a/n: Thanks to all who took the time to review the last chapter. I hope you enjoy this one as well! I have the storyline finalized, and I'm quite excited about how it's going to play out.

Chapter 10 Klaus' Return

Psycho, you killer, you cancer, my friend.
Why don't you give me an answer for when,
When you'll let it go...
-Shape Shifter by the Local Natives

It was around noon when the group assembled at the entrance of the national park of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace. They had talked to Katherine earlier and told her to meet them there. Part of Elena hoped she showed up. They needed her knowledge of Klaus and all the other events that had transpired recently. The other part of Elena, however, didn't care if they ever saw the vampire again.

"This place is…" Caroline trailed off as she eyed the people around her.

"Strange," Tyler finished for her.

Personally, Elena thought it was cute. It was bathed in southern charm, and the workers appeared very friendly.

As they made their way into the park, they were given brochures that outlined the different parts of the park. The majority of the area consisted of beautiful fields where tall grass grew. When the wind blew, the grass swayed gently back and forth.

There were trails that led to different parts of the park too. They were currently near the memorial center, and Elena looked up to it in wonder.

An American flag stood on a pole outside, and wafted back and forth in the slight breeze. Behind the flagpole were steps that led up to a massive marble monument. Elena longed to go inside just to see what was hidden in the building.

"The Sinking Spring is this way," Caroline spoke up as she pointed to their left. From where they stood, Elena could see the cobbled pathway that led to something she couldn't quite see. People were huddled in the area, and it looked very confining.

"We can't all go in there," Tyler spoke up. "It would draw too much attention to us."

"I hate to break it to you," Damon remarked, "But it's not like we can go in there and tell all the people we're looking for a magical object. Anything is going to draw too much attention to us. We'll have to wait until the crowd dies down."

Elena nodded. "Let's just stay in this area and walk around. I could use some exercise anyway."

Caroline glanced at Tyler before turning her gaze back to Elena. "I think Tyler and I might check out the nature trails. Is that okay?"

"Of course," Elena responded. Although she didn't want the group to split up on their own, she saw no reason they couldn't divide into groups. "We'll call you if the area ever calms down."

Smiling, Caroline took Tyler's hand into her own and skipped toward the forested area.

"Where do you want to go?" Damon whispered into her ear.

His warm breath sent shivers down her spine that caused her pulse to race. "I'd like to see what's in that building," she said in raspy tones.

He took her hand in his own, as if they were lovers who had known each other for centuries. They smiled at the people they passed, and somehow, Elena thought nothing could make that moment more perfect.

Inside the memorial building stood a small log cabin that was roped off. People moved throughout the room and examined the building from different angles. A laugh escaped Elena's lips despite herself, and Damon looked to her in question.

A tourist came up to them before she had the chance to speak and smiled awkwardly at them. "Would you care to take a picture of me and my wife?"

"Um… Sure," Damon responded. He grimaced sarcastically at Elena and then followed the man to the location he wanted to take the picture at.

"It's weird, isn't it?" a voice spoke into Elena's ear. Without turning, Elena knew exactly who was there.

"What is weird, Katherine?" she huffed.

"How history repeats itself," she mused. Elena turned and watched the other girl examine her fingernails.

"History isn't repeating itself," Elena made clear. "I would never be like you."

"You're right," Katherine nodded. "Things aren't exactly the same…"

Elena glanced at Damon, and saw that he noticed Katherine was there. As hard as he was trying to get the man to let him go, he kept insisting that he take more pictures.

"I compelled him," Katherine shrugged. "I thought we needed some time to talk on our own." Her eyes finally looked at Elena. "I was with Damon first. You know that, correct?"

"Yes."

"And then I went to Stefan. And he is who I fell in love with."

"So?"

"You started off with Stefan, yet you're now with Damon."

"I'm with…" but Elena couldn't even finish the sentence.

"I understand you more than anyone ever will," she whispered into Elena's ear. They were so close that their shoulders touched. "And isn't it funny, that both Salvatore men pretend to be things they aren't?"

Elena raised an eyebrow as she studied the other girl. "What do you mean?"

"You've seen the real Damon," Katherine shrugged. "You know he's protective, impulsive, comical, and kind in his own way. Yet, he pretends to be a cruel being to hide those character traits from everyone else." She paused for a moment to let the words sink in. "And then there's Stefan. He's kind, and loving, and cares for everyone. Yet, we all know what happens when his restraints are released. He's vicious, and cruel, and bloodthirsty. The men hide behind these facades to mask who they really are. I prefer the passion of Stefan… Which one do you prefer Elena?"

"Thank you for letting me steal your boyfriend," the tourist responded as he came back with Damon. A smile was plastered on his face.

Katherine gave Elena an all-knowing smile before the man walked off.

"You do know how to make entrances," Damon spoke wearily. "Was that really necessary?"

Katherine pouted. "I needed to talk to Elena alone."

Damon arched an eyebrow, and gave Elena a look that let her know the subject would be brought up at a later date.

"So are we going to find the sphere, or are we just going to stand here?" Katherine finally questioned.

"Alaric," Liz called as she banged on the door to his house. "Let me in."

She pounded a few more times before a confused Alaric appeared at the door.

"Is there something I can help you with, Sheriff?"

"I'm looking for Jeremy," she sighed. "Child Services are searching for both Jeremy and Elena. Caroline filled me in on where Elena is, but someone has to show up at this hearing, or we're all going to be in trouble."

"You shot him," Alaric reminded her. "Find some way that I can be their foster parent, at least until Elena turns eighteen."

"I'll see what I can do," Liz nodded.

"Alaric, who are you-" Jeremy cut off as he saw the sheriff standing at the door. "Oh. It's you."

"I'm sorry Jeremy," she spoke, and tried to put all of her sincerity into her words. "I was trying to stop Damon from hurting someone."

"Yet, you ended up being the person who hurt someone," Jeremy retorted. "Was there something you needed from me?"

"We have to figure out your living arrangements at some point."

Jeremy shrugged. "I'm staying here with Alaric, whether or not the law allows me too. If I were you, I'd try to find some way to make sure I stay here." A grin crossed his face. "And I really don't feel up to coming in, with the dying bit and all. Maybe you should just tell them you shot me and I died?"

Before she could respond, the door was slammed in her face. She thought about knocking again, but knew that no one would answer. Whatever she was going to do, she had to do on her own.

She had just reached her police car when she felt someone's eyes upon her. She turned around quickly and scanned the area, but saw no one there.

Shaking her head, she opened her door and climbed inside. A gasp escaped her lips when she looked over and saw Stefan sitting there.

"You scared me." Liz exhaled deeply before she started the vehicle. The cool air from her car was a nice relief. "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Yes."

His voice sent shivers down her spine. She tried to stay strong, though her nerves threatened to overtake her.

"What exactly is it that you need me to do?"

Although his eyes didn't meet hers, she knew he was paying attention to every move she made.

"Drive toward the old high school," he replied almost mechanically. "There's something I need to show you there."

Liz couldn't find her voice, so she simply put the car into reverse and backed out onto the street. When she placed the car in drive, she noticed that Alaric was watching them from one of the windows in his house.

"How is Damon?" she finally asked to break the silence.

"He's alive," Stefan shrugged. "Although what he is or isn't is no concern of mine."

Suppressing a shudder, she kept her eyes focused on the road. She had never seen Stefan this cold before, especially toward his brother. Whatever was going on, she didn't like it.

She didn't speak another word until she was parked in the old high school parking lot. This school had been boarded up to protect the citizens from harming themselves in the old building years ago. There had really been no need to keep it standing, but the citizens had begged to keep their history alive. So they had allowed it to remain.

Now, however, as she left her car, she wished they would have burned it to the ground.

Stefan didn't speak to her, but instead just walked toward one of the doors to the school. Liz's pulse raced as she neared the entrance. She had been doing her job long enough to know when something was wrong. And right now, everything inside of her screamed that she shouldn't go into the building.

Stefan reached out and opened the chained door with what appeared to be little effort. Liz took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Her fingers teased the edge of her gun as she moved into the darkness beyond. Logic screamed at her to leave, and she knew that whatever was in here probably couldn't be hurt by her regular bullets. She had never thought to bring weapons to fight vampires with her. After all, the only task she had had this morning was to bring Jeremy in.

When the door closed behind her, she was bathed in complete darkness. All of the windows and doors had been boarded up, and that currently prevented any sunlight from seeping through. As if sensing her hesitancy, Stefan thrust an object into her hands. Part of her soul rejoiced when she realized it was a flashlight.

She turned it on quickly, and let the light wash over the area. It was a relief to be able to see, even if her vision was now narrowed to a small area. She allowed the beam of light to move over the entire room, and realized they were standing in what would have been the entrance to the school.

"Come on," Stefan commanded as he moved down a nearby hallway. He didn't stop to make sure she followed, and only continued to walk along his path.

Liz followed obediently since she knew she couldn't outrun him. Her light swept over the dusty floors and revealed what remained of the old school. They passed multiple classrooms that were void of any furniture, and heavy on the dust and dirt.

When he turned into the gymnasium, Goosebumps raced across her skin. She continued to follow, however, even as her heart thundered in her chest. She had just reached the door when her flashlight flickered, and then went out.

She wanted to curse, but forced herself to remain quiet. She moved into the room based solely on memory while trying to get her flashlight to come back on.

This room was colder than the others had been. Even her long sleeve sheriff uniform wasn't enough to shield her from the icy temperatures. She banged her flashlight against her leg then, and was relieved when light once again filled the area.

Her relief was short lived. As she narrowed the light on the nearest object, she realized in horror that it was a person lying on a morgue slab. The person's skin was discolored and pale. She appeared to have been dead for quite some time now.

Not even breathing, she let her light wash over the rest of the room. She counted thirty dead humans before she had to stop and throw up on the floor.

Her breathing came in short rasps then and sweat poured from her face. A voice spoke through the darkness, and she had to fight getting sick again.

"I had hoped you would be stronger than this," the voice mused. It was a voice she didn't recognize so she turned her light in the direction of the sound. The man standing there looked beyond powerful, and blood smeared the front of his white jacket. An involuntary sob escaped her lips as she saw Stefan standing beside this man.

"What do you want from me?"

"I have a task I need you to complete," he grinned and she shuddered.

Before she could speak, Stefan was at her side. He looked down at her with feral eyes while keeping a smile on his lips.

He used fangs to rip open his wrist. As the blood fell from his skin, he forced the blood into her mouth. She tried to fight against him, but he was far too strong for her. When he thought she had enough blood, he pulled his wrist away, and rubbed her hair soothingly.

"You won't be like the others," he almost hummed. "We have far greater plans for you."

His hands rested on her neck then, and tears fell down her face. She didn't even have time to scream before he applied pressure and broke her neck.

a/n: I'd love to hear your thoughts on what's going on. Please review!