AN: Thanks to everyone who reviewed! We are officially past 350 reviews - maybe we can get to 400? :)

Enjoy!

Ch.26

Klaus grips my shoulders and forces me to look him in the eye, "Bella, talk to me."

I take in a shuttering breath, "How am I going to deliver your answer to Katherine if I don't know where she is?" I manage to slowly croak out and then everything spills out. "I'm screwed; it's over for my family. It's like she deliberately set up our meeting so that I didn't know how to find her or even to contact her."

Klaus just stands there and seems to wait for me to calm down but I just keep working myself up. I can hear my heart beat in my ears and suddenly it feels like the world is closing in on me.

"Whoa, okay, you're okay Bella. Just sit down and take nice deep breaths," I can hear Klaus' voice as if from the other end of a long tunnel and I can feel myself sit down on a nearby bench. My eyes are still locked on Klaus' and slowly I start calming down and don't feel like the world is going to turn in on itself.

Klaus sits on his haunches and look up at me, concerned. I nod to him and feel myself start to blush but I stamp it down; I never expected this kind of attention from the Original Hybrid. I was always told that he was a cold hearted monster that only cared for himself and would sacrifice others without flinching. I don't see that side to him though, I see the caring man that everyone believes to be a myth. A caring man that makes me feel safe with him, like nothing could ever get to me.

Klaus reaches out and puts his hand on my knee, "The Cure that Katherine spoke of was a cure to being a vampire. There is only one dose and it has been hidden for a very long time."

I sigh and nod, knowing that I should tell him part of what I know. I need someone to trust besides myself in this town and the only other person who has shown the slightest amount of trust to me is Klaus. I like to think that in the past few days, we have been starting to get along better and hope that if I open up this part of me to him, he won't crush it later.

"I know about the Cure," I say in a quiet whisper.

Klaus' grip on my knee tightens for a moment before he releases it, "How do you know about the Cure? Who told you?" Klaus stands up and looks tall and imposing above me but I don't really care right now.

I shrug, "I have met people in my life and I am a good secret keeper, well, until I met you." My cheeks start to warm, "I know more that I should as a human, enough that could get me killed."

"Would I happen to know this person?" Klaus asks and then sits beside me on the bench.

I hesitate for a split second, "Kol told me about the Cure and had me research Silas before he died. But I swear I didn't know he had died here until I had already moved here."

Klaus' eyes are hard as ice as he stares at me and I can feel him start to lose faith in me. My hand darts out and grips his tightly, "I'm sorry he's gone but please don't let my parents die because of me."

Klaus is still for a few moments before finally answering, "If your parents died, it wouldn't be your fault; you wouldn't physically kill them. But I will help you," Klaus sighs reluctantly and squeezes my hand in reassurance. "Tell Katherine that I will leave her alone for as long as she lives on the condition that no harm comes to my or your families and that he must hold the real Cure. If it is false then our agreement is null and void immediately."

I sigh in relief as I memorize each of Klaus' words, knowing exactly how important they are. "Thank you," I whisper as I stand up.

"Give me your phone," Klaus says and I hand it over immediately. He presses some buttons before handing it back to me. "Now you have my number if you ever need to get a hold of me. And I have yours."

"Thank you again Klaus, really." I say and resist the urge to hug him.

Klaus nods, "I hope you parents are okay Bella, truly."

I stare, wide eyed at him. I can't even think of anything to say, let alone open my mouth to speak. I nod quickly and dart back to my car to head home. I start the car and glance into my rear-view mirror for a split second, long enough to see that Klaus is still watching me with an unreadable expression. I put the car in drive and head home.

As I pull into my parking spot, I try to think of a plan to attract Katherine to me. I won't be able to find her in my limited time so the only option is to draw her to me. I guess I could either run around town calling for her or just wait until she shows up expecting an answer. In the second before I turn off the car I see something flash in my peripheral. I look around me as I step out of my car and head to the front porch but can't see anything.

I turn my head back to the house and almost jump out of my skin when I see Katherine leaning against my house, completely relaxed. I pause for a few seconds to gather my bearing before heading up the steps and standing my ground.

"Katherine," I say.

She smirks and saunters over to me, "Hello Isabella, did you deliver my message?"

I nod, "Yes, I did. Are my parents okay?"

Katherine waves my question off, "They are fine, what did Klaus say?"

"Klaus said, and I quote, 'I will leave her alone for as long as she lives on the condition that no harm comes to my or your families and that he must hold the real Cure. If it is false then our agreement is null and void immediately'." I tell her directly from memory, proud that I remembered it all.

Katherine nods and gives a small sigh of relief that I'm sure I wasn't supposed to see. "Good."

I hold my hand up to stop her from leaving, "Wait, where's the Cure?"

Katherine smirks, "Right, I guess I should give this to you." She reaches behind her and takes out a small object wrapped in old cloth from her back pocket. The actual object is about the length and width of my smallest finger and I gently take it from her, scared the vial that contains the Cure might shatter from age.

The second that the Cure is in my hands, Katherine blurs off into the night and I hurry into the house. I know that almost everyone in this town is looking for the Cure and the safest place is where only one person knows where it is. Especially in a house where most vampires haven't been allowed inside, at least that I know of.

In the living room I head directly to the book shelf and grab a dusty construction book off the bottom shelf. I take it into the kitchen, grab a sharp knife from the drawer and open the book. Carefully I cut a hole into the book that is deep enough and wide enough for the Cure to fit comfortably inside. Gently I close the book and head back to the living room and place it back in its place.

Sure it may be cliché but it works.

Perfect, now there is only one person who knows where the Cure is. But two people that know the Cure was actually traded off, me and Katherine. I know that I should give the Cure to Klaus but everyone expects Klaus to have the Cure, they would never think of me. This is the safest place for the Cure and in the last place anyone will ever look.

AN: So because the email notification thing wasn't working I didn't get to respond to everyone's reviews and give them the sneak peaks so I apologise. But don't worry, this time anyone who reviews will get a sneak peak.