Heeey guys. Sorry that its been awhile since i last updated, have been extremely busy with finishing school and everything.

Chapter Nine.

Haunted.


I felt disconnected from the world surrounding me. I felt numb from the tramatic experiences that occurred yesterday. Images of Tony and Ruby's mangled bodies flashed through my mind like a slide-show stuck on repeat, forcing me to relive every detail.

Laying here in bed, staring aimlessly at the white ceiling above did nothing but encourage the memories to restart and gradually grew more gruesome.

Tony and Ruby weren't the only thing on my mind, but Vicki aswell. She's one of them. A vampire. Someone who lives off of blood, other people's blood. Does that make her a killer now? The question swirled around my mind following after the sickening images of Vicki smiling up at me, crimson liquid covering her mouth and slowly dripping from her chin back onto the body of her victim.

The images changed one after the other to different scenarios, the only thing that stayed the same was the lifeless body she kept killing repeatedly.

"Lils?" Elena voice asked from the other side of my bedroom door. I turned my head slightly to face the door but otherwise said nothing. It was silent for a few moments before the door slowly swung open to show a concerned Elena. I must have looked just as bad as I felt as I watched her eyes foam my face with a frown etched upon her face. I turned my head away back to the ceiling, watching the nothingness. The bed dipped beside me and Elena slid into my bed carefully, pulling me over and into a comforting hug. It was times like these that I was grateful that I had Elena. She always had my back and in return i'll alway have hers.

"Lillie, what happened yesterday?" She whispered into my hair as she pulled me tighter. I whimpered and snuggled closer, ignoring her question. I didn't wanna talk about it. I couldn't talk about it, because when I do that's when it's going to become more real. She lightly pushed me away and took a gentil hold on my chin making me face her.

"Come on, Lils. Talk to me." She begged. I looked into her eyes and then shook my head.

"I can't." I whispered before crawling over her and out the room to the kitchen.

Jeremy was the only one in the kitchen. He was quietly making himself a cup of coffee with him back to me.

"I'll have one, please." I mumbled just loud enough for him to hear me while settling myself on to the sofa. I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms tightly around them.

I only had to wait a few moments before someone joined me on the sofa and held a mug of coffee in front of my face. I unlatched one hand and gratefully took it from him muttering a "Thanks." I blew on it a few times before cautiously sipping it. The hot liquid slid soothingly down my throat, sip after sip.

"What happened the other day? At the graveyard?" Jeremy voiced out from beside me, making me jump slightly. I turned around to face him and foreign confused.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He looked at me for a few seconds. "Vicki mentioned that you were at the graveyard with her," He paused briefly. "And her friends. What happened that night, Anny?"

I wanted to tell him, or anyone. I needed to talk about it, but I couldn't. Who would believe me anyway. I'm alone...Again.

"I don't know. I don't remember." I lied, looking anywhere but at him.

He didn't say anything really after that. We just sat in silence, untill he stood up grabbing both his and my empty mugs, taking them to the kitchen before grabbing him bag and heading towards that door.

"Where you going?" I asked.

"Out to look for Vicki."

"Be careful, okay?" I asked as he opened the door. He glanced back at me and nodded slightly, then walked out the house.


"I'm sorry, okay?" Elena said, gripping ahold of my hand tighter as she used her free hand to knock upon the Salvatore's front door.

"Please, Elena. I don't wanna be here." I begged, pulling at her hand trying to pry it loose, with know success. I could feel my heart start to beat faster and my breathing start to increase.

"Calm down, okay? Everything's going to be fine." She assured lightly as the door swung open to show a smirking Damon. I shuffled backwards, hiding behind Elena slightly as he lent against the door frame looking down at us.

"Is Stefan here?" Elena asked haughtily.

"Yep."

"Where is he?" She demanded.

"And good morning to you too, little miss 'Im on a mission'." Damon chuckled, stepping aside giving us room to walk in. Elena waltzed in without a second thought and I hesitated before following behind. Elena glared at him as she stopped next to him.

"How can you be so arrogant and glib after everything you've done?" She shot at him, her glare never once faltering.

"And how can you be so brave and stupid to call a Vampire arrogant and glib?" He countered, stepping closer. With out thinking I stepped out in front of Elena facing Damon. I didn't trust him and no matter what i will always protect the people I care about, no matter what. Damon's eyes focused on me and his smirk intensified a fraction. I felt his eyes roam every inch of me starting from my feet. I felt self-conscience as he looked at me. Studying me. His eyes settled briefly on neck, making me quickly bring my left hand up to cover it quickly. I froze in place when my hand didn't come in contact with any wounds. I felt all around and found nothing. The skin was perfect, and unbroken. There was no mark anywhere, no scratch, no blemish, no nothing. My eyes widened in disbelief.

How? What? I asked myself over and over. Just yesterday my throat had been torn into, now there was nothing. I didn't dream it, i know that for a fact. But, what?

I took a shaky deep breath and looked back up, only to find myself staring into piercing blue eyes. His eyes admittedly, were beautiful. When they weren't that of a demon. His eyes seemed to hold a story. A story that seemed to go on forever. There was pain, guilt and many more emotions that im sure not even he knew where hidden there, behind his eyes. I seemed lost as i gazed deeper. Everything around me seemed to fade away.

"If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead." Elena stated from behind me, causing me to jump and break eye contact in surprise.

"Yes, you would." He informed, still not taking his eyes from me.

"But, im not."

"Yet." He casually pointed out.

"Where is Stefan?" Elena huffed out in annoyance.

"He's upstairs singing 'The rain in spain'. Knock yourself out."

Elena rolled her eyes and stormed past him into the house, leaving me there standing alone with Damon Salvatore. I rocked back on the balls of my feet, I had nothing to say to him. Nothing at all. I could feel him staring at me from the door frame, and I shifted uncomfortably.

"So, yesterday was fun." Damon said, chuckling slightly.

"Oh, yes. The highlight of my life." I retorted sarcastically. Again he chuckled, stepping closer out the open door.

"Should do it again sometime." He suggested, looking over his shoulder at me.

I scoffed. "Yes, definitely. I love being held hostage."

"Well, you may not have enjoyed it, but I definitely did." He responded before walking out the door, shutting it closed behind him.

As soon as I heard the click of the door, a shiver rolled down my spin.


All four of us were seated at a dining table. Stefan at one end, Elena and Vicki sat on either side of him and i decided to sit as far away from the two Vampires as possible. Which left me with the other end chair, leaving the chairs on either side of me free.

The whole visit so far, I havent uttered a word, not to any of the three. I just sat here huddled up watching them interact. Vicki tried talking to me several time and it pained me to ignore her, but i just couldn't bring myself to say anything to her. I didn't have anything to say to her... Or Stefan. I'd catch him glancing at me now and then, and sometimes he'd hold my gaze for a few moments, before looking away back to Elena.

"Coffee is out friend. It's the caffeine. It circulates through our veins, and it warms our body so we're not cold to the touch." Stefan informed Vicki, pushing a mug of Coffee towards her.

"Well, what if I wanna drink human blood?" She asked, fiddling with the mug in front of her. I cringed inwardly at the question and slightly screwed up my face, before quickly composing myself.

"You're gonna have to learn to live with that urge and fight it on a daily basis one day at a time." Stefan explained.

"Oh god! Dont start with the 24 steps thing. The school counselor has been down that road, and it doesn't work." Vicki huffed. I couldn't stop the chuckle that slipped through my mouth. All three head turned to me. Vicki smiled at me, Stefan looked like he was analysing me and Elena just looked confused.

"What?" Elena asked.

I shrugged. "Nothing."

The room was silent for a couple of seconds before Vicki turned her attention back to Stefan.

"Have you ever tasted human blood?" Vicki asked.

I sat up straighter in my chair and lent forward against the table, watching him. He shuffled slightly and coughed, clearing his throat before answering.

"Not in a long time." He revealed. His eyes flickered from mine to Elena's a few times.

"How long?" She asked again.

"Years and years. I'm not proud of my past behavior." He replied truthfully, again his attention shifted from me and Elena. I felt uncomfortable when our eyes would connect, especially when i saw something familiar fluttering around inside. There was something familiar about both the Salvatore brother. But what?

"Where's you bathroom? I have to pee. Why do i have to pee? I thought i was dead." She mumbled, ambling off in search for a bathroom.

"I'm going to, uh... I'm going to get her some more. All right. I'll be quick." Stefan left the room to retrieve more blood for Vicki.

Elena turned to me and gave me a weak smile.

"I'm sorry you have to be here." I apologized.

"It's fine, Lena. I'll get over it all, eventually." I said playing with my fingers.

"False alarm. my body's feeling really funky. It's a good funk, but it's weird." Vicki said strolling back into the room typing away on her phone.

"Who are you talking to?" Elena asked.

"Give her some privacy, Lena." I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Jeremy." She replied with a shrug.

I smiled again at the thought of my best friend and brother, they deserved each other. Or did.

"Vicki, you can't see Jeremy anymore." Elena instructed. I lifted my left eyebrow slightly.

"Oh, come on, don't you start. I'm gonna see whoever i wanna see."

"Even though you could hurt him?"

"I would never hurt Jeremy."

"Elena, you need to calm down. You can't be telling her who she can and cannot see. It's her life," I paused for a moment, and pursed my lips. "or her undead life. She would never hurt Jeremy. Okay. Trust her."

"Look, i know you guys think that, but we can't take the risk. You're gonna have to let Jeremy go." Elena stated.

I stood up pushing my chair away from the table, and walked round so I was in front of Elena and beside Vicki.

"Look, Vicki shouldnt have to let Jeremy go. I completely understand that you're trying to protect him, but him and Vicki are in love, whether you want to believe it or not." I argued. Elena looked up at me in disbelief.

"This is our baby brother we're talking about and you wanna put him in danger?" Elena spat.

"Are you in danger?" I asked. Her and Vicki looked confused.

"What's this gotta do about me?"

"So, you're not dating a Vampire? Or were?" Elena looked lost for words.

"Yes, but that's different." She defended.

"Not really. I'm not saying that Vicki isn't going to be a danger at some point, because she probley will be, but Stefan has the same possibility. What make you special?" I explained to her truthfully, as I saw the situation.

She was speechless, she didn't know what to say. She just looked at me, so I carried on.

"Nothing. Nothing in this situation makes you special, Elena. Stefan is still a vampire remember, he still has the carving for blood and if you weren't aware, that stuff is being pumped through your veins. You're as much a temptation to him and Jeremy will be to Vicki." I finished.

"Stefan has more practice. He's been around longer." Elena defended.

"Exactly. She needs practice and speak up if im wrong but she's doing well. She's got two bodies filled with warm flowing blood and she hasn't once gone near it. She needs her human life as well, Elena and that include Jer." Elena looked at me properly. I could see in her eyes that she was slowly understanding what i said. But just because she understood doesn't mean she liked what she heard.

Stefan walked back in, in that moment, a small smile played at him lips. Elena stood up and started towards the door.

"I need to get going." She muttered.

"Elena..." Stefan began but Elena cut him off. "Please Stefan. There's only so much i can take."

She left, with out so much as a glance back. I heard her engine start and then the noise faded as it got further away.

"Well, that's me rideless." I mumbled to myself.

"Thankyou." Vicki cried before launching herself at me, vamp speed. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me tightly to her and she hugged me. 'Thankyou.' She repeated over and over.

Hesitantly I wrapped my arms around her in return and sighed deeply.

"It's okay, Vic." I cooed softly. Hugging her reminded me of all of our memories and I smiled. She was still my bestfriend...Who now drinks blood. "It's okay, Vic." I whispered once again.