It has been ages since I wrote a chapter for this story, and for that, I am sorry. I would grow a little impatient too, if I were you.

The only reason I'm writing it now is because I am stressing out about an upcoming English Final Exam tomorrow. I should be revising. But, oh well. I hope you find this a good chapter and if you have the time to review, please do

Chapter Eleven

Damon's POV

I peeked over at Lily who was looking out of the window tiredly and thought to myself about what little blood we'd had and how we needed more before charging into this war.

I pulled over near a bar which had several closed up shops near by; a bookstore, a pharmacist, a grocery store…

The others pulled up behind me and I immediately heard Elijah's voice in my head; what are you doing, Damon?

We need blood before we do this, I thought back.

I heard him sigh but he stepped from his car anyway. "Wait here." He said to the others and Rebekah looked back at him, impatient but obedient; irritation evident in her eyes.

I stepped out of the car, hearing Lily get out the other side. "Why have we stopped, Damon?" She asked as Elijah reached us.

"If we are going to do this, we need to be strong. We need blood." I said before walking into the half-empty bar.

"Damon, no." Lily said, following me as I headed to the counter where a young looking guy with soft brown hair and grey eyes stood.

"Lily, it's okay." I said in a low whisper. "Hi." I said to the bartender. He looked up, glancing at me then Elijah, then to Lily for a long moment and back to me.

"Can I get you anything?" He asked with a polite smile.

"Yes." I said, impatiently. "I'd like you to come outside with some of your colleagues.

"I'm sorry; I'm not allowed to leave the bar unattended." He said, looking nervous now.

I felt a little shocked until I heard Lily's voice in my head. He's wearing Vervain, Damon. Here, let me try.

She stepped forward, in front of me and smiled a sweet smile at the boy. "I'm sorry about my friend. He doesn't think sometimes. She sniped a little but I simply smirked.

The boy smiled back, clearly relaxing in her close proximity. "It's fine." He said. "Would you like anything from the bar?" He asked once again, more friendliness in his tone.

"Yes." She said, catching his eyes in hers; like a fly in a spider's web, he would struggle to release himself from something perfectly sculpted to catch the weak. "I would like you to gather some of your staff and meet in the back room where we will take a little blood from you all. We will then leave and you will forget about us. Do you understand?

"I understand." He said distantly before heading off to gather the barmaids and bus boys.

Lily looked back to me, a ghost of a smirk on her face.

"What?" I said, narrowing my eyes a little, but with my own smirk bright.

She raised an eyebrow before shaking her head. "Nothing." She said innocently.

We headed back outside to the cars, opening the doors and telling the others of our much needed blood top up.

Stefan looked hesitant.

"Stefan." I said. "You're not going to be able to fight a hybrid on squirrel.

"Nobody's going to fight Klaus but me.

I looked to Lily, my smile leaving my face. "On your own?

"Yes." She looked at me strictly; she wasn't going to argue. So I didn't.

I looked back to Stefan, but before I could say a word, Lily's sweet voice chimed in"Stefan. Damon's right. None of us want you hurt. Taking a little human blood can help you a lot. And it won't affect you in the way you're worrying it will.

He considered her words carefully, his face showing many emotions: worry, sadness, ange pure determination. He said nothing, only nodded shortly. We headed into the bar again to the back room used for staff.

Many barmaids and bus boys gathered in the room, their tone confused. Wondering why they had been huddled in here.

Lily walked ahead of us, the leader of our group as we strode into the room.

"Hello." She said quietly and the crowd silenced, all turning to look at her. The men stared, elbowing their fellow colleagues with smiles on their faces. The women ogling at her natural beauty.

I shifted, annoyed at the crooked smiles the guys were aiming at Lily, their glances travelling downwards.

I cleared my throat, earning a few glances my way.

"Hi, there." One man said, stepping forward to Lily, his hand outstretched. His face held a too friendly smile. I stepped forward, a low growl building in my throat.

Lily placed a hand on my arm and I held back. Swallowing the feral noise I was about to make.

"Hi." She answered, shaking the man's hand. "I would like all of your attention. And I would like you to look into my eyes as I speak, okay?" She said in her alluring voice, addressing the crowd. There were few 'mmms' and 'yes's' and a few nods. "I would like you all to be very relaxed and unafraid of us. We will not hurt you." She turned to look at Katherine, her hold not breaking from the bar staff. "Will we." She said. Not a question but a statement.

Katherine looked away, clenching her jaw tight, annoyed at being singled out. Lily's eyes flitted to the Originals for a fraction of a second before back to the group of bar staff.

"You will forget about us after we leave and go back to your business. Understand?

"Yes." The group answered in unison.

"Okay." Lily turned to us. "Take what you need, but don't cause damage, don't hurt them. You have a choice and I'm telling you. We don't need any more complications before we leave and we definitely don't need anything slowing us down.

We each headed to the still bodies waiting for us. It was strange this way, and a little uncomfortable. But we needed to drink.

We needed to win.

Back in the cars, leaving the confused and disoriented people behind, we all felt slightly exhilarated. Stefan's eyes glowing with needed strength.

We were making good time now. Only a few more miles to go before we reached Fell's Church. Everything was quiet in each car; even behind, I could hear Katherine's calm steady breaths. And behind her, I could heart the Originals discussing possible numbers and survival techniques. Things were tense and I tried hard to keep my usually hidden worry, hidden. I felt my jaw harden with effort.

We had at least twenty minutes of our journey left and I was not going to spend it emotional and weak.

Finally, we arrived in Mystic Falls.

Everything was quiet and still as we stepped out from our cars, travelling into the middle of town where many people could be heard sleeping soundly behind closed doors. Everything was dark, only street lights on. It was only ten at night; I figured Klaus had something to do with the missing presence of human life at the moment.

All of a sudden there was movement far ahead of us and dark figures appeared in the distance.

Here we go. . .

What did you think? I'm currently writing the next chapter and I have thought it out very carefully, so hopefully I'll have it up next week sometime.

Kellie x