Disclaimer: I do not own the Vampire Diaries.

Fourteen

"Hope I'm not waking you," Damon said in a tone that sounded entirely uncaring, peering over Alex's shoulder and into the dark house. She had turned the front porch light on the moment she heard knocking, and now it lit the strands of Damon's black hair in a yellowish light, ironically similar to a halo. His face was grim and taut.

"Do I even want to know?" Alex asked, monotone and hesitant.

Damon smirked, though it held none of his usual impishness. "Doubtful. Invite me in." It was a command, not a question.

Alex gave him a level look. "Why should I?"

Damon huffed petulantly. "Because," he said, standing aside to reveal Meredith Fell behind him. "This is about James."

At the mention of her brother's name, she wasted no time inviting the pair inside. Damon glanced around the house curiously. To make a point of the fact that he now had access to it whenever he wanted, Alex decided with an eye roll.

A lamp was on in the living room, a book sitting beside it. Alex hurriedly put it away, hiding the evidence that she had not, in fact, been sleeping. Too much was nagging at her conscience—Kol showing up earlier, his words, the strange look on his face. He had been seeking something, she figured out. What it was he wanted, she wasn't entirely sure. But he wanted something. And she had unknowingly passed up the opportunity to find out what that was. Because if Kol needed something from her that he didn't feel he could simply take, that meant she had leverage.

Right?

All worries and thoughts had to be shoved aside, because Damon and Meredith were looking at her with expressions that made her stomach feel queasy.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked. "Did something go wrong at the hospital?"

Meredith's eyebrows tugged together in guilt. She glanced at Damon, pressing her lips together. "It was my fault," she said quietly, turning her sad gaze on Alex. "He figured it out. I don't know how, but he did. He's gone."

Alex's mouth went dry as bone. "Gone?"

"Vamoosed," Damon said. "Vanished. Missing. That sort of gone."

Feeling utterly like dead weight, Alex fell back to the couch, shaking her head in consternation. When suddenly one thing went right, a slew of others went terribly wrong.

"If that was all," she said quietly, "you wouldn't have told me in person." She looked up at Damon imploringly. "What else happened?"

He had to give her credit—she wasn't as stupid as he initially thought.

"He's got a vial of vampire blood on him," Damon said as emptily as possible. "Any idea what he'd want with that?"

Alex's face drained of color, but she otherwise controlled her reaction. She tried to think hard. "You said he wants to overthrow the Council." Alex spared a glance at Meredith, but otherwise had deduced the older woman knew about this. "How could vampire blood help him with that exactly?"

"It doesn't make sense," Meredith said. "He hates vampires—he wouldn't want anything to do with them if he wants to oust them from the town."

"Unless," Damon said pensively. "He plans to use it against someone. Like leverage."

Alex had heard nothing that transpired since she last spoke. A dawning, horrifying realization was settling upon her, and her mouth parted in dread.

Damon stared raptly at her. "What is it?"

"You're too strong," she said in a hollow voice. "Too fast. How is he supposed to go against that? How is he supposed to fight you when he's just human?"

Meredith and Damon exchanged puzzled looks.

"Not following," Damon said.

"He wants to be turned," Alex said, her voice rising. "Into a vampire. That's the only way he can fight back. It's the only way."

Alex buried her face in her hands.

Alaric didn't make a habit of eavesdropping. He really didn't. But he found he couldn't stop himself when he stepped into the Gilbert house—his home too, if he allowed himself to call it that—and heard the voices of Elena and Stefan arguing. He stopped immediately, aware that if Stefan cared to recognize his presence, he could in an instant. It seemed he was too caught up in his conversation, however, and Alaric was too worried about his surrogate daughter to care if he was breaking some parenting rules or not.

"We don't know what she's up to," Stefan was obviously trying to talk Elena out of something. "She could show up tonight."

"If she does, then she wouldn't anticipate me being there, too," said Elena. "Katherine's smart, but even she hates it when her plans get screwed up."

Stefan sighed heavily. "This isn't a good idea."

"It's the best idea we have."

There was a pause.

"I just want you to be careful, all right? Damon texted me an hour ago. Alex's brother disappeared from the hospital—something's up with him, and Damon seemed pretty worried about it." Stefan sounded resigned.

"It'll be fine, Stefan," Elena said softly. "It always is, in the end."

"There's just too much that could go wrong tonight," was all Stefan said.

The shift within Alaric was subtle. Even he hadn't noticed it consciously until he was already too far gone to do anything about it. Darkness swelled in his chest and spread throughout his body, reaching to his fingertips, his toes. Alaric Saltzman, history teacher and substitute father, no longer stood within the Gilbert house listening raptly to the two upstairs. Instead, Alaric Saltzman, determined vampire hunter, was connecting all the dots in his head and planning his next move.

Alex stared blankly down at the grave in front of her, a swell of fear building in her heart. In her hand, she held her mother's pearl ring. The metal band was cold in the frosty air.

Maybe she was never meant to have a peaceful, quiet life. Maybe she had been doomed from the very start. She never believed in fate before, but she did believe that some people were destined for certain things. Kol and now James… What was she to do? What could she do?

As the despair settled in, she knew nowhere else to go but her mother's grave. Now she kneeled down in front of it, as she had for hours, wishing desperately for some sign that her mother could even sense her presence. Everything was quickly becoming futile: her attempt to go on living a normal life as if her mother hadn't been murdered and her father hadn't abandoned her; trying to keep the remains of her family together as everything else wanted to pull it apart; and perhaps most importantly, trying to fight Kol, fight what he could turn her into: a spineless little damsel in distress. But she refused it. Not after everything else that was already happening.

The wind picked up, sending leaves skittering over the tops of tombstones and the narrow, winding lanes that threaded through the cemetery like snakes. Alex lifted her head, allowing the breeze to caress her cheeks and perhaps cleanse her of this awful, dreadful feeling.

It didn't work.

A sudden fear of losing her remaining strength gripped her. She stood quickly to dispel the thoughts and backed away from her mother's grave, worried that the old crippling memories would do her more harm than good. Her feet began to move of their own accord, taken by a wanderlust deprived from weeks of being trapped and scared.

She soon found herself treading through the forest. There was a path beneath her, but it was hidden by overgrown roots reaching to one another, patches of tall grass, and the detritus of leaves and mulch. Goosebumps pebbled her arms; it felt as if something had taken her by the hand and led her this way.

She had returned to Henrick's gravesite. She knew this because the strange heart-shaped flower lay near the base of a tree, wilted and dead. A strange sense of loss descended on her; she gently picked up the flower and cupped it in her palm.

A moment later, she shredded it; piece by piece it swayed back to the ground, joining the other litter of the forest. She threw the remaining bits down with a rough flick of her wrists, glaring at the soft petals. This wasn't fair. None of this was fair—she was losing James, the only family she had left. What would she do without him? How would she go on? There would be Matt, of course, but there's something about losing one's entire family that was so obliterating.

"What did it do to you?" A surprised Kol questioned.

Alex bit her lip and turned around. She hadn't been aware she wasn't alone, but was hardly surprised to find out otherwise. She spared the smug vampire a brief glance before considering his words.

"What?"

"The flower," Kol clarified, clearly amused. He stood across from her, nearly ten feet away. "What did it do to earn such a tragic end?"

Alex held his gaze. She could feel her insides crack. "I could ask you the same."

"About you, you mean?" Kol leaned against the trunk of a birch tree, smoothly tucking his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "You're wondering why on earth someone would want to hurt a creature such as yourself." It was a statement, not a question.

"No," Alex said, surprising him. "I'm wondering what you did to become what you are. What happened to Henrick?"

A deafening silence rang in the air.

Kol stared at Alex, daring her to speak another word. His jaw was so tight that the muscles strained and rippled. It was daylight, but his eyes looked black as night with no moon; lethal and remorseless.

Except she could see something there, behind them. Something hidden and restrained but fighting to reach the surface. It was gone in a flash.

"I respected your wishes yesterday and let you be," Kol said carefully. "You must know me well enough by now to know my patience wears thin easily."

"But why?" Alex asked. "What made you this way? You couldn't have always been like this. People aren't born evil."

"What would you know about people, little Alex?" Kol straightened and stepped forward, a glint in his eyes. His mouth was screwed into a frown. "Look at the life you lead—sheltered and privileged. What would you know about the need to survive?"

Alex crossed her arms. "Are you serious? I think I know better than most people. You're the reason I need to survive. You're the one threatening me."

Kol paused a few feet away from her, arching a dark eyebrow. "So I've taught you something, then. How fortunate for you." Alex opened her mouth to argue, but Kol stopped her. "Who were you before you met me, Alex? I think you and I both know you're better off now, because of all that's transpired. Someday you may even thank me."

Alex scoffed. "You're out of your mind."

"Am I?" Kol sidestepped her. His hand brushed her wrist as he did, making her shiver. "I've taught you to stand up for yourself. I've given you a backbone. Many humans don't realize it isn't natural to be brave of heart, to be born fearless and determined. It's experience. It's what you learn from others. So I have taught you something, darling. You're welcome."

Alex's teeth gritted together as she stood. The thought came, unbidden, that maybe he was right. She hadn't been this girl before he came into her life. No, she had been weak and scared of shadows. She'd been everything she always despised being. Could he really be right? Yes. She adapted to his maliciousness, his threats and danger. She had become stronger because of it.

But damn him for pointing it out.

Alex turned to face him. "You're only defending my question. Something made you this way, Kol. Something made you hateful and wicked. It was Henrick, wasn't it?" Kol had once more closed off his expression and stepped away from Alex. His hands were clenched into bloodless fists, his eyes narrowed. Alex didn't stop. "Was it the pain of losing him? Or did you do something?" She paused, holding her breath. "Did you kill him, Kol?"

Kol snarled and lunged at her. Alex feared, for a moment, that he would simply tear her throat out then and there. But she should've known better—after all this time, he hadn't. he still wouldn't, would he? Instead, he shoved her backward until her spine roughly met the bark of a tree. He pinned her against it by her wrists.

"Do not," he said in a low, deadly voice, "make wild accusations, dear. You are messing with forces beyond you."

Alex didn't once stray from his stare. "I visit my mother's grave when I'm feeling helpless. Is that what you're doing here? Do you feel helpless, Kol?"

Kol dug his fingernails into her coat sleeves, reaching her skin beneath. She didn't have to look to know he was drawing blood; hot rivulets trailed down her arms, pooled at her elbows. Kol hissed.

"You're right," Alex continued, her words coming out erratic and breathy. "You did make me stronger. But you're the one who keeps coming back to me. What have I done for you, Kol? Why are you still playing this game with me?"

Everything that had occurred between them unto this point built and climaxed. Alex could taste it in the air, feel it on her arms. It was almost as if a supernatural force was gathering between them, pushing and pulling, biting and clawing. She stared, unblinking, into Kol's fathomless eyes. She watched the emotions shift and alter; the hate, the burning hunger, the fear, the admiration, and finally, the pain. He was in raw pain; she could see it. Everything he had taken care to hide was unraveling before her.

His grip was loosening.

A swell of pity gathered in Alex's heart. How long had he suffered with this? Did his siblings even know?

"It's okay, Kol," Alex said quietly, his eyes soft and sad. She expected him to retaliate; maybe hit her or bite her, maybe even kill her, but he didn't. "It's okay."

For the first time since knowing him, Alex felt like she was reaching a deeper part of Kol. A part he probably didn't even know existed. She understood his weaknesses, his pains, his fears. Kol was not impervious.

He taught her how to survive. So would she play his game and manipulate these weaknesses, or would she sacrifice more of her heart?

Elijah stood facing the bay window. Mid-afternoon light spilled onto his face; if he had been human, the sunlight would have revealed hours of sleeplessness as chalky half-moons beneath his eyes. Instead, his skin was clear and bright, as it had been for a thousand years.

"Come in," Elijah said to the presence at the door. "Shut the door behind you."

Katherine walked in hesitantly, glancing around to see if they were alone, before doing as he asked. It was almost offensive to be invited into her own room at the bed and breakfast inn, but she made no vocal complaint.

"I said I would call you when I had more information," said Katherine.

Elijah turned to face her. "So why didn't you call?"

Katherine swallowed hard. Playing games was second nature to her; it wouldn't be wise to try it with Elijah, however. She bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I got caught up."

"Don't make that mistake again," Elijah said. He stepped towards her. "What can you tell me?"

"The Salvatore party is today," Katherine said. "Your mother is planning to cast a spell during it, but she didn't specify what."

"So why does she need you?"

"I'm supposed to place stones at certain intervals around the boarding house." Katherine drew a polished white rock from her purse, holding it up for the elder vampire to see. There was a deeply inscribed symbol on the flat part of it. Elijah didn't recognize it. "And then I'm supposed to find out where the Salvatores are keeping Elena for the night, since they won't allow her to go."

Elijah's attention perked up at the mention of the doppelganger. "Why is my mother concerned with Miss Gilbert?"

"She didn't say. Just that I'm supposed to locate her and take her to the quarry." Katherine struggled to look defiant. "That's all I know."

Elijah considered this. "Then I expect you to do your job well. But," he added with a sharp smile. "Do not take Elena to my mother. Instead, bring her to me."

Katherine's eyes widened. "What?"

"Bring me the doppelganger."

"Why?" Katherine asked. She grew nervous. "Esther will know something's wrong."

"Let me deal with Esther," Elijah said. "You must worry about yourself, Katerina. Do as I ask and I will pardon you. That is what you want, isn't it?"

Katherine pressed her lips together.

It was going to be one hell of a night.

A/N: I am terribly sorry for the long wait. My life is the essence of crazy right now, so please bear with me. I hope you guys are still sticking with me and enjoying this.

DreamsForTheDead: I haven't had a chance to get back to your last message, but I will ASAP! (:

As always… please tell me what you think. (: