Author's Note: Sorry it took a while to get this chapter up, school, difficulties, the usual. Warning: If you read this chapter you must review(please!)

Chapter 11

Jade's view

"Hello…Dad," I stood in the door way to the main room as my father, Elijah, turned with a cold glint in his eye. I had told Damon that I had wanted to talk to him alone but now I wasn't so sure. My arms were crossed over my chest and my legs in a shoulder-length stance; I returned his look with indifference as the corners of his mouth turned up,

"Hello my dear, how lovely to see that you've controlled that wild temper of yours," I clenched my jaw and stared him down reminding myself that he didn't know me, he'd been away too long, he had missed the gradual changes in my personality.

"My temper as you call it only comes out when there's a reason, usually I keep it in check," He nodded,

"Glad to hear it," I couldn't help the low growl that passed my lips and he studied me inquisitively,

"You are not my father; you stopped being anything close the day you walked out on us. So stop acting like you have some parental authority over me because as far as I'm concerned you died years ago." His eyes lit up at the challenge in my voice and he took a step toward me, I refused to move,

"Jade, I assure you, I am strictly here on business and nothing more. If it seemed that I was acting parental in any way then you can be sure that the mistake was yours." I dug my nails into the palms of my hands and felt the blood run to keep myself from scratching his eyes out. His expression was mildly amused making me grind my teeth together as he came even closer,

"If you knew what was good for you, you'd stay back," He stopped and I had to strain my ears to hear him,

"If you knew what was good for you, you'd get out of here," I tilted my head to the right,

"Here?" His face was a complete mask as he answered,

"Mystic Falls. They know you're here and when the time is right they will come for you,"

"Who?" But my mind already knew the answer,

"Alyson," A shiver ran through me at the mention of her name though I didn't know why, "That is all the help you will get from me, like I said, I am here strictly on business and nothing more," He made to brush past me but without thinking my hand shot out and grabbed his upper arm none too gently,

"Where do you think you're going? We're not finished yet," His eyes met mine not bothering to disguise his boredom,

"I think you'll find that we are," I tightened my grip on him but it went unnoticed,

"You know you are so close to being the straw that breaks the camel's back and I am being really nice considering the situation, so why don't you just tell me what business you're here for," We glared at each other, mine filled with hate and his with mild thought,

"I'm here to relay a message," When he failed to carry on I prompted him,

"From…?" And gestured for him to continue,

"My brother, Klaus. He says 'Break out the blood',"

"What kind of message is that? What does it mean?"

"I think it means that he will be visiting shortly," His gaze flicked to my hand, "I see you kept the ring," I let go of him immediately,

"By the way, how did you know-,"

"About vampires? I would've thought you'd have figured it out by now," I waited expectantly, "Nothing? Shame. I thought you were brighter than that," I bared my teeth, "Jade, I too am a vampire," I gasped and he chuckled.

"How long?" That was the longest sentence that my brain could process,

"Always, that's why I had to leave, your mother never knew and after more than five years together I didn't want her getting suspicious, so I left." My voice had never sounded so childish as I argued,

"You didn't have to leave," He shrugged,

"Maybe, but it's too late, now, if you'll excuse me," This time I didn't stop him as he walked out of my life for the second time.

Damon's View

From my perch up in the tree I watched as Elijah left the building. Good riddance. I was in my crow form, it was always the best form to take when spying from the high branches, and now I was mulling over the conversation that I had been eves-dropping on. My thoughts were interrupted by low mumblings coming from the house, I focused on the voices inside,

"He was just the messenger, something about someone called Klaus telling us to 'Break out the blood' which Elijah seems to think means he'll be paying us a visit," I recognised Jade's usually sarky voice,

"Klaus? That's not good news, are you sure that's what he said," Stefan. My blood slowly began to boil, what was he doing there?

"Yes, yes I am, Why? What's wrong with Klaus?"

"He just isn't the best person to hang about with," I must've missed some look that he had given her because the next thing Jade said surprised me,

"What are you suggesting?"

"I think you know," There was a moment of silence, "I don't think you should spend so much time with him, he isn't…the safest person to be around,"

"What, Damon? Nah," My feathers bristled at the mention of my name and when I realised what my brother was trying to do I dived off the branch and flew through the open window so that I landed on the arm of the couch that Jade was sitting on with a loud caw.

I saw her turn her head to face me in the corner of my eye but I had fixed my deadly gaze onto my younger brother, daring him to say any more that would turn Jade against me.

"Now Damon," He cautioned me,

"Damon," I heard the smile in Jade's voice as if it had all become clear to her, good, at least it had happened to one of them. I took no heed of my brother's warning and propelled myself into the air so as to pull out his tongue when I was stopped by a pair of gentle but firm hands, "Would you look at yourself? I'm not sure how much damage you're going to do as a bird,"

Watch me.

Not if I can help it.

She started to stroke the top of my head with the pad of her thumb, no-one had ever done this before, in 145 years this was the first time and it felt marvellous. I stayed still under her hypnotic touch and listened, taking in the things around me,

"How are you doing that?" Stefan was looking at me in amazement and disbelief,

"Hm? Oh! Growing up I got really interested in birds, I mean they could go anywhere they wanted, they could escape, and they sort of became my friends. So I learnt a few tricks about them," She pressed her thumb down and I couldn't help but relent under her gentle pressure,

"Ha! I think he likes it," Stefan exclaimed, I wanted to protest but found that I couldn't,

"Of course he does, he's just like any other bird," I must've missed another look between the two of them since Stefan had averted his gaze to the floor, "I know you think that he's completely evil-,"

"I never said-,"

"Never the less that's what you think and I don't blame you but I think there's more to it than that," She spoke quickly so as not to be interrupted, "He has a very complicated personality, and the only way he can cope is to hide behind this bad boy act of his. Don't get me wrong it's very realistic, very very realistic, but an act all the same," I felt Stefan's eyes on me but I could only look back with happy tranquillity, "Think you can understand Green-Eyes?" He looked up and smiled a smile that didn't quite reach up to his eyes,

"Looks like I'll have to," He pointed in the direction of the front door behind him, "I better pick up Elena," I felt Jade shift uncomfortably beneath me, what was that about? "See you in a bit,"

"Right, bye," And he was gone. Sighing she kicked her feet up onto the couch and positioned me onto her stomach before letting me go, I ruffled my feathers making her giggle slightly, her body vibrated beneath my feet. I looked into her eyes and really noted the colour, at the moment they were a warm snowy grey but I could easily imagine them turning into shards of ice or thunder clouds. Her arms lay over her chest and I hopped onto them,

"I think I prefer you as a bird,"

Crow.

"How do you know you're not a raven?" I cocked my head to the side, "I mean, you're a bit big to be a crow, let's be honest, and ravens are more intelligent so it would make more sense to be a raven," I righted my head.

How do you know that?

She shrugged, "Spend a lot of time around birds and you learn to notice things," I eyed her beadily and she eyed me back.

So, what's with you and Elena? She winced,

"You noticed that huh? Well…given how you're smitten by the girl I'm pretty sure you won't believe me," I pecked at her arm making her jolt, "Ow!"

I am not smitten by her, it is true that I was attracted to her at one point but that was it and nothing more!

She absently rubbed at the spot I had attacked, "Alright, it's nothing major she just doesn't like me,"

Is that it?

"With a girl like her that's enough,"

Why, what did you do to her?

"Nothing!" She stretched the word into two syllables and her expression was one of annoyance as if this were exactly what she was expecting, "I don't know maybe she feels threatened or something! It all started when she caught us kissing! Or should I say when you were kissing me despite my protests,"

Oh calm down you know you loved it.

She just glared at me, "Just watch her next time and look out for the subtle 'I'll kill you later' hints," I watched as she started to sniff the air, "What's that?" As a crow/raven my sense of smell was next to nothing so I could only listen out, and there was nothing to hear.

As she got to her feet I flew up and landed on her head keeping a sharp eye out for movement, we both jumped at the sound of the doorbell and looked toward the front door,

"Expecting someone?"

Are you kidding me? I pecked at her head and she ducked slightly,

"Ow! What'd I do?"

Just answer the door would you!

"Jeez," She muttered under her breath and cautiously made her way to the door, nothing could have prepared us mentally or otherwise for who we were about to meet…

Jade's view

I pulled open the door and although I had never met her before in my life I knew immediately who it was; standing in front of me was a girl who couldn't have been older than fifteen at most. Her outfit was completely black; black laced shoes, black skinny jeans and a simple black hoodie.

The hood was positioned so that it covered her face only allowing a pair of cold blue eyes to look out, they were like twin whirl-pools sucking me in, drowning me. She stood with her hands hidden in the front pocket of her jumper and with most of her weight on her right foot,

"Found you," Her voice had a posh English accent to it with a soft undertone that suggested trouble, before I could react, Damon sliced through the air, his beak aiming right between those eyes of hers. Her right hand shot out and grabbed his neck then pulled him to the side making sure that I could see as she proceeded to choke him, "Be a dear and invite me in,"

Don't you dare Jade!

"Jade," I looked up into her frightening gaze, "Don't risk what you can't bear to lose," I only hesitated a moment before nodding my head slightly and stepping to the side. She stepped through the door way bringing a cold wind of despair with her and thrust Damon into my hands, "There's a good girl," And continued into the main room, I found it difficult to keep Damon from going at her again, "Nice place you've got here," With her back to me I could make out a tuft of blonde hair poking out the back of her hoodie, like the end of a very long plait.

Damon changed into his human form and positioned himself in front of me just as she turned back to face us, her face was still strategically hidden from view, "Alyson," He stated bluntly, I could hear the smile in her voice,

"Good, you know me, that'll make this easier," Damon tensed ready to fight if need be but she hardly noticed, her entire attention focused on me, "It's good to meet you Jade, I've heard a lot about you," For a reason that I can't quite explain my fear evaporated and I pushed Damon roughly to the side, took three big steps, and stood before her, she was rather tall so I didn't tower over her quite as much as I would've liked,

"I've heard a lot about you too, though I can't really say that I feel the same, to be perfectly honest I'd rather that you weren't here,"

"I know, it's a pity, I wanted to do it the old fashioned way, you know, kill him, kidnap you, but Klaus believes that it will be more fun this way and I do like to have a bit of fun," Damon was at my side in a heart-beat,

"If you dare touch her I'll-,"

"You'll what? If you haven't already noticed I'm older than you which makes me both stronger and faster," The next thing I knew she had her elongated nails digging into Damon's neck, he groaned and grasped her wrist, "You want to do something? Why don't you and your little brother's friends stay out of my plans or I will be coming after them," She threw him to the floor as if he weren't worth the dust on her shoes, then she turned back to me,

"Where was I?" I gulped loudly, suddenly not feeling so brave,

"I believe you were explaining why you were here," She snapped her bloody fingers,

"Ah yes, I'm here to tell you that within the next week I'll be coming for you. It could be at any time, day or night, but you will be coming with me so you best keep your eyes open," Just as she was leaving Damon called out,

"Wait!" She slowly turned back, "Why tell us that? Don't you know never to leak the evil plan?"

"Oh Damon, it wouldn't be fun that way," She waved to us, "See you later," winking at me she made her exit.

Damon heaved himself up and slowly stumbled over to me, I looked at his already healing wounds and pulled his head down to mine, "Oops," Then I gently kissed the side of his neck.

Author's Note(again): Please review this story or Damon and Jade will not be happy.