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Chapter 009

Something to Look Forward to

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Forks, Washington

Monday, September 20, 2010, 2:45 p.m. PDT (con't.)

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Isa and I walk out of the school and head home. On the drive, she asks me, "Should we do our homework at my house and not your home because I know I haven't known Damon for long, but he seems like the type to distract us and not the kind to help us concentrate on school work."

I laugh loudly at that, "Yeah you're right about that, so your house is probably best."

When we arrive, we head into her house and set up at the kitchen table before she pauses to turn on the oven, and we begin doing our homework. She only stops long enough to put the lasagna in the oven when it's hot enough and steam the broccoli and make some sort of cheese sauce for it.

Two and a half hours later, I've finished my homework. I'm working on some drawings to show Angela tomorrow, including one that depicts Zeus, the King of the Gods and God of Storms, being angry with the founders of Forks and that is why it's never sunny here: A God has a vendetta. I'm hoping she'll like it and choose this one to publish first.

While I put the finishing touches on the drawing, Damon knocks on the door. Isa goes and answers it, and when he comes in he leans down and kisses me briefly before taking a look at what I'm drawing and laughing before he says, "A God with a Vendetta is the reason it's never sunny here? I like it!" He pauses while he looks at it then asks, "Any particular reason you're working on that, though?"

While he takes a seat, I tell him, "Two of Isa's friends or I guess they're my friends now too, anyway, Angela and Eric, work on the school paper. They asked me to come up with a few cartoons they might want to publish, so I drew up three for them to choose from. When they pick one, I'll do an ink version for them."

He smiles and says, "That's great, Jules. So I take it school went well if you're already claiming friends and participating in extracurricular activities?"

I smile and nod before telling him about my day. When I'm done, he smiles at me before he turns to Isa and tells us about his day, "I had a very interesting conversation with your dad this morning. Apparently, your one of the Swan's so your family is also one of Mystic Falls' Founding Families. Therefore, it turns out Charlie knows about Vampires, and he's actually better versed in all things Supernatural than even Liz is."

Damon leans back in his chair and kicks his feet out under the table before he tells us, "He said he spoke to her over the weekend about me, and he'd like my help when those sorts of things come up. He also told me he knows I'm not Human. He didn't know what I was, but he said Liz wouldn't say only stating that he should ask me directly. Anyway, I told him I'm a Vampire and explained all of our histories with more detail including the supernatural elements instead of the edited for public consumption versions we told him our first night here. In turn, he told me about the Wolves on the Reservation and that he knew about Traditional Vamps as well as the very broad basics about Cold Ones though he thought he had never seen one of those before. He added that he thought the Cullens are something Supernatural too, but he wasn't sure what."

He turns to look Isa in the eyes while she pulls the table out from the wall and lifts the other side to make the table longer. He smiles the smile that always makes me do whatever he's asking me to do before he tells her, "I hope you don't mind, but I told him what they are because they're gone now, and he seemed to handle what I am so well. Needless to say, he doesn't think very highly of Doucheward, and he knows something Supe was up last spring when you ran to Arizona and got hurt. I told him he needs to come clean to you about what he knows and that if he does, then I'm sure you'll show him the same respect by telling him what you know. I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries?"

She smiles, "No it's fine, I've wanted to tell him from the start but the Cullens were very clear that telling Charlie would put him in danger, and I didn't want to put him at risk if it wasn't absolutely necessary."

Her eyes pop open wide, and she snaps her head to face the front door when she hears, "Oh Bells, you're the kid, it's my job to look out for you not the other way around, and Damon, I thought I told you I'd talk to her."

Damon most likely already knew he was there due to his Vampire senses, so he smiles his 'I'm innocent, and I can do no wrong' smile at Charlie. Charlie's eyebrow raises as if to say 'I see through your act' before Damon tells him, "You did Charlie. But I knew, just as I'm sure you would have realized when you sat down to talk to her, that she wouldn't want to reveal things about me or the Cullens if she didn't have our permission because honestly, you raised a damn loyal and honorable daughter. So all I was doing was making sure she knew I wouldn't object to her telling you about me, but I had to mention that I told you everything else for it all to make sense otherwise she would have wondered why I was giving her permission to talk to you about my secrets. I meant no disrespect."

Charlie looks at him hard for a minute, and I smile when Damon actually shifts in his chair uncomfortably but then Charlie smiles and tells him, "I know. I was just giving you a hard time."

Damon lets out a breath and smiles back, and then Charlie turns and asks me, "So Jules, you still Human?"

I nod, "For now. I'm kind of in love with a Vampire, so I'm hoping they'll agree to change me once I'm an adult."

Charlie surprises me by asking Damon, "You think that's something you'll consider?"

Isa and I burst out laughing at Damon's wide eyes and his jaw hanging open. Charlie just smiles wider and says, "I'm a cop Damon, I was trained to notice things like that. While I remember, I don't know that I need to say anything at this point but better safe than sorry especially because I really don't want to have to lock you up. The age of consent here is 16 so no more than kissing, hugging, and hand holding until her birthday next month, you hear?

Damon smiles and tells him, "I already told her we'd go at her pace, and I really doubt she'll be ready for much more than what you mentioned before the 13th so we should be good." He looks at me then and tells me, "You're cute when you blush, Jules," which of course just makes my blush grow deeper. Then he says, "And for the record, if Jules wants to transition when she's an adult and closer to my age then I would be more than happy to make that happen, but only with her consent and not until she's an adult."

I smile and tell him, "Something to look forward to then."

He laughs and shakes his head before he asks, "Being a Vampire is something to look forward to? Since when?"

I giggle and shake my head back while I tell him, "No, getting to spend forever with you is what I'm looking forward to."

Damon nods and smiles a beautiful smile that lights up his eyes and makes them sparkle with joy. I've never seen that particular smile on his face before. It seems to say all is right in his world.

Charlie walks back to the hallway and hangs his belt and gun before coming back into the kitchen and sitting down to hear Isa's story about Cold Ones while she goes about setting the table and then sits back down. When she reaches the end of her story, Charlie says, "I wish I had known. I would have at least been a bit more understanding. Anyhow, Damon told me Edward left you out in the woods last Friday and that you broke your ankle, so he gave you just enough blood to heal it."

She looks down at the table and says, "Yeah, Edward told me I'm not good for him and that I'll forget him in no time because I'm Human, and my memory is apparently like a sieve. He said time heals all wounds for my kind."

She rolls her eyes at that and then continues her story while she bounces her knee under the table and plays with the fringe hanging out of the spiral of her notebook, "Then he finished by saying he was tired of pretending to be something he's not. He kissed my forehead after making me promise not to do anything dangerous for your sake and next thing I knew he was gone. I decided trying to chase a Cold One through the forest was a bad idea, and actually, if he could say all he said, then he doesn't love me the way I loved him. Anyhow, I was trying to walk back out to the yard when I slipped and twisted my ankle. When I tried to stand up, I noticed the blood and realized it was broken."

She pauses and smiles before saying, "Fortunately I had my phone with me so when Damon called I told him what happened and the three of them came and got me. Damon says his blood should be out of my system by now, so I should be safe from turning without wanting to."

Charlie looks to Damon for confirmation and Damon nods and tells him, "The amount she took would have probably left her system shortly after 24 hours, but I told her I was going to keep an eye on her for 48 just to be safe. Elena's friend, Liz's daughter actually, was injured in a car accident and their other friend, Bonnie, convinced me to give Caroline my blood to heal her because she wasn't expected to recover. Unfortunately, my Sire, Katherine, somehow knew Caroline had my blood in her system and killed her, so she'd transition. I'm not really friends with Caroline because I treated her like crap when I first came to town. My switch was off, and I abused her horribly, so I'm sure she hates me, but I know what it's like to be turned without wanting it, so I feel sorry for what happened to her. I wanted to make sure the same wouldn't happen to Isa."

Charlie nods and says, "Thank you, Damon."

Damon just nods back, so Charlie tells him, "I took your advice and warned Billy that you're going to be here tonight and that you're a Traditional Vampire. He said they're aware of your kind and the fact that most of you have much better control than even the most controlled Cold One, so he says provided you don't attack him or Jacob they won't bother you none. He did mention that he was going to talk to you about a Cold One problem they've been having the last few weeks. He said they didn't trust the Cullens farther than they could throw them, so they were hesitant to ask for their assistance. Once he heard your name, though, he said he knew of you and that they had been told you would be trustworthy and would help protect Forks and the Reservation and everyone within those borders."

He pauses with a frown on his face and then says, "It was actually kind of weird. He was reluctant to ask for help until I told him, 'Damon Salvatore doesn't strike me as the type to just stand by and not help.' Then he fixated on your name for a minute and asked a few questions about you like your age and if you've ever been bitten by a Traditional Werewolf. It was a good thing you had filled me in on your story. Anyway, then after I answered all his questions he promised to talk to you tonight. I hope you don't mind."

Damon smiles at Charlie, "Not at all Charlie, while I don't want you telling my story to just anybody, telling the Wolves and the Tribe is fine with me. Plus, I told you while we're here Ric, Jules, and I are more than willing to help out in any way we can, especially if you have a Supernatural issue."

Charlie frowns and asks, "You let Jules help?"

I frown back, but Damon smiles and chuckles lightly before he says, "Oh Charlie, you'll learn soon enough that Jules is perfectly capable of making her own choices. And while physically she's weaker than me, and even possibly Ric, she trained with Ric and me, getting stronger and faster over the summer so she'd be less likely to get hurt. Besides, honestly she's come up with some brilliant ideas a few of which actually saved our asses back in Mystic Falls, so don't discount her simply because she's young or a Human, after all, you're Human too, and you hold your own pretty well from what it sounds like. Jules is just getting a head start is all."

I smile and mouth the words, "Thank you."

He just smiles wide and nods once before Charlie brings the conversation back to Isa, "So Bells, I hope you don't mind, but Damon told me about the prophecy he was told that involves you. I have some boxes in the basement that Renee's mother gave to me right after you were born. She asked me to give them to you when I thought the time was right. I think that was her way of telling me to wait until you came into your powers without her actually having to say you'd have powers. Honestly, I forgot about them until my talk today with Damon. Wait here, and I'll go get them."

Before he gets up from his chair, Damon asks, "You need help, Charlie?"

He shakes his head after he stands and says, "Nah, it's just three boxes. I'll be right back," and then he heads down the stairs before coming back five minutes later with a box. He leaves again and then returns with another box. He leaves and returns once more and then sits down after placing the third and final box on the floor. "Those should be everything."

Isa gets up and opens the first box which appears to be full of very old books, Grimoires if I have to hazard a guess. She takes out an envelope with her name on it that was sitting on top of the books before opening it and pulling out a piece of paper, which she begins to read. A smile grows on her face getting progressively bigger the longer she reads. When she finishes, she folds the letter back up and puts it back into the envelope. She opens the other two boxes to peek inside and then she looks at Charlie and says, "She said the reverse of the prophecy Damon was told… that someday I'd meet a man called Savior who wouldn't be Human, and he would have been collecting Grimoires for me for close to a century and a half. She said the spell he would have me do to unbind my powers would actually purify my blood to make me half Demon Elemental and Half Elven Elemental basically getting rid of any Human blood I had inside me. She said I'm the Last Elemental. She also mentioned the descendant of the Founding Families, a daughter of a son specifically, and the husband of the Savior's progeny. Then she went on to tell me that not all Vampires are actually evil even if they've done evil acts in the past and that it's my job to help the daughter of the descendant and the Husband heal the Savior, the Originals' Black Sheep, and a man called Major."

Damon sits up straight at that and asks, "Does it use the possessive or is it the 'Original Black Sheep'?"

She smiles and says. "No there's an 'S' and an apostrophe, so it's the 'Originals' Black Sheep.'"

Damon sort of half smiles half frowns and says, "So one of the Originals is going to be on our side?"

Isa nods, "He's been trying to find a way to kill his brother for centuries, and that's actually why he was daggered the last time. Klaus discovered that his had Witches searching for ways to dagger him, so he made the Black Sheep watch as Klaus killed all the Witches who were friends of his and then daggered him. It doesn't give a name though it just says the 'Originals' Black Sheep.'"

Damon frowns then looks at me and asks, "What do you think Jules? I don't believe that it's Elijah, especially because as far as I know he's been undaggered for most of his existence. That leaves the other two brothers, Finn and Kol."

He pauses thinking for a moment before he says, "Bonnie told Ric that Klaus has the coffins back and that everyone's been undaggered, and their mother is planning a Ball for tonight to show that the family is united."

At his words, Isa's eyes lose focus, and she sways on her feet. Damon is out of his seat and holding her upright in the blink of an eye. A minute later, her eyes focus again, and while she leans against Damon, she asks me, "Pass me my phone, please, Jules."

I hand it to her, and she dials after putting it on speaker-phone. A moment later, someone with a British accent picks up and says, "Who is this, and how did you get this number? I haven't even had this phone for two days."

She giggles and says, "I had a vision that told me to call this number and warn Kol not to drink the champagne when his mother gives a toast at the Ball tonight. It went on to say to call right now because you're not anywhere near anyone who shouldn't hear me talking to you."

He's silent for a minute and then asks, "What's your name, Darling?"

She giggles again and tells him, "Bella, well Isabella, but I don't generally use that name. You should know I'm an Elemental in the company of a man called Savior, the daughter of a male descendant of one of the Founding Families, and the husband of one of the Savior's progeny."

"My Goddess, it's come to pass. Tell me where you are, and I'll come to you."

She frowns and tells him, "You have to be at the Ball. Pretend to take a sip of the champagne, but whatever you do, make sure you don't swallow any of it. In fact, if you can keep from taking any of it into your mouth that would be best because I don't know how much actually needs to be ingested, but if you swallow, it will allow your mother to kill all of you by only killing one of you. Avoid drinking it, and then tomorrow your Brother should send you on a mission to Washington State which will bring you to our doorsteps."

I can hear the frown in his voice, "The other Salvatore Brother has gone missing. Is he the Savior?"

Damon speaks up, "Yes Kol, I am. I'm currently helping protect Bella and the daughter of the descendant of the Founding Families, whom Klaus only knows as Juliet Gilbert."

"Wait, Gilbert? As in the Doppelgänger's little sister?"

I speak up then, "One in the same, Mr.…"

"Mikaelson, but please call me Kol."

I nod even though he can't see it and say, "Thank you, Kol."

Isa speaks again before he can respond, "Kol, once you're on the road here you can call this number again and talk to us when you know no one who shouldn't can overhear us. Though, if you could try to call after five Eastern Daylight Time that'd be great because Jules and I have school tomorrow."

"Of course, I look forward to meeting all of you, and thank you for the advice about tonight."

"No problem Kol, stay safe if you can."

We can all hear his wonderment as he says, "I'll do my best, Darling. Speak to you soon."

Isa giggles before the line goes dead. Damon leads her to her seat while she tells him, "I'm fine, really."

He smiles and kisses her forehead before telling her, "Humor me okay?"

Once she sits he moves back to his seat and then smiles and says, "Guess it's Kol and not Finn."

I laugh at that before Damon asks, "So what exactly did you see in your vision?"

She frowns and looks at me with shadowed eyes before telling us, "I saw that Elena is an unthinking and uncaring bitch who acts before she thinks about the consequences. Apparently, if an Original dies everyone in their Sire Line dies too. She's even been told this, but she's too damn stubborn to listen or consider it might be the truth, so despite knowing you, Stefan, and Caroline will die too she's still going to help Esther."

She pauses then smiles and tells us, "Anyway, don't mention the thing about the bloodlines and all of their descendants dying if they die. That's how we're going to know that we can trust Kol when he warns us that you and Stefan are part of Klaus' line, and he suggests that we first look for a spell to separate his brother from his Bloodline then we'll know he's completely trustworthy. Just to warn you, though, I think it's going to happen pretty quickly once he gets here.

She pauses to take a sip of her tea that she poured earlier then tells us, "Anyway, Esther, the Originals' mother, is planning to link all of her children with Elena's blood. Then Finn is going to willingly and happily sacrifice himself thereby killing them all and therefore every Vampire on the planet. Lucky for us Kol seemed to believe me when I told him not to drink the champagne. If he doesn't drink, then the spell won't work on any of them. All of the Originals have to be linked for the spell to work. So everyone cross your fingers that Kol hides the fact that he's not drinking well enough to keep anyone from asking questions, especially Elena.

We all nod and I actually physically cross my fingers for a second or two. Then the doorbell rings, so Isa hops up and answers it to find Billy, Jacob, a man named Sam Uley, and Ric all on the other side of the door.