"I need to get to class..." She tried to turn away from me, but I grabbed her by the elbow and held her. "Let me go."

"Or what? You'll give me some brain aneurysms? I'm not as easy to take down as Damon." His name left a bad taste in my mouth. "It's about Klaus."

"What about him? He left town."

"And you really think he'll stay away?" Bonnie frowned deeply. "That's what I thought. I need you to contact the dead witches for me."

"Why can't you do it? You're a witch aren't you?"

"Yeah, but I already asked for their help, so I doubt they'll do it again. I know the ash daggers don't work on Klaus, so we need another way to kill or at least restrain him. The witches told me he's coming to kill everyone..." Her eyes widened.

"Are you sure?"

"They said 'He's coming...He'll kill everyone...' Who else would they be talking about? Unfortunately, it's my duty to help keep the vampire secret, and if Klaus slaughters an entire town...Not so good for us." She nodded slowly.

"They refused to talk to me after I brought Jeremy back, but maybe they'll talk to me for this...I just can't be sure."

"Try, okay? Because if Klaus comes for this town he'll

find out Elena is still alive, I hope you know that." She nodded and turned from me, hurrying into the school.

I turned and trekked away, having to resort to walking again after I'd finally returned Stefan's car. Figured I didn't need it anymore, now that I wasn't going on cross state road trips.

I walked along what was the familiar route to my Aunt Jess' house. And only a short time ago it was my house. I shook my head, chuckling.

So much could happen in such a short amount of time.

As I turned on the street, I could clearly see Aunt Jenna sitting on the porch several blocks up the street, looking out at the road. Probably waiting to see if I'd turn to corner, apologize and come back to her, and have everything be like it was before. If only she knew the truth.

I was approaching from the direction she faced away from, so she didn't see me right away, but I made sure she heard me. I stepped loud enough on the cement sidewalk for her human ears to ear, and her head turned to me slowly.

"What's up Jess? Long time no see." She stumbled to her feet, staring openly at me. "Staring is a bit rude, you know. Anyway, I just came to get some more of my stuff." These last couple of days since I'd returned to Mystic Falls, I'd been staying at Tyler's mansion in one of the many extra bedrooms. It wasn't the safest place in town at all, but it was big and nice enough to my liking. Plus, Tyler had offered.

I knew he was only doing it to placate me, to convince me to turn him into a hybrid, but I wasn't going to refuse.

"Carrie! Oh my god, where have you been?! Oh, I missed you!" She dashed off the porch and ran to me, throwing her arms around my torso and hugging me tightly.

I stood still until she let go, realizing I wasn't hugging her back. "Are you done yet? I really need to get that stuff."

Her hand came across my face and she screamed "Where in the hêll have you been?! I looked for you everywhere! Half the town looked for you everywhere!"

I sidestepped her and headed up onto the porch, and into the open front door. She followed behind me exclaiming "Your school says you might have to repeat the year since you came so late anyway...Where were you?! I missed you! You just up and left one day without saying a word to me, or to anyone...That boy Damon even came here looking for you after you disappeared, to see if I'd seen you..."

"And I still need to get that stuff. So go away and leave me alone." Aunt Jess turned and went back out to her post on the porch, silent.

Had I not switched off my emotions, I would've felt guilty for doing that.

I dashed up to what had been my bedroom and opened the door, not surprised to see a dark figure sitting on the windowsill.

"If you're hoping for a rekindling of our romantic fire, you can forget about it."

Damon hopped off and fully entered the room, watching me as I grabbed a bag from the closet and began filling it with clothes from the dresser. Luckily, Aunt Jess hadn't moved a thing. I doubt she'd even entered the room.

"That's not why I'm here and you know it. Why did you go to the witch earlier?" I chuckled as I packed.

"Keeping a watch on me, are you? Sure you aren't feeling some sparks? Maybe a few still-burning embers?"

The air swirled in the room as Damon came to me and pressed me against the dresser with his vampire strength, the wood beginning to splinter beneath us.

"You were saying Damon?" He stared angrily down at me, but I could see the hurt in his eyes. He was angry at more than me killing him. He was angry that abandoned him. Abandoned us. "I knew it..."

"Shut up Carrie, just shut up..." His grip on me softened noticably. "Just..shut up..."

I didn't try to push him away as he brought his lips down on mine, but I didn't respond either. I stood still while he kissed me softly, sliding his hands down around my waist and pulling me closer to him.

When he let go, I still had the same indifferent expression on my face, though it was more forced now. I'd felt a brief urge to reciprocate his advance, from feelings for him or just a lack of sêx, I didn't know. I sure as hell hoped it was the second one.

"If you're done Damon, I need to be going..." He frowned deeply and moved away from me. "If you need me, I've been staying at Tyler's house. Goodbye Damon."

I turned to leave and heard Damon say "What happened to you? You hate me, but you weren't like this..." I shrugged.

"Life happened. The afterlife happened. Sucks either way, doesn't it? Be glad you've gotten to experience what you have...At least you weren't killed before your life even begun." I knew that would hurt Damon where it counted.

The whoosh of wind as he left the house confirmed it.

When I got back to Tyler's house, his mother was just leaving, and smiled when she saw me.

"Carrie, I didn't expect you back so soon. Tyler isn't here, he left for school..."

"I know . I just figured someone should keep an eye on the house while you're gone."

"You're so sweet...If Tyler happens to come back and I'm still gone, tell him I've gone into town for town business."

I nodded and she exited the house, and I locked the door securely behind her. Not that it'd keep out anyone I had to worry about.

My stomach grumbled right about then, and I wandered into the huge kitchen looking for something to eat.

I knew they never kept leftovers, so I'd have to cook something myself. There was all kinds of meat, pasta, fruits, but it all wasn't what I wanted.

Finally, in one of the back cabinets, I found a family-size bag of Cheetos that hadn't yet been opened. Good old Tyler. At least there was one good thing left from his stoner days.

I took the bag with me into one of the many rooms and lounged on a couch, eating and looking around. The decòr of the house was a little bland, too uppety and rich, but at least everything was brand name. I knew wouldn't have anything that wasn't top-of-the-line in her house.

I explored the rest of the house too, looking through all the bedrooms and bathrooms, examining everything. Only white marble sinks. Only the finest silk sheets. Only the softest goose-down pillows.

After a while, I wandered into Tyler's bedroom and laid back on his giant bed. It was big and soft like the others, with perfectly made sheets and blankets, undoubtedly done by one of the Lockwood's many servants.

"Oh Tyler...If you keep skipping school, you're gonna have to repeat the year." My eyes drifted over to the door, and it wasn't Tyler. "Oh. Didn't expect you back for another two days or so."

Klaus chuckled and walked in the room. "Come love, is that any way to greet me?"

"Well I'm certainly not going to be enthisiastic, if that's what you want. Where're your other servants?"

"Stefan is out entertaining my sister until I return to them."

"Your sister...Rebekah, right?" I scooted up into a sitting position and Klaus sat on the edge of the bed. "Was that what you were in Chicago for?" He laughed again.

"You certainly have your connections. By how simply healthy you look, I'm assuming you're no longer dying?"

"You assume correctly. I assume you haven't found out why your hybrid experiment failed?" He frowned. "And that's why you're back in this dismal town."

"You're right on it. I've also come to find you. You left me rather...suddenly." I shrugged.

"I was dying. But now I'm not, so there's nothing to prevent me from doing whatever I want. There's only one hitch, love. Two, actually." Klaus smirked again at my use of his word. "I can't kill a human...Stupid witch curse...And I won't be doing anything with you."

"And why not? Trying to resist my charms, are you?"

"Hardly. I just don't want some witch ju-juing me again, so I'm not gonna drive all over the countryside with you again anytime soon."

"I guess that's only fair." I raised an eyebrow.

"Klaus being fair? I must've died."

"Now, now, I'll be having none of that. As one hybrid to another, I certainly don't want a witch to try to kill you again." Was that a confession that he cared? "It certainly doesn't mean we can't have a little fun here."

"Despite how appealing it sounds, I'll have to behave. No killing, no maiming, no plotting my terrible revenge against the denizens of this town...Sorry to disappoint."

"Well, I certainly hoped you would say otherwise, but if it means you're no longer dying, then so be it. But will you be abstaining from all extracurricular activities?" I didn't miss the desire-filled inflection of his voice.

"Since my strength fully returned, I have been craving some company..." Klaus scooted closer, but I shook my head. "But I doubt you'll being the mood for any of that."

"And why do you say that?"

"You don't know?" He looked at me oddly, and I sighed. He wouldn't be happy. "I think I know why your hybrids all died."

"Tell me." Klaus' voice was hard, even. He was trying to restrain himself.

"Elena didn't die in the ritual...Bonnie cast a spell so she'd come back afterwards, and everyone's been trying to hide her from you...Even Stefan."

"I knew he was hiding something...He will pay dearly for what he's done. You will stay here while I deal with Stefan and the others, and I will come get you after."

"Excuse me?" I stood and faced Klaus. "You will tell me to do no such thing. I will do what I damned well please, and you're not gonna do or say anything that will make me do otherwise. If you even try, I promise I will rip your heart out and feed it to you." He chuckled.

"That is what I like about you...Don't let anyone hold you down." He stood and came to me, putting his hands to my elbows. "But you won't kill me. You can't kill me. I appreciate the threat though. Shows this town isn't softening you up. See you after I deal with these traitors."

Klaus leaned in and kissed my cheek before walking slowly out of the house.

Once I was sure he was gone, I sped down the stairs to where I'd left my phone and quickly dialed Tyler's number. I cursed to myself when it went to voicemail.

He was in school.

I swept my fingers across the touch screen and texted him, knowing he would answer that.

Tyler, we need to talk.

His response was quick. I'm in class, what's up?

Don't tell the others, but Klaus is back. You need to get home ASAP.

Why, was he there?

Yes...But that's not why I need you here. I'm going to change you.

I'll be right there.

I sighed deeply, knowing I'd probably regret doing it. But knowing Klaus, he'd find a way to make his hybrids, and then we'd all be in trouble. It'd be advantageous if we had our own hybrid, and it'd make it a lot harder for Klaus or anyone else to hurt Tyler.

Hurting people to get to someone else was something Klaus did well. I'd heard about how he posed as Alaric just before I'd arrived in town.

Tyler arrived soon after, throwing his bag down and exclaiming "I had to tell them it was something about my mom...Where is she?"

"Mayoral business in town. I got here as she was leaving."

"What happened with Klaus? Why was he here?" I shrugged.

"He said he came to find out why he couldn't make any hybrids of his own, and to find me. Apparently, he wasn't too glad that I left, even though I was dying."

"In the text, you said you'd...Will you? Seriously?"

I nodded. "You and everyone else knows Klaus will hurt people to get to Elena, and you don't need to be one of them. You have a better chance of defending yourself and everyone else if you're a hybrid. But there's one thing."

"What?"

"I know Klaus has to feed his blood to a werewolf then kill them for it to work, but I don't know if it will work for me, because I'm not an Original like him. If it doesn't, you'll just be dead and I'll be shît out of luck. OR what happened to Klaus' hybrids could happen to you."

"What happened with them?"

"He tried to turn them but they only survived a few hours before they all died." Tyler cringed. "If you've changed your mind, I understand..." He shook his head.

"If it'll help everyone, I'll risk it...And besides, if I won't have to transform again, I'll go through with anything."

I smiled gently and slipped out of my hoodie. Tyler eyed me oddly as I rolled up my shirt sleeve.

"As long as you're sure...You'll have to drink my blood, then I'll have to kill you...When you come back, you feed on a human and it'll be over..."

Tyler stepped up to me and I sunk my teeth into my wrist, allowing the blood to flow. Tyler looked at me worriedly before putting his mouth to the wound and sucking greedily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tyler threw the empty blood bag to the ground, licking his lips at looking hungrily at me. He wanted more. I looked away, tossing another blood bag to where he was sitting on the floor, and he tore into it with his teeth.

I'd gotten extremely worried while Tyler was dead, because it'd taken him so long to come back. I'd almost thought I really killed him.

When he stood wiping the blood from his mouth, I stood too.

"How do you feel?"

"Better...I'm not dying, I can tell you that..."

"Have the heightened senses? The superb strength? The bloodlust?" He nodded. "You know you'll have to control that."

"I know..."

"And you have the vampire speed too. Move like the wind, huh?"

I sped behind Tyler and he whipped around, astonished.

"I can move like that?"

"Try it."

Tyler turned and sped into the other room, then through to the kitchen and back to me with a grin on his face.

"They'll be pissed at me for changing you, you know."

"Even they can't argue with this. And it was my decision."

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean they won't blame me. Just make sure you control yourself, or I might be forced to come after you. Either that, or Damon will."

"You two still have something going on?" I shrugged.

"I had something going on with Klaus, too. I'd like to think I won't become another Elena...or another Katherine. So I won't have either of them."

"Smart...But what do you mean 'like Elena?' I thought she was with Stefan."

"Come on Tyler, even I know you're not that stupid. What did you think Damon and Elena would do once Stefan left?"

"Yeah, you're probably right...And thanks again for doing this, really." I waved hand.

"Let's not have the whole touching grateful thankful thing, OK? We need to go into town."

"Why?"

"To see if you can handle being around people. If you're gonna keep on going to school, we need to see if you can keep control yourself around humans."

"Humans...it sounds so weird saying it."

"Well, get used to it. Come on."

Tyler and I walked to the door and left the house. As we walked down the long drive together, he said "Why aren't you back at school yet? Are you in control?"

"Of course...I just don't think an evil adversary would be welcomed in a public high school."

"Eh, you're not that evil." I raised an eyebrow and we both chuckled.