I desperately hope that the last update wasn't confusing at all! Please don't be shy to comment on anything - if my stuff is too long-winded, losing some pizazz, too entangled? Criticism or friendly comments are welcomed anytime:) Anything confusing is due to my lack of sleep but I will check it out later. I heart you, my readers! I have lots to cover with Heidi, though, so expect much if you're an Original fan. Complicated explanations and a lot of grammar changes in the second part of this update; from past tense to past perfect tense. I do not own Vampire Diaries, but my original characters are mine. Enjoy it, read it, and review it if you can! -Lady Shiri

Chapter Twenty-One

The Beauty Of Avowals

-The New World-

1025

Under my laborious breathing for air, a snarl erupted somewhere further up the path, followed by a gurgling wheeze. I halted at my footsteps, leaning against a spotted sapling as I took notice of a small trail of blood inches from my feet. I did not forget about Ayana's spell that was initiated by my blood. How could I? The guilt for any harm it may have caused for the innocent was eating me away in the inside. I felt my eyes widen, my heart quivering slightly, at the sight in front of me. "Oh!"

A slim woman vulgarly straddled over a limp male, the skirt of her pale dirtied dress hitching above her bare thighs. With her hands firmly secured around his shoulders and her nails sinking into his clothes, possibly tearing flesh during her hungry daze for blood, she latched onto the crook of his neck. Her fangs were deeply buried within his tender skin, tangles of golden curls cascading down to the ground; it was the sight of a terrifying beauty.

I scuttled back when an animalistic hiss left her bloodied lips. Sensing my presence, she straightened away from her prey, her lingering expression of ecstasy tarrying her pretty face. Drops of scarlet smeared over the corner of her pink mouth and down to the point of her narrow chin. Grass green orbs glowed against thin veins of translucent red as she looked to me with recognition. "Yvonne?" I gasped.

My past mistress grinned maliciously. "Hello Heidi." Without another word, she suddenly towered over my shaking body, leering down with intimidation. I was shoved back with alarming strength, my spine slamming against the base of a tree and her hand tightly gripping the back of my head. "Twas nice to see you again."

A scream escaped from me when her fangs plunged into my wrist without warning, but only for a while. The moment she gulped a mouthful of my blood, she screeched in surprise and wrenched herself as far as she could from me. Once the predator, she now acted as the prey - the victim. Thick red liquid dripped from her chin when she staggered away, desperately wiping some of the evidence of her attack with her palms. "I-It burns!" Yvonne cried, ripping her sleeves with forceful rakes as she endured the pain. "What d-did you do to me?"

Panicked, I pressed the gaping wound on my wrist and kept at a distance. "I d-do not know what I did, b-but I had believed you to be dead. How are you alive?"

She growled in warning. "Lies! You have d-done something!"

Taking another glimpse of her meal, I stared at her in revelation. She had been turned by immortal blood, but by who? "Who is your sire?"

Yvonne irritatingly chose not to listen as she snapped, "Witch!"

It appeared that her hatred for me had not ceased even after her death. A smothered rustle of the trees nearby made me turn around, expectant for another immortal to fight. To my humiliation and fear, it was Niklaus that stood there with an irritated expression. He eyed Yvonne and I with slight interest. His clothes were different from the ones he wore during the feast, yet they were still tattered and bloodied like he had fought another opponent of similar skills. He found us easily, that it seemed as if he knew exactly where I was throughout the day. But that could not be so. He too should have been affected with Ayana's magic just as Rebekah was.

"Tsk, she made the move to kill you."

"Mikael," I blurted out tactlessly. "It is him. H-He is attacking the village."

"I am aware," he replied, shockingly not concerned at all. Was Mikael not the man who had hunted him down for more than a millennia? What was the cause for such indifference?

I asked, "What of Rebekah? Your brothers?"

"They are fine." Then my help is not needed? Dragging the warm body of the scarred man closer to Yvonne's reach, Niklaus bent over the quivering blonde who was trying to vomit it out like the very essence of my blood burned. It disgusted me to a point when he sounded almost scolding toward Yvonne's ignorant mistake. "Drinking her blood is not the way to do it, at least not without her acceptance. For without it, her blood is like vervain to us immortals . . . Nothing drops of human blood cannot fix."

"V-Vervain?" Yvonne forced out loud with a tense jaw. With Niklaus' assistance, her mouth instantly fastened onto an old wound on the man's wrist. Rubbing my own with discomfort and wincing as it stung, I blanched at the amount of metallic liquid she engorged herself with, nearing gluttony.

"T-The man," I stuttered, "the one from the field that day. H-He had drank my blood but did not act in such a manner."

Niklaus shook his head. "From what I had heard from afar, Elijah had killed him, no? Such a rash, impulsive man when it comes to you, Heidi. It had been too early for the poor fellow to react to your shielded blood."

"B-But why?"

"Would you rather be an easy meal?"

I corrected myself hastily. "Then how?"

"Did Rebekah tell you of an immortal's need for an invitation?"

"To enter one's home," I simplified, nodding. "She had."

"Tis not obvious it is a similar mechanism for defense? Someone as special as you, there must always be a safeguard to the possibilities of each threat." Niklaus answered, a glint of knowing flashing across his handsome features. The way he said it, even at the glimpse of his perceptive expression, made me worried. What did Niklaus know of today? What was his plan for Mikael now that his father made the first move? Surely it was not to stay and watch, allowing troubling things to happen to my village . . . was it?

I frowned. "Elijah protected me from my own uncle, under the impression that he would feed on me."

"More for your benefit than your uncle's. You care for Johan clearly, foolishly so. If he were to be injured, would you not feel guilty to be the cause of his pain like you are the cause of Yvonne's?"

My eyes lowered to her trembling figure. Disregarding the sheen thin layer of sweat that built on top her skin, the color of mellow rose had returned to her flushed cheeks and her ragged breathing had calmed. She appeared to be better. "I-I did not know."

He stood up, raising an eyebrow at my meekness. "Now, love, do not feel guilty. She tried to kill you, drain you of your life source. I do not think Elijah would fancy a dry corpse."

"How do you know of such things?" I asked cumbrously, taking a step back.

He smirked without shame. "From experience, of course."

"Give me permission," I heard him say without his lips moving. I frowned at the memory Niklaus had forced me to forget, wincing at the headache that came along with it. "Say it is allowed."

Gathering confidence despite my throbbing head, the glare I managed to muster faltered. "I . . ."

I charily remembered the way he had pressed my body closely to his, a firm hold around my shoulders and waist, before he dipped down to press an open-mouthed kiss on the base of my neck. I pictured myself unmistakably shivering in anticipation with that deed alone, wondering what else he had done that could have excited me so facilely. Then I could recall how his teeth had sunk past my flesh and into my body, tugging down on my hair eagerly to grant him better access to my vulnerable throat - to ease the blood flow from my veins to his mouth. My cheeks reddened at the memory of my pleasured moans; I had liked it very, very much.

Oh, my.

"Y-You-" I covered my stupefied gape with my hands and accused, "You had d-drank from me! And compelled me to agree!"

He grinned. "Could I deny the delicacy of your blood? Elijah and Henrik perhaps, but could I show the same restraint? Come now, Heidi, you know me better than that. I had used the strength it offered to take Anika from her village. You should be proud you are of importance to my cause."

"Anika is dead."

"By Mikael's hand, for her dead body was a message, you see." He patronizingly corrected me, speaking without difficulty of the dead. "Why would I kill the girl I have use for?"

My glare did not fade. "Use for what?"

"You will know soon enough." Niklaus hungrily put to mind my distress and dread as he picked up a weak Yvonne in his arms. Her weight did not faze him and he made his way closer to the burning village. I was reluctant but I followed behind warily, filled with indignation for his lack of respect for boundaries. "It seems that witch has helped you summon past recollections. Perhaps you have forgotten the approval you had given me."

Unfortunately, I had not. "You may," I seemed to have breathed before our corrupt act, the regrettable words echoing in my ears like a faint mocking whisper.

"But you cannot . . ." I stopped. "Y-You knew of Ayana?"

"I smelled her last night."

"Yet you did not oppose of my plans to meet her?"

He scoffed as if I made a jest. "Did you really believe that you could escape the watch of my men?"

I stiffened, reminiscing the part of the day when I had almost been captured by the sun-kissed foreigner. "That was of your doing. He let me go."

"It was my order. You would not meet the witch if you were injured, then you would be of no use to me."

"A-And her spell? Were you aware of that as well?" At his smirk, I hurried my pace to reach him, outraged. "People were hurt, attacked!"

"I have existed for more than a millennia. Whatever scheme Mikael may have planned, I shall always have a better one to stand against it." His clear blue eyes flickered to me and I timidly looked away. "The note was not hard to miss, love. I had fun searching for that scrap of paper."

With a thousand thoughts in my head, I ignored the latter of his sentence. I could not let myself be distracted at the image of him searching for anything in my body, and let out a shaky breath. Niklaus was more than capable of killing me where I stood. "Are you angry with me?"

"As deceptive as I found your choice to be, his distraction proved useful. He had never intended to attack this village, but another."

"Ayana had lied then."

"No, I am certain Mikael had deceived her, and I cannot deny that I am impressed. It is a talent to mislead a witch with only the careful use of your words." A tremble went down my body as his voice dropped down to a sublime tone, claiming slyly, "Though I could not have done it without you."

"Done what?" I inquired with nervousness.

Instead of answering, he focused ahead. The smirk did not leave his pink lips and I grew more cautious of his sudden cheerfulness. There were no other bodies to encounter as we made our way to Lilly's home. That gave me an ounce of relief under the burden of guilt and fear. Niklaus was dangerous, yes, but in a forest filled with immortals from either side of the sparring family, it was the safer option to stay at his side. When we reached the small field behind Lilly's house, my attention was taken by the building smoke trail that pointed to the direction of Yvonne's abode. I ran forward to the middle of the meadow, scowling at the smell of fire from this distance.

He has lied once again, my conscience noted pointedly.

"You said he would not advance!" I impeached, worried for the fates of Emanuel and Magdalene. What of Aunt Sylvia?

"Tis not of my father's doing."

Whirling around, I gasped, "You attacked them?"

I cringed away when the sun-kissed foreigner appeared out of nowhere, his arms outstretched to take Yvonne from Niklaus arms. The back way was left open from his abrupt exit. His bright hazel eyes met mine briefly with melancholy before disappearing, all in the same minute without saying a word. Niklaus did not pay extra attention to him as he left. "There were a few casualties in addition to them. Most were Yvonne's victims. It appears she has an insatiable appetite for a newborn." His words rang true that I oddly felt in my gut, but it did not lessen the seriousness of the assault. "I could not have Mikael be informed of my perception to his strategy. It was to be done or the risks would have been costly."

"What of Yvonne's parents?" When he remained dispassionate for their fates, I let out a cry. "They are dead!?"

"Your aunt is in safe hands."

May they find peace, I thought sadly as resentment filled my entire being. I spat, "One act of generosity does not correct lifetimes of offense!"

"I did not allege to be a saint, love. I am far from that - a demon, you once called me."

"No." I shook my head briskly. "I fear you are far worse than that-"

My breath got caught at the back of my throat when Niklaus suddenly stood in front of me, his hand clamped down on my forearm in a threatening grip. In his anger, his hold intolerably tightened, rendering a squeal that escaped from my mouth. I could not stagger backward as I was frozen, cursing the impulsiveness of my insult. His eyes were dangerously surrounded by red and black throbbing lines sprouted from the base of his bottom eyelids to the edge of his sharp cheekbones. If he was not angry then, he was certainly angry with me now.

Niklaus growled, the husky vibratos sending chills down my spine, "When had you gained such courage to speak to me that way?"

"Were y-you not the one to encourage spirit?"

He scoffed, his gaze lowering. "Shall I break what little courage you have before you become a thorn to my side?"

"L-Let go," I whimpered, quivering when he brushed his thumb over my bottom lip.

"If you fought my compulsion, do you not remember our kiss, love?" My heart sped up at his inclination, his face hardly inches from mine. At this proximity, I could see how truly blue his eyes were as his anger mollified and his inner demon vanished from my sight.

It was impossible for me to forget that. The remembrance of such passion that I had not experienced before, not even with Elijah, was recalled more than fluently in my mind. Even with his disclaims to human emotions and our weaknesses, Niklaus either gave everything or nothing at all. I felt that all in his kiss which triumphantly overwhelmed me that afternoon. Elijah, on the other hand, was careful and disciplined; he was wary of his emotions, keeping them on a leash of sorts. As frightening as it was to think that I was attracted to Niklaus, he was unstable, quick-tempered, and sadistic. He had instigated the deaths of Emanuel and Magdalene.

I shoved him back to no avail. "N-No, Niklaus, wait-"

"It would be wise to unhand her, brother."

We both turned to see a frowning Henrik. He was supposedly my savior, but he made no move to confront or oppose his older brother. The blue-eyed blond did not seem annoyed but amused at his interruption. "Little brother, finally. I was wondering when you would show yourself."

I felt my face heat up. Henrik had been watching from afar? At his lack of surprise, I guessed he too had knowledge of the kiss between Niklaus and I. Then what else could he be hiding from me? "A magnificent lure, Klaus, though it also would not be honorable for me to leave a maiden at the mercy of your aggressive tendencies, especially alone. I shall not make the same mistake again."

"Always the sympathetic one." Niklaus murmured, sounding disappointed for a short while.

I could not help but sigh in pleasure when my arm was released, cradling the swelling bruise to my chest. The youngest of the two abruptly appeared next to me, inspecting the depth of my wounds. "You are hurt."

Fighting back a flinch, I argued, "I am fine. My cuts will heal in time." Its bold translation: I need not kiss you or anyone.

"Will you be so understanding when you learn that Heidi has been visited by an able-bodied witch who can tell her of her origins?" Niklaus asked.

To my confusion, Henrik was slightly alarmed. "When was this?"

"Last night, and our dear had taken it upon herself to return the favor this morning."

"Then the curse was planned? For Heidi?"

Niklaus' gaze met mine. "She now knows what she is."

"Nature's reincarnation," I whispered, shy to even raise my voice under their attention.

A look of mischief settled on his face. "Yes. Now, Henrik, would you wish to inform Heidi of the rest of her story, or shall I?"

Weary of the answer, I inquired nonetheless, "What is it that you two speak of?"

Henrik glanced at me with disgrace and yielded silently. Accepting his younger brother's defeat with another haughty grin, Niklaus was more than happy to toss me a silver piece of jewelry. "Familiar?"

It sent soft thrills through my body at one single touch and I recognized it as my choker, the one I had foolishly left in my room. I caught Niklaus nod and scrutinized the metal flower at his voiceless command, inspecting each curve and link much to his impatience. When I flipped it over, I saw what he wanted me to notice. It was a beautiful engraving of two unique and familiar names; Laelia and Nikanor. I felt so much sorrow from this sole object in my hands and I did not doubt this had been a gift between two lovers.

"You were the one to give it to me," I realized aloud, remembering the last piece of the puzzle. After the confession, the kiss, the feeding of blood; he had bestowed this to me and tied it around my neck himself as assurance. "You are Nikanor."

"What else do you feel? What does your empathy tell you?"

The truth that I had felt with each of their words had been the cause of empathy? Was that how I knew they were honest - witches or immortals? "I thought you had given up on her, given up on love because of her." I heard Henrik interject, almost desperate.

"I have," was Niklaus' steady reply. "That has not changed."

"Then why bother?"

"Why not bother, Henrik? Why not be daring?" He shot back nonchalantly. "How will she affect the odds to Mikael's favor? I desire to humor our father, for I find it utterly entertaining that he assigned Ayana to break the repetitive curse placed on each of nature's counterparts. Thanks to her interference, she is open-minded to what we have to say."

"That is reckless of you," Henrik disagreed. "Laelia was not inclined to you at first."

"What is your reason for your reluctance? Is there something you wish to hide?" Niklaus taunted, finally earning Henrik's silence. When his regard returned to me, he seemed unsettled at the mounting tears in my eyes, but grudgingly pleased.

"I can comprehend why you have mistaken me for her." I uttered out, pressing my blunt nails into the intricate designs of the pendant. The idea of reincarnation suggested an unending cycle, and that would require an antecedent before its heir - before me . . . "You knew me as Laelia, did you not?"

Something odd crossed his features that I could not distinguish. "Yes. I did."

I swallowed, tense. "Right . . . so you say." I had expected such an answer, but accepting it was another matter. Only recently learning of my supernatural status, it was difficult to take in anymore surprises like this.

Niklaus and I had been lovers - possibly in every sense of the word, but I reminded myself that was not the case today. I could not picture myself with Niklaus, clearly neither did he at the sight of his strained sneer. As I stood beside the blue-eyed blond, my feelings for his older brother endured. I remained to be very much enamored by Elijah despite his cold reactions. Trying to act practical, I could not look past Elijah's imperfections and the side of him - the one that murdered without a second thought - still terrified me for I would never understand his characteristic to kill. Then again, I too had a dark side as I remembered that horrid hunger for more energy and power.

Perhaps we were all monsters with human hides. "And Rehema?" I found myself asking.

"H-How do you know of her?" Henrik inquired in delicate awe.

"Twas Ayana who enlightened me, most likely hearing this from Mikael himself. They were working together." I remarked before exhaling sharply, composing my distress. "Rehema was the originator of the reincarnation line, or so she said."

He nodded. "From Rehema's death came Berenike, then Laelia, and then you. There is no blood relation, but I suppose that is how it works."

My blood turned to ice. "You . . . You spoke of Berenike,"

Henrik realized the slip of his sentences and was immediately uncomfortable. At the corner of my eye, I guardedly observed Niklaus who was, no doubt, enjoying this more than he should have. "Oh, sweet Berenike. A rare beauty she was, more so than the others."

"Pardon?"

The blond cooed to both Henrik and I, "She was the object of Henrik's passion and the fiancée of Elijah; the cause of the first of many disputes between the eldest and the youngest of brothers. How sickly ill-fated for the three of you." My shock must have been explicit for Henrik to show concern.

Berenike had been a past life of mine?

"Did she love you?" I demanded, recalling the way Rebekah tensely acted at having me caught between her brothers' attentions. It seemed far-fetched then, the thought of me holding their regards, but at Henrik's silence, I immediately feared the worse. "She did . . . didn't she? Beatrice loved you too."

"Wait-"

"N-No. Do not touch me." I backed away from his touch, whirling on my feet and heading directly to Lilly's home.

My chest began to throb as I was hurt by their continuous dishonesty. I did not know where I desired to go for anywhere provided freedom from this degradation, but I could not stay with either of them. Finally apprehending Rebekah's urgency of her caution, I was disenchanted with the siblings, perhaps all of them; she too was conscious about the twists in my fates - how wrong it was for her brothers to have used me in such a lecherous way. I almost choked when Henrik materialized in front of me.

"Let us explain,"

"No, not anymore. I do not want to listen."

"Heidi-"

In my discord, the winds picked up and I managed to shove him from my path. "I do not wish to hear your logics of treating me like the common whore!" I exclaimed without heed before dashing to my refuge. I did not slow down until I was safely locked within the four walls of the bedroom. A mere wooden door would not stop them from entering, but if they respected me - as much as they could after all the lies they threw at my face - they would leave me be.

I lied down on the mattress, mute, as the day passed on from the window. "Unbelievable," I cried into my pillow, realizing my circumstances in dismay. My help was never needed and the attack Niklaus had ordered was already over before I reached the village. I had failed myself. Who am I to believe now? Ayana who was fooled or the siblings who have survived Mikael's plans?

My stomach grumbled with hunger and my throat dried from thirst, but I lingered within my thoughts, unmoving. If I was unequivocally destined to forget anything before my life in this present, then how would I have known my relationships in my past lives? Could they not have been honest and fair with me from the beginning? Why would three separate immortals fight for a single girl, for me? I did not see myself worthy for Elijah's attention, how much more Niklaus' and Henrik's . . . Were they not attentive to Ayana's beliefs that our relationships were strange, even aberrant? Not only did I feel played or used, but I was ashamed.

I had been infatuated with three different men during four different lifetimes; but did that make things any right? No, I decided to myself, not daring to use my voice. It does not.

"Heidi?" I heard Rebekah's voice against the door. Betrayal flooded my veins. To distract myself, I looked up to the window, learning it was past sunset. The shadows were gathering at the corners of the room and without the light the candles offered, I was alone in the dark. Rebekah may have had good intentions to protect her brothers, but it was with the cost of tormenting me with distrust and indignity. "I am sorry."

The fragile trust is broken. . . . Languidly, I faced away from the doorway and snuggled into the warm covers, half of me hoping it would swallow me whole and alive.

I suppose all of us were at fault with the consequences and their results, even with the centuries that progressed between Rehema and I. But how could I ever face them again? It seemed as if someone had discovered the answer to my woes. I shot up from the bed when the door opened, its rusty hinges gritting in friction. Much to my surprise, my glare set on Elijah - a mixture of blues, purples, and greens clashing against warm dark brown. It was days since he sought my company and he chose the moment that I ironically did not desire his; but even in my irascibility, I could not lie and say I did not miss him.

But he has used you, a voice reminded me. He understood my lack of greeting after he called my name. Mercifully, Elijah did not move any closer to test my comfort and kept his distance. Rebekah had left, it seemed. Good. I am not sure if I could handle speaking with one more liar.

His tone was gentle but stern as he said, "We have much to discuss. May we talk?"

-Mystic Falls, Virginia-

2010

"Hey . . ."

Shutting my locker shut with a bang, I turned to see Tyler awkwardly standing behind me. His hands were deep in his pockets and his shoulders were scrunched together as he carefully considered his next words. The ugly yellowish bruise on his face was nearly gone, returning his skin to its usual dark tan. He looked better but lonely now that Matt and I were avoiding him during classes, even today when school was over. We were gathering over to the cafeteria to plan on the Founder's Day floats. I guess he was tired with Aimiee and Sarah's company, just as I was honestly. All they ever talked about were booze and boys, the latter probably being a nightmare to endure for Tyler.

Not really sure on how to feel about seeing him, I nodded. "Good afternoon."

He seemed to accept that I was still irritated about the Founder's Day Event. "It's been a while."

"Yeah, it has."

"Look," Tyler began uncomfortably, "about the thing with Matt's mom, I'm sorry."

"Typically, but you're saying sorry to the wrong person." I rolled my eyes when he didn't say anything else - most likely out of hesitancy - and headed off to the cafeteria. I was starting to regret ever letting Bonnie and Caroline go ahead just for my history textbook. History was my worst subject while it was Winnie's best. He didn't need a five pound book as a constant reminder beside him during Alaric's class like I did. Tyler trailed after me, persistent. "I know we're going the same way, Tyler, but it doesn't mean you can walk with me."

"I don't get your deal, Char. We make out, you say you want to be friends, then all of a sudden, you're playing the jealous girlfriend."

"You think I'm jealous?" I repeated with a hint of disbelief. Talk about high school drama. The rumors about our supposed relationship had yet to die, but they hardly were worth any thought. I was a bit disheartened it was taking this long to disappear.

"Are you?"

"That's not what this is about. I meant what I said about being friends, and I like you - which you should honestly be grateful for since I don't particularly like a lot of people - but you ruined Matt's relationship with his mom." Especially when I was sore about that particular subject.

He pressed, "And I'm sorry for that,"

"Again, you're apologizing to the wrong person."

"Matt," Tyler sighed. "He won't talk to me."

"He has good reason to."

"Char, please. I really think I ruined it with him."

I glanced over my shoulder to see his dejected expression, not allowing any sympathy to seep into my body and ultimately failing. Since my long talk with John last night about forgiveness and sincerity, I was unwillingly in a merciful mood. Tyler was lucky today. "Then be annoyingly stubborn like you are right now. So far, it's kind of working." When I saw the twitch at the corner of his mouth, I added hastily with emphasis, "Kind of."

Tyler insisted on, poking my side childishly. "So, do you forgive me?"

"Ow," I grumbled, fighting back a laugh. "Yeah, we're cool." It didn't deflate his grin when I warned him about the conditions not to pester me so much if he wanted to continue being friends, and that was the end to our short period of awkwardness. We spent the short walk catching up on our irritation toward the snobby teachers of Mystic Falls High and to his agitation for his father - drinking buddy gossip, in other words.

It wasn't my first time hearing about Mayor Lockwood - my first being the day Tyler and I had gotten drunk and words freely flowed from Tyler's mouth. That was the start of a serious friendship that we both didn't plan for. I could tolerably relate to his daddy issues, though I had never been hit by my father before, and I was more than furious when I heard about it happening again, learning that it had been his father who had struck him recently. At the oath of silence Tyler had forced out of me - his makeshift way of cleaning up his slip, I unwillingly stayed silent.

A group of students were already present as we entered the cafeteria, and I even took note of Bonnie, Caroline, and Matt at one table. Caroline shot me a pointed look when she noticed Tyler next to me, but welcomed us nonetheless. The tension between the two guys was easily brushed aside once Caroline declared her high expectations on the float for Miss Mystic Falls, confessing that light colors were perfect for her skin tone. Bonnie and I could only force a laugh out at her enthusiasm.

When Alaric gave out papers filled with information about the Founder's Day parade, we shared an uncomfortable glimpse at the other's face. He was fixed on keeping what I wanted to know from me. I had tried to get the chance to talk to him throughout the school day, but he evaded my way when he could, even in class. Alaric just didn't comprehend how important it was for me to learn about my mother before her downfall to alcohol. It was my guilty secret that no one, not even Winslow, knew about.

"You okay?" I heard Bonnie whisper under Alaric's speech. She had sensed my uneasiness when her hand brushed over my forearm by chance. Our bond between witch and nature's mortal form had gotten closer after Stefan's capture.

At her questioning look, I replied dismissively, "Fine. I just want to get this meeting over with."

Caroline gasped dramatically. "Oh, come on, Chardonnay. Don't be a spoil sport."

"Yeah, Char," Matt joked lightly. "If we're going through with this, suffer quietly like the rest of us."

She pouted. "This isn't a joke. It's crucial I don't look like an idiot the day after tomorrow."

"Which is impossible,"

"Aw," Caroline sighed before patting his arm. "I know you know that, but do others? I don't think so."

We exchanged pained smiles at the work load she'd push us to do and returned listening to our history teacher. "Listen up, these are guidelines from the history department - the requirements are there, the rules are there. Don't do anything that'll ruin this for anyone, alright?" Pleased with the response he got from the crowd, Alaric continued, "For the float, we'll be doing the the battle of Willow Creek. I've nominated Tyler to be the head of the production design, so Tyler, be very creative. Pick your team, try not to screw up, and, well, have fun."

He shifted on his feet at the looks he was getting. "Erm, Mr. Saltzman, I'm not, uh, really into the whole thing-"

"Tyler, I've seen your drawings. They're pretty good if you asked me."

I turned to him with interest. "You draw?"

"Sometimes," Tyler stood up to take the sheet from our history teacher. "But it's not exactly public knowledge."

"I think it's cool," Caroline put in, encouraging Matt to do the same. I was starting to share her objective of trying to get the guys back on track with their friendship, but it wasn't showing any positive results. Matt could only manage a tense nod before walking off to plan with the others. Caroline nudged Tyler forward before strutting away with Bonnie, expecting me to come along wordlessly. "Er, let's go to the library. We have lots to research on if we want the float to be absolutely perfect."

"Yippee," Bonnie faked cheer.

Before I could however, I caught Alaric's look at my direction that said to follow him outside instead. To my surprise, Stefan and Elena were next to him, wearing similar expressions of foreboding. "What's going on?" I asked once we reached the safety of his classroom. Alaric made sure to close the door behind us before watching us tiredly with a frown. His apprehension and anxiety were enough to be alarmed about without having to know the whole situation.

Elena caught my wary stare on her boyfriend and assured me, "He's back on animal blood, Char. He's alright."

"I'm better now." Stefan added in sheepishly, "I'm sorry for my behavior. I wouldn't have placed you in danger if I was in my right mind."

Noticing Elena's suspicion to what he meant about that, I remarked carefully, "But you didn't do anything damaging at all, Stefan. Maybe creeped me out here and there with your sudden optimism, but no harm done."

His lips twitched at my lame joke, a small smile that immediately disappeared when Alaric announced, "I saw Isobel last night."

Three pairs of wide eyes turned to him simultaneously in a mixture of confusion and incredulity. "Um, what?" Elena asked, trying to grasp what Alaric said with difficulty. "M-My mother, you mean? She's here in Mystic Falls?"

"She wanted me to arrange a meeting between you two, or she would start killing people."

"Sounds charismatic alright," I mumbled and avoided their frowns at my direction.

"Isobel just wants to talk to Elena. That's what she told me."

A distraught Elena leaned against the edge of a desk. "B-But why now?"

Stefan placed a comforting hand on her slender shoulder, troubled. "Does anyone pick up on how coincidental all of this is?"

I scoffed, glancing at Alaric's figure with caution. "There's nothing coincidental in Mystic Falls."

My history teacher scowled in reply, both of our gazes clashing together in a competitive glare. We both weren't backing down that easily. Before Stefan could start throwing off possibilities in the air - pointedly ignoring the tension in the air, the door swung wide open to reveal a smirking dark-haired vampire. "Sorry I'm late, Mr. Saltzman. My doggie ate my, er," Damon shook his head at our dirty looks, "never mind."

Being the animal lover I was, I snorted. "You don't have a dog."

"Tough crowd."

"I thought you locked the door," I almost whined to my history teacher who shrugged.

"Thanks for coming, Damon," was all he said.

"Oh, yes, don't need to make me feel welcomed, Char. I thought we were better buddies than that, especially after last night." He walked up to Alaric's desk, crossing his arms over his muscled chest. "Okay, what's up with the moody atmosphere? Did someone's pet die or something? Hope it wasn't a squirrel. Stefan just adores them."

"Isobel's here. She confronted Alaric." Stefan sighed, tired of his brother's antics.

He paused. "You mean in town?"

"No, in the moon," I retorted.

Waving me off without a second thought, Damon inquired to Alaric with new enthusiasm, "Is she working with Johnny Boy then? Did you ask her about him?"

Alaric's dark eyes flickered to me apologetically before he answered, "No."

"No they're not? Or, no, you didn't ask?"

"I didn't ask."

"What about the invention?" He questioned, his gray-blue eyes narrowing.

He let out a sigh. "I have no idea."

"Does Isobel know about the tomb vampires? Was Henry lying?"

"I don't know."

Damon was starting to get the picture of his cluelessness and his jaw clenched in frustration. "Did words just completely escape you, Ric?"

Alaric snapped, "No. I was a bit preoccupied about seeing my dead vampire wife appearing out of nowhere to ask any questions."

"Wait a minute. Did you meet her at the grill? Was she that woman with dark hair, gray eyes, kind of short?" I asked. Taking note of their unanswered queries, I explained quickly, "I think I bumped into her last night too after eating dinner with Winnie and Caroline. She was a vampire, that I could tell, but I thought she was just passing by through town. I didn't think she'd be Isobel."

"A vampire in Mystic Falls and you didn't tell me right away? What did you think? She was driving by to pass out candy and chocolate?" Damon demanded, a little too harshly.

"Hey," I bit back defensively. "I'd like to believe not everyone I cross paths with doesn't have some supernatural agenda against my friends."

"Nevertheless, Isobel's here and fighting won't change that fact," Stefan interrupted, eyeing us cautiously as if we would start throwing punches right then and there. "We don't know why she's here or what she wants aside from the meeting."

"She wants to see Elena?" Damon clarified.

Alaric added in, "Isobel threatened to kill my students."

"Oh, yeah, I could see how that would be a problem for you guys, but I don't know why. Most of them are ungrateful, hormonal little brats." Damon turned to the pretty brunette. "You don't have to meet her if you don't want to. No one here can force you to do that."

Stefan, Alaric, and I exchanged puzzled looks at his abrupt sensitivity. Since when is he considerate to anyone's comfort? Elena inhaled, her face set with determination. "I don't have a choice, Damon. Besides, I want to talk to her. I know that if I don't, I'll end up regretting it, wondering what if for the rest of my life."

"Ah, yes. Those damned two words," he muttered distastefully. "She's your mother. Personally, I don't care if a bunch of students drop dead. Do whatever the hell you want."

"We'll support your decision," Stefan agreed.

When she turned to me like a child seeking approval, I rolled my eyes again. This was a reminder that I was officially part of their group now - that my thoughts on the matter were somewhat significant. Truthfully, I was overwhelmed with that whenever it occurred to me that I was needed. "It's not like you'll say no anyways."

Elena nodded, looking at Alaric before her gaze interestingly returned to Damon. "I'll do it."

At the corner of my eye, I detected Stefan's hint of a frown. He seemed bewildered at the way Elena and Damon got along with each other so out of the blue. I was as well, but I wasn't envious, only a bit worried with the way things were going down. It would be a matter of a few days until Winnie would get catched up in all of this, and I was honestly dreading the day when it came. Stefan was flustered when he caught my stare. "It's natural," I blurted out unhelpfully before leaving after Alaric. The picture of his astonishment was priceless.

Deciding to ditch the rest of planning that went down in the cafeteria and football field, we separated to two cars and drove to the grill. I had to delete a few texts from a furious Caroline when she realized I was skipping out on participating with the float. Bonnie and Matt soon followed up with messages on their own, complaining it wasn't fair I didn't add them on my plans to ditch. It was only with Bonnie did I tell to meet me at the Mystic Grill afterwards. She was more than happy to agree. I was disappointed when Winslow didn't even notice my absence, even disgusted when Bonnie informed me that he was glued to Nicole's side in addition to the sophomore crowd of jocks and cheerleaders.

Trying not to add to my clear irritation, Alaric decided it would be best for Damon and I to wait outside, leaving Stefan alone to watch over Elena. Damon, of course, argued until both men stiffened at someone's nearing presence. A woman passed by us - Isobel, from the looks of it. Taking a closer study of her, I could see a few aspects of Elena's features on her. She was indeed Elena's biological mother. I also took note of the oval blue pendant that rested on her chest, crucially similar to Damon and Stefan's daylight rings.

I was abjectly tempted to rip it off from her, curious to how she would fare under the sunlight. There was something about Isobel that made me cringe away out of jealousy. But why?

"Ric, Damon," she tilted her head to the side, observing. "It's moderately intriguing to see you again."

Damon faked a smile, slouching on his seat. "Lovely Isobel. You've sure gotten prettier."

"Always the charmer. You say that to all the girls."

"Ha, must be the blood getting to me."

"Isobel," Alaric managed to greet tightly, his grip on the chair's arms tightening.

She smiled in response. He tensed beside me when her gray eyes lowered to meet mine, her thick dark eyelashes fluttering seductively for the men in front of her. "I suppose you're Chardonnay Blackburn, a new friend of my daughter's, the Salvatore brothers . . . and my husband."

I didn't cower and challengingly kept her gaze, getting the idea she was trying to intimidate me in a discreet manner. If it had been during the days I was still shaky with the news of their vampiric existence, it probably would've worked. "Obviously."

"Huh. Did you tell her Ric?" She inquired.

"Tell me what?"

The frown was noticable in his voice as he said, "Nothing important."

"I'd like to disagree," Isobel noted with a slight smirk, tucking a loose strand of silky black hair behind her ear gracefully, "but that's not why I'm here for. Is Elena inside?"

"Waiting for her mom like the perfect daughter you never took cared of," Damon recklessly quipped in amusement. Now there's the elder Salvatore that was missing this morning. What happened to the kinder one? I wanted to bash him in the forehead with the napkin dispenser, and from the peek I risked at Alaric's face, so did he apparently.

"I see you haven't lost that arrogance of yours."

He mockingly shrugged. "Well, you know me. I can't resist showing off my flair."

Before entering the grill, she warned, "Take one step inside and I won't hesitate to kill everyone in the restaurant. Don't interfere."

"She's a keeper, that one," Damon jeered as she slipped past the double doors, sarcasm literally dripping off his words. "I still think we should be in there."

I made a face. Anywhere near Isobel was a no-no for me. It was obvious she knew what Alaric was hiding from me, but despite that, there was no denying that she was dangerous. Not only was she a vampire, but she openly held no regard for human life like Stefan did, or what little Damon secretly attempted to mirror for Elena's sake. "Did you not just hear her?"

"She made it painfully clear, Damon. Don't interfere." Alaric rubbed the back of his neck wearily. He avoided looking my way, hence ignorant of my glares.

"I'm not going to kill her in there with all those people eating." Damon teased," I like to make my kills without any witnesses. It makes the whole process of it much easier."

"You're not going to kill her period."

"Talk about interesting. You're still going to protect her after she ruined your life?"

"She's my wife," Alaric replied simply, then faltered at our raised eyebrows. "I mean, was my wife. Now that I think about it, she may look as she did before she turned, but she isn't there. Whoever that girl is inside, she isn't the woman I married. She's emotionless, cold."

"That's called turning off her humanity."

He groaned into his hands. "Ugh. I don't understand that. Stefan's the good guy, he has his humanity on. And you . . . er-"

"You're a dick," I finished bluntly. Alaric didn't even scold me, acknowledging what I said in agreement.

"Why, thank you, sweetie," Damon grumbled.

"My pleasure."

Alaric's expression scrunched together in concentration; like he was thoroughly reliving their encounter in his head as if he had missed something before. "Isobel was empty. There was nothing in her. It was like talking to a shell."

Damon said without care, "She's a vampire now, Ric. She has the choice whether to remove it from her conscience or keep it on like Stefan."

I bit my lip, torn between snapping at Alaric for selfish answers about my mother or comforting him about his wife. Remarkably, considering my discomfort with mushy things, I chose the latter once again. "Anyone can see she flipped the switch, Ric." Move on.

"With Stefan, he wants to experience the whole drama of typical human life. This time it's totally about high school. He wants the excitement, the highs and lows, practically the angst of the average teenager. The thing you have to consider is it's a vampire's intuition to take the easier road, to not feel anything at all - free of the guilt, the shame, the god-awful wave of regret. It's like a button you can press to turn it all off, and it's just that easy."

"So my wife chose the easier road," my history teacher said aloud.

"Wouldn't you?" The blue-eyed vampire questioned.

"You haven't." I adverted. "There's the tiniest shred of it within you. Like tiny, minuscule - very, very small."

"I get it." He remarked, getting up to my seat to stretch. "But you have to realize that there's gotta be a reason I'm just so fun to be around, isn't there?"

Alaric didn't seem impressed. "Where are you going?"

"To have fun. Call you two later."

We watched with conflicted feelings as Damon disappeared around the corner to his sports car. Without the third person in our party, Alaric and I drifted to a short moment of silence. The incoordination of this occurrence was hushed torture. I made a decision to break the silence after it was palpable that Alaric wasn't going to say anything else, especially to me. "I'm not going to stop trying to figure out whatever it is you're keeping from me," I declared boldly.

He finally spared me a glance and didn't bother to evade the subject anymore. "Has it never crossed your mind that I'm probably saving you from experiencing a disappointment in your life?"

"It's my mom." I discredited, paying no attention to the growing ache in my chest. It had gotten a little easier now that I spoke with John, but I couldn't deny that it still hurt. "She's been a disappointment for most of my life already. Whatever it is, it's not going to change anything-"

I jumped when Alaric shot up from his seat, the screeching of metal against the concrete making me cringe back. His strife was apparent as he rigidly paced a few feet away, his hands clenched into fists until his knuckles turned white. His reactions alone were starting to make me uneasy. "Char, can't we just agree to disagree?" He asked tediously. "We have other things to worry about without having to talk about her . . . about your mother."

"So you knew her?"

Alaric turned to me, his lips in a thin straight line. "Yeah. I knew her."

"And you were - what? - ashamed because of that?"

"No," he retorted, actually shocked at that implication. "No, no. Of course not. I wasn't ashamed, Char. Just, erm, caught off guard."

Then what was his deal? I stared at him fastidiously. "Okay then. Fine. Agree to disagree." I allowed myself to relax in my seat, remorsefully relieved. To be honest, I could wait for the news I wasn't really prepared for. "But once Isobel is gone, Ric, don't expect me to forget."

He nodded rather reluctantly. "If you really were your mother's daughter, then I expected that much."