Chapter 36 - After Midnight

by Blink-182

I can't get my feet up off the edge

I kinda like the little rush you get

When you're standing close to death

Like when you're driving me crazy

Hold on as we crash into the earth

A bit of pain will help us suffer when you're hurt

For real 'cause you were driving me crazy

Bite your lips, your word's a robbery

Do you grin inside, you're killing me

All along we talked of forever

I kinda think that we won't get better

It's the longest start, but the end is not too far away

Did you know, I'm here to stay

We'll stagger home after midnight

Sleep arm-in-arm in the stairwell

We'll fall apart on the weekend

These nights go on and on and on.

Friday evening

"Damon, be serious for a minute!" I argued as he locked his arm around my waist and pulled me towards the bar. "Someone's gonna find him and people are gonna start asking questions."

"No they won't." He simply commented, ordering himself a glass of bourbon. "People will think its suicide or something, hence why I dumped the body over the rail. It's a win-win situation for us."

I groaned, rubbing a hand over myself when I came to the realisation that I wasn't going to be able to change Damon's mind on the possible consequences. He seemed to have it all mapped out, which was fine until a police squad with wooden bullets and vervain arrived at his door step.

"Oh don't look so down about it." Damon smirked, tugging a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You heard Elena and even she hated him, so in theory I just did everyone a favour."

I rolled my eyes. "You keep telling yourself that." Damon was still smirking which caused the corners of my mouth to pull up slightly. "Anyway, I need to go talk to Caroline, so I'll see you later on."

"Sure thing." I went to make a move from the bar when Damon's strong fingers curled around my wrist and forcing me to stop dead in my tracks. I stared at him with uncertainty as he leaned closer. "Don't forget that I am still waiting for that dance you owe me." He drawled with a devilish smirk.

"Sure thing." I mimicked back with a teasing smile before heading for the main hall in search of either Caroline or Bonnie.

I tried to think of where I might find the girls and debated of just giving up the task all together. Then again, I had to try and make it up to them and so hurried down the endless amounts of hallways until I came to an empty dead end.

Screw this. I would look for them later because right now all I wanted to do was enjoy the party while it lasted.

I turned to leave back where I came and then I caught the reflection of shinning in the glass window. My necklace.

I reached down my neckline and rolled the stone in my fingers, feeling a smile pull at my lips. I'd only had it for a few hours and already it meant more to me than anything had ever owned before.

"Alice." A voice shattered my thoughts, but I knew exactly who it was.

"Stefan." I replied, not even bothering to look at him.

"I would still really like to have a chat with you. Privately."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning to confront him and his smirking green gaze. "You see Stefan, you keep saying you want to chat to me and yet I keep telling you no. Am I not be clear enough when I say 'I don't want to talk to you'"

"Oh come on, just a quick chat. I don't bite." Stefan grinned as he took a small step towards me in an attempt to move me back against the wall.

I refused to back down from him keeping my gaze focused on him as he approached me. When I made no attempted in moving back, he tilted his head to the side and studied me, a mere inch between ours bodies. His eyes wandered freely over my body before stopping at my throat, where my pulse throbbed just under the skin.

"I know your back on human blood Stefan." I said at last, my voice sharp with irritation. "I know that you're as high as a kite right now and on edge, so I suggest that you leave now or things could take a turn for the worst."

Stefan blinked rapidly before rolling his dark orbs that were being consumed by the hunger raging within him. "Is that a threat?" He challenged.

"That's a promise." I hissed in return as I watched a nerve twitch in Stefan's jaw, his grin flattering slightly.

I watched as he took a long and deep breath before a chuckle rumbled in his chest and feel from his lips, shaking his head from side to side as if it were some type of joke.

"Well it's funny that you mentioned that, seeing as I could do the same to you." He said calmly, throwing me another quick glance over. "I could drain you dry in seconds."

"You'd been in for a pretty rough night then seeing as I'm on vervain. You wouldn't even be able to swallow one mouthful." I retorted scathingly, my full lips twisting into a smirk of my own.

But my glee was short lived as Stefan tilted his head back and laughed heartily and so hard that I thought he was going to cough, choke, or pass out on the floor. It was deep sounding and cheerful which chilled me to my very core. What the hell did he have to be happy about? I basically just threaten him with unimaginable pain and he found it funny?!

"What are you laughing at?" I growled.

"It's just so funny!" Stefan chortled, leaning against the doorframe. "Seeing as you haven't had any vervain in few days."

I could feel my eyes widen and my brows come together at his claim. It couldn't be true, could it? Although I never actually consumed the stuff, I assumed that it was something that was in everything I ate or drank. It never actually occurred to me who put it in there, if anyone.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I said with an uneven voice that barely broke through the silence.

"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" Stefan jeered, pacing the hall back and forth. "We ran out of vervain a couple days back so I haven't been put any in the water system."

My mouths fell open. I couldn't speak let alone process what I was being told. Stefan observed me silently for a few moments, watching as my body shuddered. I was afraid. I was defenceless. I was his for the taking.

Stefan reached forward to brush my long hair behind my shoulder and I shivered at his touch. He pressed his finger tips to my pulse before pulling back.

"It's strange really. I thought my brother might have noticed but he's been so cosy up with you lately, he doesn't seem to be thinking straight." He taunted me with the idea as I took in a deep breath and tried to not let fear set in.

I tried to take a step back and away from him, but he caught my arm in a tight grip and burned his gaze in to my own as his pupils dilated.

"You're not going to scream for help and you're going to take a walk with me." He tone was even and strong as he focused his commands on me.

I expected to feel my own self-control slip away from me and follow his demands. I expected to feel like a complete zombie and be numb to everything around me. But nothing happened. Nothing.

"Hmm…" Stefan tapped his chin with his index finger. "It seems that you have some sort of tolerance to compulsion without any vervain." He concluded before circling me like a vulture. "No matter though, at least I know that your blood is clean and ready for the taking."

"So that's it then? You're just going to drain me dry?" I asked scathingly through gritted teeth, my eyes glinting with rage.

"Of course not, I'm not that far gone, but it was the only way I could get you to listen to me." Stefan replied in a serious tone, returning to stand in front of me again.

"What?" My voice cracked.

Stefan shoved his hands in his pocket, narrowing his eyes to the point where they were nothing but little slips. Even so, I could still see the hate that boiled in his eyes like he wanted nothing more than to drain me that second.

"Stay away from my brother." He said nonchalantly.

I shook my head, unable to believe that we were back to square one with this subject. "Stefan, we've had this discussion before and none of my feelings towards Damon have changed and they never will no matter what you say." I spat, folding my arms over my chest.

Stefan raised his hands above his head in defence. "Fine, fine, I won't say anything else. Just trust me when I say that you mean nothing to Damon. You're just a distraction, his play thing until he gets his hands on what, or should I say who, he wants."

I opened my mouth to argue with him again, when suddenly the piercing sound of shouting and crashing echoed from down the hall. Without even thinking about it, I shoved passed Stefan in the direction of the commotion and was met with a startled crowd of people.

I quickly elbowed my way through the mass of bodies before coming face to face with an all-out brawl between Tyler and Matt. I knew it wasn't my place to interfere but I had to do something.

The burning feeling raising though my chest, much like the way it did when I was faced with a vampire or any type of supernatural being. I had to help Matt.

I ran forward and pushed my way between the two boys just as Tyler went to swing a punch Matt's way. Everything seemed to happen in slow motion as I shoved Matt's body into the nearest table just catching Tyler's fist in my hand.

Looking in to his eyes, I tried to connect with Tyler and calm him down, but all I saw was his gaze clouded over with anger. There was something not right with him as his fist pushed against mine in an attempted to throw me off balance and out of the way.

I knew it was the worst idea ever, but I couldn't stop myself as my own fist came from my side and crashed against Tyler's face, knocking him to the floor with a loud cracking noise. He span over onto his back, blood seeping from the corner of his busted lip, but the fire slowly melting away from his eyes.

"What was that for?" He bellowed angrily, hoisting himself up and wiping his lip with the back of his tanned hand.

Just when I thought things were going to get ugly again, Mayor Lockwood grabbed his sons arm and dragged him away from the scene, reassuring everyone that everything was okay. I let out a deep breath and turned back to Matt as Elena held a tissue to his bleeding nose.

"You okay?" I panted, feeling my energy slipping from my sudden burst of adrenaline.

"Fine, thanks." Matt nodded, giving me a weak smile. "Where the hell did you learn to do that?"

I raised an eyebrow at him as I turned to see what he was starting at. Everyone who had witnessed the fight had their eyes locked on to me in awe at what they had just witnessed; a seventeen year old little girl who just knocked down a quarterback in a matter of seconds.

I quickly turned back to Matt, forcing a smile of innocents on to my features. "Self-defence training," I blurted out, hoping I sounded convincing.

"Nice," Matt panted, finally rising to his feet again. "You'll have to teach me some of your moves one day."

I barely had time to form any type of reply as my arm was roughly grabbed and I was pulled away from the scene. I yanked my arm back, but found myself pushed against a wall in one of the empty corridors and I was met with Damon's darkened blue eyes.

I prepared for some scowling and moaning about getting involved in the fight between the boys, but he surprised me when Damon once again pressed his lips to mine. He was more forceful in his actions than ever before as he pushed me in to the wall with his supernatural strength, rendering me unable to move. But I still couldn't help myself as I kissed me back with everything I had.

"Mmm..." He mused happily to himself.

I groaned when Damon pulled back and started placing opened mouth kisses on my neck and sucking on my pulse. It was torture that he could do this to me.

"Don't ever do that again." He murmured against my skin, running his nose up to my ear. "Don't ever put yourself in danger like that again."

"I couldn't help myself, I had to help Matt." I whispered, my eyes struggling to stay open as his hair lightly brushed against my cheek.

Damon's face snapped back to mine as he gripped my arms and pulled my petite frame flush against his body. I was pretty sure I looked a mess with my panting and reddened cheeks, whereas Damon looked completely normal aside from is messy hair. My breathing was hard, causing my breasts to push against his chest at the close proximity.

Damon let out a small animalistic groan, his eyes full of lust, as he leant forward and rubbed his cheek against my face. "I don't care who it is, do not put yourself in danger like that again, understand?" He muttered, nipping at my ear and breathing in as his nose buried itself in my hair.

"Yes." I huffed like a ten year old and rolled my eyes, knowing that he was right.

Damon leant back and smiled charmingly at me, one corner of his mouth tilting up slightly as he released one of my arms and trailed his fingers up to my hair. He pulled a few pieces to the side and placed a soft kiss on my forehead. I couldn't help but smile at the gesture as I laced my fingers with his.

"Damon!"

We were snapped from our embrace with Ric calling out for Damon and I watched as his face twisted in shock at the position that we were in. Damon stepped back from me, but kept my hand in his.

Ric cleared his throat. "John's leaving, so we better go after him know."

"Wait minute. John?" My eyes flickered back between Damon and Ric, but neither spoke. "As in Uncle John who you killed and threw off balcony?"

"Yeah, slight problem." Damon said bitterly in between growls, running a hand through his hair. "Apparently John isn't just any normal guy. He's got the same ring as Ric meaning that we can't kill him while he's wearing it."

I remembered something being mentioned about Ric's ring before in that it prevented him from being killed by a supernatural creature. I guess it would come in handy in faced with reoccurring death and danger like he was, but the thought of coming back to life after having your neck snapped made my spine tingle.

"Well, I guess we've just going to have to find some way of getting the ring off him." Both men focused their attention of me at my sudden input of a plan.

"I thought you didn't like the idea of killing him in the first place?" Damon question, but he held a slightly glint in his eyes of excitement.

"I did, but he's obviously dangerous, so the faster we deal with him then the faster the problem goes away." I explained, trying to convince myself more than them that this was the best plan to go with.

Alaric stepped forward, holding his hand out. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves." He reasoned. "Shouldn't we at least see what it is that he wants before we make any harsh judgements?"

Damon glanced at me, frowning but still considering both of the options we had; kill John and just get it over with or reason with him and learn who he really was. In the end though, I saw the defeat in Damon's features as he surrendered to Alaric's suggestion.

"Fine, we'll talk to him and then kill him." He concluded before pulling me with him though the house and to the main entrance with Ric close behind.

Damon released my hand as we approached John, clearly preparing himself for any situation as both main speed walked to catch up with John. I decided it would be best to stay behind them…for now.

"Going somewhere?" Damon called after John as the three of us hurried down the steps to catch up with him.

John gave a quick glance over his shoulder before continuing his march from the house. He didn't even flinch at the fact he was practically being chased down by one majorly pissed off vampire.

"Never like to be the last one to leave a party. It's too desperate." John simply replied as he made his way over the garden and to the parked cars. "You going to kill me again? Or are you going to let Mr Saltzman so your dirt work? Maybe even Alice?"

John stopped in his tracks and turned to face up, his gaze shifting between the two men before finally setting on me. He wasn't smiling or frowning or anything. He was expressionless.

"Okay you obviously know who I am." Alaric responded with a hint of confusion in his tone.

"I do." John stated bluntly, hands in his pockets without a care in the world. "Alaric Saltzman, the high school history teacher with a secret."

"You sure know a lot for someone who just got to town." Damon remarked, stepping forward slightly causing me to do the same so I was now by Alaric's side.

"More than you can imagine, Damon." John shook his head. "My knowledge of this town goes beyond anything that you or the council could know. So if you were planning some clever, high speed, snatch ring vamp kill move, know that if I die everything I know goes to the council." He paused and looked Damon directly in the eyes. "Including a fascinating tale of the original Salvatore brothers and their return to Mystic Falls."

There was silence for a moment and I watched as Damon shifted uncomfortable in his position that someone knew about him and his past. Oh yeah, he definitely didn't like this situation because not even I knew the whole story behind the Salvatore brothers, only from what Elena told me.

"How'd you get that ring?" Damon asked, quick to shift the topic of conversation from himself.

"I inherited one and my brother had the other. This was his." John held up is finger, directing our attention to the over-sized ring on his finger. The same styled ring as Alaric's. John dropped his hand and looked at Ric's ring. "And I won't have given mine to Isobel had I known she'd hand it over to another guy."

"So you did know Isobel." Damon grimaced at the name, eyeing John intently.

John smiled, tilting his head to the side. "Who do you think sent her your way when she wanted to become a vampire?"

Damon narrowed his eyebrows. "You sent her?" He questioned.

"Guilty!" John exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Things were getting out if hand seeing as Alaric hadn't spoken a single word again or even tried and Damon seemed to be struggling to try and get anything useful out of John. I want to step forward again and stand by Damon's side for support.

"Why did you think someone else sent her? Maybe Katherine Pierce?" John jeered and my actions halted at the name. Her.

I didn't know enough about her to know who see was but I knew enough to know that this was the woman who broke Damon's heart repeatedly and left him for all these years. She was the bitch who had made Damon so on edge and suspicions about everything in his life now.

Damon gulped. "How'd you know about Katherine?"

"How do I know anything, Damon?" John face was emotionless as he taunted us with what he knew.

"What do you want?" Damon raised his voice in a desperate plea.

"So many questions." John took a deep breath before turning his attention back to Ric. "It was a pleasure meeting to Ric. I've heard so much about you."

With that John turned his back on us and made his way to the car park, but he only made a few away before gazing over his shoulder back at me.

"Oh and it was lovely to finally meet you too, Alice." He called in creepy yet cheerful tone just before he disappeared in to his car, a vermilion red Ford F-150.

Red. A red car. I'd seen that somewhere before, but where? It sent a chill up my spine and I felt the need to run as far away as possible from here without having any idea why. Where had I seen that car before!?

I didn't know why, but I recognised it from somewhere, as if from a dream. A dream…of course! I'd seen that car a few nights ago when I'd had a nightmare about Stefan draining me. But why, what did it mean..?

Damon turned back to me, eyebrows raised, before locking his gaze with Ric. He let out a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well that didn't exactly go to plan." He muttered.

"You're telling me." Alaric huffed. "How does this guy so much about us anyway?"

Damon shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe he's been watching us."

I shook my head, glancing down, chewing on my lip uncomfortably. "No." I muttered, causing both of them to look at me. "No he hasn't been watching us. He's only just got back to town."

"He must be working with someone then, he has to be." Alaric concluded.

"Maybe…" Damon worked down with unfocused eyes, drowning in his own thoughts about what all of this meant. "What did you two talk about on the balcony, Alice, before I arrived?"

I felt my cheeks burning red, which confused me. There was nothing to be embarrassed about with the situation I was in with John, but thought of what the conversation was directed around made me nervous. The book.

When I'd first told Damon about the book and what my father had said, he thought I was mad but still tried to help me find the damn thing. I'd felt terrible when we had searched and came to the conclusion that it didn't exist and I didn't want to get my hopes up again for a book that may not have existed.

No one else needed to know, at least not now. It was my own little secret.

"Nothing." I smiled despite the fact that I didn't feel like it when I was lying through my teeth. "Nothing of any importance."

Hello readers! So what did you think of the chapter? Have you been picking up the hints and teasers along the way? They all count and will make a big contribution to the final few chapters and what Alice will have to face. The end of this story is nearing which is why I wanted to ask if anyone would be interested in a second follow on story based on season 2? I really want to write one but I will only do it if you guys want more. Please let me know! Thanks so much for the feedback and reviews! You guys are awesome!

Next chapter: Trust issues, arguments and confusion will lead to Alice's tipping into the deep end of the madness. Stay tuned ;)