Chapter 12

"So…You're adopted?" Jane asked and Elena nodded. "Wow…Are you okay? I mean…dealing with it?" Jane had been trying to cope with what Caroline's mother had told her the day before. It wasn't something she had ever wanted to think about, but now it was on her mind all the time. Her phone sat heavily in her pocket, as if weighted down with the knowledge that one phone call would change her life even more. Elena had called, needing someone to talk to about the newest development in her life and Jane couldn't let her friend down. So she had hurried over pushing aside her own feelings.

Elena sighed. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. So did you get your things from Sheriff Forbes?"

"Yeah." Jane nodded and looked away a moment. Elena and Stefan exchanged looks.

"Jane, what's wrong?" He asked.

"Did Damon said something to you?" Elena demanded.

Jane shook her head. "It's nothing. Just…forget it. So, Stefan, do you know who that guy in the road was?"

Stefan shook his head. "I don't know. Do you remember anything about him?" He asked Elena.

"I wish." She sighed "I never really saw his face. He was wearing a hoodie. All I can remember is that there was these black boots coming towards me..."

Jane shuddered. "I'm just glad that you are okay, Elena."

"And I am glad that you are okay. I mean Damon told me Logan had you down there for a day."

"I'm okay." Jane told her and smiled.

"I brought some Vervain over for, um – for you and Jenna. And I made this bracelet for Jeremy, few extras for friends. And I found this for Jane." He held up a silver heart shaped locket and handed it to her.

"It's beautiful." She said and slipped it around her neck. "Thank you, Stefan."

He slid the box over to Elena. "You can put it in jewelry, or you can even put it in food or drink, but as long as it's in you or on you, a Vampire can't control you."

"Wow. So much to remember."

"I know, but there's another Vampire in town. So until we find out who it is and what he wants, we have to be careful." Stefan looked at both of them. Jane wondered why he was looking at her specifically. The doorbell rang and then Jeremy yelled up the stairs.

"Elena, I need the money!"

Jane giggled and she stood up. "I got it." She said and Elena started to protest. Jane held up a hand. "Hey you invited me to eat, okay? I gotta pay for my share of it."

Elena laughed and handed her money anyway. "Well here. At least we can split it."

Jane went down the stairs and paused. "Noah!?"

Jeremy arched an eyebrow as the pizza guy turned to Jane with a wide smile.

"Jane." He said. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"I didn't know you delivered pizza." She smiled and he took the money from her. "Keep the change."

"You, uh, didn't call me."

Jane sighed apologetically. "I'm sorry, I've been really…It's complicated."

He laughed. "It's okay. Really."

"Jane, is everything okay?" Elena asked from up the stairs and Jane nodded at her when she looked over the railing. She saw the pizza guy and arched an eyebrow.

"Bye, Jane. We'll see each other real soon."

Jane smiled. "Bye, Noah."

Noah looked at her and Elena. "You have yourselves a good night."

Jeremy smirked at Jane as she closed the door. "Boyfriend?"

"No, he's just my friend."

"Right." Jeremy winked and she hit him on the arm.

"Shut up, Jer."

"Is that who you were calling on my phone the other night? He's cute." Elena said as she came down the stairs and Jane laughed.

"His name is Noah and yeah he is."


Caroline, Jane, and Elena all sat outside the school at one of the picnic tables for lunch. Elena had given Caroline a "friendship necklace" which held Vervain.

"It's so pretty." Caroline chirped as she admired her new necklace.

"Thank you." Elena smiled.

"God, it will go with, like, everything." She grinned and then narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion... just a little friend gift." Elena replied with a laugh.

"Lesbian friend necklace?" Caroline joked "'Cause we're freaky like that." She winked and Jane giggled.

Elena shook her head. "No, no. Your friendship is important to me Care." She told her.

"Why are you being so mushy?" Caroline questioned.

"Because you've been avoiding me, and I wanted you to know that whatever is going on with you and Matt, it's okay." Elena gave her an assuring smile

"I was going to talk to you about that." Caroline gave her an apologetic look. "I was, but there's not much to say... We've hung out a couple of times. That's it, but... I feel like we've peaked as friend." She shook her head. "This is weird. I shouldn't be talking to you about this. It's weird. It's weird, right?" She looked at Jane for confirmation.

"It is weird." Jane agreed and Elena nodded.

"It is. But, hey, if it what you and Matt want, then it's not about me."

"But it is all about you... Matt's not over you, and we all know it." Caroline replied, looking a bit sad.

"I'm with Stefan now. Matt understand that. He knows he has to move on." Elena replied before glancing over at Jane who nodded.

Caroline looked at Jane. "Jane, my mother told me what the doctors were saying. I'm sorry."

Elena frowned and looked at the girl who she just noticed wasn't eating lunch. Jane was picking at her sweater. "About your mom?" She nodded. "Jane?"

"She's dying and they don't know why or how to stop it." Jane said quietly.

"I'm so sorry. Why didn't you say anything?"

Jane stood up. "Because I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Because she won't die. She won't!" She stalked away from them and Elena and Caroline exchanged worried looks.


As Bonnie was about to get up to pay for her and Elena's food she was suddenly blocked by a broad leather clad chest.

"What do you want from me?" Bonnie growled at Damon who smirked.

"I think we need a fresh start." He replied.

The young witch narrowed her eyes. "You tried to kill me."

"But I didn't, and if I wanted to, I would have." He said simply. "Does that not count for anything?" He asked mockingly.

"You know, I can start fires with my mind... Fires kill Vampires, right?" She cocked an eye brow and Damon blinked. "Just stay the hell away from me."

"Everything okay over here?"

They looked over to see a tall young man with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes watching them. Bonnie recognized him as Ben McKittrick. He was about at two years older than she was and she had seen him in school before he had graduated.

"Yeah, we're fine." Damon replied shortly.

The guy narrowed his eyes. "I wasn't talking to you."

Damon rolled his eyes before turning away from the "macho" man who didn't look ready to back down. He knew that threatening Bonnie in front of the guy was a bad idea.

"Damon!" He smiled as Jane came up to him. "I need to talk to you."

"Jane." Bonnie hissed. She did not like that idea.

Jane looked at her. "I'm sorry, Bonnie, but I need to speak to him."

"And I need to talk to you." Damon interrupted and made Jane link arms with him. She cast an apologetic look over her shoulder at Bonnie as they walked out of the Grill.

"Thank you." The witch smiled sincerely at her savior, after watching Damon practically tote poor Jane out the door.

"Anytime, Bonnie." Ben grinned.

She looked at him. "Wait. You remember me?"

"I didn't graduate that long ago." Ben laughed and Bonnie held in a giggle. "You're making me feel old."

"Sorry. I didn't – I didn't mean that. I just – I didn't know you knew me."

"I always know a pretty face." Ben flirted and Bonnie flushed.


"You're looking for a what?" Jane asked, sitting on her couch.

"Emily's grimoire. Her spell book."

Jane frowned. "Why?"

"Because I need it." He replied. "So, you want to help me look?"

Jane folded her arms across her chest. "And why would I do that?"

"Because you want a favor from me. Don't you?" He asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Well…"

"Come on now. Be truthful."

"Fine…yes." Jane said reluctantly and he smirked in triumph.

"Aha. So, you help me and I help you. Simple."

"Why does this sound so familiar?" Jane grumbled. "You owe me, Damon. I saved your life. Can't you just do that and we call it even?"

"I thought you didn't trust me."

Jane frowned. "I…I don't, but this is important to me. Now your blood can heal anything, is that right?"

"With a few measly exceptions." He shrugged.

"But if someone was dying. Your blood could save them, right?"

Damon smirked. "Depends. Who are you trying to save? Some helpless dance student?" She shook her head, a shine of tears in her eyes.

"My mother."

Damon's smile faded a fraction. He wasn't sure why the woman was in a coma, but he knew that it wasn't something he could magically heal. This posed a problem. If he refused she'd get angry and leave and he'd be stuck doing this alone. On the other hand if he said he'd try and help her it would be better than no. then she'd be inclined to help him. Of course all that could be avoided if she wasn't wearing Vervain.

"I'll see what I can do, but you gotta help me first." He said, covering up his lie.

Jane frowned. "Are you being serious? Can I really trust you, Damon?"

"Absolutely. Isn't your poor mother worth it?"

She scowled at his tone. "I don't believe you."

"Come on, Janey. I don't know her personally, but I don't want the woman to die."

"You swear, you will help her?"

"In any way I can." He flashed her a charming smile to seal the deal and she nodded hesitantly.

"I'll think about it." She said. "I…need to think."

He nodded. "All right, but my offer still stands."


"You are? That's great." Elena said into her phone as she finished getting ready for the dance.

"I'm kind of nervous. What if I look stupid?"

"You won't look stupid, Jane. Noah should be very lucky that you want to go with him."

"Elena."

"No, I'm serious. He looked like a nice guy when I saw him. Everything will go great."

"Thanks, Elena. I've been a nervous wreck since he asked me to dance with him."

Elena smiled. "Don't be. You'll have fun and it'll get your mind off of things."

"I hope so. So, see you there? Noah will be here soon to pick me up."

"Definitely. Bye, Jane." She said and hung up. She ran her brush through her hair one more time before using the blow dryer to make sure it stayed like it was supposed to. When she set it aside, she heard a strange noise from downstairs. Frowning, she stepped out of her room.

"Jenna?" She called out. "Jeremy?" She peaked over the landing and then shrugged. Everyone was gone. She went back inside her room to grab her scarf from the closet. As she turned around with it, she noticed that the noise was coming from the Gilbert watch. Alarmed, Elena grabbed her cell.

Pressing Stefan's number quickly she held the phone up to her ear and bit her lip.

"Stefan's phone, how may I help you?" Damon's voice came out instead.

"Where is he?" Elena demanded as she hurried down the stairs, trying not to panic.

"He's on his way to you." Damon replied casually. "He forgot his phone."

She let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God, this compass was spinning he must be here. Thank you." She told him, happier.

"You're welcome." Damon hung up and Elena closed her phone.

Elena let out a scream as a pair of hands grabbed her, spinning her around roughly to sink his teeth into her neck. She gasped as she recognized her attacker. The pizza guy.

"Elena!" Stefan yelled and grabbed the intruder, tossing him over the couch and into the floor. Quickly, Noah stood and zoomed out of the house, leaving Elena and Stefan to stare after him with slowly wearing off adrenaline. Stefan pulled her in against his chest.

"Are you okay?"

"We have to call Jane." Elena said frantically, looking up at him. "She isn't safe. That's her date." Stefan's eyes widened.


"How'd he get in?" Damon asked, pacing next to the couch.

"He was invited in." Elena answered.

Stefan looked up at his brother. "He posed as a pizza delivery guy last night."

"And we are sure that Jane is with him?"

Elena nodded. "She spoke to him. That's how he had my number and called me earlier. Jane had called him from my phone in Atlanta."

Damon sighed. "Well, I've give him points for that. Did he say what he wanted?"

"No, he was too busy trying to kill me." Elena replied with a sharpness.

"And you have no idea who this is?" Stefan asked his older brother and Damon rolled his eyes.

"No. Don't look at me like that." He said to Stefan's frown. "I told you we had company."

"You think there's more than one?" Elena asked.

"We don't know." Damon shook his head. "Why does she get into so much trouble?"

Elena bit her lip. "What if he hurts her?"

"He won't." Stefan assured her. "We won't let him."

"Girl needs a babysitter…"

"Damon, he was invited in." Stefan stated slowly, making sure that his brother was listening. They had a vampire to track down. "And now he has Jane."

"Then we go and get him tonight." Damon looked at Elena. "You up for it?"

"What do I have to do?" She asked

"Let your boyfriend take you to the dance. We'll see who shows up."

"That's a bad idea." Stefan told his older brother and Damon met his eyes.

"Till we get him, this house isn't safe. For anyone who lives in it." He said seriously. "It's worth a shot."

"I'll do it." Elena nodded. "For Jane." She turned to Stefan. "I'll be with the two of you. I'll be safe. And we can find Jane faster."

"She still hasn't answered her phone?" Damon asked and Elena nodded. "What is with this girl and choosing really bad guys?"

Elena frowned. "Maybe if she didn't have people like you manipulating her, she could find a decent guy."

"Let's just go find her." Stefan said, ever the peacemaker.


"I'm going to talk to Bonnie and see if she's seen Jane." Elena said and Stefan nodded, letting her go.

"I know you like her, Damon." Stefan murmured. "Jane." He elaborated when Damon looked at him quizzically. "You've grown attached to her."

Damon rolled his eyes. "Once again, you're wrong. I have no said attachment to said girl."

"Mmhm." Stefan hummed disbelievingly. "If whatever you are planning involves Jane, Damon, I advise against it. She doesn't deserve to be hurt time and time again by you."


"Having fun?" Elena asked Bonnie and Caroline when she met them at the punch bowl.

"No, but this took about two hours." Caroline pointed to her dress and make up. "So I'm at least staying half of that." The girls smirked.

"So have you seen Jane?"

"She was dancing with a really cute guy earlier. They were great." Bonnie said and Caroline nodded.

"And I totally thought she was into Damon."

"What is Damon doing here?" Bonnie questioned glaring at the vampire before Elena could ask where the dancing couple went.

Elena looked at him before speaking. "He wanted to come. I promise he'll behave."

"So what's is this, like a threesome now? You and the Salvatore brothers?" Caroline asked her eyes narrowing.

"No, but if I'm going to be with Stefan. Then I have to learn to try tolerate Damon." She heaved a sigh. "It's not like I can kill him."

"There's a thought." Bonnie mused

"Mmm. I'll help." Caroline nodded and they clinked glasses.


Jane opened her eyes slowly and frowned all around her were mops and brooms and dustpans and cleaning supplies. She was in the janitor's closet.

"N-Noah?" She whispered and felt a pain in her shoulder when she sat up. She felt of it and pulled her hand back. Blood coated her fingers and she bit her lip as her memory returned to her. Noah had taken her out of the gym and then she hadn't meant to, but she had gotten a vision from him. He was going to harm Elena. Jane had tried to hide it, but apparently he had known about her powers because he attacked her, keeping her from running to find help.

"Noah, are you out there?" She stood up on wobbly legs and went to the door. "Hello?" Jane turned the knob but it was locked. "No." She smacked on it. "Someone help me! Hello! Let me out! Help!"

She scowled and looked around for the fire extinguisher. She found it and turned to the door knob. "This is the last time I ever go on a date." She snapped and began smacking the door knob with the fire extinguisher.


A little later, Damon saw Bonnie and Caroline standing over by the punch bowl and he went over there a smug look on his face.

"Hi, Bonnie." He hummed, coming up to her and she wrinkled her nose. "Wanna dance?"

Bonnie rolled her eyes. "I'm out of here." Bonnie growled putting her drink down turning to walk away. Damon stepped in her path.

"Please give me another chance." The witch glared at him and stalked past him. Caroline narrowed her eyes at him.

"Back off, Damon." She hissed and followed Bonnie.

Elena and Stefan walked over to him. "Where did they go?" Elena walked over Stefan by her side

"I don't know." Damon shrugged nonchalantly.

"What did you say to them?" Stefan looked at his older brother.

"I was perfectly polite." He retorted. "Elena, would you like to dance?"

"I would love to." She grinned before looking up at Stefan. "May I have this dance?" She asked and he accepted walking onto the dance floor with her. Damon watched them for a moment, before he heard something nearby hissing at him.

"Psst. Damon."

He turned his head and saw Jane looking at him from behind a couple. He could see instantly that something was wrong and beckoned her over. She shook her head, eyes darting around in fright. He was about to step forward when someone spoke up.

"I don't recognize you. How'd you get roped into chaperoning?" Damon turned his head to see a young teacher standing next to him. "Alaric Saltzman." He held out his hand for Damon to shake and he did. "I'm the new history teacher."

"Ah, the cursed faculty position." Damon nodded, his eyes wondering back to Jane. She was still looking around frantically.

"So I've been told." Alaric chuckled.

"Damon. Salvatore." Damon held his hand out for the man to shake.

"Salvatore, as in, Stefan?" Alaric questioned and Damon nodded, glancing at his brother.

"He's my little brother, I'm his legal guardian, hence the chaperoning."

"I hear he's very bright... Not that I've had a chance to see for myself." Alaric said offhandedly.

"Well, his attendance records a little spotty... Family drama." Damon replied.

"Parents?" Alaric questioned.

"Mm, it's just the two of us now."

"You, uh – you lived here your whole life?"

"On and off." Damon shrugged, he eyed Alaric suspiciously. Guy sure was nosy. "Travelled a bit."

"Really? Where? Around the states?" He saw the look Damon was giving him and decided to back off. He was getting a bit too eager. "Heh. I'm sorry. I'm nosy, I don't mean to pry..."

"Damon." They turned to see Jane. She was dressed in a navy blue Rockabilly halter dress with red cherries all over it, red high heels, and a her hair was up in a typical 50's fashion, although it looked a little disheveled and pale. Her cherry red lipstick standing out more.

"Hello, Mr. Saltzman." She smiled at him briefly before look at Damon. "We need to talk, right now."

Alaric cleared his throat, looking at Jane with a bit of worry in his eyes. She looked scared. "Is uh, everything okay?"

Jane smiled at him. "Yeah, I just need to talk to Damon a second." Alaric nodded, but he wasn't so sure.

"Well, it was nice meeting you." He said Damon.

"You, too." The vampire replied politely and took Jane's elbow.

"Enjoy the rest of the dance, Jane."

"You too, Mr. Saltzman." She said Damon pulled her away and into a dance.

"What's going on?" He asked instantly.

Tears filled her eyes. "He's going to hurt Elena." Damon stiffened beneath her fingers. "He's in here somewhere."

"How'd you find out?"

"We were in the hallway and I-I touched his arm… Damon, he knew about me. About what I am."

The faint smell of blood was in the air. "Are you hurt?" She started to say no, but Damon was eyeing her. She nodded reluctantly.

"I'll be fine."

Damon looked at her skeptically and then saw that she was barefooted. "Where are your shoes?"

"Janitor's closet. He locked me in there."

"And how did you get out?" He raised an eyebrow.

"A fire extinguisher."

Damon chuckled lightly. "Let no one underestimate you." Jane bit her lip.

"Damon, you have to tell Stefan."

"Not yet. If he's in here, we can't let him know we're onto him just yet." She looked around and he took her arms. "Jane." She looked at him. "Go wait in the hallway. Stefan and I will handle this." Jane nodded and pulled away from him. As quickly as she had appeared, she disappeared.


Anna was walking down one of the school halls when she saw a familiar person standing at the end of the corridor, her eyes darkened and she suddenly appeared in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" Noah asked his cohort.

Anna rolled her eyes. "Trying to get the journal, as in sticking to the plan, something you're not doing, Noah." She growled at him. "Leave the girls alone."

"I like them." Noah smiled maniacally. "They look like Katherine and Amelia."

"They're not." Anna replied with an eyeroll. "Katherine is in the tomb and Amelia is dead." she reminded him. "You aren't supposed to harm her. We need her."

Noah rolled his eyes. "I know. But until we open the tomb, I get to play with them both."

"Don't be stupid. That girl is with the Salvatore brothers." Anna told him firmly. "And the other one is under their protection."

"They don't scare me." He scoffed. "They never have. They aren't going to stop me from having my fun with the little seer."

"Please, no. Don't do this. You're going to ruin everything." Anna pleaded.

"You got nothing to worry about. I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He told her tenderly. "You will get what you came for. Just let me have my fun. She looks like Katherine." He repeated before walking down the hall away from the older vampire who glared at him.

"What did you do with the seer?" Anna called.

"Janitor's closet."

"Just make sure you don't harm her anymore, Noah. I can smell her blood on you. We need her blood remember?"

"Yeah, yeah."


Noah went down the hall and paused. The Janitor's door was open. "Clever girl." He tracked her down and found her trying to open the doors at the end of the hall.

"Going someplace?" He asked and she gasped. "I thought you liked me."

"I did before I found out what you are."

He grinned at her, pressing his body against her and pinning her against the door. "Amelia didn't mind."

"You knew her?"

"Mmhm," Noah cupped the back of her head tangling fingers in her hair and wrenching her head back. "And I'd like to get to know you too." Jane fought him but he pressed his mouth against hers. She screamed and hit at him. "You know I don't really care what they say. I'd like to keep you for myself." Jane kneed him in the groin and he grunted, letting go of her. She ran from him and he followed after her.

"Come on, little star seer." He called. "Let me play with you some more. I promise to behave." He caught up to Jane and wretched her back from the door to the dance. "No, no, no. We're not done yet."

"No! Let me go!" She cried and he carted her down the hall and into the cafeteria.


Elena and Stefan were dancing when she noticed a hooded figure standing nearby. "Stefan, back corner." She whispered trying to remain calm and Stefan found the hooded guy.

"Find, Damon." He said lowly and followed after the figure.

Elena pushed her way towards Damon but her phone began to ring.

"Hello?" She asked

"Hello, Elena." A deep voice replied and she stilled. It was Noah. "Here's what you're gonna go. There's an exit door behind you. You have five seconds." He ordered.

"No." Elena refused. "Where's Jane?"

"Or your brother dies." Noah threatened and Elena turned around. The vampire was looming behind Jeremy. "I could snap his neck so fast there would be no witnesses. And then I'll go find your little friend and play with her some more. Now start walking."

"Don't you dare touch them." She warned.

"Keep walking. Through the door."

Elena quickly ran through the doors that were behind her and kept running until she hit a pair of double doors. However they were locked, a chain around the handles. She turned around and saw Noah coming towards her. Elena ran into the cafeteria, running to try those doors. They were locked too however and she turned around.

"Jane!" Elena spotted the girl lying on a table, blood coating her mouth and her dress ripped in several places. She went over to her and checked her pulse. Jane was lying far too still. She sighed relief when she felt it going. Elena screamed as Noah appeared before her, gripping her hair.

Noah took hold of Elena and tossed her over a table making her roll across it and slam into the floor. He flipped the table out of the way to get to her and picked her up, slamming her against the wall.

The vampire suddenly cried out as something stabbed him in the back and Elena saw Jane standing behind him. Noah growled and pushed Elena away, turning to face Jane. Elena saw one of Jane's heels sticking out of his back. Blood coated the girl's hands and she held her other shoe in one hand ready to stab him again.

"Didn't you have fun earlier?" He asked her mockingly and she shook her head. "Are you sure about that? Want to have another go?"

She staggered back away from him. He moved towards her quickly and Jane fell backwards. Her shoe went flying out of her hand as she hit the floor. Dazed, she looked up as Noah approached her. He jerked her shoe out of his back and tossed it away before grabbing her ankles and jerking her towards him.

"No!" Jane cried and Elena looked around. She saw a mop and grabbing it quickly, she broke it in half. Noah was on top of Jane now, holding her hands above her head and roughing kissing her. Jane was sobbing fighting him the best she could. Elena made to stab him but he moved quickly, knocking the makeshift stake away. It flew across the room with a clatter. Noah made to bit into her neck and she screamed in fright.

Suddenly Stefan was there tossing the vampire away from her. Noah slammed into the floor and hopped back up ready to attack again.

"Hey, dickhead." Damon called from behind him, twirling the makeshift stake in hand. Noah turned to him. "Nobody wants to kill you. Just want to talk." He explained. Noah smirked and went for Jane again as she trying to move away and he knocked her back down. Damon threw the stake object to his brother and Stefan zoomed over forcing it into Noah's back, making sure not to kill him just yet. Blood splattered across Jane's face mixing her bloody mouth from his bites. Stefan hauled him off her and Damon pulled Jane out of the way. She held onto him, shaking badly, and he wrapped an arm around her.

Noah was forced to his knees. "Now you feel like talking?" Stefan asked and Noah hissed.

"Screw you." He snapped.

Stefan shook his head. "Wrong answer." He twisted the stake causing the other vampire immense pain. Damon felt Jane moving against him with each cry Noah gave and he frowned. "Why are you doing this?"

"Cause it's fun." Noah smirked. "Right Jane?"

"Ye-no." She shuddered against Damon's side and he looked down at her. She looked confused and suddenly he knew why.

"Did you blood bond with her?" Damon asked, glancing at Noah. The vampire was grinning smugly. Stefan and Elena both stared in shock. Jane's cheeks reddened.

"What do you want with them?" Stefan demanded twisting the stake more and drawing Noah's attention away from Jane.

"They look like Amelia and Katherine." Noah gasped out.

"You knew them?" Damon asked surprised.

"You thought you were the only ones." Noah smirked. "You don't even remember me."

Damon bent down to meet his eyes. And Elena pulled Jane away from him and she hugged her closely. "Tell me how to get in the tomb. Hmm?"

"No." Noah shook his head and Stefan forced the stake further into him making him call out in pain. "The grimoire." He finally said.

"Where is it?" Damon demanded.

"Check the journal." Noah told him rapidly. "The journal. Jonathan Gilbert's."

Stefan glared at him. "Who else is working with you?" Noah wasn't about to give that away.

"Who else is there?" Damon growled.

"No. You're going to have to kill me." He growled. Stefan pulled the stake back out and after a nod from his brother, he jammed it back in, piercing his heart. Jane sobbed, feeling used, abused, and her bond was severed so violently from him that she couldn't help but feel sadness that he was dead.

"What do we – how are you going to find the others now?" Elena asked, stroking Jane's hair comfortingly.

"He had to die." Damon told her, nodding once.

"But..." She looked to Stefan.

"Elena, he's been invited in." Stefan reminded her. "And he knew about Jane." Elena looked at him sharply.

"He knew she was…Then who else knows?"

Stefan shook his head. "I don't know."

Jane was still sobbing and Elena shushed her. "It's okay. You're safe."

"No…He's-He's dead…"

Stefan grimaced. "She still feels the bond." Jane nodded and Damon frowned. As they stood there for a second, a figure walked past the door. Damon and Stefan exchanged a look.

"Go." Stefan told Damon. "I got this."

Elena shushed Jane, rocking her back and forth. "It's okay, Jane. You didn't know."

"I'm sorry." Jane whispered. "I should have seen it sooner. He just…He just seemed so nice."

Stefan shook his head. "No, that wouldn't have mattered, Jane. He would have done it anyway. Even if you had found out."

"He could have really hurt you if you had found out earlier." Elena agreed. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, okay?" She murmured to her and she and Stefan helped Jane stand up.


Damon zoomed in front of Alaric surprising him.

"Hey." Alaric greeted, trying not to seem as petrified as he felt.

"What were you doing?" Damon demanded.

"Looking for Ms. Hilden." Alaric lied.

"Why are you in Mystic Falls?" Damon asked, compelling the man.

"I got a job as a teacher." Alaric replied automatically.

"Do you know who I am?"

"You're my student's brother."

"Is everything you're telling me the truth?"

Alaric nodded. "Yes."

"Then forget we had this conversation." Damon smirked, walking around him.

As the vampire walked away Alaric let out a small sigh of relief and opened his hand to reveal the Vervain he had been holding. He was going to have to be more careful if he was going to save Jane from sharing the same fate as his late wife Isobel. He owed it to her father.


"There's no way that idiot was working alone." Damon stated with a small scoff. He was waiting on Jane and Elena to come out of the bathroom. Stefan was taking them both home.

"You are." The younger Vampire pointed out with a smirk and Damon rolled his eyes. "So the grimoire... That was Emily's, right? That's what you need to reverse the spell. When the founding families burned her, they took her things, and you were hoping that dad's journal would tell you where it is."

Damon smirked. "Look at you putting the pieces together. Good for you." He mocked. "I was half-right. Well, it's out there now. Let the games begin."

"My offer still stands."

"Yeah, with some hidden caveats, no doubt." Damon scowled, looking at him suspiciously.

"No. Nothing hidden about it." Stefan shook his head. "No lies. No deception. I'm there when you open up that tomb, you and Katherine go, And the other twenty six vampires die."

Damon eyed him. "If I agree?"

"I'll help you." Stefan shrugged.

"Why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm your brother."

"No, that's not gonna cut it." The older Salvatore brother replied. Brothers didn't mean anything to Damon anymore.

"Because I want you gone." Stefan admitted. Damon searched his face for a long time before nodding.

"Okay." He murmured. Elena and Jane rounded the corner then. Jane looked tired and was a bit quieter than usual, but the blood was washed off her.

"Let's go, Stefan." Elena told him and steered Jane towards the front doors.


Damon watched Jane toss and turn on the bed. He tapped on the window, knowing she was awake.

Jane looked at him and slid out of bed to open her window. Damon slipped inside and sat on the window sill.

"What are you doing here?" She asked quietly and got back into bed.

He shrugged. "Checking on you. How are you feeling?"

"It…hurts. The bond does." She murmured and then traced patterns on the duvet. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Saving me. Saving Elena."

"I owed you one remember?" He smirked and Jane rolled her eyes.

"Well, thank you anyway."

Damon arched an eyebrow. "So you stabbed him with your shoe?"

"It was all I had!" She protested as he smirked. "And they had to be good for something. They were killing my feet." Jane smacked him when she saw his smirk. "Shut up!"

Damon shifted. "I actually came to tell you that you don't have to help me find the grimoire." He frowned at himself. This defeated his whole plan, but he just didn't think he'd get her favor after all that. "I won't hold it against if you don't want to help me."

"But I want to, Damon." Jane said and he looked at her in surprise. "Katherine is important to you and I'm going to make sure you get her back. I'll do whatever I have too. You saved me and you didn't have too. I know you were there for Elena, but you still helped me, so I'll help you." Her speech shocked him.

Damon was suddenly close to her, his mouth hovering over hers, and she pushed at his chest, trying not to look directly at his lovely blue eyes. "Um, let's not do that." She whispered. "Makes it hard to be friends." Despite everything he had done, every fiber of her being yearned for him to kiss her and just her touching his chest was bad enough.

"Right." He nodded but still brushed his lips to hers. Jane shut her eyes. "Thank you." He breathed and she felt a breeze. When she opened her eyes he was gone.

Jane sighed. She really, really needed to stop being so stupid and falling for guys that didn't actually care about her. Damon was in love with Katherine and had been for the past 145 years. Jane wasn't about to compete with that. She couldn't imagine the heartache he felt for her and promised herself to try her best to get him to her.


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