A/N: Sorry! I've been so busy, I haven't been able to update. But, that doesn't mean that I haven't been trying to write. It just means I won't be able to update as much as I'd like to. Anyway, thanks to everyone who's reviewed, favorited and followed this story and For Whom Will I Wake. You guys are awesome. I love opening my inbox and finding your reviews, your reactions and questions. You brighten my day. Honestly.


I will keep quiet. You won't even know I'm here.

You won't suspect a thing. You won't see me in your mirror.

But, I've crept into your heart. You can't make me disappear, 'til I make you –

I made myself at home in the covers and the lies.

I'm learning all your tricks. I can hurt you from inside.

I made myself a promise you would never see me cry, 'til I make you –

You'll never know what hit you. Won't see me closing in.

I'm gonna make you suffer this hell you put me in.

I'm underneath your skin. The devil within.

You'll never know what hit you.

The Devil Within – Digital Daggers

Caroline had just finished her shower, scrubbing away the debris from the forest floor and the plaster and sheetrock from the earthquake, when she heard voices. She slunk into the hallway, wrapped in a towel.

She heard Damon's enraged tones, "If I wanted a fortune cookie, I would've bought one, Witch!" "I'm just telling you what I felt, Damon." Bonnie sounded annoyed. Caroline peered over the banister. She saw Bonnie standing in front of Damon.

And beside him stood a girl with long brown hair that tumbled down her back in waves. Caroline's breath caught. It was Elena. It looked like Elena. "Well, that's nice." The girl said. It sounded like Elena. What the hell's going on? Caroline thought.

Soon, she was hit with memories. The girl that looked like Elena stood above her as she lay in a hospital bed, "Game on." She uttered before covering Caroline's face with a pillow, smothering her.

"You and I are going to have so much fun together," She said, malicious delight coloring her voice. The girl, Katherine, Caroline's mind whispered, pinning her against the wall with the intent to kill her.

"You're telling us that you're feeling that the earthquake is a portent and since I value my life, I will be sure to be far away when whatever this is warning us about comes." She turned, the heels of her boots clicking over the hardwood floor as she sashayed to the door.

"It's not coming, Katherine." Bonnie gritted out, causing the other girl to stop. "It's already here." At the witch's words, the sky had darkened and the sound of clattering filled Caroline's ears. The windows shook as something peppered against them.

One of them shattered, making the young blonde shriek before she raised her cerulean optics, seeing a dead bird resting in front of her. "Caroline!" Damon's cry ripped through her skull as he appeared before her, shielding her as the noise grew louder before slowly ceasing.

"What was that?" Caroline gasped. "He's coming." Bonnie droned; her words were empty of inflection. Her eyes were blank. A trickle of fear rippled down the young vampire's spine. "He's coming. He's coming. He's coming. He's coming." The witch repeated.

Damon's eyes widened and for the first time, Caroline saw him fearful. He raced toward the Bennett witch and shook her, "Who's coming? Bonnie!" Bonnie raised her eyes to him and a serene smile spread across her lips. "Death." Her eyes rolled up and she collapsed against the blue eyed vampire.

Katherine had watched the entire display, rigid and terrified. She looked at Damon and said in wavering tones, "I reiterate. I'm going. Away. Far. Away." She turned and flickered towards the door, but the eldest Salvatore had deposited the witch onto the divan and sprinted after her, blocking her path.

"Who was Bonnie talking about? I know you know, Katherine. So spare me the posturing." Katherine's amber hues flitted to Caroline before making their way to Damon's azure orbs. "You don't want to know, Damon. Trust me. And if he's coming, he's coming for her." She jerked her head towards Caroline.

"So, if I were you, I'd be thinking the same thing I am." She bolted from the Boardinghouse. Damon swiveled to face Caroline, horror written across his beautiful features. The young blonde stood and staggered to her room and pulled on a pair of shorts and a tank top.

She jumped when she saw a shadow in the doorway. Bonnie was standing in the doorway, her eyes – that lovely dark green hue that Caroline was familiar with – were blank. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Bonnie move towards her slowly, the movement was smooth, easy.

"He's coming for you, Caroline." Her voice was colorless. It was almost like she was a void. "He's coming. And in his wake, death, blood and mayhem follow." Caroline breathed out shakily, "Who is he?" Bonnie's empty eyes flitted to Caroline's face, "The first of his kind. The last of the true ones."

"True what?" Caroline demanded. Bonnie seemed about to answer, but before she could utter a sound, she crumpled, unconscious. It was as though a switch was flipped within her. The floor below Caroline was alit with chaos. She heard raised voices and footsteps on the stairs, "Elena!"

The door to Caroline's room flew open and Elena tumbled past the threshold, followed by Damon. "Oh, my god," Her words came out like water breaking a dam. The Gilbert girl looked shattered from within, her pain rolling down her cheeks in crystalline rivulets.

She babbled on blindly, "He told me you might be alive. He said he never believed that story about you, either." Damon was rooted in place. "Who told you?" "The new guy in town," Elena's watery voice was filled with confusion, as though she were thinking, "Does it really matter, Damon?"

"What's his name?" The elder vampire was livid. "He said his name was Hayden." "Hayden?" Damon began, "And he doesn't have a last name?" Elena cast Damon an exasperated glance, "No, Damon. He didn't –" She broke off, seeing the Bennett witch on the floor, her ochre oculars widened.

"Oh, my god! Bonnie!" She cried. Caroline looked at Bonnie, her lips pinching into a frown, "She fainted." Elena rushed past her and dropped to her knees, placing two fingers to Bonnie's throat. She expelled a sigh, "She's fine." Caroline nodded and looked at Damon, whose brows had knit together.

He slipped from the room wordlessly, leaving the blonde confused. Elena had stood, guiding her unconscious friend to the bed, "Why was Damon interrogating me?" She asked, perplexed. Caroline shook her head silently, "He was…." To be honest, Caroline didn't know what Damon was.

The eldest Salvatore had appeared to be high-strung lately. Caroline didn't understand what his problem was. He hadn't told her much of anything. "I don't know," The blonde whispered. Elena looked at her and said just as softly, "I'm really glad you're okay."

But, I'm not. Not really. Caroline thought despairingly. She watched the other girl make her way to the door. "Wait." The vampire said. Her friend paused, turning to face her. "You can't tell my mom. Please, Elena." She pleaded. Elena nodded slowly and left the room.

Caroline dropped onto the chaise, the breath leaving her dead lungs in a whoosh. "Hey," Stefan poked his head into the room, concern on his handsome features, "Do you wanna get out of here for a bit?" Caroline nodded eagerly, "Yes." She stood and followed him from the room gratefully.

Stefan had packed a picnic and set it up at the swimming hole. Caroline had never been more thankful for him. In fact she had said, "Thank god for you, Stefan Salvatore." She dropped onto the blanket, sitting down and allowed the cool breeze to caress her and let the sounds of nature fall over her, taking her away from Mystic Falls.

She picked through the basket and froze. There were servings for five people. "Um, Stefan?" She began but looked up when Matt, Elena and Bonnie approached. The relief on Matt Donovan's features was heartbreaking. He broke into a run and swept Caroline into his arms and held her tightly.

For a moment, Caroline had been afraid that he was crying. But when he pulled away, his eyes were shining with happiness. Not tears. Everyone had seated themselves and soon, questions were asked. "So, how are you still alive? We saw you in the morgue." Caroline stiffened and looked to Stefan for answers.

The youngest Salvatore simply gave her a nod, telling her that it was alright to speak the truth with a simple gesture. Caroline looked down at the sandwich in her hands – Stefan had jokingly told her that it wasn't rabbit, a joke that confused the others. But it was an inside joke between her and the brooding Salvatore – and drew in a ragged breath, "I didn't."

This caused chaos. The others had made varying sounds of protest and horror. "I was dead. I am dead." Elena stood so abruptly that it startled the blonde vampire. "No. I don't – I can't believe this. Stefan, say something!" Stefan shook his head, "It's true."

Caroline stood, facing her oldest friend, "Elena –" The brunette turned away quickly and glanced at her over her shoulder, heartbreak on her lovely features, "How could you be so cruel?" The words broke something in Caroline.

The blonde began to speak, but Elena wasn't finished, "To lie or joke about this! I mourned you! Your mother buried you!" "I'm telling you this because it's true!" Caroline shouted and clutched at her hair, "God! Do you think I want to be seventeen forever?" Elena stared at her, horrorstricken, "What do you mean?" Caroline shook her head, whispering, "I'm a vampire, Elena."

The house he'd chosen suited him just fine. It was imperial, white-washed and decorated with columns that he'd come to know when he was quite younger. In fact, he'd helped build a few of them. The vampire who'd called himself, "Hayden" grinned to himself. He'd chosen the name for the obvious reference.

The humans and witch-made vampires with their plebeian minds probably wouldn't make the connection. And that was all fine and dandy with him. Hmm. "Fine and dandy". Since when do I use such trite colloquialisms? He mentally chastised himself before shaking his head, pacing the room he stood in.

It was a large study; a rug with some design stretched the floor. He'd never paid much attention to the decorations. He folded his hands behind his back as he strode from one end of the room to the other. He'd killed the family that owned this house. It was one of the few manor houses in Mystic Falls.

One of the other houses had been owned by some sovereigns of human society. Lockwood, he believed their name to be. Werewolves and their constant need for monarchy, Hayden thought, bitterness staining his words. And the other was owned by the family known as the Mikaelsons.

And that had sparked his interest immediately. Klaus Mikaelson, he thought, do you still seek the Petrova doppelgänger? He chuckled in his throat, low and deep, his lips twisting as he remembered the Petrova girl. She was lovely. And so many men had fell prey to her beauty.

There is a snake hidden deep in each of the Petrova women, hidden by their beauty. As the serpent had been hidden in the depths of Eden. Prepared to twist and corrupt the heart of each man they encounter. He had secretly admired the ability that all Petrova women had to make men bend to their will.

Until he grew tired of it. As with all things, repetition eventually bores him. Humanity with their constant scramble to outlive their one-hundred years. Witch-made vampires and their mindless hunt for blood. Werewolves and their temper-tantrums. Although, he does find them quite amusing.

And the Petrova women. He wandered towards the cabinet that holds the liquor decanters and glasses and removed the stopper. He poured himself a glass of whiskey and picked up the glass. Hmm, the one good thing I can give humanity their credit for. He thought, taking a sip.

Soon, a familiar scent reached his nose and Hayden's lips split into an amused smile. "I assume you're here to throw yourself at my mercy?" Katerina Petrova stepped into the room, trembling visibly as she nodded. "I am," She said, almost choking on the words as they sliced their way from her mouth.

"And I'm here to seek a sanctuary." Hayden's brows rose as he spun to face her, "And what have you to offer me in return?" Katherine licked her lips and said slowly, "The girl you seek, I know her. I can help you get her." Hayden's smile widened as he said, "Then I believe we have ourselves a deal."