It's been a while but I had so many details to iron out for this particular part of the story. Believe me, it's going to be a massive with the amount of things that happen. So I guess welcome to the Enchanted Forest Saga. Hope that doesn't sound too arrogant.

The first part isn't the most action packed. It's more flashbacks and dialogue than anything else but there are little things thrown in here and there that will come up again later on during the Enchanted Forest events.

You know the drill. Hope you like it and also feel free to leave a review as I love reading them. It's greatly appreciated by me :)

Chapter Ten: Enchanted Forest (Part One)

1957

My eyes race around the cold, pale blue and clinical environment wondering where the hell I am. How the bloody hell did I even get here? More importantly, how do I get out of this infernal place? I rest my head back on the gurney looking down at my tied up hands. I won't be able to get very far with my hands bound like this. Could it be that the Armory finally found me? I thought that I hid myself better than that. The door opens and I see a man enter with this style of danger but also there's something classy and cool in the way he presents himself. I stare at him taking in his raven black hair, dark blue eyes that dance with seduction and a certain edge, smooth olive skin while he dresses akin to James Dean with the black biker jacket, dark denim jeans and biker boots. If this were any other circumstance, this would be a look that would charm me.

"Who the hell are you?" I ask.

"Just someone who has been looking for you for a long time, sweetheart. It's good that I like a girl with mystery otherwise the way you've kept yourself hidden would have frustrated me a lot more." He answers attempting to charm me.

American accent as well. Clearly I didn't keep myself hidden that well if he managed to catch. The images of being tranquilized enter my head and then the vague memory of being thrown into a van. I'm assuming that he works with the Armory because there's no-one else who would chase me down with such annoying persistence and would treat me like a wild animal/

"That was the intention. So now you have me, what will the Armory do with me?"

"Oh, you think I work for them? Natural assumption but God, no, I don't. We're different from them. We don't have any interest in keeping you locked up unless you want to be an exhibition piece."

"This tells me otherwise." I respond cynical showing him my tied-up wrists.

"That was a precaution. You'll have to forgive us for the way you were brought here. We weren't sure whether words would be enough to convince you considering that you spent so long on the run. We think that we might be able to offer you something you want."

I chuckle sardonically having heard this before and the last time someone said something like that to me, it led to me spending half of this decade on the run trying to survive instead of live.

"If it's all the same, I'd rather be cut loose and get out."

"But go where? You're on the run. You can barely stay anywhere long enough to have a life. But if you insist then feel free..." He states and then grabs a small knife cutting me free from the ropes. "I just thought that you would like to learn more about what you are. Combat witches are rare after all. Also I think the idea of true freedom must sound compelling."

How does he know I'm a combat witch?

"How do you know about what I am?" I ask thrown.

"This place likes to know about the supernatural except we are them." He answers opening his jaw to show me his fangs.

"You're a vampire."

"Yes, I am. Scared?"

I shrug as I've met vampires before so it'll take more than that to get under my skin and impress me. A certain British vampire was a close friend of mine until a war got in the way of that. There's something about this guy that reminds me slightly of Enzo as well but there's a slightly different energy.

"Should I be?"

"I don't know. You're the one who has to take a risk and give up being in control. Do you think you can do that?"

I jump off the gurney walking up to him looking straight into those deep, dark blue eyes. He smirks slightly at me like he is so sure that I'm going to agree. As much as I would hate to add to that smirk, he's right. I'm not sure whether he's just incredibly confident or extremely arrogant. There's a fine line between the two. I'm not sure which one he is yet. I walk to the door ready to leave while he looks at through the corner of his eye still with a charismatic smirk.

"So am I going to get the guided tour?" I ask.

"Yes, you are. Follow me, Jade Sinclaire."

I wince a little at the syringe drawing blood out of my arm. It feels like a tiny insect bite and I've definitely felt worse physical pain in my life than this but it doesn't make drawing blood from my own body any more of a pleasant sensation. I'm not a vampire so looking at blood isn't enjoyable.

"You okay?" Bonnie asks.

"Almost done now." I say.

And now I am. I carefully take the syringe out offering it to Bonnie. She looks at it and she has her doubts. Honestly, I have my own because this is something that I've never had the chance to try over the seven decades I've been a combat witch.

"Scared?" I say teasingly.

"The last time I had someone else's blood in me, I nearly died and I had to become a vampire-hating huntress in order to save my life. Sorry if I'm a little cynical about doing this."

"Fair enough but I highly doubt that my blood will do that. You were a witch once. Even if I'm not a typical witch, my blood should have the effects I learned about while I was researching combat witches and their powers."

"And when was the last time you read up on your powers?"

"Nearly sixty years ago. So far, everything I've read has turned out to be true. Don't see why this would be an exception."

"So how does even work again?"

"Think of it like a 24 hour loan. You receive the basic abilities I have. Such as the strength and speed so you'll be in the same playing field as the rest of us but remember it only lasts that long. After that, you'll be the way you are without it."

Bonnie takes the syringe from me and after a second of contemplation, she injects herself without any sign of doubt. I hope that this works because it is a first. We won't know for sure until it's tested.

"So what happens when supernatural blood is in your system?" Bonnie wonders curious.

"I already have supernatural blood." I say giving the obvious answer trying to get a reaction out of her.

Bonnie rolls her eyes at me and I guess I should give her a serious answer. It might be helpful later if someone outside of Gabriel knows what happens when I have vampire blood inside me.

"If I had vampire blood in me, it would do more than just heal me like it does for others. It would enhance my powers further. I would be stronger and faster. I have no idea what it would do to my mental capabilities. It would probably enhance them too to levels that I can't even imagine."

"Call me crazy but you make it sound like a bad thing, Jade. Why would you complain about an extra power boost?"

"The phrase 'absolute power corrupts absolutely' comes to mind. Gabriel has used vampire blood on me a few times since we've known each other and each time he has, I become just a little bit darker. Having a dark mind and strong powers means I wouldn't be too far from the very thing we're trying to stop."

It grows more tempting each time too. It takes a while for me to pull myself back from it. I've managed to come back each time so I haven't really tested the limits when I'm enhanced. My power is great enough when I'm like this. Sometimes I do wonder what it would be like to be that powerful but then I remember that thoughts like that will lure me to do things that I shouldn't do otherwise.

I look at myself in the mirror as I stand there dressed for the Enchanted Forest. I wish that I was going there to actually have fun rather than to play protector over the population of Mystic Falls. We aren't sure whether Enzo and Damon will strike but the idea of so many humans in one place sounds like easy prey to a vampire especially to those who are looking to bring destruction. I look at my light blue vest and shorts with ankle high brown boots. I tie my hair into a ponytail using a ribbon and the last thing I need to put on is my dark red raven mask. My eyes focus on Gabriel looking at him through the mirror. He's wearing a light green jacket, white t-shirt and light blue jeans and black trainers. It's a change because he usually wears darker colours. I wouldn't recognise him if this was any other day. He also has a raven mask except his is black instead of red like mine. I suppose that was his compromise for wearing the brighter colours. Gabriel catches me looking at him.

"What's drawn your eye, sweetheart?"

"Nothing. I don't think I've ever seen you in colour in the past sixty years. You look adorable, my love."

"Yeah, well, don't get used to the sight."

I pretend to sulk and Gabriel smiles as he walks up to me and puts his arms around my waist while I lean my head into his shoulder feeling that comfort and relaxation that always comes with being in his arms. I put my hands over his.

"Are you ready for this?" Gabriel asks.

"I'm ready for almost anything. I'm not looking forward to seeing the casualties that come out of from today. Do you really think that Enzo and Damon will be there? They might be playing to the shadows."

"So many people in one place and they're without humanity and they're possessed? It's an almost certainty for me. It's too good for any vampire to pass up if they want fresh human blood. Trust me."

I understand that Gabriel is a vampire so the idea of human blood spilling is always going to sound alluring to him even if he has got it under control. It does unsettle me that he always sound so casual about it though.

"But if this goes well then we'll be able to lower the list of casualties." Gabriel adds.

That ending sentence ends that unsettling feeling immediately but I can't share his positive outlook on this. I'm too cynical about what could go wrong and how fatally it could go wrong as well.

"I fell for such an optimist." I tease.

"Having a positive outlook doesn't hurt, Jade." Gabriel smiles kissing my shoulder. "Remember that's why I kept trying to make you fall in love with me."

True.

"You never were shy of expressing an emotion. That was sweet." I say with a reminiscing smile.

"It took time but it was stronger for it. Look at us now. We've nearly had a lifetime of being together and we'll have so many more."

My heart warms as I give him a loving smile. We kiss slowly and then passionately as I remember so many things about how we first met. I never thought when I met Gabriel that we would be the way we are now. There was definitely a draw to him at first sight but it's easy to lust than it is to love. I feel myself starting to melt because of his kiss as my emotions start to control me. My hands start to try and pull his t-shirt off while I feel his hands descend lower and lower caressing me. Gabriel pulls away from the kiss which immediately makes me feel sadder as a result.

"If we keep going, we'll never leave the room." Gabriel says.

Unfortunately, he's right. I move my arms from his waist and wrap them around his neck unable to stop looking into those two deep blue pools that he has for eyes.

"To be continued?" Gabriel proposes.

"To be continued." I smile seductively.