to me. "Sophie," she stated.

I smiled ruefully, pushing myself off the doorframe and edging gracefully into the room. "Hello Bonnie."

Bonnie looked at Elena who nodded in confirmation before she slowly moved away from her chair as if in a daze. Closing the distance between us, she approached, then hesitated before slowly wrapping her arms around me.

I shuddered for a second, feeling slightly light-headed before returning the hug with a knowing smile. I could read the dark haired girl's intentions like a book.

It seemed as though Bonnie Bennett had inherited her family legacy and right now she was divulging my intentions. Trying to read me with the skin to skin contact but I knew she would find nothing too extraordinary.

But I could feel her power. It surrounded her like an aura; intense and unforgiving with the right foe. I vaguely wondered if my sister was aware of Bonnie's witch abilities.

The girl pulled back, now utterly convinced that I had nothing to hide. "I can't believe you've actually returned," she said and I didn't miss the slight slither of ire behind her tone. Not that I could blame her. She looked out for my sister just like my sister did for her so my leaving without any forewarnings or explanations was bound to take some toll. "Who else knows?"

"Only you, Elena, Alaric and Matt." I caught Elena's confused gaze at the mention of the latter and briefly explained, "I went to the grill before coming here."

Elena looked a little put out. "You saw Matt before me?" she queried and I just shrugged.

"The Grill does the best drinks in town."

Bonnie dipped her head in an approving nod before her brows furrowed. "Are you planning on telling Caroline, yet?"

Caroline Forbes. Now there was another name I had not heard of in a very long time. I may not have been too close with Elena's posy of friends but this girl had been the exception.

Caroline had followed me round like a shadow when we were young, always feeling left out of the Bonnie and Elena duo. Not to mention run ins with her were quite often, considering our parents were all members of the founding families.

The way I saw it, this reunion could go down one of two ways; with a slap to the face or I would be buying myself a new pair of eardrums because when excited, that girl could make pitches which only dogs could hear.

I dreaded both options and the wariness was undoubtedly reflected across my face as I let out a stutter which was feeble even to my ears. "What Caroline Forbes doesn't know won't hurt her."

I carried on with my weak protesting as Bonnie whipped out her phone and shooed me away like I some pesky fly as I attempted in vain to grab hold of the bloody electronic.

She fired off a quick text before striding to the front door, gesturing me to follow. I scowled at the bounce in the young witch's steps as she muttered to herself in anticipation, "I so want to see how this goes down."

"Wait-"

"Me too."

I narrowed my eyes at my sister, who was strolling languidly behind me, unconcerned of the glare of poison I was sending her way. "You're supposed to be on my side and can't this wait? I thought you had to find someone to help with your Klaus problem."

The name I deliberately dropped was all it took to cause an impact. This time, my eyes did not miss the way that Elena faltered in her steps.

Bonnie, on the other hand remained neutral and I would have fallen for it if it wasn't for the slight stiffening of her shoulders. "That can wait until I have seen Caroline's reaction," she muttered to herself.

We were a few paces away from the entrance to the grill and I remained silent for a few moments apart from the intentional dragging of my feet before I spoke again. The prior conversation still had me on a knife's edge.

All because of one name. Klaus.

My whole body warmed as I felt a bubbling ire towards the man who inspired such fear in my sister. "Who is Klaus?" I demanded quietly.

"He's-"

"Bonnie, don't!" Elena interrupted quickly which confirmed my thoughts.

Bonnie looked at her blankly as she slowed in her pace and spun round to face my sister. "She deserves to know, Elena."

My slitted gaze flickered from one girl to another. "Know what?" I quietly commanded. Elena's skin sported a pale tinge as she stared at Bonnie pleadingly. The Bennett witch stared back at her, green eyes narrowed in defiance.

This was getting me nowhere. The truth would come out eventually and I could be patient when I wanted to. This was a small town after all. A town with a few hundred or so people. A place where anybody knew everybody. And that included those Salvatore brothers who were without a doubt involved with my sister's thoughtless lies. So many people were available for me to divulge such information from.

Trying to diffuse the tension, I stepped in between them. "Are we heading for a drink or not?" They observed me blankly, astounded that I let this go so quickly and at that my lips tilted a little. "Am I curious? Yes." I answered their thoughts for them. Then I brushed past their frozen forms with a casual shrug. "But the truth will out sooner or later."

Bonnie sighed, breaking Elena's gaze in disapproval. My sister appeared uncomfortable as she muttered to herself, too low for me to hear, "That's what I'm worried about."

When we reached the doors, I balked, suddenly remembering what lay within. More so… who. I refused to go any further than this. All thoughts of my sister's secrets vanished as I stared unseeingly forwards. "On second thought, let's just stay out here and talk about this rationally. I've been gone eight years. Caroline can wait one more day."

Bonnie's sly expression was my only answer and I shoved past her, mouthing obscenities to myself before forcing the door open. For a moment, I paused in my tracks before stalking to the bar where a raven haired man was waiting to be served.

I crossed my arms over the surface and demanded. "Vodka. Large. Make it quick."

Matt arched his eyebrows with a small smile. "Dare I ask?"

"No you may not," I grumbled back.

"Drinking before noon, tut tut." A snarky voice from beside me exclaimed and my gaze reluctantly flitted to my right towards the raven haired man. He quickly downed his drink in one before turning to me with a slow grin. "You don't strike me as some drunk sorority chick."

"Did I ask for your opinion?" I snapped back. "No so shut it."

The man smirked as Matt passed me a glass which I took gratefully.

Elena hopped up onto the stool by my left with Bonnie standing tensely behind her. I noticed she kept a fair distance from the leather clad aggravating male to my right. Matt shot his head up at their appearance and grinned. "Told you she would forgive you, Sophie."

Elena braced her hands on the bar, glancing at us all in disbelief. "Am I really that bad at holding grudges?" she demanded.

"No. You're terrible."

My eyes flitted towards the raven-haired man again. I averted my gaze, slightly uncomfortable with the way his ice blue eyes were scrutinising me. "We got off on the wrong foot, so I'll start. Damon Salvatore," he introduced with a one sided lip curve. "And who might you be?"

I rolled my eyes, aghast at his blatant appraisal but my mind was working hard. Salvatore. This was the man I needed to squeeze answers from but not now. Aggravated was not a good look on me. I was about to tell him to go once more when I heard it.

"Oh my God! Seriously?"

Bonnie's mouth twitched at my instant nervous demeanour whilst Elena swivelled around on her stool and leaned back against the bar. The two of them watched on avidly and I rolled my eyes when everything fell silent. Last thing I needed was a fucking peanut gallery.

I steadily got to my feet and turned around. She stood there less than two paces away with her hands covering her mouth. Her baby blue eyes watering. "Soph?" she whispered.

I blinked back my own burning tears, stimulated by her own. "Hello Caroline," I responded quietly.

A small squeal merged with a part sob escaped her lips before she flashed forwards and my face was suddenly engulfed in blonde hair.

I tensed for a split second at her sudden movement before forcing myself to relax. This was Caroline. The young kid who had once looked up to me. This wasn't some planned attack. Her sudden movement had just caught me off guard is all.

She pulled back quickly with a bright teary smile. "I can't believe you're really here. This day was so crappy until Bonnie messaged me."

The tearful moment was interrupted by the voice which was slowly starting to grate my bones. "Why is blondie acting more freaky than usual? How do you even know her?"

As he chucked back his second drink Elena decided to intervene. "Damon, this is Sophia Gilbert…" She paused for a moment before admitting, "She's kind of my sister."

Damon choked. "You've got to be kidding me," he spluttered, setting down his drink as his ice-blue eyes darted back and forth between Elena and me, scanning for the resemblance.

Bonnie smirked and raised an eyebrow mockingly. She seemed to revel in his lack of knowledge and drawled, "You didn't know? I thought the two of you were getting close."

Damon sent Bonnie a look of black ice before accusingly facing Elena who swiftly adverted her attention. The tension was increasing rapidly in the room and my eyes sparked with humour, "I can't believe you didn't tell your friend about me, Elena." I let out a dramatic gasp. "Wait, were you ashamed of me?"

Elena turned to me with shocked eyes. "Wait. No, of course not Soph I-"

"I feel so unloved."

Caroline grinned as Elena looked at a perpetual loss of what to say.

"Did you say Sophie? As in Sophie Gilbert?"

Damon groaned. "Fido knows too?" but I ignored him as I turned to face Tyler who froze.

"Wow, you got hot," he blurted and I pressed my lips together with an embarrassed blush. Caroline whacked him gently over the head. He rubbed the place with a shy smile to her before muttering, "I take it this is a bad time?"

I glanced between them both, noting Tyler's hopeful expression. Caroline seemed torn but sensing her apparent confliction, I nudged her towards him,

"Go. You and I can catch up later. I will even force myself to sit through one of those crappy chick flicks you love so much so you can spend the time daydreaming about Tyler."

Caroline blushed and Tyler's eyes widened in shock. "How did you know?"

Everyone faced me and I started. Did they all seriously doubt my intelligence? Seeing blank faces, I sighed in exasperation and held up a finger, "Well for one he is no longer acting like a grade A dick... not completely anyway."

"Hey-" Tyler protested but I cut him off.

"And the two of you are literally gravitating around each other like little love-struck puppies."

Damon snorted and I resisted to repeat Caroline's recent action. "Go do what you have to do." I urged the nervous blonde. "I'm not going anywhere."

Not yet anyway.

Tyler mouthed a gracious "Thank you" as Caroline grabbed his hand and after sending one last glance over her shoulder at us, the two of them left the grill.

Once they were out of sight, Bonnie straightened up. "Well as emotional as that was, Elena and I have to go too."

I gave her a non to subtle imploring stare and tipped my head towards Damon who was still sitting languidly next to me. "Take me with you Bonnie. Please."

The raven haired Salvatore turned to me and gave me a wide and innocent smile which did not suit him at all. It was like a demon was looking back at me through an angel's eyes and it unsettled me greatly.

"Aww, why? Scared to be alone with me." He paused for dramatic effect and I frowned. "I promise it will be worth your while, some women just cannot resist me."

"Damon." Elena voiced sharply as she gently nudged herself in front of me. Their eyes met in an intense battle and I swiftly shot a glance to Bonnie whose arms were crossed tight.

My eyelid twitched. From what my sister had told me, she had just been in love with Stefan so why was she making a move on his brother?

"So where did you say you were heading again," I asked in an attempt to distract myself from my sister's superficial triangle of a love life. Bonnie blinked once before glancing down at the floor but that quick glimmer of emotion which flickered across her face said it all. "You've found her haven't you?" I murmured gently. "Your mom."

I ignored Damon and Elena's incredulous gazes as I kept mine fixed on Bonnie who slowly nodded.

"I need her help with something important. Elena and I are going to find her."

She didn't say where but she didn't need to. I already knew Abby Bennett resided in Monroe and sensing Bonnie's uncomfortable stance, I just kept it simple. "If it gets too much, call me."

The dark haired witch smiled faintly before walking away. Elena was about to make a move to follow when I grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

"Make sure she's okay." I murmured in her ear. "This is not going to be easy for her." As much as I hated to admit it, Abby Bennett was as stubborn as her daughter, maybe even more so. When she left Mystic Falls, the woman left with absolutely no intention of returning.

Elena smiled and squeezed my hand before hurrying after her.

As soon as they disappeared from view my smile instantly dropped and my expression hardened. I viewed Damon coldly. I was not going one more second without knowing what this guy's full intentions were. "So what's going on with you and my baby sister?"

Damon held back a cough at my blatant forwardness and regarded me intensely, "What makes you think that anything is going on?" he queried.

"Oh please. That was some obvious tension between you two."

At my words, Damon's lips twisted into a small smile and wiggled his eyebrows, his ice-blue eyes piercing through mine. "Can you keep a secret Sophia Gilbert?"

I sighed at the use of my full name. My hands curled into fists, nails digging into the skin. Everyone in this town knew that I loathed the use of my birth name. Everyone in this town also knew that it was in their best interest to stay away from using it.

Seemed like Damon needed the same reality check everyone else had. "Call me Sophie please, if you call me Sophia again, I will punch you." I wasn't kidding. I had done it before and Dana Noels lived in fear of me ever since.

Damon leant forward. "We kissed," he uttered smoothly. "Now it's weird between us."

I did not disguise my shock. What did my sister even see behind his arrogant attitude?

My hand shot out. I grabbed his wrist and pulled him up, causing the raven haired Salvatore to smirk. "Wow that was quick. And I wasn't even trying to get you to like me."

I gave an extra yank and waved an absentminded goodbye to Matt before we left the grill. "Believe me we are not friends." I hissed. "One might call us acquaintances."

Damon observed me curiously. "Then where are we going?"

"Well you're going to give me a tour and tell me what the fuck is going on in Mystic Falls."

The time had come to get answers and Damon would not be leaving my sight until I knew exactly what the hell had happened to this small, boring town in the eight years I was away.

"And here is the Mystic Falls ice cream parlour. This is where the residents of Mystic Falls come to buy ice cream."

I narrowed my eyes at the older Salvatore. We had been going at this for around an hour and I had successfully managed to tolerate him for the whole sixty minutes in my quest for answers. Waiting for the slightest slip up. I had to admit that he was good but right now he was honestly getting on my last nerve. "Hilarious."

"Oh come on, you have to admit, it was a little funny."

"It's so funny I forgot to laugh."

Damon threw an arm around my shoulders, causing me to freeze as I regarded the limb with distaste. "You know you would be much more fun if you weren't so sarcastic all the time."

I shrugged him off as we approached the hospital. "And you are a useless tour guide."

"Well I figured you would prefer the safer areas of Mystic Falls."

I immediately stopped walking. A nagging feeling in the back of my mind, urged me to press on. Now we were finally getting somewhere.

"What is that supposed to mean?" When Damon looked away I reached up to grab his shoulder and pulled his attention back towards me. "Damon," I urged. "Should I be concerned about my sister?"

Damon slowly turned back to me but his eyes for once were serious. I knew he could sense that I was genuinely worried and his hands curved over my upper arms gently.

"Listen," he began. "Elena has a lot of people who care for her and one more now you are back in the picture. All I can say is Mystic Falls is not the place you once knew."

My head buzzed with many thoughts. There were so many puzzle pieces which I was struggling to piece together. There was a crucial piece of information I was missing and I needed it. Badly. "Why? What's going on?"

At once Damon's expression turned mocking and he stared directly into my eyes, "Ah ah now that would be telling. Though I'm sure you'll find out sooner or later but right now you need to be a good girl and go home once I leave."

I hid my surprise when his pupils contracted for a few seconds before dilating. A small tug began in my brain but I pushed it away, nails digging into my palms hard. Feeling slightly miffed and even more mystified than before, I simply played along. "Where are you going?"

Damon released me, seemingly satisfied as he backed away. "Introducing myself to a certain psycho doctor. Goodbye for now Sophie. Maybe I'll drop by afterwards." He trailed off before his signature smirk reappeared. "Maybe not."

As soon as he disappeared from view, I spun to face the woods and smiled, recalling the youthful memories. "Moron." I uttered. "If he thinks he can tell me what to do he can think again." Without further ado, I took off into the trees.

It didn't take too long for me to find the place I had been looking for. The route was like an instinct. Ingrained within my mind.

If I was honest with myself, the place wasn't anything special, just a small clearing with a small rock face which protruded out from the muddy ground. I smiled to myself, remembering the day I first came here.

It had been an accident really. I had gotten into an argument with my parents and decided to run away for a bit. I had been wandering, for hours until I found it.

And when I did, I couldn't understand why but I felt like I shared some sort of connection here. Some feeling of warmth and security. I had sat at the foot of the rock face for hours, just revelling in the peace until my frantic dad came calling.

Looking back now, I felt so guilty for making him worry but all he had done at the time was hug me in relief and take me back home. The shouting came later on in the week but that night before bed, he had tucked me in and told me a story of the place where he found me.

He told me that during every full moon, the natives used to hide from the werewolves. He told me that underneath the ground I had sat on, there used to be a labyrinth of tunnels where the natives escaped to during the night. There they would hide until the first morning rays.

Shaking my head, I let a small laugh escape me as I knelt down and buried my fingers in the dry soil, feeling each and every tiny particle between my fingers.

A long time ago, I would have laughed at the story but now I wondered if there was actually some truth to the myth.

After all, I thought as I slowly raised my hand, watching calmly as the soil shadowed by my palm became moist. A thin green stalk broke through the surface and lazily began to shoot upwards. Who was I to judge between myths and reality?

The lilac rose bloomed.

Damon Salvatore burst through the door of Alaric Saltzman's apartment, silently seething. How stupid had he been? He should have trusted his instincts on that insipid excuse for a doctor from the get go.

The vampire hunter, who had initially been lifting weights until Damon's untimely disturbance, was confused. Wasn't Damon supposed to be looking after Sophia? He voiced his question tiredly. "What are you doing here?"

Damon simply lifted up a pot lid before putting it back down. "Looking for a bunny, you're good. For now."

Alaric caught the exaggeration behind the last two words and he released his hold on the weights. Rubbing off the sweat which was seeping out across his forehead with one hand, he regarded his drinking buddy with exasperation. "Are you still obsessed with Meredith? I mean, don't you have an original vampire to care about?"

He began to sit up but Damon held up a hand silently urging him to lie back down. "Ah ah ah, do ten more of those. You're gonna wanna buff up, if you start dating this one." He poured himself some coffee and added snidely out of the corner of his mouth. "Self-defence and all."

Alaric stood up, irked at the vampire's constant cryptic comments. That was the thing with the oldest Salvatore, he never gave straight answers. "What's your problem?" he demanded.

Damon leisurely sat down on the couch and took a small sip of tea, calming down as he felt the warm liquid heat up his blood before explaining, "Your doctor vervained me and then she bloodjacked me."

He watched as the hunters face fell into shock at the seriousness of the situation before it changed to one of confusion, "What?" he stuttered. "I mean, when did you even see her?"

"When I went to the hospital, to accuse her of killing her ex-boyfriend. Which by the way," Damon raised his eyebrows comically and raised one finger. "very sensitive subject."

Alaric looked away, suddenly feeling an unfamiliar anger which he couldn't control, rise up from within him.

It had been happening more and more frequently now and he debated cutting off the drink but how could he when all this supernatural crap was enveloping him left, right and centre? "Damon, what the hell are you doing?" he uttered, too tired to deal with this additional shit right now.

Damon screwed his face up defensively. "Why are you mad at me?"

"I told you, I'd handle this!" Alaric shouted but Damon just took another casual gulp of tea.

"I proved your theory... diagnosed psycho case. You're welcome," he added at Alaric's affronted look and watched as the hunter sat down opposite him.

"And in the midst of all this, where the hell was Sophie? I thought you were taking her around the town?"

It was Damon's turn to look affronted at the hunter's stern gaze but he quickly covered it with amusement. "Is this the look you give your pupils if they annoy you in class, because let me tell you. Very effective."

Alaric didn't sway at the deliberate jab, feeling worried and responsible for the girl he had just met. The older sister of the small, broken family he had made a vow to himself to look after. For Jenna. "Where is she Damon?"

"Relax Ric, I may or may not have compelled her to go home, really not in the mood to experience Elena's or Witchy's anger if I got her hurt." Alaric sat up straighter, a feeling of foreboding taking over him. Damon looked over at him. "What?"

"I was at their house ten minutes ago. Sophie wasn't there."

Damon's ice blue orbs sharpened to icicles and he shook his head trying to convince himself. "No no, you must have missed her. I compelled her."

"You sure she isn't on vervain?"

"Do you think I wouldn't have noticed if she was?" Damon snarled as he leaped to his feet and headed straight for the door.

Alaric jumped up quickly in response as he demanded, "Hey where are you going?"

Damon turned back and for the first time Alaric saw in his eyes, a small slither of care directed towards Elena's sister. There was worry in his eyes and Damon Salvatore never worried unless it was related to Elena's safety.

"In case you haven't noticed Ric, tonight's a full moon and vampire Barbie's father is back in town to help his daughter's sired hybrid boyfriend turn, hence we have a teeny problem if it doesn't go according to plan which it won't." Damon grabbed the door handle and yanked it back open. "So you are going to go to her house and wait there in case she gets home."

By the time Alaric had grabbed his coat, Damon had already disappeared.

"They're after you Sophie… Run… Get out of here!"

"No I'm not leaving you!"

"This is your only chance! I can hold them off, now GO!"

The words echoed through my head as I ran. Soon they would be following me. Chasing me. It was like I was on autopilot in the midst of my panic. The canopy of trees seemed endless and the colours were beginning to blur.

Feeling dizzy, I staggered and crumpled to the ground, my hands getting the brunt of the impact as I felt a light sting. Groaning, I shook my head disorientated and shakily rose to my feet. I glanced at my hands, pleased to see that they were only scraped with tiny cuts. It was then I realised my surroundings had changed.

I was standing outside that same wooden house and I shivered, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Why did I keep coming back here?

This wasn't one of my memories. But at the moment none of it seemed to matter as I flung open the door. The floorboards creaked as I ran through the house to my destination. And sure enough they were there.

All four of them.

Help me, Sophia.

I let the same nameless yet enticing voice wash over me once more as I walked towards the coffin in a trance. I had to open it. I needed too. I grasped the latch and heard the click as it came undone. My fingers curled over a small handle, ready to pull it up.

A floorboard creaked behind me and I spun around.

"Well, well, I can't say I am surprised to see you here, love."

I widened my eyes "Nik?" I gasped.

He grinned in response and took a step forwards. I attempted to retreat back step back but with the coffin behind me, I had nowhere else to go.

"Everything you know is about to change, Sophia Gilbert. And I must say I am quite looking forward to it."

My heartbeat accelerated as I watched in slow motion, as his face darkened, ocean blue eyes melted into gold and veins protruded from underneath his skin. My hands shook and I bit my lip hard to stop myself from screaming. Nik then chuckled darkly, his white teeth sharp. "Welcome to the night Sophia."

I gasped and jerked my head up, breathing hard. My hand clutched my chest to calm my heart rate.

'Just a dream' I told myself but it was becoming increasingly hard to convince myself of that fact when I saw the thin cuts on my palm.

From above me darkness was enveloping the skies and I reluctantly rose to my feet. Taking one last fleeting glance at my safe place, I turned around and started to make my way back.

'Elena's going to be so worried,'' I mused as I pulled my phone out from my jacket pocket, unsurprised at the multiple missed calls and unread texts.

I was too preoccupied with looking through them that I never once heard the faint snap of a twig far in the distance. Nor did I hear the sudden loud snuffling…

A strong force knocked me off my feet. I crashed to the ground and groaned at the following ache of my muscles. Through my blurred vision I made out molten-amber eyes edging closer and closer towards me. But I felt no fear. This was part of who I was.

I leaped to my feet and braced myself for the oncoming attack.

The wolf pounced. I raised a hand to defend myself but it was thrown away by a dark blur. Immediately recognising the leather jacket, I watched on in horror and slight fascination as Damon Salvatore and the wolf fought.

"Sophie, get out of here!" the raven haired Salvatore gasped as he dodged the wolf's vicious attacks but I couldn't run, not again, not when somebody else was in danger.

Not even when his face darkened and his teeth elongated to look like a monster straight from a horror film. My eyes darted in between them, waiting for the right moment.

Damon forced the wolf off him and it landed in a crouch, spittle flying out of bared teeth as it prepared for another attack.

This once. Just this once, I wasn't going to be afraid.

I ran out in front of the eldest Salvatore with my hand outstretched.

"Sophie?" Damon growled. "What are you doi…"

The wolf leaped forwards and I narrowed my eyes, completely focused as I felt the familiar power surging through my blood, exciting my nerves as it begged for release.

I flicked my hand sharply to the right.

The wolf froze, mid leap. Suspended in the air. It was blasted backwards, colliding with a tree with a loud smack, before slumping to the base. All was silent and still.

Letting my arm flop to the side, I staggered and would have crumbled if Damon didn't catch me.

"What the hell was that?"

I blinked and my shining grey eyes met Damon's widened ones before they faded back to their normal green and grey as I murmured, "The reason I left Mystic Falls."