Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters, ideas and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: Dear Faithful Readers; I advise you all to please read the Author's Note at the end of this chapter, for despite my ramblings (shy face) it is important for the future chapters. ENJOY! XD

Chapter 11:

"Are you Death?"

Silence permeated the air the second the question came forth from Ember's lips. The shadow quivered before disappearing entirely from view, leaving Ember by her lonesome. The nervous inhalation and exhalation of her breathing echoed in the vacant, chilly room, and just as her impatience reared its head, a new sound ensued; footsteps, delicate yet deliberate and calculated footsteps. Emerald orbs narrowed in on the new figure and then widened at finally seeing the true face of the specter that had been haunting her.

Familiar hazel-green orbs stared at her from an oval shaped face, high cheekbones, a slightly wide forehead, a curved chin, and a straight-sloped nose. She had long, straight ebony locks that cascaded down to her thighs, a caramel complexion, and thin beige lips that curved into a benign smile once she stood directly opposite to her. The woman shook her head slightly, and opened her mouth, "Death? As much as I am used to being compared to death, I don't think Death himself would appreciate your muddle up, child." Her voice, although identical to the looming shadow, was softer, more honeyed and didn't elicit goosebumps from her, nor did it stir any foreboding sensations, but one of tranquility.

"Who are you? Why am I here? Am I, am I … dead?" Ember choked out with grief, the questions tumbling one after the other, encouraged with the creepy shadow's disappearance. Compassion shone from those familiar eyes, and the strange woman took deliberate steps toward her and softly grasped her hand, a soothing smile on her visage.

"Your answers shall all be answered in time, child. Fret not," the woman uttered, and Ember noted that her words had a lilt, the archaic inflection standing out vastly in her tone. "But I shall appease you by giving you the answer to your first questions. My name, child, is Qetsiyah, and I was the one to bring you into my domain."

"Qetsiyah?" crimson brows knit together in confusion, the name completely unfamiliar to her. "But, but why?"

"We have much to discuss, dear one, and not enough time," Qetsiyah ominously uttered.

Throughout all the mourning, yells of denial and discord, Jenna managed to call an ambulance, and the large congregated group relocated themselves into the hospital's waiting room where they were all impatiently awaiting the doctor's diagnosis. It wasn't until three hours after Damon claimed that Ember lacked a heartbeat, that Doctor Meredith Fell approached them and consequently informed them that the team of surgeons finally managed to resuscitate her, but due to her being dead for hours, Ember was in a deep coma.

"I hate to be blunt, Jenna," Meredith mournfully spoke up, "But if I were you, I wouldn't get my hopes up. We will make her comfortable to the best of our abilities, but you should be ready for two possibilities. Either she never wakes up, or," sighing sadly, and staring at the sea of worried faces, Meredith softly carried on, "Or if, and it's a large if, she does wake up, she could have amnesia."

Bonnie, unable to stick around the mourning Gilberts with the thoughts of her ancestor responsible for her best friend's condition plaguing her mind, departed the hospital to her Grams, demanding answers nobody had the heart to give her, as they were all drowning in grief. The Potters and the Blacks knew their presence wasn't wanted and so, returned to their houses, but were adamant in visiting Ember the next day. Lexi managed to remain waiting until daylight and then ensconced herself in the Salvatore Boarding House. Damon, Stefan and Caroline however, were the only ones to remain behind with Jenna, Elena and Jeremy, all three of whom were sporting bloodshot eyes, tear-stained faces, puffy eyes and a gloomy disposition.

The sun came up, and Ember was still in the firm clutches of a coma, and only the soothing sounds of her rhythmic heartbeat echoing around the room, gave the three family members, Caroline, and the two vampires a smidge of hope. Not one word was traded, six pairs of eyes unwaveringly attached to Ember's pallid face and unconscious form, their eyes flickering at times to the tube covering her ashen lips, where it was hooked up to a ventilator, portraying the severity of Ember's condition.

The doctors were all dumbfounded with what ailed Ember Gilbert, and what caused her to fall to her death. Many tests were made, blood was taken, and X-Rays were filmed, and the verdict explicitly displayed that Ember Gilbert was a healthy young girl, with absolutely no disease, cancer or any life threatening affliction riddling her.

The enigma of Ember echoed in the recess of every doctor's mind; how does a perfectly healthy girl just collapse to her death? Unfortunately, medicine never heard of the spirits of vindictive dead witches before, and could therefore, offer no solution.

"Death and I, are two completely different entities, Ember," Qetsiyah's lecturing tone snapped the redhead from her bewildered trance, and she looked up into hazel-green orbs, offering her complete attention. "Death is portrayed as the Grim Reaper, who does in fact, collect souls, both mortal and supernatural. I, on the other hand, am the creator of this dimension we both appear to be in."

"Dimension?" Ember parroted in palpable confusion.

Qetsiyah nodded with a smile, "Yes. For I am the creator of The Other Side. Tis a supernatural dimension where the spirits of dead supernatural beings reside in a state of purgatory or limbo. A choice is given to the pure ones who have done much good in their life, or harvested compassion, to move on and find eternal peace." As Ember's forehead puckered in confusion, Qetsiyah gestured for her to amble alongside her, and she clarified her previous statement, "You see, Ember, some beings prefer to stand watch over their loved ones or their descendants instead of moving on, and for some, only once their loved ones have departed from the land of living, or their unfinished business has reached fruition, do they decide to move on."

Comprehension flickered in emerald orbs, "So if I am in The Other Side, where are all the other dead beings?"

Qetsiyah chuckled, shaking her head fondly at the redhead, "Oh, dear child, we shall not be interacting with them, for we are in my private quarters. I am the creator of this dimension, and so, I have my own privacy in which I dwell."

"Okay, fiine, look. Not wanting to be rude, Qetsiyah, but why exactly am I here? I am a completely healthy girl, I should not be dead-"

"Ah, but you have said it yourself, child. Should not, not could not. You should not be dead," Qetsiyah retorted contritely. Ember blanched, and her heart began racing, aggressively beating against her ribcage at the implication. Qetsiyah let out a long sigh before whipping around to face her, "The answers to which you seek shall be answered in due time, but we mustn't tarry, for I cannot leave you in my domain for long."

Ember obediently remained silent as Qetsiyah gathered her thoughts together, and when she finally spoke, there was a detached quality to her accentuated words, "I was born two thousand years ago, Ember," she barely managed to continue with her diatribe as Ember sucked in a sharp intake of breath; the witch had never before met anybody that old. Even Hogwarts' Founders were born one thousand years ago, but two millennia was unheard of. "Throughout the millennia, history is all muddled up with deception and misconstructions, and there will come a day were you shall hear of my name, and for that, I shall offer a few genuine facts about me until the time comes. I am a powerful witch child, and for that reason I was coveted by many; I was an ambitious witch with many goals and dreams and with the aid of my best friend, a fellow powerful warlock, they nearly came to fruition. Unfortunately, my own flesh and blood betrayed me in a deplorable act, leaving me to abide my time until I succeeded. My sister, five years younger than I, was a spiteful and vindictive witch, envious of my potent powers, and since I trusted her wholeheartedly, she manipulated me, betrayed me, backstabbed me, and then finally, murdered me in cold blood."

Ember gasped, both hands covered her mouth in shock, "H-How? I, I can't even stomach the idea of family turning their back against each other, and to the extent of killing-, wow!"

"Family always comes first, hmm?" Qetsiyah grinned fondly. "Oh yes, I am quite knowledgeable of the Gilbert Family Motto, child. Unfortunately, my sister, Qadira, lacked any loyalty, only looking out for herself and her own happiness, which of course, backfired in the end," and here, the archaic witch's grin turned sadistic, and Ember couldn't honestly blame her. "I will not enter the excruciating details of my history, or my goals, for now. When the time is right, I shall impart all truthful knowledge to you, but for now, I must inform you of the very reason I intercepted and brought you here."

"Intercepted?" Ember interjected harshly, tired with the lack of details and the continuously beating around the bush, "Intercepted who?"

"Whom, child. Intercepted whom," Qetsiyah corrected, and Ember could have sworn a malicious glint flashed in those familiar hazel-green eyes and her face morphed into bitterness with a combination of vehement disapproval, "You managed to attain powerful enemies, Ember dear. I intercepted Emily Bennett's vow of retribution. You were close to being cursed, child."

Scoffing loudly, Ember crossed her arms against her chest, "I'm already dead, though… aren't I?" she asked uncertainly, but Qetsiyah merely offered her a secretive smile, one that held more questions than answers.

There was no question over whether or not Elena, Caroline and Jeremy were going to make an appearance at school, for none of them wanted to leave Ember alone in fear of her awakening or perishing in their absence. For the past fifteen hours, they were all in a catatonic state, only moving from their post when nourishment was needed; however, the routine was interrupted with Sheriff Forbes' arrival.

"Mom? What are you-, are you here to visit Ember?" Caroline asked hoarsely, her voice diminishing with her lack of speech. Liz smiled sadly, her mahogany orbs watering slightly when she looked upon Ember's frail state and the desolate face of her precious daughter. Unfortunately, Liz was on duty at the moment and could not offer her daughter any comfort. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but I'm here on police business."

Caroline scoffed, her cornflower-blue eyes hardening as she stared at her absentee mother, "Of course, how could I forget that your job will always be more important than your own daughter, and Ember who looks up to you as an aunt."

Caroli-"

"No! I don't want to hear it," Caroline hissed, interrupting what looked to be more worn-out excuses from her mother. Addressing Elena, she said, "I'm going to get something from the cafeteria, you want anything?"

Elena's eyes flickered to her dispirited aunt and disconsolate brother before standing up and joining Caroline, "I'll come with. Get some food for Jenna and Jeremy. Stefan, you coming?" Once the three of them departed Ember's private room, Liz sighed forlornly and gestured for Damon to walk with her. As they approached the vacant waiting room, she turned around to face Damon, worried frowns settling in on her forehead.

"Sheriff, what do you need?" Damon asked; a part of him wanted to remain with Ember, but he knew that the Sheriff called him for a reason, most probably related to the council, and if he wanted to remain in the loop and keep suspicions away from him and Stefan until he liberated Katherine from the tomb, he had to play his part well.

"There's been another attack," Liz whispered solemnly. "A female victim, her throat torn out, completely drained of blood. It fits the pattern."

Shocked speechless, Damon unattractively gaped at the grave Sherriff, unable to comprehend the situation, for all the previous vampire attacks were caused by him, and he sure as hell haven't been feeding on anything but blood bags since Lexi's arrival. "I'm sorry. I don't understand. I thought we solved that problem when I staked the blonde one," and it was half-true, after all, Ember did some freaky witch mojo with her mind, placing the memory of him staking a blonde male vampire instead of Lexi like he had originally planned.

Liz shook her head in bafflement, "I'm thinking he must have turned someone. Or multiple someones. I don't know." Damon's expression remained blank and perplexed, but inwardly, he scoffed, for he was positive that the imaginary blonde vampire didn't turn anyone. Oblivious to the conflicting thoughts revolving in Damon's head, Liz hurriedly continued, "The story for the town is another animal attack, but I'm not sure how long we can keep lying to them. The council is in an uproar. We thought we were past this."

Trying to be helpful, Damon schooled his handsome visage into one of determination, "So, uh, what do we do?" Liz pursed her lips and stared at him in consternation, "You're the only one who's ever taken on a vampire. We were hoping you could tell us."

Damon nodded, "I'll see what I can do, Liz. You can trust me on this." Once she left the hospital, he made a beeline to Ember's room, grateful that Stefan had returned. Knowing that Jenna, Jeremy, Elena and Caroline were aware of the supernatural, he didn't bother to lower his voice as he divulged to his brother that there was another vampire in town.

Life flickered back into Elena's face, and she traded a confused glance with an equally perplexed Caroline, "But, you, Stefan and Lexi are the only vampires in town, who else could it be?"

"Back when that damn reporter Logan nearly killed Stefan, he had the Gilbert compass in his possession-" Damon was interrupted by an enraged Jeremy, who had been listening in on them despite his catatonic state, "How the hell did he get that? It was in my room!"

Even Jenna managed to detach her brown orbs from Ember's form to stare at Damon in question. Of course, she was informed of her ex-boyfriend's untimely demise, and although she was saddened that Vicki killed him in the end, she couldn't bring herself to mourn over the man who continuously broke her heart. Damon leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and nonchalantly shrugged, "My guess is he sneaked into your room one day-"

"That son of a bitch!" Jenna croaked. All eyes were fixated on her, and after she took a few sips of water, she cleared her throat and clarified, "I knew there must have been a reason why he kept pushing for dinner to take place at the house. When he spent ages in the bathroom, he must have pilfered the compass from Jeremy's room."

"Makes sense," Stefan nodded grimly, "Logan Fell was a member of the council. They must have tasked him with getting the compass from you since it's a Gilbert heirloom."

"But why?" Jeremy frowned in confusion.

Damon rolled his eyes at his obliviousness, but spoke calmly, not wanting to add more stress to the mourning Gilbert, "Your ancestor, Jonathan Gilbert created that compass back in 1864, it's how the council managed to pinpoint the vampires. It's not a normal compass, Jeremy, it points towards vampires. And luckily, I managed to retrieve it from Logan's dead body. So," he pushed himself off the wall, "Who's going to offer their help in assisting me with finding this mysterious vampire?"

"Damon," Stefan warned him. Damon scoffed, "Look, I understand that this is horrible timing, but I interfere with the compass, I need-"

"I'll do it."

Five pairs of eyes widened in shock at Caroline's resolute stance. Caroline Forbes out of all people was freely offering her services to Damon Salvatore, the vampire that fed from her, compelled her, and basically made her life hell before discovering about vampires. "I'll do it," Caroline repeated adamantly, getting off her seat, "All this waiting is killing me, I need a distraction."

"Okay, Care, just, just be careful, okay?" Elena softly spoke up, her chocolate orbs worriedly assessing her blonde best friend, "We can't lose you too."

Caroline nodded and stood beside Damon, "Just, if there's any change with Ember, let me know, okay?"

"Say what now? Emily Bennett? That bitch was banished back to the afterlife, thank you very much," Ember scowled; she loved Sheila and Bonnie, but their ancestor was a spiteful, backstabbing bitch, and Ember hated her with a passion, especially after she kept spouting off all that Rose Potter, Girl-Who-Lived bullshit. Ember hated it when people went back on their word, and even though Emily was dead, there was no excuse for her to terminate the deal she struck with Damon, who had kept his promise and saved the Bennett line throughout the century and a half of his immortality.

It was almost as if Qetsiyah had read her mind, for the ancient witch beamed at her proudly, "We are digressing, child. …For two millennia I patiently bid my time in my dimension, conspiring and planning out my long-forgotten goals, and then, seventeen years ago, you were born. I felt a spike of potent power in the air, and it echoed through me in this dimension. It was then that I discovered the prophecy that ruled your birth, and that morbid Halloween night, I watched how you miraculously defeated the Dark Lord, Voldemort." Ember backed away slightly, her emerald orbs widening in shock; this was more than the redhead ever expected, but Qetsiyah ignored her state, and adamantly continued, "Albus Dumbledore is not evil, Ember, he has good intentions, but he merely doled out actions incorrectly. I observed from The Other Side as the old fool wrongly claimed Harold Potter as the Boy-Who-Lived, and watched in apoplectic anger and disgust as James and Lily Potter dropped you on the doorstep of that dreary orphanage on a cold, windy night. And then," her smile widened impressively, "And then, child, Grayson and John Gilbert found you, and took you in, and let me tell you Ember, there is no doubt that you were meant to be adopted by the Gilberts."

"Wh-what, no, wh-,"Ember stammered like an idiot, unable to form a simple comprehensive word.

Qetsiyah softly clasped her hand and lifted it to her chest, those familiar hazel-green orbs staring solemnly at her, "The very second the decision of abandoning you was made by the Potters, the prophecy became null and void, Ember. Your future changed the second John Gilbert picked you up from the ground. Your future began unfolding once Grayson and Miranda decided to adopt you and made you a Gilbert. Your future was set in stone once you were bequeathed the name Ember Miranda Gilbert. You are meant for a plethora of great things, Ember, and everyone's future began to erase itself, write out and change completely when you were brought and raised in Mystic Falls."

"What do you mean?" Ember unconsciously whispered, feeling a heavy burden drop onto her shoulders all of a sudden.

The ancient witch patted her cheek fondly, and disclosed in a mystical voice, "Grayson and John Gilbert were taught at a young age to despise vampires with venomous malice. The journals of their ancestors claimed them to be naught but coldblooded and vicious murderers who are constantly in a state of blood frenzy and are abominations deserving of a swift death. In 1864, witches were sentenced to death, pursued and once congregated together, they were burned alive. But when you entered their life, everything changed phenomenally. The Gilbert brothers, though still adverse to vampires, were no longer blinded by their ancestors recounting. They now admit that, like there are murderous vampires, there are also good ones out there that deserve a chance at life. The Gilbert brothers respect witches and their potent power. All because of you, dear one. It all changed when at the age of ten, your heritage was uncovered, and every weekend when you returned to Mystic Falls and regaled all about the magical community and the creatures that exist within, their beliefs slowly changed."

"So if I am to understand you correctly, you're saying that the Potters abandoning me was like the butterfly effect?" Ember struggled to say, as the weight of Qetsiyah's words seared into her mind.

"Exactly!" Qetsiyah enthusiastically replied, glad that the redhead managed to keep up with her, "On your eleventh birthday, Death paid me a visit – don't you roll your eyes at me, child." Ember snorted, but acquiesced and fixed the ancient witch with a solemn stare. "Death knew of my obsession with you ever since I felt the potent power running through your veins and in the ambience when you came out of Lily Potter's womb. He shared with me images of a future without you in it, what I mean to say, without you being raised as a Gilbert. And it was horrible," a chill ran down Ember's spine once she was on the receiving end of Qetsiyah's grave look, "So much unneeded death and tragedy. Your parents were always meant to die on May 23rd 2009, child; I know you hate to hear this, but their death was written in stone with your inclusion and without. The Salvatore brothers' arrival was meant to be as well, but the many deaths that followed were not. You being raised as a Gilbert was foretold to change many things."

"Such as? Give me a few examples, Qetsiyah, because what you're saying is insane!"

"Lexi's death for one. Jenna and Jeremy being knowledgeable in all things supernatural will be crucial in saving their lives. You aiding Damon and stopping Emily from destroying the talisman prevented many deaths as well. Don't sell yourself short, child," Qetsiyah rebuked her as though she were a petulant, misbehaving child. "After Death's departure, I left you be, and watched over my descendants and I didn't return to your side until two nights ago."

"I know. I felt you," Ember articulated in a hushed voice, "I felt like Death was coming to claim my soul, and I didn't know why."

"It is time you know, child," Qetsiyah firmly responded. "For when Emily Bennett began haunting Bonnie's dreams, I watched you closely, and your actions solidified my goals. My descendants are misguided, Ember, and I have chosen you to be the Champion that shall fix my sister's mistakes."

"Woah! Hold on a second. You're a Bennett witch! Emily and Bonnie are your descendants!" Ember felt like bashing her skull against the wall for not realizing it sooner. Qetsiyah's hazel-green eyes were familiar because they were the exact same shade and shape as Bonnie's.

Qetsiyah chuckled good-naturedly, "I was wondering how long it would take you to piece the puzzle together."

"But, I don't understand. What can I do? How exactly are they misguided?"

A despondent look overtook Qetsiyah's ethereal visage, and she pursed her lips in disappointment, "Servants of Nature have been misled for two millennia, ever since my death and Qadira's betrayal. Listen to me, child. With my untimely demise, I bore no children. Qadira however, gave birth to a girl, a Bennett descendant who continued our heritage, and due to Qadira's vindictiveness, they existed a life of deception. As Servants of Nature evolved and proliferated throughout these two millennia, so did their deep hatred for vampires; Servants of Nature witches believe that their duty is to maintain the balance within the world by eradicating the abominations they call vampires, but alas, they were erroneous. Throughout the millennia they have deplorably failed in their duties, and I have chosen you to make it right, to fix the wrongs by honoring the design of nature and maintaining balance within the supernatural world."

Harold Potter was confused.

He had grown up believing that he was the savior of the wizarding world, the Boy-Who-Lived, the Heir to the Potter line, and the Chosen One, and for those plethora of reasons, he grew up to be a spoilt and arrogant boy just like Professor Snape always claimed him to be. During the course of his childhood, Harry loved being an older brother, and thrived to ensure he always was the focal point of Violet's adoring gaze; Violet Potter, his baby sister, perceived him as her idol and always looked up to him as her older brother. But despite all that, Harry always felt as though there was something, or someone important missing from his life, but he kept such peculiar thoughts to himself and only shared them with his best friends Ron and Hermione. And then, the Triwizard Tournament took place at Hogwarts, he prevailed the Third Task and became the guest of honor to Voldemort's rebirthing ritual in which Wormtail used his blood to aid Voldemort's attainment of a corporeal form.

That was the pivotal moment in Harry Potter's life where the truth finally came out from Voldemort's lipless mouth. He had another sister. No, not just any sister, but a twin sister, the other half of him, the missing piece of him, and the actual Child-Who-Lived; Harry's entire life had been a mockery, a lie! He was never supposed to be the Boy-Who-Lived, and according to Voldemort, she intercepted the Killing Curse that was meant for him, for if Rose stayed in her crib, Harry would have died, and she would have been the lone survivor on Halloween.

And he hated her.

In all honesty, deep within the recess of his mind, Harry recognized his hatred for Rose was deep-seated from his parents' deception and not from her stealing his elaborate title, for how could he hate the twin that saved his life? How could he hate his sister who was abandoned and dumped uncaringly on the front steps of an orphanage without even a letter stating her given name or date of birth? No. Harold Potter, in all actuality took out his hatred of his parents' choice on Rose's existence. And now, after seeing her die with his own eyes, seeing her immobile form and being informed that she had less than a percentage of survival, it awoke his true feelings and the profound love he felt for the twin sister he never had a chance of knowing, robbed by his parents.

Harry currently sat in the terrace of Potter Manor in Mystic Falls with his friends and Violet while he mulled the true feelings in his head. He shook his head in disapproval when he heard Albus Dumbledore floo inside the house, knowing that his parents and godparents made a colossal mistake in bringing forth the Headmaster and confiding in him of Rose- No, Ember's crucial condition. Harry knew that Dumbledore's interference would only cause more problems with the Gilberts – his twin sister's true family, the ones she loved with every beat of her heart.

"Woah, Harry, look!" Violet's hushed voice implored; Harry's hazel orbs concentrated on the blue car that parked in front of the Boarding House, and discovered that Violet's attention had been fixated on their neighbor's bloody form, and the blonde girl, Caroline or whatever, aiding him into the house.

"God, I'm trying to help you, Damon!" Caroline yelled, the annoyance seeping into her voice.

"Well, I doubt you're willing to tap a vein for me, Blondie, so not really helping."

Caroline then stomped her feet on the ground as she opened the door, and the last words they heard before the front door closed behind them, was her grousing out, "God, you are such an ass!"

The Salvatores were another conundrum to Harry; last night, when that Damon fellow, his brother and the other blonde lady appeared by Ember's unconscious form, they showed abnormal speed, and when Damon bit his wrist and practically forced his blood into her mouth, it wholly shocked him. They were obviously vampires, but none of them had ever heard or seen of such humanoid vampires, and their species differed greatly from Magical Vampires. The Gilberts and their friends however, were very familiar with them and the Salvatore brothers never once left Ember's bedside at the hospital.

Suddenly, Dumbledore appeared by their side dressed eccentrically in Muggle garbs, his face sullen, but he managed to give them all a benign smile. His Dad addressed them all, "You are all to stay here under Bill's protection while we take Albus to the hospital."

Harry kept quiet, but he knew that their decision would come to bite them all in the ass.

Jenna glared at the unwelcome visitors with intense hatred; with their sudden arrival, she managed to snap out of her catatonic state and defend her unconscious niece. The nerve of them; of course Jenna comprehended the British intruders hoped to get away with it due to Ember's lack of awareness.

"I don't care who you are, old man! You are not allowed to be alone or within close proximity of my niece!" Jenna shouted, her brown orbs ablaze with fury. Jeremy stood protectively by Ember's side, and if truth be told, Jenna was grateful for Stefan's safe presence, knowing that he would be able to flash her away in the worst case scenario.

"My dear-"

"I am not your dear anything, Dumbledore!" Jenna interrupted with a growl, taking deep pleasure in the flicker of surprise that appeared in the light blue orbs of the wizened wizard, "What? Thought I was oblivious, old man? We all know who you are, and how you are trying to turn my niece into your scapegoat."

"Miss Sommers," Dumbledore sighed wearily, "I am here due to reasons of utmost importance. I need to identify something within your niece-"

"No!" Elena finally spoke up, her chocolate orbs hardening, "You and your damn wand are going nowhere near my sister. You lost all chances of interaction when you threw her away. I'm sure President Bane would be very interested once I tell him that you are practically trying to bulldoze your way into Ember's life while she's unconscious and therefore taking advantage of her vulnerable state."

The threat of the President of MACUSA worked wonders with the old geezer, the Potters and the Blacks, for Ember was an American citizen and under Gregory Bane's personal protection, especially in regards to Albus Dumbledore's many schemes in turning her into the British Community's scapegoat against Voldemort.

Before Dumbledore could manage a retort, a stern voice boomed out, "Is there a problem here?" They all whipped around, and Jenna vividly breathed a sigh of relief at the Mayor's arrival. "Mayor Lockwood," Jenna smiled, "These people here are not respecting my wishes as Ember's guardian to leave her alone."

Mayor Richard Lockwood leveled them with a warning look, "Listen up Mr. Potter, we already spoke about this before you chose to seek residence in my town. You are to stay far away from Ember unless she desires a confrontation. Choosing to force yourselves into her personal space in her current condition where she cannot speak for herself is deplorable and I will not stand for it."

"She is my daughter!" James snapped indignantly.

"No," Richard simply replied in a manner of forced calm, "Her father, Grayson, was a good man, and he died. Jenna is her aunt and acting guardian, and you will respect her wishes, or we'll be having problems. Now please, leave." Once the group of wand-wielders grudgingly left, Mayor Lockwood adopted his worried uncle visage and stared imploringly between Jenna and Ember, "How is she? Tyler's a mess, and Carol and I have been worried sick."

Jenna sniffed and accepted the hug from him gladly, "She's still the same. It isn't good, Richard."

"Ember is a fighter, don't you worry. Elena, you good sweetheart?" Richard embraced the tearful twin and after clasping Jeremy's shoulder in a comforting manner, promised that he would return after the career fair at Mystic Falls High was over. Mayor Lockwood had barely been gone for an hour, when a frantic Caroline and a freshly showered pissed off Damon made an appearance.

"Did you locate the vampire?" Stefan abruptly asked, forgoing all pleasantries. Jenna, Elena and Jeremy concentrated on Damon and Caroline, awaiting their reply.

"Oh, we found him alright. It's Logan Fell," Damon spat out in anger.

"What? How?!" Jenna gasped, clutching her chest in fear and confusion.

Caroline shook her head, after all, she had remained by Damon's side during the entire intense confrontation unable to do anything but stand by the sidelines feeling useless while she watched Logan shoot wooden bullets repeatedly at Damon's torso, "Apparently someone slipped him vampire blood while he was unaware."

"He's going to the career fair at school. Stefan you with me?" Damon offered. Grimly, Stefan kissed Elena goodbye, and the two vampires raced over to the Mystic Falls High; they had a volatile vampire to neutralize.

"How am I supposed to maintain the balance? I mean, all Servants of Nature are indoctrinated to believe vampires are abominations," Ember informed the ancient witch.

"You are worthy, child. The odd thing is you and your adopted twin-" Ember couldn't help but frown at the way Qetsiyah said the word 'adopted', almost as though she knew something Ember didn't, but she didn't dare to interrupt, "-both have a pure soul. Instead of vindicating vampires as soulless monsters who deserve death and lack any and all compassion, you defend them and try to understand them. Even with the ominous future spread out in front of you that is filled with perilous dangers and life threatening situations, yet you feel empathy toward evil's plight."

"What do you mean by a perilous future?" Ember inquired; fear the main emotion on her visage as it gripped her heart.

Qetsiyah gave her a look filled with unadulterated pity, "You are not meant to know yet, but I shall give you a clue, one that would take prominence in Elena's life. Elena is the doppelgänger of Katherine. Stefan will be honest once you ask, but do ensure your sister that the young Salvatore loves her despite the fact she shares the same face as his previous lover."

Ember gaped at the ancient witch; her sister was the doppelgänger of the manipulative vampire that played two close brothers against each other and turned them into bitter rivals, the same bitch that Damon was deeply enamored with? Shaking her head, Ember decided to think about that particular quandary later on.

"Now, listen carefully, child; when I observed you defend Damon, fight Emily and keep the pact she was willing to ignore, it cemented you as my chosen champion. You, a powerful witch, who detected the importance of a bound agreement, and is aiding my remaining descendants' survival. I would greatly appreciate it if you accept the role I bequeath to you, and cleanse the propagandized beliefs of all Servants of Nature witches," Qetsiyah implored, her hazel-green orbs beseeching the redhead to accept the huge burden.

Ember glared at the cunning ancient witch, for there was no question on whether or not the redhead would accept the important role that was being bestowed upon her. However, Ember had always been an astute girl who had the ability to perceive the bigger picture, and it was obvious to her that Qetsiyah was hiding many things from her.

"Why ask me when you know I would accept in a heartbeat? I am not a fan of all this dogma, and in my honest belief, Servants of Nature witches are too haughty and arrogant, believing them to be self-important and gods. I mean, they have the audacity to put themselves on a holy pedestal while they condemn vampires and call them monsters. They are carnivores; we humans eat meat, just like vampires need blood as nourishment."

In a rare moment of childishness, so unlike the two-thousand-year-old witch, Qetsiyah jubilantly clapped her hands and let out a squeal. After composing herself, Qetsiyah smiled at her, and announced, "That is the reason why I have chosen you, Ember Gilbert. You and your sister working together as a team, both of you shall be an indestructible and unstoppable force. Your close family ties, and the friendships you make will prove to be crucial in the future. Now, l shall state your duty, child, so listen carefully; there has to be a balance to each and every supernatural entity in existence. There aren't supposed to be too many werewolves, or too many vampires, or too many Servant of Nature witches and wand-wielders, there also shouldn't be too many humans. There has to be a balance so that the supernatural don't take over and wipe out the human race, and in retrospect, humans cannot overpopulate and wipe out the various supernatural entities. Qadira, in all her vindictive glory, twisted my beliefs and our duty as witches; she ensured her daughter would receive a fake journal depicting our hatred to vampires in the hopes that all our remaining descendants would eradicate them from the world. That cannot do, and you will be the turning point in restoring our duty, and the duty of my lineage."

Damon grabbed Logan by the collar and dragged him over to Stefan who was waiting for them in the stoner pit, away from all the innocents congregated inside the school while Liz Forbes ran over to the hospital to ensure Caroline's safety after Logan threatened her life.

Stefan passed over a tire iron to Damon, who swiftly caught it and swung it over Logan's head, indicating that he would harm him if he didn't get the answers he needed, "I'm gonna try this one more time. Who turned you?"

"I told you, I don't know!" Logan lied through gritted teeth.

Damon rolled his eyes and inspected the tire iron while Stefan held Logan in a stronghold, "This tire iron here could take your head clean off" he then held it again in a swinging position, aiming for Logan's head, "Is that your final answer?"

Logan's face twisted into unadulterated rage, "How can you side with them?"

"Them?" Stefan spat, tightening his grip on a struggling Logan, "I thought you loved Jenna, she is part of the them you so hatefully speak of. Ember Gilbert showed us nothing but compassion and instead of us waiting by her bedside at the hospital we're here cleaning up your mess. Elena is my girlfriend who I love, and I'll be damned if I allow you to risk her life and those I am beginning to care for."

"Besides, you pissed me off," Damon sneered, "I want you dead. Who turned you?"

"I don't know!" Logan yelled again.

Shrugging nonchalantly, Damon griped the tire iron firmly, and lazily drawled, "Oh, well, you're screwed." Just as he swung it towards Logan's head, he cried out in a panic, "Wait, wait! I do know!"

"You're lying!" Stefan growled, "What happened to your little bout of amnesia?"

Logan ignored Stefan's quip and stared at a curious Damon, "You think you're the only one who wants to get in that tomb underneath the old church?" In his shock, Stefan's grip slackened slightly and Damon's face morphed into murderous rage, "If you're lying to me, I will end you."

"I am not lying. They've been watching you, trying to get that necklace from your possession," Logan frantically admitted. Damon and Stefan traded serious looks, an unspoken conversation happening, and after a minute of silence, Stefan grabbed the wooden stake from his back pocket and stabbed Logan in the heart from behind, dropping his mummified corpse onto the ground.

Whistling ominously, Damon scratched the back of his head, "Guess we're not alone anymore. I'll put him in the trunk, show the Sheriff. You return back to Elena. We need to be vigilant brother, by the looks of things, we got company."

"Keep that talisman of yours safe."

Frowning in confusion, Damon solemnly spoke up, "Why are you helping me? I know you, Stefan, and the last thing you want is for Katherine to get out."

Whipping around, Stefan shot Damon a look of immense disapproval, but genuinely said, "And you're right. I honestly believe Katherine will cause nothing but trouble and a bloodbath, but… you're my brother, you love Katherine, I want you to be happy, and… at least I know you plan on freeing only her. These new vampires, we don't know, but by the looks of things, they want in that tomb, and they might free all twenty-seven vampires. I can't have that. This town doesn't deserve that."

Scrutinizing his younger brother, he nodded once upon detecting no deception in his tone, "Go on, go back to Elena, I'll be with you as soon as I show Liz Logan's body and grab the talisman."

Emerald orbs watered at the scene laid out underneath her. From The Other Side, Ember stood, her posture trembling with many emotions as she witnessed her family and friends each come to visit her, each of them grieving in their own way. The truth was, Ember never knew how much she meant to the people of Mystic Falls until this very moment. Even Tyler, her ex-jerk of a boyfriend, couldn't prevent a few tears from falling, and once his grief turned into anger, he made a gigantic scene at the career fair, prompting Uncle Richard to interfere.

Closing her eyes, Ember thought of her Uncle John, and upon opening them, her orbs widened magnificently at the sight of her uncle, the man who had never shed a single tear, not even during her parents' funeral, reduced to a blubbering mess with the bottle of Firewhiskey she had gifted him with last year, half-empty by the ground. His sapphire blue eyes kept flickering agitatedly toward his phone, and Ember knew that her beloved uncle was waiting for Jenna to call him with news regarding her condition.

"Child?"

"I can't," she wept, violently wiping the tears from her face. "I want to go back, I can't watch them suffer any longer. Take me back, Qetsiyah. But first," she whirled around to confront the ancient witch, "Tell me the truth. You haven't given me much; you're hiding a lot of information from me."

"Yes I am," Qetsiyah admitted, "But only because the truth should not be revealed yet. I want you to maintain the balance, try changing my descendants' beliefs from my vindictive sister's lies. There will come a time, when powerful beings begin to surface, and that is when you will be ready, for there are still too much left unsaid."

Chuckling humorlessly, Ember smiled, "Don't tell me I'm going to have to die every time you need to update me, because seriously Qetsiyah, they will turn me into a lab rat, experimenting on my miraculous resurgence. ET will happen."

Two raven brows knitted together in confusion, "I know not who this ET is, however, no my child, I will be able to appear to you easily now that we have formed a connection. Do not fret, whenever you need me, I shall appear to you. But be wary, for dangerous times lay ahead, and you must keep your family and friends close, work together and both you and I shall restore the balance in the world."

"It's nice doing business with you," Ember beamed, embracing the ancient witch.

"Blessed be, my child."

Emerald eyes snapped open to a darkened room, and as the redhead adjusted to the shadows, she noticed Jeremy's head inches away from her hand. Lethargically, she shifted her right hand and dug her fingers into his greasy hair, feeling a stab of guilt that her baby brother hadn't left her bedside in god knows how many days. After a few seconds of massaging his head, Jeremy twitched awake and after blinking away the remnants of sleep from his bleary chocolate orbs, they widened and for the first time in three days, his face broke out into a smile, "Em-, Ember! You're awake!"

"Hey, Jer-" she was instantly reduced into a violent coughing fit which prompted Jenna, Elena and Caroline to wake up immediately. Tears cascaded down Jenna's face and she immediately shot out of her seat and offered her a glass of water from the bedside table, positioning the straw in her mouth. "How long was I out?"

"Thr-three days," Elena cried, too scared to hug her twin in case she harmed her, but Ember's face lost all pallor and color began seeping into her visage, "Wh-what happened? You scared us, Em! Don't you ever leave me again!"

"Never," Ember grinned, feeling energized as the memory of her time with Qetsiyah filled her mind.

Caroline hesitantly approached her bedside, "Do you know what happened? You died Em, it took three hours to resuscitate you and then they said you were in a coma and if you survive you'd most probably have amnesia," she rambled; like Elena, Caroline Forbes was a rambler whenever she got upset or nervous.

Ember's eyes flickered from Stefan, who had just walked in at hearing her awaken, then to Jenna, Elena, Jeremy and Caroline, before opening her mouth, "There's a lot we need to talk about, but first, when the hell can I get out of here? I hate hospitals," she pouted.

Laughter ensued, and Caroline spoke up in a singsong voice, "Oh yeah, she's definitely back."

CAST:

Ember Gilbert – Jesica Ahlberg (Red Hair!)

Elena Gilbert – Nina Dobrev

Caroline Forbes – Candice King

Jeremy Gilbert – Steven R. McQueen

Jenna Sommers – Sara Canning

Stefan Salvatore – Paul Wesley

Damon Salvatore – Ian Somerhalder

James Potter – Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Harold Potter – Daniel Radcliffe

Violet Potter – Maia Mitchell

Liz Forbes – Marguerite Maclntyre

Richard Lockwood – Robert Pralgo

Albus Dumbledore – Richard Harris

Qetsiyah – Zoe Saldana

A/N: Another long chapter, but it was very important so I hope you all understood! XD

So… Not Death! I bet none of you saw Qetsiyah coming huh? ;) I aim to shock everyone! LOL!

First of all, Dear Readers; Qetsiyah will be a recurring character and she plays an important part. I know in canon she is the evil Bennett ancestor, but in my story she's different. I created Qadira, her younger sister who is an important plot twist to my story. In the conversation between Qetsiyah and Ember, I left many important factors out because it is still too soon in the story to be acknowledged, such as: Silas and the immortality potion and the cure… those shall be revealed later on in the story until at least after the Originals are introduced.

I hope you liked the insight to Harold Potter's mind. And with Ember dying, Elena didn't find Katherine's picture and with Ember saving Emily's crystal, Damon wouldn't need to go to Georgia and Bree won't be killed by him … duh! ALSO; keep in mind, Albus Dumbledore's arrival, and the reason behind why he wanted to visit Ember in privacy is VERY important to the story.

To those who wanted Ember to be the Mistress of Death, I am really sorry, but it was never a plot in my story. Ember being a champion to Qetsiyah is. Now listen up; I am sure some of you might be confused because I didn't include the change of Qetsiyah's background, but I cannot reveal everything otherwise there will be no story plots, be patient with me. XD. If you are confused over something in this chapter, send me a message and I'll let you know as long as it does not ruin the future plot for you all.

Sorry for my blathering, but one last thing: Servant of Nature witches believe that they are the Keepers of the Balance, and in order to do that, they should destroy vampires. In my story, it is untrue; they are all falsified beliefs planted by Qadira, and now Qetsiyah wants Ember to fix it and maintain the balance as I mentioned in this chapter. I am soooo excited for the upcoming chapters where you will see how Qetsiyah plays a major role! XD

R&R.