A/N: I do not own The Vampire Diaries

Ryssa stared at where Elijah had been in utter shock, her brain struggling to work. Did he really just kiss her? She looked into the mirror to see that her eyes were wide and her cheeks pink but all she could concentrate on was the feeling of him against her, of his strong arms holding her up, his caress on her neck and the mind-numbing kiss. Bonnie tried the door and she hurriedly unlocked it and smiled sheepishly at the other girl.

"Sorry, I needed a minute, too many memories," she said and Bonnie glanced over her shoulder but saw no one.

"It's fine, let's go back and talk some more." Ryssa followed as the other witch led the way to their table and she took her seat. "Tell me what Elijah needed your help with, maybe I can help you."

"I—" Ryssa faltered. She couldn't remember why they came anymore. She remembered talking to him about Klaus years ago and what happened at the mansion today but there was a blockage preventing her from remembering why exactly he'd brought her.

"Is Elijah a threat to Elena?" Bonnie tried another tactic and Ryssa shook her head no. "You won't tell me what his plans are, will you?"

"No, I won't betray Elijah," Ryssa said and met the witch's gaze. "Witches have a code of honor and loyalty Bonnie; please respect that enough not to violate it by making me tell you."

Bonnie considered her, Ryssa was right and she'd already put the woman under enough pressure, added to what she'd seen at the mansion. "Maybe it's best if I take you back to the Boarding House now, I'm sure you're tired."

Ryssa glanced outside and was startled to see that it had gotten late. "Might as well," she sighed. She wasn't really looking forward to dealing with Damon again. They started to leave the Grill but Bonnie was called back by a blonde haired girl who bounced toward them. The newcomer looked Ryssa over and smiled.

"Hi! I'm Caroline," she said and Ryssa resisted the urge to laugh at her perkiness.

"Ryssa," she offered and walked outside without another word. She didn't really care if she was being rude; she'd had enough of people for one day. She could only take them in small doses; Trent hated it and frequently complained when she would screen his calls if she was feeling especially moody.

Bonnie joined her as she stood outside waiting and breathing in the fresh air. She wondered where Elijah had gone and hoped to see him soon. Bonnie drove them back to the place the brothers lived and Ryssa eyed it apprehensively. She said goodbye to the witch and walked up the stairs and back into the bedroom she'd been in before. She smiled at the sight of her suitcase on the bed, her phone beside it on top of a note.

I have business to handle but I will return in a few days.

Call Amanda.

The letter was snatched out of her hand and she whirled to see Damon reading it. "What's this?"

"None of your business Damon," she retorted scathingly and he grabbed her by the back of her head.

"Who wrote this?" he compelled.

"Elijah," she answered blankly and hissed as he let go, smoothing her hair. She took the paper back and threw it into the fireplace. "Why do you keep hurting me?"

Damon rolled his eyes. "Hello? Vampire."

"Elijah never hurt me," she argued and he scoffed. She looked at him more closely and noticed that he seemed to have been drinking and looked upset. She focused on him to determine why and felt the misery and jealousy coming off of him. "I don't care who upset you but please get out."

"Elijah's dead, I staked him and pinned him to a door," he stated as he advanced on her slowly until she was caged against the wall between his arms. He stared at the woman in front of him, and almost laughed at the way she glared back at him defiantly. "Who's Amanda, another witch?"

"She's my foster sister," she replied, not backing down. She had faced worse than Damon Salvatore, she refused to be cowed by him.

"Don't think for even a second that anything the witch said changes things, you're not going anywhere until you tell us what Elijah wants with Elena," he growled.

"Then it looks like I'm your new housemate," she replied, arching a brow. She searched his eyes, wondering at the feelings she'd felt. She was certain the jealousy and misery wasn't directed at her, in fact all she felt in regards to her was cold anger. "Who hurt you?" she asked softly.

Damon ignored her question. "You're not to leave the house unless you're with me or Stefan," he compelled. His mind went to the way he'd attacked Andie and compelled Elena after his confession, how did Ryssa know he was hurt or upset? He was neither so it didn't matter.

"I won't leave," she said and he pulled back. She didn't move, still watching him with her too perceptive eyes. He headed for the door but stopped to look back at her with his usual smirk.

"And I'm not hurt. I don't get hurt," he shrugged and winked at her. "Sweet dreams, Ryssa."

Ryssa let out the breath she'd been holding and went back to the bed, picking up her phone and noticed that she had two missed calls, one from Trent and the other Amanda. She dialed Amanda's number and walked toward the window, looking up at the moon.

"Hi mama!" said the happy voice of Emma and she smiled.

"Hi baby, why aren't you in bed?" she softened at the familiar voice of her daughter. She missed her a lot.

"Aunt Mandy fell asleep reading to me," Emma replied matter of factly.

"Well wake her up and then go to sleep darling," she told her.

"Okay mama. Are you with 'Lijah?"

"No, Elijah had to go somewhere, but please wake your aunt up," Ryssa's smile widened at the way her daughter said the Original's name.

"Ryssa?" Amanda's voice sounded groggy.

"Hey, everything's fine but I'll probably be here a few days. You don't mind, do you?" she asked, toying with the drapes.

"Of course not, we're all set here. Don't worry and come home soon," Amanda reassured her sister. "Em, say goodnight to mommy."

"'Night mama!"

Ryssa laughed and said her goodbyes and hung up, deciding to leave the call to Trent for morning. She opened her suitcase and dug for her charger and plugged the phone in.

"She sounds cute," Stefan commented and she looked over her shoulder to see him leaning against the door frame.

"Mhm, she is," she agreed and faced him, folding her arms over her chest.

"Bonnie told me what you talked about. I'm sorry for what happened to you," Stefan said sincerely and she looked down at the floor then back up. "I understand that you're loyal to Elijah, but I need to hear it from you. Does he plan to hurt Elena?"

"No," she answered truthfully. In everything she remembered him saying, never had she gotten the impression that he meant the doppelganger any harm. In fact he'd said that he'd found a cure to save her from the ritual to break Klaus' curse.

"Thank you," he responded and gave her a smile. "How old is your daughter?"

"She's six," she said. "If you don't mind I'm really tired, Stefan."

"Of course, I'll see you in the morning." With that he left her alone in the room and closed the door behind him. She changed into a camisole and her yoga pants and grabbed her toiletries bag and did her business in the bathroom. She pulled the covers out and climbed in, using her magic to shut the lights off and close the curtains as her eyes closed.