CHAPTER ELEVEN- Isobel

"Hello, Ric."

"Isobel. . . what are you doing here?"

"Katherine called me. I don't feel like going to the Salvatore house right away, not with Katherine hanging all over those men again. . ."

"Damon's not in Mystic Falls," he told her.

Isobel frowned.

"Why not? I know he hates Katherine, but-"

"The bitch told Damon that if he didn't take Elena out of town, she'd kill her."

Isobel's eyes widened.

"Katherine threatened my daughter?" she seethed.

" Yes, but you gave up those rights, Isobel."

"Where's Elena? Is she here?"

"She's with Damon. He took her out of town."

Isobel's eyes darkened drastically and Alaric shifted the stake in his hand. Her eyes fell on it, and then back to his face.

"Are you going to stake me, Ric?" she whispered.

He shook his head.

"Not if you behave yourself. And fix your face; the veins are starting to show and Jenna's here."

Isobel rolled her eyes.

"The aunt, right?"

"You gave me up, too. Just like you did Elena, only I got to know you first."

Isobel put her hands on her hips.

"I wanted to be who I am." She shrugged. "I already explained that to you."

"Yeah, after you almost got the Salvatores killed."

"You don't like them, Ric, that's why you have a night job."

"Damon's keeping Elena safe. Even though she isn't my kid, I still care about her. Damon's the only one—"

"Don't say that. Damon? Keep Elena safe? Haven't you seen the way he looks at her? He wants her, and I don't want this life for her!"

"He cares about her; I have seen that." He shifted on his feet. "Can I trust you in my house? You can't let Jenna know what you are, or what Katherine and the Salvatores are. Do you understand?"

She nodded once.

"Is that an invitation, Ric?"

He nodded, stepping back to admit her. She smiled gently at him as she came in, brushing her hand against his chest. Alaric slammed the door behind her, dropping the stake in the umbrella holder.

"Behave," he hissed, leading her into the living room. "Jenna, this is-"

Isobel flitted over to Jenna, extending her hand.

"Isobel."

Jenna hesitated, her hand inches from Isobel's hand.

"Isobel?" she repeated. She looked at Alaric. "Your wife?"

"Ex," Alaric corrected. "We haven't been together for a long time."

"Time is irrelevant," Isobel said, smiling at Alaric. She looked back at Jenna. "I hear you are Elena's aunt."

"How do you know Elena?"

"Isobel-" Alaric started.

"I'm her mother."

Jenna's eyes widened.

"Ric-"

"She's telling the truth. She doesn't want anything to do with her, though."

Isobel frowned.

"Just because I don't want her doesn't mean I want her in danger."

Jenna's phone started ringing and she excused herself, stepping into the hall.

"Hello?"

"Aunt Jenna?"

"Elena!"

Isobel and Alaric stared at Jenna's surprised face.

"Jen, I'm sorry I left without telling you. Everything. . . it happened so fast."

"Are you safe?"

"I'm with Damon."

"That doesn't mean you're safe."

"I'm safe. Aunt Jenna. Damon's not going to hurt me and he won't let me get hurt."

"Alaric said—someone named Katherine—"

"You know about Katherine?"

"That's who was kissing Damon last night, not you?"

A hiss escaped from Isobel and she glared at Alaric, who started to explain.

"Um—yeah. That was her. Listen, Aunt Jenna, please be careful."

"I'm staying with Alaric ever since—did you know about John?"

There was silence on the other line, and Alaric was forced to explain that to Isobel, too. Her face vamped out and he turned her away from Jenna.

"Yeah," Elena whispered. "I heard."

"What about Jeremy?"

"Jeremy? Oh my God, did Katherine—"

"He tried to kill himself, sweetie. He's fine, though. Alaric found him and got him to the hospital, had his stomach pumped. He was so. . . determined to know if his heart stopped at all."

A gasp escaped from Elena.

"Did—"

"Not once, according to the doctors."

Elena sighed.

"Good. Listen, Aunt Jenna, I just wanted to call and let you know that I was safe, and to check on you."

"Wait, Elena, where are you?"

Isobel turned to stare at Jenna, expectant. Alaric realized too late.

"No!" he shouted.

"We're in Ohio. Hillsboro, Ohio."

Alaric turned to where Isobel stood, but she was gone.

"Dammit."