A/N: Merry Christmas everyone! I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and received some lovely gifts. ^~^

Thanks for the lovely reviews!

~~ Enjoy!


Chapter 55:

"I brought you dinner," Brent sat down next to me on the log and handed me a plate with grilled meat and vegetables on it.

The delicious smell of it alone should've made me hungry after spending hours repairing the werewolves' wrecked cottage, but my appetite was low tonight.

I was slowly starting to get used to living out in the forest with them, learning how to fight like them, how to hunt and simply befriending them.

Paula was an exceptional leader and cared so much about her pack.

The more time I spent with her, the more I wanted to help them get back on their feet and half-wished I was one of them.

Their loyalty and bond with one another ran deeper than I originally thought.

"What's troubling you, kid?"

I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed that Brent was staring at me with narrowed eyes, probably wondering what was on my mind.

"I'm just worrying about the usual – whether I'll see my boyfriend or family again," I admitted and forced myself to eat some of the food. "I don't understand why I can't stand being apart from him. I know he's strong enough to protect himself, but… I just–"

I fell silent, unable to form the right words to describe how frustrated and lost I felt.

Even though we'd only known each other for a month, Brent seemed to understand me better than anyone else at the camp.

"You love him. It's as simple as that. And you know how dangerous the world can be – even for an Original. If I were your boyfriend, I would tell you to eat though and keep your head high."

Brent nudged my arm with a smile on his lips and shifted his gaze to the others sitting around the bonfire, eating, laughing and having a good time.

"I wish I could turn it off, but unfortunately, that's not possible when you're human…" I grimaced and felt a sudden chill run down my spine.

Someone was here.

I examined the area for any lurking spirits, but it was too dark to spot them.

Brent also tensed up suddenly and listened carefully for anything unusual, coming up empty seemingly as well.

"We're being watched," I stated. "I can't pinpoint what or who it is."

"Same. I'm going to search the area just to be sure. You should alert Paula," Brent agreed.

Nodding, we separated to search for intruders and alerted some of the adults to keep a lookout for trouble.

We didn't want to scare the younger werewolves, so we left them in the dark for now.

Paula suggested that we searched the perimeter and so I walked with her in the eastern part of the camp.

It couldn't be opposing werewolf pack, because they would've recognized their scent then.

We walked in silence together, our hearts pumping fast from the anticipation and tension in the air that seemed to be growing at a rapid speed.

The same cold chill went down my spine suddenly and so I stopped dead in my tracks to find out what was causing it.

"I sense you… why won't you show yourself?" I whispered quietly.

A figure stepped out from the dark shadows at last and even though I recognized the face of the intruder immediately, I sensed that something was wrong.

"Kol…?" It looked like him, but the sight of him didn't trigger the compulsion.

Without saying a word to me, Kol turned around and walked deeper into the forest as if he wanted me to follow him.

It smelled like a trap, but I needed to be certain and know for sure if it was him.

Maybe he didn't have much time to speak with me?

Or maybe he was in a trance-like state?

About quarter a mile from the camp, Kol finally stopped walking abruptly and vanished before my eyes almost as if he was an illusion.

A nagging sensation spread inside me and I slowly turned to face the man I thought was dead.

"I bet you didn't expect to see me again, did you?" Silas inquired, grinning from ear to ear.

"A little, yes, but I can't say I'm surprised. You're like a pesky cockroach that refuses to die," I retorted and folded my arms. "What do you want? To kill me?"

"No… your death would be meaningless. Besides, why kill you when I want revenge for what you did to me?"

"Last I checked, you murdered my father, so we're pretty even."

Silas shrugged and approached me with calm steps, having taken form as Kol again to push my buttons or see how I would react.

"It would be easy to say that, wouldn't it? To put everything behind us… then again, you still have Amara and the cure. I want them back."

"Well, tough luck. I have neither. Besides, I have my own problems to deal with right now."

"Yes, your… little traveler problem. I see it this way – you have something I want and those pesky travelers have something you want."

"If you're seriously suggesting a deal with the devil, then you're either batshit crazy or consider me an absolute moron!"

Did he honestly believe I would help him after all the heartache he put me through?

Loved ones and friends died trying to stop him from getting what he wanted!

"Yes, and I'll tell you why it is I have the audacity to offer you a deal. You as well as I know that you will never see Kol again if you leave him with them. He's nothing to them – a tool at most!"

"And you murdered my father, your crazy ex killed me and some of my friends died as well. Why should I allow you any kind of happiness?"

Silas suddenly ran swiftly up to me and pushed me hard against a tree, his fingers laced around my neck painfully.

"How can you be so selfish? You of all people should understand what it's like to be apart from the one person you love the most. I love Amara as you love Kol."

His attempt to soften my cold heart failed miserably, because no matter how similar our situations were or how much he loved Amara, I would never let him have her.

He'd done too much damage for me to have any generosity left in my heart for him.

"You're not capable of love, you sick bastard. You're just a monster without a heart!"

Growling in rage, Silas bared his sharp fangs and bit down hard into my neck, having lost his patience with me it seemed.

I writhed against his hold and cried out in agony, feeling my blood vanishing quickly from my veins.

Thankfully, the werewolves heard my scream and fired vervain soaked arrows at my attacker.

One of them embedded itself in Silas' neck and caused him to let go of me, but he vanished as they fired the second round of arrows at him.

"Beth! Sit still, don't move," Brent ordered, pressing something against my neck wound.

My vision was too fuzzy for me to see what it was exactly, but he was able to keep me from bleeding out on the ground.

"Don't close your eyes. You've lost a lot of blood. Was it a vampire?"

"No…" I grimaced and sat up against the tree properly. "His name is Silas. He's an immortal."

"An immortal? Never mind. I think we chased him away for now. Let's get you back to the camp, okay?"

Picking me up into his arms, he carried me back to the camp where the pack doctor examined my wound closely.

Once I was patched up, I explained to Brent and Paula why he attacked me, and told them to lay low on the fact that Silas showed up.

Tyler didn't need to worry about him again and Silas seemed occupied looking for Amara anyway.

Perhaps it was a bad idea to hide with them after all when Silas was still alive…

"Was is it with you and attracting danger?" Tyler teased, trying to cheer me up.

"Bad habits die hard," I replied with a forced smile on my lips. "That vampire didn't attack anyone else, did it?"

"No. We were lucky. Maybe he was looking for a quick meal." Tyler frowned and examined my patched up neck. "Did you recognize him?"

I shook my head and winced when it made my neck ache painfully. "Ouch. I don't think he'll return."

"Just get some rest. I'm gonna go check the perimeter one more time for safety measure."

Nodding understandingly, I headed back to my tent and crawled inside to find Kieran waiting for me with a concerned expression on his face.

He'd undoubtedly witnessed the attack and heard Silas' demands.

"Nothing good will come out of him still being alive," he said, shaking his head in disappointment. "You have to warn your family. They should know he's back."

"I know. I'll try seeing if I can get a signal with Tyler's cellphone tomorrow. Did I do the right thing? Rejecting his offer that is…" I responded somberly.

"Yes. He can't know the cure is gone and we can't allow him to find Amara."

Releasing a sigh of relief, I crawled into my sleeping bag and rested with Kieran lying next to me, watching over me like a worried parent.

He would've made a wonderful father if he were human, I was sure of it.

"I spoke with the other spirits on the Other Side," he said hesitantly. "The travelers have performed a spell on Kol that allows his possessor to take full control of him."

My heart ached as he broke the bad news to me and made Silas' offer start seeming more appealing to me.

"Is Kol still… in there? In his body?" I asked worriedly.

"Yes, but he's dormant. He has no idea of what's happening to him or what he's doing," Kieran answered. "I'm sorry, Beth. I know it's not what you wanted to hear."

"I'll find a way to bring him back. I have to. I don't care how many times the world has to pull us apart. We'll always find our way back to each other."

Ending it on that note, I decided to catch a couple of hours of rest as my throbbing neck was given a moment to heal.

Tyler did offer me some of his blood, but I gratefully declined because I wanted to remind myself of my own mortality.

I was so used to being able to heal up just like that or having Kol to heal me that I'd come to feel invincible.

Humans healed slowly and if I wasn't more careful, I would also die permanently.

When morning came, my neck was still throbbing painfully though and it made my daily work a little more difficult.

I started the morning by heading down to the lake to take a bath and washed my tangled hair.

As much as I enjoyed camping, I was starting to miss hot water, shampoo and other necessities.

However, I sucked it up and stepped out into the chilly water stark naked, removing the dirt, leaves and small branches stuck to my hair from yesterday's attack.

Someone wolf-whistled by the shore and brought a flush to my cheeks.

Two fourteen-year-old werewolves were watching me bathe and shouting teasing remarks, which only made my face turn bright red.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. Haven't you boys heard? She can see ghosts," a familiar voice spoke as I covered my body in embarrassment.

Brent leaned down to whisper something to them and they took off in a hurry as if he'd said something that scared them.

"Thanks," I said shyly and felt grateful my hair was as long as it was. Still, it didn't change the fact that I was nude or that Brent could see me. "Err… do you mind turning around for a moment?"

Realizing how awkward it was for me, Brent laughed and nodded as he turned his back to me, allowing me to return to the shore for my clothes.

"What are you even doing out here?" I asked curiously. "I thought I was the only one up."

"I was looking for the twins you just met. They're always up to mischief," he responded calmly. "How's your neck?"

"Still hurting. I need to change the bandages before I head into town. I gotta call my family."

Sensing that I was finished getting dressed, Brent turned around and rubbed the back of his neck. "Do you need a ride? I'm heading to my apartment for a few things anyway. You can use my landline."

"That would be great, thanks."

Pulling my wet hair up in a tight bun, I followed Brent out to his truck and drove with him back into the nearest town.

His home was situated in the center of the town, so I made a mental note to buy a couple of things before we headed back.

Upon entering Brent's apartment, I started learning more about his personality and interests from the objects and furniture he kept in it.

He was an avid sports fan with a love for seemingly hockey and football, he'd gone to college and studied engineering, and he seemed to love collecting different beer brands.

I borrowed his telephone while he collected whatever he needed and called my mother.

"Hello?" Mom answered sleepily on the third ring.

"Hi, Mom! It's me. I need to tell you something…" I glanced over at Brent rummaging through his bedroom and sighed heavily. "Silas is back."

A deafening silence followed that bugged me and when she didn't utter a sound for almost three minutes, I decided to say something.

"Mom… please be careful, okay? I don't know if he'll return to Mystic Falls."

"Okay. Are you certain he's back? If it's just rumors, then–"

"I saw him. He-" I stopped myself from telling her that he attacked me, because I didn't want her to know how much trouble I was really in. "Trust me on this."

"I do trust you, it's just hard knowing the man who beheaded my husband is alive and well. I'm glad you have Kol to keep you safe."

Hot tears burned in my eyes and it took every ounce of my self-control to sound like I was fine.

Like I wasn't falling apart on the inside.

"Yes. I have Kol…" I gulped down a big lump in my throat and shifted my gaze back to Brent, catching him staring worriedly at me. "I gotta go, Mom. I love you. Tell Dad and the twins that I love them too."

Hanging up, I heaved a sigh and rubbed the sleeves of my shirt against my eyes.

"I'm gonna go down to the car again. Is it okay if we drop by a grocery store for some things?" I asked, forcing a smile on my lips.

"Yeah, that's fine with me. Are you alright?" Brent answered.

I nodded and headed back outside to the street, waiting outside his old pickup truck.

Today was an unbearable warm summer day and most people were hiding inside or wandering the streets in skirts or shorts.

It was weird knowing that a month ago, I was in Paris and Prague and enjoying my summer vacation like a normal teenager.

Now I was living my life without Kol as he compelled me to do.

Damn him and his compulsion and need to keep me safe!

In a fit of rage, I kicked one of the tires hard and earned a raised eyebrow from Brent as he joined me in the street.

"Whoa, calm down. There's no need to take your anger out on ol' Velma!" he urged.

"You call your truck 'Velma'?" I asked, puzzled by the name.

"No… but it made you stop, didn't it?" Brent chuckled and brought a smile back on my lips. "C'mon. I'll buy you some chocolate if you treat her well."

It was sweet of Brent to pay for everything I needed in the store – even the chocolate bars that would hopefully soothe the hormonal women in the pack.

We were back at the camp before noon and just in time for a delicious lunch cooked by the elders.

I might be feeling lonely without Kol by my side, but one thing was certain: I was not alone.


Thanks for reading and please review!