Disclaimer: It all belongs to Stephanie Meyer, Julie Plec, and L.J. Smith. I merely developed a plot.
Previously:
She heard Damon speak. "At the very least, if we can't figure out what's wrong with Stefan ourselves, with your combined power and experience we can find Klaus and try to make him talk."
The very mention of Klaus had Gloria hanging on to the vision as long as her magic would allow.
"Definitely," One of the young witches spoke up. "It's worth a shot. We never know if we have any advantages over him but we do have Isa now. I don't think he'll be expecting her to be on our side. That's something."
Isa?
"She's right." The female vampire said. "He won't see me coming. The last time I saw Klaus was in '72, and he underestimated me. My intelligence, my strength, everything. He saw a glimpse of what I can do then but I still think that he'd be in for a surprise."
With that, Gloria was snapped back into her own reality, where an impatient Rebekah was waiting for answers.
"So, where is it?"
"So, where is it?"
"It doesn't work like that, Doll. I get images, flashes of what's surrounding the necklace." Gloria answered the expectant young blonde.
"Well then, why don't you be a dear and tell us what you saw?" Klaus growled into the witches ear, obviously frustrated at her indirect reply.
The older women stared between the two vampires in front of her contemplating her options. On one hand, if she lied, there was no way they would ever be able to tell what she actually saw, right? Unless they went to another witch who could find the damn necklace. If that were the case, they would probably send someone back here to kill her if not do it themselves. But, if she told them the truth, then she'd be fine, free, and Klaus and his followers would leave her alone. It would only cost her a friend. And that seemed a small price to pay.
Gloria hesitated a moment before uttering a single name. "Damon Salvatore."
The room was frozen. Whatever the old witch had expected Klaus to do, this was not it.
Klaus froze, Rebekah, however, didn't miss a beat.
"Salvatore? As in Stefan?"
"The very same," Klaus breathed.
"Nik?" Rebekah asked cautiously.
"Pack your things, Bekah. Looks like we're going home."
"How-" Elena hadn't been able to complete a full sentence, too stunned to speak properly after what she had heard. The young doppelgänger looked around her at the dismal faces that she guessed were similar to her own. Elena sighed. When did life get so complicated?
"I'm so sorry, you guys." Angela spoke softly. "I mean, when you asked me to find an answer , I never expected it to be something like this. But just so you guys know, I'll be here for anything you need. I figure you're going to be going after Klaus, and I just want you to know that you'll have some extra witch-power on your side."
"Thanks, Ang," Isa mumbled without meeting Angela's eyes. "Um, I guess I'll walk you to your room?" Angela nodded and the two left the parlor quietly, both too wrapped up in their own thoughts to speak.
"This is all my fault." Damon's voice was nearly inaudible, yet still heard by the three girls seated across from him.
"No, it's not," Elena attempted to comfort the elder Salvatore brother. "Don't think like that, Damon."
His eyes flashed to hers. "Then how should I think, Elena? Tell me, how is any of this not my fault?" He stood and walked towards the fireplace. "I'm the one who was bitten by a werewolf, I'm the reason Stefan had to ask for Klaus' blood. Therefore," Damon faced Elena again. "I'm the reason we're in this mess."
"Damon," He heard Isa in the doorway. One look in her eyes told him that she had heard everything. He snapped.
Damon flashed to the drink cart and grabbed a small glass before violently hurling it into the fire letting a yell of frustration escape his lips. The crystal shattered on impact, the sound of the crash resounding through the house, making Elena, Bonnie, and Caroline all jump. He began pacing the floor in front of them. Damon angrily ran his hands through his hair.
Isa had to put a stop to this, it was tearing him apart and she knew it. She couldn't stand to see him in so much pain. She stepped in front of his path so that when he turned back, she would be blocking him.
"Damon." He turned to look at her with a crazed demeanor.
"How could he do this, Isa? How is he always one step ahead of everyone around him?" Damon was teetering on the edge of his sanity right now. After all, this was his baby brother they were discussing. "Klaus wormed his way into Stefan's freaking mind and now the bastard's controlling him from the inside out. Literally!" Damon resumed his pacing, now shortening his path to avoid hitting Isa. "How could I let this happen?"
"Damon stop," Isa tried to make him end his self-destructive path. However, he continued on as though he hadn't heard her.
"He's my little brother, Isabella. And Klaus is playing with his mind like he's the damn puppet master. Stefan's a marionette at this point, that's it. And I let it happen. I let him be manipulated into Klaus' little plaything."
"Damon," She tried again. He was teetering on the edge of hysteria.
"And there's no way to fix this. Tell me, do you know of any possible method to decompell someone who's been compelled by an original? Because I've got nothing. And the only way that I know for sure is to kill said original. There's just one small problem; You can't kill Klaus!"
"Damon!" Isa screamed.
"What?" He faced her finally.
"Stop!"
"Why?"
"Because," She stepped forward and took his face in her hands. "Bonnie."
"Wha-" Damon pulled himself out of Isa's grasp and clutched his head. He let out a pained moan as he sank to his knees. He faintly heard the words 'I'm sorry', before he slipped into unconsciousness.
There was a beat of silence as the four women processed what had just occurred.
"What did I miss?" And just like that, it was over.
"Nothing we couldn't handle, Ang. Sorry we disturbed you." Isa said. "Caroline, you mind helping me carry Blue-Eyes upstairs?"
"Sure." The two had Damon up the stairs and half-way down the hall before either one spoke again. They could both hear Bonnie and Elena filling Angela in on Damon's meltdown.
"Thanks." Isa said after they had Damon situated on his bed over the blankets. Isa sat at the foot of the bed staring at him, waiting for him to wake up.
Caroline nodded. "You know, I've never seen Damon act like this."
Isa laughed humorlessly. "Yeah, well, this isn't exactly an everyday situation. It's not like he normally goes around screaming about Klaus."
"That's not what I meant. Well, not all of it, anyway." The brunette stared at the blonde vampire questioningly. "I mean, these past few days, he's just been different. Lighter. Happier. And with the Klaus situation, he's more emotionally vulnerable. It's like, with you around, he's let his guard down." Isa's eyebrow's knitted together. Was that true? Did Damon let his guard down when he was with her? "I don't know, maybe I shouldn't even be bringing this up. All I can say is, I'm glad you're here."
"You are?"
"Totally. We wouldn't know the first thing about dealing with Stefan or Klaus if not for you. And if your being here gets Damon to be less of a jackass, well then that's just a bonus." Caroline smiled, lightening the mood.
Isa smiled back at her. "Thanks, Car."
"Am I interrupting?" Angela hesitated in the doorway.
Caroline shook her head. "No, I was just leaving."
"Bonnie's heading out." Angela said once Caroline had left the room. "She's gonna go meet Jeremy at the Grill. I think she's gonna try to talk Elena into going with her."
"Good." Isa nodded. "Little Petrova needs to get out once in a while. It'll help her sanity for all the supernatural shit she deals with."
"Speaking of dealing with supernatural shit, how are you holding up?"
"I'm okay." Angela gave her an incredulous look. "No, really, I am."
"If you say so. I'm gonna go call my mom, let her know that I've settled in. Then I was thinking you and me could check out the town, maybe do a little site-seeing?"
"Actually, I think I'll stay here, wait for Damon to wake up. But you should see if Caroline will go with you. I'm sure she'd love to be your tour guide."
"Well duh!" There was a blonde flash and Caroline was suddenly standing in the doorway. "I'm part of the Mystic Falls Welcoming committee. Angela, go call your mom and I'll get changed."
Angela stood there open-mouthed. "How did you- Were you listening the whole time?"
"It comes with the territory of being a vampire, Sweety. Now move it. I may have all the time in the world but you don't."
"Are you always like this?"
"Mostly, yeah."
Isa could still hear them as they traveled to different areas of the house. Caroline had wandered off to only she knew where to change into something more suitable for touring the town. Angela was in the parlor dialing her mother.
Isa tuned out most of the conversation. She couldn't help but think back to what Damon had said earlier. One step ahead...Controlling him...Puppetmaster...Marionette. None of it made sense. What would Klaus have to gain by taking control of Stefan? If anything, Stefan was like a wild beast let out of the cage. And Klaus had been the one to unleash him. But to what end? There had to be a purpose. Whatever it was, Isa was blind to it.
"You know, if you keep thinking so hard you're gonna get wrinkles." A warm voice spoke. Apparently she'd been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Damon wake up. "Hey."
"Hey."
"What happened?"
"Oh, nothing much. You went on a rampage about how Klaus was controlling Stefan and there was no way to stop him. Quite the Debbie Downer, really. And because you were rather terrifying in all your pessimistic glory, I had the witch put you under."
"Huh. So that's why my head is pounding."
"Yup." She said, popping the 'P'. They sat in a somewhat uncomfortable silence for a moment, both trying to ignore the elephant in the room. But Isa just wasn't that kind of person. "Damon," She began softly, sighing.
When Damon spoke his voice was hard. "Isabella, we both know that there is nothing we can do to help Stefan."
"That may be. But you and I both know that we will do everything in our combined power for Stefan's sake to kill Klaus." Damon's eyes met Isa's as she spoke. "You and me. We're in this till Klaus is gone and Stefan is free. I swear to you, Salvatore."
Damon looked down. He opened his mouth to whisper to her, "Isa, there's no way for Klaus to-"
"Then we start by finding a way." She cut him off. "Look at me, Damon." He did as she said. "This will not be Stefan's downfall after everything he's overcome through his ripper days. I promise you."
"Okay, that's the fifth day in a row that Weber girl hasn't been at school. I'm telling you, something's not right." Rosalie told her husband as they entered their room. They had the house mostly to themselves tonight. Alice had convinced Edward to join her and Esme on a hunting trip for the weekend, and Carlisle was working late tonight at the hospital. Once he finished up there, he was supposed to join the others until Sunday night. It was just her, Emmett, and Jasper til then.
"C'mon, Rosie. You're not serious. The girl's probably just sick or something."
"Emmett, please. You don't think it's a bit strange that she just disappears from school the day after we show up and start asking her questions about Bella? I'm telling you, she knew something, and she didn't want us to know about it."
"I did get some strange emotions coming from her." Jasper appeared in the doorway. "Whenever we were talking to her she got a bit hostile, and then neutral. It was like she was trying to calm herself, almost as though she knew I could read her. Either way, she always seemed to be feeling aggressive towards us."
"See! I told you I wasn't crazy." Rose stormed out of the room.
"I never said you were. Women, man." Emmett shot Jasper a look before they both followed Rose down to the livingroom. "What are you doing now?"
"Jazz, Angela's was in your Chem class, right?" Rosalie asked, ignoring her husband.
Jasper nodded. "She's advanced. We had a project together in the early part of the year."
"Good. You're driving." She tossed him the keys which he caught with ease.
"Wait, what? Where are we going?" Emmett questioned for the second time.
"We're going to Angela's house. We're gonna get some answers."
"And what exactly are you gonna do when you get there? Just bust in and say 'hey, I think you're hiding something, but I'm not sure what, so start talking'? You need to be smart about this, Rosie."
"So what do you suggest?"
It was Jasper who spoke. "Let's scout the area."
"Okay, Major." Emmett smirked at his brother.
"I mean do a little lurking around the house, not to sound creepy. But if Angela, we'll know soon enough."
"And if she's not?"
"We'll get creative." Jasper grinned. "Let's go while it's dark out so we won't be seen."
Angela's house wasn't too far away. The three were there in a short five minutes using their enhanced speed. Once they arrived, the Cullen's separated to do a once-over of the house.
"You know," Emmett whispered. "This sounded fun at first, but now I just feel sorta creepy."
"What were you expecting, Emmett?" Rosalie asked. "Ninja costumes and the soundtrack to some stupid Jackie Chan movie?
"Well, you are wearing all black." He pointed out. Rosalie rolled her eyes, but said nothing. "Hey, is that Mrs. Weber?" Both halted their movements as they came to a window that was on the right side of the house.
"Yeah, it is." Rosalie tried to get a better look at the woman standing across the room. "Who is she on the phone with?"
Neither vampire could answer that question. Both instinctively leaned their heads toward the window, as if it provided any further advantage. Mrs. Weber was the first one they heard speak, though it seemed they come in on the middle of the conversation.
"What have you gotten yourself into, young lady?"
"I'm fine," Came the crackly reply. "Really, everything's under control."
"Oh, it sure sounds like it."
"Mom, please, don't freak out about this." Angela? Rosalie mouthed. Emmett shrugged.
There was a beat of silence before Mrs. Weber spoke. "I'm coming."
"No!" Angela yelled. "I mean, If we both disappear from town within a week and a half of each other it'll look too suspicious."
"Angela-" Mrs. Weber was cut off by her daughter.
"Besides, Bella's here, and I've got a Bennett witch, and a few vampires all looking out for me. I'll be fine, Mom."
Mrs. Weber sighed. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm not helpless, you know. And Bells would never let anything happen to me."
"I know. I'm just worried with everything that's going on down there. That town's nothing but trouble."
Angela laughed at her mother. "Bells put it best; Mystic Falls is the supernatural capital of the world."
"Angela isn't in her room." Jasper called as he turned the corner of the house. Rosalie and Emmett had been so enthralled by the conversation between mother and daughter, they hadn't noticed Jasper approach. "What's going on?"
"Ssh!" Emmett tried silenced his brother.
"What are you listening to?"
"Be safe, Sweety." Mrs. Weber's voice cut through Jasper's questions.
"I will. I'll call you when I know something, Mom." Jasper's eyebrows knitted together. "I love you."
"Love you, too." Mrs. Weber disconnected the call.
"That was Angela?" Jasper asked, receiving nods from both Rosalie and Emmett. "Where is she?"
"Some town called Mystic Falls." Emmett supplied. Jasper nodded in response.
"Jazz, that's not all." Rosalie said. "Bella's with her."
AN: So it's kind of a short chapter, and it also doesn't have a lot going on. Sorry about that. However, I didn't want this to be one of those stories with the cliche 'Alice-has-a-vision, we-have-to-save-Bella,' bits. No offense to those writers, I mean people can pull it off really well sometimes. I've just seen it done quite a bit and wanted to head in a different direction. But hey, the Cullen's have finally arrived and will continue to be in (mostly) every chapter.
As far as updates are concerned, I still have no schedule and no idea when you guys should expect a new chapter - yes, I'm aware I suck. My deepest apologies to you all. On the bright side, however, I'm currently working on the next chapter, and trying to plan out the next two-three chapters so you guys won't have to wait nearly as long this then, please review!
