I woke up with Stefan's clock alarm. Florence and The Machine was playing on the radio, and I got up already dancing. I took a shower, put on destroyed jeans, a black Ramones tank top, tied on the waist, and biker leather boots. I grabbed my stuff and danced down the hall. I opened Jake's door and sang loudly in his ear until he woke up.

"Come on, we've got school" I said. "Be downstairs in twenty!"

I closed his door, and dad smiled as he passed me.

"Good mood?" he asked.

"Jake's first day" I smiled.

"At least you're excited about it" Jake yelled from inside his room.

Dad chuckled and went downstairs. I was about to follow when I heard a door open and close. Damon glared at me as he stood by his door, only in flannel pants.

"There are people sleeping. Can you turn the damn music down?" he snapped.

"Come on, Damon" I smiled. "Rise and shine with the sun"

"Screw you and your morning-ness" he said rolling his eyes.

"What's up your ass, Damon?" I laughed turning to go to the stairs.

He appeared in front of me and narrowed his eyes.

"You are playing with fire, Bella" he said.

"Why? What are you gonna do?" I asked grinning. He just glared. "Exactly, you won't hurt me. Especially when I have a horse-sized wolf inside your house that wouldn't mind tearing you apart"

"Do you think I fear your little puppy?" he laughed.

"Let's say you don't… Don't you fear three of them? Because Embry and Quil will help Jake. And if they fail, then you have to deal with my dad, and Bonnie, who seems to love to give you aneurysms" I smirked.

"So, you don't mind dying, if you are revenged" he said pushing my body against the wall with his.

"Yes" I said and arched an eyebrow as he held me by the hips. "What do you think you are doing?"

"You look just… edible this morning" he smirked.

"You know, your blood bag benefit ended with the intimacy benefit" I said slipping away.

"So what? You want me wrapped around your finger or you don't want me at all?" he asked amusedly.

"No, Damon. But the same way you don't want to be wrapped around my little finger, I don't want to be wrapped around yours"

"I thought we had established you are wrapped around my finger" he smirked. "Perhaps not my little finger, but two other fingers"

He trailed a finger down my jaw and traced my lips. I bit his finger playfully and smiled.

"Not anymore. After all, I don't want to get upset when you set me aside for good"

"Set you aside? Who said I will ever get tired of you?" he said.

"Well, when I look old enough to be your mother…"

"I always had a thing for cougars" he smirked.

"And let's say that Elena gets insane and actually considers you" he scowled. "See? You would set me aside eventually"

"But wouldn't Elena need to be insane for that stupid theory to work?"

"Well, I think, no offense, someone who dated a guy that dated her ancestor, and looks like her, and wasn't bothered by all that… Well, she is a step closer to crazy" I chuckled.

"Anyway… Why so worried you will be set aside?" he asked.

"Because I don't want to happen again with no warning. Let's go back to friends, and we'll be much better"

"Again?"

"Come on, Damon, do you really want me to spell it. When I went looking for you last night and you ignored me"

"I was busy with… something" he smirked.

"A girl?" I asked frowning.

"Yes"

"So, why are you here while she's in your room?" I asked trying to keep calm.

"Because she isn't in my room. I've disposed of her body last night"

I stared at him and then punched his arm. He stared at me with a frown, as if I was the crazy one.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I snapped. "You killed someone! Do you understand the only thing keeping Jake from killing you and my dad from telling someone is the fact that you don't hurt anyone?"

"They won't know" he rolled his eyes.

"You think that's the biggest problem? You promised me you wouldn't hurt anyone"

"When?" he scowled.

"When we were going to Florida"

"I said I wouldn't hurt anyone in Florida. This is Virginia" he said.

"Damon!" I groaned. "You are so… ugh!"

"So, you can invite not one, but three dogs to go with you to the ball, but I can't have a girl?"

"What?" I frowned. "I needed a date and the boys… Wait, how did you know?"

"Hm?" he asked innocently.

"Were you spying on me?"

"No" he rolled his eyes.

"You were!" I accused.

"No, I stayed waiting for you. When you didn't show up, I went to check up on you. You were in the hospital"

I remember telling Elena I was going with Jake and maybe Embry and Quil. She told me she wasn't going, and that she had just broken up with Stefan. I playfully, to cheer her up, offered her one of the boys.

"I didn't see you there" I said.

"I wasn't human"

"What do you mean?" I asked and then my eyes got wide. "Oh, God, did you spy on my as a freaking bird?"

"A crow" he said.

"It could be a fucking hummingbird, you still spied on me"

"I checked up on you"

"That's the stalker's excuse" I scoffed.

"It doesn't matter" he said rolling his eyes.

"No, it does. You spied on me, got pissed about something that has nothing to do with you…"

"Oh, right, my date invites someone else to the fucking ball without warning and it has nothing to do with me" he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You're such an asshole" I rolled my eyes. "I invited Jake, because you wouldn't invite me"

"Right, bought you a dress, shoes and mask to wear arm linked with a dog"

"You know what, Damon? The fact you can't come to me and discuss a subject that is bothering you like an adult, just proves me this is not worthy. I'm tired of stressing myself with you. It was fun in the beginning, when we were in Florida, but it seems that is just you set a foot back in Mystic Falls and you are back to a jerk I would never endure"

"You're right. This is not worthy. I don't know why I gave myself the trouble" he said frowning. "I could get any girl that wouldn't be a pain in the ass most of the time"

"Yeah, we were better as friends who met for drinks" I said. "But right now, can't even look at you"

"Great, go home and don't come back" he gave me that sarcastic grin that usually made me smile.

"Fine" I said. "Bye"

"Goodbye"

I nodded, turned and walked downstairs, head held high, fighting tears. I stopped by the living room and dropped my bag taking deep breaths and shook my head. Why did I wait more from him? I knew it was the end, but the fact that he turned into such an asshole I couldn't stand anymore hurt me. It was such a Damon thing to do, and it still surprised me.

"Good morning" Jake said.

I jumped and turned. He smiled and gave me a questioning look.

"Hey, Jake. Excited for your first day?"

"Super" he said sarcastically.

I chuckled and linked my arm with his, walking to the kitchen. We took coffee with dad and Stefan and walked out of the house. I put my bag and Jake's on the trunk, and drove us to school, knowing after that we wouldn't be coming back.


"I don't wanna see a crumble!" I called out laughing while heading to answer the door.

Dad had gone to work last night, an emergency, and Jake, Embry and Quil decided to have a movie night to cheer me up and take my mind from my worries. We had all fallen asleep in mattresses and the couches on the living room and it was a mess. Since it was their idea I told them to clean up while I made breakfast.

They had settled more than alright in Mystic Falls. They all had been welcomed into school, and Embry and Jake even got a chance to try out for the football team. Quil stayed out of it, but had fun helping me on decoration days at the Lockwood mansion for the Ball. Mostly because two girls from the committee kept throwing themselves at him, because he was awful to decorate anything. The ball was today, my day was planned out, their tuxes were in the closet, and Quil got a date. A girl named Sarah from school. Bonnie was coming later so we could get ready together.

I opened the door still laughing and then my smile fell. I felt one of the boys come behind me, clearly sensing our visitor. I smiled again.

"Hi, Stefan"

"Hey, Bella. Sorry to bother you, but… I need your help"

My first thought is Damon. What has he done that Stefan needs my help with?

"Is Damon…"

"No, he's fine. It's Katherine and Elena" he said.

"I thought Jenna was coming home today" I said opening the door a little more and gesturing for him to come in. "Come in"

"Thanks. She is, but Katherine isn't done with her games"

"Sorry. This is Quil Ateara from La Push" Quil nodded to him in greeting and I gestured to Embry, by Jake's side. "That's Embry Call"

"Stefan Salvatore" Stefan said.

"We know" Quil said coldly.

"Guys, please" I said calmly.

"It's okay, Bella" Stefan said giving me a tense smile. "I wanted to talk to you back at my house. We are gathering there"

"We?" I asked.

"Alaric and Bonnie are on their way, and your dad will meet us as soon as he's finished at the station. I called your phone, but it's off"

"Oh, sorry. We were passed out" I said. "Ahn, I'll just change and go there, okay?"

"Okay, thanks, Bella" he said walking back to the door.

"Anytime, Stefan"

I put on a denim skirt, a pink loose shirt, and black oxfords, running downstairs while tying my hair in a bun. The boys were ready to go, and the mess in the living room cleaned. Huh, they were fast when they wanted. Jake drove to the Salvatore's house while I sat in the backseat with Embry who lost shotgun on rock-paper-scissors to Quil. As soon as the car stopped we walked to the house. Stefan greeted us at the door and explained they were having a meeting at the living room. When I entered, Damon's head snapped up from the bar and he eyed me. I squirmed under his gaze and turned to greet Caroline, Bonnie, Jeremy and Ric.

"Katherine met Caroline at the Grill, and asked her to deliver a message" Damon said, going straight to the subject.

"Ahn" Caroline said frowning. "Tell Damon and Stefan that I want the moonstone. Or I will rip this town apart until it rains blood"

"Your dad was called because two people were found dead" Stefan said. "It was part of the warning"

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"We should just give her the moonstone. She'll kill everyone" Caroline said.

"No" I said frowning. "We would be surrendering. And she will break the curse. It took us a lot of trouble to get the damn stone, we're not giving it to her"

"She said she had something planned for the ball tonight"

"She's scared, what she did to Jenna, was desperation" Damon said.

"I agree" Jake said. "It seemed like a desperate move to get respect. But she is dangerous"

"You're right, we shouldn't underestimate her" Stefan said.

"Just give her the stone" Caroline insisted.

"No" Damon snapped. "I'm gonna kill her"

"No" Stefan said and Damon narrowed his eyes. "I will"

"Great, so besides the killing her part, do you have a plan?" Embry asked.

"We do" Damon said. "Sabrina over there…"

"Wow, really original" Bonnie said rolling her eyes.

"She'll spell a room of the mansion today so we can get Katherine stuck inside it" Damon continued.

"It's the same spell of the tomb, vampires can go in but can't get out" Bonnie said.

"Would be useful applied on this house" I heard Quil murmur.

"Wait, is Elena aware of this?" I asked frowning.

I knew Elena didn't want to provoke Katherine after what happened with Jenna. She also didn't like Bonnie using magic, because often she got over exhausted and could get hurt. That plan didn't seem like one Elena would approve.

No one answered.

"Where is Elena?" I asked.

"At home" Jeremy answered. "With Jenna. She thinks Katherine's only problem with her is her relationship with Stefan, she's being naïve. She's staying out of this"

"I want her out of this too, just to be safe" Stefan said. "She can't know"

"Alright… So, Bonnie will spell the room, and you will attract Katherine inside how?"

"With us and a stone as bait" Damon said tossing the moonstone in the air as if it was a baseball.

"Okay, that seems like a good plan" I said.

"Elena isn't going" Bonnie said. "And she would be perfect to call out Katherine's attention"

"So, we were looking for a brunette that could pass by as Elena with a mask" Damon smirked.

They all looked at me expectantly.

"You want me to pass by as Elena" I said frowning. "While Katherine is at the party. If this works, people would see two Elenas"

"That's not the biggest problem" Jake said frowning. "What if Katherine tries to kill Bella thinking she's Elena?"

"If she wanted to kill Elena, she would have" Damon said. "Besides we are all going to be at the party. She can't just kill Bella"

"Fine" I said. "But then what? Katherine stays trapped inside the mansion?"

"We'll kill her, haven't you listened?" Damon frowned.

"I've heard that a million times and she is still alive, Damon. You will have to kill her"

"I will" he snapped.

"Can you? Really?" I asked.

"If he doesn't… I will" Jeremy said. "I'm tired of her messing with my family"

"She looks like your sister" Jake said. "You will hesitate and get yourself killed"

"I have the ring" Jeremy said.

"Ric" I said. "Can you get Jake, Embry and Quil weapons?" I asked and he nodded. I looked at Stefan and Damon. "If you don't kill her, they will"

"Alright" Stefan said while Damon just rolled his eyes.

"No one else gets hurt, right?" Bonnie asked clutching an old book. It was somehow familiar.

"No, just Katherine" Ric said.

"What's that?" I asked eyeing the book.

"Oh, ahn, a grimoire. A book of spells, it was passed on through the witches of my family" Bonnie said.

"Hm"

"Bonnie, take Bella to your house, help her look like Elena, and then meet us at the Lockwood's"

"Alright"

"I'll meet you there too" Caroline said.

"Jake" I said. "You three should stay here and get some training with Alaric's weapons. Before the party. I'll meet you at the ball okay?"

They agreed since I would be with a witch and a vampire. I went to my house, got my stuff and then got a ride with Bonnie to her house. She took a shower while I did my nails, and then Caroline arrived with all her hair saloon equipment. We alternated between nail, shower, make-up and hair. I was the last one to get ready. At first we thought it would be better to straighten my hair so it looked like Elena's. But then Bonnie pointed out Elena wouldn't wear her hair down and naturally in an event like a ball. So, they put half up and half down and curled. They made sure to put make-up in shades that made my skin look more like Elena's.

Caroline was wearing a purple strapless draped dress, with black platform sandals, her hair in a low bun, curled with strands falling around her face. She left before us, because she had to pass by the Salvatore's house to get armed too. Bonnie put on the long sleeved, side knotted, red jersey dress I helped her choose, and golden sandals to match her golden, beaded mask. Her hair was straight to her shoulders, and her make-up was quite simple except the red lipstick. I was wearing the dress Damon bought me; it was black, with a deep V neckline, V on the back too, leaving a lot of exposed skin, and cut-off on the shoulders. It was belted in the waist and the skirt was slightly flared, falling to my mid-thigh. I was wearing the blood red pumps that made me fear falling on my face, and a red and golden mask. As I looked on the mirror I agreed with Bonnie and Caroline, I did look quite a lot with Elena, especially since the mask hid 70% of my face. We walked downstairs, and while Bonnie checked if she had gotten everything she would need, I checked to see if I had my invitation and cell on the red clutch. I opened it and found something that shouldn't be there. I had checked the clutch the previous day and there was nothing inside. But there was a diamond and ruby necklace inside it, waiting for me to find it. The only person who could have gotten it was Damon. He knew I would be wearing red and black, and was the only person who could buy such an expensive necklace, sneak in my house and put in my bag without anyone noticing.

"Hey… wow, that's a nice necklace" Bonnie said. "Want help putting on?"

I nodded and held my hair as she clasped it on my neck. The pendant fell in the middle of my cleavage perfectly. I smiled in the mirror and adjusted my mask. Few people would recognize me. Maybe just Bonnie, Caroline and Damon. The doorbell rang and I smiled at Jeremy. He was coming with us. We would be the first to arrive under the pretense on checking on last minute details, and gaining access to the second floor of the Lockwood mansion.

"Hey, I'll be taking two lovely ladies" Jeremy said smiling.

"Thanks, Jeremy" Bonnie laughed.

"Thank you" I said smiling.

We walked out of her house, and into Elena's car that Jeremy had taken. I drove while Bonnie and Jeremy discussed a few things on the plan. Apparently I just had to stand still, be pretty Elena and hope people confused me with her.

"Here" Jeremy said extending an invitation to me. "This is Elena's invitation. It has her name since she was part of the committee. You can use it to get in. That way we don't risk anyone calling you Bella"

"Thanks, Jeremy"

I parked the car, and we looked at the house. The party was only starting. I traded the invitation in my clutch for Elena's, and we got out of the car. We flanked Jeremy, arms linked, as we walked to the party. I smiled, although I was just nerves inside. We were welcomed by Carol Lockwood, and she greeted me as if I was Elena without second thought.

"Mrs. Lockwood, do you want us to check if all rooms are locked upstairs and if the corridors decoration is in place?" Bonnie asked smiling.

"Oh, that would be great, girls, thank you"

We smiled nodded and turned to leave. Jeremy excused himself too and followed us. We ran upstairs and Jeremy led us to what was the office. I stayed in the corridor pretending to be rearranging the decoration as they went inside to do the spell. A girl of my age came upstairs and I stood in her path.

"Ahn, sorry, this floor is closed for guests" I said. "There are bathrooms downstairs"

"Oh, I was looking for Tyler actually" she said.

"Oh, he was in the kitchen… getting something to drink while his mom was too busy to catch him" I smiled.

"Oh, alright" she giggled turning to leave. "Thanks"

I nodded and let out a deep breath after she left. I knocked softly on the office's door and it opened.

"Done?" I asked Bonnie and Jeremy.

"Yes" she said confidently.

"Okay, now let's play Elena" I said.

We went back downstairs and mingled in the party, avoiding people who would notice the difference between Elena and me. Mostly we stayed talking to each other.

"Where is Ric?" I asked quietly as I sipped champagne that Jeremy got God knows how. He said it was to ease my nerves, but I just got more nervous about being caught drinking by Mrs. Lockwood.

"He stayed with Jenna and Elena to make sure Elena doesn't know about this" Jeremy said.

"Your date just arrived" Bonnie said quietly glancing over my shoulder.

I turned around and saw Jake, Embry and Quil looking around. They were probably trying to find me. When their eyes passed right through me but continued to scan the crowd, I didn't know whether to be relieved or cautious.

"If Victoria comes, they won't know, because they can't find me" I said to Bonnie and Jeremy.

They frowned and Jeremy cursed under his breath. Clearly no one thought of that with Katherine antagonizing everyone. I finished my drink and went to get something to eat. I looked around a lot, trying to find Victoria or Katherine, but didn't see any of them. I got to the table with food, and got a strawberry. I was watching a man Mrs. Lockwood had hired that ate flaming torches. I smiled as people applauded. Mrs. Lockwood sure knew how to throw a party. The band had slowed down a bit and couples were dancing. I saw Jeremy taking Bonnie to the dance floor although she seemed a bit unwilling. I was raising the strawberry to my lips, when something caught my eye and I froze. Katherine was standing across from me with a sadistic smile. She had a hand on her hip and with the other she was eating a strawberry.

"Can I have a dance?"

I turned and immediately, Damon swept me away to the dance floor. I put my hands around his neck, and he held me by my hips as we slowly sway to the melody. I wanted to say something but I feared Katherine was listening to us and would know I wasn't Elena.

"You look beautiful tonight… Elena" Damon said with a smile.

I smile back, and made sure to step back a bit when he pulled me too close. After all Elena would never let Damon that close, she was with Stefan, or was.

"We'll take care of her, don't worry" he said seriously.

I didn't know if he meant Katherine or Victoria but it brought me a sense a security that had been missing all night. I rested my head in his shoulder and closed my eyes for a moment. When I opened then I saw her again. Katherine smirked as she walked to us. She was wearing a black halter short dress, black pumps and black mask. She was the image of perfection, she was amazingly beautiful. Her hair was straightened, clearly she tried to pass as Elena.

"Damon" she greeted and Damon's arms around me tensed before he turned.

"Katherine" he greeted coldly.

"Can we dance?"

I let go of him before he could answer and turned to walk away. I heard her chuckle and I took pleasure to know she would be buried by the end of the night while I laughed. I was searching for anyone who would keep me company when suddenly someone grabbed my hand and pulled me. I came face to face with Stefan. He looked deep into my eyes and for a moment I feared he really had mistaken me for Elena. He pulled me closer for a dance, and I looked around. Katherine was still dancing with Damon.

"Elena" Stefan said and I looked back at his face. He gave me a wink. "Please, can we talk…"

"No" I said quietly shaking my head and pulling away.

"Please, Elena"

I shook my head again and pulled away from him. I turned and walked away from him. I saw Katherine was watching everything with Damon while they quietly talked. Bonnie and Jeremy had finally come back from the dance floor and I stayed with them, not uttering a word on the conversation, and kept glancing at the dance floor. After I had left Stefan, Damon left Katherine and stormed in the mansion. Katherine eventually found her way to Stefan. Of course. I tried to stop watching since a couple times Katherine had look my way and caught me. But as Bonnie gasped, I turned to look at what she was looking. Katherine was walking away from Stefan who was holding what seemed like a lifeless girl. He looked around and as discreetly as he could he took her inside the mansion. We followed him and he had taken her to one of the rooms upstairs.

"Oh God, what happened?" Bonnie asked.

"It is her way of saying she isn't kidding. She wants the moonstone" Stefan said.

"You said no one would get hurt" Bonnie said frowning.

"I'm sorry, Bonnie, I didn't think she would do it something like this in the middle of the crowd. She's the last one Katherine hurts, I promise"

I felt a strange feeling, and shook my head, holding on to the wall.

"Are you okay?" Jeremy asked as they stared at me.

"Yeah, got dizzy" I mumbled.

"A light weight for alcohol, I guess" Jeremy said giving me a sad smile.

"Come on, let's go back to the party" I said.

We locked the room, and Stefan said they would work on something later to get rid of the body without any suspicions. Jeremy went to warn Jake and Quil to be careful. Embry seemed to have disappeared with his date. Bonnie and I went to dance as the DJ took over, and I was even having fun as we danced Thriller and other Halloween appropriate songs the DJ had chosen. I was laughing with Bonnie as we made funny dance moves, when she suddenly bumped into someone. The woman turned and after a surprised look at Bonnie she smiled apologetically.

"Sorry" she said and walked away.

Bonnie stared at her retreating form.

"What?" I asked quietly.

"She's a witch" she mumbled, my eyes got wide. "I have to talk to her"

And before I could say anything or do anything, Bonnie left to go after the mysterious woman. I sighed as once more I was alone. I was thinking if Damon and Stefan had caught Katherine yet, and if I could go talk to Jake and Quil. But something caught my eye. Jeremy was dragging a jeans and T-shirt-clad Elena away from the party before anyone saw her. I started to run their way but suddenly Damon was in front of me.

"You can't leave the crowd" he said low and grabbed my arm, dragging me inside the mansion. "Victoria is here"

"What?" I gasped. He took me upstairs and we waited by the staircase, soon Stefan joined us and showed he had the moonstone on his pocket.

"Jacob and Quil are keeping an eye out…" Stefan said and opened the office's doors.

They looked at each other before we all entered. I looked out the window and saw Quil walking around the crowd, searching for Victoria.

"Are you alright?" Damon asked standing behind me.

I nodded and gave him a smile as he offered me a glass of something. I was about to sip it when the double doors opened and Katherine walked in hand extended to the moonstone Stefan was holding out. She was inside the trap.

"Give me" she said as Stefan pulled back.

"Hold on" Damon said. "Do we have your word that after we give it to you, you will get out of town to never come back?"

"Yeah, yeah, Elena dearest will be safe and all her loved ones" Katherine said rolling her eyes.

In a blink, Damon had her pinned against the wall, a stake in hand as he glared down at her.

"Yeah, but we've learned not to trust your word" he sneered.

Stefan gave me the stone and I walked out of the room. Damon let go of her and she charged for me, her face changing behind her mask, but she couldn't pass the doorframe. I smirked and leaned against the opposite wall while playing with the moonstone just to taunt her.

"When I get out, you'll be the first one dead" she snarled.

Damon grabbed her by the throat. She just smirked at him and got closer until her lips were brushing against his. I watched with narrowed eyes, while Stefan was tense, ready to intervene. Damon promised he wouldn't hesitate on killing her.

"Kill me, Damon" she whispered and rubbed his chest. "Drive that stake right through my heart"

"Damon" Stefan said. "Just do it"

"No" Damon smirked at her. "You deserve to suffer before, I have many stakes, and I plan on using every one"

She rolled his eyes at him, but stopped and just groaned as he staked her in the stomach. I screamed as I felt pain on my stomach and I fell on the floor, clutching my stomach and crying, my mask fell. The pain was almost unbearable, and I gasped at the blood sipping through the fabric of the dress.

"Bella" Damon said trying to get out of the room and help me but couldn't. "Dammit! Bella?"

I groaned as I struggled to breathe through the pain. Katherine let out a weak chuckle as she struggled to get up.

"You have your witch, I have mine" she said.

"You bitch" Damon snarled going after her.

"Stop!" Jeremy cried coming upstairs with Jake. Stefan held Damon. "She used a witch to connect herself to Elena. Everything you do to her Elena suffers too"

"And Bella" Jake mumbled crouching next to me and took off my mask. "Shh, Bells. We'll take care of you"

"The plan wasn't that… But maybe my witch got something wrong. She used Elena's name, but she focused on dear Bella here who pretended to be my doppelganger. Sad how you try and try to come up with fail-proof plans and always forget I have a plan B. I told you less than a week ago, Damon" Katherine taunted.

"I'm going to check on Elena" Jeremy said. And with one last look at me he ran downstairs.

"Victoria?" I choked out.

"Shh, she's gone. Quil chased her away" Jake said frowning at me as he held me. "I knew something like this would happen, you should have listened to me"

"Don't… tell me I told you so" I groaned with a weak smile.

"Alright, I won't. Just hang in there"

I groaned and pressed against the wound, but I felt it closing.

"It's closing" I mumbled.

Damon sighed with relief and leaned against the doorframe watching me and Jake. I gave him a weak smile.

"Of course, it's closing, as mine is" Katherine said and downed a drink. "But it would be a shame, if…" she played with the stake that she had pulled out of her stomach. "I don't know, this happened"

She staked herself in the stomach and I cried out in pain as I felt what she was feeling.

"Stop" Stefan snarled.

Damon held her wrists and pinned her against the wall, somehow more gently then before.

"Oh, my sweet little Damon" she said softly. "Always confused. What do you want? Sweet Elena, my dull-as-dishwater doppelganger? Or Bella, the one you taught how to be fun?" she smirked as she pressed her body against his. "Or maybe… me?"

"I would rather die" Damon said pushing her away.

"You know, you are a terrible liar, Damon" Katherine said sitting in a plush armchair. "Why did you play with Bella? Because she was broken by a vampire ex like you? Because she was as sweet as Elena, but you taught her traits I had? Or was she just that good lay?"

"Shut up!" Damon snapped at her.

"Damon, calm down" Stefan said eyeing Damon's tight grip on the stake.

"Yes, Damon, listen to Stefan, don't want to lose your cool and end hurting Bella, do you?" Katherine laughed. "And Elena"

"Once Bonnie finds out how to break the spell, I'm going to have the great pleasure of killing you" Stefan said as he paced.

I sat up a bit straighter and leaned my body against Jake.

"Where are Embry and Quil?" I asked.

"Quil is keeping an eye on the party" Jake said. "Embry disappeared with Aimee, Sarah, Tyler and Matt" he said frowning.

"Oh, that one must be having fun" Katherine said.

"What did you do?" I snapped at her. Katherine had killed Aimee so I knew Embry could be in trouble.

"Quite the firecracker you've got Damon" she chuckled.

"What did you do!" I snapped again.

"I need a werewolf to break the curse, and since you killed the one I had… I'm making sure I'll have one"

"Tyler" I breathed.

"Yes, you didn't finish your job to fight to death at the carnival, but I guess Matt will"

I grabbed my phone, and dialed Caroline's number.

"Yeah?" she answered.

"Caroline… where are you?"

"I'm with Elena and Jeremy. How are you?"

"Good. Listen, you need to come here and…"

"No, I'm staying with Elena…"

"Matt was compelled. He's going to let Tyler kill him to trigger the curse"

"Ahn, okay, okay. I'm going!" she said.

I hang up and Katherine narrowed her eyes at me.

"You gave the moonstone to George Lockwood in exchange for his help on your escape" Stefan said looking at Katherine with curiosity. "But you need it back… Why?"

"God, you look so hot in a suit. So… dashing" she grinned.

"The moonstone wasn't yours to begin with was it? Who does it belong to? The person you were running away from in 1864? Who is it?" he asked.

"I love you, Stefan. You were always smarter than Damon, didn't let your heart get in the way" she said.

"Fuck you" Damon said.

"For example… You lived your life, while Damon continued obsessed with setting me free from the tomb, over a century" It was clear that since she wasn't getting a rise from Stefan she started to pick on Damon.

"Yes, you've made me a fool. Now I see the true bitch you are, and I will kill you" Damon snapped.

"You know what's hilarious here… You are mad at me for using you, Damon, but you are letting yourself being used again" she laughed. "Your play toy over there, Bella, is playing with you the same way I played you"

Damon looked at me before turning his glare back at her. I frowned at her.

"Don't you see?" she asked. "She was desperate for some kind of connection with her ex. He left her as an unwanted worthless human girl. Then you come, another vampire, devoted time to her, spent thousands of dollars on her, made clear you want her like Edward didn't… So, she used you as substitute"

"Shut up" I said glaring at her.

"Never thought of Edward while with Damon? When he kissed you didn't you compare the lips? When he touched you, didn't you compare the hands?" she smirked.

Before I could say anything, what probably wouldn't be an answer or would be a lie, Damon grabbed her and threw her on the floor ready to stake her. Jake got up, ready to intervene, but Stefan stopped him.

"Damon, no"

"The moment the spell is lifted I'm gonna drive this stake right through your heart" Damon snarled.

"God, you're hot" Katherine grinned.

The mysterious witch Bonnie went after earlier comes upstairs, followed by Bonnie. Bonnie takes the moonstone from me with a frown but a weak smile. She gives the moonstone to the witch.

"No" Damon snapped at her. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I'm saving Elena and Bella" she said. "Lucy broke the spell of connection"

"You can come out" Lucy said to Katherine who grinned reaching for the moonstone. "Once I give this to you, my dept to you is over. I owe you nothing"

"Yeah, yeah" Katherine said, her greedy eyes locked on the stone.

Lucy gave it to her and immediately Katherine started to gasp for air and with a cry she fell on the floor.

"You should have told be there was another witch involved. Especially a Bennett" Lucy said and looked at Damon and Stefan. "I'm sorry for my involvement. I'm leaving and not coming back" she looked at me and Jake. "I won't give you anymore trouble"

And with that she turned and ran down the stairs. Damon immediately ran to me, and took me in his arms. I hugged him tight and over his shoulder I saw Bonnie looking at me with concern. I gave her a smile and a nod and she ran downstairs, after the only witch alive she knew and that could answer her questions.

"I'm gonna check on Embry, Matt and Tyler" Jake said standing up. "You okay?"

I nodded on Damon shoulder and he left. Stefan looked between us and Katherine.

"Go, we'll take care of her. Find Elena" I said.

He smiled at me, and left too. Damon pulled back and cupped my face, wiping what was left of the tears I shed.

"Are you alright?" he asked frowning.

"Yes, don't worry" I said smiling.

"You scared me… Danger magnet, right?" he asked with a smile.

"Yeah" I said and grinned. "Are you going soft on me, Mr. Salvatore?"

"Shut up" he groaned and kissed me, pulling me to his lap.

"Bella" I heard my dad calling.

I pulled back from Damon's lips and looked up. Dad had ran upstairs and looked desperate.

"Oh, God, I just heard. Are you alright?" he asked.

Damon helped me up and I hugged my dad.

"I'm so glad you're okay, Bells. I got quite the scare when Caroline told me…"

"I'm fine now" I assured him.

He pulled back and eyed me for a minute, assessing if I truly was fine.

"Okay" he mumbled and looked at Katherine on the floor. "Yeah, the similarity is freaky"

"Tell me about it" I laughed.

"I'm going back downstairs to help Mrs. Lockwood and Tyler" he said.

"What? Why?" I asked frowning.

"Ahn, Tyler accidentally killed a girl named Sarah, she tried to stab him, he pushed her away and she broke her neck"

"Oh, god" I looked at Damon who had a deep frown. "The curse is triggered"

"We'll take care of that when the time comes" Damon said. "Now, I have to take Katherine to the tomb"

"Won't you kill her?" dad asked frowning while I scowled.

"Death would be too easy. I want her to rot where she should have been the last century"

Dad nodded and left us alone to talk.

"So, you won't kill her" I said arching an eyebrow.

"She will be locked up on the tomb. Problem solved. Don't worry"

"You can't kill her" I corrected myself.

"I can, but I want information and she's a nice source"

"Fine, just be careful not to fall into her games" I said shaking my head.

"Hey" he said stepping closer and wrapping his arms around me. "I'll see you later, alright?"

I looked at him and saw only concern. He wasn't smirking or implying anything. He was just going to check up on me. I wished Damon was this humane all the time… But then I wouldn't have been attracted to him, would I? I hated some traits of him, but I wouldn't change them. I nodded, and wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I'm going to your house. I'll wait for you in your room… How does that sound like?" I asked smiling.

"Amazing" he said and kissed me.

"Thank you for the necklace by the way" I said touching the ruby pendant. "I loved it"

He frowned and looked down at the necklace.

"I didn't get you that" he said.

I frowned. Who else knew I would wear red accessories with the black dress, and could spend thousands of dollars in a necklace? And was able to sneak inside my house to leave the necklace?

"Then who did?" I asked.