***Sorry it took me so long to update. I'll try to get the new chapters out more quickly next time. Please review and let me know there is still interest in this story.***


Chapter 12

The music was playing loudly throughout the manor, the intercom activated in every room. I absentmindedly wondered how the loud music didn't hurt Damon's heightened hearing but shrugged it off. Vickie was swaying dangerously close to the edge of the table I had just vacated, her brown hair bouncing. I watched her from my position on the couch where I had decided to cool off for a moment. I, after all, didn't have Damon's blood giving me that extra boost of energy. It had been two hours and Stefan was still MIA. I was beginning to lose my patience. He should know better than to goad Damon like this. I made my way to the window and slowly pulled the heavy drapes back just enough to peak outside. The sky was still blue, the sun shining, I glanced at the tree line hoping to see Stefan. I bit the inside of my cheek and grumbled when I saw nothing. I turned around and put my hands on my hips as I watched Damon dance with Vickie his body pressed against hers, and shook my head. This was not my idea of fun.

"Oh man, what did you give me?" Vickie said her face inches from Damons.

His answering smile was vicious and calculating. "Some blood. You loved it," he said.

I scoffed lightly and walked over to the bookshelves that covered the right side of the room. I ran my fingers across the spines of the first few books. I was reading the titles when Vicki spoke next.

"I did? Wait. I'm confused. How did we get here?" she asked.

I looked over my shoulder at her and watched a shocked and confused expression flitter across her face as she moved her head from left to right, taking in her surroundings. I pitied her and hoped Damon kept his cool. The books in front of me caught my attention again as Damon chuckled darkly.

"We met in the woods. You were drunk. I attacked you. Then I killed all your friends and brought you here, gave you some blood. You loved it," Damon said pulling her closer. "And now we are going to play until the sun goes down," he finished.

I sneered in his direction and took a black leather bound book from the shelf and glanced at the cover; Dracula, how perfect. I giggled and took the book over to the couch, shaking my head at the image of one of the Salvatore brothers buying this exact book. The absurdity of the situation had to have been very amusing. I sat down and lifted my legs up onto the couch and crossed them underneath me, snuggling down with the book in my lap.

"Find something to pique your interest El?" Damon said from across the room where he was still pressed against Vicki.

I peeked over the top if the book and eyed him warily. "It's better than watching you fondle a zombified version of Vicki. Does it even bother you that she isn't really aware of what's going on?" I asked with real interest.

The idea of messing around with someone you've tricked into wanting you turns my stomach. He smirked before taking Vicki's wrist in his mouth and biting sharply. I scrunched up my face and grimaced as she took his wrist into her own, mouth biting down and drinking heavily.

"That answer your question? Believe me El, she knows exactly what she is doing," he said, his lips stained with red.

I ignored him and looked back down at my book, hoping it gave me the escape I needed. The music faded into the background and I barely noticed what was happening around me as I sunk myself deeper and deeper into the pages of the book. I didn't look up again until I heard a loud thump as something fell to the ground. I closed the book and found Vicki on the floor a few feet away from me, Damon standing beside her his expression bored and carefree. I flew from the couch and looked down at her body, noticing the unhealthy angle of her neck.

"Dammit, Damon! You knew what she meant to Mattie and Jer," I said in exasperation, sitting on my knees beside Vic.

I knew that she wouldn't be dead for long but waking up as a vampire wasn't much better, not for her. She wasn't the kind of person that could survive eternal life. She was an addict for a reason, she had a rough life and I was damn sure she didn't want an eternity of it. I leaned back onto my feet with a sigh and looked up at Damon who was leaning easily against the bar looking at the clock on the table beside me. He looked completely at ease and that irritated me to no end. How could he be so cavalier about ending someone's life? I stood and pulled my shirt down, this whole ordeal was becoming more than I could calmly handle. I was about to blow up on someone and the closest person was a vampire hell-bent on destroying his brother and, in turn, my family. I stomped over to the cocky vamp in question, and with one swift motion, slapped him firmly across the face.

"This is your mess Damon and you can deal with it on your own," I said my fisted hands shaking.

"But so help me! If someone I care about gets hurt in the process, I will make you pay," I spat, turning on my heel and walking swiftly to my car. I'd officially had all I could take of Damon Salvatore.


I drove back home with one thought on my mind. What do I tell Jeremy? Deep down I knew Vicki wouldn't make it, and it would break Jer's heart. I slipped out of the car and slammed the door shut as hard as I could, the car creaked and groaned with my effort and a large dent was clearly visible. How was I going to explain that to Jenna? I placed my hand on my forehead in frustration. Great now I had something new to stress over. I couldn't help but think how much easier things would be when I started over. I grimaced at my thoughts and felt terrible. I headed into the house pulling out my cell and dialing Lena's number. Where the hell were they? As I was walking up the stairs I reached her voicemail, again.

"Listen, Lena, I don't know what you and Stefan are planning, and frankly I don't want to. But you should both know that whatever it is won't end well, for anyone. Call me back, please," I said in one breath.

This day kept getting worse and worse, and I had yet to live through the hardest part, my conversation with Elena and Jeremy. I made my way to my room and threw open my closet door. I grabbed a change of clothes, something I wouldn't mind being ruined. Once I was redressed I pulled on my black biker boots and refastened my hair into a braid. I had a feeling things were about to get dirty. I grabbed my lotion and was applying some to my face when the doorbell rang. I closed my eyes and visualized the front porch. My brow furrowed when I sensed Vicki. I stood up and ran out my door and down the stairs just as Jeremy opened the front door. I flew in front of him and gently pushed him away from a slightly hungover looking Vicki.

"Hey. The sun is killing me. My eyes are on fire," she moaned placing her fingers on the bridge of her nose.

Jeremy fought his way in front of me and I struggled to stay between the newly minted Vamp and my very human brother. "Where have you been?" he asked, his voice rushed. I worried my bottom lip between my teeth and looked at the two. What was I supposed to do? She probably had no clue what she had become.

"Hey Vicky, how are you feeling?" I finally asked, defeated.

She walked past us into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. "It's good. Everything is good," she said waving her hand dismissively.

Jer and I followed her into the kitchen and she took hold of the back of Jeremy's neck, pulling him into a swift kiss. I raised my hand ready to knock her through a wall if necessary. As their kiss deepened I looked away feeling awkward. I cleared my throat and tapped my foot, thanking every God in the book when they finally pulled apart.

"Did something happen?" Jer asked when she pulled away from him, heading for the fridge.

She ignored his question as she pulled open the door peering inside our fridge for something to help satisfy her ravenous hunger. I felt bad that she wouldn't be able to find anything, at least not in our fridge.

"I'm hungry what do you got to eat?" she asked, leaning into the fridge.

Jeremy looked at me and I tried to keep my face from showing the regret I felt.

"You're high? Vicki, its the middle of the day," Jer said, inching closer to her.

I pulled him away and shook my head. Where the hell was Elena and Stefan? I pulled out my phone and send a quick text to Matt. When this all went badly I didn't want my family to be implicated in her disappearance. As she raided our fridge eating anything she could get her hands on, we patiently waited for Matt. About twenty minutes later he burst through our door, his face bunched up with worry. I greeted him in the living room and pulled him to the side.

"Something is wrong with her Matty," I said, giving him a heads up.

His blue eyes widened and he rushed past me into the kitchen. I stayed back in the living room giving the boys some space but keeping my ears open. I was pacing in front of the T.V. when the boys brought Vicki into the living room. She had her hands hovering near her ears, pain marring her features. Matt and Jeremy spoke quickly over Vicki's moaning. I continued pacing back and forth trying to remain calm. It wasn't until Jer mentioned the cops that things turned sideways. Vicki lashed out and shoved Jeremy away screaming for them to not call the cops. Thankfully Elena and Stefan showed up before I had to restrain Vicki with magic and give myself away.

"What's going on?" Elena said, moving beside me and placing her hand on my shoulder.

I stepped away and leaned towards Stefan. "A gift from Damon," I whispered so only he would hear.

His head snapped towards me and then back to Vicki in a nanosecond. He slowly looked her over and closed his eyes in anger.

"I told you this wouldn't end well," I accused, again for his ears only.

Logically I knew it wasn't really his fault, but I still held a grudge. He knew what provoking Damon would do and yet here we were.

"She's really messed up," Matt worried. He stood next to where Vicki had sat on the floor. Her body curled into itself. Elena walked towards her, hands outstretched.

"Elena, back up," Stefan said.

I took Elena's wrist and pulled her away as Stefan took her place in front of Vicki. "Vicki, look at me. Focus. You're gonna be fine. Everything's gonna be fine. Take her up to bed. Shut the blinds. She's gonna be ok," he said directing his last few sentences to Jeremy and Matt.

They lifted her, taking most of her weight as they helped her up the stairs. When I knew they could no longer hear us I lashed out, not caring who could see. I flung my hand outwards, using my magic to knock the lamps from the tables beside me. They landed on the floor with a crash, the glass flying across the room. I could feel the air sparking around me, but didn't care. I was so angry, at Damon for his stupid grudge against Stefan, at Stefan for antagonizing his brother, and at Katherine for creating their feud in the first place. A tiny intake of breath caught my attention and I slowed my ragged breathing long enough to remember my surroundings. I clenched my fists and fought back the rush of magic that was crackling around me. Elena was standing behind Stefan who had felt the need to shield her from me. As if I'd ever hurt her. The ridiculousness of his action snapped me out of it and I ran a hand over my face.

"Ellie?" Lena whispered.

She was peering out from around Stefan's shoulder, her big brown eyes surprised and frightened. I cracked a half smile and shrugged.

"Well, this was not how I wanted things to go. But it's too late now," I said exhaling.

Stefan snorted and stepped away from Elena walking towards me. "You in control Elandra?" he asked lowly.

I nodded and looked at the damage I had caused, with a flick of my wrist the broken lamps lifted into the air, the glass reforming. Once the work was finished they lowered back onto their respective tables. Elena was still standing on the other side of the room shell-shocked. She shook herself out of it, literally, her brown hair flinging around her.

"Can someone please tell me what is going on," she squeaked.

I fiddled with my braid, trying to come up with a way to explain. "I'm a witch, Lena. I was born this way. There is a lot more to it, but for right now that's the easiest part to explain," I said.

Stefan stayed beside me obviously making sure I wasn't going to lash out again. I felt a bit put out by his behavior. He was acting like I was a danger to Elena. When I inched towards her he flinched and started following behind me, right on my heels.

I swung around and used my magic to push him away a few feet. "Come on, Stefan. You and Vicki are the most dangerous people here. Back off," I spat.

His face fell and I immediately felt like crap for reminding him of what he was. I started to apologize but Elena's strangled groan interrupted me. "What?" she said.

Both Stefan and I turned towards her. "Vicki is in transition, Lena," I explained. Her face paled, her doe eyes frantically flittering to the stairs where our brother and Matt had disappeared. I put my hands up and tried to reassure her.

"They are ok. Stefan and I are both keeping an eye on the situation," I said.

Worrying her hands she looked at me in confusion. "How can you be keeping an eye on them?" she asked.

I stood beside her and brushed her hair off her shoulder. "I can't hear them but if I focus I can sense where they are in the room and what they are doing," I said.

Stefan joined us and watched me intently. He was just as curious about what I could do as she was. I sighed and folded my arms. I had never tried to explain this to someone before.

"Its kinda like Xray vision. If I focus on their auras I can almost see them." I closed my eyes and inhaled. "Like right now Jeremy is sitting on the edge of his bed, Vicki lying beside him." I focused on Matt's blue aura. Almost the same color as his eyes. I could see him standing by Jeremy's door speaking to him. His lips moved but no sound came. That was one thing I couldn't do, hearing distant speech wasn't in my repertoire. "Matty is standing in the doorway speaking to Jer. I can't tell what he is saying," I finished, opening my eyes.

Stefan titled his head slightly and listened. "He is worried. He's never seen her like this before," he said.

Elena looked between us and shook her head. "How is this possible? We were born minutes apart. We're twins! Am I a witch too?" she asked.

I exchanged a knowing look with Stefan and clamped my teeth together. She wasn't a witch, but a doppelganger and Stefan still hadn't told her.

"No, your not a witch. I promise I will explain the rest later. Right now we have bigger problems," I said looking to the ceiling. "What are we gonna do about Vicki?" I asked, directing the question to the only other vamp in the house.

"Right now she doesn't know what she is, but soon she'll have to decide whether to feed or not," he said.

Elena looked at him her face set in sadness. "The same choice you made?" she asked.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. The same choice he had taken away from Damon. Before Stefan could answer a loud yell echoed down the stairs. Seconds later Matt bounded down and to the front door. "She was fine, and then she just...freaked out and left," he said, huffing for breath and heading out the door.

I ran towards the closet and grabbed my recently packed bag. The one I had created shortly after meeting the Salvatores again. I pulled the strap over my shoulder and looked at Stefan.

"We can track her," I said.

He nodded and eyed my bag.

"I'll do what I have to, Stefan," I said.

I didn't want to use the stakes or vervain that resided in the bag, but I would if I had to.

"Go," Elena said.

I drug my eyes from Stefan's worried gaze and ran out the door. It was time to hunt.