Happy 165th birthday for Bram Stoker {November 8th} - the original author of Dracula! Just had to mention it since Vampire Diaries is about vampires and he literally wrote one of the first vampires in history. Review when you can! Your comments mean a lot to me, no matter how short :) and they tell me whether I'm doing a good job or if I'm losing the bam in my story or what. Chardonnay in this chapter is going to be following the original plot for a while so there isn't much to do with her story but think of the dialogue and I'm sure you guys already read hundreds of fanfictions so I'll try to make it as different and unique as possible - if I can. There is a lot of dialogue in this update. Double digits baby! Whoo! Enjoy it, read it, review it if you can! -Lady Shiri

Chapter Ten

Stolen Doubts At Midnight

-The New World-

1024

It was a kiss of life.

Flows of energy sprouted from our connected lips, down to my throat, and throughout my entire body. It was as if I was drinking cool refreshing liquid after being under the hot sun during hours of hard labor. Despite my past timorousness, a puissant impulse flooded through my veins like rapid fire and I bent weakly to its will. The darker side of me wanted more of this strength and his power. Using my newfound stamina, my hand snaked around his neck and pressed his mouth harder on mine with untrodden urgency. The softness of his kiss turned urgent. If I had been in my right mind, I would've blushed at my venturous act.

Elijah was hesitant at first, but eventually returned my zeal when my free hand slowly slid through his thick locks. He too was overcome with appetence and his growing kisses were tinged with a touch of longing that I could not comprehend. His body was pressed on top of mine and his hands that rested over my head trailed down my hips, causing me to sigh against his mouth; his lips incredibly soft, gentle, and yet demanding. I was not pitiful Heidi anymore. I didn't feel any shyness of my past personality. It had been replaced by pure intrepidity to seize what I wanted, and I wanted Elijah.

I nibbled on his bottom lip, shivering with anticipation when he let out a rumbling low growl. It sounded inhuman. Drawing back, Elijah breathed on the edge of my jaw, "Heidi, do not tempt me any further if you desire me to continue respecting your wish."

His words were like ice cold water splashing on my face. I was waking up from another daze and I immediately jumped away, red in the face. Pitiable Heidi had control once again. "Oh! M-My apologies! I do not know what overcame me to do s-such a thing. I did not mean to act hypocritically."

Despite my embarrassment, I noticed my body was humming with rejuvenated energy. I felt like I could've done anything with the endless power in my fingertips, letting my heart pound in excitement. My vision seemed brighter somehow as I stared at his face and in the room we were in. I remembered this room to be Lilly's chambers with the large wooden bed, antique dresser, and shelves full of sentimental trinkets. When my gaze timidly returned to Elijah, he brushed my hair off of my face.

His palm gently caressed my cheek as he assured, "It is I who should say such things. I had expected your reaction and had thought myself very much controlled to handle the consequences."

My eyes widened. "You knew of my response? And yet you continued despite the humiliation I would feel?"

Elijah tilted his head to the side, his dark brown eyes inquiring. "Do you have your doubts, Heidi?"

At the sound of my name in his voice, I blushed. He had called my name before, but not with the tender tone he used now. This further strengthened his fresh claim as my lover and my heart was beating at an uncontrollable pace. "No, I do not but my confidence of my place will only go on for so long. Will you tell me what I wish to know now?"

"Such anxiety is not becoming of a new lady," he murmured almost teasingly, "but there are things you must be informed of first."

"What is it?"

"Do you know of the time that has come to pass during your slumber?"

I frowned when the joy from his eyes faded away. Cautiously, I questioned, "How long has it been?"

"Eight days have gone and went."

My mouth dropped open in shock. "Oh, my . . . Eight days! Elijah, I had my suspicions but this is far too much to accept! I had thought it was one or two nights! The dream only felt like mere moments."

"It is true. Dreams do not hold the concept of time warmly."

"What had you done to nurse me well for eight moons without water or supper? What had you told Aunt Sylvia and Uncle Johan to allow them to keep me here? What of Magdalene, Emanuel, and - oh, my! What of Yvonne?" Then I remembered who had my main concern those days ago. "What of Tatia? How does she fare?"

"I had been honest in the past, Heidi," Elijah said to me seriously. "My family and I had bought your freedom from Emanuel and Magdalene."

It took a few moments to take in his words. "T-That was not a fable?"

"You may act of your own will Heidi. You are to serve yourself and no one else."

"Y-You-" I couldn't even form the words. My dreams of becoming my own master and working for my own name had came true. There was a nagging feeling of shame that I had not been able to accomplish my goal by myself, but I couldn't refuse such a gift. Aunt Sylvia would reprehend me if I became too prideful to accept what we both worked hard to reach for so many years.

I am finally free.

My response might have been overdue and I couldn't help myself as I met his expectant expression. My arms wrapped around his strong shoulders, burying my face at the base of his neck. I filled my lungs with his musky scent and enjoyed the closeness of our bodies. "Thank you, Elijah," I managed to whisper in appreciation.

He ran his hand through my untied hair. Someone had combed the tangles away while I had slept, leaving it straight and tidy. "If it was in my power to do so, I would have done so earlier."

"I am thankful for now," I pulled away, "but you have not spoken about my family. What has happened with them?"

"Emanuel had only allowed for your release, but your family remains as they were before."

I let out a sigh, fighting back the tears that pooled in my eyes. Her words had rang true and yet I ignored this part of her warnings. I had been blessed enough and I didn't have it in me to ask for more, for I would only dishonor my aunt if I became too selfish or too dependent on others. Still, I wished their freedom. "My aunt has already spoken to me of this before. As a child, she had warned me of the possibility that I would leave her and Uncle Johan. I did not believe it until now."

A small but rather sly smile graced his lips. "You received her blessing days before."

"What for?"

He silently took my hand in his. "It had taken time for her to accept, but she cares for your happiness."

As flattered as I was for Elijah to ask Aunt Sylvia's permission for our sudden relationship, I was worried for Elijah's sake. Unnatural or not, Aunt Sylvia was known for her protective personality, especially when she saw me as her own child - not her sister's. She was a woman to fear when her family was in danger. "She did not react drastically to the news of your plans?"

His lips quirked upward. "Several things had happened during her time to consider your future, yes, but they shall not pass my lips."

I allowed myself to smile, before it slipped away again. The feeling of guilt washed over me when I realized that I had forgotten the wellbeing of my only friend. How could I have not remembered sooner? The last I had seen her was the day she supported me for my feelings of Elijah. Would she be proud to know that I had grasped the man who claimed my every thought? "Then what of Tatia? Do you know of your brother's plans with her?"

"Heidi, Niklaus does not take other's thoughts into consideration above his own. I had taken Tatia back to her home and remembers no such visit you two made eight nights ago. She believes you are ill and taking residence alongside my family and I until further news."

"May I visit her?"

"Later," he answered vaguely, "but you must expect that my brother will not leave her be."

"What is it that he wants with her? I fear for her safety."

Elijah shook his head. "That is a story for another day. For now you know that she is safe, as is her daughter, Charlotte."

"Then what had he done to her, Elijah? Tatia would have never, er," my face began to heat up at the next topic of conversation, "share her bed with a man she did not know."

"Is that what my brother told you?"

"It is what he alleged," I continued in an embarrassed tone, "or I might have been mistaken . . ."

He smirked but mercifully did not utter a word of my naïve blunder. Instead he stood up and offered me his hand. "After a long time of sleeping, I can only presume that you wish to take a walk around for a while."

"Will you be joining me?"

"If you would allow me to," he replied.

"Of course," I answered though my voice couldn't go higher than a whisper. Here I had accepted his offer with my conditions, waken up from a bizarre yet incredible dream to kiss the man I was falling for, and now I was reviewing my actions with a heavy conscience. How was it that I could even look him in the eyes? I was humiliated by my contradictory behavior. Taking his hand, a strong rush of giddiness rose to my head and made me stumble on my next step. My legs were asleep after days of lying down.

Crashing into his chest, I heard him scold me with a chuckle, "There is no rush. Do not harm yourself with your lack of patience."

I discreetly took in a deep breath of his musky scent to calm my nerves and slowly regained the feeling of my limbs. "I am better, Elijah. I must thank you for your tolerance in my questions for I must have sounded demanding and ungrateful."

"It is understandable." Elijah raised an eyebrow when he saw me glancing down at my clothes. I noticed the change of gown I was wearing. It was much fancier compared to the plain dresses I was given. It was in the color of dark green with longer sleeves and softer cloth. "My sister had done it for you during your slumber. No other man had touched you other than I."

Blushing at his choice of words, I forced my voice out. "E-Elijah, our conversation has yet to finish."

The smirk didn't stray from his face. "You would not be Heidi without your care for your friends. I know you worry for Tatia, but there are other fates at play. Someday you shall understand."

"Soon, I hope," I muttered under my breath.

He seemed to have heard what I had said with a raised eyebrow. Silent, he opened the door for me. Fearing that I would fall, I did not dare to release his arm as we walked down the hallway to the greeting hall. I looked to where the incident had happen with a nervous expression. The stains from the fire were still there, charing the wooden walls with ash. The corners of the hall were completely bare of furniture and the like. "I am sorry," I told him sincerely before we left the house. Elijah followed my gaze. I hadn't realized that his smile had already faded the moment we were outside. "My anger had gotten the best of me."

"It is but my brother's fault, Heidi. He knew of your capabilities, but yet he did not tread carefully."

"Are they not mad?" I sighed with relief as real sunlight warmed my face, welcoming the breeze that went our way. He led me to the back garden. It was filled of flowers of different colors and space to run and breathe. The dream had been mesmerizing but it was no match compared to the real thing. "I worry of Rebekah especially. I heard she is not as forgiving to those who cross her or her family and I can only hope not to be the object of such dislike."

Elijah looked strangely pleased at my question. "My sister has her sides as we both do. I can assure you she does not hate you."

"Are you certain?" I questioned again uncertainly. "What of Henrik? I had learned to like his cheerful nature in our short moment of meeting."

"Tis not time to think of such worrisome things," he told me dismissively, but Elijah seemed tense at the sound of Henrik's name.

I jumped when I heard his brother's voice behind us - and it was not Henrik's. "Yes, Heidi dear, do not waste time on such dark thoughts. Is it not a lovely day? Continue to live life with the ignorance you have been given. Tis not a burden, but a gift."

We turned to see Niklaus standing behind us. His bright blue eyes were clear as ever and his skin had regained its youthful glow. He miraculously healed from my attack as if he hadn't transformed into a beast days before. The words slipped from my mouth before the man beside me could speak, though I was not sure if Elijah approved. "Niklaus, I truly am sorry for my actions several nights ago. Had I not lost control-"

"It had always been my intention to awaken that side of you, but it had been my fault that you were not warned - so the apologies must come from me," he inclined his head slightly at his words. "I had clearly forgotten to never underestimate you, no matter what face you wear."

My face scrunched up in confusion. "Pardon?"

Niklaus grinned a little sardonically. "Elijah has not informed you of everything yet, I suppose. Forgive me, my brother, for I did not mean the slip of the tongue."

"You never do," Elijah retorted unhappily.

"What is it you two speak of?"

Elijah hesitated before answering, "Everything shall be explained, Heidi."

His younger brother turned to me. "I have yet to tell you of my regrets on how we were introduced."

"Oh, I could not hold a trivial thing against you," I replied with certainty, pushing back my fear for his anger. "You were aware of our differences in status as was everyone else, but now I am free. I shall forever be grateful to you, Elijah, and your family. For without your generosity, I would still be a servant."

"You need not pay us in return," Elijah argued. There was an unnoticable edge in his voice. "That was not the reason we bought your freedom."

"It is rather nice to hear," Niklaus pointed out. "You shall learn from her, elder brother, that I too can act on kindness and humanity."

"What a discordant jest, Klaus."

Something dark flashed across his face before Niklaus smiled too innocently for my liking. "I had come in search for you, Elijah, for Rebekah has need of your help. It seems she has needed your assistance in the woods with Henrik."

"Tis not the correct time,"

Niklaus rose an eyebrow. "The things needed are already set. Why wait any longer for what I have been patient for these many years?" His blue eyes slid to me. "I will remain. She will not be harmed by my hand, I assure you. You forget that Laelia was once mine."

"She is not Laelia." Elijah snapped, his cool mask breaking in the surface. It frightened me that he was acting indifferent to most things once we were in public. Did he not feel comfortable showing emotion to those other than his family and I?

"Neither were the rest of those who had died years ago. Need I mention their names?"

Elijah's expression turned stoic and he faced me stiffly. "Will you be comfortable with waiting?"

"If you must leave, then go."

He glared at Niklaus as if it had been his fault for my decision and left in a blink of an eye. I jumped at the speed of his leaving. He had yet to tell me what they were, but I wondered why it had been easy for me to trust that they would not cause me harm. They were mysterious - part of the unknown. But so are you, the voice whispered in my ear.

"Would you care to finish your walk?" Niklaus offered his arm. I stared at it for a second too long before slipping my arm through his. My heart was racing again and Niklaus noticed with a sly grin. "Calm your heart or I shall be tempted."

I edged away, already uncomfortable with his intense gaze. "You gave Elijah your word."

"Mistakes can happen, love," he replied easily. My heart skipped a beat in fear, but I did my best to relax. When the silence grew too much for the both of us, Niklaus observed, "You are confused with what we are, are you not? Would you prefer to wait for your answers or do you not care if it came from one such as myself?"

I bit my lip unsurely. "You, er, are of the same nature?"

A laugh escaped from the man next to me. "We were once human, yes, but that was a very long time ago."

"How long, may I ask?"

"Too long . . ."

My eyes widened and I stopped in the middle of the garden. "Are you immortal?"

We separated from each other and he faced me, eyeing me with interest and amusement. Niklaus took a step closer, but I instinctively took one back. I had been a servant for many years. Several habits would be difficult to overcome, especially speaking to one regarded with high respect and awe. "Yes, we are indeed immortal in your sense of the word."

I glanced down. "You cannot die?"

"Everyone dies, Heidi dear."

"But you claimed immortality," I argued.

"We are merely the nearest beings on earth who can live for eternity."

"Merely," I echoed in sudden fascination. "You cannot die!"

Niklaus smirked at my reaction. "Are you not afraid of me? Do not your instincts tell you to flee from something such as myself? I am dangerous, so are Elijah and my younger siblings. I am only waiting for you to understand that."

"Then what do you expect after?"

"You shall run away."

"You declare yourselves monsters, but you have helped me - a lowly servant to a horrible mistress. Did you not feel pity? You say you are dangerous yet you speak to me now. Patronizingly so, but you do not make a move to injure me." I looked away from the ground and to met his stare. "You spoke of a girl earlier and of the day we met. Laelia, was her name?"

Niklaus was not impressed. "Twas only a ruse."

"If I may be so bold to disagree, I saw passion in your eyes as you spoke of your beloved. A monster would not feel such things as-"

He suddenly wrapped my neck on a tight grip and slammed my back against a tree. I let out a pained wheeze when his hand began to squeeze the air from my lungs. We were suddenly at the edge of the garden, under the shade and away from the sun. Niklaus' face was ashen gray once again with his teeth - no, his fangs barred at me threateningly. "Love? Is that the emotion monsters should not feel?" He sneered, "Do not claim to know me. You may have her face, but you are not the Laelia I once knew. You may have been right about one thing, Heidi. I do pity your soul and for the life you are cursed to live at each lifetime."

What did he mean of those things? I began to dig my nails into his hand. "L-Let go!"

"Are you yet frightened of me now?"

My eyes began to water. "Yes! I admit I-I am scared Niklaus! I am terrified!"

His grip loosened and I fell to the floor, gasping for breath. His voice was harsh but melancholic as well. "You shall always be afraid, Heidi. That was never a surprise to learn."

With one last cough, I pulled myself to my feet, clinging to the barks of the tree he had slammed me to. The energy I claimed to have this morning was gone. Rubbing my bruised throat, I saw the frustrated look he wore. "W-Why a-are you still here?" I wheezed out.

His eyes narrowed. "What is it that you mean, love? Have I not proved my point? You shall be running for the hills once I turn away from you."

"No, you have proved mine. Whatever you are, you still feel. No matter how you fight, you cannot fake indifference for someone your passion is directed to. I saw it and you cannot make me think otherwise."

"What I hear are the words of a girl who will run-"

I managed to snap after another needed intake of breath, "I shall not run away. I have been afraid for years in my life and it has only been recently that I took a stand. So I shall not back down anymore! As much as I fear you and that of what I don't know, I am also sad for you. You lost just as Tatia had."

Niklaus stared at me intently, surprised at my words. I too did not know what had led me to say such things. If he truly was immortal, who was he to follow advice from one who had yet to fall in love? "I suppose I had suffered while my brother gained. Did you not know of his loss?"

Filled with confusion, I frowned. "He had another?"

"Two others, love," he answered mischievously. His lips twitched at my shock and hurt. "Ask him of Berenike. He will not be able to evade the matter anymore."

I was silent after that, lost in my thoughts. Berenike sounded foreign and strange in my mind. Who was she? Did Elijah love her? Of course he had, but who was the other girl? His first lover . . . When Niklaus neared the forest, I called out in panic, "Where is it that you are going? Are you to leave me?"

"Stay in the house," he answered over his shoulder, "or follow me. Tis to you, Heidi. I had recently realized the mistake of my words and I cannot remain here."

Stupefied, I gaped at his audacity. Had he not told Elijah that he would watch over me? It seemed silly that after being threatened, staying near him made me feel somewhat at ease under all the tension in the air. Quite contradictory really. What of Lilly and Haldor? I had yet to see them. I glanced at the empty house then back to where Niklaus had disappeared. Where to go? Making my most impulsive decision yet, I ran after the blue-eyed blond. "Wait!"

-Mystic Falls, Virginia-

2009

"Char. Wake up."

"Hmm?" I stirred as I was being pulled away from the dark embrace of unconsciousness, but other than that I stayed still. My bed was unusually cold and flat, uncomfortably hard against my body.

"Char," a familiar voice gasped. "Get up!"

My lips let out sigh. I felt my face scrunch up in confusion, feeling light-headed when I was suddenly shaken. Two firm grips on my shoulders tightened when I did not open my eyes. "Is it serious?" I heard another girl ask.

"She might have a concussion. I don't know, Bonnie."

A sudden stinging took my attention at the side of my head, my second head injury on the same day. These vampires were going to be the death of me, I thought lethargically. The sound of the faucet ran a few feet away, warning me, before water was splashed into my face. Painful shots of water went up my nose at my position and I spluttered, bolting straight up and smashing my right temple against someone's chin.

"Ouch!" The girl cried out in pain.

"Seriously?" I whined, my voice thick from sleep. Rubbing my face dry with my sleeves, my head began to ache with more pain. "I need these brain cells, you know."

Her voice snapped, "This isn't the time to be joking around!"

I blinked repeatedly before my vision cleared somewhat, finding myself in a rather small bathroom that was completely white with plastic titles, a tiny bathtub, and a plain oval sink. The mirror on the door was rusted at the edges of its frame as I stared at my horrendous reflection. My tan skin was unusually pale, my eyes bloodshot and weary, and my hair ruffled into a birds' nest. In my original clothes, I could've pulled a look that screamed hungover and high strung, but in Elena's sporty outfit, I looked like crap for the lack of better words.

"Jeez. I look awful."

Bonnie, who was sitting over me and holding the shower curtains away, rolled her eyes. "Be serious, please."

I finally noticed Elena crouching next to us, leaning over the edge of the bathtub. Glancing down to see that I had ended up with the bad side of the coin, I realized with much displeasure that I was lying down on the filthy bathroom floor. "What the hell am I doing on the ground!?" I more or less screeched, pulling myself up to my knees.

"Char!" My friends hissed.

My eyebrows furrowed together. "Where are we?"

"Kidnapped-"

"Kidnapped!?"

"Oh, my God." Elena muttered in exasperation. She sure had a long day.

Bonnie took a hold of my hand comfortingly, reaching down from where she sat. "Calm down, Char. Keep a cool head like you always do and we'll get through this." When I nodded drowsily in reply, she asked, "Now what do you last remember?"

I thought for a moment and made a face as I concentrated. How did I get here? I had been in the Mystic Grill with Damon and Jeremy before getting a text message from Bonnie to meet her outside, claiming that her date had been a bust. Slipping outside to the alley as a shortcut and away from Annabelle's attention, I had only taken a few steps forward when something struck the back of my head - the very same spot I had hit it this morning against the bedside table. When I told them this, I added angrily, "Hurts a lot too. Am I bleeding?"

"No, it looks fine, but I didn't send you a text. It must have been Ben. He took my stuff apparently." Bonnie then looked at Elena in sudden alarm. "It was Ben! I can't believe I was so stupid to fall for it."

"Your date?" I clarified.

"He's a, er," she raised her eyebrows, "you know . . ."

Elena wore an uncomfortable expression. "Char knows already."

Her eyes widened as her gaze flickered between us unbelievingly. "What? Since when?"

"Last night," I replied coolly as a small flash of guilt went through her face. "It was a big surprise, especially when you and Sheila didn't even tell me after our talk two days ago!"

"My grandmother didn't want you to get involved in this," Bonnie defended with a frown. "Witches are always sucked into these matters and end up dying for their mistakes. Most of their lives revolve around them, exchanging favors with what they could do with their powers for whatever the vampires could offer in return during their unnaturally long life."

"So you're basically saying it's a high risk exchange?"

"My grandmother knows you're somewhat special and she wanted me to watch out for you - that's why I didn't tell you. I was protecting you, Char."

Almost instantly, my glare softened. "Well . . . your grandmother said the same thing to me Bonnie. The thing is, how can I protect you if I don't even know what the hell is going on in this town?"

She looked surprised. "I don't need protection."

"Neither do I," I retorted with an unattractive snort.

We shared a small smile for each of our benefits. Elena cleared her throat, glancing at the door behind her uncertainly. "I bet we're here because of that grimoire and the tomb under that church."

"Did you find Johnathan Gilbert's journal?"

A look of remorse flashed through Elena's face. "Yep, we found it alright. Stefan and I got to the grimoire first until Damon took it." From her dark expression, I could tell Damon had done something idiotic and desperate to piss her off. I watched her gaze gradually turning inquisitive. "He was looking for you, Char. I guess he had a feeling that something happened to you."

Catching her tinge of jealousy, my lips curved down. As horrid as Damon was, Elena really didn't have the right to be envious of his relationship with any girl; even with mine when there was nothing going on. "You don't like him, do you?"

Elena scowled immediately. "No, why? Do you?"

I scoffed in disbelief. "Please, that would be like dating myself. I think Damon and I are too alike to have anything romantic going on."

"What grimoire are you guys talking about?" Bonnie asked, reminding us of the situation we were in again.

"It was Emily's spellbook," Elena replied with ease, immediately bouncing back from her confused moment. We exchanged a meaningful glance as a silence agreement to leave those thoughts of her envy as they were. I didn't want to be the one to push her to the edge and she didn't want to accept whatever it was she felt for Stefan's older brother.

"You know that place where you heard those voices? Near the Fell's Church?"

She nodded at me. "What about it?"

"That's where the tomb is," I answered with a troubled look directed to Bonnie. "I have a really bad feeling that they need a witch involved in this. They need one to cast the spell that unlocks the tomb."

"Of vampires?" Bonnie muttered, aghast. "You knew of this yesterday?"

"Last night," I corrected, not appreciating her accusing tone.

"There's no way I am going through with it,"

Elena shook her head. "I don't think you'll have much of a choice."

The bathroom door suddenly slammed open. All three of us flinched and jumped to our feet. Ben was at the doorway, wearing an obnoxious smirk - though that was hardly annoying compare to Damon's. At least this one made me want to smack it right off with a good left hook. "Your friend's right, witch. You don't have much of a choice."

We stood our ground as a three-girl team. Although we were frightened and panicked out of our minds, we were determined not to satisfy his sick pleasure of watching us squirm and tremble with trepidation. Provoked at our resistence, Ben walked inside and leaned closer to Elena. She moved away only to see him turn off the faucet beside her. His smirk grew when she stepped closer to me and I impatiently yanked her arm to pull her behind my body. "I'm not doing it," Bonnie snapped.

"There's things called leverage, honey," he sneered at her before grabbing Elena and I by the shoulders and shoving us out. He slammed the bathroom door behind us and I let out a curse. It did not go pass Elena, but she didn't scold me like she usually did; she must've been thinking the same thing.

"So you're Elena Gilbert," a voice declared in front of us.

We both looked up to see Annabelle. Her narrow dark brown eyes were on my friend before they flickered to me with newfound interest. "And you are Char. What's that short for? Charlotte?"

"Ha! My name's more original than that," I muttered with a roll of my eyes.

She shrugged, not really caring. "You look like her, Elena. I'm not really impressed . . . honestly. I don't understand why the Salvatore brothers make such a big deal about you. Maybe you're just the life-size copy of the original. They could never get enough of her, if you catch my drift."

"No, I don't." Elena ignored the insult and asked, "Who are you anyways?"

Annabelle raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised Jeremy hasn't mentioned me yet since he's your younger brother. We're dating."

My friend paled. "What?"

"Last time I heard, you were more of a fan," I said aloud.

A look of annoyance crossed Annabelle's face. "You're Damon's leverage, Char, not that all important so I suggest you keep your mouth shut."

Damon's leverage? I repeated with disbelief to myself. Since when was I connected to the dark-haired vampire in any way? We were both cynical, sarcastic, even a tad bit paranoid when pushed to the edge. "Just saying," I murmured innocently.

When a growl escaped the vampire's lips, Elena yanked me back and toward the bed; we were trapped in a cheap hotel room. The cheap wood of dressers were to one side with a small television and two queen-sized beds, the green carpet dirty from the poor cleaning. "Shut up," Elena hissed at me before sitting rigidly at my side. If it had been any other day, I would've snapped back, but I knew she was at her wit's end and stayed silent. "Why do you want to open the tomb so much? I thought you didn't like Katherine."

"I never said I didn't like her. I hate her." Annabelle crossed her arms on her chest, leaning against the covered windows. "I don't think I know anyone who even wants to see that horrible excuse of a woman ever again - maybe except for Damon, of course. That idiotic fool."

"So what's your story?" I asked bluntly, ignoring Elena's warning look.

Annabelle took a glimpse at us with a frown. "Katherine just couldn't keep her business to herself when she played with her human toys despite my mother's warnings. They were friends, you see. When the townspeople captured Katherine in eighteen sixty-four, they captured my mother too. So, really, my mother spent decades in that godforsaken tomb because of her past loyalties to that bitch."

"You're here to get her out then . . ."

"I'm sorry," Elena said as earnestly as she could. Her mom had died in a car accident, taking away the times they could've spent together by now away from any possibility. She and Jeremy had lost a lot recently.

I found myself saying, "I'm not."

The two girls turned to me, one amused the other in disbelief. "And why not?"

I shrugged, speaking of my mother for the first time in ages. "My mom's a drunk and couldn't care less about me or my siblings. She hasn't for a decade and she obviously won't in the near future. I didn't grow up with mine, but I ended up fine by myself." I could see Elena eyeing me at the corner of my eye with concern; I had never told her about my family other than Winslow, so to hear me speak about someone she didn't know about interested her.

"Yeah, well, I need mine." Annabelle was suddenly at Elena's side with her phone in her hand. "Can I borrow?"

Elena moved to get it, but she didn't have Annabelle's speed. "Don't-"

"Relax," She rolled her eyes and dialed a number, pressing it to her Her lips twitched. "Ah, Stefan."

We both perked up at his name, catching a few parts of her conversation until she demanded deviously, "It's going to be so much fun to be hanging out again. Like old times, hmm? Just meet me in the public square in the middle of town." After another pause, she smirked. "Oh, no, Stefan. That's not how it works in my book. You don't find me. I'll find you."

She tossed Elena her phone back and called out to Ben, "I'm leaving. Watch them. Use violence on them off if you have to." Annabelle eyed our vervain jewelry with distaste. "Compulsion definitely won't work."

"I can handle these girls," he assured her.

"You wish," I mumbled challengingly.

Ben growled at me in agitation, but Annabelle, on the other hand, fought back a smile. "Just don't underestimate them, got it?" When he nodded, she slammed the door behind her. Elena flinched beside me at the sound. Pointedly ignoring me, Ben's attention flickered to Bonnie.

Good, I don't like you either.

"I guess you're the only one who's able to do the job. Powerful witch, she said . . . Please, I'm not really blown away." Bonnie only glared at his taunting, refusing to budge. "What about long life expectancy? Any longer than humans?" When he didn't get an answer, he suddenly yelled, "Hey! Answer me!"

Our friend jumped on her seat, taking the spot away from both Elena and I. "Yeah, I guess. I don't know . . . but we can still die." She answered quietly in a strained voice. "Satisfied?"

"Tremendously," he retorted, his words dripping with sarcasm. Ben shook his head disappointedly as he plopped into the sofa across from us. "Then what's the big deal with witches? Just humans with a bag of tricks."

Miffed, I interjected, "Do you have any water? I'm parched." This guy was pissing me off.

My friends turned to me with brightened eyes as if to say, good idea. "Yeah, me too," Bonnie picked up hastily.

"You're not the only ones. Want to tap a vein for me? Especially you," Ben looked at the dark-skinned beauty with a leer. "I never tried witch before."

Damon had claimed the same thing. What was different to their blood with regular humans? What would mine taste like? With a sneer of my own, I snapped, "Stick to blood bags like every other modern vampire."

With his own mutters about hating to be the babysitter, he threw the water bottle at Bonnie. She broke the seal and I focused on Ben, specifically the water in his body. To my horror, I realized it wasn't the liquid that I was targeting but the blood. How the hell did this happen?

He suddenly stiffened as he fought for control over his body - so much like Noah in the cafeteria, and was thrown against the opposite wall. Bonnie splashed him with water and it caught on fire, much to my surprise; the heat could be felt from our distance impressively. She had her own little tricks up her sleeve that I had yet to know about. We made a dash for the door, yanking it open with an echoing bang. I was hot on Bonnie's trail and caught a sight of dark brown hair in the distance. Out of nowhere, there was a cry of pain behind us, and we whirled around in dread.

Ben's hand was squeezing dangerously tight on Elena's throat. "Get back in here," he growled menacingly. This time, I took his theat seriously. "Come in the room and close the door now!"

"Wait . . ." Bonnie hesitated. Freedom was so close, tempting. "Just don't hurt her, Ben."

"Get inside already!"

With heavy hearts, we did as he said and locked the door when he raised an eyebrow at us, challenging us to do anything different. "Happy?" I blurted out as all three of us shared disheartened looks. I was already weak from the blow to my head, Bonnie was anxious with what they planned with her, and Elena was noticeably afraid for all of us. Plan A had failed and plan B was far ahead of us. How are we gonna get out of here?

"You really pissed me off-"

There was a sudden slam of an open door behind us. We all jumped around to see Stefan standing there, his green eyes turning dark when he caught sight of Elena's position. Sunlight poured into the room, making us turn our heads away for a moment. Ben let out a pained scream and instantly retreated to the shadows of the hotel room. "Stefan!" Elena cried out in relief, running to him instantly and hugging his center.

He briefly allowed himself a moment to take in her calming scent before pulling away from her. He scrutinized at Bonnie and I with worry. "You girls should get outside. Take Elena with you."

His girlfriend hesitated. "Aren't you coming with us?"

"I'll be right behind you,"

I called behind me, agitated. "Putting a girl on the bathroom floor - go to hell!"

"Char," Stefan scolded, rolling his eyes at me. With a frown, I followed my friends up to the doorway, watching them near Stefan's car, but stayed behind to listen. Stefan raced forward and kicked Ben in the stomach. He rebounded against the table, and I oddly found a sense of pleasing vengeance at the scene. There was an awful crack of bone breaking, and Ben curled into a moaning ball on the carpet, letting out a hiss when his arm got caught under the sunlight. "The moment it's sunset, you will leave town. If I catch you here in Mystic Falls ever again tomorrow on afterwards, I will kill you. Make no mistake on that."

"You could've kicked harder . . ."

"Char," he nudged me forward, somewhat interested in that suggestion. "Let's go."

"I bet Elena would find it a total turn on if you acted like that. You should try that on her sometimes." I grinned when I caught a faint blush growing on his cheeks. "She'll might finally listen to whatever you say."

"Shut up," Stefan grumbled rebukingly. "We need to head over to Sheila's before nightfall."

"What's after nightfall?"

He looked unsure. "Anna's making her move. I think she's going to try opening the tomb tonight."

"What about Jeremy?" I asked warily.

An eyebrow rose on his face. "What about him?"

"She's hanging out with Jeremy at the party tonight," I told him as I slid at the backseat. The smell of leather didn't feel comforting as it did when I was a kid, always making me recall the long drives Winnie and I had taken through New York, particularly at night. Such a sight . . . "I have a bad feeling about this."

"Don't we all?" Bonnie murmured.